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It’s Friday, Charlotte County! Let’s finish this week strong.

In today’s can’t-miss-weekend-plans edition: A charity bike build for kids, the historic Cookie House, and an ABBA tribute + a stacked lineup of events this weekend.

Today’s sponsor (FinanceBuzz) built a free comparison tool that helped me cut my car insurance premiums in half. It took about 3 minutes, and honestly… I wish I’d done it sooner. If you haven’t shopped around in a while, you can easily check the best rates here.

📰 In the news

Industry leaders rally for youth: King Koil is organizing a bike build at the 2026 SleepNXT event, with bikes bound for the Boys & Girls Club of Charlotte County to benefit about 100 kids — see how to get involved.

Discover a rare coastal landmark: Charlotte County’s historic Cookie House, last remnant of the Bass Biological Laboratory, is open every Friday at Cedar Point Environmental Park with select Saturday hours, highlighting Florida’s marine research history — see when you can visit.

A flavorful community celebration: The 18th Annual Taste of Punta Gorda will fill Laishley Park on Sunday, March 8, from 11 AM to 5 PM, with samples from local restaurants and food trucks — get all the details.

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.

Someone Googled you this week: Whether you’re dating again, selling something locally, or just meeting new neighbors… people are going to look you up. Like it or not, the internet has a way of surfacing past mistakes and outdated information that no longer reflects who you are.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 all that up – learn more here.

Highlights this week:

• Lucky Ladies roll at Bunco Night
• Bid quarters to support Meals on Wheels
• Join the Charity Quarter Auction Frenzy
• Over 62? See how to turn home equity into tax-free cash

🚗 Are you quietly overpaying for car insurance?

Together with our sponsor FinanceBuzz

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I learned that the hard way. I had the same policy for half a decade. Autopay was on, I saw the charges come in every month and never thought twice about them. Turns out I was paying well above the national average ($175/mo) for a single car… for years.

This free comparison tool lets you check rates from multiple insurers in just a few minutes. It costs nothing to look, and it could save you hundreds this year.

🫶 We got your back

Craving a clean bowl? Skip the sad desk salad and build something bright at Gorda Bowls, piling on avocado, edamame, crisp veggies, and zingy sauces for a plant-forward bowl that actually satisfies. Ideal midweek fuel when you want fresh, fast, and zero cleanup. No stove, no stress.

Treasure hunt, upgraded: Whether you’re chasing midcentury gems, coastal kitsch, or the piece you didn’t know you needed, Punta Gorda Mercantile is a lively maze of vendor booths, vintage decor, and quirky gifts. Ideal for a quick wander that turns into an afternoon, with plenty of conversation-starting finds.

Fresh, low‑maintenance brows: At Amy’s Lash & Brows, get natural-looking ombré or nano brows, subtle eyeliner, lip blush, and lash extensions, so you can roll out the door actually ready. Thoughtful consultations shape results to your features, keeping everything flattering, polished, and effortless.

An emergency vet visit could cost you $7,000+ (ask me how I know 🙃). From the initial fee just to be seen to x-rays, surgery, medicine, and aftercare, it adds up quicker than a chew toy turns into a crime scene. The good news? You could get up to 90% cash back on your vet bill with this pet insurance plan.

📆 Around town this weekend

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.

🤖 Robotics Workshop for Kids (7-14) @ Comfort Inn & Suites | Saturday (3/7) at 12:30 AM – Got a kid who thinks the TV remote is a robot? Moonpreneur’s free robotics and coding workshop pops up at Comfort Inn in Port Charlotte, where ages 7 to 14 build bots, code, and team up, while you swap notes with parents. Bring a laptop.

🚶 Walk for Life @ Gilchrist Park | Saturday (3/7) at 9:00 AM – Whether you’re power-walking or perfecting the coffee-hold, Punta Gorda’s Walk for Life celebrates 25 years of Pregnancy Solutions with a morning stroll, kids’ games, teen contests, and neighborly chatter. Bring the crew, get your steps in, and toast a quarter-century of local support.

🚗 Caring For Kids Classic Car Show @ First Baptist Church of Punta Gorda | Saturday (3/7) at 9:00 AM – Fuel your nostalgia and a good cause at this classic car show benefiting Charlotte County public school kids. Shine the chrome, swap stories, and feel virtuous while you ogle tailfins, because kicking tires for charity is the kind of adulting we actually enjoy.

🏺 Annual Pottery Sidewalk Sale @ Stoneware Pottery by Jack Vartanian & Friends | Saturday (3/7) at 9:00 AM – First Saturday mornings, resident potters spill onto the sidewalk with handmade pieces for the annual sale. Trade that chipped heirloom mug for functional, decorative, and unique treasures that survive the dishwasher and make your shelves look collected. Come early, the good weird ones go fast.

🌱 March Plant Exchange @ William Gaines Jr Memorial Park | Saturday (3/7) at 10:00 AM – First Saturday mornings call for a free, quick half-hour plant swap at William R Gaines Veterans Memorial Park, Port Charlotte. Bring cuttings, seedlings, or that overachieving aloe, trade with green thumbs, post your wish list ahead of time, and remember, no selling, just neighborly bartering.

🕺 ABBA Euphoria @ Gulf Theater at the Military Heritage Museum | Saturday (3/7) at 7:00 PM – Nostalgia season calls for the sequins you swear you donated, singalongs, and a Las Vegas ABBA tribute at Gulf Theater in the Military Heritage Museum. ABBA EUPHORIA brings hits, choreography, and an interactive on-screen show. Warm up those “Dancing Queen” pipes, tickets are moving.

🍽 Taste of Punta Gorda @ Laishley Park | Sunday (3/8) at 11:00 AM – Charlotte County’s premier food fest is back, serving tastes from local restaurants and food trucks, vendors, and music all day. Think progressive dinner without the driving, plus a kids’ zone to burn off sugar. Rotary hosts it, you bring an appetite, sensible shoes, and cash.

Live music & entertainment:

• 3/6 Rising Tide Band @ Landys Restaurant – 6:00 PM
• 3/6 TTTs @ The Waverly – 6:00 PM
• 3/6 7 Bridges @ Charlotte Harbor Event & Conference Center – 7:00 PM
• 3/6 One By One and more @ TT’s on Charlotte Harbor – 7:30 PM
• 3/7 Two Wheels for Four Paws @ A.B.U.A.T. Clubhouse – 10:00 AM
• 3/7 Honey & Havoc @ The Twisted Fork – 12:30 PM
• 3/8 Live Country Music @ Punta Gorda Elks Lodge #2606 – 2:00 PM

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

🔥 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.

• Thinning hair? Don’t wait – here are 3 treatments that work
• This free tool helps connect you with the right financial advisor
• Got debt? You may be able to pay less than you owe
• You can own physical gold and silver in your retirement account
• Treat yourself: Save on self-care during the CVS Epic Beauty Sale

📻 Charlotte County report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 86°F – Low: 67°F – Precip: 35%

A chance of showers and thunderstorms after 4pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 86. East wind 6 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible. Later: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 7pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 67. East wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

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Tomorrow – High: 86°F – Low: 66°F – Precip: 28%

A chance of rain showers after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 86. East southeast wind around 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Later: A chance of rain showers before 7pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 66. East wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

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It never happens at a convenient time, and most homeowners just eat the cost because they don’t realize there’s a better option.

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The best part? Select plans are 50% off now through March 9th.

This house is wild

This one-story, 4,425-square-foot Punta Gorda Isles waterfront home crowns a tip lot with over 230 feet of saltwater frontage, a dock, and boat lift to Charlotte Harbor. Inside, the 5-bed, 4.5-bath plan offers three en suites, a gas fireplace, impact windows, an executive office, and two laundry rooms. A 1,200+ square foot screened lanai frames the pool and spa.

Take a peek inside →