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Rise and shine, Homosassa Springs!
Before we get into today’s email… I’m excited to share that we quietly launched BaseLocal Business last week, and 400+ businesses have already signed up 🥹 If you own or manage a local business and want to see what the platform’s all about, you can sign up for free in less than five minutes (if you haven’t already).
We launched the platform to make it easier for the community to connect with local businesses in a meaningful way that benefits everyone… and so far it’s going great.
So I just wanted to say THANK YOU to each and every one of you for being here and helping us make this newsletter better every day.
— Cait Baker
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📰 In the news
Regional pump price snapshot: Florida gas prices fell 14 cents last week to $2.67, the lowest since March 2021. Homosassa Springs saw the state’s biggest drop, with nearly 24 cents shaved off the average — see where prices are lowest.
Faster placements, better outcomes: The Hernando County Sheriff’s Office reported that its first year managing the county animal shelter showed major progress. The shelter population fell from 260 to 83, with 1,511 adoptions — see what’s behind the gains.
Where deep time meets history: Just up the road, Crystal River offers more than manatees this winter, with ancient ceremonial mounds at Crystal River Archaeological State Park and the Yulee Sugar Mill Ruins — explore the area’s layered past.
Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175 per month. Paying more than that? Same, so I did some shopping around and ended up cutting my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too — here’s the comparison tool I used.
Gold & silver are hot: Gold just had its best year since 1979. Silver did even better, climbing nearly 150% in 2025… and analysts expect the momentum to continue. If you’re curious about adding precious metals to your portfolio as a market hedge, American Hartford has a helpful guide that covers everything you need to know. It’s free — and definitely worth a read.
*We do our best to avoid paywalled articles. If any slip through, let me know which ones and I’ll permanently remove them from our source list!
Highlights this week:
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🫶 We got your back
Funding push shapes campground’s future: Chassahowitzka River Campground has been moved to the top of Citrus County’s state funding list. The county will seek $800,000 this legislative session to repair and improve storm damage from Hurricanes Helene and Milton. A 2025 closure plan was scrapped after public pushback, keeping it open. Read the full story.
Need a new lid? Skip big-box aisles and head to Homosassa Trading Co. Store for Florida Cracker caps, sun-smart hats, and river-ready essentials with local flavor. Find a go-to lid for boat days, yard days, and “hide my hair” days.
Fresh lashes, zero drama: When mascara smudges, opt for classic, hybrid, or volume sets with easy fills at Beauty & the Barber. This laid-back, locals-first spot blends salon and barbershop vibes, so you leave fluttery while someone else handles the fades. Simple, breezy, blissfully clump-free.
A new haircare solution: My hair’s been thinning and I’ve been quietly ignoring it, hoping it’ll fix itself. Plot twist… it hasn’t. When I finally started looking into what I should do, there were so many options I didn’t know where to start. I stumbled on Keranique, and its simplicity really sold me. One kit, no pills, no choosing products, and no confusion whatsoever. It’s also on sale with a money-back guarantee (although I doubt you’ll need it).
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.
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📆 Around town this week
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.
🌿 Plant Swap @ Homosassa Public Library | Tuesday (1/20) at 12:30 PM – Trade your extra tomato starts for someone else’s mystery perennial at this friendly plant swap. Bring healthy plants, cuttings, or seeds, meet fellow dirt-under-the-nails types, and leave with new green roommates. Cheaper than the nursery, infinitely more neighborly, and delightfully nosy.
🛶 Manatee Observation Kayak Tour @ Chassahowitzka River | Wednesday (1/21) at 8:00 AM – Trade the yardwork for a guided paddle on the wild side of Homosassa, where manatees mind their business and you drift through Seven Sisters’ glassy springs. Two hours, 50 bucks, zero theme-park vibes. Expect otters, bald eagles, and turtles, plus bragging rights for days.
✍ Kid-lligraphy @ Floral City Public Library | Wednesday (1/21) at 5:00 PM – Give the tablets a nap and let the kids learn fancy lettering at Kid-lligraphy. They’ll play with strokes and styles, turn words into art, and probably come home proudly correcting your grocery list. Low-stress, high-creativity, and yes, ink stains count as souvenirs.
🐚 Florida SeaShells: Past & Present @ Lakes Region Library | Thursday (1/22) at 10:00 AM – A real scientist is talking seashells, fossilized and modern, so you can finally justify that jar on the mantel. Leslie Moore of the SETS Foundation is unpacking Florida’s ancient shores, the critters behind the shells, and what you’re actually picking up.
💨 The Wind of Fate @ COPP Brewery & Winery | Friday (1/23) at 6:00 PM – The Wind of Fate debuts at Copp, serving up hits from the 60s to today. Think sing-along classics, guilty pleasures, and that one song you forgot you loved. Grab a friend, order something decent, and let them carry the nostalgia, not your vocal cords.
🌸 Garden Party Bingo @ Aggregation Distilling | Friday (1/23) at 6:00 PM – Think your lucky streak extends to houseplants? Garden Party Bingo is back by popular demand, with chances to win cool plants, flowers, and delightfully unexpected prizes. Seats are limited, so snag your spot via the QR code, bring a friend, and claim bragging rights.
🍸 Girl’s Night Out @ Crystal River Yoga Studio | Friday (1/23) at 6:00 PM – Group chat says we all need a reset, so rally your besties for a Girls’ Night Out at Crystal River Yoga’s open house. Easy vibes, a tour, maybe a gentle stretch, a few laughs, and zero pressure, just quality time with your people.
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
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📻 Homosassa Springs report
Weather forecast
Today – High: 57°F – Low: 30°F – Precip: 0%
Areas of frost before 9am. Sunny, with a high near 57. North wind around 6 mph. Later: Areas of frost after 1am. Clear, with a low around 30. Wind chill values as low as 28. North wind around 3 mph.
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Tomorrow – High: 61°F – Low: 38°F – Precip: 0%
Areas of frost before 8am. Sunny, with a high near 61. North northeast wind 5 to 8 mph. Later: Partly cloudy, with a low around 38. Northeast wind around 6 mph.
This house is wild
This 3-bed, 2-bath home adds a flexible den or office to its 1,472 square feet, all set on a half-acre lot. A fireplace anchors the living area, and a screened deck extends lounging season. The rear deck hosts a pool and swim spa for splash-and-soak days. A utility room with washer and dryer keeps chores out of sight. The roof was replaced in 2022.
In need of repairs and TLC, it offers solid bones and room to reimagine. The den can morph into a studio, craft zone, or game room. The lot provides elbow room, and the indoor to outdoor flow keeps gatherings easy.
Take a peek inside →
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Thanks for reading! If you know someone who’d love BaseLocal, send ’em here so they can sign up too 🙂
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