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Hey The Villages, hope your week’s off to a good start! Strawberry u-pick season, a candlelight Vivaldi concert, record new-home sales, and more. Let’s get to it!
— Cait Baker
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📰 In the news
Boom brings benefits and strain: The Villages topped 2025 national rankings, while nearby Sarasota County saw Lakewood Ranch at No. 2 and Wellen Park in the top 10, recording 2,085 and 992 new-home sales — get all the details.
Sunshine and small-town charm: Florida’s Nature Coast offers a different escape this winter and spring, with Crystal River, Homosassa, Inverness, and Floral City featuring manatee eco tours, kayaking, hiking, and walkable historic downtowns — read the full story.
Fresh-picked fun this winter: Strawberry season runs through March, with kid-friendly u-pick near Orlando. From The Villages, visit Brown’s Adventure Farm in Oxford. The Florida Strawberry Festival will run Feb 26 to March 8 — see where to pick berries.
A wave of local debuts: From Gainesville to Belleview, January brought new spots to the 352, including restaurants, a tattoo studio, ice cream, apparel, and drive-thru coffee. One Belleview shop held its grand opening mid-month — check out the full lineup.
Gold & silver are hot: Last year was gold’s best year since 1979. Silver did even better, climbing nearly 150%… and analysts expect the momentum to continue. Curious about precious metal investing? GoldCo has a helpful guide that covers everything you need to know. It’s free — and definitely worth a read.
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.
Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175/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.
*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
New chapter for city coalition: Lady Lake Mayor Ed Freeman was appointed president of the Heartland League of Cities, a regional group representing Lake and Sumter counties. His leadership comes as communities weigh possible property tax losses and threats to home rule, giving our area a stronger voice in statewide debates. See what’s at stake.
Your neighbors are Googling you: It’s uncomfortable but true — employers, new friends, even other parents at school pickup search names all the time. If something negative, outdated, or misleading shows up first, it can shape opinions before you ever meet. BetterReputation helps push down unwanted search results so your first impression actually reflects who you are today. And if it’s someone you care about, you can help them too.
How Wildwood stacks up: Wildwood is considering raising starting pay for police officers to $68,000, which would be the area’s highest, to attract more applicants. The department has 60 officers and eight vacancies, below staffing benchmarks. The proposal, including raises for current officers, would cost about $500,000. See how staffing compares.
Gold is having a moment: Between inflation headlines, market swings, and growing global uncertainty, precious metals are (again) in the spotlight. American Hartford is currently offering up to $25,000 in free silver when you open a qualified account. They’ll also help you set up a penalty-free gold IRA with a lowest price guarantee, no buyback fees, and 7-day price protection.
Tune up your week: Whether your guitar needs a setup, your kid wants a first lesson, or you’re ready to play something louder than the TV, Leesburg Music has the gear, repairs, and teaching studios to make getting back to music feel easy.
A second opinion never hurts: Not every financial advisor is the right fit, and it’s okay to explore your options. Unbiased matches you with an advisor based on your personal situation, giving you a chance to ask questions in a free, no-pressure conversation to see if the fit makes sense. No obligation — just helpful advice.
Need a pho fix? At Pho Saigon #1, you’ll find rich, aromatic broth, silky noodles, and a heap of herbs you’ll happily overdo. There’s easy dine-in or takeout, plus vermicelli bowls and rice plates when soup isn’t the move, zero fuss, all comfort.
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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.
This week
🍽 Dine to Donate: The Villages Honor Flight @ Redsauce American – Italian Restaurant | Tuesday (2/10) at 11:00 AM – Grab a table at Redsauce, and your marinara money helps send our local veterans to the memorials through The Villages Honor Flight. Zero guilt, maximum carbs, and the kind of community pride that pairs perfectly with a good meatball.
🌼 Bob Ross Floral Oils Painting Class @ Lake Miona Recreation Center | Tuesday (2/10) at 1:00 PM – Channel your inner Bob Ross in a beginner-friendly oil painting class, painting zinnias with his wet on wet technique. Register early through The Enrichment Academy, $65 plus $30 supplies to the instructor, because it fills fast. Easy vibes, real instruction, and happy little flowers.
🎶 Vienna Boys Choir @ Sharon L. Morse Performing Arts Center | Tuesday (2/10) at 7:00 PM – Whether you remember them from vinyl or just like harmonies that actually land, the Vienna Boys Choir brings old-world sparkle to The Sharon. Park the golf cart, wear a real jacket, and let those voices raise the roof, and your standards.
This weekend
🧶 craft fair @ Eisenhower Recreation Center | Saturday (2/14) at 9:00 AM – This Valentine’s Day craft fair at Rohan Recreation Center is your chance to snag something handmade, heartfelt, and not from a gas station. Meet local makers, browse jewelry, candles, and clever cards, then leave looking like you planned ahead, cupid-level smug.
🚗 Car Show @ Beef ‘O’ Brady’s Mulberry Grove | Saturday (2/14) at 11:00 AM – Patio weather calls for polished chrome and nostalgia. This Best of Show car show lines up classics, hot rods, and immaculate oddballs while judges crown the shiny champ. Bring your lawn chair, swap stories, savor that gasoline perfume, and call it quality time.
💖 Stevie G @ The Grand Oaks Resort | Saturday (2/14) at 5:00 PM – Valentine’s at Weirsdale’s Grand Oaks means Stevie G crooning the classics, a good meal, and zero dish duty. Grab VIP in the first two rows for $68, or go General for $60, both with dinner. Outsourced romance is still romance, easier on the schedule.
⛵ Yachtley Crew @ Orange Blossom Opry | Sunday (2/15) at 7:00 PM – Yächtley Crëw docks at Orange Blossom Opry for a night of yacht rock sing-alongs. Expect soft-rock heaters, tight harmonies, and more captain hats than Lake Weir on a holiday weekend. Bring your best falsetto, your dad moves, and someone who nails the Michael McDonald parts.
Live music & entertainment:
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
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📻 The Villages report
Weather forecast
Today – High: 79°F – Low: 48°F – Precip: 0%
Sunny. High near 79, with temperatures falling to around 75 in the afternoon. West southwest wind 0 to 10 mph. Later: Patchy fog after 10pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 48. West southwest wind around 5 mph.
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Tomorrow – High: 76°F – Low: 53°F – Precip: 4%
Patchy fog before 9am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 76. West southwest wind 0 to 10 mph. Later: Patchy fog after midnight. Partly cloudy, with a low around 53. West wind 0 to 5 mph.
This house is wild
Golf-front living in Fernandina, a 67-home enclave beside championship fairways. An open plan links the great room to an oversized lanai and screened enclosure showing panoramic water and Bonifay fairway views. A chef’s kitchen anchors the layout. Primary suite, office, entertainment room, and guest suite with hobby room. A 27-foot-deep garage offers nearly 900 square feet for carts and storage.
Take a peek inside →
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🔥 Worth a peek
We’re always on the hunt for useful resources, deals, services, and products we genuinely think you’ll love. Here’s what caught our eye this week:
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