Nadia Utto wants to paint the town.

She envisions murals on dozens of exterior walls around this beachside hamlet, beginning with the 600-square-foot beach scene Utto and nine other artists were painting Saturday on the eastern wall of Island Beverage, 9128-A Bridge Road, in conjunction with the eighth annual Hobe Sound Festival of the Arts, which continues Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The juried festival features the work of 150 artists whose works range from $15 posters to $50,000 sculptures. In addition, a green market has 25 booths offering plants and herbs. The festival raises about $20,000 for the Hobe Sound Chamber of Commerce and the Women’s Club, which use the money for scholarships and community events.

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HOBE SOUND — The Hobe Sound Festival of the Arts returns this year for its eighth year on Feb. 7 and 8 on the Dixie Highway.

The festival, which runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day, highlights the work of about 150 artists. Booths will line the road with paintings, sculptures, photos, glass, wood, jewelry, collage, and ceramics. Admission is free.

Prices for the art range from $25 to $20,000.

The festival is located at 11954 SE Dixie Highway near Jupiter Island, north of Palm Beach County and south of Stuart.

The Hobe Sound Nature Center is looking for volunteers to participate in the 11th annual Christmas Bird Count on Dec. 28.

Experienced or amateur birders are welcome. Assignments are available from Juno Beach to Hobe Sound, with any commitment of time appreciated.

The count is a part of the National Audubon Society’s Christmas Bird Count. To volunteer, call 772-546-2067.

Some 121 students were absent from Hobe Sound Elementary School on Friday, but county health officials announced there were no indications that something there caused the bug that sidelined dozens of students for three days.

On Wednesday, 118 of the school’s 715 students were out, with another 24 going home early after complaining of nausea and vomiting. (more…)

Today 121 students were absent from Hobe Sound Elementary School, officials said, two days after the absence of dozens of students prompted health officials to investigate if children got sick at the school.

School district officials don’t know whether the students who missed school today were absent due to illness or were left at home by parents who didn’t want them attending the school after it reported Wednesday’s unusually high number of absences.

On Thursday, 124 of the school’s 715 students were absent, Martin school district spokeswoman Cathy Brennan said. (more…)

Martin County school district and health officials are working to determine what caused more than 100 students, some of them ill, to stay home from Hobe Sound Elementary School on Wednesday and Thursday.

On Thursday, 124 of the school’s 715 students were absent, Martin school district spokeswoman Cathy Brennan said.

The day before, 118 were absent, while another 24 children went home early, complaining of nausea and vomiting, Brennan said.

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