February 2007 Stories

February, 2007

1) Hayride event will continue without bonfire
February 1, 2007
A burn ban issued by the St. Lucie County Fire District Wednesday has forced the cancellation of the bonfire planned for Saturday, February 3, however the 24th annual Hayride Extravaganza and all other activities will go on as planned.
Those activities include a hayride, live country music, face painting, pony rides, a bounce house, a giant slide and a cow chip toss contest. Sales of refreshments will benefit local charities.
The fun starts at 4 p.m. and runs until 8 p.m., and the cost is only one dollar.
For more information, call 878-2277

2) New outdoor market for fruit and vegetables to open at Community Center
February 2, 2007
A new market for locally grown fruit and vegetables, as well as for crafts and baked goods, is scheduled to open Tuesday, February 6 outside the Community Center on Airoso Boulevard. The hours will be from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. A rental agreement made Friday between the Community Center and a representative of a group of vendors calls for the market to operate every Tuesday and Saturday until the end of June. The new market will include many of the same vendors that had been selling at the Green Market at City Center, which shut down operations unexpectedly in January because of demolition and construction in the area.
Ultimately, it is the city's goal to have a well-established green market open outside the future Civic Center in the city's Community Redevelopment Area once construction issues are no longer an interruption.
For more information about the new market, call (704) 244-1471.

3) City Council Capsules, Feb. 5, 2007
February 6, 2007
At their February 5 meeting, the Port St. Lucie City Council:Approved a contract for the purchase video-streaming services and equipment that will allow PSL-TV20 to be viewed over the Internet.
Amended the police officers’ retirement trust fund to allow for a deferred retirement option plan.
Denied a request by a faith-based youth organization to waive a city ordinance that prohibits door-to-door soliciting.
Gave final approval to an agreement with the St. Lucie County School District that will allow Manatee Elementary to reconfigure its driveway area using city-owned land, while keeping the property available for some public activities.
Authorized the City Manager to lease city-owned land near the Turnpike and Torino Parkway to the school board, for use as a temporary elementary and middle school to be called winter Lakes.

4) Public meeting set to discuss design of Crosstown Parkway segment 2
February 6, 2007
A public information meeting about proposed improvements to the Crosstown Parkway segment 2 will be held at the Port St. Lucie Community Center on Tuesday, February 13 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. The meeting will provide information including the roadway features, design parameters and anticipated construction activities.
The engineering firm hired for the project, Culpepper & Terpening, Inc. will give a visual and oral presentation and will address any questions or concerns from the audience. The city sent a notice of this meeting to every property owner within 300 feet of segment 2 and the proposed storm water retention areas, and is advertising it in newspapers and television.
For more information, call (772) 464-3537, or click on Third East West Transportation Corridor Studies http://www.keithandschnars.com/PortStLucie/default-frameset.htm in the right-hand column.

5) 2,000 sterilized fish ready to help Public Works Department
February 7, 2007
Sub-contractors working for the Port St. Lucie Public Works Department will re-stock fish in several city waterways Thursday as a maintenance measure to reduce drainage obstructions and prevent flooding.
About 2,000 triploid grass carp will be dumped into various ponds throughout the city starting at about 6 a.m., but continuing throughout the morning. The carp have an appetite for a particular species of vegetation, called hydrilla, which tends to block drainage pipes as it grows.
Each carp is now only 10 to 12 inches long, but will grow as long as four feet and weigh as much as 50 pounds. As they grow, they eat increasing amounts of the hydrilla and open clogged drainage ways. This all-natural method of reducing unwanted vegetation has proved effective in city waterways in the past and ultimately helps lower pollutant levels in the St. Lucie River.
The fish are sterilized to prevent over populating the ponds and are kept out of the river, where they would have an unfavorable effect on the eco-system.

6) City Council Capsules for Feb. 8, 2007
February 9, 2007
At their February 7 special meeting, the Port St. Lucie City Council:
· Agreed to extend the boundary of the city’s utility service area to the west, allowing the Utilities Department to provide water and sewer services to properties outside city limits. The Council still has to approve a change in city ordinances before the expanded service area is legally established.
· Agreed to allow the proposed Western Palm City Corridor in Martin County to connect the southern tip of Port St. Lucie Boulevard at Becker Road.
· Adopted a Joint Planning Agreement with St. Lucie County that calls for both governments to share planning information on major projects in their jurisdictions.

7) Dolphin release to air on TV20
February 9, 2007
PSL-TV20 special to begin airing Monday features Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute officials releasing a pregnant dolphin into the ocean off Fort Pierce. The program, hosted by Port St. Lucie City Councilwoman Michelle Berger, will air at the following times:
Monday, February 12 —7 a.m. and 7 p.m.; 11:30 a.m.
and 11:30 p.m.
· Wednesday, February 14 —7 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 7 p.m
. and 8 p.m.
· Friday, February 16 —7 a.m. and 7 p.m.
· Saturday, February 17 —11:30 p.m.
“Councilwoman Berger and Dolphin Release” will be broadcast to Port St. Lucie residents on the city’s government cable TV channel, PSL-TV20. The channel is available to customers of Comcast and Hometown Cable Plus. PSL-TV20 earned the city manager’s 2006 Significant Achievement Award.
For a complete schedule of programs on PSL-TV20, click on the TV20 schedule link in the right-hand column.

8) Re-live the fun as TV20 airs highlights of Hayride event
February 12, 2007
If you had a great time at Port St. Lucie’s Annual Bonfire and Hayride event this year, or even if you didn’t, you can see it all on TV20 starting Monday.
Though a burn ban forced cancellation of the bonfire, there were plenty of fun events. A highlight of the activities will air at the following times:
· Monday, February 12 —7:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m.
· Wednesday, February 14 —7:30 a.m., 7:30 p.m.
· Friday, February 16 —1:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
“Bonfire and Hayride” will be broadcast to Port St. Lucie residents on the city’s government cable TV channel, PSL-TV20. The channel is available to customers of Comcast and Hometown Cable Plus. PSL-TV20 earned the city manager’s 2006 Significant Achievement Award.
For a complete schedule of programs on PSL-TV20, click on the TV20 link in the right-hand column.

9) Friday’s WestFest Postponed Due To Inclement Weather
February 14
WestFest featuring the Classic Rock All-Stars, scheduled for Friday, Feb. 16 at Tradition, has been postponed due to an inclement weather forecast. The next WestFest concert is scheduled for Saturday, March 17 and will feature Hair of the Dog, an Irish band based out of New York City. For additional information, please call (772) 426-8260.

10) City talk show features heart health, fish stories
February 21, 2007
This week’s episode of “PSLiving” includes:
Tips for heart disease prevention from Martin Memorial Hospital.
A conversation with the Public Works Department about their release of 2,000 fish into local waterways.
safety tips from the Police Department.
A re-cap of the February 7 City Council meeting.
A review of upcoming events.
“PSLiving” is the city’s award-winning weekly TV magazine show which includes a short recap of the most recent City Council meeting, updates on city programs, interviews with community leaders, a special event calendar and more. “PSLiving” is shown everyday at 6 a.m., Noon, and 6 p.m. A new episode debuts every Thursday at 6 p.m. “PSLiving” earned an Award of Distinction from the Treasure Coast Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association during their 2006 Image Awards competition.
“PSLiving” is broadcast to Port St. Lucie citizens on the city’s government cable TV channel, PSL-TV20. The channel is available to customers of Adelphia (Comcast) and Hometown Cable Plus. PSL-TV20 earned the city manager’s 2006 Significant Achievement Award.
For a complete schedule of programs on PSL-TV20, visit the city’s website at www.cityofpsl.com

11) New TV20 program focuses on economics and environment
February 21, 2007
Port St. Lucie’s newest monthly television program, “PSL Green: Economics and Environment,” debuts this week on the city’s government access TV channel, PSLTV-20.
The program will air each month with Councilwoman Michelle Berger as host. The pilot episode features Berger interviewing a dolphin expert from Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, and a summary of various issues affecting the economic future of Port St. Lucie and the Treasure Coast.
“PSL Green: Economics and Environment” will be broadcast to Port St. Lucie citizens on the city’s government cable TV channel, PSL-TV20. The channel is available to customers of Comcast and Hometown Cable Plus.
This week, the debut episode will air on the following dates and times:
· Wednesday, February 21 —8 p.m.
· Saturday, February 24 —8 p.m.
· Sunday, February 25 —7 a.m.
For a complete schedule of programs on PSL-TV20, click on the TV20 schedule link in the right-hand column.

12) City Council Capsules for Feb. 20, 2007
February 22, 2007
At their February 20 meetings, the Port St. Lucie City Council:Agreed to spend $350,000 to reconfigure the intersection and entrance in front of the future Riverwalk South and Botanical Gardens that will be built off Westmoreland Boulevard, just south of Port St. Lucie Boulevard.
Agreed to let Councilman Chris Cooper form a volunteer committee to help plan the future botanical gardens.
Gave first approval to a plan to expand the city’s utility service area to the west to provide water and sewer service to customers outside city limits.

13) City Council Capsules for Feb. 26, 2007
February 27, 2007
At their February 26 meeting, the Port St. Lucie City Council:
· Listened to a consultant’s report about gangs and youth crime in St. Lucie County.
· Approved a variance to city codes that will allow construction of a medical office just west of the St. Lucie River bridge on the south side of Port St. Lucie Boulevard.
· Gave first approval to rezone 12 acres of property on the west side of St. James Drive, south of the C-107 canal, to allow for a housing development to be called St. James Mediterranean.
· Denied a request to place religious symbols in front of City Hall during the 2007 holiday season.
· Approved a proposal to put the cost for garbage collection on the city’s annual tax bill for property owners. Currently, the bills are sent out quarterly by Waste Pro. The change will lower costs of garbage collection for residences by about 20 percent, and 15 percent for businesses.

14) Mayor Christensen’s show features tax talk
February 27, 2007
Port St. Lucie Mayor Patricia Christensen’s new monthly show “From the Mayor’s Office,” airs this week on PSL-TV20 with a special discussion about Port St. Lucie’s tax rate. Mayor Christensen interviews Assistant City Manager Greg Oravec about a report he wrote comparing PSL taxes with those of other cities, and the results reveal some interesting points that property owners need to know.
Other segments of this month’s show include an update on Mayor Christensen’s recent work with the U.S. Conference of Mayors and the Florida League of Cities.
“From the Mayor’s Office” is broadcast to Port St. Lucie citizens on the city’s government cable TV channel, PSL-TV20. The channel is available to customers of Comcast and Hometown Cable Plus. PSL-TV20 earned the city manager’s 2006 Significant Achievement Award.
This month’s episode will air on the following dates and times:

· Tuesday, February 27 —8 p.m.
· Wednesday, February 28 —3 p.m.
· Thursday, March 1 —2 a.m., 7 a.m., 10 a.m., 9 p.m.
· Friday, March 2 —3.a.m.
· Saturday, March 3 —7 p.m.
· Sunday, March 4 —8 p.m.

For a complete schedule of programs on PSL-TV20

15) Mayor Christensen connects past and present on ‘PSL Oral History’
February 27, 2007
On this month’s episode of “PSL Oral Histories,” Mayor Patricia Christensen recalls her first years in Port St. Lucie (before it was included on most Florida maps) and the many changes she has witnessed in the boom years since.
The program is part of the Port St. Lucie Historical Society’s Oral History Project, to create an archive of video memories from people who witnessed the early days of the city first-hand.
In this, the second episode of the program, Mayor Christensen notes that she was the first to give birth to twins at St. Lucie Medical Center, and points out that much of the city’s success today is rooted in the events and people of the past.
This month’s episode will air on the following dates and times:

· Thursday, March 1 —3 a.m., 7 p.m.
· Friday, March 2 —3 p.m.
· Saturday, March 3 —7 a.m.
· Sunday, March 4 —8 a.m. and 3 p.m.

PSL-TV20 is available within city limits to customers of Comcast and Hometown Cable Plus. PSL-TV20 earned the City Manager’s 2006 Significant Achievement Award.
For a complete schedule of programs on PSL-TV20, click on the TV20 schedule link in the right-hand column.
For more information about the Historical Society, visit their Web site at http://portstluciehistoricalsociety.org/

16) PSLiving features fire and crime prevention, summer camp
February 28, 2007
This week’s episode of “PSLiving” includes:
Fire prevention in the Savannahs Preserve.
The Parks and Recreation Department’s summer camp program.
Preview of March 17 St. Patrick’s Day Festival and Parade.
Crime Prevention week.
A re-cap of the February 26 City Council meeting.
A review of upcoming events.
“PSLiving” is the city’s award-winning weekly TV magazine show which includes a short recap of the most recent City Council meeting, updates on city programs, interviews with community leaders, a special event calendar and more. “PSLiving” is shown everyday at 6 a.m., Noon, and 6 p.m. A new episode debuts every Thursday at 6 p.m. “PSLiving” earned an Award of Distinction from the Treasure Coast Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association during their 2006 Image Awards competition.
“PSLiving” is broadcast to Port St. Lucie citizens on the city’s government cable TV channel, PSL-TV20. The channel is available to customers of Adelphia (Comcast) and Hometown Cable Plus. PSL-TV20 earned the City Manager’s 2006 Significant Achievement Award.
For a complete schedule of programs on PSL-TV20, visit the city’s website at www.cityofpsl.com

Public Meetings / PSL TV 20