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Happy weekend, Altoona! 

In today’s happening-today edition: Hints of Martian habitability, a five-generation family photo, and the Spheres Bubble Show + events worth checking out today & tomorrow.

Today’s sponsor (Money.com) built a free comparison tool that helped me cut my car insurance premiums in half. It took about 3 minutes, and honestly… I wish I’d done it sooner. If you haven’t shopped around in a while, you can easily check the best rates here.

📰 In the news

Hints of Martian habitability: Penn State Altoona researchers and international partners tested simulated Martian soil with tardigrades. Activity dropped, but findings suggest processed regolith could help create functional soils for future plants and people — see what the study found.

Nearly a century of matriarchs: Altoona’s Mary Patricia “Patty” Swope, 96, appears with five generations of women, including daughter Nancy Smith, granddaughter Sharon Hoover, great-granddaughter Sarah Orr, and great-great-granddaughter Adalyn Grace Orr, born in January — see the family photo.

Inside a professor’s playbook: Published February 19, a profile spotlights Penn State Altoona associate professor Kyle King, a Greenville High tennis and golf alum who merges sport humanities scholarship with tennis teaching for students — read the full profile.

Gold & silver are hot: Coming off gold’s best year since 1979, the momentum is carrying well into 2026 with silver remaining one of the most talked-about assets. Curious why they’re back in focus? American Hartford Gold has a free guide that explains what’s happening and how people are approaching it today. It’s free – and definitely worth a read.

Someone Googled you this week: Whether you’re dating again, selling something locally, or just meeting new neighbors… people are going to look you up. Like it or not, the internet has a way of surfacing past mistakes and outdated information that no longer reflects who you are. Thankfully, there’s a really easy way for you (or someone you care about) to clean up all that up – learn more here.

Highlights this week:

• Get Easter Bunny portraits, pets welcome
• Join mindfulness meditation and discussion
• Families learn CRAFT to support recovery
• Over 62? See how to turn home equity into tax-free cash

🚗 Are you quietly overpaying for car insurance?

Together with our sponsor Money.com

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I learned that the hard way. I had the same policy for half a decade. Autopay was on, I saw the charges come in every month and never thought twice about them. Turns out I was paying well above the national average ($175/mo) for a single car… for years.

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🫶 We got your back

A bright local landmark: Need a quick mood lift between errands? The 11th Avenue Mural by Sarah Garber turns a blank wall into Altoona’s past-meets-future panorama, all bold color, rail-town roots, and trail-town vibes. It has a knack for resetting the day and sparking weekend-adventure energy.

Fabric fix for WIPs: When projects need crisp yardage, batting, or that elusive notion, Frye’s Sweeper & Sewing Center delivers quilting cottons, thread, and genuinely helpful humans who speak bobbin. The good stuff that keeps creative streaks gliding smoothly, minus tangles.

Downtown pints, anyone? Levity Brewing Co. Altoona Taproom is a laid-back, two-level hangout with brewhouse views, a full kitchen, and a cozy music space that turns a regular night into something better. Ideal for a midweek reset with a friend.

An emergency vet visit could cost you $7,000+ (ask me how I know 🙃). From the initial fee just to be seen to x-rays, surgery, medicine, and aftercare, it adds up quicker than a chew toy turns into a crime scene. The good news? You could get up to 90% cash back on your vet bill with this pet insurance plan.

📆 Around town today & tomorrow

Have an event to share? BaseLocal Verified Businesses can submit them for free! Learn more about how to submit an event here →

All events are subject to change without notice. Always check official event pages for the most up to date information.

📖 Story and Craft Hour @ Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art Altoona | Saturday (3/7) at 1:00 PM – Give the toy bin a break and head to SAMA for story time and a take-home craft. They’ll hear a tale, make something proudly wobbly, and you’ll bank a little calm, plus new fridge decor. Ideal for ages 3 to 6, with a grownup attached.

🎭 The Music Man @ Levity Brewing Co. | Saturday (3/7) at 7:00 PM – Take a break from the grind and swing by the taproom for Ron Balestino, the open-mic regular who somehow makes Tuesdays feel like Saturday. Expect foot-tapping covers, sneaky originals, and easygoing singalongs, plus the usual neighborhood chatter, decent pours, and zero pretense.

🍺 The Pubcrawlers @ Behe Brothers’ Brewing Company | Saturday (3/7) at 7:00 PM – Grab your comfy shoes and head to Behe Brothers Brewing for DD & The Pubcrawlers. Expect high-energy tunes, proper pints, and just enough dance floor mischief to remind your knees they still work. Bring a friend, claim a stool, then promptly abandon it.

🎸 Libcor and more @ McGarveys Bar | Saturday (3/7) at 9:00 PM – McGarvey’s is hosting a kind of punk throwdown with Cleveland’s LibCor, Altoona’s own Xs For Eyes, and Pennsylvania sunshine merchants Bummed. Expect hooks, grit, and volume that cleans the cobwebs, not your clock. It’s rowdy in spirit, friendly in practice, and gloriously local.

💍 Bliss Beyond the Veil Bridal Expo @ The Eldolyn Terrace | Sunday (3/8) at 11:00 AM – This curated bridal expo is shaking up wedding planning with top local photographers, florists, cake makers, and venues, plus immersive inspiration and exclusive giveaways. Think less chair cover catalog, more you. There’s beauty and self care, bridal party bonding, and fewer mason jars.

👜 2026 Designer Purse Bingo @ Jaffa Shrine Center | Sunday (3/8) at 12:00 PM – If your handbag’s older than the kids who borrow it, come play Designer Purse Bingo at Jaffa. Fifteen games, lunch included, special giveaways, and prizes from Kate Spade, Coach, Michael Kors, and more. Advance tickets are $30, proceeds benefit the Jaffa Kiddies Christmas Party.

🎸 2nd Sunday Uke Jam @ ArtsAltoona | Sunday (3/8) at 2:00 PM – Whether you’ve been strumming since campfires or just nailed C, F, and G, this second Sunday uke jam suits confident beginners and up. No uke, no problem, borrow one, and lean on The Daily Ukulele, Yellow, Blue, and Purple, kept breezy, not Broadway.

Live music & entertainment:

• 3/7 The Music Man @ Levity Brewing Co. – 7:00 PM
• 3/7 The Pubcrawlers @ Behe Brothers’ Brewing Company – 7:00 PM
• 3/7 Libcor and more @ McGarveys Bar – 9:00 PM
• 3/8 2nd Sunday Uke Jam @ ArtsAltoona – 2:00 PM
• 3/8 Spheres Bubble Show @ Mishler Theatre – 3:00 PM
• 3/12 Melanie Waldman @ Greenbean Coffee House – 6:00 PM
• 3/13 The American Mood @ Molly’s Pub + Grill – 8:00 PM

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

🔥 Worth a peek

We’re always on the hunt for useful resources, deals, services, and products we think you’ll love. Here’s what caught our eye this week.

• Thinning hair? Don’t wait – here are 3 treatments that work
• This free tool helps connect you with the right financial advisor
• Got debt? You may be able to pay less than you owe
• You can own physical gold and silver in your retirement account
• Treat yourself: Save on self-care during the CVS Epic Beauty Sale

📻 Altoona report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 69°F – Low: 51°F – Precip: 70%

Areas of fog before 9am, then a chance of rain showers and patchy fog between 9am and 1pm, then showers and thunderstorms likely. Partly sunny, with a high near 69. South wind 6 to 9 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible. Later: Showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 51. Southwest wind 7 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

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Tomorrow – High: 60°F – Low: 42°F – Precip: 63%

Showers and thunderstorms likely before 2pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 60. West wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible. Later: Mostly clear, with a low around 42.

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This house is wild

This 3-bed, 2-bath home offers city-style convenience in a quieter setting on a large, flat, fenced lot. A two-car garage simplifies parking and storage. The star is a very spacious covered, enclosed deck that brings the fresh air without the bugs, creating an all-weather hangout. Room to play, relax, and entertain with ease.

Take a peek inside →