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.*

Sweet success fuels growth: Holland Farms, a Yorkville staple, is selling thousands of half moon cookies at its new Manlius bakery. The Utica original stays popular as the family plans more Syracuse area shops -- see what's planned next.

Focus on literacy and security: Utica School Board approved a proposed $310.4 million budget for 2026-2027 with no tax increase or cuts. A public hearing is May 5 and final decision is May 19 -- learn what's in the budget.

New option for acute needs: Utica’s 24/7 crisis center is now open, offering voluntary short-term help for mental health and substance use, backed by $3.8 million over five years and licensed by state addiction services -- 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.*

Prime local fairways: Rome Country Club keeps swings honest and moods relaxed, challenging enough to scratch the itch yet friendly enough for that buddy who swears he’s rusty. If golf’s back on your spring list, this course delivers crisp greens, easy vibes, and a satisfying walk for every skill level.

Cocktails + sweet escape: Silk Utica is your midweek glow-up spot with creative cocktails, shareable bites, and a dessert menu that ruins willpower in the best way. They’ve got weekly happenings like trivia and Wine Wednesdays, so grab a friend, call it “errands,” and make your Tuesday feel like Saturday.

Closet refresh, minus the guilt: Clinton staple The Consignment Chick keeps racks moving with well-kept women’s apparel, purses, jewelry, and home decor. Expect quality finds that feel new to you, priced right, in a friendly shop that rewards repeat visits. Now with online shopping for effortless browsing.

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 →

🌸 Origami for Beginners: Spring Things @ Kirkland Town Library (Clinton) | Monday (4/27) at 4:00 PM – An easygoing origami workshop is teaching the basic folds, turning plain paper into a frog, a ladybug, and a flower. For ages five and up, bring the kids or your inner child, and remember what quiet feels like, no glue, no glitter, just satisfying folds.

🚚 Touch-A-Truck @ MVCC Rome Campus | Tuesday (4/28) at 4:00 PM – Touch-A-Truck turns the MVCC Rome Campus lot into a kid-approved fleet show, from fire engines to diggers to the mysterious button that makes everything louder. They can climb, honk, and chat with the pros, while you pretend this counts as STEM. Bring earplugs, camera.

📸 Make History: 100 Family Portrait @ Cornhill Empowerment Center (Utica) | Wednesday (4/29) at 3:00 PM – Help celebrate a century of Black history with a free, 15-minute pro portrait, courtesy of MUNPC. Bring the fam, or just yourself, your favorite elder, and those shoebox photos to scan, and you might land in Utica’s Juneteenth exhibit. Spots are limited, register early.

🔧 Repair Café @ Utica Creative Reuse | Thursday (4/30) at 6:00 PM – Whether your lamp flickers, your blender sulks, or your jeans need a second opinion, the crew at Utica Creative Reuse will help you diagnose and learn the fix. Skip the landfill, save a story. RSVP to get help, or lend your skills.

🧠 Liberty Affordable Housing Mental Health Endowment Fundraiser @ Hart's Hill Inn (Whitesboro) | Friday (5/1) at 9:00 AM – Trading small talk for solutions, this fundraiser panel tackles mental health, affordable housing, and what our town can realistically change. Expect smart voices, candid conversation, and clear next steps. Show up, ask good questions, and maybe loosen the checkbook, because silence never built anything.

🎶 Maire Ni Chathasaigh and Chris Newman @ Irish Cultural Center of the Mohawk Valley (Utica) | Friday (5/1) at 7:00 PM – Ready for the real-deal trad, not the green-beer playlist? Máire Ní Chathasaigh and Chris Newman bring world-class Celtic harp and flatpicking guitar back to the Irish Cultural Center, with earlybird tickets at 20, 25 after, and kids 12 and under free.

🚀 Lego 'Star Wars' Build Event @ Barnes & Noble (New Hartford) | Saturday (5/2) – Answer the call of the Force at an in-store LEGO Star Wars build, ideal for ages 10 and up, and yes, adults are absolutely invited. Bring the kids, or your inner child, then geek out over bricks, starfighters, and the satisfying click of nostalgia.

Sprawling over 100 acres in New Hartford, this rare holding pairs a sweet 3-bedroom, 2-bath farmhouse with multiple outbuildings. It stretches along Higby Road and down Valley View, offering wide road frontage and country scenery. A standout location in a highly sought area, with multiple potential uses subject to town approval.