Holiday treat through Jan. 1
Musical light display up another week
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Opinion: Inside my head What it’s like to live with autism
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Aptly named
Fresh Catch offers just that
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PALM CITY/TESORO
YourVoiceWeekly.com VOL. 3/ISSUE 7
YOUR INDEPENDENT LOCAL COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER
End of year bonus: Jobless rate under 6 percent Patrick McCallister STAFF WRITER
pmccallister@YourVoiceWeekly.com
TREASURE COAST — Some folks might have popped the corks a little early this year. “Wow! Merry Christmas,” Odaly Victorio, communications coordinator for CareerSource Research Coast, said when she looked at the latest state jobs report. On Friday, Dec. 19, the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity released its last monthly employment report of the year. The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 5.8 percent in November, taking the state
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2014
A gingerly touch Lexie Piroli, 4, of Palm City gets the decorations just right during a gingerbread house building activity at the Blake Library Saturday, Dec. 20.
under 6 percent for the first time since May 2008. “It’s nice,” Tim Dougher, executive director of the Business Development Board of Martin County, said. “It wasn’t very long ago we were talking about 8 and 9 percent. It’s refreshing to see that number come down.” The state’s unemployment rate started 2014 at 6.1 percent. By October it finally dipped to 6 percent. The state had been slightly above the national average for a few months, but in November was identical with the nation. In November, the not sea-
Mitch Kloorfain chief photographer
See JOBS page 9
Health Department hopes everyone will 5-2-1-0 in 2015 STAFF WRITER
pmccallister@YourVoiceWeekly.com
MARTIN COUNTY — The Florida Department of Health in Martin
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County hopes that as the calendar turns on New Year’s Eve, everyone will shout, “5-2-1-0!” “We’re beginning to roll out the 5-2-1-0 program,” Karlette Peck, health officer, said. The quick summary of the
health-awareness campaign: five servings of fruits and vegetables; no more than two hours of recreational screen time on computers, tablets, smart phones or televisions; one hour of vigorous exercise; and no sugary drinks.
Daily. “It’s a simple mantra and easy to follow,” Peck said. As smoking rates have continued declining over the years, another
See 5-2-1-0 page 4
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Patrick McCallister
Mutter’s Hearing Center, Inc. 772-871-1222
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