🌅🚆Brightline to Martin

Good Morning, Sunland!

It’s Wednesday! I made a Florida-themed crossword puzzle, and it’s pretty fun. It’s been friend/Reddit approved (thanks to everyone who tested it out). See how fast you can solve it—the time to beat is 56 seconds. Try it here!

I’d love to make this a weekly (or even a couple times a week) thing, so feedback would be great! Just come back to this email, hit "reply," and let me know your thoughts. Thank you!

🍽️ Want To Try: Happy Garden Cafe Looks promising - they've got a little bit of everything, but their specialty seems to be crepes. Also, for what its worth website is really nice! Will give it a shot!

📬 A Look Ahead in 5 Seconds
It’s Official, Brightline to Martin County 🚆📢
Tragic Death At Port St. Lucie Amazon 😞
Fort Pierce Redevelopment Update 🏗️🌆

Ja’Min Brown
Writer, Filmmaker, and Publisher

What It Sounds Like: 🎶 "Waiting in Vain" by Bob Marley

🌞 Day: High of 81°F, partly cloudy and very warm. Winds ENE at 15 to 25 mph with a 21% chance of rain.

🌜 Night: Low of 71°F, partly cloudy in the evening, becoming overcast overnight. Winds E at 10 to 20 mph, with a 15% chance of rain.

🌡️ Check Full Weather Report Here 
🚗 Check The Traffic Before You Leave

🏭 Redevelopment Update

Fort Pierce just released a redevelopment update – it's 34 pages, and you can check it out here if you're curious. I combed through it and pulled out the top highlights:

🏗️ Western Peninsula Charrette: Plans are in motion to transform the Island Wastewater site into a waterfront destination, driven by community input. Expect the draft master plan by January 2025.

🏡 Oaks at Moore’s Creek: 15 affordable homes for first-time buyers (3-bed, 2-bath) are coming to Means Court, priced at $289K-$349K. The first units should be ready by March 2025.

🖼️ Highwaymen Museum: A $483K state grant will help create a museum in the Jackie L. Caynon Building, honoring Fort Pierce’s iconic African American artists, the Highwaymen.

🎨 Mural at 607 Orange Ave: Look for "Flora Symphony," a new botanical mural by artist Sitki Dogan, coming soon to the Peacock Arts District – work kicks off in mid-November.

Brightline Secures $45M Deal for Stuart Station,

Heard It All Before
Remember Sunshine Anderson’s “Heard It All Before”? That’s the theme here. After years of back-and-forth, Martin County finally struck a $45 million deal to bring a Brightline station to Stuart, leaving Fort Pierce out of the picture. (Just a day ago, reports suggested Brightline leaving Treasure Coast altogether.)

A Long Road to Approval
The deal didn’t come easy. Stuart’s city commission initially backed out, but Martin County stepped in, capping their investment at $15 million with the rest expected from grants. If the grants don’t come through by 2027, the whole thing could still fall apart.

Fort Pierce’s Close Call
For a while, it looked like Fort Pierce might be in the running for the station. Some of us were excited about the travel options; others worried about traffic and congestion. With downtown developments like King’s Landing, adding a train station would’ve been a lot.

What’s Next
If funding lines up, construction could start soon, and the station might open by 2028. Brightline plans at least four stops in both directions during the initial phase.

Why It Matters
This station is a big deal for the Treasure Coast. Even if it’s not in Fort Pierce, it adds travel options and could bring tourists and growth to the area.

Want the full breakdown? Read more here.

Have you taken Brightline? If so, what was your experience?

Amazon Tragedy

A tragic incident took place early Tuesday at an Amazon facility in Port St. Lucie, where contract mechanic Andrew Tabannah lost his life while working beneath a delivery van. The jack stand holding the vehicle reportedly failed, causing it to partially fall on him. Coworkers attempted to help, but Tabannah was pronounced dead at the hospital. Police and OSHA are investigating, with no foul play suspected. Sources told Sunland News the accident happened around midnight, though work continued until 4 AM. The facility, which was temporarily closed, reopened this morning. Questions remain regarding liability, especially as Amazon often contracts driving services to third-party DSPs. Our thoughts are with Andrew’s family and coworkers during this difficult time.

For more details, read here.

Things To Know, Before You Go 🧠

🆘 FEMA Town Hall Coming Up
If you've got questions about Hurricane Milton assistance, mark your calendar. FEMA and Florida's emergency team will be at the Fenn Center this Friday (Nov. 15) from 6-8pm. Your chance to get answers straight from the source! 🔗 Learn More

🚲 New BMX Park Coming to PSL 
Port St. Lucie's getting a cool upgrade! The city's partnering with Mattamy Homes on a 124-acre park that'll include a BMX track. 🔗 Learn More

SportLife Distribution HQ Set for Fort Pierce 
With 30 new jobs, backed by a major tax break, SportLife is setting up HQ in Fort Pierce. City approves 100% tax exemption for 5 years on their $2.35M facility on Oleander Ave – local hiring focus. 🔗 Learn More

In Cased You Missed It 🔄 

New Sunland News Website | Live Music Guide | New River Nights Concert Series

This is Sunland 📸

Hard a way at this Sunland Photo Book, so I’ve been digging into the archives alot more. This one is of my friend Marcus, not sure what I did to deserve this lighting that came through, but it came through. 😂 Alright… see you tomorrow!

With love,
Ja’Min

Weekend Events Ahead⏳
See Full List and Details Here…

Hutchinson Island Car Show and Swap Meet
🗓️ Nov 16 | 🕗 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM | 📍 Causeway Cove Marina, Fort Pierce
Enjoy a day filled with classic cars, hot rods, vintage vehicles, and a vibrant swap meet atmosphere. Connect with fellow car enthusiasts and explore unique finds!
🚗 Tickets $5-$10

St. Lucie County 4-H Fall Farm Festival
🗓️ Nov 16 | 🕗 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM | 📍 1901 S ffa Rd., Fort Pierce, FL
A family-friendly fall festival with Halloween activities, perfect for all ages!
🌟$5 Admission!

The Spinners at Sunrise Theatre
🗓️ Nov 16 | 🕗 8:00 PM | 📍 Sunrise Theatre
Experience the legendary Spinners live! With a career spanning six decades, they bring the best of R&B, soul, and classic hits.
🎶 Get Your Tickets

Treasure Coast Seafood Festival & Causeway Cove Boat Show
🗓️ Nov 16-17 | 🕗 9:00 PM (Nov 16) - 5:00 PM (Nov 17) | 📍 Causeway Cove Marina, Fort Pierce, FL
Enjoy seafood, explore the boat show, and get discounts on marine services.
🌊 Don’t Miss Out!

Adam Sandler Movies Trivia Night
🗓️ Nov 17 | 🕗 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM | 📍 Islamorada Brewery & Distillery, 3200 ST LUCIE BLVD, Fort Pierce, FL
Test your knowledge of Adam Sandler movies in a fun and interactive trivia night!
🎥 Free Entry!

If you have an event, send it to me here

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🌴 All tip jar proceeds for October will be donated to Reviving Anointed Word (RAW) Ministries