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Hi Vero Beach, we made it to Thursday! In today’s edition: Lagoon manatees see fewer deaths, Taste of Little Italy returns, bacon burger and beer festival, and more.
— Cait Baker
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📰 In the news
Threats facing lagoon manatees: Manatee deaths in Indian River County fell last year, with seven reported in 2025, down from 2024. County efforts include fertilizer limits and septic-to-sewer projects to improve lagoon health — see key threats and efforts.
Wine garden and headliners: Galbani Taste of Little Italy will fill Tradition Square Feb. 13–15 with Italian food, live music, cooking demos, and family fun, with free admission and parking for its 19th year — see what’s new this year.
Swap meet and live music: Causeway Cove Bacon Burger and Beer Festival and Car Show returns to Hutchinson Island this weekend, Feb 7-8, with bacon and burger bites, cars, and family fun for Treasure Coast — get all the details.
Focus on accessibility and relaxation: Duck Court Park is getting upgrades, including new sidewalks and a paved walking and biking path, with work taking six to seven months and opening expected later in 2026 — see what’s planned here.
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. If you’re curious about adding precious metals to your IRA or 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.
Compare rates for free: Insurance prices drop all the time, but you’ll only know if you check. I assumed my rate was fine until I compared options and realized I was leaving real money on the table. It took a minute to check and instantly showed better offers for where I live. If it’s been more than a few months, you should probably run this comparison tool here.
One pet emergency can easily cost $7,000+ but pet insurance helps ease the financial and emotional burden. It’s something I wish I’d had after spending $10k on last-minute surgery for my cat (her name is Miss Stache). I learned my lesson and signed up for Spot. It’s super affordable and reimburses up to 90% of the bill.
*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
A legacy takes shape: Vero Beach’s new Jimmy Graves Sports and Community Complex is now open, honoring the late student athlete. The $7.6 million project adds an eight-lane track, field event stations, and a 5,000 square foot inclusive playground with ramps, sensory features, and swings, built through public and private partnerships. Learn how it came together.
New routes reshape access: JetBlue is now flying direct to Vero Beach from New York and Boston after launching service in December 2025. American Airlines will add a nonstop from Charlotte this month. More seats and simpler trips are expected to boost Treasure Coast tourism as the city expands visitor infrastructure. See routes and timelines.
Closet refresh, anyone? VNA Hidden Treasures Thrift Store keeps treasure hunting lively with stylish clothing, quality furniture, and the unexpected finds you didn’t know you needed. Every purchase supports VNA Hospice care in Indian River County, so your next great score does real good and gives back to neighbors.
Sushi night upgrade: If your week needs a little raw fish joy, Saigon Sushi nails the balance: clean, fresh nigiri, playful rolls, and a laid-back vibe that feels like a small win. Keep it simple or go adventurous, and your soy-sauce game just leveled up.
A smart way to save on big purchases: When costs hit the tens of thousands, credit card and personal loan interest racks up fast. A HELOC lets you tap into your home’s equity as a flexible line of credit at a lower rate… all without refinancing your mortgage. I’ve been looking into this myself, and Figure’s HELOC stood out for its 100% online application, no in-person appraisal, and quick access to cash.
Your neighbors are Googling you:It’s an uncomfortable thought, but people search names all the time — employers, new friends, other parents at school pickup. If something negative, outdated, or misleading shows up on the first page, it can shape how people see you before you ever meet. BetterReputation helps push down unwanted search results so the first impression you make actually reflects who you are today. And if it’s not your name, you can help a friend or family member with that too.
Get clarity on financial decisions: Managing retirement, taxes, and investments alone can feel overwhelming, especially during big life transitions. Financial advisors provide holistic guidance, help reduce risk, and keep emotions away from costly decisions. I found a tool called Unbiased that matches you with the right financial advisor based on your personal situation so you can get a second opinion… it never hurts.
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📆 Around town this weekend
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.
🎭 Backstage Theatre Tours @ Riverside Theatre | Friday (2/6) at 10:00 AM – Skip the jazz hands and go behind the red curtain for a ninety-minute, story-stuffed tour where you poke around sets, props, and the clever bits that make the magic. Meet the crew, catch fresh behind-the-scenes tidbits, and for five bucks, it beats yard work.
🌻 Gardenfest @ Riverside Park | Saturday (2/7) at 9:00 AM – Riverside Park turns into a plant-lover’s playground, where locals tow wagons, pretend they needed another bromeliad, and somehow leave with pottery, fountains, and a fruit tree. Free to wander under the oaks, shop top-notch vendors, and support local scholarships, rain or shine.
🐟 Art’s Fish Fest @ Pocahontas Park | Saturday (2/7) at 11:00 AM – Bring your appetite, and a side dish if you’re feeling neighborly, to Art’s Fish Fest, a $10, members-only feast that disappears faster than hot hushpuppies. Only 75 spots, so register and pay on Court Reserve, then arrive hungry, chatty, and slightly smug.
🐉 Book Club: When Women Were Dragons @ Vero Wine Bar | Saturday (2/7) at 11:30 AM – We’re diving into Kelly Barnhill’s When Women Were Dragons, a 1950s speculative novel where women, quite literally, take flight. Expect sharp conversation about gender, power, and freedom, and the pleasure of watching outdated norms, and maybe a few book club rules, go up in smoke.
🎙 A Tribute to Bobby Darin & Dean Martin @ Vero Beach Elks Lodge #1774 | Saturday (2/7) at 5:30 PM – Nothing beats a Rat Pack tribute when you want charm, swing, and a reason to hum That’s Amore on the ride home. Open to Elks members and guests, with proceeds boosting the Elks Scholarship Fund. Tickets drop soon, so prep your croon, and a martini.
💘 Valentine Ball @ Oak Harbor | Saturday (2/7) at 6:00 PM – Nothing beats dressing up, sipping bubbles, and dancing for a good cause. The beloved Valentine Ball returns, raising funds for United Against Poverty’s life-changing work, so you can waltz, mingle, maybe win a silent auction, and leave with warm fuzzies, not just sore feet.
🎺 UCF’s Flying Horse Big Band @ Vero Beach High School Performing Arts Center | Saturday (2/7) at 6:30 PM – Make a night of it with UCF’s Flying Horse Big Band, directed by Jeff Rupert, a world-class outfit with chart-topping albums and Montreux cred. Big sound, zero pretense, and your ticket funds the TC Jazz Society’s student scholarships, so you can feel smug and swingy.
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
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📻 Vero Beach report
Weather forecast
Today – High: 64°F – Low: 38°F – Precip: 70%
Rain showers likely before 3pm. Mostly cloudy. High near 64, with temperatures falling to around 59 in the afternoon. West wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible. Later: Mostly clear, with a low around 38. Wind chill values as low as 34. West northwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.
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Tomorrow – High: 63°F – Low: 45°F – Precip: 0%
Sunny, with a high near 63. West northwest wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Later: Clear, with a low around 45. West wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
This house is wild
Custom built-ins frame a spacious living and dining area with fireplace, while a fully updated gourmet kitchen features top-tier appliances and granite counters. A screened lanai and pool capture serene estuary views. The primary suite offers a balcony with Indian River views. Recent upgrades include repiping and fresh exterior paint, blending comfort with sweeping water views.
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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