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.*

Bigger space, broader ambitions: The Fish Friar, a Syracuse seafood favorite, will open an Ithaca location at Triphammer Marketplace in August. A food truck and to-go window will serve by the end of June -- learn more about the expansion.

Services for people with disabilities: Mozaic has secured more than $630,000 in grants to expand its Auburn facility, adding workforce training space and a clinical wing to improve healthcare access and jobs in Cayuga County -- get all the details.

Navigating updated benefit requirements: Tompkins County has launched tools to help New Yorkers screen for SNAP and find volunteer, training, and job options that meet federal work rules, supporting residents in the Finger Lakes -- 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 new sports HQ: When you want a friendly spot to watch without the chaos, Bookies Sports Bar & Lounge nails the Ithaca vibe, cold drinks, and easy conversation. Slide in with your crew, catch the big moments, and leave with new hot takes you’ll defend all week.

Glowy-skin pit stop: If you’re flirting with a HydraFacial, microneedling, or simply want smarter skincare you won’t Google at midnight, Captivate IV Wellness & Beauty Bar blends medical-grade treatments with a curated apothecary. Leave with a clear plan, plus products that make sense and skin that looks like you slept.

Cupcake craving, answered: Whether you’re celebrating a tiny win or just need a frosting-topped lift, Skaneateles Bakery bakes from-scratch cupcakes like vanilla, chocolate, and carrot cake. They’re light, rich, and suspiciously quick to disappear before you reach the car... perfect for now and later.

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 →

🚲 Old Greeny Lighted Bike Parade @ Ithaca Farmers Market | Tuesday (4/28) at 7:00 PM – Grab your bike lights, a costume, and wear green for Old Greeny while we celebrate the waxing gibbous, the moon that can’t commit. Roll from Farmers Market, zigzag the waterfront with surprises, then land at The Cherry Arts for a costume bash. Free, walkers welcome.

🎬 Movie Night Fundraiser @ Tompkins Center for History & Culture (Ithaca) | Thursday (4/30) at 6:00 AM – Head to the Tompkins Center for a movie night fundraiser screening Listers, a funny dive into competitive birdwatching on a Big Year. Yes, it’s a thing. Dr. Stephen Kress sets the stage. Popcorn’s on them, tickets are $25, kids 12 and under $10, bring snacks.

🐠 Inaugural Goldfish Derby @ Sands Family YMCA (Canandaigua) | Friday (5/1) at 6:00 PM – Sponsor a fish and watch it sprint, more or less, in the YMCA’s first Goldfish Derby. There are heats for kids and adults, a silent auction, a 50/50 raffle, prizes, refreshments, and food for purchase, all benefiting the Y’s teen programs.

🧶 Felting a Floral Arrangement @ Schweinfurth Art Center (Auburn) | Saturday (5/2) at 9:00 AM – Skip the garden center and make a felted bouquet that never wilts at Schweinfurth. In this two-day workshop, artist Mallory Zondag teaches you to sculpt petals, stems, and wild little flourishes from wool, no green thumb required. Slower pace, satisfying results, bragging rights included.

📚 Free Comic Book Day @ Geneva Public Library | Saturday (5/2) at 10:00 AM – Free Comic Book Day at the library gets a Pokémon twist, with comics, activities, a card hunt, and cameos by Pikachu and Charizard. Bring the kids, or borrow one for cover, then snag your freebies, Pokémon cards included, first come, first served.

📦 Moving Day @ Stewart Park at Cayuga Lake (Ithaca) | Saturday (5/2) at 10:00 AM – Trade errands for a stroll in the Finger Lakes, a community walk honoring those living with Parkinson’s, raising awareness, and supporting the Parkinson’s Foundation. Go solo or wrangle a team, join thousands of neighbors, and earn your brunch with movement that helps manage symptoms.

💐 Mother’s Day Brunch @ The Hotel Ithaca | Saturday (5/2) at 10:30 AM – This Mother’s Day, trade burnt toast for a proper brunch at The Hotel Ithaca, with good food, real coffee, and adult conversation. It’s $35 per person, giveaways included. Bring moms, aunties, or your favorite women, reserve a spot, and enjoy leaving with nothing to clean.

Forest Home Lodge, a 1910 landmark in Ithaca’s protected Forest Home district with walk-to-campus convenience, blends pedigree with performance. Six beds and 3.5 baths meet gracious entertaining spaces, a gas-fireplace living room, and a double-oven kitchen. A screened porch overlooks Fall Creek. Three solar arrays and bedroom heat pumps boost efficiency. Third-floor apartment, carriage house studio, and heated garage.