‘Stomp Out Cancer’
Annual ball rakes in needed bucks
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Mind over matter
Healing begins with focus
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Small town, Big Band Vintage swings in Stuart
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PALM CITY/TESORO
YourVoiceWeekly.com VOL. 4/ISSUE 25
YOUR INDEPENDENT LOCAL COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER
FRIDAY, APRIL 22, 2016
$4 billion goes Wildlife Center opens in Palm City to Everglades restoration Patrick McCallister STAFF WRITER
pmccallister@YourVoiceWeekly.com
TREASURE COAST — It’s the latest in a string of Indian River Lagoon victories for Sen. Joe Negron, and a big one for Representative Gayle Harrell, Stuart. “It’s a game-changer for the Treasure Coast and I’m looking forward to funding projects that make a difference,” Negron said in a telephone interview. Gov. Rick Scott recently signed House Bill 989 into law. Harrell filed the House version of the bill. The new law, which Negron sponsored in the Senate, affects implementation of the Water and Land Conservation Constitutional Amendment voters passed in 2014. Critics have charged that the State Legislature has subverted voters’ intentions and misappropriated much of the money. The bill requires that either 25 percent,
“It provides us with a dedicated funding source to reduce the need for Lake Okeechobee discharges into our community.” Senator Joe Negron
or $200 million, from real-estate transaction fees — documentary stamps or “doc stamps” — go to the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan, CERP and the Northern Everglades and Estuaries Protection Program annually until 2036. Harrell said in a press release that the new law is about protecting Florida’s future. “Cleaning up the St. Lucie River, Lake Okeechobee, the Caloosahatchee River, the Indian River Lagoon and the Everglades has been a priority for me since I was first elected to the Florida House of Representatives,” Harrell said in the press release. “The future of our
See EVERGLADES page 10
Mitch Kloorfain/chief photographer Judith Sekscenski watches while other visitors photograph the juvenile brown pelicans being cared for at the Treasure Coast Wildlife Center in Palm City during their inaugural open house Saturday, April 16. With the animals comes the education in learning that people can be their biggest enemy by feeding them whole fish carcasses which can get stuck in their throat. ‘Their natural prey is sardine sized fish.’ said Tim Brown, director of education for the TCWC.
How long will fire department negotiations get the hose? Adam Laten Willson
FOR YOUR VOICE NEWS & VIEWS
MARTIN COUNTY — Earlier this month, Martin County com-
missioners met once again with the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) local 2959 to attempt consensus on the union’s current contract. After almost two years of collective bargaining, they
are still working out an equitable agreement, despite having reached impasse last December. One main seat of contention centers around the union’s pay increase structure, though other
issues include paid time-off benefits and shift staffing requirements. Currently, like most fire depart-
See FIRE page 12
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