ST. LUCIE COUNTY — Tourism leaders from Grand Bahama Island will meet with local officials this week and get a first-hand feel for St. Lucie County in an effort to build a business and tourism partnership.

Grand Bahamian and St. Lucie County officials hope the visit, which will include tours of Fort Pierce and Port St. Lucie, will help solidify a non-binding agreement the two groups entered into in December with the goal of boosting tourism in both locations. One of the main ideas behind the agreement is to work together to market both areas, such as offering vacation packages between the two locations. (more…)

ST. LUCIE COUNTY — Lennar Homes, Inc. was granted a three-year development agreement Tuesday to put 325 homes on about 156 acres at the southeast corner of Silver Oaks Drive and Tilton Road in a move that drew heavy criticism from those living near the land.
County commissioners ultimately decided 4-1 that the proposal is about as good as they could get and decided this is not a precedent that could give developers expectations to extend other projects. The applicant agreed during the meeting to accept three years instead of five years to develop the project.
“I am not convinced you’re going to get a much better development on this property,” said Commissioner Chris Craft, who voted for the project along with Commissioners Doug Coward, Chris Dzadovsky and Paula Lewis. (more…)

STUART — A woman has been accused of robbing a man after inviting him into her home last month, according to an affidavit released Tuesday by the Martin County Sheriff.

Dorthea Wayman, 53, has been charged with robbery and grand theft. (more…)

TRADITION — Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies is in the process of moving to the $40 million complex in Tradition this week and should be up and running fully in February.

Employees have boxed items and movers are transporting things to the Port St. Lucie location from Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute in Fort Pierce, where they have been working since May 2007.

Some employees will start work in the new building early next week. Others will continue in Fort Pierce until February. (more…)

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…)