What's Good, Lincoln (3/4)

Happy Tuesday, Lincoln. You know the drill – grab your coffee (or whatever you sip in the morning), kick back, and let The Lincoln Brief serve up this week’s What’s Good Edition featuring five things that’ll help you live better, stay ahead, stress less, and enjoy more ☕️

In this week’s edition:

• Get shamrocked ☘️ 

• Lots o’ free stuff 📑

• Healthier eats 🥕

• Spring cleaning 🏠️

• A friendly reminder 📋️

Let’s get to it!

☘️ A Paddy’s day tradition

From a lucky charms eating contest and face painting to live music, food specials, giveaways, prizes, a kilt contest, and a DJ, Mckinney’s 11th annual street festival is one you don’t want to miss.

There’s no cover (like always), and it’s going down all day on Saturday (the 15th) and Monday (the 17th).

There will also be drink specials and a massive selection of over 60 varieties of Irish Whiskey →

Looking ahead, The Camping World RV Expo is March 13th through 15th, The Festival of Illusions kicks off March 23rd and the Great Plains Game Festival kicks off March 28th.

📚 Your library card has secret super powers

Your library card might be the most underutilized tool in your wallet. Don’t have one? You should get one! It’s free for residents →

Beyond free books (which is a huge win already if we’re being honest), our libraries have evolved into community resource centers with benefits that make premium subscriptions jealous.

From documentaries, 3D printing, and free online courses to audio books, eBooks, tv shows, movies, and music, your card gives you immediate access to a whole lot of stuff.

On top of that, you can check out DVDs, musical instruments, song books, puzzles, crafting kits, and more.

Each branch offers free programs for understanding the tech in your pocket, story times for families, teen hangouts, coding clubs, LEGO building, craft circles, scavenger hunts, free tax preparation, and more.

If you’ve been waiting for a sign to check out your neighborhood library, this is it →

🥗 A quick tip to healthier eating around town

Finding quick & nutritious food can feel like hunting for a unicorn. The secret weapon? Establishing a rotation of healthy local spots for those "I can't even" days.

It’s not always easy to find places with transparent ingredients and balanced meals featuring actual vegetables. But when you find one, make a mental note, start a list in your notes app, or write it down on paper.

This way, you always have a go-to when you don’t want to think about lunch or dinner.

I started my own list a few weeks ago and let me tell you… it’s a whole lot easier to make smart choices amidst the chaos.

Top of my list? Cafe Botanica — everything on the menu is so tasty you’ll have to remind yourself it’s healthy, but their wraps, hummus, and juice are my favorites.

📝 You have 42 days to file your taxes

This is your friendly reminder that April 15th will be here before you know it. Whether you DIY it with TurboTax, keep it old school with pen, paper, and snail mail, or leave it to the pros (we like PMC & Rediger), it’s just as important to get all your tax ducks in a row as soon as possible.

If you need extra assistance, AARP Foundation and VITA volunteers will be at various library locations (including Gere, Walt, Anderson, and Eiseley) on different days at different times until April 13th to help you for free.

No matter your age or income, they’ll answer all your questions and hep you cross “tax panic” off your to do list →

🏠 Spring tune-ups for homeowners

As winter winds down, it's time to give your home some post-hibernation attention. Start by inspecting your roof for rebellious shingles, sagging, and plant growth and checking screens before bug season kicks in. You should also make sure your gutters are in working order. Hit up Home Solutions of Nebraska if you prefer relaxing instead of getting up on a ladder.

Your foundation and siding are other areas that require special scrutiny. Look for obvious signs of wear, cracks, and deterioration that can lead to expensive problems later.

While you're outside, check your irrigation & drainage systems, look for areas that may cause pooling water, and trim plants that are getting too cozy with your foundation (Happy Lawns is great if you don’t want to deal with outdoor cleanup yourself). You may also want to consider giving your deck and siding a proper power wash to rinse away winter's grime – just be gentle with those pressure settings.

Inside, make sure your air conditioner is ready for the heat. If you need a tune-up, repair, or replacement, we like Bill’s Heating & Air and Harley’s Heating & Air. 

The town of Lincoln offers an emergency home repair program for qualified residents.

🧩 Extra fun & games

This week’s word search features the most fun, unique, or Lincoln-esque words from this edition.

See ya Friday (with a fresh batch of 20+ things going on next week)!

P.S. Know of any good things around Lincoln we should share or want to ask a question? Feel free to reply (or email us) any time.