By Alexi Howk

PORT ST. LUCIE — The annual St. Patrick’s Day parade, which draws more than 10,000 spectators and participants, won’t be marching through the city’s streets next month for the first time in 20 years. (more…)

STUART — Carl Ellwanger’s shirt says it all: Still plays with trains.

Twice a week Ellwanger and more than a dozen other members of the Martin County Model Railroaders spend most of the day working on a 65-foot-long miniature train lay out.

They will show off the results of that work at the non-profit organization’s annual expo Saturday at the Martin County Fairgrounds. The expo, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., costs $5 for adults and is free for children under 12.

Last year, about 1,200 people turned out for the exhibit, which is the group’s primary fund-raiser each year.

“The kids stand outside and look at it in awe,” said Bob Cottone, president of the railroaders. (more…)

PORT ST. LUCIE - And it’s a wrap.

The City Council Monday night unanimously gave final approval to a 20-year lease agreement with Wyndcrest DD Florida Inc. that requires the city to provide the company with 15 acres of land and a 150,000 square-foot movie animation and video game production studio within the Tradition development.

The move, finalizing a $51.8 million deal between the city and Wyndcrest, drew applause from local business and community leaders who urged the council to support the project because it would create much needed, high-paying jobs in the community. Nobody at the meeting spoke out against the project. (more…)

FORT PIERCE — Two-time Academy Award-winner Hilary Swank might be the star of the upcoming movie Amelia, but Sally Chapman of Fort Pierce will be paying closer attention to co-stars Richard Gere and Virginia Madsen.

In the biopic about famed aviator Amelia Earhart, Gere portrays Chapman’s grandfather, George P. Putnam, and Madsen plays her grandmother, Dorothy Putnam. (more…)

You may have seen them on TV before, but not like this.

Former members of the 1970s musical group Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, Don Ciccone and Lee Shapiro, are teaming up on a new musical project.

Yet Ciccone, a St. Lucie County resident since 2001, and Shapiro, who lives in New Jersey, won’t be on stage together.
(more…)

PORT ST. LUCIE — One of the nation’s top film schools may be headed to the Treasure Coast to work with a Hollywood digital production spin-off and a cast of local college students.

Florida State University’s award-winning film school released a letter of intent Tuesday to partner with the Hobe Sound-based Wyndcrest Holdings LLC., which continues to work out a $30 million state and city incentives package for a 150,000-square-foot digital production studio that would be within the Tradition development.

“The direction they plan to take with the new studio in the development of innovative technologies and storytelling techniques is directly in line with the educational goals of The Film School,” said Frank Patterson, dean of the Florida State University College of Motion Picture, Television and Recording Arts. “It’s a perfect match.”
(more…)

STUART — Aron Morlan didn’t think he’d even get into the studio audience for “The Price is Right” when he was vacationing with a few friends in California in June.

That same day, the 27-year-old Stuart resident was guessing the price of a diamond watch, spinning the giant wheel looking for that elusive $1 tile, and giving host Drew Carey a bear hug. (more…)

Andrea Nicolas (left), who is visiting from Georgia, and Eva Kinsey of West Palm Beach shed tears during the memorial tribute. (Sarah Grile / The Post)

See photos from the Fort Pierce event
More photos, video, full Michael Jackson coverage

FORT PIERCE — Gregory Barron Jr., just 21 months old, grinned up at his father, then turned and shuffled his sandal-clad feet sideways.

“Show your moonwalk. Show your moonwalk,” Gregory Barron Sr. said, laughing.

Barron and his son were among the throng of people that packed the historic Sunrise Theatre Tuesday to watch the televised memorial for Michael Jackson.

About 1,000 people came to the free event in downtown Fort Pierce. They sang, danced and clapped along to such Jackson favorites as “The way you make me feel,” “Billie Jean” and “Thriller.”

(more…)

By JOE CRANKSHOW
TCPalm.com

Popular morning radio talk show host, Ed Burchfield, 67, died Wednesday, ending a three-year battle with cancer.

Known as “Mr. Ed,” Burchfield had been a staple on local radio since 1983, said Greg Wyatt, vice president and general manager for WPSL/WSTU/WJNX radio.

Burchfield first appeared on WIRA 1400 AM of Fort Pierce in 1983 with a morning show, “Breakfast with Burchfield.” He moved to WPSL 1590 to take over the morning show that had been started by Greg and Carol Wyatt in 1994.

Burchfield was paired with newsman Charlie Neeld for more than 12 years, making them the longest-running radio duo on the Treasure Coast.

Breakfast with Burchfield was known for taking the show on the road. Whether it was in downtown Stuart or downtown Fort Pierce, or at Port St. Lucie public works facilities, WPSL’s “Breakfast with Burchfield” had been there. (more…)

Leggy Megan Fox, the Transformers actress who graduated from St. Lucie West’s Centennial High, shined on the red carpet for the Berlin premiere of Transformers 2.

Check out the buzz here.