By Jessica Tuggle
jtuggle@hometownnewsol.com
INDIAN RIVER COUNTY -
The growing number of seniors living on small, fixed incomes prompted
nonprofits to work together to give them a little holiday cheer.
The United Way of Indian River County and the Senior Resource Association, along with sponsor
Florida Eye Institute, are asking community members to donate enough unwrapped gifts to fill
a bus for needy seniors in the county.The "Santa for Seniors" holiday gift drive will run through Dec. 18, said Jennifer Jones, United Way director of workplace and corporate giving. This is the third year United Way has held the drive, Ms. Jones said. In 2007, 75 seniors were given care packages. In 2008, that number jumped to 250. This year's goal is 500 seniors, Ms. Jones said. Unwrapped gift donations can be made at any RBC Bank location or the United Way offices in downtown Vero Beach, but a special, one-day drop-off location will be at the Indian River Mall on Dec. 12. Residents can bring gift items, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the mall, just outside of Macy's, according to a press release. Some of the requested items include personal hygiene products, robes, pajamas, toilet bowl cleaner, sponges, non-perishable food, as well as traditional presents such as music, large print books or gift cards to grocery stores. Many of those who once worked hard to provide sweet Christmas memories for their families have now grown older and may be far away from the comfort of family, said Ms. Jones. "Some of my fondest childhood memories are being with my family during the holidays, especially my grandparents," she said. "This is something that you can do to give back to them. Sometimes they are the first to be forgotten at the holidays," Ms. Jones said.
Monday, December 14, 2009
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Fort Pierce Up for the "Great American Main Street" award
Meisel@hometownnewsol.com
FORT PIERCE - Beginning in the late 1970s as malls developed, downtown Fort Pierce lostbusinesses and buildings remained vacant."It was a typical scenario of what was goingon around the nation," said Doris Tillman, the director of Fort Pierce Main Street.Thenin 1988, a workshop was held to find ways to revitalize downtown and 300 people showedup, despite a "blistering rain storm," Ms. Tillman said."That was a real turning point for downtown," she said.In recognition of the progress since then, Fort Pierce Main Street was named a semifinalist for the 2010 Great American Main Street awards last week. Fort Pierce will compete with Aledo, Ill., Columbus, Miss., Fairmont, W. Va., Farmland,Ind., Ferndale, Mich., Lee's Summit, Mo., Paducah, Ky., Pontiac, Ill. and Rochester, Mich. The winner will be announced during the National Main Streets conference in Oklahoma City on May 4.Fort Pierce could end up being only the second Florida city to win. The first was Deland. Ms. Tillman said this was the first time Fort Pierce Main Street applied. She said in past years, with numerous projects going on, the "timing wasn't right."Since 1988, she said, downtown Fort Pierce gained 404 jobs, 88 new businesses, 136 projects to rehabilitate existing buildings and 17 new buildings. There's been $14.5 million in public investment and $25 million in private investment.But it all started with that workshop when people helped develop a master plan for downtown, said Ms. Tillman, director of Main Street since 1991."We were all excited and ready to make a change and it happened," she said. Ms. Tillman recalled that early on, a woman told her that she was ashamed to go downtown, but had decided to be a part of the change. The woman started a business, she said. And that was typical of many, Ms. Tillman said. In only six months, not long after the initial workshop, 60 businesses were attracted to downtown, she said.In the years since, progress has included the Manatee Center, the rehabilitation of the Sunrise Theatre and renovation of the old City Hall. More recently, Main Street moved its headquarters to the former residence of landscape artist A.E. Backus and renovated the dwelling. Efforts to convince St. Lucie County to maintain its presence in downtown Fort Pierce were successful and the results have included a new Clerk of Courts building.The success came about,in part, because Fort Pierce Main Street has a board of directors that never shied away from major projects, she said. But it's also occurred because of support from residents and enthusiastic city officials, such as former Mayor Eddie Enns and former city manager Dennis Beach, she said.Besides all that, she said, success has come because of promoting downtown. That has included holding events, such as Friday Fest and putting information about businesses on its Web site.
FORT PIERCE - Beginning in the late 1970s as malls developed, downtown Fort Pierce lostbusinesses and buildings remained vacant."It was a typical scenario of what was goingon around the nation," said Doris Tillman, the director of Fort Pierce Main Street.Thenin 1988, a workshop was held to find ways to revitalize downtown and 300 people showedup, despite a "blistering rain storm," Ms. Tillman said."That was a real turning point for downtown," she said.In recognition of the progress since then, Fort Pierce Main Street was named a semifinalist for the 2010 Great American Main Street awards last week. Fort Pierce will compete with Aledo, Ill., Columbus, Miss., Fairmont, W. Va., Farmland,Ind., Ferndale, Mich., Lee's Summit, Mo., Paducah, Ky., Pontiac, Ill. and Rochester, Mich. The winner will be announced during the National Main Streets conference in Oklahoma City on May 4.Fort Pierce could end up being only the second Florida city to win. The first was Deland. Ms. Tillman said this was the first time Fort Pierce Main Street applied. She said in past years, with numerous projects going on, the "timing wasn't right."Since 1988, she said, downtown Fort Pierce gained 404 jobs, 88 new businesses, 136 projects to rehabilitate existing buildings and 17 new buildings. There's been $14.5 million in public investment and $25 million in private investment.But it all started with that workshop when people helped develop a master plan for downtown, said Ms. Tillman, director of Main Street since 1991."We were all excited and ready to make a change and it happened," she said. Ms. Tillman recalled that early on, a woman told her that she was ashamed to go downtown, but had decided to be a part of the change. The woman started a business, she said. And that was typical of many, Ms. Tillman said. In only six months, not long after the initial workshop, 60 businesses were attracted to downtown, she said.In the years since, progress has included the Manatee Center, the rehabilitation of the Sunrise Theatre and renovation of the old City Hall. More recently, Main Street moved its headquarters to the former residence of landscape artist A.E. Backus and renovated the dwelling. Efforts to convince St. Lucie County to maintain its presence in downtown Fort Pierce were successful and the results have included a new Clerk of Courts building.The success came about,in part, because Fort Pierce Main Street has a board of directors that never shied away from major projects, she said. But it's also occurred because of support from residents and enthusiastic city officials, such as former Mayor Eddie Enns and former city manager Dennis Beach, she said.Besides all that, she said, success has come because of promoting downtown. That has included holding events, such as Friday Fest and putting information about businesses on its Web site.
New Jet for Piper
Vero Beach Florida Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson asked about staffing plans and witnessed a testflight of the new PiperJet during his hour-long visit and tour of Piper Aircraft Inc.'s facilityThursday afternoon.“He’s always heard about the operations but never had a chance to see what they are doing,”said Nelson’s spokesman Bryan Gulley. The tour was not open to the press or public.“They (Piper management) talked briefly about the job losses and how it’s related to the economic downturn. They told him that they’ve seen this before and they’re confident the jobs would come back. He pressed them on their commitment to staying in the area and they reiterated their commitment to staying.”Piper president John Becker, who is resigning from Piper effective Dec. 1, and three other employeesin sales and engineering accompanied Nelson on the tour, which started just after 4 p.m. Vero Beach Florida Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson asked about staffing plans and witnessed a test flight of the new PiperJet during his hour-long visit and tour of Piper Aircraft Inc.'s facility Thursday afternoon.
In October, County Commissioner Peter O’Bryan, the commission’s liaison to the Economic Development Council, said he would meet monthly with county and company officials for updates and to discuss the status of the stateand county’s $32 million incentive package given to Piper. The package is tied to employment levels and production of the new PiperJet. Piper had contemplated relocating to Oklahoma City or Albuquerque, N.M., beforethe local offer was presented in 2008.
In October, County Commissioner Peter O’Bryan, the commission’s liaison to the Economic Development Council, said he would meet monthly with county and company officials for updates and to discuss the status of the stateand county’s $32 million incentive package given to Piper. The package is tied to employment levels and production of the new PiperJet. Piper had contemplated relocating to Oklahoma City or Albuquerque, N.M., beforethe local offer was presented in 2008.
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