4
His day in court
Bowen’s dismissal hearing
New digs
Humane Society branches out
12
27
Styx, no Stones
Glen Burtnik at the Sunrise
ST. LUCIE WEST • TRADITION
YourVoiceWeekly.com VOL. 2/ISSUE 10
YOUR INDEPENDENT LOCAL COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER
FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 2014
Tesoro 25K Challenger Zipping it returns up in St.
Lucie West
Patrick McCallister Staff writer
pmccallister@YourVoiceWeekly.com
TESORO — It’s back. “This is the second annual Tesoro Challenger (Women’s Open),” said Winston Owen, owner and director of tennis at the Racquet Club at Tesoro. Late last year the United States Tennis Association announced that the club would again host a women’s $25,000 pro-circuit tourney. Events will span from Jan. 12 to 19. The club already had a Mitch Kloorfain chief photographer Nicole Melichar sends a backhand return during the doubles semifinal match of the Tesoro Challenger in Tesoro last year.
Nicole Rodriguez Staff writer
nrodriguez@YourVoiceWeekly.com
qualifying tournament many local hopefuls played a couple weeks back. “We had 32 players in that one,” Owen said. Among them were Korina Neveux, Palm City. Korina said she didn’t fare well against some strong local competitors. “Actually, I just got back from injuries, so it was hard for
See TENNIS page 6
ST. LUCIE WEST — St. Lucie West really is a city within in a city, according to the U.S. Postal Service. Many residents may not know it, but “St. Lucie West” is an acceptable mailing name for residents in the 34986, 34987 and 34988 zip codes. “(St. Lucie West) is recognized by our mail-sorting equipment,” said Debbie Fetterly, communications head of the USPS’s South Eastern Florida district. And it’s been the case since March 2010. The official move was made when Port St. Lucie was still a part of the
now-defunct Central Florida district. The request to have St. Lucie West recognized in the city field was made by residents, Fetterly said. St. Lucie West resident Suzanne Eovaldi recently reached out to District 18 U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy, D-Jupiter, to have him urge the USPS to officially recognize St. Lucie West. Little did she know, that was already the case. “Getting our own name is a huge step at getting the worth and honor we deserve … it’s a matter of self-identity,” Eovaldi said. “Tradition,” however, is not technically an acceptable name, Fetterly said. In order for “Tradition,”
See ZIP page 8
PSL lawmaker to lobbyist PSL mayor to lobby Congress over detox restrictions Nicole Rodriguez Staff writer
nrodriguez@YourVoiceWeekly.com
TORINO — Port St. Lucie Mayor JoAnn Faiella is going from lawmaker to lobbyist next week during a trip to Washington, D.C. While in the nation’s capital, Faiella hopes to gain congressional support to change strict laws that restrict a city from denying sober homes in residential areas without legal ramifications.
“I’m going to lobby very hard. I’m meeting with congressmen, one by one, letters have been sent out, I’m making personal phone calls,” said Faiella, who will be departing Port St. Lucie on Jan. 18. “I’m very confident that this is going to come to light next year.” The city needs more leeway in dictating appropriate locations for
detox and sober homes, Faiella said. The mayor plans to push for permitting on group homes so the city and police departments know where they are. There are no records kept on sober homes located within the city’s boundaries.
See LOBBYIST page 10
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