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

In today’s wallet-friendly edition: Sheetz 99-cent subs, How to Train Your Dragon movie, and a flashlight egg hunt + lots of fun things to do for free.

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

Spotlight on creative voices: Penn State Altoona will host the Hard Freight Café open mic on March 17 at 7 p.m., ahead of the student literary magazine’s spring 2026 submission deadline that night — get all the event details.

Limited-time comfort food deal: Today through March 11, Sheetz is selling 99-cent half-size meatball subs at all locations, but you need the Sheetz app to claim the deal and exclusions apply — get details and exclusions.

Right-to-Know appeal underway: Newly released documents show Blair County’s proposed prison site near Duncansville could cost $585,000. The Feb. 28 deadline passed without a finalized deal, and commissioners said negotiations were ongoing — 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:

• Register for Pleasant Valley Elementary kindergarten
• Enjoy Storytime in the Children’s Department
• Flashlight egg hunt benefits Healing Patch

🫶 We got your back

Craving a real sub? Alto Markets slices meats to order and builds Italian-style cold cuts and hot classics on the spot, from meatball to roast beef. This neighborhood deli delivers stackable dreams: Dagwood, Classic Italian, and a muffuletta twist. Simple, fresh, and generously packed, just how subs should be.

Game, stroll, repeat: Greenwood Park packs playground fun, roller hockey, soccer, and volleyball, plus a shady pavilion for snack breaks. It’s the neighborhood fallback for a quick pickup game, a stroller lap, or letting kids burn off steam, all without overthinking where to go.

Level up playtime: LEGO kits, board games, Pokémon, Magic, and collectible figures fill SCG Hobby, a browse-now, tinker-later haven for curious minds and patient tinkerers. There’s always something for the kids… or for the kid you still insist is “for research.”

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.

🧠 Trivia Night @ Unter Uns Musical & Entertainment Society | Tuesday (3/10) at 7:00 PM – Think your crew still has some useless knowledge left in the tank? Unter Uns is hosting free trivia with The Professor, Jim Price, new topics every week, and Taco Tuesday to keep morale high. Members and guests welcome, top three teams snag prizes.

❓ Trivia Night @ Buccinese Society | Wednesday (3/11) at 7:00 PM – Wednesday trivia is taking over Buccinese Society, free to play and open to non-members. “The Professor” Jim Price brings topics weekly, prizes for the top three, kitchen specials to keep you sharp, and a smoke-free room where the only burn is your friend’s wrong answer.

🐉 Movie: How to Train Your Dragon (2025) @ Altoona Area Public Library | Friday (3/13) at 1:00 PM – If your crew needs a screen break from scrolling, the Altoona Area Public Library is showing the new How to Train Your Dragon for free. Bring the kids, claim a comfy seat, and let Vikings, scales, and heartstring tugs do the heavy lifting for once.

📜 History Speaks Lecture: “A History of Claysburg” @ Railroaders Memorial Museum | Wednesday (3/18) at 7:00 PM – Think you know Claysburg? Community historian Richard Allison, Heritage Hall of Fame honoree, will fill in the parts your uncle’s barstool history skipped, in the Railroaders Memorial Museum theater. First History Speaks of the season, free to attend, donations welcome, curiosity encouraged.

💍 Tolkien’s Middle-earth @ Hawthorn Building | Thursday (3/19) at 12:15 PM – Feel like a smart midday escape to Middle-earth? Penn State Altoona alum Carl Sell and Nick Katsiadas dig into their co-edited book on Tolkien’s relics, ruins, and the road to publication. It’s free, open to the public, and better than lunch at your desk.

📸 Easter Pictures @ Rail City Realty | Sunday (3/22) at 11:00 AM – Spring’s cutest circus pops up at Rail City Realty, with free Easter Bunny photos, mini doughnuts from Parlor Doughnuts, and fluffy co-stars from Green Roof Acres. Sierra Lombardo snaps the chaos, you download the evidence for free later. Bring kids, grandparents, and pastel bribes.

💃 Open Dance Class for Adults @ Misciagna Family Center for Performing Arts | Sunday (3/22) at 1:00 PM – Consider this your Sunday excuse to move like nobody from high school is watching. Penn State Altoona’s dance program hosts free modern dance and improv classes at the Misciagna Family Center studio, open to adults of all levels, styles, backgrounds, and two left feet.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

📻 Altoona report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 72°F – Low: 56°F – Precip: 22%

A slight chance of rain showers after 4pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 72. Southwest wind 3 to 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Later: A slight chance of rain showers after 2am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 56. Southwest wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

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Tomorrow – High: 74°F – Low: 35°F – Precip: 90%

Rain showers before 2pm, then showers and thunderstorms. Some of the storms could be severe. Cloudy, with a high near 74. South wind 5 to 12 mph, with gusts as high as 29 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible. Later: Showers and thunderstorms before 5am, then rain and snow showers likely. Cloudy, with a low around 35. West wind 12 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 32 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of 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

Set in the heart of Altoona, this beautifully renovated 3-bed, 1-bath charmer blends classic character with modern comfort. An open living area shines with fresh paint, new flooring, and updated fixtures. The remodeled kitchen features quartz countertops and stainless appliances, while well-sized bedrooms offer new carpet. The stylish bath showcases contemporary tile and a sleek vanity, close to local amenities.

Take a peek inside →