AAF point/counterpoint All Aboard Florida’s direction
A3
Checkered past
Former PSL employee’s history catches up
A13 Golden Fair-iversary SLC Fair turns the BIG 5-0
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ST. LUCIE WEST • TRADITION
YourVoiceWeekly.com VOL. 3/ISSUE 11
YOUR INDEPENDENT LOCAL COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER
Supervisor’s appointment bittersweet
Big payday for SLC teacher Frances K. Sweet Elementary School teacher Nardi Routen reacts after being announced as the recipient of the Milken Educator Award during a school ceremony Friday, Jan 9. The award comes with a check for $25,000. Routen was one of 40 educators nationwide and the only one in Florida to be honored.
Brandon Zeris STAFF WRITER
bzeris@YourVoiceWeekly.com
See APPOINT page A12 PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID FORT PIERCE, FL PERMIT NO. 248 ECRWSS
Local Postal Customer
Photo courtesy of Liz McKinley
Resort zone passes first hurdle Brandon Zeris STAFF WRITER
bzeris@YourVoiceWeekly.com
ST. LUCIE COUNTY — The St. Lucie County Commission voted 4-0 to start the process to establish a new commercial resort zoning area, which will allow a Las Vegas-area businessman to build a new resort on North Hutchinson Island. The plan must undergo a second reading by the Commission and be reviewed by the state, but, if all goes according to the commission’s plan, new indus-
try will find a way to the island, specifically, at the site of the former Radisson Hotel, which was damaged about 10 years ago from hurricanes. Sides were split at the meeting Tuesday. John Wilkes, executive director of the Sunrise Theatre in Fort Pierce, said he supported the plan. “With some tweaking, I wholeheartedly support this project,” he said. “I see this project as a domino and we’ve already got a lot of great dominos that have fallen over in this county. We have
so much to be proud of in this county.” He did clarify, saying that the commission needs to be careful, so growth doesn’t get out of control and the area become like Fort Lauderdale or Boca Raton and stay “authentic Florida.” Some potential changes include changing zoning distinctions that would allow visitors to stay in resort-zoned property for 353 days total per year, essentially making them full-time residents. The commission discussed bringing it down to six total
See RESORT page A7 16185
ST. LUCIE WEST — A former St. Lucie West Services District Supervisor is back on the board, but his appointment is bittersweet. Everett Child is taking over for the late supervisor Sal Mancuso, who died Dec. 12 after suffering a medical emergency. Two days prior to his death, Mancuso drove his silver Lincoln Town Car into a lake across from Hurricane Grill along Bethany Avenue in St. Lucie West. The District supervisors appointed Child at their last regular meeting, Jan. 6. Child served on the board for eight years, ending his service to the District prior to last year’s election season. “There’s mixed emotions,” Child said. “Sal was a good friend as well as a fellow participant in the district. He took me under his wing before I took office and exchanged information on how things operated.” Child said he was interested in running in the last election for a third straight win, but family health issues took up the brunt of his time. “Although my interest in the board was still high, I just didn’t feel like campaigning effectively because that requires quite a demand on your time,” he said. Gregg Ney was elected to Child’s former seat. Though board positions are usually elected ones, District manager
FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 2015