Monday, April 27, 2026

Heads up for pet parents: 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.*

Hands-on civics for kids: Organizers delivered 250 activity books to Ebner Elementary in Altoona, giving students games, puzzles, and lessons about the nation’s founding as part of an effort marking America’s 250th birthday -- read the full story.

Collaboration driving downtown progress: Jamie Baser Foust has started as Altoona’s main street manager after leading Hollidaysburg’s program. Neighborhood Partnership Program grants totaling $3.3 million over six years fund the role and downtown revitalization -- learn what the role entails.

Focused care for dependency: Pennsylvania’s drug and alcohol secretary visited UPMC Altoona, praising a new ER mental health pod for substance-related crises, described as first of its kind and funded by opioid settlement dollars -- see what the unit offers.

The bill everyone over 50 should double check: Car insurance. If you’ve been on the same plan for years, you might be paying way more than you need to. It’s an easy one to forget about, but switching could save you up to $600 this year. Case in point: I shopped around and ended up cutting my premium in half — this free comparison tool makes it easy.*

Retirees are making moves: After gold's best year in nearly five decades, more folks than ever are moving part of their savings into precious metals. Not all of it... just enough to hedge against inflation. AHG put together a free guide that explains how it works -- grab your copy here.*

Craving cozy noodle vibes: Not exactly pho, yet Jaidee Thai Restaurant brings the same slurpable comfort with fragrant Thai noodle soup and a legit khao soi that warms you from within. Big, balanced flavors, cozy broth, and tender noodles turn weeknights into little retreats with Jaidee Thai Restaurant in the mix.

Your midweek pick-me-up: Levity Brewing Co. Altoona keeps things easy with a two-level taproom overlooking the brewhouse, a friendly crew, and a kitchen turning out shareables, paninis, and tacos alongside fresh house beers, plus cider and wine... perfect for a low-key night that still feels like a treat.

Fresh bread, no fluff: Altoona dinners start with Pacifico Bakery, baking fresh breads and rolls since 1947. Steak and kaiser rolls, hearth loaves, subs, and bread bowls make hoagies, soups, and weeknights taste planned, not improvised, with that warm-from-the-oven swagger.

The slower you walk, the more it works: Tai Chi walking is trending online. Turns out it's centuries old — slow deliberate steps, paced breath, attention on the body. Thirty minutes a day burns fat, lifts your mood, and builds balance. No gym, no treadmill, no pounding on the joints. Take the quick quiz to see if it fits, then use code BASELOCAL for a discount on the coaching plan. *See how it works →

Your homeowners insurance has a blind spot: It covers your house if a tree falls on it. It doesn’t cover your furnace when it quits in January, your AC when it dies in July, or your water heater when it starts leaking on a Tuesday. Those are all classified as "normal wear and tear," and they're 100% on you. American Home Shield can help fill that gap for ~$1/day (even if your appliances and systems are really old).*See what it covers →

Selling your house doesn't have to take months: If you need to sell quickly — because you're downsizing, relocating, or just ready to close this chapter — Liz helps seniors sell their houses fast. As-is. No repairs, no showings, no drawn-out back-and-forth. You pick the closing date. *See how it works →

Unknown-number calls aren't random: Scammers don't just pick numbers out of a hat. They pay data brokers a few bucks and get everything they need to harass you, trick you, rob you, or steal your identity outright. Incogni removes all of your personal info from these data broker sites and keeps an eye out to make sure it stays gone for good. *Get protected →

For women who've been feeling off for years: The fatigue, the weight creeping up, the mood swings, the sleep that won't hold. Turns out most of those "it's just aging" problems are actually caused by hormones, and proper HRT can get you back to feeling like yourself. The catch? You can't get it without a full hormone panel and a doctor who understands what those numbers mean. Most women never get either, but Hone Health gives you both. *See how it works →

📚 Spring Used Book Sale @ Altoona Area Public Library | Monday (4/27) at 8:30 AM – Clear a little shelf space, the Altoona library’s Friends are hosting a used book sale packed with bestsellers, kids’ reads, puzzles, DVDs, and gloriously nerdy nonfiction. Stock up guilt-free, it funds the library, and $5-a-bag day is the victory lap.

🥩 Meals that Matter @ Texas Roadhouse | Tuesday (4/28) at 3:00 PM – Sunday calls for steak, cinnamon butter, and doing a little good. Head to Texas Roadhouse on April 28, bring the flyer, and 10% of your bill goes to Hallowed Ground Counseling. Eat like a local hero, then politely fight over the last roll.

🌍 Tikkun Olam: Repairing the World Through Art @ Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art Altoona | Wednesday (4/29) at 5:30 PM – Let the kids, ages 6 to 9, channel their inner helpers at SAMA, where Tikkun Olam turns into recycled art and kindness stones. You supervise, they craft, everyone feels virtuous. Parents can wander the Jewish art exhibit, suggested $5 keeps these gems going.

🌷 Spring Fling @ Crowned Boutique | Thursday (4/30) at 6:00 PM – Treat your closet to a spring refresh at Crowned Boutique, with pop-ups, new arrivals, and none of the mall chaos. Permanent jewelry from Penelope & Co., curated thrift from Elevate, and handmade gifts from Creations by Kelsey, finished with lemonade from future CEOs.

🎭 9 to 5 - The Musical @ Historic Mishler Theatre/Blair County Arts Foundation | Friday (5/1) at 7:30 PM – Trade your real 9 to 5 for Dolly Parton’s 9 to 5, the musical romp where office politics get a glittery soundtrack, and the boss gets his comeuppance. Expect big laughs, bigger hair, and songs you’ll hum on Monday, begrudgingly or not.

🥞 Pancake Day @ Bishop Guilfoyle High School Apparel Store | Saturday (5/2) at 7:00 AM – Let the Kiwanis flip you breakfast by the stack. All-you-can-eat pancakes and sausages for seven bucks, kids six and under eat free, and no one is counting. Grab tickets from a Kiwanis pal, or just stroll up and pay at the door.

🚀 Lego 'Star Wars' Build Event @ Barnes & Noble | Saturday (5/2) – Skip the chores and build a starfighter with actual bricks, not just on a screen. In-store LEGO Star Wars fun, aimed at ages 10 and up, though the young at heart are welcome. Bring the kids, avoid the floor-bound brick booby traps, enjoy the nostalgia.

This 4-bed, 3.5-bath Altoona home sits on a flat half-acre with a pool and party-ready deck. A cozy family room with fireplace anchors the main level, and the finished basement flexes for play, gym, or guest space. An attached garage and expansive yard add everyday ease and potential, all wrapped in character and comfort.