Opinion
Our Shorelines Are Still Speaking — Are We Listening?
The Indian River Lagoon and its barrier islands offer a living classroom, but only if we protect what remains
Claire Fontaine
Opinion Editor
Covers: opinion, editorial
Claire Fontaine ran the op-ed desk at the Palm Beach Post for seven years before joining TC Sentinel to build its opinion section from scratch. She believes strongly that a local paper's editorial voice is its most distinguishing asset — and that good opinion journalism asks hard questions of everyone, regardless of party. She grew up in Stuart and has strong roots in the community.
“Principled and measured. Makes arguments by evidence and logic, never by volume. Treats readers as intelligent adults. ”
Stories by Claire Fontaine
Opinion
From Sci-Fi Fantasy to Treasure Coast Reality: The Humanoid Robot Is Almost Here
A Florida research institute is already building them. Retailers may sell them within years. Are we ready for what comes next?
Opinion
Florida Foster Care Has a Transparency Crisis. The Treasure Coast Feels It
A stalled bill on high-acuity children exposes what state government doesn't know — and won't track — about its most vulnerable kids
Opinion
Trains, Planes and Boats Are Reshaping Treasure Coast Life — With Real Costs
Brightline, Witham Field, and the St. Lucie River waterway all promise opportunity, but residents deserve honest debate about who bears the burden
Opinion
Sachs Media Promotes Two Senior Leaders to Vice President
Amy Climenhage and Kelly Corder elevated as Tallahassee-based public affairs firm expands its statewide footprint
Opinion
Should the Treasure Coast Buy Into the Blue Zone Dream?
Longevity science is under scrutiny nationwide — and that should matter to every community that's spent public dollars chasing the idea
Opinion
Jury Duty Is Democracy in Action — Florida Must Fund It
As the nation marks 250 years, the Treasure Coast's courts face a funding gap that threatens the constitutional right to trial by jury
Opinion
The House of Refuge: Where Martin County's Maritime Past Still Breathes
The oldest structure in Martin County isn't just a museum — it's a window into the life-and-death drama that played out on our shore long before condos and causeways.
Opinion
Treasure Coast Lawyer Moseley Elected President of National Maritime Group
GrayRobinson shareholder Jim Moseley takes charge of the Maritime Law Association, shaping policies that impact Fort Pierce docks and Stuart's St. Lucie River waterfront.
Opinion
Safeguard Treasure Coast's Bird Flyways From Growing Threats
Tens of thousands of migrating birds like roseate spoonbills and ospreys soar over Martin, St. Lucie and Indian River counties each year, but these vital routes face persistent pressures demanding urgent protection.
Opinion
Martin County Must Protect Historic House of Refuge on Hutchinson Island
The 1875 sanctuary that sheltered shipwrecked sailors deserves the community's fierce commitment to endure future storms.
Opinion
Treasure Coast Endures Daily Gun Toll as DC Grabs Headlines
Politicians ducked shots at a Washington dinner, but a 17-year-old died in nearby Homestead, spotlighting firearm violence's quiet grip on local Florida communities.
Opinion
Treasure Coast Board Warns: Scrutinize Donalds' Lead in Early 2026 Governor Poll
A NetChoice-commissioned survey by Echelon Insights raises methodology concerns that Martin, St. Lucie and Indian River county voters should heed before drawing conclusions.
Opinion
Fort Pierce Pride Fest Grows Amid Florida's Anti-LGBTQ Tide
The St. Lucie County Fairgrounds event draws bigger crowds, defying hostile statewide legislation and showcasing Treasure Coast resilience.
Opinion
Treasure Coast Airports Surge Amid Culture-War Distractions
Rising passenger traffic at Witham Field in Stuart and Vero Beach Regional drives investments, demanding focus over ideological fights in Martin and Indian River counties.
Opinion
Treasure Coast Scrutinizes Florida's 50 Over 50 List's Local Impact
While the 2026 honor roll celebrates executives and leaders in energy, government and healthcare, Martin, St. Lucie and Indian River counties question who truly benefits from the recognition.
Opinion
Treasure Coast Husband Buys Sweater for Wife's Fading Memory
A local man's defiant birthday gift to his dementia-stricken wife in a group home underscores why love persists when memories fail in Martin, St. Lucie and Indian River counties.
Opinion
Treasure Coast Birds Demand Urgent Protection Efforts
Migratory flocks along the Atlantic Flyway enrich Martin, St. Lucie and Indian River counties, calling on locals to safeguard irreplaceable coastal wildlife beyond mere admiration.
Opinion
Eagle-Cam Tragedy Spotlights FWC Failures in Treasure Coast Eagle Protection
The bungled handling of a beloved bald eagle's death in Southwest Florida raises alarms about the Florida Wildlife Commission's accountability, threatening conservation efforts for birds along the St. Lucie River and in Martin County.
Opinion
New Law Mandates Living Shorelines to Safeguard Indian River Lagoon
Senate Bill 302 requires state guidelines for mangroves, seagrass and reefs, delivering a key win for Treasure Coast's coastal economy amid Tallahassee's environmental setbacks.
Opinion
Florida Mandates Living Shorelines to Safeguard Treasure Coast
Senate Bill 302 requires natural barriers that could transform protections for the Indian River Lagoon and the region's storm-battered coastline.
Opinion
Fort Pierce Diver's Loyal Dog Inspires Delilah App to Decode Laws
Joseph Visconti's Treasure Coast-rooted platform simplifies legislation for everyday Americans, launching in 2026 as a top civic-tech news tool.
Opinion
Tallahassee Budget Stalemate and Cold Case Push Hit Treasure Coast Hard
With 21,000 unsolved murders statewide and no state budget resolution before April 20, Martin, St. Lucie and Indian River counties face real local fallout from lawmakers' decisions.
Opinion
Treasure Coast Voters Skeptical of Vindman's Tight Poll Against Moody
The Democratic challenger's campaign poll claims Sen. Ashley Moody leads 43-40 with 17% undecided, but flawed methodology distorts the true Florida Senate race picture for local residents.
Opinion
Sebastian Weighs 612-Home Annexation With 900 More on Horizon
City leaders must decide if approving the rezoning will preserve Sebastian's quiet, fishing-community charm or spur unsustainable growth in northern Indian River County.
Opinion
Treasure Coast Urges Drivers to Savor Florida's Roadside Oddities
As hyper-scheduled travel skips the bizarre attractions from Everglades ditches to local county roads, Floridians risk losing the state's unplanned magic.
Opinion
Vero Beach Mom Launches Braille Mission After Hunt for Son's Books Fails
Legally blind Janie Desir, raising an autistic son in Indian River County, creates free early learning tools to bridge gaps in disability education.
Opinion
Treasure Coast Must Reckon With Doctor's Call for Migrant Drug Tests
A local physician's suggestion to screen migrants for drugs stigmatizes the region's vital agricultural workforce, demanding a vocal community response.
Opinion
Treasure Coast Demands Brightline Station Details Beyond Renderings
Martin and St. Lucie officials must reveal funding, traffic impacts and cost burdens before committing public resources to proposed rail stops.
Opinion
Rural Families in Western Treasure Coast Need Community Bonds Over Government Aid
In the remote pastures of Martin and St. Lucie counties, fraying informal networks leave families without buffers before crises turn into case files.
Opinion
Martin Chamber CEO Apologizes for Post Suggesting Animal Tests on Democrats
Joseph Catrambone's LinkedIn remark sparked backlash in Stuart, prompting a board discussion but falling short of restoring community trust, the TC Sentinel argues.
Opinion
Thousands Flood Treasure Coast Streets in 'No Kings' Rallies
Residents from Stuart to Vero Beach turned out in force, demanding accountability and prompting calls for local leaders to respond seriously.
Opinion
Book's 11th Walk in My Shoes Battles Child Abuse Across Florida
The 1,500-mile trek from Key West to Tallahassee starts in April but skips Treasure Coast stops, urging local action against abuse affecting 1 in 3 girls and 1 in 5 boys.
Opinion
Capitol Tour for Sanctioned Russian Lawmakers Outrages Treasure Coast Military Families
As 13 U.S. service members with local ties die in Middle East combat directed from Tampa's MacDill AFB, the visit raises tough questions on deterrence and sacrifices.
Opinion
Treasure Coast Urges Investment in Visual Journalism
As Martin County's population swells to 165,000, local leaders must fund photographers and videographers to capture the region's real stories and foster community understanding.
Opinion
Defend Treasure Coast Beaches from Erosion and Storms
Martin County's shorelines have shrunk due to hurricanes and erosion, requiring urgent action to protect these irreplaceable public assets beyond just enjoying them.
Opinion
Treasure Coast Women Forge Florida's Future Beyond One Month
As Women's History Month spotlights influential figures, local leaders in Martin, St. Lucie and Indian River counties push for sustained recognition of women's ongoing roles in shaping land use and environmental policies.
Opinion
Indian River County Approves 3,400 Homes Without Growth Limits
Officials must set concrete thresholds for traffic, schools and water before greenlighting more projects straining Vero Beach suburbs along State Road 60 and Oslo Road.
Opinion
Indian River Leaders Falter as Vero Beach Suburbs Boom with Developments
With dozens of new residential and mixed-use projects flooding unincorporated areas, residents demand a full accounting of the accelerating growth's costs.
Opinion
DeSantis Blasts Politics' 'Sugar High,' Demands Results Over Entertainment
As Florida's term-limited governor exits office, his Arizona State speech urges Tallahassee leaders to prioritize real governance in Martin, St. Lucie and Indian River counties.
Opinion
Failed AI Bill Exposes Treasure Coast Families to Privacy and Job Risks
Legislature's collapse of protections backed by Gov. DeSantis leaves local residents without safeguards on government AI use and minor misuse.
Opinion
Florida Lawmakers Block AI Bill, Sparing Treasure Coast Heavy Regulations
By halting SB 482, legislators prevented mandates on AI platforms that could hinder jobs and innovation in Martin, St. Lucie and Indian River counties.
Opinion
Treasure Coast Letters Lament Lost Icons, Fading Memories and AI Threats
Residents from Vero Beach to Fort Pierce share urgent concerns about eroding community values in heartfelt submissions to the TC Sentinel.
Opinion
Vero Beach Leaders Must Tackle Downtown Decay Now
Cracked sidewalks and vacant storefronts in the Treasure Coast gem expose a neglect that demands immediate city investment and action.
Opinion
Treasure Coast Residents Must Fight to Preserve State Parks
From Hobe Sound's wildlife refuges to the Indian River Lagoon, these natural spaces define our identity and demand protection against modern threats.
Opinion
Treasure Coast Residents Must Fiercely Protect State Parks and Wildlife
From Jonathan Dickinson's trails to St. Lucie River manatees, these natural treasures define local life and demand urgent defense against threats.
Opinion
Florida's Data Center Law Shields Treasure Coast, But Loophole Risks Aquifer Drain
SB 484 forces data centers to cover their own utility costs, protecting local ratepayers from hikes, yet an undefined term could allow developers to evade water protections and burden residents.
Opinion
Budget Cuts Force WFIT Into Survival Mode During Spring Pledge Drive
Treasure Coast listeners in Martin, St. Lucie and Indian River counties must support the Melbourne-based public radio station to keep noncommercial broadcasting alive amid financial threats.
