Good Morning, Sunland
It's Tuesday and football is back.
I know this news isn't new, but I can't help but notice on Sundays when I'm out and about, the amount of non-Florida team jerseys I see. Not sure if anyone is keeping stats on this, but Florida might have the most diverse set of football fans than any other state. Maybe it's a snowbird thing, not sure.
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Alright, let's jump right in!
Ja’Min Devon
Sponsored: 🍗 Stoney’s Specials
Stoney is not your typical lunch! That $5 Tuesday Snack Pack? Now it runs Tuesday and Wednesday. That means three days of full meals for under $10… in 2025. I know. Unheard of.That’s why I’m so happy to share this, and even happier that Stoney’s is sponsoring the newsletter!
📍 912 N 25th St, Fort Pierce
📞 772-595-2406
🍴 Check the menu here
🍋 The Main Squeeze: Creative Learning Lab Academy
shuts down in Fort Pierce
Why it matters: The private school's closure leaves families scrambling for alternatives and highlights ongoing challenges facing independent schools that rely heavily on state scholarship funding and tuition payments.
What happened: Creative Learning Lab Academy closed its doors after months of financial struggles, including unpaid rent and employee salaries, according to a source close to the situation.
The timeline:
August: Teachers began working without pay as funding disputes emerged
September: WPTV reported the school couldn't meet payroll, blaming delayed scholarship funds
This week: School officially closed citing unpaid obligations
By the numbers
27 students had scholarships funded by mid-August through Step Up For Students
99 additional students were waiting for scholarship funds due to late applications
10 employees had already left by early September due to unpaid wages
1 planned preschool location on Okeechobee Road appears to have never opened
The bigger picture: This marks the second Fort Pierce area school closure in recent memory, following The Pace Center for Girls.
The school's owners, Christopher and Balanga Madison, had blamed funding delays from Step Up For Students, though the nonprofit disputed those claims and said it wasn't aware of any 2025-26 funding delays.
What's next: Affected families will need to find new educational options as the school year continues. The closure underscores the financial vulnerabilities facing private schools that depend heavily on state scholarship programs and tuition revenue.
People Pass!
From school coverage to better tools like play.sunlandnews.com, every upgrade you see is made possible by readers who pitch in.
🥳 What’s Happening: 5 Out of Town Events
Thursday, Sep 18
🎵 Live in the Loop: A Cool Jazz Night – Fort Pierce Jazz & Blues Society presents smooth rhythms at Riverside Theatre | 5:30–8:30 PM | Free | Details
Friday, Sep 19
🎨 UltraCon Comic Con – Pop culture mega-event with celeb panels, cosplay contests, vintage toys, and collectibles at South Florida Expo Center in West Palm Beach | Sep 19-21, 10 AM–7 PM | Ticketed | Details
Saturday, Sep 20
🛍️ Welcome Fall Artisan Market – Local food trucks, bakery, artisans, and crafters at Riverview Park in Melbourne | 10 AM–2 PM | Free | Details
Sunday, Sep 21
If you have an event, send it to me here
🍋 Refill: VooDoo Food Review!
The Spot: Voodoo Bayou, West Palm Beach
The Vibe: Cajun restaurant with serious atmosphere game
What I Got:
Gumbo
Cajun shrimp and grits
The Good: Zero expectations walking in, left genuinely impressed. The gumbo was pretty good, well-seasoned and flavorful, came out first and set the tone. Shrimp and grits were the star though: super flavorful, decent portion size, and honestly worth the premium.
The atmosphere is where this place really shines. Amazing theming and scenery that actually transports you. Missed the live music by arriving too early, but someone was setting up as I was leaving.
The Not-So-Good: Portion sizes don't match the price point. The gumbo bowl was notably small for what you're paying. Look, I'll never feel completely right about $30 shrimp and grits, but this was somewhat worth it.
Bottom Line: Voodoo Bayou delivers on flavor and atmosphere, even if your wallet feels a bit lighter afterward. The theming isn't just decoration, it's an experience. Just don't go in expecting massive portions.
Would I Go Back? Yeah, probably. Maybe next time I'll catch the music too.
Looking for more Treasure Coast eats? Check out 772eats.com, my food guide for finding new restaurants and hidden gems across the area.
🧾 Last Drop: Epic Category!
🌪️ New hurricane scale proposed – USF professor develops system measuring wind, rain, and storm surge instead of just wind speed. New hurricane categories might be here soon. Read study
😴 Florida goes to bed early – State averages 11:37pm bedtime, matching national average. Floridians sleep 6 hours 38 minutes nightly, slightly below US norm. Sleep data
🎢 Epic Universe boosts Florida economy – Universal's newest theme park projected to add $2B annually with 65,000 construction jobs and 17,500 operational roles. Also, we recently did a Florida theme park tier list, watch it and maybe give us yours! Park details | Theme park rankings
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