It’s a big deal when residents of the Treasure Coast’s second-largest city pack its council chambers to speak out on a growth issue Given that only a tiny fraction of the city has been built out ― with developers supposedly drooling about what to do with the rest of it ― it’s a big enough issue for the rest of us to pay attention So it was the other night in Fellsmere but dwarfs areas of cities like Fort Pierce Residents showed up to vociferously tell their council they wanted prudent growth Their message was clear: Keep Fellsmere Fellsmere I’ve heard a similar line in Treasure Coast cities and counties for 40 years Look around if you’ve lived here any length of time Lucie — this area is unrecognizable compared to what it was a decade or more ago has grown much faster than the two other Treasure Coast counties distribution centers and “planned” communities (or private enclaves) that extend as far west as newly paved roads will take you It is exactly what residents who spoke the other night in Fellsmere do not want their city to become They don’t even want to be like much of the rest of the Treasure Coast “We need to take care of what we have before we add onto that,” said resident Susan Medlin citing various infrastructure problems in the city which interim City Manager Noah Powers said could break ground soon With about 330 homes on 71 acres west of town the community would have looping roads outside the city’s grid network The grid makes it convenient for walking and driving The subdivision would have some lots smaller than the city’s old-town standard of about 75 by 100 feet The smaller lots troubled all speakers but one ― a developer citing the need for affordable housing ― who are concerned about cookie-cutter subdivisions that clear-cut trees and would ruin the character and feel of their old-Florida-type city Some speakers didn’t see the need or desire to have stores like Publix which Medlin dubbed the “Fellsmere Mall,” are good enough for their little town “We’re a simple people,” she said, noting more development will hurt ongoing drainage woes that created a moat around her home after a storm in 2023 Drainage issues date to 1915 and 1916, when the city — with a railroad connecting it to Sebastian ― was flooded which could have been the hub of what would become Indian River County agricultural interests ― with no immediate development plans — began asking the city to annex their property so they could get around more restrictive county land regulations about 8,800 acres of the Corrigan ranch were annexed into the city giving it access to State Road 60 west of the CVS distribution center and via 90th Avenue east of I-95 With the northern city boundary going to Brevard County and the eastern one connecting to Sebastian it became the largest city by area in Indian River County and 17th largest in the state What appeased controlled-growth advocates back then was the city’s vision became an integral part of city planning,” I wrote citing the vision Nunemaker tried to keep in its comprehensive plan “The city plans to preserve about half its land.” City manager prediction: On heels on Vero Beach, Sebastian growth, Fellsmere population to double in five years? told me in 2019 she was confident newcomers would protect the vision "I understand why people come over here," she said She is one of only two council members around when Nunemaker served The scary part is none seem to have the experience planning knowledge and insight prior leaders had with regard to how Fellsmere planned to develop Fellsmere business owner and mayor during the annexations told the council and public the other night perhaps the most important tool they have to keep the city’s small-town You don’t have to let everyone in,” she said cautioning the council to be protective of the city “Everybody wants to do business in Fellsmere “They can create the community they want,” she said of the council which hopefully will follow the vision outlined years ago and not give in to developers trying to change it Having been in elected office for almost two decades she realizes decisions made today can come back to haunt lawmakers 20 years from now Failing to plan carefully — and not giving in to whims ― will be dangerous I’d love to see Fellsmere’s core expand the way it is now but interconnected neighborhoods on a grid with land set aside so people can walk to neighborhood parks there’s enough land available for commerce and industry which could be required to provide housing for workers That could keep employees from having to commute from Lord knows where The council could use some lessons on what “smart growth” really is. It’s defined this way by Smart Growth America: “Smart growth looks different from place to place — it’s an overall approach to development that encourages a mix of building types and uses diverse housing and transportation options Downtown Fellsmere — where the other night I parked at the old school then walked across the street to have tacos in a small family grocery and ice cream in a family store — is smart growth Even down to the homes surrounding it and the children playing basketball under the lights in the central park outside City Hall Fellsmere is like the small town so many of us grew up in we had to drive 20 or 30 minutes for big-box stores some of whom lived on larger lots; others in row homes or apartments We ought to want to help Fellsmere preserve its special place For if it doesn’t — and it becomes a sprawling Port St shop and play without regard to government boundaries Growth will be challenging enough without a city that loses its way It’s all in planning and the courage of city leaders to set strict development standards and say no when it has to Perhaps more importantly ― and this is what was so great about the other night in Fellsmere ― it’s about a passionate This column reflects the opinion of Laurence Reisman Contact him via email at larry.reisman@tcpalm.com Facebook.com/larryreisman or Twitter @LaurenceReisman If you are a subscriber, thank you. If not, become a subscriber to get the latest local news on the latest local news on the Treasure Coast — Fellsmere's population is currently about 5,000 residents but more people could soon call the city in Indian River County their home is generating quite a buzz in the community with construction set to commence next month The project has Fellsmere residents sharing a variety of opinions Baron McAfee expressed his enthusiasm about the project "I'm glad to see a new development coming in," McAfee said "I think the growth is too fast," Duke said The Marian Estates development will feature 150 townhomes priced between $250,000 and $260,000 along with 182 single-family homes starting at $300,000 each Interim City Manager Noah Powers highlights that this development could offer more than just housing: "We have no local grocery store or pharmacy close by," Powers said the promise of a chain grocery store and pharmacy isn't a compelling enough reason for such rapid growth "It's 5 miles to the grocery store and the drug store," she pointed out She also fears that this new neighborhood could alter the tight-knit community feel "It's like family out here; everybody knows everybody," Duke said Powers reassured residents that this project wouldn't change the city's character "Our focus is to keep Fellsmere as it's always been," Powers said He believes the development will enhance services for all residents "An increased tax base allows municipalities to provide better or different services," Powers said Duke raised a critical issue that hasn't been discussed thoroughly: the potential rise in property taxes due to the new development "Most of us will probably move out too because we can't afford the taxes once it starts," she lamented She understands that growth is inevitable but asked The first shovels are scheduled to hit the ground for the new development in April plans for two more housing developments are already in the works for Fellsmere in the next two years FELLSMERE — A portion of County Road 512 that collapsed from heavy rainfall during Hurricane Milton – leaving a large hole in the roadway – reopened to motorists on Friday 60-inch concrete pipes to handle rainwater with a capacity of 276 cubic feet per second A portion of County Road 512 in Fellsmere that caved in after heavy rainfall from Hurricane Milton in 2024 The new pipes will last for the next 50 years public works director for Indian River County called the installation a “long-term fix” instead of a temporary one “This has been a one-of-a-kind project in terms of collaboration sometimes it can take a while to make sure everybody is on the same page in getting the project completed in a timely fashion,” Javed said We wanted to make sure what we did stood the test of time 512) but improved and added more to the resilience of the structure.” The previous metal culvert underneath the road was rusted and more than 50 years old 512 is also a major evacuation route for Fellsmere “The pipe was not big enough to handle the all the rainfall coming through pushing the soil…this caused a big hole right in the middle of the street,” Javed said The reopening comes a week before the popular Fellsmere Frog Leg Festival All five Indian River County commissioners Interim City Manager Noah Powers and other officials gathered at the site in the 7700 block of C.R 512 on Friday for a ribbon cutting ceremony paved section of County Road 512 in Fellsmere The $1.65-million-dollar project was a partnership between several agencies including Indian River County Florida Department of Emergency Management Florida Department of Transporation and Federal Highway Administration FEMA will pay for the cost of the improvements The project was originally scheduled to last from 8-to 12 weeks 512 from State Road 60 to four miles north of the culvert during the reconstruction Crews paved a section of the road that was 175 linear feet long by 40 linear feet wide Crews completed the project within three weeks “We were able to get it expedited because of the need for getting this road open not only for the Frog Leg Festival which is next week but also because it’s an evacuation route and also frequently used by nearby agricultural businesses,” Javed said 60-inch concrete pipes were installed underneath a section of County Road 512 that collapsed in October 2024 from heavy rainfall during Hurricane Milton Some of those businesses include Egan Fruit Packing and Florida Shrimp Company aquaculture farm Hurricane Milton swept through Florida in October spawning deadly tornadoes that tore through homes and brought heavy rainfall There were no fatalities in Indian River County Northern Fellsmere saw 3.39 inches of rainfall a meteorologist with the National Weather Service Northwest Vero Beach had 11.6 inches of rain and west Vero Beach had 9.87 inches Meteorologists recorded 9.81 inches of rain near the Vero Beach Regional Airport Southwest Sebastian had 7.97 inches of rain Privacy Policy | Copyright © 2025 32963 Media LLC All rights reserved   |    Contact: [email protected]   |   Vero Beach, Florida, USA | Orlando Web Design by: M5 This function has been disabled for Vero News (CBS12) — It has been more than a month since Hurricane Milton tore through our area bringing with it dangerous tornadoes and severe flooding The flooding was so bad in Fellsmere that it severely damaged a major road which has actually been shut down ever since “It’s just annoying as hell," said Fellsmere resident Jose Zamarripa just down the street from the northernmost part of the closure "I don’t see no progress getting done or anything Indian River County Public Works Director Addie Javed says work hasn't started because the county shares authority over that stretch of road with several other agencies so no work can be done until all parties agree on a path forward “We’re working with at least half a dozen different agencies who may have some kind of a jurisdiction," Javed explained "We’ve been able to cut through a lot of red tape sometimes it could take months and monthsso far the response and the help has been great.” The southern end of the closure starts at the Blue Cypress Recreation Area all the way up to 79th Street in Fellsmere The only way around the blockade takes drivers way east to I-95 - a total of nearly 23 miles to get to either end of the closure - about twice as long as the stretch of road that’s closed The east and westbound portion of the road between Fellsmere and I-95 is still open but there's another major issue: the shuttered road also serves as the southbound evacuation route from Fellsmere it would be horrible," Zamarripa told CBS12 News when asked about a potential emergency event happening while the road is closed with the traffic that we got in this little town you come in here at three o’clock in the afternoon That’s something all parties want to avoid everyone’s just hoping construction begins soon VERO BEACH — A Fellsmere man arrested in 2022 on drug trafficking charges as authorities investigated two unsolved homicides and a woman’s disappearance was ordered Monday to spend nearly 54 years in prison according to court records and a prosecutor which involved two years of law enforcement surveillance undercover drug deals and cell phone interceptions showed Gamez was the leader of a group of people “suspected of collectively … possessing selling and distributing narcotics on a regular basis,” according to a 97-page arrest affidavit At least 23 “controlled” drug transactions using confidential informants were documented between March 2020 and February 2022 Documents describing each of those transactions showed detectives monitored deals made outside homes and even a school in Fellsmere —with deliveries made to neighboring cities the Sheriff's Office purchased upwards of at least $26,000 with $25,240 alone from Gamez in cocaine oxycodone and methamphetamine through its informant as Special Weapons and Tactics team agents arrested Gamez and searched homes in neighborhoods off Willow Street deputies seized about 9 pounds of marijuana 25 ounces of methamphetamine and 5 ounces of a cocaine-meth mix among other smaller amounts of controlled substances such as fentanyl Among weapons and cash recovered were $14,000 Gamez was jailed in lieu of a $6.1 million bond related to 59 counts of cocaine methamphetamine and oxycodone-related trafficking Gamez pleaded no contest to 47 drug-related felonies; records show the state had dropped a dozen charges He faced a maximum punishment of 1,000 years in prison according to Assistant State Attorney William Long who prosecuted Gamez and five codefendants “I would say this was one of the larger drug trafficking operations that had been operating within Fellsmere and certainly within Indian River County,” Long said Monday after Gamez’ sentencing hearing Long said two are serving prison terms and two others who cooperated with the state are awaiting sentencing Flowers said they were hopeful the SWAT operation and arrests would reveal information about the homicides of Fellsmere resident Allea Beemer in 2018; and the 2020 disappearance of Amanda Towne happened on Willow Street in Fellsmere,” Flowers said at the time Gilley had been shot in the head and buried under a Koi pond No one has been charged in connection with his death Allea Beemer’s death was ruled a homicide after her body was found Feb. 2, 2022 in an undisclosed location in Fellsmere Detectives at the time declined to reveal where her body was found to not jeopardize the investigation Family members reported Towne struggled with cocaine and oxycodone abuse and went missing after a stay at a relative’s home in the 13400 block of 99th Street searches led by deputies and nonprofit groups found several items considered evidence which was found along a canal bank blocks near the home 2020 just two days after she was reported missing Flowers said while “Operation Weeping Willow” was meant to target illegal gun and drug issues in Fellsmere it also “focused on apprehending and convicting those involved in the Brandon Gilley homicide and other violent crimes.” “We are confident that although we have yet to make an arrest in the Gilley homicide that we have those responsible behind bars facing serious charges,” Flowers said  “We still hold out hope that someone will come forward with the information we need to make an arrest in that case The sentencing of Gamez is another win for our agency and one step closer to justice.” When Gamez on Monday briefly addressed Circuit Judge Robert Meadows he denied being involved with Gilly’s unsolved murder basically saying he was sorry and that he doesn't have anything to do with the homicide of Brandon Gilly,” Long said Fishing technology: Pricey toys turn novice anglers into pros, causing overfishing 'Pain in the butt': Tar balls wash up at Jaycee and Humiston beaches Melissa E. Holsman is the legal affairs reporter for TCPalm and Treasure Coast Newspapers and is writer and co-host of "Uncertain Terms," a true-crime podcast. Reach her at  melissa.holsman@tcpalm.com (CBS12) — A brush fire in Fellsmere has been contained to one-eighth of an acre The Fellsmere Police Department reported that they along with the Indian River Fire Department and the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office responded to a brush fire on Monday morning just south of the canal that runs parallel to the street smoke and ash remain visible in the surrounding area Authorities are monitoring the situation to ensure the safety of local residents Find more ways to stay up to date with your latest local news. Sign up for our newsletter to get the day's top headlines delivered right to your inbox. Subscribe to our YouTube channel for the biggest stories and can't miss video FELLSMERE — A small plane experienced engine problems midflight causing its pilot to make a forced landing in a private ranch Thursday according to a preliminary report from the FAA was flown to HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital in Fort Pierce with serious injuries An update on the man’s condition was not available on Friday The pilot was the only person aboard the privately-owned Aviat Pitts S-2B Fellsmere police, Indian River County deputies and fire rescue crews responded to reports of a downed plane about 10:35 a.m Thursday in an undeveloped area of land east of Interstate 95 in the city of Fellsmere The collision occurred in an empty cow pasture two miles north of the 90th Avenue and 26th Street intersection police chief with the Fellsmere Police Department “The crash was reported by ranch employees who saw and heard the plane in the air prior to impact,” Touchberry said Touchberry said the workers called 911 after hearing the loud boom First responders located the single-engine plane about 11:02 a.m FAA representatives went to the scene and spoke with witnesses The investigation was turned over to the National Transporation Safety Board “The aircraft will be removed and transported to a salvage facility and examined at a later date,” National Transportation Safety Board officials said  “The NTSB is still gathering flight data and does not release occupant identity or their medical information.” Privacy Policy | Copyright © 2025 32963 Media LLC All rights reserved   |    Contact: [email protected]   |   Vero Beach, Florida, USA | Orlando Web Design by: M5 FELLSMERE — Local residents are no fans of development and resent cookie-cutter subdivisions trying to encroach on their small-town way of life and they'll say there needs to be a balance struck between the two The city hosted a workshop April 23 asking residents for direction The answer from the 50 who turned out was nearly unanimous: 75-by-130-foot home sites limit developers to building neighborhoods more in-tune with the character of Fellsmere "Florida is a very developer-friendly state," said City Attorney Warren Dill "The courts will not allow only 75-by-130-foot lots But it does not have to fold to developers Many argued the small-town charm will be destroyed by developers looking to cash in "We don't want a fake place to live," said Wendy Austin "We don't want gated communities or new subdivisions." it legally cannot be denied access to build "We are bound to approve if a developer meets code," he said "But we can negotiate and get what we need and want." Most of the 60-square-mile city remains undeveloped or agricultural land the city can demand they install improvements such as infrastructure or follow architectural guidelines to avoid uniformity It can even demand that subdivisions blend cohesively into the existing city It just needs to spell out the terms clearly in the contract Out-of-control development seen across the state does not have to happen here." First development: Fellsmere's 332-home Marian Estates is first in line to be built Fast facts: 5 facts about Fellsmere, a 110-year-old city on the Treasure Coast Community Development Director Bob Loring pointed out "We need to find a way to keep home prices down," Loring said "Large lots are not an affordable option for people with lower incomes." Loring suggested tying new developments with larger lots sizes to affordable housing on smaller lots effectively killing two birds with one stone "We just want to make sure the city can continue to survive," Loring said Fellsmere has the power to plot its own future and the city has the land which developers want," Adams said "The city can meet its needs through negotiation but don't let developers chip away at the masterpiece to maximize their profits Nick Slater is TCPalm's Indian River County Watchdog reporter. You can reach him at Nick.Slater@tcpalm.com and 224-830-2875 FELLSMERE - Planning for development and upgrading infrastructure such as roads and drainage to meet increased demand plus increasing community involvement in city affairs were among the top issues of City Council candidates hoping to be voted into office at the Nov Three of five council seats are up for vote; there are five candidates Boissat and Macias are seeking office for the first time Salgado and Herrera did not respond to inquiries for comment Boissat and Macias favored widening County Road 512 to alleviate rush-hour traffic backups and said construction of Marion Estates with roughly 320 homes planned on land east of 141st Avenue could exacerbate the traffic according to questionnaires returned to TCPalm With an estimated population just under 5,000 Fellsmere has more than five times fewer people than Sebastian it’s more than four times the size of neighboring Sebastian All three candidates said they wanted to keep Fellsmere’s “small-town charm,” and saw a need for more involvement or interest in city affairs from residents Stormwater drainage and drinking water concerns were other subjects the candidates said were concerns for residents Tyson said those concerns were being addressed by the governing bodies responsible for their maintenance and upkeep which he said are Indian River County and Fellsmere Water Control District Several development projects considered by former city manager Mark Mathes who left to be manager of the Fellsmere Water Control District were expected to double Fellsmere’s population in five years Some of the projects include more than a thousand new homes a wave park and racetrack and a north-to-south road Tyson is a Fellsmere native and said at 92 he holds the title of oldest mayor in the state by the Florida League of Cities he moved back to the city in 1996 and first ran for office in 1998 and was elected mayor in 2001 Tyson said in his TCPalm questionnaire he's running “(to) help ensure that the anticipated growth of the city is carried out in a properly managed manner.” He said widening County Road 512 from Interstate 95 to the eastern city boundary would help with the increased traffic from an expected population growth in the next two-to-five years He said his age and experience distinguished him from his opponents He has knowledge of the city and regional government connections “…I don’t think I do a great job," he said "I fill the slot and I’m doing the very best I can but I tell the people it's not that I'm doing a great job "it's an opportunity to be a part of what Fellsmere's all about Shayla MaciasAs a lifelong Fellsmere resident Macias said it had “always been (her) dream to become part of City Council." After getting a business economics degree and after years of volunteer work with civic and nonprofit and school-based organizations she said she felt qualified to run for office “I just want a Fellsmere that the whole community can enjoy and come together,” Macias said She favors revitalization of areas for events Mexican Independence Day and the popular Fellsmere Frog Leg Festival would make residents "more keen on joining in." Without what she said was “a strong foundation” of community the town would struggle with any kind of development she said finding ways and funding to expand County Road 512 would help address present and future traffic issues "One of the biggest (issues) is being prepared for growth,” she said “Focus and attention must be placed on the paving of roads in Fellsmere to create a more cohesive community,” she said in the questionnaire “This would incentivize more business and housing developments I see the paving of roads as a critical first step in the development of infrastructure necessary for a more prosperous Fellsmere." Boissat has served on the city’s Planning and Zoning Board is that he is fluent in Spanish and French and has volunteered with a number of youth organizations He has worked in several industries and career fields and said he currently works for the School District of Indian River County and is a locksmith His reason for running for office is because he is “not happy with the direction of the city,” and has expressed concerns over drinking water “I just want to keep the city unique like it says in the motto,” said Boissat who also said he wanted to prevent it from growing to a Port St Boissat said there is “never enough communication with the people,” and if residents were more informed “they might want to get up and say something.” "It’s a wonderful city compared to what I came from (Los Angeles) .. it's just a big huge family and that's what I like about it." Herrera owns Fernando Herrera Lawn Care and was first elected to the City Council in 2001 Salgado works for the Boys & Girls Club of Indian River County Next steps: Winners will either be sworn in Nov Corey Arwood is a breaking news reporter for TCPalm and Treasure Coast Newspapers. Follow @coreyarwood on X, email corey.arwood@tcpalm.com or call 772-978-2246 INDIAN RIVER COUNTY − A nearly 600-acre controlled burn is underway at a Fellsmere-area nature preserve county emergency officials said Friday afternoon Indian River County Emergency Services Department officials said residents might see smoke and ash from the 566-acre prescribed burn at the St The burn was planned for the park's northwest quadrant north of the C-54 canal and east of Babcock Street Southeast in Brevard County Prescribed fire reduces the buildup of dangerous fuels from overgrown brush and forest litter It is the best way to remove combustible debris which helps lower the risks to people and property from fast-moving catastrophic fires and reduces the intensity of wildfires when they do occur according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission A 2021 wildfire called the Tree Frog Fire which started at a campsite in the park burned 1,150 acres and took five days to contain (This story was updated with more information.) Corey Arwood is a breaking news reporter for TCPalm and Treasure Coast Newspapers. Follow @coreyarwood on X, email corey.arwood@tcpalm.com or call 772-978-2246 More: Get your hot cocoa ready! More cold fronts on the way with possible dips into upper 30s More: Stuart Costco store to open April 25 as 49-acre Kanner Highway development nears completion More: Vehicle and ambulance carrying patient, paramedics crash on U.S. 1 in Port St. Lucie FELLSMERE − Voters returned two incumbents to the City Council including Vice Mayor Fernando Herrera and Mayor Pro Tem Jessica Salgado and elected a first-time office holder Among the five council candidates who could be reached or agreed to participate in TCPalm election reporting all held among their top issues: planning for development and upgrading infrastructure such as roads and drainage to meet increased demand plus increasing community involvement in city affairs More: Planning for growth in Fellsmere tops for some council candidates on Nov. 5 ballot Jessica Salgado and Fernando Herrera defeated Joel Tyson and Eric Boissat Herrera 280 total votes and Salgado 222 total votes unofficial results from the Indian River County Supervisor of Elections Office WHAT'S NEXT: After election results are certified council members will be sworn in and a mayor and vice mayor chosen at the next city council meeting Meetings are held the first and third Thursday of every month TREASURE COASTFlorida results: President, state house/senate & amendments: 2024 Indian River County election results 2024 St. Lucie County election results 2024 Martin County election results Live: Election 2024 live updates: Trump, Harris face off for the White House Live: Legal fights and long, long lines: Live updates on Election Day snags Live: Congressional election updates: Who has control of House, Senate? FELLSMERE — The city will hold a workshop April 23 to discuss decide how it will proceed with future development Developers are eyeing thousands of acres of undeveloped property but with new additions to the City Council and city staff "We want to make sure we are all on the same page," said City Manager Noah Powers The purpose of bringing in new developments is to increase the city's tax base A larger tax base generates more revenue and allows more city services means more money coming into the city and a larger budget," said Powers "And a larger budget means more improvements east of 141st Avenue — is expected to break ground soon First development: Marian Estates set to break ground soon Crumbling condos: Inspection reports reveal substantial structural deterioration across Treasure Coast Public concernMany in the public are concerned that Fellsmere will lose its small-town charm "This workshop will work out the kinks of striking a balance," said Powers "We know we have to be responsible and not let growth get out of hand But we also know that for a city to thrive "That all starts with having a unified direction." FELLSMERE — A developer has a dream to build a surf park west of Interstate 95 here he already has presented them to the City Council The Point Surf Park would be built on 2.3 acres at Mesa Park on County Road 512 The wave pool would hold 3.3 million gallons of water but in an interview he declined to discuss other financial details The city said the project would cost $30 million De Araujo said he is conducting traffic and environmental studies No engineering plans have been submitted to the city What The Point could beThe wave park could be the next attraction at the former concert venue which has hosted artists such as George Jones and Joan Jett and events such as swamp buggy races It is not expected to interfere with the adjacent Mesa Motocross Park The Point would have children's programs; would partner with the Boys & Girls Club in Fellsmere; and offer programs for youth groups More: Touring 'buddies' Mike Lupica, James Patterson visit Vero Beach, share writing wisdom More: Gifford Youth Orchestra wraps up year with a 'Crescendo,' looks toward the future The Point also would offer night surfing and would be committed to using local food trucks and hiring employees from Fellsmere and surrounding areas Opposition already coming forwardSome residents specifically telling the council about traffic concerns De Araujo said the facility would schedule surfing outside of peak traffic hours and would work with the city to minimize traffic along County Road 512 "We're not coming in with trailers and trailers of gear and equipment we're just coming in with boards," he said "We will have limited spots available for surfers at specific times known as the Koa Bay — and commonly called the WaveGarden after the company that builds the surfing facilities — has long been planned northwest of the Interstate 95-Midway Road interchange in Fort Pierce That project, which would combine the WaveGarden surf facility with housing, received its first early approvals from the Fort Pierce City Commission in 2022 There have been some recent steps forward, though. In July, according to the project website developers began accepting deposits from potential residents the City Commission voted unanimously to allow developers to form the Koa Bay Community Development District an independent taxing authority that could borrow money and eventually establish fees to residents to pay back those debts presenting to the City Commission at the time declined to comment on the status of the WaveGarden surf park as he was only representing the developer on the establishment of the community development district De Araujo stressed that the Fellsmere project is in its early stages "Until opening day and the first wave is caught," he said Staff writer Wicker Perlis contributed to this report Nick Slater is TCPalm’s Indian River County Watchdog reporter. You can reach him at Nick.Slater@tcpalm.com and 224-830-2875 FELLSMERE — A plane with only the pilot on board crashed Thursday on rural land in Fellsmere survived the crash which occurred just east of Interstate 95 on ranch land near the 150 mile marker according to Fellsmere Police Chief Keith Touchberry “The patient is being loaded up as we speak,” said Touchberry An Indian River County Fire Rescue official said the crash site was along the edge of a cow pasture near a tree line "We had several units dispatched to it because we weren’t sure of the exact location," said Deputy Fire Chief Sean Gibbons "We got eyewitness reports of a plane that went down in that area." Gibbons said he believed the aircraft was privately owned although he was unsure if the pilot was the owner Touchberry said the plane was a single engine The man was said to be in critical condition and the damage to the plane described as heavy or "considerable." according to a statement provided by a Federal Aviation Administration spokesperson According to the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association the bi-wing aircraft is a classified as capable of both normal and aerobatic flight operations Law enforcement was first notified of a downed aircraft in the area at 10:35 a.m "The call was received by ranch personnel who saw and heard the plane above their ranch," Touchberry said "They could tell by the sounds they heard that the plane crashed (but) they didn’t actually see the crash." He said all-wheel drive vehicles were needed to the reach the crash site Database: Treasure Coast plane crashes Touchberry said the family of the pilot was notified however he directed further questions about the pilot the aircraft or the crash to the National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration which he said were investigating the matter More: Fort Pierce's lease with Little Jim nearing expiration without a new deal on the table More: Local law enforcement steps up efforts to partner with feds on immigration, other issues which holds two Guinness Book World Records All things food: Roundups of the latest reviews, inspections, new and best restaurants Fun things to do: Best activities and attractions on the Treasure Coast Eve Pierpont is a freelancer for TCPalm who looks out for the best things to do across the Treasure Coast Do you have an upcoming event you want to be potentially included in this weekly roundup You can also upload your event to TCPalm's event page at events.tcpalm.com he recently finished his time as an elected official and this year was oldest mayor in the state was to rebuild the reputation of Fellsmere "Fellsmere was overlooked by the county and other municipalities," said Tyson we really did not have a face or a voice at the higher levels." He teamed up for 14 years with City Manager Jason Nunemaker and expanded the city to nearly 60 square miles "We started annexing land and kept growing," Tyson said you'll eventually get swallowed by a bigger fish." travelers along Interstate 95 pass through 10 miles of Fellsmere "That really made people take notice." Tyson said We're bigger than Sebastian and Vero Beach in area." "We really worked hard on growing the city," said Nunemaker who left Fellsmere in 2019 to become chief administrative officer of the city of Plantation in Broward County More: Development 2025: What Treasure Coast projects are you likely to see come to reality in 2025? More: $30 million surf park proposed in Fellsmere, but its opening still could be a long way off Tyson also leaves behind a legacy of historic preservation "We raised an initial $650,000 for the old school house and then spent another $3 million bringing it up to code," Tyson said Along with being the city administration hub,the Old Fellsmere School housed the Boys & Girls Club of Indian River County until its current home was built He also played a large road in the rails-to-trails Trans-Florida Central Railroad Trail "The iconic bridge that spans I-95 would not have happened without him," said Nunemaker "We can't overstate his contributions to conserving history." City Council members have asked Tyson to stick around for a special job leading the invocation at the beginning of each meeting "I'll stick around for that," Tyson said proudly Tyson also was appointed to the Planning and Zoning Board "There are still a lot of things going on that I want to be a part of I just don't need to be on council anymore." "The town owes Joel a huge debt of gratitude for his hard work," said Nunemaker and his wonderful disposition reverberates throughout Indian River County." Nick Slater is TCPalm's Indian River County Watchdog reporter You can reach him at Nick.Slater@tcpalm.com and 224-830-2875 Home » Home » WATCH: 34th Annual Fellsmere Frog Leg Festival Set Jan By  //  January 16 BREVARD COUNTY • FELLSMERE, FLORIDA – A local favorite for 34 years, the Fellsmere Frog Leg Festival has something for every member of your family and supports the Fellsmere community Don’t miss the famous mouth-watering frog leg and gator tail dinners and browse hundreds of booths for unique gifts Hear some great music and enjoy the fun rides Discover why this festival is a January tradition for so many – and enjoy free admission and parking The Fellsmere Frog Leg Festival is a city fundraiser held annually in Fellsmere It was first proposed by Fran Adams and other residents and was planned in 1990 to increase the funds of Fellsmere’s recreation department festival attendance has grown tremendously and the city of Fellsmere continues to benefit from it the festival featured 3,000 pounds of frog legs from Louisiana and 2,500 pounds of alligator from South Florida For more information, call 772-571-0250 or email froglegfestival@gmail.com Click Here to Sign Up for Text Alerts FELLSMERE — Motorists traveling along Interstate 95 will likely see and smell smoke from a 55-acre prescribed burn Wednesday at St “Smoke and ash will be seen in the area,” Fellsmere police said Park crews were burning brush in the southeast portion of the park which stretches from southern Brevard County to northern Indian River County The burn was located east of I-95 and north of County Road 512 Details on how long the burn would last were not immediately available Privacy Policy | Copyright © 2025 32963 Media LLC All rights reserved   |    Contact: [email protected]   |   Vero Beach, Florida, USA | Orlando Web Design by: M5 FILE - The Fellsmere Police Department said an Aviat Pitts S-2B biplane crashed at a private ranch approximately two miles north of the intersection of 90th Avenue and 26th Street within the Fellsmere city limits at around 10:30 a.m alongside the Indian River County Sheriff's Office and Indian River County Fire Rescue were dispatched to the scene after ranch employees reported the incident The Fellsmere Police Department (FPD) said an Aviat Pitts S-2B biplane crashed at a private ranch approximately two miles north of the intersection of 90th Avenue and 26th Street within the Fellsmere city limits at around 10:30 a.m first responders found the downed biplane and discovered the pilot — the sole occupant — was still inside and he was in need of urgent medical attention The pilot was airlifted to Lawnwood Hospital in Fort Pierce See also: A.I. granny scams the scammers, stealing their time The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) personnel interviewed witnesses at the scene and the investigation has been handed over to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) "The aircraft will be removed and transported to a salvage facility and examined at a later date The NTSB is still gathering flight data and says it does not release occupant identity or their medical information." INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — The Trans-Florida Central Railroad Trail project continues to grow with the next 3-mile section of the scenic path planned to be completed in Fellsmere rails-to-trails multi-use path that follows the grade of the former Fellsmere Railroad It traverses Interstate 95 over an iconic bridge "The eventual plan is to have the trail connect Fellsmere to the Sebastian waterfront," said Metropolitan Planning Director Brian Freeman Next the Fellsmere portion is expected to be built It allows travel between the Fellsmere Preserve Trailhead and North Indian River County Regional Park in Sebastian to the east The process for building the trails consists of the MPO identifying it as a priority the Florida Department of Transportation providing funding and building the trail as part of its Shared-Use Non-Motorized Trail Program and eventually turning care over to the municipalities in which the trails pass through County portionThe trail was dedicated in November 2018 and repairs and maintenance of sections have been passed to the to the county as portions have been completed do weed-eating and mowing and make sure it's safe for bikers and anyone else who uses it," said county Parks Recreation and Conservation Director Beth Powell "We've even built and repaired five boardwalks along the pathway." the county spent $123,632 to repair the boardwalks More: Hurricane Milton debris at Riverside Park in Vero Beach all picked up, park 'back to normal' More: Breeze Airways announces first quarter of profit, cites Vero Beach flights as big reason The next 3-mile phase will connect the Fellsmere Preserve Trailhead to the Fellsmere Railroad Depot on South Carolina Avenue The eventual trail will extend another 3-miles west of Fellsmere From the preserve to the depot is expected to cost $1.3 million with groundbreaking in late September or early October according to Fellsmere Interim City Manager Noah Powers The last section to the Sebastian waterfront is expected to be 4 miles the railroad's name was changed to the Trans-Florida Central Railroad with plans to extend the railway to Tampa The Great Depression put a stop to those plans The Trans-Florida Central was known as the “Dinky Railroad” due to the Model-T INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — County Road 512 between 79th Street and State Road 60 is to reopen 11:30 a.m marking completion of a $1 million repair project and restoring Fellsmere's southern evacuation route It has been closed since Hurricane Milton struck in October a culvert under the road failed and collapsed and included installing two new 60-inch pipes The federal government will pay for the repair "The county worked through the holidays and weekends to repair the road and get it up and running as fast as possible," said Public Works Director Addie Javed "We faced some difficulty in the beginning but came together as a well-oiled machine to get it done ahead of schedule." The workers did get Christmas Day and New Year's Day off The damaged area was 1 mile south of 79th Street Johns River Water Management District each had jurisdiction to repair the pipe Estimates placed completion beyond mid-January Coordinated effortsThe county headed efforts to replace the pipe but controversy arose when it was determined that two pipes were needed and officials wanted tyo use Federal Emergency Management Agency funds "FEMA usually pays for like-to-like repairs," explained Javed "But we were able to come to an agreement quickly to place two pipes." More: Handling homelessness: Three approaches to enforcing the anti-public sleeping bill More: Florida real estate: Active home listings finally surpass pre-coronavirus pandemic numbers The size of the single original pipe was unknown Javed explained that the county worked as quickly as possible because 512 is the southern evacuation route from Fellsmere The new pipe is designed to last more than 50 years Interstate 95 access and the evacuation route north via County Road 507 — Babcock Street — was unhindered during repairs "Everyone worked together to get this done," said Javed and we can continue moving forward from Milton." FELLSMERE — A pilot was seriously injured after the plane he was in crashed along a private ranch just east of Interstate 95 “The (pilot’s) family has been notified,” said Keith Touchberry police chief for the Fellsmere Police Department FAA officials said the plane was an Aviat Pitts S-2B The pilot was the only person aboard the privately-owned aircraft Ranch personnel saw the plane overhead and heard the loud crash moments later “They called 911 after hearing (the crash),” Touchberry said The incident involving the single-engine plane happened about 10:35 a.m Thursday in an undeveloped area of land in the city of Fellsmere The wreck occurred in an empty cow pasture two miles north of State Road 60 and near the 150-mile marker Indian River County sheriff’s deputies fire rescue and Fellsmere police responded to the scene It took first responders nearly 30 minutes to find the wreckage because of the tall tree lines in the underdeveloped area “We had several units dispatched,” said Sean Gibbons deputy chief with Indian River County Fire Rescue The man was flown to HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital in Fort Pierce The FAA and National Transporation Safety Board were notified of the crash Both agencies were investigating the cause of the collision Privacy Policy | Copyright © 2025 32963 Media LLC All rights reserved   |    Contact: [email protected]   |   Vero Beach, Florida, USA | Orlando Web Design by: M5 Fellsmere was incorporated as a city 110 years ago Fort Pierce: 5 facts about the 124-year-old city on the Treasure Coast (CBS12) — All the recent rain across Indian River County is only increasing frustration among neighbors in Fellsmere They say the Fellsmere Water Control District has done very little to prevent another flooding disaster like it saw late last year The aftermath of the devastating floods last November was captured by Drone 12 footage showing entire streets and neighborhoods submerged It wasn’t caused by a hurricane—just relentless rain frustration in Fellsmere is reaching a boiling point Residents blame the district for neglecting basic maintenance such as cleaning out ditches that are supposed to help drain water but we don't think that's far enough," Julie Steiner Residents packed into a Thursday night meeting “We want somebody to listen and help us to clear the laterals to do what the district was established to do,” Ledford said According to the district, the bulk of their funds—nearly $1.2 million—is going toward cleaning and clearing out the three major canals: Park Lateral the community argues that more needs to be done to maintain the smaller ditches Linda Hart has been living in Fellsmere since the 90’s "I think the last time my ditches were cleaned was maybe 2003 They haven’t come down and cleaned the ditches at all since then,” Hard said you have a lot of cabbage palm trees that have grown up on the bench If you remove those cabbage palm trees to allow equipment to clean the roots are actually holding that bank together,” Greg Nelson a Fellsmere Water Control District board member Nelson said they expect the main canals to be cleaned up within the next 6 to 7 weeks As for the sublaterals and smaller ditches they say that will be their next order of business FELLSMERE — Former Orchid Town Manager Noah Powers is taking over as interim city manager here and began splitting duties with outgoing City Manager Mark Mathes Monday He is expected to sign a six-month contract which includes a review at the three-month mark The council is to discuss his salary at its Sept according to City Clerk Maria Suarez-Sanchez Powers was Orchid town manager from 2015-2021 More: Sebastian and Indian River Habitat for Humanity partner to build houses for local families More: Fellsmere City Manager Mark Mathes resigning Sept. 6 for job at Water Control District Mathes' last day as city manager is Sept 6 15 to become manager of the Fellsmere Water Control District He will earn $100,000 with the Water Control District FELLSMERE, Fla. (CBS12) — The closure of County Road 512 has been a massive inconvenience for months after damage from Hurricane Milton shut nearly ten miles of the road that connects Fellsmere to Vero Beach A century old pipe that ran underneath the road gave way during the storm “The historical plans we could find were all the way from the 1930’s that’s how long ago this pipe was probably put so almost 100 years ago," explained Addie Javed Indian River County's Public Works Director "Just washed the whole thing (away) and before you knew it you’ve got a whole right in the middle of County Road 512they’ve dug out the old pipe The old pipe is hardly visible in the massive crater in the road The reason it took so long to get started on these critical road repairs is due to multiple agencies having some jurisdiction over this stretch of county road so they all had to agree on a path forward after how many months that have been waiting the better because I know that business will pick back upit’s been a total inconvenience man I mean there’s a lot of traffic that has not been able to come by.” Not only is does this route connect Fellsmere to State Road 60 in Vero Beach; it’s also the only way out of Fellsmere going south “This road being closed really impacts our businesses it impacts our travel and it impacts the delivery of goods for the farms so having this road up and operational is vital to the City of Fellsmere," Indian River County Commissioner Susan Adams told CBS12 News Friday “These guys are going to be working through the weekends and overnights if they have to to get this done for us as quickly as possible.” people have to drive 23 miles east and go down I-95 to reach the other end of the closure there is no way for anyone else to go around but to use 95,” Javed stated As for how long this is going to take; Javed says they’re working on an aggressive schedule in hopes of reopening the road in mid-January Five years have passed and the Indian River County Sheriff's Office (IRCSO) are still seeking answers in the case of a missing woman Deputies say she was last seen near 99th Street in Fellsmere wearing a camouflage hooded sweater with a zipper dark colored spandex pants and dark colored flip flops (CBS12) — Five years have passed and the Indian River County Sheriff's Office (IRCSO) is still seeking answers in the case of a missing woman On March 5, 2020, Amanda Towne, who was 28, went missing. Deputies say she was last seen near 99th Street in Fellsmere wearing a camouflage hooded sweater with a zipper See also: Palm Beach advises alternative routes amid Lake Worth Bridge malfunction and closure Towne had three children, two sons and a daughter who were around the ages of three and twelve around the time she went missing She was a single mom who worked as a waitress and a bartender If anyone knows Towne's location or has any information that leads to an arrest they are asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-273-8477 Any information that leads to an arrest is eligible for a $5,000 reward FELLSMERE — City Manager Mark Mathes will leave the city Sept 6 to become manager of the Fellsmere Water Control District He told the City Council of his resignation Aug explained that the Water Control District board approached him a number of months ago asking him to take over operations management at the district He has been city manager since August 2019 "I have worked with the district for many years now," said Mathes but nothing too serious or out of the ordinary "I was looking for a different retirement plan and that was ultimately what led to the decision." It's unclear how Fellsmere will fill the city manager job Mayor Joel Tyson did not return calls seeking comment The has district paid an outside company $75,000 a year for management services and will have Mathes looking for grants to soften the financial impact to the district according to district President Greg Nelson Mathes will oversee the district and report to the board The district's only other employee is a maintenance technician "I'll be taking care of long-range and short-range planning capital programming and any other administrative duties," said Mathes The district is responsible for moving storm water out of its borders through a gravity canal system eventually ending in the Indian River Lagoon Property owners pay a $37-per-acre annual assessment for services Mathes had been looking for a new job for months "I was looking for a place that had a different retirement program," explained Mathes I did not have to go too far down the road to find one." Mathes' hiring is a response to complaints that the management company was often difficult to reach "We've heard feedback from landowners within the district that their calls were not being returned," said Nelson "It was obvious that there was a need for a human contact to be in the district office so people could speak with someone." "It's nice knowing I'll still be in Fellsmere," said Mathes "But we have so much happening and so much to look forward to it is hard to see what I have worked for not fulfilled." Mathes already knows what his first action with the district will be I want to set my eyes on every single foot of ditch and canal in the district," said Mathes "I have heard that some ditches have never been cleaned Mathes will not take part in crafting the district's new budget More: Who is running for city councils in Fellsmere, Indian River Shores, Sebastian, Vero Beach? More: Repair work, interchange construction to bring road and bridge closures which dumped 14 inches of rain in 24 hours Residents said in previous district meetings that the lack of ditch and canal cleaning over the 30 previous years exacerbated the floods and district officials agreed that maintenance was long overdue "I've heard some of the citizen concerns and will work to address them to the best of my abilities," said Mathes "I hope to hit the ground running and do what I can for residents." Brenda Argueta FELLSMERE – The largest frog leg festival in Florida is back again serving up thousands of pounds of frog legs and gator The 34th annual Fellsmere Frog Leg Festival will kick off Thursday and run through Sunday The event offers free admission and parking There will be free shuttles Saturday and Sunday taking festivalgoers from Mesa Park to the festival and back festivals and more by signing up for our Central Florida Happenings newsletter there will be carnival rides available for purchase There will also be live music throughout the event: there will be a drive-thru option available for cash purchases only the event started in 1990 as a way to raise funds and it has grown ever since “Fellsmere has been proclaimed Frog Leg Capital of the World and The Frog Leg Festival holds 2 Guinness Book World Records for The Most Frog Legs served in the course of one business day and the Largest Frog Leg Festival in the world!” the website reads. For more information on festival and food schedules or to learn more about the event, click here. Check out the Florida Foodie podcast You can find every episode in the media player below: Copyright 2023 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved Brenda Argueta is a digital journalist who joined ClickOrlando.com in March 2021 She is the author of the Central Florida Happenings newsletter that goes out every Thursday TV Listings Email Newsletters RSS Feeds Contests and Rules Contact Us / Follow on Social Media Careers at WKMG Closed Captioning / Audio Description Public File Current EEO Report Terms of Use Privacy Policy Do Not Sell My Info FCC Applications EEO Report Disability Assistance Copyright © 2025 ClickOrlando.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group — Residents living outside the Fellsmere city limits are asking to have their voices heard residents say the Fellsmere Water Control District has taken no steps to make sure it does not happen again South Fellsmere residents are still dealing with the impacts from massive flooding last November just one big lake," said resident Jed Aranes He says the flood impacted people’s livelihoods "There are some that use livestock as [a] living a lot of chickens because of what happened with the flood," he said Aranes says the ditches have not been cleaned in more than a decade He blames the Fellsmere Water Control District for not fixing the problem The water control district is a board made up of landowners “We have 1,600 acres compared to about 10,000 owned by the Fellsmere Joint Venture," Aranes said Aranes believes the Fellsmere Joint Venture’s land takes priority over residents who live in the area Those residents feel their problems are being ignored “Transparency with what the board is doing," Aranes said WPTV reached out to the Fellsmere Water Control District which says there are currently $1.2 million in ongoing projects and if you live within the water district and own over an acre of land and Aranes says neighbors will be there to speak up FELLSMERE — A Port St. Lucie man has been sentenced to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to robbing a bank in January in Fellsmere “This is a robbery!” a news release said Friday “Ziesel demanded bank employees put cash in his pillowcase and then Ziesel fled the bank,” according to the release He eventually was apprehended after leading law enforcement officers on a high-speed chase south on Interstate 95 and into Fort Pierce before crashing into another car the case began as Fellsmere police and Indian River County sheriff’s deputies responded after 10 a.m to the iThink Financial bank on North Broadway Street Bank personnel told Fellsmere Police the man did not show a weapon He demanded money be put in a pillowcase he brought with him leaving with an undisclosed amount of cash Indian River County deputies located him traveling south on I-95 Lucie County sheriff’s deputies and Florida Highway Patrol troopers joined the pursuit The chase ended in Fort Pierce when the man crashed near South 13th Street and Georgia Avenue Investigators reported recovering the money taken from the bank Fellsmere Police Chief Keith Touchberry said Ziesel was on federal probation for robbing a bank in 2019 in Ohio Attorney's Office said the Fellsmere incident marks the third time Ziesel has been convicted of bank robbery Deadly crash: 2 dead after crash on Florida's Turnpike in St. Lucie County New leadership at SLCSO: Sheriff-elect Richard Del Toro names two former colleagues for leadership spots Will Greenlee is a breaking news reporter for TCPalm. Follow Will on X @OffTheBeatTweet or reach him by phone at 772-267-7926. E-mail him at will.greenlee@tcpalm.com — A pilot of a small plane was seriously hurt after crashing in rural Indian River County on Thursday The Indian River County Sheriff's Office said a single-engine plane went down just east of Interstate 95 at about 10:30 a.m in an undeveloped area of private land in the city of Fellsmere WATCH BELOW: Pilot airlifted to hospital after plane crash The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission also said one of their officers responded to the area located at Corrigan Ranch just off State Road 60 The FAA said the plane involved was an Aviat Pitts S-2B Fellsmere police said in a Facebook post that a man piloting the plane was taken by helicopter to HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital in Fort Pierce they found the pilot," Fellsmere Police Chief Keith Touchberry said The pilot was in need of immediate medical care." The name of the pilot was being withheld until relatives were notified Officials said no other people were on board Police said the Indian River County Sheriff's Office and Indian River Fire Rescue also responded to the scene The FAA said in a preliminary report that the aircraft "experienced engine problems," forcing it to land in a field The National Transportation Safety Board said they have also opened an investigation The NTSB said their investigations involve three primary areas: the pilot the aircraft and the operating environment investigators said they will gather the following information and records: Witnesses or those who have surveillance video or other information that could be relevant to the investigation are asked to contact the NTSB at witness@ntsb.gov FELLSMERE − Mesa Motocross Park is an off-road 2-mile-long race track featuring sand tracks and other facilities open to the public at 9550 Mesa Park East The private park has an entry fee and offers riding lessons and rentals some daredevil riders enjoyed the sometimes muddy track Skate City reopens: It's the only outdoor public skating rink on the Treasure Coast Breeze Airways: Airline announces first quarter of profit, cites Vero Beach flights as big reason rail travelBreeze Airways just added another Florida destination to its list: Key West Maybe the state of Florida should consider replacing Brightline with Breeze Laurence Reisman was spot on with his column about downtown Vero Beach and how the city council must Keep It Simple Stupid Depending on the time of day when I drive down 14th Avenue there’s usually a place to park and the traffic is not all that heavy The question is how many more people do we want there until it gets congested the park needs sprucing up and certainly several of the storefronts need attention It’s a comfortable neighborhood that just needs some TLC All of the proposals for the power plant will inevitably bring more traffic What would the Native Americans do if it were their choice At the rate the developers are building housing to the south of us it’s only a matter of time before the traffic congestion of West Palm reaches Vero Beach Meantime, I saw a proposal for a development in Fellsmere turning another sleepy Florida town into an expanding suburban area The Mohawk Valley was devastated by urban renewal in the 1960s demolishing old buildings to make way for new development to spur the economy Now the only place to buy underwear is the Dollar store or Walmart Corridor planning: Florida shame coming? After Buc-ee's, Oslo Road next growth domino to fall? | Opinion and the natural beauty revitalized my soul West of 58th Avenue was my first country road sparking a love for the outdoors and a healthier me planting roots and raising a family amidst this charm No cookie-cutter homes or character-crushing developments filling that gap between the Rockledge and Palm Beach rinks a tranquil lake with a fountain ― tasteful Let's boost the economy and create a recreational haven And how about a celebration of local goodness vibrant farmers' markets and a health food store rotating food trucks on park grounds and a few new restaurants Maybe an indoor trampoline park for young people with bright tropical colors would be a fantastic first impression softly lit pathways for biking and strolling I wish we could bring back some of those iconic orange groves if researchers figure out a solution unique community that embraces its natural treasures I have to agree with Jack Siplak's letter about the "free" state of Florida How does wanting to restrict our right to petition for constitutional amendments fit in with being free how does it fit in with our freedom to access governmental information that was supposedly guaranteed by the government in the Sunshine Law Ron DeSantis more closely means Floridians are "free" to agree with him completely or otherwise we are "free" to go pound sand Am I understanding correctly what is happening in our country House of Representatives ― one chamber of Congress the legislative branch — is a majority of Republicans the legislative branch ― is a majority of Republicans Congress is responsible for passing federal laws The federal government and programs established by Congress and the administration are being dismantled by a private citizen ― an immigrant from South Africa ― who spent about $290 million to help buy the office for the president The president ― head of the administrative branch ― has most recently chosen to be a Republican The president is using the Department of Justice offensively against political opponents The president and his administration are ignoring lawful court orders The president has shown he will pardon those who acts illegally on his behalf The president identifies with and gives aid and comfort to dictator Vladimir Putin and the country of Russia Supreme Court ― the top tier of the judicial branch ― has determined the president has immunity from prosecution for official acts even if those acts are undeniably illegal or unconstitutional and for which anyone else in the country would be convicted and go to prison there are “profoundly worrying signals coming from the frozen landscape at the top of our planet” (as climate-change deniers roll their eyes) the Trump administration marshals its reckless efforts to dismantle U.S initiatives that address this nation’s significant contribution to world carbon levels Arctic temperatures “spiked 36 degrees Fahrenheit above normal,” and Arctic sea ice was at its “lowest level ever recorded for February.” Of further concern to climate scientists intense wildfires and thawing permafrost increase planet-heating pollution that raises the levels of carbon in the atmosphere Sea ice “reflects sunlight … back into space.” Thus “more of the sun’s energy is absorbed” by land and sea because of wildfires and thawing permafrost it releases more carbon than it stores according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration The Arctic “plays a vital role in global temperatures and weather systems.” It’s warming four times faster than other regions and its decline as the world’s air conditioner leads to more worldwide weather extremes According to a study published in Nature Communications the arctic’s first ice-free day could occur before 2030 Dirk Notz of the University of Hamburg notes: “It’s basically too late to prevent that.”  our western European allies continue to work diligently toward their carbon-neutral goals making the cultural and technical changes necessary to accomplish them How is Trump’s climate-change denial an example of American exceptionalism All letter writers should follow Salman Rushdie’s advice: “A writer’s work is to name the unnamable start arguments … and stop the world from going to sleep.” on TV in one of his $1,000 custom-made suits this is the same man who in the recent past has been linked to the political action committee that took $81 million from a dark-money group while he decried special-interest groups and their questionable money origins Many taxpayers are scratching their heads wondering how these elected officials get away with having financial statements showing their net worth in millions of dollars on an average annual salary of $174,000 Where's the investigation of these Democrats disguised as elected officials Begin with Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez a bartender now suddenly worth more than you'd expect A Super PAC closely affiliated with Schumer took in tens of millions from a liberal group funded by secret donors while Schumer publicly cried foul about mystery money All these facts are documented by campaign finance disclosure statements should proceed with a Department of Justice investigation — if she hasn't already done so ― with results released to the public whether it be good or bad Government should be of laws rather than men Because it means Congress has voluntarily surrendered its ability to determine that a national emergency no longer exists Mexico (25%) and China (20%) are imposed pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act because of the extraordinary threat to national security and public health by drug trafficking There are legitimate concerns as to whether this is true and whether emergency tariffs are the best way to handle this The sole check on this exercise of presidential power is a joint resolution of Congress to debate and vote to terminate the national emergency the resolution must be brought to the floor of Congress within 15 calendar days and voted on within 3 calendar days House Republicans do not want to have this vote so they disarmed unilaterally by adding a rule that for the purposes of this law days are no longer calendar days for the remainder of this year That prevents any resolution being acted on through 2025 no matter how much evidence develops that there is no national emergency justifying the tariffs on one or more of the affected countries or for any additional emergency tariffs that may be imposed by the president for any reason on any country I don’t know how much further the Republican majority will go to cede its authority to the president but this does not bode well for accountability either by our representatives or for the executive When the Supreme Court overturned the right to abortion the MAGA crowd told the rest of the country: "Too bad When the Supreme Court dreamed up immunity for Donald Trump the MAGA crowd told the rest of the country: "Shut up When the Supreme Court bent over backward to give everybody and anybody a gun Now that Trump is openly defying court orders It’s interesting to MAGA that only the Democrats need to abide by the law They wanted to nail Joe Biden for allegedly having lunch with his son‘s business partners but Trump is openly conducting his personal business in the Oval Office and bragging about it but that’s OK: Trump has a huge financial stake in LIV golf Where was the outrage when he conducted business with LIV and the PGA Tour I guess outrage is only reserved when Democrats are in office If Democrats must abide by the law and MAGA does not how exactly do people think this is going to turn out Trump and his friends have announced investigations and anything and everything under the sun that has to do with blue states not one of those investigations is about the largest crime in the history of mankind when those dirty Democrats stole that election from the MAGA messiah Not one person spent a minute in jail the last time Trump investigated investigators INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — A Fellsmere man was jailed after he was accused of attacking a nurse at Cleveland Clinic Behavioral Health Center Monday evening according to sheriffs officials and recently-released law enforcement records of the 9300 block of 129th Drive in Fellsmere was charged with battery on an officer Upon arrival at the health center in Vero Beach deputies spoke to the nurse who said he was making his rounds around the facility when Sanchez punched him in the back of the neck unprovoked Sanchez made statements indicating he may have hit the nurse because he needed water but it was difficult for deputies to hear him because he was mumbling and talking in a low volume a security officer at the facility said he saw the incident on camera and confirmed the nurse's statement Security officers and health staff told deputies that Sanchez's senses are not impaired to the point that he doesn't know where he is or what he is doing Sanchez was admitted to Cleveland Clinic Behavioral Health Center on Feb meaning a patient can be involuntarily committed if they are a threat or danger to the public or themselves Sanchez was transported to the Indian River County Jail and is being held without bond the man jumped on top of the nurse and hit her face repeatedly with his fists A spokesperson from Cleveland Clinic Hospitals was not available for comment Indian River County: Kansas couple with IRC ties among 60 passengers to die in D.C. jet, helicopter collision Vero Beach: Peaceful protest in Vero Beach shows support for undocumented immigrants in community Olivia Franklin is a breaking news reporter for TCPalm. Follow Olivia on X @Livvvvv_5 or reach her by phone at 317-627-8048 INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — When Hurricane Milton plowed into the county last month and collapsed a culvert under County Road 512 While the county is spearheading fixing the pipe and reopening the road progress has sputtered due to the bureaucracy involved we have multiple agencies whose jurisdictions are converging," said county Public Works Director Addie Javed "Each of those agencies needs to agree in order to move forward." The washout is located one mile south of the intersection of CR 512 and 79th Street A large gash akin to a crater or sinkhole cuts into the road Intersection of jurisdictionsIndian River County Johns River Water Management District each has jurisdiction to repair the pipe "The county has completed its share of the proposals and is awaiting approval from (Federal Highway Administration) and St and CR 512 is within a network of roads monitored by FHWA There's still confusion over how many pipes must be installed and who will be expected to pay A study by the water management district determined two 60-inch pipes under the road rather than just replacing the existing one Johns must meet the requirements of the study," said Javed "But the installation of two pipes would only extend the repair timeline and increase costs." If all the parties agree to replace just the one damaged pipe but work could be delayed up to a month because of the upcoming holiday season It's unknown how long work actually will take since the scope of the repairs hasn't been finalized The Federal Emergency Management Agency may reimburse the county for repairs But FEMA will reimburse only for one pipe and Federal Highway Administration jurisdiction may preclude FEMA from reimbursement at all Fellsmere officials are concerned about the delays since CR 512 is the evacuation route south to State Road 60 "I understand the gravity of the situation and I know the county does as well," said Fellsmere Interim City Manager Noah Powers "But Fellsmere and its residents are at the mercy of those who can repair the road." Interstate 95 access and the evacuation route north via County Road 507 — Babcock Street — is unhindered County officials have reached out to the state for help and have met with state Division of Emergency Management Secretary Kevin Guthrie according to County Commissioner Susan Adams whose district encompasses the washed-out road he and his team can help expedite the process especially since CR 512 is such a crucial artery for Fellsmere," Adams said Javed hopes the confusion leads to open dialogue among between the parties involved and higher levels of awareness to prevent another long-term road closure More: Indian River County continues fight against beach erosion, starts working on next section More: 17th Street Bridge in Vero Beach to close at least four days for continuing repair work crumbled and ultimately washed the road away likely was 40-50 years old The documentation on it is unclear," said Javed "There was supposed to be a maintenance agreement with Fellsmere Joint Venture — the citrus grower whose property abuts the washout — for maintenance and monitoring of the culvert." Fellsmere Joint Venture President Greg Nelson denied any said such agreement exists "The county is working diligently to remedy the situation and get CR 512 back online," said Javed "But right now all we can do is be patient while everyone gets on board." FELLSMERE — Property owners here may be happy their tax rate is falling for the upcoming fiscal year as the city budget and tax rate were passed Thursday by the City Council But that doesn't mean their tax bills will be smaller If the value of their property increased in the past year The tax rate will drop from 5.15 mills to 5 mills "We looked at what our needs and revenue streams are and we felt that we could drop our millage," said Interim City Manager Noah Powers With more streams of revenue we were able to still bring in more money a 9.72% increase from the previous year's $3,872,667 The value of all taxable property in the city is $161 million representing a 6.8% increase from 2023-2024 More: Breeze Airways adds two destinations from Vero Beach Regional Airport More: Indian River County may waive height limit for 45-foot-tall hotel at Indian River Mall The Public Works Department saw the largest budget increase in both total amount and percentage — $240,881 and 27.8% is taking the biggest hit in both amount and percentage — $17,990 and 14.75% Asked why the Parks Department budget was slashed City Council members referred the question to Powers Powers said he did not know since the decision was made prior to him taking the job on Sept The Police Department — the with the largest budget in the city — saw a 1.39% increase to nearly $1.3 million Home » Home » WATCH: Florida Tech Finishes Third Place at Florida Fall Invite Saturday in Fellsmere on Space Coast Daily TV By  //  November 9 CLICK HERE FOR LIVE RESULTS FLORIDA – The Florida Tech men’s rowing team finished in third place at the Florida Fall Invite at Canal 54 on Saturday afternoon The Panthers hosted teams from around the state The invite began with each boat compete in a 4500-meter head race The men’s varsity eight boat finished in second place with a time of 16:18.7 which was just behind the Stetson men’s varsity eight boat The men’s freshman novice eight finished in ninth place in the time trials with a time of 18:00.0 the men’s varsity eight boat finished in third place with a time of 3:06.6 while the men’s freshman novice boat finished in eighth place with a time of 3:19.8 Embry-Riddle’s varsity eight boat took first place (3:03.3) and Stetson finished in second (3:04.0) the men’s varsity eight boat finished the invite in third place just behind Embry-Riddle (19:24.2) and Stetson (19:13.8) “It was a great day of racing for the guys today,” said head coach Adam Thorstad “I’m happy with the work that we have put in this Fall but now it’s time to buckle down and shift gears in Winter training mode in preparation for the Spring season.” FELLSMERE − It's been 34 years of frog legs “We are putting out frog leg and gator tail dinners," said Susan Adams president of the Fellsmere Frog Leg Festival And the festival is "helping the kids one frog leg at a time." she said All the money that is raised goes back to youth recreation festival organizers estimated serving 1,500 pounds of frog legs That's half of the 3,000 frog legs provided for the four days of the festival “It’s really important to come together as a community but to be able to provide matching grant dollars to the City of Fellsmere "We are supporting our community because it takes a village to raise a kid and these kids are our future leaders," Adams said In photos: County Road 512 reopens after October's culvert washout caused by Hurricane Milton Sunset: Colorful photos at Fellsmere's Stick Marsh Here’s your opportunity to make a list and check it twice If you care about traffic in Indian River County you should attend two remaining meetings seeking your feedback on future road and shared-path construction traffic signal improvements and public transportation The next meetings regarding the county’s 2050 transportation plan will be Thursday The first two meetings were held on Tuesday was at the North County Library to learn how the county had avoided the traffic pitfalls he'd seen in Palm Beach County “I don’t want to see that happen up here,” the Sebastian-area resident told me noting he grew up in what was a rural area Consultant: County congestion among leastUrbanization and traffic seemed to be the biggest concerns of some of the 20 folks at the meeting who spoke told the gathering he first started working with the county with its 2025 plan and is familiar with residents’ interests you have the least amount of congestion,” Roll said adding he hopes the next five-year plan can continue that record Officials said the 2050 plan will be based on current conditions in the county projected into the future If county commissioners extend urban services — such as paved roads fire and ambulances — beyond where they exist Such expansion ― potentially dramatic, much like in counties to the south ― is possible based on what commissioners have been discussing the past several months If you want Indian River County to look like many other Florida counties and face the congestion Roll described If you’d prefer it to grow in a more controlled fashion expressed her own concerns — especially with regard to potential growth in in Fellsmere The city expanded from 6 square miles to 55 square miles from the north Indian River County line to almost State Road 60 from 2004-2019 She wants to make sure main roads — carrying thousands of motorists each day ― don’t extend through residential neighborhoods and jeopardize neighbors’ safety and quality of life Take the survey: Indian River County would like you to answer these tranportation questions Basically all roads through Fellsmere are two lanes but they’re backing up with traffic from south Brevard County County Road 512 ― the main road into Fellsmere from I-95 and Sebastian — is slated to be widened to four lanes between 2035 and 2045, but the 2050 plan could potentially push that up if growth happens in Fellsmere as rapidly as city leaders have said it will But Lantz raised another issue — one that should concern all of us: Senate Bill 1118, gaining traction in the Legislature. It would allow development in rural areas in certain circumstances Learn more: Take a deep dive at the Indian River County MPO website It would be bad enough a central government in Tallahassee would tell residents here how to live But it would throw traffic planning and funding out the window ― described in a different way to Roll by Lantz “(The legislation is) basically kind of a big bomb coming and hitting you,” she told him after asking county staff to explain its impact “And it might not be the only one,” said Roll without mentioning several other legislative efforts in Tallahassee and Washington that could limit local residents’ and planners’ efforts to control growth or fund road improvements Many of the major traffic improvements in the county ― Interstate 95/Oslo Road exchange County Road 510 widening from County Road 512 to U.S 1 widening to six lanes from 510 to Vero Beach — are paid for by the state and/or federal governments But the federal gasoline tax hasn’t increased in more than 30 years the proliferation of electric vehicles and those powered by natural gas and mandated increases in fuel efficiency have limited tax collection So much so tax receipts are projected to decline from 2040 to 2050 many of the improvements the county hopes to make by 2050 might not be funded Among other projects in the 2045 plan the county still hopes to pay for and start working on are: Intersection at 26th Street (Aviation Boulevard) and U.S 1 (and eventually adding two lanes on 26th Street from U.S 1 to 66th Avenue).Building 74th Avenue from Oslo Road to 12th Street.Widening 43rd Avenue to four lanes from Oslo Road to 16th Street.Building 82nd Avenue from 26th Street to County Road 510 then potentially connecting it to Laconia Street.Widening County Road 512 to six lanes from County Road 510 to I-95.Building 53rd Street from 66th to 82nd avenues.Building 12th Street from 58th to 74th avenues.Numerous other projects were listed Tuesday as “preliminary needs.” In other words but might not be as economically feasible as others to do by 2050 but might not have public support or funding are widening Roseland Road from two to four lanes or Indian River Boulevard (from 4th to 37th streets) to six lanes one meeting participant asked about extending 53rd Street to I-95 and extending it to a future north-south road in Fellsmere That option has appeared on prior county plans The bottom line: This is your chance to say what you want and what you don’t want and get answers from county traffic officials The time to complain is not when traffic is bumper to bumper outside your door or when that four-lane road is built nearby and you can no longer make a left turn Get to a meeting now and let county officials know what you’d like to see INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — Repairs have begun on the collapsed culvert that's rendered County Road 512 impassable since Hurricane Milton passed Workers began the process of repairing the road Dec the pipes are in place for a long time," said county Public Works Director Addie Javed "A lot of coordination and collaboration went into this project to get it underway." The washout is 1 mile south of the intersection of C.R Barricades are in place preventing traffic from getting too close to the unstable road and crater-like hole but the $1 million construction cost is expected to be paid for by a FEMA grant "Everyone is happy and on the same page," said Javed "The county is getting something that is really great The washed-out culvert was a singular pipe and issues arose since the water management district determined two 60-inch pipes under the road "FEMA usually pays for like-to-like repairs," said Javed every party was able to come to an agreement to install two instead." Javed estimates that the road will be repaired and reopened in mid-January He explained repairs such as the washout typically take eight to 10 weeks but the county is working diligently to reopen the road because it is the evacuation route to the south out of Fellsmere "Emergency and prudent repairs are taking place," said Javed "We don't want to be back out here in a year More: New owner of Szechuan Palace in Vero Beach considering demolition of historic building More: What destinations does Breeze Airways serve from Vero Beach Regional Airport? FELLSMERE — Ben Baker will fill the City Council vacancy created by the resignation of Gerald Renick Baker is expected to be sworn in at the Aug and his wife sold their farm and moved from the city Baker had planned to run in a special election for the seat against Eric Boissat until Boissat dropped out the race Thursday Baker could not be reached for comment on his background "I greatly appreciate working with such dedicated people," Renick wrote in his letter "The city of Fellsmere is a special place and will always be close to my heart." "We are sad to see him go," said City Manager Mark Mathes of Renick "But we thank him for his service to the city and wish him luck on his future endeavors." More: Indian River County to ask voters Nov. 5 to increase bed tax for tourists from 4% to 5%. More: Breeze adds Newburgh, New York, to destinations from Vero Beach Regional Airport Renick's resignation is the first in Fellsmere according to City Clerk Maria Suarez-Sanches three City Council spots will be up for election The polling location will be Fellsmere Community Bible Church — About 75 people packed into a room for Thursday's Water Control District meeting This comes after 13 inches of rain last November left much of the Fellsmere community under water we had homes that were flooded,” said resident Karen Ledford Since then residents have been pushing for changes Finally they’re seeing some through a $1.2 million effort to clean three main canals says should be complete in the next seven weeks “We have a lot of work to do in cleaning ditches sub-laterals to get the water flowing better,” said Nelson “We’re going to have to contract with more contractors to be able to really speed this up.” Tonight’s meeting also welcomed Mark Mathes as the new Fellsmere Water Control district manager “He is the person on the job every day and he knows the area very well here,” Nelson explained “We needed the manpower there to be out there and see where the priority spots are to address first.” It’s a big change from the remote management service they had before “We are hopeful that this is going to be a favorable change Nobody really has a read on Mark Mathes and what he’s going to do residents plan to keep pushing for results and holding the board accountable “I’m very grateful that we have somebody listening finally and that hopefully this is going to be a step forward for the future,” said Ledford “We’re seeing some kind of movement in that direction but we know we have to keep up the pressure.” the enthusiasm builds as the young team members race across the manicured fields to play their favorite sport at Fellsmere Elementary School Loud cheers echo throughout the campus as players effortlessly kick the soccer balls until they rocket into the goal nets Indian River Soccer Academy Director of Coaching Ian Brice Head coach Ian Brice’s mission is simple; He wants the young athletes to have fun at the free program made possible through donations from Indian River Shores residents No one wants to stand in the hot sun listening to the coach No one wants to stand in line waiting for their turn No one wants to run a lap as a punishment,” said Brice a Vero Lago resident and director of coaching for the Indian River Soccer Academy which hosts the recreational soccer practice at the school they learn to love soccer and will never step away from it.” The program has financial support from married couple Kiernan and Kristina Moylan who owns a ranch in Fellsmere with his wife said they decided to help a community they wanted to see grow “We talked with the city of Fellsmere about bringing recreational soccer,” said Moylan who played the sport at the Division 1 level at Davidson College in North Carolina You can see the impact and excitement out there.”  aspiring athletes wear jerseys to practice bearing the name of Lionel Messi the Argentina-born Major League Soccer player who led his country to win the 2022 FIFA World Cup Fellsmere Elementary School students show off their skills during soccer practice He’s definitely a soccer player I look up to,” said Ricardo Gamez who helps coach students during the afterschool soccer program “He’s one of the best soccer players in the world.” Messi serves as a guiding light for those wanting to play professional or recreational soccer The love for the sport is kicking off in the town of 4,955 residents with a mostly Hispanic and Latino population “I think soccer is taking off here because of the culture,” said Gamez who began practicing soccer at age 9 with the Indian River Soccer Academy More than 60 kids train with professionally-licensed athletes for six weeks at no cost It is all  thanks to a partnership between the soccer club and Fellsmere Elementary School Third-graders through fifth-graders must participate in academic mentoring twice a week for them to be able to play soccer “The good part is showing kids how to play without asking their parents for money,” said Gamez a Fellsmere Elementary School graduate who is now a Subway restaurant franchise owner in Vero Beach Student Adan Luna said playing soccer – a sport popular in Europe Africa and South America – is an activity he enjoys said IRSA leaders pondered how they could use resources to leave a positive imprint in the underserved community but there’s no real organized soccer for youth in this town,” Brice said Brice has been working with the soccer academy The competitive programs under the IRSA are separate from its free recreational youth program at Fellsmere Elementary School which many consider a central community hub guides students during soccer practice at Fellsmere Elementary School “It’s been good to make sure we can market and get information to families in Fellsmere by using the school we come here and do parent nights where we give out information about the soccer program,” Brice said kids are starting to recognize us and know us by name said the students sometimes come to school with their own soccer balls Echeverria said most of the families are from Central and South America “It’s inherited in our blood to play,” Echeverria said This is the first year the soccer program was held at the campus located off North Cypress Street in the ordinarily quiet community Brice said the academic mentoring has led students to earn higher grades “Academically we’re seeing an increase for the kids,” Brice said and all the things that come along with sports life lessons – we’re hitting them with a double-edged sword.” said the program has gained an overwhelming amount of interest in Fellsmere and that organizers hope to expand it over the summer and fall Police Chief Keith Touchberry said programs like the soccer academy engage the youth and provide positive lifelong impacts by helping young people stay active who led efforts to collect donations to build a second soccer field across from the school McKay has been working at the campus for five years “Fellsmere Elementary and the community are a close knit group of people Everyone is making a positive impact as a whole.”  There aren’t too many places around the Treasure Coast that serve true native Florida cuisine such as frog legs catfish and swamp cabbage; and where sweet tea is served in a mason jar and each table is dressed with a bottle of hot pepper vinegar Marsh Landing Restaurant is warm and inviting and on Thursdays they push some of their tables covered in newspaper clippings from the Fellsmere Farmer and Fellsmere Tribune I support institutions that care about preserving our history The building was built in 1926 for the Fellsmere Estates Corporation and was at one time home to the Florida Crystal Sugar Company I love historical buildings and people who also care about preserving Florida’s history from salads to barbecue to seafood and the best pies around without question swamp cabbage has to make its way on the table Swamp cabbage is made from the edible core of a cabbage palm tree and cooked until tender The fried green tomato BLT is great for lunch and fried shrimp with coleslaw and collard greens for dinner The peanut butter pie is a must if you save room for desert Q: Is there something unique on the menu you recommend trying A: Frog legs if you haven't already chowed down on them at the Frog Leg Festival and also swamp cabbage when its on special quirky (be sure to check out the amusing bathroom signs) and the walls have historical news articles from the early days of Fellsmere ● Cuisine: Native Florida, including frog legs, gator tail, catfish, swamp cabbage, sweet tea, pies● Address: 44 N. Broadway St., Fellsmere● Phone: 772-571-8622● Website: https://www.marshlandingrestaurant.com/