It’s Friday, Springfield! In today’s can’t-miss-weekend-plans edition: West Street Bridge repairs, heat relief resources, and strawberry saturday + 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.
Community park gets a refresh: Springfield officials celebrated the renovated Linda Petrella Park, named for a late city planner and funded by the American Rescue Plan Act, with remarks from Mayor Sarno and Rep. Neal -- see the park makeover.
Heat relief resources open: With a heat advisory in effect today until 8 p.m., Springfield splash pads are open and cooling centers run through Saturday. Officials urge hydration and checking on elderly neighbors -- get the full details.
Plans for a vital crossing: Closed nearly a year, the West Street Bridge linking Ludlow and Springfield has temporary repairs planned to reopen, with full replacement after the Putts Bridge project, expected to begin 2028–2029 -- see bridge repair plans.
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: |
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03 — On our radar
Local business spotlightNearby spots we'd actually send a friend to.
Plug into downtown: Whether you live in Metro Center or just claim you do when the festivals roll around, Armoury Quadrangle Civic Association is your volunteer-run neighborhood voice. Sign up for their once-or-twice-monthly e-blast for downtown updates, occasional walking tours, and guest-speaker meetups that make it easy to plug in.
Low-effort, high-glow: If your brows ghost you by Thursday, Essentials by Nicole does soft, natural permanent makeup and esthetics that actually last... think powder brows, lip blush, lash lifts, brow lamination, even subtle lash line enhancement. Wake up looking put-together, then go live your life.
Throwback cardio, upgraded: Interskate 91 South is your low-stakes way to shake off the week, with smooth floors, DJ-spun sessions, and plenty of space to pretend you meant that move. Lace up, cruise a few laps, then tag in for LaserBlast while the kids conquer Play Quest.
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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.
💰 Quarter Auction for Lorraine’s Soup Kitchen & Pantry Inc @ Chicopee Elks | Friday (6/12) at 6:00 PM – If your change jar is giving you side-eye, put it to work at a quarter auction supporting Lorraine’s Soup Kitchen & Pantry. Bid on baskets, gift cards, and vendor goodies, with a teacup raffle, food and baked treats, and a cash bar, because balance.
🍓 Strawberry Saturday @ A.W. Brown's Pet & Garden Store (East Longmeadow) | Saturday (6/13) at 10:00 AM – Strawberry Saturday at A.W. Brown's, because subtlety is overrated. Hot Oven Cookies and Wandering Waffles are slinging berry treats, there are crafts and activities to keep small hands busy while you "sample," and admission is gloriously free. Get reminders: https://forms.gle/LL6CWRwYDhyca5xL7
🚗 25th Annual Car Show @ Springfield Elks Lodge #61 | Sunday (6/14) at 9:00 AM – Whether you polish chrome or admire paint, the 25th PVGTO car show welcomes all makes and models. Top 40 awards, no fussy classes, park with friends, plus 50/50 and table raffles, with peak folding chair energy. Proceeds support Shriners Hospital, and NAMI.
🦶 Whoopie Pie Waddle @ Forest Park | Sunday (6/14) at 9:00 AM – Lace up for a feel-good 5K or easy 1.3-mile waddle at Forest Park, benefiting the Michael J. Dias Foundation's sober living home for women, with Compass Recovery. Finish with a T-shirt and whoopie pies from Joey's Deli, so the workout cancels dessert, right?
🧘 Pilates @ ZOO in Forest Park and Education Center | Sunday (6/14) at 10:00 AM – The Zoo in Forest Park is serving Pilates with a side of wildlife, because your core deserves an audience. It’s a 45-minute mat class, an animal ambassador meet-and-greet, and zoo admission after, all without the gym soundtrack.
🛍 2nd Annual Outdoor Vendor Fair @ Iridescence LLC (Ludlow) | Sunday (6/14) at 10:00 AM – Take a leisurely lap through the 2nd Annual Outdoor Vendor Fair, where small business vendors set up shop and tarot readers size up your future. Think handmade goods, neighborly chatter, and predictions about whether you need another candle.
🔬 SUN-Day @ Springfield Museums | Sunday (6/14) at 11:00 AM – Spend SUN-Day on the Seuss Museum lawn at the Springfield Science Museum as the Stars Club of Massachusetts points solar-safe telescopes at the real headliner, our Sun. No eclipse glasses, no squinting, just crisp sunspots, easy science banter, and bragging rights for your next cookout. Live music & entertainment:- 6/13 Face Down @ Riverside Pub (Agawam) - 2:00 PM
- 6/13 Dave Acoustic @ Dugout Cafe (Chicopee) - 5:00 PM
- 6/13 Corey Knapp @ Iron Duke Brewing (Ludlow) - 6:30 PM
- 6/13 Marco Turo @ Villa Napoletana (East Longmeadow) - 7:00 PM
- 6/13 Bachata Elementz @ Kaptain Jimmy's Restaurant & Distillery (Agawam) - 8:00 PM
- 6/13 Ultimatum @ Snooker's Billiards - The Break Live Music Venue - 8:00 PM
- 6/13 Roar! Comedy @ The Armory at MGM
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 Springfield report Weather forecastToday — High: 95°F — Low: 65°F — Precip: 8%
Mostly sunny, with a high near 95. Heat index values as high as 102. West wind 1 to 7 mph. Later: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 9pm, then showers and thunderstorms likely between 9pm and 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65. West wind 6 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Tomorrow — High: 90°F — Low: 63°F — Precip: 1%
Sunny, with a high near 90. Northwest wind 7 to 12 mph. Later: Mostly clear, with a low around 63. Northwest wind 0 to 10 mph. This house is wildThis iconic Queen Anne Victorian in Springfield’s Historic Forest Park section faces the park itself and delivers major curb appeal with a turret, wraparound porch, and rich period craftsmanship. Inside, 3 finished levels offer 6 bedrooms and 2 updated baths, plus a remodeled quartz-and-stainless kitchen. Fresh upgrades, a detached 2-car garage, and timeless charm seal the deal.
Take a peek inside → |
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