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.*

Creating healthier living environments: In Salem, OHCS is offering hands-on weatherization training at the Oregon Training Institute to upgrade homes, cut utility bills for low-income households, and build the energy efficiency workforce Oregonians need -- read the full story.

Spotlighting exceptional heritage champions: Rob McIntyre, who led the Gem Theatre restoration, won an Oregon Heritage Excellence Award earlier this month for preserving the state’s history, with additional honorees recognized across Oregon -- get all the details.

New phishing scheme targets locals: Salem-area residents, the Oregon Judicial Department has warned of scam texts posing as court notices, often naming Judge Michael Rodriguez. Courts will not demand money or personal information by text -- see what officials recommend.

The bill everyone over 50 should double check: Car insurance. If you've been on the same plan for years, you're probably paying way more than you need to. It's an easy bill to forget about, but switching could save you up to $1,000 this year. Case in point: I shopped around and ended up cutting my premium to ~$60 a month - see how much you could save.*

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.*

Sweet fix, sorted: Salem, treat yourself this week at Sewell Sweets, a husband-and-wife artisan bakery turning scratch-made cakes, daily case goodies, espresso, and those icy Quencher drinks into instant mood-lifters. Whether you need a custom showstopper or just a pick-me-up, they’ll wow you from first sight to last bite.

Pixel-powered night out: Whether you want to chase a new high score or zone out to pinball hum, The Coin Jam keeps the floor rotating with retro and modern cabinets, plus fresh-made bar bites and beer, wine, and cider. Perfect for a 21+ hang when you need adulting with extra lives.

Time to send it: The Rock Boxx Climbing Gym keeps Salem moving with bouldering for every level, plus classes, youth programs, and even party rentals if your crew prefers chalk over confetti. Friendly scene, fresh problems, and a handy training area mean your after-work routine just got way less boring.

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 →

🎂 Simply Birthdays Annual Fundraiser @ IKE Box | Thursday (4/30) at 4:30 PM – Nothing beats cake you can feel smug about eating. Local nonprofit Simply Birthdays is raising funds to throw real birthday parties for kids in Salem and Keizer shelters, and they need us, our wallets, and our sweet tooth. Show up, celebrate, feel-good frosting included.

🎉 Bilingual Piñata Workshop @ Salem Public Library | Thursday (4/30) at 5:00 PM – Skip the living room confetti and let the library take the glitter hit. At Salem Public Library, Enlace hosts a bilingual piñata workshop for grades 3 to 5 and their families, celebrating Día with piñata history, a make-your-own mini, and books, free, and registration required.

🍴 Spring Food Fair 2026 @ LifeSource Natural Foods | Saturday (5/2) at 11:00 AM – Think your garden plan is just wishful compost? Swing by LifeSource’s Spring Food Fair for a plant sale with veggie starts and tomatoes, a free veggie barbecue, live music, samples, prizes, that glorious Wheel of Fun, and 20% off regular-price everything.

🚶 Walk ALS @ Salem Riverfront Park | Saturday (5/2) at 11:00 AM – Let’s trade laps around the grocery store for a walk at the Capitol that actually helps our neighbors. Join the ALS community, honor your hero, and fund local care, support, advocacy, and research. Register here, bring friends, and feel good on purpose: https://secure.alsnorthwest.org/site/TR?fr_id=1300&pg=entry

💐 Mother’s Day @ Salem Center | Saturday (5/2) at 12:00 PM – Give Mom a mall day she might actually enjoy at Salem Center. Start in south building, bottom floor, grab a passport, visit vendors, snap a photo, make a craft, write a note, then cash it in for a freebie for Mom, while it lasts.

🌿 Plant Bingo @ Rudy's Garden Shop | Saturday (5/2) at 6:00 PM – Plant Bingo is popping up at Rudy’s Garden Shop with Kayla, the Plant Rehabber, doling out plants, prizes, and accessories. It is equal parts houseplant therapy and small-town bragging rights. Only 15 seats, so grab a spot before your neighbor does.

🐑 Sheep to Shawl @ Willamette Heritage Center | Saturday (5/2) – Nothing beats watching a sheep get a better haircut than you did in 1998, then watching wool become something cozy. The 41st Annual Sheep to Shawl has live animals, shearing demos, living history, and kid activities, plus that faint lanolin perfume you secretly like.

This 5-bed, 3 full, 2 half south Salem haven pairs mountain views with expansive decks. A hickory and granite kitchen centers the home with a gas range and dual convection ovens. Extras include a fireplace suite, an apartment with private entrance, a safe room and security hub, seven irrigated pastures, and a 60x90 arena barn with RV doors.