TREASURE COAST — Planet Fitness has been taking steps to make its members feel safe while working out at its gyms.

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY ― The Indian River County legislative delegation in Tallahassee played a major role in the passage of a new anti-abortion law signed June 30 by Gov. Ron DeSantis.

VERO BEACH ― The Laura Riding Jackson Foundation has announced the winners of its two COVID-19 writing competitions.

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY ― As the School District of Indian River County finalizes its school reopening plan, one option we know will be available is virtual learning.

VERO BEACH ― The Three Corners Steering Committee has settled on a development plan to present to Vero Beach voters for approval.

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY  ― Indian River County is one of the 10 richest counties in Florida. The county also has the tenth largest income gap between the top one percent and the bottom 99% in the nation. That income gap and the resulting wealth disparity underlie every challenge outlined in the …

FLORIDA ― The Annie E. Casey Foundation has released the 2020 edition of the Kids Count Data Book, an annual resource that tracks child well-being nationally and by state.

SEBASTIAN ― In 2019, the Sebastian City Council voted to approve the annexation of 1,118 acres owned by Graves Bros., a Vero Beach-based developer. That approval was opposed by most of the speakers at an Aug. 28 city council meeting, several environmental organizations, and Indian River Coun…

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY ― Following years of debate, the School District of Indian River County has decided to ban displays of the Confederate flag.

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY ― For the Love of Paws is a Fellsmere nonprofit that provides adoption services and pet food to senior citizens and their companion animals.

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY ― Indian River County Commissioners have extended a ban on the land application of Class B biosolids.

TREASURE COAST ― The Women’s Business Center at Florida Tech’s Bisk College of Business in Melbourne, also known as weVENTURE, has been awarded $420,000 from the U.S. Small Business Administration under the federal CARES Act. The funds are to expand assistance to small businesses in Indian R…

You can still take that trip – as long as you’re aware, proactive, cautious and considerate in a COVID-19 world

SEBASTIAN ― The Sebastian City Council has unanimously agreed to spend $78,622 to replace the sidewalk in Riverview Park. The council was acting in its capacity as the Community Redevelopment District.

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY ― To support the development of the county’s Indian River Lagoon Management Plan, commissioners in 2019 asked staff to research factors that may be impacting the health of the lagoon.

TREASURE COAST – The Indian River State College (IRSC) Foundation announced the appointment of Julia Keenan as Director of Development. In this role, Keenan is responsible for planning, organizing, and directing IRSC Foundation fundraising efforts that include planned giving, capital campaig…

VERO BEACH ― Despite the COVID shutdown, or perhaps because of the COVID shutdown, beaches in Vero Beach saw the largest May attendance in recorded history.

SEBASTIAN – Sebastian River Medical Center’s Transitional Care Unit has earned a five-star overall rating – the highest you can achieve - by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), for Nursing Homes.

TREASURE COAST - Last week, we asked visitors to our Facebook pages what they thought of wearing masks.

SEBASTIAN - Sebastian city council members Damien Gilliams and Pamela Parris were arrested on June 16 on charges stemming from an allegedly illegal council meeting in April.

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY - In his end of school year message, Indian River County Superintendent David K. Moore expressed confidence that the school district has successful weathered challenges brought on by COVID-19.

VERO BEACH - The Memorial Island Bridge in Vero Beach is nearing the end of its useful life, according to a report from the city’s public works department. The small bridge that was built in 1988 is used mostly by pedestrians visiting the veterans’ sanctuary near Riverside Park.

VERO BEACH - Those who hold memberships at the city’s Leisure Square recreation facility received some good news at the June 16 City Council meeting. Council voted to add 81 days to annual and monthly memberships to make up for time the facility was closed due to COVID-19.

TREASURE COAST ― Assisted living communities are appealing to the federal government for COVID-19-related support similar to what was given to nursing homes.

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY ― The Indian River County Commissioners have made an offer on a piece of land to house Fire Station #7.

VERO BEACH ― Pelican Island Audubon Society is asking the U.S. Department of the Interior to preserve the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

SEBASTIAN ― The Sebastian Integrated Pest Management Sub-Committee is drafting a pest management plan for city parks.

VERO BEACH ― The Gifford Youth Achievement Center recently awarded $44,500 in scholarships to 16 graduating high school seniors: Esther Cadet, Emily Chester, Olivia Faria, Da’Jah Farr, Henry Cameron, Jerah Jones, Alicia Maneiro, Jamyle Newman, Justin Newman, Skyler Outler, Christopher Peters…

VERO BEACH ― According to SmartAsset, a financial planning website, the West Vero Beach corridor is the most affordable place to buy a home in all of Florida.

FELLSMERE ― The Fellsmere City Council has completed a six month review for City Manager Mark Mathes, with all positive reviews ranging from “good” to “great.”

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY ― Expenses in the effort to stop Virgin Trains from speeding through Indian River County have surpassed $3.75 million, according to a May 26 report by the county’s Office of Management and Budget.

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY ― Most Indian River County law enforcement agencies and candidates for sheriff have issued statements regarding the murder of George Floyd and the protests that followed.

VERO BEACH ― In April, Environmental Learning Center Executive Director Barbara Schlitt Ford issued a challenge to ELC supporters: raise $100,000 by Memorial Day, and she will dye her hair bright blue.

VERO BEACH ― The city of Vero Beach has received two grants to help offset economic harm caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY ― The Tiki Bar and Grill in Sebastian has live music every Sunday, 2-6 p.m., every Tuesday, 6-10 p.m., plus an open jam night every Monday, 6-10 p.m. The Tiki also has live music most weekends.

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY ― The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity has created a website to track and report unemployment related to COVID-19. The website begins counting claims that might be related to the virus on March 7, and cautions that some of the claims may eventually be determined…

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY ― On May 23, the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation approved the Indian River County vacation rental reopening plan, allowing short-term rentals to resume immediately.

VERO BEACH ― The 2020 Vero Beach Wine + Film Festival will be both live and online.

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY ― Master gardener training from the University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences will be an online course this summer. While that might be a bummer for those who prefer in-person classes, the change to virtual learning opens a new opportunity for tho…

 As residents and visitors return to our beaches, people are reminded to stay off the dunes. This includes keeping dogs off the dunes on those beaches that allow dogs.

Florida Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday runs May 29 – June 4

Although the lodging and other hunting operations are now closed, Quail Creek continues its sporting clay legacy

TREASURE COAST ― Throughout the Treasure Coast, fertilizer ordinances go into effect June 1. The restrictions are designed to protect the Indian River Lagoon.

SEBASTIAN ― Following Judge Janet Croom’s order requiring the Sebastian City Council to meet during the COVID-19 crisis, the council announced that all meetings held May 14 or later would allow participation by internet and telephone.

TREASURE COAST ― Stage Stores, Inc. (SSI-NYSE) based in Houston, Texas filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy protection on 5/10/20. Stage Stores, Inc. owns and operates stores which use the Bealls name in several states including Texas. Please note that Bealls, operated by Stage Stores Inc., is in…

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY ― The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has awarded Indian River County a $22,100 grant to remove seven derelict vessels from the Indian River Lagoon.

VERO BEACH  ― The Youth Guidance Mentoring Academy in Vero Beach has added a new program to provide bike mechanic training for local teenagers from low income families.

VERO BEACH ― Vero Beach-based Piper Aircraft has certified the first aircraft with Garmin Autoland, digital technology that safely lands the aircraft at the nearest suitable airport in the event that the pilot is incapacitated.