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Hey DeLand, hope your week’s off to a good start!

In today’s wallet-friendly edition: St. Johns River Cleanup, Steel Magnolias at Athens Theatre, and Death Cafe + lots of fun things to do for free.

Today’s sponsor, American Hartford Gold, is helping folks around DeLand protect their savings as gold and silver continue to gain momentum. Their free guide explains what’s driving the surge… and what to know before adding precious metals to your portfolio. Grab your free copy here.

📰 In the news

Help protect local waterways: Volusia County is seeking volunteers for the 30th annual St. Johns River Cleanup, covering 59 miles of waterways from 8 to 11 a.m. Registration is open now through April 12 — see how to volunteer.

Decades serving Central Florida: Personal injury firm Rue & Ziffra has opened a Deltona office, expanding access to legal help for West Volusia residents after serious accidents, including crashes, malpractice, and workers’ compensation cases — see what cases they handle.

Active adult lifestyle hub: Cresswind DeLand celebrated a ribbon cutting for its new resident clubhouse, Club Cresswind, with the mayor and leaders, adding a fitness center, yoga studio, pickleball courts, and a resort-style pool — explore the amenities and offerings.

Nothing prepares you for a pet emergency: I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. As soon as we got home, I signed up for Spot. It’s super affordable – and reimburses up to 90% of the bill.

Highlights this week:

• Shop local finds and eats
• Experience hands-on STEAM for all ages
• Catch Steel Magnolias at Athens Theatre

🫶 We got your back

Serious sandwich cravings: Manzano’s Deli stacks hefty Italian sandwiches on fresh New York bread with Boar’s Head fixings, ideal for a quick, satisfying lunch that beats the sad desk meal. Keep it classic or go fully loaded… either way, your taste buds win.

Toy treasure hunt: In Deltona, Oodles Consignment Boutique keeps families stocked with new and gently loved toys, games, and baby-to-pre-teen gear, so fun stays affordable and clutter low. Expect delightful finds, rotating selection, and the feel-good of reuse.

Quick trail fix: Lake Beresford Park offers a shady 1.8-mile loop, nature trails, and a link to the Spring-to-Spring Trail, so you can keep it quick or go long. Pavilions and playgrounds keep things simple, making a low-key afternoon feel relaxed and hassle-free.

Why your last diet didn’t work: Sustained weight loss is nearly impossible with diet alone. Your body literally fights back by making you hungrier the moment you start restricting calories. That’s why more doctors are recommending GLP-1s. The best part? Getting them has never been easier. We compared three programs to help you find the right fit. See which ones stood out →

Your data is for sale right now: There are over 400 websites selling your info to marketers, political campaigns, and scammers. They’ve got your phone number, home address, relatives’ names… you name it. That’s how robocallers seem to know everything about you before you pick up. You can remove your info one site at a time, or pay a service to do it for you. Here’s what we recommend →

📆 Free events worth checking out

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.

🍽 Family Night @ Gator’s Dockside of DeLand | Tuesday (3/10) at 5:00 PM – Family Night at Gator’s means kids 12 and under eat free from 5 to 8, so bribe them with dinner while you pretend it’s quality time. Not hauling kids? It’s Taco Tuesday, so $2.50 tacos, one meat per three, and 2-for-1 $7 Mug-a-ritas await.

💉 Dr. Charles Drew Memorial Blood Drive @ City of Deland City Hall | Wednesday (3/11) at 9:00 AM – Roll up your sleeve and swing by DeLand City Hall for a memorial blood drive honoring Dr. Charles Drew. Your arm gives a pint, your neighbor gets a lifeline, and you score Chick-fil-A, a $20 eGift, and a St. Patrick’s tee. Appointments honored, walk-ins welcome.

❓ Trivia and Bingo @ Nice N Easy Oyster Bar & Grille (Orange City) | Wednesday (3/11) at 6:30 PM – Take a midweek breather with free trivia and bingo on Wednesday nights. It’s that cozy blend of brainy banter and card-stamping satisfaction, great for catching up with friends, snagging bragging rights, and stretching a dollar, no cover, just good company, and a lucky streak.

💀 Death Cafe @ Destinations Gift Shop | Thursday (3/12) at 1:00 PM – Trade small talk for the big stuff at DeLand’s Death Cafe, where we eat cake, sip tea, and say death out loud. Not a therapy session, just curious humans swapping thoughts, fears, and a few laughs. Free to join, refreshments from Destinations are for purchase.

🍎 Artisan Alley Farmers Market @ Artisan Alley, DeLand, FL, United States, Florida 32720 | Friday (3/13) at 6:00 PM – Friday nights, rain or shine, Artisan Alley in Downtown DeLand turns into the go-to stroll and sip, with farmers, makers, and that brewery you keep ‘just popping into.’ Under century-old brick, shop good stuff, chat up growers, then blame the butterfly garden for lingering.

✨ Fairy Hair Fun @ Deltona Sons and Daughters of Italy | Sunday (3/15) at 10:00 AM – Head to the Sons & Daughters of Italy indoor market for free, all-ages fun, where your favorite mobile Fairy Hair crew adds sparkle, one strand at a time. It is first come, first served, so show up early, grab a pastry, and leave twinkling.

📚 Unearth Florida’s Nature: Spring Book Club @ Lyonia Environmental Center (Deltona) | Sunday (3/15) at 2:00 PM – Trade small talk for saw palmetto talk at Cuplet Fern’s free, in-person spring book club at Lyonia, led by Fred Wascura. Expect Florida-focused reads, native plants, and backyard habitat tips, plus good company and zero pretense, then take home ideas you’ll actually use; RSVP appreciated.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

📻 DeLand report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 89°F – Low: 65°F – Precip: 15%

Patchy fog before 10am, then a slight chance of rain showers between 4pm and 5pm, then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. South southwest wind 0 to 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Later: Mostly clear, with a low around 65. Southeast wind around 5 mph.

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Tomorrow – High: 88°F – Low: 65°F – Precip: 3%

Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. South southeast wind around 5 mph. Later: Partly cloudy, with a low around 65. South southeast wind around 5 mph.

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That’s exactly what happened to me. I had the same policy for half a decade. Autopay was on, it was out of sight and out of mind. Turns out I was blindly paying way more than everyone else I knew.

If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too – here’s the comparison tool I used.

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