radioNOVO News for Altoona: June 1, 2026

RNN ALTOONA 06/01/26          THE ALTOONA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA HAS NARROWED ITS MUSIC DIRECTOR SEARCH TO FOUR FINALISTS WHO WILL EACH CONDUCT AND PRESENT A PROGRAM DURING THE ORCHESTRA’S 98TH SEASON. TWO CANDIDATES WILL PERFORM IN THE FALL AND TWO IN THE SPRING, WITH A FINAL SELECTION EXPECTED AT SEASON’S END. THE SEARCH FOLLOWS LONGTIME MUSIC DIRECTOR NICK PALMER’S RETIREMENT AFTER 30 YEARS. OFFICIALS SAY THE NEW DIRECTOR WILL BE CHOSEN BASED ON ARTISTIC VISION AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.          THE ALTOONA WATER AUTHORITY IS FACING DELAYS IN ITS PLAN TO BUILD A 12-INCH WATER LINE TO SERVE THE HOLLIDAYSBURG VETERANS HOME AND A NEW RESIDENCE HALL. OFFICIALS SAY EASEMENT ISSUES WITH THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES’ BUREAU OF FORESTRY ARE HOLDING UP APPROVAL. THE AUTHORITY SAYS PROPOSED LANGUAGE FROM THE BUREAU IS TOO RESTRICTIVE AND COULD DELAY THE PROJECT UNTIL LATE THIS YEAR. THE STATE WILL REIMBURSE THE COST ONCE THE PROJECT MOVES FORWARD.