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Hello Springfield! Hope your coffee tastes especially good this morning.
In today’s bring-the-kiddos edition: A paint recycling surge, a St. Patrick’s Day parade, and Girl Scout cookies at a cat café + 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.
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📰 In the news
Leftover paint finds purpose: Illinois’ new paint recycling program has collected 60,000 gallons in its first two months, with 345 drop-off sites statewide. Most Springfield residents will have a free location within 15 miles — get all the program details.
Wider footprint, new rules: State Sen. Doris Turner’s bill could expand Mid-Illinois Medical District, doubling size to South Grand Avenue and adding Springfield Clinic’s Main Campus while updating leadership requirements and excluding government properties — see the proposed changes.
Community festivities take center stage: Springfield’s March events include The Railyard’s opening weekend, a St. Patrick’s Day Parade, and Maple Syrup and Pancake Breakfast Benefit weekends, plus St. Edward’s hosting the St. Edwards event — check out the full lineup.
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:
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🐾 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.
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🫶 We got your back
Where tapas meets wine: When you’re after a low-key night with shareable bites and a glass (or three) of something interesting, Ad Astra Wine Bar & Market delivers with house-made tapas, build-your-own cheese boards, and a cozy, restored downtown setting that makes lingering feel almost required.
Pedal plans this week: Commuting, chasing gravel, or finding last summer’s legs again, Ace Bike Shop has bikes, e-bikes, and gear to keep you rolling, plus a service crew that remembers your name. Fresh tunes and dialed setups make weekend miles smoother, with friendly help that actually knows your ride.
Movies without algorithms: Springfield Art Association is deep into its Molly Schlich Film Series, bringing handpicked international and indie gems to a real screen, no autoplay, no spoilers, just conversation starters. If your streaming queue feels stale, a seat away from the couch… and a story… might be exactly right.
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.
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📆 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.
🎖 Merit Badge University @ University of Illinois Springfield | Saturday (3/7) at 7:45 AM – Whether you still tie a square knot in your sleep, or you just figured out which end of the compass points north, Merit Badge University at UIS is up your alley. Scouts stack badges, leaders sharpen up, and Springfield gets to preen, sans campfire smoke.
🏓 All in the Family Pickleball Tournament @ Premier Pickleball Center | Saturday (3/7) at 8:00 AM – Premier Pickleball Center is hosting a family-only tournament, so grab your spouse, favorite cousin, or pickleball-obsessed grandkid for some quality time with a scoreboard. Several brackets need players, women’s intermediate is literally wide open. Register at SPRINGFIELDPICKLEBALLCLUB.ORG, then settle that lifelong sibling rivalry.
🍁 Maple Syrup Time Demonstrations @ Lincoln Memorial Garden & Nature Center | Saturday (3/7) at 1:00 PM – Watch maple syrup happen, from tree tap to sap boil to liquid gold. Dress for weather, wear boots, and expect a brisk trek to the sugar bush, hands-on work, and that glorious wood smoke. Start at the Nature Center, then follow your nose.
🍪 Girl Scout Cookies @ The Cats’ Pyjamas Cat Café | Saturday (3/7) at 2:00 PM – If you’ve been waiting for a noble excuse to hoard Thin Mints, swing by the cat café. Troop 6197 is selling cookies, so you’ll support local girls, get feline cuddles, and, when you spend $15, snag a free 15-minute visit. Consider it community service.
❓ Trivia Night Fundraiser @ Concordia Lutheran Church and School, Springfield, IL | Saturday (3/7) at 6:00 PM – Take a break and rally for TIP’s trivia fundraiser supporting the summer show season, because bragging rights pair with chili, and games like Heads or Tails and Dead or Alive. Bring snacks to share, no booze, tables $100 for ten or $15 solo, call 217-725-0239.
🧩 Puzzle Night @ Titan Games Springfield | Monday (3/9) at 6:00 PM – Bring up to three friends, or roll solo, for a 500-piece sprint that’s all brains, no brawn. It’s $25 per team, you pick your puzzle, and you get two hours; finish it, and you’re in a gift card drawing. Seats are limited, so pay in-store.
🛼 Laketown Skate Night @ Skateland South | Tuesday (3/10) at 5:30 PM – Laketown Skate Night is gliding in with $6 admission, $5 rentals, and the rare chance to support the school without selling cookie dough. Half your ticket helps Laketown Elementary, plus the arcade is open, and the snack bar can pass for dinner.
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
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🔥 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.
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📻 Springfield report
Weather forecast
Today – High: 55°F – Low: 51°F – Precip: 63%
Patchy fog and showers and thunderstorms likely. Cloudy, with a high near 55. East northeast wind 3 to 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible. Later: Patchy fog and showers and thunderstorms before 9pm, then patchy fog and showers and thunderstorms between 9pm and 3am, then patchy fog and showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a low around 51. South wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
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Tomorrow – High: 64°F – Low: 52°F – Precip: 56%
Rain showers likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 64. West southwest wind 5 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible. Later: A slight chance of rain showers before midnight, then showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 52. South southeast wind 3 to 9 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
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 5-bed custom Moughan ranch in Chatham School District pairs an open plan and Gary Bryan cabinetry with a wall of living room built-ins. The basement with 9-foot ceilings adds a wet bar, rec space, two bedrooms. Enjoy a screened porch, secret garden path, generator, EV and hot tub wiring, 2024 roof, and Piper Glen pool, pickleball, and 18-hole golf.
Take a peek inside →
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