Subscribe | Get featured

Hey Tri Cities, hope your week’s off to a good start!

In today’s wallet-friendly edition: Federal funding for youth anti-violence mentorship, a Theodore Roethke festival, and a medieval-themed brewery milestone + lots of fun things to do for free.

Today’s sponsor, American Hartford Gold, is helping folks around the Tri Cities 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

Building safer school communities: Saginaw’s youth anti-violence group HELP received $700,000 in federal funding, through Congresswoman Kristen McDonald Rivet’s community project proposals, to expand mentorship programs in Saginaw schools — learn what the funding supports.

Triennial celebration returns: SVSU will host a six-day poetry and arts festival March 20-25 honoring Pulitzer-winning poet Theodore Roethke, with free events across Saginaw, including a prize ceremony, poetry slam, and tours — check out the full lineup.

Green lights and policy moves: Bay City’s 120-unit apartment project moved closer to construction with special use approval, and a medieval-themed brewery cleared a key step. Plus, a restitution hearing will be held April 23 — read the full story.

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:

• Enjoy pancakes, prizes, and companionship
• Hop Midland shops, win grand prize
• Get welded chains and custom charms

🫶 We got your back

Lunch that hits today: Midland’s own Amazing Deli serves stacked specialty sandwiches, crisp salads, and cozy soups that taste like a win. From classic turkey to loaded veggie, each combo brings satisfying, no-fuss flavor that carries you through the day, with hearty layers, fresh crunch, and just-right warmth.

Weekday nature fix: When your brain needs a quick reboot, Bay City State Park comes through with quiet trails, wide-open shoreline, and wildlife-watching that makes you forget your inbox. Pack a thermos, take the long loop, and return feeling suspiciously like you just snuck in a weekend.

Play, not pixels: Joyful Tantrum is the downtown go-to for real-play finds: hands-on toys, puzzles, books, and STEM kits that spark actual together time. When birthdays sneak up or cabin fever hits, their shelves make it surprisingly easy to look like the fun, prepared parent.

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.

📚 New Library System Open House @ Sage Branch Library (Bay City) | Tuesday (3/10) at 12:30 PM – The library’s rolling out a shiny new system, and they actually want us to poke around at Sage. Drop in to see what changed, find books faster, and renew without texting a teenager. Light refreshments, friendly librarians, no registration, just neighborly know-how.

🧠 Stroke Education Series @ Center for Rehabilitation (Bay City) | Wednesday (3/11) at 3:00 PM – Over on Midland Road at McLaren’s Center for Rehab, Vickie Sauvie shares joint-friendly moves to boost strength, balance, and independence for locals, plus form tips so you do not pull something fixing something. Free, your knees will thank you, just RSVP at 1-877-411-2762 or mclaren.org/BayClasses.

🎨 Artist Mixer: Art Trivia Night @ Arts Saginaw | Wednesday (3/11) at 6:00 PM – Think you know your Monets from your Michelangelos? Prove it at this art trivia mixer, then linger to mingle with folks who actually read museum plaques. It’s free, with snacks, beverages, and bragging rights, plus a few goodies for the clever, or the lucky.

🍁 Tap-A-Tree @ Chippewa Nature Center (Midland) | Thursday (3/12) at 5:30 PM – Sap season calls for a field trip, not the squeeze bottle. Join a CNC naturalist in the Sugarbush to ID trees, tour the Sugarhouse, and tap a maple. Free, all ages, kids with an adult, dress for the weather, meet at the Sugarhouse.

✝ Lenten Concert Series @ Memorial Presbyterian Church (Midland) | Friday (3/13) at 12:15 PM – Fridays in Lent mean a soul-soothing, lunch-break concert at Memorial Presbyterian, free and easy on the schedule. Expect everything from flute and sax quartet to tuba and handbells, with piano support. Slip into the sanctuary, or stream it guilt-free while pretending to work.

🧠 Healthy Brains Healthy Bodies @ Saginaw YMCA | Saturday (3/14) at 11:00 AM – Kid energy to burn? Head to Saginaw Y for a free family day with kids’ book fair, STEM, refreshments, an adult book swap, and a splash in the pool. Register for the book fair and swim, bring suits and towels, then let bedtime win tonight.

🎲 Free Family Game Night @ Life360 Bay City | Saturday (3/14) at 5:00 PM – Round up the crew for free pizza, classic board games, and easy laughs at Life360 Church. Open to everyone, church member or not. Bring the kids, bring a friend, maybe win a brand-new game, and let someone else referee the Monopoly rules for once.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

📻 Tri Cities report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 48°F – Low: 36°F – Precip: 16%

A slight chance of rain between 8am and 9am. Mostly cloudy. High near 48, with temperatures falling to around 43 in the afternoon. Northeast wind 7 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Later: A slight chance of rain between 7pm and 8pm, then rain and a chance of thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a low around 36. Northeast wind 9 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

—

Tomorrow – High: 42°F – Low: 25°F – Precip: 98%

Rain and a slight chance of thunderstorms before 5pm, then rain and snow likely. Cloudy, with a high near 42. North wind 9 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible. Later: Rain and snow likely before 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 25. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of less than half an inch possible.

Are you quietly overpaying for car insurance? 🚗

Premiums have been climbing across Michigan 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

Set in Bay City’s Center Avenue Historic District, this 1940 gem overlooks Carroll Park and features a window-wrapped great room with gas fireplace and a sunroom. Three bedrooms plus a bonus suite join 3.5 baths and a finished basement. A heated attached garage, 2025 roof, Amana HVAC, tankless water heater, and island kitchen sit near the Riverwalk and downtown.

Take a peek inside →