SANDPIPER BAY COMMUNITY LEARNS OF ITS PAST

Native American hunting grounds, the riverside community of Spruce Bluff and the fables and foibles of fishing guide Burt Pruitt were among the bits of history that we shared with Sandpiper Bay Community members recently. The community contains some of the most historic spots in the city.

It was the maiden voyage of our new slide projector. Mary Dodge and Patricia Christen made the presentation. Dennis Grabhorn and Christine Williams manned the table selling books and DVDs. Most of the members were relatively new residents, post-2000, and seemed to enjoy the look into the past.

OLD FRIENDS AND NEW ONES AT WINE & CHEESE

Tales were swapped, wine was sipped and cheeses were nibbled at the "meet and greet" social for Nina Baranski (right), author of the city's history book, PORT ST. LUCIE AT 50: A City for All People. Many were friends from her days as PSL Mirror reporter and editor, and as the architect of city's Communications Department.

More than 30 guests joined her and her husband Bill at Rick's Diner, for the event. Those attending not only shared food and drink but were able to save on the book and have it signed by Nina. Several new members joined during the event.

PSL'S FIRST RADIO STATION SUBJECT OF APRIL GATHERING

Carol and Gregg Wyatt kept us entertained and informed Wednesday night, April 18, 2018, with tales of the early days of WPSL, the first radio station licensed to Port St. Lucie. Coming from the heady media world of California, they purchased the station in 1993 from Fox News chief and GOP powerhouse Roger Ailes, who owned the station for two years. It was founded by stunt pilot Ray Sherwood, who got the FCC license in 1983 and went on the air in 1987.

The Wyatts said, because of streaming, they now have listeners around the world and have heard from many of them. The company includes three AM stations: WPSL 1590/WSTU 1450/La Gigante 1330

JOURNALIST TED BURROWS OPENS SEASON

Members new and old gathered for food and fellowship on the evening of Feb. 21 for the first gathering of 2018. Former Stuart/Port St. Lucie News editorial page editor Ted Burrows shared his memories of coming to the county when he was 13, being a student as Indian River Community College began and working as a desk clerk at the Port St. Lucie Country Club (Club Med) before going off to college. He rounded out his talk with tales of being in the  Audio-Visual branch of the White House Communications Agency during parts of the Johnson and Nixon administrations. City Councilwoman Jolien Caraballo, a society board member, provided an update on the moving of  two historic ranch buildings to the Westmoreland site and planned to be a museum.