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.*

Major overhaul adds roundabouts: Mon County drivers could see relief as DOH plans to add workers on Green Bag Road, with utility relocation expected to wrap within a month and pothole crews expanding countywide -- see what's planned and when.

Lean member-led giving: Morgantown leaders will bring back a giving circle where neighbors pledge $250 each quarter after an hourlong meeting to support a nonprofit, with the next gathering at a Morgantown restaurant -- see how it works.

Chasing the top spot: Voting is open through May 11 for Morgantown's Ruby Summer Concert Series, nominated again for USA Today’s 10Best. This season features Everclear, Hanson, Leftover Salmon, and more -- see how to vote daily.

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.*

Smoke + sauce, sorted: Craving real-deal ribs without a cross-town trek? Backyard BBQ serves slow-smoked meats, classic comfort sides, and easy patio vibes to match. Plus, three bars: upstairs, downstairs, outside, so the group chat has no excuses this week.

Low-key local legend: A Morgantown original and proudly hipster-free since '83, Crockett's Lodge is where burgers, wings, and brunch meet good company and WVU vibes. When the week calls for an easy hangout with real-deal comfort food, put this Star City standby back in the rotation.

Got a pho craving? Saigon Pho Kitchen serves cozy bowls of beef or chicken pho, a legit, spicy bun bo Hue, and grab-and-go banh mi with bubble tea. When cooking feels optional, a hot slurp hits better. Comforting, quick, and flavorful, they keep weeknights easy.

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 Field Trip: WVU Core Arboretum @ WVU Core Arboretum (Morgantown) | Tuesday (4/28) at 7:30 AM – Grab your binoculars and head to WVU Core Arboretum, our favorite spring runway for neotropical migrants. Meet at the entrance by the parking lot on Monongahela Boulevard, then enjoy a stroll where the birds show off and we pretend we were looking up on purpose.

🌸 Spring Fling Kids Night @ Chick-fil-A Patteson Drive (Morgantown) | Tuesday (4/28) at 5:00 PM – Spring cabin fever hit your house too? Swing by Chick-fil-A Patteson Drive for Spring Fling Kids Night, where the kids get a spring craft, photo booth shenanigans, and quality time with the Cow, and you score a few peaceful bites, fries, and local small talk.

🧵 Visible Mending Workshop @ Monongalia Arts Center (Morgantown) | Thursday (4/30) at 6:00 PM – Whether your favorite jeans have a battle scar or your sweatshirt caught a snag, learn Japanese Sashiko mending with local artist and musician becks! No experience needed. Bring something to fix or practice on, keep holes under two inches, and save the landfill some drama.

👪 Friday Family Walk & Craft @ West Virginia Botanic Garden (Morgantown) | Friday (5/1) at 10:00 AM – If your mini naturalists are getting antsy, trade screen time for a Botanic Garden reset. A WVBG educator leads a quick story, an easy walk, and a simple craft, geared to preschoolers but no one will card you. Free for members, $15 general, pre-registration required.

🤸 United in Movement Festival @ Suncrest Towne Centre (Morgantown) | Saturday (5/2) at 8:00 AM – Suncrest Towne Centre becomes a morning playground of sweat, music, and neighborly high-fives as Orangetheory, Zenergy, &And Yoga, and Bodybar Pilates lead the charge. Get your gold star before lunch, feel wildly virtuous by noon, and snag tickets at unitedinmovementfest.com.

🎸 Tongue 'N Cheek and more @ Tropics (Morgantown) | Saturday (5/2) at 8:00 PM – Tease up the hair and head to Tropics for an 80s rock throwback with Tongue ‘N Cheek and special guest The Roadies. Expect big hooks, louder sing-alongs, and solos our knees may regret but our souls will thank. Leave the kids, bring the air guitar.

🚀 Lego 'Star Wars' Build Event @ Barnes & Noble (Morgantown) | Saturday (5/2) – Swing by the shop for a "Star Wars" LEGO build, open to all, best for ages 10 and up. Bring the kids, or pretend you did, flex your inner Jedi, and call it quality time without stepping on bricks at home.

Set above Cheat Lake, this finely crafted home offers an oversized porch, soaring ceilings, and a stone fireplace, plus an eat-in kitchen finished in marble, a large island, and a pantry. A spiral stair rises to a belvedere with lake views and a skylight. Extras include a theater, walkout lower level, koi pond patio, and heated garage with room above.