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.*

Where creativity meets calm: Richmond poet B Lovee opened Plus HQ Wellness Club in Petersburg, with a tea lounge, community space, recovery zone, and Peace Pod 2.0, encouraging phone-free time with a lock box -- get all the details.

Community stewardship gains steam: Willcox Watershed Conservancy has new leadership and renews efforts to restore Legends Park and Willcox Lake, involving Petersburg Garden Club and scout troops, led by VSU professor Matt Whalen -- see what's planned ahead.

Real staff names misused: Earlier this month, Prince George County Police warned of a sophisticated phishing scam impersonating Planning and Zoning and targeting residents and business owners. Be cautious with email contact details -- get all the details.

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.*

Frame it right: Whether it’s your kid’s masterpiece, a prized jersey, or the cross-stitch you finally finished, Carter Framing and Art makes it gallery-ready with custom framing, shadow boxes, and art prints, all handled by a Certified Picture Framer, friendly and local, so your walls feel curated, not cluttered.

Your weeknight taco win: La Loteria is keeping Petersburg’s taco game strong with dunkable birria tacos, cheesy quesabirria, and fresh guac that tastes like someone actually squeezed the limes. When the week gets hectic, ordering online is painless, and the flavors do all the heavy lifting.

Closet refresh, local style: Shari's Sewing Studio mixes consigned gowns, classic accessories, and precise alterations, so you can discover something new-to-you and make old favorites fit again. Ideal for last-minute events or slow-burn closet upgrades, with standout style minus the sticker shock.

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 →

💃 Beginners Line Dance Lessons @ Brew Craft Bar & Kitchen (Chesterfield) | Tuesday (4/28) at 7:00 PM – Trade the treadmill for two-step Tuesday at Angry Man Brewing, where Dancin’Cat schools us in line dancing, all levels welcome. Free lessons with food or bev purchase, so grab a pint or their Orange Wine. Every Tuesday night, and yes, your knees can handle it.

📚 Story Time @ Prince George County Library | Thursday (4/30) at 10:30 AM – Trade another YouTube loop for Story Time at Prince George Library, where the pros read aloud and you get to be the hero who loves books. Kids get giggles and new words, you get a cozy seat, community vibes, and zero sticky ball pits.

🎨 Art Club @ Burgundie's Wine Cafe | Friday (5/1) at 6:00 PM – Nothing beats Fridays at 6 spent making something with actual humans. It’s free, you bring your paints, pencils, collage bits, or whatever, and work on your project alongside other artists, swapping tips, quiet motivation, and the kind of small talk that doesn’t drain you.

👕 Clothing Giveaway @ Petersburg Church of Christ | Saturday (5/2) at 9:00 AM – Closet looking like a time capsule? Petersburg Church of Christ is hosting a free community clothing giveaway, no fuss, just neighbors helping neighbors. Cleaning out yours, or feeling generous, bring men’s, women’s, and kids’ clothes, shoes, nonperishables, or volunteer time, and spread the word.

🎗 Kids Ministry Fundraiser @ Grace Baptist Church | Saturday (5/2) at 9:00 AM – If you love a good yard sale with bonus warm fuzzies, swing by to fund local kids ministries, VBS, and camp. Browse home decor, clothing, and gems, donate what you can, and roll out with a cleaner conscience, a fuller trunk, and bargain glory.

🐝 Bumblebee Jamboree @ Chesterfield County Fairgrounds | Saturday (5/2) at 10:00 AM – Chesterfield’s Bee Festival is buzzing, with the Bumblebee Jamboree offering free kids activities courtesy of the Chesterfield Extension Master Gardeners. It’s free to stroll in, with more no-cost fun, plus vendors slinging food, honey, and crafts while the kids burn off energy, politely.

🎨 Dreaming the Miracle @ Petersburg Area Art League | Saturday (5/2) at 1:00 PM – Trade doomscrolling for a PAAL workshop with A. Logan Hill where you’ll write through dreams, try ekphrasis, and play matchmaker with “incongruous compatibility.” Make broadsides and zines on vintage typewriters, then leave with fresh stories, inky fingers, and bragging rights.

This 3-bed, 2-bath new build in Dinwiddie is 20 minutes from Fort Lee. A front porch, vaulted ceilings, and Walnut Waves LVP shape a family room. A White Eyes leathered granite kitchen with island and pantry opens to a deck. The primary suite brings a walk-in and cultured marble. It offers high-speed internet, a generator hook-up, and a 100-gpm well.