It’s Friday, Fairbanks! In today’s can’t-miss-weekend-plans edition: Solar-powered lodge, yoga with reindeer, and Golden Heart Family Fun Day + a stacked lineup of events this weekend.
Your homeowners insurance has a blind spot: It covers your house if a tree falls on it. It doesn’t cover your furnace when it quits in January, your AC when it dies in July, or your water heater when it starts leaking on a Tuesday. Those are all classified as "normal wear and tear," and they're 100% on you. American Home Shield can help fill that gap for ~$1/day (even if your appliances and systems are really old) -- see what it covers.* |
01 — Worth knowing In the newsThree local stories this week, plus a few worth your money.
Sustainable hospitality in action: At Pike’s Waterfront Lodge in Fairbanks, rooftop solar panels keep delivering power through the deep winter, earning Green Star recognition and support from Golden Valley Electric’s SNAP program for renewables -- learn more about the lodge.
Preparing for fire danger: Wildfire season in Interior Alaska may start June 13 to 20. Fairbanks North Star Borough readies alerts and evacuation plans, and public comment runs until June 28 -- see the full plan.
Budget keeps tax burden steady: Fairbanks North Star Borough Assembly passed the FY27 budget with no mill rate increase, raising school funding to $65.7 million. The tax rate stays level, taking effect July 1 -- read the full budget story.
The bill all retirees should double check: Car insurance. If you’ve been on the same plan for years, you might be paying way more than you need to. It’s an easy one to forget about, but switching could save you up to $600 this year. Case in point: I shopped around and ended up cutting my premium in half — this free comparison tool makes it easy.*
An emergency vet visit could cost you $7,000+ (ask me how I know 🙃). From the initial walk-in-the-door fee to x-rays, surgery, and aftercare, it adds up quicker than a chew toy turns into a crime scene. The good news? You could save thousands on your next vet bill with Lemonade*.
The slower you walk, the more it works: Tai Chi walking is trending online. Turns out it's centuries old — slow deliberate steps, paced breath, attention on the body. Thirty minutes a day burns fat, lifts your mood, and builds balance. No gym, no treadmill, no pounding on the joints. Take the quick quiz to see if it fits, then use code BASELOCAL for a discount on the coaching plan -- see how it works.* Highlights this week: |
02 — From our sponsor This summer, what if you didn't have to point at the menu?Not "menu Spanish." Not pointing at the photo and hoping. Ordering dinner like a local, talking the vendor down at the market, catching the punchline before anyone explains it. Babbel gets you there in ten minutes a day. Most people are holding real conversations within three weeks, because every lesson is built by 200+ language experts to get you talking early, not drilling flashcards you'll forget by lunch. And it works: 92% of users improved their proficiency in just two months, with 25 million subscriptions sold. Then there's the part that makes it a no-brainer. You pay once. A single lifetime subscription unlocks all 14 languages Babbel teaches, for every trip you'll ever take, with no monthly fee and no renewal quietly hitting your card next year. Get Babbel for 55% off through the end of June.* |
03 — On our radar
Local business spotlightNearby spots we'd actually send a friend to.
Make your weekend plans: From concerts and expos to Alaska Nanooks hockey when the season rolls back around, Carlson Center keeps Fairbanks fun under one roof. Keep an eye on their calendar for community programs and the indoor Playzone for ages 0-8... a very real lifeline when the weather won’t cooperate.
Skin feeling meh?: When your face needs a reset after Interior weather does its thing, Kat Smart Aesthetics delivers thoughtful, no-pressure facials and skin care that feel like a long exhale. Book yourself in this week, then casually accept compliments from neighbors at Fred Meyer and forget you ever owned a gritty scrub.
Alaska-proof upgrade: Prospector Outfitters has been kitting out Interior Alaskans since 1985 with practical clothing, boots, and camping gear that actually holds up when the weather mood swings. Before your next Chena float or Denali Highway trip, let their crew dial you in.
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04 — Our recommendations
We got your backA handful of products and services we think are worth a look.
What if a workout left your joints looser, not sorer? Most exercise trades a little pain now for results later, but it doesn't have to. Chair yoga keeps you seated the whole time, so your joints loosen and your strength grows without the excessive impact. A quick quiz shapes it into a personalized plan that meets your body where it is and adjusts as you loosen up. *Find your starting point →
Google your own name and you'll probably find your home address: It's sitting on a people-search site right now, next to your age, your relatives, and your phone number, free for anyone to look up. Incogni gets it taken down. It contacts 420+ data brokers on your behalf, uses privacy laws to legally demand deletion, and keeps resending requests so your information doesn't creep back online. No hours of opt-out forms, it runs quietly in the background. *Remove my data →
The card that pays you to pay down debt: Most balance-transfer cards skip the rewards. Most rewards cards skip the long 0% intro APR. This one has both — 0% intro APR for 15 billing cycles on purchases and qualifying balance transfers (made in the first 60 days), plus 2% back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs and up to 6% in a category you pick. No annual fee, and there's a $200 bonus after $1,000 in spending in the first 90 days. *Worth a look →
Premiums are up roughly 46% since 2021: Home insurance has outpaced inflation for years, and renewals rarely move in your favor. Rather than take the new number on faith, FinanceBuzz lets you match your home with top-rated insurers and compare quotes side by side — free, in about two minutes. Even if you decide to stay put, you'll know you checked. *See your options →
Two sprays before bed, no more snoring? It really is that simple. No mouthpiece to wrestle with, no CPAP mask, no nose strips that peel off at 2am. This doctor-developed throat spray has been keeping sleepers quiet for 30 years, and first-time orders are 40% off right now. *See how it works → |
Have an event to share? We (and our readers) can't wait to hear about it! Submit an event → |
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05 — The event calendar Around town this weekendOur favorite events this weekend. Dates, times, and locations are subject to change. Always check official event pages before heading out.
🏂 Fairbanks Shred Event @ Northrim Bank - Fairbanks Financial Center | Friday (6/12) at 11:00 AM – Free shredding is pulling up to Northrim Bank on Merhar, part of Customer Appreciation Month, with Shredway ready to devour your paper clutter. Bring up to two banker boxes, leave feeling lighter, and watch documents disappear faster than Fairbanks mosquitoes find fresh ankles.
🎨 Roots, Blooms & Community: Garden Harvest Paint Night Fundraiser @ Roundup Steakhouse & Saloon | Friday (6/12) at 6:30 PM – Think your kindergarten art skills retired with your Trapper Keeper? For $50 you get guided instruction, all supplies, and a stencil at a garden-themed paint night benefiting Community Meals at Southside Market, serving free, locally sourced dinners to Fairbanks neighbors in South Cushman.
💛 Golden Heart Family Fun Day @ Golden Heart Waste Management | Saturday (6/13) at 9:00 AM – Think you’re over big trucks? Wait until the kids climb into a cab and you start eyeing the chrome. Golden Heart’s Family Fun Day brings a Big Rig Truck show, a Heavy Equipment Rodeo, bounce houses, and food trucks, all free, all gloriously noisy.
🏷 Ester Community Garage Sale @ Ester Community Park | Saturday (6/13) at 9:00 AM – Garage sale season returns to Ester with the community treasure hunt we train for all winter. It is where extra skis find new homes, vintage casserole dishes resurface, and neighbors swap stories over coffee. Expect friendly haggling, oddities with history, and that one perfect find.
🏃 34th Annual Mosquito Meander 5k/Family Fun Run @ Pioneer Park | Saturday (6/13) at 10:00 AM – Nothing says small-town summer like trotting a 5k with a buzzing entourage. The Mosquito Meander returns for its 34th lap, sponsored by Kinross, inviting runners, walkers, and stroller wranglers to mosey, swap neighborhood gossip, and earn bragging rights before brunch. It’s cardio, community, and laughs.
🦌 Fly and Flow - Yoga with Reindeer @ Running Reindeer Ranch | Saturday (6/13) at 10:30 AM – If your yoga routine needs less fluorescent lighting and more actual wildlife, try flowing alongside reindeer on a breezy summer lawn. Think grass-scented air, dragonflies, and a few curious antlers during downward dog. It is calm, quirky, and surprisingly grounding.
🛍 Hello Spring Small Biz Market @ Aurora Boutique & Home Goods | Sunday (6/14) at 12:00 PM – A spring market pops up at Aurora Boutique & Homegoods on Frank Ave, with local makers, bakers, and genuinely good finds. Stroll, chat, and call it exercise, then leave with quality goods, familiar faces in your memory, and that smug, satisfying shop-local glow. Live music & entertainment:
Want more? Browse our full events calendar | Submit an event |
06 — Announcement Your homeowners insurance has a blind spotIt covers your house if a tree falls on it. It doesn’t cover your furnace when it quits in January, your AC when it dies in July, or your water heater when it starts leaking on a Tuesday. Those are all classified as "normal wear and tear," and they're 100% on you. American Home Shield can help fill that gap for ~$1/day (even if your appliances and systems are really old). *See what it covers → |
07 — The Fairbanks report Weather forecastToday — High: 73°F — Low: 49°F — Precip: 30%
A chance of showers and thunderstorms after 4pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 73. Southwest wind 0 to 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Later: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 10pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 49. Northwest wind 0 to 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Tomorrow — High: 78°F — Low: 51°F — Precip: 4%
Mostly sunny, with a high near 78. Later: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 51. This house is wildThis well-built Aurora Builders home offers 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, and a spacious bonus room currently serving as a fourth bedroom. The kitchen features solid surface countertops and plenty of room to gather. A natural gas boiler keeps things efficient, while the fenced backyard and side parking add everyday practicality. Creamer’s Field trails, the farmers market, and the fairgrounds are just steps away.
Take a peek inside → |
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