🌅 ✏️ Three Fort Pierce schools may become one

Good Afternoon, Sunland

It’s Tuesday! Just a word of gratitude and appreciation for all of those who are here, and continue to support the newsletter. I just thank you for being here. All right… On to the news!

Sponsored: 🍗 Stoney’s Summer Specials Just Dropped

Starting June 17, Stoney is stretching your dollars and your belly. That $5 Tuesday Snack Pack? Now it runs Tuesday and Wednesday. And the usual $10 Wednesday deal? It slides to Thursday instead.

That means three days of full meals for under $10… in 2025. I know. Unheard of.

That’s why I’m so happy to share this, and even happier that Stoney’s is sponsoring the newsletter. Support those who support us.

📍 912 N 25th St, Fort Pierce
📞 772-595-2406
🍴 Check the menu here

🧃 The Main Squeeze
School shakeup incoming

There’s a major shift possibly headed for Fort Pierce schools, and most folks don’t know about it yet. Here’s the short version:

🏫 A new proposal is in motion: The superintendent is expected to propose turning Dan McCarty Middle into a K–8 school by consolidating Lawnwood Elementary and St. Lucie Elementary into it. If approved, the district would sell the Lawnwood property to a potential buyer and use the proceeds to fund new construction at Dan McCarty. One obvious buyer might be Lawnwood Hospital, given the proximity but nothing’s confirmed yet.

This would be a big deal, not just because it changes where kids go to school, but because it reshapes three long-standing Fort Pierce campuses.

💡 Some context: CA Moore is already in the process of becoming a K–8, with 7th grade being added this fall and 8th grade next year.

And it’s not stopping there. The district is also building:

• Legacy High School, opening August 2025 in Tradition. More here

• A brand-new K–8, opening August 2026, just a mile from Legacy. Details

🗣️ What’s really happening: St. Lucie County is growing fast. Like, fast fast. And the district is trying to keep pace. But with limited land and limited funding, they’re looking at consolidation as a way to expand without tapping more taxpayer dollars.

Instead of building new from scratch, the idea here is to sell off existing land (Lawnwood), reinvest in one stronger school (Dan McCarty), and keep up with growth while also modernizing schools that haven’t seen major upgrades in decades.

But it’s a sensitive issue. These are historic schools in neighborhoods that deserve the same care and investment as any other part of the county. So naturally, people have questions: What happens to staff? What’s the timeline? How will this affect students already enrolled?

🎥 Board meets tonight at 5 p.m. This proposal may come up, along with updates on admin moves across the district. Watch it live on the SLPS site and 📝 leave your thoughts here

🥳 What’s Happening Out Of Town

Tuesday, June 10

• 🎶 Sunset Concert at the Gallery – Today, catch flutist Kara Ravaschieri live from Juilliard at MartinArts in Stuart. | 5:30 PM | Free | Details

Thursday, June 12

• 🌼 Creative Flower Arranging Workshop – A cozy, hands-on floral workshop at the Belvedere Bungalow in Stuart. All materials and light refreshments included. | 6–8 PM | $90 | Register

Friday, June 13

• 🚘 Father’s Day Classic Car Show – Bring Dad early! A Friday morning show packed with vintage rides, music, and local vendors in Downtown Stuart. | 9 AM–1 PM | Free | Event Page

• Laser Concert: Loud & Proud – Three themed laser shows featuring music from, David Bowie, and Elton John. Held at the Cox Science Center in West Palm. | First show at 6 PM | $13–$15 | Info

• 🎨 Art After Dark at the Norton Museum – Live music, gallery tours, film screenings, and workshops every Friday night. A West Palm tradition. | 5–10 PM | $10 | More Info

Saturday, June 14

• 🥓 Bacon Beer Bash 2025 – All-day bash in Melbourne with live bands, bacon-infused beers, vendors, and more. | 11 AM–11 PM | Free | Event Page

• 🎸 Rock & Pop Music Concert at Riverside Park – Live music, food, and full bars in Vero. Part of the “Live in the Loop” summer series. | 5:30–8:30 PM | Free | Details

  If you have an event, send it to me here

🥛 Last Drop: Speed, Stats, and Streaks

1. ⚡ Lightning Capital, Confirmed

   Florida had two of the top three lightning strike counties in the U.S. last year. Polk saw 852,000 strikes and Palm Beach wasn’t far behind. Wild. Check the map

2. 🪶 Vanishing Wings

   Nearly a third of U.S. bird species are in decline, including iconic Florida species like the scrub jay and least tern. Researchers say it’s a warning sign. Learn more

3. 🏒 Panthers Strike Again

   Florida Panthers crushed the Oilers 6 to 1 in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Finals. They lead the series 2 to 1.

How was today’s newsletter?

👋 Thanks for reading! If you found it useful, consider sharing it with a friend.

📱 Keep up with the Sunland News on Instagram. Send comments & suggestions to [email protected]

🙋‍♂️ Did someone forward you this? Subscribe Below!