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Hello Tri Cities! Hope your coffee tastes especially good this morning. 

In today’s bring-the-kiddos edition: A third coffee shop opening, an 80-foot dam mural commission, and a dinosaur walk-through + excuses to get the fam out and about this week.

Today’s sponsor, Spot Pet Insurance, is something I wish I had before a late-night emergency vet visit left me with a $10,000 credit card bill. It’s cheaper than Netflix… and means you never have to choose between your pet and your savings. It takes less than 5 minutes to sign up – get started here.

📰 In the news

Local founders drive growth: Boomerang Coffee Lounge will open a third Midland location this spring at 3715 North Saginaw Road, taking over Mug Shots Coffee, but the opening date has not been announced — read the full story.

Transform an industrial canvas: Sanford Dam’s mural and walkway project is seeking professional artists to create an 80-foot artwork honoring the 2020 dam failures and community recovery in Midland, with a $30,000 commission available — see how to apply.

Planned corridor improvements ahead: MDOT and Midland host an open house today on Midland Corridor Forward at Midland City Hall, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., after phase two began March 2 with street work — get all the details.

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 they’re 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/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.

Highlights this week:

• Taste ten countries, support 3D mammography
• Celebrate alumni success at annual dinner
• Journey to Neverland with Peter Pan Jr
• This top-tier home warranty is 50% off right now

🐾 One pet emergency can cost $10,000+

Together with our sponsor Spot Pet Insurance

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 Spot.

It’s super affordable and reimburses up to 90% on qualified vet bills. It was too late for me, but it’s not too late for you. Sign up today.

🫶 We got your back

Food you’ll want to share: Prost! Wine Bar & Charcuterie makes midweek hangs feel easy with beautiful boards, thoughtful small plates, and pause-worthy wines. It’s made for sharing bites, sipping something bright, and turning an ordinary night into the kind you remember later… and actually repeat.

Cast smarter this week: Little Forks Outfitters stocks fly-fishing essentials: rods, reels, waders, and technical layers you’ll actually wear, plus friendly advice that speeds the learning curve. They also host approachable tying classes and plan destination trips, so your “someday” on the water happens sooner.

Supersized screen night out: Craving a proper big-screen escape? At Quality 10 Powered by Emagine, you’ll get wall-to-wall visuals, rumble-in-your-seat sound, plush rocker seats, and upgraded snacks. A midweek show becomes two hours of laundry-free bliss, the kind of reset only a giant screen can deliver.

Access cash without selling your home: A reverse mortgage can help anyone over 62 cover everyday expenses, support healthcare needs, fund home improvements, or even reduce pressure on 401(k) withdrawals – all while staying in your home. Longbridge offers a free calculator to estimate how much flexibility your home could provide, with no commitment required.

📆 Fun for the whole fam

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.

🍁 Tap-A-Tree @ Chippewa Nature Center | Wednesday (3/4) at 5:30 PM – Swap the pancake aisle syrup for the real deal on a guided wander through CNC’s Sugarbush. Learn to ID maples, tour the Sugarhouse, even tap a tree, then humble-brag about sap flow all week. Free, family friendly, meet at the Sugarhouse, dress for weather.

🐟 Annual Lenten Fish Fry @ Nouvel Catholic Central Elementary School | Friday (3/6) at 4:30 PM – Skip the mystery freezer fish and do Friday right at Nouvel’s Lenten fry-up, running every Friday of Lent at Nouvel Catholic Central Elementary. Perch, walleye, shrimp, or a combo, plus all-you-can-eat fish and a kids’ grilled cheese. Dine-in or grab-and-go, your call.

🎤 Frankenmuth’s Got Talent! @ Scout House In Frankenmuth | Friday (3/6) at 6:00 PM – Frankenmuth’s first-ever talent showdown is rolling in, courtesy of the Wickson District Library and Parks & Rec, with bright lights, local celebrity judges, and prime small-town glory on the line. Got pipes, polka chops, or a weirdly good card trick? Apply, then tell the neighbors.

🏠 Home Show @ Harvey Kern Pavilion | Saturday (3/7) at 9:00 AM – Whether your list is leaking or squeaking, the Frankenmuth home show gathers builders, roofers, window folks, landscapers, and lenders under one roof. Catch hourly Ask an Expert talks, vote on student wood projects, let the kids hit Legos and mascots, then grab Lions Club eats.

⚾ Merril 14U Batmen Fundraiser @ K-Wall’s Kitchen | Saturday (3/7) at 11:00 AM – Skip cooking and swing by to feed yourself and the Merril 14U Batmen. A chunk of sales, plus every tip, goes straight to tournament fees, equipment, and uniforms, so your nachos pull double duty. Bring a friend, pretend it’s cross-training.

🦕 Dinosaur Walk Through Experience @ Midland Mall | Sunday (3/8) at 10:00 AM – Dinosaurs are stomping into the mall with a jungle walk-through of life-sized dinos, holograms, and animatronics. Over the top in the best way, great for kids, and inner eight-year-olds, behind the food court to the right of Malltopia, plus a dino store and photo op.

🧩 Freeland Puzzle Competition @ Live Oak Coffeehouse – Freeland | Wednesday (3/11) at 6:00 PM – If your idea of a night involves decent lighting, trash talk, and finding that one sky-blue piece, this puzzle showdown is your Olympics. Grab three friends, reserve a spot, tackle a 500 piece challenge, keep the puzzle, and chase $100 in prizes and bragging rights.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

🔥 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.

• Thinning hair? Don’t wait – here are 3 treatments that work
• This free tool helps connect you with the right financial advisor
• Got debt? You may be able to pay less than you owe
• Protect your pet from disaster with this pet insurance plan
• You can own physical gold and silver in your retirement account
• Treat yourself: Save on self-care during the CVS Epic Beauty Sale

📻 Tri Cities report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 51°F – Low: 33°F – Precip: 0%

Sunny. High near 51, with temperatures falling to around 49 in the afternoon. South southeast wind 2 to 6 mph. Later: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 33. East southeast wind around 3 mph.

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Tomorrow – High: 44°F – Low: 36°F – Precip: 76%

Rain after 7am. Cloudy, with a high near 44. East northeast wind 5 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible. Later: Rain before 1am. Cloudy, with a low around 36. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Someone Googled you this week 👀

It may feel like an invasion of privacy, but unfortunately It’s the new normal. Whether you’re joining a committee, selling something locally, dating again, or just meeting new neighbors… people are going to look you up online.

Like it or not, the internet has a way of surfacing past mistakes and outdated information that no longer reflects who you are.

Thankfully, there’s a really easy way for you – or someone you care about – to clean up outdated results that no longer tell the real story. Learn more here.

This house is wild

This third-floor Uptown Bay City residence pairs maintenance-free living with urban polish. A grand open plan highlights 10-foot ceilings and premier fixtures, flowing to a private 144-square-foot balcony with river and city views. The primary suite adds heated bathroom floors. A secure, climate-controlled garage offers two assigned spaces and a 5′ x 7′ storage room near shops, dining, and concerts.

Take a peek inside →