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Hi Tri Cities, we made it to Thursday! In today’s edition: Affordable adventures with Michigan Activity Pass, July 4 fireworks return, a monster truck tour, and more.
— Cait Baker
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📰 In the news
Affordable adventures statewide: Save on fun with the Michigan Activity Pass, available at local libraries. Use your card for free or discounted entry to museums, parks, and campgrounds around the Tri Cities — see how to get started.
Family owned marina operator expands: TopSide Marinas has acquired Bay Harbor Marina on the Saginaw River in Bay City, marking its first Michigan location. The 80 acre marina, established in 1967, includes 400 wet slips — read the full story.
Beloved summer tradition returns: Sanford Lake Association plans to bring back July 4 fireworks or drone show at Community of Christ Campground, open to the public, following announcement Sanford Dam is considered substantially complete — see what’s planned and where.
Architecture shaping a community: A new book, The Mid-Century Modern City of America, celebrates Midland’s design roots with 403 structures and hundreds of photos. The sold-out release highlights Alden B. Dow’s lasting influence — read the full story.
Gold & silver are hot: Coming off gold’s best year since 1979, the momentum is carrying well into 2026 with silver remaining one of the most talked-about assets. Curious why precious metals are back in focus? American Hartford Gold has a free guide that explains what’s happening and how people are approaching it today. It’s free – and definitely worth a read.
Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175 per month. Paying more than that? Same, so I did some shopping around and ended up cutting my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too — here’s the comparison tool I used.
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.
*We do our best to avoid paywalled articles. If any slip through, let me know which ones and I’ll permanently remove them from our source list!
Highlights this week:
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🫶 We got your back
Youth ambassadors sought: Midland-Handa Sister City Student Exchange applications are open for high schoolers who live in or attend school in Midland. Three students will spend July 22 to Aug. 12 in Handa, Japan. A 3.0 GPA, interest in Japanese culture, and three references are required. Applications are due March 23. See how and when to apply.
Discover accessible curling: An Adaptive Learn to Curl event is set for March 7 at the Greater Midland Curling Center. It is free and open to ages 8 and up, with equipment provided. Participants will get hands-on instruction and an intro to curling for people with limited mobility, including wheelchair users. Get all the details.
Wood-fired, local goodness: The Maple Grille champions peak-Michigan sourcing: whole animals, in-season produce, and scratch cooking over a live wood fire. Then it pours its own craft beers to match. A rotating menu keeps things interesting without fuss… the kind of dinner plan you’ll actually keep.
Upgrade your kitchen game: Whether you’re after durable cookware, a smarter spatula, or knives that slice tomatoes cleanly, Peel ‘n Pare is the local go-to for everyday upgrades. Thoughtful essentials that work hard make “what’s for dinner?” feel less ominous and a lot more doable.
What do people see when they search your name? Search results can surface past mistakes or outdated information that no longer reflects who you are. BetterReputation helps remove and clean up unwanted content so your online presence matches your real life today. Not worried about yourself? Doesn’t hurt to mention it to family or friends who might be.
Take control of your credit card debt: High interest can keep you stuck paying more than you need to. A balance transfer card with 0% intro APR until 2027 and no annual fee gives you time to pay down what you owe without interest working against you. By transferring your balance, more of your payment goes toward the principal so you can actually make a dent in what you owe.
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📆 Around town this weekend
Have an event to share? BaseLocal Verified Businesses can submit them for free! Learn more about how to submit an event here →
All events are subject to change without notice. Always check official event pages for the most up to date information.
🐟 St. Brigid Lenten Fish Fry @ St. Brigid Catholic School | Friday (2/27) at 4:30 PM – Retire the skillet and hit St. Brigid’s Lenten Fish Fry, where the cod is, allegedly, awesome, with walleye, shrimp, and a parade of comfort carbs. Adults $20, kids $10, under 5 eat free, plus beer, wine, and a bake sale for dessert and diplomacy.
☀ A Raisin In The Sun @ Midland Center for the Arts | Friday (2/27) at 7:30 PM – Remember reading this in high school? A Raisin in the Sun still hits harder than Monday’s first coffee, following the Younger family in 1950s Chicago as an insurance check sparks clashing dreams, stubborn barriers, and a story that balances gut punch, grace, and grit.
🏛 Museum Collection Deep Dive @ Bay County Historical Society | Saturday (2/28) at 1:00 PM – Curious what your neighbors donated to the museum? Swing by for a laid-back show-and-tell as staff pull a mystery artifact from the vault, share its backstory, and take your questions. Free for Bay County residents, or $2, if you insist on paying.
❄ Coldest Night of the Year @ Hoyt Park | Saturday (2/28) at 4:00 PM – If you’ve been waiting for a sign to turn Saginaw winter grumbling into something useful, here it is. Join Coldest Night of the Year 2K or 5K to back Mustard Seed Shelter’s work with women and kids, walk, donate, or start a team at cnoy.com/saginaw.
🎭 Behind the Mask Masquerade Ball @ Midland Country Club | Saturday (2/28) at 6:00 PM – If you’ve been waiting for a reason to dust off that mask and pretend you recognize folks by their eyebrows, this is it. A proper ball with real impact, raising funds so no one is denied mental health care. Tickets: https://fcs-midland.org/2026-gala-at-family-childrens-services/
🎻 Dixon’s Violin @ Pit & Balcony Community Theatre | Saturday (2/28) at 6:50 PM – Pit & Balcony goes full goosebumps with Dixon’s electric violin, a one-man symphony that makes jaws drop, eyes leak, and grown-ups brag about discovering new music. Indoor, seated, and mesmerizing. Grab $29 tickets now, or $35 at the door, kids are five bucks.
🌊 Songs of the Sea @ St. John’s Episcopal Church – Saginaw, MI | Sunday (3/1) at 3:30 PM – In landlocked Saginaw, we’re hitting the ocean the sensible way, via the Saginaw Youth Choir. Songs of the Sea serves adventure, beauty, and a little mystery, all harmonies and zero seasickness, a polished, feel-good concert that lets you travel without paying for airport parking.
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
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📻 Tri Cities report
Weather forecast
Today – High: 32°F – Low: 27°F – Precip: 0%
Mostly sunny, with a high near 32. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Later: Partly cloudy, with a low around 27. Southwest wind around 9 mph.
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Tomorrow – High: 49°F – Low: 28°F – Precip: 3%
Mostly sunny, with a high near 49. Southwest wind 9 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 29 mph. Later: Partly cloudy, with a low around 28.
This house is wild
This West-side 3-bedroom ranch blends classic charm with fresh updates, featuring hardwood and luxury vinyl plank flooring, central air, and a full finished basement ready for movie nights, workouts, or a play space. An oversized 2.5-car garage adds storage and hobby room. Out back, a stamped concrete patio sets the scene for easy outdoor entertaining.
Take a peek inside →
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🔥 Worth a peek
We’re always on the hunt for useful resources, deals, services, and products we think you’ll love. Here’s what caught our eye this week.
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