Subscribe | Get featured

Hello Altoona! Hope your coffee tastes especially good this morning. 

In today’s bring-the-kiddos edition: Lithium battery fire warnings, an exoplanets sky show, and How to Train Your Dragon screening + excuses to get the fam out and about this 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.

📰 In the news

Meaning, authority, and dread: Penn State Altoona professors Brian Onishi and Jeff Stoyanoff have released a new Horror Joy episode exploring academic horror in the 2022 film Master, including classroom power and interpretation debates — watch the full episode.

Hidden hazards in common gadgets: Pennsylvania officials are warning about lithium batteries after multiple incidents tied to overheating and overcharging. Fires can flare in garbage cans and are hard to put out, straining local resources — get all the details.

Energy shift faces local questions: Plans for 3 megawatt solar farm in Taylor Township moved forward after Blair County review to connect with Penelec. Residents raised environmental concerns. Construction is expected in early 2027 — 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.

Highlights this week:

• Celebrate the equinox with healing meditation
• Get custom-fit permanent jewelry at Wildfire
• Crochet with fellow Dungeons and Dragons fans
• Unlock clinical-level wellness data from home

💎 Local business spotlight

Pie craving, solved: At Greenbean Coffee House, the dessert game goes beyond lattes, with coconut cream, lemon meringue, and a chocolate Reese’s pie that sneaks up on your sweet tooth. One slice and you remember why “just coffee” never quite cuts it.

Petals for any mood: The Tipsy Tulip makes sending a little sunshine simple. With online ordering, they craft bright, modern arrangements for birthdays, “good luck,” or just-because surprises, with same-day delivery around town. It’s an easy way to brighten a week, maybe yours too.

Build that grip: Whether you’re short a climbing wall or just want to feel spring-ready, The Underground Gym is your training playground: free weights, machines, cardio, and a turf zone with sleds, ropes, and jump boxes, so your grip, pull power, and core don’t skip a beat.

These aren’t ads or sponsored placements, just some cool nearby spots we think are worth a visit.

🫶 We got your back

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 →

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 →

What doctors wish every 65+ adult had at home: Physicians call it “long-lie,” and it’s the real reason falls are so dangerous for older adults. It’s not a broken bone… it’s lying on the floor for hours waiting for someone to notice. We dug into the options that actually solve this problem, and one stood out. See which one →

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. Check out my favorite online options →

📆 Fun for the whole fam

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.

🐉 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.

🐟 Fish Frydays @ Second Avenue Global Methodist Church | Friday (3/13) at 4:00 PM – Craving a proper Friday fish fry? The youth group is serving an all-you-can-eat Lenten buffet with baked and fried fish, crab cakes, shrimp poppers, hush puppies, mac n cheese, and more. It’s cash only, so bring bills, an appetite, and saintly patience for seconds.

🐰 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.

🔭 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.

🧸 Sensory Friendly Play Date @ Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park | Sunday (3/15) at 9:00 AM – If your kid wants to bounce but your ears want mercy, this sensory-friendly play date keeps it calm, no loud music, no flashing lights, just fun. It’s $14.99 per jumper with an adult free, and Urban Air socks are required. Think joyful hops, not chaos.

🃏 Pokemon TCG Mega Evolutions Perfect Order Prerelease @ Gootzy Gaming | Sunday (3/15) at 2:00 PM – If you’ve been itching to shuffle something besides pinochle, Gootzy’s hosting a Pokémon TCG prerelease for Perfect Order, starring Mega Zygarde. Sealed Build and Battle Kit, in-store sign-ups only, capped at 20, you must play. $25 kids, $35 teens and adults, nut free.

✂ Craft Family Workshop @ Blair Drug and Alcohol Partnerships | Tuesday (3/17) at 5:30 PM – If you’ve been waiting for a sign to swap worry for a plan, this weekly CRAFT workshop is it. Twelve Tuesdays of practical tools to nudge loved ones toward treatment, reduce use, and protect your sanity, with free materials, and neighbors who get it.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

📻 Altoona report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 75°F – Low: 34°F – Precip: 79%

A chance of rain showers before 8am, then showers and thunderstorms. Some of the storms could be severe. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 75. South wind 5 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 32 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible. Later: Showers and thunderstorms before 5am, then snow showers likely. Some of the storms could be severe. Mostly cloudy. Low around 34, with temperatures rising to around 42 overnight. West wind 13 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 43 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

—

Tomorrow – High: 42°F – Low: 29°F – Precip: 74%

Snow showers likely before 2pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 42. Northwest wind 13 to 21 mph, with gusts as high as 44 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of less than half an inch possible. Later: Mostly clear, with a low around 29. West wind 3 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.

This house is wild

Freshly renovated in Highland Park, this city-view charmer sits on an extra lot and includes a garage. The kitchen shines with new cabinetry and granite counters, paired with all-new flooring throughout. Generous dining and living rooms set an easy flow. The bath features a tiled tub surround with a rain showerhead. A finished attic adds flexible bonus space.

Take a peek inside →