To Advertise (772-633-1115) ST. LUCIE VOICE | GAMES January 1, 2026 B19ACROSS 1 Precarious perch 5 Coffee coast 9 Made crow sounds14 Heart problem?18 Where the ounce can pounce19 A No. 2, on the green20 Veteran21 Old mother Hubbard’s son22 Huck Finn parodies?24 Bordello special?26 Filch a la Poe27 Science org.29 R-V center?30 William who wed Mary31 Verb in “I Am Woman”32 Perennial phone problem at Goats R Us?37 Your, in Tours39 Fly catcher of a sort40 ___ double take41 “___ a date!”42 Actress who felt empty inside?46 Rival whisky of Old Argyle?51 Guy’s name or French word52 Have a rough night53 Deck a Dolphin55 Rex Reed rejection56 Family of fancy birds58 Written twice, a dance59 Distaff reference62 Language ending63 Idaho staple64 Moon jumper66 Battled Cochise?69 “___ drunkard” (Rick, in Casablanca)71 Shortened, as a dict.73 Capt. of industry74 Butt heads75 Sun-roof safeguard on some U.S. cars?80 Vanity Fair author’s monogram82 Iliad suicide86 Old undercover org.87 Bristol break88 Actor Tognazzi89 1987 Coppola film, Gardens ___91 Place with good circulation?92 Uses, as a futon95 Lovable eccentric96 Sit or shut endings97 Rollers in barracks?101 One-time Miracle Gro pitchman?104 Certain pol: abbr.105 Meadow107 Corn-eater’s leftover108 Lover Come Back star109 What a nail feels?115 Car-collecting comedian118 Pal, to Pascal119 Cinco de mayo, e.g.120 Inning enders121 Go along with Marie Antoinette124 With 128 Across, good advice at the Medicine Man Ball?128 See 124 Across130 African Nobelist131 U.K. hotspot132 Who-knows-how-long133 Bank take-back134 African antelope135 European steel center136 Others137 Goddess of discordDOWN 1 Reading aid 2 “Peace ___ profession” (Dr. Strangelove sign) 3 Film or phone preceder 4 Turkish treat 5 New Zealander 6 Shaggy ape, briefly 7 The best, briefly 8 Poe’s Lee 9 Store sign10 Commotion11 Typist’s stat: abbr.12 Edit, sometimes13 “___ under the apple tree ...”14 Tirana’s land: abbr.15 Stevens or T. Nelson16 Mandel or Morris17 “The ___ near ...”20 Spoken23 1992 World Series champs25 Singer Springfield28 Chief monk33 Rice U. team34 Penalized amount35 Paw36 Animal you can sit on38 Display to good advantage42 Cherokee, for one43 Son of Rebecca44 Capital on a fjord45 Baylor University’s city47 Binet-Simon, for one48 Crude org.49 Express-lane requirement, often50 Bended part51 Previous records?54 Cut of beef57 Nest-egg guarantor: abbr.60 Insurance city61 Ecol.-minded entity65 Route66 Pre-osculated princes67 Start of many questions68 Latin verb70 Grocery store: abbr.72 “... devil and the deep ___”75 Pear variety76 Stamp ctr.77 ___ large (hasn’t been caught)78 Cabbage or moolah79 Not too receptive81 Early keyboard synthesizer83 Enlist in84 Dustin’s Graduate costar85 Illiterate John Hancocks90 Black bomber93 Winnie ___ Pu94 Sleep time, in Stuttgart95 Market-watching cable channel98 Of Human Bondage author’s initials99 Takes to heart100 Henry, in Hermosillo102 Ohio college town103 Vision supervision106 12109 “It ___ Be You”110 Love in Paris111 Like a julep112 Bank-job scores113 Litigant114 Sharpens116 Title giver117 Giraffe’s cousin122 Della, to Perry: abbr.123 Early grandson, in the Bible125 Rented outfit126 Man of Steel emblem127 Summer, in Lyon129 Mortar mixerThe TelegraphThe Washington Post...Or Kennedy 101New England-Style Chatter 2 By Merl Reagle
B20 January 1, 2026 ST. LUCIE VOICE | GAMES www.stlucievoice.comBe suspicious of a teaching dealBy Phillip Alder - Bridge ColumnistOscar Wilde was a somewhat cynical cove. For example, he said, “Everyone who is incapable of learning has taken to teaching.”I teach a lot of bridge classes, especially during the winter, but I still learn from my classes — often not to make the deals too difficult! For example, I was wishing I had omitted this deal from a class last month when suddenly it became all worthwhile!How should South play in three no-trump after West leads the heart queen?North used Stayman in an unsuccessful attempt to uncover a 4-4 spade fit. East was tempted to throw in a three-diamond overcall but realized that it would serve little purpose unless that was the killing lead against whatever contract North-South settled into. Also, because the vulnerability was unfavorable, three diamonds doubled could — and would — have proved expensive, going down two, minus 500.South starts with five top tricks outside clubs. So, he needs only four club tricks, not five. Since he has no side entry to the board, he should cash the king and completely duck the second round, not play dummy’s ace or jack. (Yes, he could instead completely duck the first round.) Here, East shows out on the second round, so a marked finesse of dummy’s jack on the third round brings home the contract.However, last month, Allan Muchin of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, in the zone, smoothly played his club queen on the second round of the suit! The declarer, understandably taking this card at face value, went up with dummy’s ace and down in his contract.Dealer: South; Vulnerable: East-WestNORTH8 7 6 34 27 4A J 5 3 2WEST5 4Q J 10 9 86 3Q 10 9 8SOUTHA 9 2A K 7 5A K 8 K 6 4EASTK Q J 106 3Q J 10 9 5 27The Bidding:OPENING LEAD:Q HeartsSOUTH WEST NORTH EAST2 NT Pass 3 Clubs Pass3 Hearts Pass 3 NT All Pass
To Advertise (772-633-1115) ST. LUCIE VOICE | SERVICE DIRECTORY/CALENDAR January 1, 2026 B21PUBLIC NOTICE / ANNOUNCEMENTI, Antonia La’Niyah Smith, born on October 26, 2003, to Aletha Lanette Musgrove and Antonio George Lenard Smith, hereby declare and record my standing as an Original Indigenous American, separate from any corporate legal �iction, asserting inherent rights, ancestry, sovereignty, and full bene�icial ownership of my Living Estate.JANUARYOur directory gives small business peopleeager to provide services and products to the local community an opportunity at a veryreasonable cost. Lisa Crawford can help you to reach this audience. Call Lisa at 516-721-0848or email at [email protected] Page B8 Sudoku Page B9 Crossword Page B8Solutions from Games Pages in December 18th, 2025 EditionCrossword Page B9 (The Stepword Fives)10 Port St. Lucie Elks Lodge #2658 Car and 3 Motorcycle Show. 2290 Southeast LenDowntown Fort Pierce Farmers Market. 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Marina Square in Historic Downtown Fort Pierce. For residents and tourists alike with live entertainment and delicious food.nard Road, Port St. Lucie. Free to attend. Registration is at 9 a.m. Shows run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Registration fee $20 per vehicle. Pre-register by Jan. 2 and save $5. Contact Pete Jordan at 772-285-0123.31 Aim for Freedom Sporting Clays Shoot. SafeSpace, in partnership with the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office, will host the second annual event at the Indian River County Shooting Range, 10455 102nd Terrace, Sebastian. Registration and Breakfast: 8 a.m. Shotgun Start: 9 a.m. Team of four: $600. Individual: $150. The community-driven event brings together local businesses, residents and law enforcement for a day of friendly competition with a shared purpose: supporting survivors of domestic violence across the Treasure Coast. Proceeds from the event benefit SafeSpace, helping fund emergency shelter, counseling, advocacy, and other essential services for individuals and families seeking safety and healing. To register or learn more about sponsorship opportunities, visit SafeSpaceFl.org.
B22 January 1, 2026 ST. LUCIE VOICE | SPORTS www.stlucievoice.com“Spirit of Excellence – P-R-A-C-T-I-C-E” is the quote that the Treasure Coast High School varsity girls’ basketball team adopted for their season and it, along with their great skill, is proving to serve them well.The Lady Titans enter the new year with a glittering and historic 13-0 record.“They were not picked preseason to be an elite team, but they have become one because of their tremendous work ethic every day at practice,” said Robin Potera-Haskins, the team’s head coach.“This is a group of local young ladies from TCHS who have developed their basketball skills to play with unbelievable intensity and fire that would put a smile on anyone’s face. They are the true example of a team.”And Coach Robin would know. She has been coaching for 40 years, including 20 at various collegiate levels.What comes next if the Titans continue to excel? Possibilities include advancing to the district championship, followed by regional and state championship runs. “No matter what they achieve, they’ve already overachieved,” Coach Robin said. The girls practice every day except Sunday and holidays. They still have at least 11 games on their regular-season schedule, which resumes after the holiday break. Practice, however, continues.“This group is very unique to me. This group is special because they have a spirit of excellence,” Coach Robin said. “These young ladies are truly a shining example to represent the Port St. Lucie community.”The team is made up of five starters and other key players, two assistant coaches and Coach Robin. Coach Robin has no problem boasting about the girls, including senior and co-captain Reniah Flynn.. “What makes her so special is she loves practice. She comes ready to practice, ready to learn, ready to play. She’s a true leader,” said Coach Robin.And of co-captain and senior Aaliyah Wilson, Coach Robin said that in all her years of coaching, she is “probably the most improved player of her life.”As a junior, Wilson asked to go back to the junior varsity squad because she wanted to better develop her skills. “This year she’s a starter on the team. She does all the little things to be successful,” said Coach Robin, who also credited the parents of the players for instilling in them a work ethic. Coach Robin calls starter sophomore Kenya Burns “fast break city” for her ability to go for the steal. According to Coach Robin, Justice Alexis is “a force to be reckoned with on the offense and defense. She’s really valuable to our team.”Freshman starter and point guard Alyssa’Rai Gordon is known for being “very calm.”Other big contributors include Dashka Remy, Kimora Williams and Tianna Brown.The girls themselves also have good things to say about their team and season. “I liked our mindset as a team. We never went into a game thinking we were going to lose. Whenever we saw a strong team, we didn’t doubt ourselves. We just knew it would be a challenge and that we’d need to lock in and focus more. No matter who we played, we always believed in us,” said Flynn.Freshman Gordon said, “What I like about the team is how we can be serious and have good times and laugh even with coach. It’s like one big family.”When asked what she has learned so far this season, sophomore Burns said: “To be coachable and take constructive criticism.”Sophomore Alexis responded: “The art of resilience. Doing things I don’t feel like doing but still doing them. Playing through three- to four-game weeks and juggling school work is a lot mentally. But learning how to push past that for the bigger picture is something I learned with my coaches and my Lady Titans at my side.”“All of our kids started at Treasure Coast. These kids mostly started playing basketball at a very low level. It’s not just being athletic you’ve got to be skilled,” said Coach Robin.“They have truly embraced the concept that is taught by the faculty and administration at TCHS to always have a growth mindset.”The team’s two assistant coaches are D’Jennyka Mercdat, whom Coach Robin calls a “great role model,” and Mercedes Alexis, whom the coach has known for over 20 years.“She is an unbelievable communicator,” she said, adding that Alexis played Division 1 basketball and is a mother of four, including Justice Alexis. “She really knows the game of basketball.”Coach Robin is in her 11th year coaching girls’ basketball at Treasure Coast High School. She also teaches physical education at the school and has a lot of good things to say about the high school shecalls home.After living in many places during her coaching career, she is very content calling St. Lucie County home. She began her coaching career at Austin College in Sherman, Texas; she was inducted into the school’s hall of fame for her success as a coach. She also coached in other areas of Texas, as well as in Oregon, Montana and at Palm Beach Atlantic University in West Palm Beach.According to Coach Robin, participating in sports offers productive life skills. “Sports teaches people that when you get knocked down you get up again,” she said. BY REGINA MARCAZZO-SKARKA | Staff WriterFor diligent Lady Titans, teamwork and winning go hand in hand Treasure Coast High School girls basketball players Dashka Remy (12) and Valendie Serant (30) work on passing drills with their teammates at a recent practice. Coach Robin Potera-Haskins, above, provides some instruction to the Lady Titans, who begin the second half of their season with a 13-0 record. PHOTOS: LINDA KLOORFAIN
To Advertise (772-633-1115) ST. LUCIE VOICE | SPORTS January 1, 2026 B23The following “Kure” will be Part 1 of a two-part series in which we will provide information to help you become an “expert” on how to analyze the flight of your ball, and correlate the ball flight to the position the clubface, clubhead path, centeredness of contact and angle of approach at impact.After all, that is the most important thing that matters in golf – the dimensions of the club as it relates to the ball at impact.Let’s go over the different ways the ball can be moved or struck, and what truly controls the results.1. The direction the ball initially moves. The ball can start at your target, left of your target or right of your target. The starting direction is determined by clubface angle and clubhead path, with about 85 percent being attributed to clubface angle and about 15 percent being determined by clubhead path. For example, if your clubface is open 10 degrees to the right of your target and your clubhead path is moving down your target line, the ball will start approximately 8 degrees to the right of your target. However, please keep in mind the above example concerns a ball that is being struck somewhat close to the center of the clubface (centeredness of contact). Shots that are not struck close to the center of the clubface – for example, a ball that is struck with your driver on the toe of the clubface – will start off more right, and a ball that is struck on the heel of the clubface will start more left. So, with a solidly struck shot (center of clubface), the initial flight will favor the clubface path, not the clubhead path. This is even moreso at slower speeds such as putting and chipping. In putting, nearly 100percent of where the ball starts is attributed to putter face angle. The path of the putter head has virtually no influence on the ball’s starting direction.2. The curving golf ball. The ball fading, slicing, drawing or hooking is caused by the ball not having vertical backspin, but rather clockwise or counterclockwise spin. The clubface not being at right angles to the clubhead path causes the sidespin. With a slice, the clubhead is open relative to the clubhead path; the face being close to the club headpath causes a hook. With shots that don’t curve (straight shots, pushes, pulls), the clubface is at right angles to the respective paths of right, left and down the line, causing vertical backspin, which allows the ball to continue down its initial starting line.3. Height or trajectory of the shot. The three possible contact points on the face generally control the height or trajectory: high, center and low. Generally, a ball struck low on the clubface will contact high on the ball. The opposite is usually true as well: A ball that is struck high on the clubface will contact low on the ball. The contacts points on the clubface and ball are greatly influenced by the angle of approach the clubhead takes as it enters the hitting area.We are off and running! Part 2 of the ball flight laws is coming next edition. Until then, keep your head down! WHAT CONTROLS BALL FLIGHT, PART 1KEVIN’SKURESBy Kevin PerkinsGood 4 you! THREE CHEERS (AT LEAST!) FOR PSL HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS’ CHRISTMAS SPIRITOn Dec. 7, the Port St. Lucie High School Sideline Cheer team represented their school in the Annual Fort Pierce Sights & Sounds Christmas Parade. Led by Coach Marie Quinones, the cheer team has grown over the past couple of years, with over 140 girls trying out for a spot this winter season. Coach Quinones looks forward to continuing with her next tryouts at the end of March. The cheer team’s participation in the Christmas parade is just one of Coach Quinones’ many efforts for successful community engagement. Charles McCuen.Brad Waterman.Chris Marconi.This quartet ‘holed’ in for the holidays at PGA Golf Club in St. Lucie West. Brad Waterman (Dye course, sixth hole, 125 yards, 7-wood), Chris Marconi (Ryder course, 10th hole, 150 yards, 5-iron), Charles McCuen (Dye course, 13th hole, 154 yards, 3-wood) and Joy Bonhurst (Ryder, 10th hole, 120 yards, 9-iron) all celebrated holes-in-one there. Congrats, Brad, Chris, Charles and Joy! Joy Bonhurst.– CONTRIBUTED