April 2024 in photos: Solar eclipse, high school sports and more (2024)

Martin County Sheriff's Office and Florida East Coast Railway are on scene where a man was hit and killed by a Brightline train in Martin County at the corner of Indian Street and Dixie Highway on Monday, April 1, 2024, in Stuart. MCSO said it occurred just before 3 p.m.

South Fork's Katie Kidwell fires home during the second inning against Centennial in a high school softball game on Monday, April 1, 2024 in Martin County. The Eagles won 4-0.

Cardinal Newman players celebrate in the dugout after scoring a run against Martin County in a high school baseball game at Martin County Tuesday, April 2, 2024.

Construction is underway for the Oslo Road interchange and widening project, Tuesday, April 2, 2024, in Indian River County. The $95.8 million construction started Aug. 14, 2023, and is expected to be complete summer of 2027. Improvements include partial cloverleaf ramps and replacing the bridge that will connect Oslo Road and I-95.

Volunteer Linda McKernan, of Stuart, creates a seagrass mat on Tuesday, April 2, 2024, at Florida Oceanographic Society on Hutchinson Island in Martin County. It will be used to help restore seagrass meadows in the Indian River Lagoon. The project is a part of the Florida Oceanographic Seagrass Training Education Restoration program. "We're attaching the seagrass to the (burlap) mats and outplanting them in the Indian River Lagoon to increase their chance of survival and establishment," said Nate Winn, research associate and seagrass project manager.

An alligator is seen paused in the waterway of Indian Hills Recreation Area, located on the south side of Savannah Road on Wednesday, April 3, 2024 in Fort Pierce. The 20-acre pond is part of a stormwater retention area on the south side of Savannah Road in Fort Pierce. The stormwater project provides treatment for an 1,242-acre watershed that is home for alligators, turtles, egrets, and other animals and birds that can be seen while wandering through the sidewalks and bridges.

St. Edward's Aerin Russell (14) looks to take a shot on goal against Melbourne in a high school girls lacrosse game Wednesday, April 3, 2024, in Indian River County.

Julie Peterson, of Michigan, and Claire Netzel, of Chicago, use their binoculars to look for nesting birds near Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge, Thursday, April 4, 2024, during the Environmental Learning Center's sunset pontoon boat tour. The two-hour leisurely educational tour heads north from the Environmental Learning Center's dock on the Indian River Lagoon and loops around the national wildlife refuge, providing passengers with binoculars to see the nesting birds up close.

Juliana Ford, 8, of Stuart, reads to Moose, a 6-year-old Irish wolfhound, during a Paws to Read session at the Blake Library on Thursday, April 4, 2024, in Stuart. The long-standing program offered, in partnership with the Humane Society of the Treasure Coast, gives children a space to gain confidence and improve their reading fluency with trained therapy dogs. The recommended age for participation is 7 to 12 years. The program runs from Oct. to April and is also offered at House of Hope.

Vero Beach’s Anthony Villafane (11) takes a hit from St. Edward's Reed Sternberg (27) in a high school boys lacrosse game Friday, April 5, 2024, in Indian River County.

Crowds of people view the partial solar eclipse outside the Hallstrom Planetarium at Indian River State College on Monday, April 8, 2024, in Fort Pierce. The planetarium projected a live feed of the solar eclipse from across the country.

The solar eclipse is seen from Port St. Lucie on Monday, April 8, 2024.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks to an audience about preventing retail theft and he signs a Retail Theft Bill into law on Tuesday, April 9, 2024, from inside a Walgreens store at the intersection of Southeast Cove Road at U.S. 1 in Stuart.

A mother cat looks after her three surviving kittens at Caring Fields Felines, a cat sanctuary in Palm City on Tuesday, April 9, 2024. Volunteers are needed to help the sanctuary with fostering kittens during the spring and summer months.

Washington Post columnist and best-selling author David Ignatius reacts to a question from the audience while speaking at the Rappaport Center inside Temple Beit HaYam on Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in Stuart. Ignatius spoke on being inside Israel and what is happening within the region during the 90-minute talk with the audience.

Jamerious King is congratulated as he makes his way to the field during the Vero Beach Ring Ceremony on Thursday, April 11, 2024, at Dodgertown.

Sheriff Eric Flowers speaks during a press conference regarding a solved cold case murder of Hiram “Ross’ Grayam on the 56th anniversary of his murder in Gifford, Thursday, April 11, 2024, at the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office. Grayam, who was a milkman at the time in 1968, was found shot to death in a wooded area near 38th Avenue and 43rd Street.

Jensen Beach quarterback Paige Bressman (center) dives into the end zone to score the extra point against Lincoln Park Academy during the first half at Jensen Beach High School on Thursday, April 11, 2024, in Jensen Beach. Lincoln Park Academy won 19-14.

Waltine "Walt" Nauta (center) and his attorney Sasha Dadan walk up the steps of the Alto Lee Adams, Sr. U.S. Courthouse in Fort Pierce on Friday, April 12, 2024, for a hearing in the President Trump classified documents case.

Karon Kron (left) works with her customer Eckart Bühler, of Jupiter Farms, while he searches for Captain Beefheart records inside her store, Vintage Vibes 420, at 420 Colorado Ave. on Saturday, April 13, 2024, in downtown Stuart. Kron is preparing for Record Store Day, a national event for independent record stores that started in 2007. The event is April 20. “I think the 70s have come back around and I really believe that it’s not only just the audio, but it’s the aesthetic of the vinyl, and going through the motions of putting it on a record player, getting the record player going and listening to music from the 70s,” Kron said.

St. Edward's School seniors Grace Haller, 18 (left), and Carrington Brown, 18, work to trim bird-of-paradise plants while participating in the annual Day of Service helping out at the Shining Light Garden on Saturday, April 13, 2024, in Vero Beach. “It feels really great to spend Saturday morning with my friends and being able to help out the community and give back, especially because this is our senior year in high school, so I feel this is good to do as a group and work together,” Brown said. Volunteers provided service in four projects around Indian River County, including packing hygiene kits at the United Against Poverty Center; knitting and crocheting for homeless children at St. Augustine of Canterbury Episcopal Church; and using recycled plastic bags to make mats for the homeless in the community at Temple Beth Shalom. It was organized by Remi Heyer, a senior at Vero Beach High School.

Toni Vessa, and Wesley Parker of West Palm Beach inspect a boat at the 41st annual Spring Boat Show in Riverside Park, Vero Beach April 13, 2024. It featured local boat dealers and suppliers displaying their product lines, paddleboards, jet skis, deck boats, pontoons, shallow water skiffs, offshore fishing cruisers and marine accessories and services; as well as food and refreshments for sale

Marluci Ferreira, of Brazil, enjoys her ice cream during the 5th annual Treasure Coast Ribs, Wings and Music Festival at Causeway Cove Marina on Seaway Drive in Fort Pierce on Saturday April 13, 2024. The festival featured namesake food items, side dishes, soulful music from local talent, a kids' zone full of activities, local artisan and art vendors offering unique creations and adult drinks. Many people brought their lawn chairs and blankets and spent the day.

No. 1 Vero Beach celebrates their 12-11 win over No. 2 Viera in a high school lacrosse District 8-2A championship match at Vero Beach on Monday, April 15, 2024.

Cindy Dionne, clinical director at the Treasure Coast Wildlife Center, releases the American bald eagle from a pet kennel carrier April 16, 2024, in Palm City, and watches the eagle's reaction testing out his claw and joints that healed during his stay.

Vero Beach's Cole Morgan (14) tries to dodge the tag of Martin County's Frankie Brancaleone (7) in a high school baseball game at Vero Beach High School on Wednesday, April 17, 2024.

Martin County head coach Kelloryn Kalwa holds up the District 13-2A trophy after winning the high school girls lacrosse championship game against Jupiter Wednesday, April 17, 2024, in Stuart. Martin County won 16-14.

Volunteers Mia Sullivan (front) and Melinda Clarke, both of Vero Beach, carry an oyster reef ball module to an area where a living shoreline is being constructed for ORCA's Living Shoreline Program at Riverside Park near the Virginia Robinson Downey and Dixon P. Downey Gazebo on Saturday, April 20, 2024, in Vero Beach. "This particular site has shown evidence of shoreline erosion," said Missy Weiss, director of citizen science and education. "This particular oyster reef ball module is a more sustainable means to grow back the shoreline." The module is cement-based that is ground up with oyster shells. ORCA partnered with the City of Vero Beach and received a grant from 11th Hour Racing.

Lincoln Park Academy's Reese Williams skies high to catch a pass against Jensen Beach in a Region 3-1A semifinal flag football game on Tuesday, April 23, 2024 at Lawnwood Stadium in Fort Pierce. The Falcons won 26-0.

A group of about 20 Palestinian supporters protest outside Republican U.S. Rep. Brian Mast's office on Tuesday, April 23, 2024, at 171 S.W. Flagler Ave. in downtown Stuart. The protest was sponsored by CODEPINK and other peace organizations including Jewish Voices for Peace, Students for Justice in Palestine and Al-Awda. A news release from CODEPINK stated the protest is to "denounce his complicity and support of Israel's actions in Gaza." CODEPINK is a grassroots peace and social justice movement that emerged in 2002 in response to the Iraq War.

Vero Beach’s Lauren Cisco delivers delivers a powerful serve against Olympia compete in the Region 4-4A high school tennis semifinals Tuesday, April 23, 2024, at Vero Beach High School.

The Stuart Heritage Museum inside the Stuart Feed Supply at 161 Southwest Flagler Ave. on Tuesday, April 23, 2024, in downtown Stuart. The museum leases the building from the city and is seeking an extension of 15 years with the option for renewal.

Donut Circus owners Ernie Sao (right) and his wife Sophia Sao (center left) photograph their customers (from left) Len Chamberlin, Ginger and Joe Rodriguez, all of Fort Pierce, on Tuesday, April 23, 2024, in Fort Pierce. The business announced it is closing, with their last day being open on Wednesday, April 24, 2024.

Guests arrive for John Gentile Sr.'s memorial outside of Johnny G's Barber Shop on Wednesday, April 24, 2024, in downtown Jensen Beach. Gentile, 62, died April 18. He was known for his "quirky'' barbershop and worked in the area for about 40 years. He was known in the area as the "Mayor of Stuart" and "Papa John."

A sport fishing boat rises above the water inside the Fort Pierce inlet while traveling west towards the Indian River Lagoon on Wednesday, April 24, 2024.

South Fork girls tennis plays Gateway in a Region 7-3A final on Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Martin County.

Charlie Woods makes a chip shot onto the 3rd green at the local qualifying event for the U.S. Open on Thursday, April 25, 2024, at the Legacy Golf and Tennis Club in the St. Lucie West development of Port St. Lucie. Charlie, 15, did not advance, finishing with a 9-over 81. He was one of 84 entries competing in the local event, with five advancing to 36-hole qualifying in June.

Vero Beach’s Cora Darling (22) and partner Ava Lilliquist (4) celebrate winning a tough point against Jupiter during the District 25-1A beach volleyball championship Thursday, April 25, 2024, at Vero Beach High School.

Vero Beach's Grayton Del Futo pressures Lake Howell's Grayson Lunardi during a Region 2-2A girls lacrosse quarterfinal Friday, April 26, 2024 in Vero Beach. Vero Beach won 19-7.

The Children’s Art Festival was April 27, 2024, at the Vero Beach Museum of Art in Riverside Park. It was fun for all ages, celebrating the arts and art-making. Attendees enjoyed easel painting, crafting 3-D pyramids and decorating them with stickers and gems, music and dance performances, food trucks, art hunts, docent-led tours of the galleries, and free admission to an Ancient Egypt exhibit.

Karen Kendall, of Palm City, walks among the vendors and their booths while she and her rabbit Petra explore the Southeast Bunfest, a day of fun to celebrate rabbits, guinea pigs and other critters, at the Flagler Center on Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Stuart. “She was adopted from the Humane Society of the Treasure Coast a year and a half ago and she’s 10 years old," said Kendall, a volunteer at the humane society and a fosterer. “I love it, was here last year and I wouldn’t miss it.”

The 40th annual Vero Beach Orchid Society Show "There’s No Business Like Orchid Show Business" was April 27 and 28 in Vero Beach’s Riverside Park. There were dazzling orchids for sale, award-winning orchid displays, vendors and raffles.

Vero Beach Police Chief David Currey hugs his wife Melanie Currey after speaking during a special City Council meeting, Monday, April 29, 2024, at the Vero Beach City Hall. Over 100 residents and supporters, 30 officers of the Vero Beach Police Department and representatives of at least five other law enforcement agencies packed the council chambers to show support of Vero Beach City Manager Monte Falls and Vero Beach Police Chief David Currey after allegations of misconduct against Currey.

Vero Beach's Savina Magaro (center) is mobbed by her teammates after netting the winning goal in overtime to send Vero Beach to a 12-11 victory over Viera in a Region 2-2A girls lacrosse semifinal Tuesday, April 30, 2024, at Vero Beach high School.

Martin County's Dakota Moberg (8) tries to grab flags as Fort Pierce Central's Tajeyah Chance (4) gains yardage in a Region 5-2A flag football final Tuesday, April 30, 2024, in Fort Pierce. Central won 25-0.