🌅🎶 Vinyl Finds & Cuban Bites

Good Afternoon, Sunland

It’s Tuesday! and over the weekend, I stopped by Sounds Good Music, a vinyl record store on US1 across from Racetrac. I picked up an Earth, Wind & Fire record—my mom would be proud (lol). Shoutout to Sounds Good Music for holding it down though; I think this might be the only vinyl record store in the county. I’d love to be wrong about that, so if I am, reply and let me know! Alright…

👉 Want to Try: Laubia Cuban Bakery. A Cuban bakery coming soon to PSL Boulevard. It’s on my radar to try—seems worth a shot for Cuban sandwiches, pastelitos, and cafecito.

📢 Shout-out: To all of you who’ve shared this newsletter this week—your support makes all the difference.

Trivia Time! 🌴📞

If you had to guess, how many area codes does Florida have?

🍋 The Main Squeeze: 🎨 EJ on Art, Legacy, and Pushing Boundaries

This week, I sat down with EJ at the Sunland Bookstore, an incredible local artist whose story is as powerful as the art he creates. From childhood memories of drawing Superman growing up in Connecticut to navigating the complexities of commercial art and staying true to his vision, EJ opened up about his journey.

Highlights from our conversation:

• How personal struggles and faith pushed him to pursue art seriously.

• The tension between creating what he loves and what sells ("sex sells," but heartfelt pieces often go unnoticed).

• Building community with other artists and breaking stereotypes about Black art.

• His dream projects, like a Jimi Hendrix portrait, and how he balances skill-building with creative vision.

EJ’s story is raw, inspiring, and a reminder of the power of persistence and passion in art and life.

👉 Your turn:

• Watch the full interview this Friday on Sunland TV to hear more about EJ's artistic evolution and vision.

• Follow EJ’s journey and check out his incredible art and support his work!

🎸 12 Live Music Events

Will Goulet LIVE at The Funky Cuda
📅 Wednesday, January 8 | 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
📍 The Funky Cuda
Relax with a laid-back afternoon of live music featuring Will Goulet's unique style and energy.
👉 Get details

Terry Dobson LIVE at The Funky Cuda
📅 Thursday, January 9 | 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
📍 The Funky Cuda
Catch Terry Dobson live for an afternoon of great music and a fantastic atmosphere.
👉 Check it out

Justin Shapiro at the Island Beach Bar and Restaurant
📅 Thursday, January 9 | 4:00 PM
📍 Island Beach Bar and Restaurant
Enjoy live music by Justin Shapiro in a relaxed beachside setting.
👉 Find out more

Music Bingo at Crabby's Dockside Ft. Pierce
📅 Thursday, January 9 | 6:30 PM – 9:30 PM
📍 Crabby's Dockside Ft. Pierce
Enjoy music bingo with friends while singing along to your favorite hits and winning prizes.
👉 Find out more

Ashleigh Antolini Live at Pierced Cider
📅 Friday, January 10 | 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
📍 Pierced Cider
Catch Ashleigh Antolini, a talented singer-songwriter, performing live at Pierced Ciderworks.
👉 Check it out

Shovelhed at Tipsy Tiki
📅 Saturday, January 11 | 7:00 PM
📍 Tipsy Tiki
Shovelhed returns for their 7th full year at Tipsy Tiki. Enjoy a night of live entertainment and fun vibes.
👉 Find out more

Justin Shapiro at the Square Grouper Ft. Pierce
📅 Saturday, January 11 | 3:00 PM
📍 Square Grouper Ft. Pierce
Justin Shapiro brings his acoustic sound to the Square Grouper for an afternoon of great tunes.
👉 Check it out

Hellcats at the Kilted Mermaid
📅 Saturday, January 11 | 7:00 PM
📍 Kilted Mermaid
The Hillbilly Hellcats are back with their signature rockabilly sound at this unique venue.
👉 Get details

Dogz Duo at Cobb's Landing
📅 Saturday, January 11 | 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM
📍 Cobb's Landing
Enjoy Jeannie & Leo’s reimagined covers of classics from Fleetwood Mac, Led Zeppelin, and more.
👉 Find out more

Hellcats at Waldo’s
📅 Sunday, January 12 | 1:00 PM
📍 Waldo’s
Catch the Hillbilly Hellcats live for an afternoon of electrifying rockabilly music.
👉 Find out more

Vern Daysel at Cobb's Landing
📅 Tuesday, January 14 | 6:00 PM
📍 Cobb's Landing
Rock out with Vern Daysel as he brings his blend of rock, blues, and country to life.
👉 Check it out

Wayne Purvis at Little Jim Bait & Tackle
📅 Tuesday, January 14 | 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
📍 Little Jim Bait & Tackle
Spend a relaxing afternoon with live music by Wayne Purvis at this waterfront venue.
👉 Get details

If you have an event, send it to me here

💭 Your Turn... Results, Feedback, & Follow-Up

📊 Results:
When do you stop saying "Happy New Year"?

🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ A) January 2nd—let’s move on. (8 votes)
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 B) The first full week of January—it feels polite. (42 votes)
🟨🟨🟨🟨⬜️⬜️ C) Whenever I stop seeing people I haven’t seen since last year. (32 votes)
⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ D) Never. It’s always the new year somewhere. (0 votes)

💬 Feedback:

• "I’ve lived & worked in Ft. Pierce for 15 years and so many times I didn’t know what was going on downtown."

• "Love the variety of events!"

• "Thanks for the run club beta! You rock!"

🔍 Follow-Up:
A reader asked:

A lot of people are wondering what is happening with the delayed opening of Country Gold Night Club in PSL on Rt. 1. It was supposed to open this past fall but hasn’t, and there’s been no further info from the owners. This would be PSL’s own country music venue and BBQ joint. Please check it out and post a story.

If anyone has more info on this, reply to this email and let me know! I’ll be looking into it and will share an update soon.

✨ Your Turn:
Have feedback, critiques, or a question you'd like me to explore? Or maybe a way I can make this newsletter even better? Don’t hesitate to reply and let me know!

🍹The Refill: 🏀 Remembering Coach Carlos Fenn

Over the holidays, I took a peek at the family group chat to learn the heartbreaking news that Coach Carlos Fenn had passed away. If you’re from Fort Pierce, you likely know just how exuberant, passionate, and impactful he was—not just as a coach, but as a referee, mentor, leader, and man.

A Family of Leaders
Coach Fenn came from a deeply rooted tradition of leadership. My brother Moe reminded me that his brother was also a coach and referee, famous for his animated calls during games—he was a crowd favorite! Few may know that the Havert L. Fenn Center in Fort Pierce is named after Coach Fenn’s father, another dedicated mentor. This legacy spans generations—Coach Fenn coached both my mom and my brother.

A Man Who Went Deep
Coach Fenn was about more than the game; he built character. My brother told me one of his classic lines: “You flying high with a flag!” whenever someone didn’t want to participate in PE. He left a mark on everyone he coached, teaching lessons that shaped better people, not just better players.

A Space to Reflect
Coach Fenn’s services were held last Friday. You can still leave condolences on the funeral home’s website here.

In a world of going wide, Coach Fenn’s legacy reminds us that true impact comes from going deep. ✨

Support Sunland News

📖 A History Lesson for the Road: The Story of Area Code 772

Before Saint Lucie County had 772, it was part of 561, which covered much of South Florida, including Palm Beach and the Treasure Coast. On February 11, 2002, area code 772 was introduced, splitting off to serve Martin, St. Lucie, and Indian River counties due to population growth and the increasing demand for phone numbers.

A Personal Connection
Growing up, I always thought it was strange that my Auntie Bev’s phone number started with 561, even though she lived in Port St. Lucie, near the Bravo area off Port St. Lucie Boulevard. Her number didn’t match her location, which sparked my curiosity: Where do area codes come from? That question eventually led me down a rabbit hole into the world of area codes.

How are area codes decided?
Area codes are assigned by the North American Numbering Plan (NANP) to ensure enough phone numbers are available for each region. (Wondering how this works? Here’s a breakdown of the process.)

Looking Ahead
With the rapid growth in areas like Tradition, I can’t help but wonder: Could we see another split or a new area code someday? Will Tradition eventually become its own city, with its own distinct area code?

That said, 772 means something to me. Yea, I definitely shout 772 with pride, so I don’t want to see it change. 😂

Alright… see you tomorrow!

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