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Hi Homosassa Springs, hope you’re having a great weekend!

In today’s in-case-you-missed-it edition: A 420-mile Gulf Coast trail, a St. Patrick’s dog parade, and a dragon boat rodeo + the top stories from this week & a sneak peek at next week.

From today’s sponsor, FinanceBuzz: Many Florida drivers end up paying higher auto insurance premiums because they don’t shop around enough. The same driver with the same car can get wildly different quotes from different insurers, so it truly pays to compare. Their free tool makes it easy.*

📰 Most-clicked stories this week

Statewide trail network taking shape: Florida’s planned 420-mile Gulf Coast Trail will link Tampa Bay to Naples, connecting seven counties. With Hernando in the planning compact, biking access could come near Homosassa Springs — get all the details.

Commissioner’s preservation vision realized: Citrus County celebrated buying the 3.6-acre Pirates Cove with a ribbon cutting, aiming to protect Old Florida charm and keep the Homosassa waterfront from future development pressure — read the full story.

Rain shortfall prompts cutbacks: One day per week lawn watering rules are in effect across Tampa Bay through July 1, including Citrus County and Homosassa Springs, and apply to homes on private wells — see affected counties and schedules.

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.*

Gold & silver are hot: Last year was gold’s best year since 1979. Silver did even better, climbing nearly 150%… and analysts expect the momentum to continue. Curious about precious metal investing? GoldCo has a helpful guide that covers everything you need to know. It’s free — and definitely worth a read.*

All the crowd favorites:

• Strut pups in St. Patrick’s parade
• Join L.I.F.T.’s monthly luncheon at Skyview Restaurant
• Adults craft and create at library

💎 This week’s top finds

Biscuits + diner vibes: At AJs Cafe, it’s fresh-baked biscuits, classic American plates, and an easy, old-school stay-awhile vibe. This Homosassa staple keeps breakfast or lunch unfussy and dependable… the kind of local hangout where you settle in, sip coffee, and let the simple stuff shine.

Pie craving, solved: Robbies BakeHouse crafts from-scratch pies in Homosassa with quality ingredients and time-tested recipes. Think birthdays, potlucks, or a “made it through Monday” slice… simple comfort that makes any week easier. Local delivery is available, so dessert shows up right when you need it.

Steamy noodle fix: Crystal River’s Pho 84 Vietnamese Cuisine brings soothing bowls of fragrant pho, satisfying rice plates, and classic Vietnamese comforts that always hit the spot. Ideal for an easy dinner or a low-key lunch, it serves simple pleasure with balanced broths, tender meats, and fresh herbs.

These aren’t ads or sponsored placements — they’re the local spots your fellow readers clicked on most this week.

🫶 We got your back

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 →

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 →

Paying full price is officially optional: Blu Dot just marked down dozens of their best sofas, beds, dining tables, outdoor pieces, and lighting by as much as 60%. Not because something’s wrong with them, but because every great design eventually has to make room for the next one. The deals change daily, so it’s always a new adventure. *See what’s on sale today →

Most people have no idea what’s happening inside their body: Not because the data doesn’t exist, but because no one’s collecting it. Routine annual checkups miss things like body composition, biological age, and the biomarkers that can help predict long-term patterns. The good news? HumeHealth offers tools to help you track all of that at home for less than the cost of a specialist visit. *Use code NEW20 to save 20% →

Something in your house is about to break: It might be your AC, your water heater, your fridge… doesn’t matter. Every major appliance has an expiration date, and when it goes, you’ll be staring down a repair bill that can climb into the thousands fast. An AHS home warranty covers these types of surprises + *select plans are $150 off right now →

📆 Sneak peek at next week

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.

🍀 Game Day: St. Patrick’s Day Potluck Dinner @ Friends of Citrus and the Nature Coast Grief Services | Monday (3/16) at 3:30 PM – Ready to trade small talk for laughs? L.I.F.T. is hosting a St. Patrick’s Day potluck and game night, so bring a dish to share, your favorite board game, puzzle, or craft, and meet the neighbors you usually just wave at. Green optional, bragging rights free.

🌿 Plant Swap @ Coastal Region Library (Crystal River) | Friday (3/20) at 10:00 AM – Take a break from pruning and hit this neighborhood plant swap. Bring extra starts, that overachieving zucchini, or a mystery succulent, then leave with fresh finds for the yard. Flowers, vegetables, herbs all welcome, and yes, compost bragging rights count.

🎨 Art on the Avenue @ Heritage Village (Crystal River) | Friday (3/20) at 4:00 PM – Art on the Avenue is taking over Heritage Village in downtown Crystal River with local artists, open-late galleries, live music, and actual good food. Think stroll, chat, buy something that isn’t from a big-box aisle. Bring a friend, act cultured, then gossip on the bench by the oaks.

🎣 Homosassa River Spring Rodeo @ Nature’s Resort | Saturday (3/21) at 8:00 AM – Swap the chores for a rodeo that trades bulls for dragon boats on the Homosassa River. Ten to a boat, three races, combined times, no drummers, just sweat and bragging rights. Boats, steers, and spare paddlers provided, plus a BBQ lunch, $30, register early.

🌸 Spring Fling @ First Baptist Church of Crystal River | Saturday (3/21) at 9:00 AM – Spring Fling is serving free breakfast, then turning the kids loose in a walk-thru Jerusalem Marketplace, games, crafts, bounce houses, face painting, and a big Easter Egg Hunt. Perfect for the elementary crowd, and for parents who consider coffee a sport, and plastic eggs, cardio.

🐰 Easter Bunny Meet and Greet and Photo Op @ Howard’s Flea Market | Saturday (3/21) at 10:00 AM – Skip the mall madness, hit Howard’s Flea Market for a chill Easter Bunny meet and greet with photo ops. Kids see the fluff, you get affordable pics, and everyone roams for bargains, snacks, and that lawn flamingo you didn’t know you needed.

🥚 Easter Egg Hunt @ First Baptist Church of Homosassa | Saturday (3/21) at 10:30 AM – On the church lawn, it’s an Easter egg hunt where the kids sprint, you sip coffee, and everyone pretends not to be competitive. It’s free, festive, and your littles will leave with baskets, pockets, and smiles full, with a manageable sugar buzz.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

📻 Homosassa Springs report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 84°F – Low: 65°F – Precip: 54%

Patchy fog before 9am, then a slight chance of rain showers between 1pm and 2pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 84. South wind 2 to 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible. Later: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65. South southwest wind 2 to 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

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Tomorrow – High: 80°F – Low: 38°F – Precip: 83%

Showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 80. South southwest wind 6 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. Later: Showers and thunderstorms before 8pm, then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms between 8pm and 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 38. Northwest wind 8 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Most popular house this week

This custom, never-flooded canal-front home off the Halls River brings direct Gulf access and 2,060 square feet. Built in 2006, the 3-bed, 2-bath layout pairs split and open spaces with an updated kitchen showcasing granite, stainless appliances, and a coffee bar. Outdoor living shines with a covered porch, summer kitchen, hot tub, and a 12×12 dock with kayak launch.

Take a peek inside →