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Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Yahoo
Arrests made after 2024 fatal shooting in Fort Pierce
FORT PIERCE – Police on June 5 announced two arrests in a 2024 shooting case that left an 18-year-old man dead, records state. Slain in the March 16, 2024, incident just east of North 23rd Street and Avenue C was Jackson Romanello, Fort Pierce Police stated. Over the past year, investigators determined David Harris III, 19, of Fort Pierce, shot Romanello during a drug transaction initiated by Romanello and Jerimah Nelson, 21, who was arrested June 3 in Flagler County on a variety of mainly drug charges. Police found Romanello in the driver's seat of a Honda Pilot with an apparent gunshot wound to the head. The Honda was just south of an apartment building where investigators said Harris lives. Police Maj. Eric Chan on June 5 said two individuals contacted police shortly after the shooting and said they were in the vehicle with Romanello at the time. 'Detectives interviewed them and from them they developed leads which they had to follow through on, which led to the identification of these two individuals (Nelson and Harris).' According to records, investigators determined Romanello and Nelson exchanged text messages for several weeks before the shooting regarding Nelson buying marijuana and Adderall pills from Romanello, who was living in Fort Myers. Chan said the two people in the Honda with Romanello didn't know Harris and Nelson. 'They painted a picture of what was going on so that we could follow up,' he said. Chan said the investigation took more than a year. 'We wanted to make sure that we corroborated any statements and/or other leads that we got,' Chan said. 'We did search warrants and subpoenas to gather information that required analyzing.' He said Nelson moved to Palm Coast. Chan said it was 'a robbery gone bad by David Harris.' According to statements in records, Harris put a gun to the left side of Romanello's head and told him not to move or he would be shot. Romanello put the Honda in gear and Harris fired a single shot. Police found a 9mm cartridge casing at the scene. Where was the father?: Preliminary autopsy of boy who officials said died by mom's hand doesn't contradict mom's account 'Vigorous neighborhood canvass': Police said man entered home, photographed woman after she exited shower Chan said after police identified Harris as a possible shooter, he was arrested in June 2024 on unrelated charges, including possession of a firearm by a felon. He's been in the St. Lucie County Jail since then, Chan said. 'We got him off the streets as fast as we could identify him,' Chan said. Chan said Harris was arrested on a murder charge June 4 regarding the Romanello death. Will Greenlee is a breaking news reporter for TCPalm. Follow Will on X @OffTheBeatTweet or reach him by phone at 772-267-7926. E-mail him at This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Two arrests after fatal shooting in Fort Pierce
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Yahoo
Where to eat: 10 essential restaurants in Fort Pierce include 12A Buoy, Pineapple Joe's
When in Fort Pierce, eat as the locals do. Bucket-list restaurants in Fort Pierce are legendary and beloved, whether it be for the food or for the views — or for both. They can be found on the beach by the Atlantic Ocean, on the water by the Indian River Lagoon or downtown. When you think of Fort Pierce, you think of these restaurants. The city has too many must-visit restaurants to include them all, so TCPalm plans to make more lists. If you have a restaurant that should be included in the next list for Fort Pierce or any Treasure Coast city, email Here are 10 essential restaurants in Fort Pierce. Legendary restaurants: These 7 icons have stood the test of time on the Treasure Coast Where to eat: 10 essential restaurants in Vero Beach include Ocean Grill, Penny Hill Subs 12A Buoy has been a staple of Fisherman's Wharf since owners Katie James and Owen Hartley opened the small seafood restaurant in 2009. It's described as a rustic dive with exceptional eats, highlighting lunch and dinner options from its small kitchen on paper menus. Popular appetizers include lobster mac and cheese and hanging extra thick-cut black pepper and maple glaze bacon. Menu favorites include fresh catch fish, raw bar options, fried shrimp, Florida Black Angus burgers and homemade desserts. 22 Fisherman's Warf, Fort Pierce; 772-672-4524; Archie's Seabreeze started when a former guard shack from the World War II Navy base became a beer joint in 1947. Archie Hitchins was the first owner, but it was Archie Summerlin who added ice cream, sandwiches and the infamous burgers in 1966 that still are a menu mainstay. Summerlin ran the business until his death in 1988 at age 59. Patty McGee bought Archie's from Summerlin's sister in 1994. Its slogan remains the same: "no shoes, no shirt, no problem." 401 S. Ocean Drive, Fort Pierce; 772-460-3888; The late Dennis Horvath and his sister opened the original Captain's Galley Restaurant in 1984 across from the Fort Pierce City Marina and P.P. Cobb General Store. In 1987, Horvath moved and expanded the restaurant to the corner of Seaway and Indian River drives. He ran the eatery with his wife and three children until his death in 2014. Expect to wait for a table, especially for Sunday brunch. Get the Belgian waffle, but split it with someone to save room for more menu items. Order smaller portions of some plates, such as eggs Benedict and pigs in a blanket. 825 Indian River Drive, Fort Pierce; 772-466-8495; Chuck's Seafood Restaurant opened in Fort Pierce on the Indian River Lagoon in 1961 on the Indian River Lagoon. Chuck and Elodie Tabor opened the restaurant using the 'Old Florida' recipes they developed in the 1940s for its famous fried shrimp. Peter Angelos took over in 1984 and ran it with his daughters, Georgette and Nicola — until they became owners when he retired in 2021. The Angelos sisters added weekend brunch and started selling bags of 'Chuck's Famous Seafood Breading' and Mason jars of 'Crazy Nick's Calypso Sauce,' the restaurant's house cocktail sauce and house tartar sauce. They also expanded the outdoor seating area and added live music. 822 Seaway Drive, Fort Pierce; 772-461-9484; Dale's Bar-B-Q, known as Dale's BBQ South, was founded by Dale Ernsberger Jr. in 1962. Andrew Sparks took over ownership in 2020 from Daniel Kinser, according to state records. It's not affiliated with the former Dale's BBQ West on Okeechobee Road, which rebranded to become Moonswiners Bar-B-Q in 2014. Dale's BBQ South is known for its sweet tea, onion chips, coleslaw, barbecue sandwiches — beef or pork — and homemade sauces. 3362 S. U.S. 1, Fort Pierce; 772-461-0052; Hurricane Grill & Wings is a national chain that started on Fort Pierce's South Beach in 1995. The Seaway Drive original was called Chris' Hurricane Bar and Grill after founder Chris Russo, who was only 22. Known for its chicken wings and cold beer, that spot is still one of eight Hurricane restaurants in Martin, St. Lucie and Indian River counties. Since becoming a franchise, the restaurant has expanded to 40 locations in the U.S., including 29 in Florida. The restaurant is famous for its jumbo wings and 35 flavors. Signature sauces include Roasted Garlic Inferno for serious heat, Coco Loco with heat from habanero and cool from coconut, Gold Rush with spicy honey mustard, Cyclone with sweet and spicy chili sauce, and Kogi Secret Weapon with sweet garlic soy sauce. 2017 Seaway Drive, Fort Pierce; 772-467-9464; Little Jim Bait & Tackle in Fort Pierce, known as Little Jim's, was built in 1942 and originally served as a Navy guard shack and barrier island checkpoint during World War II. When the Navy left in 1944, it gave the city the land, the shack and the wooden bridge. What started out early as a bait shop grew into the popular live music hangout Little Jim's is today. Menu highlights include the pimento cheese spread and house-made classic onion dip with chips for an appetizer, as well as its tacos, pizzas, sandwiches and smash burger. It also serves breakfast from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 601 N. Causeway, Fort Pierce; 772-468-2503; Joseph Robert "Joe Bob" Clemenzi opened Pineapple Joe's Grill & Raw Bar and ran the restaurant for decades with his wife, Mabel, before his passing in 2021. The large dining area with walls lined by pecky cypress wood panels features a clawfoot tub near a pool table topped with a Budweiser chandelier. Its menu includes raw bar options and items from the grill: burgers, hot dogs, chicken breast sandwiches, shrimp, oysters and clam platters. Highlights include the conch fritters, served with its secret sweet and tangy calypso sauce, and the signature pineapple fritters, which are slightly sweet, doughnut hole-like balls. Save room to try the freshly made Key lime pie for dessert. 6297 N. U.S. 1, Fort Pierce; 772-465-6930; All things food: Roundups of the latest reviews, inspections, new and best restaurants The Pot Belli Deli has been a staple of downtown Fort Pierce since owner Lisa Spagnuolo opened the small diner inside the historic Arcade Building in 1989. It's open for breakfast and lunch with low menu prices. For breakfast, order two eggs, bacon or ham or sausage, grits or home fries, and a biscuit or toast for $10.50. It also has pancakes, Texas-style French toast and biscuits and gravy for less than $9. For lunch, order a jumbo hot dog with chili and cheese for less than $8 or the deli burger with lettuce and tomatoes for less than $9. All cold subs and hot subs are less than $10 each. 101 N. U.S. 1, Fort Pierce; 772-465-4888; Sharky's is the only restaurant on North Hutchinson Island. Its plaza was built in 1979, and the owners opened a sandwich shop called Mike's Giant Submarines, which became Sharky's in 1985. It's been owned by Cindy Rohn and her son, Derek, since 2010. It has a laidback, casual atmosphere where customers walk up to the counter to place their orders before they grab a table. It started out with just subs but grew to have an extensive menu with pizza, wings, salads and hamburgers. The subs are named after different sharks: the Great White is an Italian, the White Tip is ham and turkey, the Mako is roast beef and turkey and the Hammerhead is chicken Caesar. Derek Rohn created the Buffalo Soldier with fried chicken, diced and tossed in wing sauce, then topped with bacon and cheddar cheese and toasted. 1012 Shorewinds Drive, Fort Pierce; 772-466-2757; Laurie K. Blandford is TCPalm's entertainment reporter dedicated to finding the best things to do on the Treasure Coast. Email her at Sign up for her What To Do in 772 weekly newsletter at This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: 10 essential restaurants in Fort Pierce: Chuck's Seafood, Dale's BBQ
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- Yahoo
Where to eat: 10 essential restaurants in Vero Beach include Ocean Grill, Penny Hill Subs
When in Vero Beach, eat as the locals do. Bucket-list restaurants in Vero Beach are legendary and beloved, whether it be for the food or for the views — or both. They can be found downtown, on the beach by the Atlantic Ocean, on the water by the Indian River Lagoon. When you think of Vero Beach, you think of these restaurants. The city has too many must-visit restaurants to include them all, so TCPalm plans to publish more of these lists in the future. If you have a restaurant you think should be included in the next round — for Vero Beach or any other Treasure Coast city — email Here are 10 essential restaurants in Vero Beach. Owner Casey Steil opened Casey's Place in 1981 near State Road A1A in Vero Beach. The restaurant is a block from the beach and the Atlantic Ocean. It has walk-up window service and outside patio tables with umbrellas. It serves sandwiches, fries, salads and even breakfast items, but it's best known for its burgers. Choose from seven different kinds, including chili cheese and bacon blue cheese. They're all 6 ounces of USDA choice Black Angus chuck, cooked to order, and you can make it a double or triple. Expect a wait at this popular spot, especially during season. 917 Azalea Lane, Vero Beach; 772-231-4790; C.J. Cannon's Restaurant and Lounge opened in 1984 at the Vero Beach Regional Airport, allowing diners to watch planes take off from and land on the runway. It's run by owners Chuck Cannon and his mother, Pat. It's described as a casual restaurant with an American-Southern menu specializing in comfort foods. The decor includes retro aircraft memorabilia, celebrity autographs, pictures and history scattered on the walls. The restaurant would be the best view to see the Navy Blue Angels fly during the Vero Beach Air Show, but it closes during the event, held every two years. 3414 Cherokee Drive, Vero Beach; 772-567-7727; Cobalt is an oceanfront restaurant at the Kimpton Vero Beach Hotel & Spa. It's just steps from the beach with sweeping views of the Atlantic Ocean from inside the restaurant or outside, especially around one of its fire pits on the outdoor patio during its popular weekend brunch or happy hour from 3-5 p.m. daily on draft beer, house wines and appetizers. Chef Matt Lange's menu features fresh and local ingredients paired with a selection from its extensive wine list or cocktail menu. 3500 Ocean Drive, Vero Beach; 772-469-1060; Chef Mitchell Weiss and his family, who have been in the restaurant industry for over two decades, opened Fishack bar and restaurant in 2011. It specializes in what it calls "hook-to-table" seafood cuisine. The atmosphere is casual and colorful with indoor and outdoor seating. The made-from-scratch menu has a variety of seafood dishes, po' boys, tacos, chowders and raw oysters. Specialties include crab cakes, shrimp and grits, crusted sea scallops, fish and chips, and the "Shackterranean" mahi. 1931 Old Dixie Highway, Vero Beach; 772-770-0977; Linda Moore and Rick Norry opened Kilted Mermaid in 2011 on Old Dixie Highway. It's a neighborhood bar with live music where diners can choose between a warm, cozy atmosphere inside and a covered patio outside. It features over 25 local and global wines by the glass and over 80 craft and import beers. Pair them with artisan cheeses or cheese and chocolate fondues, as well as flatbreads, sandwiches, salads and small plates. It serves classic Irish staples year-round, including shepherd's pie. On St. Patrick's Day only, it doles out hundreds, maybe thousands, of Irish hot pockets: corned beef, cabbage, stone-ground mustard and Swiss cheese in a puff pastry. 1937 Old Dixie Highway, Vero Beach; 772-569-5533; Ocean Grill, a steak and seafood restaurant, is one of Vero Beach pioneer Waldo Sexton's historic landmarks. It was built with mahogany, pecky cypress, wrought iron and Spanish antiques, and it opened on New Year's Eve in 1941. Three generations of the Replogle family have been running the restaurant since 1965. In addition to an upscale menu, there's a gift shop that sells appetizers, dressings, seasonings, desserts and to-go drinks. It's known to get decked out for the holidays with Christmas trees, lights and decorations. 1050 Beachland Blvd., Vero Beach; 772-231-5409; Penny Hill Subs has been serving subs, salads and gyros since 1993. The sandwich shop's location on Beachland Boulevard closed in 2022, and its location on Old Dixie Highway came under new ownership in 2024. It bakes its own bread fresh daily and uses local ingredients. Popular subs include the Italian, the California club and the Monte Carlo, as well as the "Healthy Habit" with turkey breast, alfalfa sprouts, grated carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes, blended oils, vinegar, salt, pepper and its unique cherry pepper relish. 1179 Old Dixie Highway, Vero Beach; 772-567-0043; Riverside Cafe is a waterfront restaurant on the Indian River Lagoon at the base of the Merrill P. Barber Bridge, where people can dock and dine and watch the sunset. It's country music star Jake Owen's favorite hometown hangout. He got his start singing at the cafe and has remained friends with owners David and Ellen Lane. He shot scenes there for his "American Country Love Song" music video, and he often stops unannounced at the restaurant when he is in town. Its menu ranges from comfy finger foods and classic sandwiches to semi-formal entrees of fresh fish and steaks. 3341 Bridge Plaza Drive, Vero Beach; 772-234-5550; Chef Leanne Kelleher opened The Tides restaurant in 2000 on Cardinal Drive in Central Beach on the barrier island. It's moving temporarily to a new office complex next to the 7-Eleven on South A1A while her old restaurant is razed and rebuilt. The fine dining restaurant features a distinct menu of Floridian and New American cuisine with Southern, Latin, Caribbean and classical French influences for the freshest seafood and the finest quality meats, as well as locally grown and organically raised vegetables and fruits. Waldo's Restaurant & Bar, located inside the historic Driftwood Inn, is one of Vero Beach pioneer Waldo Sexton's historic landmarks. Sexton first came to Vero Beach in the 1920s and started building the Driftwood Inn out of the timbers of a dairy barn destroyed in a storm. Finished in 1935, it was supposed to be a family beach house. However, after many requests for rooms because of limited hotel options in the area, it expanded into the Driftwood Resort with an oceanfront restaurant and bar. It has indoor and outdoor seating with a guest-only pool in the middle, live music on the weekends and a wooden deck that sits on the beach. 3150 Ocean Drive, Vero Beach; 772-231-7091; Laurie K. Blandford is TCPalm's entertainment reporter dedicated to finding the best things to do on the Treasure Coast. Email her at Sign up for her What To Do in 772 weekly newsletter at This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Where to eat: 10 essential restaurants in Vero Beach for food, views
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
New restaurants serve smoked BBQ baked potatoes, brick-oven pizzas, handcrafted soups
New restaurants recently opened feature smoked barbecue baked potatoes, brick-oven pizzas, handcrafted soups and homemade biscuits. In case you missed any of the stories for subscribers that TCPalm previously posted throughout the past month about new restaurants — as well as those coming soon — here's a roundup with links. Click "read the full story" for the name, location, hours, photos, menu highlights, signature dishes and more information about the restaurants, especially exclusive interviews with chefs and owners. If you have restaurant news, please email A new brunch restaurant has opened with a breakfast menu featuring savory eggs Benedict, old-fashioned buttermilk pancakes, waffles, omelets and healthy options. Its lunch menu includes over a dozen sandwich and wrap options, fresh and vegetable-filled salads and homemade soups. A new Venezuelan-American cafe has opened in a unique location: inside a car dealership. It's the second location for the owners, who are from Caracas, Venezuela. The menu includes empanadas, pastries, sandwiches and desserts. A new restaurant specializes in handcrafted soups and homemade biscuits. It serves a rotating selection of handcrafted soups, such as hearty corn chowder and California marinade vegetable beef soup, as well as "sides you crave" — including cheddar garlic buttermilk biscuits. Read the full story. A new brewery and restaurant with craft beer and cocktails has opened. It's the second location of the brewery after opening their first location in Yaphank, Long Island, New York. The Port St. Lucie location is the same concept with a similar menu, a full bar, craft-style beers, brick-oven pizzas and TVs with seating outside. Read the full story. An authentic Italian pizzeria named after focaccia bread has opened. The new restaurant is open for lunch and dinner and offers free delivery. The menu features specialty pizzas, as well as pizza in "teglia," or pizza in the pan, and appetizers, salads, calzones, strombolis, cold and hot subs and desserts. A barbecue taphouse with a full bar and live music has opened. It serves smoked baked potato, homemade chili and Frito pie, and it features weekly chef's specials, such as jalapeno poppers, BBQ egg rolls, and 'Tipsy Texan' and 'Sloppy Hog' sandwiches. Brewery changes: Sailfish Brewing Co. in Fort Pierce adds craft liquor, cocktails New indoor adventure park: Ride go-karts, play arcade games, plus bowling, glow mini golf 15 best beaches in Vero Beach: Jaycee Park, South Beach, Round Island, Sebastian Inlet Port St. Lucie's first craft brewery is becoming an English soccer pub and brewery. It plans to serve food imported from England that includes Scotch eggs, sausage rolls, fish and chips, bangers and mash, and steak and kidney pies. Even bags of potato chips — 'crisps' — are imported with flavors that include tomato ketchup, pickled onion and prawn cocktail. Laurie K. Blandford is TCPalm's entertainment reporter dedicated to finding the best things to do on the Treasure Coast. Email her at Sign up for her What To Do in 772 weekly newsletter at This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: New restaurants recently opened Port St. Lucie, Fort Pierce Vero Beach
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Gunfire hits Honda in reported road rage case in Port St. Lucie; arrest made
PORT ST. LUCIE — A 39-year-old driver accused in a road rage incident of shooting an AR type rifle from his pickup at a Honda, striking the Honda with gunfire, was arrested, according to Port St. Lucie Police. Ali Sami Zaiter, of Port St. Lucie, on May 28 was booked in at the St. Lucie County Jail on two counts related to attempted crime against a person that could cause death, two counts related to weapons offenses, and single counts each of discharging a firearm from a vehicle and tampering with evidence, according to sheriff's records. The arrest follows a May 25 reported road rage incident. Police about 7:30 p.m. that day went to the area of Southeast Crosstown Parkway and Southeast Sandia Drive where the driver and passenger of a Honda Accord reported the driver of a Ford F-150 pickup fired several shots from an AR style rifle at them while they were in their vehicle. Two shots struck the Honda, but neither occupant was hurt. Sgt. Dominick Mesiti, police spokesperson, on May 29 stated what he called a road rage incident began on Southeast Crosstown Parkway from U.S. 1 heading west. '(Zaiter) allegedly cut off the victim's vehicle that started the incident,' Mesiti stated. Police said the accused shooter, later identified as Zaiter, left the scene before officers arrived. Mesiti said the driver of the Honda and his passenger, a woman, did not know the accused gunman before the incident occurred. Police identified the F-150 using surveillance cameras and other techniques, Mesiti stated. Investigators about 4:30 p.m. May 28 executed a search warrant and arrested Zaiter at his home in the 200 block of Southwest Bridgeport Drive. Shooting incident: Reported gunfire in Tradition under investigation; police ask for help Re-opened case: Florida prosecutors to pursue death penalty in family's turnpike killing after Biden commutation The address is west of Florida's Turnpike off Southwest Tulip Boulevard. Police shared photos of the Honda with apparent bullet holes in the rear passenger door and front windshield. Police reported the rifle thought to have been used in the incident has not been recovered, though detectives continue to gather evidence. Will Greenlee is a breaking news reporter for TCPalm. Follow Will on X @OffTheBeatTweet or reach him by phone at 772-267-7926. E-mail him at This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Gunfire hits Honda in reported road rage case in Port St. Lucie
