Good Morning, Sunland
It's Tuesday! And the podcast is out! This week, myself and Robin talk City of Stuart drama, St. Lucie school enrollment decline, data center updates, and Project LIFT preview. Check it out!
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Alright, let's jump right in!
Ja’Min Devon
🏊 IRSC swim teams do it again: 52 straight for the men
48 for the women
Indian River State College's swim and dive teams brought home national championship hardware once again, extending two of the most dominant dynasties in college sports.
Why it matters: The men's team has now won 52 consecutive national championships. The women grabbed their 48th title. That's half a century of excellence happening right here on the Treasure Coast.
The standouts:
Men's side:
Sophomore diver Spencer Biggs won both the one-meter and three-meter competitions
Marcus Johnson (Boca Raton High alum) broke the 50 breaststroke record and helped shatter the medley relay record
Women's side:
Kelly Zwart swept all her individual events and relays
What they're saying: "I won the one-meter and three-meter competition boards," Biggs said. The former gymnast admitted his first dive was brutal ("I smacked right on my stomach. It was a 9/10 pain") but he loved it anyway.
Zwart on the team's performance: "It was awesome, it was great team spirit and definitely one to remember."
The challenge ahead: Head Coach Sion Brinn is already thinking about next season. "That's the hard part, we lose half of our team every year, and so you hope that the next batch of freshmen coming in are going to replace both athletically and culturally as well."
The big picture: This is what sustained excellence looks like. While other programs chase one championship, IRSC is stacking them up year after year after year.
🥳 Out-of-Towner: Mar 10 - Mar 16
Friday, March 13
🎨 75th Annual Under the Oaks Fine Arts & Crafts Show – 200+ national artists gathered under the oak trees at Riverside Park, Vero Beach. | Mar 13–15, 9am–5pm | Free | Details
Saturday, March 14
🎸 Stuart Rockin' Blues Fest – Free all-day blues festival featuring Apostoli Floyd and four more acts at Memorial Park Amphitheatre, 300 SE Ocean Blvd, Stuart. | 11am–6pm | Free | Details
🧙 The Wizard of Oz – Entr'acte Theatrix presents the timeless classic at William G. Skaff Center, Palm Beach. | Through Mar 14 | Tickets
☘️ Irish Fest 2026 – Three-day Irish music, food, dance, and street vendors on Clematis Street at O'Shea's Irish Pub, West Palm Beach. | Mar 14, 15 & 17 | Details
Sunday, March 15
☘️ Jensen Beach St. Patrick's Day Parade – Parade, vendors, and live music in downtown Jensen Beach. | Festivities 11am–4pm, Parade 2pm | Free
🍀 7th Annual St. Patrick's Day Block Party at Curfew – All-day indoor and outdoor block party with DJ brunch, live music, and St. Paddy's specials at Curfew, 1932 14th Ave, Vero Beach. | 12–9pm | Free | Details
If you have an event, send it to me here
🌮 Pepe's Cantina: Hawaiian Fajita Bowl (Sponsored)
I tried the Hawaiian Fajita Bowl at Pepe's Cantina in Port St. Lucie and it was really good.
What's in it: Angus beef, chicken, shrimp, melted cheese, all served in a hollowed-out grilled pineapple. Yeah, you read that right.
Why it works: The sweet grilled pineapple against the savory meat and cheese is a combo that just hits. Plus, it looks incredible when they bring it to the table.
Bottom line: If you want to switch things up from your usual order, this is the move.
💧 The Last Drop: Weather, Turtles, and Temps
🌡️ Florida skipping spring, jumping straight to summer – Temps could flirt with record highs this week, 10 to 20 degrees above average. Cold snap is officially over, but the brown plants in your yard aren't bouncing back yet. Weather forecast
🐢 Sea turtle nesting season begins along Treasure Coast – Loggerheads, green turtles, and leatherbacks returning to nest through October. Nesting season
🏖️ Vero Beach dune repair closes beach access points in March – Work underway to repair storm damage. Beach closures
🏥 Treasure Coast Community Health expands services – Patient care remains focus as clinic grows offerings across Indian River County. TCCH expansion
🏛️ Stuart selects Navy veteran as next city manager – Michael Giardino chosen from 82 applicants to replace fired manager Michael Mortell. Split 3 to 2 vote, commissioners Giobbi and Rich voted no. Stuart city manager
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