Mayor's Newsletter - March 2026

National Irish-American History Month

Mayor Matt Pacifico highlights the contributions of Irish immigrants to Altoona, particularly regarding the construction of the Horseshoe Curve between 1850 and 1854. The newsletter notes that over 400 Irish immigrants worked on this infrastructure using only picks, shovels, and mules. It also mentions the establishment of the Ancient Order of Hibernians in 1899 and states that roughly 18% of Altoona and Blair County residents claim Irish ancestry.

Community Events & Opportunities

Altoona Area Public Library Golf Event

• Adult-Only Mini Golf: Friday, March 6th, 2026, from 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM. Cost is $20. 00 per person (ages 18+). Includes hors d'oeuvres and mocktails.
• Family Mini-Golf: Saturday, March 7th, 2026, from 9:30 AM – 3:00 PM. Cost is $5 per ticket. Tee times are every 30 minutes (last tee time at 2:30 PM). Children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult.
• Tickets: Available at the library or by calling 814-946-0417.

PA CareerLink® Spring Job Fair

PA CareerLink® Blair County will host a major hiring event.

• Date: Wednesday, April 1, 2026.
• Time: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM (Early access for veterans begins at 9:30 AM).
• Location: Jaffa Shrine, 2200 Broad Avenue, Altoona.
• Details: Over 85 employers will be present. Attendees are encouraged to bring multiple copies of their resumes.

The Hub (After-School Program)

PA CareerLink® offers a no-cost after-school program for students in grades 6 through 12.

• Schedule: Every Wednesday, 2:30 PM – 4:30 PM.
• Location: Altoona Area Public Library, 2nd floor, PA Career Link Conference Room.
• Activities: Job readiness skills, resume tips, mock interviews, and games. Snacks and drinks are provided. No registration is required; students can drop in.
• Contact: Tiffany Zimmerman at 814-288-7795 or tzimmerman@gogoodwill. org.

Sister City Program: St. Polten Visit

Altoona is celebrating 25 years of its Sister City partnership with St. Polten, Austria.

• Visit Dates: March 24th through April 1st.
• Participants: 25 students and four adults from St. Polten will visit Altoona, staying with local host families.
• Activities: Students will attend local high schools (Altoona Area, Hollidaysburg Area, or Bishop Guilfoyle) and visit sites like the Altoona Curve PNG Stadium and Penn State Altoona Campus.
• Residents can contribute via the Central Pennsylvania Community Foundation (CPCF) website under "Sister City Fund. "

WISE Women Scholarship Opportunities

WISE Women of Blair County and the Donna D. Gority Scholarship are seeking applications for financial assistance.

• Award Amount: Up to $10,000 through one or more scholarships.
• Eligibility: Blair County resident females, 21 years or older, who have overcome adversity or discrimination and are pursuing post-secondary education.
• Deadline: Friday, March 27, 2026, at 4:00 PM.
• Submission: Applications can be submitted via email to info@wisewomenofblaircounty. org or by US Postal mail to P. O. Box 134, Hollidaysburg, PA 16648.
• Application Packet: Available at www. wisewomenofblaircounty. org.

Know Your City: Altoona Police Department

The newsletter recognizes the work of the Altoona Police Department, which handled nearly 31,000 calls for service in 2025 and welcomed ten new officers.

• Community Engagement: The department participates in K-9 demonstrations, the Polar Plunge, Law Enforcement Torch Run (for Special Olympics), National Night Out, and "Shop With A Cop. "
• K-9 Unit: Officers Pongo and Blue are active in the city. Officer Blue recently achieved his 200th drug deployment.