Good Morning, Sunland
It’s Wednesday! and let's jump right in!
👁️ Caught my eye: Lion Country Safari was sold to Larry Ellison's family for $30 million. After nearly six decades under its founding family, the Loxahatchee park says operations will remain unchanged and their commitment to wildlife conservation continues.
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☀️ Weather Update: Cloudy early, then sunny.
☀️ Day: High of 77°F | Cloudy early, sunshine expected late. 5% chance of rain.
🌙 Night: Low of 59°F | A few passing clouds. 13% chance of rain.
🌅 Sunrise: 6:55 AM | 🌇 Sunset: 5:26 PM
🌙 Moonrise: 4:09 PM | 🌚 Moonset: 5:22 AM
🎶 Sounds like: "Sweet Thing" — Chaka Khan
Ja’Min Devon
🚔 Main Squeeze: Fort Pierce Police Chief Search
Process vs. Public Voice
Watch my full breakdown of what happened Monday night (10 minutes, all the context you need)
What's happening: Fort Pierce selects its next police chief December 8th. All three finalists are from out of state. All three local candidates, including Acting Deputy Chief Caleb Gillette (who has union support), were eliminated.
Monday night exploded: Commissioner Michael Broderick added the police chief search to the agenda. Within minutes, 15 people lined up to speak with the same message: bring back the local candidates, specifically Gillette.
"We want a police chief from this community for this community," one resident said.
The commission deadlocked 2-2. No vote was taken.
The tension: The city charter says City Manager Richard Chess hires the police chief with commission approval. Chess used a credible search firm (S. Renée Narloch and Associates) and a committee that included former police chief leadership. They delivered three qualified out-of-state candidates.
But the community is speaking loud: The police union endorsed Gillette. His mother testified. Retired officers testified. The support is overwhelming.
The question: When the charter and the community disagree, which one wins?
Last night's meet and greet: I attended. Good turnout. All three finalists were there at a round table answering questions about their backgrounds and vision for Fort Pierce.
What's next:
Today (December 3rd): Finalists interview with commissioners
December 8th: Chess makes his recommendation and the commission votes
Your take: Should Fort Pierce follow the process or listen to the community? Drop your thoughts here.
🛒 Press Round: Groceries, Cold Snaps & Takeoff
🛒 Fort Pierce Winn-Dixie Converting to ALDI
The Winn-Dixie at 4870 N. Kings Highway in Fort Pierce will permanently close in late February to be converted into an ALDI store. The adjacent liquor store will remain open, and employees have been offered positions at the new ALDI or other Winn-Dixie locations as part of ALDI's broader conversion of Southeastern Grocers chains across the Treasure Coast.
👉 Read more (Hometown News)
❄️ Cold Fronts Bringing 50-Degree Temps This Week
Multiple cold fronts are moving through the Treasure Coast starting Dec. 2, with overnight lows dipping into the mid to upper 50s by Wednesday night and possibly into the low 50s by next Tuesday morning. A second front expected Sunday, Dec. 7, will bring even cooler temperatures, with daytime highs staying in the mid to upper 70s throughout the week.
👉 Read more (WQCS)
✈️ Children's Museum Getting Air Travel Exhibit
The Children's Museum of the Treasure Coast in Jensen Beach is building a new exhibit called "Take Flight" that will simulate the experience of air travel, including security screenings, cockpit views, and emergency evacuation procedures. Construction is expected to start in January 2026, and organizers say there's nothing else like it on the Treasure Coast.
👉 Read more (WPTV)
🎉 The Weekender: 8 Events to Check Out This Weekend!
Friday, Dec 5
🎉 Friday Fest December 2025 with Old Hippies & Kid's Crafts – Main Street Fort Pierce hosts Friday Fest in Marina Square with food vendors, food trucks, live music, kids Christmas crafts. | 5:30–8:30 PM | Free | Details
🎉 RNB Grown and Sexy Afro-Caribbean – Switching up the flow with some Grown & Sexy Afro-Caribbean vibes at Blue Iguanas Sports Grill, 6634 US-1, Port Saint Lucie. Party starts 9 PM. | 9 PM–2 AM | Check pricing | Details
💡 Heathcote's Garden of Lights 2025 – Magic returns with millions of twinkling lights at Heathcote Botanical Gardens, 210 Savannah Road, Fort Pierce. Scavenger hunt, spirit fairies, treasure chest woodcarvers. Runs Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays through December. | 5:30–9 PM | $18 general, $16 members, children 5 & under free | Details
Saturday, Dec 6
🎪 2nd Annual Fairgrounds Festival of Lights – Drive-thru lights, real reindeer (Rudolph!), petting zoo, Santa's Village, photo ops at St. Lucie County Fairgrounds. Open Thanksgiving through Dec 28th. Food trucks on site. | 6–9 PM | $10/person advance, $12 at gate | Details
🎄 Festival of Lights – Holly jolly celebration with midway carnival, live music, food trucks at MIDFLORIDA Event Center, 9221 SE Event Center Place. Parade of Lights, PSLin Lights decorating contest, Gingerbread Showdown cookie contest. | 2–10 PM | Check pricing | Details
🚗 Fort Pierce Bug Bash 2025 VW Car Show and Concert – 4th annual Bug Bash with classic VWs, engine-revving celebration, Humble Fish, V-Dub Crew at Causeway Cove Marina. Gates open 9 AM, music til 10 PM. | 9 AM–2 PM | $12.61–$28.52 | Details
🎬 Saturday Drive In Movie Nights: The Polar Express – Drive-in movie at Treasure Coast Park and Watch, 601 Seaway Drive, Fort Pierce. Gates open 6 PM, movie starts 7 PM. Sound transmitted through FM radio. | 7 PM | $14 plus tax per vehicle online, $14 cash at gate | Details
Sunday, Dec 7
🎄 Sights & Sounds on Second Christmas Parade and Festival – "Fort Pierce Through the Decades" with Santa at 1:30 PM, children's activities, street vendors, entertainment, Christmas parade at 4 PM, tree lighting in Marina Square roundabout, over 100,000 lights synchronized to holiday music in Downtown Fort Pierce. | 1–6 PM | Free | Details
Want more events? Go here
📸 Last Drop: Bridge Work, Siren Tests, and Lagoon Cleanup
🌉 North Causeway Bridge closures this week – Fort Pierce SR A1A bridge closed nightly 9pm-5am Dec. 1-3 and Dec. 7-9 for construction. US 1 closed Dec. 4 overnight for sign installation. Detours in place, emergency access maintained. Bridge project
🚨 Nuclear plant siren test Thursday at noon – All 91 outdoor warning sirens within 10-mile St. Lucie plant emergency zone sound for one minute December 4th. Public address message before and after states "This is only a test." Safety test
⛵ St. Lucie removes 17 derelict vessels in 2025 – County's Port, Inlets & Beaches cleared abandoned boats from Indian River Lagoon for $24,000 total cost. Latest removal was Water Bear sailboat near Harbor Isle in partnership with state emergency management. Vessel cleanup
📸 This is Sunland: Cousin Finish!
See you tomorrow!
With Love, Ja’Min
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