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Happy weekend, Charlotte County! 

In today’s happening-today edition: Hurricane-ready oyster reef revival, Strawberry Festival date, and classic car show + events worth checking out today & tomorrow.

Today’s sponsor (Money.com) built a free comparison tool that helped me cut my car insurance premiums in half. It took about 3 minutes, and honestly… I wish I’d done it sooner. If you haven’t shopped around in a while, you can easily check the best rates here.

📰 In the news

Hurricane-ready oyster reef revival: Six million pounds of ancient shells from a Charlotte County mine have strengthened a three-acre reef at the Caloosahatchee mouth, where new oysters are taking hold north of Shell Point — see how heavier shells help.

Date announced for festivities: Sweet news for Boca Grande today as the annual Strawberry Festival returns with strawberry shortcake, brats, bargains, and a silent auction of discounted items from various vendors on Gasparilla Island — get the date and details.

High-end homes in focus: A Feb. 20 analysis shows which Punta Gorda metro cities are seeing the fastest home price growth, even as higher mortgage rates cool momentum for buyers across Charlotte County — see the most expensive homes.

Gold & silver are hot: Coming off gold’s best year since 1979, the momentum is carrying well into 2026 with silver remaining one of the most talked-about assets. Curious why they’re back in focus? American Hartford Gold has a free guide that explains what’s happening and how people are approaching it today. It’s free – and definitely worth a read.

Someone Googled you this week: Whether you’re dating again, selling something locally, or just meeting new neighbors… people are going to look you up. Like it or not, the internet has a way of surfacing past mistakes and outdated information that no longer reflects who you are. Thankfully, there’s a really easy way for you (or someone you care about) to clean up all that up – learn more here.

Highlights this week:

• Support the gardens at lotus-lit soirée
• Shop the Spring Market at Downtown Kava
• Celebrate St. Patrick’s with bands and pints
• Over 62? See how to turn home equity into tax-free cash

🚗 Are you quietly overpaying for car insurance?

Together with our sponsor Money.com

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I learned that the hard way. I had the same policy for half a decade. Autopay was on, I saw the charges come in every month and never thought twice about them. Turns out I was paying well above the national average ($175/mo) for a single car… for years.

This free comparison tool lets you check rates from multiple insurers in just a few minutes. It costs nothing to look, and it could save you hundreds this year.

🫶 We got your back

A rail-stop time warp: Downtown’s End of the Line mural distills Punta Gorda’s origin story into a single glance, with founder Isaac Trabue and railroad baron Henry Plant squaring off as oranges and fish spill past. Take a quick errand detour for a small, satisfying jolt of hometown pride.

Coastal stitch fix: Whether you’re mid-sweater, starting your first granny square, or simply here for the squish, Grande Stitches stocks vibrant yarns and needlepoint in a bright upstairs nook of the Old Theatre building. It’s an easy color fix with a dash of island inspo.

New pints worth a detour: When your week needs a no-fuss pint, Charlie Foxtrot Brewing pours Slick Sleeve Pale Ale, crisp and citrusy with Mandarina Bavaria hops, in its relaxed Port Charlotte taproom. An easy meet-up spot to swap stories, sip something bright, and remember why local beer nights still beat the couch.

An emergency vet visit could cost you $7,000+ (ask me how I know 🙃). From the initial fee just to be seen to x-rays, surgery, medicine, and aftercare, it adds up quicker than a chew toy turns into a crime scene. The good news? You could get up to 90% cash back on your vet bill with this pet insurance plan.

📆 Around town today & tomorrow

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.

🤖 Robotics Workshop for Kids (7-14) @ Comfort Inn & Suites (Punta Gorda) | Saturday (3/7) at 12:30 AM – Got a kid who thinks the TV remote is a robot? Moonpreneur’s free robotics and coding workshop pops up at Comfort Inn in Port Charlotte, where ages 7 to 14 build bots, code, and team up, while you swap notes with parents. Bring a laptop.

🚶 Walk for Life @ Gilchrist Park (Punta Gorda) | Saturday (3/7) at 9:00 AM – Whether you’re power-walking or perfecting the coffee-hold, Punta Gorda’s Walk for Life celebrates 25 years of Pregnancy Solutions with a morning stroll, kids’ games, teen contests, and neighborly chatter. Bring the crew, get your steps in, and toast a quarter-century of local support.

🚗 Caring For Kids Classic Car Show @ First Baptist Church of Punta Gorda | Saturday (3/7) at 9:00 AM – Fuel your nostalgia and a good cause at this classic car show benefiting Charlotte County public school kids. Shine the chrome, swap stories, and feel virtuous while you ogle tailfins, because kicking tires for charity is the kind of adulting we actually enjoy.

🏺 Annual Pottery Sidewalk Sale @ Stoneware Pottery by Jack Vartanian & Friends (Punta Gorda) | Saturday (3/7) at 9:00 AM – First Saturday mornings, resident potters spill onto the sidewalk with handmade pieces for the annual sale. Trade that chipped heirloom mug for functional, decorative, and unique treasures that survive the dishwasher and make your shelves look collected. Come early, the good weird ones go fast.

🎨 Punta Gorda Sullivan Street Craft Festival @ Sullivan Street | Saturday (3/7) at 10:00 AM – Downtown Punta Gorda turns into a treasure hunt on Sullivan Street when the craft festival rolls in, and the Chakra Sisters are setting up shop. Stroll the booths, sip something cold, and let them upgrade your gift list, living room, and maybe your aura.

🌿 A Day With Nature @ Woodland Retreat Center (Punta Gorda) | Saturday (3/7) at 10:30 AM – Trade the to-do list for A Day With Nature in Punta Gorda, a go-slow reset with Ann Merli and Ginny Vigne. Walk, notice, collect, and create, indoors and out, engaging five senses, no yoga pants, perfection, or performance required. Come as you are, leave connected.

🍽 Taste of Punta Gorda @ Laishley Park | Sunday (3/8) at 11:00 AM – Charlotte County’s premier food fest is back, serving tastes from local restaurants and food trucks, vendors, and music all day. Think progressive dinner without the driving, plus a kids’ zone to burn off sugar. Rotary hosts it, you bring an appetite, sensible shoes, and cash.

Live music & entertainment:

• 3/7 Two Wheels for Four Paws @ A.B.U.A.T. Clubhouse (Punta Gorda) – 10:00 AM
• 3/7 Honey & Havoc @ The Twisted Fork (Port Charlotte) – 12:30 PM
• 3/7 Kings Chambers Band @ Bar 17 (Punta Gorda) – 1:00 PM
• 3/7 Bhakti Bliss Kirtan @ The Yoga Sanctuary (Punta Gorda) – 6:00 PM
• 3/7 Almost ABBA @ Charlotte Harbor Event & Conference Center (Punta Gorda) – 7:00 PM
• 3/7 SSB @ White Elephant Pub (Manasota Key) – 7:00 PM
• 3/8 Live Country Music @ Punta Gorda Elks Lodge #2606 – 2:00 PM

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

🔥 Worth a peek

We’re always on the hunt for useful resources, deals, services, and products we think you’ll love. Here’s what caught our eye this week.

• Thinning hair? Don’t wait – here are 3 treatments that work
• This free tool helps connect you with the right financial advisor
• Got debt? You may be able to pay less than you owe
• You can own physical gold and silver in your retirement account
• Treat yourself: Save on self-care during the CVS Epic Beauty Sale

📻 Charlotte County report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 86°F – Low: 66°F – Precip: 22%

A slight chance of rain showers after 3pm. Sunny, with a high near 86. East southeast wind 5 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible. Later: A chance of rain showers before 7pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 66. East southeast wind around 3 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

—

Tomorrow – High: 85°F – Low: 65°F – Precip: 17%

A slight chance of rain showers after 2pm. Sunny, with a high near 85. Southeast wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Later: A slight chance of rain showers before 8pm. Mostly clear, with a low around 65. North wind 2 to 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

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