TREASURE COAST - A study from the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) has surveyed regions of the country to find what and how people were eating during the pandemic. 

VERO BEACH -  Visitors are flocking to the Environmental Learning Center in Vero Beach in hopes of catching a glimpse of nesting ospreys. The ELC has just constructed and installed two new platforms to encourage nesting, and the birds are already checking them out.

VERO BEACH - Vero Beach artist Barry Shapiro has launched his third annual sock drive to help the homeless. Socks are being collected at 12 locations.

VERO BEACH - The Mental Health Association in Indian River County has announced the appointment of Philip Cromer, Ph.D., as its new Chief Executive Officer. He replaces Dr. Nicholas Coppola, who resigned in December.

GIFFORD - The Gifford Youth Achievement Center recently participated in the Florida Race Equity Challenge presented by the Florida Youth Justice Commission.

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY - The Economic Opportunities Council of Indian River County helps low-income residents achieve their educational and vocational goals, earn a living wage, and move away from poverty and public assistance to financial self-sufficiency. The goal is to end generational pover…

Treasure Coast - The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) is now open to to all participating PPP lenders who want to submit Second, or First Draw loan applications to the Small Business Administration.

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY- The United Way of Indian River County is coordinating with the IRS once again to offer help to people needing assistance filing their taxes.

SEBASTIAN - In the last few weeks of 2020, the city of Sebastian made some emergency equipment purchases from CARES Act funding totaling about $147,399. The purchases were approved at the city council’s Jan. 13 meeting.

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY - The School District of Indian River County policy requiring students to wear masks in school is about to get tested in court.

STATEWIDE - Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody has issued a Consumer Alert warning residents not to be fooled by bogus websites offering COVID-19 vaccine appointment reservations for a fee.

GRANT - The Grant Seafood Festival has been canceled for 2020. The 55th annual event will instead take place March 5-6, 2022.

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY - The Education Foundation of Indian River County has received a $30,000 gift from the Jaffe Family Foundation to support the STEP (Summer Transition Enrichment Program) into Kindergarten program for summer 2021. 

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY - The Exchange Club of Indian River has presented a donation of $2,000 to United Against Poverty.

STATEWIDE - As the federal government begins delivering additional stimulus payments across the country, Floridians should be wary of the potential for fraud.

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY - Indian River County Commissioners have approved a set of legislative priorities for the 2021 Florida legislative session that begins on March 2.

FELLSMERE - The city of Fellsmere will hold a public hearing on Jan. 14 to consider extending a moratorium on the land application of Class B biosolids.

VERO BEACH - The Vero Beach City Council has approved a request from the city’s Tree and Beautification Commission to offer up to four annual awards honoring property owners for landscape projects. The goal is to recognize and encourage residential and commercial landscapes that “contribute …

VERO BEACH - A new video series produced by Riverside Theatre in Vero Beach gives fascinating insight into all aspects of a professional theater production.

TREASURE COAST - It’s that time of year again when many of us make New Year’s resolutions. After a tumultuous 2020, it may be more imperative than ever to strive for physical, mental, and emotional balance. 

NFPA encourages prompt removal now that the holidays are over

TREASURE COAST - The COVID-19 pandemic changed the daily routines of millions of Americans, including how human traffickers operate their criminal enterprises—driving even more illicit activity online. According to the National Human Trafficking Hotline, crisis cases handled by the organizat…

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY - Indian River Hospital began vaccinating frontline caregivers Monday Dec. 21. Martin Health is scheduled to begin Dec. 22.

TREASURE COAST - On Dec. 15, the world’s wealthiest woman announced a donation of $45 million to Indian River State College. The donation is the largest in the 60-year history of the college.

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY - We asked leaders of our community for their resolutions, hopes, or goals for the New Year.

VERO BEACH -The new Reading Resource Room at the Hope for Families Center in Vero Beach provides homeless families with the resources necessary to promote literacy.

VERO BEACH - In December, the Vero Beach Police Department donated $14,000 from its Forfeiture Fund to eight community organizations.

VERO BEACH - The Environmental Learning Center will lead the Florida Master Naturalist Program Coastal Systems Course from Jan. 11-March 8, 2021. This course is a combination of online classes, self-lead experiences, and practical experiences. Attendees should register before Jan. 6.

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY - Taylor Duncan is a 25 year old man from Dallas, Georgia, with a passion for baseball. He also has autism. He has combined those two aspects of his life to become the Commissioner/CEO/Executive Director of the Alternative Baseball Organization, a national non-profit crea…

SEBASTIAN – If you’re looking for an outdoor, relatively safe place to see live music this weekend, Earl’s Hideaway and Capt. Hiram’s in Sebastian both have your ticket.

TREASURE COAST – Lizards are common to Florida’s landscape, but not all lizards are native. University of Florida researchers say that non-native species outnumber native species by three times, and these invasive species are impacting ecosystems and communities.

STATEWIDE – A new report, Kids, Families and COVID-19: Pandemic Pain Points and the Urgent Need to Respond, shows Florida’s families are struggling at higher percentages than the national average in food security, housing stability, and affordable healthcare.

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY – The Mental Health Association of Indian River County announced on Dec. 11 the resignation of its CEO, Dr. Nicholas Coppola.

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY – The Clean Water Coalition of Indian River County has grown to 1,000 partners with the recent addition of Sandy’s Furniture in Vero Beach.

VERO BEACH - Put on your dancing shoes for a swing party at Walking Tree Brewery Sat., Dec. 26 from 8-11 p.m.

MacKenzie Scott's donation is the single largest in the college's history

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY - As the year comes to a close, Hometown News revisits some of the major stories of 2020.

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY - Indian River County has approved spending $12,372,649 for Phase 1 of the Sector 3 Beach and Dune Restoration Project.

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY - October was Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Friends After Diagnosis, a local nonprofit organization that serves women with cancer on the Treasure Coast and their loved ones, said they received over $14,000 from October fundraisers held on its behalf by businesses and oth…

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY - Indian River County Commissioners have made a few changes to the board’s Rental and Mortgage Payment Assistance Program.

VERO BEACH - Classic Albums Live returns to the Emerson Center Dec. 30 at 7 p.m. with a recreation of the Fleetwood Mac album “Greatest Hits.”

VERO BEACH - Piper Aircraft is now accepting applications for its 2021 Apprenticeship Program. The 2021 group, which will begin in August, will be the third apprenticeship class at Piper’s headquarters in Vero Beach.

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY - The Campaign for Grade-Level Reading announced that Indian River County’s “Moonshot Moment Literacy Movement” was selected as one of the Pacesetter communities across the United States.

VERO BEACH - Johnny Debt Prestage brings his one-man-band to the Kilted Mermaid in Vero Beach on Sat., Dec. 19.

FELLSMERE - With no apparent public opposition, the Fellsmere City Council on Dec. 10 unanimously passed a strong mask ordinance for businesses, including an enforcement mechanism with fines.

Stuart Community Redevelopment Board recommends adding $75,000 to CRA budget for 38 new sidewalks

TREASURE COAST - Holiday lights and décor bring feelings of joy, positivity and happiness – and that’s why many Floridians brighten up their homes with festive decorations each year.

VERO BEACH – Wrap up your holiday shopping and support local small businesses Dec. 12 - 13 at Riverside Park in Vero Beach. Shop safely outdoors at this family-friendly event with plenty of socially distanced vendor booths and exhibitors to choose from. Browse a wide selection of arts and cr…

Watching birds feed can bring great joy during the pandemic. At Audubon of Martin County, we love feeding the over-wintering and year-round birds and think other regional non-birders might enjoy seeing colorful visitors to their yard, too.