EDUCATION
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cannot seek donations. People are concerned about city tax
dollars being spent here. If it was going to be done with city
tax-payer dollars, it would have been done long ago.”
Bridges says that the St. Anastasia project’s estimated $4
million budget is small compared to the projects the National
Trust usually funds. She adds that she meets monthly
with Shyanne Helms, the city’s project manager for St.
Anastasia, and Caleta Scott, grant manager for the city.
“The thing being done currently is the architectural plan
with Don Bergman. The next step will be to hire an environmental
company to remove any mold or asbestos in the
building, but I have not hired anyone yet. That will probably
be grant-funded. The general contractor comes after
that. That is Charley McEntee. I will only hire local, and am
hoping to find people that will help, maybe by donating
time or materials.”
Bridges added that Fort Pierce Utility Authority is adding
some exterior lighting to the property for security and
safety which she hopes will slow down the attempted
break-ins.
“We keep getting people breaking in,” she says. “It (the
lighting) will never stop them, but I am hoping it will slow
them down a little. Those windows are expensive.”
Built in 1914 to serve the Catholic families in the area, the
stone structure once housed two floors of classrooms and a
huge auditorium with a stage occupying the third floor. The
building was utilized by the St. Lucie School Board prior to
the arrival of the first Sisters of St. Dominic in 1926, when
three Dominican nuns from Adrian, Michigan, arrived in
Fort Pierce to staff the school.
A brochure from the parish’s 100-year celebration con- >> The old school building has seen many years of neglect.
Cindy Bridges, left, owner and director of The
Lindsay School of the Arts, guides students through
a rehearsal for an upcoming show. Seated behind
Bridges, from left, are Heather Wells, creative writing
teacher; Antravious Soleyn, drama teacher; and
Jasmine Walker, vocals teacher.
ANTHONY INSWASTY PHOTOS