Read more about the article Miles of memories
Every February collectors come from around the country to the Viesta Collection Gas Bash where they can buy, sell and swap memorabilia and back-road stories. The Alex Viesta Collection is only open for viewing through private appointments the remainder of the year. KERRY FIRTH PHOTOS

Miles of memories

The old adage “do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life” rings true with the father/son duo at the Alex Viesta Collection. Often, it’s the elder of the two who offers such insight, but in this case, it was the teenage son, Alex Viesta, who chose a path less traveled and built a successful business buying and selling antique cars, signage, gas relics and nostalgic memorabilia along the way.

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Read more about the article Charting the future
This rendering portrays the coming state-of-the-art Indiantown Charter High School which offers students a traditional high school education with a focus on career training and college-level learning. HARVARD JOLLY ARCHITECTURE PHOTOS

Charting the future

As you drive west along Southwest Citrus Boulevard approaching Timer Powers Park in Indiantown, a massive structure rises in the middle of vast agricultural fields. The building — Indiantown Charter High School — will be the new home of the town’s first high school. It is a symbol of hope, promising educational opportunities and a brighter economic future for local residents.

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Read more about the article Blessed lessons
Blessed Martin de Porres Catholic School for Colored Children opened on North Eighth Street in Fort Pierce in 1940. A photo was taken each year as a record of students and teachers. This photo from the late 1940s shows the students and teachers for grades 1-5 standing in front of the main school building, and the students and teacher of grades 6-8 standing in front of the war-surplus building that served as their classroom. ST. ANASTASIA CATHOLIC PARISH

Blessed lessons

A bright light was shining on a group of black school children along North Eighth Street in Fort Pierce in the days before school integration in the South. That light emanated from Blessed Martin de Porres Catholic School for Colored Children, a light of learning that led the way to professional and lucrative careers for many of the school’s graduates.

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Read more about the article Bobblehead collection receives nod of approval
St. Lucie Mets General Manager Traer Van Allen, standing next to his personal 850-piece bobblehead collection on display at the Mets’ offices. JOE DESALVO

Bobblehead collection receives nod of approval

Never mind stamps or coins. St. Lucie Mets General Manager Traer Van Allen’s colorful collection of 850 bobbleheads will make your head, er, shake in amazement. A glass cabinet with figurines with large heads mounted on a spring so that it bobs up and down takes an entire wall in the main hallway of the staff offices at Clover Park

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Read more about the article Joy of make-believe
Joah May Freeman, dressed as a geisha at the Florida Renaissance Festival, enjoys life most when she is making people happy. PETER JEFFER

Joy of make-believe

In her 37 years she has probably done more than most people 20 years her senior. A gifted child in school, she got into martial arts, doing so well that she and a friend became assistant instructors.

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