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Hey Finger Lakes, hope your week’s off to a good start!

In today’s wallet-friendly edition: Hans Zimmer live, Gorilla Glass Ceramic 3 on the next Motorola razr, and Wendy Dann’s new play + lots of fun things to do for free.

Today’s sponsor, American Hartford Gold, is helping folks around the Finger Lakes protect their savings as gold and silver continue to gain momentum. Their free guide explains what’s driving the surge… and what to know before adding precious metals to your portfolio. Grab your free copy here.

📰 In the news

Bridge between police and public: Ithaca is inviting residents to apply for its Community Police Board, an advisory group that meets monthly and works with police to improve communication. Applicants with diverse backgrounds are encouraged — see how to apply.

What ifs take center stage: Ithaca’s Wendy Dann opened her original play Milkweed at Kitchen Theatre Company and it continues through March, inviting Finger Lakes audiences into a story about teachers, students, time, and choices — read the full story.

A new standard in toughness: Corning, a Finger Lakes mainstay, has launched Gorilla Glass Ceramic 3, touting improved drop durability. The material will appear on Motorola’s next razr fold device after showing strong lab results — see what the tests show.

Nothing prepares you for a pet emergency: I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. As soon as we got home, I signed up for Spot. It’s super affordable – and reimburses up to 90% of the bill.

Highlights this week:

• Experience Hans Zimmer’s scores live
• Discover your roots at genealogy workshops
• Celebrate Spring Fling with deals and giveaways

🫶 We got your back

Craveable sandwich upgrade: Gorgers Subs bakes its rolls in-house daily, then piles on globally inspired fillings, banh mi vibes, Cuban mojo, po’ boy crunch, for a lunch that feels like a win. Think fresh bread, bold flavors, and speedy satisfaction when “just a sandwich” needs to be something more.

Waterfall therapy, anyone?: Rough week? Drift through the gorge at Watkins Glen State Park for a reset: cool mist, stone steps, and widescreen views. Bring a friend, stash the phone, and remember you live where postcards are printed.

Gift emergency solved: From LEGO and Jellycat to science kits, puzzles, and artsy projects you’ll buy for the kids, Alphabet Soup is your reliable local stash for last-minute birthdays and rainy-day sanity, with free gift wrapping that helps you look impressively prepared.

Why your last diet didn’t work: Sustained weight loss is nearly impossible with diet alone. Your body literally fights back by making you hungrier the moment you start restricting calories. That’s why more doctors are recommending GLP-1s. The best part? Getting them has never been easier. We compared three programs to help you find the right fit. See which ones stood out →

Your data is for sale right now: There are over 400 websites selling your info to marketers, political campaigns, and scammers. They’ve got your phone number, home address, relatives’ names… you name it. That’s how robocallers seem to know everything about you before you pick up. You can remove your info one site at a time, or pay a service to do it for you. Here’s what we recommend →

📆 Free events worth checking out

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.

🤝 Create + Connect @ ArtSpace36 (Canandaigua) | Wednesday (3/11) at 6:30 PM – Midweek needs a breather, so swing by ArtSpace36 for Create + Connect, the free, in-person art hang where ages seven and up pick projects, materials, and vibe. No experience, drop in whenever, just neighbors making stuff, and yes, glitter counts as a color.

🎷 Jazz and Blues Night @ Ithaca 5 & Dime | Thursday (3/12) at 7:00 PM – Swap your Thursday screen time for the real thing at Ithaca 5 & Dime, where London McDaniels and house band Lava pour out smoky jazz and blues, no cover, just class. It’s easy company, proper cocktails, and that slow-bloom groove you forgot you missed.

🍷 Willet Tasting @ Hoban’s Spirits (Penn Yan) | Friday (3/13) at 3:30 PM – Think you know your bourbons, or at least pretend convincingly? Skurnik is pouring a complimentary Willet tasting with a craft cocktail in the mix, so bring your seasoned palate, your favorite whiskey stories, and an ID, and call it quality time well spent. 21+, obviously.

🎤 Virgil Cain @ Landon’s Pub and Pizza (Watkins Glen) | Friday (3/13) at 8:00 PM – Take a break from the same old playlist and swing by Landon’s in downtown Watkins Glen for Virgil Cain, the one-man band who actually sounds like five. Expect rock and pop covers from the 70s to today, looping wizardry, accidental sing-alongs, and no cover.

🛼 Awana Roller Skating Party @ Watkins Glen community Center | Saturday (3/14) at 12:00 PM – Break out the roller skates and your best wobbly confidence, the annual Awana skating party is back with free entry and rink vibes. Expect pizza, popcorn, cookies, and a sugar rush that pairs nicely with nostalgia, laughter, and questionable balance. RSVP helps the pizza math.

🍽 Farm to Table Dinner @ Alpha Zeta Cornell (Ithaca) | Saturday (3/14) at 6:00 PM – Come for a free farm-to-table dinner, stay for real talk on keeping our rural communities strong. NY FarmNet is laying out support systems and resources for farmers, neighbors, and the folks who actually make things grow. Good food, useful info, no fluff.

📊 Presentation Night @ Liquid State Brewing Company (Ithaca) | Tuesday (3/17) at 7:00 PM – If you’ve been waiting to unleash your oddly specific knowledge on friendly strangers, this is it. Ultra-short talks by non-experts with beer, emceed by Omar Shehata; pitch yours at omar dot sameh dot shehata at gmail dot com, suggested $5, no one turned away.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

📻 Finger Lakes report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 67°F – Low: 48°F – Precip: 25%

A chance of rain showers after 4pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 67. Southwest wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible. Later: A chance of rain showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 48. Northeast wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

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Tomorrow – High: 68°F – Low: 34°F – Precip: 92%

A chance of rain showers before 8am, then showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a high near 68. South wind 6 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible. Later: Rain showers before 8pm, then showers and thunderstorms between 8pm and 5am, then a chance of rain and snow showers. Cloudy, with a low around 34. Southwest wind around 18 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.

Are you quietly overpaying for car insurance? 🚗

Premiums have been climbing across New York but most folks won’t notice until they’re hit with a higher bill when it’s time to renew.

That’s exactly what happened to me. I had the same policy for half a decade. Autopay was on, it was out of sight and out of mind. Turns out I was blindly paying way more than everyone else I knew.

If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too – here’s the comparison tool I used.

This house is wild

This renovated 2-bed, 1.5-bath Auburn home blends preserved woodwork with a standout kitchen of custom cabinetry, stone counters, a farmhouse sink, and a custom range hood. Radiant-heated tile warms the porch and basement. Outside, a resort-style yard delivers an in-ground pool, hot tub, gas fire pit, and covered patio, plus three garages and a golf cart to Highland Golf Course.

Take a peek inside →