Stuart lands $79 million to replace the old rail bridge
Federal money lands for the St. Lucie River rail bridge, plus a full weekend of markets and music.
The century-old railroad bridge over the St. Lucie finally has real money behind it. Downstream of that, the weekend fills up fast — vinyl, vendors, and a Sunday market in Flagler Park.
Stuart received a $79 million federal grant to replace the century-old St. Lucie River railroad bridge. The crossing carries Brightline passenger trains and Florida East Coast Railway freight. The award is for replacement of that existing span, bringing federal funding to a piece of infrastructure shared by two rail services. For residents, this is investment in the current transportation network rather than an announcement of a new route.
Thirty-six Border Collies pulled from a Palm City house
Martin County deputies rescued 36 neglected Border Collies from a Palm City home this month. Deputies spent hours inside a house described as filled with filth while completing the operation. The animals are now out of those conditions. Any allegations involving the owner still must move through the legal process, and no allegation is a conviction. The dogs’ ongoing care and the court case are separate developments after the rescue.
A drug network in Booker Park comes apart
Martin County investigators announced the results of Operation Beneath the Surface, a months-long, multi-agency narcotics case. Authorities reported 17 arrests, four kilograms of cocaine seized and more than 200 felony charges. The Sheriff’s Office says the investigation targeted a cocaine-trafficking network operating from the Booker Park area of Indiantown. The arrests start individual court cases; they do not decide guilt. Everyone charged is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
Vinyl Night puts your record on the turntable
Vinyl Night starts at 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 20, at Sound Brewing Company. Roasted Records is presenting the evening, and guests may bring a favorite album to share, play and hear. The event pairs those guest-selected records with freshly brewed beer in the taproom. The format turns a private collection into the night’s soundtrack: choose one record, carry it in and listen with the room.
Friday brings a Caribbean buffet and reggae
Martin Downs Golf Club hosts a Caribbean buffet Friday, Aug. 21, from 6 to 9 p.m. The menu centers on island dishes, with live music from the Rainfall Reggae Band during the same three-hour window. Admission is $25 per person. It is a combined dinner-and-music event at the clubhouse, giving guests one price, one venue and a set ending time for the evening.
Sunday morning belongs to Flagler Park
Market on Main, formerly the Downtown Stuart Green Market, opens at 9 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 23, in Flagler Park downtown. Stuart Main Street manages the market. Growers, crafters, artists and other creators make up the vendor mix, so the morning can cover produce, gifts and handmade work in one stop. The 9 a.m. opening puts the market in the cooler part of Sunday and gives shoppers the first look at what vendors brought.
The Elliott Museum traces a century on wheels
The permanent Wheels of Change exhibit opens at 10 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 20, at the Elliott Museum. It follows automobiles from early horseless carriages to modern machines. The exhibit connects changing vehicle design with shifts in travel, work and daily life, while also tracing the car’s cultural, economic and technological effects. Because it is a permanent exhibit, visitors can see it beyond the Aug. 20 calendar date.
Jammin’ Jensen fills downtown Thursday night
Jammin’ Jensen starts at 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 20, in downtown Jensen Beach. The weekly gathering runs year-round on Thursday evenings and creates a mini-festival atmosphere in the downtown district. Local artists and street vendors line the area while live music fills the blocks. Visitors can move between vendor tables and live music rather than commit to one seated performance. The year-round schedule also gives residents another Thursday if this week does not fit.