Barn Theatre gets a pro Former publisher handling PR
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Pillowcase burglars back Resident stops theft in progress
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Italian import
Renowned pianist coming to Martin
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PALM CITY/TESORO
YourVoiceWeekly.com VOL. 2/ISSUE 7
YOUR INDEPENDENT LOCAL COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER
Mushu and Fa Frankie DeCesare as Mushu listens to Eliza Levy, 11, of Palm City in the title role of Mulan during the Starstruck Performing Arts Center’s production of Disney’s ‘Mulan’ last week in Stuart. Mitch Kloorfain chief photographer
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2013
Church, state, commission meetings, invocations and headaches Patrick McCallister Staff writer
pmccallister@YourVoiceWeekly.com
MARTIN COUNTY — The county commissioners might sometimes feel like they don’t have a prayer, but actually they do. At every meeting. It’s right there on the agendas under “invocation.” Whether or not those prayers done by local clergy reach heaven is a matter of belief. What’s clear on earth is they’re now raising some expletive that reached Washington, D.C. “I really don’t want to see that kind of thing in Martin
County,” commissioner John Haddox, Palm City, said in a telephone interview. “I want to see this resolved quickly and constitutionally.” He may not get that wish for a ruckus over religion to fade fast. Haddox said he’s already gotten one unsolicited email from an organization ready to litigate on the commission’s behalf to protect prayer at meetings. So, what got the commission a strongly-worded letter from the American Humanist Association’s Appignani Hu-
See PRAYER page 4
Local merchants say holiday shoppers are in good cheer Staff writer
pmccallister@YourVoiceWeekly.com
MARTIN COUNTY — The National Retail Federation predicted a moderately larger holiday shopping season, despite Thanksgiving falling late in November. Nationally, customers are fulfilling that prediction, but many are hitting the Internet to do it. Local businesses say that despite large increases in online holiday shopPRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID FORT PIERCE, FL PERMIT NO. 248 ECRWSS
Local Postal Customer
ping, they’re getting good traffic this year, too. “We’re up over last year, and we’re up over last month,” Peter Wernick, owner of Peter’s Hardware Center in Palm City, said. “I don’t know if it’s a sign of the economy, or what the community is doing to shop local and give local.” Wernick said there doesn’t seem to be a particular holiday item folks are seeking at his shop, but gift cards have been popular. He
said shoppers seem to be in optimistic moods. “They’re just buying everything,” Wernick said. “My store is being frequented because people need things and they’re coming to me first.” He added, “Our shelves are stocked; the customers are coming.” A fellow Palm City business, Decorators Finest Gift Boutique and Design, has also been doing well, owner Dominique Carpena said.
“You can’t really make a comparison (to last year),” she said. “We were in a warehouse district and didn’t have a lot of foot traffic.” But, Carpena said a move to a more visible area was a good one. Serving customers champagne and chocolate has been a good move, too. Carpena said folks seem to be buying for others, sure, but—
See SHOPPING page 7
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Patrick McCallister