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

In today’s wallet-friendly edition: Hospital merger for pediatric mental health, robotics teams bound for VEX Worlds, and Jesus Christ Superstar + lots of fun things to do for free.

Quick money tip: 2025 was gold’s best year since 1979. Silver did even better, climbing nearly 150%. Analysts expect the momentum to continue, making precious metals a smart way to protect your savings. Curious how it works? Check out AHG’s free investor guide.*

📰 In the news

A new chapter in care: Orchard Park Hospital and WVU Medicine Wheeling Hospital announced in February they plan to merge, aiming to strengthen pediatric psychiatric care for youth in the Wheeling area — learn more about the merger.

Local teams eye global stage: Four teams dominated the West Virginia State Robotics Championship, three from Wheeling Park and one from John Marshall. They will compete at VEX Worlds April 21-30 in St. Louis — get all the details.

Visitor tips and locations: Fitzsimmons Family Dog Park in Warwood opened early after unseasonably warm weather, answering pet owners’ pleas for space. The East Wheeling park remains closed while the larger facility dries out — 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.*

Paying hundreds of dollars a month for car insurance? Switching providers could save you up to $600 a year, and shopping around is way faster than it used to be – free comparison tools like this one make it easy.*

Highlights this week:

• Enjoy gentle, low-impact chair yoga
• Experience free He’s Alive! at Capitol Theater
• Shop handmade goods from local crafters
• Unlock clinical-level wellness data from home*

💎 Local business spotlight

Let the pups run: With separate small and large dog areas, trail-side benches, and plenty of waste bags, Fitzsimmons Family Dog Park at Garden Park makes after-work zoomies simple. Leash up, ping the group chat, and turn a quick outing into an easy neighborhood hang.

Low-key local vibes: Whether you’re after a laid-back pint, live tunes, or a friendly rack or two, Silver Rail Bar & Grill keeps it easy and unpretentious. Think pool tournaments, band nights, and regulars who’ll remember your name next time… the kind of local hang that feels like it was always yours.

Relax without the road trip: In Wheeling, The West Spa serves legit massages, glow-boosting facials, and pure don’t-bother-me serenity. When everything’s loud, slip into dim lights, warm stones, and unhurried hands… then leave with that blissed-out hush that follows you home.

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

🫶 We got your back

Makeup that actually works: My sister and I were talking the other day about how the makeup we used in our 20s… just doesn’t work now that we’re in our 30s and 40s. Laura Geller’s entire makeup line addresses this shift, with formulas that smooth, brighten, and actually stay put. If you’re in the same boat, *their curated kits are worth a look →

The $1,300 mistake most Americans make every year: According to the National Financial Education Council, poor financial literacy costs the average American over a thousand dollars annually. That’s not investment losses. That’s money lost to bad decisions, missed strategies, and advice from people who may not always put your interests first. There’s a free way to fix that, and it starts with one question. Find out what it is →

$22k in interest (on a $30k balance): That’s what minimum payments cost you over 20 years. You’ll pay back nearly double what you borrowed, and your credit card company is counting on you not doing that math. Debt settlement programs negotiate balances down and get people out of debt in 2-4 years instead of 20. Learn more about how they work →

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 five programs to help you find the right fit. See which ones stood out →

Your homeowners insurance has a blind spot: It covers your house if a tree falls on it. It doesn’t cover your furnace when it quits in January, your AC when it dies in July, or your water heater when it starts leaking on a Tuesday. Those are all classified as “normal wear and tear,” and they’re 100% on you. We looked into solutions that fill that gap. Here’s what we found →

📆 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.

🎬 Sensory-Friendly Sunday Matinee @ Oglebay Institute’s Towngate Theatre & Cinema | Sunday (3/22) at 2:00 PM – Towngate hosts a sensory-friendly Sunday matinee of The Secret Life of Pets in Centre Market, free to attend, donations to Easterseals welcome. Lights up, sound down, move as needed, BYO snacks, wheelchair accessible, plus a lobby screen, so kids relax and you actually enjoy it.

🧱 Lego Mania @ Belmont County District Library (Martins Ferry) | Wednesday (3/25) at 6:00 PM – Whether you’re raising a future architect or just tired of rescuing bricks from the vacuum, the library’s Lego Mania lets ages 2 to 15 dive into tubs of blocks every fourth Wednesday at 6pm. It’s free, open to the public, no registration, and blissfully screen-free.

✝ He’s Alive! @ Capitol Theatre | Friday (3/27) – Whether you know every hymn by heart or just miss a good show at the Capitol Theater, this free musical Passion Play delivers big voices, local talent, and goosebumps. Bring the family, leave the wallet, enjoy a reverent, well-produced take on the Easter story.

🛍 Market Madness @ The Urban Collective | Friday (3/27) at 5:00 PM – Bracket already busted? Hit The Urban Collective for a March Madness market with SCENTS by Chad Nickerson, Visionary Minded Art, and Two Times Clothing & Collectibles, plus a sports lounge showing games. It’s free, local, and a chill way to browse, shop, and hang out.

🥚 Egg Hunt @ Wheeling Park | Saturday (3/28) at 1:00 PM – Round up the kids and your patience for the free Wheeling Park egg hunt, complete with three hunts, bouncy inflatables, carnival games, a Nerf Zone for the big kids, and treat bags. Register for time slots, avoid chaos, enjoy nostalgia, and maybe sneak a coffee.

🎤 Open Mic Poetry Slam (Library Style)! @ Lunch With Books at the Ohio County Public Library | Tuesday (4/7) at 12:00 PM – Bring your sandwich to the Ohio County Public Library for a National Poetry Month open mic, keep your poem under five minutes, and use your indoor voice. First come, first served, library-friendly only. Expect snaps, a few knowing laughs, and zero drum circles.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

📻 Wheeling report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 31°F – Low: 19°F – Precip: 21%

A slight chance of snow showers before 3pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 31. West wind around 14 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Little or no snow accumulation expected. Later: Partly cloudy, with a low around 19. Southwest wind 3 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

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Tomorrow – High: 40°F – Low: 34°F – Precip: 4%

Partly sunny, with a high near 40. South wind 3 to 9 mph. Later: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 34. South wind around 7 mph.

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