August 4, 2024

School will begin next week. People will be coming back from summer vacations. And traffic will begin to pick up.

That doesn’t mean that summer is over. To me the absolute worst month of the year is September. Hurricane season is at its peak. The only time I really watch local TV news shows is this time of the year and only twice a week to find out about weather activity.

Around the end of October, while still mostly hot, occasionally, you can have a wonderful breeze that teases you with fall. Yet, the next day you know that summer is still here. Then by December most of the traffic and snowbirds will return along with the cooler tempertures.

This week we have the candidates’ statements. Though we publish once more before the August 20th election, by then 60% of the vote will have been cast. So please take the time to read what they say in their own words about why they are running. Then immediately following the Martin County Taxpayers Association asked the county commission candidates to fill out a questionnaire. We have attached a link for you to review the answers.

There are all our regular columnists, articles, government reporting and editorials. We have a piece on the Stuart Fire negotiations and the chances for the Martin County Fair ever being successful. And don’t forget our nonprofit section with the latest on what they are doing.

Have a great Sunday Morning!

A few years ago, I fully retired from my real estate business.

My son became the sole proprietor, and I never looked back. Even today, I don’t ask him anything about the business. He may occasionally ask me for some advice, but that is it. If I delved too much into what is now his business, I probably would have big opinions that would not be helpful to him or our relationship. You must know when your time has passed.

Now I write and publish Friends & Neighbors, serve on a few non-profit boards and appointed government boards. That is how I fill my time as I pass through my early seventies. Not yet ready to take it any easier but not wanting to go back to the world of paid work.

Fortunately, my wife and I have enough money to have a comfortable retirement. Not enough to live the lives of the rich and famous but enough to live the way we want. What else can one ask for?

Some things I can’t do anymore. Mostly physical in nature, like standing on my feet for hours at a time or bending down without effort. All things that would be expected to be harder as we age.

I don’t believe mentally I have lost anything. My recall of facts is the same. Yet recognizing faces and names, especially of people recently met, occasionally slips by.

Both Biden and Trump are older than I. President Biden has decided to withdraw as a candidate for re-election. Given his recent performances, that is the right decision.

 

Kamala Harris at 59 is just barely a Generation Xer. She will be 60 on election day. She appears to be the Democrats’ choice for the nomination. Biden, a member of the silent generation at 81, could have been her father as could Trump, who is the oldest of the baby boomers at 78.

I guess Donald could always use Reagan’s famous line about Mondale on Kamala…”he wouldn’t use her age and inexperience against her.” At the time, Reagan was 73 and Mondale was 56 and had already been vice-president under President Carter. 

I remember when President Johnson gave the TV address and said he was not running again for president because of the Vietnam War in 1968. At the time, he looked ancient to me but was not yet 60. I saw a snippet of the speech again recently and he was ancient. He was succeeded by a Republican 3 years younger, Richard Nixon.

I figure I have another few years of writing and editing this journal. Though I am unpaid, it is a full-time job. As it has become more encompassing and varied, I need to spend more time on administrative and editorial matters.

I promise you one thing…I will probably stop being involved with F&N and turn it over to someone else before I reach Trump’s age. At some point, I just won’t be able to continue to the level that I believe you, the reader, deserve.

Trump is more concerned with his ego than the good of the nation. Biden only saw the light when the polls told him he couldn’t win. I believe America has younger, more talented people available to lead us. Why won’t we allow those in their 40s, 50s, and even 60s to govern us? A society of old leaders usually is a telling sign of a failing society.

Here we are at the beginning of August, and so far, no green algae.

Of course that can change at any moment. A tropical storm or hurricane would find us having run-off and ultimately releases from Lake Okeechobee. That would be regrettable but totally expected given our history.

You know what would be unexpected? No releases. It isn’t very likely that would occur after a storm but maybe someday. The EAA Reservoir south of the lake is supposed to be finished by the end of the decade. It is part of CERP (Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan) which is a joint project between Florida and the federal government.

Sending water south is restoring the natural flow into the Everglades. Once released from the reservoir the water will begin to meander into the Everglades, finally reaching South Florida which has been deprived of adequate fresh water. While this is still a few years off, at least it is now more a reality than just a plan on paper.

But will releases continue into the St. Lucie even after a hurricane? Probably because there is just too much water flowing into the lake from the north. What we can hope for, except after a hurricane or tropical storm, is that releases will eventually be a thing of the past.

Florida has, in one person’s lifetime, gone from an empty rural backwater to the third most populous state in the country. When my mother was born in 1932 on a dairy farm near DeLand, the state was overwhelmingly rural. When her parents bought a small truck farm in the western part of Hollywood a few years later, Broward was still overwhelmingly rural.

There was no shortage of water. As a kid visiting from up north, I remember fishing with my grandfather all over the area. It seemed you could go almost anywhere and never see another house. When my grandfather passed away in the early 1970s, imagine the changes he had seen to the state in his lifetime. My grandmother had come here as a young child around the turn of the twentieth century from Wisconsin in a wagon.

As my grandfather’s Everglades have filled up with agricultural operations and homes, we have displaced not only the wildlife but the water. Now we are in the process of restoring what should have never been interfered with in the first place.

Unfortunately, because of development we can’t make it what it was. But CERP and work on the Indian River Lagoon and other projects can go a long way in making the water flow south. And then perhaps one day discharges will stop from Lake Okeechobee into the St. Lucie even after a hurricane.                                                                                                    

There is an intractable problem in this country…not enough housing for people.

It can be broken down into two distinct though connected pieces…a housing shortage in general and little affordable housing…both of which have impacts across the country and across political lines. At the urging of their citizens, the governments in blue and red states are beginning to implement policies to correct the imbalance.

Much can be traced to the suburbanization of America following World War II. With the advent of government programs, returning vets left behind city apartments for newly created suburban houses. They also left behind the poor residents and cohesion of city life for a life of commuting to work, shopping, church, and school all by car.

To go along with the cul-de-sacs, zoning was instituted to make sure that the single-family house was the only thing that could be built. 80 years later, these policies have resulted in not enough housing and not enough affordable housing. It has also resulted in the stratification of society so that a suburban kid would never meet someone that wasn’t in their socio-economic class including race.

While there have always been rich, poor, and middle-class neighborhoods, the classes lived in closer proximity to each other. The Upper East Side in Manhattan is one example where the rich had their homes west of Lexington Avenue and the farther east one went neighborhoods became poorer. But the walk from Lexington Avenue to the farthest east street is only a matter of minutes.

It seems America has become atrophied and stuck. Because single-family homes were the standard dream sold to us, many are afraid of experimenting with other kinds of dwellings. Even building a two-family home was not allowed in most of America.

Until recently, the cry heard throughout the nation was NIMBY(Not In My Back Yard). Today more and more Americans are saying YIMBY (Yes In My Back Yard). Many adhere to the philosophy of building different forms of housing near one another. YIMBYs are Republican, Democrat, conservative and liberal. From rural and red Montana to blue and liberal California, people understand that to solve the housing crisis, a mix of housing must be built.

Montana, like several other states, has done away with all single-family zoning. A review of buildings from the early 20th century reveals there are different size buildings next to each other. People had a choice of housing from renting a room to apartments to single-family housing. There were commercial establishments in very close proximity to residential buildings.

So why would someone oppose the needed reform to have more supply of housing for all segments of society? The greatest reason is fear. Fear of falling property values, fear that someone would move into the house next door who might be a different race, fear of change.

In the end, America must have more inclusive zoning. Otherwise, we should get used to kids living with parents well into adulthood. And ultimately our housing stock will become unaffordable to all but the most well-to-do. The only way out of our shortage is to build all types of housing.

Some of you have already voted by sending in your “Vote by Mail” ballot. Others will go to the polls when early voting begins August 10th. Countywide and municipal election day is August 20th. The primary for those in contested races will then also be decided.

As of July 30th, there are 60,700 Republicans, 24,778 Democrats, and 28,479 classified as Others who are registered to vote in Martin County. According to the Supervisor of Elections’ website, 4579 ballots have been cast as absentee as of July 25th.

When people talk about being undecided, those who have already cast their ballots are not. I guess most of us are not for most races. I still have one race I am thinking about. Though I could have voted in June for the others.

I don’t think there are too many undecided people in any race. 95% of us could probably cast our ballot for president right now. But that is not what we have before us. It is who do we think will best represent our views at the county commission, school board, and your municipality (if you happen to live in one) when making decisions about this August’s elections.

Most of the candidates, even those I will not be voting for, are good people. I applaud them for going the extra mile and trying to make our community better. You should too.

No matter how the county, school, and city boards change or not, the workings of government will go on. The state has made sure that the amount of leeway any local government has is little. Perhaps that is the upside of getting rid of home rule.

Maybe development will be a bit less or a bit more. But if you look at the stats it still will be a growth rate of 2% or less per year, which is what it has been for decades. That should sober those who believe only they can solve the problem of growth.  

So, look at our next section because we are rerunning candidate statements. After that we have the MCTA and their candidate questionnaire. The choice in this election is yours.

As we have for the past several election cycles, we requested each candidate for local and state office send a statement telling the voters who they are and why they are running. Our only rule was that they couldn’t disparage another candidate. There are no filters or interpreters, only their words. 

We ran this same section last month only we did not have Ms. Brown's statement then. We have added it below.

COUNTY COMMISSION DISTRICT 1

 

Doug Smith (Incumbent)

It has been an honor and a privilege to serve you as County Commissioner.
 

During these many years, there have been lots of opportunities and
challenges presented to us as a community. Every day that I go to work on
your behalf, there are five core beliefs that I take with me. 
 

First and foremost is that we adequately fund all our first responders,
Firefighters and the Sheriff's department. In recent years there have been
many challenges threatening the safety and security of our community and
that will always be my first priority.
 

Next comes what I call All Things Water Water Water. I have been dedicated
to making sure that all our water quality needs and protections have the
highest priority. I've spent my entire time in office working in Tallahassee
and Washington DC to make sure that Martin County's water needs are approved
and funded. There is nothing more precious for our environment than our
water quality.
 

As part of All Things Water Water Water, I've spent the last eight years
working on passage of the Coral Protection reauthorization bill.  Coral, one
of our greatest assets, has been threatened and challenged to the extent
that we have nearly lost it all. Last year I was part of a major national
effort to get the first meaningful rewrite of coral legislation passed in
over 24 years. We now have a path forward to restore and save what we've
lost.
 

Another big initiative of mine was to bring a biosolids conference to Martin
County to come up with a strategy to eliminate the dumping and spreading of
harmful waste on open land. I worked with state and federal legislators to
pass laws to incorporate innovative technology. The first biosolids
processing facility is going to be built in Indiantown by investors NOT our
taxpayers.  It will separate and eliminate medical waste, phosphorus,
nitrogen, and any other contaminants that may be found in our waste. This
project alone is a significant game changer for the State of Florida and
Martin County.
 

I've worked for five years on a new state water policy that will insure
predictable funding and a five/twenty year work plan. 
Next is assuring that Martin County continues to have the most stable tax
base in Florida and to that end job creation is something I work on every
day.
 

Fourth is our residents' quality of life. We have an amazing Parks
Department that creates fantastic opportunities for our residents every
single day including exceptional parks, beaches, golf, amazing environmental
trails, great sports facilities and boat ramps.
Lastly, but also of paramount importance, is protecting property owner's
property rights, while keeping our growth at 2% or less.

 

Eileen Vargas

Hi, I am Eileen Vargas. I am running for Martin County Commission District 1.

My early years in Stuart taught me about quality of life. My mission is to safeguard everything that makes this County special and ensure it remains for all to enjoy. 

I graduated from the University of Miami with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Broadcast Media. My career took me on a global journey with a unique, international perspective.

I’ve been an educator here in Florida and overseas, a business owner, and a published author.

Since returning to the Treasure Coast, I have been deeply involved in our community, volunteering in many local programs. I am not alone in saying we need discipline and a new direction.

I am running for County Commissioner because of the concerns expressed by our community and what I have observed in recent years. I cannot stand idly by while there is much I can do.  It is essential to maintain control over development, encourage planners to resist zoning changes and motivate landowners to explore all options within the comprehensive plan.

 We must carefully consider the long-term consequences of our decisions today and remain steadfast in our approach when approving applications and throughout the planning process. We must stay committed to ensuring sustainable and responsible development for the future of Martin County.

Our pervasive growth has gotten out of control. Raising our Taxes was unnecessary and irresponsible. The sway toward State control of our County has me concerned.

I believe in Fiscal Responsibility. I believe in Term Limits. I believe in Small Government. 

I am tired of excuses when it comes to Water. We look outside our community for answers and rely on the state and federal government to bail us out. Yet, we continue to over-develop. The era of cheap talk is over.

I am not afraid to talk with voters—I represent you and want to speak frankly with you. I don’t care what other Commissioners think of me.

Every District in Martin County can vote for me. I encourage you to visit my website at eileenvargas.com and ask that you please support my campaign if you agree with my policies.

 

EDITORS NOTE: This is a closed race where only registered Republicans can vote. If you wish to vote in this race and are not a Republican you must change your party affiliation by July 22nd. Please see the Supervisor of Elections website here 

 

COUNTY COMMISSION DISTRICT 3

 

Blake Capps

Dear Martin County Residents,

It is a great honor to qualify for the ballot for Martin County Commissioner District 3.

As a 47-year resident of Hobe Sound, and a business owner here for the last 31 years, I am ready to give back to the community that has given so much to my family and me.

Deeply vested in our community, I met my wife, Robin, of 38 years here, and we raised three kids in this community.  We have run a family business in Hobe Sound for 31 years.  Our church, as well as most of our friends, are here.  So everything we hold close is on Martin County soil.

My interest in county government began with my service on the Hobe Sound Neighborhood Advisory Committee for 4 of the last 5 years.  Becoming chair of this committee made me a member of the Martin County Community Redevelopment Agency where I served for 2 years.  Lastly, I was able to serve on the Martin County Local Planning Agency during 2023.

My first priority as your next District 3 commissioner will be to preserve the Martin County Difference.  How can we do this?  By upholding the Martin County Comprehensive Plan that has performed very well for us for over 40 years.  We must renew our faith in an old dream set forth in this plan:  a Martin County with adequate jobs and housing- yes- but also with clean, vibrant rivers and lots of preserved, native uplands and wetlands for our children and grandchildren to enjoy for years to come.

Most of the housing developments that get built these days are with amendments to the comprehensive plan that usually award density increases to developers.  We need to slow down these amendments and encourage folks to work with the land use and zoning in the comp plan.

Second, I will prioritize improving water quality in our three great rivers:  the Saint Lucie, the Indian and the Loxahatchee.  We will do this by buying up conservation lands where we can store and clean water before it’s returned to the rivers and by converting our septic tanks to the sewer system.

Lastly, we will work hard to keep our taxes in line.  31 years of running a small, local business compels one to learn how to find efficiencies and stretch dollars.  We could benefit by having some private sector business owners serving in our local government who are used to making tough business decisions, and I’ll do this as your next commissioner.

These are a few of my priorities.  I ask for your vote on August 20.  God bless you and our community.

 

Frank D'Ambra III

In September of 2023, I moved my extended family, my wife, two daughters and three grandchildren to Martin County, a decision driven in large measure by the "Martin County Difference".  Previously, our family lived In the Village of Tequesta for 20 years.  

I am a believer in giving back to the community; this has taken the form of elected public service.  During my time in Tequesta, I served 5 terms as a Council Member, including time as Mayor, Vice-Mayor, and Chairman of the Recreation Center Building Committee.  Prior to my time on the Council, I served as Chairperson of the Tequesta Public Safety Pension Board and as a member of the Village’s Audit Committee.

In Hobe Sound, I have had the opportunity to talk with new neighbors and many longtime Martin County friends.  While discussing their concerns, and the issues and challenges confronting Martin County, people suggested and encouraged me to run for the commission.  I believe my business and public service experience provides a strong and unique skill set to advance the interests and aspirations of our residents.  

Below is a brief summary of and my stance on the critical issues facing Martin County.  You can access additional information on my website at frank4mcc3.com.

On the Issues

Comprehensive Plan – Development & Growth:  Martin County is unique in its rural and agricultural composition, as well as its extensive conservation and park lands. The County Commission needs to be committed to preserving and maintaining the fundamental character of the County, or what is often referred to as the "Martin County Difference".

Taxes:  Maintain the property millage rate at its current level. Absent a housing recession, property tax has built-in increases as property values rise. Additional taxes, such as sales - which the county receives a portion of - increase with a rise in sales of goods and services. Government, like any family or business, must live within its means.

Budget & Government Operations: Though there are clear differences in the objectives and measurables of government as compared to business enterprises, with respect to operational efficiency and budgeting government should run like a business. Every tax dollar is precious and government representatives are charged with ensuring each dollar is spent wisely and in accord with the needs and desires of the citizenry.

Public Safety - Safe communities have the freedom to flourish: Our police and firefighters play a vital role in keeping our community safe. By providing them with the necessary resources and support, we strengthen our community’s safety net.

Environment & Water Quality:  Accelerate the transition from sewer to septic.

Term Limits:  Hearing new voices and seeing new ideas emerge is beneficial in life and in government.  I support term limits for the County Commissioners. 

Regardless of your choice in candidate, your voice matters. Your vote will shape the future of this place we call home!

 

Susan Gibbs-Thomas

Martin County voters are sharp. They know what they want for our community and from our elected officials. To put it appropriately for a family friendly publication, they have great “baloney detectors.”

That’s why we have a wonderful place to live—the vigilance, discernment and yes, skepticism—of voters. As a resident for 50-plus years with local family roots going back four generations, I share this mentality and am running for Martin County Commission District 3 to put locals first.

We’re at a critical juncture. Despite our quest for balance, we’re getting more crowded, more traffic and more taxes. So as your county commissioner I pledge to:

• Uphold the Martin County Comprehensive Growth Management Plan, it’s a good foundation and guide with a fair amendment process.
• Control runaway residential growth, so as approved projects come online, we study the impacts before making major zoning changes for new growth.
• Promote business growth and high-wage job creation, diversifying our tax base eases pressures on existing homeowners.
• Upgrade our infrastructure, prioritizing road improvements and key connectors to reduce delays.
• Fight for water quality and safeguard our environment, as we’ve fought too hard for too long against Lake Okeechobee releases to slow down now. Let’s keep the pressure on and save our rivers.
• Support and maintain public safety, as quality of life begins with our sense of personal security.
• Defend home rule, I’ll fight tooth and nail to protect our interests and pursue proactive solutions to prevent their intervention.
• Lower taxes, transparency, accountability, careful budgeting will make a real difference—just like our households.

I’ve raised my two sons in Martin County and just welcomed my first granddaughter.

My diverse local work history includes advertising, agriculture, construction, hospitality/tourism, public health, communications and 20-plus years at the Martin County School District. For the last six years I’ve served on the Village of Indiantown council, including as its first-serving mayor.

In fact, when my Indiantown neighbors wanted to incorporate, I was skeptical and actively opposed it. But then the people voted for it—overwhelmingly! So rather than complain from the sidelines, I stayed active, ran for office, got elected and went to work for my community’s priorities.

That’s because in my lifetime in leadership roles you don’t ask someone else to do what you’re not willing to do yourself—you step up. But you don’t do it alone. You listen to the community. Get informed. Understand the rules and implications. But when it comes time to cast your vote, you do so clearly, definitively, and decisively, standing strong on your convictions. 

I hope and pray you’ll entrust me with this incredible opportunity. I ask that you hold me accountable, too. Thank you and God bless you.  

 

COUNTY COMMISSION DISTRICT 5

 

Ed Ciampi (Incumbent)

 As we get closer to Election Day, you will be hearing from all of the candidates in each race. Thank you for taking the time now to read about each of us. I appreciate all voters for educating themselves and differentiating between campaign “talking points” and “buzzwords” versus the facts. I think of running for office as a job interview, each of us candidates as applicants. In the District 5 race for County Commission, we each need to explain why we are the best person for the job. I can tell you that I am uniquely qualified through my years of public service to represent you because I will be ready to continue to lead from day one of my term. As I know that there are projects and causes of specific importance to each citizen, it’s extremely important to be represented by someone with a proven track record of results, someone who is already ahead of the learning curve and can understand all aspects of the position, not just what is of specific interest to the candidate. It is not only through years of elected service but also through community service, expertise, and knowledge, that I am the candidate best qualified to represent you. 

    Like you, I have a vested interest in protecting what makes our community so special while also working to improve the quality of life for all residents, not just some. Three generations of my family call Martin County home and have done so for decades. Through my own lived experience, I understand first-hand all of the stages of raising a family here, working or owning a business here, and the concerns of our senior residents, as well. 

    Some of the accomplishments that I am most proud of during my time as Commissioner include the Veterans Memorial Bridge, which improved transportation in the area while honoring our service members, stopping 90 apartments from being built on Martin Highway that were completely out of character with Palm City, and the revitalization of our historic Mapp Road area, including a beautiful, new community park.

    It has been one of the honors of my life to serve in this capacity, working together with the rest of the Board, County staff, and constituents to create positive change through projects that protect or improve our environment, our quality of life and build a sense of community for all who call Martin County home. I look forward to meeting you or speaking with you in the weeks to come, and I hope that you will entrust me with your vote whether you vote by mail, early, or on August 20th. 
 

 

Bruce F. Nathan

Experience, Knowledge, Solutions, (EKS).

This is the premise of how I run for Martin County commissioner. My experience is vast, though none of it holding a political office. I did run for the United States, Senate, and governor of Florida, which gave me the opportunity to understand not only how politics works, but what would make it functional in the role that I would become.

Experience does not come from going to county commissioner meetings or irrelevant numbers that are put into a budget. We live in a time where artificial intelligence can put together a county budget which partially was taken from the previous years budget. This would mean you have to believe those numbers to be valid and not contrived or made up. It takes a lot of research to see what is fact and what is fiction in today’s world.

As a captain in the United States Army, I was not only  able to follow orders, but assign soldiers specific duties to help further a working medical unit specifically the 320th out of South Carolina.

28 years as a practicing physical therapist who went back to school in 2019 to become a doctor and graduated at the top of my class.

A farmer at Nathan‘s family Farm and Rescue, rescuing over 300 animals currently on the farm. Palm City Farm Camp as a small business LLC to teach 20 to 40 children per week in the summer, the importance of animals and agriculture and the respect for both. 

The father of six children which is an experience all in itself.

Knowledge is built on our parents and schooling in our younger years and the jobs and careers and peers which leads to them in our older years. This is not conceptually or intellectually available to someone in there 30s because there has not been enough time to see how everything works. There is not enough time to see why things work as they do.

experience plus knowledge equals solutions.

we can formulate solutions to every problem that stands in front of us. I have worked my life with the knowledge that every problem has a solution. A need for a specific type of creativity will usually be part of the solution. Creativity is vast. 

This is how I know what I can get done once the Martin County voters endorse me as their next commissioner.

Reducing the county debt and cutting taxes appears to be a political statement just like ending the toxic algae issue. Sure, it would be, if I was a ‘politician’, but I am not. I am here to provide solutions to your problems which are potentially county problems in the same way I have solved patient’s issues for 28 years. I am here to be hired by you and work for you for the next 4 years.

 

Michael Syrkus

"My name is Michael Syrkus, a near lifelong resident of Martin County and candidate for MC Commissioner- District 5. I have been actively engaged in local community services and politics for over a decade. Whether that be as part of the Republican Executive Committee, the Farm Bureau, through historical research with the Black Heritage Inititives and direct converstaion with county staff- I have been standing for what I believe in for years.

For years I have had concerns with the direction of our community, and I have patiently waited for someone to step up and guide us- but that day never came. This January I felt called to take action. I am running for county commissioner because we must have stronger leadership that is concerned with preparation for the future, not focused on building individual legacies today.

My platform is simple:
1- Reprioritize our finances to focus on base infrastructure (Roads, Fire-stations, maintenance of existing county assets), reduce our existing debt (2x higher debt per capita than Saint Lucie County, 3x that of Okeechobee) and build our General Reserves (less than 60 days funding in reserve).
2- We must follow our COMP plan, not continuously make exemptions to it. I appreciate that all property owners have the right to request a rezoning, but we should have commissioners asking pointed questions to determine the quality of a proposal. An increased tax base is not a justification for development, nor does it address quality of life concerns for those who live in the county
3- We must develop a new generation of leaders to guide our county in the future. Apathy has allowed a select few commissioners to direct this county for to long, and as a result we are now facing serious fiscal and sprawl challanges. By getting constituenets engaged in local politics and by instituting term-limits through a county ordinance, we can infused a greater deal of a local home rule over our county governance.

Please feel free to reach out to our campaign with any questions you have, or to share your concerns. My voice is just 1 of 160,000, and I intend to represent us all to the best of my abilities.

 

SCHOOL BOARD DISTRICT 2

 

Marsha Powers (Incumbent)

Having attended and graduated from Martin County public schools and seeing my children do the same, I’m especially grateful for the privilege of serving on the Martin County School Board.

Each of the nearly 19,000 children in the Martin County School District are uniquely blessed with tremendous promise, talent and ability. We owe them safe, high-quality, well-resourced environments in which to learn, grow, and succeed.

I’m running for reelection to continue these key priorities and principles:  

Fiscal accountability: Taxpayers expect and deserve strict standards of transparency. Every dollar spent on the voter approved millage increase, which supports teacher pay, and the ½ cent sales-tax, is publicly posted, regularly updated, and subject to review. There is still work to be done regarding pay for our employees, but I am committed to continuing our efforts without compromising the financial stability of the district.

Career Technical Education (CTE)/Vocational Training: We must continue to expand options for students not attending college. Creating a pathway to a trade-related, industry-recognized credential sets students up for immediate employment in the workforce after graduation. With labor shortages and college debt continuing to capture attention, providing these career pathways for students is more important than ever.

School safety: As one of 15 appointees to the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission, I gained heartbreaking insights, including school hardening, operational responses, and mental health services, which are essential to prevent and mitigate such tragedies. Through our strong, collaborative partnership with Martin County’s Sheriff Will Snyder, our school district is one of the safest in the state.

School choice: While the Martin County School District was right for me and my family, I realize other families prefer different paths. That’s why I’m an advocate for school choice. Whether private school, home school, traditional public school or charter school, school choice provides parents the option that works best for their student and family.

School Performance: Even while some individual schools have weathered challenges, our dedicated educators have redoubled efforts and achieved notable progress. The district is tied for ninth in accountability rankings statewide in 2022/2023 out of 67 counties, improving 18 spots from the previous school year. More than half our schools improved a full letter grade.

Family Engagement: Credit also goes to our parents, grandparents, and guardians, who remain actively involved. Their contributions enrich the quality of our school system. Our countless partners in the private, public, and nonprofit sectors also offer essential support to our students.

This communitywide effort to support education embodies one of the best lessons we could hope to teach our students. Thank you for entrusting me with the privilege of public service, and I would be honored to have your vote on August 20.

 

Sydney Thomas

After graduating with a bachelor's degree, Sydney began her educational career by earning two teaching credentials from a highly respected teaching program in 2005. After moving and taking a five-year break to raise her two amazing children, she returned to the classroom at Riverbend Academy in the Martin County School District, where she was nominated for Teacher of the Year.

She then moved to the district as a program specialist in the Student Services department.  In this capacity, Sydney gained extensive knowledge in education policy, statutes, and the support of at-risk students.. She collaborated daily with leadership teams and formed lasting, positive working relationships with those professionals.

Although she loved her job as a program specialist, she left the education sector in 2020 for financial reasons. Sydney still remained deeply involved in the district by regularly attending school board meetings, co-chairing non-partisan education advocacy groups, and advocating for students who often go unheard. 

Since moving to Martin County 15 years ago, Sydney has watched the performance and reputation of the school district drop.  She is devoted to supporting our superintendent’s mission to retain and attract more students and teachers in the MCSD.  Running for school board was never in her plan, but it has become the next natural step in her commitment to public education in Martin County.

How can Sydney Thomas help as a Martin County School Board member?

• Heal the relationship between the school board and teachers
  • It took 14 sessions to negotiate the contract, and Martin County is often the last in the state to settle.  Instead of an adversarial relationship, it should be a partnership.  Her experience as an educator will help.
• Repair the relationship between the board and the community
  • What the community has been asking for is simple.  Create a review process to allow some books back on the shelves.  Many books were inappropriately removed in the initial sweep by the extremist group Moms for Liberty.  This simple ask would go a long way with our community members. 
• Improve our reputation
  • Twice, MCSD has been embarrassed nationally.  Once on SNL over a racist incident at our middle school, and again because of the excessive book removals.  The school board is the public facing entity, and it’s time for a new perspective. 
• Prioritize budget and policy
  • Sydney is knowledgeable on public education statutes and policies.  Her direct experience as an educator and former collaborations with district leaders of multiple departments will help her to prioritize budget and policy decisions.

Sydney is the experienced educator and parent that Martin County School District needs on the school board!  Remember to vote on August 20th!

 

CITY OF STUART GROUP 2

 

Becky Bruner (Incumbent)

When election season rolls around it’s common for candidates to overuse the word “I,” as in “I did this” and “I did that.”

Stuart has been my home since childhood, so many of you know that I’m pretty shy about saying such things. But I am proud of what we’ve been able to do together. By “we” I mean us—our community. You’ve been clear about letting us know what you want, and we’ve tried our best to do it.

Water quality: Advocating for our beautiful St. Lucie River is what got me involved in politics. Even though it often feels like David against Goliath—we know David won that battle! So we’ve kept up the fight, legally and politically, teaming Congressman Mast in calling for zero discharges from Lake O. We’ve also transitioned to sewers, installed baffle boxes and created water-quality projects through the Haney Creek acquisition. I will always prioritize protection of our natural resources.

Sound planning: Since improving our Community Redevelopment Area, we’ve tripled the tax revenue, generating funding to do what the people really want—such as upgrade our parks. This is especially evident at Kiwanis Park, where we’ve invested in playground equipment every child—even those with special needs—can enjoy. This brings children and families to downtown, attracting visitors, supporting small businesses and making Stuart life even more enjoyable. A wonderful example is Roasted Record, once an old run-down property that’s since transformed into a bustling spot for gathering and great coffee.

Getting around: We’ve added bike lanes, created traffic-calming areas, added designated pedestrian crossings and enhanced walkability. When the Brightline station is built, we’ll have hundreds more parking spaces. Thanks to our partnership and pursuit of grants with the county, it should take minimal local taxpayer dollars.

There’s more work ahead. I hope to help:

• Finish the last phase of Memorial Park by adding entertainment grounds.
• Turning Guy Davis’s 35 acres into a fabulous park with a scenic entrance off Dixie Highway.
• Partner with Project LIFT on property we purchased in East Stuart to create a facility that trains young people for high-wage opportunities in the trades.
• Continue keeping Stuart Police and Firefighters trained and equipped to ensure your safety—and I’m honored to have earned endorsements from both organizations.

If you’re an old timer who remembers our once sleepy little town, you know how wonderful it is to see people opening businesses and raising families while embracing and safeguarding our small-town charm.

It’s been a blessing beyond words to serve you as your city commissioner. If you’ll kindly entrust me with your vote, I’m confident WE will continue to create a great every day and even better future for our town.

 

Laura Giobbi

Hi, my name is Laura Giobbi and I am running for a seat on the Commission, in the City of Stuart, Group II.

My husband and I lived in a small town in Connecticut, so when we decided to move to Florida to be closer to family, we tried to replicate that small-town charm.   It was in Stuart that we discovered our perfect match. We instantly fell in love with this incredible community and never looked back.

I had a fulfilling career in the life insurance industry; I dedicated many years of service in the VA hospital system.  Both careers provided valuable experience in management and caring for others. Additionally, I served as the board president of our condominium association for five years. I began attending regular commission meetings, and during this time, I became increasingly concerned about the approval of large-scale developments and the widespread exceptions granted by the commissioners.   In 2022, I was appointed to the Local Planning Advisory (LPA) board, where I furthered my understanding of the city's growth. Today, there is a lone voice on the commission speaking for the citizens of Stuart. It became evident that our community lacked strong representation on the board, as the majority seemed to prioritize the interests of developers over those of the community. This realization motivated me to enter the race for a seat on the commission, aiming to change the dynamics and advocate for our community's needs and concerns.

Our community is at the point of redevelopment.  The Commissioners are the guardians of this unique “City of Stuart”.  The choices we make at this juncture are crucial.   If left with much of the current leadership and the path they have chosen for us, it will lead us to be just another, nothing special small city with large city problems; overcrowding, traffic, more damage to an already fragile river, and inadequate infrastructure to accommodate the over-development.

Please visit my website votegiobbi.com, you will have access to my contact info.  I would love to hear from you and discuss your concerns.  I would appreciate your support and look forward to being part of the change for our great community.  Thank you.

 

CITY OF STUART GROUP 4

 

Troy McDonald (Incumbent)

As a resident of Stuart for 30 years, I remain committed to our community's well-being and prosperity. My name is Troy McDonald, and I am seeking re-election to the Stuart City Commission to continue our work and enhance our high quality of life.

Living in Stuart with my wife, Portia Scott, and our two pugs, Wo Ai Nee and Jean Luc, I understand our residents' values and needs. Our community is not just a place to live; it is our home.

Stuart was recently recognized by USA Today as the Best Small Coastal Town, a testament to our efforts to maintain and to enhance our city's historic charm.

During my tenure, I have focused on key areas that matter most to our residents:

Proven Leadership and Fiscal Responsibility

Since 2019, we have maintained a stable tax rate of 5.0 mils annually, ensuring a balanced budget that meets residents' needs WITHOUT raising taxes. My commitment to fiscal responsibility has allowed us to achieve consistent beneficial results.

Strengthening Public Safety

Stuart Fire Rescue maintains an ISO 1 Rating, this means we have the best response times and reduced insurance costs for our residents. We have fully funded our Stuart Police Department, added officers, and upgraded equipment to keep Stuart safe.

I am honored to be endorsed by the Police Benevolent Association and the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 2411. These endorsements reflect my commitment to public safety and my ability to work collaboratively with our first responders ensuring our community's security.

Quality of Life Enhancements

I champion projects that provide public access to the St. Lucie River, including Shepard Park, Flagler Park, and the Riverwalk Stage. Our parks and recreational facilities, such as playgrounds, dog parks, boat ramps, and walking trails, offer something for everyone.

Commitment to Clean Drinking Water

The state-of-the-art Reverse Osmosis Plant, fully operational in 2024, exemplifies my commitment to clean drinking water. This facility, along with successful litigation against 3M, ensures our residents have full access to safe and clean water.

Environmental Projects and Advocacy

I have been a staunch advocate for preserving our natural resources, including the Heart of Haney Creek Preserve, Poppleton Creek Park and our citywide Septic to Sewer transition and multiple stormwater projects, crucial for environmental protection. Our work with the Army Corps of Engineers to develop the Lake Okeechobee System Operating Manual (LOSOM) highlight my dedication to environmental advocacy.

As your City Commissioner, I will continue to work tirelessly to maintain and improve the quality of life in Stuart. I ask for your vote to re-elect me, Troy McDonald, to the Stuart City Commission. Let's build on our successes and create an ever brighter future for our beautiful city.

 

Sean Reed

My name is Sean Reed and I am running for City Commissioner Group 4.  I am a lifelong resident of Martin County, attended school here and have a deep understanding of the people and the community's sentiments.  My family and I are proud small business owners in the City of Stuart.

We already have too much traffic and too many land use changes.  Residents have to worry about getting in a car accident just going to the store.  We must elect commissioners with a backbone, who will protect our home from further overdevelopment and preserve what's left of our small-town quality of life.  Stuart is a small town, we’re all friends but it’s time for a commission who will ask the tough questions and make sure what’s proposed makes sense.  This is a critical election.  The City will be facing the redevelopment of several key sites in including the Baptist Church, Seacoast property and others downtown.  We need the kind of leadership that will guarantee the city redevelops with similar height, density and character. 

We need strong and decisive leadership to prioritize the community's voice over the developers' desires and wants.  Our leaders must stand firm in ensuring that the interests and welfare of the community are at the forefront of decision-making processes.  We can’t handle four more years of unrestrained development, traffic, and pressure on our St. Lucie River.

Be sure to visit my website at reedforstuart.com and feel free to ask me questions, tell me your thoughts, or just say hello.  I appreciate your support and I look forward to serving you.

 

VILLAGE OF INDIANTOWN SEAT 2

 

Phyllis Waters Brown

Because my passion for Indiantown runs deep, I've always been part of this community. Even when I left to get an education and start my career, my roots and family were the anchors that kept bringing me back home. Now, I am here to stay, just as the fruits of incorporation are beginning to ripen. I am determined to see that the promises made seven years ago are kept, that the good manufacturing jobs include residents, that the new tax revenues go to making life here healthier, safer, and more rewarding, and that citizens themselves have a strong voice in Indiantown's future. With your support and vote, I can be that strong generational voice as we work together to see Indiantown thrive.

My first educators were my parents, Leroy, and E. Thelma Waters, who were married for nearly 60 years and exemplified her grandparents' values of hard work, community caregiving, activism, and social justice regardless of race, religion, color, or nationality.

​The eldest of seven children growing up in Indiantown, I lived daily the values my parents and grandparents imparted. I attended Booker Park Elementary School before transferring to Warfield Elementary at my parent's insistence, as one of the first three Black students to integrate Warfield. I then attended Indiantown Middle School and graduated from Martin County High School, leaving Indiantown to pursue an education and start my nursing career.

With an active-duty military spouse, we raised our three children and a cherished granddaughter in various locales, gaining diverse perspectives and a deeper appreciation for our own upbringing. Yet, my roots and family were the constant anchors that brought me back home to Indiantown.

Now firmly rooted in Indiantown, I initiated community-wide cleanups that evolved into iTown, MyTown, Inc., a recognized nonprofit. This organization goes beyond roadside trash pick-ups, extending its care to the yards and homes of the elderly and infirm before code enforcement officials intervene. In collaboration with the Village's Parks and Recreation Department, we also sponsor free monthly music concerts to foster a stronger sense of community in Indiantown.

As an employee of Martin County's Council on Aging, I served as the Director of Day Health Services. In this role, I played a key part in establishing Indiantown's Kane Center at Big Mound Park. This center enriches the lives of those aged 55-plus with specialized activities, socialization, and nutritious meals, reflecting my commitment to caring for our community. I also continue to provide free CPR classes to church congregations and civic organizations upon request.

The values that shaped my upbringing continue to spur me to tackle new challenges, including giving a voice to the voiceless in the community and ensuring that the promises made to citizens during incorporation are kept. I feel this is best accomplished by holding a seat on the Indiantown Village Council.

 

Janet Hernandez (Incumbent)

Dear Friends & Neighbors,

As your representative, I have dedicated myself to serving our vibrant community with integrity, transparency, and a vision for a prosperous future. Over the past term, we have achieved significant milestones that have improved our quality of life and strengthened our village. Your vote for my re-election is a vote for continued progress and unwavering commitment to our shared goals.

1. **Community Development:** I have championed sustainable development projects that respect our unique environment while providing modern amenities. This includes enhancements to our parks, recreational facilities, and community spaces, making Indiantown a better place to live and raise a family. Championed the purchase of the outdated water utility. 

2. **Economic Growth:** By fostering a business-friendly environment, we have attracted new businesses creating jobs and boosting our local economy. Partnered with the BDB to help our efforts in this. 

3. **Community Engagement:** I believe in a government that listens to its people. I have sought your input on critical issues, and ensured that your voices are heard in the decision-making process. My commitment to transparency and accountability has built trust and strengthened our community bonds.

4. **Future Vision:** Looking ahead, I am committed to pursuing innovative solutions to address our challenges and capitalize on our opportunities.

I am proud of what we have accomplished together, and I am excited about the possibilities that lie ahead. With your support, we can continue to build a brighter, stronger Indiantown for all residents.

I humbly ask for your vote to re-elect me as your representative. Together, we will keep Indiantown moving forward.

 

FLORIDA STATE SENATE DISTRICT 31

 

Aaron James Hawkins

As someone who was born and raised in Stuart with a family history that goes back 100 years in Martin County, I feel comfortable saying that we are not the community we used to be. The state of Florida has been under the control of a single party for the better part of 30 years leading us to where we are today. The current legislature takes our community and the people here for granted and continues to cater to big businesses and special interest groups instead of the needs and values of  Floridians. It is time to send a message and remind the state legislature that they work for us. The current legislature has become solely ideologically driven and corrupted by power. We can break this power by sending a new representative dedicated to prioritizing our communities’ issues and forcing them to listen to us in Tallahassee.

No more sidelining the insurance crisis on the back burner. No more ignoring the issues of pollution and the degradation of our waterways. No more stalling on accepting federal funds for the expansion of Medicaid. No more overreach attempting to control our local school boards, city councils, and county commissions. I am not an ideologue or a person after a career in politics. I am a citizen that came to the realization that state politics is local politics, and we have to be much more proactive and responsive to what they are doing in the capital to be sure that our way of life here is preserved and our issues are prioritized.

Since moving back home during the pandemic, I have been active in the Martin County community aiding a number of community organizations and working with some to find local solutions for affordable housing. During my time working with these organizations while managing my own business I began to understand that there was also a need to find ways to increase civic engagement of young people and reestablished the Treasure Coast Young Democrats. At 26 years old, I have a B.S. in Economics and a M.S. in International Affairs both focused on economic development. I serve on several executive boards in the county focused on economic vitality, historical documentation, and political engagement while also serving on the City of Stuart’s Community Redevelopment Board as a volunteer appointee. I am primarily trained as a policy analyst, but I have a professional background in data management, real estate, small business consulting and organizational management.

The unique mix of my heritage, youth, education and experience gives me the benefit of better understanding the world we live in and planning for the future. It is time for a change in leadership here on the Treasure Coast.

 

We also reached out to our Florida Senate and House Candidates using their campaign email addresses. Only Aaron Hawkins responded. For several individuals I had their personal emails but did not think it was fair to those  I did not have the addresses for. You can draw your own conclusions why they did not provide statements.

For over 74 years the Martin County Taxpayers Association has been dedicated to informing you, the Martin County citizen, on matters that affect your pocketbook.  It is for this purpose that we invited the county commission candidates to submit answers to a questionnaire. 

We focused on questions of substance and finance. As a non-partisan 501(c)3, we cannot endorse candidates, however, we feel you should be able to make an educated decision after reading their responses. 

We can only assume that those who did not reply either don’t have the time to research the answers and therefore it would be questionable as to whether they have the time to serve or don’t care enough to answer.  Draw your own conclusions.

You can find the questionnaire here 

A couple of weeks ago homeowners in Martin County received a Notice of Hearing to Impose and Provide for Collection of Non-Ad Valorem Assessment for Solid Waste Municipal Service Benefit Unit. 

In laymen terms, a public hearing to notify us that our garbage collection fee was going up.  I received a couple of phone calls from people who think I know something they don’t.  Fearing that I too might fall victim to my own perceptions, I reached out to the Director of Utilities & Solid Waste, Sam Amerson and Assistant County Administrator, Matt Graham, to verify what I thought I knew before shooting my mouth off. 

Yes, we are getting an increase of 11 CENTS per pickup.  We get garbage picked up 2x per week in Martin County so do the math.  This less than notable increase is baked into the 8-year contract with Waste Management.  The contract states that Waste Management is entitled to a minimum of 2% or a maximum of 5% increase annually.  This was of course to counter inflation, which has substantially increased since the contract was signed.  So, instead of complaining about this increase we should be wiping our collective brow because we came out on the winning end of this one!

The real question for now is why we must receive a notice setting everyone’s hair on fire for an increase that is baked into the original contract.  Well, for that you can blame legislators as it is a statutory requirement.  Legislative overexuberance shall we say.  Trying to do too much of the right thing maybe?

If the citizens of Martin County are interested in voicing an opinion regarding the Waste Management contract the time to do it will be at the Board of County Commission meeting prior to September 30, 2029 when the contract expires.  There will be three (3) two-year renewal options to extend the agreement, not to exceed 6 years. The renewal will be a simple majority vote of the commission.   So, watch the agendas starting in the summer of 2029.  Yeah, ok. 

I asked why the contract term is so long and Mr. Graham explained that the county demands that Waste Management purchase new trucks after so many years so that hydraulic fluid isn’t leaking all over our neighborhood roads.  That investment by Waste Management is huge. A new garbage truck can cost $400k!  And Waste Management runs 50 trucks in Martin County according to Waste Management Public Outreach person, Jeff Sabin.  By extending the contract our fees will be kept lower so WM (we) can pay for those trucks over time.   

Don’t hesitate to contact Tom or myself (darlenevanriper@gmail.com) with questions.  It gives me fodder for articles! 

Darlene VanRiper’s opinions are her own and may not reflect Friends & Neighbors viewpoint.

When I retired from my career in local government service, I wasn’t ready to stop working. I ran a one-person consulting business for a few years working for Port St. Lucie and then Martin County.

My column, Nicki’s Place,  will continue in Friends and Neighbors.  I am proud that van Vonno Consulting, LLC was a corporate sponsor of Friends and Neighbors, and as an individual contributor, I will continue my financial support of Friends and Neighbors.

 My focus will continue to be on Civics, books and cinema.  Civics is my calling; books and cinema are my passions. I practice my civic duties by participating as a volunteer for several local arts organizations and for housing non-profits. In between my volunteer activities,  and my adulting, (you  know cooking, cleaning , fending off scams, grocery shopping) I stay in and either read or binge watch something.

Right now, I’ve been trying to get away from true crime. I fell hard into that rabbit hole and have finally climbed out of the  body pit.  Having said that, I am hooked on John Travolta’s gangster Tulsa boss,  a show that just started recently. Movie Jones dilletante that I am,  I begin to contemplate the nexus of John Travolta and Nick Gage.

I compare  “Michael” with John Travolta as the sweetest smelling angel you ever saw dance, versus the dreamy stark face of Nickolas Cage,  an angel waiting to escort the dying soul at the moment of death, snatched back to life by Meg Ryan’s luminescent heart doctor in “City of Angels. ”  I think the guy does die, but Meg’s grief at her inability to save him causes Nick Cage’s angel to gaze into her eyes and see her see him.

If you want love, fun and mystery, watch “Michael”  See the largest ball of string, watch a country singer emerge. Learn every type of pie there is. Watch John Travolta dance.  And don’t say it’s all about God, which if spelled backward might be a sign from heaven.

 Still “City of Angels” will not be ignored. Nick Gage’s Angel falls hard, and the languid love affair of spirit and mortal is beautiful and achingly sad. As Michael says, “ It's a difficult case, though, to give a man back his heart.” In both movies, miracles happen.

What move buff can go into a circular library anywhere in the world without wondering if the town’s angels are there? 

So gentle reader, this is what engages me as I weather through the heat, the rain and the dust. Enjoy the Olympics, pray for peace, and  do good deeds. See you at the movies!

Nicki van Vonno’s opinions are her own and may not reflect Friends & Neighbors viewpoint.

I enjoy watching sporting events, especially football. I don’t miss any of my team’s games.

When I watch a game in which my team isn’t playing, I select one of the playing teams as my team for that game. It adds a bit more excitement to the game when I feel connected with a team. Their wins and losses become my own.

U.S. politics, I feel, have very much become like sporting events. We have two teams playing a game and they are each vying for us to become their supporters. If you’ll give me some leeway, I’ll explain this idea using the U.S. Congress as the example.

We have two main political parties in the U.S.- the Republicans and the Democrats. These are our sports teams. They are both playing the same game but they each claim a different approach. Each has a strategy that they believe will bring their team victory in the next game (voting on bills) and the championship game (the election).

You, me, and the rest of the country, we are the spectators watching from the stands and our living rooms. We pick a team, cheer them on, and give them our support. We praise their wins, encourage them to get back up when they take a hit, and throw jabs at the opposing team. We give our hard-earned money to our team so they can spend it as they see fit.

The Senators and Congressmen, they are the players. They make the moves and execute the plays for their team. Just like sports figures, they make the big money, money they get from us, and they decide how our money will be spent. They put on a big show. They get us passionate about our team and they make us eager to defeat the other. They instill in us a feeling of “it’s us vs. them and there can be no compromise.”

The thing is it’s not a sporting event. Our elected officials are making decisions that effect our daily lives. They are spending our tax money, voting to promote themselves and give themselves increased benefits that come from our money, and we just keep cheering for our team because they have us fighting each other so much we don’t really notice or don’t want to say something that will tarnish our team’s image.

I believe the most important thing to take away from this is both parties are playing the same game, and they are playing it with our money and our lives. I encourage you set aside your team hat and jersey occasionally, take a step back from the party line, think about your values, and then ask yourself if your representative aligns them. If yes, then that’s great! If no, it’s time to contact your representative and let him or her know what is important to you and see if you can find some mutual understanding. Or you may want to look to a new representative who does align with your values. Our representatives are not untouchable figures on a pedestal. They are just like you and me. Take the time to really get to know them- question them- because they are your voice in D.C.

“The power to question is the basis of all human progress.” – Indira Gandhi

David Hafner’s opinions are his own and may not reflect Friends & Neighbors viewpoint.

A few months ago, we were waiting to hear if we would receive a national grant from United Way Worldwide.  The grant we requested was to assist us in expanding our local Ride United program. I am so happy to share that we received the grant. This process is extremely competitive and only 55 United Ways across the country received these dollars.  In addition to this grant, we have received support from anonymous donors, Cleveland Clinic and most recently Wawa.

Here in Florida, there were only 4 United Ways that received this grant and United Way of Martin County was one of them!  We are thrilled as these dollars will allow us to continue and expand this program for residents in Martin County who have transportation barriers.

Traditionally, our organization would not get involved in a direct service like Ride United.  However, prior to us launching this program, the issue of transportation had been identified in many needs assessments and with our local 211 (information and referral call center) data center that transportation was in the top 5 of unmet needs.  Since launching this program, transportation is now ranking number 8 of unmet needs demonstrating that we are making an impact on this issue.

For our fiscal year (July 1 – June 30, 2024) this door-to-door service, using the Lyft system provided 276 unduplicated clients with over 1,896 rides.  The average cost per ride averages between $18 - $19. Through our relationship with United Way Worldwide we are eligible for this partnership between Lyft and our organization.  We are given a discount on the cost of each ride, access to the business Lyft portal and so much more.

What is unique about the program is that we maintain individuals’ dignity as Lyft drivers have no idea that the service they are providing is for a client who has transportation barriers.  We have helped many seniors and veterans with doctors’ appointments because they can no longer drive and/or can no longer afford a vehicle.  We have also assisted many who are trying to find employment, or their car was in the repair shop. 

For more information on how the program works, go to our website at www.unitedwaymartin.org/rideunited.  If you have any questions or need any further information about our organization you can reach me via email at chdiez@unitedwaymartin.org or at the office at 772-283-4800.

Carol Houwaart-Diez’s opinions are her own and may not reflect Friends & Neighbors viewpoint.

Savior Who?  Savior Where?

One of the things that continuously amazes me is the timeless nature of the Bible. 

A book written so long ago, in a world much different than ours, yet its pages still speak to us today.  So, when the world feels upside down, and the world definitely feels upside down right now, the Bible is a good place to turn.  One of the challenges of uncertain times is where you turn for guidance. 

Philippians 3:20 states, “But our citizenship is in heaven and it is from there that we are expecting a savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.”  Reflecting on the state of our country I often wander, where are we looking for our savior? 

We look to money, fame, and politics to be our savior.  Well, scripture warns us against the power of money and cautions us not to build bigger barns to store our stuff.  Fame… we all know fame fades.  Politics, well these days, this is where things get blurry.  For the political left, the savior comes from the left.  For the political right, the savior comes from the right.  Then both sides get all whipped up into a frenzy, throwing around terms like the antichrist or savior. 

In the interest of full transparency, in college I briefly considered majoring in political science before deciding on another track.  Politics has always been something that interested me, until recently.  The state of politics and the rhetoric around it in our country right now, in my opinion, is the equivalent of a dumpster fire.  If an assassination attempt and in an election year the July withdrawal of a candidate isn’t an indication that we are off kilter, I don’t know what is.

So, I ask again, from where are we looking for a savior?  Because if it’s in the political arena, we aren’t going to find one there.  When the Israelites insisted on a king, God tried to warn them.  They moved forward anyway, and trouble ensued. 

Fast forward to the New Testament and the Roman Empire.  While many great advancements were made the power of the Roman Empire and Caesar were top priority, not the people.  So much so that they executed Jesus.  The crucifixion of Jesus wasn’t philosophical or theological, it was political.  People in power are more concerned with power than they are with people unless they can fund campaigns or cast a ballot.

From where do we look for a savior?  Not the ballot box, the cross.

Chad Fair's opinions are his own and may not reflect Friends & Neighbors viewpoint.

The July 25th Rivers Coalition meeting headlined a presentation by Dr. Grant Gilmore, the head of Estuarine, Coastal and Ocean Science. Dr. Gilmore has been doing marine research for fifty-two years and is an internationally-respected leader in his field,

Dr. Gilmore focused on bull sharks in the Indian River Lagoon, a key barometer scientists use to measure the health of the estuary. Bull sharks are at the very top of the food chain. If something adversely affects the bottom of the food chain – the tiny organisms and plants living in the lagoon bottom which are nearly impossible to monitor – it will eventually work its way all the way up to the bull sharks, which are easy to observe.

And that’s why scientists monitor bull sharks in the Indian River Lagoon.

(The technical term for this is “biomagnification”, the concentration of toxins in an organism as a result of its ingesting other plants or animals in which the toxins are more widely disbursed.)

Meanwhile, Lake Okeechobee currently sits at 13.56 feet. It’s a foot and a half lower than a year ago but a foot above its “ideal” level for this time of year. The lake can currently handle one, possibly two, tropical systems, but the risk of discharges down the St. Lucie skyrockets beyond that. And if discharges become necessary a lot of harmful algae would come our way. If this hurricane season turns out to be more active than usual, as many forecasters predict, let’s all hope the storms have the decency to head somewhere other than South Florida.

Ben Hogarth, from the City of Stuart, told us their oyster gardening project is progressing nicely. When it’s completed there will be 300 vertical oyster beds along 3000 linear feet of the downtown boardwalk – and oysters are very beneficial to the health of the river.

Last but not least: The seemingly-endless process of creating the new Lake Okeechobee System Operating Manual, which is much more environmentally-friendly than the old one, is just about over. The final package has been submitted to the South Florida Division of the Army Corps of Engineers in Atlanta, and the division’s commanding officer, Brigadier General Hibner, is scheduled to sign it and make it official on August 12.

Finally, be not concerned when there’s no update next month. The Rivers Coalition takes the month of August off (although I can assure you the hard-working river warriors who lead it do not).
 

Walter Deemer's opinions are his own and may not reflect Friends & Neighbors viewpoint.

Of all the great community events I get to attend throughout the year, the Martin County Business Awards ceremony is among my very favorite.

Organized and overseen by the Business Development Board of Martin County, the event celebrates outstanding local companies and innovators, recognizes up-and-coming entrepreneurs and honors the principles of servant-leadership with an award named after a beloved community figure.

I’m proud to say that my employer, Bank of America, is again the presenting sponsor of this incredible event. Perhaps the best aspect of the awards is that they reflect the people’s choices. This is where you come in. The nomination period—open to all—is now active through Aug. 30. Categories include:

• Business Excellence Award (formerly Business of the Year) honoring a long-established industry leader with a history of significantly positive impacts on the local economy.
• Company to Watch celebrating an emerging business that’s introduced fresh innovations to the market and opened new economic opportunities.
• Headquarters of the Year recognizing a business that’s made Martin County the administrative center of its operation.
• Manufacturer of the Year spotlighting a local manufacturer for its best practices and excellence in meeting or exceeding industry standards.
• Newcomer of the Year highlighting a company that moved to Martin County within the last two years and brought with it new skills and workforce opportunities to the marketplace.
• Entrepreneur of the Year sharing the triumphs of a leading entrepreneur ingenuity introduced important solutions to key industries.
• Youth Entrepreneur of the Year always brings the audience to their feet with an inspiring story of an ambitious young person (or young people) who’ve created inventive products or industrious services.
• Charlene Hoag Leadership Award recognizes local leaders with legacies of principled, often selfless service to the business community.

Follow this link 2024 Martin County Business Awards presented by Bank of America. (smartsheet.com) to enter your nomination and mark your calendar for 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 13. The event at Hutchinson Shores Report & Spa always sells out, so don’t delay when tickets become available.

Also on the BDB docket

Manufacturers looking to showcase their wares, network with new suppliers and find out how to fortify supply chains will want to attend the Connex Workshop. Free to attendees, the BDB-organized event takes place from 8 a.m. to noon Aug. 21 at Indian River State College’s Chastain Campus in Stuart.

Small business owners and established as well as aspiring entrepreneurs will benefit from attending a special BDB’s event aimed at revealing ways to secure funding. The “Demystifying Access to Capital” workshop takes place at 8 a.m. Sept. 13 at Flagler Center in Stuart.

Noted speakers will share tips on traditional loans, government grants and various methods to attain funding. This is invaluable information for any businessowner and thanks to the BDB and its sponsors, it’s—best of all—free.

Visit BDBMC.org or call (772) 221-1380 for more.

Susan Rabinowitz's opinions are her own and may not reflect Friends & Neighbors viewpoint.

Let me tell you a story about a child with mental health needs that happens all too often:

Alex, a 12-year-old, began experiencing severe anxiety.  His anxiety was overwhelming, making it difficult for him to attend school and soccer practice, which he loved. His parents, desperate to help, reached out to therapists and agencies, only to discover that the waiting lists were long—months in fact.  This seemed like an eternity.

Weeks passed, and Alex’s nights became battlegrounds. His mind was overwhelmed with fears, and sleep was a distant memory. His parents, torn between love and helplessness, sought alternatives.

Desperate, they explored other therapists that did not take their insurance. Alex’s mom called several offices, pleading for an earlier appointment. Some therapists offered to put Alex on a cancellation list and they hoped for a sudden opening.

During this time, his panic escalated.  Finally, his parents made a painful decision. They drove Alex to the emergency room, a scary and drastic decision.

We know that during the pandemic, rates of depression, anxiety, and other mental health problems skyrocketed.  Access to behavioral health professionals was the top resource young people requested to support their mental health.  Due to the lack of quick access to proper behavioral health care, many youths shied away from seeking care, feeling that their needs are immediate, but their access is not. 

Imagine if Alex broke his arm but had to wait weeks or months to get that needed Xray.  Imagine the pain and secondary trauma that would occur.

Young people and their families (like Alex) call for an appointment when their pain is at a point that they know they need help.  If they must wait a week or a month to see someone, often the pain escalates into a crisis that could have been avoided. 

With the generosity of Impact 100 Martin County, Tykes & Teens was awarded a grant to start a Walk-In Assessment Center.  Walk-in clinics are valuable because of accessibility.  While they aren’t long-term solutions, they can open the door to mental health care and if done correctly, can network with other agencies so that youth can access services quickly and efficiently. 

Let’s revisit Alex’s situation in another scenario: 

Alex, a 12-year-old, began experiencing severe anxiety.  His anxiety was overwhelming, making it difficult for him to attend school and soccer practice, which he loved. His parents, desperate to help, reached out to Tykes & Teens for an appointment, expecting a waiting list.  Instead, they were told they could walk in that day, to receive an evaluation.

Alex and his family stepped into our bright and welcoming office.  He met Arlin, a licensed therapist, who listened to his anxieties and other thoughts.  She discussed treatment options with him, including seeing a therapist and attending a group geared toward pre-teens.  She also helped Alex and his family create a safety plan that included warning signs, coping strategies and emergency contacts. 

While his therapy session was still a few weeks out, he was able to start group therapy the following week and begin to get help for his anxiety.  Alex and his family began to see progress and he returned to school and soccer with hope for the future.

We are proud to begin offering walk-in services beginning August 1st, 2024.  Youth will get an appointment when they think they need it, rather than when we have the time.

Please contact Tykes & Teens at 772-220-3439 for additional information or walk-in to our Stuart office at:

Tykes & Teens

900 SE Ocean Blvd, Suite E340

Stuart, FL  34994

Anne Posey's opinions are her own and may not reflect Friends & Neighbors viewpoint.

Feline Enrichment

The Humane Society of the Treasure Coast recently launched a brand-new cat enrichment program to benefit the cats at our shelter and offsite locations.

Volunteers and staff get together every week to create an abundance of enrichment items and activities for the hundreds of homeless cats in our care each day. We have already seen quite an improvement here at our shelter with the mental well-being of our homeless cats since we started this program just last month!

Cats are extremely smart animals that require both mental and physical enrichment to thrive. We have been providing our feline residents with new games, puzzles and even visual stimulation like videos on iPads made specifically for cats. This has helped decrease boredom and stress while they wait for a home.

According to Best Friends Animal Society, there are several more types of enrichment that can benefit cats. Physical enrichment includes toys, scratching posts, and climbing structures that allow cats to exhibit their natural behaviors, such as hunting, scratching, and climbing.

Sensory enrichment engages a cat's senses through scents, sounds, and textures. Food puzzles and treat-dispensing toys encourage foraging and problem-solving skills. Growing cat-safe plants or using catnip to engage a cat's senses of smell, sight, and touch can also make a huge difference in their well-being.

Social enrichment for cats is also very important, as cats are social animals. Interaction with their human companions or another feline to bond with, as well as the opportunity to observe the world around them, can fulfill their need for companionship and mental stimulation. If you have a single cat at home that you think may need a friend, our adoption staff would be more than happy to go over proper introduction techniques and help match you with the perfect feline companion for your home.

Best Friend Animal Society also states that cats do not express stress as openly as other species of animals. Enriched environments help cats to express their natural behaviors, leading to a less stressed, happier, healthier, and more well-adjusted feline companion. Hiding spots are the most important for cats, especially within an animal shelter. Hide spaces allow cats to rest and feel secure, especially in a stressful environment. Being less stressed also significantly reduces the risk of illnesses like upper respiratory infection, which is very common in a shelter environment.

If you’d like to learn more about our Feline Enrichment Program and how you can enrich your cat’s lives at home, please visit our website at www.hstc1.org/enrichment. By incorporating these enrichment activities into your cat's daily life, you can help reduce stress, prevent boredom, and encourage natural behaviors that keep your furry companion happy and healthy.

Frank Valente's opinions are his own and may not reflect Friends & Neighbors viewpoint.

Vaccinations for Children

August is National Immunization Awareness Month. This annual observance is designed to remind everyone that staying up to date on vaccinations is an important way to protect not only their health but the health of everyone around them. Vaccines are a public health success story.

School will start shortly so the question is--have all children in Martin County received their school required vaccinations. The answer is probably.

According to PBS News there has been a quiet rise in unvaccinated children that could put us at risk of outbreaks. Vaccine exemption rates among infants and school-aged children have been quietly rising creating volatile pockets of unimmunized children.

For the third consecutive school year, unvaccinated communities have seen small but notable growth, according to the CDC’s latest National Immunization Survey. One school in Oregon has toddler vaccination rates lower than those in Venezuela. Only half of the preschoolers in the state received their MMR vaccines compared to 57 percent of Venezuelan toddlers. The good news is that overall vaccine coverage remains high for 19 – 35-month olds and kindergarteners.

Florida requires proof of certain immunizations is required for school entry if a child is entering kindergarten, seventh grade or is moving to Florida from another state of country. Exemptions can be requested by parents and that information is found at the Health Department.

The statistics for Martin County indicate that 84% of 2-year-old children in Martin County were up to date on vaccinations in 2017. In Martin County, the diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis vaccination series had the lowest completion rate in 2-year-old children in 2017. Overall, 84% of 2-year-old children were up to date on all vaccinations recommended for this age group.

The number of religious exemptions (REs) to vaccination in Florida has been gradually increasing each year. As of August 2018, 4.9% of children from age 4 to 18 years in Martin County had a RE in Florida compared to 2.9% of children statewide. Martin County has a higher percent of REs than 62 other counties. This information and more is contained on the Martin County Immunization Coverage at floridahealth.gov.

Helping People Succeed provides services for families who are at risk of abuse or neglect. Immunization is one of the outcomes that we strive to meet. Over 500 families in Martin County receive services that provide learning experiences on child development, safety and immunizations. We are proud to say that we have met this outcome by 100% for many years.

If your child has not been immunized in Martin County, the Health Department is offering free school age immunizations for children who are uninsured, underinsured or do not have a medical provider. On Saturday, August 7, 2024 from 10:00 am till 12:00 pm, School and Covid-19 vaccinations will be provided at 1561 SW 169 Avenue in Indiantown—near Booker Park Fire Station. You can also call the Martin County Health Department at 772.221.4000. Their offices are at 3441 SE Willoughby Boulevard.

As a parent, I know how hard it is to watch your child cry when getting a vaccination but it’s important for your child and our community.

Suzy Hutcheson's opinions are her own and may not reflect Friends & Neighbors viewpoint.

It’s a summer tradition – the Litter Index survey by Keep Martin Beautiful, our county’s nonprofit steward of litter prevention.

With their clipboards and copies of the Community Appearance Index, our Litter Index volunteers drove around the county for a full eight hours on a hot July day – through residential areas, along beaches and major thoroughfares, through commercial plazas, and into more rural areas off the beaten path.

They scored each area on a scale of 1, for “little litter,” to 4, “very littered.” 

“I expected to find a lot of trash,” our volunteer Cassia told us. “It’s so easy for people to toss trash from a car window or drop food wrappers and cups where they walk. But to our great surprise, that’s not what we found.”

Instead, our volunteers scored almost all areas as 1, “little litter.”

“Honestly,” our volunteer Kenzie told us, “we only found piles of litter in a few places, usually in swales or along fences in out of the way areas.”

So, congratulations, Martin County! Our efforts are paying dividends. In 2022, our Litter Index Score was 1.504. Last year it was 1.439. And this year it’s 1.358.

That’s a reassuring and positive trend in litter reduction in Martin County.

Still, litter is an ongoing battle. There are several hot spots in Martin County and always more work to be done. You can help maintain a litter-free Martin County by being a part of our Adopt-A-Road and Adopt-A-Street programs. Volunteer groups commit to a one-year contract, pay an annual fee, and six times a year, pledge to clear litter and trash from their designated mile-long section of roadway. 

We’ve got a few roads that long to be adopted and putting out a call that “I’m available!” Your family, neighbors, business, or organization may be just the right ones to answer the call. There are more than a dozen roads still available. Check out the list here.

For more information about the events and programs that help to keep Martin County beautiful visit keepmartinbeautiful.org or email info@keepmartinbeautiful.org.  And don’t forget there’s still time to volunteer for the International Coastal Cleanup on September 21. Click here to register.

Tiffany Kincaid's opinions are her own and may not reflect Friends & Neighbors viewpoint.

I had the privilege of attending New Educator Orientation this week, where MCEA provided breakfast to nearly 100 educators, just as we’ve done at the start of each school year for as long as I can remember. Whether new to the profession or just new to the district, the energy in the room was palpable, and it brought back many fond memories of when I participated in the very same orientation nearly 15 years ago.

Growing up in Martin County and being a proud product of our public schools, my first New Educator Orientation was a full circle moment for me. Being welcomed back to the district by the same superintendent who handed me my high school diploma was truly surreal, and in that moment, I knew I was home. Since then, I have spent most of my professional life advocating for the students and teachers here in my hometown.

As I begin my second year as president of the Martin County Education Association, I think back on all we have accomplished on behalf of the students and teachers over the past year, and I am just as proud now as I was 15 years ago to be a part of our teacher’s union.

When people talk of unions, it seems like they are describing some outside entity with a self-serving agenda. That is simply not true. Our union is comprised of teachers who spend their days taking care of the students in this community and spend their evenings taking care of their own loved ones at home. When not in the classroom, you may see our members at the grocery store, at church, or even out at your favorite local restaurant. We are the glue that holds our classrooms together and we are the fabric of this community.

As a collection of employees who advocate for our rights at work and better working conditions for our colleagues, we are also members of one of the largest democratic organizations in the United States. That is why it hurts to hear folks blame “the union” for stalling negotiations and creating problems for the district when we speak up at school board meeting.

As the democratically elected president of MCEA, I not only serve my members who make up over 60% of teachers in this district, but I am the voice for all 1200 teachers district wide. So, when you say that it is the union’s fault, what you are really doing is placing blame on those who teach our children. What’s more, is that you are saying that you don’t trust us to be the experts in our field even though you trust us to care for and education your children.

Matt Theobald's opinions are his own and may not reflect Friends & Neighbors viewpoint.

Improving Quality is No. 1 Priority Every Day

We at Cleveland Clinic are honored to be recognized by U.S. News and World Report as a national leader in healthcare. While this recognition is rewarding, what our caregivers love most is receiving positive feedback directly from our patients here in Martin County. Hearing their appreciation for the care they receive is incredibly meaningful and demonstrates the positive impact our caregivers are making across all care settings.

As healthcare evolves, we must continuously enhance our patients’ experience and care delivery. We do this by utilizing the voice of our patients to learn what matters most. The patient experience team shares patient feedback broadly to all leaders across all avenues of care. 

Patient Experience Director Karen Ladwig shared, "Our teams utilize both recognitions to celebrate the great care provided and patient concerns to improve the ease of receiving care at Cleveland Clinic Martin Health."

The teams focus on enhancing the overall patient experience by providing excellent clinical care and ensuring seamless, personalized experiences, from MyChart interactions to communication with caregivers, aiming to care for the whole person throughout their healthcare journey.

Nationwide, the COVID-19 pandemic posed significant challenges and changes in healthcare. Between 2020 and 2022, many established nurses left healthcare, leading to an increase in travel nurses and a rise in nurses just starting their career journey. Caregiver morale was low, and patient numbers and the severity of diagnoses increased. Coupled with limited access, our health system's dynamic changed. To address this, we focused on rebuilding teams, enhancing leadership skills, prioritizing caregiver well-being, and investing in comprehensive onboarding and education. These steps ensured our workforce could provide the highest quality care, reflecting our commitment to our patients and community.

Among many quality, safety, and experience initiatives in 2023, the Patient Experience team hosted leadership retreats empowering leaders with the knowledge and skills to focus on what matters most to our patients. These workshops emphasized rebuilding teamwork, empathy, and strengthening community trust. Every leader returned to their teams and collaboratively designed action plans utilizing national best practices, patient feedback, and caregiver insights. This work continues today with leaders across all hospital sites, medical practices, and outpatient services.

While our community feedback is more favorable across nearly all care settings, we still have opportunities for improvement. When we survey our patients, our goal is to achieve the highest rating on each measure or question. We recognize that during our more crowded seasonal months, delays and congestion can lead to decreased positive feedback, indicating areas where we can improve.

Our journey to becoming a highly reliable organization and improving our quality of care includes training, the use of safety coaches, and empowering all caregivers to report issues early. Key quality indicators, such as central line infections and sepsis rates, are closely monitored. By integrating advanced technology, including electronic medical records, our team can detect early signs of infection, ensuring timely and effective interventions for our patients' well-being. These improvements translate into world-class care in specialties like orthopedic surgery, brain surgery, and cancer care.

Rishi P. Singh's opinions are his own and may not reflect Friends & Neighbors viewpoint.

Blueways

In November, all Martin County registered voters will get to decide if they want to vote YES on a half-cent sales tax referendum to buy land to protect water quality, natural areas and wildlife habitat.  The referendum is really all about preserving and enhancing our quality of life.  

In this column, we’ll dive into one of the targeted areas for purchase. It’s called the Blueways area. It’s about 400 acres of undeveloped waterfront land “in town,” along our coastline. These are lands that are a critical part of public access to beaches, boat ramps and pocket parks and at high risk of development.

So, imagine for a moment, this too common scenario in south Florida. It’s early morning in April, the spring dolphin run is the best it’s been in years and the Sailfish bite is still going strong. The baits are already rigged, tackle double checked and cooler loaded. It’s the first calm day in weeks and you’re trailering your boat to the ramp. Everything is gearing up for a great day on the water.

Peck's Lake

Then you see it. Trucks with clean boats still on the trailer are pulling out of the ramp lot. You’re too late. The lot’s already full. Adjusting your plans, you drive to another location only to find the same thing. The area boat ramps simply can’t handle the public demand.

But wait. We’re in Martin County! Where things are different. We’ve got free and improved boat ramp access at Sandsprit Park, Stuart Causeway, Shepard’s Park and more! Proper planning and foresight have ensured our day of offshore fishing actually happens! 

Not into fishing or boating? Let’s change the scenario to a beautiful beach day, where folks to the south of us have to pay for their beach access parking. But not in Martin County – where beach parking is free!  Again, we’re different here because of our planning and foresight and the high importance residents place on these recreational areas.

It’s easy to take public boat ramps and free beach access for granted when you live here. But this crucial public access is one of the many ways we describe the “Martin County Difference.” These conservation and public access efforts began decades ago and laid the groundwork for the quality of life we have today. Bu there is still more to do!

Martin County has a total of 20 beach areas and 17 boat ramps for vehicles and trailers, plus an additional 17 areas for people who want to carry their kayaks, paddleboards and small boats to the water.

As our community has grown and changed, preserving and conserving the remaining lands so they can be used for public access to the water is essential. If the referendum is approved by voters, we can leverage local revenues for grant funding to preserve more of these rare waterfront areas. 

Martin County is a very special place - and we want to keep it that way. The Blueways area is just one example of how locally raised conservation dollars can be used to preserve our land for the enjoyment of generations to come.

Now is the time to take action. Once these lands are gone they will be gone forever. 

If you’d like to dive into the details about the referendum and learn more about the initiative to educate voters visit our website at www.martincountyforever.com. Follow us on Facebook at Martin County Forever Facebook  or on Instagram at Martin County Forever Instagram.

Or send us an email at martincountyforever@gmail.com.  

Snedeker & Matheson's opinions are their own and may not reflect Friends & Neighbors’ viewpoint.

IT Leadership in a Small Business

Business owners face challenges in today's fast-changing and competitive world. They need to adapt to new technologies, customer demands, regulations, and competitors. To survive and thrive, they need IT leadership to implement modern technology.

Let’s be realistic, even if you have a fair degree of technical know-how, you should be running your main line of business and not being the IT Guy.

So, what is IT leadership?

First let’s run through what it takes to be a leader in technology or IT. You need the ability to bounce back from setbacks, learn from failures, and leverage opportunities. You need to foster a culture of resilience in the team and organization that uses your technology, enabling them to innovate, collaborate, and deliver value to customers and stakeholders using technology.

Well so far sounds like the typical fair for just about any leadership role so let’s throw a few more things into the mix. How about limited resources in both people and money. People might lack expertise, skill and tools and tools (usually being software) can be expensive.

Small business also must compete with more established players in the field that can expend resources to upgrade their technology when new tech comes along.

And what about uncertainty and risk. What if you invest in new technology only to have it be outdated before it is fully utilized. How can I be the IT leader of something I don’t really know enough about?

Relax. If you adopt the following strategies, you can become the IT leader the any business needs.

First and foremost, embrace change: IT leaders are open to change and see it as an opportunity to grow. They are proactive and flexible in adapting to new situations and demands. I am reminded of a friend who many years ago ran a small business that embraced creating an estimating system using spreadsheets and turned the business into a $50 million dollar enterprise. They didn’t make the spreadsheet personally, but they knew what needed to be put into it and they use it to this day.

Leverage resources: IT leaders are resourceful and creative in using their available resources to achieve their technology goals. They are efficient and effective in allocating and managing their budgets, staff, and infrastructure. Small business often does this by outsourcing their day in and day out technology needs to a company that not only knows IT but also knows how a business needs to run. As my friend above, they don’t do the work but get the experts who do involved.

Build relationships: IT leaders are collaborative and communicative in building relationships with their internal and external stakeholders. They might leverage vendors programs to augment their IT capabilities and reduce their costs. They know what the needs are for the business. They empower the limited resources of people to get the right thing done the first time.

Lastly, they manage risks: IT leaders are aware and prepared for the risks and uncertainties that can affect their technology. They must be proactive and prudent in identifying, assessing, and mitigating the risks. They have contingency plans to ensure if the technology suffers a failure there is some sort of continuity and recovery.

What am I getting at here? You don’t have to know IT or technology, you just have to know what to expect of those who do whether internal or external. IT leadership boils down to these few things: Embrace change, leverage resources, build relationships, manage risks, and yes, ensuring these get done.

Sound familiar? All these things we do in small business every day. So put on your leadership technology hat, bring in experts as you need to, and be the IT leader so that the business will see technology success.

Eric Kiehn’s opinions are his own and may not reflect Friends & Neighbors viewpoint.

 

 

 

MARINER SANDS CHARITY WEEK RESULTS IN

GENEROUS DONATION FOR ARC OF THE TREASURE COAST

STUART, FL. – The ARC of the Treasure Coast is proud and grateful to be one of the recipients of this year’s Mariner Sands Country Club Charity Week. Each year, residents come together for a seven-day extravaganza to raise hope and help for seven Martin County charities.

Recently, ARC of the Treasure Coast was presented with a check for $28,000 from Mariner Sands Charity Week at a grant presentation at the ARC owned Alice’s Restaurant in Stuart. The grant will provide new flooring and painting for ARC’s hurricane shelter as well as a new freezer.

“Generous donations like this one from Mariner Sands benefit a specific group of people in our community that need our services,” said Keith Muniz, President, and CEO of ARC of the Treasure Coast. “In these tough times for non-profits, contributions like this make a huge difference and we appreciate it so much.”

Edie Stevenson, Keith W. Muniz, Jennifer Wilson, Dani Sexton-Wills, Linda Williams, Kayla Pitt, Judith Carlson, Linda Horstmeyer

Advocates for the Rights of the Challenged empowers children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities to dream big, work with dignity, take pride in themselves, live independently, and do it all at their own pace to achieve their fullest potential. In fact, ARC’s newly acquired Alice’s Restaurant provides our clients with training and jobs in the food service sector. Customers are welcome to stop by the Stuart eatery where you will find good food for a great cause.

To learn more about how you can help ARC of the Treasure Coast visit: www.arctreasurecoast.org

About ARC of Martin and St. Lucie Counties: The ARC, (Advocates for the Rights of the Challenged) is a 501(c)(3) non-for-profit organization dedicated to empowering children and adults with I/DD through residential, vocational, educational, behavioral, and other healthcare services.  ARC provides support, assistance and training that enhances the abilities for children and adults with disabilities to thrive each day and achieve their fullest potential.

 

Honoring the late Mr. Harold C. White aka "Mango Man"

Harold began his journey with the Jupiter Island Club in 1955, dedicating 42 remarkable years of service until his retirement in 1997. Throughout his tenure, he made a lasting impact on the Jupiter Island community, leaving behind a legacy of dedication and friendship.

In retirement, Harold continued to serve his community with the same commitment and passion that defined his career. As the Director of the Banner Lake Club, he found great joy and fulfillment in this role, considering it the highlight of his retirement years. Fondly remembered as the "Mango Man", his leadership and dedication to the Banner Lake community have left an indelible mark, enriching the lives of many.

We extend our heartfelt condolences to Harold’s family and friends during this difficult time. His legacy of service, friendship, and community spirit will forever be remembered and honored.

Banner Lake Community Center Renaming Ceremony

As a tribute to his unwavering dedication, we are pleased to announce that the Banner Lake Outreach Center will be renamed The Harold C. White Outreach Center. Please join us in celebrating his memory at the Banner Lake Day event.

Event Details:

• Date: Saturday, August 10, 2024
• Time: 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM
• Location: Banner Lake Community Center

Let us come together to honor Harold C. White’s remarkable contributions and to ensure that his spirit of service remains a guiding light for our community.

 

MONICA

Calling all calico lovers!  Monica is a 7-year-old sweetheart who lost her home when her owner could no longer care for her.  She is not your typical calico....no cattitude with her! She is reserved with strangers, but if you give her a minute (and maybe a treat), she will be thrilled to have your affection.  She has gotten along with the other cats in her space and really wants nothing more than a home where she can have her own family and share her love with them.  Caring Fields Felines, located at 6807 SW Wedelia Terrace in Palm City, has adoption hours Monday through Saturday from 11 am to 3 pm.  Please bring a carrier and take this special kitty home with you!

 

Council on Aging Martin Expands Senior Dining Program in Hobe Sound

STUART, FL - Clients of the Council on Aging Martin’s Senior Dining Program call it “the perfect antidote to loneliness.” The program provides free or low cost meals to seniors every weekday at sites in Jensen Beach, Indiantown, Stuart, and now Hobe Sound.

“We know that good nutrition is essential for aging well,” said Council on Aging Martin President and CEO Karen Ripper. “In addition to the nutritional value of the food itself, though, the opportunity to socialize with others over a meal is priceless.”

The Council on Aging Meals on Wheels staff prepares the meals at its commercial kitchen housed at the Kane Center on Salerno Road. Drivers then deliver the meals to each site, where anywhere from twelve to thirty diners may be waiting.

Annette Lopez, who oversees the program for the Council on Aging Martin, described the socialization that comes with the meals as a lifeline. “For many of those we serve, this is the only hot meal they’ll have in a day and the only time they get to meet with others, share a laugh, and take part in group activities. The program feeds their spirits as well as their bodies.”

Chefs Alex Molinari and Chris Baker prepare more than 500 meals a day at the Council on Aging Martin’s commercial kitchen at the Kane Center. The meals are delivered by volunteers to seniors through Martin County.

The program has been so successful at the Log Cabin Senior Center in Jensen Beach, the 10th Street Community Center in Stuart, and Indiantown Big Mound Park in Indiantown that Council on Aging Martin has expanded it to the Hobe Sound First Baptist Church on Church Street in Hobe Sound. The Hobe Sound meal site is made possible through the philanthropic support of the Hobe Sound Community Chest and other donors, and the Hobe Sound First Baptist Church generously donates the space.

Seniors can sign up through the Council on Aging website, by calling 772-223-7800, or coming in person to a Senior Dining Center site. There is a modest fee for the meals, but community donations underwrite the costs for seniors unable to pay.

In addition to the Senior Dining Program, Council on Aging Martin also provides Meals on Wheels programs to more than 500 vulnerable seniors each weekday throughout Martin County. The Kane Cuisine is available for those who are able to pay a fee for their meals but appreciate having a hot meal delivered to their home.

Find out about this and all of the programs of the Council on Aging of Martin County at www.coamartin.org.

About the Council on Aging of Martin County

The Council on Aging of Martin County is the community’s hub for senior resources and the county’s Lead Agency on Aging. Founded in 1974, the organization offers expertise, programming and support for older adults and their families to help seniors maintain lives of quality and purpose. Services include Day Primary Care Center, Memory Enhancement Center, Adult Day Club, Meals on Wheels, care management, caregiver support, and a robust offering of educational, cultural, fitness and wellness programs.

The Kane Center located at 900 SE Salerno Road in Stuart is the Council on Aging of Martin County’s headquarters and is also an event venue available to the public. It serves as a special needs hurricane shelter when necessary. The Council on Aging of Martin County also operates senior outreach facilities in Hobe Sound, Jensen Beach, East Stuart and Indiantown. A 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, the Council on Aging receives funding from state and federal agencies and relies on philanthropic support from the community, including other agencies, private foundations and individual donors. For more information, visit www.coamartin.org.

 

 

Helping People Succeed’s Annual Meeting

A Celebration of Program Success and Community Support

By Glenna Parris

Helping People Succeed hosted their Annual Meeting and welcomed new Governing Board Members Artie Manfredi and Jill Marasa and Foundation Board Member Rob Whitlach. The most rewarding highlight of the meeting was the presentation of Community Awards. Elizabeth Barbella, John Doody and Bunny Webb represented the Community Foundation of Martin – St. Lucie and were recognized for their ongoing support of Helping People Succeed and the community at large. The PNC Foundation was recognized for their contributions towards early learning literacy and Julia Kelly and Chris Perry were honored for their many years of support of the Art for Living Calendar and their dedication and commitment to Helping People Succeed.

Allen Herskowitz, Marian Vitali, Mary Kay Buckridge

Helping People Succeed also celebrated those calendar underwriters who have been supporting the Art for Living Calendar since its inception – 25 years ago! Those underwriters include Marky Kay Buckridge, Deb Duvall of Water Pointe Realty Group, Phil Faherty of Stuart Business Systems, Christine Mulrooney representing NisAir, Rich Ross of Ross Mixers and Ed Weinberg of EW Consultants. The award presentation closed with the Tom Warner Advocacy Award. This award was presented to Jeanine Webster and Mel Nobel. Jeanine and Mel have been staunch supporters of Helping People Succeed for many years. We are thankful for their thoughtful philanthropic spirit!

Though chair persons Heidi Bosley and Claire Nash will continue as chairs for the next fiscal year, they too, were given recognition for their previous roles on the boards. We had one outgoing board member, Michael Borlaug, who was recognized for his outstanding service and for all the contributions he has made to the organization over the last several years.

Ann Mehling, Marjorie Gittings, Shannon Wilson, and Kelly Cuevas

Last but not least, CEO Suzy Hutcheson updated the guests on where Helping People Succeed has been, where we are today and what the future holds. Presented with flowers, Suzy was given a standing ovation for her 50 years of dedicated service and commitment! It was a lovely evening, surrounded by caring individuals, who believe in our mission and the success of those who we serve!

Mike Borlaug,Heidi Bosley, Tom Campenni, Claire Nash

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.

 

 

 

COMMISSION MEETING JULY 22, 2024

This meeting was primarily to approve next year’s budget.

In record time, the commission approved next year’s budget even providing a slight tax decrease. It is an election year, and this is supposed to show that the commission is taking their duties seriously. For those who live in the un-incorporated parts of the county, the decrease will be a little less than 0.670%. This excludes the individual commissioner’s district funds which will be the same or even less compared to last year.

Though there is a slight decrease in tax rates, there was a 9.63% increase in taxable value. This of course is what allowed the commissioners to drop the combined tax rate. It is the same idea as when people collecting Social Security receive a notice that they are getting a raise in their monthly deposit but then Medicare goes up by almost the same amount.

Another thing I noticed is that now 64% of the tax bill goes to public safety. Friends & Neighbors has previously written and informed our readers that law enforcement and fire/rescue are taking a larger and larger portion of the budget each year. The Sheriff went up by about 8% and Fire Rescue by 12.68%.

The commission is hoping that projects like Discovery and Apogee will pay large amounts in taxes yet require little in municipal services. Discovery probably will end up being a cash cow. Apogee, though an expensive golf club, is still a golf club and therefore doesn’t have the infrastructure on it such as homes to garnish a large taxable value.

If two departments are eating up 64% of a resident’s tax bill, then where is the other 36% going? It is 3% Culture and Recreation (Parks), 26% General Government (Finance, Building Maintenance, Growth Management, etc.), and 7% Roads, Stormwater, Environmental.

The real question is what do you expect your local government to provide? If all you want is a fire engine ready to respond to a fire, a deputy ready to answer your 911 call, and rescue vehicle to wait for your heart attack…there is plenty of room before we reach the 10-mill cap. But if you want to have well maintained parks, beaches, roads, and water, then there needs to be some better plan than going from year to year the way we do.

The commission would have been done before lunch if they had found the money for the Community Coach. The county lost part of a grant that was contributing an additional $340,000 to the “transportation disadvantaged” for services. It was now time to make decisions.

Commissioner Ciampi was ready to do it immediately by cutting something. The others were more cautionary in their approach. Maybe it was because he isn’t running for re-election, but Commissioner Jenkins asked why didn’t we have a plan for this day since they knew the day was coming when the grant would be reduced or go away.

It was here that cooler heads prevailed, and they went to lunch. When they returned, staff had figured out a way to give $180,000 now and to see about a budget amendment in January. That meant the tax decrease was a smidge less. What a way to run a county.

They approved everything in an empty room. No taxpayer bothered to speak about anything except one candidate for office. If people show up to complain in September, then they do the commissioners and staff a disservice. Now is the time to express any displeasure, not then. They have been working on the budget since last December. Though nothing is set in stone, cutting millage or expenses should not be done by calling up department directors and asking them to cut their budgets at a meeting so that things can be certified on time.

You can see the entire budget presentation here 

I often wonder how a county asset like the fairgrounds ends up in the hands of a group of people who are unaccountable to anyone.

Right now, the county administration and commissioners have no say over who sits on the board that oversees an asset belonging to Martin County that is worth millions of dollars. Further no government official has any say as to what programs can be implemented there.

The secretive board is a power all to itself without any public accountability. Since it does not operate in the sunshine, there is no way for the public to know how this precious public asset is used. The county commission doesn’t seem to care.

 

The attitude is that we are all friends so don’t do anything to upset the apple cart. Sure, twice a year the commissioners make a show of concern regarding the proposed move to Indiantown, and they lambaste the fair board, but in the end, it is one more extension for one more time…supposedly. Why is the commission just so happy for this inertia to continue?

While the original Stuart space is just 10 acres, the Indiantown property is closer to 100 acres. It would have been even larger, but the county gave some of the parcel for the new Indiantown High School. Even if tomorrow the Fair Board begins to act responsibly and carry out its obligations under the lease, why should a county asset of this magnitude be entrusted to this group or any group for the nominal sum of $10 per year.

The Martin County Fair runs for 9 days once a year. What happens with the asset the other 356 days that they control the grounds. The last fair was at best a lackluster affair. While the 4-H segments performed well, the rest was sub par at best. I have also been told that local businesses, such as Deggeller Attractions, will no longer be the provider of rides for the fair. My question is why?

The fair board hired KC Mullins as their fair manager last year. She had no experience with county fairs. She may have had no experience in managing fairs, but she was politically astute and was seen by the county commission to give credibility for the move to Indiantown.

Though cloudy, apparently her husband was able to secure a line of credit for the fair organization. Tim Mullen was charging a fee for that service, but the only reason that would raise an eyebrow was because of his wife’s position. No matter, KC informed the commission that she was uncomfortable with some of the fair board’s past practices, and she was not allowed to correct them. She resigned.

Since then, no new manager has been hired. Chester Edwards, the president, has been running the non-profit entity with his handpicked board. Should this be the way a county asset is managed?

An entire chapter of Florida State Statute (616) is devoted to fairs. Interestingly the state harkening back to its more rural past has determined that state, county, and district fairs are important enough to rate extensive regulation just not the right kind for the 21st century. The problem with these autonomous dark private boards is they really are not accountable to the county where located.

Since the “county” fair is being operated by an unelected and unaccountable group of individuals, how does the county commission make sure this asset worth millions of dollars is being cared for? The only way there is any accountability is for the county commission to enforce the lease. This is something they have not done.

For years now, we have listened to the fair board promise everything under the sun and delivered nothing in return but more promises. From my perspective there are two valuable pieces of property being held hostage to at best an irresponsible bunch. What more needs to happen before the commission acts?

Will it be another year, decade, or ever more before that organization is flushed. Timer Powers Park already hosts the rodeo each year (an independent event.) If we added additional seating and another building the fair could be held there with the county sponsoring 4-H. The farm part of the fair is mostly the Martin County kids anyway. There could be carnival rides and a midway run by someone like Deggeller. 

According to the fair board lease, they are required to keep the buildings in good shape. Perhaps the commissioners should go look at the roof leaks and other disrepair at the leasehold. Now we are going to reward them with 100 acres in Indiantown to screw up.

 

That land, instead of being turned over to them, could be used for more productive uses. We could make it an industrial park that would be attractive to the new businesses of Indiantown. It could be set up as an authority which would end up being a money maker for the county that could generate revenue for other industrial projects.

 

I implore the commission to stop wasting our valuable resources on a pipe dream that will never come true. When does it stop? When will the citizens’ wishes be considered?

The state is not blameless in this either. Because it still invests so much legal authority into an unaccountable board, it has some of the responsibility for this debacle. The entire notion is a throwback to simpler times that no longer exist.

The county has control of two once autonomous agencies. The BDB and the Tourist Development Board take plenty of public money and ultimately the county commission determines by funding in one case the direction and in the other being a department of government. In the Fair Board case that couldn’t be further from the truth.

It is time for our commissioners to operate county land for public purposes. The Fair Board’s lease should not be renewed in two years when the current lease is up. Without the acreage they would cease to exist.

COMMISSION MEETING JULY 22, 2024

Kimley-Horn, the city’s water utility consultant, made a presentation to the commission.

Stuart’s water comes from the Surficial Aquifer which is shallow and more easily subject to pollutants. There are 23 wells with 16 of them in need of replacement. On average, the wells are 50 years old with the usual life being about 30 years. At some point all the wells will need to be replaced.

Right now, the wells produce at most 5.5 (MGD) million gallons per day. The state has given the city a permitted use of 7.71 MGD. Stuart has recently completed a new Reversable Osmosis (RO) Plant to produce 1.5 MGD which draws water from the much deeper Floridan Aquifer.

The consultant is recommending expanding the RO plant to full capacity of 3 million gallons and rehabilitating the existing wellfields. The cost could exceed $70 million. The city has some idea what a new well costs since it completed drilling one in 2023.

Some of the existing wells are on property that is no longer suitable for wellheads because of different setback requirements since the originals were built. New permits would be needed for new wells but not for those rehabilitated which could help lessen costs. The commissioners had no comment. I don’t think I blame them.

You can see the presentation here https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:f4ff2278-72bd-4149-b592-f1b0a832ce6f

Since this has been under discussion for about 20 years, it is nice to see that it may finally begin coming to fruition.

That is what is going on with beginning construction on Phase 1 and 2 of Guy Davis Park. The CRA has budgeted $7 million dollars in FY ’25 to finally put in place a new facility. Today’s children that were not even alive when discussions began will certainly enjoy the park.

Over the years, there has been extensive planning at both neighborhood and city meetings to find out what should be located at the park. Calvin, Giordano & Associates, the city’s consultant, has been leading the pplanning in conjunction with CRA staff.

However, we are not just planning a park. There will be an outdoor art component celebrating not only Guy Davis, the man, but other prominent members of the community including outstanding sports figures. There is also an historic element incorporated by celebrating the migration and origins of pioneer families.

The 60% Plans will be done by the end of this summer, Then the bidding process will begin. There will be a final public outreach meeting in November with anticipated opening to the public by the fall of 2026.

You can see the entire presentation here   

What would have been an easy request back in 2015 for a unity of title has morphed into a mess compounded by an incomplete house on the property on Indian Grove with different plats. It doesn’t help that the owner of Lots 1 and 2 has been incapable of living up to any of the four previous agreements with the city.

The question is what do you do? Right now, there are several hundred thousand dollars in code violations. The second home should never have been permitted since there is technically only one lot. The current owner of what would be Lots 1 and 2 has his own homestead residence. It is further complicated by a third lot that is part of this mess with another house on it.

There is an unfinished house which needs to be completed. Because of a change to the property not allowing ground water from neighboring parcels to flow into Poppleton Creek, those properties continuously flood. According to the city manager, there is a simple fix by placing a grate at the beginning of the subject property and then having a pipe put in to take the water into Poppleton Creek.

Without releasing the unity of title, the two lots cannot be legally separated. The incomplete home can’t be granted a valid permit without being its own lot. There is a magistrate’s order with fines being accumulated on the property.

By releasing the title, the owner must now create the 2nd lot where the unfinished home is. Once that is done, the city can begin foreclosure actions to collect the fines if this newest agreement is not adhered to. They can’t presently foreclose because there is a homestead on the one lot.

McDonald made a motion for approval with the following conditions. A permit must be applied for within 30 days. Complete all exterior work including landscaping and stormwater within 12 months. If it is not completed, then the structure can be demolished. Lastly a $25,000 bond must be provided to pay for the demolition if needed. The motion was seconded by Collins. The motion passed 4-0 with Clarke absent.

No matter how you dress it up, the county commissioners (except for Sarah Heard) have consistently screwed up our county budget and property taxes in large part by giving away the store to the Fire/Rescue Union.

The commissioners can carry on about the people’s safety all they want. But in the end, it is all for fire rank and file providing troops and money for their own re-elections. Because of that, the infrastructure of the county is being impaired and other departments are being slowly cannibalized.

Now it appears that the Fire/Rescue Union is trying to do the same thing in Stuart. Just like they had a “fifth column” in the county consisting of elected officials willing to sell their souls for perpetual help in re-election, at least two city commissioners may have embarked on the same path.

In the present election cycle, Commissioner Troy McDonald has proudly received the union endorsement with no strings attached. Yet I hear that behind the scenes he is involved in trying to influence the current contract negotiations. There is nothing wrong with being endorsed by the union, but when that endorsement comes with anything more than a promise to be a good policy maker, then it is over the line.

I spoke to Troy, and he told me unequivocally that he is not interfering in talks between management and the union. He told me that he believes that the city’s negotiating stance is correct.  

Union negotiations should be left to staff who are the management experts. Commissioners should not be advocating for how many employees there are or how their command structure works. This is clearly not their job.

The biggest job a commissioner has is to make sure our tax dollars are spent wisely. Not advocating for employee raises or job titles or numbers. These are things they know nothing about. The county commissioners have been doing that for almost two decades to the detriment of the overall fiscal health of the county.

I have also heard that Chris Collins has done a complete 180 in the past month, going from someone who argues for budget constraints to one who believes that cuts should be made in other departments so that new fire fighters can be hired. This new stance was after he met with the union.

I spoke with John Hatch, the head of the fire union. He did say that commissioners have met with the rank and file. Hatch said that he is not trying to become involved in politics. However, fire fighters have gone door to door with McDonald providing campaign help. I did not see any campaign contribution from their organization in McDonald’s election reports though I did see a $1000 donation from the PBA.

Quite simply, the commissioners hire the city manager, and the manager has the authority to appoint all department heads and negotiate all labor contracts. If commissioners are trying to insert themselves into contract negotiations and going to union meetings, then is their constituents the residents and taxpayers of the city or the union rank and file. It would be like a board member of Ford trying to interfere in negotiations with the UAW.

The county is so far gone that I wouldn’t be surprised if one day they wouldn’t be able to pay for their contract with the IAFF (International Association of Fire Fighters). Stuart still has a chance because commissioner meddling is something new. The problem is the city has a much smaller tax structure than the county with less ways to fund the entire budget.

Of the 62 Fire/Rescue employees that work for Stuart, probably no more than 4 or 5 live in the city. There are not any votes and not much in the way of financial considerations to campaigns either. The union is asking for 30 more employees. And if McDonald and Collins back that plan, then the union oversees staffing not management. It would also add millions to the budget…millions that Stuart can only get from increased taxes.

Commissioners need to step back and reclaim sanity. Let the management professionals handle operations as the city charter spells out. If the union pushes too hard, Stuart should just disband the department and let the county worry about it.

Isn’t absorption the goal of the county anyway? And because of the disparity in the size of the two departments, make no mistake, it would not be a merger. Both the county’s fire union and the county commissioners would love to see that happen. Though the county and city have different local unions, they do speak to each other.

If that were the results City residents would end up paying the county’s MSTU with longer wait times and less service.  The property insurance of city residents and voters will go up because the ISO rating will no longer be categorized as 1 since the overall county’s is higher.

Oh, and when the county has only one fire department, the big city union guys will be lucky if they have jobs never mind at their current ranks and seniority.

By one grading point the Martin County School District was rated “B” instead of “A”.

We ranked 11th in the state and ahead of the neighboring school districts of St. Lucie and Okeechobee. However, Palm Beach is an “A” district as is Indian River. Yet what does it mean?

If our kids are not reading proficiently then does it matter whether we are an “A” or not? Those that graduate without basic knowledge will not be prepared to make a living. And isn’t imparting skills and knowledge the entire purpose of education?

In the worse school you will always have a top student. Will the #1 student in the worse school be equivalent to the #1 in the best school? The statement could be true but not likely. And we should remember that an “A” or “B” rated school fails in my opinion if only a little more than 50% of their students are performing at grade level.

Our public schools may be trying to do too much. In most of the world sports teams are not attached to schools. They are separate and apart. The same goes for other outside interests. America places emphasis on providing these extra-curricula activities as equal to teaching math and English. We take away resources to do so.

While I applaud Mr. Maine and his staff for almost being an “A” and 11th in the state, Florida ranks 9th in the nation, and the nation 13th in the world. But all rankings are relative. Quite simply can an individual when they graduate read, write, and do sums proficiently. If not, then all the rest is meaningless.   

COUNCIL MEETING JULY 25, 2024

During the budget workshop that preceded this meeting, Finance Director Florio presented reasons why the millage needs to increase. He gave as examples cities of similar size, populations, and other Martin County municipalities. With the comparisons, one must be careful because each city is unique.

For example, the chart with municipalities in Florida of similar size populations, when comparing tax rates and taxable values, there are both huge disparities in wealth and services provided. Each of those chosen provides police services and four provide fire/rescue, one of which is an entirely volunteer department.

That doesn’t mean that the millage rate doesn’t need to increase slightly. Currently the millage is 1.630. The staff recommends 1.825. That would increase the amount of tax paid by $8.67 per $50,000 of value. Not exactly a large increase.

In their regular meeting, the council unanimously passed a not-to-exceed number of 1.825. At present projections, the village would collect $4,299,224 in ad valorem or $458,427 more. You can see the entire presentation here

Now that Swampfest 2024 is over, the organizers still have complaints about how they were treated by the staff and sheriff. Apparently so much so that two of the organizers from the Concerned Citizens of Booker Park want a special meeting to go through everything.

The rules for special events are in the LDRs. For several months, those rules have been going through the process of being revised irrespective of Swampfest. Whether they are more favorable to or against events such as Swampfest are currently unknowable. What is knowable is how this one turned out and whether the organizers and staff followed the rules as outlined in the LDRs and the permit.

Village Manager Kryzda wrote a memo to the council outlining where the organizers (according to her) did not follow the rules and those outlined and agreed to in their permit. The memo is attached here 

More importantly, besides outlining the violations, Kryzda and her staff made suggestions for the future such as utilization of sports field for sports only and no glass containers. They seem to be reasonable and are just common sense. But this is a highly volatile and political incident where common sense is sometimes abandoned.

Regardless of whether Swampfest follows all the rules, one big problem is the venue. It is too small for that size crowd. Booker Park is a residential neighborhood with homes and residents who shouldn’t be held ransomed to a party no matter what the intentions are. There simply is not enough parking for the festival goers nor the inconvenience which is part of these events.

When asking for this year’s permit, the Concerned Citizens of Booker Park stated at a council meeting that this would be the last one held there. The next one would move to someplace like Timer Powers Park. That was the responsible call then and it still is.

I would compare Swampfest to the Salerno Seafood Festival. It became so successful with so many people attending that it overwhelmed the streets of Salerno. The county commission was forced to say that it could not remain there. They made the right move for the people of Salerno.

Finally, this comes down to the council either having the same rules for all or making exceptions. In government, exceptions are bad. They introduce favoritism into the mix. The council must set reasonable rules, and then they must be followed whether by a procession through the streets sponsored by a church, a cultural festival, or just a community cookout. Any deviation means an organization is banned from sponsoring another event.  

The council makes the rules, and the staff carries out the rules. It is up to the council not to become involved in a “she said/he said” meeting. I found several YouTube videos of the event in a matter of seconds that tell the story.

The council is in the process of trying to lure new businesses and residents to Indiantown. The fastest way to make sure that doesn’t happen is to introduce discord into the village. Most of the burden for harmony rests with them.

Sedron Technologies is moving ahead to locate their new plant for bio-wastes in Indiantown. It will bring high paying jobs and a source of income for the village since the plant will be located on village property near the wastewater plant. It looks like the plant will be operational by the summer of 2026. You can see the presentation here 

The council will continue to lease the trailer located at the water plant to purify the drinking water for the utility. The village entered into an interim agreement with Beaver Eco-Works LLC to make sure that it is operated as advertised. Now that it has, they are going to enter into a lease-to-own agreement with the company.

CFO Jamil Mikati, Director of Business Development Ted Astolfi, and Chief Technology Office Sanjeev Jakhete

The payment will be $22,185 a month which is being applied to the purchase price of $819,000. In the meantime, the village is looking at grant and other possibilities to buy the trailer from Beaver-Eco outright.

COMMISSION MEETING JULY 17, 2024

There will be an RFP to find a consultant to examine and write the EAR for the town. That is the update for the comprehensive plan due every 7 years. As part of their work, the consultant will look at LDR changes, alternative development standards, and the role of boards.

Mayor Townsend explained that the LDR review goes back several years when former Commissioner Heck took on the review. When Heck left, former Commissioner Johnson assumed the job. The present commissioners did not feel they could do an update without professional help. The reason for a consultant. And probably a good move.

There were several ordinances passed. The commission had been discussing them for some time. The first was Ordinance 394 which changed the title Occupational Licenses to Business Tax Receipts. The state had changed its nomenclature a decade ago.

 

The next was Ordinance 395 which changed the appeal process from the Board of Adjustment and the Impact Review Committee to the commission to de novo which means new evidence can be introduced.

Ordinance 397 changed regarding property owners who must be notified when a parcel change is proposed.  The new ordinance requires owners up to 1320 feet from the parcel change as well as all properties within a cul-de-sac regardless of whether the subject property is 1320 feet or not. This is the only ordinance change that had a 4-1 vote with Scott dissenting. The rest had 5-0 votes.

Ordinance 398 made ADA accommodations through an administrative variance alone. There are several other items such as bulkheads and seawalls that no longer require commission or board approval.

Cummins & Cederberg, one of the town’s consultants, gave a presentation on the waterfront setback line. They have broken down the project into 4 areas. They have completed what they are terming Task 2-Data Analysis and Assessment Setback Criteria. You can see the presentation here 

The same firm is conducting a Town Wide Comprehensive Vulnerability Assessment. This a study that is being paid for by a grant from FDEP. It has to do with sea level rise effects on the Island. You can see the presentation here 

The board is looking to change “Alternative Development Standards” and make them variances when requested. Staff were told to bring back an ordinance to do that. Also, the LPA currently has no role except to look at things that the commission assigns to them. The commission wants to give the LPA the authority to look at matters independently and then report to the commission.

Tom’s Articles

From Medium

"Is This Where We Want To Go"

Here

From Martin County Moments

"We Need More Yimby"

Here

Other Articles

The New York Times: "Amid Talk of Border Chaos, Crossings Have Sharply Declined"

Here

Florida Phoenix: "Economist debate Rick Scott's assertion the federal budget should be half its size

Here

Jason Garcia on Substack: "An inside look at the private interests shaping public eduucation in Floirda"

Here

Connecticut Examiner: "Lamont Offers a Carrot for Added Housing"

Here

The Washington Post: "Why many nonprofits (wink,wink) hospitals are rolling in money"

Here

The Washington Post: Trump's economy vs. Biden's --in 17 charts"

Here

Route Fifty: "Rules for out-of-town governors could cause headaches for potential VP pick

Here

The New York Times: "See how Social Security retirement benefits stack up globally"

Here

The Washington Post: "Wait does America really still employ a ton of news reporters?"

Here

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