🌅 🏛️ A Zora Neale Hurston Museum is Coming to Fort Pierce!

Good Morning, Sunland

It’s Friday! and we made it. But before we jump in, I need some help.

A Sunland News reader put me on a new mystery—Country Gold, a music venue that was supposed to open where the old Golden Corral used to be on US 1 in Port St. Lucie. Dan hit me up about it, and now I’m on the case. If you have any info—let me know! I’ll be digging into this over the next week to figure out if it’s still happening.

But honestly, this isn’t the only project that’s gone quiet. Remember the wave park that was supposed to be built on Midway Road? Approved in 2022, set to break ground in 2024, and planned to be the largest surf simulator in the country—yet, no updates.

There are plenty of stories like this, and I’m on a mission to track them down. Subscribe, share, and stay tuned—so when we break these stories, you’ll be the first to know.

🌮 New Food: Del Taco just had its ribbon-cutting and officially opened in Port St. Lucie! It’s a chain, so not a local spot, but still new food, nonetheless. Not great signs, though—they recently closed a bunch of locations in Colorado, so we’ll see how this one holds up.

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🌡️ Weather Update: A crisp and clear end to the week

☀️ Day: High of 76°F | 🌤️ Partly cloudy skies
🌙 Night: Low of 57°F | 🌙 Clear to partly cloudy
🌅 Sunrise: 6:46 AM | 🌇 Sunset: 6:21 PM
🎵 Sounds like: “On & On” by Erykah Badu 🎶

🍋 The Main Squeeze: A New Zora Neale Hurston Museum is Coming to Fort Pierce

TL;DR: A museum dedicated to Zora Neale Hurston is quietly taking shape in Fort Pierce, set to preserve the legacy of one of the most influential voices of the Harlem Renaissance. And to celebrate, a Zora Experience Festival is happening on April 5, 2025. As Black History Month closes, this project is both a tribute and a reminder of how much history is still unfolding around us.

The Story: The Zora Neale Hurston Florida Education Foundation has been working on a museum in the author’s honor at 809 N. 9th St., with $500,000 in state funding secured last year. The museum, about 30% complete, will be housed in the former Agape Senior Recreation Center, a site with its own layered history as a welfare home for Black residents during segregation.

The centerpiece? A recreation of Hurston’s final room, replicating where she spent her last days in Fort Pierce. “We haven’t even changed the walls—same walls, same color paint,” said Marvin Hobson, the foundation’s president.

💬 Why It Matters: Hurston’s legacy is deeply tied to Fort Pierce, yet her presence hasn’t always been properly celebrated. Her unmarked grave wasn’t recognized until Alice Walker’s 1975 essay “In Search of Zora Neale Hurston” reignited interest in her work. Now, 50 years later, Fort Pierce is finally creating a space dedicated to her memory.

The foundation is also raising $150,000 to restore Hurston’s historic home, a U.S. National Historic Landmark that still faces structural damage from recent storms.

🚧 What’s Next: With renovations ongoing, the museum aims to preserve and uplift Hurston’s legacy for future generations. Plans even include an outdoor amphitheater and creative space for local artists—a fitting tribute to someone who never stopped telling stories, even in the face of obscurity.

👉 What do you think? Would you visit the new Zora Neale Hurston Museum? Let me know here!

🍊 The Press Round: Big Budget Oversights

🎓 Martin County Schools Open Enrollment to Attract More Students

The Martin County School District is encouraging families from inside and outside the county to enroll, highlighting A-rated schools and specialized programs. With only two schools at full capacity, officials aim to boost student numbers as funding is tied to enrollment.

👉 Read more

🏢 ARC Opens New Community Center to Support Individuals with Disabilities

The ARC of the Treasure Coast has purchased a new facility in Port St. Lucie to house its Therapeutic Intervention Program (T.I.P.), providing life skills training for hundreds of children and adults with disabilities. The center will also be available for community event rentals after hours.

👉 Read more

💰 Vero Beach Finance Director Resigns After Missed Audit Deadline

Vero Beach’s Finance Director Steve Dionne resigned after failing to submit the city’s annual audit by the Jan. 15 deadline, putting millions in state funding at risk. The city has already appointed a new finance director to address the issue and prevent further losses.

👉 Read more

🎉Events: Top 5 Events For The Week!

Friday, February 28

• 🐠 Aquarium After Dark at Smithsonian Marine Station – A family-friendly night tour of the aquarium with special activities. | 5:45 PM–8 PM | Reserve Spot

• 🎨 Artist Spotlight at Cool Beans Brew – Discover local talent at this monthly art event featuring Fort Pierce Art Club members. | 6 PM–7:30 PM | See the Artists

Saturday, March 1

• 🏋️ Thrive Fest 2025 at Terra Fermata Tiki Bar – The Treasure Coast’s largest health and wellness festival, featuring yoga, cold plunges, and wellness talks. | 10 AM–3 PM | Get Tickets

• 🎰 A Night in Las Vegas at Pelican Yacht Club – A retro casino-themed night where “what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas!” | 6 PM | Try Your Luck

• 🎭 Mardi Gras Masquerade at Meating Street Steak & Seafood – A night of mystery, music, and Mardi Gras magic featuring music by Doug Poole. | 10 PM–1 AM | $10 Cover | 21+ Event | Join the Party

If you have an event, send it to me here

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💧 The Last Drop: $1 Millionnnnn Dollars… Again!

1. 🌴 Florida Sets Tourism Record

   142.9 million visitors came to Florida in 2024—the most ever. See the Number

2. 🏠 Home Prices Drop in Vero

   Sebastian-Vero Beach home sale prices fell 3.2% last year, ranking among the steepest drops in the U.S. Read More

3. 🐾 Tougher Laws for Pet Abandonment

   A new Florida bill could make leaving pets behind in hurricanes a felony. Get the Details

4. 💰 Port St. Lucie Woman Wins $1M

   Kimberly Hodge won $1M on a $50 scratch-off from a Shell Mart on Gatlin Blvd—taking home $640K after taxes. Check Your Tickets

5. 🛠️ Advance Auto Parts Closures

   Over 700 stores are set to close in 2025—some Florida locations are up for sale. More Info

📸 This is Sunland: Photo for the Road!

Something that I’ve learned during the process of writing this newsletter, is that good information is hard to come by. Creating this has become a lifeline for some and for that I am proud. I look forward to building this what I know it can be, and I couldn’t do it without you… Alright!

See you Monday! With Love…

Ja’Min

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