🌅 🛏️ 2,726 Students Without Stable Housing

Good Afternoon, Sunland

It’s Tuesday! When I woke up this morning, I smelled smoke. At first I thought it was just me, but it wasn’t. A large fire broke out along US 1, and several readers mentioned the same thing. Prayers to anyone involved. Just wanted to acknowledge it here because when something literally hangs in the air like that, it’s hard to ignore.

On a lighter note, it was eerily quiet this morning. No school buses rumbling down the street, no kids waiting at corners. Summer break has officially begun or at least it’s teasing its arrival, and you can already feel the shift.

Alright, on to today’s news.

🍗 $5 Tuesday at Stoney’s: It’s $5 Tuesday at Stoney’s BBQ. Great food, great vibes, and big support for Sunland News. If you haven’t been, now’s the time.

🍋 The Main Squeeze: School as the Safe Place

📍 TL;DR: St. Lucie County ranks among the top 10 in Florida for student homelessness, with nearly 3,000 kids navigating unstable housing. As the school year ends, the support systems many rely on, meals, structure, care fade into the background. This story is a reminder of what school means for thousands of students.

• 📈 The Numbers 

• 2,726 students in St. Lucie County were identified as homeless last year. That’s 5.5% of the student population.

• Across Florida, over 69,000 students are in unstable housing situations.

• The number of students without a guardian increased 10% year over year.

🏠 What Homelessness Looks Like for Students

• 73% are "doubled up," sleeping on couches or with extended family.

• Others live in motels, cars, or shelters.

• Many students hide their situations due to shame, fear, or not knowing help is available.

🎒 What Schools Are Doing

• St. Lucie County leads in identifying and supporting homeless students.

• Schools provide essentials like transportation, tutoring, job certifications, and even shoes.

• Each school sends staff to be trained under the McKinney Vento Act to spot warning signs early.

🔗 Dig In More:
School’s Almost Out – Sunland Report
Summer School Cuts – Sunland Report
Dive Deeper

🥳 What’s Happening: 🌙 Weekend Arts & After Dark

Wednesday, June 4

• 🎸 The Groove Experience with Derek Mack – Live soul, cocktails, and desserts at Sweet Desires in Vero. | 7 – 10 PM | Free | Details

Friday, June 6

• 🖼️ First Friday Art Walk – Live music, complimentary sweets, and pop-up vendors at Vintage Vibes Records in Stuart. | 5 – 9 PM | Free | Details

• 🎶 Food Trucks & Tributes: Taylor Swift – Outdoor Taylor tribute concert + food trucks at Tradition Square. | 5 – 9 PM | Free | Details

• 🎸 The Broken Hearts: Tom Petty Tribute – A full tribute to Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers at Terra Fermata. | 6 PM | $28.55 | Details

• 🖼️ Art After Dark at Norton Museum – Live music, films, and exhibits at this stylish West Palm night. | 5 – 10 PM | $10 | Details

• 🎭 “Six Degrees of Separation” – A gripping dark comedy live at Treasure Coast Theatre. | 8 – 10 PM | $30 | Details

• 🌌 Cosmic Zoom (Vero Planetarium) – A fast-paced, family-friendly trip through space and time. | 7 – 8 PM | $7 | Details

Saturday, June 7

• 🎷 Jazz Night at Atmosphere – Emmy-winning jazz duo performs at Vero’s upscale lounge. | 6 PM | $15+ | Details

• 🎭 It Don’t Hurt No More Pt II – Gospel-inspired stage drama returns to the Kravis Center. | 2:30 PM + 6:30 PM | $25+ | Details

• 🎉 Prince Party at Pineapples (Melbourne) – Funk band The Locks, Jarred Armstrong, and DJ SHARP headline this purple-hued celebration. | 7:30 – 11 PM | $19.10 | Details

If you have an event, send it to me here

🍕 The Caesar Salad That Stole the Show at Frank & Al's

You know how some places have been around so long you almost forget how good they are? That’s Frank & Alice’s. One of those local spots that’s stood the test of time. And after my latest visit, I’m not letting it slip under the radar again.

🥗 The Order: Caesar Salad
I know — a salad review? But hear me out. The homemade croutons were the real star. Not store-bought. Not out of a bag. Real. Made. Croutons. And they hit every mark. The salad itself? Hefty, filling, and surprisingly satisfying. Perfect post-movie meal after catching something at Touchstar Cinemas just up the road.

🤝 The Vibe: Quiet, Kind, Classic
I went on a Sunday afternoon. It wasn’t packed, which made the service even smoother. Friendly, no rush, just the kind of experience that reminds you why small, long-standing places still matter.

🍦 Bonus Tip: Joy’s Ice Cream is right next door. I didn’t go this time... but you might.

🔍 Why It Matters: This is exactly why I built 772 Eats. To spotlight places like Frank & Alice’s. To give the legends their flowers while they’re still serving.

Have a hidden gem you think deserves a shoutout? Tell me here.

🥛 Last Drop: 🌴 Culture Catch-Up

1. 📺 Survivor Is a South Florida Thing

   Apparently, Miami’s own Dee Valladares is returning for Season 50 of Survivor. Didn’t even realize the show had that kind of local tie.
   👉 Read more about the cast and season
   

2. 🏒 Florida’s a Hockey State Now?

   The Panthers are back in the Stanley Cup Final and somehow one of the best teams in the league. Kinda wild when you think about it.
   👉 Catch up before Game 1
   

3. 🌴 Florida Just Set a New Tourism Record

   143 million people visited in 2024 according to state officials. The first quarter of 2025 is already off to an even stronger start.

   👉 👉 View the full tourism report
   

4. 🎬 American Black Film Festival Starts Next Week

   ABFF returns to Miami Beach June 11–15, spotlighting Black filmmakers and stories.

   👉 Check out the schedule
   

5. 🎥 Port St. Lucie on Screen

   Did you know JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure features a prison located in Port St. Lucie? Or that Jamie Foxx plays a real-life Stuart attorney in The Burial? TCPalm put together a roundup of shows and movies tied to our cities, including an upcoming film about the Florida Highwaymen.

   👉 See the Full List

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