Hello Suffolk! Hope your coffee tastes especially good this morning. In today’s bring-the-kiddos edition: AdU rule changes, a library grand opening, and Summerween market + 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.
Housing rules under review: Suffolk City Council delayed a proposed expansion of ADU rules Tuesday until August 19, which would allow ADUs up to two bedrooms, permit short-term rentals, and apply in single-family districts -- check the ADU rule changes.
Personalized education expands: Great Oaks Learning proposed a second microschool location, describing it as enrichment with attendance and testing, not a private school. The program serves students across Isle of Wight and Suffolk -- see the microschool proposal.
Primary race is underway: Early voting began Thursday, June 18, in Accomack and Northampton for the August 4 Democratic Primary in Virginia’s 2nd District, which includes parts of Suffolk and Chesapeake -- follow the primary timeline.
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.
Rainy-day sanity fix: Jungle Jamz Play Cafe is an indoor playground where little ones climb, slide, and explore while you actually finish a latte, maybe even an email. Think sensory play elements, open play and birthday parties, plus a cozy cafe that feels made for Suffolk parents, perfect for a quick sanity break this week.
Fresh air fix: When you need an easy win between errands, Lake Meade Park delivers with shady paths, open lawns, and spots to let the kids or the dog burn off steam. Pack a coffee, claim a bench by the water, and pretend your to-do list doesn't exist for 30 minutes.
Plants straight from growers: Skip the big-box shuffle and snag locally grown shrubs, flowers, and trees right from the growers at The Plant Outlet at Lancaster Farms, perfect for dialing up curb appeal or rescuing that sad corner of the yard this week... your future self with fewer dead plants will thank you.
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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.
🌷 Sleepy Hole Children's Garden | Open Garden Days @ Sleepy Hole Park | Wednesday (6/24) at 9:00 AM – If your yard's judging you, let the kids loose at Sleepy Hole's Children's Garden while you swap plant lore with VCE Master Gardeners. Open Garden Days land on the fourth Wednesday during the growing season, so wander, sniff, pull a weed, and learn what’s thriving.
🏺 Ceramics Teen Master Art Workshop @ Suffolk Art Gallery | Wednesday (6/24) at 9:30 AM – Send your teen to get gloriously muddy at two full-day intensives with master ceramicist John Tobin, perfect for beefing up that portfolio. June 24 is build basics and forms, July 29 is all about glaze, patience, and kilns hotter than July itself.
🎶 TGIF Summer Concert Series @ Downtown Festival Park | Friday (6/26) at 6:00 PM – Friday nights are getting lively in Suffolk as Slapnation keeps the TGIF Summer Concert Series grooving. Free, and rotating between Downtown Festival Park and Bennett’s Creek Park, where the scene is trusty lawn chairs, packed coolers, and that satisfied look that says yard can wait.
🎉 Downtown Suffolk Library Grand Opening @ Downtown Suffolk Library | Saturday (6/27) at 9:00 AM – Swing by historic downtown for the new Downtown Suffolk Library grand opening, complete with ribbon cutting, building tours, and makerspace demos. It is history-meets-high-tech, with hands-on crafts, family-friendly fun, and plenty of reasons to linger, not whisper.
🚗 Warriors Dream Auto Show @ John Yeates Middle School | Saturday (6/27) at 12:00 PM – If your weekend needs a little chrome therapy, Dream Chasers and Bennets Creek Warriors are rolling out the Warriors Dream Auto Show, all rides, vibes, and live fun. Expect gleaming classics, rumbling muscle, and owners happy to talk carbs, coffee, and questionable paint choices.
🇺 Summer Salute To Freedom @ Garris Event Park (Windsor) | Saturday (6/27) at 4:30 PM – Nothing beats a small-town salute to freedom, especially when Windsor throws a 250th birthday nod to the good old U.S. of A. Expect flags, music, and neighborly cheer, the kind where you pack a lawn chair, trade stories, and pretend your sunscreen is SPF Independence.
🎃 Summerween Market @ New Realm Brewing | Sunday (6/28) at 11:00 AM – Sunburn season meets spooky season at this Summerween market, with spooky vendors, a costume contest, and trick-or-treating for the kids. Think jack-o-lanterns and flip-flops, cold brew not cauldrons, and just enough kitsch to scare off your weekend errands.
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 Suffolk report Weather forecastToday — High: 85°F — Low: 64°F — Precip: 0%
Sunny, with a high near 85. North wind around 5 mph. Later: Mostly clear, with a low around 64. Southeast wind 0 to 3 mph.
Tomorrow — High: 90°F — Low: 70°F — Precip: 1%
Sunny, with a high near 90. South wind 0 to 7 mph. Later: Mostly clear, with a low around 70. This house is wildThis custom all-brick waterfront ranch on 2 private acres along Bennetts Creek offers nearly 4,000 square feet of serene living, plus a finished 800-square-foot ADU over the oversized garage. With 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, sweeping water views, a large private pier, multiple boat slips, and a framed walk-up attic ready for expansion, it delivers space, style, and freedom.
Take a peek inside → |
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