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Is Spring finally here?

By A Treasure Coast essay by Paul Janensch

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wqcs/local-wqcs-894414.mp3

Fort Pierce, FL – PJ: Has spring arrived? Really? Boy, I hope so! It's a good thing I had winter clothes in the car when we drove from Connecticut to Vero Beach soon after the first of the year. I had to wear them on many days in January and February. There I was strolling on the beach in my parka, gloves and wool watch cap. Indian River citrus survived, but vegetables along the Treasure Coast were almost totally destroyed. Electric use shot up. Good news for utilities. Bad news for rate payers. The homeless crowded into shelters in St. Lucie, Martin and Indian River counties as overnight temperatures dropped into the 20s. Vacationers continued to arrive because the weather was even worse up North with record snowfalls. But many of them spent more time indoors than out. Good news for the malls. Bad news for those who rent kayaks and run fishing charters. March was not only cold but also wet. Martin County even set a rainfall record. Our beloved manatees suffered in the cold. As of March 19, 431 carcasses had been found in Florida waters - an annual record with nine months still to go. Do you remember all that hot weather in the second half of 2009? Were you yearning for cooler weather back then? Well, Mother Nature heard you. Thanks a lot. This is Paul Janensch for 88.9 FM.