Local News and Events

In California we regularly complain about high gasoline prices, and it’s easy to see why.   A combination of Federal and state taxes, environmental rules, refinery supply limitations, special fuel requirements, and higher operating costs all contribute to the sticker shock at the pump. Everything is more expensive in California - the price of homes is proof that that.If you live in California especially near the borders with states like Nevada or Arizona you know if you drive a couple of hours across the state line and gasoline can be $1–$2 cheaper per gallon. Many Californians assume the entire difference comes from state taxes.First, it’s true that California has some of the highest fuel taxes in the United States. Drivers pay both the federal gasoline tax and a state tax that togethe... 03/09/2026

2026 Carlsbad 5000 is April 12 Carlsbad has several running events during the year. The Carlsbad 5000 takes place on April 12th and is reportedly the world’s fastest 5K race. Several world and US records have been set, and broken, since the race was established in 1986. No doubt runners will hope to set new records this year! 2026 is the 40th anniversary of the Carlsbad 5000. (Feature photo is from Pixabay). If you are interested you still have time to register online, but don’t wait as this event typically sells out.  Registration closes on April 4. There are multiple races on Sunday April 12th. There is the main event, the Carlsbad 5000 (5K). But other runners may be interested in the All Day 20K (four 5K races) offering 4 categories of runners.  The Elite Invitational races for men a... 03/09/2026

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION! Just 2 miles from the award-winning South Walton Beaches and Dune Lakes, this Santa Rosa Beach gem is perfectly positioned between the beach and a bay boat ramp. Located in a short-term vacation rental subdivision, this partially furnished home is a fantastic opportunity for investors or homeowners seeking a prime coastal property. This 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom home features upgrades galore: mosaic tile accents, large-format tile throughout, a chef's kitchen with a prep sink island, granite countertops, soft-close hardwood cabinets, and stainless steel appliances including a double oven. The master suite boasts a walk-in closet with built-in wood shelves and a spa-like bath with an all-tiled shower, pebble stone flooring, a glass door, and luxury body jets. Fr... 03/08/2026

If you're searching for a well maintained, move in ready home south of I 10 in Crestview, this new listing in Alicia Place deserves a close look. Located in a quiet cul de sac, 149 Strike Eagle Drive is a spacious all brick 3 bedroom, 2 bath home offering nearly 2,000 square feet of living space, an open layout, and a private fenced backyard.As a Real Estate Owned (REO) property, it’s a great opportunity for homebuyers and investors alike to secure a quality home in a sought after location at a competitive price.🏡 Property OverviewAddress: 149 Strike Eagle Drive, Crestview, FL 32536Subdivision: Alicia PlacePrice: $267,900Bedrooms: 3Bathrooms: 2Sq Ft: 1,985Lot Size: 0.31 acresYear Built: 2013Garage: 2 carConstruction: All brickMLS 989205 $267,900This home sits at the end of a cul de sac,... 03/08/2026

Real Estate Owned. Welcome to 116 Nicole Lane a spacious and versatile two story home located just minutes from 7th Special Forces Group and Eglin Air Force Base. This 5-bedroom, 3-bathroom residence offers over 2,200 square feet of living space and includes a heated in-ground pool, all on a generous .23 acre lot. The main level features a large great room with a cozy stone fireplace, tile flooring in wet areas, and a bright bay window overlooking the backyard. The open kitchen layout includes an abundance of cabinet space, generous countertops, a dishwasher, and electric smoothtop stove perfect for everyday cooking and family gatherings. The primary suite is located downstairs and offers a massive walk-in closet and an oversized bath with a double vanity, separate water closet, andan o... 03/08/2026

March is National Quilting MonthMost people who know me know that I am obsessed with quilting. I sell real estate so I can afford my quilting obsession, not really, but it makes for a good story. March is National Quilting Month. If you think you aren't good enough to belong to a quilt guild, you are wrong. The groups I have belonged to over the years have taught me so much, and not just about quilting; the friendships I have developed are lasting. My bestie, Megan, says quilting has provided her with an entire professional network of realtors, accountants, attorneys, bankers, financial planners and so on and all because she quilts. I can't agree more.  We are a special breed of people. If you are a beginner quilter, or beyond beginner and looking for your tribe, check out your local gu... 03/08/2026

A Walk Through a Small Town DowntownThere is something special about walking through a small town downtown.The pace is different. People stop and speak to one another. Store owners know their customers by name. Historic buildings tell the story of generations that have lived and worked in the same place.In towns like Walhalla and the surrounding communities of Oconee County, the downtown areas reflect the region's character. Brick storefronts, the courthouse square, and locally owned shops give each street a sense of history and identity. A walk through downtown might include a stop at a local restaurant for lunch, browsing through a small shop, or simply enjoying the architecture that has stood for decades. Many of these buildings have served the community through different generations... 03/08/2026

Community Calendar: Local Events in Connecticut & Rhode Island (March 9 – March 22)One of the challenges many people face is simply keeping track of what’s happening locally. Between town websites, social media pages, chamber calendars, and event listings, it can be difficult to see everything in one place.To help solve that problem, we created the Community Calendar, a bi-weekly roundup of local events and activities taking place across Southeastern Connecticut and Coastal Rhode Island.Each edition highlights events people actually attend and enjoy, including: Live music Community celebrations Seasonal markets Arts and cultural events Family-friendly activities The newest issue covers March 9 through March 22 and includes events taking place across: New London County, Connecticut Middl... 03/08/2026

What’s the Value of my Encinitas Home? Encinitas Market Report for February 2026 Encinitas sellers and buyers must have current information about local market conditions, and understand the effect they have on buying and selling, in order to make informed decisions about Encinitas homes for sale. Here’s what happened in the February 2026 housing market in Encinitas, using data from the MLS (private sales are not included nor are manufactured, mobile, or multi-family homes). These statistics are believed reliable when this report was written but are not guaranteed. READ MORE: Encinitas – An Eclectic Seaside CommunityLeucadia- Surfers' Beach Community in Encinitas CA  (40 homes sold in Encinitas in February, versus 22 last month (up by 18%). Here’s the breakdown of the housing activity. S... 03/07/2026

Yesterday our community gathered to celebrate the life of Ryder Harrington, a 19-year-old Texas Tech student whose life was tragically cut short in the early morning hours of March 1, 2026, at Buford’s Backyard Beer Garden on Sixth Street. Ryder lived in a nearby neighborhood, and many of us knew his family. In the days following the tragedy, our streets quietly filled with red ribbons tied around the trees, a simple but powerful way to honor Ryder and show the Harrington family how deeply their loss is felt. Ryder was the youngest of four boys and had recently been home to celebrate his brother’s wedding just last month. My own granddaughter was home for that wedding in February and returned again this past week to attend Ryder’s Celebration of Life. She had worked at Buford’s during s... 03/07/2026

VICTORIA BC DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME STARTS SUNDAY at 2 AMRemember to move your clocks ahead one hour and Check and Change your Smoke Alarm BatteriesSpring Starts too in a few weeks March 8.Are you Setting your Clocks ahead before you go to bed ? Or maybe Sleep in and Lose and an hour after you get up, after all it'll be Sunday! 03/06/2026

National Dress Day👗: March 6th "A dress is a piece of ephemeral architecture, designed to enhance the proportions of the female body."... Christian Dior Oh gosh, I almost forgot... so just in case you still haven't gotten dressed today, it's National Dress Day 👗 ! I, of course, have been dressed for a while... so I might just need to don a dress in honor of National Dress Day tomorrow. Because really, any day is a good day to wear a dress! National Dress Day is a annual celebration on March 6th, dedicated to honoring the elegance, timeless charm, and versatility of dresses.   I love wearing dresses. There is something inherently fun about putting on a dress. Whether it’s a flowing sundress that sways with the breeze or a sleek evening gown that exudes sophistication, each dress has its ... 03/06/2026

Daylight Saving Time... Because Who Needs Sleep Anyway? "Daylight saving time—why are they saving it, and where do they keep it?"... Anonymous So I’ve been seeing all the cheerful announcements here in the Rain and apparently everywhere else too that Daylight Saving Time arrives this Sunday. This is not news that makes me leap out of my chair with joy! As I’ve written every single year, I hate Daylight Saving Time. Not "mildly dislike." Not “it’s inconvenient.” I mean I really, really hate it. In fact, I’m already mentally preparing for (and dreading) the two weeks it will takes my body to figure out what in the world just happened to the clock. One minute it’s breakfast time, the next minute your brain thinks it’s the middle of the night and your coffee thinks it’s lunch. Harry Truman ... 03/07/2026

If you live in Berea or nearby communities in Madison County, this past week brought several developments that highlight both the challenges and strengths of our local community.Local police addressed a few safety concerns, including a traffic stop that led to two drug-related arrests and a reminder for residents to stay vigilant after a prowling incident. Situations like these show the importance of community awareness and the role local law enforcement plays in keeping neighborhoods safe.But there were also some encouraging stories.A nonprofit organization is working to build a therapeutic foster home in Berea designed specifically for teen girls who have survived human trafficking. Projects like this demonstrate the compassion and support systems that make small communities truly mea... 03/06/2026

Help High School Students Shine at PromMontgomery County Recreation is collecting new and gently used dresses, suits, dry-cleaned shirts, shoes, ties, and accessories for its annual Prom Couture Closet giveaway event. Donations are being accepted through Saturday, March 21, at the Marilyn J. Praisner Community Recreation Center, located at 14906 Old Columbia Pike in Burtonsville. Drop off your donation during the center’s regular operating hours:  Monday–Thursday: 9 a.m. – 9 p.m.   Friday: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.   Saturday: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.  Special collection dates will also take place at the Germantown Community Recreation Center, located at 18905 Kingsview Road in Germantown, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 7, and at the Jane E. Lawton Community Recreation Center, located at 4301 ... 03/08/2026

That familiar plastic E-ZPass mounted on your windshield may soon be a thing of the past.Massachusetts state transportation officials have confirmed they are transitioning away from traditional hard-case E-ZPass transponders and replacing them with low-cost windshield sticker tags — a move expected to save millions of dollars annually.The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) has begun issuing RFID (Radio Frequency ID) sticker tags to new customers and for replacements starting March 2026.  The sticker attaches directly to the inside of a vehicle's windshield, functioning like the plastic device for toll reading.MassDOT Highway Administrator Jonathan Gulliver told WBUR the stickers cost about 55 cents each, compared to roughly $6 to $7 per traditional plastic transponder ... 03/07/2026

Student Contests to Promote Alcohol-Free CelebrationsMontgomery County Alcohol Beverage Services (ABS), in partnership with the Keeping It Safe (KIS) Coalition, is sponsoring two student contests to raise awareness about the risks of underage drinking and promote safe, alcohol-free celebrations during prom season. Winners will be recognized at a spring awards reception hosted by the KIS Coalition. The Sober Vibes Essay Contest and the Keeping It Safe Student Video Contest are open to Montgomery County public and private school students. The deadline to submit entries is March 31. Contest guidelines and submission information are available on the KIS Coalition website.This is a Montgomery County, Maryland announcement. Cattleya skinneri Orchids, Longwood Gardens,Kennett Square, Pennsylva... 03/07/2026

Cooking Up History: 250 Years of Recipes, Stories & FlavorsMarch 7, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.Casey Community CenterCelebrate 250 years of culinary history in this unique class that blends captivating storytelling, historic cookbooks, and delicious tastings. Explore how American cooking has evolved through live chef demonstrations, engaging discussion, and samples inspired by recipes from centuries past. Click here to learn more and register.This is a City of Gaithersburg, Maryland announcement. Chrysanthemums, Longwood Gardens,Kennett Square, Pennsylvania USA IMG 6793Canon PowerShot G11 CameraPhotograph by Roy KelleyRoy and Dolores Kelley Photographs 03/06/2026

Marriage at the Mansion Bridal ShowcaseMarch 7, Noon to 4 p.m.Kentlands MansionPlanning your dream wedding and don’t know where to start? Discover one-of-a-kind ideas at Marriage at the Mansion. At this one-stop wedding shop, you’ll experience the elegance and charm of Kentlands Mansion while meeting one-on-one with wedding vendors who can help make your day a dream come true. Door prizes will be awarded throughout the day. Tickets are $5 per person.Click here to purchase tickets.This is a City of Gaithersburg, Maryland announcement.  03/06/2026

Montgomery County’s 19 MunicipalitiesMontgomery County is home to nineteen municipalities, each with its own local government and community identity.These incorporated cities and towns exist within the larger county government structure but maintain authority over certain local matters such as zoning, ordinances, and community services. The municipalities reflect nearly two centuries of local history. Some began as small rural villages or railroad towns in the 1800s, while others incorporated more recently as residential communities seeking greater local control and neighborhood preservation.Brookeville is the county’s oldest municipality, incorporated in 1808. The small town holds a notable place in American history after serving briefly as the nation’s capital during the War of 1812 w... 03/09/2026