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It’s Friday, Chelan County! Let’s finish this week strong.

In today’s can’t-miss-weekend-plans edition: Literacy lifeline behind bars, St. Pawtrick’s Day 2026, and The Dark Side of Decadence + a stacked lineup of events this weekend.

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

Literacy lifeline behind bars: Bryson Fico of Pages of Redemption has donated over 3,020 paperbacks to Washington jails and expects 800 to 900 more this month, including from Friends of the Wenatchee Public Library — see the numbers and goals.

Top-rated models for local terrain: The 2026 Edmunds Awards recognized vehicles for Wenatchee drivers, naming the Honda Civic Hybrid and Hyundai Ioniq 5, while the Hyundai Palisade took top honors for family friendly comfort — see all the local winners.

A beloved community music tradition: Valley students jammed with pros during the Wenatchee Jazz Workshop in late February. The week wrapped with Jazznights concerts, and the final performance was set to air on local TV — 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:

• Wear green for salsa and social dancing
• Celebrate multicultural dances of northern Mexico
• Taste whisky at Succession Wines
• Unlock clinical-level wellness data from home

💎 Local business spotlight

Nature on your walls: Little Alps Gallery offers Leavenworth-made, nature-inspired art: ceramics, prints, and originals, all in a friendly, low-pressure browse. Refresh a nook at home or pick a gift that feels genuinely local, with pieces by the owners and regional artists.

Deck dreams, delivered: If your patio furniture needs a promotion, 47 Reasons Construction designs and builds custom decks in Wenatchee. Wood or composite, new builds or savvy remodels, we shape inviting spaces you’ll use on weeknights, not only when company drops by.

Rolls worth a detour: Craving variety? Iwa Sushi & Grill serves rolls from clean and classic to fully loaded, plus hibachi comfort and a splash of sake to keep conversation easy. It’s the kind of spot that turns a weekday into a small win, with flavors that hit just right.

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

🫶 We got your back

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 →

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 →

Thinning hair? Don’t treat the wrong thing: When my ponytail started thinning, I tried the usual stuff (biotin, shampoo, sprays, etc.) and not one of them lasted. Turns out, most products target the strand, not the follicle… and that’s the whole problem. Once follicles go dormant, they need targeted help to come back. The good news? You can get treatment that actually works with no office visits or trips to the pharmacy. Learn about my favorites here →

Six figures you can’t spend: Most homeowners over 50 have spent years dutifully paying their mortgage, assuming the only time it’ll pay off is when they sell. I thought the same thing until I discovered you can tap into the equity you’ve earned whenever you want (without leaving your home). Overdue for a new roof? Want to build your dream bathroom? There are two ways to turn equity into usable cash →

📆 Around town this weekend

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.

👗 My Girlfriend’s Closet 2026 @ Veterans Warehouse Thrift Store (Wenatchee) | Friday (3/13) at 10:00 AM – Pop-up department store meets do-gooding, with brand-name finds, no tickets needed, and no dressing rooms, so wear Costco-errand layers. Proceeds fund nonprofits and a free day for women and teens in need; donate at Heidi Huddle Allstate, Town Toyota, or Cashmere Valley Bank’s Financial Center.

🍷 The Dark Side of Decadence @ One Wines | Friday (3/13) at 1:00 PM – Nothing beats bold reds and good chocolate when winter drags on, and One Wines is pouring both with every tasting all month. A civilized excuse to call curated chocolates pairings, linger with friends, and pretend tannins cancel calories. Quality time, zero guilt.

🥃 Taste of Whisky @ Blue Spirits Distilling (Leavenworth) | Friday (3/13) at 6:00 PM – Adulthood calls for real whisky, not mystery well drinks. Blue Spirits is pouring handcrafted cocktails with small bites, free parking, and a playlist you control with your song requests. Settle in, sip slow, and request all your favorites.

🐾 St. Pawtrick’s Day 2026 @ Firehouse Pet Shop (Wenatchee) | Saturday (3/14) at 9:30 AM – Clear Saturday before St. Patrick’s Day for an all-day downtown Wenatchee takeover. Shop deals, applaud the world’s shortest parade as it covers one block, then tuck the wee ones and pups in, and join the pub crawl, stories, laughs, and pints guaranteed.

🍀 Luck on the Ave @ Downtown Wenatchee | Saturday (3/14) at 10:00 AM – Downtown Wenatchee is going green with shop specials, festive windows, and the World’s Shortest St. Patrick’s Day Parade, which you could miss if you sneeze. After the blink-and-you’ll-cheer stroll, a guided pub crawl keeps the craic alive with Irish-themed pours, stops, and grown-up fun.

🐾 Wildlife Tracking @ Wenatchee River Institute (Leavenworth) | Sunday (3/15) at 9:00 AM – Trade screen time for scat clues on a beginner friendly, family friendly wildlife tracking walk with local tracker Kirk Beckendorf and WRI educator Virginia Shoup. Wander the Wenatchee River Institute campus and local nooks, reading tracks, scat, and scratch marks like gossip. Registration required.

✍ Touch Drawing Workshop @ Icicle Creek Center for the Arts (Leavenworth) | Sunday (3/15) at 1:00 PM – This touch drawing workshop turns feelings into art by laying paper over wet paint, then letting your fingertips do the talking. Guided sessions, some with a sound bath, nudge you deeper, think therapy without small talk. No art degree required, aprons provided, wear paint-friendly clothes.

Live music & entertainment:

• 3/13 Taste of Whisky @ Blue Spirits Distilling (Leavenworth) – 6:00 PM
• 3/14 Taste of Whisky @ Tsillan Cellars – 1:00 PM
• 3/14 BassICally @ Chelan Ridge Winery (Manson) – 3:30 PM
• 3/14 A New Era in Bloom @ Foothills Community Center (Wenatchee) – 5:00 PM
• 3/14 Dead Bars @ IOOF Prosperity Lodge #301 (Wenatchee) – 7:00 PM
• 3/14 The Hip-Hop Orchestra Experience @ Numerica Performing Arts Center (Wenatchee) – 7:30 PM
• 3/17 Live Music @ One Wines – 4:00 PM

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

📻 Chelan County report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 46°F – Low: 32°F – Precip: 47%

A chance of snow before 5pm, then a chance of rain and snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 46. Southwest wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible. Later: A chance of rain and snow before 5am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 32. West wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.

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Tomorrow – High: 46°F – Low: 33°F – Precip: 8%

Sunny, with a high near 46. West wind 6 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph. Later: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 33.

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