bkibler@altoonamirror.com
City Council may consider an ordinance that would allow it to prohibit the use of jake brakes, although council is likely to put the prohibition into practice for now only along 31st Street below Mill Run, where a prior study would justify it.
Jake, or engine retarder brakes, slow diesel trucks on downhills by releasing cylinder compression earlier than normal so the compressions which continue to occur even with the throttle off don’t propel the truck forward, according to a video from Jacobs Vehicle Systems, a manufacturer.
The engine brakes are noisy, which has resulted in complaints from residents of the 31st Street neighborhood, due to trucks whose drivers are seeking to reduce speed they’ve built up on the way down Mill Run Road.
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Apr 10, 2021
From a retail perspective, downtown Altoona never will be the place it was a half-century ago, before businesses’ exodus to the corridor consisting of Plank Road, Pleasant Valley Boulevard and Valley View Boulevard.
However, the downtown has maintained a service character that, while not as vibrant as it could be, still is not stymied by deep-rooted pessimism.
Optimism does reign regarding the downtown’s possibilities, and it is uplifting that the optimism extends beyond leaders here who continue to promote the good things that this area has to offer. Actually, this community and its assets are on business “radar screens” across the United States.
bkibler@altoonamirror.com
The Altoona Planning Commission on Tuesday conditionally approved a land development plan for a $3 million project that will enable Senior LIFE to move from rental space in the Gables building downtown to a new structure on Fairway Drive.
The commission declined to waive a requirement that the firm construct a sidewalk along the 1,000-foot property frontage, but it accepted the company’s plan for two driveway openings, despite early concerns that egress from the property could create a hazard, due its location on an S curve.
The company argued for the sidewalk waiver based on the absence of sidewalks along almost the entire length of Fairway Drive.
wfrank@altoonamirror.com
A local independent pharmacy chain has been playing a big role in the administration of coronavirus vaccines.
“We started looking into this last May when the state started up its program. We thought it was our duty to be at the forefront,” said John Pastorek, director of pharmacy for Mainline Pharmacy.
“It is the Mainline culture to step in and take care of our communities. It is part of our mission to our patients and community in general,” said Steve DeCriscio, Mainline chief financial officer. “This is what we are all about the communities we live in and our patients. It is about our patients, to help people live better lives.”