Hello Abilene! Hope your coffee tastes especially good this morning. In today’s bring-the-kiddos edition: Free summer meals for kids, Sharon's South becoming a seafood grill, and Dino Ranch + 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.
Meals available this summer: Abilene ISD’s free summer meals for kids 18 and under continue through July 17 at sites across the city, no registration required, with roughly 1,000 to 1,100 meals served daily -- see where and when.
Drainage funding under review: Abilene could raise stormwater fees 5% to 44% to fund projects. Officials are weighing scenarios after a budget workshop, considering sales tax surplus to jumpstart 10 projects identified in 2020 -- see what the council is considering.
A fresh dining chapter: Abilene staple Sharon's South is set to close and reopen as Cahoots Seafood Bar & Grill, promising a new Cajun and seafood-focused menu. An opening date has not been announced -- see the new seafood plans.
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.
Big Country blooms, delivered: When you need an instant mood upgrade, Baack's the Florist comes through with hand-crafted arrangements and same-day delivery across Abilene. Consider this your nudge to send a little color, even if it's to yourself... a small joy that makes the West Texas week feel softer.
Fresh air kid fix: Let Lake Kirby Park and Nature Play Area rescue your afternoon with a nature-y playground, picnic tables, and that calming lake vibe. Kids can climb, swing, and conquer the big slide while you breathe, sip your to-go coffee, and take a quick stroll on the wooden walkway.
Press start, Abilene: When the midweek blahs hit this week, Retro World Arcade is your plug-in-and-play reset with rows of throwback cabinets and enough nostalgia to make friendly trash talk feel epic. Grab a buddy, chase a new high score, and call it self-care.
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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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Home insurance premiums jumped 12% last year alone: That's on top of years of increases that have outpaced inflation. Before you blindly renew with your current insurer, a free comparison tool matches your home with top-rated insurers so you can see quotes side by side, in about two minutes. Some homeowners find hundreds in savings, and if you don't find a better policy, you stay put knowing you checked. *See your options →
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.
👽 Distant Worlds - Alien Life? @ Morgan Jones Planetarium | Friday (6/26) at 7:00 PM – Think we’re alone out here, or just the only ones still paying for parking? Hit the planetarium for a 53-minute cosmic escape that ponders alien life, dazzles with stellar visuals, and costs a mere five bucks, kid-friendly, no astrophysics degree required.
🎶 The Sound of Music @ Paramount Theatre | Friday (6/26) at 7:30 PM – Settle in for Paramount Productions’ 33rd Annual Summer Musical, The Sound of Music, a hometown staging of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s greatest earworms. Expect soaring harmonies, sharp-witted nuns, and a whole flock of Von Trapps. You will hum Do-Re-Mi in the parking lot, happily.
🦬 Baton Rouge Rougarou @ Crutcher Scott Field | Friday (6/26) at 11:59 PM – Friday night at Flying Bison means baseball under the lights, cold drinks, and neighbors you actually like. The Baton Rouge Rougarou roll in, which sounds like a werewolf to me, so bring your lucky cap. There’s a giveaway, one per person, so behave.
🦕 Dino Ranch @ Abilene Zoo | Saturday (6/27) at 8:00 AM – Take the herd to the Abilene Zoo for Dino Ranch, where it’s Veloci-time and the kids do the wrangling. Expect live mini shows, meet-and-greets, and a ridiculous number of photos with Dino Ranch pals. Included with general admission, and free for members.
🍕 Kids Pizza Bake @ The Market by Life of Pie | Saturday (6/27) at 11:00 AM – At the Market on N Judge Ely, your kid makes lunch and someone else cleans up. They’ll craft their own pizza to eat, then while it bakes they build a Piefait and decorate a cookie, all the carbs, sugar, and small victories you can handle.
🔫 Reenactment of the 1884 Pine Street Shootout @ Frontier Texas! | Saturday (6/27) at 12:00 PM – High noon on the Parade Grounds means one thing, a bang-up reenactment of the 1884 Pine Street Shootout from our friends at Frontier Texas. Ten brisk minutes of frontier tension, smoke, and side-eye, then you can jaw with the cast and get the real history.
🎉 AYFL Community Kick-Off @ The Festival Gardens | Sunday (6/28) at 4:00 PM – Round up the crew for the AYFL Community Kick-Off, where you can meet the board and coaches, ask the real questions, and even get registration handled without wrestling a website. Kids get bounce houses and activities, you get food trucks, conversation, and plausible quiet later.
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 Abilene report Weather forecastToday — High: 102°F — Low: 77°F — Precip: 1%
Sunny, with a high near 102. Heat index values as high as 102. South southwest wind 10 to 15 mph. Later: Mostly clear, with a low around 77. Heat index values as high as 101. South wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Tomorrow — High: 102°F — Low: 78°F — Precip: 0%
Sunny, with a high near 102. South wind 10 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Later: Mostly clear, with a low around 78. South wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. This house is wildThis 3,061-square-foot Hacienda Heights stunner sits on .639 acres outside city limits and pairs polished comfort with room to roam. Rich wood-look tile, elevated ceilings, and a stone fireplace set the tone, while the bright kitchen, magazine-worthy primary suite, dedicated office, three-car garage, and expansive fenced yard make every square foot count.
Take a peek inside → |
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