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Hi Wallingford, we made it to Thursday! 

In today’s fun-for-grown-ups edition: Connecticut’s best mac and cheese, Millionaire for Life lottery, and Brit Floyd + plenty of reasons to put on real pants 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

Connecticut’s best BBQ named: Pig Rig BBQ in Wallingford was hailed for serving Connecticut’s best mac and cheese, a velvety blend locals pair with tender brisket and ribs. Comfort food bragging rights live here — see what makes it best.

Big prizes for lucky players: CT Lottery, based in Wallingford, has launched Millionaire for Life, a $5 multistate draw game offering up to $1 million a year for life, with a 20-year minimum payout — get all the details.

Community charts next steps: Hamden’s Newhall neighbors and town officials secured about $18 million to repair crumbling foundations and demolish the long-abandoned middle school. Demolition is 95 percent complete, with remediation plans shared — see what’s planned and discussed.

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:

• Learn adaptive golf and build independence
• Learn estate planning over lunch
• Play BINGO to support Project Graduation
• This top-tier home warranty is 50% off right now
• Save on self-care during the CVS Epic Beauty Sale

🐾 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

Meriden burger classic: Since 1959, Ted’s Restaurant has kept Meriden loyal to the Connecticut steamed cheeseburger, with juicy patties smothered in melted cheddar. When you want a cozy, no-fuss upgrade to dinner plans, this hometown staple delivers: simple, warm, and reliably satisfying.

Skate vibes, no fuss: Spurrier-Snyder Rink hums with crisp ice, new dasher boards, and a refreshed concession area, perfect for a midweek reset. Watch a Wesleyan game or youth hockey spin by, clap along, and call it low-key self-care, preferably with extra layers.

Hands-on history fix: Need a weekend creative reset? At Eli Whitney Museum & Workshop, tinkering meets history with simple build projects, curious artifacts, and a low-key studio vibe. Make something neat, learn a little, and leave feeling unexpectedly proud, like your inner inventor finally got some airtime.

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.

📆 Wallingford for grown ups

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.

👜 Pocketbook Bingo @ Middletown Elks Lodge 771 | Friday (3/6) at 5:15 PM – If your idea of cardio is spotting a designer bag, this designer purse bingo night’s your Olympics. Ten games, ten purses, buffet dinner, raffles, and a cash bar, all supporting RHHS cheer. It’s $50 solo, or rally nine friends for a $550 table.

🔨 Words on Wood Workshop @ Words on Wood | Friday (3/6) at 6:00 PM – This DIY workshop lets you stain, stencil, and leave smelling like sawdust and accomplishment with a custom wood sign for home or that blank wall you ignore. No power tools, just good company, paint, and opinions about fonts. Reserve your spot at the link.

🌱 CT NOFA’s 44th Annual Winter Conference @ Wesleyan University | Saturday (3/7) at 9:00 AM – CT NOFA’s winter staple gathers growers, eaters, and soil nerds with virtual workshops, then an in-person day at Wesleyan in Middletown. Your ticket gets the online sessions, lunch at the campus gathering, and three months of recordings, perfect for replays while the stockpot bubbles.

💎 Mineral and Gem Show @ Maloney High School | Saturday (3/7) at 9:30 AM – The Meriden Mineral Club is hosting its 54th Annual Mineral, Gem, and Jewelry Show and Sale, a shiny excuse to geek out over crystals, fossils, meteorites, gem rough. Kid-friendly chaos included, with games, geode cracking, crafts, educational exhibits, and free specimens, because bribery works.

🇵 Polish Night @ Meriden Elks Lodge #35 | Saturday (3/7) at 5:30 PM – Clear your calendar for Meriden Elks’ Polish Night, a hometown feast with the famed Warsaw buffet, toe-tapping tunes, and raffles that actually tempt. Twenty-five bucks gets you in, a full plate, and that easy Lodge camaraderie you can’t DoorDash. Grab tickets at the Lodge.

🌙 Brit Floyd @ Toyota Oakdale Theatre | Saturday (3/7) at 8:00 PM – Brit Floyd is rolling into the Oakdale with The Moon, The Wall, and all the goosebumps, delivering a spot-on Pink Floyd trip without the arena parking trauma. Expect soaring vocals, lasers, and that giant circular screen. Close your eyes, and you’re 17 again.

🎨 “Essential Color Mixing Concepts for Every Artist” @ Town of Hamden Senior Citizens Services | Tuesday (3/10) at 7:00 PM – Think you’ve mastered the color wheel? New Haven’s Janet Warner is back in person with a slide talk and an oil demo on complementary color shifts, charting mixes as she goes, and it applies to acrylics and watercolor, too. Real answers, fewer muddy browns.

Live music & entertainment:

• 3/6 The Olde Church Acoustic Series 10th Anniversary @ First Congregational Church of Meriden – 7:00 PM
• 3/6 Mame & Company Band @ Jerry’s Pizza & Bar – 7:00 PM
• 3/6 Bill Ludwig and more @ The Buttonwood Tree Performing Arts Center – 7:00 PM
• 3/6 SBJ Acoustic @ The Sly Fox Tavern – 8:00 PM
• 3/7 Faye Green and more @ Valor Wines – 5:00 PM
• 3/7 Polish Night @ Meriden Elks Lodge #35 – 5:30 PM
• 3/9 The Spits and more @ Space Ballroom – 8:00 PM

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

📻 Wallingford report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 44°F – Low: 35°F – Precip: 67%

Patchy fog and a slight chance of freezing rain before 7am, then rain likely and patchy fog. Cloudy. High near 44, with temperatures falling to around 42 in the afternoon. Northeast wind 0 to 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible. Later: Rain. Cloudy, with a low around 35. Northeast wind around 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.

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Tomorrow – High: 42°F – Low: 34°F – Precip: 96%

Rain before 1pm. Cloudy, with a high near 42. Northeast wind 3 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible. Later: A slight chance of rain after 1am. Cloudy. Low around 34, with temperatures rising to around 36 overnight.

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 3-bed Cape pairs everyday ease with lifestyle perks. A main-floor primary bedroom streamlines one-level living, while two upstairs bedrooms flex for guests or a home office. The walk-out basement opens to a big backyard with a pool and room to play. Set across from a park and minutes to public transit, convenience comes built in.

Take a peek inside →