Hello Columbia County! Hope your coffee tastes especially good this morning. In today’s bring-the-kiddos edition: State meet standouts, a family dance party, and Tinkerlab + excuses to get the fam out and about this week.
Your insurance won't cover a $12,000 HVAC bill: If your furnace quits before it warms up, your homeowners insurance will tell you it's a "maintenance issue" and wish you luck. Insurance covers sudden disasters. It doesn't cover the systems that wear out over time, and those are the expensive ones. A home warranty is built for exactly this. HVAC, water heater, appliances, plumbing, electrical... all covered for less than $1/day with no age restrictions on what's covered. You call, they send a tech, you pay a service fee. They handle the rest. This one's 50% off right now.* |
01 — Worth knowing In the newsThree local stories this week, plus a few worth your money.
State meet standouts shine: Suwannee and Eastside led the 2026 small school All Area girls track team after state success, paced by Suwannee’s Ryleigh Hermanson, who won the 2A 1600, and multiple Eastside selections -- see the state meet standouts.
Budget-friendly Florida communities: Looking to stretch your budget? A list spotlights ten affordable Florida small towns, including nearby Live Oak, offering lower rents plus outdoor recreation and culture without big city price tags -- see the full list.
Budget-friendly hometown options: A recent roundup spotlights 11 affordable Florida cities, including Live Oak, Sebring, and Lake Wales, where costs sit below state averages and small-town amenities and nature make everyday life easier -- see the full roundup.
Nothing prepares you for a pet emergency: I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. As soon as we got home, I signed up for Spot. It’s super affordable – and reimburses up to 90% of the bill.*
The bill all retirees 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.*
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03 — On our radar
Local business spotlightNearby spots we'd actually send a friend to.
Local nature reset: If the week’s noise is getting loud, slip over to Alligator Lake Park for shady trails, a playground for the kids, and easy canoe launches that make quick paddles doable after work. Pack a picnic, cast a line, and call it Columbia County therapy.
Brew, bites, and beats: Halpatter Brewing Company is the Lake City hangout for fresh house beers, craft spirits, and a kitchen that actually keeps up, with live music and dog friendly vibes that make weeknights feel like little holidays. Slide in with a friend and claim it as your new regular.
Blooms that deliver: Lake City Florist makes last-minute birthdays, apologies, and just-because gestures easy with same-day delivery across Columbia County, plus custom designs for weddings and heartfelt sympathy pieces. Local team, hand-designed arrangements, delivered with care... because your message deserves petals, not packing peanuts.
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04 — Our recommendations
We got your backA handful of products and services we think are worth a look.
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Have an event to share? We (and our readers) can't wait to hear about it! Submit an event → |
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05 — The event calendar Fun for the famOur favorite upcoming kid and family-friendly events. All events are subject to change. Always check official event pages before heading out.
📚 Terrific Twos Storytime @ Columbia County Public Library - Main Library (Lake City) | Wednesday (6/24) at 10:30 AM – Every Wednesday, the Main Library turns toddler energy into something resembling culture with Terrific Twos Storytime. Expect stories, songs, dancing, and simple extension activities, while you swap knowing looks with other grownups, sip your lukewarm coffee, and call it a parenting win.
📚 West Branch Preschool Storytime @ Columbia County Public Library - West Branch (Lake City) | Wednesday (6/24) at 11:00 AM – Whether you're wrangling a tiny bookworm or a pint-sized dance machine, West Branch Library's preschool storytime has you covered every Wednesday. Stories, songs, and wiggles for them, a few blessed minutes of adult small talk for you, and zero glitter to clean up.
🛠 Tinkerlab @ Columbia County Public Library - Main Library (Lake City) | Wednesday (6/24) at 3:30 PM – Nothing beats a creative reset at the Main Library’s Tinkerlab, an all-ages free-for-all where the supply table is your muse. Grab glue sticks, yarn, and buttons, then make whatever your heart desires, no reservation, no judgment. Like kindergarten time, but you get the good scissors.
📚 Main Library Preschool Storytime @ Columbia County Public Library - Main Library (Lake City) | Thursday (6/25) at 11:00 AM – If your tiny human demands the same book for the 47th time, let the pros handle it at the Main Library's preschool storytime. Expect cozy reads, silly songs, and big feelings in small chairs, plus a priceless stretch where someone else does the voices.
👶 Baby & Me @ Columbia County Public Library - Main Library (Lake City) | Friday (6/26) at 10:00 AM – Parenting calls for reinforcements, and the Main Library’s Baby & Me lapsit delivers a circle for infants and their bleary caregivers. Songs, nursery rhymes, a little bounce, no shushing required. Read, sing, talk, write, and play, then call it brain development.
🛍 Growers & Makers Market @ Olustee Park (Lake City) | Saturday (6/27) at 9:00 AM – Bring a tote and wander Lake City’s Growers & Makers Market every second and fourth Saturday, where errands pass for leisure. Grab peak-season produce, actually-useful handmade stuff, and something tasty from a food truck, then feel smug about supporting your neighbors and your pantry.
Want more? Browse our full events calendar | Submit an event |
06 — From our sponsor Heads up for pet parentsTogether with our sponsor Lemonade. Nothing prepares you for a late-night emergency at the vet. I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. From the initial exam fee just to be seen, to x-rays, surgery, medication, and follow-up visits… the bill racks up fast (to say the least). And at that moment? You’re not thinking about your savings, you’re just saying yes to whatever keeps them thriving. As soon as we got home, I dug around online and ultimately signed up for Pet Insurance. It was too late for me, but you could save thousands on your next vet bill with *Lemonade. |
07 — The Columbia County report Weather forecastToday — High: 92°F — Low: 71°F — Precip: 0%
Sunny, with a high near 92. Northwest wind around 5 mph. Later: Mostly clear, with a low around 71. Northwest wind 0 to 3 mph.
Tomorrow — High: 94°F — Low: 73°F — Precip: 19%
A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Sunny. High near 94, with temperatures falling to around 93 in the afternoon. South wind 0 to 3 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Later: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. Chance of precipitation is 20%. This house is wildThis 4-bedroom, 3-bath home spans over 3,000 square feet on 5.05 acres rich with guava, pecan, and muscadine vines. Original heart pine floors add timeless character, while gas and wood-burning fireplaces bring cozy appeal. A fenced-in pool, updated horse barns, and sheds round out this country property, ideal for hobby farming and laid-back rural living.
Take a peek inside → |
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