Good Morning, Sunland
It’s Wednesday. Thank you for being here. This is your once-a-week reminder to share the newsletter with one friend. Make sure you use your referral code.
Also a quick update. There’s been a bit of a delay but the stickers are in. Bags and shirts too. I’ll be sending everything out soon to everyone who earned rewards. Thank you for your patience.
Alright. On to the news.
Interesting 👀: Florida diners are tipping around 18% at full-service restaurants, below the national average of 19.4%. Delaware leads the nation at 22.1%. Read the full breakdown here.
🌧️ Weather Update: A humid, heavy-hearted day with afternoon storms and a full moon to follow
🌦️ Day: High of 86°F | Cloudy this morning with light rain, then scattered thunderstorms this afternoon. Winds SE at 10–15 mph. Rain chance: 60%.
🌙 Night: Low of 75°F | Partly to mostly cloudy skies. Winds SE at 10–15 mph.
🌅 Sunrise: 6:25 AM | 🌇 Sunset: 8:16 PM
🌕 Full Moon: Moonrise at 9:02 PM | Moonset at 6:19 AM
🎵 Sounds like: “If You Want Me to Stay” by Sly & the Family Stone 🌧️🕊️ RIP to a legend!
Ja’Min Devon
🏡 Main Squeeze
Cleaning the Streets
TL;DR: A group of Fort Pierce mothers who lost their children to violence or overdose is transforming grief into civic action. They’ve adopted North 25th Street for monthly cleanups. Now the city is rallying behind their example with a sweeping beautification plan focused on restoring pride and deterring illegal dumping.
What’s happening: At Monday’s City Commission meeting, Our Mothers’ Village, Inc. was honored for their work in the Adopt-A-Road program. Since adopting the stretch of 25th from Avenue D to Q, they’ve led eight cleanups totaling over 30 hours, often with dozens of volunteers, including children.
💬 Why it matters: This is about more than litter. It’s about reclaiming space, modeling care, and using grief as fuel for something bigger.
Zoom out: The city is taking note. Fort Pierce’s new Beautification Action Plan includes updated waste rules, multilingual education campaigns, and machines to clean the beaches. Public Works Director Jason Atkinson says the goal is a cleaner city and a more empowered community.
💬 “We always ask ourselves what kind of community are we leaving to our children?” said Ms. Washington, founder of Our Mothers’ Village. “It’s simple. We get out there, have fun, and show them we care.”
🍊 Press Round
Ghost Who Goes There
🌊 Universal Trash Pickup Is Coming
For the first time ever, unincorporated Indian River County is moving to a universal waste system. No more individual signups or separate bills. New carts start arriving this summer and full service begins October 1. County leaders say it’ll cut down on illegal dumping and keep neighborhoods cleaner. Details here
⚖️ Stuart Lawyered Up for the Lagoon
The City of Stuart hired an environmental attorney to help clean up the St. Lucie River. Her job is to figure out how to stop the discharges and hold polluters accountable. Starts in August. Big salary. Even bigger task. Watch WPTV’s story
🏚️ Jensen’s Ghost Town Ain’t Going Anywhere
The Riverlight project on Indian River Drive is still stuck. That means the boarded-up store, the busted windows, the empty apartments and vodka bottles are all still sitting there. The developer says they’re getting vandalized faster than they can fix them. Read more
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🎉 This Weekender
Friday, June 13
🎬 Drive-In Movie Night: Friday the 13th Classic horror under the stars at Treasure Coast Park and Watch. Starts at 8:30 PM. Tickets $23.66. 📍 601 Seaway Dr, Fort Pierce🎟️ Eventbrite Link
🎶 Laser Concerts: Loud and Proud A triple-feature laser show celebrating queer icons — Bowie, Elton John, and more — at the Cox Science Center in West Palm. Starts at 6 PM. 📍 4801 Dreher Trail North, West Palm Beach 🌐 coxsciencecenter.org/laser-shows
Saturday, June 14
🕯️ Concerts by Candlelight – Port St. Lucie An intimate show surrounded by candlelight. Music, vibes, and elegance. 7–8 PM. 📍 692 SE Port Saint Lucie Blvd
🎟️ Details🍻 Bacon Beer Bash 2025 – Intracoastal Brewing Co. Twelve hours of bacon-flavored beers, food, and live music in Melbourne. 11 AM–11 PM. 📍 652 W Eau Gallie Blvd, Melbourne Details
🎸 Rock & Pop Music Concert at Riverside Park Live band, open-air bar, and food trucks. 5:30–8:30 PM at Vero’s Live in the Loop series. 📍 3250 Riverside Park Dr, Vero Beach 🌐 Details
Sunday, June 15
🥞 Father’s Day Brunch at Pepe’s – PSL Bottomless mimosas, sangrias, and Mexican brunch classics. 11:30 AM–3 PM. 📍 5363 NW East Torino Pkwy, Port St. Lucie Details
🎹 Pianos & Brunch – Hop Life Brewing Live piano, brunch menu, and beer specials from noon to 4 PM. Music starts at 1 PM. 📍 679 NW Enterprise Dr #101, Port St. Lucie Details
🚶🏽♀️ 2K Walk, Wheel & Run FUN Morning movement around the Port St. Lucie Green Market — walk, jog, or roll. Starts at 9:30 AM. 📍 MIDFLORIDA Event Center Details
💧 The Last Drop
Big Openings, Big Dreams, Big Questions
🧼 Swimming Scholarships Are Back Sunshine Laundry is once again offering $20 swimming lesson scholarships through the Red Cross and St. Lucie County. Limited spots are available for all ages. Apply here
🎨 Calling All Muralists The Fort Pierce Redevelopment Agency is accepting mural proposals for two public spaces. Submissions are due June 20 and local artists are especially encouraged to apply. Get details
🚦 New Wayfinding Signs Installed Fort Pierce just began rolling out 58 new wayfinding signs across the city. Look out for updates in Downtown, Lincoln Park, Peacock Arts District, and more. See photos
📸 This is Sunland: ✌️ Before I go
See you tomorrow!
With Love, Ja’Min
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