Hello DeLand! Hope your coffee tastes especially good this morning. In today’s bring-the-kiddos edition: Transit feedback plans, a ghost tour, and family bingo night + 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.
Transit plans take shape: Volusia County’s VoTran is updating its next-decade transit plans and wants local feedback. DeLand riders can weigh in through onboard surveys, an online questionnaire, and upcoming public workshops -- see how to give feedback.
Local merchants defend downtown: Downtown DeLand business owners pushed back after a TV report, saying downtown was thriving despite a few closures, as more shops opened Sundays and extended hours amid summer challenges -- read the full story.
Summer outings await: Explore Volusia’s July schedule will bring free, guided paddling trips led by environmental specialists through some of the county’s most pristine natural areas. Space is limited and reservations are required -- see the full schedule.
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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02 — From our sponsor Your insurance won't cover a $12,000 HVAC billIf 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.* |
03 — On our radar
Local business spotlightNearby spots we'd actually send a friend to.
Let the kids roam: Freedom Playground is that rare combo of imaginative wooden play structures, wide-open picnic space, and glorious oak shade that makes a midweek reset actually possible. Bring snacks, sip your coffee, and pretend you’re “playing supervisor” while the kids turn the fort into a kingdom.
Upgrade your stems: Impekable Flowers & Event Design turns “I need something pretty” into bouquets that feel personal, not cookie-cutter. Handcrafted arrangements and event florals with premium blooms, plus reliable local delivery across DeLand, so you can brighten a week, a table, or your apology text... with style.
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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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Need cash but can't take on another monthly payment? This gets you a lump sum from your home's equity with no monthly bill and no interest, because it isn't a loan. Use the funds for anything, whether that's home improvements, paying off debt, or a large purchase, and pay it back by the end of your 30-year term. Checking your offer is easy, fully online, and won't affect your credit score. *See your cash offer →
Buy one window treatment this summer, get the second 50% off: “My fourth order over 8 years. Product reliability, consistency to values & warranty kept me returning!” See what keeps customers coming back to 3 Day Blinds. Book your free consultation and enjoy summer savings on blinds, shades, and drapery. *Claim your summer savings →
Carrying $5,000 or more on your cards? Stop the interest charges: A balance that size racks up interest fast, and at today's rates it barely budges no matter how much you pay. This card gives you 0% intro APR until 2028 on balance transfers (made in the first 60 days), with a $0 annual fee. That means almost two years to pay down what you owe with no interest charges. *See if it's a fit →
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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.
🎲 Family Bingo Night @ Gator's Dockside | Wednesday (6/24) at 6:00 PM – Feel like winning something besides an argument over dinner? Family Bingo Night at Gators Dockside DeLand serves up dollar bone-in wings, big laughs, quick wins, and prizes, all ages welcome. Low-stakes glory, full bellies, and bragging rights that last at least a week.
🎆 CoolCraft American Summer Kickoff! @ ArtWorks | Friday (6/26) at 5:30 PM – ArtWorks DeLand kicks off CoolCraft Summer with a sip-and-vote tour of 23 U.S.-inspired drinks from local brewers, roasters, and mixologists, boozy and not. Live music, hands-on fun, CoolCrafter cameos, and a surprisingly satisfying bald eagle craft await, with paper ballots to plot your route.
🎭 Disney's High School Musical JR. @ Athens Theatre | Friday (6/26) at 7:00 PM – Athens Theatre's Youth Academy is staging High School Musical JR., three performances only, with pint-sized Wildcats belting, dancing, and out-charming your streaming queue. Peak nostalgia for anyone who survived carpool karaoke, plus an excuse to hum We're All In This Together all week.
🎤 Karaoke With Greg - Friday Nights! @ Gator's Dockside | Friday (6/26) at 8:30 PM – Warm up the pipes and swing by for karaoke with Greg, the host who somehow has every song you pretend to forget. First hour is for the kids, then we reclaim the mic for classics, hidden gems, and questionable key changes.
🐱 Hope N Whiskers Cat Adoption Event @ PetSmart | Saturday (6/27) at 12:00 PM – Swing by PetSmart Deland any Saturday for the weekly cat adoption hangout, where the only pressure is from a head bump. The felines are fixed, vaccinated, dewormed, microchipped, and frankly more put together than most of us. On-site adoptions for approved adopters, instant purrs.
🎨 Pre-4th of July Paint Party & Cookout 🌭🇺🇸 @ The Hidden Hen (New Smyrna Beach) | Sunday (6/28) at 2:00 PM – Whether you're easing into the Fourth or trying to tire out the grandkids, The Hidden Hen's paint party and cookout offers a paint kit, a hot dog, chips or carrots, water, and feed for cluckers. Wander the farm, make something fridge-worthy, call it quality time.
🚂 Florida Model Train & Railroad Artifact Show & Sale @ Volusia County Fairgrounds | Saturday (7/11) at 9:00 AM – All aboard for a long-running model train and railroad artifacts show at the Volusia County Fairgrounds, packed with nostalgia, vendors, and finds. Whether you speak HO or just like whistles, expect friendly haggling, local stories, and that kid-in-a-hobby-shop feeling, minus the splinters.
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 DeLand report Weather forecastToday — High: 93°F — Low: 73°F — Precip: 43%
A slight chance of rain showers between 8am and 11am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 93. West southwest wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible. Later: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 2am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. South wind 0 to 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Tomorrow — High: 95°F — Low: 74°F — Precip: 20%
A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 95. South southwest wind 0 to 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Later: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 2am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 74. South southeast wind 0 to 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. This house is wildThis 2024 Beresford Woods smart home in DeLand brings over 4,400 square feet of modern flexibility to a premium corner lot. With 5 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, 2 flex rooms, dual staircases, and a 3-car garage, it offers generous room for gatherings, remote work, fitness, guests, and multi-generational living, all wrapped in sleek, move-in-ready style.
Take a peek inside → |
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