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.*

State agencies coordinate farm relief: Applications reopen today for Virginia's Farm Recovery Block Grant, helping Lynchburg-area farmers and timber producers hit by Hurricane Helene cover infrastructure, irrigation, roads, and perennial crop losses through July 1 -- see application dates and details.

Your role in selection: Lynchburg City Schools seeks community input on the next E.C. Glass principal as current principal Dani Rule is leaving. A survey is open to students, families, staff, and community members -- see how to get involved.

Inside a storied literary home: Earlier this month, Lynchburg’s Anne Spencer House & Garden Museum marked 50 years with a new visitor and education center and the Pop’s Chicken House Stage, honoring the poet’s local legacy -- see highlights from the celebration.

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.*

Find your film fix: Whether you miss indie nights or crave a big‑screen break from the megaplex, Academy Center of the Arts keeps cinema alive with classic screenings, special features, and the Lynchburg Film Festival... a perfectly valid reason to call popcorn “dinner.”

Dial in your drive: London Downs Golf Club pairs scenic Blue Ridge views with forgiving fairways and sneaky-fast greens. Ideal for a post-work nine or a weekend round, it lets the resident breezes nudge your draw while you keep a straight face as that 'planned' approach actually finds the flag.

Closet glow-up, guilt-free: Threaded Collective curates quality secondhand style and ethically made gifts, and you can book an appointment to sell your gently used pieces for cash or store credit. Every purchase helps support survivors of trafficking in the Lynchburg area while keeping great clothes in circulation.

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 →

🌸 Wood Flowers Workshop @ Hammer & Stain | Wednesday (4/29) at 5:00 PM – Make a bouquet your cat can't kill. We guide you through a beginner-friendly wood flowers workshop where you choose your colors and craft a 20-stem arrangement, with extra blooms, display options, complimentary snacks, and non-alcoholic drinks, plus a blissful absence of watering schedules.

🎤 Ray Martin @ Big Lick Tropical Grill | Thursday (4/30) at 6:00 PM – Nothing beats a midweek escape with live music and a cold drink, so Ray Martin brings island vibes, rock, pop, and country to Big Lick Tropical Grill. Think vacation soundtrack meets your favorite bar playlist, minus TSA, with good food, easy company, and zero email.

🏛 Architectural Restoration Behind the Scenes Tours @ Thomas Jefferson's Poplar Forest | Friday (5/1) at 11:00 AM – Peek behind the velvet rope at Poplar Forest with a behind-the-scenes restoration tour, where Jefferson’s letters, not HGTV, call the shots. See how decades of painstaking work since 1989 bring his retreat back to life, twice daily, slow, satisfying, and oddly thrilling.

🎉 Family Fiesta! @ River Ridge Mall | Saturday (5/2) at 4:00 AM – Round up the crew for a free, family-friendly bash with live mariachi, great food, games, and face painting. Think tacos for you, tiny tigers for them, and dancing that counts as cardio. Low cost, high vibes, and you’ll still be home before bedtime.

🌱 4th Annual Plant Sale @ Lynchburg Grows | Saturday (5/2) at 9:00 AM – Whether your thumb is green or more “oops, I overwatered,” this plant sale has vegetable starts, native perennials, houseplants, and LG merch. Shop Love LYH Flea Market vendors, graze the food trucks, then get knives and pruners sharpened before the season kicks in.

🌊 Clean the Bay Day: James River Cleanup @ Percival's Island | Saturday (5/2) at 9:00 AM – Percival's Island is getting a cleanup with LWR as part of Clean the Bay Day. We’ll snag river-bound trash before it tours the James and the Chesapeake, meet people, and feel virtuous. Supplies provided, register, bring a reusable bottle, snacks, closed-toe shoes, and mud-ready clothes.

🌻 Festival of Gardening @ E. C. Glass High School | Saturday (5/2) at 9:00 AM – First Saturday in May means Festival of Gardening, the plant sale on the Langhorne Road lawn at E.C. Glass. Snag indoor and outdoor favorites, support Hill City Master Gardeners’ only fundraiser for youth and community outreach, and finally give that sunny corner a purpose.

Lakefront on 3 acres across from Boonsboro Country Club, this fully remodeled home offers 3,500 sq ft on the main level plus 2,500 on the terrace. Walls of glass, heart of pine floors, vaulted beams, and a soaring stone fireplace impress. The gourmet kitchen features custom cabinetry and a 48-inch Wolf dual fuel range. A screened porch showcases water views.