🌅 $15M Beach Project & Fort Pierce

Good Morning, Sunland

It's Wednesday! Let’s jump right in!

🎥 MLK Day Parade recap: Check out highlights from Monday's parade. Great turnout and community celebration.

💜 People Pass Shoutout: Thank you to everyone supporting the newsletter! If you want to help keep this going, support here.

Alright, let's jump right in!

☁️ Weather Update: Mostly cloudy skies.

☀️ Day: High of 74°F | Mostly cloudy skies. 11% chance of rain.
🌙 Night: Low of 64°F | Cloudy. Winds light and variable. 24% chance of rain.
🌅 Sunrise: 7:11 AM | 🌇 Sunset: 5:54 PM
🌙 Moonrise: 9:04 AM | 🌚 Moonset: 8:47 PM
🎶 Sounds like: "Can We Talk" — Tevin Campbell

Ja’Min Devon

🏖️ Main Squeeze: $15 Million Beach Nourishment Project Starts in March

The St. Lucie County Erosion District is partnering with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to address significant erosion south of the Fort Pierce Inlet. A beach nourishment project is set to begin in early March.

The Details: The Army Corps will place nearly 400,000 cubic yards of sand on about 1 mile of shoreline immediately south of the Fort Pierce Inlet. The offloading of sand will take place from inside the inlet's south jetty. The $15.1 million contract was awarded to Manson Construction Co.

Why Fort Pierce Beach Needs This: Fort Pierce Beach is on a two-year nourishment schedule because of the direct impact of the federal inlet navigation channel, which prevents the natural downdrift of sand that would naturally replenish the beach, according to Erick Gill, communications director for the county.

The History: The beach nourishment is a continuation of a federal shore protection project initially constructed in 1971.

What to Expect: The project is planned to be complete by mid-May. The county asks the public to be prepared for temporary closures of the South Jetty at Jetty Park as the contractor prepares for construction. There will be restrictions to work areas on the beach when work is underway.

What's Next: Full story (TCPalm, subscription may be required) | Leave your thoughts

🏠 Press Round: Trails, Murals & ArtsFest

🎨 Fort Pierce Expands Mural Program Across City

The Fort Pierce Redevelopment Agency expanded its mural program to property owners across South Beach, Fisherman's Wharf, downtown, Lincoln Park and the Peacock Arts District, with the city covering costs for professional murals. Applications are due January 30 and require photos, wall measurements and a detailed concept statement.

👉 Read more (Hometown News)

🚶 Port St. Lucie Breaking Ground on Wilderness Trail

Port St. Lucie will begin construction on a 2.1-mile concrete multimodal trail in Wilderness Park along the St. Lucie River, with completion expected by August 1. The project, partially funded by a $500,000 state grant, includes a restroom pavilion with covered seating and aims to improve connections between neighborhoods and riverfront amenities.

👉 Read more (WQCS)

🍷 ArtsFest Returns to Stuart with Food and Wine

Stuart's 39th annual ArtsFest debuts The Art of Food & Wine on February 7-8 at Memorial Park, featuring curated wine tastings, local chef creations and live performances. General admission is $5, with a VIP Plaza Lounge experience available for $150 per day that includes paired bites and pours.

👉 Read more (Hometown News)

🎉 Weekdayer: January 23-25

Friday, Jan 23

🤠 2026 Treasure Coast Mens Summit – Two-day event at Havert L. Fenn Center, 2000 Virginia Ave, Fort Pierce. | Fri 4 PM, Sat 8 AM | Details

Saturday, Jan 24

🍳 BRUNCH & BEATZ – Booze, beats, brunch with cocktails, music at Meating Street Steak & Seafood, 10553 SW Meeting St, Port St Lucie. | 11 AM–2 PM | Details
🪓 Project LIFT's 3rd Annual Lumberjack Fest – Axe-throwing contests, chicken wing eating, kids pie-eating, local music, food at 601 Atlantic Ave, Fort Pierce. | 11 AM–2 PM | Details
🎨 Fort Pierce Yacht Club Highwaymen Auctions – Auction featuring commissioned Ahmed Eltemtamy Highwaymen piece at Fort Pierce Yacht Club, Fort Pierce. | 1–5:30 PM | Details
🎬 Saturday Drive-In Movie: The Bad Guys 2 – Family movie night, gates 6 PM, movie 7 PM at Treasure Coast Park and Watch, 601 Seaway Dr, Fort Pierce. | 7 PM | Free (first 100 vehicles) | Details

Sunday, Jan 25

📚 Book Swap – All ages, all genres, leftover books donated to Little Free Libraries at Honeybee Hollow Apothecary, 10110 S US Hwy 1, Port St Lucie. | Noon–3 PM | Details

If you have an event, send it to me here

💧 The Last Drop: Jobs, Buses, and Community

🎨 Highwaymen Heritage Trail Art Show Feb. 21 – 9th annual festival at Moore's Creek Linear Park (435 N 7th St) 10am-3pm. Original and 2nd generation Highwaymen artists, live jazz, food vendors, kid's zone. Free guided tours with registration. Highwaymen festival
💼 Fort Pierce Job Fair Tuesday at Fenn Center – 11th annual job fair with 60+ employers 10am-1pm Jan. 27 at Havert L. Fenn Center (2000 Virginia Ave). Pre-register at CSRC.news/FPJOBFAIR26. Job fair
🚌 County receives $202k grant for dialysis patient transit – State grant expands transportation for residents needing dialysis outside regular transit hours. Total project investment $225k with $22,500 county match. Dialysis transit
🚗 PSL public meeting on Bayshore Blvd roundabout Jan. 28 – Residents invited to review Bayshore Boulevard Corridor Improvement Project proposing roundabout at Floresta Drive. 5-7pm Community Center (2195 SE Airoso Blvd), presentation starts 5:30pm.