Can you believe it's almost May? (April 23, 2008)
If you were watching election returns (or even just picking up the local newspaper this morning), you're doubtlessly aware the Hillary Clinton won the Democratic election in Pennsylvania for presidential nominee last night. My wife and I enjoy following the political process and were looking over the county by county maps last night on CNN's website. The middle and west sides of the state were definitively won by Clinton, while Obama took a few counties between Harrisburg and Philadelphia. The notable exception was Centre County, which voted for Obama.

On another note, as April turns into May, we have a large number of events going on in the area. Check out our What's Going On page to learn more!

It's Tuesday! (April 22, 2008)
Good morning Altoona PA! Ok, we're getting close... the website renovations are 90% complete and we should be unveiling them either later this week or sometime next week. At first, you'll notice a major layout change (we will get a major makeover!) that will help to highlight the main attractions at ILoveAltoona.com. You should also see the resurgence of the Win Every Day campaign. Some pages will be taken down and we plan to gradually add some great new features to the mix.

Don't forget that today is Election Day (for the Pennsylvania primaries). Obviously we are hearing a lot in the news about Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. However, there are other races to be determined -- all state legislator seats, half of the state senate seats, and more. Don't forget to get out and vote at your local polling place!

Also, there are dozens of events on our What's Going On? page for this week, so if you get tired of watching election results, you can take your pick and get out and enjoy Altoona in April!

What's Happening This Weekend (April 17, 2008)
There are lots of things to do this weekend! In the midst of tackling spring yard cleanup, first day of spring cleaning, or whatever else you do in April, make sure to get out to take part in of this weekend's events. This weekend, the circus continues over at the Jaffa. Mike Reid will be performing at the Mishler. Fusion (for teens) is also going on in downtown Altoona, as well as a Curve game at Blair County Ballpark, and the Gathering coffeehouse. In addition, there's a free movie at the Downtown Devorris Center Sunday night along with fire equipment displays and hot dogs and hamburgers! All this and much more on our events page. Remember... people who say there's nothing to do in Altoona PA, haven't checked out What's Going On?

Our website renovations have taken another step forward and we may see them as soon as next week. Some of our normal site updates (like Showtimes, for example) are somewhat 'on hold' as we direct our energies elsewhere, so we continue to appreciate your patience until we unveil our updates this month.

Tuesday Blog Post (April 15, 2008)
While you're getting those last minute tax returns to the post office, don't forget about all the things going on in Altoona and Blair County this week. Over at the Jaffa, the Circus is in town all week! Tonight there is a book signing as well as a book discussion up on the hill at Barnes & Noble. All this and much, much more on our events page.

Our website renovations are coming along behind the scenes very well. Thanks for your patience while we're a "construction zone"! Some of you have written in recently and the response getting back to you has been slow. We haven't forgotten you! After the upgrades are done we should be back on track with both correspondence and site updates. Please keep in touch with us regarding your ideas and thoughts about the site.

In the meantime, happy Tax Day! If you are an Altoona City resident, don't forget that you'll need to file with both the City through Centax (office in the Gable's Building) and with the School District through the AASD tax office.
(Posted by Matt G. on 4-15-2008)

Now What? (April 14, 2008)
Good morning Altoona! During the latter part of last week, we ran a poll to the right that asked what the biggest problem facing Altoona is in 2008. 48% of the respondents chose Drugs & Crime out of five possible answers. Do you agree?

The complexity of the drug abuse issue reaches to so many parts of our community. Drug abuse affects the quality of employees employers can find; it can damage or tear apart families; it can make a negative impact on educational institutions.

Locally, we've seen the Altoona Police Department, the Drug Task Force, and the State take action on the enforcement side. I recall a bust last year where neighbors actually came out on their porches and applauded. It seems our community is celebrating the many victories we've seen lately.

If you agree with most professionals dealing with this issue locally, you don't believe that enforcement is the answer by itself. So long as there is a demand here in Blair County, it seems to some degree the supply will make it here. That leaves two other major categories: treatment and prevention. This is a multi-pronged community effort, and not one without controversy. I welcome your ideas, big or small, on how to better tackle this issue at the Community Idea Center. Soon, with our new website upgrades coming this month, we should have a more robust way to discuss these significant issues.

Quick Update (April 11, 2008)
Good morning Altoona! I wanted to give you a quick update on our site renovations. Our behind-the-scenes work is rapidly progressing and we're getting to the point of looking for three or four business sponsors who would like to support what we do and benefit from our upcoming publicity. Our website reaches thousands of people in Central Pennsylvania with the primary geographic reach being Altoona and Hollidaysburg area. We have some great advertising deals available -- a low cost sponsorship program where we feature one or two advertisers to sponsor our home page, one to sponsor our What's Going On page, and one to sponsor Altoogle. Then there are a couple of other pages that may be available for sponsorship as well. Advertising on ILoveAltoona.com after our renovations will be sharp and focused, and limited (largely to a first-come first-serve basis) so don't delay in letting us know you're interested.

Please contact us today if you would like to learn more and we'll contact you with information. You may be surprised at how low the cost is, so don't hesitate to let us know of your interest.

(Posted by Matt G. on 4-11-2008)

Joining the League of Cities
Happy Thursday! Be sure to check out our events page today as there are a lot of great things to do in the next few days.

Last night at City Council, the Council voted to join the League of Cities (of Pennsylvania). The League provides a forum for discussion, interaction, and political leverage to help issues that cities face around the state. Various members of Council have resisted joining for a number of years because it involves paying dues and was seen as a waste that the City should avoid. However, this year the City is joining, with the Mayor's fair words of warning to Council that it is a resource we should make good use of lest it be a waste. I personally believe it's a good decision if we use it well because we find that Altoona is not alone in the challenges it faces, and if we can avoid repeating some mistakes other cities have already made (and learned from), it could be worth the annual dues 100 times over.

(Posted 4-10-2008)

Summer's Pluses & Minuses (April 9, 2008)
As winter breaks and turns into spring, and then summer, there are TONS of fun things to do in the Altoona area. However, it's also a time when some of the major challenges of our community become pretty obvious. Certain crimes become more common and we hear about drug issues in our community.

When we unveil our new layout this month, we plan to include a more robust means of getting these issues on the table and debating them. Over the past 3 years we have collected many ideas on how to improve the community... now it's time to refine some of those ideas and start pointing out ways to act. One way you could help us prepare for this next step is by answering our occasional polls at the right side of the page.

On another note, there is a lot going on today. Check out our events page to get the lowdown!

(Posted by Matt G. on 4-9-2008)

Feedback Wanted (April 8, 2008)
Yesterday, I announced that we would be making some major changes on the website in the coming weeks. We're looking forward to unveiling those to you later this month. In the meantime, I'll be keeping in touch with you directly here on the home page. Previous posts can be found at Matt's Blog.

Of course, any feedback you could provide us would be great! What about the site do you use -- why do you come to ILoveAltoona.com, and how do you think we can best serve the residents and visitors of Altoona, PA? Type us a quick note and let us know!

Tonight, the Altoona Curve takes on the Trenton Thunder at 6:35 pm. There are also events at Jethro's, the U.S. Hotel, the Hollidaysburg Area Public Library, and Champion Life Center. Even more to do throughout the rest of the week. Check it out!

(Posted by Matt G. on 4-8-2008)

Big Changes Coming! (April 7, 2008)
Good news! ILoveAltoona.com is about to go to the next phase. We are working behind the scenes to revamp the website and we're very excited to unveil the changes to you this month. We plan to become even better at what we do best - but I'm going to save the details for later...

So... I guess this is a not-very-in-advance warning that your beloved ILoveAltoona.com will be "under construction". The home page will be very minimalistic in the meantime and we may be pulling down some pages prior to unveiling our new look. Win Every Day may scale back a bit. However, we won't forget to keep you posted on the many events going on -- even during construction!

Thanks for your patience as we rework some things. I'd be really interested to know if you have any ideas, questions or complaints for us. Our team (Jason, Kathleen, Christina and I) would like to know your thoughts. Please contact us and let us know!

(Posted by Matt G. on 4-7-2008)

Voter Apathy
Voter apathy is an issue that many active participants in the political process are concerned about. Commentators in the media use concerned tones when an election occurs like this past one, where in Blair County the turnout was disappointingly low.

This leads me to three questions. Why does low turnout occur? Does this indicate apathy on the part of the public? If so, what can we do to change it?

In my opinion, low voter turnout can happen for several reasons. They might include (a) lack of enthusiasm for candidates, (b) a feeling that the candidates won't be able to make positive change, (c) belief that their vote won't make a difference, (d) lack of resources to make an informed decision, or (e) genuine apathy about the political process. Of course, there can also be incidental factors like weather that impact turnout.

In many cases, I believe these reasons do point to general apathy -- which ultimately reflects a major concern about our society. Citizens of democratic nations vote not only to impact the result of the election but to exercise the freedom that they have been given. Voting can be seen as a duty -- a way of honoring those who have sacrificed for our freedom and a way of letting leaders know we will hold them accountable to act wisely and prudently in office. A public that does not care or cannot find the time to become informed is a public that will more easily be mistreated, abused or taken advantage of.

So the final question -- what can we do to change voter apathy? I think simply getting men and women to the polls in May and November is not really solving the root issue. What we really want is an active citizenry -- informed, interested and engaged in what is happening in their local community. Here is what I think is needed:
- Genuine, character-based leadership at all levels of government. As men and women who are already leaders in their homes, businesses and churches step forward with genuine passion for the community, others will rally around them and become more excited about the political process.
- Increased use of the Internet as a vehicle of information. I am genuinely pleased with how the Internet has made political candidates' views and opinions readily available to the public. Even local candidates are starting to use websites. In 2008, I want to see the City significantly improve its communication through that venue.
- More venues and education on real community issues. Every day, teachers, businesspeople, politicians, social workers, clergymen and women, and other citizens grapple with challenges facing Altoona and Blair County. I think finding ways to initiate real community dialogue -- starting in high schools and going into town halls, neighborhood associations, Internet discussion groups and local TV and radio -- could be a positive direction. Elections can be polarizing but if we work together toward solutions on the "off-season" we'll be better equipped when voting time rolls around.

Ultimately, we need to acknowledge that citizens have the right to not vote, and we will respect that as well. But I would like to encourage Blair Countians to actively engage in informing themselves and getting involved in local issues. Remember, it's not all about how 'likely' we are to succeed. Doing things because they're the right thing to do -- not just because we think we can succeed -- is genuine leadership. That's the kind of activity in our community that could be a great start in the right direction.

(Posted by MLG on 12-5-2007)

Election Day!
Don't forget -- today is Election Day!

County Commissioner, County Controller, Altoona City Council, Logan Township Supervisor, judicial races/retention -- all this and more are on the ballot today.

In the City, the following are competing for three Council seats:

Erik Cagle
Robert Hoffman
Bruce Kelley
Russell Montgomery
Joseph Rieker

I encourage you to get out to vote today!

(Posted by MLG on 11-6-2007)

Remember the Seventh Street Bridge?
Not long ago, the 80+ year old landmark, the Seventh Street Bridge, was replaced due to age and disrepair. The new bridge is attractive and well done, but here is an article that gives some interesting history of the old Seventh Street Bridge.

Thanks to John Rudasill for alerting me to this link! Click here to view article.

Click here to view an old photo of the bridge.

(Posted by MLG on 9-11-2007)

Altoona's First Cruise
Once again, hundreds of people were downtown for yet another fun event tonight: Altoona's First Cruise to benefit the Blair County Miracle League. It is encouraging to see our community really using 11th Avenue and Heritage Plaza for events. And to top it off, I saw more 11th Avenue businesses open than I have before during evening events. My father-in-law took my oldest daughter into McIntyre's to get some ice cream; I saw Sam at Shirley Shoes helping customers. Meanwhile, 11th Avenue was full of people. Lots of great vehicles... unfortunately I forgot my camera; however, Lori Blake took some photos and posted them here.

(Posted by MLG on 9-1-2007)

Blair County from the Air!
Good evening! I thought you might enjoy these photos of Blair County taken earlier this year by my brother, Jason Garber, a Fairview resident and owner of IonZoft in downtown Altoona.

Click here to view Jason's photos in slide show format!

Click here if you prefer gallery format.


(Posted by MLG on 8-21-2007)

New Trash Collection Routes in Altoona City
City Council has passed new trash collection routes in the City to improve enforcement of collection and recycling laws, reduce the number of days trash collection will occur in any neighborhood to one day weekly, and aesthetically improve the City streets in the mornings (because there will not be trash sitting outside in any given neighborhood on more than one day.)

Click here to view the routes.

Some residents have expressed concern that the new routes will cause more traffic congestion. However, at one quarter of the City, it is unlikely that large amounts of congestion will be caused. Concerns and ideas can be directed to City Hall or to Council.

(Posted by MLG on 8-17-2007)

Governor to Visit Altoona Wednesday to Sign Transportation Bill
The following press release was sent today by Eric Wolf of Amtran:

- - - - - - - - - -

Governor Edward G. Rendell announced plans to hold three ceremonial bill-signing events for House Bill 1590 Sustainable Mobility Options on Wednesday, July 18 at the following locations and times:

* Pittsburgh at the Wood Street Station at 601 Wood Street at 11:30 AM;
* Altoona at Heritage Park Plaza near the AMTRAN Transit Center at 2:00 PM;
* Philadelphia at the 69th Street Transit Terminal at 5:00 PM.

Governor Rendell and the state legislature worked hard to pass an historic transportation funding package providing desperately needed financial resources for Pennsylvania’s ailing highways, bridges, and public transportation systems.

HB 1590 represents the first statewide multimodal transportation funding legislation in more than a decade. Between increasing costs and flat or declining revenues during those ten years, both highways and transit were in crisis.

Locally, AMTRAN cut fixed route service 24% on June 11 while local PennDOT District 9 was facing an increasing number of structurally deficient bridges and deteriorating highways.

Governor Rendell visited Altoona on May 10 to highlight the funding crisis.

- - - - - - - - - -

(Posted by MLG on 7-17-2007)

Amtran
Public transportation is a signficant part of the backbone of a vibrant city. Amtran has had to raise fares and cut back services recently due in part to state funding. For details, see Amtran's Website.

(Posted by MLG on 6-18-2007)

Altoona's Heritage
Click here for an interesting article on what life used to be like in Altoona!

(Posted by MLG on 6-11-2007)

Vote!
Remember, this Tuesday is Election Day. Don't forget to vote! Local primary races include Blair County commissioners, Altoona City Council, Logan Township supervisors, magesterial district justices (in some districts), some statewide judicial races, the "tax shift" question (shifting some tax burden from property tax to income tax in school districts), and various municipal races.

(Posted by MLG on 5-13-2007)

Public Transportation Press Conference
Press Release:

Governor Edward G. Rendell will hold a news conference with Altoona Mayor Wayne Hippo at 12 p.m. on Thursday, May 10, at Heritage Plaza in downtown Altoona. The Governor and Mayor Hippo will join mayors across the commonwealth as they hold simultaneous news conferences across the state to focus attention on Pennsylvania’s crisis in public transportation funding.

The combined message from Governor Rendell and Mayor Hippo, along with the other mayors, is that inaction in Harrisburg on the issue of public transportation funding is unacceptable. The Governor and the Legislature must work together now to develop a solution.

Locally, AMTRAN has announced a 24-percent cut in bus service effective June 11 due to a $900,000 deficit in its fiscal year, which begins July 1.

SEPTA in Philadelphia and Port Authority in Pittsburgh have also announced major cuts in service. Similar cuts are expected in Wilkes Barre, Lancaster, York, Reading and other cities in the coming months.

(Posted by MLG on 5-3-2007)

The Three Needs
In my experience, there are three general areas that residents view as top problems in Altoona:

(1) Jobs / Economic Difficulties
(2) Drugs & Crime
(3) Blight / Rundown Neighborhoods

Do you agree? Are there others that you would add?

The three I mentioned bring three questions:

1. How do we spur the local economy?
2. How do we fight the drug problem?
3. How do we improve properties and neighborhoods in our city?

I would like to invite specific answers. My venue on this site is Matt's Blog. Your venue on this site is the Community Idea Center. Add your ideas.

(Posted by MLG on 2-6-2007)

New Year Agenda
What issues would you like Council to focus on in 2007? Please send me your ideas at matt@ilovealtoona.com or post your thoughts on the Community Idea Center.

Thanks!

(Posted by MLG on 12-31-2006)

Trash Hauling
One of the major local issues of 2006 has been how to improve the garbage hauling process in the City. Many residents have contacted me to express their opinion on this issue.

To give some background, I'd like to explain some related problems the city is facing:

1. Very low recycling volume
2. Traffic and noise from garbage trucks in neighborhoods 5-6 days a week
3. Trash sitting out 5-6 days a week in every neighborhood
4. Debris and trash accumulating on private property
5. High number of hours of Codes & Inspections department dealing with trash-related issues, particularly during summer months
6. There is also an alleged problem of high prices

In the spring, City staff wanted Council to put out a request for proposal (RFP) to have various garbage collection companies submit proposals on what they would charge to collect trash for all private residences (except larger apartment complexes). In essence, the City staff was interested in bidding nearly the whole City's trash collection out to one hauler. The City would bill the residents and pay the lump some to the hauler who was awarded the contract for a three-year period.

Over the past few months, many City residents have contacted me expressing their opinions about the possibility of going to a one-hauler system. I wanted to take some time to express my thoughts on the issue here.

The potential advantages of a one hauler system are as follows: increased efficiency could be realized by collecting trash at every house; one hauler would be responsible for dealing with trash related issues that currently cannot be handled with one hauler; all residences would have service, potentially reducing trash accumulation on private property; bulky items (refrigerators, stoves, etc.) could be made a part of the contract so residents could get those hauled at no extra charge; and recycling could possibly be made more efficient.

HOWEVER, in spite of these possible pluses, I was a deciding vote on deciding NOT to put out an RFP to find the cost of a single hauler. Here's why:

A. I was concerned that once the RFP came in, Council might push through and just make the decision without enough input and evaluation.
B. A significant percentage of the community clearly wants a choice in the matter.
C. I was concerned that we may put many local businesses out of business.
D. The public was not given adequate time to give input.

MY VIEW is that we should address the six challenges above one by one. I am in favor of most of the ideas that City staff and a group of haulers agreed upon. As a result, I am not in favor of a one-hauler system. I think we should:

- Break the City into zones and require collection in certain neighborhoods on certain days. This is not a bid; just a ordincance that sets collection days for given neighborhoods. This should reduce traffic congestion, allow the City to enforce ordinances more effectively (because all haulers will be in the same neighborhood in a given day), reduce trash sitting out in neighborhoods for collection to one day a week.

- Find a solution for rental properties. Either bid out all rental properties or require the landlord to provide the trash hauling service. Or find another way to ensure garbage collection is provided. Landlords, if required to provide the service, will need to pass along the costs to the tenants, but we can more easily keep them accountable. I believe most of the trash accumulation issues are with rentals. Why change the whole system and put people out of business to deal with a subset that might be more easily dealt with directly?

- Work with the haulers to develop more effective vehicles for recycling and to address ongoing issues. The local businesspeople in the trash collection business made a strong case to Council that they have invested thousands of dollars in complying with City regulations, only to have the City consider cutting their feet out from under them. I prefer to work with the haulers to address issues related to trash collection.

- Work with the magistrates and Codes Department to improve enforcement. I am not convinced that all residents will put trash out on the curb even if they have collection service. The City should be sitting down regularly with magistrates to be sure they see the importance of enforcing regulations related to trash accumulation.

What is left? I believe that I have not addressed how to handle bulk items. Recycling is partially a county issue but I would like to see improvement there. And prices? I think that the current system enables competitiveness on a more individual level --- and some residents have made the point that it is the service they get from their local hauler that they don't believe they would receive from a large company serving the entire city.

Please write ILoveAltoona.com, or send me an email at matt@ilovealtoona.com, if you have ideas on handling bulk items or recycling. Thanks in advance for your input!

Regards,

Matt Garber
City Council

P.S. It looks as if Council will NOT adopt a one-hauler system at this time, but hopefully we will institute some minor reforms to deal with some of the challenges we face in regards to this issue.

(Posted by MLG on 11-21-2006)

Trying
City Council has been trying to come up with ways to improve police presence in our community, in light of the crime and shootings of the past year, and the drug trade. Today, Governor Rendell's office announced $250,000 yearly in funding over the next three years to enable Altoona to hire five new police officers!

As a Councilman, I'm very excited for this news. Our community has seen the hard work and dedication of our police department, and I am thrilled to say that we should be able to add five new officers in the coming months.

In addition, I am supportive of the APD's emphasis on using this funding to enable more patrolling in rougher areas and utilization of the community policing concept.

Special thanks to Deputy Chief Mitchell Cooper who wrote the grant application, and to Chief Freehling and the whole department for their tireless work for the community.

(Posted by MLG on 9-19-2006)

Innovation
The company I work for, located downtown, has expanded from 10 to 13 positions in under three months. Our business provides a variety of services including shipping, providing leads, and online organizational tools.

One of the things I've noticed in my four years working with this company is that the owners have a great willingness to adapt to new opportunities, and the staff has stepped up many times to back their decisions with solid operational support to make them successful.

These characteristics --- innovative thinking and hard work to make an idea reality --- combined with sound business thinking can help business owners and managers grow and develop their businesses. In Altoona, with a traditional manufacturing base, a growing techology sector, and a strong transportation infrastructure, we have opportunities to use local talent to develop products and services with international reach. The end result is more revenue in the area, raising pay for workers.

I would like to encourage our business owners and managers to think "outside of the box" --- perhaps national or international markets could be reached with a solid product or service that now is being done only locally. New businesses as well as existing ones can make use of local services for funding, business planning, and networking to help make their enterprises successful.

Strong, smart leadership and vision in business, as in other fields, is a major contributing factor to providing the jobs and living standard we hope to have in the Greater Altoona area.

(Posted by MLG on 9-14-2006)

Article about Altoona
Here is an article from an outside perspective about our community's commitment to our railroad heritage. Click here to view.

(Posted by MLG on 9-12-2006)

Downtown Development
Last night, Steve McKnight from the mayor-appointed Visioning Committee presented the committee's findings to City Council. Originally commissioned to report back on how to deal with 'commercial blight', the committee developed a framework for action for Council to review and use in pursuit of major renewal of our center city and downtown areas.

Here are some of the highlights of the committee's reports:

- The quality of our urban center is important. A 2006 report notes that 66 percent of single professionals aged 25-34 seek downtown (city) locations.
- Research is showing there is a great demand for "micropolitan" areas (rural, smaller cities) because of the quality of life they offer. Altoona, as a small city with many geographical and infrastructural assets, has an opportunity to compete.
- Some key topics around which future action items should focus include the need for market rate housing options, corporate ownership/presence in downtown, leveraging core economic drivers (Altoona Regional Health System, the school district, Penn State Altoona), illustrated long-term plan development, and more.
- There is some class one, market rate housing downtown and it is all filled up. More is needed to create a greater market downtown for businesses to enliven and enrich that area.
- Mixed-use buildings are ideal for current and future building development downtown: first floor retail, second/third floor offices, and top floor residential.
- The need for a transportation plan, architectural involvement, infrastructure development, and other aspects are discussed in the report.

There is far more in the report, which is publicly available (please contact City Hall). However, one of the action items recommended was the formation of a Strategic Planning Council which would bring together the core "economic drivers" along with people knowledgeable about various funding sources (public and private) and essentially be able to market Altoona and/or help businesses who want to locate or develop here to be able to do so effectively.

My personal thoughts are that center city redevelopment is an enormous step toward having a community that is attractive to outside investment and to folks who may want to call Altoona home. This would include entrepreneurs and professionals who may develop more job-creating businesses here in Blair County. The urban core --- center city Altoona --- is one of aspects of the Blair County area that needs massive improvement. People and businesses looking for a "micropolitan" environment could be drawn to Altoona for the area's wonderful resources and opportunities PLUS a great urban environment (museums, restaurants, shows, events) at the center of Altoona.

The question to be explored --- what will truly attract profitable private development and investment in our city core? Downtown has been improving but slowly. What will develop the market demand needed to make it an attractive place to live, spend time and do business? (As always, your thoughts on this are welcomed at the Community Idea Center.)

(Posted by MLG on 8-24-2006)

Neighborhood Identity
In the past, neighborhoods had a stronger identity within the City. People travelled less and spent more time outdoors around their homes. Front porches were common gathering points.

These days, there is a greater distrust for neighbors and less community identity than there once was. I believe we need to combat this aggressively. One of the great advantages of living in cities is the potential for living a lifestyle in close proximity to one's home --- in many cases you can shop, eat, work and play near where you live. Vibrant neighborhoods where you feel safe, participate in the community, and share a sense of ownership with your fellow residents are foundational to a strong city.

The question looms: how do we see our neighborhoods revitalized? In my opinion, that question goes deep --- into people's hearts and minds. It has to do with families, work ethic, honesty and integrity.

But even where these virtues exist, what translates into a strong neighborhood? And how can we encourage vibrant little communities within our city? Here's a thought: Elementary schools, corner stores, community centers, parks, churches and local business establishments are (or have the potential to be) anchors in each section of Altoona. These need to be seen as 'gathering points' where connections occur --- children playing with children, adults becoming acquainted with "those folks down the street". Knowing our neighbors can be an open door to help us combat crime, develop a greater sense of safety, share resources and knowledge, clean up run down areas, have greater pull at City Hall for things that need to be done, and support local businesses. Of course, the neighbors themselves (that means you and me!) need to have a vision to care about our families, homes and neighborhoods. That vision can begin as a seed, but in this blog I plan keep putting it forth as an ideal. We Altoonans need to take ownership of our city --- love our city and our neighbors --- and not give in to drugs, decay and the hurried schedules we have.

I see bright spots of neighborhoods alive with activity. The other night, my wife, daughters and I were walking along 22nd Avenue. I was really impressed with all of the "front porch gatherings" on one of the blocks there. On another block on that same avenue, neighbors frequently gather in the evening to socialize and discuss events of the day. These things encourage me. I also see people in our community rising up to make an impact in various ways. It seems like positive things are happening. But much remains to be done.

Keep adding your ideas to the Community Idea Center. Let's work together for a better Altoona!

(Posted by MLG on 8-9-2006)

Neighborhood Watch Meetings
A practical way to help battle crime in Altoona is to participate with your eyes and ears. Regular connections to other neighbors and to the police can help. While it takes a long time for police to gather enough evidence to do a raid or remove drug dealers, information from citizens can be vital.

There are neighborhood watch meetings going on around Altoona and Logan Township throughout August. See the What's Going On? page for details!

Logantown - Aug. 9th
58th St. - Aug. 10th
Evergreen Manor - Aug. 17th
Asbury Lane - Aug. 21st
Lower Fairview - Aug. 24th
Juniata - Aug. 24th

Vibrant neighborhoods with a true sense of community, with neighbors communicating about issues in their neighborhood, and caringly taking initiative, is part of a neighborhood vision for Altoona. Neighborhood watch meetings can be one component of that which directly takes initiative in the arena of crime and drugs. I encourage you to come out to one in your area of the City. For more information, call Maureen Adams at 946-1235.

(Posted by MLG on 8-4-2006)

The Principle of Proactivity
So, with the problems our community is facing, I have an honest question: should we give it up? Can our beloved City be rescued?

Here's a principle of life that is hard to learn but a key to success: proactivity. Being proactive means addressing a situation constructively rather than waiting to be rescued. Being proactive means looking for solutions rather than just complaining. Being proactive means taking ownership of a situation rather than ignoring it.

One of the biggest excuses given is, "It won't make any difference." If I could take every time someone says that in Altoona and turn it into a positive step, I think our City would be a cleaner, healthier and happier place.

In Altoona, the City Government is lean, and we on Council are struggling to find ways to fund increased police officers. We want more business development and we're looking at ways to encourage it. We want to address blight and are looking at ways to improve enforcement.

However, the City Government is limited. But proactive residents taking ownership of their own neighborhoods --- by attending neighborhood watches, picking up trash, showing simple kindness to neighbors --- can make an impact for a cleaner and healthier community.

Watch this blog for ways to jump in and get involved... and submit your ideas to the Community Idea Center!

God bless,

Matt Garber

(Posted by MLG on 7-27-2006)

Altoona's Biggest Problems
On Tuesday I had the privilege of speaking to the Juniata Civics Association. At the beginning of my talk, I asked the members, "What are the biggest problems Altoona is facing?" The responses were surprising --- not because they were unusual, but because they were consistent. Drugs, Lack of Jobs and Blight were three of the problems mentioned.

My next question was, "Have they gotten worse?" The resounding answer was YES... which led to the following question: "Why? What has changed between then and now?"

The members of the Juniata Civics Association named off a lot of factors that may have caused these problems. Lack of discipline, reduction in tax base, drug availibility, red tape, loss of families who maintain single family dwellings in the City, a society that is more mobile, a mentality that resists progress, increase in college students, complacency, misplaced priorities... These are some answers I got. I appreciated the insight. It leads to more questions, of course... like how to combat these problems.

Let me ask you: do you agree with these factors? Do you thing the above mentioned problems (drugs, blight, jobs) are Altoona's biggest problems?

Send me an email at matt@ilovealtoona.com and let me know your thoughts.

(Posted by MLG on 7-27-2006)

Active Neighbors
A lot is stirring in our city. After a spree of unprecedented shootings and a heightened awareness in our community of drugs and crime, residents are asking, "What can be done?" One of the most encouraging things for me is to see a number of local organizations and residents step up, offering both time and money.

While our city budget is slim, our community is wealthy in time. We have many residents who can donate time and skill toward the cause of cleaning up our neighborhoods and helping Altoona be a safer and more prosperous place to live.

I think at this point more residents may have an inkling of the urgency of the situation and be even more willing to jump in and help... but how? A resident presented me with that question the other day --- what could he do to help? I'm encouraged by the question and I am also glad to see a number of options are coming to the surface where residents can get involved. I plan to highlight these in upcoming posts.

(Posted by MLG on 6-13-2006)

Welcome to the New and Improved ILoveAltoona.com!!!
ILoveAltoona.com has now been unveiled with a whole new purpose! We intend to become the #1 source of information on what is happening in Altoona.

Culture, quality of life, educational opportunities, exceptional natural beauty, and tremendous options for recreation and entertainment are found in Altoona and its surrounding area. We hope to make these opportunities well known to the community. Over the next few weeks, look for increasingly more, and more useful, information to be posted here.

In addition, we want ILoveAltoona to be a place where you can participate. The Community Idea Center, already active, is a great way to present ideas on ways to benefit Altoona, Logan Township, and their neighbors.

Jason & Elizabeth Ibrahim, along with my wife Christina and I, are presently the ones coordinating the site. We are going to be looking for community help and input to make this a fabulous web destination for Altoona. We will also need help collecting a massive amount of info on what's happening in Altoona. If you know of any events --- send them in using the form at Contact Us.

Once again, welcome to ILoveAltoona.com. Stay tuned!

(Posted 6-5-2006)

Getting Ready
...As I reflect on politics and what it means for our community, I am reminded that the way we live --- our faith in God and our character as a citizenry --- is enormously significant in the future of our community.

As a councilman, I intend to oversee the City government faithfully and frugally... and creatively. However, change in the City will come through the people of the City doing the right thing, and not just the mayor and council... but the people of our community! If you are an employer, are you treating your employees fairly and considerately? If you are an employee, are you giving a great effort toward serving in your capacity honorably and honestly? If you are a husband or wife, are you caring for the needs of your spouse? If you are a mother or father, are you attempting to set an example for and spend time with your children? If you are a younger person, are you honoring the elderly and learning what you can from the wisdom of many years? As a resident, are you giving back to the community?

You see, I can make no promises that Altoona will be a great place to live unless WE as a people do the right thing. Many of us claim to be people of faith --- let's live it out.

As a young dad, homeowner, and businessman, I want to embody an unselfish, serving approach --- asking not what the community can do for me, but what I can do for the community (to borrow from some famous words by President John F. Kennedy). I invite you to be involved.

(Posted 11-3-2005)

What Makes Altoona Unique?
What makes Altoona unique and special? Have you ever thought about that? When I describe Altoona to people who have never visited the area, I tell them about our heritage, the convenience of living in a city without the drawbacks of a large city, and about the landscape ("nestled in the Allegheny mountains"). I mention the challenges and advantages of our community.

However, Altoona is worth working for because of the people who call it home. Facilitating an environment of character, community and creativity is worth the effort because people are involved. The value of a person isn't based on what they 'contribute' but on the fact that they've been created and loved by God. It's for that reason that serving our neighbors and our community is indeed worth our time, energy, and passion.

(Posted 5-12-2005)

Character, Community, Creativity
Why were these three words chosen [as a slogan]? Character, because the foundation of anything we do for the City must be with integrity. Community, because it must be a community effort with residents from all walks of life. Creativity, because we should think "outside the box" with fresh ideas for our future.

(Posted 5-10-2005)

City Government
This past weekend, I visited a pastor and his wife who have lived in the "Badlands" of North Philadelphia for over 15 years. They moved there intentionally to impact that community --- and are living out their faith in a very dangerous, poverty-ridden and drug-infested area.

During my visit, I asked them about what it was like dealing with City government there. Their responses made me thankful for the City employees we have in Altoona. But it also makes me ask how we can make our City government more effective.

Repeatedly, it seems that communication is so important. Police relationships with residents; business owners' relationships with economic planners and leaders; City officials' relationships with Council... all make up the patchwork of interconnectedness in our community that helps us effectively work toward our goals.

(Posted 5-9-2005)

Downtown Memories
Hi everyone. I have a question. What is your fondest downtown memory? Also, what role do you think downtown should play in our City today? Do you feel optimistic, pessimistic, or indifferent about it? If you want to mention your age and line of work, that would be neat. To respond, please click here and fill out a contact form. Thanks!

(Posted 4-29-2005)

Manufacturing + Transportation + Technology = ?
In my business, we develop websites for a variety of industries. We are currently working on a major e-commerce project for a nutrition company. Being involved in these projects makes me think about the capabilities of the Internet. We've seen remarkable changes in technology the past ten years. Nations, companies and trading partners are getting closer and more within reach of one another. Political boundaries are less effective in keeping information, products and services isolated to specific geographical areas.

As a result, businesses today must compete in a vast market. How can Altoona use the resources we already have to strengthen our economic muscle? First, consider the manufacturing base that still exists in Altoona and Blair County --- factories and plants located in a low cost of living area with a high work ethic. Secondly, we have great transportation opportunities: local trucking companies, warehousing, I-99 and mainline rail access. Thirdly, we have a growing technology sector that can be used to help our products have international reach. (See www.abcdcorp.org and read about "I-Tech".)

Some people in our county are already thinking along these lines. But there are property owners, Internet developers, warehousing/shipping companies, and municipalities that are still out of the loop. We need to create a business-friendly Altoona and continue to network professionals, property owners, government officials and business people.

(Posted 4-28-2005)

What Causes Change?
I recently went on a week-long trip to Mexico City. Most of my days there were spent right in the heart of the city. I saw and experienced incredible things --- beautiful architecture, unique culture, delicious food and extensive poverty.

One of the most striking parts of my visit, however, was an organization I visited called Armonia ("Harmony" in Spanish). Armonia is a network of community centers that provide food, educational assistance, employment opportunities and safe recreational opportunities for children and their families. The family that ran Armonia showed a true dedication to their neighbors and their fellow citizens. In fact, they even moved to a very poor part of the city in order to serve their community.

Today, you can see the fruit of their work. In the midst of vast poverty, there were these bright spots --- cheerful children with grateful mothers and ever-improving facilities. Honest and generous people invested their time in bettering their community.

This incredible experience in Mexico City raises a question: What causes change? What changes neighborhoods? What changes families? What changes people?

At the root, people are impacted the most through genuine love and true care. This is a principle that stretches across ages and cultures. You know what? That means it is applicable to Altoona too.

I'd like to reflect more, but for now let's just remind ourselves that 'loving our neighbor' is indeed a great command. I welcome thoughts on how to do that here in Altoona.

(Posted 4-28-2005)

Apathy
One of the biggest problems we combat when facing the challenges of our community is Apathy. Unfortunately, I've seen it too often --- that attitude that focuses on the problems, roadblocks and perceived weaknesses, and determines that the hard work of improving and rebuilding our community is not worth the effort.

While I was in college, I even had relatives tell me not to move back to Blair County after I graduated. But Christina and I have not been disappointed at our decision. We've found strong friendships, terrific community resources and people who are passionate about Altoona.

If nothing else, I want my campaign to represent that each one of us should use the intelligence, work ethic and creativity we've been blessed with. This is what is needed to revitalize our City. But to do so we need to have the Character to care enough to jump in, a willingness to work together as a Community of people seeking the betterment of Altoona, and aggressively Creative approaches to our challenges.

(Posted 4-26-2005)

Welcome to the ILoveAltoona.com Blog!
Welcome to the ILoveAltoona.com Blog! Check back frequently for updates.

(Posted 4-22-2005)