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Hello Gainesville! Hope your coffee tastes especially good this morning.
In today’s bring-the-kiddos edition: Robotics ‘Decode’ challenge, UF rideshare app Ribit Tech, and Nowruz & International Festival + excuses to get the fam out and about this week.
Today’s sponsor, Spot Pet Insurance, is something I wish I had before a late-night emergency vet visit left me with a $10,000 credit card bill. It’s cheaper than Netflix… and means you never have to choose between your pet and your savings. It takes less than 5 minutes to sign up – get started here.
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📰 In the news
Robotics ‘Decode’ challenge awaits: P.K. Yonge’s Steel Eels qualified for the FIRST Tech Challenge Florida Championships and will compete March 6-7 in Winter Haven. The Gainesville team earned the Connect Award for standout outreach — get event and game details.
Spotlight on young agriculturists: Alachua County Youth Fair & Livestock Show starts tomorrow, March 5, at the Alachua County Agriculture and Equestrian Center, featuring free 4-H and FFA projects and livestock through March 10 — get all the details.
New twist on shared travel: UF students have launched Ribit Tech, a rideshare app matching students heading the same way for medium-distance trips, with secure payments and university email access to keep rides affordable — read the full story.
Gold & silver are hot: Coming off gold’s best year since 1979, the momentum is carrying well into 2026 with silver remaining one of the most talked-about assets. Curious why they’re back in focus? American Hartford Gold has a free guide that explains what’s happening and how people are approaching it today. It’s free – and definitely worth a read.
Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175/month. Paying more than that? Same, so I did some shopping around and ended up cutting my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too — here’s the comparison tool I used.
Highlights this week:
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🐾 One pet emergency can cost $10,000+
Together with our sponsor Spot Pet Insurance
Nothing prepares you for a late-night emergency at the vet. I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache.
From the initial exam fee just to be seen, to x-rays, surgery, medication, and follow-up visits… the bill racks up fast (to say the least). And at that moment? You’re not thinking about your savings, you’re just saying yes to whatever keeps them thriving.
As soon as we got home, I dug around online and ultimately signed up for Spot.
It’s super affordable and reimburses up to 90% on qualified vet bills. It was too late for me, but it’s not too late for you. Sign up today.
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🫶 We got your back
Not-quite-tapas, still shareable: Craving tapas vibes without the Spain tag? At Alpin Bistro, graze on French-ish small plates, cheeses, and charcuterie, with a tidy lineup of old-world wines. Ideal for an easy weeknight “let’s split everything” that still feels a little special.
Stock up for outside: Locally owned since 1976, Lloyd Clarke Sports outfits Gainesville runners and outdoor folks with dialed-in advice and legit gear… backpacks, tents, sleeping bags, trail shoes, and more. When your closet needs less couch and more outside, this is the spot.
Make movie night count: Skip the megaplex, and let Hippodrome Cinema keep Gainesville film nights interesting with indie gems, cult favorites, and the classics you meant to see on the big screen. Low-key and comfy, it’s a perfect midweek escape when you want someone else to pick the movie.
Access cash without selling your home: A reverse mortgage can help anyone over 62 cover everyday expenses, support healthcare needs, fund home improvements, or even reduce pressure on 401(k) withdrawals – all while staying in your home. Longbridge offers a free calculator to estimate how much flexibility your home could provide, with no commitment required.
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📆 Fun for the whole fam
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.
🐦 Alachua Audubon Bird Walk @ Sweetwater Wetlands Park | Wednesday (3/4) at 8:30 AM – Trade doomscrolling for a Sweetwater Wetlands stroll with the Alachua Audubon crew, where spoonbills, limpkins, and your step count all show up. Free with the $5 park entry, binoculars on loan, all levels welcome. Wednesday mornings, fall through spring, weather and volunteers willing.
🌱 Nowruz & International Festival @ Shoppes at Thornebrook | Saturday (3/7) at 3:00 AM – Celebrate Nowruz and a world of flavors at this international festival, where local vendors, music, and dancing make spring feel official. Bring your appetite, and your neighbors. If you want a booth, email [email protected], and ignore any randoms promising vendor spots.
👟 Gators Steps for Lung Disease @ Cancer/Genetics Research Complex | Saturday (3/7) at 8:00 AM – How about a 5K where the heavy breathing funds better breathing? The third annual Gator Steps hits the UF campus with a free community bash, speakers, and local vendors, a small fee to race, and proceeds supporting UF Health lung patients and families. Register: https://runsignup.com/Race/FL/Gainesville/GatorStepsforLungDisease5k
🐄 Family Day 2026 @ UF IFAS Dairy Unit | Saturday (3/7) at 9:00 AM – Nothing beats a morning of fresh air, curious cows, and free admission at the UF/IFAS Dairy Farm. Bring the crew for genuine, hands-on learning about how milk happens, meet the herd, and collect a few wholesome stories to lord over the grandkids later.
❤ North Central Florida Health Festival @ Bo Diddley Plaza | Saturday (3/7) at 10:00 AM – Ready to feel like a responsible grown-up? UF’s College of Nursing celebrates 70 years with a community health fest packed with free screenings, wellness booths, fitness and mindfulness demos, kid-friendly fun, local vendors and entertainment, all the feel-good without the lecture.
🌎 International Market @ United Church of Gainesville | Sunday (3/8) at 11:00 AM – Whether your passport has stamps or just coffee stains, this international market at UCG lets you eat your way around the world, meet our refugee neighbors, and snag handmade goods. Zero jet lag, maximum flavor, and every dollar goes straight to the families.
🎨 Painting Class: Beach Umbrellas @ Corks & Colors Studio | Sunday (3/8) at 12:30 PM – Whether your fridge is your gallery or you retired your brushes in grade school, this step-by-step Beach Umbrellas class brings beach vibes, minus sand. For $25, you get a 12×16 canvas and supplies, plus beer, wine, and soda. Seats are limited, so pre-register. Ages 5+.
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
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🔥 Worth a peek
We’re always on the hunt for useful resources, deals, services, and products we think you’ll love. Here’s what caught our eye this week.
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📻 Gainesville report
Weather forecast
Today – High: 85°F – Low: 61°F – Precip: 3%
Widespread fog before 8am. Mostly sunny. High near 85, with temperatures falling to around 83 in the afternoon. East wind 2 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 16 mph. Later: Patchy fog after 4am. Mostly clear, with a low around 61. East wind 3 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 17 mph.
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Tomorrow – High: 87°F – Low: 65°F – Precip: 29%
Patchy fog before 8am, then a chance of rain showers. Mostly sunny. High near 87, with temperatures falling to around 82 in the afternoon. Southeast wind 3 to 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Later: A chance of rain showers before 7pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 65. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Someone Googled you this week 👀
It may feel like an invasion of privacy, but unfortunately It’s the new normal. Whether you’re joining a committee, selling something locally, dating again, or just meeting new neighbors… people are going to look you up online.
Like it or not, the internet has a way of surfacing past mistakes and outdated information that no longer reflects who you are.
Thankfully, there’s a really easy way for you – or someone you care about – to clean up outdated results that no longer tell the real story. Learn more here.
This house is wild
Oakmont’s only Brooke model sits on a pond lot with no rear neighbors, showcasing three levels of windows beneath cathedral ceilings. This 5-bed, 3.5-bath home adds a private study, walled-off loft, and 3-car garage. Quartz kitchen with GE air-fryer oven, pot filler, and pantry. Extended screened lanai, smart window treatments, pool, pickleball courts, plus the Gopher Tortoise Nature Reserve trail.
Take a peek inside →
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