Hello South Bend! Hope your coffee tastes especially good this morning. In today’s bring-the-kiddos edition: Beacon heights funding, tiny pets seeking families, and spark in the park + 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.
Housing revival in motion: South Bend’s Common Council approved a $1.25 million forgivable loan for Beacon Heights, funding renovations including floors, roofs, and community spaces, contingent on deadlines and $49 million in private investment -- see Beacon Heights funding.
Community-led healing efforts: South Bend’s city council adopted a resolution acknowledging racial discrimination and environmental harms in LaSalle Park, backed by many residents, and discussed creating a dedicated neighborhood fund to address needs -- see the LaSalle Park resolution.
Tiny pets seeking families: Three-month-old kittens Harley, Hadley and Henley were featured Monday on 16 News Now at Noon. Pet Refuge’s Elaine Baell explains adoption steps as the trio awaits homes in South Bend -- learn how to adopt.
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.
Kid-energy reset, fast: When the wiggles reach DEFCON 2, steer toward St Patrick's Park - Playground this week for an easy win. Big play structures and space to roam keep littles busy while you breathe, sip some coffee, and pretend the bench is your throne for five blissful minutes.
Press Start IRL: Feeling the itch to set a new high score? Uncle J's Arcade has been quietly filling LangLab with arcade games and pinball that scratch the nostalgia itch. Perfect for a low-key hang before a show or a quick after-work victory lap with friends.
Free-pick produce, anyone? Unity Gardens Inc. keeps South Bend stocked with fresh, free-to-harvest veggies and herbs across 40+ community gardens, plus classes like Yoga in the Garden when you want to swap doomscrolling for dirt under your nails. Swing by this week, grab what you need, and meet your neighbors among the tomatoes.
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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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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.
✨ Spark in the Park @ Howard Park | Wednesday (6/24) at 10:00 AM – Need to run the wiggles out? This free series at Howard Park’s Tire Rack Pond rescues your sofa every other Wednesday. Critters and nature walks, gardening, STEAM and stories, foam and bubbles, music, perfect for ages 2 to 10. Bring water, sunscreen, then lunch nearby.
🐠 Zoo Luminate 2026: Sea To Believe! @ Potawatomi Zoo | Wednesday (6/24) at 7:00 PM – Head to Potawatomi Zoo after dark for a luminous undersea detour that beats staring at your porch light. More than 60 handcrafted Chinese lanterns from Tianyu turn the paths into coral, kelp, and curious creatures, equal parts cultural deep dive, holiday-card gold, and kid-calming magic.
🌿 Tales and Trails @ Lydick Bog Nature Preserve | Thursday (6/25) at 10:30 AM – If your littles think fairies only live in cartoons, watch Backyard Fairies come alive with a cozy read, a gentle trail ramble, and fairy-house crafts at Lydick Bog. For ages 3-5 with caregivers, expect mud, imagination, and bring boots, a jacket, and your patience.
📡 Arrl Field Day 2026 @ Michiana Walleye Association (Mishawaka) | Saturday (6/27) at 8:00 AM – Grab a lawn chair and head to Day Rd for Field Day with the Michiana Amateur Radio crew all weekend, where voices skip the globe without a single data plan. Try a mic, learn an antenna trick, earn a hot dog, then Pete’s Famous Breakfast.
🎬 Sensory Friendly Screening @ AMC CLASSIC South Bend 16 | Saturday (6/27) at 11:00 AM – AMC CLASSIC South Bend 16 is dialing it down, a sensory-friendly screening where the volume breathes and the lights stay kind. Think softer sound, dim house lights, freedom to move, and judgment-free families, because blaring trailers and pitch-black rooms are wildly overrated.
🍪 Cookies and Canvas @ River Valley Farmers' Market Inc. | Saturday (6/27) at 11:00 AM – Nothing says time well spent like painting a keepsake while snacking on free cookies, no judgment, just crumbs. A fun, free setup for kids, adults, and anyone who appreciates low stakes creativity, sugar, and leaving with something you did not buy at HomeGoods.
⚾ June Event - Sunday Funday @ Four Winds Field | Sunday (6/28) at 2:05 PM – Sunday Funday at the South Bend Cubs means baseball, kid-wrangling that counts as cardio, and a Stu D. Baker bobblehead for the first 1,000 through the gates. Come early to snag autographs and play catch on the field, then settle in with locals, and exhale.
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 South Bend report Weather forecastToday — High: 77°F — Low: 59°F — Precip: 26%
A slight chance of rain showers between 3pm and 5pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 77. South wind 0 to 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Later: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8pm, then showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 59. 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: 20%
A slight chance of rain showers before 8am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 78. West wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Later: A chance of rain showers after 8pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58. Chance of precipitation is 30%. This house is wildThis newer-construction Harter Heights home sits just a half-mile from Notre Dame on a wide 66-foot lot. With 5 bedrooms, 4.5 baths, 9-foot ceilings on all three levels, and an open main floor, it blends space and style. A fenced yard, automatic-awning deck, finished basement, and three peach trees seal the deal.
Take a peek inside → |
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