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

In today’s wallet-friendly edition: Yeti Ninja Shark bingo, a jaw-dropping estate, and gold and silver heating up + lots of fun things to do for free.

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

Key education funding milestones: Lancaster-Lebanon IU13 Board is scheduled to vote March 11 on the 2026-27 general operating budget for public review, with strategic and support services budgets targeted for June 24 — see the approval timeline.

Partnership expands career pathways: Lancaster will host the classroom portion of a commercial drivers license training program at Tec Centro and CNS Driver Training Center in Lititz, helping residents overcome transportation and support barriers — see where classes are offered.

New retail chapter begins: Lucky Convenience & Smoke has opened in former Turkey Hill in Rohrerstown, offering snacks, drinks, tobacco and more, from owners Nick and Al Patel, who also run a Norristown shop — learn about the owners and renovation.

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:

• Play Yeti, Ninja & Shark bingo fundraiser
• Explore innovative student STEM projects
• Save big at Beauty on Budget
• Save on self-care during the CVS Epic Beauty Sale

🏆 Gold and silver are heating up

Together with our sponsor American Hartford Gold

Gold just posted its strongest run in decades… and the momentum is carrying into 2026. Silver has become one of the most talked-about assets as investors look for ways to stay ahead of market volatility.

While many are still sitting on the sidelines, others are quietly repositioning.

If you’re wondering whether you’re missing something, AHG has a free guide explaining what’s driving the renewed interest… and how investors are approaching precious metals right now.

It’s free and worth reading before the next move.

🫶 We got your back

Fork-twirling pasta plans: LUCA leans into wood-fired, farm-driven Italian, with handmade pastas that taste like someone cared. Think silky tagliatelle, pillowy gnocchi, and sauces worth a shameless plate swipe. The wine list leans Italian, and weeknights feel brighter… no plane ticket to Rome required.

Sustainably stylish scores: Prism Thrift keeps downtown closets fresh with a curated mix of pre-loved and vintage finds, inclusive vibes, and regular new drops. Feeling indecisive? Style Bundles and personal shopping handle the picks, so you scroll less and step out looking cool.

Sweat it out smarter: If winter has you moving like dial-up, Release Sauna Bar has private infrared sessions with optional red light. They feel like equal parts recharge and quiet time, a Lancaster reset you can keep in the rotation between errands and bedtime… and actually look forward to.

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. Learn more about my favorite online options here.

📆 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.

🩸 Community Blood Drive @ Root’s Country Market & Auction | Tuesday (3/3) at 11:00 AM – Root’s is hosting a community blood drive, swapping one pint for two Comedy Zone tickets, a Papa John’s BOGO large, a Texas Roadhouse appetizer, and $10 at Good’s. Be a hero, then dine, laugh, and shop. Appointments encouraged, walk-ins welcome, but expect lines.

📚 Will to Read @ Philadelphia Alumni Writers House | Wednesday (3/4) at 6:00 PM – If you’ve been meaning to brush up your Bard without reliving freshman English, LST’s monthly reading hang is it. F&M’s Dr. Justin Hopkins steers the talk while you watch sharp clips, unpack big themes, and raid the snack table. Free, friendly, donations welcome.

🧠 Weekly General Trivia @ Tobias Frogg | Wednesday (3/4) at 7:00 PM – Wednesday nights at Tobias Frogg in Lancaster mean dusting off those weirdly specific facts, grabbing a round, and claiming bragging rights without breaking the bank. Free to play, actual prizes, and enough apps to fuel your brain. Bring friends, or just that one ringer.

🃏 Trading Card Show @ Farm and Home Center | Saturday (3/7) at 7:00 AM – Think your binder days are behind you? The Lancaster Trading Card Show corrals sports, Pokémon, graded treasures, raw pulls, sealed boxes, and oddball memorabilia, plus a BBQ truck to keep you fueled, and free admission. It’s cardio for nostalgia, minus the yard-sale awkwardness.

🥋 Self-Defense Seminar @ Hempfield recCenter | Saturday (3/7) at 1:00 PM – Skip the YouTube rabbit hole and hit this free self-defense seminar, where real-world scenarios, de-escalation, and boundary-setting get the spotlight. Sensei Nathaniel keeps it supportive, practical, and surprisingly fun. Teens and adults welcome, no experience required, call 717-898-3102 if you like human contact.

📚 March Book Drop Off @ Manheim Community Library | Saturday (3/7) at 10:00 PM – Time to liberate your shelves. Drop off gently used kids or teen reads, hardcovers, trade paperbacks, recent textbooks and travel guides, plus working DVDs, music CDs, audiobooks, and even video games. Swing through the roundabout, stay in the car, they unload, you feel virtuous.

🌸 Spring Ephemeral Wildflower Presentation @ S. Dale High Leadership Center | Tuesday (3/10) at 5:00 PM – This indoor Lancaster Conservancy talk at Greenfield decodes spring’s blink-and-you’ll-miss-it wildflowers before the trees hog all the sunlight. Come for the stunning visuals, stay for the ID tips and eco-nerdery. Free, family friendly for 8 and up, RSVP if you’re the organized friend.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

🔥 Worth a peek

We’re always on the hunt for useful resources, deals, services, and products we think you’ll love. Here’s what caught our eye this week.

• Industry-leading home warranty protection ($150 off right now)
• 62+? See how much tax-free cash your home could unlock → free calculator
• This free tool helps connect you with the right financial advisor
• Got debt? You may be able to pay less than you owe
• Protect your pet from disaster with this pet insurance plan
• You can own physical gold and silver in your retirement account

📻 Lancaster report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 40°F – Low: 40°F – Precip: 100%

A chance of snow and a chance of freezing rain before 7am, then freezing rain and rain and snow between 7am and 3pm, then rain showers likely. Cloudy, with a high near 40. Southeast wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of less than half an inch possible. Little or no ice accumulation expected. Later: Rain showers. Cloudy, with a low around 40. Southwest wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

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Tomorrow – High: 55°F – Low: 45°F – Precip: 68%

Rain showers likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 55. North wind around 3 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible. Later: Rain showers likely. Cloudy, with a low around 45. Southeast wind around 2 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Someone Googled you this week 👀

It may feel like an invasion of privacy, but unfortunately It’s the new normal. Whether you’re joining a committee, selling something locally, dating again, or just meeting new neighbors… people are going to look you up online.

Like it or not, the internet has a way of surfacing past mistakes and outdated information that no longer reflects who you are.

Thankfully, there’s a really easy way for you – or someone you care about – to clean up outdated results that no longer tell the real story. Learn more here.

This house is wild

This one-owner Steve Edris custom estate spans 5.6 acres with Conestoga River frontage, minutes from downtown Lancaster. About 5,935 square feet showcase a marble and limestone foyer, a Rumford hybrid fireplace, a turret library, and sycamore floors milled from the property. Highlights include a pro-grade kitchen, theater, balcony suite, radiant heat, pool, and pole barn.

Take a peek inside →