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Rise and shine, Springfield! In today’s planning-your-week edition: Courthouse project records, cousins tracing the African diaspora, and Jerry the Butterfly Guy + all our favorite events happening over the next seven days.
Your insurance won't cover a $12,000 HVAC bill: If your furnace quits before it warms up, your homeowners insurance will tell you it's a "maintenance issue" and wish you luck. Insurance covers sudden disasters. It doesn't cover the systems that wear out over time, and those are the expensive ones. A home warranty is built for exactly this. HVAC, water heater, appliances, plumbing, electrical... all covered for less than $1/day with no age restrictions on what's covered. You call, they send a tech, you pay a service fee. They handle the rest. This one's 50% off right now.* |
01 — Worth knowing In the newsThree local stories this week, plus a few worth your money.
Project records now public: Massachusetts released procurement records defending a $1.6 billion Springfield courthouse project, amid a lawsuit and questions about Ayanna Pressley’s husband’s involvement, arguing the winning proposal offered the best value -- read the full story.
Next stop in their rise: Two top Red Sox draft picks have signed and are set to climb together again, with full-season assignments coming soon after Wisconsin roots and Cape Cod Baseball League stints -- read the full story.
Following ancestral pathways: Springfield cousins Tameka Bennett and Kidon Gebersadik are on a 28-day journey tracing the African diaspora through Costa Rica, Brazil, Ghana, Senegal and Portugal, documenting how history shapes identity today -- read their full journey.
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.*
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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*. Highlights this week: |
02 — From our sponsor Your insurance won't cover a $12,000 HVAC billIf your furnace quits before it warms up, your homeowners insurance will tell you it's a "maintenance issue" and wish you luck. Insurance covers sudden disasters. It doesn't cover the systems that wear out over time, and those are the expensive ones. A home warranty is built for exactly this. HVAC, water heater, appliances, plumbing, electrical... all covered for less than $1/day with no age restrictions on what's covered. You call, they send a tech, you pay a service fee. They handle the rest. This one's 50% off right now.* |
03 — On our radar
Local business spotlightNearby spots we'd actually send a friend to.
Fresh fluff incoming: Pets looking a little scruffy from real-life Springfield living? The Pawspaw gives cats and dogs a calm, no-fuss groom that sends them home soft, clean, and smelling like they didn’t just roll in the backyard. Book a tidy-up this week, then retire from bathtub wrestling.
Steins for days: A Springfield legend, Student Prince Cafe and The Fort is the go-to for schnitzel, bratwurst, and crisp German beers, plus a jaw-dropping stein collection that turns the bar into a mini museum. If you’ve been meaning to stop by again, consider this your friendly nudge this week.
Sweet tooth, solved: La Fiorentina Pastry Shop has been keeping Springfield sweet since 1946 with classics like cannoli and sfogliatelle. Grab a coffee and something flaky this week, then pretend you bought extras for a friend while you absolutely do not share.
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04 — Our recommendations
We got your backA handful of products and services we think are worth a look.
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How much bacteria and microplastics come from your cutting board? More than you'd ever want to know. A single cut on a plastic board can shed up to 300 microplastic particles straight into your food, and a wood board absorbs raw meat juice so deep into the grain that scrubbing never gets it out. Thankfully, there's a cleaner solution entering more and more kitchens. *Check it out →
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Burglars do their homework: They watch the street, learn the patterns, and — per that same survey of 422 convicted burglars — 83% check whether a house has an alarm before touching it. The point of a security system isn't winning a confrontation; it's failing their homework check so there never is one. ADT has been the answer they least want to find, voted America's most trusted home security provider. *Get crossed off the list →
Is your home still in your name? You can check for free: It sounds strange, but title fraud happens when someone files forged paperwork to transfer your home or borrow against its equity, and the FBI logged over 9,000 real estate fraud complaints last year, with homeowners 60 and older losing half of all money stolen. Most owners don't find out until a bill or foreclosure notice arrives, because homeowners insurance doesn't watch for this. This service monitors your title 24/7 and helps restore your ownership if fraud occurs. Start with a free title report and a free trial, backed by a 30-day satisfaction guarantee. *Make sure your title's secure → |
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 Our favorite events this weekAll the best things to do this week. Dates, times, and locations are subject to change. Always check official event pages before heading out.
🦋 Jerry the Butterfly Guy @ East Springfield Library | Tuesday (7/28) at 10:30 AM – Whether you call them caterpillars or tomato leaf assassins, Jerry the Butterfly Guy brings gorgeous slides, stories, and tips on attracting butterflies, telling butterflies from moths, and how they behave. Then make a butterfly t-shirt, BYO heavy 100% cotton, or grab one while supplies last.
🍺 Books & Brews: Thriller Edition @ Ludlow Coffee Co. | Tuesday (7/28) at 6:00 PM – If you prefer your small talk with a body count, this thriller book hangout delivers. Reading The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St. James, meeting every last Tuesday of the month. No sign up, just read it, show up, and sip something good.
🧱 Lego Build Challenge @ Hubbard Memorial Library (Ludlow) | Wednesday (7/29) at 2:00 PM – The library turns into a brick battleground where you pull a challenge card and build with their Legos, or free build to your heart's content. Duplos for the littles, creations on display in the Youth Room all week. Drop in, enjoy zero cleanup at home.
🍽 Soulful Supper @ Unitarian Universalist Society of Greater Springfield (Longmeadow) | Wednesday (7/29) at 6:00 PM – Show up hungry for a fresh-cooked community supper, family-friendly, no fuss. Linger before and after for small groups, chatter, and easygoing arts. Help set up or stack chairs if you feel like it, donations welcome, not required, and yes, there are seconds.
📚 River of Dreams @ Springfield City Library - Mason Square | Thursday (7/30) at 5:00 PM – Whether you know every word to Piano Man or just hum along in traffic, River of Dreams, the Billy Joel Experience, rolls into Mason Square Library for a singable, nostalgia soaked set. Expect crowd pleasers, fewer shushes, and a Springfield style concert between the stacks.
🎭 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory @ Exit 7 Theater (Ludlow) | Friday (7/31) at 7:30 PM – If you need a golden ticket to feel like a kid again, Exit 7’s youth cast tackles Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, ages 5 to 18 and fueled by pure imagination. Expect pint-sized Oompa-Loompas, big heart, and a sugar rush without the dentist bill.
🌕 Buck Full Moon Lunar Yoga Flow @ The Alley (Ludlow) | Sunday (8/2) at 8:30 AM – Full moon season means we’re rolling out mats for a Buck Moon flow, tapping those antler-growing vibes of renewal, strength, and Thunder Moon clarity. All levels welcome, no hay bales or heroics, just steady breath, soft midsummer energy, and that refreshed feeling locals actually crave. Live music & entertainment:
Want more? Browse our full events calendar | Submit an event |
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07 — Springfield report Weather forecastToday — High: 85°F — Low: 63°F — Precip: 19%
Isolated showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Sunny, with a high near 85. South wind 0 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Later: Isolated showers and thunderstorms before 8pm, then patchy fog between 2am and 4am, then patchy fog and a slight chance of rain showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 63. South wind 3 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Tomorrow — High: 79°F — Low: 62°F — Precip: 73%
Patchy fog and a slight chance of rain showers before 8am, then rain showers likely and patchy fog between 8am and 11am, then showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 79. South wind 2 to 12 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible. Later: Showers and thunderstorms before 9pm, then patchy fog and showers and thunderstorms between 9pm and 2am, then patchy fog and showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 62. Southeast wind 7 to 12 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. This house is wildThis preserved turn-of-the-century home in Cozy Corner pairs historic charm with modern comfort just steps from Forest Park. Stained-glass windows, Tiffany-inspired lighting, and rich period details set the tone, while 10 spacious rooms, 6 bedrooms, an oversized kitchen, and updated baths keep life practical. The covered porch and cozy fireplace add extra appeal.
Take a peek inside → |
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