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The benefits of public-private partnerships

We want to offer a big pat on the back to officials, volunteers and especially participating businesses in Bellefonte for agreeing to invest in a temporary ice-skating rink in Talleyrand Park perhaps as early as this winter. Local businessman Mark Dello Stritto told Bellefonte Borough Council recently that a non-refrigerated 40-foot by 60-foot rink would be placed in Talleyrand Park, next to the gazebo, and should last approximately five to six years. No question, it would be a draw to downtown ... as Bellefonte and other communities who have parks in their downtowns count those ...

There’s a new entrepreneurial spirit here, just look around

It seems new businesses are popping up all around our region. It’s wonderful to see storefronts covered with brown paper and bows or ribbons in anticipation of a grand opening or a ribbon cutting to mark an expansion. Whether a new craft brewery or jewelry store, women’s accessories, cigars, unique gifts, real estate services, it’s apparent there is a new entrepreneurial spirit in play in our region. Is this awful virus a motivation for people to get out and do something new ... or do something they’ve always wanted to do but were unwilling to take the risk? We think ...

Count your blessings

What are you thankful for? Is that a question you have an immediate answer to? Or not? Do you have to ponder the question to find the answer? We hope not. The fact that you’re reading this means you have a lot to be thankful for. To start with, you woke up today and you’re breathing. No, we’re not trying to make a joke here. Truly the blessings of life are all around. A card or email from a friend asking how you’re doing. A brief “hello” on the street from someone you don’t even know. A memory of a wonderful experience you had with a loved one or a ...

Prayer of Thanksgiving

For the laughter of the children, For my own life breath, For the abundance of food on this table, For the ones who prepared this sumptuous feast, For the roof over our heads, The clothes on our backs, For our health, And our wealth of blessings, For this opportunity to celebrate with family and friends, For the freedom to pray these words Without fear, In any language, In any faith, In this great country, Whose landscape is as vast and beautiful as her inhabitants. Thank You, God, for giving us all these. Amen.

Keeping an eye on the Elks Lodge downtown

If you’ve been paying attention to your community newspaper, you’ll know the Elks Lodge 182 in downtown Lock Haven is operating now as a club and not a public venue. The “Main Event” isn’t open for future rental, in other words. The Elks Lodge has a long and wonderful history in downtown — on Main Street. Run by a volunteer board, the organization in recent decades has struggled to make ends meet, especially once it upgraded to include an elevator and other renovations. Volunteers are just that — volunteers. They work hard to make things work — in this case, a ...

What have we learned? Nothing, apparently

We fervently make a plea to all who will listen: “Make More on Shore” in America. The dozens of cargo ships constantly waiting out at sea off the coast of California certainly make many things clear to us: - The United States imports far, far too many goods that should be made/manufactured on our own soil. - U.S. consumers in general do not care if most of what they buy comes from overseas. They prefer convenience and low cost over loyalty and American-made. - Too many U.S. companies put profits first: They have their products manufactured overseas because labor costs are ...