Hello Elkhart County! Hope your coffee tastes especially good this morning. In today’s bring-the-kiddos edition: Pollinator playpath ribbon-cutting, dinosaur movie night, and handmade sketchbooks + 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.
A new park attraction: An open house and ribbon-cutting for the 1.5-mile Pollinator Playpath is today from 4 to 6 p.m. at Corson Riverwoods County Park in Middlebury, marking National Pollinator Week -- tour the pollinator playpath.
Annual race remembrance: Ideal Beach Triathlon will return to Elkhart on Saturday, June 27 at Ideal Beach Waterpark, honoring a competitor who died over a decade ago, with multiple race categories expected -- see the race categories.
Building industry connections: NAARVA members visited Elkhart’s RV Capitol of the World June 18 to 21, touring Alliance RV, Thor Motor Coach and Dynamax, meeting leaders and visiting Tolson Center to strengthen connections -- meet the RV leaders.
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.
Weekend plant therapy: Whether your yard needs a glow-up this week or you just want an easy win with the kids, Linton's Enchanted Gardens mixes Indiana's largest home-and-garden center vibes with a Garden Cafe, display gardens, a narrated train ride, and a petting zoo that turns errands into mini-adventures.
Five-minute sanity break: If the house is too loud, Nadel Avenue Playground is your quick, close-to-home fix for kid wiggles in Elkhart and grown-up headspace. No big production, just a neighborhood hang that helps everyone reset so dinners get cooked and bedtime actually happens.
Level up your weekend: Whether your crew wants to dodge zombies, crack escape-room puzzles, or just fling digital arrows at each other, NextReality VRcade lets you free-roam, squad up, and feel every blast with haptic vests. A fun reset when the Midwest weather says stay indoors, or your group chat needs a plan.
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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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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 →
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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.
📦 Grandparents' Day Kit Packing @ MCC Great Lakes Material Resources Center (Goshen) | Wednesday (6/24) at 9:30 AM – Trade screen time for do-gooder time with the grandkids at MCC’s Material Resources Center in Goshen. Pack relief kits together, chat between scoops, and slip in a few life lessons, all while proving you can still out-organize a teenager without breaking a sweat.
📓 Handmade Sketchbooks (Tween Thursday) @ Goshen Public Library | Thursday (6/25) at 4:00 PM – A hands-on art workshop where tweens build their own sketchbook journals, then dive into collage, paint, and mixed media. Translation: supervised glue time that actually counts as culture. Open to rising 4th to 6th graders, registration required, and yes, glitter containment is included.
🚗 Classic Car Cruise-In @ Das Dutchman Essenhaus (Middlebury) | Thursday (6/25) at 4:30 PM – Shine up the ride or just bring lawn chairs, the Coachman Car Club rolls onto the Essenhaus Lawn Thursday nights with chrome, stories, and free registration for classics. Expect giveaway prizes, burgers, hot dogs, and brats, plus the only traffic jam you will enjoy.
🎬 Dinosaur Movie Night with Prehistoric Picnic @ Bristol Public Library | Thursday (6/25) at 5:00 PM – Think you still pack a decent picnic? The library hosts Dinosaur Movie Night with a prehistoric picnic, so bring a blanket and snacks, or mooch the food provided, then watch The Ice Age Adventures of Buck Wild on the big screen, minimal T. rex drama.
🐶 Greyt Angels Meet and Greet - 06/27/2026 @ Pet Supplies Plus (Goshen) | Saturday (6/27) at 11:00 AM – Greyt Angels pops up at the new Pet Supplies Plus in Goshen, bringing the long-legged supermodels of the dog world. Expect gentle snouts, goofy grins, and real talk about life with a greyhound, then claim you only went in for kibble, litter, and birdseed.
🏃 Middlebury Summer Festival 5k and 1 mile @ East Park | Saturday (6/27) at 12:00 PM – Start the festival by pretending you came for fitness, not the elephant ears. The Middlebury Summer Festival 5k and 1 mile are familiar and local, with room to jog, stroll, or catch up with neighbors, then bask in small-town glory, sweat, and sunshine.
🎉 Summer Fest Parade @ Downtown Middlebury | Saturday (6/27) at 1:00 PM – Middlebury’s Summer Fest Parade rolls down Main with the small-town greatest hits, sunshine, sirens, and kids waving like they mean it. Summertime theme, big smiles, and yes, keep the goodies holstered, no candy tossing from Jeeps this year. Lawn chairs, shade, neighborly chatter.
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 Elkhart County report Weather forecastToday — High: 77°F — Low: 60°F — Precip: 23%
A slight chance of rain showers between 4pm and 5pm, then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 77. Southwest wind 0 to 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Later: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8pm, then showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60. Southwest wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
Tomorrow — High: 78°F — Low: 58°F — Precip: 23%
A slight chance of rain showers before 8am, then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 78. West wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Later: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58. Chance of precipitation is 30%. This house is wildThis 3-bed, 3.5-bath home at 3343 Bridgetown Road blends easy living with standout extras. The main-level primary suite, dreamy closet, and laundry keep daily life simple, while the vaulted living room and sunny sunroom add charm. A loft, finished basement with gas fireplace and wet bar, plus private river access and tennis court, seal the deal.
Take a peek inside → |
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