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Hey St. Cloud, hope your week’s off to a good start!

In today’s wallet-friendly edition: Harry P. Leu Gardens’ 65th anniversary, Wiener Dog Derby, and a wild Mediterranean estate + lots of fun things to do for free.

Today’s sponsor, American Hartford Gold, is helping folks around St. Cloud 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

Community legacy celebrated: A new Osceola County park in Kissimmee now honors Bishop Gary D. Gray, celebrating more than four decades of faith-driven community service, advocacy, hands-on outreach, and support for affordable childcare — read the full story.

Central Florida industrial crunch: Osceola County is negotiating with Jr. Davis for 25 acres next to Kissimmee Gateway Airport to keep jobs and add industrial space. Sale terms still need board approval — get details on the deal.

Botanical milestone festivities begin: Orlando’s Harry P. Leu Gardens celebrates 65 years with Legacy in Bloom through May 31, featuring a historical exhibit, March 14-15 plant sale, and April 11 Jazz & Blues concert — check out the full lineup.

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:

• Enjoy guided painting, supplies included
• Experience Wild Florida with airboat tour
• Unwind aboard Lillie’s sunset cruise

🫶 We got your back

Serious sandwich fix: Craving a real sandwich? 10th Street Produce & Deli delivers stacked hot pastrami, sharp veggie picks, and soups that feel like a cheat code for weekday lunches. Grab fresh produce for later, so future you smiles at lunch you.

Lake breeze reset: This week, Lakefront Park delivers breezy boardwalk strolls, paved paths, a splash pad, a sandy beach, pavilions for easy picnics, and a marina for that weekend-boat-friend energy. Hit golden hour and remember why you live here.

Toy hunt, simplified: Market Street Gallery stocks toys, collectibles, and year-round holiday curios alongside Disney and Harry Potter favorites, making gift hunting easy without the theme-park trek. It’s a breezy browse for birthdays or indulging your inner eight-year-old, with zero judgment and lots of joy.

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.

💃 Zumba Gold @ Access Community Center (Kissimmee) | Wednesday (3/11) at 11:00 AM – Nothing beats a dance party that respects your knees, your hips, and your sense of humor. Zumba Gold at Access Community Center brings low impact routines for seniors and anyone with movement limitations, all are welcome, it’s free, just hit the Tickets link to register.

🎶 Big Ron @ The Wharf at Sunset Walk (Kissimmee) | Thursday (3/12) at 6:00 PM – Birth-month energy calls for fresh seafood, tasty beverages, and Big Ron doing his thing at The Wharf at Sunset Walk. He’s milking the celebration, and we’re not mad. Free parking, no cover, all ages, which leaves more budget for oysters and a second round.

🐶 Wiener Dog Derby & Games @ Krush Brau Park (Kissimmee) | Saturday (3/14) at 12:00 PM – Krush Brau Park turns into a canine speedway for the Dogtoberfest Wiener Dog Derby, with dachshunds, wanna-bes, and biggies sprinting for glory, all benefiting Skyway Dachshund Rescue. Expect egg-and-spoon chaos, peanut-butter heroics, food, beer, and vendors. Pre-registration is required, because chaos needs a guest list.

🛍 Soldier City Sundays Community Market @ Veteran’s Park | Sunday (3/15) at 11:00 AM – Skip the big-box chaos and wander Veteran’s Park for Soldier City Sundays, a free community market celebrating our Soldier City roots. Expect local vendors, crafters, and food trucks, plus live music, kid-friendly games, and veterans resources, every Sunday like clockwork.

🛍 Spring Market: For the Girlies 2026 @ Marydia Community Center (Kissimmee) | Saturday (3/21) at 8:00 AM – An indoor spring market, free to wander, without the pollen count. This shindig corrals local makers, live music, coffee, fresh bread, bouquets, art, crochet, permanent jewelry, and kid distractions, because sanity matters. Come for plants and candles, stay for the mysterious surprise, and good finds.

🚌 Monthly Field Trip to Shingle Creek Regional Park @ Shingle Creek Regional Park at Babb Landing (Kissimmee) | Saturday (3/21) at 8:00 AM – Whether you’re bird-curious or can ID a limpkin before coffee, explore Shingle Creek with Florida’s 2025 top eBirders, Gary and Noah Steinberg, plus Jimena Aguirre. It’s a free, easy 3 mile stroll through wetlands and dry prairie, limit 20, loaner binoculars available, advance registration required.

🧘 Sunset Yoga @ Ralph V Chisholm Park | Tuesday (3/24) at 6:30 PM – Sunset at Ralph Chisholm Beach calls for gentle, grounded yoga on the sand, no registration, just show up. Bring a mat, water, and a towel, or snag a loaner blanket if you beat the rush. All ages welcome, donations support a local nonprofit, weather cooperating.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

📻 St. Cloud report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 88°F – Low: 66°F – Precip: 15%

Patchy fog before 10am, then a slight chance of rain showers. Sunny, with a high near 88. Southeast wind 0 to 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Later: Mostly clear, with a low around 66. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.

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Tomorrow – High: 89°F – Low: 66°F – Precip: 3%

Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. 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 New York 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

This fully remodeled Mediterranean estate sits on the #5 tee of Reunion’s Watson Course, delivering 5 beds, 5.5 baths, and 4,200 square feet of refined living. Every bedroom has an en-suite. Highlights include a chef’s kitchen, double sliders to the pool, two covered lanais with outdoor kitchen, two balcony-access primary suites, and a theater with 144-inch screen.

Take a peek inside →