Hello The Unifour! Hope your coffee tastes especially good this morning. In today’s bring-the-kiddos edition: A veteran family’s new home, a dinosaur VR experience, and a book bedazzling workshop + 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.
Holiday schedule updates: Hickory city offices will close July 3 and 4, reopening July 6. Garbage and recycling on normal schedule. Libraries closed both days. The July 7 City Council meeting is canceled -- see what stays open.
Season finale on tap: Pretty Little Goat will close Hickory’s Sails Original Music Series with a free old-time string band show Friday, June 26, 7 p.m., at Union Square in downtown Hickory -- see the finale details.
Community steps up for family: After repeated rains made their camper unlivable, Catawba County nonprofit Love Our Veterans replaced a veteran family’s camper with an accessible two-bedroom, funded by community donations and ready for pets -- read the veteran family story.
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.*
You've traveled abroad without being able to speak the local language. You can change that in just 10 minutes a day. Most people are holding real conversations within three weeks. In fact, 92% of users improved their proficiency in just two months, with 25 million subscriptions sold -- take 55% off.* Highlights this week: |
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.
Trade-in treasure hunt: Got old carts or a controller graveyard? Infinity Gaming Hickory buys, sells, and trades everything from Atari vibes to PS5 staples, so you can swap dust collectors for actual playtime. Perfect for The Unifour folks chasing nostalgia, rare finds, or a quick credit bump for the next release.
Splash-pad sanity saver: Let the kids run wild at Kiwanis Park while you claim a shady bench, then rotate between the splash pad, playground, tennis court, and a casual toss on the baseball fields. It’s the low-effort, high-smiles kind of outing your week deserves, right here in Hickory.
Brighten your week: Whether your kitchen table needs a glow-up or you forgot an occasion until, well, now, Whitfield's Flowers nails those meaningful, not-cookie-cutter arrangements that feel like you. A low-lift way to brighten home life, smooth over oopsies, and give The Unifour some extra color this week.
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04 — Our recommendations
We got your backA handful of products and services we think are worth a look.
Makeup for skin that's changed, now up to 65% off: Laura Geller has built its following on formulas made for mature skin, led by the baked foundations women over 40 keep coming back to. Right now, new email subscribers get up to 65% off plus an extra 22%. Enter your email on the page and the discount activates. *See the VIP pricing →
Need cash but can't take on another monthly payment? This gets you a lump sum from your home's equity with no monthly bill and no interest, because it isn't a loan. Use the funds for anything, whether that's home improvements, paying off debt, or a large purchase, and pay it back by the end of your 30-year term. Checking your offer is easy, fully online, and won't affect your credit score. *See your cash offer →
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 →
Wish you had someone to talk to right now? The quiet hours are the hardest, especially when you just want someone to talk to. That's exactly what this is built for: real conversations, real matches, real people. Not endless swiping, but actual chats with singles who want to connect as much as you do. Someone to talk to could be a message away. *Join now and start chatting → |
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.
📚 Book Bedazzling Workshop @ Patrick Beaver Memorial Library (Hickory) | Wednesday (6/24) at 6:00 PM – Think your dog-eared paperback has seen it all? Bring it to this Book Bedazzling Workshop and give the cover a glow-up with gems, glitter, and other shiny bits, no judgment, just creative therapy and good company. BYO book, leave with unapologetic sparkle.
🎶 Pretty Little Goat @ Downtown Hickory | Friday (6/26) at 7:00 PM – Wrap up Sails spring run with Pretty Little Goat on Union Square downtown, a free hit of old-time energy, mountain roots, and fresh originals. Bring a chair, sip within the Social District, and enjoy the kind of night that makes the new folks jealous.
🥽 VR Experience with Immotion @ Catawba Science Center (Hickory) | Saturday (6/27) at 10:00 AM – This new Immotion VR trip drops you 66 million years back to the Cretaceous, with thundering herds, toothy neighbors, and a front row seat to the dinosaurs’ last act. All the awe and adrenaline without leaving town, no sunscreen, no mosquitos, and no surprise asteroids.
🌊 Summer Splash Bash @ Shook & Tarlton Realty (Hickory) | Saturday (6/27) at 1:00 PM – Summer Splash Bash is kicking off break with a free family shindig featuring balloon artists, face painting, inflatables, food trucks, and more. Expect sunshine, squeals, and sugar highs, plus the rare gift of early bedtimes, which is basically summer magic for parents.
🎂 75th Birthday Hickory Motor Speedway Celebration @ Hickory Motor Speedway (Newton) | Saturday (6/27) at 4:45 PM – Big 10 Night at Hickory Motor Speedway means twin Limited Late Models, plus Carolina Pro Lates, Street Stocks, Crate Mods, and the visiting STAR Tour. Birthday vibes too, with LugNut dropping by and Hickory Fire Department #5 bringing kid-friendly goodies, nostalgia, and tire smoke included.
🐾 Benefit Auction for the Catawba County Humane Society @ McGregor Auction Company (Conover) | Saturday (6/27) at 5:00 PM – Clear a spot on the shelf and conscience with a benefit auction for the Catawba County Humane Society. Bid on antiques, collectibles, local goods, and useful finds, and every dollar helps shelter pets get care, meds, and love while they wait. Good company, better cause.
💃 Daddy Daughter Dance @ First Presbyterian Church (Hickory) | Saturday (6/27) at 6:00 PM – Break out the legendary dad moves for a candy land themed daddy daughter dance, courtesy of Girl Scout Troop 10365. Expect twirls, crafts, games, prizes, and light refreshments, basically cardio with better snacks. Dads, stepdads, grandpas, uncles, or trusted stand-ins all welcome.
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 The Unifour report Weather forecastToday — High: 86°F — Low: 62°F — Precip: 0%
Sunny, with a high near 86. North northwest wind around 2 mph. Later: Partly cloudy, with a low around 62. Wind around 0 mph.
Tomorrow — High: 91°F — Low: 68°F — Precip: 1%
Sunny, with a high near 91. South southwest wind 0 to 7 mph. Later: Mostly clear, with a low around 68. This house is wildThe Blackberry Bungalow sits in peaceful Blackberry Homestead, less than 10 minutes from Main Street Blowing Rock. Its wood, shake, and stone exterior pairs beautifully with the mountain setting, while a protected trout stream, two covered porches, and 396 square feet of outdoor living add instant appeal. Inside, warm finishes, a gas fireplace, and main-level primary suite keep things cozy.
Take a peek inside → |
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