Tom Campenni
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IN THIS EDITION OF THE NEWSLETTER
The newsletter is pleased to announce that we have achieved the distinction of having 25,000 subscribers.
Many people have asked why there is no charge for receiving the newsletter. The fact is we would have far fewer people reading this electronic publication if we did charge. That would move Friends & Neighbors away from its original intent and current mission of providing news on Martin County governments to all residents.
We have considered selling sponsorships. But I personally have not pushed anyone to purchase because of that time-honored and very necessary wall between the editorial and business side. And since I am both, I have chosen to be more editor than publisher.
Unless something changes, I will continue to fund Friends & Neighbors as my contribution to the civic betterment of Martin County. At some point in the future, another person will have to step up and take my place. It would be easier to find that person if he/she did not need to fund the newsletter from personal resources.
Friends & Neighbors will never be a money maker for anyone. Very few digital newspapers or magazines are. I am under no illusions this one is any different.
Because of the number of subscribers we have, our loyal core readership includes most of our elected officials, their senior staff, and other business and community leaders. Every letter that readers write, opinion columns that appear, and government meetings that are covered are read by those most able to effect change. That is important and makes it all worthwhile.
Jackie Hofelder has a 2nd section this month of her “In the Spotlight.” It would be fantastic if she could be in every newsletter providing, she has enough content. We want to give non-profits another outlet for telling Martin County about their good work. Send her your organization’s updates at jackieacolumn@gmail.com.
In this edition, Dr. Libman explains booster shots. Joan Goodrich from the Business Development Board touts the organization’s 2021 award recipients. Missi Campbell writes on Palm City. Kallie Jurgens and Darlene VanRiper have their monthly columns, our constitutional officers have their announcements and MCTA has its latest column about what programs they are watching and may report on. Pine, McChrystal, and Hafner
have their opinion pieces. And, of course, we have the latest on what transpired at government meetings.
Enjoy!
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A BETTER WAY
I participated in a storm water focus group for Martin County recently. Meetings were held over a couple of months. It had diverse participants from environmentalists to land planners to farmers to developers and even the animal welfare world was represented. At the end, we unanimously came to the decision to support the creation of a storm water utility.
While the City of Stuart has a storm water utility fee, Martin County relies on a variety of sources including the general fund and the storm water MSTU. Those are levied as ad valorem taxes and therefore charged by the value of the property and not the amount of storm water treatment the parcel uses. It would be analogous to billing for electric usage not by how much was consumed but by the value of someone’s property.
That is the biggest drawback to the current system from a taxpayer’s perspective, but there is another one. Currently, storm water projects are not consistently funded. It is up to the BOCC to determine the level for capital improvements and maintenance each year. As we saw this budget cycle, the commission removed capital improvement projects after having approved them. This is the worst type of planning.
If storm water becomes a utility, then those that use it most will pay more which makes sense. The maintenance and treatment of storm water is critical in stopping flooding and cleaning runoff before returning to our waterways.
With a storm water utility, credits can be given to those that retain and clean water on their properties. If there is reduced run off from landowners, then the county doesn’t have to treat the water. Therefore, they should pay less than those that do not keep the water and treat it on their properties.
A system can be implemented so that the average homeowner will not see a difference in the amount paid. It will only be in how it is paid. All in all, a win for the taxpayer and the environment.
Friends & Neighbors will be keeping an eye as this idea progresses through the process and will report accordingly.
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BOTH SIDES ARE DOCTRINAIRE
The holidays are fast approaching and with it the end of 2021 which is the 2nd year of Covid.
The second year of Covid was more devastating than the first in many aspects. We have grown accustomed to the disease in our midst. It is very true that even with full immunization one can still develop the disease but almost all deaths and hospitalizations are limited to those that are unvaccinated. Yet Colin Powell who was fully vaccinated died with Covid. He did have several underlying conditions that left him extremely vulnerable.
Even with Covid still here, Martin County has gone back to normal. And since the disease will be with us forever what else could we do. Different parts of the country conduct themselves quite differently.
In Greenwich and Stamford Connecticut where I am frequently, masks are required indoors. I was in a large restaurant for dinner with friends last Monday night. Once at our table which were just as close together as pre-pandemic, no one was wearing a mask while eating or drinking. That is not much different than Stuart except the entering and leaving part with your mask firmly in place.
I put on a mask when I go to stores in Florida most times. In Connecticut it is mandatory. If I had my choice I would much rather, have it as my choice. Yet I also see it from the point of view of children who cannot yet have the vaccine. I am all for protecting them.
Gov. Ned Lamont
Connecticut’s governor is all for masks in public settings and vaccine mandates. Governor DeSantis will not allow mandates for masks or vaccinations. I am not so sure either doctrinaire approach is good. I do know that government should not mandate the private sector to have or not have masks or vaccines. That is government, Democrat or Republican, interfering in private markets.
Schools in Connecticut have a statewide mask mandate. Those in Florida cannot mandate the use of masks in any schools. In both cases schools and districts are forbidden in charting their own locally directed course. Both states seem to have left out local officials in making determinations.
Governor DeSantis
Martin County will have a back to normal Halloween with kids “trick or treating” and all the other festivities. We will travel or gather at our homes for Thanksgiving and once again share a meal with family and friends. The same for Christmas, Chanukah, and Kwanza with religious and cultural services.
Lurking in the back of my mind the thought is, will we have another wave of the disease? I believe yes. But we still need to carry on using precautions to live as normal a life as we can.
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BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT BOARD BENT
By Joan Goodrich
CEO BDBMC
This community is blessed to be home to many great local businesses.
Joan Goodrich from BDB
Fortunately, that makes Martin County a wonderful place to live and work. Much less importantly, it also makes the challenge of choosing winners for the Martin County’s annual business awards event all the more daunting from the numerous community nominations the Business Development Board of Martin County received.
Key themes tend to inform the selection process. Last year, the surprise crisis of Covid-19 pushed two defining traits to the fore—resiliency and service. This year, we noticed some common characteristics among the top nominees: Each company distinguished itself through ongoing innovations that anticipated the needs of the customer, provided regular, reliable service, and prioritized charitable actions with their teams. In short, community and consistency describe this year’s winners.
We’re particularly pleased that our sponsors—a growing list of nearly 20 that includes FPL, Carr, Riggs & Ingram CPAs and Advisors, HBK CPAs & Consultants, TD Bank and Water Pointe Realty—are also committed to ‘celebrating the best of local business.’
We hope you’ll get your ticket at bdbmc.org and join us at 11:30 a.m. Nov. 5 at Hutchinson Shores Resort & Spa in honoring:
Entrepreneur of the Year: Brian O’Connor of AirBurners, whose pollution control systems support land-clearing operations and demolition-debris removal on seven continents.
New Business of the Year: Comfort Suites, whose amenities are tailored to business travelers, opened in March 2020, employs 25 people, offers 94 rooms, and includes eco-friendly features such as solar panels, water-conservation measures, and recycling.
Small Business of the Year: Ocean Republic Brewing, a family-owned business further beloved for its monthly sponsorship of local nonprofits.
Nonprofit of the Year: Stuart Air Show overcame a tragic fatal plane crash and rainout that delayed its 30th anniversary to join only a handful of air shows nationwide to go forward in 2020, while this year raising $270,000 in new revenue for an even bigger return.
Business Expansion of the Year: DreamWorks Companies offers customers a one-stop shop for construction, remodeling, design, electrical, plumbing, air-conditioning, water/mold restoration and real estate, growing more than 10 years from four small warehouse/office locations to its 15,000-square-foot showroom at the Sands Commerce Center in Palm City.
Business Headquarters of the Year: Seacoast Bank has operated for nearly 90 years in Martin County, at times changing names but remaining a homegrown banking leader and multigenerational family business who is now one of the largest community banks based in Florida.
Business of the Year: Sunshine Land Design is a family-owned business with 36 years in operation in Martin County. Employing 120 people, the Stuart company offers landscape, hardscape, paving, sitework, drainage and civil construction. Its projects include the Jensen Beach Causeway, Town Center at Mapp Road in Palm City, Indian Riverside Park, Halpatiokee Park, Langford Park, Kiplinger Park and more.
Joan Goodrich’s opinions are her own and may not reflect Friends & Neighbors viewpoint.
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PINE’S PONDERING
By Tom Pine
The brand-new helicopter that our sheriff just purchased cost the taxpayers of Martin County $ 5.5 million dollars.
Our sheriff spends our tax dollars just like our commissioners do, as if it grows on trees, just pick whatever you need to fill your dreams. He cites the age of the helicopters that he is presently using as a major factor. The chance of a crash over a populated area is a factor and finding parts for such old helicopters is time consuming and expensive.
He doesn’t imply that any of these old helicopters have been retired, so I can only assume they are all still in service. How many helicopters does the sheriff’s office have in use today? How much are the taxpayers of Martin County paying for insurance for the new helicopter and the old ones. It seems like the skies over Martin County are well protected.
Back here down on earth it’s a different story, the excessive speeds on are major roadways over the past years is now filtering down into our neighborhoods. Rarely a Martin County Commission meeting goes by without taxpayers from one neighborhood or another pleading with county commissioners for help.
There is little that commissioners can do. Speed bumps, in order to have any major impact, must be fairly high and no more than a block apart otherwise they have very little affect after the first few weeks. This can be witnessed throughout the county, even the speed bumps on Indian River Drive going through Village of Ocean Breeze Park, while they’re fairly close together, there not high enough to have the full affect to slow traffic.
Another option that came up recently from taxpayers in Rock Point, was to lower the speed limit from 35 mph to 25 or 30 mph. A few years ago, I was at a commission meeting at the Village of Ocean Breeze Park. They had a Martin County Deputy there to discuss the issue of speeding on Indian River Drive, after some back and forth discussion with the deputy, he declared that the speeding wasn’t the problem, the problem was the speed limit was too low.
Twice this year I joined a line of ten to fifteen cars following a Martin County Deputy north over the new Roosevelt Bridge, by the time we were off the bridge my speedometer was over 60 mph and continued to the second or third traffic light.
Maybe our sheriff could consider going back to the old days and start enforcing the basic rules of the road. It’s not only excessive speeds on our roadways, but the growing number of vehicles driving through stop signs and red lights. More and more drivers when approaching a stop sign and making a right are looking to their left to see if they can beat the car coming with no concern about pedestrians or cyclists coming from their right.
I went to night school two nights a week in the mid to late 1970s in Palm Beach County. Several times a year we got out of class late, as I passed county line road in southern Martin County on occasion, I would push the speed limit a little too much and I would get a call on my C bee radio, they were popular back then,” How about that blue van you better slow it down if I have turn my lights on it’s going to cost you some money”. It didn’t take me long, I learned if I didn’t exceed the posted speed limit by ten miles an hour everything would be alright.
Back then I would rarely see another car at that time of night. Today in heavy traffic, fifteen miles over the posted speed limit is the average speed and this what has been trickling down into our neighborhoods.
Did you ever have a dream? I have. My dream is that all sheriff deputies, all fire rescue personal and all county employees while driving a county owned vehicle would always drive the posted speed limit, no excuses. The exception would be of course in an emergency, with emergency lights flashing. The reason is simple, the best way to teach anybody anything is by example. In just a relatively short time Martin County would be the safest county in the state. I realize it will never happen because it would take everybody from the top down and there are just too many egos in county government.
We are teaching by example the basic rules of the road to our children strapped in the front seat watching mom and dad driving through stop signs and red lights and speeding. That outcome is becoming clearer by the day.
Truth to Power
Tom Pine’s opinions are his own and may not reflect Friends & Neighbors viewpoint.
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McCHRYSTAL’S MEANDERINGS
By Frank McChrystal
Thank you, Governor DeSantis for the Monoclonal Antibody treatment center, in Ft. Pierce.
The Havert L. Fenn Center located at 2000 Virginia Ave. can best be described as a regional disaster center. The staff is friendly, professional and informative. The facility is set up for speed and efficiency. On the days that I visited a light steady stream of customers were processed with ease. The center is capable of handling massive traffic.
My wife tested positive for Covid, and I immediately took her to Ft. Pierce for treatment. The usual medical history information is taken and information regarding your vaccination status is documented. It was recommended that no vaccinations be received for three months after the monoclonal antibody treatment. The treatment is available to all, regardless of your vaccination status. The admitting nurse did her best to convince me to also take the treatment. Apparently, my age is showing, and she knew I had obviously been exposed. I fended her off, explaining I would let my own antibodies kick in before I came back to see her.
But does It work? The monoclonal antibodies are advertised as manmade proteins that can help your body fight off Covid 19 and reduce the risk of severe disease and hospitalization. About 18 hours after my wife’s treatment, sure enough, I developed a 102-degree fever and literally felt like I had been hit by a bus.
I wimped out after about 12 hours and headed north to hopeful salvation from the virus symptoms. The nurse suggested I would start to feel better in about 24 hours. She knew that I was a best-case scenario, receiving the treatment within 48 hours of the first symptoms. So, 24 hours later after treatment I was very disappointed, showing zero improvement and trust me, this virus is for real. And then, at 34 hours after treatment, like turning off a light switch, the excruciating symptoms were gone, completely. I’m talking miracle.
Is it safe? Well of course I researched the living hell out of the topic before getting the treatment for my wife. I knew that any negative information about the monoclonal antibody treatment would be plastered all over the internet. It doesn’t fit the universal vaccination narrative. The only negative info I found was that the company that manufactures the monoclonal antibodies quit testing in late-stage terminal Covid patients. I asked the nurses in Ft. Pierce about the safety issue. They knew of zero adverse reactions in the entire state of Florida.
Is it FDA approved? No, it has the same emergency use authorization as the experimental mRNA vaccines. So why would I choose one experimental treatment over another? I am 64 years old, and my lungs have still not recovered from whatever strange virus I had in November of 2019. The risk reward scenario I played out in my head said, “don’t let this one get to your lungs”. So, after finding no negative information about the treatment, I chose to take it. In my intense research of the mRNA vaccines, I have decided there is no way I will ever take the vaccine. I encourage everyone to research as much as I have.
So, thank you Governor DeSantis. Thank you for your forward thinking. And thank you for preserving my freedom of choice. FREEDOM!!
Frank McChrystal’s opinions are his own and may not reflect Friends & Neighbors viewpoint.
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VANRIPER’S VIEWS
By Darlene VanRiper
What happens when your house has just been demolished by a Cat 5?
Look for a piece of cardboard and some red lipstick to write HELP? Wait for FEMA to sweep in and save the day? I know we are all waiting to exhale a communal sigh on Nov. 30th. But, in the meantime, I just can’t get Dorian out of my head.
So, I took the grandkids down to Big Pine Key and asked some people to describe their experiences when Irma devastated their homes and businesses.
Construction company owner, Kevin Barlow, has lived in the Keys since the 1960s. He rode out the storm with a friend upstairs in his house while the downstairs filled with 4 feet of water. There were 10’ seas with 2’ whitecaps on the normally gentle Atlantic. Irma raged for 12 tortuous hours spinning off numerous tornadoes.
Kevin figured once the storm was over the water would recede relatively quickly. And it did, leaving bay bottom sludge and septic waste everywhere.
Everything in his ground floor was ruined…furniture, appliances, shoes. He carried buckets of canal water to clean what he could. But the first thing he and his friend did was get drunk. I get that.
Those who fled the storm had a “hell of a time getting back”, he said. The authorities were only allowing emergency vehicles in. So, the evacuees were camping in their cars on the 113-mile Overseas Highway waiting…for weeks.
The churches and the “good hearts” as Kevin put it, were the first to show up. That was good because it took 5 days for FEMA to contact him. “It just depends. You just have to wait until they get to you”. Charities set up a flea market where supplies could be purchased. Washing machines were more valuable than gold.
FEMA did air drop water and ice in even obscure places. Left with no cell service, the coconut telegraph became essential to know where the drop site was. Soon, some not such “good hearts” from Miami came in U Hauls and by boat and ATV to take stuff. Some were hoarders, some were just thieves.
The “storm chasers” or out-of-town contractors came. They follow FEMA from disaster to disaster. There were “crooks and cowboys”. The crooks just took your money and never repaired anything. The cowboys promised to repair things that they were not qualified to repair. The average homeowner doesn’t know code, so they were easily taken. Imagine an unqualified “contractor” putting a new roof on your home! Kevin said, “The crooks were [as numerous] as cockroaches”.
FEMA did send “scouts” to assess the damage to homes. If the home was over 49% damaged, the homeowner had to bring the entire home up to current code. Many simply left their homes because they couldn’t afford to do that. Of course, many times FEMA scouts just did “drive by” inspections assuming every home in the area was damaged equally.
Adding salt to the wound, homeowners with enough money and savvy had to hire attorneys and go to court in order to save their homes. FEMA did set up field stations where people could apply for loans at 0% interest if they were paid back on time. The local credit union helped too. Even if you had bad credit, if you had a local address, you could get a $5,000 loan.
The sound of generators was constant for weeks. Thankfully, charities brought gasoline from all over Florida. People had a kind of PTSD and even survivor’s guilt. Imagine tears of joy when Winn Dixie reopened only to allow 10 people in at a time. And there were shortages. Kevin complained about the lack of tobacco.
What to do. Kevin’s preparation advice is to 1) have a relationship with a LOCAL contractor. Maybe it’s worth a small fee to hire one simply to look at your home now and advice on how to prepare. They will come to your aid before someone they don’t know or have never done business with. 2) Live with the blue tarp until you can hire a local contractor. 3) The insurance payout will not be enough to rebuild your house. Save some money so if you need to bring the entire home up to current code you will be able to.
God forbid, but just in case we are ever in their shoes, I thought it best to know.
Darlene VanRiper’s opinions are her own and may not reflect Friends & Neighbors viewpoint.
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HAFNER’S CORNER
By David Hafner
Kids these days…
I am seeing social media posts that start “Kids these days need…” and the rest is for the viewer to fill-in in the comments. One specific post read, “What is one thing teenagers really need today?” Some answers include discipline, respect, ethics, morals, life skills, put the phone down… Basically the majority of the 1.8 million comments are talking about what is wrong with the youth of today.
It bothers me when I see people talking like this. Kids of today deal with a lot and I don’t think they are given enough credit. If you are one of these people, I hope you will think on this for a minute; might change your perspective.
First, let us each think back to our own youth. I mean really dig in and think about some of the things we’ve done. Were you really much different than today’s kids? The things you had may have been different, but I’ll bet the intentions were the same. I know it was for me.
How about the perceived issue of children with electronics? I grew up on an 800-acre horse ranch and had a childhood spent in the woods, on horseback, and covered in dirt. I learned a lot of important things like patience, working with my hands, and problem solving. But I can also see value in our children having a command over electronic devices because that is the way everything is moving. If our youth are going to have a chance in getting ahead in this digital age they need these skills, too. As for my own children, I am happy they enjoy a balance of both virtual and hands-on learning.
Speaking of hands-on learning, how about the youth you see each year at the county fair? These kids are up early each morning and out until sunset, and beyond, working on their projects to get them ready for the fair.
What about these youth who are programming robots and winning competitions locally, nationally, and internationally? These kids these days are volunteering in our community and looking out for each other in and out of school, giving each other a hand up. These kids-members of the 4-H- exhibit discipline, respect, ethics, morals, and life skills and I am sure there are lots of kids in other organizations, like Project Lift and the Boys and Girls Clubs and Future Farmers of America and Martin County PAL, who are just like “These Kids.”
What is one thing teenagers really need today? For the older generations to stop looking down on them. Give them a chance, there are a lot of good kids out there and they just need a chance.
David Hafner’s opinions are his own and may not reflect Friends & Neighbors viewpoint.
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PALM CITY HIGHLIGHTS
By Missi Campbell
Executive Director of the Palm City Chamber
Palm City currently has many projects happening to improve the quality of life for our residents.
The Palm City Chamber of Commerce is working with art students at Martin County High School to create a special mural on the east wall of the Palm City Post Office. The path around the lake at the Town Center at Mapp Road is being completed with some surprises to come.
The Ripple project is underway working to reconnect the Old Palm City neighborhood with the St. Lucie River. It is called “Ripple… as a drop of water becomes a river”. This is happening at three distinct sites along SW 28th and 29th Streets. The main objective is to hold and provide treatment for the runoff water form this area. This will improve the water quality by reducing the nutrient loads of phosphorus and nitrogen. Ripple includes connected bio swales, rock sculptures, walking trails, and gazebos to be used by residents and visitors to our area.
Students waiting for their school bus may also enjoy the ability to get out of the sun or rain and duck into a shelter. Over 11,000 native plantings accent the shell rock walking paths.
I had the opportunity to tour the project at the end of August and was impressed to hear that Ripple is receiving grant funding from the National Endowment for the Arts. It is one of only a handful of projects nationwide to receive this prestigious financial award. The Ripple project is a unique combination of stormwater treatment, artistic elements, and community engagement.
I believe that this is a wonderful way to improve our water quality with the added bonus of artistic and educational features. There are QR codes along the walking path with interpretive message panels. A wonderful way to spend the evening or early morning walking and learning along the fabulous waterway in Palm City.
Palm City is very fortunate to have this amazing project come to fruition. I love hearing neighbors talking about seeing young people fishing and locals strolling along the paths. As our weather gets cooler, take the time to enjoy Ripple.
Missi Campbell’s opinions are her own and may not reflect Friends & Neighbors viewpoint.
10
MICHELE’S MEDICAL MOMENT
By Michele Libman M.D.
Clearing up Booster shot confusion
Let’s face it… the messaging from the government and especially the CDC about Covid-19 has been confusing and at times conflicting.
Provided Dr. Michele Libman
Granted we are dealing with a new virus that we knew nothing about so the scientists and health professionals are learning as we go. Many mistakes were made at the beginning of the pandemic which eroded the public’s trust in the messaging being put out.
For example, at the beginning we were told not to worry as the virus was not transmitted human to human… then we were told that we shouldn’t wear masks. The science supports that easily available testing would be key to getting out of this pandemic, though tests are still hard to obtain.
In the UK and the rest of Europe the government sent their citizens cheap tests to keep at home so if they are under the weather, they can do a rapid test and if positive know to stay home for 14 days… not the case here in the US which requires mounds of red tape for products to be approved and hit the market.
So, it’s no surprise that the messaging regarding the Covid Booster shots has been confusing as well. Initially the administration told us that Booster shots would be available to all Americans come October. That caused two of the top dogs at the FDA to resign in protest since the research had not yet been completely studied. In the end the boosters are not available to everyone. So, what is the truth about the Booster shots.
What we know so far regarding Pfizer comes mostly from Israel as they had a very aggressive vaccination policy using the Pfizer vaccine. The vaccine worked very well against the alpha variant of Covid but not so well against the delta variant. Many vaccinated people still developed breakthrough cases of Covid-19. However, for the most part the vaccine did protect against the one thing we really care about… hospitalizations and death.
We saw that in this country that when the delta wave hit, although many vaccinated people did come down with cases, the hospitals were full of mostly unvaccinated patients. The results were even a starker example in the ICU’s with over 95% of patients requiring intubation being unvaccinated.
But I digress… what we found from the Israel data is after they started offering the booster shot to the over 65 crowd, they found that two weeks after the third shot those folks were 11.3 times LESS likely to become infected with the highly contagious delta variant. They are now offering the booster shot to everyone over the age of 12 in that country.
In the US the FDA is being much more conservative. They have decided that the initial two dose vaccine is still showing protection against hospitalizations and death. The FDA are limiting who they are recommending the booster shots for. As of now only those 65 and older or those 18-64 with preexisting medical conditions such as obesity, hypertension, cancer or other conditions that increase your risk of severe Covid infection are eligible for the booster shot. In addition, they included people whose jobs place them at high risk of exposure such as health care workers, first responders, teachers, supermarket workers etc…
Finally, there has been confusion as to whether it is ok to mix and match vaccines. Europe has been taking this approach and the data shows that it works. Especially for those who got the J and J single dose vaccine. The evidence showed that those who got a Moderna booster showed a 76-fold increase in antibody levels compared to a 4-fold increase from a second J and J shot. The Moderna booster is only a half dose of the original shot, so the side effects are much more diminished for the third shot. This is not the same for the Pfizer booster which is the same dose as the first two shots and people are experiencing the same side effect profile from the third dose.
Michele Libman’s opinions are her own and may not reflect Friends & Neighbors viewpoint.
11
JURGENS JOURNAL
By Kallie Jurgens
I try to bring a different perspective to living in Martin County, especially given my long time living in the Northeast. Government up there works in very different ways. I did not find those working in our town to be innovative or responsive to resident needs. Martin County is very different. Three projects come to mind:
The new Seaside Cafe at Stuart Beach has turned out to be enormously popular. If one visits the Cafe on any given day of the week, almost all tables are full. It’s become a go to destination for many people I know, and it continues to expand its menu and hours.
The renovation of the Martin County golf course and now renamed Sailfish Sands Golf Course is quite an undertaking. I have spoken to a number of residents who enjoy the venue—it’s reversible 9-hole course, its championship 18-hole course, GPS equipped golf carts, Top Tracer ball tracker technology and its soon to be built clubhouse and restaurant.
Blake Library is undergoing a complete renovation of its courtyard. It will have beautiful plantings—trees, shrubs and ground covers—with all new seating. What a relaxing place to socialize, read a book or just relax.
I know many people may not like the county getting involved in golf and dining, but we only hurt ourselves if we don’t partake of these distinct recreational opportunities. Supporting these facilities helps the county get a return on its investment. I hope people can put aside their concerns on that front and enjoy a meal, a round of golf and quiet place to take in all the beauty Martin County has. I know when I lived up north for 55 years, all I experienced were rising taxes and nothing to speak of in terms of what Martin has to offer.
Kallie Jurgen’s opinions are her own and may not reflect Friends & Neighbors viewpoint.
12
Martin County Taxpayers Association
MARTIN COUNTY IS REVIEWING SOME MARTIN COUNTY PROGRAMS
MCTA is looking at several different programs currently being funded by our county’s governments.
The programs include both county-wide government and municipal government. Since our organization does not practice the “gotcha” form of oversight, we try to give a fair and balanced picture. Therefore, we can take months to study and understand a program before reporting on it. Here is a summary of the programs we are currently evaluating.
One of the things that we have been evaluating is the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars flowing to Martin County and municipalities. The Town of Ocean Breeze, which was entitled to $190,000 in funds, has decided not to accept the money because it did not have the ability to meet the requirements for spending the money. All other municipalities, the school board, and the county are proceeding.
Another program that has caught our eye is the county’s weighing whether a stormwater utility should be created. If such a utility were created, what is the fate of the current portion of the general fund devoted to stormwater and the stormwater MSTU in the budget? A utility charge is based on usage while an ad valorem tax is based on the value of a property. It would seem to us the former would be a fairer method than the current one. Yet as always, the devil is in the details.
On another front…recently, Public Works presented an agenda item to buy property for a new wellness center. It was completely out of context as to how policy should be made. If the county determines the model for delivering healthcare to its employees and dependents should be modified and changed, then a thorough presentation should be made to the commission.
The commission wisely sent the idea back to staff for further details. Whether to buy land and to build a new center needs to start with why it is being contemplated. The Gehring Group, the county’s health care consultant, needs to make a presentation as to whether this is the best choice.
The Sheriff’s Department budget has increased from $63 million in 2016 to $79 million in 2022. That is a 25% increase in six years which is more than inflation. We do live in a very safe county. Yet, if we continue to spend money at this pace, how much safer can we afford to be and what is the payback to the taxpayers?
Among things to be considered would be to ask if the expenditure of over $5 million on a new helicopter was necessary. Other questions would be to determine if a higher pay scale for crossing guards would alleviate the shortage. More dollars spent on sophisticated programs are not always better.
Many ask about the MARTY busses and how they seem to carry few passengers. Exactly how many passengers ride the busses, where does the funding come from, and is it a federal or state requirement that the county continues to have them? One of our members recently met with the director of the program, and for the first time, we experienced little to no cooperation.
At present we are trying to understand why our request for information was being rebuffed. This only serves to pique our curiosity more. We have always had near-total cooperation with staff and hope this is an anomaly from someone new to the county government.
A perineal favorite of ours is the county Parks Department. We will continue to examine the operating of the golf course, water park, restaurants, and now the Jensen Beach mooring field. In the past, we have not been fans of the government’s operation of businesses and functions that are best left to the private sector.
Both Indiantown and Stuart are looking at new city hall buildings. They have taken radically different approaches. As these municipalities continue down their perspective paths, we will examine if their choices are best for their taxpayers.
Some of these project ideas will result in no article or study being published. Others will result in MCTA agreeing that the government is proceeding down the correct course. A few articles could likely take the project to task for not being in the best interest of the taxpayers.
Stay tuned for more!
13
CONSTITUTIONAL CORNER
Here is where we will post notices from our constitutional officers:
And from our Supervisor of Elections:
From Our Property Appraiser:
From: Jenny Fields, CFA (Martin County Property Appraiser)
When buying a home, you should not assume that the property taxes will remain the same. Whenever there is a change in ownership, the assessed value of the property may reset to full market value, which may result in higher property taxes. This flowchart illustrates the purchase cycle in relation to when a new buyer may first see a glimpse of their proposed taxes– they are MONTHS apart! Why wait until August in the year following your sale to see your estimated property taxes. Plan ahead and be prepared for the financial impact by using our Property Tax Estimator tool found on our website at www.pa.martin.fl.us.
From Our Tax Collector:
From Our Clerk Of The Court:
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The first letter is from Jim Bloomer that is a little tongue in cheek:
Thanks. I would love a free motorcycle. If I read the article correctly… It seems as though Ruthie the Tax Gal is giving me a motorcycle if I upgrade my license with a motorcycle endorsement.
Our second is from John Dixson regarding the school board success plan:
Certainly concur with the verbosity observation, Tom.
What I thought the more serious error was the absence of any financial estimates that should have accompanied the various teacher and student quantified goals. A plan without the associated costs is simply words, and hardly a plan at all.
COMMISSION MEETING OCTOBER 5, 2021:
At this meeting, the commission was asked to buy land.
The first parcel of 2.2 acres is on Willoughby next to another 1.7-acre parcel that the county already owns. The intent is to construct a new wellness center for county employees which will serve as their own clinic facility. It is estimated that the current center will run out of capacity within the next few years.
The Gehring Group, the county’s benefit consultant, believes that the county will save $1 million per year after design and building out the facility. Their recommendation is for the facility to be county-owned but operated by a third party. Why this site and not on property the county currently owns?
Commissioner Smith kept speaking about property owned behind the current county building. That should be a possibility if feasible. Staff did not address it in their presentation.
Ciampi believes it is an expensive endeavor to do on their own. He mentioned that equipment and technology are changing constantly. He also added that maybe they should partner with Palm Beach County and have more than one place for employees to go.
Heard believes the wellness center is a success and has outgrown its space. She made a motion to go ahead with staff’s recommendation. Jenkins seconded. However, the other three were not quite ready to pull the pin on this specific site, and I think in Ciampi, and Hetherington questioned how to proceed with the operation. The motion failed 3-2 with Smith, Ciampi, and Hetherington voting no.
Smith made a motion for staff to continue studying whether to have a separate facility and where to place it. It was seconded by Heard and passed 5-0. The wellness contract with the current provider is up next year.
According to Assistant County Administrator Stokus, the property can be purchased using ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funds. That is an incentive to buy a new property. Will the funds be spent for something else? The answer is probably but it does add a dimension to the project.
While the wellness center was new, where to place the public works complex was not. This has been going on for some time and has gathered steam since 2019. There is $6 million in dedicated funding to make the move from the airport property which currently hosts public works.
The department needs between 25-30 acres. They have narrowed it down to two sites. One is Newfield and the other is Gateway. The Newfield property would require $2.8 million in improvements because there is a need for a major lift station. The Gateway site comes in at $1.6 million for their improvements.
Staff is recommending Gateway. Smith liked the idea and moved staff recommendation. Hetherington believes that independent construction management should be used, and staff agreed. Heard seconded the motion and it passed 5-0.
Staff assures the commission that this amount of land is all they will need well into the future. I am not so sure. I think it would be prudent to have double that amount to allow for growth in the future…even if the future is 40 years from now. As the county runs out of available property, it will not be so easy to have 50- to 60-acre parcels. If the property is never used it can always be sold off to another user.
To see the presentation, go here
COMMISSION MEETING OCTOBER 19, 2021:
Assistant County Administrator George Stokus unveiled the new career center to be launched at the airport in Building 17.
The $1.4 million update to that building will be paid with ARPA Funds. These funds are to be used for those that were affected by the economic problems caused by Covid. The unemployed and underemployed will be able to train for jobs in the aero and marine industries. The targeted population for the training is 51% low to moderate income.
Once launched, the programs will be managed and funded by IRSC with Career Source and the school district. It is something that has been a long time coming. Will it meet the needs of our employers in those industries and others that will benefit from an enhanced workforce? Only time will tell.
Commissioner Smith wanted to add a spot for SPAM Robotics. Stokus said that would be discussed in Phase 2. A motion was made by Ciampi and seconded by Jenkins. It passed 5-0 to go ahead with the renovation and training program.
There was a long discussion about the landscaping on Kanner Highway south of the Veterans Memorial Bridge. At issue was where the money was going to come from and how much planting is necessary. Staff suggested that it come from deferring neighborhood enhancements which was clearly not the choice of any of the commissioners.
There is $300,000 for maintenance of railroad crossings in the budget. All the crossings are or will be brand new so the thought was that those funds would not be needed for that purpose and could be transferred to this project. The plantings the commission chose would cost $250,000. They have decided presently not to plant around the retention ponds which would add to the cost.
Commissioner Heard was against taking the money from the crossings. She felt that the railroad could still ask for maintenance funds. The motion was approved 4-1 with Heard dissenting.
Occasionally, a member of the public will come to the meetings and speak about county finances. There is nothing wrong with that. Citizen input is vital, especially on the local level. However, that input should be informed so that it helps the commission and staff to do a better job.
Unfortunately, that is not how the public comment goes from some folks. It usually begins with how much money is being spent “secretly” and hidden in the consent agenda. It is important to note that any commissioner can pull any item from the consent and add it to the regular agenda to be presented during the meeting. The commissioners often do that if they feel there was something that needed to be discussed.
Second, most things on the consent agenda are routine expenditures such as paying for supplies. While at times the amounts will look high, they are still routine, already part of the approved budget, and by statute must have commission approval. When I see something that looks amiss, I go on the county’s website and look it up.
Martin County has one of the most transparent financial ones in the state. If I still have a question, I send an email and staff usually gets back to me within 24 hours with the answer and backup material.
I think it is incumbent on any member of the public who is going to address the BOCC on these matters to have the facts. It may take someone a few months to delve into the minutia. It is only fair to the commission and staff to make comments not on instinct but on facts.
When a road is opening in a neighborhood, there is a fact. A road that has always been closed is opening. Simple and direct. When it comes to finances or the law, please take the time to be knowledgeable and not shoot from the hip. This will lead to being effective.
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STUART CITY COMMISSION MEETING OCTOBER 11, 2021
The presentation was storm water treatment this afternoon.
The city’s consultant, Joe Capra, led the presentation. There are three parts…conveyance, storage, and discharge. Millions will have to be spent over the next couple of decades. Stuart has a high vulnerability for flooding.
Currently Stuart charges $7 per ERU (Equivalent Residential Unit.) The average in Florida is $7.99. It is not only having the infrastructure to treat and store the water, but another huge component is also maintaining the infrastructure you have. Martin County may be looking to institute a storm water fee instead of using the general fund and an MSTU. A utility fee like Stuart’s is the fairest method.
Meier understands that if property owners limit the amount of water that is released for the city to deal with then it would be the independent property owner who would be responsible. In that case, it would make sense to give the property owner credits toward the amount billed.
You can see the entire presentation here
The meeting didn’t really begin until 2.5 hours after its 4:00 pm start time. There was proclamation upon proclamation. Awards, highlights, arts moments, and everything else you can think of. The BOCC has their meetings in about 3 hours. Stuart’s meeting lengths have once again gotten out of hand.
The purpose of a meeting is to do city business. An occasional proclamation within strict guidelines is fine. All the rest reminds me of an elementary school assembly or high school pep rally. Can Stuart just get down to business and move the meeting along. By 8:00 there was adjournment. That means if you had moved Capra’s storm water presentation to the body of the meeting it was 2 hours. The next thing you know, there will be circus acts and clown cars.
DEVELOPMENT
There was a request for a new plat application called Tidewater Court on one acre on St Lucie Blvd. There will be 10 cottage lots and a private street maintained by a homeowner’s association. Trash will be handled by individual bins that will be kept at the entrance. The applicant has agreed to allow the police the right to enforce traffic laws on the private street.
It seems to be the perfect development for Stuart. It will allow for individual homes that are not multi-family. Perhaps the plan should have a turnaround at the end of the street. Emergency vehicles, trucks, and other larger commercial vehicles will have to back up and out. Of course, the development would have ended up with only 8 homes instead of 10, but it would have been a better development.
The second “development” problem was Osprey Preserve in North Stuart that was approved by the commission in 2017. It has gone through a couple of changes since then. It is finally being built. There was a preserve element that the developer decided to completely strip away in direct violation of the development order.
The builder claims it was not on purpose. Maybe it wasn’t, but clearly it is marked as a preserve area on the plans. I have a sneaking suspicion it was not accidental, and by tearing out the preserve area, the public will see the models going up. It also gives Meritage Homes, the developer, the opportunity to plant a more nuanced land scape.
McDonald, Meier, and Matheson struggled to find the balance. Meier caught that the amount that the developer would have to contribute to the tree fund was calculated incorrectly. Meier did like their plan for replanting and Matheson and McDonald were able to have larger trees inserted than what was proposed.
The developer will be placing a $500,000 bond to make sure that the plan will be completed. Of course, the plan will be done. It becomes part of their landscaping. The commission wanted them to plant it before they did vertical construction. They want to do it by the end of January and most of the construction will be under way.
The commission was in a bit of a bind. They could declare the project in breach of the development order or do what they are doing which is making the best of a bad situation. There should be a third alternative having to do with penalties. There doesn’t seem to be anything in the code. The commission should instruct the city attorney to create something which is substantial enough to deter this type of conduct in the future.
In my opinion, the developer knew what was happening. He decided his project was better with a more man-made landscaped buffer. Leaving the site exposed to traffic would create interest and the mitigation expense was worth it.
The city should remember this. I understand there are other developments coming forward from them. BEWARE is all that I can think.
The replacement buffer and information can be found here here
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SCHOOL BOARD MEETING OCT 19, 2021:
It was a short meeting without very much drama until the very end.
The school board and BOCC used the same district election boundaries in 2010. On November 16th, the county will be updating its boundaries. The school board believes that they will probably use the same updated boundaries as the BOCC again. Since both are county-wide and based on population, it makes sense.
There is a severe shortage of bus drivers. Chair Powers wants to stagger school openings even more because of it. That way drivers can be available to service all levels of schools.
There is not only a shortage of drivers but in all support positions. From custodians to food service employees, a shortage exists. That shortage will not be easily addressed in the district or any place else. There are also unfilled teacher spots.
The school boundary advisory committee will present its findings at the November 2nd workshop. Mike DiTerlizzi was the board’s designate to the committee. He was not yet ready to discuss the results. From what I know of their recommendations, there was no change in elementary and middle schools and only slight tweaks to the high school boundaries with no student currently enrolled being forced to switch to a new school. Since this is an advisory committee, the board will make the final decision.
During public comment, someone said that she had heard students were not standing for the pledge. She mentioned no school or classroom where this was occurring.
Afterwards Li Roberts cited the state statute pertaining to the pledge. It must be recited at the beginning of the day by all students unless a parent opts their child out and students must stand. The statute can be found here
Dr. Millay said that when something that is happening in the schools, an investigation cannot occur without knowing that the problem exists. Without specifics, there is nothing that can be done. That makes sense to me. However, it is true that at times even when parents report something little is done.
Not all allegations are true, so if a complaint is made, the district should follow up with the initiator to tell him/her what action was taken if any. This mirrors DiTerlizzi’s comments when he stated that parents are fed up with the district believing that kids’ education is the experts’ purview, and the public should stay out of the details.
That does not work anymore. A few weeks ago, I wrote that the Success Plan was harder to understand than the Latin mass. This week, The New York Times had an article about how Christian schools are having a boom because parents are fed up with their local public schools. You can find it here
Public education is at a crossroads. It needs to stop behaving as if this is 1960. Parents want a say and, in our district, they do not want to have their children being indoctrinated. They want to work collaboratively and not meant to feel as if they are getting in the way.
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COMMISSION WORKSHOP OCTOBER 12, 2021
Bonnie Landry presented what had transpired so far with writing the comprehensive plan. She had convened a focus group of residents.
What I knew instinctively but still was surprised to hear was that only 2% of the town was commercial property. Almost the entire rest (except government owned properties) is residential and thus subject to exemptions and homestead caps. That most definitely limits sources of town income.
Though Sewall’s Point has limited parkland, there are 600 acres within a three-mile radius which also includes county and Stuart facilities. There was support for ancillary dwelling units for extended family. 97.1% of the housing is single family with 94.1% being owner occupied. The town is surrounded by water therefore is susceptible to resiliency issues.
The commissioners had some very good questions and observations with Mayor Mayfield especially delving into some elements of the plan. Unfortunately, Commissioner Campo was absent. Some of the observations and facts would have been helpful to questions he has asked in the past.
If I were a Sewall’s Point resident, I would move heaven and earth to support the annexation of the Dolphin Bar property. It is a large piece of property abutting the town. In its present form, it would add to town revenue but if they ever develop the parcel to its highest and best use, it could be a windfall.
The agenda item can be found here
Landry’s presentation can be found here
There was also a discussion about what to charge for the use of town facilities, especially the chamber. Both Commissioners Fender and Tompeck felt it was good to have documented procedures. There were no final decisions, but staff is to comeback with hard numbers and recommendations. I did not hear anything about insurance requirements which should not be forgotten.
Last, there are three bridges in town. Island Road Bridge may be the oldest. Engineer Joe Capra addressed the commission because the homeowner’s association wanted to do landscaping on the approach to the bridge and was seeking town permission.
Capra turned the discussion to maintenance. Once again it goes back to capital improvements and then how to maintain the assets. And the conclusion, was there is no money to do so. A perplexing problem that is not going away anytime soon.
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COUNCIL MEETING OCTOBER 14, 2021:
The council approved many expenditures at this meeting.
Susan Gibbs-Thomas is no longer the neophyte elected official she was a couple of years ago. She takes what staff presents not as “holy writ” but as a suggestion. Good for you, Susan.
The first thing they approved was $24,000 for a stormwater rate study. The next was to create the full-time Director of Parks and Rec position. The previous person was classified as a superintendent at $54,000. The new position will pay $75,000. Guyton Stone added that the person will create a recreation program.
Currently, Manager Brown is looking for a Public Works and Utilities Director. He wants to separate the two positions and advertise both at $84,000. However, he will only fill one of the positions with that person doing both jobs. Brown stated that it will open advertising options. Gibbs-Thomas didn’t quite get it, and neither do I. The vote to do so was 4-1 with Gibbs-Thomas dissenting.
What will probably happen is that Brown will find the right person to fill both jobs but will pay $100,000 to do so. Since he now has $168,000 available, it will give the appearance that he is saving money.
A while back, the council approved a 3% raise for employees. Brown was looking to increase the pay plan by that amount. Gibbs-Thomas has no problem with the 3% raise for current employees but does not want to increase the base pay for future hires. Clarke, Stone, and Hernandez agree.
As part of this motion, they are creating five new positions plus the two new director positions discussed above. Hernandez made a new motion that was seconded by Dowling to approve the new positions only. It passed 4-1 with Gibbs-Thomas dissenting.
The finance director also has left the village. Clarion will serve in the interim which is the same company that did it before at $93,600 per year. The previous director made $114,000.
The RFQ for the village hall complex had 7 respondents. The top 2 were at this meeting. The winner, PGAL, of Boca seemed qualified. The second-place winner, REG, of West Palm Beach also spoke. Instead of making a motion to accept the committee’s choice, the council decided to interview the top 3 choices at the November 18th meeting. I wonder why none of the firms picked were Martin County ones.
The workshop idea is not going according to plan. The one to be held on October 28th will have a special meeting first. The workshop is not scheduled to begin until 7:45. Stone wants to re-examine the current meeting procedures.
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COUNCIL MEETING OCTOBER 11, 2021:
Council Member Docherty has now tried for the second time to have the meeting time moved to 5 pm. His reasoning is that the new town inhabitants in Sea Walk cannot participate at 10:30 am because they are working. This is also prohibiting them from running for office.
Docherty is not wrong in that sentiment. Mayor Ostrand is of the same mind. But never let it be said that the powers that be will give them up lightly. Other council members who may face election opposition had reasons why the morning time is fine with them.
Staff is not excited either about coming in the evening. Docherty made a motion that died for lack of a second. What happens now? Another six months will go by and then I believe Docherty should bring it up again and this time have as many people as possible at the meeting to speak in favor of his proposition.
He can also send out a survey to every voter and have them weigh in if he believes that it is the best way forward. At some point those that believe 100% elected representation from the resort is not fair and will put up candidates for election. If they win a majority of the 6 seats, then they will only have to come to one meeting in the morning to change the time. They will need only three others elected who want a more equitable meeting time.
The town’s allotment of ARPA is $190,000. What to spend it on?
Town Manager O’Neil doesn’t believe they can meet any of the thresholds for spending the money. If the county spends the money on the town’s behalf and administers it, the county will not be responsible if the state wants the money back. A suggestion was made to spend the money on a county project that would benefit Ocean Breeze. I do not see how the town would be eligible to spend ARPA dollars outside their borders.
It was decided not to take the money. When you have no infrastructure, it is difficult to do anything.
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JUPITER ISLAND COMMISSION MEETING OCTOBER 20, 2021
7 South Beach Road has requested a subdivision plat. It is currently two acres. There are no common areas. Both owners would be responsible for landscaping and other buffers. There are two 10-foot utility easements per code according to the owner. The existing septic system will be abandoned. Invasive species are being removed.
There is also a 10-foot easement that has never been recorded with SMRU for an outfall carrying water into the sea. The outfall extends 1500 feet offshore. SMRU has had the easement since 2002. There can be shrubs, but no trees planted. And here is where the problems begin.
The neighbor has hired an attorney with several objections. After further and extensive discussion by the commission, a motion was made with conditions including a letter of opinion from SMRU’s counsel regarding the easement (that is to be recorded) and that the septic is in compliance. It passed unanimously.
THE ZIP CONTINUES
The town’s attorney will meet with different parties to see whether a resolution can be worked out regarding where the dune protection line is located. The Zoning In Progress (ZIP) will continue. The item should come back in November to see whether it needs to continue to apply to the 16 miles of town waterfront or can be contained to one area.
Adina Testa, a founding member of Jupiter Island Forever, made a presentation. She stated several landowners in the disputed area will place their properties under permanent conservation. The focus of her presentation was to request that the dune setback line return to the line drawn in 2000 to protect the dunes.
There were two property owners represented by Ethan Loeb who want to develop their properties in accordance with the revised 2019 line. There is a suggestion of raising unjust taking claims against the town. If property rights of an owner to build on his property are interfered with it would be considered an unjust taking. To make matters more complicated, there are owners who want to build and are not in the disputed area. They have also been blocked.
For the sake of the community, I hope this is settled amicably. I fear that will not happen.
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In The Spotlight
by Jackie Holfelder
Jackie is always looking for a good story…you may reach her at: jackieacolumn@gmail.com
Jose Vallecillo + HPS + Publix= Success Story!
Helping People Succeed has been a vital part of the community for more than 50 years, but not everyone is familiar with the life changing work they do.
Since October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month, Glenna Parris, Gift Planning Officer at Helping People Succeed, thought it was the perfect time to explain just how the nonprofit helps each person to reach their potential for a successful future, able to enjoy life fully and participate as a productive taxpaying citizen.
After he moved to Florida from Washington D.C. in 2015, Jose Vallecillo’s #1 priority was finding a job.
With assistance from a job coach from Helping People Succeed and support from Florida’s Division of Vocational Rehabilitation and the Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD), Vallecillo found the perfect job at the Publix Super Market at Cornerstone at Stuart Shopping Center, where he is still employed after six years.
Vallecillo, 57, has a disability and receives services through APD to help him succeed at work.
He is a valuable customer service team member, bagging groceries, loading them in customers’ cars, and returning and sanitizing shopping carts. He shares what he likes most about his job: “I get to meet a lot of interesting people.”
“Jose is a very dedicated team member. He has adapted well to procedure changes, never calls out, and even picked up extra shifts during the height of the pandemic”, says Debra Athos, Vallecillo’s employment support person at Helping People Succeed.
Vallecillo loves working because he can save money to do what he enjoys most. “I need the money because I do a lot of traveling”, says Vallecillo.
Jose Vallecillo at work at Publix Photo provided by Helping People Succeed
In addition to traveling during his free time, he spends time volunteering in his community and bowling in the Special Olympics.
For more about Helping People Succeed, visit www.hpsfl.org.
MartinArts Gifts ARC of Martin County
One of my favorite things about Martin County’s nonprofit world has always been the support and positive actions that most organizations show for each other.
I was so glad to learn from my friend Lisa Teetor that MartinArts recently made the world a little more beautiful at the group homes in which ARC of Martin County clients reside.
All it took was a mention to Nancy Turrell, executive director of MartinArts, that there were some empty walls in the homes and she filled in the gap with some lovely pieces that were available from the 501(c)(3)’s inventory.
As Lisa said, “Like music, art fills hearts.”
Keith Muniz, President/CEO, ARC of Martin County; Nancy Turrell, Executive Director, MartinArts; Lisa Teetor and Karen Barnes, board member, MartinArts
Photo Provided by Martin Arts
Life Ring at Children’s Museum Dedicated to Elev8Hope
Elev8Hope and the Children’s Museum of the Treasure Coast share an important philosophy: children can be joyful and still have a sense of responsibility to themselves and to others.
That’s why the homage that C2 Equipment Rental, LLC recently paid to Elev8Hope was especially meaningful and significant.
Photo provided by Elev8Hope The Life Ring at the Children’s Museum of the Treasure Coast Fishing & Boating Exhibit that C2 Equipment Rental, LLC dedicated to Elev8Hope.
Recognizing the nonprofit’s mission to inspire youth to become passionate leaders who positively impact the community of Martin County, C2 Equipment Rental, LLC dedicated the Life Ring in the Children’s Museum’s exciting new Fishing & Boating Exhibit to Elev8Hope. since the work of the 501(c)(3) is dedicated to saving lives in countless ways.
The state-of-the-art new exhibit isn’t just for play. The Museum’s goals include using the interactive display for such things as raising awareness of such things as reduction of trash, waste and pollution in local waterways.
C2 Equipment Rental, LLC, which is locally owned, operates from a position of honesty and integrity and believes strongly in helping others and giving back to the local community, couldn’t have found a more perfect way to honor and highlight the student leaders and membership of Elev8Hope.
Woman’s Club of Stuart’s
13th Annual Holiday Home Tour
Exciting news from Sharon Mason, president of the Woman’s Club of Stuart that the fabulous Holiday Home Tour is back in person on Sunday, December 12!
Funds raised at the perennial seasonal favorite go toward scholarships and a host of charitable endeavors.
Nothing beats the holiday joy of visiting the five beautifully-decorated homes that comprise the Tour each year, and all precautions for safety and social distancing that are appropriate at the time will be followed for the well-being of all involved.
Bus tickets are $75 per person and allow you to enjoy the holiday spirit touring the houses and returning to the Club House for the post -tour reception on an air-conditioned motor coach.
General admission tickets are $45 each for those who prefer to drive themselves.
A home on a previous Holiday Home Tour Photo provided by Woman’s Club of Stuart
Everything you need to know is at www.womansclubofstuart.com/tour-information-2020.
Jackie is always looking for a good story…you may reach her at: jackieacolumn@gmail.com
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FINAL THOUGHTS
CONSISTENCY & LOGIC ARE NOW SEPARATE IN POLITICS
At one point not too long ago, political parties had logical and consistent policies. For example, Republicans stood for free markets with little interference while Democrats championed more control and, in most instances, far fewer market driven conclusions. For the most part, neither party subscribes to those concepts any longer.
Republicans now believe that markets should not be free to deliver the best results. Since President Trump’s policies on tariffs, boycotts and restrictive trade policies, Republicans have seemed to abandon markets for much more regulation. At the same time, Democrats have swung their policies, although not completely, to allow for more market driven capitalism and moving away from state directed market outcomes.
Both political parties have decided that business mandates are the way to go regarding Covid. Take vaccines and masks…both want to dictate to private businesses whether the owner of business has the right to set his/her own policies regarding this. Shouldn’t it be up to the person who has invested the money to determine the rules?
No one forces employees and customers to patronize or work at a certain business. If the owner of Joe’s Widget Factory wants his employees to be vaccinated, then that is Joe’s prerogative. At the same time at Kate’s Tea Shop if she wants to prohibit her patrons from wearing masks, then it should be up to Kate.
In the Florida of Governor DeSantis, Joe would be a criminal. And in Lamont’s Connecticut, ditto for Kate. Governor DeSantis would say that he is preserving the freedom of individual employees to decide. I would argue that the employee can chose to work somewhere else. Governor Lamont’s argument is that he is looking after his citizens’ health. I would counter that those that feel masks are important to their well-being will drink tea somewhere else.
Both DeSantis and Lamont would claim to be advocates for free markets. Both have decided that their supporters want these opposite policies that are inconsistent with supposed long term held Republican beliefs and the more recent Democrat ones. Both parties do not care much about beliefs and are all about elections. Too bad!
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GET THE WORD OUT Friends and Neighbors of Martin County are your eyes and ears so that you know what is going on in Martin County’s municipal and county governments. I attempt to be informative and timely so that you may understand how your tax money is being spent. Though I go to the meetings and report back, I am no substitute for your attending meetings. Your elected officials should know what is on your mind.
Tom Campenni 772-287-5781 (o) 772-341-7455 (c) Email: thomasfcampenni@gmail.com
ARTICLES OF INTEREST
Articles Tom wrote:
From Martin County Moment:
“A Deal In The Works”
“The Emperor Has No Clothes”
From Medium
“School Vouchers Can Prevent School Censorship”
“Christian Nationalism For America Is A Fallacy”
Other Articles:
The Capitolist: “Jeff Brandes’ think tank: Live Local Bill will help, but bigger changes needed to fix affordable housing crisis”
The New York Times: “How To Clear 500,000 Ferel Cats From New York Streets”
Trump’s Indictment
Florida Phoenix: “Statehouses debate who should build EV charging networks”
The Washington Post: “Tracing the power of Casey DeSantis”
GLOSSARY
American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)
Annual Medium Income (AMI)
Basin Action Management Plan (BMAP)
Best Management Practices (BMP)
Board of County Commissioners (BOCC)
Business Development Board (BDB)
Capital Improvement Plan (CIP)
Career & Technical Education (CTE)
Center For Disease Control (CDC)
Centum Cubic Feet (CCF)
Children’s Services Council (CSS)
Community Development Block Grants (CDBG)
Community Development District (CDD)
Community Redevelopment Board (CRB)
Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA)
Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR)
Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP)
Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)
Emergency Operation Center (EOC)
Equivalent Residential Connection (ERC)
Equivalent Residential Unit (ERU)
Evaluation & Appraisal Report (EAR)
Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA)
Fixed Asset Replacement Budget (FARB)
Federal Rail Administration (FRA)
Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT)
Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC)
Florida Inland Navigation District (FIND)
Full Time Equivalents (FTE)
Future Land Use Maps (FLUM)
Health Maintenance Organization (HMO)
High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP)
Hobe Sound Local (HSL)
Indian River Lagoon (IRL)
Land Development Code (LDR)
Lake Okeechobee Regulation Schedule (LORS)
Lake Okeechobee System Operating Manual (LOSUM)
Local Agency Program Certification (LAP)
Local Planning Agency (LPA)
Martin County Fire/Rescue (MCFR)
Martin County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO)
Martin County Taxpayers Association (MCTA)
Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU)
Municipal Service Taxing Unit (MSTU)
Not In My Back Yard (NIMBY)
Organization For Economic Co-operation & Development (OECD)
Parks & Recreation Advisory Board (PRAB)
Planned Unit Development (PUD)
Preferred Provider Organization (PPO)
Preserve Action Management Plan (PAMP)
Request for Proposal (RFP)
Residential Planned Unit Development (RPUD)
Right of Way (ROW)
Secondary Urban Services District (SUSD)
South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD)
South Martin Regional Utility (SMRU)
State Housing Initiative Partnership (SHIP)
Storm Water Treatment Areas (STA)
Tax Increment Financing (TIF)
Urban Planned Unit Development (UPUD)
Urban Services Boundary (USB)
World Health Organization (WHO)
Zoning-In-Progress (ZIP)
