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Hey East Valley, hope your week’s off to a good start!

In today’s wallet-friendly edition: New apartments at Medina Station, a glowing art-tech fest with drones, and a cars-and-canines meetup + lots of fun things to do for free.

Today’s sponsor, American Hartford Gold, is helping folks around East Valley protect their savings as gold and silver continue to gain momentum. Their free guide explains what’s driving the surge… and what to know before adding precious metals to your portfolio. Grab your free copy here.

📰 In the news

Details on the 60-acre project: Construction has begun on 353 apartments at Medina Station in east Mesa, near Signal Butte and Southern, bringing new multifamily living next to major planned retail and dining — get all the development details.

Community resilience in focus: Mesa communities were recognized by the NFPA as Firewise on March 2, highlighting steps residents are taking to reduce wildfire risks around homes and open desert areas — learn more about Firewise recognition.

Boundary changes under review: Queen Creek is considering removing two San Tan Valley residential areas from its Municipal Planning Area, signaling no annexation plans, with a four-month General Plan amendment and public meetings ahead — see what’s planned and when.

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.

Highlights this week:

• Use code GIVEBACK at Freddy’s fundraiser
• Experience Charity Lockhart’s soaring Whitney tribute
• Rev engines to benefit rescue pups

🫶 We got your back

Sandwich time, solved: Downtown staple Worth Takeaway serves craft sandwiches with a “made by actual humans who care” vibe, featuring chef-y combos, local ingredients, and an easygoing neighborhood feel. Quick pickup is a breeze, and lingering catch-ups feel right any day of the week.

Birds, stars, and calm: Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch is your in-town reset with lakeside loops, easy bird-watching, and occasional observatory stargazing. Ideal for solo strolls, kid energy dumps, or mindful minutes between errands. Curiosity and maybe binoculars fit right in while the desert quietly works its magic.

Where fandom shelves grow: Whether you’re hunting Funko POPs, anime figures, trading cards, or plush you swear are “for a friend,” Toy Temple Headquarters keeps the pop-culture hits coming with fresh drops and regular signings. It’s a quick dopamine boost when your week needs a win, equal parts treasure hunt and victory lap.

Why your last diet didn’t work: Sustained weight loss is nearly impossible with diet alone. Your body literally fights back by making you hungrier the moment you start restricting calories. That’s why more doctors are recommending GLP-1s. The best part? Getting them has never been easier. We compared three programs to help you find the right fit. See which ones stood out →

Your data is for sale right now: There are over 400 websites selling your info to marketers, political campaigns, and scammers. They’ve got your phone number, home address, relatives’ names… you name it. That’s how robocallers seem to know everything about you before you pick up. You can remove your info one site at a time, or pay a service to do it for you. Here’s what we recommend →

📆 Free events worth checking out

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.

🗣 Tempe History Society Lunch Talks @ Tempe History Museum | Wednesday (3/11) at 11:30 AM – Tempe History Museum is serving up a free Lunch Talk on Grácia Liliana Fernández, the bilingual heroine who made Tempe Normal School famous. Dr. Christine Marin, ASU historian and THS president, is tracing how bilingual education finally arrived in 1907, after years of head-scratching.

💡 Alt (Art, Light, Technology) Fest @ Virginia G. Piper Repertory Theater (Mesa) | Friday (3/13) at 6:00 PM – Head to Mesa Arts Center for a free, one-night mashup of art, light, and technology that gets you off the couch, no VR headset required. Poke around interactive art, live music, AR play, studio demos, and eats, then cap it with a drone show.

🌵 Saguaro Safari @ Lost Dutchman State Park (Apache Junction) | Saturday (3/14) at 9:00 AM – Lace up, bring water, and meet at the Palo Verde Day Use Ramada for a ranger-led stroll that finally answers your saguaro questions, from size to snacks. Moderate trail, small hills, no pets. Free with park entry, ages 10+, first 12 only, so arrive early.

🚗 Spring Car Show 2026 @ Streetside Classics – Phoenix (Mesa) | Saturday (3/14) at 9:00 AM – Shine up your ride and roll to Streetside Classics in Mesa for the spring car show, free and open to all makes. Expect food trucks, live entertainment, awards, and $1,500 in door prizes, plus donations help United Food Bank. Real cars, real people, zero pretense.

🐶 Dog Adoptions @ Kahoots Feed & Pet San Tan Valley | Saturday (3/14) at 10:00 AM – Swing by KAHOOTS in San Tan Valley for a laid-back meet-and-greet with CAAR’s adoptable dogs and puppies. You get free puppy kisses, they get a shot at a forever couch, and you might finally replace your gym routine with brisk evening walks.

🐝 Native Plants for Desert Pollinators @ SummerWinds Nursery Mesa: 3160 S. Country Club Dr. Mesa, AZ 85210 | Saturday (3/14) at 10:00 AM – Give your yard a pulse with native desert plants that actually like living here, and watch hummingbirds, butterflies, and native bees do the HOA-approved cha-cha. This free, Mesa class covers trees, shrubs, perennials, and containers, with simple year-round tips. No registration, limited seating, first come.

🎶 Steve Jones @ Lost Dutchman State Park (Apache Junction) | Sunday (3/15) at 5:00 PM – Trade the traffic for a golden Superstition Mountain backdrop as Steve Jones brings songs and stories to Lost Dutchman. Think John Denver, Eagles, Irish, and western-leaning originals, plus a sing-along. Bring a chair, water, and park entry cash, unless you trust the picnic benches.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

📻 East Valley report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 76°F – Low: 54°F – Precip: 12%

Mostly sunny, with a high near 76. West southwest wind 0 to 5 mph. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible. Later: Mostly clear, with a low around 54. South southwest wind 0 to 5 mph.

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Tomorrow – High: 84°F – Low: 56°F – Precip: 0%

Sunny, with a high near 84. South southwest wind 0 to 5 mph. Later: Clear, with a low around 56. North northeast wind 0 to 5 mph.

Are you quietly overpaying for car insurance? 🚗

Premiums have been climbing across Arizona but most folks won’t notice until they’re hit with a higher bill when it’s time to renew.

That’s exactly what happened to me. I had the same policy for half a decade. Autopay was on, it was out of sight and out of mind. Turns out I was blindly paying way more than everyone else I knew.

If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too – here’s the comparison tool I used.

This house is wild

This brand-new 4-bed, 3.5-bath in the gated Estates at McQueen pairs modern design with flexible living. A 4-car garage and RV gate handle gear. Inside, a quartz waterfall island anchors the kitchen, flowing to a great room with electric fireplace. The luxe primary suite links to a custom closet and laundry. Outside, a PebbleTec pool with Baja shelf shines.

Take a peek inside →