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Hello Florence! Hope your coffee’s especially good this morning.
In today’s bring-the-kiddos edition: NASCAR weekend, newborn baby goat yoga, and a tiny home community for families + excuses to get the fam out and about this week.
Heads up for pet parents: 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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📰 In the news
Training and retention in focus: South Carolina’s growth is increasing demand for care, and health systems are expanding staff. Prisma Health is boosting capacity, while Florence’s McLeod Health invests locally to meet rising needs — read how systems are responding.
Local partners launch village plan: Florence 1 Schools and House of Hope will build a ten-home tiny home community for families experiencing homelessness, with a March 31 groundbreaking and a planned 2027 opening — learn how the partnership works.
City leadership shift raises questions: Darlington City Council named former mayor J. Ronald Ward interim city manager, announced March 4 after terminating Lenessa Hawkins. The reason remains unclear as Pee Dee residents watch the transition — read the full story.
Gold just hit record highs. What about your savings? While traditional IRAs have been treading water against inflation, gold has gained over 50% in three years. That gap is why more retirees are rolling a portion of their savings into gold IRAs (the kind that hold physical metal). We compared the top five options and broke down who they’re best for. Check it out here →
Paying hundreds of dollars a month for car insurance? Switching providers could save you up to $600 a year, and shopping around is way faster than it used to be – free comparison tools like this one make it easy.*
Highlights this week:
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💎 Local business spotlight
Make it a music night: Downtown’s FMU Performing Arts Center keeps a steady mix of touring shows, symphony performances, and community spotlights rolling. Peek at the lineup, pick a date, and let the room’s clean acoustics do the heavy lifting—your only job is showing up with good vibes.
Quick art reset: Rotating exhibitions at Gately Gallery bring together regional, national, and international artists, making it an easy downtown detour when you need fresh eyes and a calmer brain. Slip in this week for a low-stakes wander; you’ll likely leave buzzing with one new idea.
Tea time, sorted: For a cozy midweek reset, Top Hat Special-Teas does proper afternoon tea with fresh-baked scones, plus lunchy comforts like Welsh rarebit and quiche, all alongside plenty of loose‑leaf to explore—easy downtown pick‑me‑up. (tophatspecialteas.com)
These aren’t ads or sponsored placements, just some cool nearby spots we think are worth a visit.
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🫶 We got your back
Makeup that actually works: My sister and I were talking the other day about how the makeup we used in our 20s… just doesn’t work now that we’re in our 30s and 40s. Laura Geller’s entire makeup line addresses this shift, with formulas that smooth, brighten, and actually stay put. If you’re in the same boat, *their curated kits are worth a look →
Own a piece of Apple for less than a coffee: Every time you buy something from Amazon or Starbucks, you’re putting money in their pocket. Fractional shares flip that: you can own a slice of those companies for as little as a dollar. Most investing apps make it incredibly easy, with zero commissions and no account minimums. See which ones we recommend →
Mom says she’s fine. You’re not so sure: “What if something happens when you’re home alone?” You’ve asked a hundred times, but the outcome’s always the same. I don’t need that. Life Alert’s for old people. The real struggle isn’t finding a medical alert system that’ll work… it’s finding one she won’t fight you on. We looked into five options designed to settle the standoff, from smartwatches to systems with nothing to wear at all. See which ones stood out →
Thinning hair? Your shampoo was never going to fix it: I’ve spent an embarrassing amount of money on hair-loss products, biotin, masks, sprays, you name it. Not one of them lasted. Turns out, most things target the strand, not the follicle (where thinning actually happens). Dermatologists have been prescribing treatments that work for years, but there are now plenty of options available with no office visits required. See our top picks for men and women →
Strangers can buy your personal data for $0.50: Data brokers sell your name, home address, phone number, estimated income, and other personal info to anyone willing to pay. Scammers and identity thieves use these databases to take advantage of you. There are dozens of affordable services that can help you protect yourself. These three are our favorites →
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📆 Fun for the whole fam
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.
🏁 2026 Spring NASCAR Weekend @ Darlington Raceway | Friday (3/20) at 7:30 AM – Trade your weekend yardwork for horsepower and nostalgia as NASCAR takes on The Lady in Black at Darlington’s spring Throwback Weekend. Expect retro paint, elbows-out racing, and that famous stripe, plus trucks, the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, and Cup. Grab tickets: https://www.darlingtonraceway.com/events/spring-tickets/.
⚾ High School Baseball Tournament @ Carolina Bank Field | Saturday (3/21) at 11:00 AM – Neighborhood bragging rights are on the line as local high schools square off in a baseball tournament. Expect dusty slides, clanging aluminum, and concession-stand nachos, plus a chance to relive your Little League glory from the bleachers; schedule TBA, so keep a lawn chair ready.
🐐 Newborn Baby Goat Yoga @ Lucky Dog Animal Rescue | Saturday (3/21) at 11:00 AM – Grab your mat or towel, and come do beginner-friendly baby goat yoga at Lucky Dog Animal Rescue, featuring 1 to 2 week old snuggle pros. Expect more cuddles than crunches, less posing than bleating. Your ticket helps animals in need across Florence County.
🦆 The Ugly Duckling @ Florence Little Theatre | Saturday (3/21) at 11:00 AM – Florence Little Theatre hosts Schoolhouse Players with The Ugly Duckling, a sweet, funny spin on the classic glow-up tale that keeps the kids hooked and the adults secretly emotional. Bring the grands, grab a snack, and enjoy wholesome laughs, feathers, and zero screen time.
🎩 The Mad Hatter Tea Party @ St. Luke Lutheran Church | Saturday (3/21) at 3:00 PM – Dust off your most ridiculous hat for the Humane Society’s third annual tea, with brews, dainty treats, and prizes for Best Hat, Best Costume, and more. Snap a photo with the Mad Hatter, meet adoptable cuties, and snag tickets early, it sold out last year.
🎲 Dice Match Madness Social @ Dr. Eddie Floyd Florence Tennis Center | Sunday (3/22) at 4:00 PM – This dice-fueled tennis social at Dr. Eddie Floyd Florence Tennis Center is less Wimbledon, more backyard bragging rights, and yes, wear your green. Bring friends, family, and lucky charms. It’s $5 a head with food and drinks after, and you can register here: https://tinyurl.com/DiceMatch2026.
🐣 Easter Eggstravaganza @ Highland Park United Methodist Church | Sunday (3/22) at 4:00 PM – Nothing says spring like kids sprinting for plastic eggs while you line up for a hot dog dinner. HPUMC is throwing a bash with staggered egg hunts, games, an inflatable slide, and a Phillips Farms petting zoo, so bring a basket, and a friend.
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
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📻 Florence report
Weather forecast
Today – High: 51°F – Low: 32°F – Precip: 5%
Partly sunny, with a high near 51. Northeast wind 2 to 7 mph. Later: Partly cloudy, with a low around 32. Northeast wind around 2 mph.
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Tomorrow – High: 62°F – Low: 41°F – Precip: 0%
Patchy frost before 9am. Sunny, with a high near 62. North wind around 2 mph. Later: Partly cloudy, with a low around 41. South wind around 2 mph.
This house is wild
The Farm, a 6-bed, 4.5-bath country estate with dual owner suites, spans 5.69 acres and nearly 4,400 square feet, delivering standout outdoor living. A heated and cooled sunroom opens to a pool and Trex deck with built-in seating. Car and RV enthusiasts get a pull-through motorhome building with hookups, kennels, and storage, plus four garages and a three-car carport.
Take a peek inside →
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