Youth Guidance holding Mentor Orientation Dinner

Fertilizer restrictions to go into effect next month

A reminder from the Indian River Neighborhood Association to residents of Indian River County, City of Vero Beach, Sebastian and Orchid. We are coming into our rainy season when more nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorous are likely to be washed from our lawns, driveways and roads into the storm water system and, ultimately, into our local waterways such as the Indian River Lagoon. The fertilizer ordinances passed by our communities goes into effect June 1st. It prohibits the use of lawn fertilizer between June 1st and September 30th. No fertilizer containing Phosphorous is to be used anytime. All fertilizers must contain at least 50% slow release Nitrogen. Finally, no fertilizer is to be applied within 10 feet of any ...

More than 50 new businesses over past 5 years lead to parking issues

When a shop shutters downtown, the real estate is swiftly snatched from the market and reopened by a new merchant, according to downtown business owners and experts who monitor growth in the area. A case in point: In recent weeks, Jetson closed up shop at the corner of 14th Avenue and 20th Street to move to a larger location downtown. Before the dust settled from the appliance store’s move, Michael Glatz, business manager and savory chef for the now closed original Patisserie Vero Beach, was already eyeing the storefront for a new business venture. He hopes to convert the space by the beginning of next year into a coffee shop called Coffee House 1420 that specializes in exotic coffees from ...

FDEP commits more than $522K for red tide recovery efforts

Indian River County will receive more than $522,000 from state authorities in an effort to cover clean up costs - including the removal of thousands of dead fish - caused by red tide. Gov. Rick Scott announced the additional grant funding in a news release Wednesday. Indian River County joins four other counties that will receive $1.3 million total in funding from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection for red tide recovery efforts. “As red tide has affected Florida’s coastlines, we have taken action to combat the effects of this natural phenomenon," Scott said in a news release. "As we fight red tide, nothing is more important than supporting local efforts to protect our environment and we will continue to ...