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

In today’s wallet-friendly edition: Firefly nights at Blue Spring, a strawberry festival, and lifeguards testing rip current simulators + lots of fun things to do for free.

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

Help protect local waterways: Volusia County is recruiting volunteers for the 30th annual St. Johns River Cleanup, targeting 59 miles. Registration is open through April 12 for the 8 to 11 a.m. effort — see how to register.

Lifeguards lead statewide safety push: Volusia County Beach Safety is rolling out rip current simulators with a $12,750 grant, after demos at Daytona State College, and will host pool lessons and events teaching beachgoers — see what’s planned statewide.

Serving Central Florida since 1976: Rue & Ziffra has opened a Deltona office, expanding personal injury help for West Volusia, from car and motorcycle crashes to malpractice, workers’ comp, wrongful death, and Social Security disability — 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:

• Celebrate FMNP’s 25th anniversary with Laurilee Thompson
• See Steel Magnolias at Athens Theatre
• Watch fireflies illuminate Blue Spring

🫶 We got your back

Craving a proper sub? Skip the chains and let Knuckle Sandwich handle lunch with generously stuffed classics, lively counter energy, and quick online ordering when you’re slammed. It’s the neighborhood spot you keep in rotation whenever only a legit, made-here sandwich will do.

Where play meets nature: Skip the usual loop and try Thornby Park, an all-inclusive playground tucked into nearly 40 acres of woods with a gazebo and easy picnic spots along the St. Johns River. Low-key and local, it’s perfect for letting kids burn energy while you take a breather.

Rainy-day lifesaver: From puzzles and pretend play to building sets and plush, Oodles Consignment Boutique stocks Deltona’s go-to toys for rainy afternoons and last-minute birthdays. Browse gently used and brand-new finds, plus fresh picks from Melissa & Doug and Toysmith… all smart, never spendy.

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.

👨 Family Night – Kids Eat Free @ Gator’s Dockside of DeLand | Tuesday (3/10) at 5:00 PM – Gator’s is doing Family Night, and the kids are finally picking up the check, sort of, with 12-and-under eating free. No kiddos, no problem, hit Taco Tuesday for $2.50 chicken, beef, or fish tacos, and 2-for-1 $7 Mug-a-ritas.

🍽 Impact Dinner @ First Church DeLand LEC | Wednesday (3/11) at 5:30 PM – Free dinner you do not have to overthink, courtesy of Farmshare, then stick around for Bible studies if you want to feed the soul too. It is the weekly Impact Dinner, simple and hearty. Just register by Monday at noon, because miracles appreciate a headcount.

🎲 Trivia and Bingo @ Nice N Easy Oyster Bar & Grille (Orange City) | Wednesday (3/11) at 6:30 PM – Nothing beats a Wednesday night reset like free trivia and bingo, the intellectual workout your pint has been training for. Round up that friend who knows state capitals, your aunt who crushes B-12, and your reading glasses. Bragging rights, cheap laughs, and zero cover.

🖼 In the Gallery with Gary Monroe: The Highwaymen Story @ Museum of Art – DeLand | Friday (3/13) at 5:30 PM – Hear the Florida Highwaymen story from the scholar who put it on the map, Gary Monroe, at the Museum of Art, DeLand. Real history, sharp insights, and zero pretension, with members free and future members just ten bucks, a true dinner table flex.

🥕 Artisan Alley Farmers Market @ Artisan Alley, DeLand, FL, United States, Florida 32720 | Friday (3/13) at 6:00 PM – Hit Artisan Alley’s Friday night Farmers and Makers Market, tucked into those century-old brick nooks downtown. Stock up on produce and handmade finds, then wander the shops, sip a brew, and congratulate yourself for supporting small businesses while enjoying grocery shopping.

🍓 DeBary Strawberry Festival @ Gateway Park | Saturday (3/14) at 5:00 AM – DeBary’s Strawberry Festival takes over Gateway Park, with strawberry-laced treats, vendors hawking every red, sweet thing you can carry, and yes, Strawberry Shortcake. It’s free, family friendly, and dangerously snackable. Come for the nostalgia, stay for the jam, the merch, and the sugar rush.

💇 Dairy Hair Fun @ Deltona Sons and Daughters of Italy | Sunday (3/15) at 10:00 AM – Swing by the Sons & Daughters of Italy indoor market for mobile Fairy Hair, free entry, and kid, parent, and Nonna friendly vibes. It’s first come, first served, so channel your inner early bird. Leave with groceries, a cannoli, and sparkle you earned.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

📻 Deltona report

Weather forecast

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

Patchy fog before 10am, then a slight chance of rain showers between 4pm and 5pm, then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. South wind 0 to 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Later: Mostly clear, with a low around 66. Southeast wind around 5 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

Set in Deltona’s prestigious Lake Baton Estates on a quiet cul-de-sac, this impeccably kept 4-bed with a 3-car garage features soaring ceilings and an extended screened lanai. The gourmet kitchen boasts 42-inch cherry cabinets, granite, a natural gas range, and a island. An 18 by 18 primary suite opens to the lanai. Extras include a 22-kw generator and water filtration.

Take a peek inside →