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

In today’s edition: Preserving 2,800 acres, a 12-hour endurance race, and a scenic train ride + fun things to do for free & local fundraisers worth checking out this week.

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

New deals secure farm futures: Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson announced the state approved preserving over 2,800 acres of working land, including a 1,500-acre Highlands County cattle ranch, supporting long-term food and timber production across Florida — get all the details.

Faithful perseverance inspires celebration: Sebring’s St. Catherine Catholic community will host A Night in Siena, inspired by parishioner Marlen Martinez, with live music and a heartfelt tribute, plus plans for another next year — read the full story.

Glimpses of unhurried places: A train ride reveals Florida’s charming communities, from DeLand’s historic core and Stetson’s red tile roofs to murals and sleepy downtowns, pausing as Lake Monroe comes into view — read the full story.

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:

• Witness 12-hour endurance racing at Sebring
• Join the 10-week GLOWUP challenge
• Learn oil painting with Jean Cormier

🫶 We got your back

Your next sandwich fix: When the craving hits, Nutmeg’s Cafe delivers scratch-made paninis, hearty soups, crisp salads, and hand-dipped ice cream… plus those dangerously poppable cake balls. Locally owned with an easygoing vibe, the menu turns weekday lunches into small wins without fuss.

A dose of wild Florida: When you crave trees and quiet, Highlands Hammock State Park delivers shady boardwalks, ancient oaks, and wildlife that keeps a respectful distance. Pedal or stroll the loop, pack a picnic, and treat it like a midweek reset.

Where nostalgia hits reset: Whether your kid’s chasing Pokémon or you’re eyeing the retro cartridges you swore you’d never re-buy, Flash Games Comics and Toys stocks plushies, figures, comics, Funko Pops, and games that turn rainy afternoons into epic home tournaments and quiet bribes, er, rewards. Local, nerdy, and dangerously fun.

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.

🎤 Hometown Hangout-Community Karaoke @ The Pour House on Main (Avon Park) | Friday (3/13) at 6:00 PM – Second Fridays are for proving Avon Park still has pipes. Main Street throws a laid-back hang by The Pour House with vendors, games, classic cars, and community karaoke on a 20-foot inflatable screen, which is somehow bigger than my first apartment. Grab friends, sing, linger.

🎨 Art Show @ Genesis Center (Lake Placid) | Saturday (3/14) at 12:00 PM – Whether you can tell a dovetail from a Dürer, or just enjoy free culture, this art show delivers woodcarving, paintings, and more from folks who know their craft. Stroll, chat, pretend you’re only browsing, then inevitably find a piece you’ll keep forever.

🎤 Freedom Station Park Gospel Series @ Freedom Station Park (Frostproof) | Saturday (3/14) at 6:00 PM – Take a breather and head to Freedom Station Park for the Gospel Series with Billy Walker, a Nashville recording artist bringing the good stuff. It’s free, with a love offering appreciated, plus local vendors, familiar faces, and harmonies that travel clear across Wall Street.

🎶 Gospel Night @ Ramon Theater (Frostproof) | Saturday (3/28) at 6:00 PM – This free gospel concert at The Ramon features The Duncans and Crossfire QT, all heart, harmony, and handclaps. Come for the tight vocals, stay for the goosebumps, and if the spirit moves you, slip a love offering to support the groups.

✨ Upcoming local fundraisers

💰 Quarter Auction @ Caladium Arts & Crafts Co-Operative (Lake Placid) | Saturday (3/14) at 11:00 AM – If your spare change has been training for the big leagues, put it to work at the Caladium Arts and Crafts Co-operative’s Spring Quarter Auction. Tickets are $10, cash or check because we’re charmingly old school, with limited seating, lively bidding, and refreshments for sale.

🍽 Farm-to-Table Dinner Fundraiser @ The Academy At The PARC | Saturday (3/28) at 4:00 PM – Skip the usual dinner rut for a farm-to-table fundraiser that does more than fill you up. We’re raising funds to sponsor fifteen students for the 2026/2027 school year through tickets, a silent auction, and sponsorships. Eat well, help a kid, and yes, it’s tax-deductible.

👢 Boots & Bling: Learning & Legacy Gala @ The Jacaranda Hotel (Avon Park) | Friday (4/17) at 6:00 PM – Whether your boots are scuffed from ranch chores or just for show, Boots & Bling lets you two-step for the SFSC Foundation. Expect heavy hors d’oeuvres, beer and wine, a lively set from Outta Hand Band, a silent auction, and hands-on moments with SFSC students.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

📻 Sebring report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 90°F – Low: 65°F – Precip: 8%

Sunny, with a high near 90. East southeast wind 2 to 6 mph. Later: Patchy fog after 5am. Mostly clear, with a low around 65. Southeast wind around 6 mph.

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Tomorrow – High: 90°F – Low: 65°F – Precip: 2%

Patchy fog before 10am. Sunny, with a high near 90. Southeast wind 2 to 8 mph. Later: Partly cloudy, with a low around 65. South southeast wind 2 to 7 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 built in 2017, this 4-bed, 3-bath Sebring home spans 3 acres with 12-foot tongue-and-groove ceilings and an open layout centered on a kitchen with gas cooktop, pot filler, and oversized island. A split floor plan, mudroom, and covered porch prepped for an outdoor kitchen add function, plus a 30×60 steel building with mini-splits and an included pool shell.

Take a peek inside →