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Today’s Read Time: 4.42 Minutes

☁️Weather Forecast

Weather TL;DR: Partly cloudy today with a huge chance of HEAT!

🌤️ Day: High 90°F
🌙 Night: Low 79°F
🌅 Sunrise: 6:44 AM
🌇 Sunset: 8:09 PM

🌧️ Rain: 15% chance of a stray shower or thunderstorm

⚠️🔥 Heat Advisory 🔥⚠️

A heat advisory is in effect from 11 AM to 6 PM. Expect heat index values up to 108 to 110°F. The advisory affects coastal and inland areas, including Indian River, Martin, Saint Lucie, Brevard, Volusia, and other nearby regions. Hot temperatures and high humidity may cause heat illnesses, so take precautions.

Stay safe, and remember to drink plenty of water and avoid prolonged exposure to the sun!

NEWS

🏫 Tradition Has A Big Heart 💘

The continuous boom in our county has been fascinating to witness. Years ago, you might have been living in a neighborhood with friendly neighbors on one side and trees on the other. That reality has changed drastically. We've seen the rise of warehouses, which has been a significant point of interest here on Sunland News. There's even a Buc-ee's coming to town soon off Indrio Road in Fort Pierce. Everything is changing so rapidly, and it's hard to keep up. One of the biggest areas of transformation has been Tradition.

For those who've been around long enough, Tradition was once known as the place with a Target, sparing us in Port St. Lucie from driving all the way to Jensen Beach for our Mossimo t-shirts. Not to diminish Tradition's significance, but it essentially served as an extension of what Saint Lucie West didn’t offer, filling in the gaps. Fast forward to today, and Tradition has become one of the most rapidly growing areas in the county. There are even rumors about it becoming its own town one day. New shops have sprung up, housing developments are expanding, and a 124-acre Tradition Park is taking shape. And, like any great park, it needs a centerpiece—enter the world's largest heart-shaped sculpture.

This massive piece of art, currently under construction, will soon be a landmark visible from the main entrance near Interstate 95. Designed by renowned artist Jefre Figueras Manuel, known as JEFRË, the sculpture is part of a $7 million project by Mattamy Homes. Alongside this monumental artwork, a 71,000-square-foot shopping center featuring an Aldi, local restaurants, and medical facilities is also being developed.

This brings up an interesting question: Who actually controls the art in a county or city? In many cases, public art projects like this one are commissioned by local governments, developers, or private organizations. They often collaborate with artists to select and fund installations that reflect the community's character and vision. But who makes these decisions? And why not choose an artist from our own community? This may deserve a Sunland News deep dive… More on that later.

It's not to say that JEFRË isn't talented, but wouldn't it be more fitting to select an artist who understands the local culture and history? Saint Lucie County is home to many talented artists who could have created something truly reflective of our community. Instead, we're seeing an outsider's interpretation, which begs the question: Are we missing an opportunity to showcase local talent?

Moreover, the choice of art often impacts the community's identity and the way outsiders perceive us. This sculpture, while impressive, might not fully capture the essence of what it means to live and grow in Saint Lucie County. It’s a symbol of change, sure, but is it a symbol that resonates with the people who call this place home?

As Tradition continues to grow and evolve, these are the conversations we need to have. The giant heart sculpture might be a symbol of love, but it also raises important questions about who gets to shape our public spaces and why certain artistic choices are made. So, as we watch this once-small area transform into a bustling hub, we can't help but wonder—what's next for Tradition and our county as a whole? And more importantly, who decides?

Stay tuned to Sunland News as we continue to explore and document these crucial changes in our community.

🔔Sunland Bulletin

🎒 Free Haircuts & School Supply Drive: On August 1st, visit Jetson TV & Appliance in Fort Pierce. Enjoy free haircuts for kids and donate school supplies from 9:00 AM - 6:30 PM.

✏️ Back-to-School 16th Annual Expo: This is the ultimate school event. If you’re a parent and haven’t done any back-to-school shopping yet, you can show up empty-handed and leave (almost) fully prepared for the year. [Info]

💈 Slate’s Barber Shop 12th Annual Back-to-School Supply Giveaway: Honoring the legendary Darin Slater, this event will feature a back-to-school giveaway at the Sunland Garden’s Clubhouse on August 10th at 11 AM. [Flyer]

🚦 Just when you thought you were on time, somebody decided to sit on there phone at a green light: Be sure the check the traffic situation before heading out

🪮Sunland Picks

📷 Follow The Sunland News Instagram

📰Other News

🍊 FLORIDA AT LARGE

🏠 Florida schools wary of substitute teacher shortage… [More Info]

🌍 WORLD AT LARGE

✈️ Boeing names new president and CEO after big second quarter loss: Seems like Boeing is in the news for all the wrong reasons as of late. [More Info]

📸This Is Saint Lucie

🗓️Things To Do

🎶 Lineup at Square Grouper: Head over to Square Grouper at 1920 Seaway Drive, Fort Pierce, for an exciting lineup of live music on Friday, August 2, and Saturday, August 3. Enjoy performances from:

• Lance Baitsholts: Friday, Aug. 2, from 3 to 6 p.m.

• Vibes Farm: Friday, Aug. 2, from 8 to 11 p.m.

• T-Bone: Saturday, Aug. 3, from 3 to 6 p.m.

• Wang Dang Doodle: Saturday, Aug. 3, from 8 to 11 p.m.

🎉 Fort Pierce Friday Fest: August 2nd @ 5:30 pm - 8:30 pm, Downtown Fort Pierce.

🃏 The Port Saint Lucie Sports Cards & Collectibles Show: Head to the Polish American Club Convention Center, 343 NW Prima Vista Blvd, Port Saint Lucie, FL 34983, on Saturday, Aug 3rd, from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. This event, hosted by the Port Saint Lucie Trading Card Show, is perfect for collectors and enthusiasts. Explore a wide variety of sports cards and collectibles.

🥩 18th Annual Steak Dinner & Auction: The Beef Builder’s 4-H Club, along with LeeAnn Williams-Black and Carly Hamrick, is hosting this fantastic event on Saturday, August 3rd, starting at 6 PM at the St. Lucie County Fairgrounds! . Enjoy a delicious steak dinner, participate in silent and live auctions, win door prizes.

🍽️ Sunday Dinner for People Homeless or Food Insecure: This event, hosted by Reach Outreach, takes place at 515 N US-1, Fort Pierce, FL 34950. Sunday, Aug 4th, from 11:30 AM to 12:15 PM. The event provides meals and support for neighbors who are homeless or food insecure in downtown Fort Pierce.

🕹️ Sunland Games

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