A view from above
A reporter’s take on a WWII plane ride
A6
Bombs away
Local vet piloted bombers in WWII
A4
The ‘80s are back
Sunrise showing ‘Flashdance’ musical
B1
ST. LUCIE WEST • TRADITION
YourVoiceWeekly.com VOL. 3/ISSUE 20
YOUR INDEPENDENT LOCAL COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER
FRIDAY, MARCH 20, 2015
All Aboard Florida Scholarships stroll comments under review STAFF WRITER
bzeris@YourVoiceWeekly.com
TREASURE COAST — Federal Railroad Administration officials will begin reviewing comments from state agencies after they missed the public comment period deadline, concerning the All Aboard Florida Draft Environmental Statement. Together with comments from residents and government officials, the comments total about 12,000, said Michael Cole, Federal Railroad Administration spokesman. The comments follow a 45-day public comment period in which residents and officials had time to vent concerns over the proposed $2.25 billion railroad, which 32 passenger trains per day would pass along the Treasure Coast, starting 2017. The Florida State Clearinghouse was responsible for submitting the agencies’ comments. Cole said the clearinghouse was busy reviewing the comments when the original Dec. 3 deadline set by the Federal Rail Administration passed. Despite missing deadline, Cole said those additional comments will be reviewed. “The next step is to make sure all of those comments have been gone through and then we’ll categorize them. Say one is vibration from the trains. If we have 1,000 comments about that,
PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID FORT PIERCE, FL PERMIT NO. 248 ECRWSS
Local Postal Customer
Together with comments from residents and government officials, the comments total about 12,000 they’ll get grouped, and we’ll go over them,” Cole said. “And then they’ll be addressed in the (Final Environmental Impact Study), and then we’ll make the final document, called the record of decision. That’s the final federal record regarding that project, saying what is going to happen.” There currently is no deadline for reviewing the comments or preparing the Final Environmental Impact Study and record of final decision, Cole said. Seven agencies comprise the clearinghouse - Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Florida Department of State, Division of Historical Resource, Florida Department of Transportation, St. Johns River Water Management District, South Florida
See TRAINS page A10
Mitch Kloorfain/chief photographer Mona Bates of Tradition showed off a white jacket and pants outfit from Patchington during the 7th Annual Purse Party Fashion Show benefitting the Children’s Museum of the Treasure Coast Monday, March 9 at Harbour Ridge Yacht & Country Club. The event has raised over $260,000 for the first six years, creating educational and scholarship opportunities for students on the Treasure Coast. 17641
Brandon Zeris