Friday, October 30, 2020

Solar is Now the Cheapest Electricity in History



…and Just Met 100% of Demand in South Australia For First Time


South Australia has met 100% of its electricity demands with solar energy for the first time over the weekend—most of it coming not from solar farms but PV panels mounted on rooftops.


A combination of cloudless skies, low energy demand, and mild temperatures helped create conditions for 76% of circulating power to be generated by rooftop solar, with utility-scale solar farms making up the rest.


Both sources combined to make 1.37 gigawatts of available power, which would have generated 986 metric tons of CO2, and would normally require 1 million pounds of coal or around 100,000 gallons of gasoline.


In sunny Australia, rooftop solar power had already reached a record of 900 megawatts per hour of output for the first time ever only weeks before, a record that would be broken for 2.5 hours straight on Sunday when rooftop panels were cranking out 992 MWh.


Records were being set outside of South Australia’s bookkeepers as well, as, in a new report, the International Energy Agency (IEA) says solar is now the cheapest form of electricity for utility companies to build. At the same time, panel technology gets more efficient and prices for basic panels continue to fall, and investors are finding better and better financing deals.


That’s good news for South Australia, and for the continent as a whole, as energy reports suggest solar panel and battery installation will continue to expand there into 2021, removing the need for natural gas grid safeguards, and even allowing for some of the excesses to be sent up to the state of Victoria.


Solar will grow exponentially


The future of solar energy is bright; of wind, breezy; of biofuels, smelling good—and in the IEA’s annual energy outlook, it is described as such after they ran scenarios whereby stated policies of various states around the globe are fulfilled and calculated to what that would mean for the energy sector.


According to their analysis, global solar growth will amount to 13% each year, and while capital costs have slightly gone up after years of declining, other market conditions will push production and investment to new highs while 275GWh of global coal will be heading in the opposite direction by 2025.


“Global solar PV deployment exceeds pre-crisis (COVID) levels by 2021 and sets new records each year after 2022 thanks to widely available resources, declining costs, and policy support in over 130 countries,” reads the executive summary of the report.


It adds that renewables will overtake coal as the primary means of electricity generation worldwide by 2025, noting that according to their objectives and current trajectory, China will have expanded renewables by 1500 terawatts per hour by 2030, more than the electricity demand of the entire nations of Germany, France, and Italy last year.


The financial markets are not blind to this. Investment firms like Blackrock are taking a new climate-related approach to investment strategies, with their CEO Larry Fink writing letters to all the major CEOs whose money Blackrock manages that they will examine sustainable business practices of any company they plan to invest in.


The records South Australia are setting are the signals of a global trend that will affect all markets and all energy companies, and are likely only the falling of a few stones that starts an avalanche in the mountains.


 



Thursday, October 29, 2020

Fall Fun Fest this Weekend at the Port St. Lucie MIDFLORIDA Event Center



What better way to celebrate the coming of autumn than to join the two-day Fall Fun Fest, an event where admission is free to the public.


On Friday, October 30, from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., enjoy live music from The Wildflowers, a Tom Petty tribute band, beer and wine available for purchase at food trucks while celebrating fall in Port St. Lucie. Because of COVID-19 and social distancing, areas will be spaced 6 feet apart in advance, so groups can enjoy the festival together. Guests are encouraged to bring their own chairs. Facial coverings will be required when social distancing is difficult to maintain.


On Saturday, October 31, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., be sure to dress up in your favorite Halloween costume walk through our Street of Treats for fun trick-or-treating at the MIDFLORIDA Event Center! There will be costumed characters along the way. Don’t worry! There will be a “not-so-scary” section, too!


Fall Fun Fest Concert


Fall Fun Fest Street of Treats


 


City of Port St. Lucie 2020 Fall Festival Banner




Wednesday, October 28, 2020

FHA EXTENDS FORBEARANCE – REQUESTS ACCEPTED UNTIL DEC. 31



Homeowners facing financial challenges caused by the pandemic now have until Dec. 31 to request forbearance if they have an FHA loan. A forbearance approval would allow them to avoid monthly payments in increments that could potentially last up to a full year.


 


The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) announced it’s extending the dateOpens in new tab.Opens as PDF. for single family homeowners with FHA-insured mortgages to request an initial forbearanceOpens in new tab.Opens as PDF. from their mortgage servicer. An approved request would initially allow them to avoid mortgage payments for up to six months with the possibility of extending it up to one year.


The offer applies to homeowners experiencing financial hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The window to request assistance from their mortgage servicer was slated to expire at the end of October, but FHA says they can now request help until Dec. 31, 2020.


“I can’t stress enough that this relief should be reserved for those that need it most,” says Ben Carson, secretary of Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). “Americans who are capable of paying their mortgage on time should do so. The great American come-back is in full force – if we work together, we can achieve and even surpass the economic prosperity we saw prior to the pandemic.”


FHA requires mortgage servicers to provide up to six months of COVID-19 forbearance if a homeowner requests the assistance, and up to an additional six months if homeowners request an extension. Homeowners can obtain forbearance approval only from their mortgage service company.


“Our goal is to make sure that no homeowner loses their home unnecessarily as a result of this pandemic,” says Assistant Secretary for Housing and Federal Housing Commissioner Dana Wade.


FHA mortgage servicer requirements





      • Offer homeowners with FHA-insured mortgages mortgage payment forbearance when the homeowner requests it, with the option to extend the forbearance for up to a year in total.




      • FHA does not require a lump sum payment at the end of forbearance.




      • Assess homeowners who receive COVID-19 forbearance for a special COVID-19 National Emergency Standalone Partial Claim, which could suspended mortgage payment amounts owed into a junior lien. That junior lien is only repaid when the homeowner sells the home, refinances the mortgage or otherwise extinguishes.




      • Assess if homeowners not eligible for the COVID-19 National Emergency Standalone Partial Claim would be eligible for one of FHA’s COVID-19 expanded home retention solutions announced on July 8, 2020.





 


Source: Florida Realtors®



Tuesday, October 27, 2020

NATIONAL AMERICAN BEER DAY



National American Beer Day raises a glass to the rich American beermaking history and those who savor the continued traditions. Pour your favorite pint with millions who enjoy the storied brews across the nation.


U.S. Brewing History

Brewing beer in America begins long before Europeans arrived since Native Americans brewed beer from various ingredients. They used corn, birch sap, and water to ferment their beverage. When the first colonists arrived in Virginia, they began combining their brewing traditions with the supplies at hand – that included corn, too. Since then, brewing and brewers became a principal occupation in the colonies. Interestingly, the first white child born in Manhattan grew up to be the first brewer born in America.


Today, the brewery established by David G. Yuengling is the oldest producing brewery in the United States. He established the Eagle Brewery in 1829. Amazingly, the brewery remains in the family to this day.


Unlike most other breweries of the time, the Eagle Brewery survived Prohibition. In fact, very few survived. Those that did survive tried various legal and illegal tactics. In Eagle Brewery’s case, they reduced their alcohol content to within the legal limit. They also branched out. Ice cream, anyone? Yes, the Yuengling’s started a dairy. Others turned their beermaking supplies into other products. When prohibition lifted, they returned to full-fledged beermaking.


Despite these efforts, nearly every brewer existing before prohibition dissolved. Out of just over 1,300 brewers, only about 100 remained after prohibition. Today, we recognize the names of many of those surviving breweries.


The skill of a brewer requires years of practice in the trade. It’s revered even. In Milwaukee, their professional baseball team is named after the brewer. In St. Louis and Denver, the stadiums are named after prominent brewers.


More than 2,100 breweries are manufacturing beer in the United States. They range in size from industry giants to brewpubs and microbreweries.


American Beer Facts

  • The U.S. produced 196 million barrels of beer in 2009.

  • Americans consume roughly 20 US gallons of beer per capita annually.

  • In 2008, the United States ranked sixteenth in the world in per capita consumption. However, total consumption was second only to China.

  • After Congress repealed prohibition, the industry consolidated into a small number of large-scale breweries.

  • The majority of the new breweries in the U.S. are small breweries and brewpubs. As members of the Brewers Association, they are termed “craft breweries” to differentiate them from the larger and older breweries.

  • Larger breweries most commonly produce the American lager.

  • However, smaller breweries (many founded in the 1980s) produce a range of styles.

  • Beer styles originating in the United States include:
    • American pale ale

    • Pennsylvania porter

    • American IPA

    • steam beer

    • amber ale

    • cream ale

    • Cascadian dark ale.



HOW TO OBSERVE #AmericanBeerDay


Enjoy your favorite American Beer. Invite a friend or two to join you. While you’re at it, try something different. American beers offer a variety of options to choose from. Do you have a favorite brewery? Give them a shout out, too! The brewmaster deserves to be recognized. Tour a brewery to learn more. While you’re there, try a sample or two.


Now, beer also holds great influence. If you didn’t know that, read about 5 Surprising Ways Beer Changed the World.  Remember, always drink responsibly and never drink and drive.



Monday, October 26, 2020

Poll Shows People Are Picking Up Healthy New Habits As a Result of Being Home in Pandemic



Folks have been creating some healthy new habits in recent months, with many picking up at least five new rituals as a result of being home so much this year.


A survey of 2,000 adults revealed that more than a third have picked up and embraced good habits during lockdown.


And seven in 10 said their newfound rituals have made them feel happy and secure, with 65 percent believing that how they feel day-to-day has improved.


64 percent claim they are exercising more and two-thirds of those folks say their wellbeing has improved. 65 percent also said eating a balanced diet helped.


The survey, commissioned by the Japanese probiotic company Yakult, also revealed almost eight in 10 intend to stick with the changes they have made recently.


The study by OnePoll also found that throughout the lockdown, fondness for the outdoors increased, with 29 percent embracing more time spent with nature.



Baking and cooking from scratch also rose in popularity, with one in four introducing this ritual into their lives.




It also emerged that 31 percent have developed a penchant for decluttering their homes.


And, 18 percent of respondents are calming their mind through meditating or exploring mindfulness during this unsettling period.




Being at home so much more and needing to feel more organized and in control were the main reasons Britons claim to have picked up new habits and rituals—along with simply having more time on their hands.






Friday, October 23, 2020

Recover St. Lucie County rolls out Phase Three of Emergency Relief Grants to Small Businesses



St. Lucie Recovers Small Business Assistance grants program opens phase three on October 19 to provide economic relief to small businesses hardest hit in St. Lucie County due to COVID-19, with some new criteria.


Grants up to $20,000, which do not have to be repaid, will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis to qualifying businesses with 26-50 employees and total revenue of less than $5 million (subject to funding availability). Priority is being given to businesses that did not receive funding through other federal, state, or local programs related to COVID-19. (Businesses with fewer than 26 employees are still eligible and encouraged to apply.)


Funding is available to companies experiencing business disruption and who have suffered economic injury due to COVID-19. They include but are not limited to small businesses in hardest hit industries such as hospitality, retail, entertainment, food and beverage, personal and professional services, construction trades, manufacturing and other services.


Grant funds can be used to cover mortgage, rent, utilities, reopening costs, and new operational expenses needed to ensure safety measures are in place on a reimbursement basis but will not be approved to replace lost revenue.


The process has been made as simple as possible, with a web portal www.recoverstlucie.org that contains guidelines and eligibility requirements, as well as a checklist of documents needed before completing the online application. If all necessary documentation is pulled together in advance it can take as little as 30 minutes to complete the application. Incomplete or inaccurate information could lead to a delay in processing or denial.  Eligibility requirements also apply and should be reviewed carefully before spending time submitting an application.


St. Lucie County received $13.8 million from the State of Florida’s Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) as part of the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. These funds are being used to assist residents as well as businesses, with about $3 million allocated specifically for small business assistance grants. The application process is being administered by St. Lucie County.


For more details, including eligibility requirements and the online application, go to www.recoverstlucie.org or call 772.336.6285.


 



Thursday, October 22, 2020

Port St Lucie Fall Art and Craft Expo This Weekend



Come out to experience the Port St Lucie Fall Art and Craft Expo located outside on the grounds at the MIDFLORIDA Event Center! Free admission, live music, food, cocktails, over 200 booths of handmade, unique holiday gifts abound! Kids zone.


Hours of Operation: Saturday 10:00 a.m to 5:00 p.m. and Sunday 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.


For more information, visit www.artandcraftexpo.com.


Time: Saturday 10:00 a.m to 5:00 p.m. and Sunday 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Date: Saturday October 24, 2020 through Sunday October 25, 2020
Location: MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Event Center
Address: 9221 SE Civic Center Pl, Port St. Lucie , FL, 34952



Wednesday, October 21, 2020

Mobile Testing Bus Rolls Into Port St. Lucie This Weekend



COVID-19 testing sites available this Friday and Saturday with the Mobile Testing Bus.


Medical Professional doing a Covid Test


Friday, Oct. 23, 2020
Sandhill Crane Park
9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
2355 Scenic Park Drive, Port St. Lucie, FL 34952

Medical Professional doing a Covid TestSaturday, Oct. 24. 2020
Whispering Pines Park
9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
800 S.W. Darwin Blvd, Port St. Lucie, FL 34953

 


The Florida Department of Health, in cooperation with the Florida Division of Emergency Management, will be deploying a mobile testing bus that will be stationed this Friday and Saturday in Port St. Lucie for walk-up COVID-19 testing. The mobile testing bus will be able to test up to 500 persons daily and process them within 48 hours, if not sooner. A nasopharyngeal swab will be administered on a first-come, first-serve basis.


A photo ID is needed. All adults 18 and older, with or without symptoms, can be tested. Children may be tested when accompanied by a parent or guardian.


Individuals will be called or emailed by the Florida Department of Health’s bus nursing staff within two days with results, and the St. Lucie County Health Department will provide follow-up case management for those who test positive.


Port St. Lucie’s Division of Emergency Management will be on site to distribute masks to the public. Port St. Lucie Police Department will be on-scene directing traffic.




Learn more



Tuesday, October 20, 2020

A Chicken Nugget is Sent into Space



Iconic astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin have been joined in the history books… by a chicken nugget.


These pictures show what is believed to be the first ever chicken nugget sent into space, reaching heights of more 110,000 feet above Earth–that’s about 880,000 nuggets high.


A team of experts in the field of stratospheric exploration created the perfect vessel for the nugget to travel in.


It was sent into space using a meteorological weather balloon filled with hydrogen that’s lighter than air to carry the tasty cargo up to the stratosphere.


Using a custom-designed launch vehicle including primary avionics, auxiliary satellite tracking, and an integrated camera support system taking video footage, the lone nugget was sent up, up, and away out of the Earth’s atmosphere.


The nugget was sent star-bound from a location close to the head office of the thriving UK supermarket chain called Iceland, in Deeside, North Wales.


Andrew Staniland, trading director of the chain, said, “2020 is a huge year for us as we celebrate our 50th birthday, and we wanted to find ways to mark the occasion, just like anyone celebrating a birthday in lockdown.


“What better way to show that our products are out of this world than by sending one of our customer favorites into space.


“We’re looking forward to continuing to celebrate our 50th year with customers and thanking them for their support.”


(WATCH the identifiable flying object in the video below.)



 



Monday, October 19, 2020

St. Lucie Habitat for Humanity COVID-19 Emergency Home Repair Grant Program



The COVID-19 Emergency Home Repair Grant Program provides assistance to eligible residents of the City of Port St. Lucie who have experienced loss of income, reduction in hours, or unemployment as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic only.


Carefully review the eligibility requirements in the Program Guide & Eligibility Requirements to obtain a clear understanding of program participation.

• Designed to assist those who were financially impacted by COVID-19 pandemic

• Only available for existing residents of the City of Port St. Lucie

• For emergency home repairs where damage occurred on or after March 1, 2020

• Administered by the City of Port St. Lucie Neighborhood Services Department, the City of Port St. Lucie Program Administrator and St. Lucie Habitat for Humanity

• All repair payments will be paid directly to the vendors performing the repairs, not the applicants


Should you desire to apply for the program, please complete and submit the Application Package in accordance with the instructions outlined below and in the application.


INSTRUCTIONS


1. Review the Program Guide and Eligibility Requirements and Eligible Applicants and Properties.

2. Download and complete the Application Package.

3. Retrieve and attach copies of all requested and applicable supporting documentation. Only copies of the documents are required. Documents proving applicant(s) financial situations must be provided. More information about supporting documentation will be in the application and on the City of Port St. Lucie website in the Frequently Asked Questions section of COVID-19 Emergency Home Repair Grant Program at www.cityofpsl.com/communityservices.

4. Submit completed applications and provide all supporting documentation. Completed applications will only be accepted by one of the following two (2) methods:


Applicant(s) must confirm dropping off an application and supporting documentation with staff and follow any and all necessary directions and safety precautions put in place. These directions and safety precautions are subject to change based on developments regarding the COVID-19 emergency situation.


a. By mail to:

St. Lucie Habitat for Humanity

702 South 6th Street

Fort Pierce, Florida 34950


b. By drop off:

Port St. Lucie ReStore

10185 South US1

Port St. Lucie, Florida 34952 (hand to the cashier)

or

Fort Pierce ReStore

2904 Okeechobee Road

Fort Pierce, Florida 34947 (hand to the cashier)


All mailed and dropped off applications and supporting documentation must be enclosed in plain sealed envelopes marked “COVID-19 Emergency Home Repair Grant Program” and addressed to the location identified above.


Availability of Funds

Applications will be processed on a first-come, first ready basis, which implies completed applications. All applicants must meet program eligibility criteria. Only completed applications, which consist of submittal of all applicable supporting documentation in order to prove eligibility, will be accepted. No exceptions will be made. If the application is not complete, the application will not be eligible for processing.

The number of applications that will be processed and the number of applicants that will receive an emergency home repair are subject to the availability of funds. When funding is expended, St. Lucie Habitat for Humanity will announce the closure of the program on their website at www.StLucieHabitat.org.

If you have any questions about any of the information in this Program Guide you may contact St. Lucie Habitat by email at application@stluciehabitat.org or by leaving a message at 772.464.1117 ext. 104.

Warning: Florida Statute 817 provides that willful false statements or misrepresentation concerning income and assets or liabilities relating to financial condition is a misdemeanor of the first degree and is punishable by fines and imprisonment provided under S77.082 or 772.083.

Warning: Section 1001 of Title 19 of the U.S. code makes it a criminal offense to make willful false statements or misrepresentation to any department or agency of the United States as to any matter within the jurisdiction. False information may result in civil liability, and/or in criminal penalties including, but not limited to, fine or imprisonment or both.


Friday, October 16, 2020

SBA rolls out new simplified PPP forgiveness application for loans of $50K or less



Since the passing of the August 8 deadline to apply for Paycheck Protection Program loans, small businesses who made use of the program have been anxiously preparing themselves for the beginning of its next phase: loan forgiveness.


Accessing PPP funds was a relatively simple process for most businesses, but receiving the forgiveness laid out first in the CARES Act and then in the PPP Flexibility Act has proven more onerous, particularly for businesses unable to use the 3508EZ application form.


In an attempt to make forgiveness easier for PPP loan recipients, the Small Business Administration announced on October 8 the release of a new, simplified forgiveness application for PPP borrowers who received $50,000 or less. PPP Loan Forgiveness Form 3508S only requires businesses to validate that their PPP funds were used for eligible expenses and to supply evidence of having paid them in the form of bank statements, tax forms or payment receipts. No calculations on the part of loan recipients are required, but, as the SBA explains in its 3508S instructions, the Administration “may request information and documents to review those calculations as part of its loan review process.”


There are some stipulations small business owners will want to keep an eye on.


For each individual employee, the total amount of cash compensation eligible for forgiveness cannot exceed an annual salary of $100,000, as prorated for the borrower’s covered period. If a business chose an eight-week covered period, the per employee total is $15,385; for a 24-week covered period, the total is $46,154. Compensation can only be included for employees who were working for the borrower during the covered period (or alternate payroll covered period) whose principal place of residence is the U.S.


Owner compensation for a 24-week covered period is capped at $20,833 per individual or the 2.5-month equivalent of their applicable compensation in 2019, whichever is lower. The cap is $15,385 per owner in the case of an eight-week covered period.


Non-payroll costs eligible for forgiveness include mortgage payments, rent and lease obligations, and utility payments – if the agreements dictating these payments were in place before February 15, 2020. Eligible payroll costs cannot exceed 40 percent of the total forgiveness amount.


Industry reaction


According to Holly Wade, executive director of the National Federation of Independent Business Research Center, the simplified forgiveness process will have a material impact on most PPP loan recipients.


“The 3508S form will greatly benefit many PPP loan borrowers, with over two-thirds of borrowers eligible to use it,” Wade told Mortgage Professional America by email. “The SBA offering a simplified form for those PPP loans of $50,000 or less is a great step forward.”


While few are expecting a new federal COVID-19 aid package to be delivered during election season, Wade says there are other options if the government wishes to provide more support to small businesses in the coming weeks and months.


“Congress should allow borrowers with PPP loans of $150,000 or less to use the 3508S form and allow certain small business owners a second PPP loan,” she says. “The remaining $130 billion dollars left in the PPP program could go a long way in helping those small businesses still negatively impacted by the health crisis.”


While the SBA recently started processing PPP loan forgiveness applications, business owners hoping to move forward with forgiveness may have to wait a little longer.


“Some lenders are accepting PPP loan applications, but many are not,” Wade says, adding that most are “either waiting for additional action from Congress or still developing their online application portals.”



Thursday, October 15, 2020

THIS MORNING 10.15.20: Drive-Thru Mobile Food Pantry



The City of Port St. Lucie is partnering with Treasure Coast Food Bank to provide a free Drive-Thru Mobile Food Pantry for members of the community who are in need at Clover Park (Mets Stadium) tomorrow. The Food Bank will have enough food supplies to serve 400 vehicles starting at 9 a.m. The distribution is first come, first serve – rain or shine. No registration is required.


Treasure Coast Food Bank, the City of Port St. Lucie, and local volunteers from Christ Fellowship Church will be distributing food to residents (400 vehicles) who are struggling to buy groceries amid the COVID-19 pandemic. This event is expected to draw a large crowd, so please have patience and only participate should your circumstances require. 


Drivers will be directed to stay in their vehicles while volunteers place groceries in their trunk or backseat. No walk-ups allowed. If you are sick, please stay home and send someone to pick up food for you. City employees and volunteers from the Treasure Coast Food Bank and Christ Fellowship Church will be wearing Personal Protective Equipment as they distribute food, keeping safety a top priority.


Drive-Thru Mobile Pantry


Treasure Coast Food Bank


Treasure Coast Food Bank is the only food bank and largest hunger-relief organization on Florida’s Treasure Coast, providing the community each year with millions of meals valued at more than $50 million through robust programs and in partnership with 400 charitable organizations in Indian River, St. Lucie, Martin, and Okeechobee counties. In addition to emergency food distribution, Treasure Coast Food Bank operates a full roster of direct service programs that not only solve the immediate problem of hunger, but help individuals and families gain long-term food security, better health outcomes, and self-sufficiency. Treasure Coast Food Bank is a member of Feeding America, the nationwide network of 200 food banks that leads the fight against hunger in the United States. For more information on Treasure Coast Food Bank, call 772.489.3034, log on to stophunger.org, visit our Facebook page at facebook.com/tcfoodbank, or follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/tcfoodbank.



Wednesday, October 14, 2020

Port St. Lucie listed in U.S. News and World Report's '5 best places to retire in America'



It’s no secret that thousands have been flocking to the Treasure Coast’s largest city over the last two decades, especially retirees.


Port St. Lucie ranked high in a ‘Oldest Cities in the U.S.’ study last month and has now placed third in U.S. News & World Report’s ‘5 best places to retire in America’ for 2020 and 2021 — up two spots from last year.


The city’s high scores in affordable housing and health care escalated it to the No. 3 spot. Three other Florida cities made the list, too: Naples, Sarasota and Fort Myers.


The report surveyed more than 3,000 people who were either approaching retirement age, 45 to 59, or at it, about the factors they consider important in a retirement destination.


The 150 most populous metropolitan areas were then given a score out of 10 in six categories: Happiness, desirability, retiree taxes, housing affordability,  job market and health care quality.


Port St. Lucie had an overall score of 7.4.


The city also ranked 73rd in Best Places to Live; eighth in Fastest-Growing Places;  11th in Best Places to Live in Florida; and 17th in Most Expensive Places to Live, according to other U.S. News’ reports.


 


Catie Wegman – Treasure Coast Newspapers


Tuesday, October 13, 2020

Port St. Lucie study working toward new downtown along Village Green Drive corridor



PORT ST. LUCIE — The city wants to revitalize the Village Green Drive corridor in the next five plus years to spark a new downtown hub at City Center.


The long-term vision of a new downtown calls for a continuation of some industrial areas as well as new opportunities such as a hotel, restaurants, brew pubs and an ice rink, City Manager Russ Blackburn, told TCPalm.


Village Green Drive is within the Sandhill neighborhood and stretches 2 miles from Crosstown Parkway to Southeast Tiffany Avenue, connecting St. Lucie West to eastern Port St. Lucie East and City Center.


The corridor is home to the St. Lucie Medical Complex, the Annex Center at Industrial Park and Savannah Preserve State Park.


Marlin Engineering canvassed the corridor a few weeks ago for feedback from some of the businesses along Village Green Drive. Their biggest concern was how long construction would take, since it could affect how workers and customers would access businesses.


Stix Nickson, owner of Drummers Only Drumshop, is one of the few retailers located along Village Green Drive. Nickson said the project is great because, in the long-run, it could help bring more retail stores like his to the area, which currently is industrial dominated.


The revitalization, which is completing Phase I of planning, will cost roughly $4 million. Phase I consists of reviewing existing conditions of the corridor and getting citizen feedback to create design plans. The countywide half-percent sales tax, approved by voters in 2019, will fund $1.5 million of Phase I.


The city is continuing to collect community input, and the next phase, design planning, is expected to begin next month.


In a community Zoom meeting Thursday, residents discussed the improvements they wanted.


Feedback from the 24 people who attended showed support for new beautification projects such as adding street furniture, more enhanced vegetation at medians, more sidewalks, making sidewalks wider for bicyclists and pedestrians to share more comfortably, more trees for shade and additional benches and street lighting.


The city also will use traffic studies and vehicle accident data at major intersections to help restructure or modify problem areas.


Between 2015 and 2019, according to the data, there were approximately 114 crashes along the corridor, 25% of which resulted in injury. Four crashes involved bicyclists and one involved a pedestrian. Data identified Walton Road as a collision hotspot due to its wide turning radius.


Traffic engineers will analyze the data to come up with solutions and recommendations, city officials said.


Samantha Koem, an employee at Chrome Fish Customs, said that even though the city is studying accident data, there still could be a rise in accidents if the corridor is leads to a downtown hub, resulting in more traffic.


“Our business thrives off of accidents because we do car repairs for insurance claims, so this would benefit us in a sense,” Koem said, “but looking at data and providing recommendations is not going to stop reckless drivers.”


Koem choice for any new businesses in a new downtown? More restaurants.


Other community feedback showed 33% of participants believe their greatest community asset was City Center, which is adjacent to the corridor. The 46-acre City Center, anchored by the city-owned by the MIDFLORIDA Event Center, includes an outdoor stage, a parking garage and a waterfront trail with paved bicycle/pedestrian paths.


Port St. Lucie for years has been trying to sell parcels around City Center for future development. The city is to host a virtual meeting Oct. 29 to discuss what types of development and investments residents, businesses and visitors would like to see at City Center.


 


Olivia McKelvey Treasure Coast Newspapers



Monday, October 12, 2020

Meet Toad, the French Bulldog Who’s Dressing Up in Halloween Costumes Every Day in October



Meet the adorable French bulldog dressing up as a different famous character every day in October for a Halloween series.


Toad has already appeared as Sebastian from “The Little Mermaid,” Elton John, MC Hammer, Napoleon Dynamite, and Dwight Shrute from “The Office.”


“My favorite one is LaFawnduh from Napoleon Dynamite,” said Toad’s 30-year-old owner Amy Herrington.


“The way he looked down in the photo really captured Kip from the movie.


“We use sily characters from our favorite movies,” Amy, an attorney from Dallas, Texas, said, explaining that a lot of the clothes for the cute pup are kids’ clothing.


Toad has been part of the family since February, “right before lockdown happened.


“We got into making a fun little page while we stuck inside, trying the TikTok thing and Instagram. My husband isn’t as into it as me, but it takes two people. Someone has to hold onto a treat while we take the photos.”


Despite already having taken dozens of photos of Toad, Amy says she’s yet to run out of great costume ideas.


“We’re gonna do Willy Nelson. We also have a blonde wig, so we’re thinking of doing Regina George from “Mean Girls.” We also want to dress Toad up as Mrs Doubtfire, a garden gnome, and a Chia pet.


“My husband likes “Lord of the Rings,” so maybe we’ll dress Toad up as Frodo as well.”


As a result of Amy’s costuming and Toad’s modeling expertise, Toad’s fledgling Instagram page has already garnered over 13,000 followers.


You can check out the fun page, and look out for that upcoming Regina George image, @Goodboy.toad.


It’s a little bit funny… but doesn’t Elton John look a little different these days?



Under the sea is the right place to be for the Little Mermaid’s best friend Sebastian.



What’s for dinner, pup?



Heck yes, it’s Napoleon Dynamite.



 


Link



Friday, October 9, 2020

Treasure Coast Entertainment This Weekend



Looking for something fun to do this weekend, the Treasure Coast Music Scene is waking up with live music.  Check out these hotspots and the bands playing this weekend.


 


FRONT PORCH BLUES


58


Summer Crush Vineyard and Winery
Date: Saturday October 10, 2020
Time: 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Location: Summer Crush Vineyard and Winery
Address: 4200 Johnston Road, Fort Pierce, FL, 34951
Category: Concert / Live Music


 


Quick Fix at Sailor’s Return


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Sailor’s Return
Date: Saturday October 10, 2020
Time: 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Location: Sailor’s Return
Address: 628 SW Anchorage Way, Stuart, FL, 34994
Category: Concert / Live Music


 


REGGAE BY THE RIVERSIDE !


Martin County
Date: Event occurs every Saturday of every month.
Time: 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Location: Mulligan’s Beach House
Address: 2019 NE Jensen Beach Blvd, Jensen Beach, FL 34957
Price: Free
Category: Concert / Live Music


Live Reggae by the Riverside every Friday & Saturday in Jensen beach ft Top Reggae artist from Jamaica !  * Outdoor Seating and Open air fun !


 


SUNDAY FUNDAY with THE STRING ASSASINS



59



Summer Crush Vineyard and Winery
Date: Sunday October 11, 2020
Time: 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Location: Summer Crush Vineyard and Winery
Address: 4200 Johnston Road, Fort Pierce, FL, 34951
Category: Concert / Live Music


 


BLUES & ROCK’N’ROLL


Date: Event occurs every Sunday of every month.
Time: 2:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Location: EARL’S HIDEAWAY
Address: ON THE RIVER IN SEBASTIAN, FLA
Price: FREE !
Category: Concert / Live Music


 


Folk Jam and Song Circle





St. Lucie County
Date: Sunday October 11, 2020
Time: 3:00 pm
Location: Savannas Preserve State Park
Address: 2541 Southeast Walton Road
Price: Free with paid park admission
Category: Concert / Live Music


 




Thursday, October 8, 2020

St. Lucie County rolls out Phase Two of Emergency Relief Grants to small businesses hardest hit by the pandemic



Grants of up to $10,000 to be awarded to qualifying small business to aid in economic recovery efforts


 


The grants program launched at the beginning of August to provide economic relief to small businesses hardest hit in St. Lucie County due to COVID-19 has been successfully processing applications. Phase two of the program will launch on September 28 with some new criteria.


Grants up to $10,000, which do not have to be repaid, will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis to qualifying businesses with 11-25 employees and total revenue of less than $2 million. Priority is being given to businesses that did not receive funding through other federal, state, or local programs related to COVID-19. Businesses with up to 10 employees are still eligible and encouraged to apply.


The process has been made as simple as possible, with a web portal www.recoverstlucie.org that contains guidelines and eligibility requirements, as well as a checklist of documents needed before completing the online application.



Recover St. Lucie

Wednesday, October 7, 2020

New Workforce Traing and Development Programs from CareerSource Research Coast (CSRC)



CareerSource Research Coast (CSRC) has launched new workforce training and development programs to support St. Lucie County residents and businesses economically impacted by COVID-19.


Qualifying businesses may apply to receive up to $10,000 in grant funding for on-the-job training reimbursement for each qualifying St Lucie County resident they hire.


Employer Application


Qualifying St. Lucie County residents may apply to receive up to $5,000 in scholarship grant funds for immediate, short-term training or certification for in-demand occupations.


Participant Application


For program funding details in compliance with the Stevens Amendment, please visit www.careersourcerc.com/program-fundingVisit the CareerSource Research Coast website for eligibility requirements and additional information.



Tuesday, October 6, 2020

Taking Up a Hobby Can Prevent or Reduce Symptoms of Depression by a Third



Do you know someone who’s just really into something specific like paddle-boarding, painting, collecting something, or model trains? Well, research from University College London suggests that taking up a hobby can be a significant buffer against depression.


Data came from 8,780 adults over age 50 in the English Longitudinal Study on Aging. 72% of those in the study reported having a hobby, and 15.6% were deemed inside the threshold for depression using a national epidemiological scale.


During the period of time examined, from 2004 to 2017, having a hobby reduced the risk of developing depression by about 30%. The effects were observed in both men and women, and were consistent in people who had depressive symptoms before the study period began and who developed it after.


Looking at the data, the researchers found that if people who didn’t have depression or a hobby were to take up a hobby they would then be conferred 32% lower odds of developing depressive symptoms.


Remarkably, their models also found that those with depression who took up a hobby had improvements in symptoms—and 272% higher odds of recovering from that depression.



A hobby can also be a pastime


In terms of what in the study constituted a “hobby,” they used previously established research and included things like arts and crafts—such as painting or sewing—community volunteering, carpentry, and making music.


This research is the first which has looked at hobbying over time as a defense against depression, rather than at a fixed moment in someone’s life.


Perhaps most importantly when it comes to hobbies, though, was that the improvement in, or protection from, depressive symptoms was not linked to social interaction, meaning someone doing puzzles in their basement for 4 hours was likely benefiting from the effect just as much from the man or women who had a jam session, or game of Ultimate Frisbee with others.



Take advantage of life



The researchers suggested this could be utilized as a “social prescription,” an intervention often-needed for those with low to moderate symptoms of depression, for which pharmaceutical solutions often prove ineffectual.Good News Network has reported extensively on social prescriptions as a means to keep us from feeling blue.


For instance, an English university – this one in Cornwall – recently discovered that in the time of COVID-19 when travel is suspended, planning a trip can have measurable effects on relieving depressive symptoms, as it represents a bit of “light at the end of the tunnel” but also the kind of activity that both promises future enjoyment while simultaneously allowing you to have some immediately. *A study from 2019 suggests that a 20-minute “nature pill” can reduce levels of a hormone called cortisol that prepares us for stressful situations, but perhaps unsurprisingly also causes anxiety.Dr. Mary Carol Hunter, an Associate Professor at the University of Michigan and lead author of the research said, “Our study shows that for the greatest payoff, in terms of efficiently lowering levels of the stress hormone cortisol, you should spend 20 to 30 minutes sitting or walking in a place that provides you with a sense of nature.”


For those who enjoy music, the Brits “come up trumps” again. The British Academy of Sound Therapy’s Music as Medicine project found that it takes between 8-20 minutes of listening to music to do everything from relieving symptoms of anxiety, to helping people release cathartic stress, to making people happier.Being in nature, traveling or learning about geography, and listening to or making music are all definitely hobbies—or at least hobby-adjacent—and all work to reduce symptoms of depression.


Encourage Your Hobbying Friends on Social Media With This Bit of Good News… 




Monday, October 5, 2020

If You or Someone You Know is Facing Eviction, Here’s Some Good News



–And Where to Find Help in U.S.


To ease the strain, the Trump Administration issued an executive order on Sept. 4 that bans evictions due to non-payment through the end of the year.


The order applies to individuals who have personal income less than $99,000, or those who did not need to pay income tax in 2019, or those who received a stimulus check and are unable to pay rent due to income loss or extraordinary out-of-pocket medical expenses.


To be eligible for the eviction protection, you would be required to submit to the landlord or property manager this declaration attesting under oath to your inability to pay, but there may be other hurdles that renters are faced with if they cannot pay their rent this year.


If you need help or advice, there are groups and lawyers who will assist you.


Tenants who need help understanding the new moratorium, filling out their declaration form, or who have questions about eligibility, can contact the The COVID-19 Eviction Defense Project, which provides free legal aid to tenants by pairing volunteer attorneys with tenants facing eviction and other housing issues related to COVID-19 hardship.


“The national moratorium on evictions, when implemented, is a first step that protects millions of Americans from becoming homeless through the December holidays,” said Zach Neumann, co-founder and Executive Director of the non-profit based in Colorado.


Wells Fargo donates $5.4 million to help


Wells Fargo, as part of its $175 million commitment to COVID relief, is donating $5.4 million in grants to 15 legal assistance organizations that are working to keep people housed through pro bono services and advocacy efforts for renters.


A first-of-its-kind initiative from the Wells Fargo Foundation, the grants will enable the following organizations to provide more free or low-cost legal counseling and attorney representation to people at risk of eviction.


The National Housing Law Project

Alabama – Volunteer Lawyers Birmingham

California – Bay Area Legal Aid

Colorado Legal Services

Florida – Greater Miami Legal Services

Georgia – Atlanta Legal Aid Society

Illinois – Lawyers Committee for Better Housing, in Chicago

Louisiana – Southeast Louisiana Legal Services

Maryland – Pro Bono Resource Center of Maryland

Minnesota – Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid

Missouri – Legal Services of Eastern Missouri

North Carolina – Legal Aid of North Carolina

Pennsylvania – Community Legal Services, in Philadelphia

Texas – Texas Rio Grande Legal Services

Virginia – Housing Opportunities Made Equal, in Richmond


You can also visit legalfaq.org to find a community-based organization in your area that may provide legal assistance, food, healthcare, and other services.



Friday, October 2, 2020

Loss of statewide eviction and foreclosure moratorium leaves delinquent renters seeking federal help



When a statewide eviction and foreclosure moratorium expired Thursday, it meant the only legal protection left for delinquent renters devastated by COVID-19 is from the federal government — but only for another three months.


And that’s only for nonpaying tenants who can prove in court their inability to pay rent is directly related to the coronavirus pandemic that caused massive layoffs beginning in March.


On Wednesday, Gov. Ron DeSantis signaled he would not continue a moratorium he extended three times since April that has stopped landlords from removing tenants unable to pay because of financial hardships brought on by the pandemic.


It’s helped people who couldn’t pay housing costs stay in their homes.


The CDC moratorium was enacted Sept. 4 to assist individuals suffering the economic fallout from the pandemic absent an agreement with Congress on a more far reaching package that would have the force of law.


To stop evictions, federal health officials are relying on the 1944 Public Health Service Act, which gives the Trump administration broad quarantine powers, reported the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.


The moratorium, which will run through Dec. 31, applies to individuals earning less than $99,000 a year and who are unable to make rent or housing payments.


In St. Lucie County, court clerks will be accepting and processing eviction actions as they are filed but before a final order is issued, a judge will review each case for any COVID-19 variables that may qualify for the CDC relief, spokesman Joseph Abreu said.


Judges across the Treasure Coast presiding over eviction actions are expected to proceed in a similar fashion, court officials said.


To legally evict a tenant, a judge must grant a writ of possession, which gives property owners the right to take back their property after a 24-hour notice. But that can’t happen to renters before January who successfully prove they meet the CDC eviction relief criteria.


Martin County Clerk of the Circuit Court Carolyn Timmann said with the state eliminating automatic protections for delinquent renters, each tenant must take the action required to prove they meet the criteria required under the CDC ban.


“It’s incumbent upon the individuals to assert those qualifying events,” she said.


Court officials, she said, are still working out how eviction cases will be evaluated in cases in which a COVID-19 hardship is claimed.


The CDC order stated that “housing stability helps protect public health because homelessness increases the likelihood of individuals moving into congregate settings, such as homeless shelters, which then puts individuals at higher risk to COVID-19.”


Eligible tenants must sign a declaration stating that they meet the criteria that would protect them from eviction actions until the end of the year. The declaration must be given to their landlord.


Those who do not meet the income or other criteria can find themselves evicted if they fail to pay rent.


Tenants must state, under the threat of perjury, that:


  • They cannot pay their full rent due to a “substantial loss of household income, loss of compensable hours of work or wages, lay-offs, or extraordinary out-of-pocket medical expenses.”

  • They have used best efforts to obtain all available government rent assistance.

  • They expect to earn no more than $99,000 this year or $198,000 if they file a joint income tax return.

  • They are “using best efforts” to make partial rent payments.

  • They would likely become homeless, move into a shelter or “into a new residence shared by other people who live in close quarters” if they were evicted.

 


Timmann said her staff is working with Florida Rural Legal Services to help landlords and tenants navigating the eviction process.


“We’ve had some initial conversations and we’re trying to firm that up,” she said.


They’re also collaborating with the legal group to provide guidance to people representing themselves in court without a lawyer, or pro se.


“The issue is how to do that in a safe environment,” Timmann said. “So we’re looking to do that with a web-based format.”


 


Link


 



Thursday, October 1, 2020

Stress Keeping You Up Past Your Bedtime? 10 Simple, Science-backed Tips for a Better Night’s Sleep



Stressful times call for stressless measures, and one of the most important ways to improve your ability to resist stress and anxiety is to get a good night’s sleep.


However, in our 24-hour, interconnected world, sleep is an illusive necessity that’s often the first thing to be sacrificed in a busy schedule. A reduction of regular sleeping hours has been linked with everything from Alzheimer’s to younger mortality rates.


Furthermore, with the presence of the coronavirus, it’s worth noting the results of two studies: the first finding that a night of sleep lasting less than 7 hours resulted in 70% fewer immune cells being produced the following day, and the second finding that a person sleeping less than 6 hours is four times more susceptible to the flu.


Fortunately, polysomnography sleep studies can offer us science-backed insights into better habits to improve the quality, if not the quantity, of the sleep we do manage to get.


According to renowned English sleep expert Dr. Matthew Walker, author of “Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams,” every living thing on Earth is attached in some way to the day-night cycle, and spends at least part of the day in something resembling sleep.


He reminds us of our evolution, and that if sleep was not an absolutely necessary trait in animals, it would strongly be selected against during natural selection: as sleeping animals cannot reproduce, search for food, or protect themselves from predators.


Indeed, time spent sleeping proved to be more valuable—for all cellular life, than these three most critical activities which it could have otherwise been engaged in.


Here are 10 good habits, tips and tricks, and scientific findings to help you sleep better tonight, and in all the nights to come.


1) Keep your room like outer space: cold and dark


The Mayo Clinic, along with the CDC and others, suggest creating a cold, dark sleeping environment (around 60-67 Fahrenheit).


This has to do with our history as hunter gatherers, who were exposed to the elements and the day/night cycle. Drops in temperature and light perception signals to our brain that the hour of sleep is nigh, and a bedroom that reflects those changes is typically ideal.


2) Clean up your room


All kinds of strange things can affect sleep performance, including serious clutter. A study from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine found that people at risk of hoarding disorder scored significantly higher on several categories in two different academic scales meant to measure sleep performance.


What you see before you go to sleep could potentially be preventing you from entering the deepest reaches of sleep cycles, thereby withholding the most powerful restorative effects.


3) Avoid blue light


Most devices, including smartphones, tablets, and computers come with built in blue-light filters, and those that don’t will have access to the internet or an app store where you can download a filter.


Blue light is the prominent spectrum present in daylight, while the red or orange light spectrum is the one experienced during the setting of the sun. Most of us are able to stay up far later because cool-white, blue-spectrum rays from our indoor lighting tricks our brains into thinking it’s still the day.


Therefore, put orange light filters on your devices so you correctly begin to feel the effects of melatonin secretion in response to the perception of the red light spectrum.


4) Find your extra-special mattress


One of the most significant technological advances in the last two decades has been in mattress technology. In our parents’ time, you had to wait until a public holiday to get a good deal and avoid paying $2,000 for a queen size mattress.


Now, you can go on Amazon and use their buying guide—which helps you find mattress of different firmnesses, made for back, side, and stomach sleepers—and it will be sent rolled up in a box to your house for less than $400.


5) Spend part of your day like a hunter-gatherer


Melatonin, the hormone secreted from the pineal gland that signals cells to enter sleep mode, is increased with several activities.


Daylight exposure, physical exercise, and a day totally void of naps will all take you a little bit further towards a good night of sleep, and a simple Google Scholar search can reveal studies examining these activities and their consequences — especially sunlight exposure, in every aspect of circadian biology.


6) Take note of your coffee consumption


The biological half-life of a molecule of caffeine is between 3-7 hours, after which it has another half-life to burn before the psychoactive effects are finally finished.


Caffeine, normally consumed in coffee, has many health benefits. However, most sleep experts would recommend calling it curtains on coffee consumption by noon: that way very little of the caffeine molecules are left in your bloodstream by the time you lay down to sleep.


One cup of coffee in the evening is enough to disrupt sleep by 20%, according to Dr. Matthew Walker.


7) Stick to a sleep schedule


Another of the CDC and Mayo Clinic’s suggestions for sleep quality is to try and stick to a schedule, going to bed and waking up at the same time every day.


Obviously this can be difficult, especially on the weekends, but it’s a very powerful acclimatizer for the brain’s sleep hardware.


8) Ignore your text tones


The popular mediation and mental wellness app Headspace adds this to the list of things that can disrupt sleep: checking emails before bed.


They note a study done at Virginia Tech from 2018 which found that the mere expectation of checking work email after hours can cause anxiety and stress, not to mention expose your eyes to the blue light of your tablet, phone, or computer screen.


9) Make your bedroom the most quiet room in the house


Returning to Dr. Walker’s commentaries on sleep, the Englishman notes in a radio interview that a study found the brain can detect noise while sleeping, which rather than causing us to wake up, can actually cause it to lift itself out of the deeper, more restorative cycles of sleep, and into shallower, less-restorative ones.


The host, Rhonda Patrick Ph.D., suggests that street noise, such as cars honking or doors slamming, could be enough to cause this shift, however the study mentioned was done only with ambient tones in a sleep laboratory.


If you sometimes wake up feeling weak and disoriented, and the windows of your bedroom face the street you live on, try relocating to a different room to prevent yourself from being partially woken in the night. Ear plugs may also help.


10) Take supplements, not Ambien


Walker concluded the same radio interview by suggesting Ambien and other sleep aids are not sleeping pills, but sedatives. As such, they don’t place the brain in the same level of restorative sleep as natural sleep does.


If you feel you need help, there are several natural chemicals you can try, these include melatonin, aka “the Sleep Hormone,” or tryptophan, one of the essential amino acids—it’s a primary precursor to melatonin production.


One can also acquire tryptophan from their diet. As an amino acid it is most abundantly found in meat, but bananas, nuts, and seeds are also sources of tryptophan.