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

In today’s wallet-friendly edition: Legoland Florida’s Galacticoaster, a sip-and-paint paradise manatee night, and an Easter Bunny meet & greet + lots of fun things to do for free.

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

Record North American park investment: LEGOLAND Florida has opened LEGO Galaxy, headlined by Galacticoaster, the park’s first new coaster in 15 years and first indoor space-themed family coaster, reaching 40 mph with interactive build-your-ship tech — get all the details.

Decades-long road project advances: Polk County has received $3 million to design and permit the Kathleen Road extension in Lakeland. Construction is expected in three to four years, easing congestion for Haines City commuters — get all the details.

Advance local government technology: Polk County I.T. Division is hiring a senior full stack developer based in Bartow. The role builds scalable web apps, mentors junior staff, and suits candidates commuting from Haines City — 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:

• Learn to make pasta at The Emerson
• Sip premium wines at ABC Lake Wales
• Sip cocktails, paint a paradise manatee

🫶 We got your back

Sub craving, solved: From a classic Philly cheesesteak to a pressed Cuban and a standout veggie sub, Green Leaf Subs and Grill satisfies urgent sandwich cravings, with wings and pizza for the crew. A low-stress midweek sanity saver.

Sunshine reset spot: Lakefront paths, roomy playgrounds, breezy picnic nooks, and plenty of space make Lake Eva Community Park an easy midweek upgrade. Neighbors catch up, laps get walked, kids burn energy; it all counts as wellness, no planning required.

Build your week: Hunt retired sets, raid color-sorted bulk tables, or craft a custom minifig. At Brick Heads Florida, time flies in the best way. Trade in the bricks you’re done with, and explore the new event space for build nights, parties, and a little creative chaos.

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.

🚓 Community Safety Event @ Ignite | Wednesday (3/11) at 11:00 AM – Got questions about keeping the block safe, or just want to finally put faces to the patrol cars? Head to Ignite for straight talk with Haines City police on crime prevention, neighborhood awareness, and local initiatives, plus an open Q&A, and yes, snacks.

🍿 Movie Fridays @ Dundee Public Library | Friday (3/13) at 1:00 PM – Take a break from the streaming shuffle and roll into the library for Friday matinees, popcorn included. It’s low-key, comfy, and gloriously air-conditioned, the perfect excuse to call it “errands,” linger in a plush chair, and savor a guilt-free midday movie.

🤝 2nd Friday Night Meetup @ Lake Alfred Diner | Friday (3/13) at 6:00 PM – Second Friday means a free, open-to-all car meet where all makes, models, and years show up, yes, even your noble minivan. Expect more neighborly gawking than racing, swap stories, soak in the shine, and call it quality time well spent.

🥫 Food Pantry @ Access Community Center – Haines City | Thursday (3/19) at 11:00 AM – Think your grocery bill could use mercy? Swing by Access Community Center in Haines City for a free bag of fresh fruits and veggies, no strings, just neighbors helping neighbors. Ven por tu bolsa gratuita de frutas y vegetales, y come bien sin gastar.

🏠 Your Roadmap To Your First Home @ Osceola County Library System | Saturday (3/21) at 1:00 PM – Send your house-curious self, or your adult kid, to a free, no-sales-pitch homebuying class at the Osceola Library with Credence Realty. They will cover loans, inspections, closing costs, and the mistakes that burn money, plus a Q&A. Consider it Zillow dreams with facts.

🐰 Easter Bunny Meet & Greet @ Downtown City Park (Auburndale) | Sunday (3/22) at 9:00 AM – Hop to Auburndale for a free Bunny meet and greet and egg hunt that tires the kids faster than a summer storm. Bring baskets, patience, and your camera, then catch up with neighbors while they chase eggs and spring shows off. Everyone’s welcome.

📚 Baby Lapsit Time @ Haines City Public Library | Tuesday (3/24) at 10:30 AM – Baby Lapsit Time is turning Haines City Public Library into the coziest living room in town, with babies snuggled on caregivers’ laps for songs, stories, and sweet chaos. You bring the cuddle squad, they bring the books and bops, and drool counts as flair.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

📻 Haines City report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 88°F – Low: 65°F – Precip: 10%

Sunny, with a high near 88. East wind around 5 mph. Later: Patchy fog after 5am. Mostly clear, with a low around 65. Southeast wind around 6 mph.

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Tomorrow – High: 89°F – Low: 65°F – Precip: 2%

Patchy fog before 10am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. South southeast wind around 7 mph. Later: Partly cloudy, with a low around 65. South southeast wind 3 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

This 3,239-square-foot Aspen Estate by ABD brings next-gen luxury to Hampton Green at Providence, a golf course enclave closest to the Clubhouse. Standard upgrades and smart home technology headline the plan, joined by contemporary black windows, rear balconies, a golf cart garage, a 10-foot entry door, and an exterior stone allowance. It delivers Orlando style with thoroughly modern design.

Take a peek inside →