- SUNLAND NEWS
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- 💼 New Facility Brings 225 Jobs
Good Morning, Sunland! It’s Friday!
Welcome to Sunland News – The newsletter that feels like that one house everyone flocks to during a hurricane. You know, the one person in the family that still has power 😂. There's usually a spades game starting up too.
I hope all is well with everyone after Hurricane Helene passed us by. The rain had its way last night and early this morning, but it's even worse up north, as the hurricane intensified to a Category 4 upon arrival.
Over in Tampa, water was literally spilling over the edge of the Howard Franklin Bridge.
It's pretty bizarre. Let’s hope and pray everyone stays safe and sound.
Without further ado, let’s get into the news.
— Ja'Min
In Today’s Sunland News 📬
🏢 Port St. Lucie Eyes New (another) Manufacturing Facility
🥪 Boar's Head has a Problem
🎉 Check out Thursday's Full Events List (Click Here)
📚 Read Time: 4.5 Minutes
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🌤️ Weather TL;DR: "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head" 🎶
Okay, so boom, after a bunch of rain, here comes the heat. 😭
Expect showers early, then turning cloudy as the day progresses. 🌧️
☀️ Day: High of 90°F
🌙 Night: Low of 77°F
🌅 Sunrise: 7:12 AM
🌇 Sunset: 7:11 PM
🌧️ Rain: 80% chance during the day, dropping to 24% at night
💧 Humidity: Day - 80%, Night - 90%
Stay prepared for the humidity, and don't forget your umbrella! ☂️
🌧️ Trail Closure Alert: Flooded Trails at Steven J. Fousek Preserve 🚧
To avoid a slip and fall, and being covered in a layer of mud, you might want to skip out on the trails for a while. But, the Steven J. Fousek (Paleo & Teague Hammock) Preserve is officially closed until further notice due to flooding. With more rain expected from Hurricane Helene, many trails in St. Lucie County's preserves may be impassable or extremely muddy. Please stay cautious!
🚗Check the current traffic situation via Google.
🚤 TREASURE COAST AT LARGE
70-Year-Old Treasure Coast Restaurant Closes 🏝️
Harry and the Natives, a beloved restaurant that’s been in the community for over 70 years, has announced it will be closing in October. The iconic spot in Hobe Sound faced challenges with decreased attendance post-COVID and rising food and labor costs.
🍊 FLORIDA AT LARGE
10th Death Reported in Boar’s Head Deli Meat Listeria Outbreak 🥪
A 10th person has died from a listeria outbreak tied to a Boar’s Head deli meat plant in Jarratt, Virginia. The outbreak has sickened at least 59 people across 19 states, with two fatalities each in New York and South Carolina, and additional deaths in Illinois, New Jersey, Virginia, Florida, Tennessee, and New Mexico. The Sarasota-based company shut down the plant and recalled over 7 million pounds of deli meats following reports of contamination issues.
🌍 WORLD AT LARGE
Coming Up Next on CNN: A Paywall 💰
Starting in October, CNN will begin testing a subscription model as part of a new initiative led by chief executive Mark Thompson. This move marks a significant shift in how the network plans to deliver its content in the future.
New Jobs, But At What Cost?
Port St. Lucie is eyeing the addition of a new manufacturing and distribution facility in the Southern Grove jobs corridor, bringing 225 new jobs to the area. While the company remains unnamed, it's clear this will be yet another expansion for the city's industrial sector. With an average annual salary of about $51,000 per position, this development aims to attract a sizable workforce. But let’s break down what that actually means for the average resident.
To put it into perspective, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the average cost of living per person in Florida is roughly $4,224 monthly, which comes to about $50,688 per year. While this salary offer is just slightly above the annual cost of living, it doesn't leave much breathing room for savings, unexpected expenses, or the prospect of building wealth, especially when considering the rising costs of housing in the area.
Port St. Lucie has been actively positioning itself as a hub for manufacturing and warehouse jobs on the Treasure Coast. We've covered similar moves in previous articles, and while job creation is undoubtedly a step in the right direction, it raises a few questions: What are the long-term effects of bringing in businesses that may not be paying their fair share in taxes? And how will this impact the local economy in the years to come?
The City Council recently approved a generous tax break for this mystery company, with a complete exemption from property taxes for the first five years, and a gradually decreasing exemption over the next five years. While this strategy is often used to attract big employers, it begs the question: What is the community getting in return beyond the initial job creation? Are these businesses required to invest in local infrastructure, education, or other initiatives that benefit residents in a tangible way?
Ultimately, this raises the bigger question: As Port St. Lucie continues to grow, how can we ensure that the businesses we attract are not only providing jobs but also contributing to a vibrant, sustainable, and equitable community?
Would love to know your thoughts! Respond to this email and let us know!
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📸 This is Sunland! & Me lol
We’re approaching the final three months of the year, and I’m looking for ways to really push Sunland News in the months ahead. If you have any ideas on what you'd like to see more of, or if there’s anything I could improve, please reply to this email and let me know.
I truly appreciate each of you for being here, and I’m excited to continue growing this newsletter well into the future.
See you next week!
With love,
Ja’Min
Treasure Coast Theatre presents the classic musical "The Fantasticks" 🎭
📅 September 29, 2024 | Afternoon
📍 Treasure Coast Theatre, 10175 S US Highway 1, Port Saint Lucie, FL 34952 | 2 PM - 4 PM
Enjoy this timeless musical about two neighbors who trick their children, Luisa and Matt, into falling in love by pretending to feud.
Artisan & Green Market on the Plaza 🛍️🌿
📅 October 3, 2024 | Afternoon
📍 Riverland - Arts & Cultural Center, 11975 SW Bristol Bay Dr, Port St. Lucie, FL 34987 | 3 PM - 6 PM
Join for the Riverland Artisan & Green Market on the plaza, where you can explore a variety of local crafts and fresh produce. Open to all Riverland Residents.
Treasure Coast Marine Flea Market & Boat Sale
📅 September 28, 2024 | Afternoon
📍 Indian River Fairgrounds, 7955 58th Avenue, Vero Beach, FL 32967
Explore a wide selection of marine bargains, boats, fishing gear, seafood, and more at this 16th annual event. With vendors, seminars, and plenty of deals, it's a perfect outing for all marine enthusiasts.
Opening Night - "Controlled Chaos" Art Show 🎨
📅 October 3, 2024 | Evening
📍 MIDFLORIDA Event Center, 9221 S.E. Event Center Place, Port Saint Lucie, FL | 5:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Join us for the opening night of the annual art exhibition, where this year's theme is "Controlled Chaos." Be among the first to experience diverse artistic interpretations, enjoy live music, and experience live painting. This is a fantastic opportunity to connect with the art community and meet the artists.
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