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The Student News Site of Altoona Area High School

Mountain Echo
Altoona Area High School
1404 Sixth Avenue
Altoona, PA 16602
The Student News Site of Altoona Area High School

Mountain Echo
The Student News Site of Altoona Area High School

Mountain Echo
Mattie Baker

Mattie Baker, Associate Editor

I am an associate editor and this is my second year on staff! I’ve always loved reading and writing. My dream job, at the moment, is to work at Barnes & Nobles and drink Starbucks on the daily. I’m obsessed with action movies like “Bullet Train,” “John Wick” and “James Bond.” I also have a passion for art. I’ve been taking extra art classes for over 10 years! Later in my life, I hope to be a storyboard artist and author.

All content by Mattie Baker
Smile. The student council poses for a quick group picture after packing their holiday baskets. The students filled laundry baskets with donated goods, including food, cleaning supplies and toiletries (courtesy of Jessica Hogan).

Student council to take field trip

Mattie Baker, Associate Editor
April 4, 2025
Glass from the past. The National Art Honors Society visits the Corning Museum of Glass in Corning, NY, in mid April and surveys this glass sculpture. The piece, "Nocturne 5", was created by Karen LaMonte and was inspired by her observations of the night sky as well as historical astronomy and piano compositions.

NAHS to take trip to Carnegie Museum

Mattie Baker, Associate Editor
April 1, 2025
"The Lighthouse" is available for streaming on Max. The movie ran for 110 minutes.

Last night’s movie [6]

Emmalee Martyak and Mattie Baker
March 28, 2025
Editorial Cartoon

Editorial Cartoon

Mattie Baker, Associate Editor
March 28, 2025
Neon nostalgia. "Mister Magic" explores what happens to the things that get left in the past. The novel was Kiersten White's 2023 release.

March Book of the Month

Mattie Baker, Associate Editor
March 23, 2025
Spring switch. Switch up movie night with these subgenres. The films featured were "The Wailing", "Midsommar", "The Killer", "Oldboy", "Cunk on Life", and "Crimson Peak".

Spring into new stories

Mattie Baker, Associate Editor
March 14, 2025
Now playing. "The House" is a Netflix Special. The movie ran for 97 minutes.

Last night’s movie [5]

Emmalee Martyak and Mattie Baker
February 26, 2025
Run! Brandon Lyle competes at a track meet last season. Lyle has been running cross country and track since junior high. (Courtesy of Brandon Lyle)

Track season to begin

Mattie Baker, Associate Editor
February 26, 2025
Chills and thrills. “Episode Thirteen” by Craig DiLouie tells the story of a team of ghost hunters who stumble upon a real haunted house. The novel was DiLouie’s 2023 release. (Made with Canva.)

[Photo] January Book of the Month

Mattie Baker, Associate Editor
January 23, 2025
Case closed. The mock trial team poses for a picture after a competition. The team was split into A and B because of the increase in student interest in the club. Photo courtesy of Reyna Ospina Nunes.

The trials of mock trial

Mattie Baker, Associate Editor
February 13, 2025
Editorial Cartoon

Editorial Cartoon

Mattie Baker, Associate Editor
January 31, 2025
Now playing. "Requiem for a Dream" is free to watch on Tubi, Pluto TV, PLEX and Fandango at Home. The movie ran for 102 minutes.

Last night’s movie [4]

Emmalee Martyak and Mattie Baker
January 29, 2025
All lit up. Trees covered entirely in lights lead the way at the popular winter attraction, "Lights on the Lake". "Lights on the Lake" was located within Lakemont Park behind the Curve.

Winter time

Mattie Baker, Associate Editor
January 23, 2025
Chill in the air. Snow covers the ground, showing no sign of melting. Due to the extreme temperatures, students were kept at home to stay warm.

Close-up. Skaters at the Rockefeller Center Rink look up and see the Christmas tree above them. Directly below the tree was a statue of the Greek figure, Prometheus.

Glowing greenhouse. The entrance at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens is lit up and decorated with wreathes for the holiday season. Phipps Conservatory had a series of "Winter Nights and Festive Lights" shows in honor of the time of year.

No snow. The trails at the Blue Knob Ski Resort find themselves without much snow over students' winter break. The Blue Knob lodge is a popular destination for skiers and snowboarders in the area.

Poinsettia paradise. An indoor garden at Phipps Conservatory is filled to the brim with red poinsettias. Poinsettias were a popular symbol of the holiday season.

Perfect pics. People stop to get a picture of the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center in New York City. The tree towered above the ice skating rink below it.

Festive florals. A winter display of a reindeer-drawn carriage pulls in viewers at Phipps Conservatory. The conservatory was located in Pittsburgh, PA.

Guten tag. A pair of nutcrackers welcome customers entering the Christkindl Market in Mifflinburg, PA. The members of the FLC visited the German Christmas market before winter break.

Ice is nice. Ice skaters zip by at the UPMC Rink at PPG Place. Located in downtown Pittsburgh, PA, the rink drew a crowd over the winter season.

Hollywood horror. The main character of "Nosferatu" (2024), Ellen, walks toward a Gothic mansion in a trance. Directed by Robert Eggers, the film was an adaptation of Bram Stoker's "Dracula" and F. W. Murnau's "Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror."

“Nosferatu”: a horror movie with a bite

Mattie Baker, Associate Editor
January 14, 2025
"Cure With C.A.R.E." The slogan for the CARE club is directly related to its mission. The club specialized in cancer awareness, research and education.

CARE club to have first meeting

Mattie Baker, Associate Editor
January 14, 2025
Season's greetings. Movies "Frosty the Snowman", "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" and "Krampus", are among the many popular features of the holidays. "Frosty the Snowman" came out in 1969, "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" came out in 1989 and "Krampus" came out in 2015.

Last night’s movie [3]

Mattie Baker and Emmalee Martyak
December 19, 2024
Holiday time. 2022’s FLC members pose in front of the Strip’s “Light Up Night” Christmas tree.

FLC to take annual trip

Mattie Baker, Associate Editor
December 18, 2024
Seasonal sips. Starbucks offers new and old drinks for the holidays. The coffee chain kept their drinks from years prior, and added a new cranberry flavored refresher to the menu.

‘Tis the season at Starbucks

Mattie Baker, Associate Editor
December 5, 2024
Hard at work. Poultry in Motion junior player Adelyn Himmelwright goes to grab senior Mya Mielnik's flag during the semi-finals. Poultry in Motion took home the championship title for the 2024 Turkey Bowl.

Ready to run: 2024 Turkey Bowl takes place

Charlie Kephart, Mattie Baker, Emmalee Martyak, Madison Aboud, Andie Kephart, and Emma Hovan
November 26, 2024
Mattie Baker

Editorial Cartoon

Mattie Baker, Associate Editor
November 25, 2024
Cult classic. Rachel Harrison's "Black Sheep" is centered around the return of a woman to her family's religious cult. It was Harrison's fifth addition to the horror genre, with her sixth and most recent book being "So Thirsty".

November Book of the Month

Mattie Baker, Associate Editor
November 23, 2024
Dunkin' delicious. Dunkin' releases a whole line up of new drinks for the holiday season. A selection of signature lattes, cold brews and coffees were all added to the menu to bring some holiday cheer.

The holidays at Dunkin’

Mattie Baker, Associate Editor
November 15, 2024
Apple season. Barrels of all kinds of apples stand waiting to be bought at Leighty's Farm Market. The market was located in Newry, Pa. and was known for their extensive produce selection.

The end of fall

Mattie Baker, Associate Editor
November 6, 2024
Now playing. "You Are Not My Mother" is available to watch on Hulu. The movie ran for 93 minutes.

Last night’s movie [2]

Emmalee Martyak and Mattie Baker
October 31, 2024
Fall reads. The books that get every type of reader into the fall spirit. These books belong to all different genres, but are united by their autumn-like atmosphere.

Fall reads

Mattie Baker, Associate Editor
October 15, 2024
Editorial Cartoon

Editorial Cartoon

Mattie Baker, Associate Editor
October 14, 2024
Super studious. Junior Natalie Duffy pauses her studying at Starbucks to show off her favorite hoodie. Duffy studied for her AP classes while drinking an iced coffee.

Now showing. "Last Night in Soho" is available to watch on Prime Video. The movie ran for 146 minutes.

Last night’s movie

Emmalee Martyak and Mattie Baker
October 5, 2024
Spooky skeletons. Three skeletons wait to startle anyone who dares to enter "Field of Screams". The sheer size of the skeletons added to the strange and eerie atmosphere of the park.

“Field of Screams” haunted attraction

Mattie Baker, Associate Editor
September 30, 2024
Monster mash. Juniors (from left to right) Tessa Easton, Margaret Brouse, Grace Hovan and Grace Long pose with a monster dummy at the end of their trip to "Field of Screams". The group visited all four attractions at the park, which included two haunted houses, one outdoor haunt and a haunted hayride.

Don't look up. Passengers of the haunted hayride watch fake bodies fly overhead, as they are told that they may be next by an actor. This scene is from the abandoned warehouse set of the "Field of Screams" hayride.

Vertigo. Riders of the "Field of Screams" haunted hayride sit in a long tunnel that looks to be moving around them. The hayride took tourists through several horror sets, including a big top circus and an alien research center.

Danger zone. Anxious tourists wait in line at the "Nocturnal Wasteland" attraction. "Nocturnal Wasteland" was a peek at what could happen if a toxic meltdown were to take place.

V.I.P. Juniors Grace Hovan and Grace Long show off their tickets to "Field of Screams". "Field of Screams" is a popular haunted attraction located in Lancaster, PA.

"Dare to return". Tourists walk in and out of the haunted park, passing by actors dressed as clowns and ghouls. This space under the "Field of Screams" arch can also be used for picture taking, complete with two life-like zombie mannequins.

Enter if you dare. One of four attractions, "Applegate Asylum", is a haunted house at "Field of Screams". The house was complete with many hospital-themed rooms and even a few crawlspaces.

Photobomb. A worker at "Field of Screams" turns the tables on a group of people and takes a selfie instead of their group picture. At "Field of Screams" there were many actors dressed in costume walking around ready to scare passersby.

Stealthy. Am animatronic waits patiently for its next victim. "Field of Screams" had a variety of impressive technology used to up the scare-factor.

Horrific. "How to Sell a Haunted House" by Grady Hendrix is a scary good time. It was the author's 2023 release.

September Book of the Month

Mattie Baker, Associate Editor
September 23, 2024
Rotten. Some of the worst reviews of the worst movies of the year. Sources were taken from IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes.

Why the film industry is flopping

Mattie Baker, Editor
September 18, 2024
Superintendent Brad Hatch addresses teachers at 9 a.m. Friday morning prior to student arrival. Hatch assured teachers the threat had been investigated.

Security threat causes two hour delay

Gracie Gioiosa, Emmalee Martyak, and Mattie Baker
September 13, 2024
Learn. The library is where a variety of activities take place. In the past, not only has there been after-school tutoring, but also therapy dog days and wellness seminars.

National Honor Society holds tutoring sessions

Mattie Baker, Editor
September 13, 2024
Apply. Students have on-line and off-line opportunities to apply for college scholarships. Most scholarships can be expected to begin in October.

Scholarship opportunities offered for students

Mattie Baker, Associate Editor
September 6, 2024
Senior sneak peek. A senior decorates her parking spot during the 2023 Senior Week. Parking spot and car decorating have been a key part of the school's Senior Week (photo courtesy of Megan Shultz).

Senior week to take place week of May 20

Mattie Baker, Reporter
May 9, 2024
Smile. The student council poses for a quick group picture after packing their holiday baskets. The students filled laundry baskets with donated goods, including food, cleaning supplies and toiletries (courtesy of Jessica Hogan).

Student council to take field trip to Hershey Park

Mattie Baker, Reporter
May 8, 2024
Women in business. From left to right, students Leah Petrunak, Rhea Liss, Miley Naugle, Kenly Bennett, and Cadence Ellick pose with their YEA plaques. After committing to weekly classes and growing their business plans, all the YEA students attended an investor panel and a graduation ceremony.

The YEA experience

Mattie Baker, Reporter
April 29, 2024
Rivals. Spotify and Apple Music are the most even on the streaming-service playing field. Spotify was officially launched in 2008, and Apple Music in 2015. [Made with Canva]

The superior streaming service

Emmalee Martyak and Mattie Baker
April 17, 2024
Gutsy. "GUTS (spilled)" is former Disney star, Olivia Rodrigo's second album. Her first, "SOUR", won her three Grammy awards in 2022.

A punch to the guts

Mattie Baker, Reporter
April 2, 2024
Amazing art. These glass flowers are handmade by skilled artisans. Corning Museum of Art has held pieces like this and more in their gift shop.

Art society to go on fieldtrip

Mattie Baker, Reporter
March 28, 2024
Thrilling. "The Only One Left" by Riley Sager is his most recent release to date. Readers can look forward to his next book, which will be released in the summer of 2024, "Middle of the Night".

Murder Mystery March

Mattie Baker, Reporter
March 28, 2024
Unethical. "BookTok" is one of the most popular and widespread subcommunities of TikTok. Still, no regulations were put on it or its participating creators.

BookTok: one mess that needs to be fixed

Mattie Baker, Reporter
March 15, 2024
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Mattie Baker