Hi Chemung County, hope you’re having a great weekend! In today's in-case-you-missed-it edition: Broadway series premieres, Arnot Mall carnival, and community compost drop-off + the top stories from this week & a sneak peek at next week.
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 Most popular stories this weekThe three top stories this week, plus a few worth your money.
Coffee chain proposal reviewed: A 7 Brew drive-thru is proposed for 830 County Route 64 in Big Flats, between Michael's and Taco Bell, with construction Sept. 1 to Nov. 1 if approved -- see what happens next.
A big season ahead: Elmira's Clemens Center unveiled its 2026-27 Broadway Series, featuring Mystic Pizza and The Bodyguard. Five of six shows will be local premieres, plus two extra nights to attract visitors -- see the season lineup.
Community composting expands: A new compost drop-off at Elmira's Wisner Market now accepts food scraps in weekly purple bins, free to use, through a partnership with Southern Tier Reduces and Finger Lakes Compost -- see how compost works.
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*. All the crowd favorites: |
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03 — On our radar
This week's top findsLocal spotlights your fellow readers loved last week.
Local breakfast legend: Whether your morning needs a short stack or a full-on fork-and-knife situation, Anne's Pancakes keeps Elmira running on fluffy stacks, hot coffee, and small-town charm. Slide in with a friend this week, share some syrup, and leave plotting your next “treat yourself” breakfast.
Classic Elmira fun: When the weekend rolls around, Eldridge Park is that easy win where the carousel still thrills, paddle boats drift just right, and mini golf sparks friendly smack talk. Pack some chill vibes, rally the neighbors, and make a low-key evening feel like hometown summer.
Big screen under the stars: Elmira Drive-In Theatre keeps local movie nights delightfully old-school with two screens, surround sound, and a trusty snack bar for mid-feature cravings. When the living room feels stale, roll up with friends or kids and let the stars do the ceiling.
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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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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 →
Your plastic cutting board sheds 100 to 300 microplastic particles per knife stroke. Half of them wash down the drain, but the other half end up in your food. And if you're thinking about switching to wood to avoid it, that grain soaks up bacteria you can't scrub out. We found a cleaner solution to tackle these two issues. *Check it out →
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 months on purchases and qualifying balance transfers, plus 5% cash back in rotating quarterly categories like grocery stores, restaurants, and gas stations (up to the quarterly max, when you activate) and 1% on everything else. No annual fee, and the cash back you earn is automatically matched at the end of your first year. *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 → |
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 Sneak peek at next weekPlan ahead for the next seven days. Dates, times, and locations are subject to change. Always check official event pages before heading out.
🎤 Summer Sing Concert & Social @ First United Methodist Church of Horseheads | Tuesday (6/16) at 7:15 PM – Crystal Chords & Friends host a brief summer concert, followed by refreshments. It is free and open to the community, so you can get your harmonies, your cookies, and your neighborly gossip without spending a dime. Short, sweet, and perfectly local.
🎡 Arnot Mall Carnival @ Arnot Mall (Horseheads) | Wednesday (6/17) at 5:00 PM – The Arnot Mall carnival pops up in the lot with lights, squeals, and unmistakable fried-dough perfume. Classic rides, throwback games, and shamelessly good fair food, think cotton candy and funnel cakes, kick off summer. Bring the kids, patience, and knees that still tolerate the Tilt-A-Whirl.
🌈 Rainbow Lettering Sidewalk Sale @ Rainbow Lettering (Elmira) | Thursday (6/18) at 8:00 AM – College Ave is turning into a bargain runway, with a sidewalk sale piled high with Nike, Adidas, and the usual 'I meant to embroider this' blanks. Everything is 50 to 75 percent off, decorated or not, and there’s even a drawing for early-bird shopping.
🌳 History Under the Trees @ Elmira Civil War Prison Camp | Thursday (6/18) at 6:00 PM – Need an excuse to sit under the trees, learn a bit, and call it culture? History Under the Trees hits every third Thursday, free, donations welcome, with exhibits open, friendly docents, and BYO lawn chair, snacks. Speaker may change, shade does not.
🎸 Tusk - The Ultimate Fleetwood Mac Tribute @ Tag's Summer Stage (Big Flats) | Friday (6/19) at 12:00 AM – Patio weather calls for Rumours on repeat at the Mich Ultra Summer Stage at Tag’s, where Tusk nails Fleetwood Mac note for note. No gimmicks, just five pros, big harmonies, and all the feels when Landslide sneaks up on you, again.
📚 Traveling Bright Red Bookshelf @ Ernie Davis Park (Elmira) | Saturday (6/20) at 12:00 PM – Ernie Davis Park’s Juneteenth celebration is getting a pop of color with the Traveling Bright Red Bookshelf, a little library that actually lets kids keep the books. Family Reading Partnership will be doling out free reads, good vibes, and a break from screens.
🎪 Family Fun Saturday - The Great DuBois Circus Variety Show @ Eldridge Park (Elmira) | Saturday (6/20) at 2:00 PM – Give screens a rest and corral the crew for a free circus variety show on the Hillard Family Stage, co-sponsored by Excellus. The Great DuBois brings laughs and gasps, plus two showtimes and kids workshop so they burn sugar, learn a trick, and nap later.
Want more? Browse our full events calendar | Submit an event |
06 — Announcement In case you missed itWe opened The Insiders’ Club last week and hundreds of folks have already joined (seriously… can’t thank you enough!!). For a few bucks a month, The Club gives you every newsletter ad-free on your schedule, plus members-only updates to help you stay connected to your community. The Weekly Events Roundup is my favorite feature. You get one email a week with all the best events and nothing else cluttering it up. Want only that? Skip the daily emails and turn the rest off. Join the club → |
07 — The Chemung County report Weather forecastToday — High: 83°F — Low: 49°F — Precip: 56% A chance of showers and thunderstorms between 1pm and 5pm, then showers and thunderstorms likely. Partly sunny, with a high near 83. South wind 2 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible. Later: Showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 49. West wind 3 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
Tomorrow — High: 70°F — Low: 49°F — Precip: 0% Mostly sunny, with a high near 70. Northwest wind 5 to 8 mph. Later: Mostly clear, with a low around 49. West wind 0 to 6 mph. Most popular house this weekThis 4-bed, 2.5-bath home stretches across 3 scenic acres and pairs a beautiful country setting with quick access to everything nearby. Inside, an updated kitchen and upgraded mechanicals bring easy modern comfort. A partially finished lower level adds flexibility, while the newer 30 x 70 detached building delivers a massive garage and a one-of-a-kind in-law apartment.
Take a peek inside → | | |