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

In today’s wallet-friendly edition: A lifesaving rescue, a No. 1 STEM ranking, and the Lysander Piano Trio + lots of fun things to do for free.

Today’s sponsor, American Hartford Gold, is helping folks around Oviedo 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

First responder’s decisive moment: Oviedo City Council honored Officer Matthew Brongel on March 2 for saving a 15-month-old from drowning, after CPR and airway clearing brought signs of life before firefighters arrived — read how the rescue unfolded.

Excellence in advanced math pathways: Seminole County Public Schools is once again ranked No. 1 in Florida for preparing students for college-level STEM majors in 2025-26, according to the state’s STEM Prep Index — get details on the index.

Traveler-focused design highlights: A new Comfort Inn & Suites has opened across from Orlando Sanford International Airport, offering modern spaces and a convenient base for SFB flights and Boombah Sports Complex events — get all the details.

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:

• Experience the acclaimed Lysander Piano Trio
• Tie-dye camp for kids and teens
• Get free AARP tax help in Oviedo

🫶 We got your back

Stacked sammy time: Family-owned Bernie’s Gourmet To Go turns lunch into a win with fresh, house-made sandwiches, legit chicken salads, and weekly specials that truly change. Expect craveable choices, plus greens and desserts; you’ll promise to save half… and probably won’t.

Local lake-day vibes: Center Lake Park serves up easy lake-day energy with a boardwalk, playground and splash pad for kids, a dog park for pups, and a lively amphitheatre scene. Glide a swan boat at golden hour, or take a sunset lap…low-key, no-fuss fresh air this week.

Find your next grail: For pint-sized Pokémon trainers, Funko completists, or anyone grabbing a birthday lifesaver, Pop Us! Collectibles & Toys stocks fresh drops, blind boxes, and plushy chaos… all curated by a local crew where browsing feels like a victory lap.

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.

🛡 Safety Night @ Carillon Elementary School | Tuesday (3/10) at 5:30 PM – Carillon PTA is throwing a free Safety Night that makes preparedness fun, and kids might listen. They’ll climb a fire truck, paint a patrol car with Deputy Gibson, catch martial arts safety seminars on repeat, then fuel up on Kona Ice, Mi Casita, and smiles.

🏆 Big Winner Bingo @ Perla’s Cocktail Bar (Winter Park) | Wednesday (3/11) at 6:30 PM – Perla’s Pizza hosts Big Winner Bingo, with a free first game, that’s how they get you, $2 sheets after, and a $5 round for bigger jackpots. Buy drinks to unlock the finale and a shot at Stoli Elit, cash only, hosted by A Ali Flores.

🚴 Get Sanford Cycling – Youth Cycling Program @ Historic Hopper Academy | Friday (3/13) at 9:00 AM – Spring Break starts strong for your 10 to 15-year-old with a free cycling workshop at Hopper Academy, teaching safety, trail know-how, and confidence. They roll to Gemini Springs for a picnic, snacks, drinks, and lunch, and you get a quieter house. Spots are limited, GetSanfordCyclingMarch13.4honline.com.

🌊 Shoreline Restoration @ Lake Spier (Winter Park) | Saturday (3/14) at 9:00 AM – Whether you can ID pickerelweed or just enjoy muddy karma, come help plant native aquatic plants around Lake Spier in Winter Park. You’ll boost water quality, tame erosion, and upgrade wildlife habitat, so hit the Eventbrite link in the bio, and bring that sun hat.

🎨 Family Studio @ Rollins Museum of Art (Winter Park) | Saturday (3/14) at 10:00 AM – Whether your kid treats crayons like lightsabers or you’ve got a budding Monet, Family Studio at Rollins Museum of Art pairs quick gallery time with a make-and-take, no cleanup, for ages 5 to 10 with an adult. Free with registration, which opens a month ahead.

🔎 Kid Crew Scavenger Hunt @ Oviedo Mall | Monday (3/16) at 12:00 PM – Oviedo Mall goes full Pokémon, and kids get to be Trainers. Pick up a scavenger hunt form at Versus Games, find the hidden Pokémon clues, then trade it in for a prize. It’s free, indoors, and kids 12 and under win, while you enjoy A/C.

☘ Paddy’s Day Trivia @ Broadway Ristorante & Pizzeria (Altamonte Springs) | Tuesday (3/17) at 7:00 PM – If your brain has more pub trivia than actual passwords, bring it to Broadway Ristorante Altamonte for St. Paddy’s Day trivia, free to play with prizes, food, and drink specials. Wear something green, collect bragging rights, and let the luck do the heavy lifting.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

📻 Oviedo report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 88°F – Low: 67°F – Precip: 15%

Patchy fog before 10am, then a slight chance of rain showers. Sunny, with a high near 88. South southeast wind 0 to 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Later: Mostly clear, with a low around 67. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.

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Tomorrow – High: 88°F – Low: 66°F – Precip: 3%

Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. South southeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Later: Partly cloudy, with a low around 66. South southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.

Are you quietly overpaying for car insurance? 🚗

Premiums have been climbing across Florida but most folks won’t notice until they’re hit with a higher bill when it’s time to renew.

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.

This house is wild

Custom DeLorenzo pool home in Oviedo’s Kingsbridge West, set on an almost half acre cul-de-sac lot along Long Lake Drive with tree-lined streets and lake views. This 4-bed, 3-bath haven, revamped from roof to pool, showcases a PebbleTec saltwater 40-by-16 sports pool, hand-scraped hardwoods, exotic granite kitchen with gas cooktop, a bar with wine fridge, and a 32-by-27 garage.

Take a peek inside →