Hello Meridian! Hope your coffee tastes especially good this morning. In today’s bring-the-kiddos edition: Free ice cream social, a celebrity sloth show, and Dairy Days fun + 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.
Growth debate takes center stage: Star’s Moyle Junction project will go to a public hearing July 7, proposing new retail, restaurants, offices, and medical space as growth accelerates, drawing excitement and concerns from nearby residents -- see the public hearing.
A hometown dairy staple: Reed's Dairy will scoop free ice cream at Meridian's Dairy Days Ice Cream Social on June 25, celebrating over 70 years with 24 flavors and mostly Idaho-sourced ingredients -- see the ice cream lineup.
Community ride with purpose: High Desert Harley-Davidson’s 16th Idaho Patriot Thunder Ride will roll Sunday, June 28, with 100% of proceeds benefiting Idaho military nonprofits, custom 250th-anniversary bikes, and registration open now -- get all the details.
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.*
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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.
Bring the arcade home: Whether your bonus room needs a nostalgia boost or you’re finally claiming garage space for fun, Awesome Arcades builds legit cabinets with sturdy craftsmanship and brand-new LED displays. Meridian-based, family-run, and built to last, it’s the easiest way to make game night feel like 1992 again.
Upgrade your park day: Discovery Park is the rare spot where the kids can hit the splash pad and zip lines while you claim a pickleball court, then everyone refuels under a picnic shelter. Bonus points for the bike park, skatepark, and off-leash dog area... your Saturday, solved. (meridiancity.org)
Sip while you plant: Part nursery, part hangout, Victory Gardens Nursery pairs a solid plant selection with a Coffee Co. serving creative, locally made flavors. Swing by this week to browse trees, shrubs, and annuals, catch a workshop or vendor pop-up, and get hands-on landscape help so your yard actually looks how you imagined.
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04 — Our recommendations
We got your backA handful of products and services we think are worth a look.
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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 →
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Have an event to share? We (and our readers) can't wait to hear about it! Submit an event → |
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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.
🦥 CORBIN MAXEY & ANIMALS @ The Village | Wednesday (6/24) at 6:00 PM – Animal expert Corbin Maxey brings a high-energy, family-friendly live show to The Village at Meridian, with jaw-dropping reptiles and a celebrity sloth. Think crocs, snakes, and oohs from the kids, plus a guest who moves at our preferred Sunday pace.
🐄 Meridian Dairy Days 2026 @ Storey Park | Thursday (6/25) at 5:00 PM – If you've been waiting for a sign to remember why Meridian still feels like a town, this is it. Come for ice cream and the REAL Dairy Parade, stay for speedway roar, balloons, carnival chaos, and farm kid grit, all funding 4-H and FFA scholarships.
🍦 Ice Cream Social @ The Owl's Nest Daycare & Preschool | Friday (6/26) at 5:00 PM – If you're craving an excuse to eat ice cream at school, without chaperone duty, consider it found. Tour the campus, meet the team, trade neighborhood lore with enrolled and curious families, and let the kids make friends while you enjoy a scoop, or three.
🎬 Sparklight Movie Night- Shrek @ Settlers Park | Friday (6/26) at 7:00 PM – If your idea of culture includes onions, layers, and Eddie Murphy, pack the low chairs for a free Shrek screening at Meridian's Settlers Park. Family friendly, under the stars, with concessions and pre-movie fun, plus the unspoken rule that kids stick with their grown-ups.
🐝 Honeybee Festival 2026 @ Victory Gardens Nursery | Saturday (6/27) at 9:00 AM – This sweet little fest is basically a love letter to bees, with honey tastings, a big pollinator plant sale, a kids' scavenger hunt, and beekeeper demos. Come for the backyard upgrade, stay to get buzzed on knowledge, sugar, and neighborly charm.
🎉 Family Fun Fest @ Meridian Crossroads | Saturday (6/27) at 10:00 AM – Free family fun that actually delivers: carnival games, a Lego bus, pettable reptiles, a DJ, and a kids’ painting workshop. Let the little ones burn energy while you stroll the shops, pretend you’re “just browsing,” and negotiate the inevitable plastic sword with dignity.
🧑 AdaptABLE Family Picnic @ Treasure Valley Family YMCA | Saturday (6/27) at 11:00 AM – An adaptive-friendly picnic is taking over the South Meridian Y, free for the adaptive community and serving burgers, sides, splash pad fun, and yard games for all ages. Bring your crew, leave the cooler, and enjoy latex-free water balloons, friends, and sunshine, not yard work.
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 Meridian report Weather forecastToday — High: 95°F — Low: 61°F — Precip: 0%
Sunny, with a high near 95. West northwest wind 3 to 12 mph. Later: Partly cloudy, with a low around 61. Northwest wind 8 to 12 mph.
Tomorrow — High: 90°F — Low: 59°F — Precip: 0%
Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. Later: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 59. This house is wildThis Boise Hunter Homes single-level in Meridian’s Sky Mesa pairs polished design with everyday ease. Soaring 10-foot ceilings and a vaulted great room set an airy tone, while 3 bedrooms plus a den offer flexibility. Outside, the corner lot shines with resort-style landscaping, a covered patio, water feature, and a custom sauna retreat with cold plunge.
Take a peek inside → |
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