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Hi Palm Coast, hope you’re having a great weekend! In today's in-case-you-missed-it edition: Budget cuts under scrutiny, homeowner solicitation protections, and Bohdi the sea turtle art workshop + the top stories from this week & a sneak peek at next week.
Some family trips fade. This one didn't. Twenty years later, I still remember standing under that giant tipping water bucket, waiting to get soaked. That was Great Wolf Lodge, and my family spent the whole weekend like that, drenched and laughing, climbing back up for one more slide. The water park is entirely indoors, kept at 84 degrees year-round, and included with every stay, so the forecast doesn't matter. You can book a discounted family getaway right now.* |
01 — Worth knowing Most popular stories this weekThe three top stories this week, plus a few worth your money.
Budget choices under scrutiny: Palm Coast’s council is weighing cuts to deputies, code enforcement and the Humane Society as it drafts the Oct. 1 budget, after adopting a $4.2296 per $1,000 maximum tax rate -- read the full story.
Holiday savings for families: Florida’s Back to School Sales Tax Holiday runs through August 20, letting Palm Coast families skip sales tax on electronics, backpacks, clothing, and learning aids as average back-to-school spending tops $860 -- see what qualifies for tax relief.
New homeowner protections: Palm Coast homeowners can block door-to-door sales. A state law effective July 1 allows posting an 8.5-by-11 No Commercial Solicitation sign, with fines for violators, exempting political, religious, charitable visits -- see how the law works.
Watch your credit card balance drop. Here's a rare one: this card lets you skip interest charges until nearly 2028, and you won't pay a cent in annual fees to do it. On top of that, every purchase earns at least 1.5% cash back, with some categories as high as 5%. Spend a little early on and there's up to a $200 bonus waiting too -- take a look.*
Your insurance won't cover a $12,000 HVAC bill: If your furnace quits before it warms up, your homeowners insurance will tell you it's a "maintenance issue" and wish you luck. Insurance covers sudden disasters. It doesn't cover the systems that wear out over time, and those are the expensive ones. A home warranty is built for exactly this. HVAC, water heater, appliances, plumbing, electrical... all covered for less than $1/day with no age restrictions on what's covered. You call, they send a tech, you pay a service fee. They handle the rest -- this one's 50% off right now.*
The bill all retirees should double check: Car insurance. If you’ve been on the same plan for years, you might be paying way more than you need to. It’s an easy one to forget about, but switching could save you up to $600 this year. Case in point: I shopped around and ended up cutting my premium in half -- this free comparison tool makes it easy.* All the crowd favorites: |
02 — From our sponsor Some family trips fade. This one never did.Twenty years later, I can still put myself in that water park: standing under the giant tipping bucket with a crowd of other kids, waiting to get soaked, then climbing the stairs with my family for one more run down the slide. We spent the entire weekend like that, drenched and happy. Most childhood vacations blur together. That one stuck. What I understand now, as the adult who'd be planning it, is why it worked so well. Great Wolf Lodge is an indoor water park resort, kept at 84 degrees every day of the year, and the water park comes with every overnight stay. No separate tickets, no watching the forecast all week, no rained-out weekend. The big slides keep the older kids busy, the shallow splash areas keep the little ones happy, and nobody has to sit out. Everything else is under the same roof too: an arcade, interactive adventures, daily kid programming, and places to eat. You park the car on Friday and don't think about it again until Sunday. The suites are built for families, with themed rooms and enough space that everyone actually sleeps. Clean, safe, and simple, which on a trip with kids counts for as much as the slides. Your kids will remember the bucket. You'll remember how easy it was. *Plan a getaway they'll never forget → |
03 — On our radar
This week's top findsLocal spotlights your fellow readers loved last week.
Roses, rocks, and reset: Trade the inbox for camellias, coquina tidepools, and shaded paths at Washington Oaks Gardens State Park this week. Slip into the formal gardens, then wander to the Atlantic shoreline for those wild rock formations, quick bikeable loops, and Matanzas River breezes that make weekday stress tap out.
Make a splash nearby: James F. Holland Memorial Park is the local triple-threat, with an 11,000 sq ft splash pad for the kids, a 3/4-mile walking loop for you, and separate dog parks for big and small pups. Add pickleball, basketball, bocce, and shaded pavilions, and your week just got easier.
Pizza night solved: Family owned by the Bennici brothers, Joe's New York Pizza & Pasta turns out foldable pies, legit pastas, and customized calzones that hit the spot. If dinner feels like a chore this week, keep it simple with a classic cheese or go wild, then let them bring it to you.
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04 — Our recommendations
We got your backA handful of products and services we think are worth a look.
An emergency vet visit could cost you $7,000+ (ask me how I know 🙃). From the initial walk-in-the-door fee to x-rays, surgery, and aftercare, it adds up quicker than a chew toy turns into a crime scene. The good news? You could save thousands on your next vet bill with *Lemonade →
Shop for new floors without ever needing to leave the house: No showroom, no second-guessing. All from the comfort of your own home. Empire Today® has flooring experts that will bring you samples and provide you with a free in-home estimate. Trusted and backed by over 3 million satisfied customers and over 65 years of quality service. *Check out their current offers today →
The fitness trend that doesn't require leaving your living room: Chair yoga is having a moment, and for good reason. It's low-impact, easy on the knees and back, and you do the whole thing seated. No floor, no equipment, no studio. A quick quiz turns it into a personalized plan built around your body and goals, then adjusts as you build the habit. *See your plan →
A blown engine can cost more than your car is worth: And it almost never warns you. One day it runs fine, the next you're staring at a $7,000 repair on a car you still rely on every morning. That's the kind of bill an extended warranty exists to absorb, the engine, transmission, and electrical failures that wreck a budget overnight. You bring it to any certified mechanic, pay a deductible, and the rest is handled. Enjoy a free year of Elite Benefits and a 30-day money-back guarantee on top. *See everything it covers →
A window quote that takes an hour and costs you nothing: No showroom, no sales runaround, no obligation to buy anything. A design consultant comes to you, measures your windows, walks you through the options, and leaves you with an exact price and timeline, that's the whole visit. Keep the quote as long as you like and decide whenever you're ready, or don't. Booking takes about a minute. *Book your free visit → |
Have an event to share? We (and our readers) can't wait to hear about it! Submit an event → |
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05 — The event calendar Sneak peek at next weekPlan ahead for the next seven days. Dates, times, and locations are subject to change. Always check official event pages before heading out.
🐢 Bohdi @ Sherry's Art Studio | Monday (7/27) at 11:00 AM – Sherry’s Art Studio is turning your thrifted bowls, cutting boards, or that mystery platter into ocean art with Bodi the Sea Turtle. You paint with multi-surface magic, decoupage with dishwasher-safe Mod Podge, then they resin it for use, and boom, your kitchenware hoarding is vindicated.
🚗 Visit a Vehicle at the Bunnell Library @ Bunnell Library @ NEXUS | Thursday (7/30) at 10:30 AM – Think the kids only care about screens? Bunnell Library @ Nexus is throwing an end of summer reading Visit a Vehicle celebration, with popsicles, lemonade, and a fleet of climbable rigs that make your inner eight-year-old, and the actual ones, ridiculously happy.
🎨 Painting Night @ Green Heritage Nursery (Bunnell) | Thursday (7/30) at 5:30 PM – Green Heritage Nursery turns into a studio as local favorite Stewart Maxcy walks you through a Florida-inspired scene, supplies included, stress optional. Relaxed, social, and beginner friendly, you will leave with a canvas you will actually hang, and a pleasantly smug grin.
🎨 Coffee and Canvas Wild Flower Bouquet @ Sherry's Art Studio | Friday (7/31) at 8:00 AM – Sherrys Art Studio Palm Coast is serving caffeine, color, and zero judgment for your vintage mason jar phase. Sip coffee while Sherry guides you through a wildflower bouquet, supplies included, so even the friend who only draws stick figures leaves feeling smug.
🧜 Mermaid Hairbrushes @ Poppy's True Market (Bunnell) | Saturday (8/1) at 10:30 AM – Whether you bring the kids or just your inner kid, this crafty workshop at Poppy’s True Market lets you deck out a hairbrush with seashells, pearls, and seaside finds. It is equal parts mermaid magic and mindful tinkering, and mercifully, it actually gets used.
🐢 Ocean Resin Pour 30oz Sea Turtle Tumbler Workshop @ Sherry's Art Studio | Saturday (8/1) at 11:00 AM – If your morning tumbler screams gas station, Sherry’s Palm Coast studio will fix that. Craft a 30 oz sea turtle stunner with UV resin, coquina shells, mica, pastes, and glitter, with Sherry guiding every step, and leave with functional art and a smug grin.
🧘 Yoga Nidra | Deep Rest & Relaxation @ Yoga Elements & Retreats (Bunnell) | Sunday (8/2) at 4:00 PM – Yoga Nidra is offering the rarest luxury, sanctioned rest, with a guided meditation. Expect a touch of gentle movement, then guided “yogic sleep” with breath work, body scanning, and blankets. No poses to ace, just cozy socks, pillows, and the rest you can brag about.
Want more? Browse our full events calendar | Submit an event |
06 — From our sponsor Heads up for pet parentsTogether with our sponsor Lemonade. Nothing prepares you for a late-night emergency at the vet. I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. From the initial exam fee just to be seen, to x-rays, surgery, medication, and follow-up visits… the bill racks up fast (to say the least). And at that moment? You’re not thinking about your savings, you’re just saying yes to whatever keeps them thriving. As soon as we got home, I dug around online and ultimately signed up for Pet Insurance. It was too late for me, but you could save thousands on your next vet bill with *Lemonade. |
07 — Palm Coast report Weather forecastToday — High: 89°F — Low: 78°F — Precip: 67%
Showers and thunderstorms likely after 2pm. Mostly sunny. High near 89, with temperatures falling to around 84 in the afternoon. Heat index values as high as 100. Northwest wind 5 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible. Later: Showers and thunderstorms likely before 10pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 10pm and 2am. Mostly cloudy. Low around 78, with temperatures rising to around 79 overnight. Southwest wind 7 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 16 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Tomorrow — High: 87°F — Low: 78°F — Precip: 68%
A slight chance of rain showers between 8am and 11am, then showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly sunny. High near 87, with temperatures falling to around 83 in the afternoon. Northwest wind around 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. Later: Showers and thunderstorms likely before 2am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 78. South wind 5 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. Most popular house this weekThe Bristol in Palm Coast spreads nearly 5,000 square feet across two levels with plenty of room to roam. Upstairs offers three bedrooms, a bonus room, and a loft, plus an optional balcony. Downstairs features a private master suite, a gourmet kitchen, a study, big laundry room, two baths, and a three-car garage.
Take a peek inside → |
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