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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Read more about the article Hope springs eternal
Mets ace right-hander Max Scherzer will be reunited with former Tigers teammate Justin Verlander, who signed a two-year, $86.66 million free-agent deal in December. In addition, the Mets added a few other starters and relievers to the pitching staff, and retained All-Star closer Edwin Diaz. NEW YORK METS

Hope springs eternal

The New York Mets open spring training camp for the 36th year in Port St. Lucie and there’s no doubt the vibe is at an unprecedented level.

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Read more about the article Mets fans have plenty to cheer about this spring
Mets slugger and first baseman Pete Alonso will report to spring training with the rest of the fielders. A former Florida Gator, the Polar Bear entered the majors in the 2019 season, going on to hit a record 53 home runs as a rookie. He was also the first Mets player to hit 50 or more homers in a season. HELENE HAESSLER

Mets fans have plenty to cheer about this spring

Finally, things seem headed back to normal as the New York Mets open camp for spring training in Port St. Lucie. As of this writing, there’s no sign that the pandemic or a Major League Baseball lockout will interfere with this annual rite of spring.

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