March 16, 2025

People who send me unsigned letters and through the mail no less are wasting their time contacting me.

First if you send me something you must read me online because there is no way else to know about what we publish. Therefore, you cannot be computer illiterate. The way to reach me is not through the U.S. Postal Service.

I would never publish something that is not attributable to a person. However, if you write something that I feel is important, I may publish it anonymously, but I have to know who you are. There is no getting around that.

It tells us a lot about the state of Martin County when individuals are afraid to give their opinions in an open forum.

This week we explore the county/city relationship in the meetings with each other over Brightline. The Sewall’s Point Manager was looking elsewhere for a new job. If he left according to one commissioner, he would be the 8th one in a decade. What does that signify about how the commission treats their employee.

Since our last edition we have printed numerous stories and articles on our Facebook page. If you do not follow us or check our page you are missing out on timely and valuable information about our county. 

Remember if you are looking to write about your occupation, avocation, or community contact me. We are always looking for those interested in contributing to add information to our pages.  

Have a great Sunday Morning!

It is amazing how everyone is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day.

Of course, it was and is not an official holiday. Schools, banks, and the Post Office are open. Most people go to work. Some take off to celebrate in their favorite pub, but for the most part, it is a day like every other.

In New York, my office was on West 46th Street between 5th and 6th Avenues for decades, a prime block for the line up of marchers. St Patrick’s Cathedral is only a few blocks away. The noise of the marchers was deafening. Cars could not go up and down the street. 

Once there, the plan was usually to stay the entire day because of the commotion. If you needed to escape, you would go west into Times Square for a little peace and quiet. All the subways were that way also.

As a kid, I remember there was a television program they showed the night before the holiday. It was a cartoon of St. Patrick’s life. I believe it was hosted and narrated by Jack McCarthy. Jack was a host of a child’s program showing Popeye cartoons. He played the part of a sea captain. 

McCarthy was also one of the commentators of the parade on TV. One of his first interviews of the day was Cardinal Spellman. The mayor, police and fire commissioners were three other prominent New Yorkers who stopped to visit with McCarthy on their march up 5th Avenue. 

In our house as a child, there was no corn beef and cabbage. Our Italian roots wouldn’t abide that. We never really celebrated Columbus Day either…so not to worry. 

As I entered the working world as a teenager, the kitchens in the restaurants where I worked would have the “Irish” meal. It sold fairly well. It was in one of those jobs that I learned how to make corned beef and still use the same recipe today. 

Last year we were up north, and I prepared corned beef, cabbage, potatoes, and carrots along with Irish soda bread. It is the kind of meal where you can have a bunch of people over because there is no last-minute preparation. This year my wife’s girlhood friends will be joining us for dinner. 

St. Patrick, like Santa Claus, has become as American as apple pie. Though he is celebrated for bringing Christianity to Ireland, he has transcended those beginnings to be America’s favorite Irishman regardless of religion. It is a time to get together, celebrate being Irish for the day, and have a beer.   

I was driving from my home to the Mid-Florida Credit Event Center in St. Lucie County. 

The center is located off Federal Highway and Walton Road. It is about a 20-minute drive from my home near the Roosevelt Bridge. For all the hoopla about how the two counties have a different feel, if there wasn’t a monument sign with “Welcome to St. Lucie County,” I wouldn’t feel the difference. 

I was going there to attend the St. Lucie County’s Economic Development Luncheon. They hold one every month for their members who they call investors and guests. There must have been 150 people. 

Martin County has the Economic Council of Martin County that is a private not-for-profit organization that has a cross section of businesses. Occasionally, they will have something that the public can attend. Their membership and board are not listed on their website. They describe themselves as “C-level executives, business owners and recently retired Economic Council members.” The CIA is more forthcoming with information. 

The second business group in Martin County is the Business Development Board. Like the EDC in St. Lucie County, they have investors and a board which is published on their website along with their staff. The bulk of their funding comes from the Martin County government. While they only have one lunch a year, all their meetings are open to the public.

They have had some problems in the past hiring true economic development professionals. With the newest director William Corbin, they may have hit the jackpot this time. Much though depends on the desire of the community to have economic development which I will touch on in a minute.

Another difference between the counties is the role of Chambers of Commerce. In St. Lucie County, there is one Chamber of Commerce. The county dwarfs Martin County in terms of size, businesses, and population.

Martin has five different chambers to navigate (Stuart-Martin, Jensen Beach, Indiantown, Palm City, and Hobe Sound), and none do business development. If you aren’t a member, you don’t really exist for the most part. The costs for the CEOs are a small fortune.

The counties themselves prioritize developing and keeping new and existing businesses differently. St. Lucie County is very interested in having businesses added and expanded to supplement its tax base but also to have jobs for their residents. Martin County has so far been very selective in how it approaches economic development.

While we don’t want to become St. Lucie, we do need jobs and a certain level of growth for our tax base. Just take the schools as an example. St. Lucie County has almost caught up to Martin with respect to school grades. Because they have some poorer socio-economic areas, they have a much harder time with overall grades. However, they are adding schools at a fast pace while Martin County is losing school-age population. Martin County is looking at cutting their school budget because of it. 

We also saw that maternity care will no longer be available at all in Martin County. There are too few babies born to warrant Cleveland Clinic staffing that care. As things become more expensive without adequate growth, we end up becoming less competitive and at some point, a much less desirable place to live. 

If the differences between St. Lucie and Martin County continue to grow, you may not need a monument sign to tell when you leave one county and drive into the next.

How dependent are we on weather forecasts from The National Weather Service?

Look at your phone, the weather application giving you the information could be directly from the government or the forecasters from a private service probably started out looking at the information coming from NOAA or at least relied on the information from their weather balloons or radar to base their forecasts upon.

From TV to any other kind of media at least the underlying assumptions or perhaps the entire weather report you are relying upon are a function of an agency that just suffered staff cuts. This may impede the accurate forecasting of weather for our farmers and businesses such as oil platforms at sea or vessels on the ocean. Without the ability to take appropriate action, their businesses can suffer from crops not being harvested in time, oil platforms spewing leaks, and ships not being able to take evasive action.

We in Florida should be especially concerned as we are three months shy of the beginning of hurricane season. Over the years during the winter, I have not paid much attention to the local weather forecast. But come hurricane season, I want to know what is out in the Atlantic or Caribbean. Long range forecasting of tropical weather systems has gotten amazingly good a week out.

My mother would often talk about how her family always had a barometer hanging by the front door when she was a kid. Once the barometric pressure went below 30 it was time to worry. I guess back in the 1930s that was precise science for her family.

I thought we had come quite far since then. I would even venture to say the accuracy of hurricane forecasting has improved in the past 20 or so years since I moved here. Then why are we shooting ourselves in the proverbial foot by cuts to a service that keeps thousands of Floridians safe and out of harm’s way?

There is no doubt that government at times is inefficient. And having a watchdog agency to examine programs and advising the Congress and president is important. What is happening now is counter productive and inefficient. There has been no methodical plan at least that is transparent on what should be achieved. It is more the revenge of the nerds than good government. 

I don’t know how you were at 19 but deciding what departments, agencies or programs should be dismantled is not something I could have overseen. Especially a kid that never held a job anywhere but as a programmer for a Musk company. If we want to save billions let’s stop subsidizing Space X or Tesla, which comes to billions of dollars per year.

Is President Trump willing to put the lives of more than 23 million Floridians at risk or millions more throughout the country as we approach the beginning of hurricane season. FEMA is not looking so good either after budget cuts. The before and after natural disasters are more onerous this year than perhaps any other time since the days of my mother’s barometer.  

On March 11th I received this “breaking news” alert from The New York Times on my computer. The headlines were as follows:

“Trump Escalates Canada Trade War With Higher Metal Tariffs”
“Analysis: President Trump promised Americans booming wealth. Now he’s changing his tune.”
“Robert F, Kennedy Jr., citing fringe theories, suggested that a U.S. measles outbreak was linked to a poor diet.”
“A Justice Dept. official said she was fired after opposing restoring Mel Gibson’s gun rights.”

For the past six or seven weeks, those are the type of headlines that I have seen from The Wall Street Journal and Barrons to The Washington Post and Times. Did you expect anything else? Was it not absurd to see Trump, the king of the gas guzzler, using the White House as a car lot for Elon Musk’s EV Tesla. Electric cars are one of the things he considers a scam and has said so.

If someone has given the president hundreds of millions of dollars as Musk has done, why wouldn’t he do a car show? The next day I noticed that Musk was seeing how he could funnel a hundred million dollars more into Trump’s political action committees. 

It looks to me that the United States government is being bought by Musk and those like him. Give enough money and you get to do what you want with your piece of government. Make sure it doesn’t regulate you and your business, or you can buy your right to own a gun even if you lost it because of a domestic violence conviction or even help redirect the nation’s wealth to a cause you believe in. Also thrown in as a special treat is a crackpot theory on why Americans are dying from preventable diseases like measles.

Some have said Project 2025 is the playbook Trump is using to run the U.S. If you read just the summary, you will see it is true. However, the president is a greedy man, and he can be bought without much trouble. If the Democrats want to stop the dismantling of the shop, all they need to do is come up with money to do so.

Trump could as easily begin shilling for universal health care as for cuts to Medicaid. There are no hard and fast theories of government that he believes in. He hawks for whatever products that pay him the most for his services…digital currency, sneakers, Bibles, or tariffs. Right now, Project 2025 is it because Musk and the other billionaires have and are continuing contributing for Trump to do so.

If the opposition comes up with more money and even starts labeling their initiatives after Donald T. Trump, he would be more than glad to be in their corner. Absent the incentive, the president will ignore the plight of veterans, government workers, the disabled, infirmed, the poor, those who voted for him, and all Americans except those who are still paying into his till.

Is this the government you 

voted for? Recession, Market plunges, Stagflation, Tariff Wars, Unemployment, and general disruption are the norms now. Congress and the courts are to be ignored. Trump told us he would lock up his perceived enemies, do away with equal rights, prevent immigration, and anything else he wanted to do. And enough Americans said yes to the proposition with their vote.

Trump holds one thing more important than life itself (your life I mean.) It is the accumulation of more wealth. At heart, he is a guy who believes in the rackets, especially the protection racket. Pay him and your business, money, foreign nation, and life will be safe. Otherwise, you are just a sucker to be fleeced.     

Agriculture has long been the foundation of society, providing food, fiber, and fuel to sustain the world. 

While farming is often perceived as a male-dominated field, women have played a critical role in agriculture for centuries. Today, their contributions are more significant than ever, shaping the future of farming through innovation, leadership, and resilience.

Women in agriculture wear many hats- farmers, ranchers, agronomists, educators, scientists, veterinarians, and policymakers. According to the USDA, women now make up approximately 36% of our nation’s farmers, managing over 388 million acres of farmland. That equates to 1.2 million women farmers in the United States! Their presence is not only growing in the fields but also in key decision-making roles within agricultural businesses, research institutions, and government agencies working alongside agriculture.

However, women in agriculture face significant challenges. One of the biggest obstacles is access to land and capital. Historically, land inheritance and ownership have favored men, making it harder for women to secure farmland. Additionally, securing financing can be difficult, as some lenders may still view women as less experienced or capable of managing large agricultural operations. Many women overcome these challenges by seeking out grants, farm loan programs, and mentorship opportunities that provide them with the necessary resources to succeed.

Another major hurdle is the physical demands of farming, often perceived as a disadvantage for women. However, advancements in technology, mechanization, and innovative farming techniques have helped level the playing field. Women farmers also rely on strong community networks, sharing knowledge and collaborating with others to improve efficiency and productivity.

Women in agriculture also face societal and cultural biases. In some communities, traditional gender roles persist, making it difficult for women to be recognized as primary decision-makers on the farm. Many women combat this by actively participating in agricultural organizations, taking leadership roles in farm advocacy groups, and networking with other female farmers to build confidence and credibility in the industry.

Despite these challenges, women are making incredible strides in agriculture. Many female farmers prioritize sustainability, conservation practices, and regenerative farming, ensuring that agricultural operations remain productive for future generations. Their leadership extends into organizations such as Farm Bureaus, 4-H, and FFA, where they mentor and inspire the next generation of agriculturalists.

The future of agriculture depends on diversity. Empowering women in this field leads to stronger, more resilient farming systems. By acknowledging and supporting their efforts, we not only celebrate their achievements but also ensure a thriving agricultural landscape for generations to come. So, support and celebrate women in agriculture. Encourage them to take leadership roles in farming organizations, agribusinesses, and policymaking. Ensure that their voices are heard.

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

Keeping Pets in their Homes

Pet retention is a crucial aspect of animal welfare that focuses on keeping pets in loving homes and out of shelters. Many factors contribute to the decision to surrender a pet, including behavioral issues, financial constraints, and lack of resources or knowledge about proper pet care. By addressing these issues proactively, we can significantly reduce the number of animals entering shelters.

One effective strategy for pet retention involves providing education and resources to pet owners. This can include training programs that help owners manage their pets' behavior effectively, as well as financial assistance for veterinary care or food supplies. Community outreach initiatives can also play a vital role in raising awareness about responsible pet ownership and the long-term commitment required when adopting a pet.

The Humane Society of the Treasure Coast (HSTC) works diligently every day to help educate the public and offer services to keep pets in their home. We continuously offer support services such as counseling for struggling pet owners or referral programs that connect them with resources tailored to their needs. Some of these services include low-cost veterinary services through the Council on Aging and House of Hope, along with a pet food pantry. 

In addition, our Humane Education department educates people in the community about responsible pet ownership and how to properly care for animals. Nearly 100 volunteers alongside their certified therapy dogs visit schools, libraries, and other facilities seven days a week to provide these services. We also have a program called the Pawsitive Manners Club that allows dog owners to attend six-week obedience classes for only $25. 

The HSTC is also a registered “Home to Home” shelter. Home To Home is a peer-to-peer platform that connects families who need to rehome their pet and/or those who are seeking temporary foster placement with other families who may be able to help. Potential adopters or fosters who visit our website can view all animals available through our Home to Home program. They can then contact the owners directly so that those pets don’t step foot (or paw!) in our shelter and can go directly to another adoptive/foster home. 

It’s important to prioritize education, support, and community engagement so that we can create an environment where pets remain cherished members of their families, ultimately leading to fewer animals in shelters and healthier human-animal bonds. If you or someone you know is in need of support for their pet, please reach out to us at 772-223-8822 or visit our resource website at www.hstc1.org/resources. We are always here to help and only want what’s best for you and your pet! 

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

Gratitude

We have entered a sacred time of year. Three of the world’s major religions are fasting and doing good works. It seems like an appropriate time to give thanks.

Thank you. I am alive because of countless doctors and researchers  seeking cures for cancer.  

Thank you, first responders. You respond when any of us need you. 

Thank you, all the many non-profit organizations in our community.

Thank you, elected officials. I know how hard your job is. Even when I disagree with your decisions, I respect the voters who chose you to represent them. 

Thank you retired County Commissioner Harold Jenkins.  I learned about your cancer diagnosis and am grateful that you are recovering.  Enjoy retirement with your wonderful family and friends.

Thank you, Martin County Library System. Books galore,  and all the amazing programming.

A true feast for the senses.

Thank you for this place we call home and bless us all, everyone.

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

Florida’s Largest Landowners & Their Ever-Expanding Footprint

Florida’s vast landscapes are controlled by a handful of major private landowners, spanning agriculture, real estate development, timber, and energy production. These entities hold hundreds of thousands of acres, shaping Florida’s future growth, conservation, and commerce.

Farmland Reserve – Deseret Ranches of Florida

As the investment arm of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Farmland Reserve is Florida’s largest private landowner, controlling over 626,600 acres. Primarily in Orange, Osceola, and Brevard counties, Deseret Ranches of Florida is at the heart of this vast holding. The ranch, led by Doug Rose (CEO & President) and Clint Richardson (Vice President), is not only a cattle operation but also a development hub. Plans for Sunbridge, a massive community in partnership with Tavistock Development (Lake Nona’s developer), envision 36,690 residences, 5,500 hotel rooms, and 19.8 million sq. ft. of commercial space by 2080.

Beyond central Florida, Deseret Cattle & Timber owns an additional 382,000 acres in northern Florida, making it a dominant force in land ownership.

Four Rivers Land & Timber Co.

Founded by billionaire Thomas Peterffy (Interactive Brokers, Palm Beach), this company controls vast timber and ranchlands, including 33,000 acres in Highlands County from the citrus baron heirs of Ben Hill Griffin, Jr. It also owns the former Foley Timber lands in the Big Bend region, previously controlled by Howard Leach.

Rayonier

Led by CEO David Nunes, Rayonier owns 53,000 acres in Florida and has a major role in the Wildlight community near Yulee, with plans for 20,000 homes. The company’s holdings extend across 2.7 million acres in Florida, the U.S. South, and New Zealand.

Mosaic

Spun off from Cargill, Mosaic is one of Florida’s largest phosphate mining companies, controlling 368,000 acres across the state.

Lykes Bros.

Founded in 1900, Lykes Bros. owns 269,011 acres in Glades County, valued at over $2.2 billion. The company also holds 69,733 acres in Highlands County and operates 14,000+ head of cattle. It owns an additional 274,268 acres in Texas.

Weyerhaeuser

Following its merger with Plum Creek Timber, Weyerhaeuser owns over 272,000 acres in 19 counties across Florida, including Columbia, Union, and Baker counties. It also operates the North Florida Mega Industrial Park near Lake City.

Florida Power & Light (FPL)

FPL has purchased 251,466 acres for solar fields and nuclear energy production, including 22,035 acres in Martin County.  It serves over 12 million customers across 43 Florida counties.

U.S. Sugar

With 1,200 employees in Clewiston, U.S. Sugar controls 233,500 acres dedicated to sugarcane production and agricultural operations.

St. Joe Company

This real estate giant owns 168,000 acres in Bay, Walton, and Gulf counties, with entitlements for 170,000 homes and 22 million sq. ft. of non-residential development. St. Joe is behind Florida’s largest planned community.

Florida Crystals

The Fanjul family’s Florida Crystals empire spans 161,000 acres, making it one of the largest sugarcane producers in the state.

Forest Investment Associates – Bear Creek

Managing 155,000 acres across Florida, Forest Investment Associates oversees timberlands and investment properties for clients.

The sheer scale of Florida's largest landowners—spanning agriculture, real estate, energy, and timber - underscores their profound influence on the state's future. With millions of acres under private control, these entities are shaping everything from urban expansion and industrial development to environmental conservation and resource management. As Florida’s population continues to grow, these landowners will play a pivotal role in dictating housing availability, economic opportunities, and sustainability efforts. Their long-term planning and land-use decisions will directly impact on the state’s economy, infrastructure, and ecological balance for generations to come.

Andy Noble's opinions are his own and may not reflect Friends & Neighbors viewpoint.

When a child walks through the signature blue doors at a Boys & Girls Clubs of Martin County facility, they enter an environment where everyone is accepted, supported, and uplifted. 

While we recognize and encourage the potential in every member, we also value and celebrate meritocracy—because we believe every child can find special inspiration in the example of a peer and tap the tenacity necessary to improve and excel. 

Youth of Year Mildred with Eileen Vargas

Our annual Youth of the Year event showcases such standout members—and this year’s winner is Mildred G.

A member of our Hobe Sound club for more than six years, Mildred is a 10th-grader at South Fork, where she’s a dual enrollment student in honors classes. She’s president of Keystone Club, former president of Torch Club and a junior sous chef on our Fork in the Road food truck. She plans to be a trauma nurse. 

Lela Abbate, club director, Mildred, Michael Bouzi, post secondary manager

We’re extremely proud of Mildred, who faced some tough competition from fellow nominees—Jesshia S., a member of our Indiantown club and 10th-grader at Indiantown High School and Angie P., a member of our Port Salerno club and 9th-grader at Martin County High. 
Mildred will now represent BGC at the regional level and possibly compete at the state and national levels. 

 Bryan Moreira, Port Salerno club director, Angie, Donald Rutledge, post secondary manager

Dating back to 1947, Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s Youth of the Year alumni include countless leading lights in business, politics, sports and entertainment. Our award ceremony featured as keynote speakers two former local winners on the rise— Bridget Duignan and Emma Floyd. 

The 2015 Youth of the Year winner while at the Port Salerno club, Bridget is an educator at Florida Atlantic University who teaches leadership development and healthy lifestyles—disciplines she traces to her BGC roots.

“The work I do in my chosen career truly makes a difference,” she said, “…and the Boys & Girls Clubs equipped me with all the right tools to do it.” 

Emma, 2019 winner while at our Palm City club, is a junior at Stetson University. She’s earning a degree in music education and plans to become a teacher. Admittedly shy when first attending the club, she showed incredible courage by opening up about a current personal challenge and how she deals with the difficulties by reaching out for help. 

                                        Jesshia and Trish Brown, club director

“I can credit that ability to my Youth of the Year experience,” she said. “So much of who I am now I owe to my time at the Boys & Girls Clubs.”

For most of our members, life has not been easy. Their every achievement is especially hard-earned—and that’s why they take so little for granted. Showing the wisdom beyond her years found in so many Youth of the Year winners, Mildred captured this spirit of humility and hope in her motivating quote. 

“No matter how bad things may seem,” Mildred wrote, “it’s important to remember that tomorrow is a new day.”

Indeed. And at BGC we strive to ensure all members know that not only is tomorrow a new day, we’re here to help them make sure it’s also a better one. 

Keith Fletcher's opinions are his own and may not reflect Friends & Neighbors viewpoint.

What do I need to know about the current Measles Outbreak

This past Wednesday we learned of the first death due to measles in the United States since 2015.  

The victim was sadly a young child.  The current outbreak appears to be in a Mennonite Community where the use of vaccines is low.  It is also an area that has had a huge influx of immigrants who are not vaccinated.  Measles had been considered eradicated in the US as of the year 2000 but sadly we are starting to see a resurgence of cases.  What do you need to know…

Measles is a viral illness that is extremely contagious!!  It is considered one of the most contagious viruses on the planet. For example, if you happen to be in a room with someone who has measles, and you are unvaccinated there is a 90% chance that you will get sick!!  If there are 10 people in a room, 9 of them will catch the virus!! The virus is so sturdy that even if you walk into that room 2 hours after the infected person left you can still get sick!

The incubation period of measles is quite long.  If you are infected with the virus it can take up to 14 days for you to start showing symptoms. The early symptoms of measles are fever, cough, coryza (runny nose) and conjunctivitis.  The second phase is the development of what are known as Koplik spots which are pathognomonic of measles.  These are tiny white dots on the inside of the cheek. Around 3-5 days later a splotchy rash develops that starts on the face and then spreads downwards over the body.  The rash may last as long as 7 days and will disappear from the face first.
A person is contagious for 4 days BEFORE the onset of symptoms and for up to 4 days after the rash appears.

Measles can be quite dangerous.  About 1 in 5 unvaccinated people who contract measles end up in the hospital. The measles virus has been found to cause a phenomenon called immune amnesia.  The measles virus can actually wipe out your immune system’s memory of illnesses you have previously recovered from and can make you susceptible to them all over again.

Other complications of measles include pneumonia (seen in 1 out of 20 children), encephalitis (swelling of the brain) is seen in 1 out of 1000 cases of measles.  This can lead to seizures and leave the child deaf or with intellectual disability.

Nearly 1 to 3 out of 1000 children will die from respiratory or neurologic complications.

Measles can also cause complications during pregnancy including preterm labor and low birth weight babies

The scariest complication from measles is something called Sub Acute Sclerosing Panencephalitis,  It is a rare form of progressive brain inflammation that is caused by the measles virus.  It is almost always fatal.  It tends to show up about 7 years after the initial infection.

Since measles are a virus and not a bacteria there is no known treatment.  Two doses of high dose Vitamin A given 24 hours apart have been shown to reduce mortality and complications related to measles

The best way to avoid getting measles is to get vaccinated against it.  When 95% of the community is vaccinated, we get a phenomenon known as herd immunity where even people who for one reason or another can’t get vaccinated are still protected against the disease. So, when parents choose not to vaccinate their children, they are also affecting society at large.  Two doses of the MMR vaccine are 97% effective in preventing measles. If you happen to contract measles despite being vaccinated the illness will be milder and with less risk of complications.

Robert F. Kennedy JR announced today he is sending 2000 doses of the MMR vaccine down to Texas to try and limit the spread of the current outbreak. If you are unsure of what your immune status is, you can ask your health care provider to run a titer test on you.  If you don’t have immunity, you can get a booster shot.

Michele Libman’s opinions are her own and may not reflect Friends & Neighbors viewpoint.

House of Hope is always seeking more opportunities to provide fresh and healthy food to our clients and community. 

We strongly believe that healthy kids are better learners, and healthy adults are better earners. We are excited to announce several additions to our agriculture efforts. At Growing Hope Farm, our production farm located on the grounds of Palm City Farms Produce & Market, we recently purchased the assets of VibeWright Farms. 

The centerpiece of this acquisition is a 40-foot freight farm. This freight farm, which is equivalent to four acres of in-ground growing annually, is a sophisticated temperature controlled indoor hydroponic growing system. This indoor growing system eliminates seasonality and provides us a consistent flow of fresh produce for our mission. The acquisition brings our total hydroponic growing space up to nearly 100,000 cubic feet. In addition, we also have in-ground growing, a grove of over 70 trees, and our packing house all on site.

We have also completed the expansion of our packing house at the farm, and just in time for gleaning season. The newly enclosed section features our root veggie washing system and has already processed thousands of pounds of potatoes. The air-conditioned packing house gives us a commercial grade environment to clean, package, label and store all of the produce we grow, glean and receive through donations. 

Our other exciting addition is our first off premise growing partnership. We have installed a grove of 70 fruit trees on the grounds of Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Palm City. Holy Redeemer provided space and a connection to water for irrigation to help us make the grove a reality. The trees were donated by The Fruit Tree Planting Foundation, an award-winning international nonprofit charity dedicated to planting fruitful trees and plants to alleviate world hunger, combat climate change, strengthen communities, and improve the surrounding air, soil, and water. House of Hope was thrilled to be one of their recent recipients. We are looking for additional off premise growing opportunities to increase our capacity to meet the growing need for healthy food across the area.

We know that lower income communities experience higher than normal levels of many chronic health conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, hypertension and obesity. We continue to use food as a means to improve the overall health of our clients and change their trajectory. Healthy food is just one part of our comprehensive approach to empowering residents to overcome hunger and hardship. If you are interested in learning more about our services, volunteering, or if you or someone you know would benefit from becoming a House of Hope client, please visit our website at www.hohmartin.org. 

Thank you to all of our supporters and partners who help us to move our mission forward.

Rob Ranieri’s opinions are his own and may not reflect Friends & Neighbors viewpoint.

Going to Washington and Tallahassee have been a yearly trip for me. 

The atmosphere and the amount of real estate knowledge I receive on these trips is invaluable. I was in Washington at the end of January, and I just returned from Tallahassee. The feeling amongst my peers is somewhat solemn but hopeful. The bottom line is that we are currently in a solid buyers’ market.

A pertinent fact about our current market is the number of homeowners with low mortgage rates. Currently, nearly 60% of all mortgages are under 4% and 75% are below 5%. Today’s 30-year fixed rate mortgage is approximately 6.5%. The desire for sellers to give up their very affordable mortgage has hampered the home buying process. 

On the opposite side of the street buyers are reluctant to sign up for a “high” mortgage rate. Frankly, many times in my life I would have thought I knocked the cover off the ball if I was able to qualify for a 6.5% mortgage. I was a mortgage lender in the 80’s when 20% down and an 8% mortgage was typical. 

An interesting trend I see in today's buyers and sellers is the desire to move closer to grandchildren. I have had friends and clients that are moving out or into our community to be closer to the grands. Interestingly, some of them are moving to states that were considered undesirable when you “retire”. Minnesota (brrr), Louisiana,  NY, and Ohio to name a few of the destinations. 

Realtors went to Tallahassee last week to meet with our local delegation to talk about Realtor and homeowner issues. We were there supporting Gayle Harrell’s bill SB80 and John Snyder’s companion bill HB 209 banning, or significantly reducing, commercial activity in our state parks. 

Further, we asked all our legislators to help us find affordable housing solutions, fund Hometown Heroes, Our Safe Florida Homes, and support many other important initiatives. Governor DeSantis spoke to over 1000 Realtors at our Great American Realtor Day event. The Governor is considering the elimination of property taxes as a potential way to lower the cost of home ownership. 

He also was proud that Florida had a positive net migration in 2024. We met with Representatives Dana Trabulsy and discussed the market for Hutchinson Island condominiums. All of our Treasure Coast Legislative delegation were gracious in meeting with us and well versed on our real estate related issues. 

See the latest statistics (through January ) for the Martin County single family home and condo market. The graphic shows the weak single family home market and the movement of inventory in both sectors of the market. 

John Gonzalez’s opinions are his own and may not reflect Friends & Neighbors viewpoint.

Palm City is truly becoming the happening spot! 

The evolution of Mapp Road is creating a downtown feel to our wonderful community. Events like the Holiday Village and Music in the Park are opportunities to meet up with friends, family, and neighbors in a fun relaxed atmosphere. The addition of the new restaurants, Lynora’s and Benny’s, welcome accompaniments to the mainstays Shark Shack and Sorelle Coffee. Watch the Palm City Chamber Facebook page for updates on these special The Patio at Palm City Place on Mapp Road events.

The Palm City Chamber continues to offer the chance to attend FREE conversations with Martin County District 5 Commissioner Ed Ciampi each month. Commissioner Ciampi invites a variety of guests that are of interest to you, our community members, and you can attend and ask questions to gain a better insight into our local government and non-profits. This month Keith “Fletch” Fletcher, CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Martin County, will be the commissioner’s guest on Thursday, March 20th at 8:00AM. Stop by for their chat and enjoy a continental breakfast on your way to work.

March 8th was International Women’s Day. The Palm City Chamber celebrated our local rockstar women with a luncheon entitled “Find Your Seat” at Indian River State College. Food was provided by Manero’s and sponsored by Rebecca Beckett with HJ Sims. We heard from a panel of amazing women who shared inspirational stories about their climb to success and how they turned stumbling blocks into steppingstones. 

Mayce DelValle, with Mpactful Messages, shared many quotes relating how every obstacle is an opportunity and “every setback is a setup for a comeback,” You can hear more encouragement from Mayce on her podcasts, Let’s Talk About It. There will be a in-person follow up roundtable discussion on Tuesday, April 15th at the Palm City Community Center from 5:30-7:00PM.

Are you a golfer? If so plan to join us for our 30th Annual Golf Tournament at Piper’s Landing Yacht and Country Club on Friday, May 2nd. This event is always a fabulous time for local golfers and our wonderful volunteers.

Remember you can find all the information you need at the Chamber website, www.palmcitychamber.com or call 782-286-8121.

Missi Campbell’s opinions are her own and may not reflect Friends & Neighbors viewpoint.

Daylight Savings Time is here and that is the unofficial start of the Spring Surf Fishing Season. 

If this past weekend is any indication of how the action is going to be, we are in good shape. Some pompano, Spanish mackerel, and lots of big whiting were all caught. The whiting bite was off the charts. 

I fished Friday and Saturday and put close to 70 big whiting in the cooler This is a fishery that should keep going into the months of May and June. As far as I am concerned, this is the best eating fish you can catch from the beach. 

A light 7 foot spinning rod, a 3000 sized spinning reel spooled with 12 lb test, a bag of Bloodworm Fishbites, and a bag of shrimp, and you are ready to go . The key to catching these great tasting and hard fighting fish is pitch your bait, do not cast it. The whiting will be in that first trough on our local beaches and that usually means not more than 10 to 15 yards from the beach break. 

We are also approaching prime time for the Spring pompano run as these next two months will yield the largest number of pompanos that will be caught in a 60-day period all year. This year has been a late arrival for many of our species so do not put away the pompano rods until we get into the month of May. 

Stagger your baits at this time of year from 60 to 100 yards off the edge of the beach as these guys tend to move their feeding habits closer to shore. Once the croaker start to show, usually in April, the snook will show in big schools also. A live lined croaker is like snook "candy", just make sure you bring a heavier set up than your whiting rod because there will be lots of big snook. 

Martin County beaches like Beachwalk Pasley, Tiger Shores, Stuart Beach, and both the public beach and the Wildlife Refuge beach in Hobe Sound will hold all of the above-mentioned species. These next two months will be the best of the year so get out and enjoy our resource. 

Good luck and catch em up.

Paul Sperco’s opinions are his own and may not reflect Friends & Neighbors viewpoint.

Should the district move forward with everything as discussed, a business will have the opportunity to purchase the naming rights of Martin County High School’s stadium.  The naming rights to the stadium are one of the largest ways to generate income with arrangements like this, and MCHS is just a starting point for using district structures as marketing avenues.  Other schools would be up next.

Sydney Thomas' opinions are her own and may not reflect Friends & Neighbors viewpoint.

Common Myths About Personal Injury Claims: Debunking Misconceptions

If you’ve been hurt in an accident, you might have heard a lot of misinformation about personal injury claims. These myths can prevent people from getting the compensation they need to recover. It’s important to know the facts so you can make informed decisions about your case.

Myth 1: You Can’t File a Claim If You Were Partially at Fault

The Truth: Florida follows a modified comparative fault rule. That means you can still recover compensation as long as you’re not more than 50% responsible for the accident. Your settlement is reduced by your percentage of fault, but it doesn’t mean you lose your right to seek damages.

Myth 2: Only Severe Injuries Qualify for a Claim

The Truth: Even minor injuries can have lasting effects. Whiplash, sprains, and soft tissue damage might not seem serious at first, but they can cause long-term pain and require ongoing medical care. If someone else’s negligence caused your injury, you have a valid claim.

Myth 3: You Have Unlimited Time to File a Claim

The Truth: Florida law sets a two-year deadline for most personal injury cases. If you don’t file in time, you could lose your right to seek compensation. Waiting too long can also make it harder to gather evidence and build a strong case.

Myth 4: Personal Injury Claims Always Lead to Large Payouts

The Truth: Compensation depends on several factors, like the severity of your injury, available insurance, and who is at fault. Not every case results in a huge settlement, but having the right legal team can help you fight for what you deserve.

Myth 5: Hiring a Personal Injury Attorney Is Too Expensive

The Truth: Most personal injury lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you don’t pay unless they win your case. This makes legal representation accessible, no matter your financial situation.

Myth 6: Insurance Companies Will Offer a Fair Settlement

The Truth: Insurance companies prioritize their profits, not your best interests. Without an attorney, you might get an offer that’s far lower than what you actually need to cover medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages.

Myth 7: All Personal Injury Cases Go to Court

The Truth: The majority of cases are settled outside of court. Negotiations between attorneys and insurance companies often result in settlements without the need for a trial. Going to court is usually a last resort.

Myth 8: You Can Handle a Claim on Your Own

The Truth: While you can file a claim yourself, dealing with legal complexities and insurance companies can be overwhelming. Having an attorney by your side can increase your chances of securing fair compensation and reduce the stress of handling everything alone.

Understanding the facts about personal injury claims is crucial to ensuring you receive the compensation you deserve. Many myths, such as the idea that you can't file a claim if you're partially at fault or that only severe injuries qualify for compensation, can create unnecessary barriers for those who need help.

By recognizing the truths behind these misconceptions—such as the importance of acting within the statute of limitations, the accessibility of legal help, and the realities of insurance negotiations—you can make informed decisions that benefit your case. Whether dealing with minor injuries, negotiating with insurance companies, or seeking proper legal representation, knowing your rights can empower you to navigate the complexities of a personal injury claim with confidence.

Gene Zweben’s opinions are his own and may not reflect Friends & Neighbors viewpoint.

Caregiver conferences at the Council on Aging Martin help caregivers find the resources they need to care for themselves as well as their loved one.

Karen Ripper's opinions are her own and may not reflect Friends & Neighbors viewpoint.

There were two main events at the February 27th Rivers Coalition meeting: A presentation by Eve Samples, Executive Director of Friends of the Everglades, on their recently-launched “Rescue the River of Grass” campaign, and updates on the Lake Okeechobee Recovery Operation from Major Cory Bell, the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers Deputy Commander for South Florida, and Jason Engel, the Corps’ Chief of Water Resources Engineering Branch.

The ”Rescue the River of Grass” campaign has already quantified, scientifically, how much land is needed above and beyond the currently-authorized projects to complete the restoration process in the Everglades Agricultural Area (102,000 acres).  It has also identified funding sources to acquire the land (primarily the 2014 Amendment 1 funds generated by doc stamps from real estate transactions that are earmarked for land acquisition -- over $1.3 billion a year). They are now trying to spread the word about the benefits of acquiring this land, now; their case is here: https://www.everglades.org/rescue/

                                                               Eve Samples

But there’s a problem. The state is prohibited, by statute, from taking the land by eminent domain – which means it has to be acquired from willing sellers. And who owns most of those 102,000 acres? Big Sugar, which doesn’t quite have a reputation of being environmentally-friendly. (They are now trying, for example, to get permission to develop an 8000-acre rock mine in the EAA, which is hardly the kind of development the Rescue the River of Grass initiative envisions.) So the scientific evidence is there and the money is available – but can the landowners be persuaded to sell? There’s a petition at the bottom of the website you can sign to tell them how really nice it would be if they did. 

Meanwhile, the ACE representatives updated us on the in-progress Lake Okeechobee Recovery Operation. The current lake level is 13.7 feet, and the goal is to get it below 12 feet for 90 days or below 11.5 feet for 60 days. “There is a high chance of a successful operation”, they reported, “if current conditions persist” (i. e., if we don’t get a lot of rain before the dry season ends May 15). They are currently projecting that the lake will drop below 12’ sometime in April, so keep your eye on Lake O.

The really good news, though, is that if the current operation is successful the Corps won’t have to do any more recovery operations for five years. The only discharges that would occur during that time would be if the lake level rises above 16’ – and there’s even some wiggle room in that benchmark. So if Mother Nature continues to cooperate for another few months, the longer-term outlook regarding harmful discharges sent our way from Lake Okeechobee will be more optimistic than it has been for quite a while.

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

Hibiscus Offers Literacy Program to Help Abused and Neglected Children 
                                      Catch Up in School                                             

At the Tilton Family Shelter in Jensen Beach, a residential care facility for children removed from their homes due to abuse and neglect, staff members see the effects of trauma every day.  Many of the young residents—ranging from infants to age 12—have faced not only instability in their personal lives but also serious disruptions in their education.  As a result, many of them are significantly behind in reading comprehension and vocabulary, often two or three grade levels behind their peers.  

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

Escaping the Echo Chamber: Frank Bruni and the Trust Crisis 

Like many of you, I value intelligent conversations that can expand my horizons and broaden my perspectives.

That’s why I’m looking forward to Frank Bruni’s upcoming Rappaport Speaker Series presentation. The NY Times columnist and author will be doing a deep dive into the intriguing question of why Americans have lost trust in media and higher education.  

Bruni cites some alarming Gallup poll statistics: only 36% of Americans have confidence in higher education, and only 31% of Americans expressed a “great deal” or “fair amount” of confidence in the media to report the news “fully, accurately, and fairly.”  

How did we get to those disheartening numbers? What shifted from when journalists and professors were trusted sources? Did we change, or did they? It will be interesting to hear Bruni’s insights.    

This topic is particularly relevant to my firm’s public relations work on behalf of our clients. The media landscape has drastically narrowed over the past decade. Local news sources, crucial for informed communities, are dwindling, with outlets like this digital newspaper becoming rare.

Sadly, many people admit they don’t read local news at all anymore. Instead, they rely on social media, often turning almost entirely to sites that reinforce their existing beliefs. People naturally gravitate to information that validates their worldview, but this selective consumption of news and information creates "echo chambers" where dissenting opinions are rarely encountered.  

Search engines and social media algorithms further amplify this, feeding us more content we agree with, reinforcing existing biases and limiting exposure to diverse perspectives. This leads to more polarization and misinformation. When people are increasingly living in their own information bubbles, the constructive and civil dialogue that a thriving society depends on becomes even more difficult.

These echo chambers and information bubbles deepen community divisions and threaten civic engagement. Is this why trust in traditional media is lost? What role can journalists play in restoring it? I look forward to Bruni’s insights. 

I hope you’ll join me at the Rappaport Speaker Series on Tuesday, March 25 at 7:00 p.m. at Temple Beit HaYam in Stuart. Tickets and details are available at www.rappaportspeakerseries.com.  

Let me know what you think at: stacy@fireflyforyou.com.

Source:
2024 Gallup poll - Americans trust in media remains at trend low 
2023 Gallup Poll - Confidence in higher education closely divided

Stacy Weller Ranieri’s opinions are her own and may not reflect Friends & Neighbors viewpoint.

Council on Aging Honors 7 Martin County Seniors with Sage Awards

Stuart, FL – The 9th Annual Sage Awards event will honor seven Martin County seniors for their wisdom and community spirit at a ceremony on April 2 at Piper’s Landing Yacht & Country Club.

The Sage Awards event is held annually under the sponsorship of the Council on Aging Martin County. This year’s Presenting Partner Sponsor is once again Dr. Reza Khatib, an internationally renowned neurosurgeon and resident of Palm City. The honorees come from various walks of life but share a remarkable demonstration of leadership, unwavering dedication, and deep compassion for others.

This year’s honorees are: Gert Rodgers, Chairman’s Award, an accomplished healthcare administrator with a passion for quality care for all and a tireless advocate for seniors and issues of aging; Tom Campenni, Charlie Kane Award, the founder and publisher of the community digital newsletter Friends & Neighbors; Nick Blount, Community Service, a long-time leader and volunteer for causes and projects that improve the life of the community; Tony Anderson, Education, a former teacher and school board member and an energetic champion of education; Kristal Wion Eckhardt, Arts & Culture, the founder of the highly successful drama department at Martin County High School and now an active member of the arts community; Jordan Bromberg, MD, Health Science & Medicine, a revered medical practitioner on the Treasure Coast and now the Medical Director for the Volunteers in Medicine Clinic; and John P. Glynn, Jr., Military & Veteran Support, a veteran himself who is driven to honor the men and women who have served their country.  

The 2025 Council on Aging Sage Award honorees: Seated: Gert Rogers and John Glynn; Standing: Tom Campenni, Tony Anderson, Dr. Jordan Bromberg, Kristal Wion Eckhardt, and Nick Blount.         

“Our honorees are truly impressive,” said Council on Aging Martin President and CEO Karen Ripper. “All of them have used the wisdom, talents and treasures they’ve cultivated over a lifetime to enrich the world around them. They are tremendous examples of the fact that age is not an indicator of how much a person can contribute to his or her community.”

For 51 years the Council on Aging has served the residents of Martin County as the hub for senior resources. “As we applaud the 2025 Sage honorees,” Ripper said, “we also pledge to continue our work to ensure that our seniors are able to maintain vibrant and purposeful lives, aging with dignity and a sense of belonging.” 

The community is invited to attend the Sage Awards ceremony, which begins at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 2, and includes a dinner prepared by the talented Piper’s Landing culinary staff. Tickets are available at www.coamartin.org/sageawards.

The Presenting Partner Sponsor for the Sage Awards is Dr. Reza Khatib, with additional sponsorship from The Community Foundation Martin - St. Lucie, Nearing & Dallas Wealth Management at RBC Wealth Management, Mesirow Wealth Management, Richard A. Zappala Family Foundation, HBK CPAs & Consultants, Nancy Goethel, CFP®, CIMA®, CRPC®- Vice President of Investments at Raymond James, N. Schoonover & Associates, Inc., Sandhill Cove Retirement Living, The Saelzer/Atlas Wealth Management Team of Raymond James, Dadko Wealth Management of Janney Montgomery Scott LLC, Water’s Edge Health Care. Rehabilitation. Assisted Living at Sandhill Cove, South Florida Orthopaedics & Sports Management, and Berger, Toombs, Elam, Gaines & Frank .

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.  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.

Education Foundation of Martin County plans magical celebration 

PALM CITY, Fla. — The wizardry of Harry Potter will be on full display at this year’s Evening of Excellence | Bids for Kids event, which benefits Martin County students. Hosted by the Education Foundation of Martin County and presented by Morganti, this elegant gala fundraiser will take place from 6-11 p.m. on Saturday, April 5, at Harbour Ridge Country Club in Palm City and is expected to be a sell-out.

Tickets for this Harry Potter themed event are $250 per person (must be 21 and older to attend) and there are a limited number for sale. The event raises funds to assist the Education Foundation with enriching and enhancing the quality of education in Martin County’s public schools.

Front Row:  Vanessa Molina-Council, 2024-2025 Martin County Teacher of the Year and EFMC board member; Sarah Testa, marketing manager, Proctor Construction
Back Row: Joseph Keating, project executive, Hedrick Brothers Construction; Marshall Critchfield, external affairs manager, Florida Power & Light Company; Carson Proctor, business development associate, Proctor Construction; James Taylor, director of development, Paul Jacquin & Sons

Stephen Sines, vice president of operations for Morganti, a longtime presenting sponsor, stated, “Morganti is proud to once again support the Foundation’s mission of enriching and enhancing educational opportunities and support for students and teachers in Martin County and it is an honor to partner with the Foundation in making a lasting impact on local education."

An Evening of Excellence is known for having the most silent auction items of any nonprofit event on the Treasure Coast. Guests will have the opportunity to peruse and bid on more than 500 auction items that include gift baskets, vacation getaways, spa treatments, golf packages, jewelry, artwork, fishing charters, and restaurant certificates as they enjoy cocktails and hors d’oeuvres. The Bids for Kids live auction will take place after guests feast on their choice of a surf and turf or vegetarian entrée, and then all will head to the dance floor. Raffle tickets for a wheelbarrow of liquor will also be on sale. All proceeds will go toward supporting educational enrichment programming for students.

Event sponsors are the Morganti Group, presenting sponsor; Keiser University; Hedrick Brothers Construction; Jeanine Webster & Mel Nobel; Paul Jacquin & Sons Construction; Gehring Group – A Risk Strategies Company; UDT; Proctor Construction; Harvard Jolly Architecture; AT&T; Laviano & Associates – Real Estate Professionals; Ocean Breeze Animal Hospital; Tami Karol Insurance; Florida Power & Light Company; Florida Combined Life; Anthony D. George, Jr., P.A.; Waste Management; Food Shop, Inc.; Taryn & Kevin Kryzda; Beauchamp, Sang, Gonzales & PhilPott, P.A.; PNC Bank; Fox McCluskey; and SwissMango.

Lisa Rhodes, executive Director, Education Foundation of Martin County; Jennifer Russell, Martin County school board member and EFMC board member; Michael Maine, Martin County School District superintendent of schools and EFMC board member; Lindsey Albertson, marketing coordinator at The Morganti Group; and Brent Martin, director of preconstruction & business development at The Morganti Group

Photos by Doreen Poreba

For information, to buy tickets, or learn about sponsorship opportunities, visit www.EducationFoundationMC.org or call the office at 772-600-8062.

The Education Foundation of Martin County is the Martin County School District’s strategic non-profit partner with the mission of enriching and enhancing educational opportunities and support for students and teachers in Martin County’s public schools. As an independent group, the Foundation promotes this effort by raising and distributing private and corporate funds through several established programs, including classroom enrichment grants, literacy and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, & Math) programs, professional development for teachers, special initiatives, scholarships and programs to recognize outstanding teaching. For more information, visit www.EducationFoundationMC.org.

Garden Club Spreads Patriotism with “Red, White, and BLOOM” Flower Show

Stuart, FL – On Friday, March 28, 2025, from 1pm – 4pm, and on Saturday, March 29, from 9am – 3pm, The Garden Club of Stuart is holding its FREE biennial flower show, “Red, White and BLOOM,” at Indian River State College, Chastain Campus, 2400 SE Salerno Road in Stuart.

Garden Club of Stuart members have been working hard planning this patriotic tribute to the United States of America. The public is encouraged to attend and view breathtaking floral designs, a wide variety of magnificent horticultural specimens, educational displays, botanical crafts, and nature photography exhibits. Garden club members will be available both days to answer questions.

Flower shows are one of the ways The Garden Club of Stuart gives back to our community. The club shares the National Garden Club’s objectives of educating garden club members and the viewing public, stimulating interest in horticulture and design, and providing an outlet for creative expression.

Interested in joining our garden club? We invite you to attend a monthly meeting, the 2nd Monday, October – March at Indian River State College, Chastain Campus in Stuart. Sign-in begins at 9:30am, followed by our 10am business meeting and refreshments. Meetings conclude with an interesting & informative speaker. For more information, follow us on Facebook, or visit our website at: www.gardenclubofstuart.org  

About The Garden Club of Stuart, Inc.

The Garden Club of Stuart, Inc. (GCS) was organized in 1936 and federated in 1937 as a member of the Florida Federation of Garden Clubs, Inc. affiliated with the National Garden Clubs, Inc. GSC is a 501 (c) (3) charitable organization with a mission: to further the education of members and the public in the fields of horticulture, floral design, botany, landscape design, conservation of natural resources, and civic beautification.

GCS maintains several gardens throughout the community, including Audubon-Possum Long Nature Center, Blue Star Memorial By-Way Marker Garden at Memorial Park, Butterfly Garden at Sewall’s Point Park, House of Refuge, and Mary’s House. Every year, the Garden Club of Stuart awards academic scholarships to Martin County high school students. Membership is open to all who have interests consistent with the mission of the Club.

For more information, please contact:
Flower Show Chair, Nancy Binger at Nancy715@ aol.com
631-766-0040

House of Hope Expands Growing Hope Farm in Palm City 

STUART, Fla. – House of Hope, always seeking more opportunities to provide fresh and healthy food to its clients, has recently purchased the assets of VibeWright Farms in Palm City to expand its ability to grow and distribute healthy produce to its clients.

The 40-foot freight farm has operated for several years under the ownership of Kris and Katie Wright. It is located on property owned by the Dawson family along State Road 714 and is next to House of Hope’s Growing Hope Farm and Packing House. 

In announcing the sale of their property to House of Hope, the Wrights said, “We are deeply grateful for the support we’ve received over the years and couldn’t be happier to see the farm’s next chapter dedicated to serving and uplifting others.”

The farm, equivalent to four acres of in ground growing annually, consists of a sophisticated temperature-controlled hydroponic greenhouse where fresh produce is grown without pesticides. It complements the hydroponic greenhouses, in-ground beds and orchard already in full operation on Growing Hope Farm.

“We’re excited about what this acquisition means to our ability to provide fresh produce to our clients year round,” said House of Hope CEO Rob Ranieri. “Even in summer, when the heat slows down our production in our existing greenhouses, we’ll be able to have a consistent supply of produce for our pantry program and our 30 food partners across Martin, St. Lucie and Okeechobee Counties.”

The Lichtenberger Family Fund at The Community Foundation Martin – St. Lucie and a generous donor who prefers to remain anonymous together funded House of Hope’s purchase of VibeWright Farms.

At its current peak production, Growing Hope Farm produces more than 1500 packages of fresh produce weekly. Of the 1.2 million pounds of food House of Hope distributed last year, 500,000 pounds was fresh produce to help feed and empower the most vulnerable residents of the community. 

With the increased capacity at the VibeWright Farms site, House of Hope expects to generate more produce to support the over 30,000 individuals who benefit from the organization’s healthy food distribution each year. Any excess will be sold to the public, generating funds that can be invested in Growing Hope Farm and House of Hope’s feeding programs.

“The needs of the community continue to increase,” Ranieri said. “We’re grateful that with the purchase of the assets of VibeWright Farms, we have one more way to help meet the growing demand for our services.” 

To learn more about House of Hope or make a donation, visit House of Hope’s website at www.hohmartin.org or call 772-286-4673.

About House of Hope
Founded in 1984, House of Hope is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that empowers Martin County residents to overcome hunger and hardship. House of Hope touches the lives of more than 26,000 people each month, helping with basic needs such as food, clothing, furniture, financial assistance, as well as longer-term case management services that help build life skills for a more self-sufficient future.  

The organization has service centers in Stuart, Hobe Sound, Indiantown, and Jensen Beach, with thrift stores in Stuart, Hobe Sound, and Indiantown. House of Hope’s Centers for Enrichment at Golden Gate in Stuart, in Jensen Beach, and at KinDoo Family Center in Indiantown offer free programs, technology, and workshops designed to enhance life skills, earning potential, health, and overall well-being. 

House of Hope also operates the Growing Hope Farm in Palm City and several nutrition gardens that provide sustainable sources of fresh produce for clients as well as nutrition education and vocational opportunities to the community. For more information, visit hohmartin.org or call 772-286-4673. Updates and announcements can also be found on Facebook, Instagram, and X.

Mary’s Home Celebrates Inspiring Stories at its
14th Annual Fashion Show

The 2025 Mary’s Home Fashion Show & Luncheon brought together more than 300 guests at Willoughby Golf Club, including Emily Karr, Tara Auth, Amanda Gaughan, Anie Dempsey, and Natalia Meredith.

May Smyth, a staunch supporter of Mary’s Home, and Jan Lindsay, its founder, joined Executive Director Alean Timm (center) at the 14th annual Mary’s Home Fashion Show & Luncheon.

Ping Pong for PAL – Play for a Purpose!

Martin County PAL invites you to Ping Pong for PAL, a night of fun, friendly competition, and community impact! On April 11, 2025, from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM, join us at our facility for a high-energy ping pong tournament featuring both men’s and women’s brackets for teams of two.

This event isn’t just about competition—it’s about coming together to support the youth of Martin County. Whether you’re stepping up to the table to claim bragging rights or simply coming to enjoy the atmosphere, your participation makes a difference. Spectators are encouraged to join in on the fun, with plenty of opportunities to mingle, enjoy delicious food, sip on drinks from the open bar, and vibe to live music from our DJ.

Every dollar raised from this event directly benefits the programs and initiatives that help shape the future leaders of our community. By attending, you’re not just having an amazing night—you’re investing in local youth, providing mentorship, education, and life-changing opportunities.

Spots are limited, so secure yours today!  To register, visit our website: www.martincountypal.org.

For sponsorship opportunities or additional details, please visit our website or contact madison@martincountypal.org.

Join us for a night of competition, connection, and community impact—see you at Ping Pong for PAL!

“Lost Trust”: Frank Bruni Explains America’s Lost Faith in Journalism and Academia on March 25

Stuart, FL - How did Americans lose their trust in journalism and higher education? They used to be pillars of our society and established resources for factual information. What happened?

Frank Bruni, a prominent journalist and bestselling author, has thought about that question and will share his insights with the Treasure Coast community as the next speaker in the 2025 Rappaport Speaker Series at Temple Beit HaYam in Stuart on Tuesday, March 25 at 7 p.m.

Bruni was a staff writer at the New York Times for 25 years, serving as a White House correspondent, the Rome bureau chief, the paper’s chief restaurant critic, and an op-ed columnist. He now shares his insider perspective with students in media-oriented classes at the Sanford School of Public Policy at Duke University.

Bruni is also the author of five New York Times bestsellers including his most recent book The Age of Grievance. In it he explores why Americans are so angry and what they can do about it.

Tickets are available online for $35 at www.RappaportSpeakerSeries.com. The presentation includes a talk by Frank Bruni followed by a question and answer session with the audience.

The Rappaport Speaker Series is an ongoing effort to increase dialogue and understanding within the broader community. It is supported by a grant to Temple Beit HaYam from the Phyllis and Jerome Lyle Rappaport Foundation. It has featured speakers like David Gergen, advisor to both Republican and Democratic presidents; Marty Baron, former editor of The Washington Post; and Mitch Albom, author famous for his books including Tuesdays with Morrie.

“It is our great pleasure to invite the community to join us at Temple Beit HaYam each year to hear from significant thought leaders and engage us in dialogue,” said Rabbi Matt Durbin.

“We’re grateful to the Rappaport family for creating and sustaining this unique forum for intelligent conversation.”

More information about Kayyem and the Rappaport Center Speaker Series is available at www.RappaportSpeakerSeries.com,  www.tbhfl.org, and www.facebook.com/RappaportCenterSpeakerSeries.

About The Rappaport Foundation
The Phyllis & Jerome Lyle Rappaport Foundation is a nonprofit that partners with leading institutions in Boston and beyond to promote and nurture emerging leaders in the fields of public policy, neurodegenerative disease, mental health and the arts. The Foundation has a long and proud history of supporting emerging leaders, including civic leaders who improve the lives of their constituents and communities, medical researchers who have unlocked the mysteries of the brain, mental illness and Alzheimer’s disease, and artists who enrich lives, ignite imaginations, and challenge us to see the world in a new light. In Stuart, Florida, it sponsors the Rappaport Center Speaker Series to encourage thoughtful dialogue on issues of national and international importance.

About Temple Beit HaYam
Temple Beit HaYam is a Reform Jewish Congregation committed to Torah (life-long Jewish education), avodah (worship through prayer and observance) and gemilut chasadim (the pursuit of justice, peace and deeds of loving kindness). Founded in September 1993 in Stuart, Florida, by a group of dedicated Jewish families, the congregation opened its Temple building in Monterey Commons Professional Park in January 2000.  In addition to worship services, the Temple offers Hebrew and religious training to youngsters from kindergarten through high school, has active Sisterhood and Brotherhood programs, and extends its outreach to the Treasure Coast community through concerts, lectures, and other events.

After decades of delivering free healthcare to people in need, VNA of Florida upgrades mobile medical clinic

STUART—After traveling hundreds of thousands of miles across the state delivering free medical care to indigent and uninsured families and individuals, Visiting Nurse Association of Florida’s Florence Nightingale Express is officially “retiring” after nearly 20 years in operation.

But its lifesaving work will continue as a brand new mobile medical clinic the Nightingale Express—fully equipped to conduct a wide variety of essential exams and treatments—is now ready to hit the road.

Members of the community gathered Tuesday to recognize the service of the original mobile clinic, tour the new mobile medical clinic and celebrate as it prepares for its maiden voyage to serve local communities in need.

Background:
Since its debut in 2006, Florence has visited hundreds of locations, treated thousands of patients and provided nearly $2.5 million in free healthcare. The contributions of community donors to Visiting Nurse Foundation make the free services of the mobile medical clinic possible.

Staffed by a nurse practitioner, services include wellness checkups for conditions such as diabetes, hypertension and skin disorders. That entails examinations, tests, vaccinations and other treatments for those in desperate need of primary health care services.
At times, the exams performed aboard Florence have detected dangerous illnesses before they advance, leading to the intervention of lifesaving treatments.

Florence has also served as a rolling classroom. Patients learn disease prevention tips and health promotion techniques that encourage them to regain some autonomy over their basic health. VNA of Florida has deployed Florence during natural disasters to coordinate with governmental relief efforts. On the lighter side, the mobile clinic staff has performed thousands of free physicals for students and helped Scouts earn their First-Aid badges.

“VNA of Florida was founded on the principle of respecting patients’ dignity and independence by enabling them to recover from illness and injury in the comfort of their homes instead of over prolonged hospital stays,” says Jennifer Crow, CEO. “Thanks to the kindness and generosity of our community, we can once again bring this care on the road, delivering comfort, healing and relief—for no cost—to those most in need as fund allow.”

About Visiting Nurse Association of Florida:
Founded 49 years ago, Visiting Nurse Association of Florida is a Medicare-certified home health and private care services agency that provides award-winning health care for patients in the comfort of their own homes, including post-surgical care, Alzheimer’s monitoring, post-hospital care, physical therapy, and much more. The company also owns and manages three assisted living communities—Grand Oaks of Palm City, Grand Oaks of Jensen Beach and Grand Oaks of Okeechobee, which are distinguished for providing superior healthcare, luxurious amenities and Alzheimer’s memory care.

The very last thing at this meeting was Administrator Donaldson’s report on the joint meeting with Stuart regarding the Brightline station.

Donaldson characterized the outcome of the meeting as an impasse, and that was certainly truthful. There doesn’t seem to be anything to be done about the city honoring the Interlocal Agreement. The question really was whether to continue with non-binding mediation or not.

Ciampi said the idea of a letter of support is moot at this point. By trying to pursue it, the county would only embolden Collins and his Politburo to make more of an issue than is necessary. Besides, is it really needed now?

There was a little back and forth with Vargas stating that when she was in Washington, she was told there was no money for grants. She is against going further with mediation. Both Hetherington and Ciampi believe there is money, but there is no reason to give Collins a larger platform to give inaccurate information. Anyone who watched the meeting knows that a meeting where Collins is a participant results in his filibustering for 90% of the speaking time.

As an aside, I spoke to two people in Washington on background and both said rail grants are far from dead. Remember, there is the party line and there is the insider’s line. In this case because of Brian Mast and Rick Scott, Martin County is not without friends.

The ask from the county to Stuart is about three things. The first is the letter of support. The city’s own Comp Plan calls on the city to work to have a station. Boss Collins and his Politburo couldn’t care less about the Comp Plan, and it suited them to ignore it.

The second is about parking. Originally the county was going to transfer a lot it owns which would enable the city to build a parking garage. That requirement from Brightline was later removed and they said surface parking was all that was needed. Therefore, there is no reason to transfer the lot from county ownership to city ownership. 

The city will be restriping Stypmann Boulevard for additional parking. At some point, if the lot becomes Brightline parking, then some sort of deal will need to be worked out to accommodate the courthouse staff who park there now. The city could make all the parking around the courthouse into a 3-hour zone for Downtown and issue stickers and placards to courthouse personnel so that they would be exempt.

As Ciampi said, that is a problem for another day. If Vargas is right and there is no money, there will be no station, and nothing will need to change. The county at this point doesn’t even need to engage with the city. If I were the county, I would cut Stuart off from everything possible.    

Pal Mar continues to have problems with illegal use of the district works including firearms violations.

Illegal bonfires, inadequate backstops for target practice, ATV activity by minors, and a vehicle fire are some of the problems Hudson Security have encountered. Believe it or not, it is better than before. According to Hudson, there have been no repeat offenders.

Now that there is an agreement between Martin County and Be A Man Buy Land to transfer and buy properties, there should be less of the bad behavior because no new public buyers will be purchasing lots as small as a quarter acre from Be A Man. There is a firm price for the properties. Be A Man will be consolidating its holdings in the Chimney area. 

As SFWMD and Martin County acquire more land within Pal Mar, which is environmental land, the entire character of the place will change. Within the next few months, code enforcement will begin citing people for unlawful camp sites. Off-duty FWC deputies (Hudson Security) will be going out with the code people to protect them. 

I am still fascinated by the fact that the Martin County Sheriff’s Department can’t do this. Instead, more taxpayer dollars must be used to protect county employees as they do their jobs. There is something wrong with this…seriously wrong.

Latest photos

I have had some fun naming Chris Collins…Boss Collins. 

He and some others have taken it as a badge of honor. As I have written before, it is nothing to be proud of. Throughout American history, we have had politicians called Boss. It has always resulted in corruption and ordinary people being hurt.

The moniker goes back to the mid-19th century. In city politics, think of those grand leaders at Tammany Hall in New York City. Mayor Fernando Wood was probably the first “modern” boss in that he wasn’t a member of a gang like the Dead Rabbits or the Bowery Boys. It wasn’t that he didn’t use thugs, he just wasn’t one himself.

William “Boss” Tweed really made a science out of being a political boss. He did some good by building orphanages and places for the poor to go as long as he could pad the construction bill for his benefit. Boss Tweed controlled everything… the courts, the legislature, the treasury, and every ballot that was cast. He died in jail.

That didn’t end the bosses in politics. In the 1920s and 1930s, Jersey City had Frank Hague and of course we celebrated the real boss of Atlantic City, Nucky Thompson, through the fictionalized HBO series “Boardwalk Empire.” Chicago had the real-life Richard J. Daily in the 1950s-1970s. He controlled with an iron hand, and he gave the presidential election of 1960 to Jack Kennedy.

Carmine DeSapio was the last real boss of Tammany. He was in the pocket of the mob with the likes of Frank Costello and Vito Genovese who were really in charge of New York. Eleanor Roosevelt, along with Mayor Bob Wagner, led a revolt against Tammany with young reformers such as Ed Koch.

Bosses hung on in the boroughs until the 1980s. Donald Manes in Queens and Meade Esposito in Brooklyn were called Boss by their acolytes in the machine politics that still existed. Fred Trump, the president’s father, was a big donor to the machine, and Donald was right there in the midst paying for as many favors as he could grab.

The Bosses of Old were like medieval barons, dispensing favors to those who paid homage and kicked back money. They had no problem playing rough, including violence if necessary. Modernity stepped in and cleaned up the worst of the excesses.

I guess Chris Collins likes the association of being an old political kingpin. Dissension is looked on as traitorous if someone doesn’t agree with the leader, they are dismissed. If Chris wants to stop something, he expects Reed and Giobbi to fall into line and back his play.

Take, for example, the BDB. Laura Giobbi was singing the praises of the organization when she was assigned as the board representative. But Collins wanted the funding cut.  Giobbi seconded the motion to do so, and it passed 3-2. 

Then Giobbi went to the last BDB meeting and had all kinds of excuses including “double taxation” attributing the Collins play to the absurdities that the county contributes. She all but said it was politics. What is it, Laura?  Was it good or bad to do the Boss’ bidding?

I guess Collins really wants to be a Boss like Tweed, DeSapio, and Maness. Control the organization with an iron fist. Move his reign to all elected boards in Martin County. He wants to sit on top of the pyramid and silence all who dispute his authority and ideas. Just listen to any meeting. 

He also has no problem telling lies to bolster his positions. Collins keeps saying that Brightline was supposed to pay half the price of the station. In no document did they ever agree to do that. I am still waiting for someone to show me where Brightline did.

He has already tried to make Stuart PD his own Praetorian Guard…look at the “Pryce Affaire.” Money is not the only corrupting factor in the boss system. The attempt to have complete political power concentrated in one person’s hands is the boss’ goal. That is nothing to be proud of achieving, Chris.     
 

Chris Collins and I agree on one thing. The mediation between county and city related to the Brightline station is not worth pursuing.

It would have been very nice to have a letter of support from Stuart, but it is not at all critical in Martin County’s ability to obtain the grants. If the letter was necessary, then why submit without it? The continuation of this proceeding is only building the ego of the Boss without any upside for Martin County.

The county is not looking for anything more than one more letter to add to the many it has already received. It is a little thing, and in the realm of what will or will not secure the grants, it is meaningless at this point. If asked by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) why Stuart did not submit a letter of support, an easy answer is, “Sometimes Stuart wants to act as a petulant child. It is best to ignore petulant children.”

Last year the properties surrounding the proposed station increased in value significantly. So significantly that the county’s $15 million maximum contribution toward building the station would be repaid by increased tax receipts within the first 15-18 years of the 90-year lease according to the taxable values.  However real estate tax receipts are not how it will be paid. 
 
I am not going to argue one way or the other as to whether the Interlocal Agreement between the parties or the RFP by the county, city, and Brightline were accepted and rescinded or not. But here are some facts that are indisputable. 

One is that the city was never a party to Martin County’s Settlement Agreement in 2018 with Brightline. Nowhere in that settlement did Brightline ever agree to pay for 50% of a station. The county agreed to pay up to half with a cap of $15 million.

When answering the RFP which Brightline put out for a station location on the Treasure Coast, the county and city asked for Brightline to contribute. When Brightline awarded the station to Martin County and Stuart, the company specifically included a clause stating they would contribute no funds for the station. The now contested agreement with the city and county acknowledged that Brightline would contribute no funds toward the station.

Though I believe it is a big mistake not to be a party to a significant infrastructure improvement in Downtown, the Boss has decided the city is not participating. If I were the county, I would not try to enforce whether the agreement or interlocal is still in effect. Instead, I would just point out how the city is in violation of their own Comprehensive Plan by not providing a letter of support.

County Attorney Sarah Woods knows all the history and agreements backwards and forwards. She spoke with a commanding knowledge. BOCC Chair Sarah Heard said very little except for a few questions which Boss Collins was only too happy to expound on. That is what is called free discovery in the legal world.

City Attorney Lee Baggott was in the unenviable position of trying to defend a client that really didn’t have much going for it. He was left to argue that the comp plan stating that the city would support making Stuart a rail hub is not absolute. “What if the station cost $1 trillion,” he said. That is a non-sequitur if I ever heard one. Remember the city is doing or spending nothing.

According to the county the money to pay for the station will come from transportation dollars known as Capital infrastructure Transportation Funds. That stream of income must be used for a transportation project or projects. No ad valorum dollars will be used to fund Brightline.

Collins is running for a BOCC seat. He is taking his “Boss” Act on the road so to speak.  He is not supporting the station if Brightline doesn’t pay half. However, it is no longer the city commission’s decision. They have lost that right by not being a party to anything. Besides Boss Collins doesn’t agree “philosophically” whether the money comes from Martin County, Florida, or Washington. 

Boss Collins is trying to speak for everyone in Martin County regardless of where they live. He knows what is best. The Boss speaks as the “Oracle of Delphi” or the dictator of Martin County. Take your choice.

The BOCC should drop the entire matter. They have received letters of support from the four other municipalities in Martin County not to mention every other organization. Why bother with the city which is now under the control of the Boss and his Politburo. There is no percentage to continue to feed his aggrandized ego.

Laura Giobbi spoke about two things during her commissioner comments. 

The easy one but one that could come back to give the commissioners the most headache is the sound ordinance. When first elected as a city commissioner, I fought very hard to enact a better ordinance than what was in place. Unfortunately, my fellow commissioners did not see it my way. 

Over the decade since then, the music venues are still there, and it seems more people are happy to have them continue. I, for one, have grown harder of hearing and have come to make peace with Sailor’s Return on my back porch and Terra Fermata on my front porch serenading me. 

Robert Steinberg, who has now found some new blood to stir the pot, will once again try to have the sound ordinance that mandates a more subdued level. It is going to give city residents another point of contention. But the gentrification and suburbanization of Stuart by the Boss and his Politburo is right in line with closing down both those venues. 

In my day, it was a quality-of-life issue. Today, it has more to do with an anti-business philosophy and not wanting Stuart to be a center of any type of entertainment. 

Will the owners of either Sailors or Terra rally the troops as they did last time? I don’t know. We are all a decade older…the clientele and business owners. And have any new venues opened for people to enjoy listening to music outside of those not Social Security Recipients…I don’t know. That will be the key. 

You can see Mr. Steinberg’s email, 2007 ordinance, and the one that is currently in effect from 2015 here

Giobbi went on to then try to explain her evolving position on the BDB. 

William Corbin BDB Director

At the end of the day, it comes down to her inability, for whatever reason, to support or vote differently than what Boss Collins wants. She said in her remarks that she just always agrees with Collins, and it was no different than when there were 4-1 votes for motions with the last commission. I beg to differ.

Before votes were taken, the commissioners would often trade with each other and developers. Discussions from the dais would often be that a commissioner would vote yes if a condition was placed on a project, or the question could be, “Commissioner, what do you need for you to vote yes on this project.” It is called horse trading. There is none of this with the Politburo today. Nyet means Nyet. And it is always a no.

Now I have been married for decades. Though my wife and I agree on most things, we do have differences. When it comes to Giobbi, Reed, and Collins it is perfect marital-like bliss which would only be seen on a few honeymoons.

Again, take Giobbi’s insistence that her no vote against funding of the Business Development Board was due to double taxation. It appears she was all for the board until Boss Collins wasn’t. That changed her mind in a hurry, yet she still wants to sit on the board and have input on their decisions.

If the county represents Stuart in the use of tax dollars, it also should do so by the county’s board members representing the city on the board. It seems to me that Stuart with Giobbi sitting there is overly represented. The BDB should remove representation from the city…it is only fair to the county.

In her remarks Giobbi took exception to a BDB board member questioning her votes. Of course, BDB members are going to question her voting record. It is so obvious that she has strings and Boss Collins does the pulling. 

Her obsequious adherence to Collins is apparent not only to me but everyone else that pays attention. She has yet to cast a vote that did not mirror his. At least Reed did once to vote for Rich as mayor over Collins because of tradition.

You can read her comments in their entirety and her emails with the BDB here 

One thing I will say about Laura is that she preserves her records as is required under the law.

The City of Stuart has a 50-acre site that is a brownfield. 

It is the old county and city dump off Monterey. Ashley Capital wanted to possibly buy it. The company has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars of their own money plus some grant funding to do the necessary environmental studies.

Ashley Capital is a company that specializes in brownfields. They are industrial developers only. There is no residential component, and they own and manage their properties. 

At the commission meeting, the company stated that they ballpark the remediation costs would be $3-$5 million on the low side.  Ashley believes that they could offer about $1.3 million which is the property appraiser's valuation and provide the city a place for their hurricane waste to dry out before it is taken to the St. Lucie County landfill. The site is currently used for that purpose.

Ashley Capital wanted to have another extension until September to see if a deal could be negotiated with the city. The extension would cost nothing and perhaps a brownfield site that may cost millions to remediate would be someone else’s problem. That was too easy a solution.

When Collins uses the phrase, “it is just my opinion,” that signals to his Politburo what direction for them to go in. It was just Collins’ opinion that the use for hurricane storage was “real money” that the city is saving now. With that we knew Ashley was going nowhere.

I thought perhaps Reed would become his own man that night. He asked a few insightful questions that were appropriate. It ended with the phrase uttered by Boss Collins, “in my opinion.” Reed went back to being a good and silent Politburo member. 

Giobbi never uttered a word. An old story was that the aged foreign minister from Soviet times, Andre Gromyko, could sit on a block of ice for 24 hours and not move or say a word. Giobbi fits that mold when she hears the phrase “in my opinion.”

Collins stating that saving maybe a hundred thousand dollars a year by keeping the debris at the landfill is ludicrous on the face of it. How about the new jobs that Ashley would create with the new industrial space? What about the taxes that would be levied where none are now? Ancillary businesses would be created to serve the new industrial space. That is millions of dollars to offset homeowners’ taxes.  Besides, Ashley was going to provide other space to store those precious palm fronds. I guess economics is not a Boss Collins thing. I wonder what his thing is….

What really is interesting is that Stuart will at some point be compelled to clean up the site with its methane and chemical plumes. I bet it is more than the $3-$5 million that Ashley projected. Collins, Giobbi and Reed purport to be environmentally concerned yet are allowing this “dump” to remain and be the taxpayers’ responsibility to handle. 

Perhaps Collins didn’t know that the microphone picked him up saying that he wasn’t concerned with remediation because the city got lucky with Trump and his EPA. This is the guy along with his Politburo that is going to hire an environmental attorney at a cost of about $300,000. I guess his first job will be to make sure the dump is cleaned up. Or will the attorney fine Collins and his Politburo for allowing a toxic landfill to continue?

Don Calderone, Director of Risk Management, and Dustin Kuehn of the Gehring Group, who is the district’s consultant, went over health insurance for district employees.

It is important to remember that the district only contributes $6500 per employee per year. As you look at the premium numbers, everything over that amount is paid by the employee. There is a lot of work involved by the district in going through this exercise but the premium amount to the taxpayers is limited.

There are five carriers in our area that could handle the district’s insurance. Two, Aetna and AvMed, declined to quote. Cigna, Florida Blue, and United Healthcare did. The current carrier is Florida Blue and has been for some time.

The district has three different plans. There is an HMO, a PPO, and HDHP (High-Deductible Health Plan). The HDHP is the plan that has no employee contribution toward the premium because the board feels that is a recruitment feature. 

The PPO is now closed to new employees and current employees cannot switch into it. There are only 127 in that plan. Newer teachers, who tend to be younger and healthier, join the no-premium plan. 

There will be premium increases according to these first numbers. The board wants the 3 companies to now make “BAFO” (Best and Final Offers) so that decisions can be made. These will come back to the board on March 25th.

You can see the entire presentation here 

Until there is something like a budget workshop, I always forget how little discretion the school board has in making decisions.

Most parameters come from the State Department of Education. Tallahassee even decrees how much of the taxes for our district’s schools will be used. That is why promises made by people running for school board are irrelevant since most of the big things have already been decided elsewhere. 

The important thing to know is that almost everything has to do with how many FTE (Full Time Equivalents) students attend. From tax money to number of teachers needed, this is a crucial statistic to know. In the 2025/26 budget year, the staff earlier forecast an increase of about 400 students in all Martin district schools when making projections. If you only count the “traditional” schools, there is a decrease of about 50 students total than was previously reported. 

However, according to the preliminary October 2024 count, the entire number of students has dropped by 134 with 110 students coming from traditional schools. The population drop in traditional schools will cause a budget decrease of approximately $700,000. And there may not be any increase in money coming from the state as they are in reduction mode.

That is why the superintendent asked departments to look at 30% reductions in this year’s budget. These are all preliminary numbers so nothing is yet written in stone. Why then is the district down students?

The main reasons are demographic. With all the concern about “unbridled” growth, the number of students from new projects never materialized. Apartment complexes where 50 students were anticipated ended up with 2. The same for single-family homes.

The median age of a resident is 53.4 years old. Florida’s is 42.8, and the median age in the U.S. is 39.2. We are significantly older than the norm and older than most parents with school age children. Martin County has a problem. And it will only become worse in the coming years.

Martin County traditional schools are now open to the entire state to send their kids here. The school district will receive the FTE of about $9,000 this year per student, but how many families will drive their kids to Martin County from St. Lucie County to take advantage. Besides St. Lucie schools are catching up academically to those here.

Martin County offers many courses that are only possible if there is enough demand. Last year, several drama department courses were cancelled or combined because too few students opted to take them as electives. Fewer students result in fewer class offerings. 

I don’t think we will see 30% cuts this year. Depending on Tallahassee’s budget for local schools there probably will be some additional funds to make up for some of the shortfall. If the trends of declining student population continue, some of the schools could make good senior centers. 

To see the presentation please go here 
  

For some time now, I have been trying to connect with Sewall’s Point Manager Bob Daniels.

Up until two months ago Bob was one of the easiest managers to speak to. We had lunch every couple of months. And I would moderate events where Bob was a frequent panelist. I thought Daniels was a good fit for the town. I was wondering why Bob grew quiet and distant. 

After the last election, the personality of the commission changed. New people come on to the commission, and the ideal manager may not be so ideal any longer. Is that what happened in this case? And is that the reason for the special meeting on Monday night.

Daniels apparently recently applied for the town manager position at Juno Beach. Ironically, a vacancy that occurred because David Dyess, the former police chief and manager of Stuart, left the Juno position. He resigned after a year there and is now at the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s office coming into that job when Sheriff Del Toro was elected.

In my opinion, Sewall’s Point puts a lot of pressure on their managers to do things that in other places more staff would help with accomplishing. Daniels is the third manager since I have been covering the town. Since Vinny Barile and Frank Tidikis took their seats on the commission, the tone on the dais has changed. I am not saying it is worse or better…just different.

Daniels is a bargain as far as the cost of managers go. I thought I remember his receiving roughly $130,000. However, when I went on the town’s website and looked for his current contract, I couldn’t find it nor was there a distinct budget line. Therefore, I am going by memory.

If Bob thinks Sewall’s Point is a rough place, Juno Beach is the jungle. If hired, he will definitely have a larger salary and benefits, but he should ask for a case of antacids as part of the package. Those people spend money unlike Sewall’s Point…they just make the hoops to jump through higher and smaller.

On Monday night, there is a special meeting in Sewall’s Point to discuss Bob’s package. He may be giving them notice as is required in his contract. Or he may see if they offer more money for him to stay. 

I can tell you one thing…looking for new managers every couple of years is expensive. I imagine that it would be six months without someone in the position except the ever-faithful former temporary manager, Dan Hudson, and then once hired another six months for the new person to learn what is going on. 

By the time the town has a new permanent manager in place, it will be time for elections again and the cycle can begin once more.  

A special meeting was called by Mayor Dave Kurzman to discuss Manager Robert Daniels contract.

Daniels had been tapped by a headhunter to apply for the open town manager position in Juno Beach where he had been assistant police chief some time ago. Last week, Daniels was one of the finalists but was passed over for another candidate. Kurzman called the meeting to discuss what could be done to keep Daniels.

Everyone agreed that Daniels, when presented with an offer of more than $45,000 more per year, owed it to himself and his family to seriously look at it. What was not clear was why this meeting was called. If Daniels had been offered the position and taken it, according to his contract, they would have to have given 15 days’ notice.

Since it did not happen, the contract according to Bob has no end date but is to be renegotiated in October. He is paid $129,000 per year which makes him low paid for the profession in South Florida see attached compensation schedule for managers (HERE) commission was supplied with. No-drama Daniels has made Sewall’s Point government more professional in his 2 ½ years on the job.

If it were up to Kurzman and Mayfield, Daniels could remain until he retired as he has stated a couple of times. Fender was more nonchalant, but I don’t believe he is anxious to go through another search.  To find and hire Daniels, the cost was a fee of $22,000 plus $14,000 per month for the interim manager for 6 months, according to Kurzman.

Kurzman stated that in his 6 ½ years on the council, there has been 4 managers. Barile said in his 10 years on the council, there had been 8. However, that did not stop Barile from being the harshest critic at this meeting even though Daniels did not request the meeting and had placed no other conditions to remain. 

The mayor also asked that Daniels give him a wish list which he provided. (here) Daniels did not ask that his contract be opened at this point. 

Barile claimed to have his back up against the wall, but I don’t think that is accurate. Tidikis, who was away on vacation, dialed in and agreed that a contract is a contract. Since the contract has no end date, no one would suggest that Daniels work under the same terms and conditions in perpetuity.

Another buzz phrase is that any salary negotiation must be based on the size of the population and the budget. Perhaps the population is a slight factor, but the commission sets the budget. To say the town can’t afford more is a disingenuous statement. The commission controls the taxes. 

When setting Daniels compensation, factors like the construction projects must be considered. That and the number of employees including the police department. The laws that govern municipalities are many and complicated.

I think for now if I were Daniels, I would consider Kurzman and Mayfield behind me. Fender is a qualified supporter. Barile and Tidikis are happy to let the status quo go on for now, but they would not be in Daniel’s corner if push comes to shove. 

The commission may be looking for its 9th manager since Barile became a commissioner for the first time a decade ago. This is far from the stability the town needs. Who in their right mind would take a job and want to do this for a living?
 

Indiantown was late in filing its “tax return” with the state. 

Municipal governments must send financial reports to the state to receive revenue such as gas tax receipts. If the deadline is missed, millions could be at risk. The new deadlines will not be missed, I was assured by Village Manager Taryn Kryzda when she spoke to me last Saturday night. In fact, it has already been filed.

The village has a finance department of one, the Finance Director. There is a part time clerk who may be joining soon. This is no way to run a government.

“Government Lite” was the promise made when the incorporation vote was taken. The original manager tried to keep it at that for the first year. Once the previous council hired Howard Brown as manager, that concept was thrown out the window. By the time Brown left, Government Lite was no longer possible because of the structure he had built.

Most of Brown’s executive employees are gone. Kryzda has contracted the development department, out and it seems to be working because of the capabilities of the person hired more than the idea. At some point, this probably will be impractical. 

After trying outside firms to do the village’s books, Mike Florio was hired as an in-house director. It is not that he isn’t good but how much can one person do? Besides, any auditor will tell you it isn’t a great procedure to have the guy that oversees the money also in charge of dispersing it.

Kryzda told me they are close to hiring someone, but qualified applicants are few and far between. That may be Indiantown and other government’s most basic structural problem…nobody wants to work for them. 

Not filing a form in time is a symptom of a greater problem. The village will need to staff up to perform to accepted standards. It may require more money to do so.  

Indiantown came a little closer to having their own community center at the last council meeting. 

A discussion item quickly turned into a motion to name the new building, deeded to the village by Martin County, the Bob Souza Center. The council passed it unanimously. 

The late Bob Souza was a community asset who volunteered countless hours to the young people of Indiantown. Besides having a full-time job, Souza would coach different youth sports to generations of Indiantown kids.

The only speaker, Barbara Clowdus, put forth Souza’s name. Karen Onsager asked the audience what they thought. Most put up their hand in support of the idea. After the vote Bob Souza’s daughter, an Indiantown native, explained to the council the money and hours the entire family spent supporting youth sports in the yet to be incorporated village.

The building, located at 15516 SW Osceola Street, was owned by Martin County and had been leased to IRSC. It had been vacant for about two years since the opening of Indiantown High School. The Tax Collector was in the running to move her Indiantown office there, but Village Manager Taryn Kryzda appealed to the BOCC to transfer it to Indiantown as they had done with other county property in the past.

The mayor hoped it would be a venue that could also be rented to the public for events. Programming will be the next hurdle that the village will tackle. The Bob Souza Center should be up and running shortly.  
 

Rights

It seems the legislature can’t wait to restore the rights of 18-year-olds to buy long guns. Then why will we still limit those under 21 from buying tobacco and alcohol?

I guess there is no constitutional right to have a cigarette and a beer. There is a 2nd Amendment right to own a firearm. Can it be there are no limits on that right?

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that government can place reasonable restrictions on the ownership of firearms. The question is what is a reasonable restriction for the public good. I believe that not allowing 18-year-olds to purchase long guns, which would include assault type weapons, would be within the scope of reasonableness. I also believe that allowing these young people to buy weapons would be a drastic mistake. 

That doesn’t mean those under 21 should not learn how to target shoot, hunt, or be in service of their country. When I was in ROTC at age 18, I fired an M1 rifle on the range, learned to disassemble and reassemble the weapon, and of course clean the rifle. My own children, beginning when they were about 8, fired both pistols and a 22 rifle under strict supervision.

The point is all regulations by the state, including 2nd Amendment rights, have a place in our society if it is reasonable. It would be unreasonable, given everything we know about the general maturity of 18–21-year-olds, to allow them to buy and possess these weapons without restrictions. 

If society doesn’t trust young people to consume alcohol until 21 or use tobacco or, in states where legal, marijuana, why would it be allowable to purchase a deadly weapon that could kill another human being? 

Tom’s Articles

From Medium

"How Much Until We Break"

Here

From Martin County Moments

"Too Bad If You Believe It Is A Badge of Honor"

Here

"Not Worth Pursuing"

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Other Articles

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Florida Phoenix: "Who's to blame for Florida's 'unacceptable" national nursing exam pass rate"

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Barron's: Investors Are in a Bad Mood. This Time, They Might Be Right."

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Time: "Is the U.S. Heading Into a Recession Under Trump? Here's What To Know"

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The Wall Street Journal: "The 9 Biggest and Best Kitchen Trends Now, According to Interior Design Pros"

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The Washington Post: "South Africans balk at Trump's refugee offer to Afrikaners"

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