This past week has been action packed.
By the time you read this, releases and I think massive ones, will be pouring into the Saint Lucie from the lake. It was almost at 16 ½ feet and we are going into the rainy season.
In this week’s edition you should check out Pal Mar. Poachers are indiscriminately killing gators and birds leaving their carcasses behind. We have the photos to show it. The Joint Meeting was covered, and you may be surprised by the statistics you read. There is also a story on Main Street, Stuart, and subsidies.
This coming week the county commission will decide whether to place on the ballot a referendum for a sales tax to buy land in areas that we should preserve. No matter where you stand on the development issue, places like Pal Mar need protection not only as a wetland but as what Florida once was.
Please remember to sign up your friends to receive their own free copy of Friends & Neighbors. We are almost at that 30,000 mark. Let me know if you would like to contribute an article.
Eric from C&W Computers has joined our roster of columnists. And don’t forget to check out our non-profit section. If your organization has an event or wants to send a press release just contact me for info on how to do it.
Have a Good Sunday Morning.
The other day I was in a meeting at a nonprofit at which we were discussing the age of the top donor base. Most of those donors are in their 70’s. Someone said that they are “aging out.” I then piped up and said “thanks.”
When did I become the oldest person at the table? Obviously, it wasn’t always so. It seemed for years that I was the kid. The guy that was to be seen but not heard. The one that went out and got coffee or sandwiches. The young person that was supposedly absorbing pearls of wisdom from the older generation.
Nice Old Man
I guess I continued to be the youngest in the room until I was about 35. By then, I was an old married man, father, and business owner. My apprenticeship was certainly over. I became one of the men in the room.
Back then, it was always men in the room. There were no women but that was changing. In our growing company, my second in charge was a female. Some of the guys liked it, others did not. There were new kids in the room and at times they were women.
Age may not make you smarter, but it gives you wisdom. It allows you the luxury of not having to learn the basics every time. As an example, in New York real estate if I was given an address, I would probably know what the block looked like. Over the years I may have sold, managed, or owned the same building a few times. I didn’t have to learn about the building or the neighborhood again.
The same would go for many problems faced. After 50 years in the business, there wasn’t much I hadn’t experienced. I had what is called a steady hand.
A seventh-grade teacher of mine was fond of saying, “Wisdom is knowledge used in the right way.” Even people with the knowledge haven’t figured out the wisdom part entirely. I guess at some point I will, but the race to do so is no longer a long distance one but a sprint.
Grumpy Old Man
So now I am the old guy in the room. Not quite as ancient as much of our leadership in Congress or the two major presidential candidates. Yet I get to send the kid out for coffee and sandwiches.
I may be reaching the stage where I tell the same story over and over. Or I can’t find the right word as easily. The choice about aging I do have is whether I want to be the beloved grandfather or the old mean deranged uncle at the Thanksgiving table.
Many of us are facing or will face that choice at some point. Once we do, it doesn’t mean our lives are over or that we need to stop being useful or engaged. Rather the question is do we take all that knowledge we have accumulated and use it wisely.
Wise Old Man
Fewer Americans identify with a religious group today than at any time in our history.
Thirty percent of Americans have no religious affiliation. That doesn’t mean they are non-believers. 56% of the nonaffiliated believe in some higher power aside from God or the Bible. 67% say they believe that humans have spirits.
The rates for civic involvement are the same for church goers and “nones” (as the nonaffiliated are known). The difference seems to be about religious labels. They vote and contribute to charities on par with each other.
The research is the result of a Pew study. It goes into the makeup of the nonaffiliated. 17% are atheists, 20% are agnostic and 63% believe in nothing in particular.
Thirty years ago, 90% of Americans were Christian. Now that number is about 60%. Then why is Christianity, and particularly Fundamentalist Christianity, such a factor in American politics?
Churches have good tools for organizing their congregants. They are organizations with structures that can mobilize and bring out their members. Yet, looking at trendlines, the number of people attending will continue to shrink.
We see the schism now between the groups, most notably concerning the issue of abortion. The debate among social scientist is not whether secularization is gaining ground but how fast religions are declining. Some believe that this decline is “the culmination of growing autonomy in society.” That is according to a theory ascribed to Swiss sociologist, Jorg Stolz.
Humans are more comfortable with searching for the facts themselves. Stolz states “Why do I need a pastor to tell me what to do? What makes them any more insightful than this academic journal.”
Many people who once sought guidance from their minister or priest have seen how fallible or even sinful some can be. Answers to questions are much more readily available than they were 100 or even 50 years ago. Why place your trust in only one source when you have the entire world at your fingertips via the internet.
Martin County Forever, a group in Martin County, has been working with several other organizations and Martin County staff to put together a referendum on a ½ cent sales tax to buy and maintain ecologically sensitive lands.
The ordinance states:
- To acquire, by fee simple interest, environmentally significant land for the purposes of: preserving, conserving, and restoring the St. Lucie River, the Indian River Lagoon, Pal-Mar, the Loxahatchee and St. Lucie River headwaters, thereby protecting water sources, preserving natural areas and beaches, providing open space, protecting wildlife habitat and water storage/recharge areas. Land acquisition and preservation using the County’s share of the Surtax proceeds shall be limited to the properties known or identified within the Pal-Mar Water Control District, the Natural Lands Component of the Indian River Lagoon South Project of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan, Loxahatchee and St. Lucie Headwaters and Blueways Areas.
The group was very sensitive to the feeling (which is justified) that the commissioners need to be restrained on how the money can be spent. That is why you see very specific areas in the language where lands can be acquired. It also has the ability to buy conservation easements with up to 5% of the proceeds plus another 5% that will go toward maintenance of the properties.
Many claim to want to keep Martin County as scenic and as protected as possible. These sales tax proceeds will do just that by protecting the lands that have already been declared and recognized as needing protection. The commission will not have the ability to buy lands unless they are within the clearly defined geographic areas.
The referendum also allows the county to bond for up to 80% of the proceeds to buy properties at today’s prices instead of tomorrow’s more inflated ones. This will allow the money to go further in the pursuit of the goal. The referendum itself makes sure that any bonding can only be paid for out of the sales tax.
There is also an advisory committee that is made up of citizens and organizations in our community. The more citizens are involved, the more checks there will be on the commission to make sure that only the intended properties are purchased.
Almost 40% of the sales taxes collected are paid by out-of-county residents. Food, medical supplies, and baby items are exempt. Even on big ticket items such as cars, only the first $5000 is subject to the tax.
I urge the county commission to approve the referendum. It will then go on the ballot in November for the voters to decide. The people of Martin County should determine if they wish to save their heritage by passing the ½ cent sales tax for 10 years.
Martin County sometimes reminds me of the Greek mythological serpent known as a Hydra.
A Hydra had nine heads. When one head was cut off two more would grow from its stump. Dispatching the creature was one of the 12 Labors of Heracles. Many things in Martin County are duplicative...just like Hydra.
While listening to the last county commission meeting, I heard Casey Cass from Port Salerno mention that he may be forming a new chamber of commerce there. There is already an office that is manned full-time even though no chamber has been formed. If it comes to pass, that will make Martin County’s 6th chamber.
There are only five municipalities in the county, which as U.S. counties go, seems a small number. There are currently five chambers in the county with many businesses belonging to two, three, or more. St. Lucie County, which has three times our population, has only one chamber of commerce.
Chambers are a place for businesses owners to connect and buy products and services from each other. They are not made to take the places of cities or towns. They can do great things for their members but in no way should they be construed to be something more.
A typical Martin County trait is to start a new organization rather than have people work together. Mr. Cass is a business owner and wants a better Salerno. He has a beef with Commissioner Heard’s representation and the CRA. But a county commissioner and a CRA were never meant to be a substitute for local government.
What would really give the people of Salerno a say is to form a municipality...one that then would just represent the people of Salerno. The government is elected by residents of that geographical area. It taxes itself to provide the services it wants. It decides how it is to develop. Commissioner Heard is voted into office by every voter in Martin County. If Salerno were to form its own municipality, Mr. Cass, if he chose to run for “Salerno Commission,” would be elected by the people of Port Salerno.
That isn’t duplication of services. That isn’t another CRA controlled by the county commissioners. And it certainly isn’t another chamber of commerce to exchange business cards.
The effort to “fix” MARTY drags on and on and on.
On Jan. 31st I went to yet another public meeting on the MARTY system. I was there for nearly an hour and a hand full of people showed up. It was at Banner Lake in Hobe Sound where, I am told, the bus system is sorely needed.
It was from 3:00 to 4:30. Maybe that’s why so few attended. Who knows. I hear the same old song and dance at every one of these. It appears the Metropolitan Planning Organization just will not stop until they get the answer that they want which is basically to throw more money at this failed enterprise and see what happens.
As it stands now, MARTY currently costs $32.60 per ride and $3M in annual operating expenses. Surely, they reason, it will work if we just invest more in it. This is a typical bureaucratic view in my mind.
One representative remarked that we (the County) needed to spend money on this study to collect data which will then garner more federal grant money. I asked him where he thought the federal grant money came from. He looked astonished that I would ask such a thing, but finally admitted that was also taxpayers’ dollars.
The hosts of the event freely admit that the system does not work as it is. They tout various possible reasons…35 minutes between stops is “weird”. Not enough routes (there are 4), not enough bus stops, (there are 52), no service on the weekends, no shelters etc., but never do they admit that there just aren’t enough riders.
In fact, they cannot tell you how many riders there are. They measure ridership by trips, and they claim that there are plenty. One interesting disclosure I had not heard previously is that there are no “transfers”. They count each leg of a trip as another trip. Humm. So, if one rider changes buses 3 times to get to his destination, it is counted as 3 trips. What’s wrong with this picture?
In desperation they argue that Veterans and the disabled need the MARTY buses to take them to the VA hospital. No one wants to see a vet without a ride to the VA. I’d happily see my tax dollars spent on an Uber or VA shuttle bus. There is a cheaper way to help those in need than financing an entire city bus system at an annual loss.
After 10 years of watching these buses with never more than 2 riders, I wonder if they needed to hire a company to collect data. Don’t they have enough by now? Or is the data they have simply not the data they want to accept?
Finally, the MPO has a survey online. You need to take it. I am told there are 500 responses so far and most of them are “favorable”. I asked if I could see them. I was told to go to the website, and I could view them. I did, I couldn’t. I called and was told that there would be a meeting in Feb. with an update on the responses. You can take the survey here: https://martinmpo.com/. It’s right on the front page. If you don’t want your tax dollars squandered on a failed effort, they need to hear from you. The survey ends in March. Don’t wait.
Darlene VanRiper’s opinions are her own and may not reflect Friends & Neighbors nor the Martin County Taxpayers Association's viewpoint.
Consumption
Remember when search engines searched? Now the algorithms drive us to shopping sites. Even the “helpful” stories in the print media are all geared to shopping.
During the pandemic I bought an air fryer, a fancy crock pot/pressure cooker, a robot vacuum, a coffee machine and a robot cat litter box. The first three items are in the garage. It took more work to prepare the house for the robot vacuum than to just vacuum! The coffee machine I gave away.
My last column was about a dictionary. I could not research it online, but I could buy tons of stuff that was not relevant but did keep me mindlessly scrolling.
My current quest is to see how humans translate their memories into oral or written narrative.
I found the book “Death of a Nobody” online. The French author describes the impact of a nobody’s death on us.
“The Unwomanly Face of War” by Svetlana Alexiecich, an oral history of Russian women soldiers in World War II, I liberated from Bonnie’s Books. I wept to read about the woman who allows nothing red in her house because of all the bloody rotting corpses she tended.
Brandy Carlson’s “Dead Presidents,” is a fascinating historical discussion about how we treat our dead presidents. Don’t get me started about what Washington’s body endured before they finally let him rest in peace.
Since I shop online, my mailbox is filled with catalogues. I get bizarre catalogues of cheap non-sustainable junk. They don’t sell your information, the ad men assure us, using a known iconoclastic actor as the AI generated spoke-person telling me my data belongs to me. Yeah, just like my womb.
I’m done. I will consume books, and art. I will recycle my newspapers even as the piles grow higher, the waters rise, the fires burn, and another invasive species takes over our lawns.
This past weekend Martin Arts gave us a fabulous Arts Fest. Inspired by the staff and volunteers, the artists and the participants, I enjoyed the art, the performances and the people-watching. I watched kids making chalk art, admired some fur babies, and photographed some super bowl fans enjoying our good nature. I drank and danced to the music. I reconnected with new and old friends. Then I headed home to make my Super Bowl snacks before enjoying another amazing show.
Art is a mirror and a window. What will I see? What will you see?
The Artistry of Life.
Nicki van Vonno’s opinions are her own and may not reflect Friends & Neighbors viewpoint.
“There was a farmer who grew excellent quality wheat and every season he won the award for the best wheat grown in his county. One year a reporter from the local newspaper interviewed the farmer and learned that each Spring the man shared his seed with his neighbors so that they too could plant good seeds in their fields.
“’How can you afford to share your best wheat seeds with your neighbors when they are entering their crops in the competition against yours?’ the reporter asked.
“’Why that's very simple,’ the farmer explained, ‘The wind picks up pollen from the developing wheat and carries it from field to field. If my neighbors grow inferior wheat, cross-pollination will steadily degrade the quality of all the wheat, including mine. If I am to grow good wheat, I must help my neighbors grow good wheat’." – Author Unknown
This story has been shared over and again so many times that I could not determine who is the original author. But what I can tell you is in the spirit of this story I think the author would be alright with that if the story continues to resonate with people.
In the story the farmer's explanation also applies to peoples' lives. If you want to live meaningfully and well, you must help enrich the lives of others. In doing so you will enrich your own life. I’ve heard it said that it’s lonely at the top. Not if you bring others up with you.
David Hafner’s opinions are his own and may not reflect Friends & Neighbors viewpoint.
Florida Farms And Water
Tallahassee lawmakers are trying to pass legislation that would directly help Florida farmers because the industry is threatened by rapidly rising costs of labor, land, and inputs.
Irrigation and surface waters are equivalent to the blood that flows in our veins. Water supplies nutrients for energy production and it can carry wasted nutrients away from the crop to unintended destinations like lakes, canals, and estuaries. Farms consume considerable amounts of water and due to the acreage also collect an equivalent amount of rainwater that may or may not be necessary at a given time in the crops’ production lifecycle.
Consider a tomato crop on an acre. Approximately 3,630 tomato plants grow in one acre and the equivalent water need is 3,857 gallons or about 1 gallon per plant per day. That same acre of tomatoes cannot tolerate standing water and that means farmers must store rainwater. An inch of rain is equal to 27,154 gallons per acre.
This one acre impoundment has a rainfall capacity of 2.6 million gallons"
Rules require that all land developments retain water on-site with discharges governed by regulations of the local authority. This requires ponds a/k/a impoundments which are expensive to build. Here is the problem. With inexpensive imported tomatoes due to NAFTA a farm has difficulty making a fair return on investment. Alternatively, growers have experimented with greenhouses which require less water, but these introduce new challenges and have considerable costs.
Florida’s population is growing quickly. This puts a premium on land and water. Florida is cleaning up its water bodies with better management and investment in surface water storage. Cities have a considerable thirst for water. Typically, wells are the go-to resource for cities but the aquifers where the water lies must be maintained properly or saltwater intrusion will degrade water quality. Recharging aquifers requires that more water remain longer on the surface so it can percolate back into the aquifer. Rice grows in water, but most crops do not tolerate wet feet. Vegetable crops have strict needs for water management with narrow tolerances for water excess, deficits or salinity. Now add another variable: our changing climate.
Florida receives abundant rainwater over time, but the supply is not consistent with demand. Weather events are more ‘extreme’ with higher rainfall amounts common. April 13, 2023, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood airport received 14.59 inches of rainfall. That was 546 million gallons of water on 1380 acres. A 1,000-acre farm should be able to accommodate, without offsite discharge, 3 inches of rain or 81 million gallons. Challenges like water management are just one of many for farmers; it’s no surprise that Florida tomato production fell 40% over 15 years from 1.56 billion pounds on 39,400 acres in 2000 to 950 million pounds on 33,000 acres in 2015.
To encourage farmers to invest (gamble) Florida’s legislature is doing what they can to mitigate the cost of local food production with the following bills: SB 1082, SB 1398 and SJR 1560.
Carl Frost's opinions are his own and may not reflect Friends & Neighbors viewpoint.
February is American Heart Month.
This federal designation is designed to shine a light on heart disease and all of the associated risk factors, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, alcohol abuse, smoking, obesity and others. Heart disease has been the number one cause of death in men and women in our country since 1950. In lower income communities, heart disease and the associated risk factors are prevalent at higher than normal levels. Over the last five years or so, House of Hope has made a concerted effort to develop programs and provide resources to limit these risk factors in the communities and among the families that we serve.
The most obvious way for House of Hope to have an impact on heart disease and other chronic conditions is by improving the quality and quantity of heart healthy foods that we provide to those we serve in our four client choice pantries and to our 30 food bank partners in Martin County and on the Treasure Coast. Last year, we distributed 1.3 million pounds of food, with over 500,000 pounds of that total being fresh fruits and veggies. This is also an area where our community supporters can help us to have an impact. If you are considering donating food or organizing a food drive, focus on heart healthy non-perishable items. Think protein-packed beans, peas, and lentils, like black beans and garbanzo beans (chickpeas). Opt for whole-grain items such as brown or wild rice, quinoa, oats, whole-wheat or whole-grain pasta. Unsalted nuts, seeds, and nut butter, like almond or peanut butter, are packed with heart-healthy fats. These are great options for us to offer our clients and partners
.
House of Hope also uses our four nutrition gardens, as well as our traveling nutrition garden, to provide nutrition education and gardening classes across our community. Last year, we reached nearly 5,000 adults and children with these efforts. We also own and operate Growing Hope Farm in Palm City. We focus on hydroponic growing in greenhouses and also have conventional in-ground growing, with twice weekly harvests year round to keep a steady flow of heart healthy produce reaching our most vulnerable neighbors.
House of Hope also operates three Centers for enrichment, including locations in Golden Gate, Jensen Beach and Indiantown. These centers offer a variety of classes and programs all at no cost to participants, including healthy cooking classes, nutrition classes, quit smoking classes and others. All of these efforts are an important part of our model as we strive to empower residents to overcome hunger and hardship. We know that healthy children are better learners, and healthy adults are better earners. This month and every month, remember the importance of heart healthy choices. To learn more about us, access services, or get involved, please visit us at www.hohmartin.org.
Rob Ranieri’s opinions are his own and may not reflect Friends & Neighbors viewpoint.
The majority of us shop for a new home when we discover a new town or neighborhood we love and is located near work, school, hobbies or natural resources, like parks and oceans.
Martin County's neighborhoods are all unique and provide individuals with a seemingly endless number of choices. To go beyond the traditional real estate article it’s time to try focusing on a neighborhood and discuss the reason one might consider living in it or at least visiting.
It is hard to narrow down the choices. Should it be Stuart (the entire town) with its distinct neighborhoods like Riverside or Snug Harbor? How about Indiantown - a wonderful rural community with manufacturing, farms, livestock and the quaint Seminole Inn (Sunday Brunch is fun and delicious)? A sleepy little fishing town that is full of fun and entertainment will be the first choice.
Port Salerno was founded in 1894 and until the mid 80’s was a little known fishing village that had productive commercial docks and was home to fishing families whose livelihood depended on the weather and what was brought to the dock after a long day on the Florida waters. I first discovered Port Salerno in the early 80’s. There was a waterfront motel, a few restaurants, and great access to the Atlantic Ocean via the Manatee Pocket.
One of my favorite stories involved my “discovery” of King Neptune Restaurant. I was working at the Loblolly Bay Yacht Club - considering myself a food snob. The wealthy members of Loblolly kept talking about the best seafood restaurant in Florida - in Port Salerno. The wealthy Loblolly crowd would venture to King Neptune for the freshest seafood - caught locally and served in a tiny restaurant with limited seating - and a line out the door. I remember seeing CEO’s, trust funders and their families sitting next to the family that caught the dinner they were eating. Today, King Neptune still caters to everyone and serves local fish - fresh from the docks. They prepare the best conch “burger” sandwich in the United States (including the Keys)!
Local dining and entertainment can be found throughout the “pocket”. Crabby’s serves great food and has live entertainment - gotta love the Nouveaux Honkies on Thursday night. Basin Seafood and Tausha’s sell the finest seafood in the county - from Stone crabs to grouper, fresh from a local boat. The District Table provides farm to table dining with great service and atmosphere. Finally, one of the nice places to visit is the Fish House Art Center. You can catch a boat tour or see some local artists at work.
So, when you are looking for a new home find a Realtor that knows the town and its distinctive neighborhoods and what they offer. Port Salerno has amazing waterfront homes on the Manatee Pocket and on Rocky Point. Truthfully, there is a home for every budget in beautiful Port Salerno.
This Month's Stats:
John Gonzalez’s opinions are his own and may not reflect Friends & Neighbors viewpoint.
The Palm City Chamber of Commerce works hard to promote our local businesses and community. We encourage our members to create relationships within our organization to strengthen all aspects of Martin County - especially the business community. We believe a strong community will support our local economy, which is the focus of our membership.
As we continue to grow, we've fostered new ideas and programs to assist our members. Over the last couple of years, we have implemented a Women in Business Summit series. We celebrate International Women’s Day on March 8th and American Business Woman’s Day on September 22nd each year with a luncheon featuring a keynote speaker and networking.
Our upcoming event on March 8, 2024, highlights Leveraging Community Involvement to Better Your Business and Life with speaker Hollani Davis, from WPTV. This event will be held at New Hope Fellowship in Palm City.
Our newest addition is Community Night School. This is an opportunity for our local business professionals to update our citizens on important hot topics. Our first edition was about the insurance crisis in Florida. A panel presented the newest information from Tallahassee and answered questions from local residents. We look forward to more of these forums. If you have a suggestion for a topic, please contact us at the Palm City Chamber at 772-286-8121 or info@palmcitychamber.com
Family fun is a necessary component in our world today. The Palm City Chamber of Commerce celebrates our families and provides many free family events. Our Holiday Village, the first Wednesday in December, along Mapp Road features many local vendors, food trucks, student performances, and Santa.
We are bringing our Spring Fest back to Palm City this year at the Rockin H Ranch on Sunday, March 24th. This signature event will feature the Tom Jackson Band, food trucks, vendors, face painting, Treasure Coast Wildlife Center, a petting zoo with pony rides, and hayrides. We have partnered with the Early Learning Coalition of Indian River, Martin, and Okeechobee Counties to present Touch-A-Truck, a favorite for children of all ages. The highlight of the day is Cow Plop Bingo. You can purchase a land parcel in a field and then we place a cow in the field. If the cow “plops” in your square, you win $1,000 in cash!! This will begin at 3:00PM and ends when the “plop” happens. You can get more information about all of these events on our website at www.palmcitychamber.com
We hope you will come out and support the local businesses that make #PalmCItyProud.
Missi Campbell’s opinions are her own and may not reflect Friends & Neighbors viewpoint.
Here it is the 11th of February, and the surf conditions of high winds, dirty water, and inconsistent surf fishing is upon us.
It seems like the wind has been blowing since October and I am sure there are anglers reading this column that own boats who will attest to that fact. We got a slight break in January when the wind shifted to the west and our local beaches did produce some big whiting, croakers, jacks, an inconsistent pompano bite, a few mackerel, and some nice permit.
The number of permits that have been roaming our beaches has been a bright spot this year. I have lived in Florida for 13 years and have never seen the amount of permit being caught like they have in this last five-month stretch. The other highlight is the return of the sandfleas on our beaches and with them the whiting action has been exceptional.
We have two species of whiting here in Florida with the Gulf Kingfish being the most common. The Southern Kingfish is a larger species, and fall has been the time of year when they show in bigger numbers. Both species tend to thin out a bit as water temperatures drop in January and February but that never happened this year.
We are experiencing water temps in the upper sixties right now and these will be the coldest of the year. I must be honest with everyone and say the surf bite has been pretty poor since the end of January, but our spring season is just around the corner. I always recognize the start of the spring season right around daylight savings time which falls on March 10 this year.
Longer days, more sunlight, more bait schools, and just better fishing is fast approaching. The spring Pompano bite in March, April, and May is the time of year when we will catch the largest number of pompanos on a daily basis. The winds will back off, water temperatures will rise, and as the days get longer our catch list of whiting, croaker, pompano, permit, jack crevalle, as we go through February.
Buy yourself a sandflea rake and take advantage of a great bait supply that will help you put some great tasting fish in your cooler this month. Some of the better beaches that have held the sandfleas are Tiger Shores, Beachwalk Pasley, Viginia Forrest, and Stuart Beach. Put 20 or so in a plastic snack bag and just throw them in the freezer. If you accumulate a bunch of bags, you should have enough stored to keep you in bait for the upcoming spring bite.
Good luck and catch 'em up.
Paul Sperco’s opinions are his own and may not reflect Friends & Neighbors viewpoint.
I have been in the audience during several school board meetings and listened as the district’s Speech Language Pathologists (SLPs) have conducted professional presentations explaining how the shortage of pathologists can have dire consequences for student achievement.
Early intervention is crucial for addressing speech and language disorders effectively. Understaffing may impede the ability of the school district to identify and intervene with students at an early age, potentially leading to more persistent and severe language and communication difficulties. Speech and language skills are closely tied to academic success, and if students with speech and language disorders do not receive timely and appropriate interventions, they may struggle with reading, writing, and overall academic achievement.
Due to the critical shortage and the district’s inability to retain SLPs, there are schools without therapists, children not receiving the services listed on their Individual Education Plan (IEP), students receiving services from SLP assistants who are supposed to be directed and supervised by the Certified SLP. Yet the certified SLP is either non-existent or so busy with their own caseloads they do not have the time to oversee assistants.
As a Martin County school principal, I, along with many others, lived through what I would call another dark time in this school district. This was from 2008 through around 2012. I watched as the Exceptional Student Education (E.S.E.) department was slowly dismantled. Speech and Language Pathologists and other support staff members were pushed out because funding was not allocated appropriately. They left to find work in the private sector where they found they could make more money. The district had no choice but to hire contracted personnel to fill in the gaps which is considerably more costly than having SLPs on staff. The district has never fully recovered from this, but in recent years the problem has been exacerbated due to mediocre pay compared to like size districts and unrealistic caseloads.
With the shortage of Certified SLPs, the school district is struggling to provide appropriate speech and language services to students who require this support. This shortage has also created delays in identification and intervention potentially impacting academic performance and social development. When Certified SLPs are understaffed, the existing therapists have larger caseloads, making it challenging for them to provide individualized instruction to identified students. Larger caseloads result in reduced quality of service and limited time for proper assessment, treatment planning, and collaboration between the SLPs and classroom teachers. This impacts 3-year-olds to 21-year-olds who struggle with the language of the curriculum.
Measures need to be taken to offer a fair and competitive compensation package that would attract SLPs. The Martin County School Board needs to recognize Speech and Language Pathologists as a critical shortage, think creatively, and give a proper increase to the SLPs for retention and recruitment as other like size districts have done to effectively meet the needs of students.
Victoria Defenthaler’s opinions are her own and may not reflect Friends & Neighbors viewpoint.
Timing the Transfer of Financial Control When Loved Ones Face Cognitive Decline
The Center for Retirement Research researched the impact of cognitive decline on financial decision-making in older Americans and the ideal time for a child or agent to take over day-to-day financial management.
It surveyed participants in the Vanguard Research Initiative, a panel of account holders at the Vanguard Group, Inc., to get their opinions on the optimal time to transfer control once cognitive decline becomes a concern.
They could choose one of three options:
1. Immediately after the onset of cognitive decline
2. During further decline, but before completely losing the ability
3. When completely lose the ability
Most respondents (84%) prefer taking a middle ground, making the transfer after some cognitive decline but before completely losing their ability to manage money.
But by waiting too long, older people can make financial mistakes that endanger their long-term financial security.
Starting a money conversation is critical if you’re responsible for eventually taking over your parents’ finances. It’s a touchy subject, and parents may resist giving up control, have trouble accepting their cognitive decline, and fear a loss of independence.
Here are some tips about raising the topic with parents and easing yourself into a new role.
Get an early start –To get a feel for their financial landscape, talk with your loved ones about money before an emergency strikes or cognitive decline begins. Expect the process to take time and know that it won’t be a one-and-done conversation.
Offer your help – Make gradual changes and start by helping them open, review, and
pay bills together. That way, they’ll get comfortable with your involvement.
Automate billing – Simplify the monthly bill paying by automating bill payments and switching income streams to direct deposit.
Inventory financial and legal papers – Start making a list of account numbers and legal
documents (birth certificates, insurance policies, and wills, for example), and be sure all the documents are in a secure spot.
Work with professionals – Work with an elder law attorney to be sure all the appropriate
paperwork—estate planning and a power of attorney, for example—is in place, up to date, and fits the wishes and needs of your loved one.
Arati Hammond’s opinions are her own and may not reflect Friends & Neighbors viewpoint.
Will My Car Insurance Rates Go Up If I Make A Personal Injury Claim?
Going through the aftermath of a car accident can be a daunting task, especially when considering the potential impact on your car insurance rates after making a personal injury claim.
Florida is a no-fault insurance state, meaning that after a car accident, your insurance policy's Personal Injury Protection (PIP) covers a portion of your medical expenses and lost wages, regardless of who was at fault for the accident. This system is designed to streamline the process of getting compensation for your injuries, but it also raises questions about the impact of filing a claim on insurance premiums.
One of the most common concerns is whether filing a personal injury claim will result in higher car insurance rates. The answer is not straightforward because several factors influence insurance premiums. Generally, if you're using your PIP coverage for a claim, your rates may not necessarily increase simply because of the claim. Insurance companies consider your overall driving history, the details of the accident, and the frequency of claims when adjusting rates.
Factors That Affect Insurance Rates After a Claim
- Your Driving Record: Insurers look at your driving history to assess risk. A clean record may help mitigate rate increases.
- The Nature of the Accident: The accident's circumstances are crucial. If you were not at fault, your rates might not increase significantly as if you were found responsible.
- Frequency of Claims: Filing multiple claims within a short period can signal to insurers that you're a higher risk, potentially leading to higher premiums, even if you were not at fault.
While the prospect of increased rates can be concerning, there are steps you can take to manage your insurance costs effectively:
- Shop Around for Insurance: If you're facing a significant rate increase, it might be time to compare rates from different insurers. Different companies have varying policies on how they adjust rates after claims.
- Consider Higher Deductibles: Opting for a higher deductible can lower your premium, but make sure you can afford the deductible in case of an accident.
- Take Advantage of Discounts: Many insurers offer discounts for safe driving, security features on your vehicle, memberships in associations, and more. Ensure you're taking advantage of any discounts you're eligible for.
Unfortunately, even if you do all of the above, your rates may still increase, regardless of fault for an accident. The best thing you can do is drive defensively, be aware of your surroundings, and do your best to avoid an accident in the first place.
Gene Zweben’s opinions are his own and may not reflect Friends & Neighbors viewpoint.
Making Business Apps Your Friend and Making You Money Part 1
By Eric Kiehn
Tom asked me to write a little about technology, but Tom doesn’t really know me, I have a hard time writing a little. Since business success is always close to my heart there is a definite place to start with your technology. I like to say start with the basics so that’s where I started this article.
Most of us have used computing technology for so long now we often forget how in the early days there were only a few apps that got us through the day. A good Word processor and Spreadsheet were key programs do the business we had to do. When Email and Calendaring came along, our general productivity improved as well… Today there are thousands of apps to choose from and it can be hard to figure out just what will make your day better.
The good news is that if you focus on just 5 Apps, and really spend some time using their capabilities, you will have more than enough horsepower to really drive your business to success.
I’m going to stick with one vendor for now as all five of these applications are often considered the bedrock of making your business hum… And if you read though all this I’ll give you a little inside info about leveraging AI for the business world like never before.
Basics are important, you have to build that foundation first. If you haven’t guessed, the Microsoft cadre of applications is on tap and the foundational App is Microsoft Office 365.
Microsoft Office 365 is a suite of apps that still leverage the same core programs I helped business use 39 years ago. Essential tools Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook but unlike the early days all of these Apps are integrated and tied together, drag and drop from one to another or work with others on the same document at the same time. This is core stuff and with Microsoft Free online training you can make yourself a semi expert in no time. Want to do more? Spend some time understanding what can be done with all these core products.
Next on my list is OneDrive for Business: It’s cloud storage and you need it. Store, share, and collaborate on files with team members. Leverage the Team and keep it secure with advanced security built right in. I’ll say this, it took Microsoft a little while to get this working right, but now it works and give your Team the access and “shareability” they need. Microsoft even now defaults to saving your files to OneDrive and you probably should. Turn on Encryption and you’ve got a good thing going.
So with the limited space I have to break this up into 2 parts. Part 2 is where we get to some of the exciting stuff, the stuff that seems new even though it’s been out there for years. It’s also where I get tell you more about the Artificial Intelligence revolution coming to your desktop, mobile phone and more. That could eat up a whole article all by itself.
Here’s a little bit of news, Microsoft is starting a program to give you AI for free! If you are up to date on your Operating System and your MS 365 subscriptions, you’ll start getting AI for Free…
I’ll look forward to giving you Part 2 soon and where the remaining 3 Apps, though newcomers, really are shaking up business. If you aren’t leveraging these Apps your competition will be and the advantage will be theirs.
See you next time…
Eric Kiehn’s opinions are his own and may not reflect Friends & Neighbors viewpoint.
Preserving Paradize: A Half Cent At A Time
By:
Committee Members Jim Snedeker and
Merritt Matheson, former Mayor, City of Stuart
It's Go Time!
If you’ve been reading our columns, you know it’s been over a year since we launched our outreach efforts to Martin County residents to discuss the opportunity to purchase and conserve natural lands that will protect our quality of life.
Well, now it’s GO TIME! All that effort brings us to a critical decision-making moment for our Martin County Commissioners. This Tue., Feb. 20 at 10:30 a.m., commissioners will decide whether to vote in favor of placing a referendum on the November 2024 ballot for a half-cent sales tax to acquire and preserve environmentally significant lands.
As a reminder, a YES vote by the Commissioners is NOT a vote to raise our taxes.
A YES vote means that we, the citizens of Martin County, get to choose our own destiny.
Peck's Lake Park
We encourage you to attend the commission meeting at the Martin County Admin building (2401 SE Monterey Rd in Stuart) and speak in support of the ballot initiative. You don’t have to say much. Something simple and heartfelt is all that’s needed. We’ll also be waving signs at 8:30 a.m. if you’d like to join us for that.
If you can’t attend, please show your support by sending a simple email to comish@martin.fl.us by Feb 19. All five Commissioners and Senior County Staff will receive it. Put “Vote YES TO Let the Voter’s Decide” in the subject line.
Key Points:
- The land acquired will be limited to four regions – “Blueways” beach areas, Pal-Mar, Indian River Lagoon Region, and Loxahatchee/St. Lucie Rivers.
- There will be a Citizen’s Oversight Committee and an Annual Audit.
- The sales tax increase won’t apply to groceries, prescription meds, school supplies and doesn’t apply to purchases exceeding $5,000.
- About 37.5% of the sales tax money will come from tourists.
- The local money raised will be used to leverage additional matching funds from state and federal sources.
Any questions? Please reach out to us at martincountyforever@gmail.com.
For more info visit www.martincountyforever.com. Follow us on Facebook at Martin County Forever Facebook or on Instagram at Martin County Forever Instagram.
We can’t thank you enough for your support!
Snedeker & Matheson's opinions are their own and may not reflect Friends & Neighbors’ viewpoint.
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Let The Voters Decide
The Martin County Taxpayers Association has decided to support the referendum for the ½ cent sales tax to buy specific conservation land in Martin County.
MCTA is not endorsing the proposal but believes the voters of Martin County should decide whether they want to tax themselves ½ cent for ten years to acquire sensitive environmental lands. The resolution reads in part:
- To acquire, by fee simple interest, environmentally significant land for the purposes of: preserving, conserving, and restoring the St. Lucie River, the Indian River Lagoon, Pal-Mar, the Loxahatchee and St. Lucie River headwaters, thereby protecting water sources, preserving natural areas and beaches, providing open space, protecting wildlife habitat and water storage/recharge areas. Land acquisition and preservation using the County’s share of the Surtax proceeds shall be limited to the properties known or identified within the Pal-Mar Water Control District, the Natural Lands Component of the Indian River Lagoon South Project of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan, Loxahatchee and St. Lucie Headwaters and Blueways Areas
- To acquire perpetual interests in lands through conservation easements in environmentally significant land for the purposes of: preserving, conserving, and restoring the St. Lucie River, the Indian River Lagoon, Pal-Mar, the Loxahatchee and St. Lucie River headwaters, thereby protecting water sources, preserving natural areas and beaches, providing open space, protecting wildlife habitat and water storage/recharge areas. Land acquisition and preservation using the County’s share of the Surtax proceeds shall be limited to the properties known or identified within the Pal-Mar Water Control District, the Natural Lands Component of the Indian River Lagoon South Project of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan, Loxahatchee and St. Lucie Headwaters and Blueways Areas.
As you can see, the areas to purchase are clearly enumerated in the ordinance and they have already been declared environmentally sensitive lands by the federal government, the state government, or other agencies charged with assessing which properties to be included in that category.
One of the largest complaints we have heard about the last sales tax was that the commission used the money for things that were not intended. In an effort to minimize such a problem, the sponsoring group, Martin County Forever, has also written in the documents about the creation of a citizens’ review board.
MCTA will have a dedicated seat on that board. We will not hesitate to make the taxpayer aware of any attempt to circumvent the intent of the referendum.
MCTA believes that this is a well-written referendum, and that the resolution is tightly crafted to leave little wiggle room for either staff or the commission. That will ensure that they adhere to the intent.
We are not encouraging a vote either in support or against. What we are saying is that the voters should decide. That it is up to you!
We also would caution the commission not to tinker with the language or introduce other areas or reasons to spend the dedicated sales tax during their deliberations. If we see that they have changed the text to include other needs, then we may take a different position on any changed proposal.
If the voters believe that buying the land is in the best interest of Martin County, then they can cast an affirmative vote. This referendum was the product of a group of citizens who consider that this is the best way of protecting ecologically sensitive lands.
In our view, the commission should allow the people to decide whether to tax themselves or not for this purpose.
You can see the entire resolution and referendum here
Politician Diamond Litty’s Pension Grab from Taxpayers
By David Jaye
In a shocking Christmas-time taxpayer money grab, political greed unfolds in St. Lucie County, Florida. Politician Diamond Litty shamelessly exploits her position to pocket an outrageous $1.1 Million taxpayer-funded pension bonus. This display of gluttony sets a new low for political personal enrichment, particularly for a Politician charged with the task of “Public Defender”.
Republican Diamond Litty decided her pension cash bonus, originally $641,435, scheduled for payment on December 31, 2023, was not enough money. Demonstrating cunning maneuvering, Litty submitted paperwork in June 2023, breaking an earlier contract promise to resign by December 31, 2023. This move allowed her to pursue an additional three years of pension bonus time, elevating her Diamond Pension Bonus total to an indefensible $1,161,730, with a monthly taxpayer-funded pension soaring from $6,414 to $11,697. See: https://tripledippers.org/diamond-litty-scandalous-greed-unveiled/
Politician Diamond Litty is the inaugural inductee on a recently launched Hall of Shame website dedicated to exposing greedy Florida politicians. These Greedy Politicians used their office to enrich themselves by maneuvering for an extended pension bonus of 8 years instead of the originally allotted 5 years. Stay tuned: https://tripledippers.org/triple-dippers-hall-of-shame/.
Sneaky Politician Diamond Bonus Litty is greedy. How many gourmet meals, luxury cars, and vacation homes does one person need or can even use?
Pension Plotter Diamond Liddy, 67, takes a base paycheck of $212,562, plus pension, plus approximately $85,024 in annual benefits and doesn't contribute the standard 3% of her salary ($6,376) to the Florida Pension program, like all other public employees.
You can stop Diamond Liddy's $1.1 million pension cash bonus when as she seeks re-election in 2024.
St. Lucie County suffers with a poverty rate of 13.7%, almost ten percent higher than the statewide average of 12.7%. The average St. Lucie County worker earns $46,436 and would need to work over 25 years to match Politician Public Defender Diamond Litty’s pension cash bonus of $1,161,730.
https://www.statista.com/statistics/205451/poverty-rate-in-florida
Diamond Litty's staggering $1,161,730 pension cash bonus could fund 65,374 tutor hours for high school students enhancing job and college readiness. Only 5% of Treasure Coast High School students are college-ready, 49% are proficient in Reading, and 28% in Math.
Governor Jim DeSantis signed SB 7024 effective July 1, 2023 allowing politicians and bureaucrats to extend pension bonuses by 60% from 5 to 8 years and up to ten years for School Employees. The Triple Dipper Pension Bonus system created $39 billion in unfunded Florida Retirement obligations, amounting to a $1,725 liability for every man, woman, and child in Florida.
For a list of the names, employers and pension cash bonuses of approximately 26,000 Florida's Triple Dippers, visit https://tripledippers.org/fl-statewide-2023-june-28537-tripledippers/.
David Jaye’s opinions are his own and may not reflect Friends & Neighbors viewpoint.
SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS MAILS 8,000 VOTE BY MAIL BALLOTS
Stuart – Martin County Supervisor of Elections, Vicki Davis is mailing 8,000 Vote by Mail Ballots for the Republican Presidential Preference Primary Election that will be held on Tuesday, March 19.
Voters who have requested a vote by mail ballot for the presidential preference primary election will receive their ballots within the next week.
The deadline to request a ballot to be mailed is Wednesday, March 9 at 5 pm.
Vote by Mail Ballots can be requested by visiting the Elections Office website at www.MartinVotes.gov or by calling the office at (772) 288-5637.
When mailing your voted ballot, it is recommended to place your ballot in the mail at least ten days before Election Day. Vote by Mail ballots must be received by 7 pm Election Day when the polls close.
To track your ballot, visit MartinVotes.gov and click on Ballottrax located under What’s New on our homepage.
For more information, visit the Elections Center located at 135 SE Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd, Stuart, FL or call the office at 772-288-5637.
As a property owner in Florida, homestead exemption is one way to reduce the amount of real estate taxes you pay on your residential property. In this educational video, we highlight the benefits of filing for homestead exemption and how you may be entitled to additional tax savings! https://youtu.be/4wzu96KFQ8Y?si=wjGQT3mgzQ0pekR5
2024 Martin County Open Studio Tour
The Martin Artisans Guild is producing its 8th annual open studio tour on March 2nd & 3rd from 10 am to 5 pm each day.
Colleen North, Deborah Bottorff, Dinja Berkian
Renee Keil & Nancy Turrell
This is a free self-guided tour that gives the community a chance to meet artists and see their studios firsthand.
This year boasts 37 artists in 16 locations, all in Martin County. From Hobe Sound to Palm City, across to Rocky Point, up to Old St. Lucie Blvd, downtown Stuart, Sewall’s Point and Jensen Beach.
Ann Zorn, Jacqueline Roesch-Sanchez , Maria Knowls
The Preview Exhibit takes place February 15th at the Elliott Museum and will feature one artwork by each of the 37 artists. It will also have appetizers and live music.
Chris Kling In Studio
Plan on picking up your Tour book at The Palm Room Art Gallery & Artisans Boutique, MartinArts at the Court House Cultural Center, Stuart Art Supply, Bridge Road Art Gallery or the Elliott Museum as well as many other locations. Then attend the Preview to see the artworks in person. Pick which artists/studios you want to go to and plot your course using the centerfold map in the tour book with the studios marked.
Upcoming Newsletter
We are excited to announce that our organization will be starting a biweekly e-newsletter this month. We will include information about our organization, community outreaches, photos, announcements, and more. We will be showcasing different facets of what we do and the impact that has been made within each issue. We also plan to use it to keep our families abreast of what is happening at Banner Lake Early Learning Center, Banner Lake Academy, The Community Center, and our after-school BLAST program. This will be a tool for us to inform the community about specific needs, ways to volunteer, and what is happening with our students, volunteers, staff, sponsors, and partners. If you want to be added to our e-newsletter mailing list, call our office at 772-545-0953. We would love to include you! Thank you for your interest and support!
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The Train Exhibit Is Back: And Brighter Than Ever! |
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Irish Eyes Are Smiling
The Treasure Coast Community Singers, now in its 21st season of “Keeping People Singing,” will present “Irish Eyes Are Smiling” under the direction of Dr. Douglas Jewett, founder/CEO of the organization and recipient of the 2023 Council on Aging Sage Award. The Community Singers will be highlighting the lilting songs, ballads, and traditional blessings of the Emerald Isle, featuring “An Irish Prayer,” “Look to the Rainbow,” “Molly Malone,” and “Danny Boy.” In addition, the Youth Chorus (grades K-4) will sing “Sally Garden” and “Top of the Morning.” The
Middle School Chorus (grades 5-8) will delight the audience with “Wild Mountain Thyme,” “The Star of the County Down,” and “An Irish Blessing.” All three ensembles will join together in the popular “Look to the Rainbow.” Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day and all things Irish will be even more enjoyable and frolicsome through your attendance on March 16-17, 2024.
On March 16th, “Irish Eyes Are Smiling” will be presented at the Kane Center, 900 SE Salerno Road, Stuart; the March 17th concert will be held at Ross Hall, St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, 701 SE Ocean Boulevard, Stuart. Both concerts begin at 3:00 p.m. To purchase tickets for any and all concerts, visit www.tccsingers.org.
Dr. Douglas Jewett, Director
The Chamber Singers of TCCS will be bringing beautiful classical music to the Treasure Coast in their presentation of Dan Forrest’s Requiem for the Living on April 13-14, 2024. Mr. Forrest is a highly regarded choral composer whose works are performed by church choirs and professional ensembles throughout the world. Requiem for the Living ranges in musical color from aggressive rhythmic sections to lyrical and ethereal melodies which touch the heart and soul of the listener. This concert is a must-see in 2024.
Concluding the season the Community Singers will feature the music of Bacharach, Sondheim, and Webber on May 18-19, 2024. Mark your calendars for all these outstanding concerts.
TCCS is sponsored by The Arts Council of Martin County, Florida Department of State Division of Arts and Culture, St. Lucie Cultural Alliance, Women Supporting the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Arts. TCCS is Gold Guide Star rated. The organization is a 501(c)3, non-profit group.
Keep Martin Beautiful seeks nominees for the 2024 Environmental Stewardship Awards
Call for Nominations to Celebrate Environmental Excellence in Martin County
Palm City, Fla. – Keep Martin Beautiful is ready once again to shine a light on community efforts to improve the environment and protect and preserve Martin County’s quality of life.
The 2024 Environmental Stewardship Awards will be given out on May 1 at a celebration at Piper’s Landing Yacht & Country Club in Palm City. Individuals, businesses, civic and nonprofit groups, and government agencies are all eligible for an awards nomination. Areas of focus include community and neighborhood revitalization; litter and marine debris removal; recycling programs; river advocacy; climate change and resiliency; technological innovations; youth engagement and education.
The application is simple. It asks for a description of the project, who is doing it, and why it matters. An independent group of judges evaluates the entries and determines the winners. At its awards celebration, Keep Martin Beautiful will have the honor of introducing the awardees and their projects to the entire community
Nominations are due by March 1. There is no fee to submit a nomination, and self-nominations are welcome. Projects and activities must have occurred between 2022 and Spring 2024.
“The quality and diversity of the projects in Martin County that are nominated continues to amaze us,” said Tiffany Kincaid, Executive Director of Keep Martin Beautiful. “We don’t always fully appreciate the great work happening in our community. So, I personally encourage everyone to look around you, notice the people and organizations who deserve our appreciation, and nominate them for an Environmental Stewardship Award.”
For more information and to submit a nomination, visit keepmartinbeautiful.org/environmental-stewardship-awards.
Suggested Photo Caption: The City of Stuart wins the 2022 Community Improvement Award (pictured, front row) Pinal Gandhi-Savdas, Jordan Pinkston, Merritt Matheson, Anne Ellig Hawkins, Eula Clarke, (back row) Ben Hogarth, Milton Leggett, and David Dyess.
In addition to nominations, Keep Martin Beautiful is also seeking sponsorships for the event. Nomination and sponsorship forms, previous winners, and other details are available online at keepmartinbeautiful.org. For more information contact Keep Martin Beautiful at 772-781-1222 or info@keepmartinbeautiful.org.
About Keep Martin Beautiful
Keep Martin Beautiful (KMB) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community organization founded in 1994 as an affiliate of Keep America Beautiful. Its mission is to preserve and enhance the quality of life in Martin County through litter prevention, the promotion of recycling, improvement of solid waste management practices, and beautification and community revitalization activities. KMB signature events and programs include the Environmental Stewardship Awards, the International Coastal Cleanup, the Great American Cleanup, the Adopt-A-Road and Adopt-A-Street programs, and other educational and outreach activities. Find KMB on Facebook at facebook.com/KeepMartinBeautiful, follow KMB on Twitter at twitter.com/KMBmartin, visit KeepMartinBeautiful.org or call 772-781-1222.
A Reception of Gratitude at Helping People Succeed
By Jackie Holfelder
Helping People Succeed’s Art for Living Calendar has been hanging on the walls of homes and offices since 1998.
Each year, 13 talented artists from the community are selected to showcase their art on Helping People Succeed’s calendar. Each of the original paintings reflect an image representative of living here on the Treasure Coast.
Ann Duval, Dan Mackin, Deb Duval
On January 18, a special Reception of Gratitude took place at the Elliott Museum, at which the 2024 Art for Living Calendar artists and underwriters were honored at an event generously underwritten by Jeanine Webster and Mel Nobel.
Claire Nash, Steve Lowy, Beth Prinz
Heidi Bosley, chair of the Helping People Succeed Governing Board, welcomed guests with a success story to depict the impact of their gifts. Glenna Parris, Gift Planning Officer, thanked each artist and underwriter individually and presented them with a unique glass blown heart.
Claire Nash, chair of the Foundation Board, closed the evening by reading a poem that she had written that paid tribute to the artists and supporters. Rob Steele, president of the Elliott Museum, was thanked for generously accommodating the artwork. The Reception of Gratitude was catered by Philly Down South and was held on the Elliott’s second-floor gallery. The mood was festive and welcoming.
The paintings will remain on display at the Elliott through April 1, 2024.
Pam Patterson and Art Work
Artists and their underwriters included:
· Kirsty Smith Innis – All Creatures Animal Hospital, underwriter
· Marian Vitale – Water Pointe Realty, Deb Duvall, underwriter
· Charles T. White, PhD – Hoskins Turco Lloyd & Lloyd, underwriter
· Susan Clifford – Sandhill Cove Retirement Living, underwriter
· Stacy Weller Ranieri – Stuart Business Systems, Phil Faherty, underwriter
· Pat Hoshino – E.W. Consultants, Ed Weinberg, underwriters
· Dan Mackin – NisAir, Dawn Brucious, underwriters
· Patrice Scott – Mary Kay Buckridge, underwriter
· Don MacIntosh – Aycock Funeral Home, underwriter
· Sharon Ferina – Ross Mixing, underwriter
· Pamela Patterson – Leonardo & Company, underwriter
· Sue Ann Mosley-Saleeby – Oral-Facial Surgical Associates, underwriter
· Holly Cannon – Dale Forbes, underwriter
Herbie & Don Macintosh and Debbie & Claire White
Laura DeBerard’s painting of a starfish is included on the inside cover, illustrating the story of how every individual can make a difference, even if that difference is only felt by one person.
Patrice Scott and Art Work
The 2024 Art for Living Calendar is available signed by the artists or unsigned for $40 and $25 each respectively. It can be purchased at Helping People Succeed’s offices at 1601 NE Braille Place, Jensen Beach or online at www.hpsfl.org. Artwork may also be viewed at the virtual Art for Living Gallery found at Helping People Succeed’s website.
Helping People Succeed is celebrating 60 years of service to the community. Through its diversified, effective program services and initiatives, hundreds of thousands of the most vulnerable local children, families and adults have been able to transform their lives through education, counseling, training, and employment. For more information, contact Glenna Parris at 772-320.-0778.
Photos provided by Helping People Succeed
Book Club Bestows Pillow Perfect Gifts for Non-profit’s ASU
FORT PIERCE, FL -- New Horizons of the Treasure Coast and Okeechobee’s Adult Stabilization Unit was recently gifted 24 handmade pillows by a group of readers and sewers in Indian River County. The ASU will use the pillows to replace old ones …..
The Book Club at the Villas of Three Oaks in Vero Beach stitched the idea up to help the unit when they learned of the ASU’s need. They took their handiwork to the next level when they constructed the pillows according to the medical grade specs the unit beds require.
“We are just thrilled to have these replacement, beautiful pillows,” stated Jennifer Demko. “The unit was in need and our friends at the Villas of Three Oaks really came through for us.” she further added.
The ASU, located at the non-profit’s main campus on Midway Road in Fort Pierce, is a 30-bed unit that provides adults in crisis a safe place to get treatment and regain balance in their lives. Admission to the unit is under the supervision of a physician.
To learn more about New Horizons, please visit www.nhtcinc.org or call (772) 672-8383. The non-profit hosts 8 campuses across 4 counties in South Florida. They provide services to more than 15,000 residents including those with little or no access to healthcare insurance.
Elev8hope.
Gatorade, in partnership with Serena Williams, presented a $50,000 Gatorade Equity in Sports grant to Elev8hope.
This came as a total surprise!
“We are honored that they heard about us and followed our work and impact.
The funds provided will address the critical needs of Martin County School District students who face limited opportunities compared to their peers” said Rinamarie Shpiruk, CEO of Elev8hope.
President Attorney of Elev8hope Peter Del Toro, Gatorade Rep and Rinamarie Shpiruk, ceo of Elev8hope
By partnering with Elev8hope and Mrs. Rina's House of Blessings, these dollars will not only give support to their families, but also extend fulfilling additional necessities including sports .
Thank you Gatorade and Serena Williams for contributing to our community and assisting many on their athletic journey . Together, we are making a positive impact and fostering a brighter future for all.
2024 SECRET GARDENS TOUR: From the Tropics to the Trails
Presented by: The Garden Club of Stuart
SAVE THE DATE for the 2024 Secret Gardens Tour: From the Tropics to the Trails, on Saturday, March 23, 2024, from 10am - 5pm. Enjoy visiting several private gardens throughout Martin County, showcasing a wide variety of spectacular plants and rare tropical trees. Be inspired by the tranquility, whimsy, and artistic displays throughout the tour. Certified Master Gardeners will be onsite at each garden to answer horticultural questions.
Proceeds benefit The Garden Club of Stuart’s College Scholarship Program for local students, outreach, and education programs.
Tickets are $35, $45 day of the tour & are available online at: http://tinyurl.com/SecretGardensTour
& on the garden club’s website: https://www.gardenclubofstuart.org/
Tickets are also available at the following businesses, payment by check or cash only:
1. Big Pine Nursery - 800 SE Salerno Rd., Stuart
2. Cove Gardens - 4968 SE Dixie Hwy., Stuart
3. Stuart Art Supply and Studio - 43 SE Kindred St., Stuart
4. Kilwin's Chocolates - 41 A SW Osceola St., Downtown Stuart
5. Palm City Palms - 7390 Martin Hwy., Palm City
6. The Gate - Harbour Bay Plaza 3742 SE Ocean Blvd., Stuart
7. Hobe Sound Beach Shop - 9128B Bridge Rd Hobe Sound
8. Pinder’s Nursery - 5500 SW Martin Hwy Palm City
The day of the Secret Garden Tour, between 9am and 1pm, patrons will exchange their ticket for a TOUR BOOK at one of the following locations in Martin County: Colab Kitchen-downtown Stuart, Blake Library, Cummings Library in Palm City, or the Hobe Sound Library. Tour Books include garden addresses & descriptions, garden photos, and maps. The Garden Tour begins at 10am.
Please visit www.gardenclubofstuart.org for additional details and updates.
About The Garden Club of Stuart, Inc.
The Garden Club of Stuart, Inc. (GCS) was organized in 1936 and federated in 1937 as a member of the Florida Federation of Garden Clubs, Inc. affiliated with the National Garden Clubs, Inc. GSC is a 501 (c) (3) charitable organization with a mission: to further the education of members and the public in the fields of horticulture, floral design, botany, landscape design, conservation of natural resources, and civic beautification.
GCS maintains several gardens throughout the community, including Audubon-Possum Long Nature Center, Blue Star Memorial By-Way Marker Garden at Memorial Park, Butterfly Garden at Sewall’s Point Park, House of Refuge, and Mary’s House. In 2023, more than $12,000 in scholarships were distributed to Martin County students. Membership is open to all who have interests consistent with the mission of the Club.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Martin County hosting free dinner so community can share in celebration of Youth of the Year candidates
STUART—If you’re in need of motivation to maintain—or regain—that enthusiasm you had when pledging your New Year’s resolutions, then don’t miss the inspiring free community event recognizing three standout Martin County young people.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Martin County (BGCMC) is celebrating its Youth of the Year candidates with a free dinner event for the community at 6 p.m. Feb. 29 at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Stuart.
The trio—selected among the more than 600 members across four clubs for their leadership skills, commitment to service, and achievements inside and outside the club—will represent Martin County at the state competition and if they advance, on the national stage.
“Appropriately, this event takes place on Leap Day because we’ve watched these amazing young leaders grow by leaps and bounds over the years and we can’t wait to see what else they accomplish,” says Keith “Fletch” Fletcher, CEO of BGCMC. “We’re really excited to open up this celebration to the community—and thanks to our sponsors we’re able to do so for free—so people can hear their stories, applaud their efforts and cheer on their success.”
Sponsored by Publix Super Market Charities, the event features catering by Michelina’s Italian Restaurant in Stuart. For a special—literally and figuratively—treat, the acclaimed BGCMC culinary and catering food truck team Fork in the Road will create dessert.
Boys & Girls Clubs of America launched the Youth of the Year program in 1947. The event foreshadows future greatness as top leaders in business, sports, entertainment, and politics were first featured as finalists in the competition, which originates at the local club level and moves up to the state and national levels.
Former Boys & Girls Clubs alum and one-time Youth of the Year winner Michael Chambers—today an environmental and land-use professional from Connecticut who co-created the Family First in Education program—will be the keynote speaker at the BGCMC event. Attendees must RSVP at specialevents@bgcmartin.org.
The Youth of the Year candidates include:
Jomar Z.
Age: 18
Club: John & Marge Bolton Club, Port Salerno
Club membership: Nine years
Chosen career: Orthopedic surgeon
Academic record: Dual-enrolled honors student
Titles and achievements: Performed 500 hours of community service, including serving as captain of the BGCMC Peer Forward Team and participating in our Students Working Against Tobacco program.
Key quote: “I love making others feel welcomed and being a part of the Boys & Girls Clubs gives me the opportunity to do so.”
Jesshia S.
Age: 14
Club: Bill & Barbara Whitman Club, Indiantown
Club membership: Seven years
Chosen career: Infusion nurse
Titles and achievements: Dedicated volunteer with various local organizations and at community events and always eager to help distribute meals to fellow club members during snack and lunch time.
Key quote: “I have witnessed the transformative power of mentorship, education and character development. I am committed to advocating for the needs and aspirations of my fellow club members and I am eager to amplify their voices.”
Mildred C.
Age: 14
Club: Cole-Clark Club, Hobe Sound
Club membership: Five years
Chosen career: Trauma nurse
Titles and achievements: Performed 150 hours of community service, won the BGCMC Copper Key Scholarship for leadership skills, sous chef in the club’s acclaimed culinary program.
Key quote: “No matter how bad things can look, it’s important to remember tomorrow is a new day and I feel that being able to see the good in a bad situation can really help me make an impact.”
About BGCMC
For more than 30 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of Martin County has provided award-winning programs designed to guide and inspire young people ages 6-18 to learn, grow and mature in route to becoming successful adults. Each of the four clubs enjoys strong partnerships with local schools and communities.
Such cohesion ensures that Boys & Girls Clubs’ programs complement and enrich the curriculum our members learn in class as well as remain attuned to the challenges and opportunities they face on a day-to-day basis. The clubs offer opportunities for fun, fitness, S.T.E.A.M. activities, and certified teachers work with club members on everything from tutoring and homework help to specialized courses that prepare them for careers in a variety of trades.
I urge those who are reading this newsletter to send an email expressing their opinions on subjects. When a reader sends one, it will be included if I find it relevant and I have adequate space. I may edit the letter because of length and clarity. You don’t have to agree with me to have your letter in Friends & Neighbors. All you must do is send it to TOM CAMPENNI or fill out the form on the website.
From Shannon Anderson
I enjoyed reading this article. From talking with many people, the vast majority do not know what meetings to show up for that truly matter. The few people who show up to the meetings to voice their opposition and projects get passed are quick to share that showing up as opposition is a waste of time. Bad news travels fast. I think if more people understood how the system works we would have more people showing up to the meetings that matter! Do you have a schedule of when the meetings about the comp plan, codes, and zoning are being written and amended? I would be happy to use my social media platforms to spread the word. I appreciate all the effort required to create this Newspaper. Keep up the great work.
If you go on the county's website you can sign up to receive a notice when & where every meeting is going to be held. Tom
From Dave Derrenbacker
Tom, just a quick note to say thanks for the (most likely) endless amount of work you put into Friends & Neighbors. I have been reading since the beginning and continue to gather a good amount of information from the publication.
On a separate note, what’s the deal with the old Dyer Building? I’ve lived in Stuart since 1997 and I think it has been boarded up that entire time. Over the years, I have reached out to the owner on behalf of Stuart MainStreet, interested buyers, interested tenants and personally, never once receiving a response. Doesn’t a boarded-up building in the heart of Downtown Stuart constitute some kind of code violation?
Have a great day!
I have been trying to get an answer myself for years. Tom
From Diane Castellucci
After reading the newspaper I now understand why the non profits got such a big chunk of the Martin County 2024 Budget. They are well connected. The veterans got a paltry $10,000 . I think that the veterans need a Martin County advocate. Then maybe they will get more funding in next year’s budget.
COMMISSION MEETING FEBRUARY 6, 2024
Sands Commerce Center asked for a revised master site plan for Center I, II, and IV for approximately 456,800 sf of industrial warehouses with office space.
The entire project is on 105 acres at SW Citrus Blvd off SW Martin Highway. There is already a Preserve Area Management Plan (PAMP) that was approved with Center I and III. There will be a revised PAMP that is extended with new upland and wetland area. The access will be from SW Cargo Way.
The county has less than 2% of its land dedicated to industrial use. One of Martin County’s problems is that there are limited options for where businesses can locate. We are not speaking about heavy industry but rather, at most, light industrial. This makes it difficult for our business sector to expand.
A motion was made by Commissioner Ciampi and seconded by Commissioner Smith to approve staff recommendation to proceed. The vote was 5-0.
You can see the presentation here
PAL MAR MEETING FEBRUARY 1, 2024
At the meeting, the district’s contractor, TJ Mansell said that he didn’t want the washouts repaired because if they were, then people would use it as a speedway. That is where we are with Pal Mar. It is better to leave damage to the “works of the district” than repair them.
The board was informed earlier that the sheriff had decided not to allow off-duty personnel to patrol the area, so the board is looking at alternatives. FWC came back with $125 per hour with a minimum of 4 hours plus an additional $250 per arrest. Sounds like something from the old west with a bounty. The board decided to move on.
There had been talk about installing cameras on district property. TJ Mansell, the maintenance contractor, stated that he was not law enforcement. He doesn’t want to be the “bully of the woods.” What could he do? The idea was dropped.
Where I live, if I were to begin grading my property with a backhoe, I would need a permit and code enforcement would come with a stop work order in short order if I didn’t have one. Apparently not in Pal Mar. Mansell found someone calling himself “Dave” with no last name given, moving a backhoe in to grade his lot. Mansell explained that wasn’t allowed and that resulted in “Dave” continuing with his work.
Mansell also took pictures of a buzzard and alligators that had been shot. He reported it to FWC but, of course, that familiar refrain “nothing I can do” was the response. Throughout the meeting that was what was heard…nothing can be done. It was pervasive because there is no law in the land of the lawless known as Pal Mar.
Pal Mar is the place where respect for the law is unknown. You can poach or kill animals without regard to seasons or even having a license to do so. It is where the Martin County Sheriff’s Department never cares if gunfire is pervasive and goes wildly off course hitting the property in the nearby Trailside development.
Apparently, FWC, in charge of making sure that our wildlife is not decimated, doesn’t seem to care much either. If the indiscriminate killing of wildlife was happening in Palm City, would it be tolerated? How about the firing of thousands of rounds which fly onto other’s land and destroy property? Would the sheriff have a task force created to put an end to it?
These photos that Mansell took and showed at the meeting do more than any words can. It is a public record of the destruction of an ecosystem that cannot be duplicated. People are worrying about development, but then they are silent about a piece of Florida being destroyed.
Martin County designated Pal Mar as not available for development in any way. It was to remain a place that looked like what Florida did more than a century ago while being a part of a water control district. So many in Martin County complain about owners developing their property according to their zoning and the LDRs. The same people have said nothing about Pal Mar which flagrantly disregards both.
JOINT MEETING OF BOCC, STUART, SCHOOL BOARD, AND INDIANTOWN:
For some long-forgotten reason, it is mandated that these entities meet to discuss growth so that governments know what is happening throughout the county and jurisdictions can adequately plan.
Why the commissioners and school board members must be part of it is also a mystery. The amount of money being spent on staff to be present is immense. Commissioners and school board members must take three hours out of their day to sit there.
This can all be done by circulating the presentations that are made at the meeting among the bodies for the participants to review independently. If the commissioners had a choice between going out to breakfast with an acquaintance or attending this meeting, I would suggest choosing the former.
The highlight of the meeting is when the different governments’ development staff give an update about what has been approved. Guess what...for the past few meetings this has been a big bust. In 2023, there were 592 residential units approved in unincorporated Martin County. In the City of Stuart, one new single-family permit was issued. The city did have a 60-unit PUD town house development approved, but that took the place of a 2008 approved plan on that parcel which had more units.
The myth of runaway growth is just that…myth. And while the doom and gloom fanatics are out there decrying it, those who should be setting the record straight say very little or nothing. We have a housing shortage in the county with not even enough product being built to house our existing citizens.
Assistant County Administrator George Stokus sent this memo which also included Stuart City Manager Mike Mortell providing the city stats. As you can see, it went to the heads of the five chambers, the misnamed economic council, some folks in the non-profit world, and me.
From: George Stokus <gstokus@martin.fl.us>
Sent: Friday, February 2, 2024 4:17 PM
To: jcat@stuartmartinchamber.org; Lainey Muenich (lainey@hobesound.org) <lainey@hobesound.org>; Missi Campbell (missi@palmcitychamber.com) <missi@palmcitychamber.com>; Ron Rose (ron@jensenbeach.biz) <ron@jensenbeach.biz>; Ted Astolfi (tastolfi@mceconomy.org) <tastolfi@mceconomy.org>
Cc: Mortell, Michael <mmortell@ci.stuart.fl.us>; Rob Ranieri <rob@hohmartin.org>; Carol Houwaart-Diez <chdiez@unitedwaymartin.org>; Tom Campenni <thomasfcampenni@gmail.com>
Subject: Growth in Martin County - The actual numbers
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Hello,
I wanted to share with you the actual numbers of growth for 2023 since there has been some momentum that growth is out of control by certain members of the public. These numbers were discussed at the Joint Meeting today. The City of Stuart approved zero (0) residential units in 2023, at least that was my understanding from today. Please feel free to share this information with your respective boards.
Martin County – 592 New Residential Units
Martin County – 60 New Commercial Units
Here is a look back at the data from 1991 to present.
Please feel free to contact me should you have any questions regarding this data. I hope you all have a great weekend.
Respectfully,
George M. Stokus, A.A.E.
Assistant County Administrator
Martin County Board of County Commissioners
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Feb 2, 2024, 4:28 PM (3 days ago) |
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The City of Stuart had 1 single family home start up in 2023 but it was more than 6 months ago so it was not listed during today’s meeting. The City of Stuart did have one RPUD approval in 2023 but it was the same location as a prior RPUD that had been approved in 2008 and failed because of the economic turn down. The new approval in 2023 was smaller than the original 2008 approval which is why it passed. The City also stated that there have been zero residential approvals in Stuart in the last six months.
As a result, in the last 18 months, there has been one (1) RPUD approval but it had been previously approved in 2008.
Michael J. Mortell
City Manager
Stuart, FL 34994
Martin County is not being overwhelmed by new construction. What is really happening is the county is experiencing decline. It is brought about by not enough economic opportunity. Today, less than 2% of the tax base is industrial. That means ad valorem taxes fall on residential properties to a great extent. It also means that we are not producing enough jobs for our citizens.
With no housing and no jobs, we have reached the point where the government cannot provide the current level of services. So, we complain about tax increases. People scream to keep a flat millage rate resulting in neglect of our capital improvements. Instead, we focus on operating costs.
We have been able to get away with it because of the rate of increase in property values. That strategy is coming to an end because property values will inevitably rise more slower if at all. Then what?
Without new revenue, preferably from an increase in our industrial base, we will not be able to pay cops and firefighters going forward. Because of Florida’s completely wacky real estate tax system, many people pay next to nothing. The no-growth people will win, and our roads will crumble and our parks will not be what we currently are used to enjoying.
COMMISSION MEETING FEBRUARY 12, 2024
To take a line that was used to describe the old TV show “Seinfeld”, this was a show about nothing.
It was a four-hour meeting that was more about personality than governance. Perhaps an even more apt description is like when the U.S. senators speak to an empty chamber and are recorded by C-Span. Empty words speaking to the wind.
After endless proclamations, we came to the presentations. Staff went on for a half hour outlining bills in the legislature that may or may not pass. Watching the commissioners, I saw their eyes glaze over as the doom and gloom sales pitch continued.
Thw only commissioner who really spoke was McDonald. He had already assembled his talking points ahead of time on a few bills that weren’t in the presentation, and he needed to make sure voters knew that he had been to Tallahassee. There were a handful of people in the chamber although I would suspect not many were watching from home. Reelection time is here.
I wonder where Commissioner Rich was. He is Stuart’s rep on the Treasure Coast League of Cities. He should have been the one giving the report to his fellow commissioners. What we had was the staff trying to impress the bosses on how smart they are.
Financial Services Director Louis Boglioli gave a shorter and better presentation on the interactive budget website. It was very interesting and informative. And more importantly, to the point.
The commission pulled from consent agenda the item about accepting the grant for the new train bridge. Commissioner McDonald wanted to make sure everyone knew that Stuart along with FIND (Florida Inland Navigation District) was the entity that applied. Sometimes I think the city manager puts things on the consent agenda so that they can be pulled by commissioners.
Commissioner Clarke had asked that the OK for the paving plan also be pulled from the consent agenda. The city is broken up into several zones. Every year one zone is identified, and the city repaves or mills the streets. It has been going on for at least a decade. No discussion only an explanation and then a vote.
At this point, we hit the 2 ½ hour mark without anything decisive happening except hearing commissioners spout off about how knowledgeable they are. Interesting to note that The Stuart News awarded this commission an A rating. The ratings must mean that you scored the highest by doing the least. I guess the Martin County Commission received an F because they did do something.
Then came the hour spent discussing the subsidization of Stuart Main Street to the tune of $70,000 a year. There was no shortage of commissioners, staff, and the Main Street director stretching the truth and only remembering half of what happened to praise the organization. There was an attempt by Rich to bring out some of the story and a half-hearted attempt by Collins to back him up. The final agreement that passed 5-0 was to continue to pay a private organization $70,000 per year in perpetuity until the agreement is cancelled.
A more complete story can be found in the next article on this subject.
The commission approved 5-0 without discussion a letter supporting the ½ cent sales tax referendum for buying sensitive environmental land. The county commission will be voting on whether to allow the item to go on a November referendum for the citizens to decide at the February 20th meeting. And just like that, a little over 4 hours had gone by.
Once the government is involved in a program, a tax, or an organization, it never ends.
That is the story of the subsidization of Stuart Main Street by the Stuart City Commission. The organization has now achieved the ultimate goal of eternal life with the passage of a contract with the city that is automatically renewed. No review needed. It continues without end until a commission finally drives a stake through its heart by affirmatively voting not to pay the annual $70,000 to them.
Main Street has already had a long life. It was created to help revive downtown during the blighted years of the early 1980s. Stores had closed and moved to the mall. Downtowns everywhere were under pressure to reinvent themselves. Stuart Main Street was started by Joan Jefferson, Julie Priest, and Ann MacMillan. All three are in the pantheon of Stuart Heros.
But 40 years ago, Reagan was president, Tip O’Neill was speaker, and a gallon of milk was $1.17. Our country was different then. Stuart was in a different place then. Just as the Stuart of the 1940s was different from the 1980s.
Stuart needed to change to regain vitality and it did. During the 1940s, the streets were lined with drugstores, cleaners, dry good stores, Bank of Stuart, Stuart Department Store, and other businesses. By the 1980s, they were all gone. It was a different Stuart than today’s. What really hasn’t evolved in the past 40 years is Stuart Main Street.
Main Street’s current relationship with the city can be broken into two parts…the lease with the Flagler Center and the contract approved in perpetuity. Let’s explore the Flagler Center first.
The building was originally built by the USO during WWII. After it was decommissioned, it soon became the Stuart Recreation Center. However, remember that until the late-1960s-early-1970s, Stuart was segregated. Blacks were at 10th Street and Whites were downtown.
The first half truth told by staff and commissioners at the meeting was that the city was losing $300,000 or more a year when they ran the building. It was a recreation center with programs that cost money. The same can be said for any recreation program.
The building eventually went to the Lyric Theater for community programming. They only had the building for a short while. That relationship was destroyed by a disgruntled local musician unhappy with the management.
Then in 2012/2013 the city instituted an RFP to rent the place. The two top bidders were a community organization that wanted to have an arts center and a private company that wanted to use the venue as an event rental place. The arts center’s package had a more advantageous offer, but the other was chosen.
Remember this is Stuart, where it is all about who you know. The event planner was very good friends with a commissioner and therefore was chosen. Several years later, they were no longer good friends and the commissioner insisted that the lease not be renewed. That is where Stuart Main Street comes into the picture.
Stuart Main Street was losing its city-employed director. Until then the organization, a separate private entity, was run as part of the CRA. The director’s office was within Stuart City Hall.
Another untruth stated at the commission meeting was that Stuart Main Street won an RFP for the building. Not true, there was no RFP. Stuart Main Street was given a cheap lease for three years at $30,000 a year to allow it to have income as the city gradually cut back the organization’s subsidy.
Culpepper & Terpenning signed a sublease with Main Street at the same time for $20,000 a year. There was also a church that held services at the building each Sunday at $250 a week or $12,000 a year.
Since Main Street did not pay any rent for the first six months, the sublease rent was all profit. There were subsequent extensions of further rent-free periods granted by the city. There was also a deal with Florida Arts & Dance for $12,000 a year for a partial rental of one of the rooms that was negotiated but I don’t know whether it was ever put into effect.
Unfortunately, Covid hit, and the building was closed. There had been over a dozen events booked such as weddings but were later cancelled. Because of that, further concessions were given.
The 2020 service agreement signed with the city provided for $70,000 paid to Main Street annually for the first year. It was then to decrease by $20,000 a year and then after the third year, Stuart Main Street would have been able to be self-supporting. How do I know? I was part of the negotiation.
Today Stuart is still paying $70,000 with no end in sight. And it proves that in the City of Stuart, like most of the world, if you are a good old boy you are protected. Wink, wink, and a nod are all it takes. Taxpayers be damned.
But here is the other side of the story. The Stuart of 2019, when this agreement was negotiated, is not the same place as today. Maybe an argument could be made for the eternal subsidization of this organization, but here is my beef with doing so. Is it the government’s responsibility to keep a non-profit in business?
Should our tax dollars be used to make sure an executive director and staff have jobs because they have friends in government? Most of the events that Main Street puts on are done by an independent event coordinator. If the city finds a benefit from having the events, then why not eliminate the middleman (Main Street) and hire the event planner.
The argument for all of it is that it is beneficial for the downtown merchants which have their own organization, the Downtown Business Association which is separate and apart from Main Street. How come private businesses shouldn’t pay for these events? If I had a business in the Publix Downtown Center, I might wonder why I don’t have the city helping me like that.
With a thriving downtown, has Main Street fulfilled its mission? If you look at the “Four Point Approach that is the national organization’s goal, then Main Street has certainly performed that mission. Why not declare success and move on? If Main Street still hasn’t done that after 40 years the organization is a failure, and a new approach should be tried.
Either you believe in the free market and capitalism, or you don’t. The five commissioners believes only certain businesses are entitled to taxpayer help. It is unfair to continue this never-ending subsidy.
SCHOOL BOARD WORKSHOP FEBRUARY 15, 2024
The health insurance for the district’s employees is once again approaching renewal time.
Both the district and the employees contribute to the plans offered. The final decider is the district. For the past six months or so, there have been monthly insurance committee meetings to go through loss ratios, high-cost users of the system, and other discussions.
The bottom line with all of it is that at present the “Rolling 12 Month Loss Ratio” is 96%. In December it was 124%. The target loss ratio is 75%. So, the district’s medical is not really insurance but a pass through of premium going to the insurance company and then to providers.
I am a citizen member of that committee. The rest are district employees with an ex-officio school board member. I generally do not say anything unless taxpayer dollars are being discussed. The employees should have their choice if the residents of Martin County are not being called on to pick up too much of the tab.
What all this has driven home to me in the past several years is that Americans are an unhealthy lot. Much of it is because of diet and exercise. Go into any office, and you will see what I mean. District employees are no worse than the rest of us.
The bottom line is that the health insurance subsidy by the district to the employees is not something that can be ignored. While the amount contributed by the district is not something that is part of the collective bargaining agreement, the question is whether it should be. Martin County is looking at an almost 11% increase if nothing changes.
The entire presentation with all plans and options can be found here
Assistant Superintendent Carter Morrison gave his first budget presentation for 2024/25. It is very early in the cycle. Until the legislature passes a budget with other bills, the district’s projections will have too much uncertainty. You can see the presentation here
Because of state statute, the current ½ cent sales tax used mostly for teacher bonuses will need to be placed on the November ballot. Even though it does not end until 2026, the legislative change requiring referendums to be on the general election ballot necessitates the voters approving an extension this year.
If it waits until November 2026 to be pre-approved, then the sales tax will be interrupted. Once again, Tallahassee decided that our general election ballots are when the most people will vote. I hope by the time people get to the local offices and referenda, they will still be hanging in there and not have voter fatigue.
Several years ago, there was a discussion about closing the Martin County High School pool. For a variety of reasons, mostly the lack of political will by the board, they made some repairs and kept it open. It has now reached the point where the repairs needed could cost over a million dollars.
The operating costs last year were nearly $150,000. Outside groups, which seem to be the bulk of the users, paid next to nothing. Is it time to let the swimming teams walk across the street to Sailfish Splash to use their pools. Both Southfork and Jensen Beach do.
I am not even going to dredge up ancient history and remind everyone that residents were told that MCHS pool would be closed once Sailfish was opened. However, Martin County in its inevitable way decided to keep both going. It was demonstrated that the pool was mostly used by outside individuals and groups that would have to cough up considerably more to swim at Sailfish.
At one time the school system taught kids to swim as part of their curriculum. That is no more. In our delirium to build the best, we opened an aquatic center and water amusement park. The park was supposed to subsidize the pool. It took a few years, but it does now according to county officials.
It is without doubt a true sin that a county in Florida should have only one public pool but is only available some of the time because of swim meets. The high school pool is antiquated and should be closed. There should be more public pools. That is the cost of good government.
Tou can see the presentation here
COMMISSION MEETING FEBRUARY 13, 2024
After several discussions, the board finally has signed off on Manager Daniel’s plan detailing how outside groups can use the chamber.
In the past, evening use would require giving the organization a key since no one was in the building. This does cause security problems. There were incidents of food and trash being left behind.
The new rules will allow non-profit organizations that have a connection to the town to use the facility after hours by paying staff $30.00 per hour with a three-hour minimum. Businesses that have a presence in town will pay $50 per hour. More information about rentals can be found here
Joe Capra, the town engineer, gave a presentation about where various projects stand. It was more a discussion about where grant requests are than the actual work itself. The nature of the town is to use other people’s money almost exclusively to fund road, resiliency, stormwater, and sewer projects.
You can see a complete list here
COUNCIL MEETING FEBRUARY 6, 2024
Sedron Technologies will be locating a plant in the village shortly according to their presentation at the meeting.
It will be on the grounds of the wastewater plant. Sedron is calling their plant the Florida Regional Biosolids and Septage Site. The plant will process the biproducts of sewage and make useful products while preventing harmful waste from going into the environment.
This plant will be obtaining their loads not only from Indiantown and Martin County but also South Florida and other areas. Sedron’s headquarters is based in Seattle. They are a subsidiary of Janicki Industries which subcontracts to build components in the auto and aeronautical industries.
Sedron has a patented system for separating the water from the waste known as the Varcor System. Once the sludge has been dried and separated, the water can be suitable for many uses. It is PFAS free. The dry solids can be used for fertilizer, and even fuel for a cement kiln.
Council Member Dipaolo has gone to Seattle and has seen that plant in operation as have the village manager and public works director. Dipaolo states that the plant is odorless and very quiet. With the jobs that it will bring, this will be a win for Indiantown.
To see the complete presentation go here
Dipaolo once again wanted to have the section of the code that states that gated communities are discouraged in Indiantown stricken from the LDRs.
He states that he is trying to bring into town developers that build multimillion-dollar homes and golf courses. They want to feel the protection, whether real or imagined, of a guard house and gated community. The rest of the council have a different idea. His motion to do so did not receive a second.
Any urban planner will recommend striving for no barriers. There should be full integration and open streets. If a developer is building a townhouse community in the existing Indiantown grid pattern, then I would totally agree. Infill projects need the connectivity and openness that living in a village provides.
However, if someone were to annex 5000 acres into the village and build the type of homes that Dipaolo is speaking about, it could be a different story. I don’t believe one does or should contradict the other. Even presently there is no prohibition...only a suggestion the gated communities are not encouraged.
Dipaolo should continue speaking to these developers. If they are ready to come in with a project, they will be asking for more exceptions to the code than just that. It is at that point that the council can decide whether to allow the gates and guardhouse or not. It would surprise me if they would allow the prize of all that tax money to get away.
Council Meeting February 12, 2024
Prior to approving the minutes from the previous meeting, the Council President will ask the council members if there are any changes. At this meeting, when Council President Kelly asked, Mr. Matthew Biondolillo, a resident but not a council member, rose and listed quite a few. At the last meeting Biondolillo must have spoken for considerable time because the number of changes to the minutes regarding his speaking took several minutes for him to go through.
Why he was allowed to speak for all that time, then trying to correct his words, and then allowed to go on and on is certainly a mystery. The town consultant suggested that the clerk go back and re-listen to the minutes and see if changes are needed instead of making changes because of Bondolillo’s corrections. It was also suggested that Bondolillo work with her to make sure the minutes accurately reflect what was said. The minutes will come back at the next meeting for approval.
The minutes should reflect the actual recorded words even if that differs from what Bondolillo thought he conveyed. This issue exemplifies that this is a town and not a homeowner’s group. As even he said, words matter. There is a reason why the public has a time limit on how long they can speak. If not enforced by the presiding chair, then the meeting becomes a back and forth or in this case a speaker just going on.
The other thing this proves is that everyone who speaks, whether it is council members, staff, or the public, needs to do so into microphones. It isn’t whether they can be heard by those present or not but if their words are being picked up by the recorder. One would hope that President Kelley will make sure going forward that she stops all speakers in their tracks and makes them speak into the microphones so an accurate record can be recorded.
The council unanimously passed a resolution urging Stuart and Martin County to ask for “quiet zones” for railroad crossings. You can find it here
The council has decided to retain Paul Nicoletti to represent the town in receiving the final signoffs from the developers of Sea Walk and the resort. Staff has asked that $10,000 be set aside as a “retainer.” Given that Ocean Breeze have not had such good luck so far, this does make sense.
Mr. Nicoletti has been around for some time. As a former municipal attorney, city manager, and current magistrate, he is more than qualified to take this on. The letter of engagement is attached here.
The Poop Bag
Has anyone else noticed the poop bags that people have been leaving on lawns and sidewalks?
Interesting that people walking their dogs pick up the poop and then leave the waste in a bag where the dog did his business. It was nice that the person picked up after their animal, but then why leave it on the sidewalk and lawn for the homeowner to dispose of it?
I guess it is a symptom of our times that we only take half the responsibility for anything. Maybe it can be better explained by the fact that most people are too lazy to see a thing through. They feel that it is enough of an imposition just to put the crap in a bag.
Picking up after your dog is only a recent invention in our society. For years in New York, there were signs that read “curb your dog.” That meant the dog should do his business in the street and not on the sidewalk. The waste was left for the homeowner, superintendent, or the street sweeper to clean up.
When we had a dog when I was a kid, I remember that sign outside my building warning me to make sure the dog did his business in the street. However, when the curb was full of parked cars it was not easy. It wasn’t until 1978 that New York enacted the “pooper scooper law” requiring people to pick up after their dogs.
I guess Florida (or at least Stuart) never went all in on it. I don’t know anyone here who has received a ticket for leaving the waste behind. But I bet we have all come across dog poop on our lawns.
The poop in the bag phenomenon is better than the stuff left behind on a lawn but not as good as the dog owner picking up the poop and taking it with them. It is a halfway measure that is passive aggressive. It is the plea of someone saying they can’t do more. It is emblematic of our society.
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Tom Campenni 772-341-7455 (c) Email: thomasfcampenni@gmail.com
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