Sunday, April 26, 2026

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.*

Spirit Lake 360 returns: Set for October 22-25 in Live Oak, Suwannee Hulaween will feature Pretty Lights, My Morning Jacket, and three nights of The String Cheese Incident, with new glamping and expanded shuttles -- check out the full lineup.

New look for local groceries: Columbia County shoppers, Winn-Dixie plans to rebrand several Harveys, including a Lake City store and two in the Jacksonville area, promising a unified experience with familiar value and fresh offerings -- see which stores will change.

Advancing equitable maternal health: UF’s mobile maternity clinic, launched in 2025, brings free prenatal, postpartum, and OB-GYN care to Columbia County and nearby rural stops twice weekly, helping close North Florida care deserts -- see services and locations.

The bill everyone over 50 should double check: Car insurance. If you’ve been on the same plan for years, you might be paying way more than you need to. It’s an easy one to forget about, but switching could save you up to $600 this year. Case in point: I shopped around and ended up cutting my premium in half — this free comparison tool makes it easy.*

Retirees are making moves: After gold's best year in nearly five decades, more folks than ever are moving part of their savings into precious metals. Not all of it... just enough to hedge against inflation. AHG put together a free guide that explains how it works -- grab your copy here.*

Treat yourself locally: Halpatter Brewing Company is your Lake City living room with better taps, pouring house favorites like O'Leno Cream Ale and Big Hal Brown while the kitchen and distillery keep non-beer folks happy. Expect live music, a solid brunch, and a dog friendly scene that turns weeknights into tiny vacations.

Sushi night, sorted: When you want a dependable local fix, U MI Japanese Cuisine plates beautifully crafted sushi, sashimi, and nigiri, plus comforting ramen and hibachi for the non-raw crowd. Dine in or grab takeout, then pretend you totally meant to plan a fancy weeknight in.

Pizza night upgrade: When your week needs a tasty assist, Piesanos Stone Fired Pizza - Lake City turns out stone-fired pies with that crispy-chewy thing just right, plus pastas, subs, and other comfort classics in a relaxed spot. Perfect for an easy win after school pickup or a low-key date night.

That patch of scalp that wasn't there a year ago: It's more common than most folks talk about. Especially in your 50s... hormones, stress, and nutrition all start pulling at hair density at once. Nutrafol is a drug-free daily supplement designed to work on those causes together — and in clinical studies, 93% of women said their hair looked healthier after six months. *Take a look →

The slower you walk, the more it works: Tai Chi walking is trending online. Turns out it's centuries old — slow deliberate steps, paced breath, attention on the body. Thirty minutes a day burns fat, lifts your mood, and builds balance. No gym, no treadmill, no pounding on the joints. Take the quick quiz to see if it fits, then use code BASELOCAL for a discount on the coaching plan. *See how it works →

For women who've been feeling off for years: The fatigue, the weight creeping up, the mood swings, the sleep that won't hold. Turns out most of those "it's just aging" problems are actually caused by hormones, and proper HRT can get you back to feeling like yourself. The catch? You can't get it without a full hormone panel and a doctor who understands what those numbers mean. Most women never get either, but Hone Health gives you both. *See how it works →

Two sprays before bed, no more snoring? It really is that simple. No mouthpiece to wrestle with, no CPAP mask, no nose strips that peel off at 2am. This doctor-developed throat spray has been keeping sleepers quiet for 30 years, and first-time orders are 40% off right now. *See how it works →

Your homeowners insurance has a blind spot: It covers your house if a tree falls on it. It doesn’t cover your furnace when it quits in January, your AC when it dies in July, or your water heater when it starts leaking on a Tuesday. Those are all classified as "normal wear and tear," and they're 100% on you. American Home Shield can help fill that gap for ~$1/day (even if your appliances and systems are really old).*See what it covers →

🐝 Mosaic Pollinator Hydration Station @ Gateway Art Gallery (Lake City) | Tuesday (4/28) at 1:00 PM – Swap your to-do list for brushes and pens, and let Laura's mixed media class serve mindfulness without the app. Last Tuesday each month, make small works in watercolor, acrylic pens, and ink, supplies included, projects changing monthly, and register online or at the Gallery.

🧱 LEGO Club @ Columbia County Public Library - Main Library (Lake City) | Wednesday (4/29) at 3:30 PM – Midweek slump calls for a little brick therapy, so head to the Main Library’s LEGO Club on Wednesdays. Bring the kids, your inner architect, and the patience you swore you had. Simple builds, big imaginations, and zero screen time, which feels downright luxurious.

⛳ Golf Tournament @ Quail Heights Country Club (Lake City) | Friday (5/1) at 8:00 AM – Grab three friends for a 4-man scramble at Quail Heights, raising funds for the Lake City Hammers’ Cal Ripken Experience trip. $300 per team, shotgun start, lunch included, prizes, plus a Texas Roadhouse appetizer card for every player, so even your bogeys give back.

🧒 Kiwanis Kids Day @ Florida Gateway Fairgrounds (Lake City) | Saturday (5/2) at 9:00 AM – Pack the minivan, Kiwanis Kids Day returns for its 11th year at the Florida Gateway Fairgrounds in Lake City, a full day of games, crafts, and kid-fueled chaos. You handle the sunscreen, snacks, and stroller, they’ll handle the bounce houses, smiles, and nap-worthy memories.

💝 Annual Benefit Show for the Orphanage @ Retro City Arcade and Pizzeria (Lake City) | Saturday (5/2) at 12:00 PM – An annual all-day lineup of local artists, raising funds for the orphanage without the awkward telethon vibe. Come for the feel-good sets, stay for the raffle you never win, the neighbors you actually like, and the excuse to do good while you groove.

🚗 Cruise-In Car Show @ Halpatter Brewing Company (Lake City) | Saturday (5/2) at 4:00 PM – Downtown is going monthly cruise night, the kind you remember from Bel-Air Plaza, only with better beer. Bring your ride or your walking shoes, vote for favorites, catch live music, a pin-up crowning, and plenty of chrome.

🔨 Quarter Paddle Auction @ American Legion Post 57 (Lake City) | Saturday (5/2) at 5:00 PM – Bring three bucks for a paddle, or four if you like odds, then toss in quarters and hope your number hits for prizes. They’ll show you the ropes. Trade, barter, and clean your garage, since proceeds back Cats Amore and our Veteran Service Officer Fund.

This Lake City Country Club stunner fronts the fairway with lake views and a backyard with no rear neighbors. A circular paver drive and Spanish moss set the vibe. Inside, vaulted beams, a stone fireplace, and picture windows shine. An oversized main level suite, a flexible bonus room, sunroom, new roof and HVAC, plus a whole house generator complete it.