Good Morning, Sunland
It’s Friday! Long - ish newsletter but definitely works with it! Let’s jump right in!
🌡️ Weather Update: Cool, crisp, and clean.
☀️ Day: High of 72°F | Sunny and breezy with light NNW winds at 5–10 mph.
🌙 Night: Low of 54°F | Clear skies with calm NNW winds around 4 mph.
🌅 Sunrise: 7:31 AM | 🌇 Sunset: 6:38 PM
🌕 Moon: Waxing Gibbous | 🌙 Moonrise: 3:30 PM | 🌙 Moonset: 2:10 AM
🎶 Sounds like: “Can’t Stop Loving You” — Kem
Ja’Min Devon
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🚊 Main Squeeze: Local Food Banks Brace for SNAP Cutoff
TL;DR: If SNAP benefits don’t arrive tomorrow, November 1, local food banks say they’re preparing for up to 80,000 people who may suddenly need help across the Treasure Coast.
📈 What’s happening
The Treasure Coast Food Bank says demand is already rising
Mustard Seed Ministries has served 45,000 people this year
House of Hope has distributed food to 1.6 million people, already more than last year
📊 By the numbers: Unemployment in St. Lucie County is now at 5.1 percent, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. It’s one of the highest rates in Florida. That number matters because families already facing job instability are often the first to feel the pressure when food benefits are delayed. Here’s the newsletter that covered it
🛒 Where to get food help
Sarah’s Kitchen
Fort Pierce and Port St. Lucie
First Bethel Baptist Church
Tues 3 to 4:30 PM, Thurs 3 to 4 PM
506 North 11th Street, Fort Pierce
Lakewood Park Church
Tues 4:30 to 6 PM
5405 Turnpike Feeder Road, Fort Pierce
First Congregational Church
Wed 4 to 5:30 PM
506 North 11th Street, Fort Pierce
2401 Southeast Sidonia Street, Port St. Lucie
Treasure Coast Food Bank
Mon to Fri 8 AM to 5 PM
401 Angle Road, Fort Pierce
772-489-3034
GraceWay Village
Tues and Wed 10 AM to 2 PM
1780 Hartman Road, Fort Pierce
772-925-3074
Mustard Seed Ministries
Fort Pierce: Mon to Fri 9 to 11:45 AM
Port St. Lucie: Mon and Wed 1 to 4 PM
House of Hope
2484 Southeast Bonita Street, Stuart
Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri 9 AM to 5 PM
Wed noon to 4:30 PM
Food Pantry of Indian River County
Mon, Wed, Fri 9 AM to noon
Tues and Thurs 2 to 5 PM
2206 16th Avenue, Vero Beach
United Against Poverty
Vero Beach: 1400 27th Street
Fort Pierce: 2520 Orange Avenue
Mon to Sat 9 AM to 5 PM
Love and Hope in Action (LAHIA)
1760 Southeast Salerno Road, Stuart
Mon to Fri
🗣 Know a place we missed? If there’s a church, school, or community group offering food help that’s not listed here, leave your thoughts and share it here so we can add it to the list.
🗞 Press Round: Markers, Moves, and Monthly Rent Relief
⚾ Dodgertown site to get civil rights marker
A new Florida Historical Marker will be unveiled Nov. 8 in Vero Beach at the former Dodgertown golf course. The site played a key role in integrating professional sports and is now recognized as part of the U.S. Civil Rights Trail.
👮 Fort Pierce officers back internal hire for chief
The Fort Pierce Police Union is publicly backing acting Deputy Chief Caleb Gillette as the city’s next top cop. The position has been vacant since May, and city officials are spending $25,000 on a nationwide search.
(Editors Note: In our coverage Wednesday on this story, it wasn't clear that the selection for the next Fort Pierce chief would occur prior to the candidate being selected in the November 4th election actually took office. this is an important note to add given that the current board only seats four city commissioners, resulting in less input overall)
🏠 PSL reopens rental help for seniors
Port St. Lucie is reopening its rental assistance program for seniors age 62 and older. Applications open Nov. 17, with support covering rent, deposits, and utility help for up to 12 months. Only 25 spots are available.
🚊 Main Squeeze: Pittman Boys
If you follow high school football around here, you’ve probably already heard the name Jeremy Pittman Jr. The John Carroll running back made history on Homecoming Night with 280 rushing yards and six touchdowns in a single game against Benjamin one of the best individual performances this city has seen in years.
John Carroll, now sitting at 7–2, faces St. John Paul II Academy tonight for their regular season closer. The Eagles are 3–4, but with playoffs on the horizon, momentum is everything.
I sat down with The Pittman Boys, to talk about football, family, and what it means to represent Fort Pierce. Their father, Rabbit, told me, “This is history for the city. We’re just getting started.”
🎥 Watch the full interview: Da Rise of Them Pittman Boys
🎉 The Top 5 Clicked Events This Week!
Friday, Oct 31
🎃 Fall Fun Fest – Three-day event with carnival rides, live music by Absolute Queen, Street of Treats trick-or-treating, and SCAREZONE haunted experience at MIDFLORIDA Event Center. (Runs Oct 31–Nov 2) | 5–10 PM | Free admission, ride tickets sold onsite | Details
🎃 Monster Mash on Main Street – Halloween Downtown Friday street party with live music by The Anderson Council, trick-or-treating, local vendors, food trucks, and bar crawl in Vero Beach. | 6–9 PM | Free | Details
Saturday, Nov 1
🍺 Treasure Coast Brew Fest – Largest craft beverage festival with 55+ breweries, cideries, distilleries, 10 food trucks, live music, and spirits from Florida distillers at Stuart Memorial Park. | 1–5 PM | $45 | Details
⛵ Indian River Marine Flea Market and Boat Sale – Weekend of boats, bargains, vendors, and fun at Indian River Fairgrounds in Vero Beach. (Runs Nov 1–2) | Check pricing | Details
Sunday, Nov 2
💡 TEDxVeroBeach 2025 – "Breaking Barriers: Systems That Challenge the Status Quo" with 12 visionary speakers including world-renowned champions, educators, and AI pioneers at The Emerson Center. | Check time | Ticketed | Details
If you have an event, send it to me here
💧 The Last Drop: Bond, Boo!
🚆 Brightline’s $985M Bond Deadline Extended
Brightline has more time to work out a deal on nearly $1 billion in bonds tied to future commuter access payments from South Florida counties.
🛣️ Port St. Lucie’s Tax Projects Move Ahead
From Floresta Drive to California Boulevard, the city’s half-cent sales tax has funded over 80 miles of roadwork and more is coming.
👻 13 Haunted Spots Along the Treasure Coast
The Driftwood Resort. Devil’s Tree. Boston House. Peek the spookiest places from Stuart to Vero—and where to get scared this Halloween.
📸 This is Sunland: Photo Finish ! ! !
See you Monday!
With Love, Ja’Min
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