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Hey Altoona, hope your week’s off to a good start!
In today’s wallet-friendly edition: A Norfolk Southern namesake locomotive, designer purse bingo, and a free How to Train Your Dragon movie + 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.
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📰 In the news
Spotlighting tomorrow’s local leaders: Nominations are open for the 19th 20 Under 40 honoring Blair County leaders in business, entrepreneurship, and community service, from The Mirror and Blair County Chamber, through April 13 — get all the details.
Strengthening mission and reach: Independent Catholic Foundation bought a new headquarters next to the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, aiming to expand services and donor confidence as it manages 300 endowments totaling $47 million — read the full story.
City tribute on the move: Norfolk Southern unveiled a locomotive named for Altoona, honoring the city’s rail legacy. Painted at the Juniata Locomotive Shop, it’s now in service and part of the railroad’s Landmark Series — 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.
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:
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🏆 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.
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🫶 We got your back
Vintage treasure hunt: From throwback coats and retro tees to estate jewelry, Everything Old is New Again refreshes the racks with vintage for all sizes, plus quirky collectibles you never knew you needed. Ideal for an unhurried browse close to home when you’re craving something one of a kind.
Twirl-worthy pasta plans: Finelli’s Italian Villa nails the cozy, old-school vibe, with pastas that say “let’s do this again.” The Wine Spectator recognized list steers the pour, and the whole scene feels like a midweek treat worth lingering over.
Cold fix, warm results: When your shoulders sound like bubble wrap, Asclepius Healing Center offers full-body cryotherapy in just three minutes, then layers red and near-infrared light, PEMF, or a float to round out recovery. It fits into your week and leaves that buzzing I-can-move-again feeling.
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.
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📆 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.
📖 Poetry Reading: James Daniels @ Misciagna Family Center for Performing Arts | Tuesday (3/3) at 12:05 PM – Trade your midday scroll for poems at the Misciagna Center, where James Daniels reads for free. The Detroit-born, Pittsburgh-based CMU legend has 30-plus books, NEA fellowships, Pushcart cred, and a knack for lines that stick longer than your to-do list.
🧠 Trivia Night @ Unter Uns Musical & Entertainment Society | Tuesday (3/3) at 7:00 PM – Brush up on those weird facts you swear are useful, because Unter Uns is hosting free trivia with The Professor, Jim Price. Build a team, chase bragging rights and prizes, and conveniently fuel your genius with Taco Tuesday. Members and guests welcome, new topics weekly.
🤝 March In-Person Networking Meeting @ Nehemiah Project | Thursday (3/5) at 9:00 AM – This in-person BNI Blair meetup is where referrals actually happen, not just business-card confetti. One seat per industry, real connections, and the Givers Gain vibe that makes word-of-mouth do the heavy lifting. First Thursdays are live, the rest stay on Zoom.
🐉 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.
💍 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.
💃 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.
👩 Panel Discussion: Leading the Change: Women Shaping a Sustainable Future @ Harry E. Slep Student Center | Thursday (3/26) at 12:00 PM – If you prefer solutions over slogans, pull up a chair in the Fireside Lounge for a Women’s History Month panel where professors, a student, and advocates unpack environmental, social, and economic sustainability. Free, open to all, and light on jargon, heavy on action.
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
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🔥 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.
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📻 Altoona report
Weather forecast
Today – High: 41°F – Low: 40°F – Precip: 100%
Freezing rain before 7am, then sleet and freezing rain and rain between 7am and 3pm, then rain showers. Cloudy, with a high near 41. Southeast wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Little or no ice accumulation expected. Later: Rain showers. Cloudy, with a low around 40. Southwest wind around 3 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
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Tomorrow – High: 54°F – Low: 45°F – Precip: 52%
A chance of rain showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 54. Northeast wind around 2 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible. Later: Rain showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 45. South wind around 3 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half 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 3-bed, 1.5-bath Highland Park charmer in Altoona pairs classic warmth with fresh updates. Sunlit hardwoods and a brick fireplace anchor living and dining, opening to a kitchen with stainless appliances and a walk-in pantry. Upstairs are three bedrooms, including a primary with walk-in closet. Outside, patio stones lead to a fire pit, plus an attached garage and unfinished basement.
Take a peek inside →
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