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Hi Wheeling, we made it to Thursday! 

In today’s fun-for-grown-ups edition: Teen mental health expansion, Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella, and Gourmet Getaway + plenty of reasons to put on real pants this week.

Today’s sponsor, Spot Pet Insurance, is something I wish I had before a late-night emergency vet visit left me with a $10,000 credit card bill. It’s cheaper than Netflix… and means you never have to choose between your pet and your savings. It takes less than 5 minutes to sign up – get started here.

📰 In the news

College-prep focus, caring community: Wheeling Central Catholic High School reports rising enrollment as admissions director Rob Magruder cites rigorous academics, faith-centered life, and the Hope Scholarship drawing more local families — get all the details.

Focus on teen mental health: U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito toured Wheeling’s Crittenton Services ahead of a $30 million expansion adding cottage-style housing for girls 12 to 18, with completion expected by March 2027 — get all the expansion details.

Boosting preservation, business, and arts: Wheeling Heritage awarded grants to seven groups, backing a Capitol Theatre mural by Monica Duymich, restaurant expansion, and marketing support for Sport Your Colors and Arts & Cultural Commission — see all funded projects.

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.

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:

• Book club discusses “Eight Perfect Murders”
• Join Shadyside’s Adult Fiction Book Club
• Learn about fascinating marine mammals
• This top-tier home warranty is 50% off right now
• Save on self-care during the CVS Epic Beauty Sale

🐾 One pet emergency can cost $10,000+

Together with our sponsor Spot Pet Insurance

Nothing prepares you for a late-night emergency at the vet. I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache.

From the initial exam fee just to be seen, to x-rays, surgery, medication, and follow-up visits… the bill racks up fast (to say the least). And at that moment? You’re not thinking about your savings, you’re just saying yes to whatever keeps them thriving.

As soon as we got home, I dug around online and ultimately signed up for Spot.

It’s super affordable and reimburses up to 90% on qualified vet bills. It was too late for me, but it’s not too late for you. Sign up today.

🫶 We got your back

Burger night, solved: At Waterfront Hall, Avenue Eats keeps the patty game strong with a classic Diner Burger or wilder spins… think roasted jalapeño. Perfect for midweek morale, a post-rink bite, or a we-deserve-this dinner, with fries that vanish fast.

Lace up in Wheeling: Whether you’re easing back onto blades or dialing in crossovers, J.B. Chambers Memorial Rink turns Wheeling Park into your winter hangout with public skating and rentals. It’s an easy, low-stress way to shake off cabin fever until spring finally shows.

Statehood stories, anyone? West Virginia Independence Hall makes a quick downtown stop feel like time travel, with restored rooms, vivid Civil War context, and exhibits that stick. It reconnects you with Wheeling’s roots and leaves you surprisingly proud of your ZIP code.

Access cash without selling your home: A reverse mortgage can help anyone over 62 cover everyday expenses, support healthcare needs, fund home improvements, or even reduce pressure on 401(k) withdrawals – all while staying in your home. Longbridge offers a free calculator to estimate how much flexibility your home could provide, with no commitment required.

📆 Wheeling for grown ups

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.

☕ No More Week: Coffee & Conversations @ Ohio County Public Library | Thursday (3/5) at 11:00 AM – Got a lunch break and a conscience? Pop into Ohio County Public Library for Coffee & Conversations with YWCA Wheeling, where the caffeine is free, the talk is real, and you leave with resources and ways to stand up to domestic and sexual violence.

🌱 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:

• 3/5 Jam Night @ Waterfront Hall – 7:00 PM
• 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

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
• Protect your pet from disaster with this pet insurance plan
• You can own physical gold and silver in your retirement account

📻 Wheeling report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 67°F – Low: 58°F – Precip: 95%

Rain and widespread fog before 8am, then widespread fog and rain likely between 8am and 9am, then rain and areas of fog between 9am and 1pm, then rain and a slight chance of thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a high near 67. South wind 3 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible. Later: Rain and a slight chance of thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58. Southwest wind 5 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

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Tomorrow – High: 73°F – Low: 61°F – Precip: 36%

A chance of rain before 1pm, then a slight chance of thunderstorms and a slight chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 73. Southwest wind 3 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible. Later: A slight chance of thunderstorms and a slight chance of rain. Partly cloudy, with a low around 61. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

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

Fresh siding and a new roof are already done, leaving the interior wide open for custom plans. The space can be framed and drywalled to suit, with a full bath on the main level and a second bath roughed in upstairs. Minutes from Wheeling Island Casino, this flexible project suits DIY creators and savvy investors seeking a true blank canvas.

Take a peek inside →