Page 1 - Palm City Spotlight - May '21

VOL. 23 NO. 5 www.seabreezepublications.com MAY 2021

‘Heroes’ Exhibit Salutes First Responders

By Jackie Holfelder
During the heart of the pandemic, leading up to the 2020
holiday season, Lynne Barletta, founder of Visionary School of
Arts (VSOA), the staff and the students were looking for a way
to show their gratitude to Martin County’s first responders.
They decided that the theme of the Rising Star Spring, 2021
exhibit would be “Heroes” and included in the holiday gift basket
that each first responder received from VSOA an invitation to the
show, which took place the weekend of April 9 to 11 at Stuart
Infiniti’s showroom.
In the interim, the talented VSOA artists (students are aged 5
to 18) and teachers created masterpieces that paid tribute to law
enforcement, first responders and medical personnel.
Mary Rose Morris, age 10, Alexandra Trejo and Christopher Carnes with
‘Heroes’ Exhibit on page 6 Saviors of the States Guardian Jodi Maxwell, age 11, America’s Heroes
Students Recognized For Good Character

Through Joe Kordick Youth Character Awards

There’s light at the end of the pandemic tunnel, but many
time-honored events still have not returned to normal. Last year
to adapt to this challenging time, United Way of Martin County
found creative ways to recognize students who were honored
for their outstanding character through the CHARACTER
COUNTS! Joe Kordick Youth Character Awards.
Instead of honoring students during a ceremony, United Way
of Martin County CHARACTER COUNTS! advisory board
members continued the pandemic-friendly recognition they
started last year by placing signs at students’ homes that read “A
Joe Kordick Youth Character Award Winner Lives Here.” Seniors
were also presented with a $1,000 cash award and middle school

Students Recognized For Good Character on page 4 Noa Vignone Lillian Dietrich Shelby Sexton Rose Kores
Public Health In Action: Community Organizations Band

Together For Pandemic Response And Recovery

The year 2020 posed an extraordinary challenge for public with the introduction of the
health agencies and the response to the pandemic called for a vaccine. Vaccination efforts in
colossal community-wide collaboration spearheaded by the Martin County began in early
Florida Department of Health in Martin County (DOH). January and clinics and outreach
“This past year has been like no other. I am incredibly proud events are ongoing based on
of our DOH-Martin staff and our agency’s response, but we could supply.
not have done it alone,” said Carol Ann Vitani, health officer In March, DOH-Martin
for the Florida Department of Health. “Our partnerships and in partnership with Martin
volunteers helped set our community on the path to recovery.” County Government launched
COVID-19 case investigation and contact tracing remain a vaccination clinic site at the
ongoing since early 2020, and the end of the year brought hope Treasure Coast Square Mall in

Mary Ettari, P.A.; Sophie Soren, EMT; and Kathi
Harvey, R.N.
Sue Hardesty, R.N. and Rhonda
Foerscht, R.N. Public Health In Action on page 3