🌅 🏫 St. Lucie’s New K-8 School, PSL’s Economy & What’s Next!

Good Morning, Sunland

It’s Monday! If you’re just waking up or driving and noticing your clock says 6:27, but your phone says 7:27—don’t worry, you’re not losing it. We just lost an hour over the weekend.

Daylight saving time is here, which means less sleep and—oddly enough—a 24% spike in heart attacks the Monday after the time change. Meanwhile, in the fall, when we gain an hour, heart attacks drop by 21%.

Alright…

💪 Shoutout: Big congrats to the Lincoln Park Academy Wrestling Team for competing at FHSSC this weekend! Special recognition to Joseph Richardson III, who placed 8th in the state. Check it out here!

🔔 Reminder: Slate Rocks 5K is this Saturday! Register today by grabbing your official race shirt at slaterocks5k.com and help raise awareness for Colon Cancer Awareness Month.

🌡️ Weather Update: A windy and rainy start to the week

☀️ Day: High of 80°F | 🌦️ Windy with showers developing later in the day.
🌙 Night: Low of 54°F | 🌤️ Partly cloudy
🌅 Sunrise: 7:36 AM | 🌇 Sunset: 7:27 PM
🎵 Sounds like: “Stormy” by Gábor Szabó 

🍋 The Main Squeeze: St. Lucie County Expands Again with a New K-8 School

What’s going on: St. Lucie County is growing fast, and so are its schools. With Legacy High School set to open in Tradition this August, the county is already moving forward with its next big project—a brand-new K-8 school, set to open in August 2026.

What’s happening: The new K-8 school, located just a mile from Legacy High, will accommodate 1,900 students—a necessary expansion as schools across the county reach capacity.

💬 Superintendent Jon Prince: “We’re on such a fast construction track that we’ll be able to accommodate growth in real time.”

Why it matters: St. Lucie County’s population is booming, and with it, the need for more schools. The district has managed to move quickly and stay on budget by using an existing school model, reducing construction and architectural costs.

• More K-8 schools are planned over the next five years, along with a new high school in the next seven years.

• The district aims to make St. Lucie a “destination district”—a place where families feel confident sending their kids to school.

What’s next:

• 🚜 Groundbreaking for the new K-8 school happens March 25

• 🏫 The principal will be named in May

• 📅 Doors open August 2026

💭 What do you think? Does St. Lucie County need even more schools, or is the district growing too fast? Drop your thoughts here!

📺 Watch the full story here.

🍊 The Press Round: 42 Years Strong!

💰 Indiantown at Risk of Losing Nearly $1M Due to Filing Delay

Indiantown officials are racing to file an overdue state financial report before the April 3 deadline, or risk losing $949,554 in county sales tax revenue. The delay, attributed to new technology installation and staffing limitations, also puts $190,000 in municipal sharing revenue temporarily at risk.

👉 Read more

🌕 Blood Moon Lunar Eclipse to Light Up Florida Skies

A total lunar eclipse will be visible across the Treasure Coast on March 13-14, marking the first eclipse event of the year. The blood moon will reach maximum totality at 2:58 a.m. and last over six hours before ending at 6 a.m.

👉 Read more

🦞 Conchy Joe’s: 42 Years of Seafood & Scenic Views

A Treasure Coast landmark, Conchy Joe’s has served up Old Florida hospitality for decades. My parents had their first date here, and the conch fritters + lobster bisque-clam chowder mix? Elite. WPTV just did a beautiful piece on the restaurant’s history and recent expansion.

👉 Read more

🌕 Poll: Are you staying up for the Blood Moon Eclipse?

The total lunar eclipse will be visible across the Treasure Coast on March 13-14, hitting peak totality at 2:58 a.m. and lasting over six hours.

💰 PSL’s Economy: A Breather, Not a Bust

TL;DR: Port St. Lucie’s economy is still strong, but things are slowing down—fewer building permits, a shift to a buyer’s market, and impact fees trending down. The good news? The city is using this moment to plan ahead.

🔑 What’s Happening:

• Construction Slowdown: Fewer new homes and buildings going up compared to past years.

• Real Estate Shift: No longer a seller’s market—buyers now have more leverage.

• Budget Adjustments: Lower impact fees mean the city is tightening up spending, but key projects (roads, parks, and public safety) are still a priority.

💬 Why It Matters: A cooling economy gives PSL a chance to regroup, plan for the next wave of growth, and ensure infrastructure keeps up. With long-term plans in place until 2050, the city is focused on smart, sustainable development.

🎧 Hear It from the Mayor: Want the full breakdown straight from Mayor Martin? Listen to the podcast here.

🎉 Weekdayer : 5 Events, Monday till’ Friday

Monday, March 10

• Tour The Peacock House Art Foundation & Gardens! – A guided tour featuring art collections, gardens, and history. | 10 AM | $6 Dollar Entry Fee

Tuesday, March 11

• Networking Breakfast at Gator Trace – Connect with community professionals over a hot breakfast. | 8:15 AM | RSVP Here: $17

Wednesday, March 12

• Utterly Fantastic Painting Event! at Stuart Ceramics – A BYOB painting session for all skill levels. | 6 PM–8 PM | RSVP Required

Thursday, March 13

• • Total Lunar Eclipse at Hallstrom Planetarium – A free guided night-sky experience showcasing the lunar eclipse. | 11:55 PM–5 AM | Free Entry

Friday, March 14

• Friday Drive-In Movie Night: The Dark Knight – A special drive-in screening of the Batman classic. | 7:45 PM | Tickets Required

If you have an event, send it to me here

💧 The Last Drop: 🧠 5 things to keep in mind 

1. 🏛️ Fort Pierce Commission Meeting – March 10

   City leaders will discuss the new City Manager contract, school updates, and law enforcement impact fees. Meeting starts at 9 AM. See the Agenda

2. 📚 St. Lucie Schools: Early Release & Spring Break

   Students get out two hours early on March 14, and schools will be closed March 17-24 for Spring Break. Classes resume March 25. More Info

3. 🎶 River Nights in PSL – March 13

   Enjoy live music, food, and waterfront views at this free event featuring Sierra Band! Happens every second Thursday through April. Learn More

4. 🛒 Aldi Opens in Tradition!

   A new Aldi has officially opened at The Shoppes in Tradition. Who’s checking it out? More Details

5. 🎥 Dem Pittman Boys Interview – Now on YouTube!

   Last week, we dropped the written interview—now the full video is live. Catch the convo on YouTube! Watch Here

📸 This is Sunland: Today’s History!

Really enjoying what J’Qwan (Head of Image for Sunland) is doing over on his Instagram. Documenting community is so important, and he’s really showing just how long he’s been at it! This is the art we need!

Alright... See you tomorrow!
With Love, Ja’Min

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