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Rise and shine, Yakima! Japanese beetle eradication ramps up, an inland surf park proposal, a culture fair celebrating ASL and neurodiversity, and more. Let’s get to it!
— Cait Baker
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📰 In the news
State ramps up eradication: WSDA will expand Japanese beetle spraying this year to 12,889 properties, most in Yakima Valley, and for the first time into King County, after 2025 traps found reproducing populations — see where treatments are planned.
Big plans meet rustic scenery: A proposed surf park near Yakima would include an RV park, and founder Joey Lawrence has spent 10 years planning Barreled to bring inland waves to central Washington — get all the details.
Designed for effortless connection: Two new downtown spots, Rooted Yakima Valley and Mojo Studio, have opened to bring neighbors together with coffee, events, fitness, yoga, dance, and art, creating welcoming places to slow down — get all the details.
Pump prices buck trend: Yakima drivers saw average gas prices drop 4.3 cents since January 19 to about $3.45 per gallon, even as the national average rose, according to GasBuddy — see statewide highs and lows.
Gold and silver are (still) on fire: Gold’s strong run continues, and silver is outperforming nearly every major asset class in the last year. With demand rising and supply tight, precious metals offer the right combination of market hedge and growth. Augusta Precious Metals is a great way to invest in gold because you can just roll over part of your retirement account into their gold and silver IRAs. Curious to learn more about it? Grab their free guide here.
Compare rates for free: Insurance prices drop all the time, but you’ll only know if you check. I assumed my rate was fine until I compared options and realized I was leaving real money on the table. It took a minute to check and instantly showed better offers for where I live. If it’s been more than a few months, you should probably run this comparison tool here.
One pet emergency can easily cost $7,000+ but pet insurance helps ease the financial and emotional burden. It’s something I wish I’d had after spending $10k on last-minute surgery for my cat (her name is Miss Stache). I learned my lesson and signed up for Spot. It’s super affordable and reimburses up to 90% of the bill.
*We do our best to avoid paywalled articles. If any slip through, let me know which ones and I’ll permanently remove them from our source list!
Highlights this week:
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🫶 We got your back
Support for homegrown food safety: Sign-ups are open through February 27 for East Selah residents in the PFAS-affected area to get free testing of home-raised eggs and meat. The Washington State Department of Health will provide results plus a personal health consult. Yakima Health District is monitoring one backyard avian flu case. Learn about eligibility and sign up.
Local pride on the line: Yakima has been nominated for USA Today’s 10Best Best Beer City, honoring its hop heritage and craft breweries. Voting remains open through February 23 at 9 am. A win would shine attention on local taprooms and the Valley’s role in American brewing. Get all the voting details.
Local laughs, no fuss: Need a midweek pick-me-up? At Bill’s Place, the weekly open mic brings Yakima comics and brave first-timers to the stage. The vibe is casual, low-pressure, and neighborly… the kind of night where you’ll root for punchlines and recognize faces.
Wood-fired dinner plans: Need an easy weeknight win? WildFire Pizza fires up crisp, smoky pies in a real wood-fired oven, plus crowd-pleasers like the Wild Fired Special and White Lightning. Split one with the fam, add a side, and you’ve got a solid Yakima night.
A smart way to save on big purchases: When costs hit the tens of thousands, credit card and personal loan interest racks up fast. A HELOC lets you tap into your home’s equity as a flexible line of credit at a lower rate… all without refinancing your mortgage. I’ve been looking into this myself, and Figure’s HELOC stood out for its 100% online application, no in-person appraisal, and quick access to cash.
Your neighbors are Googling you:It’s an uncomfortable thought, but people search names all the time — employers, new friends, other parents at school pickup. If something negative, outdated, or misleading shows up on the first page, it can shape how people see you before you ever meet. BetterReputation helps push down unwanted search results so the first impression you make actually reflects who you are today. And if it’s not your name, you can help a friend or family member with that too.
Get clarity on financial decisions: Managing retirement, taxes, and investments alone can feel overwhelming, especially during big life transitions. Financial advisors provide holistic guidance, help reduce risk, and keep emotions away from costly decisions. I found a tool called Unbiased that matches you with the right financial advisor based on your personal situation so you can get a second opinion… it never hurts.
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📆 Around town this week
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.
🖼 Good Speech Exhibit @ S 16th Ave & W Nob Hill Blvd | Tuesday (2/3) at 10:00 AM – Cheryl Hahn’s Good Speech paintings turn all that talk about healing and empathy into something you can look at, less lecture, more atmosphere. Opening reception kicks things off, and the exhibit runs through February. Thoughtful, bold, and grounding, like a deep breath for your eyeballs.
🎨 Art Club for Kids ages 6-12 @ Happily Painted | Tuesday (2/3) at 4:00 PM – Got a budding Picasso at home? Drop them at Happily Painted Studio for Art Club, ages 6-12, $30 a session with materials included. They’ll splash color and learn a few tricks, you’ll enjoy two blessedly quiet hours to drink coffee, answer one email, breathe.
🎭 Culture Fair @ Yakima Valley College | Thursday (2/5) at 11:00 AM – This free culture fair at Yakima Campus spotlights Yakima’s cultures with performances and presentations centering disabled, neurodivergent, and Deaf and hard of hearing neighbors. Expect ASL interpreters, allyship tips, interactive stations, a resource fair, a silent disco you can hear yourself think at, and refreshments.
🎲 Bunco @ Wellness House | Thursday (2/5) at 1:00 PM – First Thursdays at Wellness House mean one thing, Bunco with the Mazie Meade Guild. A low-stress afternoon of rolling dice, laughter, and gentle trash talk, no yoga mat required. Come for the game, stay for the company, the snacks, and the oddly satisfying dice clatter.
🏺 Stoneware Class @ North Town Coffee House | Thursday (2/5) at 6:00 PM – Treat yourself to a hands-on stoneware glazing workshop in North Town’s sunroom, sip a mocktail, and call it self-care. With Creative Yakima’s guidance, charcuterie, and 10% off at The Gathered Home after, your cupboard wins. Tickets are $75, worth the upgrade.
❤ Valentine Community Event @ Madison House Youth Center | Friday (2/6) at 6:00 PM – Valentine season in this town means a community hangout, a little crafting, and a lot of heart. Big thanks to everyone already on board, you’re our kind of people. No speed dating, just neighborly vibes. Want in, grab a spot and make something sweet together.
🎶 Los Originales de San Juan and more @ El Rancho De Las Vacas | Friday (2/6) at 7:00 PM – Ready for a proper norteño night? Los Originales de San Juan bring corridos, heartbreak anthems, and that bass you feel in your ribcage, with Explosión Musical de México keeping your hips honest. Dust off the boots, text the sitter, call 509.731.0696, 509.930.7858.
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
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📻 Yakima report
Weather forecast
Today – High: 47°F – Low: 33°F – Precip: 27%
A chance of rain between 7am and 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 47. Northeast wind around 3 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Later: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 33. Northwest wind around 2 mph.
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Tomorrow – High: 50°F – Low: 34°F – Precip: 1%
Partly sunny, with a high near 50. Northeast wind around 2 mph. Later: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 34.
This house is wild
This 4-bed, 2.5-bath country home sits on 2.51 acres at the end of a quiet private drive. With 2,004 square feet of thoughtfully updated space, it features new LVP flooring, quartz countertops, and updated appliances. A large covered patio overlooks a fenced backyard with garden beds and a firepit. A chicken coop and fenced pasture suit hobby farm ambitions.
Take a peek inside →
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🔥 Worth a peek
We’re always on the hunt for useful resources, deals, services, and products we genuinely think you’ll love. Here’s what caught our eye this week:
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