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Hi Altoona, hope you’re having a great weekend!

In today’s in-case-you-missed-it edition: Pricey property pockets, a locomotive honoring rail legacy, and the exoplanets sky show + the top stories from this week & a sneak peek at next week.

Today’s sponsor, American Hartford Gold, is helping folks around Altoona protect their savings as gold and silver continue to gain momentum. Their free guide explains what’s driving the surge… and what to know before adding precious metals to your portfolio. Grab your free copy here.

📰 Most-clicked stories this week

Pricey property pockets revealed: A new ranking shows which Altoona area cities have the steepest home prices, as the typical U.S. home value was $358,968 in January and higher rates keep monthly payments elevated — see the full list.

A legacy of community care: Sixty years in, Altoona’s Thompson Pharmacy remains family owned, delivering daily to long-term care across 10 counties as Bill III and Dana grow services and back Blair County pharmacy students — read the full story.

City tribute on the move: Norfolk Southern unveiled a locomotive named for Altoona, honoring the city’s rail legacy. Painted at the Juniata Locomotive Shop, it’s now in service and part of the railroad’s Landmark Series — read the full story.

Nothing prepares you for a pet emergency: I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. As soon as we got home, I signed up for Spot. It’s super affordable – and reimburses up to 90% of the bill.

Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175/month. Paying more than that? Same, so I did some shopping around and ended up cutting my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too — here’s the comparison tool I used.

All the crowd favorites:

• Experience a roaring 1920s speakeasy
• Celebrate St Patty’s with food and music
• Join free modern dance classes for adults
• Save on self-care during the CVS Epic Beauty Sale

🏆 Gold and silver are heating up

Together with our sponsor American Hartford Gold

Gold just posted its strongest run in decades… and the momentum is carrying into 2026. Silver has become one of the most talked-about assets as investors look for ways to stay ahead of market volatility.

While many are still sitting on the sidelines, others are quietly repositioning.

If you’re wondering whether you’re missing something, AHG has a free guide explaining what’s driving the renewed interest… and how investors are approaching precious metals right now.

It’s free and worth reading before the next move.

🫶 This week’s top finds

Hair day, upgraded: Quick refresh or full switch-up, JVC Beauty delivers glueless lace wigs, bundles, closures, and the small touches that make styles look intentional. Locally run by a stylist with 20+ years of experience, it’s the easy move when your mirror whispers, let’s try something new.

Make a night of it: Need an excuse to ditch the couch? Mishler Theatre keeps Altoona’s arts heartbeat thumping with stage shows, touring acts, and hometown productions on a beautifully restored historic stage. It’s the kind of night-out energy boost February desperately needs, no matter your seat, with history, talent, and local charm under one roof.

Vintage treasure hunt: From throwback coats and retro tees to estate jewelry, Everything Old is New Again refreshes the racks with vintage for all sizes, plus quirky collectibles you never knew you needed. Ideal for an unhurried browse close to home when you’re craving something one of a kind.

Thinning hair? It only gets worse: A few months ago, I noticed my ponytail getting thinner. I tried the usual stuff (biotin, shampoo, etc.) but mostly just hoped it would fix itself… until I learned that active follicles can permanently go dormant if you don’t do something about it. The good news? You can get treatment that actually works with no office visits or trips to the pharmacy. Learn more about my favorite online options here.

📆 Sneak peek at next week

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.

☘ St. Paddy’s Paint and Sip! @ Funky Claud’s | Wednesday (3/11) at 6:00 PM – If you’ve been waiting for a classy way to celebrate St. Paddy’s that doesn’t involve shouting over bagpipes, try this paint and sip. Low-pressure instruction, generous pours, and a canvas you can actually hang, or at least blame on the Guinness.

🐉 How to Train Your Dragon (2025) @ Altoona Area Public Library | Friday (3/13) at 1:00 PM – Free movie at Altoona Area Public Library, featuring the new How to Train Your Dragon on the big-ish screen. Whether you’re wrangling kids, grandkids, or just your inner Viking, expect air conditioning, zero ticket price, and the rare chance to finish a story without scrolling.

🐰 Easter Bunny Portraits @ The Film Center | Saturday (3/14) at 9:00 AM – Skip the mall chaos and get Easter Bunny portraits at The Film Center, the kind you’ll actually frame. Walk in, bring the kids or the dog, and pick prints or a digital upload, all for $30. Mantle-worthy, grandparent-approved.

💐 Bouquets and Bagels @ Wildfire | Saturday (3/14) at 10:00 AM – Whether your closet needs a thaw or you’re just here for carbs, Wildfire’s spring launch in downtown Altoona brings new arrivals, USA-made denim. Build a bouquet, hit the charm bar, snag a seed packet, and shop with free bagels, fitting rooms, and fresh lilac.

🔭 Exoplanets Sky Show @ Neil Armstrong Planetarium | Saturday (3/14) at 11:00 AM – Catch a Saturday matinee as the Exoplanets Sky Show debuts, with a quick intro to get you space savvy. It is a cushy tour of worlds beyond our solar system, zero turbulence, no sunscreen, and the cheapest trip you will take all year.

🎾 Pickleball Round Robin @ Gorilla House Gym, Altoona | Saturday (3/14) at 11:00 AM – Rally for heart health at Gorilla House Gym’s pickleball round robin, a fundraiser for the American Heart Association’s Go Red Woman of Impact campaign. You’ll get 15 games, The Pickled Guy’s goods, and bragging rights, assuming you bring a paddle, water, and good manners.

🎲 Basket Bingo 2026 @ The Bavarian Aid Society | Sunday (3/15) at 2:00 PM – Grab your lucky dauber and snag tickets to Basket Bingo, where 35 bucks gets you a meal, a non-alcoholic drink ticket, and 20 games of bragging rights. Bringing six or more? Reserve a table for 15 more, cash, check, or Venmo.

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.

• Industry-leading home warranty protection ($150 off right now)
• This free tool helps connect you with the right financial advisor
• 62+? See how much tax-free cash your home could unlock → free calculator
• Got debt? You may be able to pay less than you owe
• Protect your pet from disaster with this pet insurance plan
• You can own physical gold and silver in your retirement account

📻 Altoona report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 60°F – Low: 43°F – Precip: 36%

A chance of rain showers before 8am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 60. West wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible. Later: Clear, with a low around 43. Southwest wind 5 to 8 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph.

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Tomorrow – High: 67°F – Low: 48°F – Precip: 0%

Sunny, with a high near 67. Southwest wind 5 to 8 mph. Later: Clear, with a low around 48.

Someone Googled you this week 👀

It may feel like an invasion of privacy, but unfortunately It’s the new normal. Whether you’re joining a committee, selling something locally, dating again, or just meeting new neighbors… people are going to look you up online.

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 outdated results that no longer tell the real story. Learn more here.

Most popular house this week

This 3-bed, 1.5-bath Highland Park charmer in Altoona pairs classic warmth with fresh updates. Sunlit hardwoods and a brick fireplace anchor living and dining, opening to a kitchen with stainless appliances and a walk-in pantry. Upstairs are three bedrooms, including a primary with walk-in closet. Outside, patio stones lead to a fire pit, plus an attached garage and unfinished basement.

Take a peek inside →