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Hey Erie, hope your week’s off to a good start!

In today’s wallet-friendly edition: Gnome succulent garden, untold stories of WWII women, and a $10k cat emergency + lots of fun things to do for free.

Today’s sponsor, American Hartford Gold, is helping folks around Erie 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.

📰 In the news

Find your path to service: Nine Erie volunteer ideas for teens and families highlight options during the school year, weekends, and breaks, from helping animals to supporting arts programs and visiting with seniors — see the nine options.

Profiles of influential pioneers: UPMC Hamot is hosting the Discovering Black Erie exhibit honoring leaders like Harry Burleigh and Mother Mary Beth Kennedy. The display is on view at the hospital for several weeks — see what’s on display.

Narrow decision draws scrutiny: Erie County Council approved nearly $250,000 for the Erie 250 Community Grant Program in a 4-3 vote, with matching funds included and one council member voicing concerns — 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.

Highlights this week:

• Transform flowerpots into gnome succulent gardens
• Celebrate a 70th with Irish music
• Hear untold stories of WWII women

🫶 We got your back

Old-school sub craving: Teresa’s Italian Deli has been slinging scratch-made subs and Italian comfort since 1949… think warm meatball bliss, kettle-made soups, and in-house bread and cookies. When you want an easy, no-fuss lunch or dinner this week, it reliably hits the spot.

Quick nature fix: A slow bike lap around Presque Isle State Park, with its 13-mile loop, sandy beaches, and Lake Erie views, delivers a midweek reset. Sunsets over the water and quiet lagoon walks make this peninsula a reliably refreshing quick escape.

Downtown toy detour: Whether you’re ducking out on an errand or bribing a cranky Monday, expERIEnce Children’s Museum Gift Shop is stocked with well-made, screen-free toys, Crazy Aaron slimes, and cuddly sidekicks. No museum admission needed to pop in. Snag a quick gift that actually gets played with.

Why your last diet didn’t work: Sustained weight loss is nearly impossible with diet alone. Your body literally fights back by making you hungrier the moment you start restricting calories. That’s why more doctors are recommending GLP-1s. The best part? Getting them has never been easier. We compared three programs to help you find the right fit. See which ones stood out →

Your data is for sale right now: There are over 400 websites selling your info to marketers, political campaigns, and scammers. They’ve got your phone number, home address, relatives’ names… you name it. That’s how robocallers seem to know everything about you before you pick up. You can remove your info one site at a time, or pay a service to do it for you. Here’s what we recommend →

📆 Free events worth checking out

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.

🔨 Master Builders Block Party @ Lincoln Branch Library | Tuesday (3/10) at 3:00 PM – Think you’ve got the chops to be a master builder? Swing by the Lincoln Library’s block party on the second Tuesday, a free drop-in where LEGO, KEVA planks, Duplo, and wooden blocks await. Kids build empires, you enjoy supervision, and no IKEA instructions required.

🎨 Creative Connections: Teaching Artists with Disabilities @ Erie Art Museum | Wednesday (3/11) at 5:00 PM – If you want art that includes everyone, hit this free panel at Erie Art Museum. Teaching artists share practical tips for working with kids and adults with disabilities, from adapting materials, communication, and pacing. Plus a quick Erie Arts and Culture Gallery exhibit, and snacks.

🎬 The Underground Railroad: Limited Series @ The 10/20 Collective | Wednesday (3/11) at 5:00 PM – Whether you binged it in 2021 or never got around to it, watch Barry Jenkins’ The Underground Railroad with Dr. Rhonda Matthews guiding discussion. Free entry, free popcorn, first-come seats. Stay for the feature and pony up for admission or dinner, GF and vegan included.

💡 From Founders to Frontiers: 250 Years of Northwest Pennsylvania Innovation @ Jefferson Educational Society | Friday (3/13) at 12:00 PM – Keystone Sparks kicks off with Brian Slawin of Ben Franklin Technology Partners tracing 250 years from ships and steel to plastics, insurance tech, and AI, plus what it takes to keep our engine humming. Expect history, grit, and ideas turning into jobs, no buzzword bingo.

👪 Family Fun Day! @ Werner Books | Saturday (3/14) at 10:00 AM – March Saturdays call for herding the kids to Werner Books for free crafts, games, and a sanity-saving read-aloud. They’re rolling out themes like Waldameer with author David Gorman, shamrocks, and baseball with the DeLuca brothers, plus a hopeful nod to spring, finally.

🐱 Coloring with Cats @ Erie Animal Network Adoption Center | Sunday (3/15) at 2:00 PM – If your stress level could use a purr, swap errands for an afternoon coloring session with the cats at the adoption center. They’ll supervise your glitter gel pen technique, you’ll sip something light, and it’s free, but seats vanish fast, so RSVP early. Donations welcome.

🧓 Forever Curious Senior Festival @ Tom Ridge Environmental Center Foundation | Monday (3/16) at 10:00 AM – Forget the sleepy senior fair stereotype. TREC is turning curiosity into a field day with hands-on discovery stations, the region’s Big Green Screen, and the Grumpy Brothers riffing on the good ole days. Expect boomer flashbacks, nature docs, free admission, and blissfully easy parking.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

📻 Erie report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 70°F – Low: 50°F – Precip: 41%

A chance of rain showers between 7am and 5pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny. High near 70, with temperatures falling to around 61 in the afternoon. South wind around 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible. Later: Showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 50. Southeast wind 6 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

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Tomorrow – High: 69°F – Low: 27°F – Precip: 99%

Showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a high near 69. Southwest wind 16 to 21 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between three quarters and one inch possible. Later: Showers and thunderstorms before 11pm, then rain and snow showers likely between 11pm and 2am, then a slight chance of rain and snow showers. Cloudy, with a low around 27. West wind 14 to 23 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of less than half an inch possible.

Are you quietly overpaying for car insurance? 🚗

Premiums have been climbing across Pennsylvania but most folks won’t notice until they’re hit with a higher bill when it’s time to renew.

That’s exactly what happened to me. I had the same policy for half a decade. Autopay was on, it was out of sight and out of mind. Turns out I was blindly paying way more than everyone else I knew.

If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too – here’s the comparison tool I used.

This house is wild

This four-bedroom split-foyer home claims a prime Millcreek location. It offers 2.5 baths, including a full bath connected to the lower-level game room. An additional two-car garage with concrete floors doubles as a workshop or storage. A large yard and kitchen-adjacent back deck invite gatherings, and Grandview Elementary is a short walk, with McDowell High under a mile.

Take a peek inside →