It’s Friday, Oneida County! In today’s can’t-miss-weekend-plans edition: Beach bacteria testing, potato science discovery day, and a Creedence tribute concert + 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.
Supporting local hunger relief: Minocqua church donated $4,500 to help fight food insecurity in the Northwoods, bolstering local pantry efforts and providing resources for families in Oneida County and neighboring communities -- see the hunger relief gift.
Fundraising push gains momentum: Eagle River Recreation Association reached 51 percent of the $1.2 million ice plant goal with a $100,000 Eckes Family Foundation gift. A Bourbon and Beer fundraiser is on July 21 -- read more about the campaign.
Summer swim safety checks: This summer, Oneida County Health Department will test E. coli weekly at five beaches, including Buck and Boom Lake, Torpy Park, and Sugar Camp Public Beach, to monitor bacteria levels -- see the beach testing plan.
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: |
02 — From our sponsor This summer, what if you didn't have to point at the menu?Not "menu Spanish." Not pointing at the photo and hoping. Ordering dinner like a local, talking the vendor down at the market, catching the punchline before anyone explains it. Babbel gets you there in ten minutes a day. Most people are holding real conversations within three weeks, because every lesson is built by 200+ language experts to get you talking early, not drilling flashcards you'll forget by lunch. And it works: 92% of users improved their proficiency in just two months, with 25 million subscriptions sold. Then there's the part that makes it a no-brainer. You pay once. A single lifetime subscription unlocks all 14 languages Babbel teaches, for every trip you'll ever take, with no monthly fee and no renewal quietly hitting your card next year. Get Babbel for 55% off through the end of June.* |
03 — On our radar
Local business spotlightNearby spots we'd actually send a friend to.
Lakeside comfort food fix: Burgers, broasted wings, and handmade pizzas hit better by the water at Flick’s Resort, Bar & Grill. When you’re not ready to leave, their on-site cabins and motel turn a quick bite into a low-key Northwoods staycation, no planning required.
Boom Lake Breather: Hodag Park stretches along Boom Lake with a public beach, easy boat landing, ball fields, a kids’ play area, and an amphitheater, which basically means something fun is probably happening. Grab a stroll at sunset or catch a Hodag Water Ski Show, then call it a day.
Need an ice day: Rhinelander Ice Arena is your low-stress way to move a little, meet neighbors, and give the kids an excuse to sleep hard. Open Skate and Learn to Skate are on the calendar, skate rentals are a thing, and the whole place is owned and operated by a local volunteer nonprofit.
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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.
🥔 Potato Science Discovery Day @ Rhinelander Agricultural Research Station | Friday (6/12) at 1:00 PM – Whether your kid thinks fries grow on trees, or can say photosynthesis, bring a grades 4-12 kid, you in tow, for a free, hands-on afternoon at Rhinelander Agricultural Research Station with Spudmobile, exhibits, and a tour through potato-breeding plots. Snacks, fresh air, and science.
🎻 Corky Siegel and more @ Three Lakes Center for the Arts | Friday (6/12) at 7:30 PM – Corky Siegel and Randy Sabien return to Three Lakes Center for the Arts, blending jazz, blues, classical, rock, and funk into one joyful set. Feel smug about living here, nailing the parking, and paying $30, while kids under 13 slide in for $10.
✍ Rhinelander Book Signing: Waterfalling in Wisconsin @ Oneida County Courthouse | Saturday (6/13) at 9:00 AM – At Rhinelander’s Art Fair on the Courthouse Lawn, the updated Waterfalling in Wisconsin lands with reduced-price signed copies, and the author ready to point you toward the good splashes. Also on deck, cedar birdhouses, suet feeders, and photo cards, because even chickadees deserve curb appeal.
🚗 Rhinelander Car Show 2026 @ Downtown Rhinelander | Saturday (6/13) at 9:00 AM – Take a slow cruise to downtown Rhinelander, where Brown and Davenport turn into chrome country with classic and custom cars, trucks, and bikes. Expect a DJ, tall tales, and premium people-watching, and if your ride’s showworthy, spots disappear faster than decent parking.
🎨 Rhinelander Art Craft Fair @ Courthouse Lawn | Saturday (6/13) at 9:00 AM – Grab your reusable tote and wander the Courthouse Lawn for a proper art and craft fair, Rhinelander style. Meet the makers, find something for the cabin, and pretend you have enough wall space, pantry space, and willpower to walk past kettle corn.
🚤 1st Anniversary In-House Boat Show @ The Boat House Three Lakes | Saturday (6/13) at 11:00 AM – Swing by the new Boat House in Three Lakes, on Hwy 45, by Winkler, for a first-anniversary boat show with free food, drinks, and boat specials. Browse Nautique, Bennington, Cobalt, and more, call it lake-season research, pretend you’re just looking, and still leave full.
🍸 Crafts and Cocktails @ Lindy's Hideaway and Swamp Witch Inn (Three Lakes) | Saturday (6/13) at 12:30 PM – Patio season calls for Crafts and Cocktails, where forty bucks gets you a tall, staked window box planter you’ll paint, stencil, and finish with three included plants. It stands about 36 inches by 25, ready for the yard. Drinks and food are extra, naturally. Live music & entertainment:
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 Oneida County report Weather forecastToday — High: 74°F — Low: 54°F — Precip: 8%
Mostly sunny, with a high near 74. West wind 9 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph. Later: A chance of rain showers after 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 54. West southwest wind 6 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
Tomorrow — High: 75°F — Low: 47°F — Precip: 49%
A chance of rain showers before 7am, then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 75. West southwest wind 7 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. Later: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 7pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 47. Chance of precipitation is 20%. This house is wildThis four-bedroom, two-bath Washburn Lake home brings big Northwoods appeal with an open floor plan, first-floor laundry, and a three-car garage. More than 300 feet of shoreline and a permanent dock set the stage for lake days, while the full walk-in sauna adds a cozy twist. Trail access and wooded terrain round out the adventure.
Take a peek inside → |
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