Hello Mid-Ohio Valley! Hope your coffee tastes especially good this morning. In today’s bring-the-kiddos edition: Free children's beds, a fictional-country STEM camp, and the 2026 freedom festival + excuses to get the fam out and about this week.
Your insurance won't cover a $12,000 HVAC bill: If your furnace quits before it warms up, your homeowners insurance will tell you it's a "maintenance issue" and wish you luck. Insurance covers sudden disasters. It doesn't cover the systems that wear out over time, and those are the expensive ones. A home warranty is built for exactly this. HVAC, water heater, appliances, plumbing, electrical... all covered for less than $1/day with no age restrictions on what's covered. You call, they send a tech, you pay a service fee. They handle the rest. This one's 50% off right now.* |
01 — Worth knowing In the newsThree local stories this week, plus a few worth your money.
Expanding help for families: The Bed for Every Head program added Wood County this week, offering free cribs, bassinets and twin beds to qualifying families. Nearly 70 beds have been distributed so far -- learn how to get involved.
Hands-on learning abroad: Discovery World on Market in Parkersburg is offering summer STEM camps for kids, including first through fifth graders, where campers design fictional countries with names, flags, laws and jobs -- read about the camp themes.
Downtown businesses draw crowds: Sunny skies boosted Marietta’s Summer Shop Hop on Saturday, with balloons marking specials and a raffle, while First City Records offered live music, a giveaway, and 500 new albums -- read the full story.
Nothing prepares you for a pet emergency: I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. As soon as we got home, I signed up for Spot. It’s super affordable – and reimburses up to 90% of the bill.*
The bill all retirees 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.*
You've traveled abroad without being able to speak the local language. You can change that in just 10 minutes a day. Most people are holding real conversations within three weeks. In fact, 92% of users improved their proficiency in just two months, with 25 million subscriptions sold -- take 55% off.* Highlights this week: |
02 — From our sponsor Your insurance won't cover a $12,000 HVAC billIf your furnace quits before it warms up, your homeowners insurance will tell you it's a "maintenance issue" and wish you luck. Insurance covers sudden disasters. It doesn't cover the systems that wear out over time, and those are the expensive ones. A home warranty is built for exactly this. HVAC, water heater, appliances, plumbing, electrical... all covered for less than $1/day with no age restrictions on what's covered. You call, they send a tech, you pay a service fee. They handle the rest. This one's 50% off right now.* |
03 — On our radar
Local business spotlightNearby spots we'd actually send a friend to.
Pins and pixels: Whether you’re in the mood to chase a 200 or just rack up tickets, Emerson Lanes has league nights, a shiny new arcade, cosmic bowling on weekends, and a snack bar that handles post-frame cravings. Round up the crew, make a low-stress MOV night of it.
Riverside reset: When you need an easy win, Point Park offers Ohio River views, an open-air amphitheater backdrop, and a smooth path for walking or biking. Take a quick lap, watch boats drift by, then linger as the evening settles in... it’s the mellow reset your week needs.
|
04 — Our recommendations
We got your backA handful of products and services we think are worth a look.
Makeup for skin that's changed, now up to 65% off: Laura Geller has built its following on formulas made for mature skin, led by the baked foundations women over 40 keep coming back to. Right now, new email subscribers get up to 65% off plus an extra 22%. Enter your email on the page and the discount activates. *See the VIP pricing →
Home insurance premiums jumped 12% last year alone: That's on top of years of increases that have outpaced inflation. Before you blindly renew with your current insurer, a free comparison tool matches your home with top-rated insurers so you can see quotes side by side, in about two minutes. Some homeowners find hundreds in savings, and if you don't find a better policy, you stay put knowing you checked. *See your options →
Buy one window treatment this summer, get the second 50% off: “My fourth order over 8 years. Product reliability, consistency to values & warranty kept me returning!” See what keeps customers coming back to 3 Day Blinds. Book your free consultation and enjoy summer savings on blinds, shades, and drapery. *Claim your summer savings →
Carrying $5,000 or more on your cards? Stop the interest charges: A balance that size racks up interest fast, and at today's rates it barely budges no matter how much you pay. This card gives you 0% intro APR until 2028 on balance transfers (made in the first 60 days), with a $0 annual fee. That means almost two years to pay down what you owe with no interest charges. *See if it's a fit →
Wish you had someone to talk to right now? The quiet hours are the hardest, especially when you just want someone to talk to. That's exactly what this is built for: real conversations, real matches, real people. Not endless swiping, but actual chats with singles who want to connect as much as you do. Someone to talk to could be a message away. *Join now and start chatting → |
Have an event to share? We (and our readers) can't wait to hear about it! Submit an event → |
|
05 — The event calendar Fun for the famOur favorite upcoming kid and family-friendly events. All events are subject to change. Always check official event pages before heading out.
🔥 Camp Marshmallow @ Grand Central Mall (Vienna) | Wednesday (6/24) at 12:00 PM – Whether your kid is a budding engineer or just loves gluing googly eyes to everything, this hands-on STEM camp at Grand Central Mall packs five weeks of creative projects, experiments, and crafts. Expect weekly themes, mall A/C, and a little peace for you.
🎨 Mosaic Art for Teens @ South Parkersburg Library | Wednesday (6/24) at 4:00 PM – Got a bored teen haunting the kitchen? South Parkersburg Library is letting ages 12 to 19 craft mini, gem inspired mosaic canvases to take home, so they channel creativity, patience, and tidy glue lines. You get some quiet, they get sparkle.
🎆 2026 Freedom Festival @ Spencers Landing (Vienna) | Thursday (6/25) at 5:00 PM – America turns 250, and Vienna’s celebrating with food, music, activities, and a rowdy kickoff of Red, White, and Bruised wrestling. Then come the concert nights with VIP options, plus a Saturday Smash Pit, standing room up front, perfect for pretending your knees are still 25.
🏃 2026 Freedom Fun Run 5K @ Jan Dils Attorneys at Law (Parkersburg) | Saturday (6/27) at 7:00 AM – The Freedom Fun Run 5K is back on Market Street, with a virtual option if your couch has seniority. Run, walk, or elegantly shuffle, and call it cardio with a cause. Every dollar stays local to support Veteran groups, so everybody wins.
📡 ARRL Summer Field Day @ Fort Boreman Park (Parkersburg) | Saturday (6/27) at 2:00 PM – ARRL Summer Field Day with the Parkersburg Amateur Radio Klub is a 24-hour ham radio hangout where antennas pop up like backyard tomatoes, and voices bounce around the globe. Expect old-school chatter, a covered-dish picnic, and the kind of fellowship algorithms cannot fake.
💃 Tribal Fusion Belly Dance Class - 15 and Under @ Parkersburg YMCA | Sunday (6/28) at 2:00 PM – The Wayward Dancers run a Tribal Fusion belly dance class for ages 15 and under, all age-appropriate moves and props. Performances and parades are optional, encouraged, and a sure way to burn off a couple snacks. Got a teen or tween with rhythm to spare?
🤖 Teen Robotics Camp @ Discovery World on Market (Parkersburg) | Monday (6/29) at 5:30 PM – Darkside Robotics is teaming with Discovery World on Market for a teen camp that dives into 3D modeling, coding, design, and more. Translate all that screen time into real skills, with mentors, cool tools, and air conditioning. They build bots, you enjoy the quiet.
Want more? Browse our full events calendar | Submit an event |
06 — From our sponsor Heads up for pet parentsTogether with our sponsor Lemonade. 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 Pet Insurance. It was too late for me, but you could save thousands on your next vet bill with *Lemonade. |
07 — The Mid-Ohio Valley report Weather forecastToday — High: 80°F — Low: 59°F — Precip: 0%
Areas of fog before 9am. Sunny, with a high near 80. West wind 0 to 3 mph. Later: Mostly clear, with a low around 59. South wind around 2 mph.
Tomorrow — High: 84°F — Low: 65°F — Precip: 16%
A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 84. South wind 1 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Later: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 11pm, then showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible. This house is wildThis 3-bedroom, 2-bath barndominium, built in 2018, spreads across 15 private acres with sweeping views and room to roam. The desirable split floorplan keeps the spacious primary suite tucked away, while the open living area brings everyone together. A partially fenced setting, shed, and additional building add plenty of space for gardening, hobbies, and recreation.
Take a peek inside → |
| |
