Our Newest Sponsor (01/05/2009)

It's my distinct pleasure to welcome Dora Ferry Accounting Tax Services to ILoveAltoona.com as our newest Sponsor! They are located on Maple Avenue in Altoona and work with both individuals and businesses, covering a wide range of services including tax preparation, accounting, payroll services, and much more. In addition, they are offering free e-filing for customers using their tax preparation service. If you are looking for an accountant or tax preparer, please consider Dora Ferry and her team.

- Matt

Win Every Day is Back! (11/28/2008)

I'm excited to announce that one of our most popular features is returning to ILoveAltoona.com! Win Every Day will begin Monday, December 1! The ILoveAltoona Prize Patrol will begin locating bumper stickers and yard signs around the community. Once a week, we'll post our winners on the Win Every Day page. All you have to do is let us know you're the winner and we'll get the day's prize out to you. You can win concert tickets, gift certificates, and more!

Check back Monday for next week's winners!

- Matt

Black Friday Breakfast! (11/24/2008)

Have you ever eaten at Tino's VIP Pizza on Pleasant Valley Boulevard? It's one of my family's favorites. I was over there the other day talking to Miles (the owner), and he let me know that Black Friday, November 28, he will be opening for midnight breakfast. (Thanksgiving night at midnight.) So if you are one of those early (or late night) shoppers, you might want to stop in for a cup of coffee, breakfast, or even some pizza! (He'll have it all.) A high percentage of you who answered our recent poll about supporting local businesses said you'll make an effort to do so. I'll bet much of your Friday shopping will be at chain stores -- so if you can, stop by a local business like Tino's (or many others) on Black Friday.

ALSO -- Tino's has an incredible coupon deal that expires in a few days. Click here to print it off!

- Matt

Budget Time Part 2 (11/13/2008)

The major challenge that the City of Altoona is facing during its budgeting process is a 17% increase in health insurance premiums next year. This cost increase alone is approximately half a million dollars. While the City has attempted to shop around for comparable coverage (we need to provide comparable coverage due to union contracts), we've been "locked in" to our current vendor because other companies don't offer similar coverage.

The outstanding rise in health insurance is an issue that is touching on many aspects of the economy. The fact that cities may need to eliminate public safety positions due to health insurance costs literally exploding is a shame. I'm not writing this as a political commentary but more as just an observation that it is a major issue.

Altoona Council had no problem coming up with a balanced budget this year because we have had several good years and there is a small amount of money in reserve -- but it is with reluctance we needed to dip into that a bit to avoid cutting services (there has already been fairly significant staff reduction over the past five years). We have five new police officers thanks to a state grant, and we're attempting to keep on top of the drug and crime problems.

Heading into 2009, City Council (and our community in general) would be wise to consider additional ways to fund our essential City services -- police, fire, public works, codes, etc. ILoveAltoona.com from its inception has been a place for ideas. So I'd like to invite you to begin a many months-long dialogue with me, and with others here, on how we can not just be a "run of the mill" city, but one whose citizens actively involve themselves in finding answers.

- Matt

Cheffrey's for Breakfast (10/29/2008)

Cheffrey's, located on 12th street in downtown Altoona, is now open for breakfast! Opening up at 7:30 a.m., they offer a convenient (and tasty) array of breakfast options (including the Cheffrey's Special) for sit down or take-out. If you want a good breakfast in the morning, stop by. Or, call ahead to 201-2036.

- Matt

Cheffrey's is one of ILoveAltoona.com's sponsors. To support ILoveAltoona.com, please visit our sponsors and let them know you read about them on ILoveAltoona.com! Or, become a sponsor yourself and get more exposure for your business in the Altoona area! Contact us for info.

Budget Time (10/21/2008)

It's budget time at City Council! Each year the City staff draws up a preliminary budget with the Council reviewing it and ultimately approving an official budget for the upcoming year. Last year (2007) the City had a very good year that ended in a surplus, and we continue to monitor 2008's revenue and expenditures. However, we have some challenges for budgeting for 2009 as health insurance costs and other expenses continue to rise.

The bulk of the City's general fund revenue comes from taxes, of course, but also a good bit from various fees and services. If the number of construction projects drop, or the population drops, or average incomes in the City slide, our revenue can take a hit. Yet much of what the City provides is what we consider "essential services" -- police, fire, public works and code enforcement.

As we prepare another balanced budget (we are required to do so by state law -- I wish the feds would hold to this standard too), I'd like to get your minds thinking toward 2009. What additional ways might the City draw in revenue? Do you have any ideas on how to make additional money for the City or creative ways to save money? Please comment on this blog post or go to the Community Idea Center and share your ideas!

- Matt

Updates (10/12/2008)

Monday is Day 6 of the "Staycation". (Click here to follow the latest from the Staycationers.) In other news, a vice presidential nominee visited Altoona this weekend and experienced the "Super Sheetz" on 17th Street. Sarah Palin and some of her family stopped by after a Johnstown rally. (See report.)

Last Day to Register (10/06/2008)

Good morning! Today is the last day to register to vote in Pennsylvania. Also, for some City voters, the polling place has changed. See this report for details.

- Matt

An Informed Electorate (09/22/2008)

Do you believe that the choices made in Washington, D.C. affect families, neighborhoods and businesses every day? I do. It's one of the reasons that I think understanding the issues facing our nation every day is very important. For over a year and a half, various citizens have been campaigning for the office of President of the United States. Now (finally) we're only a few weeks away from casting ballots for the candidates. Beyond all of the polls, the hype and the nuances that sometimes are carried to an extreme -- do you know what the candidates stand for? Do you have a sense of their personal history, values and character? With the blitz of opinions, accusations and TV ads, it takes some investigation to get to the bottom of each candidate's record and true viewpoints.

Starting this Friday, September 26, is the first official presidential debate between Senator Barack Obama and Senator John McCain. It is an opportunity to hear the candidates speak for themselves and challenge one another. For people who just naturally love politics, this is almost like watching a prime time football matchup. For others, watching a political debate doesn't have quite the thrill. But if you are willing to think through the issues and wisely consider the decisions our nation faces, tuning in may be a good investment in our community and in our nation. All the publicity out there encouraging people to "vote" is of little value if we simply go to the ballot box without grappling with the issues facing the candidates, and our nation.

- Matt

Student Housing Issue (09/22/2008)

Hello Altoona! Did you see the front page of the Altoona Mirror Sunday? City Council is considering an ordinance that would restrict the number of homes that are allowed to be occupied by multiple students in any given section of the City. (Click here to view the article.)

On one side of the issue is the concern that some student homes can degrade neighborhoods and cause problems for neighbors. On the other side of the issue are concerns of limiting investment in the City or forcing the student homes to spread farther into outlying neighborhoods (because the ordinance would limit the density of these rentals in any given area of town). Personally (as always) I am concerned with limiting investment or limiting rights of property owners, but I also believe the quality of our neighborhoods is enormously important. What are your thoughts? Click here to comment or to view comments.

- Matt

Announcements (09/08/2008)

Good morning Altoona! A couple of quick announcements. First, I found a link you might enjoy that gives tips on saving money on gas. It includes a number of money-saving ideas and a calculator to estimate your potential savings.

Second, thank you to those who have been inquiring about advertising with us. Our Sponsorship page should be going up soon and we're looking for a few businesses who want to expand their local exposure at a low, low cost. Contact us with your email address and we'll get you some information. It's a perfect time to look at local exposure as spending goes up in the 4th quarter of the year in preparation for the holidays.

One additional housekeeping note. I'm looking for a couple of community minded people who would be interested in getting their thoughts out to the Altoona community, whether they be on business, politics or general community issues. If you're interested in writing a column or blog for ILoveAltoona, let us know!

Have a great week!

- Matt

Gateway Project (09/02/2008)

The Altoona Gateway Project has been a bright spot in the effort to improve Altoona. Launched in 2007 and continued in 2008, the program has been funded through grants and community donations. I wanted to share with you a presentation on what was accomplished in the program's first year, 2007. Click here to view.

A side note for businesses and individuals: the City has a matching donation commitment from Operation Our Town that hasn't been completed yet -- so your donation could be doubled if you would like to participate in this program. Contact City Hall at 949-2470 if you would like to donate or if you or your organization would like to volunteer! If it doesn't work out this year, keep the Gateway Project in mind for '09.

- Matt

Saturday Before Labor Day (08/29/2008)

Don't miss the 2nd Annual Cruise-In on the avenues of Downtown Altoona Saturday night! Last year was a tremendous event. I attended it with my wife, kids and some family members who were visiting Altoona.

The organizers of this event have worked very hard and are looking to make this an annual event. If you're free Saturday evening, consider dropping by -- even if cars aren't your hobby (they're not mine either but it was still a great event).

On Saturday morning Downtown is the Labor Day parade. Eleventh Avenue is one of the best places to watch. (The parade will not go over 17th Street this year.)

Have a great Labor Day weekend!

- Matt

How Altoogle Works (08/29/2008)

Although we've had the feature for nearly a year, some of our visitors aren't familiar with how Altoogle works. Altoogle is our online business directory for Blair County. Altoogle can be searched much like a traditional business directory, but it has a unique feature that makes it great to use. The feature is a collection of "category tags". When you go to the Altoogle business directory, you'll see a large list of these categories on the right. The bigger the word, the more instances of that category there are. For example, the word "Automotive" is bigger than the word "Cabinets" because there are more businesses in the directory that relate to automotive issues.

If you click on any of these categories, it will present you with more category options to narrow your search! For example, if I click "Pizza", it will bring up pizza places. However, I can narrow my search by then clicking on "Altoona" to make sure I get pizza places in Altoona. The searches are alphabetical except for our Featured Businesses which come at the top!

Don't forget to hit "Clear search" if you want to start over.

Altoogle contains business reviews, coupons, maps and more! If you are a business owner, please contact us to be sure that we have the right categories for you. For a small annual fee we can make you a Featured Business as well so when your category is clicked, you come up first.

Have a great week!

- Matt

Take the Bus to Work! (08/29/2008)

(Originally Posted Week of August 17-23) This week Amtran's Take the Bus to Work Week. Amtran provides valuable service to our community, providing transportation for work, shopping, school, and more. Check out Amtran's article about this week here.

Advertisers and Volunteers! (08/11/2008)

Good morning Altoona! Would you be interested in helping us accomplish ILoveAltoona.com's vision? I have three quick announcements!

First, if you have a business and you are looking for a great advertising deal, we've got it here. For what it would cost you for a relatively modest newspaper display ad for one or two days, we will run your ad for an entire year as an official website sponsor. This includes a highlighted Altoogle ad, a coupon, being featured on our sponsors page and a constant link from the home page. Our primary geographical reach is the immediate Altoona area (Bellwood to Hollidaysburg), so we're reaching your immediate market most strongly. You can contact me directly and I'll send you details. We have annual packages as low as $150/year.

Secondly, we need some volunteers! A few of you have already expressed interest. Here are a few things we may need help with: prize patrol, community outreach, finding cool Altoona-related content online, finding and posting events, a newsletter editor and more. If you are interested in learning more, let me know.

Finally, thanks to those of you who patronize our featured restaurants last week: Vocelli Pizza, Tino's VIP Pizza, and the 29th Street Corner Store. If you haven't yet stopped by, don't forget to do so (and make sure to mention you read about them on ILoveAltoona and got hungry!).

Have a great Monday!

Matt

Hungry? Read this! (09/13/2008)

Housing in Altoona (07/27/2008)

Last week, City Council met for one of its bi-monthly strategic planning sessions. The topic was about housing needs in the City of Altoona. Invited to the roundtable were various City department heads, housing agency leaders, as well as several professionals who work in housing-related fields.

Some of the discussion centered around the question of what creates demand for more housing. In other words, are people attracted to Altoona by great housing options? Or are people attracted to Altoona because of jobs, and the housing options will follow the demand? (The context of this question was the concern that some of us had that there is not enough of certain types of housing in Altoona, such as loft apartments in a downtown setting that would be of interest to young professionals.) The general consensus seemed to be that it's not just the jobs and it's not just great housing options, but the community needs to attack this issue from many fronts.

One of the main outcomes of the meeting was discussion on student housing downtown. But many other topics were raised, and I feel we're still in the process of developing a thorough housing strategy. It takes a lot of time to grapple with issues this significant -- an issue that affects quality of life, the tax base, and the growth of our community. The group agreed that we would continue to meet to discuss the issue of how to encourage the development of great housing options in the City of Altoona.

Your thoughts and comments are welcomed! Specifically, what types of housing do you think are needed to meet the needs of current residents as well as those considering a move here? How can the City encourage that development?

Click here to submit a reply to this post.

- Matt

"Staycationing" (07/16/2008)

On my way to work this morning I was listening to The Wall Street Journal This Morning on WRTA radio. They had a little segment about the idea of a "staycation". Due to rising travelling costs, some people are deciding to take their time off work at home rather than travelling to other cities or countries. Some of these "staycationers" are planning to make their days at home fun and creative, rather than just firing up the grill and doing house work. Some of them can even "splurge" a little more because of all the money they've saved on travelling costs.

A friend of mine did this recently as well. She, with her daughter and her husband, took little day trips in the region, enjoying different attractions in the region.

It's really true -- there are a ton of things to do in Central Pennsylvania. For local residents looking to spend some great time locally, ILoveAltoona.com is a great resource for planning these out. Our "hidden" Around the Corner page lists many fun places to go. You can also go to thealleghenies.com and other local resources to learn more about fun right here at home!

If our team can help, don't hesitate to contact us.

- Matt

Reform and Leadership (07/09/2008)

A lot of anger was directed toward the state government three years ago when the "midnight pay raise" occurred. The Allentown Morning Call published an analysis of where the reforms are at. It's interesting to note how difficult it is to change an institution with so many demands, so much money and so many forces at work. But I believe it is a worthy effort.

After serving locally on City Council for two and a half years, I've realized that you certainly can't please everyone. However, one thing that many people will respect is when decisions are made deliberately, thoroughly, and for the good of the community. Another thing I've noticed that is respected (not always in the short term, but often down the road) is leadership. True, genuine leadership -- not just voting "correctly" or getting by, but having a vision and pursuing it, even in spite of temporary setbacks.

I've seen in Altoona some examples of fine leadership. I've seen people who have served our community and brought vision and energy to some organizations. Other areas I've seen a lack, and I've wondered, "Where are the leaders? Where are the people who will step up and provide the leadership needed to help us grow and thrive?"

Many complain, but few lead.

- Matt

PA Budget (07/04/2008)

As you may have seen in the news, Pennsylvania's lawmakers were close to passing the state budget right before the end of the fiscal year on June 30 (though it did not pass on time). Click here for a news overview and here for the thoughts of the state senator representing the Altoona region. Senator John Eichelberger keeps a regular blog at his site (www.senatoreichelberger.com) which gives his perspective on the budget and other issues facing Pennsylvania government. Also, for more information on the PA budget, you can visit the Governor's Office of the Budget site.

- Matt

Local customer service (06/30/2008)

Maybe it shouldn't be surprising, but sometimes I'm still taken aback when I run into great customer service. The other day, I was calling a state government office about a couple of business related questions. While the written information hadn't been the easiest to understand, getting to talk to a real live person made the process a lot easier. But the best part was that there was a local office... and the person who answered the phone took my questions, answered them thoroughly, and essentially provided quality service. It saved me time and hassle (or at least frustration) by being able to get what I needed easily (and without feeling like I was an annoyance to the person on the other end of the line).

In any business, restaurant, etc., customer service really does make a difference. My most-frequented restaurant has almost as much to do with the friendly service than it does with the food.

It's interesting to think that how we act around others reflects to a large degree on the things we represent. People get first impressions of families by the behavior of either kids or parents. Certainly how people feel about restaurants and businesses can be affected by any staff person. Out-of-towners judge Altoona in part by the interactions they have here. Were the locals friendly? Suspicious? Helpful?

On this Monday morning, I'd like to give three cheers for GREAT customer service in Altoona PA. If you know of a business that provides that kind of service, make sure you give them a little positive write-up in Altoogle.

- Matt

ILoveAltoona.com needs your help (06/23/2008)

If you haven't yet, please answer the poll at the right side of the home page! Our team will be taking the poll results into consideration as we begin to add "missing" features back to ILoveAltoona.com! Because ILoveAltoona.com is a grassroots website run by local residents, and because of the mission of the site, we have a lot of flexibility in pursuing features that will help inform, challenge and inspire the Altoona PA community. We want many of you to take part in this. We need some volunteers, and some business sponsors, to help us fulfill our threefold goals of (1) helping residents and visitors enjoy Altoona PA, (2) helping people and businesses find needed resources and information, and (3) encouraging people to take action to "love thy neighbor" and serve their community.

I was born in Altoona in the 70s and grew up in Altoona (Fairview) and in Bellwood, where my parents are from and moved us when I was a kid. I left the area for college, but during those years, I experienced a growing desire to return to Altoona. I wanted to be involved in ministry here and I wanted to make a difference in the Altoona community. Thus, I see ILoveAltoona.com as more than just a website -- it is a place where good ideas can be aired and (hopefully) turned into effective plans, resulting in helpful action.

To get to that point, ILoveAltoona.com is going to need some help. If YOU are interested in participating in some way at helping us serve the Altoona area community, please contact me. If you are a business owner and would like a solid (and very low cost) advertising deal, drop us a line and we can get you information. Have a great week!

- Matt

Great way to help (06/19/2008)

Did you see the recent news report about Meals on Wheels? They are experiencing a shortage of volunteers for the Meals on Wheels program. A number of years ago I worked for the summer at Blair Senior Services. One of the first things I did was go experience the Meals on Wheels delivery. It was really neat way to help people while getting to know some very tremendous individuals in the County. One of the things I enjoyed most about my job that summer was being around the stories and knowledge of some of Blair County's seniors.

Blair Senior Services (located in downtown Altoona) is designated as the Area Agency on Aging for Blair County. They handle numerous services for senior citizens and for the community, of which Meals on Wheels is one. To find out how you could volunteer with the program, call Lois Link at 946-1235. You can be involved daily, weekly, monthly or whatever suits best! They need dozens of additional volunteers, so consider calling today!

Reviews Wanted (06/12/2008)

Good morning Altoona PA!

Have you been over to Altoogle lately? Our business listings and reviews there get almost a third of our website traffic! The easy "tag" system on the right side of the Altoogle page lets you search for businesses by category. For example, just click on "Downtown" and you'll get a list of dozens of downtown businesses.

We've been getting some good business reviews but we're always up for more. So... do you frequent a local business that you could write a sentence or two of feedback about? Go to Altoogle and add your 2 cents :-).

- Matt