🌅🏨PSL's Hidden Resort Shuts Down

Good Morning, Sunland!

It’s Monday! and with 9 days until Christmas, you can feel the holiday energy building up. The parking lots are getting fuller, the store lines are growing longer, and let's be honest - finding a spot at Publix is becoming its own extreme sport. But hey, that's part of the “holiday” charm, right?

Are you done with your holiday shopping yet? (I'm definitely not! 😅)

Alright...

📬 A Look Ahead in 5 Seconds:
🏨 Sandpiper Bay Resort closes
🎄 8 holiday events this week
🚣‍♂️ Boat parade rescheduled

🎶 What It Sounds Like: "Waterfalls" by TLC

☀️ Day: High of 78°F with mostly cloudy skies this morning and showers developing in the afternoon. Winds ENE at 10-20 mph. 60% chance of rain.

🌙 Night: Low of 69°F with cloudy skies and periods of rain early. Winds E at 5-10 mph. 60% chance of rain.

🌡️ Check Full Weather Report Here 
🚗 Check The Traffic Before You Leave

What You Might Have Missed

🛥️ St. Lucie County Christmas Boat Parade Postponed to Dec. 21

The parade, originally set for Saturday, was postponed due to a small craft advisory. Winds of 15-20 knots made for unsafe conditions, officials said.

• 🎥 Get the Details: Everything You Need to Know About the Parade

Port St. Lucie Holiday Garbage Collection Delays Announced.

• No service Christmas Day (Dec. 25). Collections shift by one day for Wednesday-Friday customers.

• 🎄 Regular service resumes Monday, Dec. 30. Full schedule: cityofpsl.com/solidwaste.

🏝️ Port St. Lucie’s Hidden Resort Closes for Major Renovation

Why it matters
The Sandpiper Bay Resort—formerly Club Med and one of the city’s not so obvious landmarks—has closed for a multi-million-dollar upgrade, aiming to put Port St. Lucie on the map for tourism and sports training.

🔍 The Big Picture
Port St. Lucie City Council approved changes to bring the resort’s RPS Academies sports school into compliance while setting the stage for a major facelift.

📋 Key Details

• Resort Closed: As of Dec. 6, the resort is officially shut down and set to reopen July 2025.

• Sports Academy: The property’s 6.83-acre zoning change legalizes operations for the 117 student-athletes training on-site.

• No, the Golf Course Stays: City officials reassured residents that the former golf course will remain Open Space/Recreation.

⚠️ Community Concerns

• Residents pushed back on the zoning change, fearing commercial overreach.

• Officials clarified that only the school and two beach food service areas are approved under the new zoning.

📅 What’s Next

• The resort’s renovation aims to attract tourism, elevate local business, and enhance its sports training offerings.

• The academy remains open during construction.

👉 Get the Full Story: What’s Next for Sandpiper Bay

Weekday Events Ahead 🎉

🎄 Holiday Lights at PSL Gardens
📅 Monday, Dec 16 | 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM
📍 Port St. Lucie Botanical Gardens
Stroll through the gardens illuminated with 2,500 LED lights, with opportunities for live entertainment and food trucks.
👉 Learn More!

🍪 Cookie Decorating at the Tradition Gazebo
📅 Tuesday, Dec 17 | 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
📍 Gazebo at Tradition
Create holiday treats with provided sugar cookies, icing, and sprinkles. Tickets: $5.
👉 Get Tickets!

🎮 Pokémon League at Sky High Comics
📅 Wednesday, Dec 18 | 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
📍 Sky High Comics
Compete in TCG Pokémon games or borrow decks as a new player. Standard format.
👉 More Info

☕ Downtown Hot Cocoa Crawl
📅 Thursday, Dec 19 | 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
📍 Downtown Fort Pierce
Tour 11 locations to complete your cocoa crawl. Start at Notions & Potions to grab your bag!
👉 Event Details

St. Lucie Ballet's The Nutcracker
📅 Friday, Dec 20 | 2:00 PM | 7:00 PM
📍 Lyric Theatre
Experience the magic of the holiday season with Clara as she journeys through the Land of Snow, the Land of Sweets, and encounters the Sugar Plum Fairy. Enjoy this timeless classic performed by the talented dancers of the Treasure Coast Ballet.
👉 Get Tickets!

Christmas Movie Night
📅 Friday, Dec 20 | 6:00 PM
📍 Sunlight Community Church, Port St. Lucie
A cozy outdoor movie night under the stars featuring popcorn, hot cocoa, and festive cheer. Bring your blankets and chairs for a family-friendly evening celebrating the season.
👉 Find Out More!

🎉 Noche Buena Celebration
📅 Friday, Dec 20 | 7:00 PM
📍 Veterans Memorial Parkway
Celebrate Hispanic traditions with festive activities, food, and music.
👉 Explore Event

Sounds of the Season – Free Community Concert!
📅 Friday, Dec 20 | 7:00 PM
📍 Sunrise Theatre, Fort Pierce
Enjoy the 12th Annual Sounds of the Season Holiday Concert, showcasing performances by the Future Generations Drumline, Boys & Girls Clubs, and more. Celebrate the season with music and community spirit.
👉 Buy Tickets!

If you have an event, send it to me here

Things To Know Before You Go

Riverland Pottery Club raises $5,750 for Treasure Coast Food Bank.

• 167 handmade mugs sold at the Fall Festival Chili Cook-Off. That’s 46,000 meals for neighbors in need.

Publix Opens a Hollywood Store With a Boat Dock.

• Random but shoppers can pull up by boat or car at the new Hollywood Beach Publix on S. Ocean Drive. It features a dockside seating area, bakery, deli, and signature subs.

Hurricanes Helene and Milton spread invasive species across Florida.

• 90 invasive species spread after Helene; 56 after Milton, according to USGS maps.

• Giant applesnails and Cuban treefrogs are among the species on the move, posing risks to human health and native ecosystems.

POETIC 📸

A behind-the-scenes shot from the archives: my friend Kay at the Book Exchange off US 1 in Port St. Lucie. I loved being a fly on the wall for this moment, and the photo turned out to be pretty prophetic.

Alright... see you tomorrow!

With love,
Ja’Min

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