June 2024 in photos: Summer fun, nature and more (2024)

Bill Keegan (center), of Vero Beach, celebrates his 100th birthday with friends and fellow veterans at the American Legion Post 39 on Saturday, June 1, 2024, in Vero Beach.

A loggerhead turtle heads back to the ocean after laying eggs during a night turtle walk hosted by Ecological Associates, Inc. (EAI) on Tuesday, June 4, 2024, at Jensen Public Beach on Hutchinson Island. EAI specializes in sea turtle research and works under a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Marine Turtle Permit, MTP-23/24-010D. The Turtle Walk program is aimed to engage the public in the conservation efforts, sea turtle biology education and protection efforts. All sea turtles, their nests and their eggs are protected by federal and state laws. If you see nesting turtles or hatchlings that appear to be struggling, nest poaching or harrassment call the FWC hotline 888-404-3922.

A construction crew from Adena Corp. of Lakeland delivers the third of eight large components for the Heart in the Park site at Southwest Village Parkway and Southwest Discovery Way on Wednesday, June 5, 2024, in the Tradition development of Port St. Lucie. The 60,000-pound piece is the heaviest component of the heart that will be attached to the base (on left) of the sculpture. Thirteen shipping containers will be brought to the site to complete the project. Stainless steel panels will be attached to the frame to be the skin of the sculpture. “We’ll be attaching pieces from now until early fall, October probably,” said Celine Walsh, director of amenities and commercial projects for Mattamy Homes. When completed, the stainless steel heart sculpture will stand 73 feet tall. Slated for completion by spring 2025, Heart in the Park will be the world’s largest heart sculpture.

Mary Rao, of Syracuse, New York, takes a photo of the sunrise with her 4-month-old daughter, Eleanor Gensoli and boyfriend Jesse Gensoli, Wednesday, June 5, 2024, at Conn Beach in Vero Beach. The couple spent their last morning in town at the beach, where Eleanor experienced her first beachside sunrise.

Adriel Monzon, 2, of Port St. Lucie, plays in a interactive fountain Friday, June 7, 2024, at Indian RiverSide Park in Jensen Beach. Temperatures across portions of Florida could hit record highs over the weekend before tropical moisture arrives next week. AccuWeather forecasters are predicting temperatures could be 5 to 10 degrees above historical averages Friday through Sunday.

SuDa’s attorney Mark Grafton speaks during a special council meeting, Friday, June 7, 2024, to give SuDa, Crec Capital, Madison Marquette, the developer selected for the Three Corners project, an opportunity to explain why it should not be disqualified based on emails it sent to council before the vote, breaking rules of the bidding process. The firm was disqualified and council reopened the process for submitting proposals for the project.

Bill Keegan describes some of his service in World War II in his Vero Beach home, and a picture of Keegan shows that younger version of himself wearing a standard-issue wool field jacket known as the Eisenhower or “Ike” jacket.

Indian River State College President Timothy Moore (center) leads a discussion during the college's District Board of Trustees retreat inside the administration building at the Fort Pierce campus on Friday, June 7, 2024.

Ashtrid Searchwell, 8 (left) helps her younger sister Ny’Aria Ruffin, 4, after entering the St. Lucie County Parks & Recreation Arthur Lee Boatwright Pool at North 13th Street and Avenue M, to cool off from the afternoon heat on Friday, June 7, 2024, in Fort Pierce. “It’s hot,” Ashtrid said. “But you can have fun in cold water.” Afternoon temperatures are forecasted to be in the 90’s through the weekend, with "feels like" temperatures in the 100s.

Elliott Blanchard, 4, of Vero Beach, plays in the fountains at Royal Palm Pointe Park, Friday, June 7, 2024, in Vero Beach. The park features a dock, shaded sitting areas overlooking the Indian River Lagoon and a fountain which operates daily except Tuesdays during summer break.

Salma Love, a drag queen from Port St. Lucie, helps carry the pride flag along the parade route in the parking lot of the MidFlorida Event Center during the opening of the Treasure Coast Pride Fest on Saturday, June 8, 2024, in Port St. Lucie. "This is a special day for us to be ourselves in a public manner and we can show everybody that we just mean love, to everyone," Love said. The event was organized by the Pride Board of the Treasure Coast.

Shiloh Stefanik, 6, of Fredericktown, Ohio, takes a deep breath before going under water at Bathtub Beach on Monday, June 10, 2024, on Hutchinson Island in Martin County. Bathtub Beach reopened Saturday, but will close again Sunday, June 16. The beach renourishment project is done and the next phase of the Resilient Martin Project is to raise portions of Southeast MacArthur Boulevard. Construction on the road begins Monday.

A view of the ongoing construction at the future site of Costco along Southeast Willoughby Boulevard in Stuart on Monday, June 10, 2024. Along with the store, developer M&M Realty expects to build 378 apartments, an 18-pump gas station, restaurants and other stores on the 49-acre site.

Humiston Beach is seen on Wednesday, June 12, 2024, in Vero Beach. Vero Beach City Council voted 4-0 Tuesday, to not replace the cement boardwalk at Humiston Park which was damaged during Hurricane Nicole in 2022. Instead, to save about $800,000, the city would demolish what’s left of the boardwalk and build a sidewalk on the west side of the dune.

Crews work to stand the fallen Ficus trees along Bridge Road on Thursday, June 13, 2024, in Hobe Sound. Meteorologists confirmed Wednesday evening an EF 1 category tornado touched down earlier in the day just west of U.S. 1 in the Hobe Sound and Jupiter Island areas. Wind speeds were between 85 and 90 mph.

Visitors play with adoptable kittens, have a bite from the menu or order coffee at Kitty Cup Cat Cafe on Thursday, June 13, 2024, at 1461 S.W. Gatlin Blvd. in Port St. Lucie. The city's first cat cafe opened at the beginning of June. Owner Melony Zaravelis said 15 kittens were adopted in the first eight days of opening. The cafe partners with the Humane Society of the Treasure Coast and the Humane Society of Saint Lucie County.

Fort Pierce Police Department Maj. Mike Santiago speaks during a press conference, Thursday, June 13, 2024, at the Fort Pierce Police Department. The department held the press conference to provide information and updates on recent homicides and violent crimes in the city.

Shari Tessier, owner of Cattitude Cat Cafe, pets one of the adoptable cats, Friday, June 14, 2024, in Vero Beach. Located at 1269 Old Dixie Hwy., the cafe features a self-serve coffee station, teas, bottled waters and sodas that are included in the $15 admission price. With a goal of adoption, guests are encouraged to visit with the adoptable cats and resident felines to give them love and attention that they might not experience in a shelter environment.

Scenes from Port St. Lucie's first Port Fest, Saturday, June 15, 2024, along the North Fork of the St. Lucie River. Port St. Lucie's newest park, located at 2454 SE Westmoreland Blvd., featured a car show at Lyngate Park, a ribbon cutting ceremony, food trucks, aerial acts, family-friendly activities and live music during its inaugural festival.

Scenes from McKee Botanical Garden's 19th Annual Waterlily Celebration, Saturday, June 15, 2024, in Vero Beach. The celebration featured a photo contest displayed in the historic Hall of Giants, repotting demonstrations, plant sale vendors and plein air artists throughout the garden.

At least 500 people attended the standing room only Indian River County sheriff debate, Monday, June 17, 2024, in the Indian River Charter High School’s auditorium. Incumbent Eric Flowers, Fellsmere Police Chief Keith Touchberry, former Deputy Chief Milo Thornton of the sheriff’s office and write-in candidate Deborah Cooney were the candidates involved in the political debate.

The sun sets behind a boat-tailed grackle in the Savannas Preserve State Park at Hawk's Bluff Trail on Monday, June 17, 2024. The sprawling wet prairie and basin marsh spans 10 miles in Martin and St. Lucie counties. The park encompasses more than 6,800 acres and features 17 miles of multi-use trails that provide opportunities for hiking, bicycling, canoeing, kayaking and horseback riding.

Alex Blue, 14, of Fort Pierce, plays with her 12-month-old brother Aidan during the Juneteenth Celebration of Freedom festival Wednesday, June 19, 2024, at River Walk Center, 600 N. Indian River Dr., in Fort Pierce. The event featured live music, a kid zone, vendors and food. Juneteenth is an annual celebration that commemorates the ending of slavery in the United States. President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation on Jan. 1, 1863 to free all slaves, news of the emancipation did not reach enslaved people in Florida until May 20, 1865 and Texas until June 19, 1865.

The Martin County Healthy Start Coalition celebrates the launch of MOM Mobile, a prenatal mobile unit, during a ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday, June 20, 2024, in downtown Stuart. Starting in September, the unit will travel to mothers in Golden Gate, East Stuart, Indiantown and Hobe Sound. The 38-foot recreational vehicle will offer prenatal and pediatric visits as well as help women with breastfeeding.

Ron DePastino (second from left), of Port St. Lucie, celebrates finishing the 5K run during the 13th annual Aaron Vaughn Memorial Frogman Swim and Run on Saturday, June 22, 2024, at Jensen Beach Park. Due to rough surf and rip currents, Martin County Fire Rescue canceled the swim events. Navy SEAL Special Operations Chief Aaron Carson Vaughn, a Stuart native, was killed in action on Aug. 6, 2011, when a chopper carrying 30 Americans was shot down in the Tangi River Valley of Afghanistan while rushing into battle. All proceeds from the event go directly to Operation 300, a nonprofit inspired by Vaughn's life and legacy.

Indian River County Fire Rescue crews work to put out a fire that started inside a Waste Management truck just south of Vero Lago at 57th Street on 58th Avenue, Monday, June 24, 2024, in Indian River County.

Jonah Levy (left), 13, helps Bianca Bernhard, 15, carry her boat back to shore after a morning on the St. Lucie River during the Treasure Coast Rowing Club's annual summer camp June 26, 2024, at 771 S.W. 28th Street in Palm City. The camp focus is based upon the skill level of the participant. More advanced campers work on overall fitness, strength, cross training and technical skills on the water. Beginners start with basic techniques.

Crab E Bills is seen Wednesday, June 26, 2024, in Sebastian. The local seafood market and eatery closed their doors June 1, 2024, due to structural safety concerns from the city of Sebastian.