Good Morning, Sunland! It’s Tuesday!

Welcome to Sunland News – your morning alarm clock, your daily dose of art, and most importantly, your go-to source for staying informed.

Just a quick heads-up: we might be entering a hurricane watch. The storm, named Helene, looks like it could make landfall north of us at any time this week. [Read More Here] Rest assured, if anything happens, I'll keep you updated on any community resources and assistance that you or others might need. Just when we thought we were in the clear, Mother Nature had other plans.

With that said, let’s dive into the news!

— Ja'Min Brown

In Today’s Sunland News 📬

🏛️ City of Port St. Lucie Town Hall
💰Fort Pierce Business Grant
🍿 Drive-in Horror Film

📚 Read Time: 4.5 Minutes
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Weather TL;DR: "Stormy" by Santana 🎶 
Cloudy skies with showers expected today. 🌧️

🌞 Day: High of 87°F
🌜 Night: Low of 79°F
🌅 Sunrise: 7:11 AM
🌇 Sunset: 7:15 PM

☔ Rain: 60% chance during the day, 24% at night
💧 Humidity: Day - 75%, Night - 82%

Make sure to stay dry out there! ☂️

Check Full Weather Report Here

City of Port St. Lucie Town Hall 🏛️
Join Councilman Anthony Bonna Sr. for a District 3 Town Hall where you’ll hear directly from local hospital reps and learn about city growth, infrastructure, and taxes.

🗓️ Date: Wednesday, October 2
⏰ Time: 6-8 p.m.
📍 Location: Keiser University, 9400 SW Discovery Way, Port St. Lucie

[Read More]

Fort Pierce Community Cleanup Day 🌿
The City of Fort Pierce is hosting a Community Cleanup, and they need your help to keep our city looking its best.
Want to join the effort? Sign up here: Community Cleanup Registration and start tracking your impact using the new litter cleanup form. Your participation could even earn prizes! 🎉

🚗Check the current traffic situation via Google.

🚤 TREASURE COAST AT LARGE

Orange Avenue Road Closure Starts Sept. 29 🚧

Heads up, Fort Pierce drivers! Orange Avenue between Fifth and Seventh streets will be closed for two weeks for roadwork and utility upgrades.

• Closure Duration: Sept. 29 at 10 p.m. to Oct. 11 at 5 p.m.

• Westbound Detour: Take North Fifth Street to Avenue A to North Seventh Street.

• Eastbound Detour: Take South Seventh Street to Atlantic Avenue to South Fifth Street.

The $5.4 million project, expected to be completed by summer 2025, includes roadway resurfacing, pedestrian upgrades, improved traffic signals, and bike lane markings. Plan ahead!

[Read More]

🍊 FLORIDA AT LARGE

Americans Now Need $80K for a Starter Home, Report Says 🏡
A Redfin report shows Americans need to earn $80,000 annually to afford a typical starter home—$20,000 more than the average income.

Starter Home Prices: Up 54% over the past five years.
Median Income: About $60,000/year, per Bureau of Labor and Statistics.
Tips: Get prequalified for a loan before house hunting.
First-Time Buyer Programs: Offer zero to 3% down payment assistance.

[Read More]

🌍 WORLD AT LARGE

Boeing Offers 30% Raise to End Strike ✈️
With 30,000 factory workers on strike and 737 production halted for a second week, Boeing has proposed a 30% wage increase over four years, up from the initial 25%. The offer includes a larger ratification bonus and increased 401(k) contributions. The union has until Friday to ratify the deal, but no immediate response yet from the International Association of Machinists on this “best and final” offer.

[Read More]

$25K Grant Offers Local Businesses

The City of Fort Pierce Redevelopment Agency (FPRA) is stepping up to help local businesses look their best with its Commercial Facade Grant Program. If you’re a business owner in Fort Pierce who’s been thinking about upgrading your building's exterior, now might be the perfect time to jump...

The FPRA is offering grants up to $25,000 to match your investment in making your storefront shine. We're talking improvements like new siding, landscaping, signage, lighting (who can’t use better lighting?), and all the other upgrades that can make your business stand out. The goal is to revitalize Fort Pierce’s business corridors, help boost the economy, and bring more of a community energy to the area.

To be eligible, your property needs to be in the designated FPRA district, which covers quite a bit of ground. The boundaries stretch roughly from Avenue Q on the north side, down to Georgia Avenue in the south, and from 33rd Street on the west to the water’s edge along Seaway Drive to A1A and Ocean Drive on the east. Essentially, if you’re anywhere within that zone and have a commercial, industrial, or mixed-use building, you could qualify.

Here’s the fine print

You’ve got to show you’ve got the funds to cover the project upfront and submit two estimates from licensed contractors, along with photos of your building's current exterior. The grant is a matching one, so for every dollar you put in, they’ll put in a dollar too – up to that $25,000 cap. That means if you’re investing $5,000 of your own cash, the FPRA will match that with another $5,000. You’ve got to be ready to start the project within six months of approval and wrap it up within a year, so there's a bit of a timeline to keep in mind.

Now, the application process might seem a bit detailed, but it’s worth it if you’ve been wanting to revamp your space and make a bigger impact on your community. All applications are scored on a 100-point scale, with up to half the points based on the visual improvement and how much blight your project will help eliminate. The rest of the points consider your total investment, design creativity, and how much of a positive impact your project will have on the community.

If you’re ready, check out the FPRA’s website or reach out to them directly at 772-467-3786 or email [email protected]. It's a solid chance to invest back into your business and be part of making Fort Pierce a more vibrant place. [Read More Here]

Kay’s Kreative Klass

My Friend Kay is doing something really special with her newsletter. She’s holding space and giving a spotlight (literally) to your network of artist and friends. I design, feel, and message of her newsletter align perfectly! 🙏

📸 This is Sunland!

I’ve been learning and growing with this newsletter and it’s been a real joy! Looking to really give the newsletter a push over the next couple of months! I appreciate you being here! See you tomorrow!

With love,
Ja’Min

🍻 Toast to the Treasure Coast
📅 September 25, 2024 | Evening
📍 Sailfish Brewing Company, 165 Avenue A, Fort Pierce, FL
Join Sailfish Brewing Company for an unforgettable evening of culinary delights and craft beverages. Enjoy an array of local flavors, meet fellow food enthusiasts, and celebrate the best of the Treasure Coast!

[Read More]

🍷 Raise a Glass at Downtown Cellars Wine Festival!
📅 September 26, 2024 | Evening
📍 121 Melody Lane, Fort Pierce, FL
Join Chef Ken and Sommelier Taylor Cope for a Five Course Meal & Wine Pairing Event. Enjoy delicious wines from Domaine Carneros, Caymus, and Villa Bibbiani, paired with gourmet dishes and live music by the Andrew Morris Band. Don't miss out on this great opportunity to sip, savor, and mingle!

[Read More]

🎬 Phantom of the Universe 
🗓️ September 27-28, 2024 | Multiple Showtimes
📍 Hallstrom Planetarium, Indian River State College, Fort Pierce, FL
Catch this immersive planetarium experience narrated by Tilda Swinton. Showtimes are Friday at 7 and 8:30 p.m., and Saturday at 1:30 and 3 p.m.
🎟️ Tickets: $7
[More Info]

🎥 Friday Drive-In Horror Movie Nights: Scream & Paranormal Activity 
🗓️ September 27, 2024 | 8:00 PM
📍 601 Seaway Drive, Fort Pierce, FL
Enjoy a spooky double feature at the drive-in with Scream starting at 8:00 p.m. and Paranormal Activity at 10:00 p.m. This event runs every Friday through Halloween!
🎟️ Tickets and more info available at TCParkAndWatch.com