Good Morning, Sunland
It’s Wednesday! Big newsletter ahead. Let's jump right in. Alright…
🌡️ Weather Update: A hot breeze and a soft glow. That real summer hush.
🌤️ Day: High of 90°F | Mostly sunny with a light mix of clouds
🌙 Night: Low of 74°F | Just a few clouds. Humidity climbs to 90%.
🌅 Sunrise: 6:33 AM | 🌇 Sunset: 8:19 PM
🌕 Moonrise: 7:48 PM | 🌘 Moonset: 5:05 AM
🎶 Sounds like: “Daydreaming” by Aretha Franklin
Ja’Min Devon
🏡 Main Squeeze: Zora’s Home Is Safe. But It Still Needs Help.
The house where Zora Neale Hurston spent her final years in Fort Pierce has been saved from demolition. Now comes the harder part, turning it into something that lasts.
TLDR: Zora’s home in the Lincoln Park neighborhood (where I went to middle and high school) was recently bought and preserved by The Conservation Fund, who feared it might be lost to development. It’s now been transferred to the Zora Neale Hurston Florida Education Foundation, which hopes to restore it and open it as a visitor and education center. But they need help funding repairs and upgrades.
📍 Why It Matters to Fort Pierce: Zora Neale Hurston is buried here. She lived here. She wrote here. This is one of the only places in the country where her physical legacy still stands. And for decades, the house sat in danger of being erased.
Her old column in the Fort Pierce Chronicle. Her time walking these blocks. All of that started right here on this street.
🛠 What’s Next: The home still needs major improvements. The Foundation is raising funds not just to repair it, but to transform it into a community learning space that honors Zora’s life and work. They’re not asking for permission. They just need support.
🗣 What They Said: “Despite its designation as a National Historic Landmark in 1991, this home was at risk of being forgotten,” said Lauren Day, Florida Director of The Conservation Fund. “We are thrilled to help ensure Zora’s important legacy alongside our partners.”
📝 Read More:
You can read the full story by Grace Bellinghausen over at CBS12
Zora Neale Hurston’s Fort Pierce Home Saved, But Funding Needed
🍊 Press Round: Parades, Perks, and a Farewell to Blake
🚌 Indian River seeks $9.5M for transit upgrades
IRC is applying for federal funds to expand its GoLine and Community Coach systems with new buses, bus shelters, and maintenance improvements. GoLine remains one of the most efficient public transit systems in Florida.
❤️ Heart in the Park grand opening postponed
The unveiling of the 73-foot-tall sculpture in Tradition has been delayed as organizers finalize plaza details. A new date will be announced soon.
👵 $85K in new grants for seniors in Martin County
United Way awarded the Council on Aging Martin County $85,000 to support mobile outreach, adult day programs, and Meals on Wheels for over 500 local seniors.
🤩 People Pass: What your support means!
From school coverage to better tools like play.sunlandnews.com, every upgrade you see is made possible by readers who pitch in. Thank you to everyone who already has. This is what the People Pass makes possible. Want to support it too?
🎉 Weekdayer: Friday - Saturday
✨ Glow Dance Party – Kids 5-12 light up the floor at Indian River County Main Library, Vero Beach. | 10 : 30 AM | Free | Details
🌊 5th Annual Waterway Clean-Up – Volunteers hit Museum Point Park to clear trash and protect the lagoon. | 10 AM | Free | Details
🚗 Drive-In Movie Night – “Sonic 3” – Roll up, tune in, and watch the blue blur race across the big screen at TC Park & Watch. | 8 : 30 – 10 : 30 PM | $18 | Tickets
🥊 Rise of a Warrior – Amateur MMA title bouts ignite the Fenn Center, Fort Pierce. | 4 – 10 : 15 PM | From $35 | Tickets
🎄 Christmas at the Market in July – Snow-free holiday vibes, water-slide fun, and 100+ local vendors at MIDFLORIDA Event Center. | 9 AM – 2 PM | Free | Details
💧 The Last Drop: Shoes Off, Storms Up, Market Down
✈️ No More Shoe Shuffle
TSA will no longer require passengers to remove their shoes at airport checkpoints. The change is effective immediately. | Read more
🌊 Rivers Could Be Supercharging Hurricanes
A new USF study finds that freshwater plumes from rivers may be fueling rapid intensification of storms like Idalia. | Read the study
🏢 Condo Prices Slide Across the Treasure Coast
Median prices for townhomes and condos fell in May across Martin, St. Lucie, and Indian River. In some counties, inventory is high but sales are slowing. | Get the full breakdown
📸 This is Sunland: ✌️ Before I Let You Go!
My friend, brother, and Sunland News contributor is putting on a photo exhibit. I wanted to make sure y'all knew about it. It's July 19th. So if you're into art and into images, it's going to be at the Sunland Bookstore. Check out the link here.
See you tomorrow!
With Love, Ja’Min
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