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Hey The Villages, hope your week’s off to a good start! In case you missed yesterday’s email, BaseLocal Business went live last week… and it’s going way better than I ever could have imagined!
If you run a local business and haven’t signed up, you can join here for free.
The more businesses we have on the platform, the more events, announcements, news, cool spots to check out, and deals we’ll have to share with you all every week. So if you know of a local business that belongs in the newsletter, forward this email to them or send ‘em here so they sign up too! The more the merrier 🙂
That’s all for today – let’s get to it!
— Cait Baker
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📰 In the news
Master-planned communities surge in Florida: Lakewood Ranch ranked No. 2 for 2025 new-home sales and Wellen Park landed top 10, as Sarasota County continued to dominate while The Villages kept the No. 1 spot — see the rankings and concerns.
Designed to spark connection: Oak and Stone will open in Eastport in early summer 2026, bringing a self-pour tap wall, elevated tavern fare, and rotating craft drinks to a 225-seat space designed for socializing — get all the opening details.
State targets unregulated gaming network: Earlier this month, gaming regulators shut down alleged illegal casinos in Umatilla and Leesburg, seizing 231 devices and more than $157,000 as Operation Calvin Coolidge intensifies enforcement near The Villages — read the full story.
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
Local business welcomes improvements: FDOT says a traffic fix near The Villages is on track to wrap up this spring. Crews are adding a through lane each way on US-301 under Florida’s Turnpike and expanding the southbound turn lane. The work, part of Moving Florida Forward, should ease backups in Sumter County. Learn more about the project.
Treat your feet smartly: If your sandals are on their last legs, Charleston Shoe Co. stocks machine-washable wedges, flats, and sandals that feel good from errands to evening, with a friendly team that nails the fit so you skip the “cute but ouch” walk home.
Blueberry wine, anyone? A quick hop from the neighborhoods, Whispering Oaks Winery pours Florida-grown blueberry wines in a laid-back, oak-shaded hideaway, with tours, live music, and patio dinners that stretch into “let’s stay a bit longer” nights. Perfect for a midweek reset or an easy friends’ night.
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.
This week
📖 Storybook Studio @ Lady Lake Public Library | Tuesday (1/20) at 3:30 PM – Need a midweek sanity saver for you and the littles? Drop into Storybook Studio on Tuesdays for a quick story, a fresh craft, and zero sign-up drama. Low stakes, high glitter, and you get to claim it as quality time, not screen time.
🌱 Garden Class: Indoor Plants @ Fairfield Farms | Thursday (1/22) at 9:00 AM – Houseplants looking a little… dramatic? There’s a free gardening class on indoor plants with real talk on light, watering, and keeping the fiddle-leaf fig from staging a walkout. Bring your questions, leave with healthier greens, fewer gnats, and a plan you’ll actually keep.
✈ World of Travel Expo @ Wildwood Community Center | Thursday (1/22) at 11:00 AM – This is the big travel expo, corralling airlines, tour operators, and cruise folks under one roof with demos and deals galore. Come daydream, grill the pros, and plan your next escape, then leave with enough swag to overpack a carry-on. Passport motivation included.
This weekend
🥩 Carmen @ Prima Italian Steakhouse | Saturday (1/24) at 12:00 PM – Nothing beats a steak with live vocals you don’t have to shout over. Carmen sets the mood at Prima Italian Steakhouse with classic tunes, good pacing, and just the right amount of romance. Order a proper pour, linger between courses, and enjoy grownup night-out energy.
🎨 Acrylic Pour Vase, Canvas, & Lazy Susan Class @ Village Art Workshops | Saturday (1/24) at 1:00 PM – This acrylic pour class turns a vase, canvas, or lazy Susan into swirling art. Pick colors, pick a pour, and let gravity do the heavy lifting, because mess is half the fun. No experience needed, all supplies provided, and extras if you get hooked.
🛍 Mount Dora Village Market @ Sunset Park | Sunday (1/25) at 10:00 AM – Head to the Mount Dora Village Market for a slow stroll with local growers, bakers, and makers. Sip a coffee, catch up with neighbors, and leave with fresh produce, flowers, and small-batch treats. Low-key, high-quality, very Mount Dora.
🎤 A Tribute To Elvis @ The Waterfront Inn | Sunday (1/25) at 1:00 PM – Whether you still know every lyric to Band on the Run, or you just want a night better than arguing about downtown parking, this intimate, high-energy Paul McCartney tribute features a spot-on look-alike who nails the sound, charm, and nostalgia. Paul Is All delivers.
Live music & entertainment:
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
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📻 The Villages report
Weather forecast
Today – High: 61°F – Low: 39°F – Precip: 0%
Areas of frost before 8am. Sunny, with a high near 61. North northeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Later: Partly cloudy, with a low around 39. North northeast wind around 5 mph.
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Tomorrow – High: 72°F – Low: 53°F – Precip: 0%
Partly sunny, with a high near 72. Northeast wind around 5 mph. Later: Cloudy, with a low around 53. Northeast wind 0 to 5 mph.
This house is wild
Golf-front Designer Iris-10, built in 2020, captures wide fairway views along the Lowlands 7th. An open plan brings 10-foot ceilings, 8-foot doors, LVP flooring, and plantation shutters. The quartz and gas kitchen features alabaster cabinetry, a double pantry, and a massive two-sided island. Dual sliders lead to a spacious lanai with a private hot tub.
A split guest wing with pocket door and a serene primary suite add function and style. The 671-square-foot two-car plus golf cart garage has epoxy floors and a utility sink. Near Edna’s on the Green, Brownwood, Eastport, and recreation centers, with room for a pool.
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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