Page 7 - Palm City Spotlight - April '23
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Palm City Spotlight, Page 7

                                              loCal goVerNMeNt



      Fifth Season Of Kids Tag                           creativity, and beneficial                        Collector,  Ruth  “Ski”  Pietruszewski,  implemented  the

      Art Raises Over $20,000 For                        usage of visual information.                      Kids Tag Art program. Kids Tag Art not only enhances
                                                                                                           art education but also elevates the conversation about the
                                                           Recent studies show
      Martin Elementary Schools                          that art education not only                       importance of creative expression as a part of a curriculum
                                                         strengthens problem-solving                       and developing creative problem-solving skills in children.
         “Our greatest natural                           and critical thinking skills,                     Creative problem-solving skills is the number one skill
      resource is the minds of our                       but also enhances personal                        Fortune 500 firms look for when hiring. This project also
      children.” – Walt Disney                           growth. By producing original                     teaches about Florida’s specialty plates and the worthy
        Art education is often                           works, children enjoy the time                    causes that plates support.
      underestimated by those                            spent on the piece of art, have a sense of pride in one’s     “My staff and myself had the ability to quickly think
      who believe that only                              accomplishments and develop self-confidence. When kids   and come up with solutions to navigate the pandemic and
      analytical concepts like math                      are encouraged to express themselves, they become part   operate and process services which took our office through
      and literature are important                       of the process that creates a society seeking new ways and   the crisis and were financially able to fund critical services.
      for children’s development.                        improvements. There is a strong proven correlation between   If we had not possessed those critical problem-solving
      To learn about the world,                          children’s participation in the art classes and their academic   skills, it would have been a different story. We excelled
      children have to learn not                         achievements.                                     during the pandemic and provided excellent service and
      only through the numbers                             Realizing the importance of arts education and budget   funded all critical services.”
      and text but through arts, which teaches interpretation,   cuts  in  art  education  curriculum,  Martin  County Tax     Children from the fifth grade design their own front
                                                                                                           license plates that later can be purchased by the general
                                                                                                           public. Children win awards for different categories, such as
                                                                                                           “Behind the Badge,” “Life is Better by the Water,” “Wagging
                                                                                                           Tail,” “Principal’s Award,” “Award of Distinction,” and “Tax
                                                                                                           Collector’s Choice.” All art submitted, not just the winners,
                                                                                                           are available for purchase on www.mckta.com. Each design
                                                                                                           can be ordered in a vanity license plate for a vehicle, a
                                                                                                           bike plate or key chain. This unique fundraising project
                                                                                                           brings together students, teachers, and local businesses, and
                                                                                                           serves as a supplement funding art program in participating
                                                                                                           schools. This is our fifth season, and with 100 percent
                                                                                                           of the proceeds going back to schools, over $20,000 has
                                                                                                           been raised and given to the elementary schools in Martin
                                                                                                           County. We thank and appreciate our sponsors: Harbour
                                                                                                           Branch Oceanographic Institute, Seacoast Bank, Martin
                                                                                                           Arts, Children’s Museum of the Treasure Coast, Grant Street
                                                                                                           Group, Humane Society of Treasure Coast, Nis Air, Nancy’s
                                                                                                           Pizza, Motor Cars of Stuart, Publix, and O’Donnell Impact
                                                                                                           Windows and Storm Protection.

                                                                                                           Can I Rent My Homestead
                                                                                                           Property?


                                                                                                           By Jenny Fields, CFA,
                                                                                                           Martin County Property
                                                                                                           Appraiser,
                                                                                                           3473 S.E. Willoughby
                                                                                                           Blvd., Suite No. 101,
                                                                                                           Stuart, FL 34994
                                                                                                           (772) 288-5608
                                                                                                           www.pa.martin.fl.us
                                                                                                             Renting your home
                                                                                                           for more than 30 days
                                                                                                           per calendar year, for two
                                                                                                           consecutive years or renting
                                                                                                           it for more than six months may cause you to lose your
                                                                                                           homestead exemption. To determine if you are renting
                                                                                                           properly, please review the flowchart.
















































                                                                                  See answer in this paper.
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