Good Morning, Sunland
It's Monday and this date night video I made did really good!
Made me think about doing other videos like this. Social events, volunteer opportunities, etc. I would love to know more, specifically what you would like event video wise. Leave your thoughts here and let me know what kind of content you want to see more of. Thank you!
💜 People Pass Shoutout: Thank you to everyone supporting the work through the People Pass. Your support makes this possible. If you want to join, you can do that here: Join the People Pass here
⛈️ Weather Update: Thunder, Storms, & Thunderstorms.
☀️ Day: High of 83°F | Thunderstorms. Winds SE at 5-10 mph. 70% chance of rain.
🌙 Night: Low of 70°F | Scattered thunderstorms in the evening. 50% chance of rain.
🌅 Sunrise: 7:29 AM | 🌇 Sunset: 6:41 PM
🌙 Moonrise: 12:54 PM | 🌚 Moonset: 11:11 PM
🎶 Sounds like: "Flash Light" — Parliament
Ja’Min Devon
📕 Sponsored: Lunch and Learn about Pre-Planning!
Yates Funeral Home is hosting a FREE Lunch & Learn on November 5th at 11:30 AM. Learn how pre-planning removes the burden from your family, locks in today's prices, and gives everyone peace of mind. Just helpful info and a free lunch.
🎨 Main Squeeze: Highwaymen Movie Drops This Week as Fort Pierce Museum Remains Unfinished
What's going on: "Legends of the Highway," a major motion picture about the Florida Highwaymen, releases October 28th on DVD and digital platforms, just as the Fort Pierce museum dedicated to these legendary Black artists remains stuck in limbo eight months after a grand opening that never happened.
By the numbers:
October 28: DVD and digital release (Fandango, Prime Video)
November 25: Streaming release on major platforms
February 2025: Original museum grand opening (canceled)
8 months and counting: How long the museum has been delayed
26 original Highwaymen artists
4 still alive today
$25: What Highwaymen paintings sold for on the roadside in the 1950s
The timing: Fort Pierce is getting national attention through a Hollywood film about artists who lived and worked in Lincoln Park, but the museum honoring them at 1234 Avenue D still isn't open. The movie comes out this week. Hopefully there will be a premiere here in Fort Pierce. If the museum is still on track for a late 2025 opening, maybe the premiere could happen at the museum itself. That would be something.
About the movie: "Legends of the Highway" follows a group of Black artists and a pioneering woman in 1950s Florida, navigating segregation while creating landscape paintings and forging their own path to artistic recognition. The film was produced by Triple Hibiscus Productions and shot on location in Atlanta, Georgia, North Carolina and Florida's Treasure Coast.
The cast includes Julian Horton (Netflix's "Beauty in Black"), Kelvin Hair ("Respect," BET's "Ruthless"), and Johnell Young (Hulu's "Wu-Tang: An American Saga"). Kelvin Hair plays his grandfather Alfred Hair, one of the original Highwaymen who died in 1970.
Where to see it:
October 25: Red Carpet Premiere at Cinepolis Jupiter
October 28: DVD and digital release nationwide
November 8: Screening at Cinepolis Davenport
November 23: Screening and Elliott Museum Event at The Lyric Theatre in Stuart
November 25: Streaming on major platforms
December 13: Screening at Cinepolis in Coconut Grove
No Fort Pierce premiere yet: Despite Fort Pierce being where many of these artists lived and worked, no premiere has been announced for the city.
What's still not done at the museum: City spokesperson Kaitlyn Ballard told TCPalm on October 23rd that renovations are nearing completion, with work focused on exterior improvements. But there's still a lot left:
Expanding the parking lot to fix elevation issues and prevent water from getting into the building
Installing a dumpster enclosure
Adding a decorative fence
Installing a mural
Creating a paver garden
Installing four mosaic benches made by artist Anita Prentice under an oak tree
Your take: Should the city have prioritized getting this museum open before the movie release? What would it mean for Fort Pierce to have a completed Highwaymen Museum right now? Share your thoughts here.
🍊 Press Round: Charters, Checks & Threats
🏫 Indian River School Board Fights Charter School Takeover
Board members are pushing back against Miami-based Mater Academy's plan to move into Pelican Island Classical Magnet School under the "Schools of Hope" program, which allows charter operators to use public school buildings rent-free in "opportunity zones." Board Member Jacqueline Rosario called it "an extreme overreach" that forces the district to cover all maintenance, custodial, food, nursing, and transportation costs even when public schools aren't in session, with Board Member David Dyer warning "they have a plan to defund and minimize public schools and to privatize them."
🚨 Fort Pierce Private School Skipped Mandatory Background Checks
Multiple teachers at Creative Learning Lab Academy told WPTV they never received legally required level two background checks before working with children as young as kindergarten. Owner Chris Madison declined to deny the allegations and instead texted about "what a struggle it is to educate the children in our community," while the school that received $44,000 in taxpayer-funded scholarships also failed to provide textbooks, materials, a kitchen, or uniforms despite collecting hundreds of dollars from parents.
📅 Stuart Commission to Decide City Manager's Fate October 27th
The Stuart City Commission will vote on City Manager Mike Mortell's contract at Monday's meeting, with some commissioners and residents calling for his termination. This comes after a week of public support and backlash for the city manager.
🎉 Weekdayer: 8 Events To Check Out This Week!
Tuesday, Oct 28
☕ Business Bowl Breakfast – Hot breakfast and networking with community professionals at The Saints Pub. Sponsored by Children's Services Council. | 8:15 AM | RSVP required | Details
Tuesday, Oct 29
🎃 Keiser University Haunted House – Upstairs haunted house and downstairs family-friendly fun with costume contest at 6 PM. Free admission and parking. | Check time | Free | Details
🎃 ARC Trunk or Treat & Fall Festival – Trunk or treating, pumpkin painting, cookie decorating, crafts, sensory area, storytelling, scavenger hunt, and costume contest. | Check time | Free | Details
🗣️ Se Habla Español Language Exchange – Bilingual practice sessions for all ages and levels with a skilled tutor at Sailfish Brewing Company. Bring pen and paper. | 6–7:30 PM | Donations accepted | Details
Wednesday, Oct 30
🎃 2nd Annual Haunted House: The Ringmasters Revenge – Frightmare on Ridgecrest haunted house experience in PSL. (Runs Oct 30–31) | 7–9 PM | Check pricing | Details
☕ Coffee Connections & Holiday Angels Gift Drive Launch – Networking event with light refreshments supporting seniors in need. RSVP by Oct 27. | Check time | Free | Details
Friday, Oct 31
🎃 Trick or Treat on 2nd Street – Downtown Fort Pierce trick-or-treating with one-way traffic route. Pick up map at any participating location. | Check time (2 hrs) | Free | Details
🎃 Trunk or Treat at Causeway Cove Marina – Waterfront Halloween with best decorated trunk contest, kids zone, face painting, pumpkin patch, and marina views. | Check time | Free | Details
If you have an event, send it to me here
📌 The Last Drop: The VOTE!
🗳️ Fort Pierce District 2 early voting open – Special election early voting runs through November 1st at Renaissance Business Park, 10am-6pm daily. Only District 2 residents eligible. Voting details
🏛️ St. Lucie legislative delegation meeting – Public can present to state legislators October 29th, 9am at IRSC Eastman Complex. Contact required to speak at session. Meeting info
🚧 Avenue B closure through January – Fort Pierce section between US 1 and N 7th Street closes October 24th for wastewater system construction. Reopening expected January 16, 2026. Detour info
📸 This is Sunland: ✌️ Road Run!
Photo by J’Qwan
See you tomorrow!
With Love, Ja’Min
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