Page 7 - Palm City Spotlight - April '23

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.