ST. LUCIE WEST • TRADITION
“You’re never ever supposed to be mean to someone because they’re different.” Judith Darville
6th grade
YourVoiceWeekly.com VOL. 1/ISSUE 32
YOUR INDEPENDENT LOCAL COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER
FRIDAY, JUNE 14, 2013
It’s hurricane season
Are you ready? Nicole Rodriguez Staff writer
nrodriguez@YourVoiceWeekly.com
Jewel of the West Jay’s Fine Jewelry is a gem to St. Lucie West
5 Mitch Kloorfain/chief photographer Uta McFadden, president of the St. Lucie West Garden Club explains the proper care of plants during hurricane season to the visitors of the annual Hurricane Fair at the Port St. Lucie Civic Center Saturday, June 1. of deaths. Weagle said that small chance with potentially big consequences should spur area residents to prepare now, if they hav-
Business boom in St. Lucie West
en’t already. A large concern during a storm
See HURRICANE page 14
Home values, sales rise Nicole Rodriguez
Nicole Rodriguez
Staff writer
Staff writer
nrodriguez@YourVoiceWeekly.com
nrodriguez@YourVoiceWeekly.com
ST. LUCIE WEST — A fleeting number of national businesses are sweeping up prime space on St. Lucie West Boulevard — the area’s main artery of travel and economics. Clothing retail giant Burlington recently announced it will open a 65,000-square-foot store in the Shoppes at St. Lucie West this fall, bringing with it 75 new jobs. The store will be one of 32 Burlington locations in Florida and will occupy
ST. LUCIE COUNTY — In keeping with recent trends of an economy on the mend, property values in St. Lucie County are on an incline, according to this year’s estimated taxable value report recently released by the county’s property appraiser Ken Pruitt. The overall taxable value in the county climbed to an estimated $14.9 billion, an increase of approximately 4 percent, the report states. The 2013
See BOOM page 11
See PROPERTY page 16
PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID FORT PIERCE, FL PERMIT NO. 248 ECRWSS
Local Postal Customer
Kindertransport Local holocaust survivor, author shares her story with students
Let the games begin Retro game night returns
3
13
Crossfit Cares
Area gym members come together to benefit family
19 Theatre fan
Sandi Hellstrom, an advocate for local theatre
22
IT’S THAT TIME OF YEAR!
00 Off Initial Service 5 2 $1
Serving the Treasure Coast for over 20 years
Call Today 879-0904
coastalpestcontrolfl.com
4146
ST. LUCIE COUNTY — With the start of hurricane season upon us, now is the most crucial time to prepare, city and county officials said during a hurricane preparedness expo last week. Forecasters from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predict a busier than average season with 18 named storms and nine hurricanes, four of them major. Major hurricanes are defined as Category 3 or above. “They’re saying well above average season, very busy,” local meteorologist Steve Weagle said. “(That) doesn’t mean something’s going to hit us, but it looks like it’s going to be very busy out there.” “Keep in mind, it was very busy last year,” Weagle said. “It was tied for the third busiest, but we really didn’t see anything here at all. It only takes one.” That “one” in a predictably slow 1992 season was Hurricane Andrew that ripped through Homestead, leaving a multi-million dollar path of devastation and dozens