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.*

City rezoning advances housing plan: A 170-unit apartment neighborhood is proposed north of Midland Mall by Redwood USA. Built in two phases, approvals are expected to take five to eight months -- see what's planned and when.

Butterflies and new offerings: Dow Gardens in Midland has extended hours this spring, with a container gardening workshop May 14 and a dinosaur exhibit opening May 19, plus golf cart tours starting in May -- get all the details.

First wave reaches Michigan: VA’s federal electronic health record went live this month at VA Saginaw Healthcare System, promising easier record sharing and smoother care coordination as part of 13 deployments planned in 2026 -- get all the details.

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.*

Your next sub fix: Whether you’re team #9 or still auditioning your favorites, Intermission Deli turns lunch into an event with hefty subs, crisp salads, and that housemade bread everyone races for. Go early, grab your number, and enjoy the kind of mom-and-pop flavor Tri-Cities folks quietly brag about.

Weekend adventure upgrade: From fly rods and waders to YETI gear, Smartwool socks, and technical layers, Little Forks Outfitters keeps your kit dialed, thanks to staff who actually use this gear. When weekend plans turn into “I need better gear,” you walk out set for the river or trail.

Upgrade your gift game: Whether your living room needs a quick personality transplant or you're hunting that “how did you find this?” present, Pride and Country Village packs multiple themed shops, a cozy deli, and an ice-cream caboose into one laid-back wander, all set in quirky historic buildings a short hop from anywhere in the Tri-Cities.

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 →

🍽 Mediterranean Longer Table Pop-Up Dinner @ Live Oak Coffeehouse (Midland) | Monday (4/27) at 5:00 PM – Remember dinner parties where people actually talked? Live Oak Eastside is doing that, with Katherine Shearer’s Mediterranean courses, house mocktails, and a veg option. Eat shawarma, save room for tiramisu, and 10% helps Foster Families NRC; tables for 2 or 4.

🏇 2026 Kentucky Derby Party @ Horizons Conference Center (Saginaw) | Thursday (4/30) at 5:00 PM – Break out the seersucker and your most ridiculous hat, we’re doing Derby for a cause. Think Southern bites, mint juleps, an open bar, light betting bravado, a silent auction, and a hat and bowtie contest, all benefiting Hospital Hospitality House of Saginaw.

🩰 Cinderella @ Dow Event Center (Saginaw) | Thursday (4/30) at 7:00 PM – If you’re craving magic that doesn’t involve another home project, Cinderella arrives with Broadway-style sparkle and classical ballet grandeur from World Ballet Company. Forty international dancers, 150 hand-sewn costumes, and those deliciously awful stepsisters. Bring the kids, or just your inner romantic.

🐦 Spring Bird Migration Bandathon @ Chippewa Nature Center (Midland) | Friday (5/1) at 4:00 PM – Skip yardwork and get a front row seat to spring migration at Homestead Farm. Watch resident and visiting birds up close as Belinda Kisting and CNC staff gently band them with mist nets for research, quiet satisfaction, and bragging rights later.

👗 Spring Fashion Show @ The Ashman Loft (Midland) | Friday (5/1) at 6:00 PM – Botanica's biannual fashion show is strutting in with fresh Spring 2026 looks, refreshments, drinks, and a little retail therapy baked in. VIP is $35 and comes with a swag bag, or keep it classic at $30. Come for the runway, leave with an updated closet.

🏃 5K Run/Walk @ Uptown Galleria (Bay City) | Saturday (5/2) at 9:00 AM – If your sneakers need a reason to leave the closet, this 5K through Uptown Bay City is it. YWCA Great Lakes Bay Region hosts, with McLaren in their corner, every mile backs women and families, and yes, you get a t-shirt, a medal, and raffles.

🛍 Spring Craft Vendor Show @ Swan Valley United Methodist Church (Saginaw) | Saturday (5/2) at 10:00 AM – Consider this your spring excuse to browse handmade everything at a local craft show, all for a grand $1. Expect wood carvings, soaps, breads, jewelry, and a food truck, with outdoor space, and a bounce house so the kids bounce while you buy.

Log home on 16.13 acres in Midland County, reached by a paved drive through mature trees. A wraparound porch, exposed beams, generous windows, and an open layout define the interior. A finished lower level adds flexibility. Trails, a clubhouse-style hunting blind, and a 30x40 pole barn elevate the land. Adjoins Chippewa Nature Center, close to Midland and Mt. Pleasant.