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

In today’s wallet-friendly edition: Avelo job boom and new planes, Top Chef spotlight on Brittany Cochran, and Friday the 13th cruise-in + lots of fun things to do for free.

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

Franchise-driven expansion continues: Smashburger has opened its fourth North Carolina spot in Huntersville, adding a 1,600-square-foot eatery near Lake Norman. The new location builds on Charlotte-area growth and those signature smashed burgers — read the full story.

Schedule extended into fall: Avelo is expanding at Concord–Padgett Regional Airport near Lake Norman, basing jets and crews. It expects to add jobs as it restores routes and adds service to Chicago and Nashville — get all the details.

Pride in Queen City cuisine: Stagioni executive chef Brittany Cochran is cooking for Charlotte on Top Chef, with the Carolinas in the spotlight. The “Top Cheer Carolinas” episode premieres today at 9 pm on Bravo — 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:

• Remove invasive plants at turtle rescue
• Discuss weird unhinged feminist literature
• Celebrate spring with student piano ensembles

🫶 We got your back

Lunch that hits right: Whether you’re chasing roast beef with a horseradish kick, a bright veggie stack, or that ham, brie, and pickled peaches situation, The Pickled Peach keeps lunch fresh, seasonal, and low-stress. Ideal for a midweek reset… or a “did I just finish that meeting early?” reward.

Weekend trail reset: Craving fresh air without the haul? Fisher Farm delivers flowing singletrack, mellow meadows, and a legit archery range, ideal for a quick solo spin or an easy family ramble. Thanks to Greenway access, getting back into the groove is simple this week.

Your toy backup plan: Need a last-minute birthday fix or a Tuesday treat? At Harper & Skyler’s Toys & Sweets, find Melissa & Doug, Magna-Tiles, Nerf, trading cards, and candy, all in one bright, friendly shop… kid joy without the big-box chaos, and helpful humans who actually know their stuff.

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.

💬 In the Know: A Community Conversation About Substance Misuse @ Statesville Event Center | Tuesday (3/10) at 8:30 AM – Real talk, no lectures. This free, everyone’s-invited community conversation digs into preventing drug and alcohol misuse, abuse, and overdose in our backyard, with straight answers, local resources, and zero judgment, so bring your questions, your curiosity, and maybe that neighbor who “doesn’t have time.”

🎵 Music Bingo @ BoatYard LKN (Cornelius) | Thursday (3/12) at 7:00 PM – Think you really know your tunes? Music Bingo is free and all ages, so bring the kids, the neighbors, and that one friend who swears they invented the mixtape, then flex those decades of car-radio wisdom for bragging rights, laughs, and a pleasantly competitive sing-along.

☕ Veterans Coffee Connection @ Huntersville Presbyterian Church | Friday (3/13) at 9:30 AM – Calling all vets, from recently discharged to long-retired, grab free coffee and refreshments at Carolina Caring’s Veterans Coffee Connection in Huntersville. Swap stories, meet fellow locals, and hear from special guests. No dress blues required, just camaraderie, a warm welcome, and reason to linger.

✂ Limitless Carts 2 Ribbon Cutting @ Limitless Carts 2 (Mooresville) | Friday (3/13) at 11:00 AM – Limitless Carts is cutting the ribbon on a second Mooresville spot at 144 W Plaza Dr. Whether you cruise the neighborhood, the course, or around the lake, come say hello, eyeball some shiny rides, and admit the giant scissors are half the fun.

🚗 2026 Kick Off Cruise In Friday The 13th @ Late Apex Storage Condos (Mooresville) | Friday (3/13) at 6:00 PM – Let superstition ride shotgun, because the Cruise-In season kicks off with classics, music, food trucks, and craft beer. Show cars, text for a spot, everyone else parks across the street for free. It’s their 67th go-round, so keep it classy, no revving, burnouts, or two-stepping.

🍲 Soup Luncheon @ Vanderburg Methodist Church (Mooresville) | Sunday (3/15) at 11:00 AM – Craving comfort that isn’t straight from a can? The Vanderburg church family is serving a free soup luncheon and grilled cheese potluck after morning service, open to everyone, with conversation, seconds, and that small-town warmth you can’t microwave.

🌿 Invasive Plant Removal @ Unsheltered Tortoise and Turtle (Huntersville) | Sunday (3/15) at 2:00 PM – Bring gloves and your best weed-pulling face to help the Charlotte Wildlife Stewards clear invasives at Unsheltered Tortoise and Turtle, our local rescue. Learn to ID English ivy, Nandina, and honeysuckle, then earn pizza, a campfire, and smugly satisfied forearms. Register: http://weblink.donorperfect.com/cwsinvasiveplantremoval-031526

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

📻 Lake Norman report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 80°F – Low: 62°F – Precip: 34%

A chance of rain showers between 8am and 5pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 80. South southwest wind 1 to 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Later: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8pm, then patchy fog. Partly cloudy, with a low around 62. Southwest wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

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Tomorrow – High: 83°F – Low: 56°F – Precip: 9%

Patchy fog before 9am. Partly sunny, with a high near 83. Southwest wind 2 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Later: A chance of rain showers after 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56. Southwest wind 8 to 12 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Are you quietly overpaying for car insurance? 🚗

Premiums have been climbing across North Carolina 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

On 1.8 private acres in The Reserve at River Run, this 6500 sf custom by Kathryn Lilly Interiors pairs sophisticated finishes with livability. A chef’s kitchen with quartz waterfall island and 72-inch integrated refrigerator freezer anchors the main level. Park and wooded views frame two screened porches with fireplace and grill, plus a flexible wing with kitchenette and second laundry.

Take a peek inside →