Palm Beach Post: Martin BDB chief has a tough sell as he woos county commission

Tim Dougher (Source: Martin County Sheriff's Office)

Award-winning Palm Beach Post writer Sally Swartz reports on the recent meeting between the Business Development Board (BDB) of Martin County’s Executive Director Tim Dougher, the BDB’s public relations consultant Glenn Calder, and the Palm Beach Post Editorial Board: “The new commission, which Martin’s business community complains is anti-business, turns out to have a very businesslike attitude toward the BDB.” … Click here to read more

PB Post: The ‘End of the World’ in Martin County has no signs of civilization

Martin County's "End of the World" (Source: Palm Beach Post)

The Palm Beach Post’s award-winning blogger Sally Swartz takes readers through the Secret Passage, the “End of the World” in Martin County, fraught with the challenges of a tippy canoe, eye-poking mangrove roots and narrow waterways. … Click here to read more

PBPost: Politics swamps water agency chief Melissa Meeker

Melissa Meeker (Source: Palm Beach Post)

From The Palm Beach Post’s Sally Swartz: “Many on the Treasure Coast hoped Ms. Meeker’s knowledge and political skills would help her change things for the better once she was in a place of power. Instead, she seemed to become entangled in the system.” … Click here to read more

PBPost: Pal-Mar swamp a city? Bad idea

Pal-Mar (Source: Martin County Nature Watch)

Fights about Pal-Mar, the 20,000-acre swamp that straddles the Martin-Palm Beach County line, never end. For the complete blog entry by Sally Swartz … Click here to read more

Must-read: Business Development Board sticks Martin taxpayers with bar tab

(Source: Sweetwater

The Palm Beach Post’s Sally Swartz delivers a must-read, blistering report on the Martin County Business Development Board … Click here to read more

Palm Beach Post: ‘Heroic’ efforts restore and repair Martin’s gutted growth plan

Sally Swartz of The Palm Beach Post

From The Palm Beach Post’s Sally Swartz: “Tuesday was a happy day for Martin County residents, a day many who watched previous commissions gut the county’s protective growth plan worried they might never see.” … Click here to read more

Relax? Not if you want careful growth in Martin County

Sally Swartz of The Palm Beach Post

From The Palm Beach Post’s award-winning blogger, Sally Swartz: “Some believe that electing a careful growth majority to the Martin County Commission last year means residents can relax and let new commissioners do all the work. No way…” … Click here to read more

Palm Beach Post: Maggy’s Hammock Park comes along at just the right time

Maggy Hurchalla with monkey, last month in Ecuador while whitewater kayaking in the upper headwaters of the Amazon.

From The Post’s award-winning Sally Swartz: “The Parks and Recreation Advisory Board recommended the name change based on Ms. Hurchalla’s public service…It comes just after she became the target of a Lake Point rock mine developer’s Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation that seeks to silence Ms. Hurchalla and other residents … Click here to read more

Palm Beach Post: Protect Bird Island with Critical Wildlife Area designation

Bird Island (Source: Martin County)

From The Palm Beach Post’s award-winning blogger Sally Swartz: “The state-owned island in the Indian River Lagoon near Sewall’s Point is only 1.6 acres…Martin residents and officials have been concerned about Bird Island for years. Since 1970, more than 30 percent of the island has been lost to erosion. Attempts to anchor the sand with native plants failed when waves and high water washed away the plants.” … Click here to read more

Palm Beach Post: Hijacked Audubon Martin group and Four Rivers land giveaway

Four Rivers (Source: FourRiversHomes.com)

A year ago, a group of growth industry supporters took over Audubon of Martin County, sweeping out nature-loving board members and changing group rules…Now the Four Rivers Property Owners Association board is negotiating with Audubon to either donate the land or give it to the association for a token fee. … Click here to read more