Sailfish City - Stuart Florida Community Site

21^st Annual of Dancin’ in the Street is just around the corner!

What:               Stuart Main Street has had twenty great years of Dancin’ in the Street and is looking forward to another 20 with this year’s 21^st celebration.   Save the date, mark your calendar for Saturday August 23 for an evening of great entertainment, music and dancing.  A success for many years, Dancin’ in the Street has brought thousands upon thousands of Treasure Coast residents and visitors to Stuarts charming and historic downtown area to experience all the fabulous shopping, fine dining and entertainment that this unique riverfront district has to offer.  The Treasure Coast’s largest music festival only happens once a year and should not be missed.

                        This big summer event tradition is a family affair featuring seven musical stages and over five straight hours of great music, food and children’s entertainment.          The Kidz Zone will once again be along SW Flagler Avenue and will feature live entertainment by Brother Judah, rides, clowns, face painting and pony rides.

                        Unlike many other events and attractions today, Stuart Main Street will not be raising the price of admission and will keep the cost of admission the same as it has been for many years, $10 for adults and children under 12 are FREE. All proceeds go to Stuart Main Street and its programs. No one under the age of 21 will be admitted without an adult or guardian.

When:              Saturday August 23 2008

§  Gates open at 6 p.m. and close at midnight

Where:             Historic Downtown Stuart

The event itself takes place on SW Flagler Street and Osceola Street between St. Lucie Street and Colorado Avenue.

§  Gate one is located at the intersection of SW Flagler Avenue and Confusion Corner

§  Gate two is located at the intersection of St. Lucie Street and SW Flagler Avenue by Sailfish Circle

§  Gate three is located at the intersection of Colorado Street and Seminole Street

§  Gate four is located on Osceola Street between Haney Circle and Denver Ave

Who:                Stuart Main Street, a 501 C3 not for profit organization is dedicated to improving the appearance and economic stability of historic downtown Stuart. Their mission is to create and market a positive image of downtown through special events, retail sales, effective advertising and public relations often working with the public, private sector and community leaders to develop and coordinate resources to downtown Stuart’s success.

Public Info:      For more information regarding Dancin’ in the Street or Stuart Main Street, please contact Bernie Malone at Stuart Main Street, 772-286-2848 or Jim Chrulski at 772-288-5383.

The Martin County

  Defender

The e-newsletter for aware citizens – No. 61

*************

Independence Day 2008

A Day of Celebration and Remembrance

As we enjoy the fireworks and picnics on this Fourth of July, let’s also remember that we enjoy the fruits of liberty because of the courage and determination of ordinary citizens 232 years ago.

July Fourth Celebration, Friday, 4:00 pm, Flagler Park, 201 SW Flagler Ave., Stuart. Various music, games, clowns and pony rides. Band concert 7:30 pm. FIREWORKS at 9:00 pm. Free. Information: 772-286-2848. In Indiantown, Timer Powers Park on Friday night.

*************

Snippets of comments about Issue No. 60

SAMPLING OF READER REACTIONS TO ROUND-UP OF COUNTY COMMISSION CANDIDATES

[ Editor's Favorite Reader Comment: Sent by classy commissioner candidate about whom I said, reluctantly, that I would not vote for him ]

“Although I do not agree with your conclusions, I feel that you were fair enough with the facts. Keep up the good work.”

 
“Your Defender e-mail No. 60 contained a host of good information.”

“Insightful analysis as always. Not too many surprises, other than your reluctant endorsement of Patrick Hayes. I thought you might be more expressively supportive of him in the primary.”

“I can’t thank you enough for this information. You nailed the questions that I was intending to ask.”

“I respect your recommendations but wholeheartedly disagree with your analysis of the candidates. You’re spot on with Fullman though.”

“My thanks for straightening me out on the primary situation. I am a registered Democrat, but I want Henry to win.”

“As always I appreciate your information.  I’m taking your suggestion and re-registering from “no affiliation” to “republican” for the primary.  NO MORE 2004!!!”

“The editor is excellent and consistent in his fair evaluation of the issues. This one seemed particularly meaningful at the present time.” 

“Even though I cannot vote I would like to contribute to your candidates.”

“I am voting for Doug Smith and Lee Weberman. Incumbency can be an asset and is not a valid reason not to vote for a candidate.”

“Thank you for all your most informative messages.  I printed out copies for my friends who do not have a computer in order for them to be more informed voters on Election Day.”

“Keep up the good work, I enjoy your newsletters (as egregiously dogmatizing as they are at times).”

“Thank you so much for all that info.  I appreciate your opinion.”

“I can not believe that I never thought about changing parties, so I could vote in the primaries and then just change back to an independent.”

“My sincere thanks for your insightful assessment of the commissioner candidates.  Martin County residents are in your debt for such fine work.”

[ Editor's Least Favorite Reader Comments ]

“Please remove my name from your list.”   “Unsubscribe me.”

[ Editor's Note: Done. I respect anyone's right to remain uninformed (;-) ]

Reminder for Democrats and Independents

TO VOTE IN THE PRIMARY FOR THE TWO COMMISSION CANDIDATES MOST DEDICATED TO PRESERVING OUR QUALITY OF LIFE

 - REPUBLICANS COPELAND AND POLLACK -

YOU MUST SWITCH PARTIES (AT LEAST TEMPORARILY) BY JULY 28.

It’s easy. Just pick up a Voter Application Form at any library, government annex or Tax Collector office. Or go online to www.martinvotes.com, click on “Voter Info/Education” and “Update Your Registration.” Print out the form, fill it out noting party change, sign and mail before July 28 to: Supervisor of Elections, P.O. Box 1257, Stuart, Fl 34995. Any questions? The Supervisor of Elections Office at 772-288-5637 is always very nice and helpful.

Upcoming Candidate Forums

July 16, 2008 at 11:00 am. County commission candidates. Sandhill Cove, Palm City. Sponsored by Palm City Chamber of Commerce and Economic Council.

July 21, 2008 at 6:00 pm.  County commission candidates. Blake Library. Sponsored by Martin County Conservation Alliance.

July 22, 2008 at 6:00 pm.  County commission candidates. Hospice of the Treasure Coast,

1201 SE Indian St., Stuart, Fl.  Sponsored by Martin County Interagency Coalition.

July 23, 2008 at 600 pm. County commission candidates. Indian RiverSide Park, Jensen Beach. “So Why Vote?” theme focuses on young people. Sponsored by Future Group and Young Professionals.

August 11, 2008 at 6:00 pm. Candidates for two House of Representative districts. Blake Library. Sponsored by Martin County Conservation Alliance.

August 13, 2008 at 6:00 pm. County commission candidates. Blake Library. Sponsored by League of Women Voters.

August 14, 2008 at 6:00 pm. Superintendent of Schools and State Representative District 81 and 82 candidates. Blake Library. Sponsored by League of Women Voters.

+++++

 
For a free subscription to The Martin County Defender, send request with “Subscribe” in the subject line to:

mc-defender@comcast.net

Comments and requests to unsubscribe may be sent to this same address.

Al

Al Forman, Editor                                  7/4/08

The Martin County Defender is published and Copyright 2008 by WordsmithAmerica, P.O. Box 1828, Palm City, FL 34991. All rights reserved. No part of this issue may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording for public or private use, or by any information storage or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the publisher. NOTICE:  All correspondence not bearing legal copyright notice which is sent to the Defender or its editor is subject to being edited and published.

• NO MORE 2004

–

  Al Forman

  mc_defender@fastmail.net

You probably heard about some of the laws going into effect as of today - most of the ones making the headlines are the FCAT changes and the new gun laws.  There are plenty of others and in my opinion almost all of them are good changes.  No, I don’t beleive this is government once again poking it’s nose where it doesn’t belong.  These are changes that will for the most part be for the good of the people and (I believe anyway) will be what most people will would want to see changed.  All these laws benefit us.

We’ll start with the hot topic, the gun law.  It’s now legal to have a gun in your vehicle at work.  This could probably be the most debated but I don’t see how this is going to change much.  I’ve always believed personally in the right to bear arms and if you took away that right then the criminals would be the only ones armed.  If you are worried now that someone is going to go postal and come into work with a gun - what was stopping them before?  You think a law against it was keeping them at bay?  No.

FCAT laws are changing, at least for high schools at the moment and becoming less of a factor when grading the school.  Graduation rates and participation in advanced classes will be more of a factor when determining how a school is performing.  Elementary and middle school FCAT rules are staying the same for the moment, but if the laws effecting the high schools have a major positive impact I’m the the rest of the school system won’t be far behind.  They are also pushing the FCAT’s back a month to give students more time to study.

Traffic fines for speeding are going up by $17.50 or more from the Florida Highway Patrol.  And now all non-criminal traffic fines can be paid off through community service if you don’t have enough cash to pay the fine.  Most folks will pay the fine to avoid the aggrevation but at least it’s a good alternative for folks who don’t have much extra money on hand.

Two of my favorite laws are the drunken driving and the grow house laws.  Both of which are problems in surrounding areas on the Treasure Coast.  First, the drunken driving fines are doubling across the board from first time offender on up.  What’s more the fines will go up even more if you have a blood alcohol level of .20 or more.  The legal limit right now is .08.  The grow house laws have changed to reduce the number of pot plants required to be considered a grow house from 300 down to only 25.  It is a second-degree felony to operate a grow house and a third-degree felony is you lease or rent the house to someone knowing they are using it for that purpose.

The one change I wasn’t real big on was the changes to the State song.  Basically they are taking the song and doing some edits to make it more politically correct.  I’m not a politician, I’m just your average Joe - so I’ve never been a big fan of politically correctness.  If it offends someone, they’ll get over it in my opinion.  Or they won’t, either way doesn’t bother me much.  Then again I’m not easily offended.

For more info on the rest of the laws changing check out the story over at TCPalm.