Sunday, April 26, 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.*

Fixing a decades-old divide: Santa Rosa broke ground earlier this month on a $37 million Highway 101 pedestrian bridge, aiming to reconnect east and west neighborhoods by summer 2027 after cost increases threatened delays -- get all the details.

Retail growth gains momentum: Oliver's Market purchased Santa Rosa's Farmers Lane Plaza for $25 million and will open a third Santa Rosa store in the former Rite Aid space, creating 150 to 200 jobs -- read the full story.

More car-free travel options: SMART’s expanded schedule took effect April 14, adding frequent trains, earlier mornings, and later evenings for North Bay riders, with better San Francisco connections and easier trips from Santa Rosa -- see what's planned and when.

The bill everyone over 50 should double check: Car insurance. If you've been on the same plan for years, you're probably overpaying (especially if you rack up fewer miles than you used to). It's an easy bill to forget about, but switching to a safe-driver-low-mileage plan with Lemonade could save you up to $1,000 over the next year without downgrading from full coverage. I drive a few times a week and went from paying hundreds to ~$60 a month for the exact same policy -- see how much you could save.*

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? Viethai Cuisine is your midweek lifesaver when you want Thai comfort and Vietnamese freshness without the fuss. Slurpable pho, rich khao soi, and legit boat noodles show off Chef Sansanee’s Northeastern Thai roots, with bright curries and salads that taste like someone’s family recipe because they are.

Game night, anyone? Cooperage Brewing Downtown brings the hometown vibe with a modern taproom, arcade games, pool and darts, plus an ever-rotating tap list and daily food trucks, so you can roll in with friends, kids, or the dog and make an easy night of it.

Pliny and pizza, anyone? Skip the guesswork and treat yourself to a pint of Pliny the Elder, a crispy STS Pilsner, or whatever’s fresh on the chalkboard, then crush a legit good pizza at Russian River Brewing Company. Local, tasty, no fuss.

That patch of scalp that wasn't there a year ago: It's more common than most folks talk about. Especially in your 50s... hormones, stress, and nutrition all start pulling at hair density at once. Nutrafol is a drug-free daily supplement designed to work on those causes together — and in clinical studies, 93% of women said their hair looked healthier after six months. *Take a look →

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 →

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 →

Two sprays before bed, no more snoring? It really is that simple. No mouthpiece to wrestle with, no CPAP mask, no nose strips that peel off at 2am. This doctor-developed throat spray has been keeping sleepers quiet for 30 years, and first-time orders are 40% off right now. *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 →

🌱 Springtime Volunteering @ Petaluma Bounty Community Farm | Wednesday (4/29) at 9:00 AM – Volunteer for spring dirt therapy at Petaluma Bounty, our farm-powered food security project strengthening the local food system. We’ll weed, plant, and care for the land, then smugly feel useful, rested, and slightly taller. Help feed neighbors, and sign up at Calendly.com/PetalumaBounty.

🎷 Healdsburg Jazz Spring Jam Fundraiser @ Foley Family Community Pavilion | Friday (5/1) at 5:00 PM – Whether you’re here to bid big or just boogie, Healdsburg Jazz christens the new Foley Family Community Pavilion with a fundraiser that sparkles. Go all in with dinner, auction, dancing, and drinks for $285, or dance party with dessert buffet and two drinks for $60.

🌹 59th Annual Spring Rose and Arrangement Show & Sale @ Luther Burbank Art & Garden Center | Saturday (5/2) at 7:00 AM – Time to humble-brag about your backyard at the 59th Rose and Arrangement Show, open to novices, experts, and pruning-curious neighbors. After morning judging, admire the winners, then nab new beauties at the rose sale from Russian River Rose Co., and Alexander Nurseries.

🎉 May Fete Parade & Fair @ University Ave to Heritage Park (Rohnert Park) | Saturday (5/2) at 10:00 AM – Palo Alto’s May Fete Parade is back, saluting the everyday heroes who skip capes in favor of sunscreen, coffee, and carpool spreadsheets. Recruit PTA pals, scout troops, and that neighbor with a truck, then build a float or march, and sign up before procrastination wins.

🐶 Bark in the Park @ Rohnert Park Community Center | Saturday (5/2) at 11:00 AM – Leash up your four-legged roommate and head to Rohnert Park Community Center for a free afternoon of animal demos, pet vendors, and snacks and sips for sale. Contests include Best Trick, Treat Toss, Look-A-Like, and Best Dressed, so pre-register and let the tail-wagging begin.

📚 Santa Rosa Zine Fest 2026 @ Northwest Santa Rosa Library | Saturday (5/2) at 12:00 PM – Dust off your inner teen archivist and wander downtown Santa Rosa for an outdoor zine fest with local makers, artists, and kindred creatives. Expect hands-on crafts, live screen-printing, and workshops that prove stapled paper, strong opinions, and community still beat your algorithm.

🎉 Opening Day @ Walnut Park (Petaluma) | Saturday (5/2) at 12:00 PM – Dust off your tote bag and head to Walnut Park for opening day, back May 2. Farmers, food, artisans, and live music return, band TBA. Come for peak produce and friendly faces, stay for the people-watching, fresh bread, and your weekly steps.

White Horse Ranch spans 10 usable acres in Sonoma County, a blend of classic farmhouse style and modern efficiency. Renovated spaces include a Viking kitchen with suede quartz, a main-level primary, and an upstairs suite with balcony. An equestrian-ready white barn with three stalls, a pond, a wrap-around porch, a detached creekside cottage, and a 3,000-square-foot shop elevate the grounds.