🌅 🛣️ Glades Road Widening Plans

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☀️ Weather Update: A mainly sunny sky.

☀️ Day: High of 76°F | A mainly sunny sky. 3% chance of rain
🌙 Night: Low of 50°F | A mostly clear sky. 6% chance of rain
🌅 Sunrise: 6:49 AM | 🌇 Sunset: 6:20 PM
🌙 Moonrise: 12:23 PM | 🌚 Moonset: 2:04 AM
🎶 Sounds like: "The Sweetest Taboo" — Sade

Ja’Min Devon

💰 Main Squeeze: Major Manufacturing Project Approved

St. Lucie County is moving forward with plans to widen a 10-mile segment of Glades Cut Off Road from Range Line Road to Selvitz Road. The road currently has one lane in each direction.

The county recently held a public workshop to present two options for the project. Both options widen the road to four lanes with two lanes in each direction.

The options: The first option includes 7-foot bike lanes in each direction plus a 12-foot shared-use path. The second option has no bike lanes but includes the same 12-foot shared-use path.

Why they're doing this: The county says the project will enhance safety and accommodate growing traffic volumes expected through 2045. All intersections along the route will be evaluated for potential traffic signals.

The study will also look at noise impacts and determine where sound barriers might be needed. Environmental impacts, coordination with local HOAs and schools, and consistency with the St. Lucie Transportation Planning Organization are all part of the evaluation.

What's next: A public hearing is tentatively scheduled for the second quarter of 2026.

🏠 Press Round: Schools, Spaces & Slaughterhouses

🏫 Indian River Schools Adjust Start Times

Indian River County School Board approved new arrival and departure times for the 2026-27 school year, shifting high schools 15 minutes later to 7:20 a.m. and middle schools 10 minutes later to 8:10 a.m. The changes, supported by 432 families and 193 staff members in two survey rounds, take effect in August.

👉 Read more (WPTV)

🌳 Port St. Lucie Creates Green Space Trust

Port St. Lucie formally designated the 105-acre Rosser Lakes property as protected open space and established the Naturally PSL Community Trust nonprofit to acquire and conserve land. The city identified 198 acres of natural preserves, designated 745 acres for future green space and expanded trails to 41 miles in the past year.

👉 Read more (WQCS)

🐮 Martin County Slaughterhouse Sparks Environmental Concerns

Environmental leaders told Martin County commissioners a proposed beef slaughterhouse in western Martin County near Lake Okeechobee could create serious environmental issues. The county currently has no ability to review plans, inspect the facility or enforce local regulations at the proposed industrial site.

👉 Read more (TCPalm, TCPalm subscription may be required)

🎉 Weekender: Feb 27 - Mar 1

Friday, February 27

✂️ St. Lucie County Fair Ribbon Cutting – Official kick-off of the St. Lucie County Fair at St. Lucie County Fairgrounds, Port St. Lucie. | 3:45 PM | Free | Details

Saturday, February 28

🎺 Trombone Shorty – New Orleans funk and rock legend live at Sunrise Theatre, 117 S 2nd St, Fort Pierce. | 8 PM | Tickets
🎬 Saturday Drive-In Movie Night – Aladdin – Family movie night with ice cream and milkshakes at Treasure Coast Park and Watch, Fort Pierce. | Gates 6 PM, Movie 7 PM | $19 per vehicle | Tickets
🪩 Disco Night – Catch Boogie Fever at Priscilla's – 70s disco and 80s pop dance hits at Priscilla's Oasis on Orange, 223 Orange Ave, Fort Pierce. | 7:30–11 PM | Details
🎶 FAM Jam – Free family event celebrating Black culture through food, art, and live music with a Kids Zone, food trucks, and performers at Whispering Pines Park, 800 SW Darwin Blvd, Port St. Lucie. | 5–9 PM | Free | Details
🛍️ Spring Craft Fair – Two-day indoor craft fair with artists, handmade goods, and sweet treats at MIDFLORIDA Event Center, Port St. Lucie. | Sat–Sun, Feb 28–Mar 1, 10 AM–4 PM | Free
🏠 Pathway to Homeownership – Free homeownership seminar covering buying, selling, and renting at First Congregational UCC, 2401 SE Sidonia St, Port St. Lucie. | 10 AM | Free

If you have an event, send it to me here

💧 The Last Drop: Civic Catch Up!

🏘️ Lincoln Park Master Plan workshop Wednesday – Fort Pierce hosts community input session Feb. 25, 5:30-7:30pm at Lincoln Park Community Center (1306 Avenue M). Discussing affordable housing, streetscape improvements, Avenue D investment. Lincoln Park workshop
🏠 Fort Pierce seeks Affordable Housing Committee members – Nine-member committee needs builders, bankers, advocates, housing providers, real estate professionals. Meets first Thursday monthly 5:30pm. Applications due March 15. Committee application
🎾 Lawnwood Tennis Complex courts 5-8 reopen – Resurfacing and repainting project complete. Courts now open for play. Lawnwood Tennis
🌿 The Preserve at Port District ribbon cutting March 4 – New 13-acre conservation area opens 4pm at Pioneer Park (2454 SE Westmoreland Blvd). Walking trails, boardwalk connections, nature overlooks. Light refreshments provided. Preserve opening
🏫 Tradition Lakes K-8 construction continues – St. Lucie Public Schools shares progress update on new school development. School construction