|
Good morning, Panama City! In today’s edition: Free emergency response training, a polar plunge for leukemia, license plate frame penalties, and more. Let’s get to it!
— Cait Baker
|
📰 In the news
Faster paths to opportunity: Bay County announced free emergency response training, highlighting short-term certificate programs that help students earn credentials in months instead of years and open doors for career advancement — read the full story.
Two-phase waterfront plan: Panama City plans more input on Downtown Marina. Charrettes will take place January 21 to 23 at City Hall, with times to be shared during the first week of January — see how to get involved.
Small changes, big consequences: Florida drivers now face misdemeanor penalties for covering license plate parts, and a state memo explains how frames are treated. Not all frames are banned, but plates must remain clear — see how to stay compliant.
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.
Protect your nest egg: Savvy investors are turning to gold amidst today’s inflation, national debt, and market uncertainty for a reason. It holds its value when everything else feels shaky. Case in point: it’s up ~62% since this month last year. If you’re curious about adding it and other precious metals to your portfolio, American Hartford has a super helpful guide that covers everything you need to know. It’s free, and definitely worth a read — check it out here.
*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:
|
🫶 We got your back
Greening efforts take root: The City of Panama City will host six tree giveaway events in 2026, backed by a $1 million grant. The first giveaway is on January 17 at the downtown Farmers Market. More dates and locations are planned throughout the year. See dates and locations.
Local cider, sorted: Skip the lager rut and let History Class Brewing Co. pour something fresh: tart Pollywog Cherry or pineapple-forward Miss Neon, both gluten-free and made with real fruit, no added sugar. Ideal for a weeknight catch-up or a low-key weekend victory lap.
Spruce up your space: From a subtle refresh to a full living-room shift, Jute & Palm curates lighting, rugs, wall-and-pillow pairings, and Found/Made/Gathered pieces that feel personal. Their Forgotten Art corner supports Bay Arts Alliance, so your shelf glow-up looks good and does good.
Thinning hair? Same: I’ve been shedding a lot, and recently noticed my ponytail feeling thinner. After way too much panic-Googling, I discovered Keranique’s hair regrowth system. Everything with them is surprisingly easy: no quizzes, no pills, no choosing between dozens of products. Just grab the kit and follow the instructions. The best part? It’s $75 off right now, you’ll get three free gifts, AND you’ll get your money back if you don’t love the results.
|
📆 Around town this week
All events are subject to change without notice. Always check official event pages for the most up to date information.
This week
🀄 Mahjong 101 – January @ The Portal Downtown | Tuesday (1/6) at 6:00 PM – Trade your Sudoku for tiles and learn American Mahjong from a guild-certified pro who actually knows what all those jokers are for. It is beginner-friendly, hands-on, and delightfully social, so you can stop nodding at game night, and start racking up real wins.
🧶 Intro to Crochet @ Panama City Center for the Arts | Thursday (1/8) at 5:00 PM – If you’ve been flirting with grandma-core or just want a calm, useful hobby, this four-week crochet series gets you from basics to granny squares, puff stitches, and reading patterns without swearing. Beginners welcome, supplies not included, bring yarn, a G or H hook, and patience.
🧘 Yoga in the Gallery @ Panama City Center for the Arts | Friday (1/9) at 5:30 PM – New year, new hips that don’t creak, maybe. Slow flow vinyasa in the Main Gallery at Panama City Center for the Arts, led by Amy McGuire of Balance Yoga & Lifestyle, all levels, $15, BYO mat, with proceeds helping the arts we actually enjoy.
This weekend
🚗 St Andrews Cars and Coffee @ St Andrews Marina | Saturday (1/10) at 8:00 AM – Rolling into second Saturdays, St Andrews Cars and Coffee is where early birds swap stories over hot cups and open hoods. Bring your ride, mind your manners, and enjoy a low-drama lineup, good conversations, and that just-right mix of chrome, caffeine, and community.
🥶 10th Annual Salty Goat Polar Plunge @ The Salty Goat Saloon | Saturday (1/10) at 11:00 AM – If you’ve been waiting for a sign to run into the Gulf in January, this is it, the 10th annual Polar Plunge at Salty Goat supporting leukemia research in honor of Gary Gault. Dip or cheer, then thaw with a beverage, raffle prizes, and goodwill.
✂ Crafternoon @ Parker Public Library | Saturday (1/10) at 11:00 AM – Crafternoon is serving up cozy winter crafts for adults and teens 16+, so you can make something cute and call it self-care. Think button trees, quilling, and beginner Zentangle, and spots are limited, so claim yours early by calling 850-871-3092 to register.
🧵 Tangerine Textiles @ Bookish Boutique | Sunday (1/11) at 12:00 PM – Swing by Bookish for a cozy Tangerine Textiles pop-up, all handmade sleeves and reader-friendly accessories that make your books and e-readers feel fancy. Perfect for gifting, and even better for “one for them, one for me.” Shop small, chat books, leave smugly organized.
Live music & entertainment:
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
|
📻 Panama City report
Weather forecast
Today – High: 69°F – Low: 63°F – Precip: 8%
Patchy fog before 7am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 69. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Later: A slight chance of rain showers after midnight. Partly cloudy, with a low around 63. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
—
Tomorrow – High: 70°F – Low: 63°F – Precip: 7%
Mostly sunny, with a high near 70. Later: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 63.
This house is wild
New construction by Solara Homes with crisp, modern lines. This 3 bed, 2 bath, 1,111 square foot plan feels airy with 9 foot ceilings. The open kitchen brings quartz counters, a full height tile backsplash, GE appliances, a stainless farmhouse sink, and soft close shaker cabinets. LVP floors anchor the living areas, and matte black fixtures sharpen the look.
The primary suite adds a walk in closet, dual quartz vanities, and a subway tiled shower with a semi frameless glass door. Extras include efficient HVAC, a high performance water heater, white siding, black windows, board and batten detail, a 1-2-10 builder warranty, and no HOA.
Take a peek inside →
|
 |
Thanks for reading! If you know someone who’d love BaseLocal, send ’em here so they can sign up too 🙂
|
|
|
|
