🌅🌟 New Year, Big News for Sunland

Good Morning Afternoon, Sunland

It’s Wednesday! Long time no see—new year, new me, you know the drill. I’m excited for 2025 and all it may bring, especially here locally. For anyone who is new, my name is Ja’Min Devon! Learn more about me here. My goal this year for Sunland News is to keep you updated every weekday with what’s going on right in our backyard. From events and food to news and the people of Saint Lucie County, Sunland News is your one-stop shop. Alright, let’s get to it!

What local stories are you most excited about in 2025?

Salute🫡: In the spirit of "new year, new me," Crunch Fitness has finally opened on US 1. I've always been a huge fan of Crunch, but I wasn’t willing to make the drive all the way to Stuart just to work out. Now, that’s no longer an issue!

🍋 The Main Squeeze: Harmony Music Lounge Closes

📋 The Facts:

• After 2.5 years of hosting live music and arts events, the Harmony Music Lounge in Fort Pierce closed its doors on Dec. 27.

• Owner Priscilla Speicher, a dedicated advocate for the arts, cited financial challenges as the reason for the closure.

• Styled like a Soho listening room, the lounge hosted a variety of live music genres, fostering a vibrant, creative atmosphere.

🤔 Why This Matters to Our Community:
The closure of Harmony Music Lounge is more than the loss of a business; it’s a signal of the challenges facing Fort Pierce’s arts community. For residents and creators, it raises a critical question: Is there enough local support for art and culture to sustain spaces like this?

As someone who discovered Harmony Music Lounge in 2024, I was struck by how unique it was in its dedication to live music. It wasn’t just a venue—it was a home for the arts in a town where such spaces are rare. Its loss feels like an ending, but it also challenges us to think about how to ensure art continues to thrive in Fort Pierce.

🌟 Community Impact:

• The arts are vital to our individual and collective growth, as Speicher noted, and their absence diminishes the community's vibrancy.

• Speicher’s efforts to create a collaborative downtown culture, including discount promotions and online platforms like This Is Fort Pierce, will be missed unless others step up to continue the work.

💡 What You Can Do:

• Share your thoughts: What can we do to keep the arts alive in Fort Pierce?

• Support Speicher’s upcoming pop-up concerts at Terra Fermata and the Sunrise Theatre’s Black Box theater.

• Advocate for city policies that make it easier for small businesses to thrive.

🗣️ Community Voices:
“My biggest sadness in closing is not for myself; this is a loss to the community. It’s a loss to every person that enjoyed coming to the shows.” — Priscilla Speicher

📖 Want to Go Deeper? 👉 Read More Here

🍊 The Press Round

Brunch Lovers, Rejoice
Another Broken Egg Cafe is bringing its breakfast and brunch vibes to the Treasure Coast, with new locations planned for Stuart and Port St. Lucie over the next few years. The PSL spot will be on Becker Road, near Kyle G's Oak and Ember Steakhouse. Big plates and warm vibes are on the way.

A New Shelter for Veterans in Fort Pierce
St. Lucie County is converting the old Relax Inn into a co-ed shelter for homeless veterans. The $1.15M property will be renovated into 13 rooms with communal spaces, offering services like job training and mental health support. Proposals to operate the shelter are due Jan. 8, with renovations expected to take about 18 months.

Fort Pierce Eyes New Leadership
Fort Pierce is reviewing 65 candidates to replace suspended City Manager Nicholas Mimms, with a final decision expected Feb. 18. Acting City Manager Linda Cox is among the applicants, while private interviews start Jan. 13. Mimms’ next court date is Jan. 7 as he faces charges of bid tampering.

🍹The Refill: Stoney on Resilience, Hard Work, and Community Love

When Stoney reopened his restaurant at 25th Street and Avenue I, he wasn’t sure what to expect. After four months of being closed, the uncertainty loomed, but the love he received from Fort Pierce quickly erased any doubts.

“Shout out to the city, Fort Pierce,” Stoney said. “Man, it’s been all love. People really showed up.” He recounted how community members came by in droves on his first day back, despite the quiet reopening. “It wasn’t even a grand opening,” he laughed, “we just said, ‘Hey, we’re back,’ and the city showed up.”

Stoney also reflected on the lessons learned from his previous location. “I felt like I hit a ceiling there,” he said, explaining the move across town helped him expand his reach. “Now that we’re back home, we’ve built something bigger.”

For Stoney, it’s not just about business. “I’m for the city,” he said. “This is about giving back, creating something that lasts.” Looking to 2025, he’s excited about collaborations that will energize Fort Pierce and bring more opportunities for connection.

🎥 Subscribe to our YouTube channel to watch the full interview this Friday!

🎉 The Weekender

Friday Fest – January 2025 with Dave and the Wave
📅 Friday, January 3 | 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM
📍 Marina Square, Fort Pierce
Kick off the new year with fantastic food, drinks, and live music at this family-friendly event.
👉 Learn More

The Greatest Love of All – A Tribute to Whitney Houston
📅 Friday, January 3 | 8:00 PM
📍 Sunrise Theatre, Fort Pierce
Enjoy a breathtaking tribute to Whitney Houston's legacy with Belinda Davids in this critically acclaimed show.
👉 Find Tickets

Olive Branch GreenMarket in St. Lucie West
📅 Saturday, January 4 | 10:00 AM
📍 Pruitt Campus Library, Port St. Lucie
Explore a vibrant outdoor farmers market with local artisans, farmers, and crafters. A perfect start to your weekend!
👉 More Details

Soulful Saturday
📅 Saturday, January 4 | 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM
📍 Sweet Desires Dessert Lounge, Vero Beach
Unwind with live soulful melodies, sweet treats, and great company.
👉 See More

2025 New Year New Me 5K
📅 Sunday, January 5 | 8:00 AM
📍 Tradition Square, Port St. Lucie
Start the year strong with this fun run, featuring a finisher medal, swag bag, and cash prizes for the top runners!
👉 Register Now

If you have an event, send it to me here

💧 The Last Drop

🔞 18+ Website to Block Florida Users
Popular website has cut off access in Florida, protesting the state’s new age verification law. The company argues the rule risks user privacy while failing to stop minors from accessing adult content. (Axios)

💵 Minimum Wage Rises in 2025
Minimum wage increases across 21 states today, with millions of workers seeing higher paychecks. Florida’s raise to $14 an hour will take effect on September 30. (Axios)

⚖️ New Florida Laws Take Effect
Florida’s 2025 laws are here: Kids under 14 can no longer create social media accounts, local governments must fast-track building permits, and interfering with first responders is now a misdemeanor punishable by up to 60 days in jail. (CBS Miami)

📸 This is Sunland

Quick bookstore update! My friend Kay painted this thrifted newspaper stand. Going to put this in front of the bookstore and fill it with some books so people passing by can grab one. Let me know what I should put in there!

Alright… see you tomorrow!

With love,
Ja’Min

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