Hello Oneida County! Hope your coffee tastes especially good this morning. In today’s bring-the-kiddos edition: Summer splash pads, princesses at the zoo, and resort expansion + 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.
Summer fun around town: Utica’s public pools, splash pads, and playgrounds are open for summer across the city, with the city also offering free haircuts for residents this season -- check the summer activities.
Major resort additions ahead: Turning Stone in Verona will open The Crescent, a 258-room luxury hotel, and Salt, a new fine-dining spot, in July, part of its $400 million expansion -- see the resort expansion.
Holiday celebration at the park: Rome’s second annual Fireworks on the Fourth will return to Bellamy Harbor Park July 4, bringing live music, food trucks, and activities. Pack lawn chairs and blankets for a night -- plan for the fireworks.
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.
Green thumb, incoming: Chester's Flower Shop & Greenhouses brings lush plants, dish gardens, and custom bouquets for everything from birthdays to sympathy. Prefer couch mode? They deliver across the Utica area, so your week still looks fresh and a little extra cheery.
Local nature therapy: Sherrillbrook Park is the kind of close-to-home breather you forget you have, with a dog park for the zoomies, a playground for the wiggles, picnic pavilions for lazy lunches, and mellow nature trails for clearing your head... all without leaving New Hartford.
Rainy-day sanity saver: When the wiggles reach DEFCON 1, The Family Fun Factory brings relief with an arcade, laser tag, VR, inflatables and playgrounds under one roof. Grab a slice, let them sprint off steam, then reclaim your evening without digging slime out of the couch cushions.
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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.
🐾 Utica Zoo-Mobile @ Trinkaus Park (Oriskany) | Wednesday (6/24) at 3:00 PM – Nothing spices up a produce run like the Utica Zoo-Mobile in the Oriskany Farmers Market gazebo. Meet the zoo’s animal ambassadors, learn their habits and habitats, and watch the kids lose their minds while you discreetly sample peaches. It’s free, fun, and wonderfully local.
👑 Princesses @ Fort Rickey Discovery Zoo (Rome) | Saturday (6/27) at 10:00 AM – Fort Rickey is going full fairytale for Storybook Day, with Elsa, Anna, Belle, and Snow White holding court between the lemurs and the snack bar. Bring the kids for royal meet-and-greets, stay for the goats, and pretend your coffee is a chalice.
🍰 Meet Strawberry Shortcake @ Oneida County Public Market (Utica) | Saturday (6/27) at 10:00 AM – Nothing like a little 80s nostalgia with your farm-fresh tomatoes. Strawberry Shortcake is popping by the Oneida County Public Market for her debut meet and greet, with free photos, so let the kids gush while you snag coffee, berries, and bread you pretend you bake.
🧺 Family Patriotic Picnic & Art Class @ Rome Art and Community Center | Saturday (6/27) at 11:00 AM – Spreading blankets and breaking out the paints, this patriotic picnic adds an art class for kids ages 4 to 8, supplies included. You supervise the snacks, sunscreen, and sibling diplomacy while they make fridge-worthy flags, all for $20 members, $25 non-members.
🎺 St. Johns Weekend Parade @ Masonic Care Community of New York (Utica) | Saturday (6/27) at 12:00 PM – Got a fez collecting dust? St. Johns Weekend is your chance to join the parade, show off Shriner swagger, and practice the royal wrist wiggle, because nothing says neighborhood pride like comfy shoes, a jaunty tassel, and waving at people you actually know.
⚾ Utica Blue Sox vs Boonville Lumberjacks @ Donovan Stadium at Murnane Field | Saturday (6/27) at 6:45 PM – Head to Murnane Field for Blue Sox vs Lumberjacks, a proper Utica pastime with wood bats, chirpy dugouts, and hot dogs that taste like childhood. No big-league egos, just crisp plays, friendly heckling, and the satisfying excuse to sit, chat, and keep score badly.
🚜 Floyd Field Days @ Floyd Fire Department (Rome) | Sunday (6/28) at 8:00 PM – Whether you grew up two-stepping in a barn or just like a lawn chair with a view, Floyd Field Days delivers a live country band, small town charm, and fireworks after dark. Expect neighbors you actually like, and a sky that earns applause.
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 Oneida County report Weather forecastToday — High: 79°F — Low: 55°F — Precip: 0%
Sunny, with a high near 79. West wind 1 to 9 mph. Later: Mostly clear, with a low around 55. Northwest wind 0 to 7 mph.
Tomorrow — High: 80°F — Low: 59°F — Precip: 67%
Showers and thunderstorms likely after 2pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 80. South wind 0 to 3 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. Later: Showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 59. Chance of precipitation is 90%. This house is wildThis unique 4-bedroom, 3-bath estate pairs classic charm with wide-open space, including a first-floor in-law suite, hardwood floors, a fireplace-centered living room, and an eat-in kitchen. A scenic pond and 12.2 extra acres bring rare privacy and room to roam. With 14 total acres, the possibilities feel wonderfully wide open.
Take a peek inside → |
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