Good Morning, Sunland
It’s Wednesday! Just a quick reminder to share the newsletter with someone you know could use it. Maybe it’s a friend or family member who’s always saying they don’t know what’s going on or asking what to do this weekend. Send it their way. Alright…
People Pass Shoutout: Big thank you to Geoffrey for joining the crew. Said it plain. Great food, great people. Also mentioned we need Skatetown back and honestly… facts. If you want to support the work and help us keep growing, you can do that right here: buymeacoffee.com/sunland/membership
🌡️ Weather Update: Muggy and stormy afternoon ahead.
🌥️ Day: High of 90°F | Cloudy this morning with scattered showers and storms later
🌙 Night: Low of 75°F | Mostly clear skies. Winds SSE at 5–10 mph. Rain chance 11%.
🌅 Sunrise: 6:40 AM | 🌇 Sunset: 8:14 PM
🌔 Moonrise: 5:09 AM | 🌖 Moonset: 7:45 PM
🎧 Sounds like: Everyone Falls in Love – Tanto Metro & Devonte.
Ja’Min Devon
📘 Main Squeeze: County Meetings Are Moving to Evenings
TLDR: Starting Oct 1 the St. Lucie County Commission will meet at 6 p.m. on both the first and third Tuesdays instead of just one. Commissioners locked in the change on July 22 so working residents can show up and heavy agendas can be split between two prime-time sessions. The second-Tuesday workshop sticks to 9 a.m. with no votes.
📅 New Lineup
First Tuesday | 6 p.m. regular meeting
Second Tuesday | 9 a.m. informal workshop (discussion only)
Third Tuesday | 6 p.m. regular meeting (new time)
All meetings take place in the Roger E. Poitras Annex, 2298 Virginia Ave, Fort Pierce.
👀 Why It Matters: Evening slots let nine-to-five residents speak on taxes, zoning, and big projects without burning vacation hours. Splitting high-interest items across two nights should also keep sessions from drifting past midnight. One commissioner said the change gives the public better access while keeping the budget calendar on track.
🗣 Your Take: Will the new 6 p.m. slot get you to step up to the podium or will you still watch the livestream? How often do you even keep up with all the meetings? Leave your thoughts
🗞 Press Round: Budget Cuts and Protest
📻 WQCS Faces Funding Gap
Treasure Coast public radio WQCS will lose about $250,000 dollars in support, roughly 14% of last year’s revenue. Managers say some programs and coverage may be trimmed, but the station plans to stay on air.
🎣 Little Jim’s Lease Protest
Two disqualified bidders filed formal protests claiming Fort Pierce’s process for selecting the next Little Jim’s Bait & Tackle operator favors the current tenant. They want the city to pause the award, answer zoning and environmental questions, and reopen bidding.
🏗️ Gatlin Plaza Expansion Green-lit
Port St. Lucie approved a fourth amendment to the Gatlin PUD, allowing 353 thousand more square feet of commercial space and up to 120 hotel rooms beside Home Depot and Bass Pro. Extra traffic studies and improvements will be required as the project moves forward.
🤩 People Pass: What your support means!
From school coverage to better tools like play.sunlandnews.com, every upgrade you see is made possible by readers who pitch in. Thank you to everyone who already has. This is what the People Pass makes possible. Want to support it too?
🎉 The Weekender
🍷 Sip & Paint – Free-flowing wine, DJ vibes and all supplies for a late-night canvas party at Club Ice, Fort Pierce. | 10 PM Fri 7/25 | $$ (pay at door) | Details
🎱 Ladies Bingo Night – Grab your girlfriends for fellowship, laughter and prizes at Sunlight Community Church, Port St. Lucie. | 6 PM Fri 7/25 | Free RSVP | Details
🎨 State of the Arts Celebration – Two-day block party in the Peacock Arts District with live art, music and vendors, Fort Pierce. | 6 PM Fri 7/25 – 9 PM Sat 7/26 | Free | Details
🎒 Back-to-School Bash – Humble Beginnings’ 3rd annual supply giveaway with food, music and raffles, 5200 Oleander Ave, Fort Pierce. | 11 AM–2 PM Sat 7/26 | Free | Details
📚 Survival Guide Pop-Up – Families of the Treasure Coast host food, prizes and TikTok dance contest at Phatz Sports Bar & Grille. | 12 PM Sat 7/26 | Free (register) | Details
🎬 Drive-In Movie Night – “Toy Story” under the stars at Treasure Coast Park & Watch, Fort Pierce (price per vehicle). | Gates 7 PM / Movie 8 30 PM Sat 7/26 | $17.95 | Details
If you have an event, send it to me here
💧 The Last Drop: Heart Rescheduled!
🎟️ Sunrise Theatre’s 2025-26 season revealed: Rick Springfield, Everclear, Three Dog Night, St. Lucie Ballet’s “Nutcracker” and more. Lineup & ticket alerts
💙 Tradition’s “Heart in the Park” grand opening date reset: Aug 23, 10 a.m.– 1 p.m. Live music, CPR demos, selfie spot with the giant heart sculpture. Details
📉 Sebastian home prices down 8 %: ConsumerAffairs ranks the city No. 4 for biggest price drops nationwide. Full analysis (paywall)
📸 This is Sunland: Sunrise for the Road!
Photo Credit: My Dad
My family is in town from Europe, and they got a chance to see the sunrise on the water this morning! I always think I should take advantage of the fact that the ocean is right there; this is my reminder.
See you tomorrow!
With Love, Ja’Min
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