City Jumpstarts Workforce Housing Ordinance
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FORT PIERCE THE BEACHES LAKEWOOD PARK @HometownNewsStLucie @hometownnewsslc @HometownNewsSLC Vol. 17, No. 42 www.HometownNewsTC.com Friday, March 15, 2019 PLANNING A TRIP? STAR STUDENT PETS OF THE WEEK CATCH OF THE WEEK ‘Touring with the Townies’ We have two pets who are This mangrove snapper was features reader-submitted photos This week's student of the searching for their forever caught in Treasure Coast waters from travels. Let’s see how many week is a beast on the mat home by this young visitor from places we can go! Send in your Massachusetts picture or questions to [email protected] TOWNIE 10 STUDENT 2 PETS OF THE WEEK 7 CATCH 9 What a Farmer's Market find! Teacher receives prestigious invitation Creative Arts Academy instructor tours the Indiana facilities of historic American instrument fabricator By Donald Rodrigue For Hometown News ST. LUCIE COUNTY – The education- al division of the historic Conn-Selmer concert and marching band instrument manufacturer invited music teacher Andrew Gekoskie of the Creative Arts Sevin Bullwinkle/staff photographer Academy of St. Lucie to form part of a select group of VIPs to tour the company’s Open every Saturday morning, the Fort Pierce Jazz Society Craft Market and national facilities and share ideas with its the Downtown Farmer’s Market of Fort Pierce offered live entertainment, employees. crafts, food, fresh local produce and plants on Saturday, March 9, on the Mr. Gekoskie said he was thrilled to waterfront in historic downtown Fort Pierce. Here, six-year-old Gavin Brennan take part recently in the all-expenses-paid trip to the Elkhart, Ind. plant of what he finds the essential alligator’s head. called “the last made in America band instrument companies.” www.theoriginaldiscountfurniture.com “I was very honored to be selected as a Conn-Selmer VIP, and it was quite unex- City jumpstarts workforce pected,” he said. “Not only do they make TAKE US WITH YOU great instruments, but their focus on music education and helping directors PLANNING A TRIP? and students worldwide is extra special.” housing ordinance Before seeing the company’s employees ‘Touring with at work in February, the native of the Townies’ into an agreement with a community land trust, Fort Pierce gets ball rolling on Shamokin, Penn. had assumed the musi- features which would oversee the establishment of afford- reader-sub- cal instrument industry had become auto- mitted able workforce housing that would remain afford- workforce housing with mated like the automobile industry. photos from able into perpetuity,” he said. “In addition, the travels. Let’s “I was absolutely amazed that all instru- approval of ordinance to community land trust would revitalize lower see how ments are handmade,” he said. “I was many places income neighborhoods by introducing new con- expecting to see robots and automation, we can go! interface with future land trust struction, enabling pride of home-ownership and Send in your picture or but this is not the case. The wonderful questions to By Donald Rodrigue increasing the affordable housing options for the [email protected] people who work and care about their For Hometown News citizens of Fort Pierce. We should be all be very work are true artisans. Their pride in their COMMUNITY CALENDAR happy: We’re quickly moving towards actually work -- their excellence -- was amazing to achieving the goal of having workforce housing FORT PIERCE – The City Commission watch and experience.” and affordable housing here in the city.” See approved the initial ordinance March 4 that will Mr. Gekoskie was accompanied by five community Building Dept. Coordinator Shaun Coss then events on pave the way for workforce housing through the other music teachers from across the provided commissioners a brief overview of the page 2 future establishment of a nonprofit community nation: two from Texas and one each from proposed ordinance, emphasizing that it was an land trust to coordinate funding for infill devel- Ohio, Virginia and Alabama. The group initial ordinance applying strictly to housing con- opment. collaborated regarding methods and cur- structed in conjunction with a community land City Building Official Paul Thomas said in the rent music education practices as part of trust to be founded in the near future. INDEX summary describing the proposed ordinance that their experience. “This one issue should be looked at as the foun- it would “regulate the infill of affordable residen- “We worked with designers and man- Classified 11 Out & About 8 dation block for future upcoming ordinance Crossword 10 Police Report 5 tial housing” and recommended approval. Horoscopes 8 Viewpoint 6 “The ordinance also allows for the city to enter See HOUSING, page 4 See TEACHER, page 3 2 Hometown News – FORT PIERCE – www.HometownNewsTC.com Friday, March 15, 2019 Community calendar Athlete of the Week Throughout 2019 March 14th (closed Sat & Sun) pick up a Treasure Map and start shopping. To be •Operation CatSnip of the Treasure eligible to win the entrant must visit all 16 Coast is offering low cost $19 spay, neuter, businesses on the map and spend money at vaccinate for cats. The $19 for '19 program two of them by Thursday March 21st at 3pm. will be offered for caretakers of outside cats All the shoppers that have completed the and cat owners on the Treasure Coast. To map and have two receipts in hand will be apply for discounted spay/neuter, contact selected with a drawing by Mrs. Vero Beach Operation CatSnip at 772-293-4621, email Centennial, Anna Valencia by 5pm that same [email protected] or visit day. For more information about the Vero www.facebook.com/OperationCatSnipTC Beach Chamber of Commerce call Executive Director Bob McCabe at 772-226-5459 or THURSDAY, MARCH 14 email [email protected] FRIDAY, MARCH 15 • The Great Expectation Book Group: The Great Expectation Book Group meets on the first Thursday of each month (except • “Movies in the Fort”: Free Outdoor July) at 10 a.m. and is open to everyone. This Film Series: From January to May, parks in week's book is "The Line Becomes a River” six neighborhoods will host FREE outdoor by Francisco Cantú. A limited number of movies featuring today’s blockbusters and Library copies of each selection are available classic family favorites. Movies in the Fort for checkout on a first-come, first-served gives residents in all parts of the city an basis. All selections are in print and most are opportunity to engage with their neighbors available in paperback. Many are also and community. Fort Pierce is committed to available as e-book purchases. The Kilmer increasing access to family-friendly cultural Branch of the St. Lucie County Library opportunities, and this new movie series is a System is located at 101 Melody Lane. For perfect example of this work. Incredibles 2, more information about this program call at rated PG, Fort Pierce Police Department 772-462-2199 or visit: www.stlucieco.gov/ Main Station (920 US Hwy 1). All movies Library. begin at dusk. Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and/or blankets. Patrons Zaine Parlor, a senior from Fort Pierce Central had an impressive record of 46-11 this wrestling season. He was THURSDAY, MARCH 14 - THURSDAY MARCH 21 are also welcome to bring their own picnic dinner. Visit the City’s Facebook page for the District Champion and the Regional Champion. Zaine • Vero Beach Treasure Hunt: The Vero Beach details about pre-show activities on select won the Region 3A Championship by avenging a loss to Chamber of Commerce will have a Centenni- movie nights. Movies, dates and times are al Treasure hunt of local Businesses March subject to change, for more information visit Gianni Guerriero in the finals. Guerriero formerly bested 14-21st. They are giving $1,000 away to 3 www.CityofFortPierce.comor call Joe Sweat Zaine in the State Dual quarterfinals, but Zaine wrestled lucky shoppers in a $500 first place, $300 at (772) 467-3031. second and $200 third place. Each shopper tough to secure an takedown in overtime to win. will stop by the Chamber office at 1957 14th See CALENDAR, page 4 Ave between 10-3 starting on Thursday Skillfully designed, custom fitted, full and partial dentures at affordable prices. Same day repairs and relines Laboratory on premises. 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