Hi Oneida County, hope you’re having a great weekend! In today's in-case-you-missed-it edition: Police drone trial, coral reef exhibit, and murder mystery dinner + 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.
New emergency tech trial: Utica police plan a six-month pilot to test drones for first-response, not surveillance, deploying two drones with docking stations to boost situational awareness for officers and firefighters around the city -- see the drone trial.
A vibrant new habitat: Utica Zoo opened its Bull Reef exhibit Wednesday, June 10, featuring hard and soft corals with a range of fish, shrimp, and crabs, bolstering the zoo’s conservation education mission -- see what’s on display.
Bank deal moves ahead: Utica’s Adirondack Bank has OCC approval to merge into Arrow Bank of Glens Falls. Shareholder, state and Federal Reserve Bank of New York approvals remain, closing expected by July 1 -- see the bank merger details.
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: |
02 — From our sponsor The free quiz matching 50,000 people a month with a fiduciary advisorIf you've saved $2.5 million, you're well ahead of most Americans. But how long it lasts depends less on the balance and more on the decisions you make with it. Take the 4% rule, a common benchmark. It suggests withdrawing about $100,000 your first year from a $2.5M portfolio, then adjusting for inflation over time. While it can be a useful starting point, it doesn't account for factors such as other income sources, taxes, spending goals, or changing market conditions. That's why many retirees choose to work with a financial advisor. A financial advisor can help build a tax-efficient withdrawal strategy around your situation, including how much to take from each account and when - so you have a clearer picture of how much you can spend each year. SmartAsset's free quiz matches you with vetted fiduciary advisors who serve your area, each legally bound to work in your best interest. The quiz only takes a few minutes. No cost. No obligation. Find your advisor match.* |
03 — On our radar
This week's top findsLocal spotlights your fellow readers loved last week.
Local sips, leveled up: Make local sipping easier with the Heart of New York Craft Beverage Trail and its mobile passport. Check in at participating breweries and wineries around the county, rack up points toward themed prizes, and discover new favorites hiding in plain sight right in your backyard.
Big night, zero fuss: Slip into The Stanley Theatre for a show this week, where the baroque gold-leaf glow and that grand staircase make even a Tuesday feel fancy. Concerts, plays, and the kind of marquee moment that reminds you why living in Utica is quietly excellent.
Weeknight lifesaver: When the need for Utica comfort hits, Nina's Pizza comes through with classic pies, wings, riggies and legit greens, plus a roomy dining room for catch-ups or easy takeout and delivery when the couch refuses to let you go.
|
04 — Our recommendations
We got your backA handful of products and services we think are worth a look.
What if better balance was a few minutes away? You don't need a gym or a single piece of equipment to feel steadier on your feet. A few minutes a day of Tai Chi walking, slow, controlled steps paired with steady breathing, gently rebuilds the balance and leg strength that keep you stable. A short quiz shapes it into a routine that fits your day and grows with you over time. *See your plan →
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 → |
|
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.
🚶 Walk & Talk @ Utica Zoo | Monday (6/15) at 6:00 PM – If you’ve ever wondered what the red pandas are gossiping about, tag along for a behind the scenes walk at the Utica Zoo with executive director Andria Heath. Fewer crowds, more insider stories, and just enough steps to justify brunch after.
🍞 Sourdough Bread Baking @ Kirkland Art Center (Clinton) | Tuesday (6/16) at 5:30 PM – Trade your grocery loaf for the good stuff at a beginner sourdough class with Angela Voelk at The Kirkland. You will feed a starter, mix, shape, and score, then leave with know-how, a dough baby, and bragging rights. No experience required, just patience and appetite.
🧬 Traveling Genealogy Workshop @ Town of Schuyler Town Hall (Utica) | Tuesday (6/16) at 6:00 PM – If your family tree is more tumbleweed than oak, this traveling genealogy workshop is your pit stop. Sit with real researchers, untangle the branches, and finally use that genealogy-site login you forgot you had. Bring your sign-in info, dead ends, and best grandpa tales.
🦁 Clinton Lions Annual Shred-A-Thon @ Hale Transportation | Thursday (6/18) at 9:00 AM – Got a closet full of ancient tax returns and medical bills? Roll through the Hale’s Transportation lot for the Clinton Lions’ free, secure Shred-A-Thon, drive up, drop off, and watch your paper shame become confetti. Personal or business, skip the plastic stuff, staples are fine.
🍖 BBQ fundraiser @ Lowe's Home Improvement (Rome) | Friday (6/19) at 3:00 PM – Support the Marching Black Knights and save your kitchen with an $18 plate loaded with chicken or pork BBQ, baked beans, salt potatoes, and a roll. Chimo's Catering is on the tongs, so you know it is legit. Tickets or day-of meals, your call.
🔪 Fatal Intentions @ Rome Art and Community Center | Friday (6/19) at 6:00 PM – Put the true-crime podcast on pause and play detective for real at a Murder Mystery Dinner with Hemlock Players inside the Rome Art and Community Center. Enjoy a proper meal, wander the crime scene, then politely interrogate suspects. Two nights, because alibis need options.
🛒 Oneida County Public Market @ Union Station (Utica) | Saturday (6/20) at 9:00 AM – Nothing beats a lap through the Oneida County Public Market, where fresh produce, warm bread, and artisan goodies remind you why grocery carts feel soulless. Meet farmers, chat with Master Gardener Volunteers, and let Heartbeat Duo soundtrack wandering, kids optional, appetite mandatory.
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 Oneida County report Weather forecastToday — High: 86°F — Low: 50°F — Precip: 50%
A chance of showers and thunderstorms after 3pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 86. South wind 3 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible. Later: Showers and thunderstorms before 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 50. West wind 7 to 12 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Tomorrow — High: 66°F — Low: 50°F — Precip: 0%
Partly sunny, with a high near 66. West wind around 12 mph. Later: Mostly clear, with a low around 50. West wind 0 to 7 mph. Most popular house this weekThis 4-bedroom, 2.5-bath Whitesboro gem offers nearly 2,400 square feet of flexible living in the desirable Whitesboro School District. A brick fireplace anchors the family room, while the sunroom overlooks a fully fenced backyard. The main-floor office with built-in sink bar adds flair, and the vaulted primary suite brings cathedral ceilings and dual closets.
Take a peek inside → |
| |
