STUART — Have you ever wondered why some of those markers on the water are red and some are green?

And why are they different shapes, anyway? Why shouldn’t I just wait until I need my life jacket to put it on?

What is the minimum length of boat that requires a second fire extinguisher — or a third?

Answers to these and many other questions will be yours just for taking the time to attend the Coast Guard Auxiliary’s program, About Boating Safely.
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STUART — The nonprofit Surfrider organization isn’t doing much celebrating two weeks after its 25th anniversary Arts and Music Celebration has left about $75,000 in unpaid debts, about half to local vendors.

The Treasure Coast chapter president has resigned under pressure from the local board, which said he exceeded his authority in organizing the event.

And, the Surfrider Foundation’s Florida group of chapters has canceled its state conference to put that money toward paying the bills.
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MARTIN COUNTY — For Gary Guertin, the almost 68 miles of ocean that separate Stuart from Grand Bahama is not a divide, it’s a bridge.

And it’s an opportunity to capitalize on Stuart’s waterfront resources and promote the two destinations.

The general manager of the Harborage Yacht Club & Marina in Stuart has formed partnerships with marinas and resorts in the Bahamas in the hopes of attracting customers to Stuart as they travel out to sea. Others said partnerships with the Bahamas could be helpful if they brought business, although they were wary of the costs. (more…)

PORT ST. LUCIE — Police are looking for a man accused of posing as a Wal-Mart employee selling LCD television sets at a discount.

One woman said she met the man wearing a Wal-Mart ID tag with the name “Bill” on it at Tina’s Café, according to police. There he talked about how the discount store had received five extra 40-inch televisions and was selling them at the invoice price of $319, down from $699, according to a police report.

The woman said she met “Bill” at the Wal-Mart on U.S. 1 and gave him $320 in cash. She and another man who also said he paid for a television stood outside the store waiting for “Bill,” who had gone inside to fill out paperwork, he told them.

After about an hour, the woman and the other man went inside the store to look for the television seller. A manager at the store then called police. (more…)