Subscribe | Get featured

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

In today’s can’t-miss-weekend-plans edition: Gold and silver heat up, a new iGaming partnership, and Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella + a stacked lineup of events this weekend.

Today’s sponsor (FinanceBuzz) built a free comparison tool that helped me cut my car insurance premiums in half. It took about 3 minutes, and honestly… I wish I’d done it sooner. If you haven’t shopped around in a while, you can easily check the best rates here.

📰 In the news

A career of civic impact: Wheeling’s Shelly Carenbauer brings two decades in banking to lift institutions. The Unified Bank executive and Rotary leader serves on boards and champions community upgrades across West Virginia and Ohio — read the full profile.

New iGaming partnership announced: Hacksaw Gaming agreed to provide online casino games to Betly in West Virginia, with Delaware North, which operates Wheeling Island Hotel, Casino & Racetrack and Mardi Gras Casino & Resort — get details on the collaboration.

Stories behind handmade glass: Across the river in Bellaire, Ohio, National Imperial Glass Museum displays roughly 6,000 pieces from the Imperial Glass Company, which operated 1901 to 1984, including Free Hand glass and Candlewick — read the full story.

Gold & silver are hot: Coming off gold’s best year since 1979, the momentum is carrying well into 2026 with silver remaining one of the most talked-about assets. Curious why they’re back in focus? American Hartford Gold has a free guide that explains what’s happening and how people are approaching it today. It’s free – and definitely worth a read.

Someone Googled you this week: Whether you’re dating again, selling something locally, or just meeting new neighbors… people are going to look you up. Like it or not, the internet has a way of surfacing past mistakes and outdated information that no longer reflects who you are.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 all that up – learn more here.

Highlights this week:

• Join Shadyside’s Adult Fiction Book Club
• Learn about fascinating marine mammals
• Back-to-back St. Patrick’s parties at Waterfront Hall
• Over 62? See how to turn home equity into tax-free cash

🚗 Are you quietly overpaying for car insurance?

Together with our sponsor FinanceBuzz

Auto insurance premiums have been climbing across the country… and most folks won’t notice until it’s time to renew and they’re hit with a higher bill.

The frustrating part? Loyalty rarely gets rewarded. Insurers adjust prices constantly, and new customers often qualify for better rates than long-time policyholders.

I learned that the hard way. I had the same policy for half a decade. Autopay was on, I saw the charges come in every month and never thought twice about them. Turns out I was paying well above the national average ($175/mo) for a single car… for years.

This free comparison tool lets you check rates from multiple insurers in just a few minutes. It costs nothing to look, and it could save you hundreds this year.

🫶 We got your back

Plant‑friendly downtown fix: Craving something fresh that isn’t a project? The Public Market keeps downtown Wheeling satisfied with locally minded breakfast and lunch plates, plus grab-and-go that makes eating more plants easy, and actually tasty… like lunch, not penance.

Treasure hunt, unlocked: That corner craving character? Antiques on the Market lines the shelves with glass, furniture, and delightful oddities to explore at your own pace. Wander Centre Market and let a lucky find or two handle the decorating.

Lock in some sparkle: Whether you’re marking a milestone or ditching fiddly clasps, River Valley Designs makes quick, dainty permanent jewelry for wrists, ankles, and necks. Personalize with the charm bar. The result is delicate shine that stays put, feels effortless, and keeps its glow.

An emergency vet visit could cost you $7,000+ (ask me how I know 🙃). From the initial fee just to be seen to x-rays, surgery, medicine, and aftercare, it adds up quicker than a chew toy turns into a crime scene. The good news? You could get up to 90% cash back on your vet bill with this pet insurance plan.

📆 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.

👴 Senior Day @ Belmont County District Library | Friday (3/6) at 10:00 AM – If your social calendar favors coffee, cards, and the good chairs, Senior Day is your weekly win. Fridays at 10am, the 55+ crew gathers for crafts, games, and conversation, no registration, just show up. Bring your best stories.

🌱 Sculpt’n’Gulp – Animal Planters @ East Wheeling Clayworks | Friday (3/6) at 6:00 PM – Skip the sad terracotta. This Sculpt’n’Gulp is turning your favorite animal into a clay planter, with step-by-step help, all materials, and firing included for $40. No experience required, just ideas and a steady hand, pick up your masterpiece later, and snag tickets before they vanish.

👠 Cinderella @ Oglebay Institute’s Towngate Theatre & Cinema | Friday (3/6) at 8:00 PM – Towngate is polishing the glass slipper with Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella, a charming, kid-forward staging that still lands all the classic tunes. Bring the grandkids, or borrow some, and practice your inside-voice singalong to In My Own Little Corner, Impossible, and Ten Minutes Ago.

🍽 Gourmet Getaway @ Oglebay’s Wilson Lodge | Saturday (3/7) at 10:00 AM – Clear your Saturday and play with your food at a chef-led crash course in charcuterie boards, gourmet sauces, and dangerously good chocolate, plus a lunch buffet. Then drift to Hickman Lounge for live music, good company, and the smug glow of learning something tasty.

🎨 Vendor/Craft Show @ Wheeling Salvation Army Youth | Saturday (3/7) at 10:00 AM – Take a spin through the Salvation Army craft and vendor show, where you can browse local makers, chat with neighbors, and exercise your raffle luck. Expect favorite vendors, a Chinese auction, an open kitchen, and door prizes, because small-town fun still delivers.

🎉 Hope Gala 2026 @ White Palace at Wheeling Park | Saturday (3/7) at 6:00 PM – Nothing beats a night where your two-step actually does some good. At the 16th Annual Hope Gala, expect dinner, drinks, dancing, and a proper toast to a neighbor earning the Charity in Action Award, all to fuel Catholic Charities’ work across 17 northern counties.

🍵 Royal-Tea Party @ Oglebay Institute’s Towngate Theatre & Cinema | Sunday (3/8) at 5:00 PM – After the Cinderella matinee at Towngate, it’s royal-tea time with crafts, kid-friendly treats, and autographs from the cast. Limited to 30 mini monarchs, it’s $15 per child with one adult included, no fairy godmother required, just snacks, sparkle, and a brief reprieve for you.

Live music & entertainment:

• 3/6 The Dead Revival Band and more @ Waterfront Hall – 7:30 PM
• 3/6 Cinderella @ Oglebay Institute’s Towngate Theatre & Cinema – 8:00 PM
• 3/6 Funky Fridays @ Silver Rail Bar & Grill – 8:00 PM
• 3/7 The Dead Revival Band and more @ Waterfront Hall – 7:30 PM
• 3/7 Nightrain @ Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack – 8:00 PM
• 3/12 Jam Night @ Waterfront Hall – 7:00 PM
• 3/13 Art & Ale @ Oglebay Institute Stifel Fine Arts Center

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.

• Thinning hair? Don’t wait – here are 3 treatments that work
• This free tool helps connect you with the right financial advisor
• Got debt? You may be able to pay less than you owe
• You can own physical gold and silver in your retirement account
• Treat yourself: Save on self-care during the CVS Epic Beauty Sale

📻 Wheeling report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 71°F – Low: 61°F – Precip: 32%

Patchy fog before 7am, then a chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 71. South wind 2 to 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible. Later: A slight chance of rain before 7pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 61. South wind 5 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

—

Tomorrow – High: 76°F – Low: 48°F – Precip: 94%

Rain and a chance of thunderstorms after 7am. Partly sunny, with a high near 76. Southwest wind 8 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible. Later: Rain and a chance of thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 48. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Something in your house is about to break 🏠

It might be your AC, your water heater, your fridge… doesn’t matter. Every major system and appliance has an expiration date, and when it goes, you’re staring down a repair bill that can climb into the thousands fast.

It never happens at a convenient time, and most homeowners just eat the cost because they don’t realize there’s a better option.

American Home Shield covers repairs and replacements on most of your home’s major systems and appliances — old or new, no inspection required.

The best part? Select plans are 50% off now through March 9th.

This house is wild

First Look opportunity on Auction.com, offering an exclusive early bidding window for owner-occupants, public entities, and non-profits. The auction opens 03-08-2026, and the First Look Period ends 03-10-2026. Saving the property on Auction.com ensures important updates and reminders. Additional details and eligibility information are available at Auction.com/FirstLook. This listing prioritizes community-focused buyers before investors.

Take a peek inside →