April 19, 2026

If we wanted a little quiet time in Martin County before the local elections, we have it.

Once May rolls around, I expect the political scene to heat up to a boil. Candidates didn’t normally begin campaigning this early and the negative advertising if at all was done in the shadows. But even in "Little Ole" Martin County things are changing.

Imagine people who now start their campaigns so far in advance of the qualifying date.

We will get more into who the announced candidates are and their platforms at a more appropriate time. Now just the highlights. The two county commission races for Districts 2 and 4 are already highly contested. Sarah Heard has drawn two challengers. That is good for her since Sarah’s base is strong and the opposition will split the remaining vote.

The more anticipated race will occur in District 2 where there are no declared candidates. The incumbent, Stacey Hetherington, is likely to see a challenge from current Stuart Commissioner Chris Collins. Collins has been campaigning for some time even though he has yet to declare.

If I were going to pick the biggest danger to Martin County’s way of life it wouldn’t be developers, the degradation of our environment, or the lack of jobs or housing. They can all be handled through the political process. Yes, there are disagreements among the factions but isn’t that what politics is all about? The sides argue their points, the voters chose, and we shake hands and move forward.

With the coming of Collins that has all changed. For the past nearly four years, he has twisted political consensus and ignored the other Martin County Difference. Civility and Consensus.

That is why it has been so hard to stop the man. He doesn’t play by the rules the people of Martin County established years ago. And that is a shame the way he has changed our politics for the worse.

On the political front just look at his social media posts. Besides being very well done. They are beyond the Pale as to our way. More importantly he has bent the rules and even the law to serve his purpose. The entire current development code for the City of Stuart is illegal. Yet there it is because of either apathy or fear for people to stand up for what is right.

Standing up is what the public must do to fix wrongs. Perhaps you agree with Collins about development. That is not the point here. The way we govern ourselves is by following the law. Collins ignores it when it is inconvenient. Is this the kind of leader we want in Martin County?

I believe it is important that we stand up and reclaim our Martin County Difference. And you can’t do it by following a false leader or one without integrity. To save our way of life Collins must be defeated.

We introduce a new columnist this week, Jordan Bromberg from Volunteers in Medicine. Here is a person that may have retired from working for a paycheck but has now devoted himself as a physician to helping people that would not have medical care otherwise. That is community activism without an agenda.

So, sit back and enjoy another cup of coffee as you peruse Friends & Neighbors.

Have a great Sunday Morning!

There is something freeing in acknowledging that I will never be in better condition than I am now. When you are almost midway through your 8th decade of life, that is a truism that you can take to the bank.

As I contemplated my evening assortment of pills, I remembered back to a time when I took no prescription medicine. Then around my late forties, it started with a statin. It has escalated from there.

I am not complaining. All these medicines keep me going. Years ago, they didn’t have much to keep the gerontocracy pushing forward. I can’t even contemplate how many bottles of meds that a guy like Chuck Grassley has.

My mother’s mother died in her early fifties of a heart attack. Her father followed dying of old age in his mid-sixties. Her grandfather died at over the hundred-year-old mark.

My father’s father was ill and sick beginning in the 1940s. Yet he lasted until 1975 when he passed at the age of 69. My grandmother lived to 82 and died of stomach cancer. Her mother was 105 when she passed. My father lived to 84 and my mom to a few days before her 92nd birthday.

I am thoroughly convinced that as we age, we are kept alive by the plethora of medication prescribed. So far so good. I couldn’t write this much otherwise.

Yet we are far from unstoppable. At some point, mortality will intrude and I will join my honorable ancestors in the Sweet By and By. The ticking of time continues.

I can remember as a child wanting to grow up and wishing that time sped by. As an adult, you are always waiting for the next event. I believe that I have come to the point that I may be waiting but with less exasperation when it finally gets here.

Martin County has had problems housing all its residents for the past decade.

One of the things it has not done is embraced more multi-family housing. There is a real shortage of rental housing. The Shimberg Center for Housing Studies ranks Florida as the #1 worst state in the nation based on income-to-rent ratio.

That plays into why Florida is rated #49 out of 50 states for general affordability. In the past decade, rents have nearly doubled. There doesn’t seem to be any end to increased costs in sight.

In Martin County, the average rent as of early 2026 is approximately $2300 per month. The median for all rental types is $2700 per month. Stuart’s rent per property is $2030 for an apartment.

For many residents to afford the rent means they are paying much more than 30% of monthly income, which is the recommended amount. The median household income is almost $83,000. That is for all residents. According to the 2023 ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) Report, 12% of Martin County households live in poverty. Another 32% live above the federal poverty line but earn below what is needed to be able to live in the county.

Nearly half of Martin County residents can’t afford to live here. If people double up or even triple up, they still will find renting an apartment difficult. Because of policies that both the county and Stuart commissions have adopted, there are simply not enough rental units.

Because of the paucity of units, rents are higher than they need to be. We should have more than the 24,000 multi-family units that we have at present. At least 15,000 of those units are condos, some of which are rented to tenants.

I was having a drink with a friend last night, and he told me his daughter who is graduating from college out of state will not be returning to Stuart where she was born and grew up. She cited that the rents for the available units were too high and she already had obtained a job teaching in the state where she went to college. The Martin County School District pays less for starting teachers than Alabama.

Who would have ever thought that Martin County and Florida would become too expensive for ordinary people to live here? We have done this to ourselves with flawed thinking about density and the misguided belief that all change is bad. Either we decide to alter our course, or we may begin to see a migration out of the state.

When did it become acceptable for elected officials to stop enforcing the Florida Constitution and state law? Though this applies to Mayor Boss Collins and his illegal code, that is not what I am writing about here.

Attorney-General James Uthmeir has determined that the Florida Constitution’s ban on the use of state dollars for religious educational reasons violates the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, so he won’t be enforcing the law. That means the prohibitions about funding for churches and other religious groups in the Florida Constitution won’t be challenged in court. He believes it isn’t necessary in his “opinion.” Uthmeir’s “opinion” is all the state of Florida should go by not their own constitution.

There are serious state and federal questions to be addressed by his assertions. He may be correct in his interpretation, but he is an appointed Attorney-General (not even elected), and he certainly isn’t “The Mikado’s” pompous high official, Pooh-Bah, issuing decrees. Uthmeir cannot decide what is and what is not constitutional and bind 23 million Floridians by his pronouncements.

This interpretation is so that Governor DeSantis and Uthmeir can dish money out to charter schools and pay for scholarships to religious universities. On top of it, there are favorite religions and beliefs. If you’re Christian, it is acceptable to receive state funds but Muslims or maybe Jews (which he is silent on) may not qualify.

That is the problem which occurs when you mix politics with religion. In some people’s beliefs, the other guy’s religion is not worthy of tax dollars. The result could be the use of a Jewish Floridian’s taxes to support a Catholic school and yet a Yeshiva may not qualify.

A court may find that schools, regardless of denomination, should receive public funding. Yet DeSantis and Uthmeir have decided that Muslim schools should not receive funding because they may teach Sharia Law. People throw that term around as if it is another name for terrorism.

 Sharia law is a religious legal system primarily derived from the Quran and Sunnah. The content sounds like what canonical law is for Catholics and the Halakha that is found in Jewish tradition. If you throw in the Biblical literalism of some Evangelicals, there may be no religious-themed schools that should be supported by the government.

James Uthmeir, an attorney, legal expert, and religious scholar, believes he alone should decide what is and what is not constitutional. Who needs courts when you have the righteous? And that is why we need courts!

Recently 1500 soldiers and their families stationed in Bahrain were hastily evacuated after Trump decided to start his war with Iran.

Without any planning for what would and could happen, this Bahrainian U.S. base and others in the Gulf came under Iranian attacks. Emergency evacuation occurred allowing the soldiers and their families to be evacuated with only what they could fit in a backpack.

Another 1500 sailors and their families from other locations were also evacuated with just a backpack. When these service men & women landed back in the U.S. with their families, there was no plan for where they should go… no supplies, furniture or even housing. They were told to go to local charities and figure it out.

This is the way the Trump government treats those that are needed to fight his war. They are having to borrow money and hope that the Pentagon will reimburse them. In most cases, this will take months to happen.

The richest country in the world has ignored the needs of our men and women in uniform. Big tough Pete Hegseth can think that God is on America’s side. The strength of the lion is there but not the gentleness of the lamb. He can request $1.5 trillion for additional funding for armaments but not a meal for the soldiers, sailors, and Marines that he is responsible for.

Is this what the United States has become? This is something that Putin and Russia do to their forces. It’s funny how Trump has time and money to build a ballroom, triumphal arch, and a gold coin with his likeness but couldn’t care less about our armed forces except as a projection of his power. Perhaps Hegseth and Trump will say a prayer for these families that now have nothing, not even a toothbrush.

I understand if some of our readers would expect me to be outraged over President Trump’s post about appearing as a Jesus-like apparition. But I am not.

The outrageousness is not in the one post. It is the culmination of everything the president has done that our mothers taught us to abhor. Bragging, belittling, blasphemy, boastfulness, and none of the beatitudes to which we should aspire. Did any mom ever want her child to blindly be led by someone like Donald J. Trump never mind emulate the man.

Yet as a nation we have been seduced not by a silver or glib tongue but by someone who has a very limited vocabulary and is profane with both falsehoods and conceit. He speaks and utters statements that we were taught to never say in public. It isn’t as if each of us can’t curse or at times be profane, but the president says and post things that are outright false and libelous…things that shouldn’t be part of anyone’s communication.

It has been stated many times that the president wants to “own the Libs,” or “he just speaks his mind” as if that should excuse what he spews. The entire canon of his utterances will never be repeated in any classroom. I learned the Gettysburg Address by Lincoln. I read Washington’s Farewell Address. I even learned the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution. Will some future school children know lines from Trump’s Second Inaugural as we do for Lincoln… “malice toward none; with charity for all?”

No, I am far from outraged that Trump has decided to castigate Pope Leo XIV, the first American to serve as the leader of the 1.4 billion Roman Catholics worldwide. According to Donald. Leo’s sin was preaching the meaning of the Gospels. Is Trump still “owning the Libs,” “giving the socialists what they deserve?” Leo was once known as Bob from Chicago, and he is not likely to fear Donny from Queens.

Even in Trump’s America, two congressman, one Republican and one Democrat, have resigned from Congress because of different sex scandals. So, there is still decency in our institutions and as a country because we can force even the powerful to do the right thing. We just can’t seem to hold DJT to account.

The first Pope Leo or “Leo the Great” was an Italian who met with Attila the Hun in 452 outside of Mantua and supposedly stopped him from marching further south and sacking Rome. That probably is more fiction than fact. There was plague in Atilla’s camp and his own superstition had more to do to with his retreat than fear of God through the words of Leo.

Yet Trump and our Leo have the culture of America as a common denominator. They have the same touchstones growing up in mid-20th century America. Will this Leo be known as the pope that rescued Americans from blindly following such a flawed individual? Stay tuned. 

Floridians are pushing back against the overdevelopment we are seeing statewide. Instead of the flood of concrete and pavement, they want to preserve open pastures, working ranches, and our deep agricultural heritage. An important tool needed to accomplish this goal is the Florida Greenbelt Law, officially known as the agricultural classification. The Florida Greenbelt Law’s impact on agriculture, land use, and even development is significant.

The Greenbelt Law was designed with a clear purpose: to ensure that agricultural land is taxed based on its value for agricultural use, instead of its potential value for development. In a state where land prices are skyrocketing due to growth pressures, this distinction matters. Without it, many farmers and ranchers will face tax burdens that will force them to sell their land long before they are ready.

Cattle Crossing Stuart

One of the biggest hurdles facing first-generation ranchers in Florida is access to affordable land. Purchasing property outright is often out of reach, especially in areas experiencing rapid development. This is where an aspect of the Greenbelt Law comes into play.

Developers, particularly those holding land for future projects, frequently utilize the Greenbelt classification to reduce their tax burden while their property remains undeveloped. At first glance, this may seem like a loophole. However, I see it as an opportunity. Many developers lease their land to ranchers for agricultural use, allowing cattle grazing or other production activities to take place. For young and beginning ranchers, these leases provide a critical foothold; offering access to land at a cost that is far more manageable than ownership.

In this way, the Greenbelt Law is doing more than preserving farmland, it is helping cultivate the next generation of agricultural producers. These partnerships allow new ranchers to gain experience, build herds, and establish their operations without the overwhelming financial barrier of land ownership. This isn’t just a grand notion. I know first generation ranchers who got their start this way.

At the same time, it’s important to acknowledge the tension that exists between agriculturalists and developers. Like most in agriculture, I do not want to see any agricultural land developed. Every acre lost is one less acre contributing to our food system, our economy, and our rural way of life. However, I also believe strongly in the property rights of landowners and their ability to make decisions about their property, including whether or when to sell or develop.

The Greenbelt Law creates a middle ground. By allowing developers to receive a tax benefit when their land is used agriculturally, it encourages them to keep that land in production longer. In doing so, it delays development. The financial incentive to maintain agricultural use can extend the life of working lands, even if their long-term future includes construction.

Palm City Longhorns

That delay matters; it provides time. Time for agriculture to remain viable, time for young producers to get started, and time for communities to have meaningful conversations about growth and land use, time for infrastructure to catch up with development.

In a rapidly changing state like Florida, policies like the Greenbelt Law remind us that thoughtful solutions can serve multiple purposes. They can support agriculture, respect property rights, and create opportunities where challenges once stood. And sometimes, they can even help ensure that the next generation of ranchers have a place to begin.

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

Animal homelessness affects millions of pets each year. Dogs, cats, and other companion animals can become homeless for many reasons, including overpopulation, abandonment, and natural disasters.

The Humane Society of the Treasure Coast rehomes and reunites more than 2,400 animals each year through aggressive strategies that reduce animal homelessness, provide compassionate care for animals waiting for forever homes, and nurture the bond between people and their pets.

Our multipronged approach begins with our adoption program. We use mobile adoption services, outreach events, website and social media posts, and foster families to help us reach wider audiences and advocate for the animals. Each successful adoption directly decreases the number of homeless animals and prevents overcrowding in communities.

We actively address overpopulation by providing the largest low-cost spay/neuter program on the Treasure Coast. This program significantly lessens the number of animals entering shelters in the future by preventing unplanned litters. Additionally, we offer a free Trap, Neuter, Vaccinate, and Return program for Martin County residents to minimize kitten births from community cats.

Humane education is another powerful tool we use to prevent animal homelessness. We offer Lessons in Kindness to teach students about animal behavior and safety, the history of puppy mills, and pet caretaking.

We recognize that financial hardships, housing issues, or life changes can force people to consider surrendering their animals, so we have compiled lists of financial aid and rehoming resources to help owners overcome short‑term challenges.

We offer behavior and obedience training courses for families struggling to care for a dog with behavior issues, and our Pawsitive Manners Club is available at a lower rate to prevent surrenders. 

We work closely with Martin County to take in stray animals and plan a Domestic Pet Sheltering Program to house pets for residents that need to evacuate during natural disasters. We also maintain a Lost and Found Registry to help reunite pets with their owners.

It’s our goal to help you exhaust all resources available and resolve any barriers you may have in keeping your pet and to preserve the human‑animal bond.

These community resources save lives, prevent unnecessary suffering, and address animal homelessness at its source. By adopting, fostering, volunteering, or donating to HSTC, you help us continue to provide these essential services for the animals and community, and create pet pathways from abandonment to belonging!

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

The American Heart Association (AHA) recently released new guidelines regarding heart disease risk. 

One of the biggest themes is focusing on earlier prevention, faster treatment and more personalized care. Heart disease doesn't appear suddenly in adulthood.  It develops over decades. The new screening guidelines recommend screening for risk factors, such as high cholesterol in childhood starting between the ages of 9-11. After that cholesterol should be checked periodically (every 5 years) starting at age 19. 

There are also improved tools for health care providers to assess a patient's risk for developing a cardiac event.  One such tool is a Cardiac Risk Calculator which considers multiple factors including a patient's age, blood pressure, diabetic status, BMI, and kidney function, to determine a risk score.  If you want to research this yourself search for the PREVENT online Calculator.  Any score over 5% is consistent with a moderate risk of developing heart disease in the next 10 years and intervention is recommended. 

The 2026 cholesterol guidelines take a more aggressive stance.  For people at high risk for heart disease the goal is now to lower LDL to levels of 70 or below.  There is also an emphasis on additional lab testing, including Lp(a) and apoB levels.  Lp(a) is one of the strongest genetic drivers of coronary artery disease.  This test only needs to be done once because genetics determine 90% of the outcome, while lifestyle accounts for only 10%.  However, if you have made major lifestyle changes it may be worth repeating.   People with elevated Lp(a) should receive more aggressive treatment.   ApoB measures the particle number of LDL and is a more accurate predictor of risk compared to just LDL.

The AHA also updated its nutrition guidance which reinforces a heart healthy eating pattern but adds a few stronger recommendations.  They recommend shifting toward plant-based proteins such as seeds and nuts instead of red meat.  They recommend limiting ultra processed foods and added sugars. Choose healthy fats such as olive oil over saturated fats.  Increase potassium intake from foods like fruits and vegetables to help control blood pressure.  Reduce or even avoid alcohol intake as newer evidence links it to heart risk and cancer. 

Finally, the guidelines include getting a coronary calcium score for men over 40 or women over 45. This CT scan of your heart and can show calcium deposits in the heart arteries. Where there is calcium there is plaque, so an ideal score is zero.  The only caveat to this test is that women tend to have soft plaque, which has not calcified yet and is actually more dangerous.  It may be missed on the CT scan.  A score over 400 can indicate significant plaque buildup and warrants a referral to a cardiologist.  Most insurance plans do not cover this test, but the out-of-pocket cost is reasonable at $150. 

Next time you visit your primary care physician please discuss having the above testing done especially if you have other risk factors for heart disease such as smoking, hypertension, high cholesterol, and diabetes.  

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

We were recently engaged on a complex project here in South Florida. Like many in the community, we initially had questions. Some skepticism. Some uncertainty about what we were hearing and reading.

So we did what we always do.

We started digging and educating ourselves.  We talked to the engineers. The planners. The technical experts. We asked a lot of questions. And we kept asking until we understood it.

And after many weeks of what felt like drinking from a fire hose of information, one thing became clear.

Nearly every concern being raised had a clear, factual answer.

Not a spin. Not a talking point. An actual answer.

In many cases, the issue was already being addressed. In some cases, it was never an issue to begin with once you understand what’s really being proposed.

To be fair, many of those concerns came from a very real place where people were trying to make sense of something complex with limited information. That doesn’t mean people shouldn’t have questions.

But it does make you stop and think.

Why is our first instinct to believe information that alarms us instead of digging further?

Why does the first version of a story stick so hard?

Why are we so quick to assume the worst?

Because once that mindset sets in, everything that follows gets filtered through it.

Facts get dismissed. Explanations get cut off. The people providing information are viewed with suspicion.  And what started as curiosity about something, turns into false certainly.

It means some people have already decided the professionals involved must be wrong. Or worse, that they must be lying.  The idea that people whose reputations depend on getting this right would knowingly put out false information doesn’t align with how these teams operate. And yet, for some, it’s where they start.

Somewhere along the way, we’ve lost the middle ground. It’s either full belief or blind distrust. Not much room left for asking questions and actually listening to the answers.

And in that gap, misinformation wins.

Not because it’s better. Because it’s easier.

The truth usually asks more of us. It comes with context, details and things that don’t fit neatly into a headline or a comment thread.  It comes with integrity and authenticity.  

So people impatiently move on. And the first version becomes the lasting one.

In our work, that means slowing things down when everything around us is speeding up. Going back to the facts. Explaining them clearly – in plain language. Without jargon.  Repeating them when necessary.

And sometimes, accepting that no matter how clearly you explain something, some people have already made up their minds.

That’s the hard part.  Because the truth doesn’t just take longer.

Sometimes, it shows up to an audience that’s no longer listening.

So maybe the question isn’t why misinformation spreads.

Maybe it’s this: are we still willing to do the work to really understand something…or have we gotten comfortable believing whatever gets there first?

Have you found yourself in this situation before? Drop me an email at stacy@fireflyforyou.com  and share your story with me. I’d love to hear it.

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

When I moved to Stuart in 2004, our bank was expanding into Martin County and I became active in the city quickly. I had moved from Naples, where the community had been studying and admiring Duany's work here. Downtown Stuart was fully occupied and thriving. The plan had been well implemented. On Saturday, Osceola Street was everything it was supposed to be. On Sunday, it was another story entirely.

Merchants had no reason to open on a day when no one came, and no one came on a day when nothing was open. It had been that way for years.

Stuart Mainstreet and the Downtown Business Association found the answer in a simple experiment. They created Jazz on the Riverwalk, a limited series that gave people a reason to come downtown when the street offered nothing else. It worked. The series became permanent, grew, and eventually moved to Sunday as Rock'n Riverwalk. Merchants who watched the crowds begin to gather started opening on the day they had written off.

What followed was a sequence of decisions, each building on the last. Eight parking spaces came out of Osceola Street in 2009 to make room for outdoor restaurant seating — a small trade that changed the character of the block and gave the street the kind of life that draws more life. Colorado Avenue went from four lanes to two in 2011, with medians, public art, bike paths, and a roundabout at the gateway into East Stuart. Before construction, occupancy along the corridor ran about 70 percent. Four years after completion it was 95 percent.

Abundance, the bronze figure standing in Haney Circle at the center of Osceola Street, has been there since 1991. Arms outstretched, offering what the earth provides. Aura Fike Jones and the Woman's Club secured her in 1949 because they believed Stuart was becoming a place worth celebrating. She spent four decades on the courthouse lawn, a sand lot on South Flagler, and Memorial Park before the revitalization gave her Haney Circle. She was always meant for this street. The street had to become worthy of her.

Today the storefronts open seven days. On Sunday mornings, Market on Main fills Flagler Park from nine to two. Rock'n Riverwalk follows at the Riverwalk Stage, carrying the afternoon. Two events, every Sunday, on the day that was once empty. Abundance has been standing in Haney Circle through all of it, right where she was always meant to be.

Bill West’s opinions are his own and may not reflect Friends & Neighbors viewpoint.

For decades, Florida - and especially the Treasure Coast - has sold a simple dream:  sunshine, water, retirement, and a better way of life.

But today, a new reality is quietly setting in.  And it’s not being driven by home prices alone.

It’s insurance and newly-assessed property taxes.

Across Martin County and the surrounding Treasure Coast, newer homeowners are opening notices with a growing sense of anxiety.  Insurance premiums are rising sharply, sometimes doubling or tripling in just a few years, without replacing expensive aging roofs.  For many, it’s no longer just frustrating.  It’s becoming unsustainable.

What makes this moment different is that insurance and property taxes are no longer ‘background expenses’ for homeownership.  These two have moved front and center to the cost of owning a home in Florida.

A buyer might qualify for a mortgage.  They might even accept today’s stable-to-rising home prices.  But when insurance, property taxes, and association fees are layered together, the total monthly cost of owning a home often tells a very different story.  Just look at newer apartment properties – they’re FULL and more affordable housing than is available to service employees.

This is where the real pressure is continually building.

Retirees living on fixed incomes are among the most vulnerable.  Many came to Florida for stability and predictability.  Now, they’re facing rising costs they cannot control.  Some are quietly considering selling - not because they want to, but because they feel they have no choice.

First-time buyers face a different version of the same problem.  Even if prices soften slightly, higher insurance costs can erase any perceived savings.  The result?  Fewer buyers, longer days on market, and a subtle cooling effect across the housing market exist today. 

A third group are service-sector employees needing more affordable housing options, who are driving distances with over $4.00 per gallon gas right now to get to their jobs to serve all of us?

And then there’s the broader question - one we haven’t fully confronted yet:

What happens when the middle of the market homebuyers and homeowners start to disappear?

Florida has long been a place where people from across the country could come, build a life, and own a piece of paradise.  But if total ownership costs continue rising at this pace, we risk becoming a place where only the affluent can comfortably stay - and everyone else is forced to rethink their future.

This isn’t just a housing issue.  It’s a serious economic one with broad regional implications.

Real estate drives local economies.  It supports small businesses, service workers, and entire communities.  When affordability gets squeezed, the ripple effects extend far beyond individual homeowners.  To be clear, Florida isn’t losing its appeal.  People will continue to come for the lifestyle, the weather, and the opportunity.

But the equation is changing.

And if we don’t start addressing the full cost of living - not just home prices, but insurance and beyond - we may find that the dream of living here is slowly becoming out of reach for the very people who built these communities in the first place.

That’s not just a trend.  That’s a turning point.

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

"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it" George Santayana

Many parents take pride in watching a child succeed in sports or school.  As a society, our collective value is that children are to be loved and cherished, and the invocation is for parents to take their responsibility seriously to raise successful human beings capable of self-sustaining, love, and happiness when they become adults. Yet, many parents fall short of this social contract. Spelling bees, cheerleading, baseball, football, and hockey are activities with the potential to provoke angst, anger, and sadness for both parents and their children, and this should not be the case.  There are species of parents described as tiger moms, hockey dads, momagers, stage mothers, or helicopter parents who seem impervious to the pain and sadness they may be causing their children in the hopes of getting them material success through sports scholarships, modeling contracts, or discovered by a Hollywood scout.

Throughout human history, children were not always sacred.  Until infant mortality was decreased in the industrialized modern age, parents had many children, expecting many not to survive into adulthood due to illness or material deprivation.  In fact, the importance of the individual and right to pursue a personal path is only a recent development born out of the wealth generated by the industrial revolution.  Throughout history, individuals were expected to live for the benefit of the collective whole. The Spartan Greeks of antiquity sent their 7-year-old sons to the state’s training program for the honor of their families and the glory of Sparta.  These boys were removed from their families and lived in barracks to be trained brutally to become warriors, and the loss of a fragile son was seen as no different than putting a sickly infant on the mountainside to be consumed by the elements. These were their culturally sanctioned norms.

Following the Enlightenment, we are recipients of the most progressive document in modern history, the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, written in 1789 by the Marquis de LaFayette and Thomas Jefferson.  This document is the template upon which democracy and human rights were designed.  As a result, children are people who have the right to live free of deprivation or maltreatment.  As a result, the British enacted the Factory Act (1833), prohibiting the employment of children young than 9 and limiting their workday to 8 hours. Decades later, the US enacted the Keating-Owen Child Labor Act (1916) for the same purpose.  Prior to the above legislation, poor children worked in coal mines and factories for up to 12 hours per day. Our current understanding of childhood is a modern concept, and so we should believe that we live in the best of times to be a child.

As a child and adolescent psychiatrist, I have treated many children who struggled with depression, anxiety, and a multitude of discontents stemming from conditional approval and love from parents whose love was often transactional.  These parents loved their children as trophies and effigies of their own narcissism.  Conditional love is not love. Children should know from a very young age that they are loved whether they win the spelling bee or not, make the varsity football team, or get a lead role in the school play.  Schools are the public square where our youth develop, and our communities have a responsibility to enforce healthy and developmentally appropriate rules of engagement for parents who come to school events.    Educators and coaches have a role in setting limits and enforcing good parental behavior and not tolerating the maltreatment of children and adolescents whose parents forget that children are to be loved unconditionally.   While it is good to encourage children and adolescents to be the best they can be in the classroom and in athletics, there should be no tolerance for incivility or humiliation.

Dr. Louis Velazquez​’s opinions are his own and may not reflect Friends & Neighbors viewpoint.

PART V  What if and some food for thought…

Where would we get the money to pay for everything?  Is that the question to be asking or it the question “Should we be paying for things we don’t need?”   So, knowing Martin County, we want everything we have.  Well, we’re used to having these things.   

The State could help.  Governor DeSantis has promised “budget dust” for rural counties that simply will not be able to pay for services.  Martin County is a donor County though.  Meaning we actually donate to other counties through the state. The State could modify the unfunded mandates so easily handed down to Counties.   The State currently has a 6% sales tax.  It could lower that so counties could afford to raise theirs.  Not an optimal solution as sales tax is very regressive.  MCTA thinks the State should mandate that Counties adopt the “roll-back” rate when ever applicable.  That would force the County government to work with the same amount of tax revenue as the previous year regardless of increases in property values.  This would force the County to hold expenditure flat with the previous year.  Then you wouldn’t be shocked that your taxes went up even though the County had chosen not to increase the millage rate. 

Counties can think out of the box.  For example, Martin County’s library system has a philanthropic group who raises money for the special programs it offers.  They help ensure that the Director of Libraries can hold the line on expenditures.  This might be a stretch for General Servies, but not for Parks and Rec.  MCTA believes there are plenty of sports and outdoor enthusiasts who would step up enthusiastically!  Game ON!

Efficiency studies should be performed on a standardized schedule.  They should be performed by outside entities capable of performing industry specific assessments.  Any private company would do so if a portion of their budget was bloating. 

Choices will have to be made no doubt.  And YOU can do your part by staying informed and by considering if expenditures are wants or needs.  Next time you use a county facility ask yourself.  

Some would argue that if you are paying property taxes, you are simply renting from the government.  If your home can be taken from you even though you’ve paid off the mortgage, is it really yours? 

We have instituted an INSIGHTS series of events which will feature a prominent issue or speaker of importance to you the taxpayer.  And, of course, there is our monthly newsletter which will report on Commission meetings etc.  To get invitations to the INSIGHTS events or to sign up for the newsletter go to www.mctaxpayers.org.    Email us at mctaxpayers1950@gmail.com

Martin County Tax Payers Associates' opinions are his own and may not reflect Friends & Neighbors viewpoint.

Summer is almost here. Many businesses slow down over the summer months, and many individuals and families plan for vacations and summer fun. Here at House of Hope we actually ramp up for these months. Due to the seasonality that still exists in our local economy, and kids missing out on free and reduced breakfast and lunch when schools are closed, we generally see a spike in our pantry, food bank, and financial assistance services. The unpredictability of hurricane season adds another variable to our planning. So we do our best to stockpile nonperishable food items in our main warehouse to be ready to handle the summer spike for our community.

A wonderful lead-in to our summer preparation is the National Association of Letter Carriers “Stamp Out Hunger” Food Drive. This annual event is the largest one day food drive in the nation. This is a way that our community can help. On Saturday May 9th please leave a bag or bags of nonperishable foods next to your mailbox. Your letter carrier will pick them up and bring them to their post office base where House of Hope volunteers will be waiting to unload them and fill bins of food to come back to our warehouse. All of the food collected in Martin County, stays in Martin County to assist food insecure neighbors through our four food pantries and our local partner agencies.

Even with the wide range of programs and services we offer at House of Hope, food insecurity is still by far the number one reason that new clients come through our doors. Last year House of Hope distributed over 1.6 million pounds of food across the region to individuals and partners, all at no cost to the recipient, touching over 40,000 lives. Our generous community is a great resource for much of our distributed food. If you are part of a neighborhood, business, or any group that may be interested in conducting a food drive to support our mission, we welcome your participation any time of the year. If you want to learn more about our mission, or if you or someone you know may need our services, please visit us at www.hohmartin for more information.

Thank you for growing hope in our community.

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

Taylor House, Somehow It Still Feels Like Home

Every now and then you find a place that just feels right the minute you walk in.

That was our experience at Taylor Beach House Cafe in Hobe Sound.

Dining al fresco with sand underfoot with a solo musician playing was just enough to make us slow down and settle in for the night.

I could tell immediately when our server greeted our table that we were in for an easy, natural, special evening. 

Within minutes, Janine had us engaged, describing dinner specials that made one sound better than the next, and a house cocktail prepared perfectly that all we had to do was guess the ingredients and it would have been complimentary. Of course we failed, but it was well worth it. Perhaps your taste buds are better than mine. Good luck!

As we enjoyed the weather, some background music and our drinks, Jananie approached the table and could tell we weren’t ready to order. She shared an old trick with us and suggested that when we were ready to order, to just move the salt and pepper shakers to the corner and she would return. What a great idea!

Our meal began by splitting the beach salad - fresh, simple, and brought together by a vanilla vinaigrette that was just different enough to make you notice. It was a great start.

Stacy went with the coconut-crusted snapper, topped with a tropical fruit salsa and served with coconut rice, mango coulis, and seasonal vegetables. It looked as good as it tasted - crisp, flavorful, and balanced without trying too hard.

I ordered one of the specials - a grouper over spinach and potatoes. Clean, fresh, and perfectly prepared. The kind of dish that reminds you why simple, well-done seafood is hard to beat.

And then dessert. Coconut rice pudding.  We weren’t planning on dessert, but it was our first time there so Janine suggested it, and we decided to try it. Turns out, that was the right call. It’s always on the menu, and for good reason. Indescribably delicious. If you’re a fan of rice pudding, you will love it. If you’re not, you will become one.

What makes Taylor Beach House Cafe stand out, though, goes beyond the food and the service. This place has roots.

Chef Christopher Taylor and his wife Elizabeth built a loyal following out in Jupiter Farms with Taylor Farmhouse Cafe - a place that became less of a restaurant and more of a gathering spot. Bonfires, live music, kids running around, people showing up in golf carts - it had a laid-back, community vibe that’s hard to replicate.  It wasn’t just somewhere to eat. It was somewhere to be.

And that’s what makes what they’ve done in Hobe Sound so impressive. They didn’t try to copy Jupiter Farms. They translated it. The same sense of hospitality. The same focus on fresh, thoughtfully prepared food. But reimagined for a coastal setting - a little more beach, a little less barn, and a perfect fit for Bridge Road. And while it hasn’t been in Hobe Sound all that long, it already feels like it’s been there forever.

Hobe Sound has always had its own quiet charm, tucked between the Treasure Coast and Palm Beach. And places like this only add to it.

So here’s the takeaway. If you’re in Hobe Sound, you probably already know about it. If you’re meeting friends from Jupiter or Tequesta, it’s a great meeting place. And if you’re in Jensen Beach… yes, it’s a bit of a drive. Make it anyway.

Ask for Janine.

Plan on listening to some music and settling into the relaxed vibe. The atmosphere, the quality of the food, the presentation, and the outstanding service are all things you rarely see come together in one place. Taylor Beach House delivers it all.

Taylor Beach House Café is located at 9126 SE Bridge Road in Hobe Sound.

Do you have a favorite restaurant you’d like to share? Email me at dinewithbrent@gmail.com.

Brent Hanlon’s opinions are his own and may not reflect Friends & Neighbors viewpoint.

I have been a student of Florida real estate most of my life. I took my first real estate class in high school. I consider myself well versed in the history and the development of Florida. Our earliest settlers, my family, Flagler, Merrick, Davis and even Ponzi have all put their mark on our great state. Many of our earliest families came here to farm and raise their family.

Farmers have had some extremely rough years. Farm families, some in their third or fourth generation, are tired or just ready to get off the farm. Many have sought buyers to take over the land and create the next life for their pastures. Some have created conservation easements and continued to farm, and some have decided to sell out.

Today, farm families and developers have become friends and partners. I recently saw a city commissioner refer to a new development as pristine Florida land prior to the arrival of the developers first shovel. This is so far from true. The property was a fallow citrus grove, a victim of greening, and little used but highly manicured polo fields. The farm family and the developer designed a high-end community that will be an asset to our county. The property will improve critical flow ways to the Loxahatchee, create a new park and increase our tax base by tens of millions of dollars. In my opinion everyone wins. The farm family can move to new endeavors, the developer can create a community for families, and the taxpayer gets a much-needed boost to our tax revenues.

I recently toured the Newfield development in Palm City. The property was farmed for the last 50+ years, primarily citrus and sod. The family began the approval process to turn their property into a comprehensive development. To accomplish many goals, they took roughly 2000 acres of their land and permanently dedicated it to a wildlife park - for all to enjoy. The remaining property will be a wonderful town with shopping, homes, light manufacturing, schools, and offices. I studied this property many years ago. The owner had the ability to sell it off in 5- and 20-acre parcels. Each parcel would have its own boundary. The property would never again work as a contiguous piece of land but as hundreds of individual plots. The upside, less density, the downside is each property could have berms, ponds, pastures and more that did not allow water flow or even for wildlife habitat. Now we have the best of both worlds.

I know there are many readers that wish the farmers would simply continue to farm or that no new housing is ever built. Some wish the farmer (landowner) would simply give the land to an environmental group or that the government would just “take” it. I believe that we need to work together to allow private landowners to make the best decisions for their family and to find ways to be generous to the rest of us, at the same time. It is happening and Martin County is doing a great job in getting it right.

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

Last year, I went to visit a good friend in Orlando. The obvious move would have been to get in the car and drive the two to two-and-a-half hours from Stuart. Instead, I decided to complicate my life – intentionally – by trying the Brightline.

This required a bit of logistical gymnastics, though. I live about five minutes from the tracks where the train flies by, but Stuart, despite its ambitions, still doesn’t have a station. So, I drove 45 minutes south to West Palm Beach… only to board a train that, roughly 25 minutes later, cruised right past Stuart. Efficient? Definitely not. I suppose this is what happens when a town decides it’s more important to keep out imaginary criminals than to gain actual infrastructure. For the record, I scanned the train carefully: not a single outlaw in sight.

The moment I arrived at the West Palm station, a feeling of early-vacation took over. Parking was easy and plentiful: no circling, no stress. The station itself is modern, spotless, and laid out intelligently. I was traveling in business class, so I had access to the lounge. It was calm, well-stocked, and surprisingly generous with snacks and drinks. In fact, it outperformed more than a few airport lounges I’ve visited across the U.S., which is not a high bar… but still.

Boarding was equally smooth. Clear signage, no chaos, no last-minute scrambling. On board, the car was about half full, which made for a relaxed atmosphere. A single crew member managed the cabin: a friendly young woman who offered me a drink almost immediately after departure. Later came a light meal with a couple of options. I went with the salad, which earns a polite but firm C+. Edible, forgettable, and not the point of the journey anyway.

What was the point, as it turned out, was the ride itself. Seeing South Florida from the train gives you a different perspective. Less windshield, more observation. And yes, about 25 minutes in, we passed Stuart. Again. Close enough to wave at my own house, not close enough to get on or off. Have I mentioned that a station there might be useful?

The highlight came along the Jupiter–Stuart stretch. As we passed the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse, the entire car seemed to pause. Conversations stopped. Phones came out. Even the most committed laptop users looked up. It’s a striking view, one of those small moments that justifies choosing the less practical option.

Roughly two hours after departure, we arrived in Orlando. The station there is enormous and seamlessly connected to Orlando International Airport. It’s adjacent to MCO. On the way out, I passed a full food court, retail shops, and a steady flow of travelers who looked far less stressed than their airport counterparts.

All in, the trip took me a good four to five hours door-to-door. Not practical, not efficient – and completely worth it. Brightline, in my humble opinion, succeeded at creating a truly enjoyable travel experience.

Still, I can’t help but think how much more I’d use it if I didn’t have to drive away from my destination just to get on board. One day, perhaps, Stuart will decide it can handle the occasional well-behaved visitor arriving by train. Until then, I’ll keep waving at the tracks as the train goes by.

Marcelo Guimarães' opinions are his own and may not reflect Friends & Neighbors viewpoint.

For some seniors, every day seems like a balancing act on the high wire. One misstep – an unexpected home repair, a rent increase, a medical emergency, the illness or death of a spouse – can mean disaster.

Many of our seniors live on fixed incomes and face increasing challenges related to healthcare access, housing stability, food security, and social isolation.

Where can they or their families go for help?

The Council on Aging Martin County is our community’s hub for senior resources, maintaining the safety net, providing services, and connecting seniors to vital resources.

It takes an entire network to build and sustain a safety net that allows vulnerable older adults to age with dignity, independence, and security. In our generous and caring community, this network includes a combination of public services, nonprofit organizations, healthcare providers, and community-based programs that work collaboratively to address the complex and interconnected needs of seniors, particularly for those who are uninsured or underinsured.

I want to focus particularly on the role of the Area Agency on Aging. AAA is a government-funded nonprofit that contracts with an organization in each community that it designates as a Lead Agency. In our community, it is COAMC.

As a Lead Agency, we are able to receive federal and state funding to help seniors and their caregivers with various needs. There is a process for enrolling in the program and receiving approval. It is not solely income based. It also takes into account the physical and/or mental limitations a senior may have which restrict their ability to perform normal daily activities like bathing, dressing, and preparing food.

Once seniors are approved for the program, we are able to access funds and arrange for services. Services can include Adult Day Care services, homemaking, personal care, home-delivered meals, medical equipment and supplies, and caregiver support. Sometimes a co-payment is required, based on income. This is determined by the Florida Department of Elder Affairs.

Our care navigators can help seniors and families learn more about eligibility, so we urge you to call us at 772-283-7800. But you can also contact AAA directly at 1-866-684-5885.

We are very grateful for our participation with the Area Agency on Aging. It makes a huge difference for seniors who are eligible for the program.

Our Council on Aging, of course, offers many programs and services beyond those funded by AAA. If you or someone you love appears to be out there on the high wire without a net, call us. We can help with services ranging from Meals on Wheels and Senior Dining Centers to memory enhancement, dementia care, respite support, primary care, caregiver support, socialization and wellness activities, and so much more.

A strong safety net for seniors in Martin County is essential. Please join us in ensuring that all seniors have access to the resources and support they need to live healthy, safe, and fulfilling lives.Bottom of Form

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

It only takes a second.

One step onto a wet floor or an uneven surface can change your day completely. What starts as a routine errand can quickly turn into pain, medical appointments, and time away from work or family.

For many people, a slip-and-fall is more than just an accident. It can disrupt daily life in ways they did not expect.

The truth is, many of these incidents could have been prevented.

Where Slip and Falls Happen

Slip-and-fall injuries often result from hazards that were not addressed in time. Wet floors without warning signs, poor lighting, and uneven walkways are some of the most common causes.

Inside a business, spills and recently cleaned floors can create dangerous conditions. Outside, cracked sidewalks, loose pavement, or poorly maintained parking lots can increase the risk of a fall.

Property owners are expected to take reasonable steps to fix these issues or warn people about them.

Why Acting Quickly Matters

After a fall, the scene can change quickly. A spill may be cleaned up, or a hazard may be repaired within minutes.

That is why it is important to act as soon as you can. Taking photos of where you fell, what caused it, and any visible injuries can help preserve what the area looked like at the time.

If someone witnessed the fall, getting their contact information can also be helpful later.

The Role of Evidence

Many businesses use surveillance cameras, and footage from them can sometimes capture the incident. However, it is often only saved for a short time.

Witnesses can also help explain what happened and how long a hazard may have been present. Together, photos, video, and witness statements can provide a clearer picture of what led to the injury.

Your Health Should Always Come First

After a fall, it is important to pay attention to how you feel. Some injuries take time to show symptoms. What seems like minor soreness could become more serious in the days that follow.

Seeking medical care not only protects your health, but it also documents your injuries.

When to Speak With an Attorney

If your injuries are more than minor, or if you are unsure about your next steps, it may be helpful to speak with an attorney. Early guidance can help preserve evidence and make sure you understand your options.

A slip-and-fall can have lasting effects on your health and routine. Having the right support can make a difference as you move forward.

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

It looks like we’re one board meeting closer to the district contracting with a private business for naming rights to the Martin County High School stadium. I’m not going to name the business here; you can find it if you search for it.

While it may be a financially smart move for both the district and the business, I think it’s a red flag for larger issues ahead.

For one, it’s exhausting being marketed to at every turn. TVs, phones, billboards, music, podcasts—we are being monetized constantly. Our attention and spending power are among the most valuable assets this country has, and every business and corporation is fighting to capture just a fraction of it. And now that marketing is going to be in our faces at school functions.

Won’t this erode nostalgia—a sense of local community, camaraderie, even team spirit? It just feels off.

If public schools received enough funding from the state (don’t get this twisted with the lies coming from the federal government and DOGE) they wouldn’t have to sell off pieces of themselves just to bring in extra cash. This feels like a signal of how limited school funding has become year after year.  Which is a FLORIDA REPUBLICAN issue!

Extend that thinking.

I’m constantly reading about community members wanting to slow development and expressing frustration with Martin County’s growth, especially when it seems driven by the need to generate more money for a few. This feels like the same idea at work, no?

Ask a community member if they want corporate-sponsored stadiums at our high schools—most would say no, right? It doesn’t sit well. But we’re doing it for the money.

Well, that’s why developers keep developing.
That’s why data centers are being built, even as they strain local resources.
That’s why corporations continue to push further into every corner of daily life.

Sidenote: 
A huge shout-out to Roberts for doing the math and forcing a Cigna representative back to leadership and securing a $180,000 insurance credit for the district.  Watch the last 1.5 hours of the March 24th board meeting.  Moriarty and Powers also expressed their displeasure with the proposal, with some powerful stats dropped by Powers, but Roberts really made the call to action.  Russell did not speak, again, and Pritchett expressed disapproval, but then didn’t actually seem to understand what was happening.

Now, if they would also recognize how their 2024 vote contributed to the current state of public education and insurance giants. Are we “great again”?  How are those tax credits working out for us?

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

National Volunteer Appreciation Week, observed April 19–25, 2026, is a time to recognize and celebrate the many individuals who give their time, talent, and heart to help keep Volunteers in Medicine Clinic (VIM) running smoothly and ensuring high-quality, compassionate healthcare for the Martin County residents we serve. We are deeply grateful for their service and steadfast commitment, which make this mission possible every day.

For more than 30 years, VIM has provided comprehensive, free healthcare to uninsured, eligible Martin County residents - a mission sustained by nearly 100 volunteers working alongside a staff of 12. These individuals fill a wide range of roles, from physicians, specialists, and nurses to receptionists and administrative support, each contributing to a seamless and respectful patient experience. Their dedication allows VIM to maintain a high standard of care while ensuring that every person who walks through its doors feels valued and supported.

Since its founding in 1995, VIM has relied on this extraordinary volunteer-driven model to deliver care that extends far beyond basic services. In 2025 alone, in-clinic volunteers contributed nearly 6,000 hours of service, and when combined with volunteer community medical referrals, the efforts together represented a value of nearly $800,000. This remarkable level of giving reflects both deep compassion and an unwavering commitment to the health of our community.

VIM volunteers create a welcoming environment that reduces fear and uncertainty for uninsured patients, encouraging earlier, consistent care and better long-term health outcomes. Their impact extends beyond the clinic, strengthening the Martin County community through healthier families and a stronger economy. As healthcare costs rise, VIM remains a vital resource - proving that compassion and community can transform lives. We are deeply grateful to our volunteers whose generosity and commitment sustain this vital work.

VIM delivers comprehensive medical care - completely free of charge to eligible Martin County residents. VIM provides a full spectrum of services, including primary care, preventive screenings, specialty care, diagnostics, surgeries, cancer treatment, mental health services and medications. The clinic serves uninsured adults ages 18 to 64 who reside in Martin County and live at or below 250% of the Federal Poverty Level. In 2026, 250% of the Federal Poverty Level equates to $39,900 for a household of one, $54,100 for a household of two, $68,300 for a household of three, $82,500 for a household of four, and continues to increase based on family size. If you are uninsured and struggling to afford healthcare, VIM is here for you with no waiting list. For more information, or to support the clinic, call 772-463-4128 or visit vimclinic.net.

Jordan Bromberg’s opinions are his own and may not reflect Friends & Neighbors viewpoint.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, an important time to highlight the emotional well‑being of children and the role it plays in their healthy development. Mental health is just as essential as physical health, influencing how children learn, form relationships, manage emotions, and cope with life’s challenges.

Children today face many stressors, including academic pressure, bullying, family changes, social media influences, and exposure to traumatic or frightening events. While stress is a normal part of growing up, ongoing or overwhelming stress can affect a child’s mental health. Anxiety, depression, behavioral challenges, and difficulty regulating emotions often begin in childhood, yet many children do not receive help until problems become more severe.

Children may express emotional distress differently than adults. Changes in behavior—such as frequent irritability, withdrawal from friends, trouble concentrating, sleep difficulties, or unexplained physical complaints—can be signs that a child is struggling. Paying attention to these signals allows caregivers to respond early and provide support before concerns escalate.

Early mental health intervention can make a lasting difference. With appropriate care, children can develop coping skills, emotional awareness, and resilience that support them throughout adolescence and adulthood. Therapy for children is often collaborative and creative, using play, art, and family involvement to help children express themselves and feel understood.

Parents and caregivers are powerful protective factors for children’s mental health. Creating predictable routines, listening with empathy, modeling healthy coping strategies, and talking openly about feelings help children feel safe and valued. Most importantly, seeking help when concerns arise sends a strong message that mental health matters.

This Mental Health Awareness Month, let us commit to reducing stigma, supporting families, and ensuring children have access to the mental health services they need. When we prioritize children’s emotional well‑being, we invest in healthier, stronger communities for the future.

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

Each April, communities across the country recognize Child Abuse Prevention Month—a time to raise awareness, strengthen families, and recommit to protecting our most vulnerable children. While the observance brings attention to the issue, the reality is that child abuse and neglect affect children every day, often in ways that can last a lifetime.

Child abuse is not always visible. It can take many forms—physical, emotional, or neglect—and its impact reaches far beyond childhood. Children who experience abuse often carry deep emotional scars, struggling with trust, self-worth, and stability as they grow. Without intervention, these early experiences can lead to challenges in school, relationships, and overall well-being. For many, the trauma creates a cycle that is difficult to break without support, guidance, and a safe environment to heal.

But there is hope.

That hope is found in organizations like Hibiscus Children's Center, where children are not defined by their past—but supported in building their future. Hibiscus provides safe haven for children who have experienced abuse and trauma at Tilton Family Children’s Shelter, along with stability, compassion, and the tools needed to thrive.

Every day, children receive more than just a place to stay. They are surrounded by caring professionals who provide trauma-informed care, educational support, and life-enriching opportunities. Whether it’s tutoring, counseling, creative activities, or simply the consistency of a structured daily routine, each element is designed to help children regain a sense of normalcy and belonging.

Just as importantly, Hibiscus focuses on prevention—working with families in crisis to address challenges before they escalate. Through the Supporting Families in Crisis and SafeCare Programs, families are given the resources and guidance they need to create safer, more stable homes. By strengthening families, we reduce the risk of abuse and help children remain where they belong—safe and supported.

The impact of this work is profound. When children are given a safe environment and the encouragement and guidance they need, they begin to heal. Confidence grows. Hope returns. And futures that once felt uncertain become filled with possibility.

Child Abuse Prevention Month is not only about recognizing a problem—it is about being part of the solution. Each of us has a role to play.  Hibiscus is grateful to our generous community for standing up for children by supporting the Hibiscus mission, advocating for children, and being aware of the needs within our community.

Because every child deserves to feel safe, to be seen and deserves the chance to thrive.

To learn more about Hibiscus Children’s Center and how you can get involved to help children, please visit us at HibiscusChildrensCenter.org.  Thank you for your meaningful support. 

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

It is April 13 as I write this column.

The wind is blowing 25 mph right out of the east. Going back in my logs the conditions with the wind, waves, and weeds have never been as bad as what we have had since October since I moved here 14 years ago. The issue with having all these unfishable conditions is pompano have begun their northern migration to the Carolinas, and we are not going to get these days back as we get later into April.

The spring run, which is normally happening right now, is the time period where we have the chance to catch the biggest numbers of pompano all year. Looking ahead it appears as we may be able to get back on our local beaches by this weekend, the 16th,17th, and 18th, and if the water cleans up get your rods and get up there.

The clock is ticking and hopefully there are still some schools pushing up from the south this month. Just before this latest wind event started the springtime afternoon bite was starting to kick in and the prime hours were from 4 pm to 7 pm. There were some nice catches from beach accesses like Tiger Shores, Stuart, Santa Lucea, and Bathtub Beach last Monday, the 6th, and then the “fan turned on” and shut the catching down.

The areas from 50 to 80 yards from the edge of the surf were really producing as is the case during the spring when the pompano will move in and you can reach them with 8-to-10-foot rods. The big whiting should continue to make their presence known also and that fishing should only get better as we get into May and the summer season. EZ  Flea Electric Chicken Fishbites continues to produce along with their new red and green color called Jingle Bites.

The Jingle Bites color was just killing the big whiting on fishable days. Mother Nature has not been kind to us this year, but we are due for a break as we leave April and head into our summer season. Let’s hope for some calm surf and clean water so everyone can put some late season pompano into their freezers.

Good luck and catch em up.

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

Paige Cortes

Racing to End Childhood Homelesness

Did you know that more than 600 students in the Martin County School District are currently registered as experiencing homelessness? It’s a sobering reality—and one that Family Promise of Martin County is working every day to change.

On November 15th, 2025 the community came together in a powerful way for the 6th Annual Bed Races, transforming awareness into action. What may have looked like a lively, laughter-filled event carried a deeper purpose: rallying support to help local families find stability and ensure children have a safe place to call home.

Fourteen spirited teams took to the track, bringing creativity, costumes, and plenty of competitive energy. From whimsical themes like Up! and The Nightmare Before Christmas to crowd favorites like a Jamaican bobsled team and “Holy Cow,” the event was as entertaining as it was meaningful. Each decorated bed and every push across the finish line symbolized a shared commitment to ending childhood homelessness in Martin County.

Family Promise of Martin County extends heartfelt gratitude to everyone who made this event possible—our generous sponsors, dedicated teams, volunteers, and all who came out in support of the race to end childhood homelessness. Your presence and enthusiasm made a lasting impact. A special thank you goes to April Milner, whose energy and talent as Emcee brought the event to life and kept the crowd engaged and inspired throughout the day.

Beyond the excitement, the impact of the Bed Races is both real and lasting. Funds raised directly support local families facing housing instability, providing non-emergency shelter through partnerships with local congregations, transitional housing, financial assistance, and ongoing case management. These services go beyond meeting immediate needs—they help families build a path toward long-term stability and brighter futures for their children.

Events like the Bed Races demonstrate the strength and compassion of this community. When people come together with a shared purpose, even complex challenges like homelessness become something we can address—together. Every participant, every sponsor, and every supporter plays a role in moving families forward.

Family Promise of Martin County is already looking ahead, with plans underway for the 2026 Bed Races on November 14th. Join us! Sign up to race, sponsor, or volunteer!

Paige Cortes' opinions are her own and may not reflect Friends & Neighbors viewpoint.

Stacey Hetherington is more than a commissioner.

She is a mother, businesswoman, Martin County Republican Committee Woman, churchgoer, and avid community activist. Long before she ran for elected office, she was part of the Martin County Community. She was born and raised in Indiantown with a family that goes back generations in Florida.

For the past couple of years, she has put together a calendar celebrating women in our county. I learn something new every time I look at it. Let’s face it, women are what holds society together.

Over the next four issues we will be highlighting the entire calendar. This edition will cover January, February, and March. Take a minute to read what the Martin County Difference is. It isn’t about land or politics or policy but about people. These 12 women, one for each month, is what we are all about.

Stacey is a well-rounded person.

Thanks, Stacey, for allowing Friends & Neighbors to highlight and celebrate your calendar and the women it highlights.

About the #OneToughMother Calendar

The #OneToughMother Calendar is a community-driven project created to honor and celebrate extraordinary women who demonstrate strength, resilience, compassion, and unwavering dedication to our children and  our community. The idea began during Stacey Hetherington’s 2018 county commission campaign, when she was referred to as “#OneToughMother.” The phrase stuck and has since grown into a meaningful way to recognize remarkable mothers and maternal figures throughout the community.

Each year, women are nominated by friends, family members, and community members who want to shine a light on the quiet strength, sacrifice, leadership, and love these mothers show every day. Many of the honorees have faced personal hardships or tragedy, yet continue to move forward with grace and determination while uplifting those around them.

The calendar serves as a tribute to the women who nurture, advocate, lead, and inspire — not only within their own families but across the wider community. It is also a reminder that motherhood takes many forms, and that strength often shines brightest during life’s most challenging moments.

October – Nicoletta DeRosa (Honored Posthumously)

Nicoletta DeRosa is honored posthumously as a beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and matriarch whose legacy lives on through her family. Born in southern Italy, she and her husband built a life rooted in faith, family, and hard work, eventually establishing successful restaurants in the local community. Known for her deep devotion to her family and her strong faith, Nicoletta nurtured generations with love and strength. The enduring admiration of her children and grandchildren stands as a testament to the extraordinary mother she was.

November – Angelina Perez

Angelina Perez is a community activist, youth sports advocate, breast cancer survivor, and Indiantown Village Council member. A first-generation Guatemalan American and dedicated school employee, she works tirelessly to support youth, families, and educators. Alongside her husband, she co-founded the Warriors Soccer Club to provide opportunities for local children. Angelina also organizes numerous teacher and staff appreciation efforts each year. Her leadership, resilience, and passion for service define her as a #OneToughMother.

December – Mary Beth Peña

Mary Beth Peña is a compassionate educator, nurse, and community advocate who serves as Health and Social Services Coordinator at the Hope Center for Autism. Often described as a “mother to many,” she has dedicated her life to serving others through healthcare, education, and advocacy. A former Peace Corps volunteer and longtime champion for equity and wellness, Mary Beth works tirelessly to support families and promote healthier communities. Her nurturing spirit and lifelong service make her a fitting final honoree for the year.

The #OneToughMother Calendar continues to celebrate the extraordinary women who shape our community with strength, compassion, and resilience. Each honoree represents the countless mothers and maternal figures who inspire us every day.

Celebrate National Pet First Aid Awareness Month with

American Humane Society

SOUTH FLORIDA – Woof! April is National Pet First Aid Awareness Month, a time to protect the ones who love us unconditionally. While no one ever wants to imagine their pet in danger, accidents happen. Being prepared can make all the difference in an emergency.

Here are 10 essential tips from the American Humane Society to help you act fast and smart when your pet needs you most:

1. Bleeding Injuries

If your pet is bleeding, bleeding is profuse, soaking through bandages, or blood is spurting from the wound, apply direct pressure with a clean cloth or gauze. For limbs, elevate the area if possible. If bleeding doesn’t stop within five minutes, seek immediate veterinary care.

2. Heatstroke

If you suspect heatstroke, start the cooling process immediately and take your pet to the vet as safely and quickly as possible. Move your pet to a shaded or air-conditioned space. Offer small sips of cool water and gently wet their paws and ears with a cool (not cold) cloth. Never use ice as it can cause shock. Heatstroke can be fatal and may require urgent professional treatment.

3. Insect Stings or Bites

If you see a stinger, remove it carefully with tweezers. Apply a cold compress to reduce swelling. Watch for signs of allergic reactions like difficulty breathing or vomiting and call your vet right away if they occur.

4. Poisoning

If your pet has ingested something toxic, call a veterinary emergency clinic. If directed, go to the vet who can offer first aid and assess your pet in person. Do not induce vomiting unless instructed to. Time is critical so have the suspected substance on hand for reference. You can also call the Pet Poison Helpline at (800) 213-6680.

5. Choking

Signs of choking include coughing, pawing at the mouth, or difficulty breathing. Carefully open your pet’s mouth to check for visible obstructions, removing them only if it is safe to do so. Avoid blind finger sweeps, which can push objects deeper. If the object cannot be removed, go to an emergency veterinarian immediately.

6. Build a Pet First-Aid Kit

Every pet parent should keep a dedicated kit that includes:

– Gauze and bandages

– Non-stick pads

– Adhesive tape

– Tweezers

– Antiseptic wipes

– Digital thermometer

– Muzzle or soft cloth (injured pets may bite)

– Emergency contacts

7. Know the Signs of Illness

Sudden behavior changes, vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, or labored breathing are all red flags. Early detection saves lives. Don’t wait to see if symptoms “go away on their own.” Watch for signs of eating and drinking. Most pets can go a day or two not eating, but not drinking water needs to be addressed within a few hours. Dehydration is deadly serious.

8. Practice Fire & Disaster Safety

Plan an evacuation strategy that includes your pets. Keep carriers by the door, ID tags updated and pet alert window decals on your home to notify first responders.

9. Stay Calm Under Pressure

Pets pick up on your stress. Your calm tone and steady movements can help reduce their fear and pain. Take a deep breath—your confidence helps them feel safe.

10. Keep Emergency Numbers Handy

Post your vet’s contact info, the nearest 24/7 emergency vet clinic, and the Pet Poison Helpline somewhere visible. Save them to your phone, too.

For more breaking news and pet safety tips from the American Humane Society, visit americanhumane.org.

About American Humane Society

Located in Palm Beach, Florida, and Washington, D.C., American Humane Society is the United States’ first national humane organization and the world’s largest certifier of animal welfare, helping to verify the humane treatment of more than one billion animals across the globe each year. Founded in 1877, American Humane Society has been at the forefront of virtually every major advancement in the humane movement to rescue, care for and protect animals. For more information or to support our life-changing work, visit AmericanHumane.org for the latest breaking news and features about the animals with whom we share our Earth.

Education Foundation of Martin County invites guests to explore Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory

The Education Foundation of Martin County will be exploring the adventures of Charlie Bucket and Willy Wonka’s magical chocolate factory at its upcoming Evening of Excellence | Bids for Kids event. Presented by Morganti, this elegant gala fundraiser will be held from 6-11 p.m. on Saturday, April 18, at Harbour Ridge Country Club in Palm City and is expected to be a sellout.

“We invite you to channel your inner child and join us for a whimsical adventure at the Education Foundation’s deliciously, delightful celebration of inspiration and generosity where every bid, every donation, and every golden moment helps open doors for local students and empowers teachers with the tools they need to help young minds thrive,” said Lisa Rhodes, executive director of the Education Foundation of Martin County.

Photo of Select EFMC Board Members and Event Sponsors (Phot Credit Paul Careccia)

Tickets are $250 per person (must be 21 and older to attend) and there are a limited number for sale. The evening will begin with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres followed by a delectable dinner. The gala raises funds to assist the Education Foundation with enriching and enhancing the quality of education in Martin County’s public schools.

Stephen Sines, president and CEO of 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.”

Beyond dinner and dancing, this candy-coated wonderland will offer golden opportunities at every turn, including the largest silent auction on the Treasure Coast and a live auction conducted by professional auctioneer KC Daniel. More than 500 extraordinary treasures await guests along with an exhilarating live auction featuring once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Auction items include gift baskets, vacation getaways, spa treatments, golf packages, jewelry, artwork, fishing charters and restaurant certificates. All proceeds will support educational enrichment programming for students.

 Morganti EOE Charlie and the Chocolate Factory ( Photo Credit Doreen Poreba)

Other top event sponsors include Hedrick Brothers Construction; CROC Enterprises LLC; Gehring Group Brown & Brown Public Sector; Jacquin & Sons Construction; Keiser University; Proctor Construction; PBK; Sandhill Cove Retirement Living; AT&T; Tami Karol Insurance; FPL; Anthony D. George, Jr. P.A.; Meola Technology, Inc.; Treasure Coast Psychiatry; Conchy Joe’s Seafood; The Dolphin Bar & Shrimp House; UDT; Florida Blue/USABLE; STS Aviation Group; and SwissMango.

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

Serving for shelter animals: Humane Society’s Pickle for Paws returns

PALM CITY, Fla. — The Humane Society of the Treasure Coast’s 4th annual Pickle for Paws charity event is expected to be a day of both fun and friendly competition, and all for a worthy cause — the nonprofit organization’s shelter animals. The event will be held at 8:15 a.m. on Saturday, May 9, at Harbour Ridge Yacht & Country Club’s Pickleball Center, 13500 NW Gilson Rd.

Lexi McIntyre and her pup, Bailey (photo by Doreen Poreba)

The players will hit the courts in men's doubles, 3.0 and 3.5; women’s doubles, 2.5, 3.0 and 3.5; and mixed doubles, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5 and 4.0. The national anthem and a ceremonial first serve will kick-start the games. Awards will directly follow the event’s conclusion later that afternoon.

The cost to participate is $70 per player with all proceeds benefiting the Humane Society of the Treasure Coast. Participants can view event details and register at: https://bit.ly/2026PickleforPaws.

Michael and Kim Izzolo, Robbie Jacobs and Jessica Agee-Bradshaw are chairing the event as volunteers to organize and host the event.

Michel Mejia & Luis Abreu, Silver (left) – Marsi Jacobs & Wade Hickam, Bronze (right) – Jeanelle Zuluaga & Santiago Agudelo (photo provided by Humane Society of the Treasure Coast)

Michael and Kim Izzolo are chairing the Humane Society’s Pickle for Paws event. (photo by Doreen Poreba)

“We invite you to come and enjoy a fun day on the courts while helping animals in need,” said Michael Izzolo. “Spectators are also welcome to come and cheer on their favorite teams.”

In addition to pickleball play, there will be courtside attractions including Misty’s Pals Pet Therapy teams (trained dogs and their handlers), adoptable dogs from the humane society, raffles and a silent auction. All proceeds benefit the Humane Society of the Treasure Coast.

Pickle for Paws merchandise is also available at https://www.bonfire.com/2026pickleforpaws/.

Contact Michael Izzolo at Mizzolo@comcast.net or 772-529-5384 with any questions and to learn about event sponsorship opportunities. 

About the Humane Society of the Treasure Coast – The Humane Society of the Treasure Coast (HSTC) is a no-kill animal welfare organization located at 4100 SW Leighton Farm Ave. in Palm City, FL. Since 1955, it has been the leading advocate for animal protection and well-being in the Martin County area. A 501(c)3 private, nonprofit organization, the HSTC is independent and locally operated and relies on donations to support its programs and services. Follow the HSTC on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/humanesocietyTC and Twitter at https://www.twitter.com/hstc1. For more information, visit https://www.hstc1.org or call (772) 223-8822.

Treasure Coast Community Singers Youth/Middle and High School Chorus to Debut First Ever Concert

The Treasure Coast Community Singers Youth, Middle and High School Choruses is proud to announce its first ever public performance, taking place on Saturday, May 2 at 3:00pm at Trinity United Methodist Church, 2221 NE Savannah Rd., Jensen Beach, Fl.

This exciting event marks a milestone for the young singers showcasing months of dedication, growth and musical exploration. Under the direction of Kay McDonald and Marguerite Krull, these choruses bring together students in grades K-4 (Youth) and grades 5-10 (Middle/High School) who share a passion for music, performance and fun! A diverse and engaging program highlighting the students’ developing vocal skills and artistry both as ensemble singers and soloists.  This concert represents not just a performance, but a journey. The students have worked incredibly hard to build confidence, learn teamwork and discover the joy of singing together.  We are so happy to share this with the community.

Tickets are available at the door or on the website www.tccsingers.org. Hope to see you there!

101-Year-Old WWII Hero to Receive France’s Highest Honor — Right Here in Stuart on April 27

On April 27th, a 101-year-old Army combat veteran will stand in a room surrounded by family, friends, and fellow residents—and receive France’s most prestigious civilian and military honor: the Légion d’Honneur. The French Consulate will travel to Addington Place of Stuart to personally present the award to Robert Crecco—a quiet, humble man who still says the secret to living to 101 is simple: “Brush your teeth.”

Robert Crecco was 18 years old when he graduated from Medford High School in Massachusetts in 1943. Within months, he was a Private 1st Class in the U.S. Army, deployed to England to prepare for what would become the most consequential military operation in modern history.

On June 23, 1944—just weeks after D-Day—Robert was wounded in combat near Saint-Lô, France, a strategic communications hub that Allied forces were fighting desperately to capture. Serving with the 2nd Infantry Division, DT+1 Unit, he was a Combat Infantryman on the ground in Normandy when he was struck down. He was evacuated through a chain of field medical stations, flown to England, and spent recovery time in a General Hospital in Oxford.

For that sacrifice, Robert received the Purple Heart on July 10, 1944.

Robert will turn 101 years old on April 27. On that same day, a representative from the French Consulate will arrive at Addington Place of Stuart to formally present him with the Légion d’Honneur, an order founded by Napoleon Bonaparte and France’s highest recognition of valor and service. 

Robert has called Addington Place of Stuart home since 2015. Team members describe him as quiet, reserved, and deeply grateful—a man who never draws attention to himself but has earned every ounce of admiration the community has for him. His passions: photography, tennis, and stamp collecting.

He has even returned to France since the war as a tourist, visiting sites he remembered and paying his respects at military cemeteries.

His philosophy? “Make the most of every day and every opportunity.”

 

EVENT DETAILS:

• What: 101st Birthday Celebration & French Légion d’Honneur Presentation Ceremony
• When: Sunday, April 27, starting at 3 pm
• Where: Addington Place of Stuart | 3400 SE Aster Ln, Stuart, FL 34994

There are fewer than 100,000 World War II veterans still alive in America. Robert is one of them—and on April 27th, his story comes full circle in the most beautiful way. He's happy to speak with you. I'd love to get you there.

STUART, FL – The United Way of Martin County Foundation was proud to announce Andy and Lorraine Popky as the 2026 Frances Langford Humanitarian Award recipients on February 16 at Piper’s Landing. This prestigious award recognizes community philanthropists who demonstrate care, compassion and commitment in support of United Way and the non-profit sector.

Brothers Bob & Bill Crandle

For Andy and Lorraine, giving back has been a lifelong commitment. 

Fifteen years ago, Andy and Lorraine chose Martin County as the place to begin their next chapter. Originally from Long Island, New York, they quickly embraced the relationships and lifestyle that make this community so special – immersing themselves in neighborhood life and building meaningful connections along the way.

Andy & Lorraine Popky, 2026 Frances Langford Award Recipients. (Andy & Lorraine Popky, Carol G. Houwaart-Diez

Their journey here was shaped by decades of hard work, leadership, and perseverance. Lorraine retired from a distinguished career with Ameriprise Financial, while Andy built his company, Tombstone City, from the ground up in the machine tool industry. Guided by trust, integrity, and strong partnerships, Andy grew a successful business rooted in collaboration and sealed with a good old-fashioned handshake. Together, they built a life that not only afforded them success, but also the time and opportunity to give back.

That spirit of generosity led them to United Way, where its work across education, health, and financial stability deeply resonated. As members of the Alexis de Tocqueville Society, Andy and Lorraine have helped improve the lives of thousands of Martin County residents over the past decade.

Their commitment to service extends beyond a single organization. Andy is also set to participate in House of Hope’s Top Chef event – bringing his self-proclaimed lack of cooking skills to the stage in support of neighbors facing food insecurity. It’s this blend of humility, humor, and heart that defines their approach to giving.

“We’ve always believed that if you’re in a position to help, you should,” said Andy and Lorraine Popky. “Martin County has given us so much, and being able to give back – whether that’s through United Way or even a Top Chef event where I probably shouldn’t be trusted in the kitchen – is something we truly enjoy.”

Together, Andy and Lorraine embody the compassion and humanitarian spirit that Frances Langford envisioned for Martin County. Through their generosity and service, they continue to strengthen the community they love – helping ensure Martin County remains not just a wonderful place to live, but a place where all can thrive.

The award was named in honor of the famed singer, actress, philanthropist and long-time resident of Martin County, Frances Langford who trusted United Way with the dual mandate of transforming lives and fortifying community bonds. Frances also served as the pioneering chair of United Way’s Alexis de Tocqueville Society, igniting a legacy of leadership. Her dedication and commitment to community advancement has played an integral role in shaping the organization into the agent of change it is today.

Previous Frances Langford Humanitarian Award recipients include:

• 2025 – Muffin & John Adamiak
• 2024 – Betsy Herold
• 2022 – Bob & Karen Croce
• 2021 – Fred & Betty Kopf*
• 2020 – John & Linda Loewenberg
• 2019 – Joe & Margaret Richebourg Temple*
• 2018 – Bob & Jan* Crandall / Bill & Audrey Crandall
• 2017 – H. William Lichtenberger
• 2016 – John* & Susan Sullivan
• 2015 – Douglass* & Patricia Stewart
• 2014 – Prestley & Helen Blake*
• 2013 – Barbara Briggs Trimble*
• 2011 – Robert & Carol* Weissman

*Passed away

United Way of Martin County Foundation Immediate Past Chair, Dennis Longstreet and his wife Linda. (Dennis & Linda Longstreet)

During the reception, the Foundation shared updates on United Way of Martin County’s efforts to address transportation, disaster recovery, and federal budget cuts. Thanks to initiatives like Ride United, transportation is no longer one of the top 10 unmet needs in Martin County. United Way was also selected by the County’s Emergency Operations Center to serve as the central hub for disaster recovery efforts.

Additionally, the organization made targeted investments to help offset the impact of federal budget cuts, including $20,000 to House of Hope to support expanded pantry services and emergency assistance, and $20,000 to the Council on Aging of Martin County to ensure seniors continued to have access to food, support services, and basic necessities.

These investments reflect United Way’s commitment to addressing gaps in real time and supporting partners on the front lines of service.

Thank you to our Reception Sponsors Bill Crandall and Bob Crandall & Ellyn Stevenson; and to our additional sponsors who helped make this event possible: Betsy Herold, Robert Weissman, Seacoast Wealth Management, Carol Webb, HBK CPAs & Consultants and HBKS Wealth Advisors, Muffin & John Adamiak, SouthState, Keane Thomas & Pinnacoli, and Sandhill Cove.

###

About United Way of Martin County Foundation

The United Way of Martin County Foundation is an independent public charity dedicated to securing the future of our community. By accepting legacy gifts and building a robust endowment fund, the Foundation is uniquely positioned to address the current and future unmet needs of Martin County. For more information about United Way of Martin County Foundation, please visit: UnitedWayMartin.org/Foundation

SONGWRITERS & STORYTELLERS WAS A DOWN-HOME SENSATION AT THE ROCKIN’ H RANCH 

BENEFITING

BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF MARTIN COUNTY

Monday, April 6, 2026 (Stuart, Fla.) -   The Third Annual Songwriters & Storytellers, benefiting Boys & Girls Clubs of Martin County, was a sold-out success and an unforgettable evening under the stars at Rockin’ H Ranch in Palm City. Guests embraced the spirit of the night—donning boots, pearl snap shirts, and hats—for a lively country-inspired experience filled with great music, dinner, and dancing.

                                         Ricky Young, Jordan Oaks and Cade Walker

Set against the scenic backdrop of the ranch, the evening began with a cocktail hour featuring Stuart native Cade Walker, as guests enjoyed appetizers prepared and served by members of Boys & Girls Clubs of Martin County’s Fork in the Road Culinary Team.

The program kicked off with an energetic performance by Boys & Girls Clubs of Martin County youth line dancers, setting the tone for an exciting evening. The event was emceed by WIRK’s Eddie-E, who brought enthusiasm and energy throughout the night. Songwriters & Storytellers offered a unique, intimate, behind-the-music concert experience, showcasing some of today’s most talented singer-songwriters, including Cade Walker, Ricky Young, and Jordan Oaks.

Truist- Christy Lybass, Lisa Matthews, Steven Rivera, Corinne & Rob Tweeddale and Anne Rodriguez

Following dinner and a spirited auction, guests took to the dance floor for line dancing and live entertainment by Jordan Oaks and his band, creating an energetic close to an incredible night.  Proceeds from the event support the Boys & Girls Clubs of Martin County’s workforce development programs, which are designed to expand career opportunities beyond high school graduation. As the only pre-apprenticeship program of its kind in the area, these initiatives equip youth with essential employment skills while creating a direct pipeline to both careers and local employers.

Through programs such as Skilled Trades, Career Exploration and Virtual Training, Culinary Arts, Manufacturing 4.0, and Futures in Fashion, the Clubs provide hands-on, industry-relevant training. The overarching goal of the Workforce Development initiative is to ensure that every young person has access to the tools, resources, and opportunities needed to succeed after graduation.

The event was co-chaired by Beth Garcia Svopa (board member) and Andrew Kennedy. Committee members included Dan Bettencourt, Missi Campbell, Aislynn Mooney, Jackie Rea, Jennifer Sardone-Shiner, Meg Shirey, and Sarah Testa.

Sponsors included Beth & Steve Svopa, Brown & Brown Insurance, Proctor Construction Company, Architects Design Collaborative, Northern Trust, FPL, Alpha Door & Hardware, Artisan Design Group, Bowman Consulting, Florida Training Services, JP Morgan Private Bank, Southern Eagle, Thornwood Financial, VM Iron Work & Structural Steel Corp., All Area Roofing, BankUnited, Danmark Development, Elder and Estate Planning Attorneys, PA, Elev8Fun, H&M Impact Window and Door, Mattamy Homes, McCarthy, Summers, Wood, Norman, Melby, Schultz, Wood & VanValkenburgh, P.A., Mesirow Wealth Management, Ridgeway Plumbing, Tradewind Aviation, Sunshine Land Design, Truist, Brennan Engineering & Brenginuity Bushings, Exergame Fitness, Marsh McLennan Agency, South Florida Orthopedic, Terra Lago, Sir Speedy Print, Signs, Marketing, 103.1 WIRK, The Stuart Magazine, and JSS Marketing & PR.

Jordan Oaks, Beth Svopa and Ricky Young

To learn more about the Boys & Girls Clubs of Martin County, visit www.bgcmartin.org.
                                                                                                                                ###
About Boys & Girls Clubs of Martin County:
For more than 30 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of Martin County has provided award-winning programs designed to guide and inspire young people ages 6-18 to learn, grow, and mature on the route to becoming successful adults. Each of the four clubs enjoys strong partnerships with local schools and communities.

Such cohesion ensures that Boys & Girls Clubs' programs complement and enrich the curriculum our members learn in class, as well as remain attuned to the challenges and opportunities they face on a day-
to-day basis. The clubs offer opportunities for fun, fitness, and S.T.E.A.M. activities, and certified teachers collaborate with club members on everything from tutoring andhomework help to specialized courses that prepare them for careers in a variety of trades.

Post event Photos by Mary Ann Ketchum

4/14: Jackie Robinson Game
Holman Stadium, 3901 26th Street, Vero Beach, FL 32960

Held annually on April 15th, this special event honors Jackie Robinson’s achievements while supporting United Way’s mission to improve lives. Hosted at the iconic Jackie Robinson Training Complex, the game has become a cherished tradition and a must-attend experience for Treasure Coast baseball fans and supporters alike.

Thank you to the Presenting Sponsors – Merrill Lynch Wealth Management Groups of Shambo, Schwibner, Schwartz, and Morgan Petersen Rinchack!

4/15–19: Ft. Pierce King Mackerel Invitational
– Ft. Pierce City Marina, 1 Avenue A, Fort Pierce, FL 34950

A TOURNAMENT FOR FISHERMEN, BY FISHERMEN WITH MAXIMUM PAYOUTS!

This tournament will be maxed out at 100 boats with an entry fee of $5,000 per boat. The Fort Pierce King Mackerel Invitational has gained respect quickly across the Treasure Coast and amongst anglers and has become the "High Roller" tournament of the year! Check the event schedule and come support the anglers at the weigh-in.

4/18–19: NE NW Artistic Swimming Association Championships
– Sailfish Splash Waterpark, 931 SE Ruhnke Street, Stuart, FL 34994

Looking to participate in a sport that requires skill, strength, strategic thinking and the desire to play as part of a team? Artistic swimming can enhance your life, improve fitness, strength, and coordination. This event is sanctioned by USA Artistic Swimming, Expect to see around 200 athletes compete for the title.

4/24–26: Perfect Game Treasure Coast Classic
– Lawnwood Baseball Complex, 1302 Virginia Ave, Fort Pierce, FL 34982

Perfect Game’s mission is to promote the game of baseball now and in the future by hosting the highest quality amateur events while providing meaningful opportunities and information to players, families, MLB organizations, college coaches, and fans. Expect to see over 25 teams participating in the 13U and 14U age division.

4/25–26: Vero Beach Spring Classic
– Hobart Soccer Complex, 4465 77th St, Vero Beach, FL 32967

Vero Beach is a perfect location for your team to visit. The amazing field complex is just 15 minutes from local beaches. The host hotel is located on the beach with a pool, restaurant, and bar on the beach. A good range of teams from across the state makes this a perfect location and tournament for your early season.

4/25–26: PDGA Disc Golf 10 Mile Creek Classic
– Gordy Road Recreation Area, 305 Gordy Road, Fort Pierce, FL 34945

The 11th Annual Up the Ten Mile Creek Classic will be a two-round, two-day, tee time event. Saturday will be 27 holes, playing to the silver baskets on the main course and the back 9. Sunday will be 27 holes, playing to the blue baskets on the main course and the back 9. Friday (before the tournament) TCDG will host an early check-in and player's pack pickup at Gordy starting at 4 p.m. MPO Player Kevin Kiefer III will be offering a free disc golf clinic that evening around 6 p.m.

4/26–29: U.S. Disabled Golf Open Championship
– PGA Golf Club, 1916 Perfect Dr, Port St.

Jason Faircloth's golfing journey began with learning to adapt his playing style to accommodate his physical limitations. Through perseverance, he developed techniques that allowed him to excel at the game despite suffering from Cerebral Palsy. In 2011, Jason was the first and only American to play in the Disabled British Open. He was one of only three persons with Cerebral Palsy to play in the event. 

It was while participating in this event that he found the inspiration to form the United States Disabled Golf Association (USDGA). 

The organization is dedicated to promoting the sport for individuals with disabilities and providing competitive opportunities on both national and international levels!

The mission of Play Treasure Coast Sports Tourism, formerly known as the Treasure Coast Sports Commission, is to promote the Treasure Coast region as a premier sports destination. The organization works to attract sporting events that enhance community engagement and generate economic benefits for Indian River, St. Lucie, and Martin Counties. Rights holders and tournament directors have access to top‑tier sports facilities, special hotel pricing, and grants to support their events.

Rick Hatcher, STS

Members of Orchid Island Golf & Beach Club Host “Home is Where the Heart Is” Cocktail Reception Benefiting Habitat for Humanity

VERO BEACH, FL – Nearly 80 guests gathered for an evening of purpose and philanthropy at the annual “Home is Where the Heart Is” Cocktail Reception, hosted at the private residence of Andrea and Bryan Davidson. Hosted by members of Orchid Island Golf & Beach Club in partnership with Indian River Habitat for Humanity, the event highlighted the profound impact of community support in helping local families achieve homeownership.

Lori Clark, Linda Wilkinson, Lisa Spey, Stacey Jordan

Set against an elegant waterfront backdrop, the reception featured thoughtfully prepared hors d’oeuvres and beverages served by Orchid Island members. The evening brought together residents and supporters united by a shared commitment to building brighter futures.

At the heart of the evening was future homeowner Gina Balacano, whose journey embodies the mission of Habitat for Humanity. Joined by Caryn and John Morrow, Chairpersons of Orchid Island’s Habitat initiative, Balacano personally thanked attendees and shared what this opportunity means for her family.

Jay Needham, Chief Development Officer And John Morrow, Orchid Island Habitat for Humanity

The celebration follows a milestone earlier this year. In February, Orchid Island members and Habitat volunteers came together for a “Wall Raising” event, where the first walls of Balacano’s future home were lifted into place, bringing the community’s support to life and creating a home that will offer stability, safety, and hope.

“This is what makes our community so special,” said John Morrow, Chairperson of Orchid Island Habitat for Humanity. “It’s not just about building a house, it’s about coming together to change a life. Seeing our members roll up their sleeves at the Wall Raising and then gather again to celebrate that progress alongside the future homeowner is incredibly meaningful. It’s a reminder that when we work together, we can create something truly lasting.”

                             John Kozak, Greg Clark, John Sullivan

About Orchid Island Golf and Beach Club 

Spanning from the Atlantic Ocean to the Indian River, Orchid Island Golf and Beach Club is highly sought-after for its laid back waterfront lifestyle. The Beach Club serves as the heart of the community, with a resort-style pool, nail salon and spa, and multiple dining venues – all overlooking the azure Atlantic Ocean. Residents also enjoy nearly a mile of a secluded beach, an Arnold Palmer-designed championship golf course, and an Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary. Located along Florida’s Treasure Coast, Orchid Island is home to a wide variety of premier riverfront and oceanfront estates, courtyard homes, cottages, and low-rise condominiums.

Promise Fund to Host Free ‘Mammography Screening Days’ in Martin County

Since 2024, nearly 470 Treasure Coast women have been screened

Stuart, FL (April 9, 2026) – Promise Fund, a South Florida-based nonprofit dedicated to increasing survivorship from breast and cervical cancer, will host free Mammography Screening Days from 8 a.m to 2 p.m on the following dates:

●       Monday, April 20 at 15858 SW Warfield Blvd, Indiantown

●       Thursday, April 23 at 11090 SE Federal Hwy, Hobe Sound

●       Wednesday, May 13 at 3441 SE Willoughby Blvd, Stuart

Since expanding to the Treasure Coast in 2024, Promise Fund has provided breast and cervical cancer screenings to more than 470 women, delivering early detection and, in some cases, lifesaving intervention.

The screening event is presented in partnership with Florida Mobile Mammography, Florida Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program, and Florida Community Health Centers, Inc.

“It’s important to take advantage of these free opportunities because early screening can catch a diagnosis before symptoms begin,” said Patricia Ferrer, Promise Fund’s Martin County Navigator. “The earlier the detection, the better chance someone has to increase survivorship and receive treatment that is less severe and invasive.”

                                          PromiseFundNavigators                     

The next free screening day after these three events is scheduled for June 17.

Promise Fund currently operates four screening programs at community health centers in Palm Beach and Broward counties and is actively seeking funding to establish a permanent presence in Martin County.

Appointments are required. To register, call 305-389-5850.

Promise Fund reaches tens of thousands of women in Palm Beach, Broward and Martin Counties who are uninsured, under insured or have limited or no access to healthcare. The organization, founded in 2018 by Ambassador Nancy G. Brinker, is dedicated to increasing survivorship from cervical cancer and breast cancer by providing guided support and access to screenings, as well as early detection, treatment, and beyond. 

To date, Promise Fund has reached more than 125,000 individuals through outreach and education, and has impacted the lives of over 27,000 women through access to screenings, diagnostics, and care and Promise Fund has helped 271 women who were diagnosed with cancer navigate getting treatment.

ABOUT PROMISE FUND
Promise Fund, founded in 2018, is a non-profit organization dedicated to increasing survivorship from breast and cervical cancer by providing guided support and access to screenings, as well as early detection, treatment, and beyond. To learn more, visit thepromisefund.org. Follow on Instagram @thepromisefund and on Facebook @PromiseFundofFL. 

When the 6th Amendment to the Island Crossing PUD came before the commission on March 10th, I believed that would be a slam dunk approval. Was I wrong!

The last vacant parcel of the PUD was to be a 2-story storage unit 99,922 square foot building. The PUD, which includes a Publix shopping center, out parcels, and a bank office building, was the perfect no-drama use. An upscale housing development, which will share a road with the storage building, was in favor. All the other parcels of the PUD were in favor. Then why was the district commissioner, Blake Capps, not in favor?

The parcel located on Bridge Road right off Federal Highway was going to service the residents of Jupiter Island and Discovery. The applicant was going to build turn lanes at its expense. They were going to give another half-acre of preserve in addition to the 2.3 acres already there, there was going to be a pedestrian seating area, and $25,000 for the restoration of the Hobe Sound Train Station.

District commissioners have leverage over projects in their district. For some reason, Blake Capps was against it. His reasons had to do with the size of the space which was completely within his discretion for the county to issue a denial. It doesn’t matter that the primary reason for the denial was that the gross leasable area exceeded what the PUD allowed in 1989 because gross leasable area is no longer a factor in the code.

Yet another storage unit project was approved on Dixie Highway and Osprey with 3 stories and 97,500 square feet at the same meeting. In that case, Capps stated that when he moved to approve the application, it was not part of a PUD Amendment though part of a 1978 PUD.

Capps gave legalistic reasons for approving one and denying the other.

Commissioner Ciampi gave it the old college try. He spoke about all the commonsense reasons that should be considered. Neighborhood backing, public benefit, and the need for storage units for two upscale communities were all mentioned. Ciampi was a yes on both projects.  

I believe approving the one storage unit on Dixie was the right thing to do.  I also believe the denial of the one on Bridge Road was a mistake. There are permitted uses by right that do not have to come back before the commission such as a gas station or laundromat or restaurant would. The applicant can even build apartments under 102 but I don’t believe that would happen. I guarantee that no other use would be as passive as the storage units.

Why was Capps so adamantly against? I don’t know, maybe the development team rubbed him the wrong way. Perhaps the team didn’t offer, and Capps didn’t ask for, a further public benefit. Too late now.

I suspect that if Blake Capps was a proponent of the project the vote would have been 5-0 to approve instead of 4-1 for denial. As I wrote above, district commissioners are given much latitude by fellow commissioners. The only way to know will be if Capps suffers pushback when something goes there that really impacts the residents using the same road or from competition from existing businesses.

By Merritt Matheson

Environmentalist, Former Mayor, & Founder of Martin County Forever

In 2024, Martin County voters went to the polls and with 64% approval, added a ½ cent sales tax to buy environmentally sensitive lands in four key areas: Indian River Lagoon South, Loxa-Lucie, Pal-Mar Wetlands, and Blueways.

As a member of Martin County Forever, which spearheaded the effort, we rallied support for the measure by promising to hold the Martin County Commission responsible for abiding by the referendum language, and the board passed a resolution of implementation. A committee representing various sectors of the community was formed as part of that resolution to ensure citizens tax dollars were spent as promised. I was appointed as an environmental representative.

Since our initial meeting, the committee has recommended over 20 environmentally sensitive parcels to purchase or to buy the development rights to the county commission. Progress has occurred.  The properties already in conservation, range from productive agricultural land, upland and wetland parcels, and a river to beachfront parcel on Hutchinson Island. With all to remain in conservation for Martin County’s Environmental benefit.

This has been a success story for Martin County. Because of the strict language of the referendum and dedicated zeal of Martin County’s staff, the Environmental Lands Oversight Committee (ELOC) and especially the BOCC, the sites meet the requirements as the voters had intended.

Sales tax is allocated by population. Unincorporated Martin County has received the largest amount, about $20 million so far. As the largest municipality, Stuart has received $2.7 million. Before the referendum, Martin County Forever received the assurance of then City Manager Michael Mortell that the proceeds would be used for environmental projects. He even had a list of purchases and projects that would have met the intent of the referendum. With the ousting of Mortell by the commission, that promise can no longer be counted upon.

Unlike the county’s ELOC which can vet land purchases, the Stuart City Commission has resisted creating an independent board of citizens. At the county, the main check on the BOCC to ensure the money is spent as intended is the ELOC which must first make sure that the recommended land meets the criteria for purchase or conservation. There is no such check at the city on their commission.

Because of that and without even commission approval, Mayor Collins approached the Martin County School Board about buying the old high school. The school board and the Martin Arts Foundation have been negotiating a lease for the property for some time. Collins’ approach is wrong on so many levels.

I believe that Stuart has many dedicated citizens who wish to serve their city. In the past few years, instead of expanding citizen involvement, the city commission has disbanded boards. They have concentrated power in their hands and mostly have passed items with 3-2 votes. This is not what local government is supposed to be.

Citizen oversight should be welcome, not resisted. The City Commission should immediately create an independent board of city residents to look at and approve all capital projects which would use their portion of the environmental land’s sales tax. The voters passed the measure to protect our heritage…the environment.  When did this commission become anti-environment?

Matt Theobold, the former president of the Martin County Education Association, has been fighting his pending dismissal from the Martin County School District for comments he wrote on a Facebook page about Charlie Kirk.

He is trying to get his job back at Spectrum Academy as a social studies teacher. The comments were not made on either the union’s social media page or any page connected to his job as a teacher. He called Kirk a racist, misogynistic, xenophobic neo-Nazi. Theobold claims those remarks were based on evidence of things that Kirk himself said.

Last week in an article in TCPalm two comments were made under a LinkedIn post regarding an FDA decision to phase out animal testing during drug research. Dr. Philip Seibel a surgeon at HCA Florida Lawnwood wrote: “BRAVO. About time we started using illegal immigrants!” So much for that Hippocratic oath you took “to do no harm,” Doc.

Stuart-Martin Chamber of Commerce CEO Joe Catrambone then added his comment, “Allow it on Dems.” I know the idea in Florida that Democrats are people is a novel one. I guess Joe felt that Dems in general were a step lower down the evolutionary chain than dogs.

Both Catrambone and Seibel later deleted their comments. Catrambone said he was remorseful. And I will take him at his word on that. Seibel could not be reached for comment.

Social media is full of posts trying to be cute or to illicit a reaction. Sometimes people forget that once posted it can be seen by everyone that has a smart phone and an inordinate amount of time to doom scroll. It shows how far we have fallen in having a sane discourse.

No one is more proficient at posting blasphemous or contentious or untruthful words than President Trump. Judges have decided his intent and frame of mind in court cases by using his posts. Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle must be just shaking their heads with the dribble coming out of social media.

Will Catrambone or Seibel lose their jobs over their “jokes.” Probably not nor should they. It is too bad what passes for humor or witty repartee is far from that these days…it is just inappropriate. Oscar Wilde or even Oscar Levante are cringing in their graves to see what passes for clever badinage in 2026.

Just like Catrambone and Seibel should not lose their jobs, neither should Theobold. He was “off duty” when he wrote his remarks. If you read what Kirk said and wrote in his lifetime, Theobold did not make anything up. Yet he will probably pay the price of losing his 17-year career. Not because of what he said but because of who he said it about.

Theobold should have used better judgement. He devoted his life to teaching civics, government, and history and representing his fellow teachers. Is he less deserving than Seibel and Catrambone?

In Florida, it is acceptable if you use illegal immigrants and Democrats as a punch line but do not speak ill of Republican martyrs.

Former commissioner James Campo used to like comparing Sewall’s Point to Mayberry. I never thought it was an accurate analogy.

The fictional Mayberry N.C. of Andy Griffith fame was a small town where it was so peaceful the sheriff didn’t carry a gun and his deputy, played by Don Knotts, carried an unloaded pistol keeping the one bullet he was allowed in a shirt pocket. Just the fact that Sewall’s Point has a police force of 10 officers for its 2000 residents tells you it isn’t Mayberry.

When I watched the last meeting of the Sewall’s Point Commission, I thought of the town of Mudville from the poem, “Casey at the Bat” by Ernest Thayer written in 1888. Maybe it was because I had just watched part of a baseball game on TV. Or maybe it was what I perceived as the commission wielding imaginary ones at each other and especially at the manager and at times other staff members.

The night’s unpleasantness started with approving change orders on the road and sewer work. Commissioner Tidikis started by questioning why these issues were not foreseen, especially some of the landscaping work, and not included in the bid price. Another contentious issue for him was the need to reinforce a driveway with concrete a non-permeable alternative.

It wasn’t as if Tidikis’ questions weren’t justified. It was the way he asked them. The tone seemed to suggest that both Kimley Horn, the engineer monitoring the job and Captec the town engineer and designer were being paid lots and did not correctly spec the job nor adequately supervise the contractors. Throw in the animosity that Tidikis has for Bob Daniels, the manager, and you can see where I throw Mayberry out the window and bring in a place that has men with bats swinging away as an alternative.

Anyone who has ever done any type of home improvement project knows that there will be unexpected expenses. A plumbing line buried in a wall is rotten and needs to be replaced or a beam is showing termite damage. Change orders are to be expected.

Kaija Mayfield, who is a CPA and is a veteran commissioner, is a thoughtful member. It doesn’t appear that she has much of an agenda except to improve the town. Commissioner Frank Fender has also come a long way from when he was first elected. Dave Kurzman shows concern and is humble enough to understand he is not an expert on these construction projects. They don’t always agree but I haven’t seen them being very disagreeable.

Vinny Barile, who is mayor this year and is in his second period as a town commissioner, has institutional knowledge. He appears to be more even handed than Tidikis. Yet there is a definite disconnect about how he believes the town should proceed in most things than the other three.

Barile as mayor has insisted that he be called last when voting. That gives him a political advantage. It means in 2-2 decisions, he has the deciding vote. It would be better if the clerk had a rotating order for voting so that no one person has an advantage.

When it comes to change orders, it isn’t possible to shut down the job to wait for a decision to be made at the next commission meeting. You must trust your manager to be looking out for the town’s interest. I don’t believe Tidikis trusts the manager.

However, the vote was 3-2 with Tidikis and Barile voting no to making the payments.

There doesn’t appear to be any joy in Mudville after any commission meetings.

After many months, the Sober Home issue was back. Most municipalities have already passed an ordinance that meets state law. Sewall’s Point has not.

The town had the foresight years ago to pass a ban on Short-Term Rentals before the state preempted the municipalities’ ability to do so. Sewall’s Point had passed a long-term rental policy requiring people to sign at least an 180-day lease. The town must treat all occupants the same whether renting a house for a family or a bed in a sober home.

Leases are to be registered with the town. That means a resident must commit to 180 days. Landlords are not allowed to re-rent for the remainder of a term if an occupant vacates early.

I guess in rich Sewall’s Point, you are allowed to rent beds as you are in any boarding house. A sober home is treated like every other rental so that everyone is treated the same. The owner just needs to collect the 180-day rent up front so he is protected.

But I am wondering if demanding that the patient provide their name and commit to 180 days is a HIPPA violation? A lawsuit might be interesting to see whether the plaintiff could force some easy money from the town. Stay tuned.

Then there was an item about whether to purchase the property behind town hall. The county has it as surplus real estate. It once belonged to the town, but Sewall’s Point signed it over to a private water company and then it was absorbed as part of Martin Utilities.

It is inaccessible except through town property. Sewall’s Point may use it if they intend to raise the level of the town hall property. The vote was 4-1 to purchase with Tidikis voting no.

There was a construction accident that resulted in storm water being discharged directly into the lagoon. Daniels notified South Florida Management District. Samples were taken and there was no discernable increase in effluents. Some residents were upset but it seems that it was just an accident. It became another reason to kick the manager.

Then at the end, Mayfield asked Tidikis why his newsletter is so negative? She doesn’t understand. He responded to her. She thinks that Tidikis was trying to stir up resentment among the residents for the commission…a commission of which he is a member.

But there is no joy in Mudville. The Sewall’s Point Commission has struck out.

It never seems to fail that if something new is proposed then a subset of individuals will oppose it.

Edison built the first power plant in the U.S. on Pearl Street in the heart of the financial district to serve high profile clients like J.P. Morgan. He knew if he won the banks and brokerage offices over, he would succeed. Once those places were wired, they became his greatest proponents.

Some people were still against the new-fangled light. People complained that electric light could cause mysterious illnesses and harm eyesight as compared with the “soft light” of gas and candles.

It is true that early electrical systems were conducted by poorly insulated overhead wires that did cause horses to be electrocuted on occasion. The “forest of poles” with wires sagging over streets and sidewalks were horrible to look at. To placate the naysayers, Edison had the city bury the wires underground. Almost 150 years later America is still trying to bury their power wires.

It soon became apparent that having electricity in your home was worth the problems the electrical grid may cause. The same can be said for data centers. Americans cannot have the interconnected world we do if data centers are not built.

I have been researching both data centers in general and Silver Fox specifically. There are real concerns, and Indiantown should proceed with caution. In everything we do we need to look at the pros and the cons.

Why are data centers so critical to our lives and businesses? “The simple answer is they are specialized facilities that house computing, networking, and storage equipment for modern digital life.” (Google A.I. answer) Without a data center that answer would not have been possible.

Not so long ago a company’s or individual’s data was kept either on an in-house server or computer disks. Thirty-five years ago, I remember running backup remote drives for my business every night before leaving, then locking the drive in a waterproof container in case of an accident.

With the advent of the internet this was no longer the best way to store data. Governments and companies had their own servers in protected rooms. Then we began hiring companies like Amazon to protect our digital files off site. Think about it as a Drop Box for larger entities.

Today, with the advent of A.I. and everything we do being digital there need to be data centers of hundreds of thousands and millions of feet to house the storing and processing of information and communication. That is where Silver Fox comes in and why it is different than earlier versions.

Silver Fox has A.I. specific infrastructure. It will have an on-site A.I. Lab dedicated to artificial intelligence research. The proposed site is 606 acres with about a third of the property a dedicated wetland. The campus itself will have 2.2 million square feet and five buildings. It will employ 400 people, many of which are currently living locally.

On site there will be a dedicated FPL substation. It will only be for the site, and it will be built with funds provided by the center and not affect other rate payers. The site will utilize two man made lakes to assist with cooling the A.I. servers. Supposedly the only municipal water to be used will be for staff needs.

The cooling will be accomplished by a “closed loop” system. Once the system is initially filled, they will be using the two lakes as a cooling area. The lakes will be stormwater retention ponds and help drain the site under an integrated plan. The South Florida Water Management District oversees the permits to make sure the surrounding ecosystems are not drying out. There will be no new wells drilled.

The developers are not saying there won’t be noise. They are counting on the fact that at present the site is about 2 miles from homes. Most of the surrounding area is zoned industrial. There may still be a distinct hum from Silver Fox heard at both River Oak and Terra Lago.

A wall like that built for traffic noise would not be effective in this case. There are acoustic enclosures that may dampen the sound if placed around the cooling units. 6-foot earthen berms are also something that can help.

There are tradeoffs all the time that we live with. Our modern world can no longer operate without these data centers. Just try working without your computer operating. For years we used paper and pencils to do our office work. We also had to go to a library to do research. Movies, music, and books that are all online would be nonassessable without either buying them or going to a library. Social media and modern smart phones would no longer function.

Does Indiantown believe they would be better off with jobs and millions in tax revenue or not? Perhaps the council and residents should take a field trip to see a data center built in the last year. Because looking at one constructed in 2023 would be looking at outdated technology. That is how fast things are changing in the field.

The very people that were once village residents and then asked to be unincorporated have become the biggest complainers about Indiantown projects, most notably the proposed data center.

Eric Miller and others wanted nothing to do with Indiantown when they would have to pay tax to the village. They are now the same people who want to make sure that the village can’t increase its tax base to residents either. This is NIMBYism taken to an extreme.

I am still in the gathering information stage about the data center. From everything I have read and the experts I have spoken with, the proposed project will not use any village water or water from the aquifer once it starts up. That is what will be in the development order and what the applicant will agree to.

As to bringing additional expense to electric users, both FPL and the applicant have promised (it will be in the approval order) that the electric substation will be paid for by the user and not any other customer. Those two issues are what I would be concerned with if I were living there.

While I believe the two issues mentioned above are the main ones, there are others that I need more information about before I can be comfortable with having the plant. The project will need permits from SFWMD regarding the lakes being constructed and property drainage. That is where the applicant proposes their water will come from for the center itself. My question is how the applicant can make sure that there is sufficient water from the property. What happens in a drought?

My other question is what about the noise? With everything I have read and studied, humming is a constant problem. There are ways to mitigate it but so far, and I don’t know whether any cure that I found is adequate or not.

That is a big source of the problem with people coming out and speaking in favor (not many) and against (more) without enough knowledge. The study by Cambridge University that the naysayers have cited about creating heat deserts by increasing surrounding temperatures by an average of 3.6 degrees could be worrying. Though the study has not had peer review, which means their data and conclusions have not been verified.

They also had 20 years of information. That in and of itself may be biassed because the older the facility studied, the less likely they have more modern technology installed which could lessen the impact. From everything I have read from 2023 until today, technology has improved substantially.

The village needs experts to weigh in on what is being proposed. That hasn’t happened yet. And that is what Mayor Dipaolo was trying to get out to the public when he asked Attorney Vose to explain the laborious process of how a project moves through the review pipeline.

I think Dipaolo made a mistake by wanting Miller to be removed because of a “stare down” that Miller initiated after he spoke. I couldn’t see it from the recording, but Miller is known for such antics, and they have never served him well. Dipaolo should have just left him to stare.

Here is the second thing people don’t get. How do you pay for things like parks and recreation on a tax roll that can barely keep the lights on? Industry is the only thing that will save and enhance programs. You can’t complain that you want this and that, then protest industry moving to Indiantown.

Without industry, as Dipaolo said, how are you ever going to have the retail that people want? How about the village services? People, industry, and retail means a complete community. I believe the council and staff are striving to get there.

The month of April brings to memory several popular songs composed decades apart yet very much part of describing what I remember about the month.

The Al Jolson 1920s “April Showers” is probably the first song I learned that had April in the title. “Though April showers, may come your way. They bring the flowers, that bloom in May.” Jolson sang it in a 1921 Broadway show, “Bombo.”  

I had heard it before from old movies and knew the melody and lyrics, but my 7th and 8th grade music teacher was someone that loved to play music from that era. I developed an appreciation for the music thanks to him. I would often stay after school to listen to his records and soak up his musical knowledge.

Then there was Pat Boone’s “April Love” from a 1950s movie. My mother loved Pat Boone and Elvis. I remember sitting in a movie theater watching that movie. I don’t remember the movie very much, but I do remember Pat and how I couldn’t believe why mom thought so highly of him.

My next foray into musical April was the jazz standard “April In Paris.” It was played and sung by all the great legends. Again, courtesy of my teacher, he played the Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong version. There was something that clicked as the timing of both Fitzgerald and Armstrong played against each other. How could anyone ever beat them at this jazz standard? As I grew older listening to Armstrong’s early recordings just enforced how much he influenced all popular music.

Then in the mid-1960s came Simon & Garfunkel’s Sound of Silence album with “April Come She Will.” It was an anthem to many who were trying to make sense out of the turmoil that was beginning to rise all around. The loss of love was quite evident in the lyrics. With the success of the film “The Graduate” and alienation never far from a teenager’s thoughts, it hit a cord with me.

There are other April songs, but those never musically impacted me to the same degree. Music is the thing that crosses lines and differences and somehow manages to define eras. Times change as does the music that those times produce. Yet the lyrics and melodies do define how we respond immediately and how we remember the decades later.   

Tom’s Articles

From Medium

"No Kings Should Not Be Partisan"

Here

From Martin County Moments

"James Uthmeir, Head Pooh Bah"

Here

"It Depends On Whose Ox Is Gored"

Here

Other Articles

Florida Phoenix: "DeSantis signs bill requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote---voting rights group sue"

Here

The Economist: "Tracking the presidency"

Here

TCPalm.: "Florida police use Flock license plate cameras for ice surveillance"

Here

The New York Times: "For People Wuth Autism, Can Restaurant Kitchens Be a Haven?"

Here

Washington Post: "This $2 test leads to nearly 30,000 arrests a yearfor no reason"

Here

The New York Times: "The Old Way of Campaigning Won't Cut It Anymore"

Here

The Economist: "On the front lines. Russian soldiers pay officers to stay alive"

Here

The New York Times: "Supporters of Household Voting Believe U.S. Would Be Better Off without Wmen's Vote"

Here

The New York Times: :"Syracuse Drops 84 Programs Including Classics, Ceramics and Italian"

Here

The Economist: "The mumber of Catholic saints is climbing heavenwards"

Here

Washington Post: "Three-legged dog and cat inseperable at hospital are adopted together"

Here

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