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

In today’s bring-the-kiddos edition: North Central State College wins award, an Ohio tourism pass, and a night at the Oscars concert + excuses to get the fam out and about this week.

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

Data-driven campus transformation: North Central State College in Mansfield received the 2026 Leah Meyer Austin Award from Achieving the Dream, honoring big gains in student success, lower loan borrowing, and more textbook-free classes — see the reforms and results.

Help for local fire departments: ODNR awarded grants to three rural Richland County fire departments, part of $593,000 for 95 projects statewide, to boost wildfire safety with equipment funded by the USDA Forest Service — see what the grants fund.

Tourism push tied to 250th: State Rep. Melanie Miller of Ashland introduced a bill March 3 creating an Ohio tourism pass, free to residents in 2026, to boost local attractions with support from arts groups — get all the details.

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:

• Explore 100 exhibitors, prizes, and giveaways
• Learn to knit a cozy scarf
• Join Deb’s heart-opening cacao circle
• Unlock clinical-level wellness data from home

💎 Local business spotlight

Slice-worthy comfort: Whether you’re team fruit or team custard, Blackbird Bakery turns out handmade pies and easygoing slices… bourbon apple, lemon chess, salted honey, and more. Seasonal flavors rotate daily, keeping the case lively and dessert simple.

Brighten your week: When your table, desk, or “I forgot that birthday” needs saving, Tara’s Floral Expressions delivers cheerful, thoughtfully designed arrangements and long-lasting plants. Their local team pairs color with care, bringing easy polish to everyday moments, quick fixes for forgetful days, and small celebrations that deserve a little extra bloom.

Need a midweek send? Local climbers, the Ashland University Rec Center Climbing Wall serves up top-rope routes and a legit bouldering wall, with problems reset often so there’s always something new to puzzle over. Shake off winter, chase beta, and rack up forearm bragging rights… midweek stoke included.

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.

🎨 Hummingbird Art & Nature Workshop @ South Park | Thursday (3/12) at 10:00 AM – Think your yard is ready for the tiny divas of spring? Head to South Park for a hands-on art-and-nature workshop where you’ll mix proper nectar, paint a watercolor, snag a feeder, and, yes, bring a lidded jar for take-home refills. Family-friendly, useful, and nerdy.

❄ A Winter Day at the Cabin and Blockhouse @ Richland Early American Center for History | Friday (3/13) at 9:00 AM – Step into the cabin and blockhouse for a day of old-school living, cooking from scratch, and 18th-century games that don’t need a tutorial. Expect crackling hearths, hearty bites, and actual conversation, the kind you remember, with just enough frontier grit to feel earned.

🃏 Pokemon Perfect Order Pre-Release @ The Eldritch Bastion (Ashland) | Saturday (3/14) at 1:00 PM – This Pokémon prerelease lets you crack fresh Perfect Order packs, build a deck, and battle without the tournament sharks. Thirty bucks gets you cards, a low-stress afternoon, and bragging rights when you outplay a teenager using nothing but gumption, sleeves, and luck.

🍀 Lucky Charms Ball @ Mansfield Branch-YMCA of North Central Ohio | Saturday (3/14) at 3:00 PM – Polish up your dad moves and head to the Mansfield Y for a Lucky Charms themed daddy-daughter bash with dancing, desserts, crafts, and photo ops. Yes, the sprinkler still counts. Community welcome, all ages, tickets $35 per pair, extra kiddos $10.

🍝 Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser @ Ashland Grace Church | Saturday (3/14) at 4:00 PM – Skip the stove and swing by the Grace Church gym for a spaghetti dinner and silent auction backing LifeWise’s work with local students. Expect carbs, community, and bidding that stays Ohio nice. Desserts and refreshments included, bragging rights optional, basket donations welcome.

🎼 Mansfield Symphony: A Night at the Oscars @ Renaissance Theatre | Saturday (3/14) at 7:30 PM – Skip the streaming queue for a real soundtrack as Mansfield Symphony musicians sit side by side with the Youth Orchestra on a program of Oscar-worthy favorites, plus Beethoven. It is mentorship you can hear, community you can feel, and bragging rights you can use.

🌷 Step Into Spring @ The Ontario Center | Wednesday (3/18) at 10:00 AM – Get your steps in with climate-controlled cardio, no spandex required, then reward yourself with a soft pretzel. This free mall walk brings vendors, snacks, raffle prizes, and easy laps for everyone, so wander, chat with neighbors, and maybe leave with more than bragging rights.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

📻 Mansfield report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 72°F – Low: 30°F – Precip: 92%

Showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy. High near 72, with temperatures falling to around 66 in the afternoon. Southwest wind 15 to 22 mph, with gusts as high as 39 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between three quarters and one inch possible. Later: Showers and thunderstorms before 7pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 7pm and 11pm, then a chance of snow showers between 11pm and 2am. Cloudy, with a low around 30. West wind 15 to 23 mph, with gusts as high as 37 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

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Tomorrow – High: 41°F – Low: 33°F – Precip: 8%

Mostly sunny, with a high near 41. Northwest wind 10 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph. Later: Partly cloudy, with a low around 33. Southwest wind 5 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph.

This house is wild

Maple Ridge Condominium Association offers two-bedroom, 1,265-square-foot condos in the heart of Ontario with access to restaurants and shopping. A cathedral-ceiling living room connects to a kitchen with pantry, breakfast bar, and dining area. The primary suite features a walk-in closet and walk-in shower. Convenience includes first-floor laundry, central air, storage, a two-car garage, a fenced patio, and pet-friendly policies.

Take a peek inside →