05/13/2021 ISSUE 10

Rare sawfish in lagoon

A4 A6 B5Researchers seek anglers’ input
Nature lovers’ lookout ‘Hooray for Hollywood’

60-foot observation tower planned IRSC tribute to Tinseltown tunes

VOLUME 6, ISSUE 10 YOUR INDEPENDENT LOCAL COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER THURSDAY, MAY 13, 2021

DEVELOPMENT ‘CENTER’ OF ATTENTION ONCE MORE ... RESTRICTIONS LIFTED
ACCELERATING
IN TRADITION County to keep
offering mass
BY GEORGE ANDREASSI | Staff Writer vaccinations
[email protected]
PHOTOS: LINDA KLOORFAIN BY GEORGE ANDREASSI | Staff Writer
Sansone Group plans to build a [email protected]
second major distribution center Port St. Lucie looking at $46M tab to revive project
on the 400-acre tract it cleared in Port St. Lucie plans to continue
Tradition Commerce Center for BY GEORGE ANDREASSI | Staff Writer Road, including the Bealls Outlet store, have a to- offering mass COVID-19 vaccina-
a 5.4-million-square-foot indus- [email protected] tal market value of $5.9 million, St. Lucie County tion events as the federal govern-
trial park starting with a FedEx Property Appraiser records show. But the real es- ment approved Pfizer’s vaccine
regional hub. It will cost Port St. Lucie $46 million in cash, tate comes with $47.7 million in unpaid property for children as young as 12.
land, property taxes and special assessments taxes, special assessments, interest and fees, ren-
The proposed 220,822-square- to take ownership of 21 acres in City Center as dering it unmarketable to private sector develop- A first shot event last Friday at
foot warehouse delivery and dis- the city tries to salvage the ill-fated redevelop- ers, said City Manager Russ Blackburn. the Community Center attract-
tribution facility will be located ment project. ed 287 people, including some
on a 52-acre parcel near the inter- CONTINUED ON PAGE A3 walk-ins, said City Manager Russ
section of Village Parkway and the The 22 parcels along U.S. 1 and Walton Blackburn. That will be followed
proposed Paar Drive extension. up with a second shot event.

The Port St. Lucie City Council “There is still demand for mass
voted unanimously Monday to vaccinations,” Blackburn told the
approve the site plan for “Project City Council Monday. “Recogniz-
Senior” without discussing the ing that COVID is still in our com-
business expected to occupy the munity, we have been holding at
facility. least one masked vaccination ev-
ery week. We’ll continue to have
The identity of the company vaccinations until the demand
lined up to lease and operate the wanes.”
distribution center is being kept
secret from the public by Port St. The Florida Department of
Lucie and St. Lucie County offi- Health administered at least
cials under a confidentiality one COVID-19 vaccine shot to
agreement. 125,808 people in St. Lucie Coun-
ty as of Monday, records show.
The project is expected to That’s nearly 40 percent of the
generate relatively high paying county’s 320,000 residents.
jobs in exchange for incentives
such as property tax discounts, CONTINUED ON PAGE A4
impact fee payments, grants
and fast-track permitting. After being grounded by pandemic, many now eager to travel

Project Senior’s site BY STEPHANIE LaBAFF | Staff Writer Travel agents say they have seen a sig- almost fully booked, according to Carol
plan includes driveways nificant increase in sales as people seek to Matulonis, a luxury travel specialist who
to provide easy access for Many Treasure Coasters have their satisfy their wanderlust after more than a owns a Cruise Planners franchise
trucks exiting Interstate suitcases packed and travel brochures year of pandemic-related lockdowns and
95 at Becker Road. There in hand. They’re ready to travel again travel restrictions. “This year, we have become great ex-
will also be a traffic signal – someplace, anyplace – booking trips perts on the national parks and doing
at Village Parkway and within the country and around the world This summer’s national park excur- stuff in the United States,” Matulonis
Paar Drive. for this summer, fall and the coming year. sions, U.S. rail trips and river cruises are
CONTINUED ON PAGE A7
CONTINUED ON PAGE A6

IN THIS ISSUE Much ado in 2022 for
Symphonic Association.
LOCAL NEWS A1-A7 PETS A16 Season preview, P. B2

HEALTH A8-A13 ARTS/PEOPLE B1-B9

ADVICE A17 GAMES B12-B14

REAL ESTATE A18-A28 SPORTS B15

© 2021 Vero Beach 32963 Media LLC. All rights reserved.



To Advertise (772-633-1115) ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | NEWS May 13, 2021 3

CITY CENTER The city will allow the school district to use the MIDFLORIDA Event Center for six events per year for 10 years. derdale would present the entire package
to a federal judge for final approval, records
CONTINUED FROM PAGE A1 garage and government offices were built. Port St. Lucie will transfer a 4-acre lot show. The sale could close as soon as July.
“It was not going to happen with the pri- on Milner Drive to the Fire District for a
Hoping to revive City Center, Blackburn fire station. The Fire District will relinquish If the city obtains the land, the redevel-
negotiated a series of deals that would re- vate sector,” Blackburn said about the City $252,897 in back taxes and interest. opment agency would undertake a public
solve the legal and financial issues encum- Center redevelopment. “Now we have a planning process to reimagine what should
bering the land, which federal authorities fresh start that really will let us achieve the Port St. Lucie will establish a Children’s be built on the vacant land in City Center,
seized in 2015 as part of an international dreams all of us have for that area of the city.” Services Council page on the city govern- Blackburn said.
fraud investigation. ment website and publish council-produced
The City Council voted unanimously April content. The council will forgive $41,725 in The city already owns 8.6 acres in the re-
The biggest deal is the city’s purchase and 28 to authorize Blackburn and City Attorney back taxes and interest. development area, which features tree-lined
sale agreement to acquire the 22 City Center Jim Stokes to finalize deals with the St. Luc- streets with sidewalks.
properties for $400,000 from the court-ap- ie County Commission, School Board, Fire The council also authorized Blackburn
pointed receiver overseeing the seized as- District and Children’s Services Council to and Stokes to finalize deals with five busi- City Center is anchored by the Civic Cen-
sets for the U.S. Securities and Exchange clear up back property taxes, interest and nesses to settle tax certificate debts totaling ter, a 100,000-square-foot building featuring
Commission. Buying the land would enable fees totaling $1.2 million. $6.3 million in exchange for 21 lots held by a cavernous lobby, a fitness center, ball-
the city to formulate a new master plan and the city with a market value of $3 million, re- rooms and meeting space.
sell off lots for projects that meet economic Port St. Lucie will pay the County Com- cords show.
development goals, as the city is doing with mission $427,304 in back taxes after selling The original City Center developer,
1,200 acres acquired in June 2018 in Tradi- land in City Center, or in 10 years, whichever Finally, the City Council will absorb George DeGuardiola of Jupiter and PSL City
tion Commerce Center west of Interstate-95, is sooner, records show. County commis- $668,350 in back taxes and interest and Center LLC, defaulted on its agreement with
Blackburn said. sioners will forgo $235,624 in interest. $41.4 million in special assessments and the city in 2010 after the real estate market
interest. The city’s total costs amount to $46 collapsed in 2008 amid the Great Recession.
Twice in the past three years developers Port St. Lucie will allow the school district million.
submitted offers to buy the City Center land to use the MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Event The developer’s lender, PNC Bank, ap-
from the SEC receiver managing the prop- Center for six events per year for 10 years. If all the deals with the tax certificate proved a short sale of the property Aug. 15,
erty, but both were scared off by the debt, The School Board will give up $625,525 in holders and taxing authorities are finalized, 2013 to Lin “Lily” Zhong of Boca Raton and
Blackburn said. “I really worked very hard back taxes and interest. SEC receiver Michael Goldberg of Fort Lau- US1 Real Estate Developments LLC. The
trying to make those transactions with the SEC seized the land in November 2015 as
private sector work and it’s just impossible,” part of an investigation into whether Zhong
Blackburn told the City Council April 28. exploited the federal EB-5 visa program to
defraud Chinese investors, court records
Redevelopment plans for the old Village show.
Green Shopping Center at U.S. 1 and Wal-
ton Road date back to 2001, envisioning The land has been languishing ever since.
an entertainment district with stores, “This property has been hamstrung for
restaurants, offices, apartments and roughly 14 years,” said Mayor Greg Oravec.
parks. But only the Civic Center, parking “For the first time in more than a decade, we
have a real path forward on City Center. We
have the real expectation something great is
going to happen.” 

4 May 13, 2021 ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | NEWS www.stlucievoice.com

Researchers on lookout for rare sawfish in lagoon BEST RIGHT WHALE
CALVING SEASON IN
BY SUE COCKING | Staff Writer help from area residents. 5 YEARS REPORTED

There are some really “If you see one, let us BY SUE COCKING | Staff Writer
odd-looking creatures swim-
ming in the Indian River know,” Wiley told a webi- There’s both good news and bad news
Lagoon that most boaters, about the endangered North Atlantic right
swimmers and anglers have nar conducted by the Palm whales we observe in our nearshore waters
never seen in the wild before in the wintertime.
– sawfish. If you are lucky Bay-based Marine Resourc-
enough to spot one, a team First the good news: This winter was the
of marine scientists in Flor- es Council. “We expect the most successful calving season in the South
ida and elsewhere would re- Atlantic in five years, with 18 live calves doc-
ally like to know about it. population to start spreading umented by federal and state whale observ-
ers, according to Julie Albert, right whale
Don’t worry – you’ll know it when you out, particularly in the Indi- program coordinator for the Palm Bay-
see the smalltooth sawfish. It looks like a based Marine Resources Council.
triangular shark with a long, narrow, tooth- an River Lagoon where they
lined bill called a rostrum sticking out A total of 22 births were observed in the
from its head that it uses to whack and trap used to live.” previous four calving seasons, which typ-
smaller fish. The babies are about 2 feet ically span mid-November through mid-
long; a full-grown adult can reach 16 feet. Wiley said more reports of April, so this year’s 18 births is far above the
WASHINGTONPOST.COM PHOTO BY FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION sightings are needed to help recent average.
A common sight in Atlantic and Gulf
waters from Texas to North Carolina in the stroyed its inshore mangrove habitat. scientists fill in critical knowledge gaps At this point in the year, the huge mam-
first half of the 20th century, the smalltooth mals have left Florida’s waters and made
sawfish – which actually is a type of ray and These days, the population size is un- about sawfish movements and life history their way back north to their New England
not a fish – now is a critically endangered summer feeding grounds, where observers
species in the U.S. known, but mostly concentrated along – especially the adults – such as how many documented 10 mother/calf pairs among
about 160 whales seen swimming around
The creature was added to the endan- the state’s southwestern tip in Everglades individuals there are; how long they live; Cape Cod Bay earlier this month.
gered species list in 2003 after decades of
decimation by fishermen whose nets it National Park and the Ten Thousand Is- where they feed and mate; and where they Among those pairs was a whale named
tangled; trophy fishermen who collected Champagne and her calf who showed up just
its distinctive bill; harvesters for the inter- lands. Even with no fishing allowed and migrate. off Vero Beach’s Jaycee Park in late January
national shark fin soup trade and aquari- where Albert and her colleagues were able
um industry; and development that de- a federal designation of some mangrove Juvenile sawfish, she said, are typically to capture drone footage. Also, a yearling

areas as critical juvenile habitat, scientists observed in estuaries in waters less than

say it could take decades for the species to 3 feet deep near mangroves that provide

recover enough to avoid extinction. cover from predators.

But sawfish do seem to be making a “We’re starting to get some reports,” Wi-

comeback. Recently, scientists from Fort ley said, “but we don’t have enough reports

Pierce’s Harbor Branch Oceanographic In- to come up with a pattern yet. If we find a

stitute caught and implanted tracking tags nursery area in the Indian River Lagoon or

on three of the animals in the St. Lucie Riv- find where they mate, then we would defi-

er. Three other large ones were spotted in nitely want to protect that habitat.”

the lagoon near Melbourne Beach.

Tonya Wiley, one of the researchers on Sawfish sightings can be reported by

the National Marine Fisheries Service’s calling 1-844-4SAWFISH or logging on to

sawfish recovery team, said scientists need www.sawfishrecovery.org. 

MASS VACCINATIONS COVID-19 caused the death of 17 peo- 8.3 percent of the county’s population. The government facilities, but mask wearing is
ple between April 27 and May 10, the same virus caused the death of 638 people in St. permitted, officials said.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE A1 number of virus-related deaths that oc- Lucie County and resulted in the hospital-
curred during the previous two weeks, state ization of 1,852 others. “We do certainly allow and encourage
But the total does not include people Health Department records show. employees to use and wear masks if desired,
vaccinated by other providers, such as hos- St. Lucie County Public Schools reported but we do not require it in common areas,”
pitals, physicians, Publix, Winn-Dixie, CVS, St. Lucie County’s three hospitals admit- 26 COVID-19 cases – 17 students and 9 em- Blackburn said.
Walgreens, Walmart and others. ted 71 COVID-19 patients between April 27 ployees between April 27 and May 10. That
and May 10, a 16 percent increase compared represents a decline of 35 percent compared City and county officials are also working
Publix Supermarkets is offering free to the previous two weeks. A total of 864 to the previous two weeks. on plans for spending $63.6 million in Amer-
COVID-19 vaccinations on a walk-in basis, people in St. Lucie County were diagnosed ican Recovery Act funds.
although appointments are recommended. with the virus between April 27 and May 10, Overall, the school district reported 810
a nearly 15 percent decline compared to the COVID-19 cases since the school year start- The Port St. Lucie City Council is to review
Pfizer vaccines are also available on a previous two weeks. Overall, 26,605 people ed Aug. 28 as 478 students and 332 employ- proposals for spending its $25 million share
walk-in basis at the Fort Pierce Recreation have been diagnosed with COVID-19 in St. ees have been diagnosed with the virus. of the money on May 17, Blackburn said.
Center, 903 S. 21st Street, from 9 a.m. to 5 Lucie County since last March, or about
p.m., seven days per week. St. Lucie County and Port St. Lucie no “Although we are still in COVID, we are
longer require anyone to wear facemasks in starting to get in a little bit better place,”
Blackburn added. 

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right whale born in 2020 to a mother named son. “For it to be really great, we’d like to see an adult male named Cottontail – were con- entangled in fishing gear in February off
Harmonia and spotted off Melbourne Beach 25. That population will not recover till those firmed dead this season. Melbourne Beach and tracked by would-be
in mid-January was reported heading back numbers get in the mid-20s.” rescuers, was found dead off Myrtle Beach,
north in February, but it’s not known wheth- The calf, about 2 months old, was struck S.C., about a week later.
er he has joined the Cape Cod group. The bad news is that the North Atlantic and killed by a sportfishing boat off St. Au-
right whale population now is estimated at gustine in February. Its mother, Infinity, was All eyes now are on the waters of New En-
“This year’s number was good when you only about 360 – low enough for the species found alive, but suffering from propeller gland and the Canadian Maritime Provinces
think about how the last several years have to become extinct by 2040 if things don’t cuts. Her fate right now isn’t known. where historically most right whale deaths
gone,” Albert said of the winter calving sea- turn around. And two whales – a calf and occur. 
Cottontail, an 11-year-old male observed

6 May 13, 2021 ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | NEWS www.stlucievoice.com

60-foot observation tower planned for Savannas and lagoon SANSONE GROUP

BY GEORGE ANDREASSI | Staff Writer anticipates entering a construction con- blinds overlooking wetlands frequent- CONTINUED FROM PAGE A1
[email protected] tract in the fall. ed by Sandhill Cranes, Woodhill Storks,
Great Blue Herons and other birds, re- The land for the project is the subject
Nature lovers can get a bird’s eye view The county already received a $50,000 cords show. It also has 2 miles of nature of a purchase and sale agreement be-
of the watery wonders of Savannas Pre- grant from the navigation district cover- trails, early Native American mounds, tween the city and JDN Enterprises LLC,
serve State Park and the Indian River ing half the costs to design, engineer and prairie hammocks and unusual tropical a subsidiary of Sansone Group, records
Lagoon once St. Lucie County builds a permit the observation tower, records trees. show.
60-foot-tall observation tower. show.
Enviro-Tech’s bid was $90,774 less PSL Industrial Owner LLC, another
The county proposes to spend The county bought the scrub preserve than the next lowest bidder, Blue Goose Sansone Group subsidiary, paid Port St.
$700,000 to build the tower on the 31- property from FIND on May 12, 1999 Construction LLC, of Fort Pierce, records Lucie $1,765,700 on Jan. 7 for the 22.5-
acre Walton Scrub Preserve, 10809 S. In- for $1,095,000, using sales tax money show. acre site near Interstate 95 and Becker
dian River Drive, about ¾-mile north of and grants from the Florida Community Road where the developer is building a
Walton Road. Trust/Florida Forever Program. Three other companies also submit- FedEx regional distribution center valued
ted higher bids. at $44 million.
The tower would offer command- The Walton Scrub Preserve is just
ing views of 6,800-acres of freshwater south of FIND’s 20-acre dredged sedi- The project will promote natural stor- The FedEx distribution center will an-
marsh in the Savannas Preserve State ment processing facility, 10315 S. Indian age, groundwater recharge, wetland res- chor the southeast corner of Sansone
Park, as well as the Indian River Lagoon, River Dr. toration, habitat restoration and better Group’s Legacy Park industrial project
Hutchinson Island and boats plying the water quality. and Project Senior will anchor the north-
Intracoastal Waterway. The property features a 2,067-square- west corner.
foot house where the Ocean Research It is located in the C-24 Canal drain-
County commissioners voted unan- and Conservation Association (ORCA) age basin, which flows into the North The St. Louis-based developer’s mar-
imously May 4 to apply for a $350,000 operates a marine research facility, a Fork of the St. Lucie River. keting literature shows plans for 13
grant from the Florida Inland Navigation parking lot and a half-mile-long nature buildings totaling 5.4 million square feet
District for the tower construction. trail, records show. It has a market value The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conser- on 400 acres between I-95, Becker Road,
of $3,250,700. vation Commission provided a $170,976 Village Parkway and Paar Drive.
FIND’s board is expected to award grant to design and permit the project,
grants to dozens of cities and counties County commissioners also decided records show. Port St. Lucie acquired 1,200 acres in
during its meetings on June 18 and 19 May 4 to award a $440,000 contract to En- Tradition Commerce Center in June 2018
in Cocoa Beach and finalize the spend- viro-Tech Systems Inc., of Okeechobee, St. Lucie County boasts 30 preserves for free from Tradition Land Company,
ing decisions during budget hearings in to restore wetlands and hydrology at the and nature areas. which wanted to avoid $5 million per
September. 305-acre Teague Hammock Preserve, year in taxes and assessments.
8550 Carlton Road, 4 miles south of State They cover 11,000 acres, including
If the county wins the grant, it would Road 70 in western St. Lucie. beaches, freshwater marshes, mangrove The city has been trying to sell off par-
be responsible for the other $350,000 forests, scrub habitat, oak hammocks, cels ever since, while formulating de-
needed to build the tower. The county The preserve features two wildlife pine forests, ranchland and cypress tailed plans for every aspect of the devel-
hammocks.  opment of the vacant agricultural tract
formerly known as Southern Grove.

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The new master plan recommends St. Lucie, Vero to link barrier island water mains
scrapping a proposal to extend Paar
Drive west with an overpass across I-95 BY GEORGE ANDREASSI | Staff Writer Vero Beach City Council voted unanimously The automated two-way service will de-
to Village Parkway, said Bridget Kean, a [email protected] during separate meetings May 4 to approve tect drops in pressure and automatically turn
city planner. an interlocal agreement specifying the legal on, allowing either utility to receive water in
North Hutchinson Island residents can and technical details of the water main inter- case of an emergency, City Manager Monte
Instead, the Paar Drive extension will expect to have an emergency water supply connection. Falls said last week.
run between Village Parkway and Antho- by the end of the year after St. Lucie County’s
ny F. Sansone Sr. Boulevard, the north- water main on State Road A1A is connected County and city utilities officials have “It’s a really innovative thing to make sure
west thoroughfare under construction up to Vero Beach’s water system. been working on the deal since 2019. our customers aren’t inconvenienced if you
the middle of Legacy Park. have issues on either side,” Falls said. “We’ll
The St. Lucie County Water and Sewer St. Lucie County has 3,200 residential wa- have an emergency interconnect between
While Sansone Group has been mov- Utility District anticipates spending up to ter customers on North Hutchinson Island. our water systems on the south barrier island
ing earth on the south side of Tradition $400,000 to extend a 12-inch water main Vero Beach Utilities provides potable water for any type of emergency.”
Commerce Center, Tambone Companies beneath A1A to the terminus of Vero Beach’s service to the barrier island from Indian Riv-
of Palm Beach Gardens has been market- water main on the east side of the highway er Shores to South Beach. “If you have a drop in pressure or an emer-
ing properties on the north side. and install a metering system, said Utilities gency need for water that you can’t supply,
Director George Landry. Each government will install its own me- we’re going to connect our two systems au-
On Monday, the City Council approved ter to measure how much water flowed in tomatically and water could go either way,
the sale of a 3.2-acre lot on Hegener The interconnection provides for addi- each direction and have access to the other’s whoever is in need of that,” Falls said.
Drive, south of Trade Center Drive, for tional emergency water flow for firefighting meter, records show.
$670,000 for a proposed 55,000-square- as well as a backup water supply in case of an In addition, city and county utilities offi-
foot industrial building with office space. issue with the pipe running across the North The water main link also enables St. Luc- cials are discussing possible backup plans
Causeway Bridge to the mainland, Landry ie County Utilities to obtain water for North for wastewater service on the barrier island
The council authorized City Manager said. Hutchinson Island from Vero Beach in the in case of a catastrophe, among other issues,
Russ Blackburn to execute a purchase future, instead of current supplier Fort Pierce Landry said. 
and sale agreement for the lot with Bel- The St. Lucie County Commission and Utilities Authority.
lagio Industrial Park LLC, a company
owned by Dr. Hashem Khorassani, of EAGER TO TRAVEL ports could be lifted by midsummer, and Kwek says she’s had a notable increase in
West Palm Beach. customers are eagerly booking international travel inquiries this spring with most clients
CONTINUED FROM PAGE A1 cruises, sometimes several trips at once. booking for the fall and into 2022, some-
The sale is expected to close in August, times signing up for three or four trips at a
said Community Redevelopment Agency says. Grand Canyon, Acadia, Badlands, Gla- Cruise ships are already setting sail from time to ensure they don’t miss out.
Director Wes McCurry. cier and Yellowstone national parks are pop- some foreign ports and if you are adventur-
ular destinations. ous and can’t wait to hit the high seas you can “People are booking all kinds of cruises
Tambone Companies has a real estate fly to Greece, Iceland the Bahamas or else- and international trips for this fall,” Kwek
management agreement with the city to “United States travel has been really big. where to embark on a cruise this summer. says, adding that her clients feel most of the
market, sell and develop 67 acres on the We predict that 2022 will be sold out. If wrinkles with vaccine requirements, quar-
north side of Tradition Commerce Cen- someone wants to travel in 2022, they need That said, most Treasure Coasters plan- antines, curfews and border openings will
ter. to be making those reservations now,” says ning cruises are booking for 2022. have been ironed out by fall, and hotels,
Matulonis. restaurants and tourist destinations will be
Bray Realty Advisers LLC of Palm City Jane and Jerry Weick were forced to cancel open for business.
will receive a 4 percent brokerage fee in At the same time, a brave handful of area three back-to-back cruises last year due to
the Bellagio Industrial Park deal, records travelers have begun to venture abroad, as the pandemic. They’ve now rebooked to dif- Tjok warns that with the ever-changing
show. countries around the world slowly reopen ferent locations in 2022 and 2023. “We want COVID rules and regulations, it is more im-
to foreign visitors. Case in point is local artist to be on the safe side,” says Jane Weick. “I’m portant than ever to book travel through
A sales contract is also in the works for Xaque Gruber, who recently returned from a very confident things will be safe by then. We travel agents so they can help you navigate
a 38-acre parcel between I-95 and Hege- trip to the Bahamas. “I am a traveler,” Gru- are on Norwegian-based products. If they do new requirements.
ner Drive, south of the proposed Accel ber says. “Before COVID, I was in Denmark, what they say they are going to do, I can’t
International wire and cable factory and France, Switzerland, England, California – all imagine there will be a terrible problem.” Travelers who previously booked for
north of an unnamed east-west corridor, over the place – and I miss traveling.” themselves are likely to find outdated infor-
McCurry told the council. The city ex- Some people who had plans for Alaska mation on the Internet.
pects to close the sale of 40 acres to Accel Gruber had never visited the Bahamas cruises that were stymied because ports ar-
Florida LLC, of Meriden, Connecticut, for and was thrilled to hop on a plane to attend en’t open between the U.S. and Canada have Tjok adds that travelers should have travel
$1.6 million in June. a friend’s wedding. “The Bahamas, they were found a workaround, according to Frosch In- insurance, COVID medical insurance cover-
so fantastic about COVID protocols,” he dian River Travel agent Doris Kwek. She says age in case you test positive while out of the
The City Council also voted unani- says, recounting the requirement of a nega- clients chomping at the bit to head north are country, and trip cancellation insurance in
mously Monday to extend its agreement tive COVID test before entering the country, driving across the border and making their case you get sick prior to travel or the com-
with Tambone Companies for a year and subsequent rapid test upon his arrival and a way to Alaska despite the ship ban. pany cancels the trip. 
include four parcels covering 69 acres. $5,000 fine if you removed your mask.

Tambone Companies would have the “Traveling there was a complete and total
option of purchasing any land it does not joy, and I can’t wait to travel to other places,”
help sell by the time the agreement ex- says Gruber, noting plans to visit Maine and
pires, McCurry said. California in the near future. He’ll head to
England as soon as international travel re-
The two-year agreement was signed strictions ease further.
in May 2019 with three annual renew-
al options. So far, Tambone Companies Ivy Tjok, president of Prestige Travel Agen-
helped the city sell two properties on cy in Vero Beach, says extensive internation-
Village Parkway, south of Discovery Way: al travel plans may be a bit premature. “Most
a 3-acre lot for a hotel and a 16.25-acre clients going now are looking for U.S. trav-
parcel apartment complex. el because travel outside of the U.S. is still
very limited,” Tjok says. “Everybody needs
Mayor Greg Oravec asked Tambone a vacation, but I think this year, it’s still very
Companies to avoid new apartment much a challenge [to travel abroad].”
complex deals and focus on projects that
bring in businesses with high-paying Despite that cautionary note, the Centers
jobs. for Disease Control and Prevention recently
announced the No Sail Order in effect at U.S.
“I think what we can use is more job
creation, more light industrial, more of-
fice, more warehousing, more targeted
industries,” Oravec said. “That’s what I
would encourage you to bring to the ta-
ble as soon as possible.” 

8 May 13, 2021 ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | HEALTH www.stlucievoice.com

Pierone in forefront of local COVID-19 research, treatment

BY KERRY FIRTH | Correspondent “Back in January we were doing two a “We’ve also given about 20,000 vaccines “We take care of everyone regardless of
their ability to pay,” said Dr. Pierone. “That
When the coronavirus came knocking in day, now we’re down to one every other day. out of both of our offices since the pandemic being said, we see patients from all walks
these parts, Dr. Gerald Pierone, chief medical of life, ranging from beachside residents to
officer of Whole Family Health Center, was Since most of the people in our county over started,” Dr. Pierone said. “We’ve been do- homeless people. ... We now have over 100
ready to jump into action. A board-certified healthcare professionals meeting the needs
internist and infectious disease specialist, 65 have been vaccinated, we are not seeing ing vaccines since the beginning. As soon as of nearly 10,000 patients throughout Indian
Dr. Pierone was no stranger to deadly viruses, River and St. Lucie counties.”
having been deeply involved in AIDS stud- the sicker people with COVID who are po- they were deployed we set up massive Sat-
ies and treatment for decades. COVID-19 In addition to doing research and treating
was a new challenge and call to action that tentially at risk over hospitalization or urday and Sunday clinics at both our infectious diseases at Whole Family Health
he was ready to answer. Since his practice Center, Dr. Pierone also provides aesthetic
was already a part of an organization called death.” Vero and Fort Pierce locations services at his cosmetic practice, Facial Re-
ACT (Aids Clinical Trials), it took only a few juvenation.
changes to the infrastructure to begin tack- Clinical trials are still being in addition to administering
ling COVID-19. He developed his unique skillset utilizing
done at Whole Family Health vaccines during our normal facial fillers to combat facial lipoatrophy or
“We set up a separate office where our pa- facial wasting in AIDS patients.
tients came through the front door, our staff Center for those patients who clinic business hours. As more
came through the back where we put on pro- Dr. Gerald Pierone received his medical
tective gear and we met in the middle exam don’t qualify for monoclonal vaccines became available degree from the University of Florida and
rooms where we administered infusions and completed his internal medicine residency
research studies for people who got COVID,” antibodies. “These are most- and pharmacies and grocery training at the University of Medicine and
said Dr. Pierone. “Once the monoclonal an- Dentistry in New Jersey. He trained in infec-
tibodies received authorization for high-risk ly younger people who are stores started doing it, we tious diseases at the Mount Sinai School of
people with COVID, we converted the COVID Medicine in New York. He is board certified
research center into a Monoclonal Antibody sick but normally would not stopped our weekend clinics.” in Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases
Infusion center. We couldn’t put someone and a member of the Infectious Diseases So-
into a placebo trial when we knew we had get any therapy,” Dr. Pierone Dr. Pierone founded ciety of America. He can be reached at Whole
lifesaving therapy, so anyone who qualified Family Health in Fort Pierce at 772-468-9900
for monoclonal antibodies (those over 65 or continued. “When they go Whole Family Health Cen- or in Vero Beach at 772-257-5785, or at Fa-
55-to-65 with comorbidity) were given the cial Rejuvenation in Vero Beach at 772-978-
treatment. into the study, they either get ter three decades ago as the 0484. 

an active drug or a placebo Aids Research and Treatment

– an oral anti-viral drug or a Dr. Gerald Pierone. Center of the Treasure Coast
placebo, an inhaled interfer- (ARTCTC). The HIV clinic
PHOTO: KAILA JONES

on or a placebo, or an intrave- transitioned to a multi-spe-

nous monoclonal cocktail or placebo. That cialty healthcare practice that provides

way we can find better therapies for COVID.” primary care, pediatrics, behavioral health,

Right now, treatment for a younger per- pharmacy and chronic care management

son with COVID is mostly watchful wait- about 10 years ago. The practice’s two

ing. If someone under 40 is sick and they Treasure Coast clinics operate as a 501(c)3

don’t meet the criteria for monoclonal an- nonprofit corporation and Federally Quali-

tibodies, they are given an oxygen moni- fied Health Center Look Alike (FQHC-LAL),

tor and told to check their levels. If their which gives the organization additional re-

oxygen level falls below 93 percent, they sources to care for medically underserved

are advised to go the emergency room. populations in the community.

To Advertise (772-633-1115) ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | HEALTH May 13, 2021 9

1/3 OF YOUTHS WHO
HAVE CONCUSSION
DEVELOP MENTAL
HEALTH ISSUES

BY LINDA SEARING | The Washington Post studies, involving 89,114 young peo- Fall Special Includes Exam,
ple (age 18 and under) from the United
About one-third of young people States and eight other countries who
who have a concussion develop men- had sustained a concussion.
tal health problems in the months that
follow their injury, large-scale research Falls were the most common cause
has found. (49 percent), followed by sports injuries
(30 percent) and car accidents (15 per-
Overall, this includes 37 percent who cent).
experience withdrawal, anxiety, de-
pression or post-traumatic stress and A concussion occurs when a serious
20 percent who develop behaviors that blow to the head and neck or upper
have more of an effect on others, such body area causes the brain to move rap-
as aggression, hyperactivity, disruptive idly and forcefully back and forth in the
conduct and inability to control anger. skull. A concussion is sometimes de-
scribed as a mild traumatic brain injury
Although most youths recover in less because it usually is not life-threaten-
than a month from the common effects ing, but it still can have serious effects.
of a concussion – headache, nausea,
dizziness or fatigue, for instance – the These may include a loss of con-
researchers said that mental health sciousness, confusion, slurred speech,
symptoms generally take longer to re- decreased coordination, convulsions or
solve, often persisting for three to six seizures.
months and sometimes lasting for sev-
eral years. In the United States, more than
800,000 young people each year seek
The findings, published in the British treatment in emergency rooms for con-
Journal of Sports Medicine, come from cussions, according to the Centers for
the researchers’ review of data from 69 Disease Control and Prevention. 

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10 May 13, 2021 ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | HEALTH www.stlucievoice.com

Smoking is main risk factor with potentially deadly COPD

BY KERRY FIRTH | Correspondent “It’s a process. The early inflammation in Dr. Diego Maldonado. factors. Female smokers are nearly 13 times
the early stages of smoking leads to chronic as likely to die from COPD as women who
If you find yourself wheezing and cough- bronchitis, and as it becomes more damaged PHOTO: KAILA JONES have never smoked, while male smokers are
ing frequently and having trouble taking it leads to emphysema, which in turn causes nearly 12 times as likely to die from COPD as
deep breaths, it may be time to have a doc- hypoxia and pulmonary hypertension. Even- COPD, but millions more may have the dis- men who have never smoked.
tor test you for COPD (chronic obstructive tually it can lead to right heart failure.” ease without even knowing it. While there is
pulmonary disease). COPD refers to a group no cure for COPD, if diagnosed early much Which makes it overwhelmingly clear the
of diseases that causes airflow blockage and According to the American Lung Associ- can be done to treat and help manage the best defense against COPD is to stop smok-
other breathing-related problems, including ation, COPD was the third-leading cause of disease. ing or never start in the first place. People
emphysema and chronic bronchitis. death in the United States. More than 16.4 with COPD who have stopped smoking im-
million people have been diagnosed with Cigarette smoking causes about as much prove their breathing capacity, health and
“Basically, COPD is a disease of the bron- as 90 percent of all COPD cases, but non- quality of life.
chial airways that affects both the large and smokers can get COPD too. Long-term ex-
small airways, and the airways collapse,” posure to air pollution, second-hand smoke A simple breathing test can determine if
says Dr. Diego Maldonado, a pulmonologist and dust, fumes and chemicals are also risk you have COPD and what stage it’s at. You
with Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital take a deep breath in and blow hard into a
who has devoted his 20-year career to treat- tube which is connected to a machine called
ing ailments of the lungs and respiratory sys- a spirometer. Then you breathe in a medi-
tems to help his patients breathe better. cine that will help open your airways, and
blow into the tube again.
“This chronic inflammatory process is
triggered by injury, with the most common “There are four stages of COPD,” Dr. Mal-
being smoking. The inflammation starts like donado explains. “We measure the percent-
any other inflammation with swelling of the age of function of the lungs to determine the
tissue, redness and mucus production. The severity of the illness. Stage 1 (in which 80
airways become tight and obstruct the flow percent or more of lung function remains in-
that comes out during exhalation so the pa- tact) is mild; stage 2 (50 percent to 79 percent
tient can breathe in but has difficulty breath- function) is moderate; stage 3 (30 percent to
ing out. This chronic inflammation produces 49 percent function) is severe; and stage 4
irreversible damage. (less than 30 percent function) is very severe.

“The swelling of the tissues affects the “Where the patient is on the percentage of
small airways. They lose elasticity, become lung function will determine their treatment.
dilated and trap air in the lungs, giving the The early stages can be treated with medica-
patient less room to breathe,” he continued. tion like bronchodilators and steroids. The

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destruction continues as the patient reaches EXERCISE SCIENTIST: DRINKING 8 GLASSES
stage 3 and 4. OF WATER A DAY USUALLY ISN’T NECESSARY

“By this time the lung function is low- BY TAMARA HEW-BUTLER | The Washington Post Now, you may be wondering why this is Within each kidney – we need only one
er than 50 percent and there is a mismatch so. After all, you’ve heard from a lot of people (we are born with a spare, just in case) – is
between oxygen consumption and oxygen The warmer weather and longer days have that you need to drink more, more, more. an undercover network of aquaporin-2
production,” he continues. “Their lungs can- inspired reminders to “stay hydrated” and (AQP-2) water channels which respond to a
not catch up with their needs and we need drink eight glasses of water – or about two Because total body water balance, or hormone called arginine vasopressin. This
to supplement with oxygen. If there is not liters – a day. what we exercise scientists call homeosta- is the body’s main anti-diuretic (water re-
enough lung tissue for the exchange, you sis, is complicated, mammals survive by tention) hormone. It is secreted by the pos-
start to become hypoxic, so we are always Not to burst anyone’s water bottle, but making real-time adjustments at the kid- terior pituitary gland in response to nerve
looking at the oxygen levels and may need to healthy people can actually die of drinking ney. That’s why when it comes to hydration,
supplement with portable oxygen to prevent too much water. I am an exercise physiol- our kidneys are king. CONTINUED ON PAGE A12
further organ damage.” ogist, and my research focuses on overhy-
dration and how drinking too much water
Early diagnosis and treatment is the key affects the body. Since water – and sodium –
to living longer and more comfortably with balance is essential to life, it is extremely rare
COPD. You should see a doctor if you are for people to die of drinking too much – or
having breathing problems, especially if you too little – fluid. In most cases, your body’s
are a smoker or former smoker. After 10 years finely tuned molecular processes are uncon-
of smoking you may already be experiencing sciously taking care of you.
chronic conditions, and after 20 years you
may already have emphysema. Even if you As spring unfolds, hydration challenges
quit smoking 20 years ago, if you are expe- take root across schools, sports and work-
riencing symptoms like shortness of breath, places. These heavily marketed hydration
chronic cough and mucus production, you challenges serve to cultivate both camara-
should be screened. However, even if you are derie and friendly competition to ensure
a former smoker, if you are asymptomatic that we drink compulsory amounts of water
there is no reason to screen for COPD. throughout the day.

COPD is a major risk factor for lung cancer Hydration and “Gallon Challenges” sup-
simply because of the smoking connection. port the widely held belief that water con-
sumption beyond physiological need – or
“Lung cancer is the most common death thirst – is healthy. But this is not so.
from cancer, more than breast and colon
combined,” Dr. Maldonado notes. Individual body water needs – intake – are
primarily based upon how much water peo-
“In Indian River County lung cancer is in ple lose. How much water each person needs
the top causes of death, as common as heart to drink mainly depends on three factors:
attacks and strokes. Because of this risk we
screen our COPD and emphysema patients  Body weight. Bigger people need more
with a low-dose CT scan of the chest. Sev- water.
enty-five percent of lung cancers are diag-
nosed past stage 3, so we recommend yearly  Environmental temperature. When it’s
screenings for smokers and prior smokers hotter, people sweat and lose water.
at age 50 and over. Lung cancer is called the
silent killer because there are no symptoms  Physical activity levels. Increased exer-
until stage 3, so we are trying to be more pro- cise intensity increases sweat water losses.
active and catch it earlier.”
Therefore, a “one size fits all” fluid replace-
Vaping and inhaled marijuana are the ment strategy, such as drinking eight glasses
newest risks for COPD and lung cancer. “We of eight ounces of water per day, is inappro-
don’t know what the long-term affects from priate for everyone.
vaping are going to be, but early data sug-
gests that it is as bad or worse in damage to It remains unclear where the “8 x 8” wa-
the airway,” Dr. Maldonado warns. ter intake recommendation comes from.
Perhaps, this two-liter intake threshold is
“And since the legalization of marijuana, derived from a misinterpretation of original
it is being used more frequently with long- recommendations offered by the U.S. Food
term effects on the airways. While cigarette and Nutrition Board in 1945 as well as the
smoking has gone down, vaping and mari- 2017 European Food Safety Authority, which
juana use has gone up.” states the daily recommended amount of
water includes all beverages plus the mois-
The bottom line is, if you want to breathe ture contained in foods.
easily and have healthy lungs … don’t smoke!
This means that the moisture contained
Dr. Maldonado is originally from Ecua- in foods, especially fresh fruits, sodas, juices,
dor, where he earned his medical degree at soups, milk, coffee and, yes, even beer, con-
Universidad Central del Ecuador. He moved tributes to this daily recommended water re-
to Miami to complete his Internal Medicine quirement. These guidelines go on to suggest
residency training, followed by a fellowship that most of the recommended water con-
in Critical Care and Pulmonary Medicine at tent can be accomplished without drinking
the University of Miami–Jackson Memorial additional cups of plain water.
Hospital.
And, it is important to note that while al-
Dr. Diego Maldonado diagnoses and treats cohol has diuretic properties – ethanol acts
pulmonary conditions such as asthma, em- directly on the kidneys to make us urinate
physema, COPD, pulmonary hypertension, more – caffeinated beverages, like tea and
sarcoidosis, sleep apnea and lung cancer. He coffee, do not increase urinary water loss-
has been at Cleveland Clinic Indian River es above the amount of water contained in
Hospital for nine years and can be reached at these beverages.
772-794-5800. 

12 May 13, 2021 ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | HEALTH www.stlucievoice.com

DRINKING WATER The kidneys will make molecular adjust- than our body needs – above thirst – we sonalized recommendation available.
ments to both underhydration and over- immediately have to discharge any excess Data suggests that drinking about two li-
CONTINUED FROM PAGE A11 hydration within 40 seconds in response to water. Or when we forget our water bottle
any upset in the water balance. These adjust- during practice, we stop urinating to con- ters of water per day reduces kidney stone
signals sent from specialized brain sensors ments result from the mobilization armies of serve body water. This quick coordinated formation in people with a history of kidney
which detect subtle changes in water bal- AQP-2 water channels, numbering about 12 action between the brain, cranial nerves stones and decreases the number of blad-
ance. These specialized sensors are called million per collecting duct cell. and kidneys is far more efficient and pre- der infections in people with a history of
circumventricular organs. cise than any phone app, gadget or per- bladder infections.
This is why when we drink more water
Improvement in skin complexion, kidney

To Advertise (772-633-1115) ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | HEALTH May 13, 2021 13

function and constipation, with increased mental state. Some studies report better cog- that drinking water suppresses these voices. internal plumbing modifications such as
water consumption, are not clearly support- nitive performance after increasing water in- Of note, brain imaging studies confirm bladder distention, ureter dilation, hydro-
ed by science. Drinking extra water alone take; while females with anxiety report com- nephrosis and renal failure.
does not help kids lose weight unless water pulsive water intake makes them feel better, that superfluous drinking is unpleasant and
intake replaces the ingestion of higher-calor- probably from activation of reward circuits requires greater muscular effort than drink- So, do you need to drink eight glasses of
ic beverages, such as soda, or makes people that increase dopamine. Many schizophren- ing when thirsty. Our brain tries to discour- water per day? Unless you are thirsty, drink-
feel “full” before meals. ic patients are compulsive water drinkers, age chronic overdrinking, or polydipsia, ing extra water will probably not offer su-
stating that “voices” tell them to drink and because “social polydipsia” causes chron- perior health benefits but probably is not
Drinking water can affect some people’s ic urinating (polyuria), which can lead to harmful either. 





16 May 13, 2021 ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | PETS www.stlucievoice.com

Bonzo shoots the breeze with ton-of-fun Gunner

Hi Dog Buddies! wanted one of those fluff-muffiny Gunner. PHOTO: KAILA JONES in an came back out with the Most
liddle poocheroos. So, when he met Duh-lishus thing I Ever Ate in My
Gunner Avery looks like a pooch you a fren’s Bull Terrier, he decided ‘I didn’t know them from Adam’s house cat. Entire Life: a McDonald’s Double
Absolutely Wouldn’t Want to Mess With: want one!’ He found a breeder, an I thought, ‘Oh, no, another car ride. More Cheeseburger! I knew I had won the
a hansum Bull Terrier, built like a brick put the pick of the litter on lay-away. strange humans.’ I was shakin’ like a leaf Bull Terrier Rescue Lottery.”
doghouse, with that Cool Kibbles curved Sadly, that didn’t work out. So he an terrified. But THEN, they stopped at
snout, short white hair, pink nose and went on Craig’s List (no clue who a liddle building with bright lights, went “Tell me about your life since
snazzy black dots on his skin, cuzza his Craig is, but apparently he’s got a then.”
breed being mixed with Dalmatians a very long list).
long time ago. “Mom an Dad did everything they
“Meanwhile, a Bull Terrier could to make me comftubble. Come
Turns out, Gunner’s a laid-back breeder had given a puppy to his look what Mom made for me. It’s a
poocheroo with a great backstory. Came best friend as a gift. But the friend Murphy Bed. Dad said there was NO
right up for the Wag an Sniff with a cool got that thing humans call a duh- WAY I would agree to sleep in it.”
bow-legged, John Wayne swagger. VORCE, which is like the flu, I think:
It makes humans feel terrible, an Gunner walked over to a tall cabi-
I introduced myself an my assistant. sometimes one of ’em has to move net. I was puzzled. “What’s a Murphy
“So you’re The Bonz! My pals Arthur an somewhere else. So, the friend had Bed?”
Esme tell me you’re A-OK an said to say to do that, an the place he went
Hi. This is my Dad Chris an my Mom Gin. didn’t allow pets. So the dog (it was Gunner’s Mom opened the cabinet
Let’s get comftubble, an I’ll tell you how ME, by the way) got driven to a and pulled down this Cool Kibbles
I found my Forever Famly. I’m one lucky strange place and passed to another liddle bed, light an bouncy. Gunner
dog!” human. Well, I was still pretty young jumped onto it, an stretched out on
“Ready when you are.” an couldn’t understand what I did his back. “It’s SO comfy an cool. Isn’t
“First off, I’m a purebred. Got a Seri- wrong. I was scared. I had to stay it GRRReat?”
ously Excellent bloodline. Official name’s inna cage right next to another cage
Teufelhunden Gunner. (Devil Dog, like with a Very Mean an Snarly grrrl “I’ve never seen anything like it!
in the Marines.) My uncle was related to pooch in it.” Who’s Murphy anyway?”
the only Bull Terrier ever to take first at
Westminster. “Soggy Dog Biscuits!” “Don’t know. Don’t care,” he said,
“Anyway, Dad’s a military guy. Never “Yeah, Definitely. But that’s when Dad jumping off.
an Mom found me, an decided on the
spot to get me OUTTA THERE. Well, I “You’re in such great shape,” I
observed. “How do you keep fit?”

“I’m big, even for a Bull Terrier, 82
pounds. Next to Arthur an Esme, I feel
like The Hulk. Mom an Dad make sure I
get a lotta exercise. Sometimes I get the

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Zoomies, tear all over the place jumpin’ My Saks Fifth Avenue return is lost. Is my refund lost, too?
an twirlin’. I have no idea why. I guess it’s
a big buncha energy tryin’ to get out. Erica Goode’s boots, ordered from Saks would call me back within two hours. Nada.
Fifth Avenue online, don’t fit. She sends the I would like a refund for $153, the price of
“Once, as a pupper, I ate Mom’s watch. footwear back, but the package is lost. Is she the boots.
An backpack. An I pretty much destroyed out of luck?
Dad’s favrite baseball hat that he got A: What a mess! I don’t understand why
in a place called Eye-rack. An I drooled Q: I recently bought a pair of Ugg rain companies make it your responsibility to
all over his wallet with lotsa Important boots online from Saks Fifth Avenue. They ensure the post office or FedEx works. If you
Stuff in it, but just that one time. In my did not fit. I returned them the next day us- sent the package back to Saks in good faith,
defense, in both cases, it was cuz he ing the company’s prepaid label. and a certain amount of time has elapsed,
wasn’t payin’ attention to me. So it was a they should just file an insurance claim for
Righteous Response, right? Mom an Dad Three weeks later, the tracking informa- the boots and be done with it. Saks should
called me a Bull Terrorist for awhile. tion showed that the package was still at a have refunded you quickly.
facility in New Jersey. I called Saks custom-
“But I’ve also trained to be a service er service and suggested the package might But that would be too simple. Someone
dog. Once me an Mom an Dad were in be lost and requested a refund. A represen- has to answer for the late package, and even
Walmart doin’ field training. I had my tative said Saks would open an investiga- though you used Saks’ prepaid label and
harness on. An this liddle girl pointed at tion. followed all of its instructions, that some-
me and hollared, ‘MOM! LOOK! A PIG!!!’ one was you.
I mean, Seriously? Come ON. But when A week later, I got an email saying that I see companies doing this all the time. Just today, I dealt
we’re stressed, Bullys tend to turn Very they had not approved my request. I called customer service with a product return at Apple Computer, which was just as
Pink, an our noses get red. So I can sorta again and a rep told me that the package had reached the bureaucratic.
see her point.” warehouse but that the staff investigating did not have that When will companies understand that their excuses don’t
information and he would start a new investigation. matter? Probably never. But I can hope that someone higher
We laughed. up at Saks (or Apple) will read this and decide to put an end to
“Do you have a favrite food?” But the next time I called, a representative told me that the corporate excuses.
“I’m not picky, but I do insist on a reg- there was no way the first customer service rep could know In the meantime, we have corporate contacts that can
ular schedule. Dad says I have an Inner whether the package had reached the warehouse. He prom- help. I list the names, numbers and email addresses of the
Clock. Dinner’s at 6 sharp. So, at 5:59 I ised to open a new investigation. Saks Fifth Avenue executives on my consumer advocacy site,
go to the laundry room, where my food’s Elliott.org. You sent a polite email to Andrea Robins, the com-
kept, an I stare at the door. Then I receive Two days later, a supervisor left me a voicemail message pany’s director of customer service. She wrote back immedi-
my appetizer, a Denta Stick, followed by saying Saks could not refund my money because the package ately and sent you a refund and a $50 gift certificate.
my meal.” was still in transit. I called FedEx, and they said the package
“How ’bout pooch or human frens?” I had been turned over to the post office but was most likely Get help with any consumer problem by contacting Christo-
inquired. lost. After a few more calls, I reached a nice woman at Saks, pher Elliott at http://www.elliott.org/help. 
“Arthur an Esme, of course. Also, a cou- who said she would open another investigation. She apolo-
ple Springer Spaniels, like you: Sassy an gized for the trouble and offered me a $10 off coupon. Four
Luke, when they visit from Colorado. Far days later, I called again. A representative said a supervisor
as humans, I like the UPS guy. He gives
me treats.” Hard worker’s bent out of shape by family’s biases
Gunner lowered his voice. “Keep it
under your hat, Bonz. I have a grrrl-fren. Dear Carolyn: I waited tables during and after college value education” aren’t
Nola. She’s SO pretty. So, Bonz, ever
wonder what it’d be like to settle down, ya and for most of my working history. I worked in upscale necessarily smart, so
know, be a Dad?”
“There was this long-legged grey- restaurants and waited on people who appreciated getting let’s put all the broad
hound, April, a while back. But I’m pretty
much a bachelor kinda pooch,” I re- the best food and service. I worked hard and made great brushes away.
sponded.
“Well, I think I’d like to be a Dad, if I money and friends. Now for the past decade, my husband Instead, focus on
meet the right grrrl.”
“Don’t give up, I’m sure she’s out there CAROLYN HAX and I have a custom what you specifically
somewhere,” I assured him. cabinetry business
Heading home, I was thought how hope to accomplish.
Cool Kibbles it was to hang out with
down-to-earth Gunner, a big, strong where we are once Which is … to gain
pooch who didn’t feel the need to be fe-
rocious, an wasn’t afraid to show his soft again working for people who understand quality and the respect of your myo-
side. I hoped he’d get the chance to be a
Dad. An I was plannin’ how I was gon- service. pic family?
na negotiate with grandpa for a double
cheeseburger. My family, who only value education, higher degrees To purge “work-

Till next time, and unending ambition and accomplishment, have only ing with your hands”

The Bonz ever said, “You must like working with your hands.” Even from their lexicon?

DON’T BE SHY! recently, meeting extended family members for the first To inoculate yourself
We are always looking for pets
with interesting stories. To set time, they said of my husband, “Well he must like working against irritation when

up an interview, email with his hands.” they say stuff like this? To stand up for yourself? To burst snob
[email protected].
I’d like to scream at this and say, “As opposed to working with balloons?

his brain, like you, sons and daughters of education?” They do It’s only a “good way” to respond if it serves your purpose –

not know the amount of science and math and skill that goes which means you need to settle on what that purpose is.

into a perfect build. I find this saying extremely offensive and I suggest you start at your baseline: who you are, where you

demeaning, and it diminishes our skill and experience. are and why you chose as you did. What I see are careers to be

Where did it happen that smart people think only certain proud of, a business to run, pragmatic use of your talents and

types of work are acceptable? Is there a good way to reply to this values, and the entirety of the moral high ground.

without sounding defensive/offensive? But if it just bothers you to leave your family’s biases

– Build It, and They Will Offend unchallenged, then I suggest approaching it in the form of

a question: “Are you suggesting our work is only physical,

Build It, and They Will Offend: Wait now. Don’t repeat the not mental?” – or, softer, “Meaning what, exactly?” Better to
error you’re trying to correct. Just because these “smart peo-
ple” think only certain kinds of work are acceptable doesn’t start a conversation than a war – and surely they of all people
mean all smart people think that. In fact, people who “only
can find thoughtful ways to expand on their views beyond a

reflexive cliche.  ­– THE WASHINGTON POST

18 May 13, 2021 ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | REAL ESTATE www.stlucievoice.com

Some seniors feel ‘stuck’ in home after not qualifying for new mortgage

BY ILYCE GLINK AND SAMUEL TAMKIN | The Washington Post for a new mortgage (at perhaps a lower to an assisted-living facility or nursing home line of credit waiting to be drawn down.
interest rate than your current mortgage) or later in your golden years. The amount of cash you would receive
Q: There are thousands of seniors like us home equity loan. Lenders take a risk every
who are “stuck” in their homes because they do time they make a loan. They are required Buying a new place with cash seems like a is based on the age of the borrower (and
not “qualify” for a mortgage, let alone a refi- by the government to lend money based on good goal. Perhaps you can trade your larger spouse, if there is one), current interest rates,
nance of their existing mortgage. All our funds your ability to repay. The “ability to repay” is residence for a smaller condominium or even the value of the home and a few other factors.
are tied up in our houses or condos, and we’re set according to specific formulas, depend- a small ranch home. If you have a mortgage, your goal should be
barely surviving on our monthly Social Secu- ing on the type of loan you have. to get that paid off with the reverse mortgage
rity checks. The only other option we can think of is funds, which will free up monthly cash flow.
When you live on Social Security, it’s guar- for you to move in with a child, sibling, cous-
If seniors have a mortgage and wish to anteed income, which is helpful. Because in or friend, or find another friend/couple What most consumers like best about a
move to a smaller home, they can’t because lenders like to know your income stream that wants to share the expenses of a home reverse mortgage is there is no requirement
no one will give them a new mortgage, even will continue. But, if that’s all the income you with you – and, perhaps share ownership of to pay anything on the loan until the home
if they have a great credit history and credit have, it’s tough to qualify for a mortgage of the new property. More “group homes” for is sold. That means, you could live there an-
score, have a sterling bill payment record for any reasonable size, even at today’s extreme- seniors are being built, and you may want other 20 years without making a mortgage
25 or more years and have adequate savings. ly low interest rates. to consider moving to a community that has payment. Once the homeowners die or sell
you live in a tiny home but share some com- the home, the loan is repaid.
We are stuck because our income-to-ex- So, what can you do? It seems as if you mon elements, like a communal kitchen.
pense ratio is considered to be “too high” to want to move from your current home. You Of course, caveat emptor: Although there
qualify for a mortgage. We want to leave our might try applying for a loan with a credit If you decide to stay in your home but is no monthly mortgage payment with a re-
home and move elsewhere, but no one seems union or community bank, which might keep want to cash out some of your equity, you verse mortgage, the homeowner must still
to have a solution. Do you have any ideas? your loan in its portfolio and would then set might look to do a home equity line of cred- pay their homeowners insurance premiums
its own parameters for approving your ap- it. You won’t get much, but you may be able and real estate taxes or risk losing the prop-
A: You raise several important issues in plication. You might also apply for a Federal to access $10,000 to $30,000, which might be erty. Also, the interest rate will be higher than
your email: seniors who have equity in their Housing Administration loan, which would enough to fix up your home, pay for a medi- for a conventional mortgage. And there are
homes, but can’t refinance their existing have higher debt-to-income thresholds. cal procedure or take a trip. some significant fees that get built into the
mortgages or get a new conventional mort- cost of the loan. Finally, there may not be
gage, and seniors who want to move from If you can’t qualify for a mortgage, your If you need more cash, and you and/or much, if anything, left for your heirs after
their current residences but won’t qualify for options are to buy a home for whatever your spouse are at least 62 years of age, you your death. While no solution is perfect, a re-
the mortgage they will need to purchase a amount of cash you will receive after you sell might consider getting a reverse mortgage. verse mortgage might allow a senior to stay
new home. Both of these are a version of the your current home, or rent. In a reverse mortgage, a lender will refi- in their home during their golden years. Just
adage “house rich, cash poor.” nance the old mortgage and may also give be sure to investigate this option thoroughly.
There is nothing wrong with going from the homeowner access to a certain amount
If you have a loan today and are able to being a homeowner to becoming a renter. of their equity as a cash payment. This could You can get more information on reverse
make your payments, you might not under- It’s typically less work for you, and you’ll have come in a lump sum or as a monthly stipend, mortgages at www.consumerfinance.gov. 
stand why a lender would turn you down flexibility in case you need to move quickly or just sit in an account like a home equity

TOM AND MELINDA CANN TOP PRODUCING AGENTS

SELLING PROPERTIES, NOT PROMISES!

Tom Cann (772) 485-1222 Melinda Cann (772) 215-8178
BROKER, PGA LIFE MEMBER [email protected] [email protected]
Tom Cann BROKER, CO-OWNER

PGA VERANO • 10250 SW AZZO LANE

1412 SF under A/C - 2 Bedrooms, 2 Bath and a bump out area for a golf cart. Looking for a lower priced villa in PGA Verano? This villa has
a wonderful kitchen with granite countertops and expresso colored cabinets. The great room looks out over the private side patio with no
homes to the left. You’ll enjoy sitting out on the screened patio or walking to the social club, pool and fitness center. This villa is located in

the front of PGA Verano near the front gate.

OFFERED AT $272,000

Information is believed to be correct but not warranted. Personally verify all information before relying on said information.

‘Exquisite’ Sabal Creek
residence checks all the boxes

8126 Saratoga Way in PGA Village: 3-bedroom, 3-bathroom, 3,417-square-foot pool home
offered for $1,045,000 by Kay Rodriguez, 772-486-2126, or Chris Rodriguez, 772-828-9663 of Lang Realty

NOW SEEKING TOP Real Estate. Redefined
PRODUCING AGENTS
TREASURE COAST FEATURED PROPERTIES
To join our team
The Real Estate Leader
Call John Falkenhagen:
772.467.1299

Serving The Treasure Coast
Call the leading sales specialists at Lang Realty. (772) 467-1299

800-682-5551 | LangRealty.com

20 May 13, 2021 ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | REAL ESTATE www.stlucievoice.com

‘Exquisite’ Sabal Creek residence checks all the boxes

BY SHELLEY KOPPEL | Columnist lamps, flat-top, open-flame broiler and four drapes in the living room covering two room opens onto the pool area and has
[email protected] burners. All of the appliances are stainless 8-by-8 windows overlooking the pool a striking stone fireplace. It’s so easy to
steel. There is a breakfast bar and a nook on the first floor and seeing through the imagine guests or kids and grandkids re-
The house at 8126 Saratoga Way in the that could hold a collection of cookbooks or second-floor sun bathing area. The fami- laxing and then going outside for a swim.
Sabal Creek section of PGA Village is quite serve as a workspace. Crown molding fin- ly room is where your family and friends There is a home office ready for you to sit
extraordinary. It is beautiful inside and out,

and exhibits exquisite attention to detail in ishes off the charming room. will gather, although in a house with three down with a spreadsheet or relax with a
every aspect of the house. It’s virtually im- There is a formal dining room and built-in entertainment centers, you have good read.
possible to list everything that makes this an abundance of choices. This spacious
home so special, so think of this as a bite of living room, with custom 22-foot-high The master bedroom is simply stunning.
the apple, a tempting look at special touch- It has triple crown molding accenting the
es too numerous to mention. tray ceiling, and warm rich wood floors that
again contribute to the home’s air of quiet
This is a house designed for entertaining, elegance. The master bedroom has double
and the gourmet kitchen is the heart of the solid French doors that open to the pool
home. The room is striking with white cab- area. The master bathroom is a dream, large
inets and darker granite countertops and enough for separate vanities, hers with a
backsplash. It has a Viking double convec- stool and cut-out area for sitting while do-
tion oven, stainless-steel stove with heat ing hair and makeup, and a separate tub

This Week’s

FEATURED NEW LISTING

WATERFRONT CENTRAL PORT ST LUCIE

1344 SW Sultan Drive

BRING YOUR BOAT AND MOVE RIGHT IN!
This 4 BR 3 Full Bath Home has it all, Formal living and dining rooms,
granite countertops. Great floor plan with en-suite bedrooms for guests
or in laws. Step out back to your screened in patio. Take a stroll out to
your large dock that features a 10,000 lb boat lift. Enjoy watching the
sunsets at your very own waterfront bar, When the sun sets...hang by the
fire pits with your family and friends that will light up the night. You will

want to own this piece of paradise! Call for your private showing.
$499,000

Valerie Juno
772-214-9404

[email protected]

To Advertise (772-633-1115) ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | REAL ESTATE May 13, 2021 21

and shower. The master bath is finished able to serve as a major entertainment center to detail are hallmarks of this lovely proper- quiet elegance. The pool area is finished in
in Venetian plaster. Upstairs, there is a loft or a quiet place to get away from it all.You and ty. With Travertine marble floors throughout stone pavers with a 7-foot-round gas-heat-
space and two additional bedrooms. your family will live out here. the main house and master bathroom, and ed spa, a gas firepit and summer kitchen.
wood flooring in other living spaces, crown This is a very special home that must be
Outside, there is a pool area (40-by-80) that For Kay Rodriguez of Lang Realty, this is moldings and tray ceilings, this home has seen to be truly appreciated.” 
is a resort in itself, with a pool, spa fire pit and an exceptional home, inside and out.
summer kitchen. The pool area is surrounded PUT TEAM
by poured concrete walls with screen inserts “You enter this exquisite home through
and a 16-foot-high screen roof. This is simply the double wooden doors, into the foyer NAPOLITANO
an extraordinary space, private and serene, with a 4-foot marble medallion, and you
immediately know that care and attention

YOUR COMMUNITY REALTORS TO WORK FOR YOU AnnMarie
WITH RESULTS Napolitano

CALL ANNMARIE NAPOLITANO - TEAM NAPOLITANO FOR A
PRIVATE SHOWING OF THIS AMAZING PROPERTY

FEATURES FOR 8126 SARATOGA WAY 5109 S Indian River Drive, Fort Pierce, FL 34982

Neighborhood: PGA Village Gorgeous Custom Key West Style Home sits on 1 Acre lot on Indian River &
Year built: 2002 • Construction: CBS Intercoastal boasts spectacular Panoramic & Unobstructed Views throughout.
Square footage: 3,417 sq. ft. • Total square footage: 7,609 sq. ft.
Bedrooms: 3 • Bathrooms: 3 • Flooring: Travertine marble, wood Hosts 5 Bedrooms, 5 Full Baths, 2 Car Garage, hurricane impact windows &
Security: two-zone alarm, manned gate doors, Full home generator, alarm & wonderful balcony upstairs. Private dock
Additional features: two stories, two-zone central vacuum sys-
tem, three-zoned built-in surround sound, three-zone 8 ½-ton across from the house. $1,250,000
central air conditioner, two-zone alarm system, 11-zone irrigation,
rear staircase from second floor, loft space, all bedrooms have KELLER WILLIAMS Call AnnMarie Today!
solid doors, new LED lights in every room, two covered patios
Community amenities: basketball, billiards, clubhouse, community R E A LT Y 954-675-2804 (Cell)
room, exercise room, library, pickleball, picnic area, pool, tennis, golf
PORT ST. LUCIE 772-236-5700 (office)
Listing brokerage: Lang Realty
Listing agent: [email protected] • www.annmarienapolitano.kw.com
9700 Reserve Blvd. St. Lucie West
Kay Rodriguez, 772-486-2126, or Chris Rodriguez, 772-828-9663 Each office independently owned and operated
Listing price: $1,045,000

22 May 13, 2021 ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | REAL ESTATE www.stlucievoice.com

TRADITION AND ST. LUCIE WEST REAL ESTATE SALES

TOP SALES OF THE WEEK

An extraordinary fortnight of real estate sales in Tradition and St. Lucie West saw 84 transac-
tions of single-family residences and lots reported (some shown below).
The top recent sale was of the residence at 7837 Long Cove Way. First listed last July for
$899,500, this 4-bedroom, 3.5-bathroom home sold for $877,500 on April 30.
Representing the seller in the transaction was agent Michelle Agrusa of Lang Realty. Represent-
ing the buyer was agent Xue Chen of Elite Realty Partners, Inc.

SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENCES AND LOTS
ORIGINAL SELLING
PRICE
TOWN ADDRESS LISTED ASKING PRICE SOLD
$877,500
PORT SAINT LUCIE 7837 LONG COVE WAY 7/6/2020 $899,500 4/30/2021 $865,000
PORT SAINT LUCIE 7841 SABAL LAKE DRIVE 1/25/2021 $899,000 4/30/2021 $760,000
PORT SAINT LUCIE 8072 SPENDTHRIFT LANE 2/19/2021 $799,000 5/6/2021 $750,000
PORT SAINT LUCIE 8825 BALLY BUNION ROAD 2/1/2021 $774,900 5/3/2021 $675,000
PORT SAINT LUCIE 8109 KIAWAH TRACE 8/7/2020 $695,000 5/6/2021 $605,000
PORT SAINT LUCIE 10025 SW NUOVA WAY 3/4/2021 $605,000 5/3/2021 $599,000
PORT SAINT LUCIE 7240 RESERVE CREEK DRIVE 3/1/2021 $599,000 4/28/2021 $560,000
PORT SAINT LUCIE 9301 SW NUOVA WAY 2/24/2021 $559,000 4/30/2021 $545,000
PORT SAINT LUCIE 21876 SW TIVOLO WAY 12/17/2020 $559,900 4/26/2021 $529,000
PORT SAINT LUCIE 8254 RIVIERA WAY 2/25/2021 $559,900 4/26/2021 $527,000
PORT SAINT LUCIE 6462 NW COLGATE STREET 3/2/2021 $499,900 4/26/2021 $512,600
PORT SAINT LUCIE 9117 SW PEPOLI WAY 3/3/2021 $507,920 4/30/2021 $500,000
PORT SAINT LUCIE 1722 SW MOCKINGBIRD DRIVE 4/9/2021 $515,000 5/3/2021

COAST TO COAST...
WCEOASSETLLTTOHCEOMASOTS.T..!
WE SELL THE MOST!

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Ask About Our Civil Servant Discount!

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To Advertise (772-633-1115) ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | REAL ESTATE May 13, 2021 23

HERE ARE SOME OF THE TOP RECENT TRADITION AND ST. LUCIE WEST REAL ESTATE SALES

7841 Sabal Lake Drive, Port Saint Lucie 8072 Spendthrift Lane, Port Saint Lucie

Listing Date: 1/25/2021 Listing Date: 2/19/2021
Original Price: $899,000 Original Price: $799,000
Sold: 4/30/2021 Sold: 5/6/2021
Selling Price: $865,000 Selling Price: $760,000
Listing Agent: Kay Rodriguez Listing Agent: Dane Williams

Selling Agent: Lang Realty Selling Agent: Keller Williams Realty

Kay Rodriguez Linda MacCormack

Lang Realty Lang Realty

8825 Bally Bunion Road, Port Saint Lucie 8109 Kiawah Trace, Port Saint Lucie

Listing Date: 2/1/2021 Listing Date: 8/7/2020
Original Price: $774,900 Original Price: $695,000
Sold: 5/3/2021 Sold: 5/6/2021
Selling Price: $750,000 Selling Price: $675,000
Listing Agent: Amanda Geller Listing Agent: Janess Murway-Vitone

Selling Agent: Oceanside Realty Partners LLC Selling Agent: Premier Brokers International Inc

Andrew Scavuzzo Stephen Lattanzio

Coldwell Banker Realty RE/MAX of Stuart - Palm City

24 May 13, 2021 ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | REAL ESTATE www.stlucievoice.com

Prepare For Hurricane Mortgage rates remain under
Season Now! Get Your 3 percent for third week in row
Impact Doors Today!
BY KATHY ORTON | The Washington Post refinances, is 0.5 percent of the loan
amount. That works out to $1,500 on a
At the start of the year, it looked like $300,000 loan.
mortgage rates were headed nowhere but
up. But lately, they have backslid. The 15-year fixed-rate average slipped
to 2.3 percent with an average 0.6 point.
According to the latest data released It was 2.31 percent two weeks ago and
last Thursday by Freddie Mac, the 30-year 2.73 percent a year ago. The five-year ad-
fixed-rate average slipped to 2.96 percent justable-rate average rose to 2.7 percent
with an average 0.6 point. (Points are with an average 0.3 point. It was 2.64
fees paid to a lender equal to 1 percent of percent two weeks ago and 3.14 percent
the loan amount. They are in addition to a year ago.
the interest rate.) It was 2.98 percent two
weeks ago and 3.26 percent a year ago. “Mortgage rates fell slightly again [last]
The 30-year fixed average has dropped in week, pushing rates to their lowest level
four of the past five weeks. since mid-to-late February,” said Mat-
thew Speakman, a Zillow economist.
Freddie Mac, the federally chartered “With few surprising economic data or
mortgage investor, aggregates rates from pandemic-related developments this
around 80 lenders across the country to week, mortgage rates and the bond yields
come up with weekly national averages. that tend to influence them saw little rea-
It uses rates for high-quality borrowers son to move significantly over the past
with strong credit scores and large down seven days.”
payments. Because of the criteria, these
rates are not available to every borrower. For the past three weeks, the yield on
the 10-year Treasury has hovered be-
The survey is based on home pur- tween 1.56 percent and 1.65 percent.
chase mortgages, which means rates for It ended the day at 1.59 percent last
refinances may be higher. The price ad- Wednesday.
justment for refinance transactions that
went into effect in December is adding The 10-year Treasury yield “has been
to the cost. The adjustment, which ap- in a narrow range for the last few weeks,”
plies to all Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac said Mitch Ohlbaum, a mortgage banker

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To Advertise (772-633-1115) ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | REAL ESTATE May 13, 2021 25

at Macoy Capital Partners. “Treasurys “Markets are confused and bouncy,” tion will be focused on how much more ers Association, the market composite
were poised to rise but were pared by the said Dick Lepre, senior loan officer at debt the administration and Congress index – a measure of total loan applica-
reporting of new jobs by ADP, which fell RPM Mortgage. decide to take on. The bigger the increase tion volume – decreased 0.9 percent from
short of estimates. The Fed and the mar- in the debt ceiling the bigger the hit to a week earlier. The purchase index fell 3
ket have been talking about inflation, “Confusion stems from lack of consen- rates will be.” percent from the previous week, and the
and I don’t think anyone believes the sus as to whether we are about to have refinance index ticked up 0.1 percent.
recent increase is anything more than a significant inflation versus those who be- Meanwhile, mortgage applications The refinance share of mortgage activity
momentary blip on the inflation radar.” lieve the Fed’s view that inflation will be were flat two weeks ago. According to accounted for 61 percent of applications.
transitory. For the next few weeks, atten- the latest data from the Mortgage Bank-
But Speakman says investors’ wait- “Fewer people are getting mortgages
and-see attitude may be coming to an than a few weeks ago, even though rates
end. “This period of relative calm will fell slightly this week,” said Holden Lew-
be put to the test in the coming days,” is, home and mortgage specialist at Nerd-
he said. Wallet. “House prices are rising faster
than mortgage rates are falling, pushing
Bankrate.com, which puts out a week- homes past the point of affordability for
ly mortgage rate trend index, found more some would-be buyers. And most home-
than two-thirds of the experts it surveyed owners who were going to refinance have
expect rates to remain about the same in done it already.” 
the coming week.

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TREASURE COAST TRIO

Top Producing Team

Elise Danielian Ingrid Hewitt Isabelle Pollock
772-418-2992 772-203-7800 772-713-3221
[email protected]
[email protected] [email protected]

NEW LISTING NEW LISTING

VITALIA AT TRADITION $539,900 DELWEBB AT TRADITION $470,000

MOVE IN READY HOME WITHOUT THE WAIT! • Meticulous 3BR+Den/2.5BA/2.5CG ‘Perdido Key’ floor plan in 55+ com- PRACTICALLY NEW POOL HOME IN DELWEBB! • Shows like a model and move in ready. Fabulous
munity of Vitalia! Special features include cul-de-sac location, impact glass windows & doors, barrel tile roof, lake front lot, tile flooring t/o the 2BR+Den/2BA/2.5CG ’Summerwood’ plan built in 2018 with upgrades around every corner. Light and bright kitchen w/
home, plantation shutters and natural gas. Kitchen w/ 42” wood cabinetry, granite counters, SS appliances, glass tile backsplash, under cabi- white cabinetry, granite & quartz counters, stainless appliances, gas cooktop, pot drawers and center island. Hard surface
net lighting, pull out drawers and more. Enjoy active living in this popular community located close to dining, shopping, hospitals and more. flooring throughout, plantation shutters and a screened pool with heater AND chiller. No need to wait for new construction!
RX-10712850 9972 SW Buttonwood Court RX-10712866 12647 SW Gingerline Drive

NEW LISTING! UNDER CONTRACT UNDER CONTRACT UNDER CONTRACT

FORT PIERCE $299,900 CASTLE PINES $220,000 PGA VERANO $449,500 PGA VERANO $330,000

OLD FLORIDA CHARM MINUTES FROM DOWNTOWN FORT GROUND FLOOR CORNER CONDO IN CASTLE PINES! 2BR/2.5BA BREATHTAKING LAKE VIEWS ON EXTRA LONG LOT PRIVACY AND LAKE VIEWS IN VERANO! Meticulously
PIERCE 4BR/3BA home with upgrades around every corner. ground floor unit being offered fully furnished/turnkey. Great as a Popular ‘Alessa’ floor plan with 3CG! Situated at the tip of the lake and featuring maintained ‘Bella’ floor plan with lake views from the front of the house and
Enjoy today’s modern luxuries with chef’s dream kitchen, vinyl winter getaway, investment property or full time condo. Kitchen with long lake views. Kitchen w/ granite counters, stainless appliances, newer refrigera- garden views in the back yard. Tile on a diagonal through the living areas,
plank flooring t/o, updated baths, newer windows and more. granite and newer stainless steel appliances. Tile throughout the liv- tor, pendant lighting and wall oven. Plantation shutters t/o, impact glass windows carpeted bedrooms, plantation shutters throughout, screened patio, glass
Two driveways, fully fenced backyard with RV/boat parking, tiki ing areas and laminate flooring in the bedrooms. HOA dues include & doors, tiled living area, carpeted bedrooms and extra long driveway. Master suite entry front door and upgraded lighting & ceiling fans. Impact glass windows
hut, storage shed, play house and more. Will not last, call today! cable, water, sewer, building insurance, lawn care and amenities. overlooks the lake and has private ensuite w/ frameless glass shower. Call today! and doors and barrel tile roof. Still under builder’s warranty! Won’t last!
RX-10714040 1604 Edgevale Road RX-10712748 8000 Carnoustie Place RX-10705239 10730 SW Visconti Way RX-10707174 11045 SW Visconti Way

UNDER CONTRACT UNDER CONTRACT UNDER CONTRACT UNDER CONTRACT

PGA VERANO $699,900 CASTLE PINES $215,000 PGA VILLAGE $334,900 CATALINA LAKES - PBG $385,000
MOVE IN READY TOWNHOUSE IN THE HEART OF PBG Meticulously
SHOW STOPPING POOL HOME! Gorgeous lake views from GROUND FLOOR CONDO IN PGA VILLAGE! First floor RELAXING RETREAT IN PGA VILLAGE Welcome home maintained Divosta property in the popular community of Catalina Lakes.
this elegant 3BR+Den/4.5BA/2+CG home on oversized corner unit being offered fully furnished/turnkey. This to this 3BR/2BA/2CG home with built in spa and 3BR/2.5BA/1CG with fresh interior paint, plantation shutters t/o, hard sur-
lot. Salt water pool w/ travertine paver deck, gorgeous 2BR/2.5BA unit can be used as an investment prop- oversized lanai. This property features the best of all face flooring t/o, brand new kitchen appliances and W/D, newer WH and
kitchen, master suite w/ dual bathrooms, both guest rooms erty, full time residence or winter getaway. Brand new worlds...privacy as well as golf & water views. Master screened patio. Nest security cameras, Nest thermostat, electronic door
w/ en-suites. Newer ACs & WH, SS kitchen appliances and AC! Newer WH & Washer/Dryer. HOA dues include suite w/ dual closets & frame-less glass shower. Pride lock and more. Built in closet organizers in all upstairs closets. Won’t last!
oversized garage. Won’t last! cable, water, sewer, building insurance and amenities. of ownership gleams in this home! Won’t last! RX-10709854 180 Santa Barbara Way
RX-10701144 9955 SW Nuova Way RX-10705959 8911 Sandshot Court RX-10701828 7152 Hawks View Trail

SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD

WALTON COURT $184,000 DOWNTOWN FORT PIERCE $619,900 VALENCIA CAY $339,900 PGA VERANO $605,000
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fun, food SECTION
festivities
THURSDAY, MAY 13, 2021 YOUR INDEPENDENT LOCAL COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER

David Schoen, Kelly Tiger and Bradley Keen pose behind the birth- THE BIG 6-0
day sign during Port St. Lucie’s 60th Birthday Bash April 27 at the
MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Event Center. The city celebrated
60 years of incorporation with cake, music, trivia contests,
food trucks and more. Above left, Chloe Lynch, 9, helps
create a chalk mural on the sidewalk. Above
right, the Authentics provide the music.

PHOTOS: LINDA KLOORFAIN

Coming Up! It’s showtime at the Pineapple Playhouse and the Barn

BY PAM HARBAUGH | Correspondent revolves around Annie, whose into the spotlight, a place none 2 “Little Shop of Horrors” is a and you get a darkly funny comedy
husband has just died. She and of them desired. The play, written quirky, fun and warm musical that, for good reason, has become
While the Big Apple is talking her best friend decide to do what by Tim Firth, is based on a true comedy about hapless Seymour, a staple of theater, from communi-
about bringing theater back, it’s they can to raise money for the story about women posting nude who pines for vulnerable Audrey. ty and to professional. The musical
already happening on the Treasure local hospital. They persuade to help raise money for cancer re- They both work in a skid row flower was made into a movie in 1986 and
Coast with a couple of very funny their friends, all of them of a search. Tickets are $15. The show shop run by mean Mr. Mushnick. starred Rick Moranis, Ellen Greene,
and endearing shows: “Calendar “mature” age, to pose nude for performs 8 p.m. May 13, 14, 15, One fateful night, they discover Vincent Gardenia and Steve Martin
Girls” and “Little Shop of Horrors.” a calendar. Not at all expected, 20, 21 and 22, and 2 p.m. May 16 an odd plant that feeds on human with a bit part by Bill Murray. The
the calendar becomes a raging and 23. The Pineapple Playhouse blood. Add to it a sadistic dentist, stage musical opens tonight, May
1 “Calendar Girls” runs success, receiving international is at 700 W. Weatherbee Road, the sudden speaking and singing 13 and runs through May 30 at the
through May 23 at the Pine- acclaim. That, of course, throws Fort Pierce. Call 772-465-0366 or ability of the ever-growing menac- Barn Theatre, 2400 SE Ocean Blvd.,
apple Playhouse. The comedy the dear women even further visit PineapplePlayhouse.com. ing plant, and a couple murders,
is set in Yorkshire, England, and CONTINUED ON PAGE B6

2 May 13, 2021 ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | ARTS www.stlucievoice.com

Much ado in ’22: Indian River Symphonic Association preview

BY PAM HARBAUGH | Correspondent

When the pandemic hit in March 2020,

the Indian River Symphonic Association

was forced to halt performances in the

MUSIC middle of their season.
Like many others, they

PREVIEW then also had to cancel
their entire 2021 sea-

son, leaving musicians, organizers and

patrons alike at a musical loss.

Now, though, IRSA is set to come roar-

ing back with a season that should be the

envy of any symphonic organization. The

season, which runs January through April

2022, boasts musical gravitas and great GENEVIEVE CARON PHOTO

promise.

It features the return of Joshua Bell

performing with the Academy of St.

Martin in the Fields and, a real rarity

outside of Miami, will include a concert

by the New World Symphony featuring

emerging young virtuoso musicians. The

season will present the winner of the

prestigious Wieniawski Violin Competi-

tion playing with the Polish Weiniawski

Philharmonic Orchestra, and the return

of the Russian National Orchestra. And

the stalwart Brevard Symphony Orches-

tra returns to perform three outstanding

concerts.

“It’s a fabulous season of seven con-

certs,” says IRSA board member Christo-

pher Kitts.

Kitts, who has an extensive back-

ground in classical music and has per-

formed and conducted professionally for

decades, says he was “absolutely blown

away” when he moved to Vero Beach and

saw the major orchestras IRSA was bring-

ing in to perform. He introduced himself

to IRSA administrator Staci Rosbury, and

she quickly gave his name to the board.

He currently serves as board vice

president and concert producer, which Joyce Yang and, insets from left, Paul Huang, Alexander Malofeev and Stephane Deneve are featured on the 2022 Indian River Symphonic Association schedule.

means he guides the selection of orches-

tras and programming, and deals with minor, Op. 22 and Schubert’s Symphony Potter,” “Superman,” “Indiana Jones,” No. 5 in B-flat major, Op. 100.

agents and contracts. No. 9 in C major, D. 944, “The Great.” “Jurassic Park” and “Star Wars.” This concert should be “really excit-

Kitts also waxes rhapsodic over the Kitts says the Brahms and Schubert The BSO is a favorite of IRSA audienc- ing,” Kitts says. “It’s so much fun. It’s

concerts on tap for the 2022 season. pieces were once considered “war hors- es, in part because of Confessore, whom Prokofiev at his most whimsical … (and)

Here’s the extraordinary es,” and were played over Kitts calls “very precise, powerful.”

lineup: and over. But they fell out very clear, first rate.”

of favor and have not been Moreover, because it’s not Thursday, March 3,

Friday, Jan. 21, 2022: played for more than 20 a touring orchestra, the 2022: Virtuoso violinist

The Polish Wieniawski years in Vero Beach. So BSO can offer more mod- Joshua Bell will perform

Philharmonic Orchestra now, Kitts says, they will ern works that broaden with and direct the Acad-

with principal conduc- be new to IRSA audiences. programming. Touring emy of St. Martin in the

tor Wojciech Rodek will orchestras generally pro- Fields in their fifth appear-

feature the winner of the Friday, Feb. 4, 2022: The gram standard repertoire ance with IRSA, and his

Wieniawski Violin Compe- Brevard Symphony Or- because they can’t predict concerts always sell out

tition, which Kitts likens to Wojciech Rodek. chestra, led by conductor audience tastes, Kitts says. Joshua Bell. far in advance.

the Cliburn Piano Com- Christopher Confessore, Thursday, Feb. 10, The concert includes
petition. While the winner will perform “The Won- PHILLIP KNOTT PHOTO Bach’s Violin Concerto in

has yet to be chosen, Kitts says it will be drous World of John Williams.” This is a 2022: The Russian National Orches- A minor, Barber’s Violin Concerto, Op.

“one of the great young violinists in the pops concert that celebrates the famed tra with conductor Kirill Karabits and 14 and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3 in

world.” composer’s 90th birthday. pianist Alexander Malofeev will perform E-flat Major, Op. 55, “Eroica.”

The program includes Brahms’ Vari- Featuring concertmaster Lisa Ferri- the Beethoven Egmont Overture, Op. 84, Kitts says Bell’s name recognition is

ations on a Theme by Haydn, Op. 56, gno, the BSO will perform pieces from Prokofiev’s Piano concerto No. 3 in C high because of his many PBS concerts

Wieniawski’s Violin Concerto No. 2 in D “Schindler’s List” as well as from “Harry major, Op. 26 and Prokofiev’s Symphony CONTINUED ON PAGE B4



4 May 13, 2021 ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | ARTS www.stlucievoice.com

Novel ideas? One-man brand
Fred Berri’s got plenty of ’em

BY SHELLEY KOPPEL | Staff Writer new book, featuring his new protag-

[email protected] onist, Lester Caine. The story of the

Writing for a newspaper, one is al- character’s name is that Fred was hav-

ways on deadline. Constant deadlines ing physical therapy for his knee and

for interviewing, writing and editing the therapist kept telling him, “Less

tend to focus the mind and keep you cane.” For those who find symbolism

on the straight and narrow. in the names of characters, Fred and I

And then there’s Fred Berri. are here to tell you that sometimes it’s

The prolific local writer is busy writ- a word on a billboard or something

ing one book, bringing out the sequel equally random.

to another and finishing another de- Since Fred Berri writes so much, I

lightful adventure featuring his grand- asked him about the process.

son, Carmelo. This time, the youngster “I start out with a plot and charac-

overcomes his fears of trying some- ters,” he said. “I try to interview the

thing new, Jiu jitsu. Of course, that was characters in my mind and write down

in the days before COVID. what they like, what they wear, so I can

“He was watching ‘The Karate Kid’ bring that out when I’m writing. I put

and he said it looked like fun, like the plot out and build on it and try to

dancing,” Berri said. “His cousin came write a certain amount every day, at

for Christmas and taught him some, least 250 words. A lot of writers like to The Brevard Symphony Orchestra will perform “The Wondrous World of John Williams” on Feb. 4, 2022.

showing Carmelo certain moves. write a first draft, but I like to take

Carmelo was scared, what I write each day SYMPHONIC ASSOCIATION Sunday, March 13, 2022: The BSO
with conductor Christopher Confessore
thinking he could get and put it through a CONTINUED FROM PAGE B2 and violinist Paul Huang will perform
Beethoven’s Leonore Overture No. 3, Op.
hurt, but his cousin re- grammar program and and the music scores he has played for 72, Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto in D
such movies as “The Red Violin.” His major, Op. 35 and Shostakovich’s Sym-
assured him. He decid- reread it. I do it as I go reputation has also been amplified by his phony No. 1 in F minor, Op. 10.
high-profile concerts in Central Park.
ed to try, and his mom along. Once I’m fin- “The Leonore Overture No. 3 is very
“And he’s a very handsome, good look- well known,” Kitts says. “It’s a terrific
and dad signed him up ished, I go through it ing young man who is a superb player,” piece to play. The audience will love it,
Kitts says. “He has charisma. That puts him and many will know it.”
for classes. once more myself. It’s in another league above most violinists.”
The concert’s range is wide, with the
“When he was going the last time to make Sunday, March 6, 2022: The New romance of the Tchaikovsky concerto to
World Symphony, led by conductor the Shostakovich modern work, which
into class, one of his changes. Then I send Stéphane Denève and featuring mem- audiences with either love or hate, Kitts
bers of the St. Louis Symphony, will says. “I think it’s exciting. It’s visceral.”
classmates was there it to the editor and for perform Haydn’s Sinfonia Concertante in
B-flat major, Beethoven’s Symphony No. Friday, April 8, 2022: The BSO with
and said he loved it. layout, and it comes 7, II. Allegretto, Simon’s “Fate Now Con- conductor Christopher Confessore and
quers,” Debussy’s Nuage et Fêtes from pianist Joyce Yang will perform Berlioz’s
He went in and had back to me because “Nocturnes” and Debussy’s “Ibéria.” Roman Carnival Overture, Chopin’s
Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor, Op. 11,
two coaches, a moth- I self-publish. I use Kitts is especially excited about this Respighi’s “The Fountains of Rome” and
concert because it is such a rarity to have “The Pines of Rome.”
er and son, Coach the platform Ingram- the renowned orchestra perform outside
of Miami. “They don’t tour,” he says. This concert is “big,” Kitts says. “Ber-
Amanda and Coach Spark, the largest plat- lioz uses triangles, trombones, percus-
“Denève conducted in Vero a couple sions in a different way. The Chopin
Igor. He wore a ‘Gi’ form, that places it on seasons ago with the Brussel’s Philhar- totally shows off the piano. The orchestra
monic. He’s one of the best conductors is basically told to get out of the way. And
and looked really cool. all the online outlets.” I’ve seen in the last 10 years. His preci- you can’t get any bigger than the Re-
sion, anticipation … he’s so clear (and) spighi, one of the greatest composers of
He was scared because Berri’s works will on top of it all.” the 20th century. Dramatic, with a finale
that’ll blow the roof off the auditorium.
he didn’t know what also be available on The New World Symphony, co-found- You can’t end in a better way.”
ed by conductor Michael Tilson Thomas,
to expect. He learned Audible, including the is the proving ground for young mu- All concerts begin at 7:30 p.m. at the
sicians who have graduated from the Community Church of Vero Beach, 1901
to bow and then bow Carmelo books and the finest music schools, and early on made 23rd St., Vero Beach. Season tickets are
the decision against becoming a touring $395 to $435. Individual tickets range
again to show respect. second of his Johnny orchestra. from $60 to $100 depending on the per-
formance; single event tickets will go on
He earned his first Vero series, “Bullets Be- “I called them and said, ‘It’s not really sale in November. For more information,
a tour, we’re only two hours away from call 772-778-1070 or visit IRSymphonic.
(belt), white, before Fred Berri’s latest book about fore Dawn,” just com- Miami,’” Kitts says. “I convinced them to org. 
COVID came and it the adventures of his grandson, ing out this month. come up and do this concert. My board
stopped. He learned a Carmelo, features the youngster was blown away, they were so happy.”
lot of lessons, like re- learning about jiu jitsu. “Audible is owned by
Amazon,” Berri said.
PHOTO COURTESY OF FRED BERRI

spect, discipline, keep- “You have to have an

ing a promise to try, the importance of account and you have to arrange for a

listening and to be brave even when narrator and arrange the fee or fee plus

you’re scared.” royalties.”

Berri has also written a sequel to For Berri, the most difficult part of

“Cousins’ Bad Blood,” his first book the process is the marketing and sell-

about an immigrant from Italy, Michael ing. He will be doing a book signing of

Pellegrino, who builds a criminal em- all his works on Sept. 4 at Book Bash at

pire. The sequel, “Cousins’ Bad Blood- the Port St. Lucie Community Center.

The Take Over,” features Michael’s son, Getting his books before the public is

Charlie, and his girlfriend, Elaine, who a challenge and forums like this are a

set out to settle a score to avenge his great opportunity. Until then, check

parents’ death. This takes the story into out Fred Berri on Amazon.com and

the 1950s and one can only wonder if other online outlets. I know I’ll hear

there are more stories to come. from him soon; he only has three quar-

Berri is about a quarter through a ters of the current book to write. 

To Advertise (772-633-1115) ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | ARTS May 13, 2021 5

BY SHELLEY KOPPEL | Staff Writer HIP HIP ‘HOORAY’! IRSC “Newsies,” “Almost There” from “The Prin-
[email protected] PRESENTING ITS TAKE ON cess and the Frog,” and the beloved “When
TOP TINSELTOWN You Wish Upon a Star” (from “Pinocchio”)
In an earlier, simpler time, a concert was TUNES “One Hand, One Heart” (from “West Side
the perfect way to celebrate the approach of Story”), “Don’t Rain on My Parade” (from
summer. Just in time for summer this year, Rieth said. “They’re from different eras. There and Nathan Detroit. There will be a Disney “Funny Girl”) and the 2018 Lady Gaga
students from Indian River State College’s are ballads from ‘Puttin’ on the Ritz,’ which is medley, with songs from “Beauty and the update of “A Star is Born” are among the
vocal music program will present “Hooray jazzy. It goes back as far as the 1930s, with a Beast,” “Toy Story” and “The Little Mer- crowd pleasers on the play list.
for Hollywood,” a tribute to songs taken medley from ‘Meet Me in St. Louis’: ‘The Boy maid,” and the song “Evermore” from the
from the movies. The concert, June 17-19 Next Door’ and ‘The Trolley Song.’” live action 2017 version of “Beauty and the The show will feature solos and duets
at the McAlpin Fine Arts Center, will feature Beast.” “The Rainbow Connection” from by Nicole Hernandez, Raisa Asim, Liam
songs from movies spanning decades. A favorite of mine is “Sue Me” from “The Muppets Movie,” “Santa Fe” from Allen-Kearney, Alyssa Leo, Minh Nyugen,
“Guys and Dolls,” sung between Adelaide Amber Shichtel and Billy Banks.
Dale Rieth, director of vocal music at the
college, found a book about popular songs The penultimate song in the concert
from the movie. It inspired him to make his is the rousing “One Day More” from “Les
own selections. Misérables.” It’s followed by a very different
song, “Seasons of Love,” from “Rent.” Rieth
“I used it as my bar,” he said. “They’re has strong feelings about that song.
not necessarily Academy Award winners. I
chose those that would be the best fit for “It’s nice, feel-good tune,” he said. “It
our performers.” feels like youth always embrace that song
that says to take advantage of every second,
Concert-goers will be treated to duets, every minute and appreciate what we have
solos and ensemble pieces, with songs and be grateful for what is going well. Make
ranging from the rousing to the quiet bal- a difference, do your best and smile more.”
lad. Student Kyle Duncan will narrate the
concert, setting up every tune with the That’s a lot to ask from a song, but Rieth
background, the movie it came from, the is sure you’ll leave the McAlpin smiling and
year and who was in the original film. maybe with a little hope in your heart after
While some songs and movies are inextri- a rough year.
cably entwined (think “Singing in the Rain”
or “Over the Rainbow,”), others, like “Hoo- Indian River State College’s McAlpin
ray from Hollywood” (“Hollywood Hotel,” Fine Arts Center is located at 3209 Virgin-
1937) and “That’s Entertainment” (“The ia Ave., Fort Pierce. Tickets for “Hooray for
Bandwagon,” 1953), are a bit of a surprise. Hollywood” are available at the McAlpin
We may know the song, but where it comes Box Office, Monday through Friday 11 a.m.
from is more of a trivia question. This con- to 3 p.m., or by calling 772-462-4750. CDC
cert will link song and movie. guidelines will be observed and there will be
social distancing and masks required. 
“Every single selection is from a movie,”

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6 May 13, 2021 ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | ARTS www.stlucievoice.com

STARSTRUCK GEARS UP FOR SUMMER SHOWCASES COMING UP

CONTINUED FROM PAGE B1

Stuart. Tickets are $15 to $35. Call 772-287-
4884 or visit Barn-Theatre.com.

BY SHELLEY KOPPEL | Staff Writer “StarStruck has been providing summer PHOTO COURTESY OF STARSTRUCK ACADEMY AND THEATRE 3 Take the whole family out into the
[email protected] programming for 22 years on the Treasure great weather at Saturday’s “Take a Kid
Coast,” Jones said. “Our first show was a Familiar to StarStruck kids and parents Fishing” event hosted by the Kiwanis Club of
It’s almost summertime, and the living summer show, ‘Guys and Dolls Jr.’ Since the are the special all-day camps in July. This Vero-Treasure Coast. The two-hour event be-
is busy at Stuart’s StarStruck Academy and moment registration opened, it’s been thrill- year, Camp Broadway will run July 6-16 from gins 9 a.m. on the pier from the Barber Bridge
Theatre. There are four summer programs ing to see the number of families ready for 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, and fishing catwalk. Organizers supply tackle,
that are filling up fast as parents and kids our world to be safer and ready for their chil- Camp Disney will run July 19-29 from 9 a.m. bait, prizes and even lunch. Chris Woodruff,
look forward to returning to the camps dren to have fun over the summer.” to 4 p.m. Many campers take both and many owner of Vero Tackle and Water Sports, helps
they’ve enjoyed for years. also add in “Charlie Brown.” with the event every year. He said people are
Jones said that the decision to select eager to do this and that it’s fun for every-
Jennifer Jones, artistic director of Star- “42nd St.” as the “big musical” was an easy “In the two weeks, we explore all aspects one. “I’m surprised how many people show
Struck, said that they will have two big mu- one. “I have one of the top tap dance teach- of the performing arts, including dance, art, up,” Woodruff said. “They almost complete-
sicals this summer. The first, “You’re a Good ers in Florida in Rebecca Beery,” she said. acting and singing,” Jones said. “Both camps ly cover the pier here. It’s fantastic to see.”
Man, Charlie Brown,” is for youngsters in “She’s been at StarStruck for five years. focus on all aspects of the art. We have hip- Woodruff’s business usually donates bait for
grades 1-5. The camp runs from June 3-25, Now we have fabulous tap-dancing kids hop and introduction to tap, improv and the event. The event organizers are well pre-
with two performances, at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. ready to take on a show that requires really how to make a Playbill and write a bio. It’s pared with a trailer, rods and guides to help
on June 25. The second, “42nd Street,” is for strong tap dancing. I’m doing it for her in all related to the theme; the first is based on families get started. Making this even more
kids in grades 6-12. The program runs from gratitude and love.” Broadway music and the second on Disney appealing, the event is free. The location is
June 7 to July 3, with performances July 1-3. musicals and movies. At the end of the two ideal with benches and some shade. It gets
weeks, the campers do a sharing for family.” everybody involved. “Take a Kid Fishing”
registration begins 8:15 a.m. Entry is free, but
Jones emphasized that the cleanliness limited to the first 100 families signing up.
protocols they have had in place will re- Prizes are awarded for each age bracket and
main. “There are hand sanitizer stations a special prize is awarded for the ugliest fish.
and we bought a hospital-grade fogger The free lunch will be served 11 a.m. to noon.
that cleans all the surfaces daily,” she said. This is designed for children 5 to 12 years of
“Audience members are required to wear age. Adult supervision required. Masks are
masks and the campers have their tem- also required. Call 772-234-9585 or visit vero
perature taken daily.” kiwanis.com. Vero Tackle and Water Sports is
at 3321 Bridge Plaza Drive, Vero Beach.
Jones said that there is already a waiting
list for “42nd St.” and campers should reg- 4 Summer Crush Vineyard and Winery
ister quickly. Tickets are also going quickly will present a couple of tropical rock
for the two big shows and audience mem- concerts this weekend. First up is Mike Nash
bers should reserve them now. Unbeliev- of the Southern Drawl Band. He will per-
ably, it isn’t that far away. form 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 15. The
award-winning singer specializes in back-
StarStruck Academy and Theatre is located woods Tennessee sound. For his concert, the
at 2101 S. Kanner Highway, Stuart. For infor- food truck will be offering NuNu’s Sweet Soul
mation, call 772-283-2313 or visit the website Food. Then, the next day, the Latitudes will
www.starstruckfl.org. For the Box Office, call perform their tribute to Jimmy Buffett, 1 p.m.
772-283-7787.  to 4 p.m. Sunday, May 16. So keep an eye out
for that outlaw jigger of salt. The food truck
will be Mi Cabana Taco Truck. All tickets start
at $5. Summer Crush Vineyard & Winery is at
4200 Johnston Rd., Fort Pierce. Call 772-460-
0500 or visit SummerCrushWine.com. 

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HOT MOVES MUCH TO DO AND VIEW AT FIRST
AT ‘DANCING ‘ARTS & MINDFULNESS FESTIVAL’
IN THE SAND’
BY PATRICK McCALLISTER | Correspondent ple want in their wellness fairs: acupuncture,
St. Lucie Dance Theater’s Rafael Gomez, massage, Pilates, reiki, taijiquan, which is of-
above, and Brandon Ledbetter and Gina The inaugural Treasure Coast Arts & ten shortened to “tai chi,” along with hypno-
Marie Prisco perform during the Dancing Mindfulness Festival will be at the MID- therapy, chakra analysis and some tarot card
in the Sand event recently at the Sunrise FLORIDA Credit Union Event Center on readings.
Sands Beach Resort in Fort Pierce. Saturday and Sunday, May 22-23.
Attendees will want to wear comfortable,
PHOTOS: LINDA KLOORFAIN Alyona Ushe, executive director of the flexible clothing. This will be an audience
St. Lucie Cultural Alliance, said with the re- participation festival. “We’ll have fun things
surgence of excellent art shows following like drum circles and yoga,” Ushe said.
the pandemic pause, the alliance was in a
small quandary: “How do we distinguish Children will also want to wear comfort-
ourselves from numerous other wonderful able, flexible clothing.
events in the area?”
“We are partnering with the Oxbow
Arts and crafts shows across the state Eco-Center,” said Ushe. The center will
mostly, if not totally, shut down 14 months have artistic children’s activities galore for
ago as the world and state tried to figure the youngsters. “We’re going to have crystal
out the best ways to safely navigate life bowls with dance and live painting togeth-
with SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19. The Florida er,” Ushe said.
Department of Health announced the first
case of COVID-19 in March last year. As Deena Rahill, a sound healing practi-
the Centers for Disease Control and Pre- tioner, will sound crystal bowls as Lisa Jill
vention and the state health department Allison paints on a canvas.
have worked out best practices for events,
and the vaccines have rolled out, the shows Admission will be free at the festival, at
have reopened to much excitement among which there will be auctions, food trucks
artists and their admirers. and vendors. Ushe said the festival is a
fundraiser for local artists. “All the proceeds
Another type of event that’s dealt with from the festival will go into a pot to go to
the coronavirus crush is wellness fairs. Ushe the artists,” she explained.
said this gave the alliance a thought. “Those
go beautifully hand in hand,” she said. “Peo- That’s the Cultural Alliance’s Grant Fund,
ple who are into wellness tend to be into the which goes to organizations as well as area
arts as well.” artists.

The festival, which will be from 10 a.m. “Our job is to nurture and enhance the
to 5 p.m. both days, will have everything arts in the county,” offered Ushe. “One of
folks want at their art shows: painting, pot- our taglines is that ‘St Lucie County is the
tery, photography and sculpture, along with cultural gem of the Treasure Coast.’ We’re
fashion design and jewelry. In keeping with here to promote our artists,” many of whom
the wellness theme of the festival, some of have had a difficult year with most of their
the artists work with recycled components – venues shut down.
what’s called “upcycled art.”
The MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Event
There will also be live music and dance, Center is at 9221 SE Event Center Place. Face
along with spoken word performances. coverings will be encouraged. More about the
show, including a schedule of events, is at
The festival will also have everything peo- www.artstlucie.org/event/art-fest. 

8 May 13, 2021 ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | COMMUNITY www.stlucievoice.com

‘HOMES FOR HEROES’ DUO For family-friendly fun, it takes a GraceWay Village ...
MAKES GOOD ON MISSION
It was all fun and games – and a big thank-you to
Danielle Garaicoechea and Alvaro Mora, local Homes for volunteers – at the GraceWay Village Volunteer Carnival
Heroes specialists with Home Nest Realty Inc., contributed to last Saturday in Fort Pierce. Clockwise from above left:
the overall mission of Homes for Heroes by giving over 40 bas- Lt. Suzanne Woodward of the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s
kets with goodies to local community heroes, thanking them Office celebrates winning the pie eating contest; Estelle
for all they do in celebration of For Heroes Day. Turney plays a darts game; Katherine Case, 7, wins
second place in the children’s pie eating contest; and
Homes for Heroes’ mission is to thank every hero in the Jacob, 9, plays a game of cornhole. 
nation, and For Heroes Day is a one-day celebration to do
something special for heroes that’s held the first Monday in PHOTOS: LINDA KLOORFAIN
May. This year, Home Nest Realty showed appreciation for the
services and sacrifices of our community heroes by delivering $5 TAKE HOME ENTRÉES
baskets to the following hero locations: Dine-In Only, Restrictions
Apply, See Restaurant.
Port St. Lucie Police Department; Fort Pierce Police Depart-
ment; St Lucie County Sheriff’s Office; St. Lucie County Fire $15 WINES BY THE BOTTLE
LUNCH SPECIALS 11AM-3PM
District Station 17; St. Lucie
County Fire District Station Monday-Friday
14; St. Lucie County Fire Dis- OPEN: Sun-Thurs 11am-10pm,
trict; Tradition Cleveland
Clinic; Bee Well Pediatrics; Fri & Sat 11am-11pm
Allapattah Flats K-8 School;
Somerset College Preparatory
Academy; Renaissance Char-
ter School of Tradition; School
Board of St Lucie County;
Palm Pointe Educational Re-
search School; Oak Hammock
K-8 School; St. Lucie West
Centennial High School.
“The month of May has special hero observances all month
long and we wanted to kick it off right by doing something
special for them this year. Our firefighters, law enforcement,
military, teachers and healthcare professionals do so much for
this community and the challenges they have battled over the
past year have been tough. We hope some of what we provid-
ed on For Heroes Day shows our enormous appreciation and
gratitude for what they do every day,” said Garaicoechea.

Shortly after 9/11, Homes for Heroes, Inc. was established to

give back to firefighters, EMS, law enforcement, military, health-

care professionals and teachers. Since 2009, Homes for Heroes,

Inc. has helped over 44,000 heroes save more than $77 million

and donated over $872,000 to heroes in need through the Homes

for Heroes Foundation. Learn more at HomesNestforHeroes.

com.  ­– CONTRIBUTED

10221 SW MEETING ST., PORT ST. LUCIE • 772-345-3691 • OLIVEGARDEN.COM

To Advertise (772-633-1115) ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | CASUAL AND FINE DIN ING May 13, 2021 9

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11200 SW Village Parkway, Suite 103 Port St. Lucie, FL 34987
In Front of Cleveland Clinic Tradition Hospital Open Daily 11-9

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GRILL FOR DAILY

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Monday - Thursday 11am - 9pm
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Expires 05/31/21

THANK YOU FOR YOUR OPEN DAILY DRIVE THRU OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK 772-343-1146
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SUN - THURS 10:30AM-10PM // FRI & SAT 10:30AM-11PM Family Owned & Operated 1680 St. Lucie West Blvd.,
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Culver’s of Port St Lucie Port St. Lucie (Across from Walmart)

10770 SW Tradition Pkwy, Port St. Lucie, FL 34987 (772) 345-2874 www.westendgrillstluciewest.com

© 2016 Culver Franchising System, Inc. PEPSI and the Pepsi Globe are registered trademarks of PepsiCo, Inc. 12/16

10 May 13, 2021 ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | COMMUNITY/CALENDAR www.stlucievoice.com

JOIN THE FUN! PORT ST. LUCIE NEWCOMERS CLUB ACCEPTING NEW MEMBERS

For individuals and/or couples looking for social From left: Greg Snider, president, presenting the Port St. Lucie Newcomers Club’s monthly check to the representative of Sarah’s Kitchen;
outlets during the pandemic, the Port St. Lucie New- Carolyn Snider, second vice president, and Gilda DiMargo, first vice president; Chris Radke, secretary.
comers Club announces that it is currently accepting
new members while practicing safe measures during
its group activities.

“Although we’ve had to curtail a number of our ongo-
ing activities during Covid,” said President Greg Snider,
“we are still able to meet once a month and continue cer-
tain social functions, including 9-hole golf, out to lunch,
a book club via Zoom and an occasional card game.”

The club meets on the first Monday of each month at
the Elks Lodge on Prima Vista Boulevard. Temperatures
are taken, masks are worn and there is social distancing
in a sanitized environment.

Other activities that members enjoy during “normal”
times are bunco, trivia, out to dinner, day trips and a
monthly gathering at a member’s home on a Sunday
afternoon.

“These other activities are slowly ramping up as
members are vaccinated and feel that they can safely
venture out and enjoy all the benefits the club has to
offer,” said Snider. “In addition to social activities, our
mission is to support various area not-for-profits.”

Social hour begins at 9 a.m., followed by the meeting
at 10 a.m. The Elks Lodge is located at 343 Prima Vista
Blvd. Annual dues are $45 for a single membership and
$65 for a couple.

For additional information, contact Carolyn Snider at

[email protected].  ­– CONTRIBUTED From left: Nancy Grossman, treasurer; Anne Bielinski, inspiration speaker; Linda Preece, historian, and Nancy Cassidy, chair, Trivia & Dinner Committee.

WATERCREST COMMUNITY ART SHOW WAS PICTURE PERFECT! MAY

Creative juices were flowing 15 Downtown Fort Pierce Farmers Mar-
recently at the Watercrest ket. 8 a.m. to noon. Marina Square,
Community Art Show at on Indian River Drive in Historic Downtown
Watercrest Senior Living St. Fort Pierce. A tradition for residents and tour-
Lucie West. Artwork by the ists alike with live entertainment and delicious
Port St. Lucie Arts League food options!
– and pieces by Watercrest
residents – were displayed 17 Yoga Mondays. 6:15 p.m. to 7:15
at the poolside event, at p.m. Pierced Ciderworks, 411 N 2nd
which entertainment and St., Fort Pierce. Bring your own mat if you have
refreshments were provid- one. Sharing mats are limited. First come, First
ed. A three-piece painting served. This will be a basic beginner yoga class,
created by Barbara Gill, a building our foundations for a fun yoga flow.
Memory Care resident at
Watercrest, was raffled off. 19 Bring Your Own Kayak Lagoon Trip.
All proceeds from the Art 9:30 a.m. to noon. DJ Wilcox River-
Show benefited the Alzhei- side Preserve, 399 Wilcox Road, Fort Pierce.
mer’s Association.  Explore the Indian River Lagoon in your own
kayak with experienced guides. Appropriate
­– CONTRIBUTED for ages 16 and older. Bring your own kayaks,
U.S. Coast Guard-approved personal flotation
Solutions from Games Pages ACROSS DOWN devices and paddles. The cost is $10 per per-
in April 29, 2021 Edition 1 WRIST 1 WRITTEN son. No online registration; please call 772-
4 REIGNED 2 INANE 462-2536 to reserve your space. Reservations
8 IRA 3 TABITHA are a must.
9 BAY 4 RHYTHM
10 CURSE 5 INCUR 19 Wednesday Green Market. 12 p.m.
11 TREAT 6 NOR to 6 p.m. Marina Square, on Indian
12 HARVARD 7 DREAD River Drive in Historic Downtown Fort Pierce.
15 HYMN 13 ANNE The Wednesday Green Market is intended to
17 NASSAU 14 ASH provide healthy, fresh foods and horticultur-
19 NEPHEW 16 YURT al products to St. Lucie County and the sur-
22 REEL 18 SON rounding areas, and to encourage commerce,
24 CANASTA 20 ELASTIC entertainment and trade in Downtown Fort
26 ABBOT 21 WITNESS Pierce.
28 AGREE 23 EARTHY
30 TOT 24 CHART
31 LIE 25 SPELL
32 TOTALLY 27 BALTI
33 CLIPS 29 RUT

Sudoku Page B9 Sudoku Page B10 Crossword Page B9 Crossword Page B10 (THE LESSER-KNOWN BEANIE BABIES)

To Advertise (772-633-1115) ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | COMMUNITY May 13, 2021 11

TREASURE COAST HIGH TITANS SPARKLE ON SOFTBALL DIAMOND

PHOTOS: LINDA KLOORFAIN Treasure Coast High School covered all
the bases in a 15-5 Region 7A quarterfinal
victory over Freedom High School last
Friday. From left: Titan Breana Musso makes
it safely to first base on an error; Brooklyn
Lyons slides safely into home; and Brittney
Vincens makes a play at first base.

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12 May 13, 2021 ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | GAMES www.stlucievoice.com

SOLUTPIORENVSIOTOUSPREDEVITIOIOUNS’SISSSOULEU(TMIAOYNS6,) SOENEPPAAGGEEBB1120

ACROSS DOWN
1 Ascend (5) 1 Capture (5)
4 Alliance of powers (4) 2 Chilled drink (3-5,4)
8 Support for climbing 3 Amount left over (7)
4 Passage between seats (5)
plants(7) 5 Offspring (5)
9 Guide; bovine animal (5) 6 Miser (5-7)
10 Wading bird (5) 7 Metal framework (6)
11 Everlasting (7) 12 Gratuity (3)
13 Bordeaux wine (6) 13 Opportunity (6)
15 Inflamed spot (6) 14 Rocky peak (3)
17 Strict in manner (7) 16 To cut a long story
20 Extra payment (5)
22 Alcoholic drink (5) short(2,5)
23 (World War I) England (7) 18 Planet (5)
24 Demonstrate (4) 19 Arm joint (5)
25 Gorse (5) 21 Manner (5)

The Telegraph

How to do Sudoku:

Fill in the grid so the
numbers one through
nine appear just once
in every column, row
and three-by-three
square.

The Telegraph

To Advertise (772-633-1115) ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | GAMES May 13, 2021 13

ACROSS 89 Very light rains 37 Problem for Santa, The Washington Post
1 Big mouth 91 Letters after Chuck nowadays?
4 Brought forth froth SANTA’S HEADACHES By Merl Reagle
10 Vipers Schumer’s name 38 Watt’s power
14 Lucy’s friend 92 Unburden 42 Landing abbr.
19 Mont. neighbor 94 One and only 44 Problem for Santa,
20 Away from the bay 95 Irish lad
21 Jai ___ 96 Not that hot nowadays?
22 Came up 98 Concerning 46 Bill of Scrooged
23 “Fella” 99 Tokyo, before 47 Turkey or ham
24 Problem for Santa, 100 ___ as (to the degree that) 48 Problem for Santa,
102 Problem for Santa,
nowadays? nowadays?
27 Flowing colors nowadays? 50 ___ Paulo
29 950 on a cornerstone 108 Strong thread 51 Playtex bottle
30 Chaney who played the 109 From ___ Z 52 Language from which
110 Western Hemisphere org.
Wolfman 111 Act like one of the geysers “Saskatoon” comes
31 Words after skip or pound 112 Problem for Santa, ho ho 54 A long weight?
32 Problem for Santa, 56 Opposed (to)
ho? 57 Poe chamber
nowadays? 118 Mouth, in biology 60 Night, in Nîmes
36 Cuts into again 119 ___ à clef 62 Like a movie ark
39 A hostel environment 120 They get rolled 64 Like Helen Morgan’s songs
40 They pick up carolers? 121 “Days of Christmas” total 67 Puzzling bird
41 Dry run 122 A perfect square, 69 Helper on the diamond
43 Record ruiner 70 In the manner of
44 The Mennonites, e.g. to Caesar 72 Summertime,
45 Scoring abbr. 123 Quite a gamble
46 Trysted 124 U.S. in Nice
47 Doubter’s words 125 Was wide of 74 Hardy heroine
48 Unsettling 126 Dough for noodles? 76 Sailor’s date
49 Problem for Santa, 77 Never ___ chance
DOWN 78 Movie deer
nowadays? 1 Make fun of 79 Bliss, to some
53 Ismaili title, ___ Khan 2 Literary bell town 81 Fraught with fixations
54 Pampering, briefly 3 Loony 85 Psychoanalysis concepts
55 Sandy spots hugging a 4 Christmas tree 86 Florence’s river
5 Cheap stamp 88 Muddy marches
green 6 Out on ___ 90 Not at all strong enough
58 Inoculation location 7 Muy macho 93 Topples, as tyrants
59 Fission fuel 8 Conclude 96 Caroled
61 Minute egg? 9 Pres. who started NASA 97 Maker of Tater Tots
63 Babes in Toyland operettist 10 He outdueled Alexander 98 Revered one
11 Dweeb, geezer, or nudnik, 101 Like fish or 1950s car styles
Herbert 103 Complete
65 Second visit for example 104 18-wheeler jobs
66 Sleuth Wolfe 12 Campaign fund-raising grp. 105 An adhesive
67 Agreeing words 13 Indian instruments 106 Raw courage
68 Humiliate 14 Roof features 107 Roughing It author
71 Land in the ocean? 15 Words before fire 112 “Don’t try it,”
73 Your mom’s daughter
75 Spy spoof, or jury dog-style
16 Problem for Santa, 113 Versailles VIP, once
Casino ___ 114 Goal
77 Mar. celeb nowadays? 115 Bank mach.
78 Uses the little knife 17 Superlative finish 116 Red Baron’s conflict, briefly
79 Quite cold 18 French article 117 Mr. Danson
80 Psychic’s cards 25 Yalies
82 Amazed feeling 26 Doubter’s words
83 “___ questions?” 28 Alpine athlete
84 Problem for Santa, 33 Provoke
34 Maker of Oreos
nowadays? 35 Cheshire Cat’s remains
87 Some pears

The Telegraph

14 May 13, 2021 ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | GAMES/BOOKS www.stlucievoice.com

IF YOU WIN SIX, YOU SCORE POINTS WEST NORTH EAST
52 Q87 643
By Phillip Alder - Bridge Columnist AKQ4 J 10 9 8 72
Q 10 7 6 KJ 98532
David Letterman quipped, “Fall is my favorite season in Los Angeles, watching the K63 J 10 9 8 A72
birds change color and fall from the trees.”
SOUTH
This is my favorite defense deal that I use in classes. South ends in two spades, A K J 10 9
leaving East-West needing six tricks to defeat the contract. How can they do it? 653
A4
In the auction, West would have done well to double again on the second round Q54
because East-West can make three diamonds with the trumps splitting 2-2. But that
is far from clear-cut, especially at the prevailing unfavorable vulnerability — and would Dealer: South; Vulnerable: East-West
have ruined a good story.
The Bidding:
West leads the heart ace. (Some pairs lead the queen from a suit headed by the
ace-king-queen, so that the leader’s partner knows that an ace-lead is from only the SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST OPENING
ace-king.) 1 Spades Dbl. 2 Spades All Pass
LEAD:
Under the heart ace, East must play the seven, starting a high-low with a doubleton. A Hearts

Now West, who is watching closely, cashes the heart queen and continues with the
heart king. What should East discard?

East would like a club shift, and it is much better (also, here, necessary) to pitch an
encouraging club seven than a discouraging diamond two.

West shifts to the club three, his lowest card in the suit guaranteeing at least one
honor there. East takes the trick and returns the club two. South falsecards with the
queen, but West should know to take the trick and give partner a club ruff, because if
East had begun with the A-7-5-2 of clubs, he would have returned the club five, high
from a remaining doubleton.

Isn’t good defense fun?

If you’ve ever been at a dull highly personal memoir, “H Is for Hawk,” special by dint of their rarity and their far-flung home-
Meiburg gives us the striated caracara land. Only a few thousand of them exist in nature. They
party and then met a person who as a way to explore natural history and might be expected to shun company, in typical raptor
to consider the work of Charles Darwin fashion, yet they bring a corvid’s social nature to their
suddenly brightened the vibe with and William Henry Hudson. The latter encounters with others. In his efforts to answer big
was a Victorian-era novelist and natu- questions, such as how the striated caracara became
energetic conversation about his ralist who, like Darwin, explored South separated from its cousins, Meiburg journeys into the
America and was fascinated by animals. history of shifting land masses, the effects on species dis-
abundant enthusiasms, you know Hudson sustained an intense interest in tribution and migration, and the asteroid strike respon-
sible for mass extinctions. Though the tales are well-told
a little of what it’s like to come caracaras and wondered about them in and connected to the book’s mission to understand why
a way that seems to speak to Meiburg’s different species ended up where they did, these explora-
BOOK upon Jona- soul. Hudson’s companionable pres- tions go on a little longer and delve a little deeper than I’d
than Meiburg ence, and some of his delightful prose, have liked. I craved more bird encounters.
enrich this book.
REVIEW and his first Meiburg dedicates several chapters to a lengthy guid-
book during a But back to the birds. ed journey into the tropical forests and waterways of
In general, caracaras (10 species scat- Guyana on a quest to find relatives of the Johnny rooks
pandemic. Dedicated to unravel- tered across South and Central America, with a smatter- and to experience the setting of Hudson’s novel “Green
ing in the southern United States) are the very definition Mansions: A Romance of the Tropical Forest.” He and his
ing mysteries around the striated of “mash-up.” As Meiburg writes, “If you try to imagine traveling companions power through damp landscapes,
ten separate attempts to build a crow on a falcon chassis, meeting every imaginable thing that crawls, swims,
caracara, a bird of prey that lives with results falling somewhere between elegant, menac- slithers, slides or flies. Arachnophobes, beware: There’s
ing, and whimsical, you wouldn’t be far off.” a fleeting description of sharing space with hundreds
primarily in the Falkland Islands off While caracaras are members of the falcon fam- of wolf spiders, some the size of a fist, that is as chilling
ily, they’re a good bit slower than peregrines, which as it mystical. Like travel itself, “A Most Remarkable
South America, “A Most Remarkable are celebrated for their ability to reach 200 miles Creature” is more journey than destination. The book
per hour in a hunting dive. Caracaras are frequently elegantly reminds us that we cheat ourselves when we
Creature” sparks almost as much ground-dwellers, clacking around on the rocks and underestimate creatures we have deemed low, annoying
scavenging smaller birds, eggs, insects and carrion. or common. 
curiosity about its author as it does about its feathered When the opportunity arises, they’ll dig into scraps
humans have left behind, too. A MOST REMARKABLE CREATURE: The Hidden Life
subject. Meiburg explores several species of caracaras, in- and Epic Journey of the World’s Smartest Birds of Prey
cluding the Mexican eagle, or crested caracara, and the
Meiburg professes to focus on “the hidden life and red-throated, which dines on wasp larvae. But striated BY JONATHAN MEIBURG. KNOPF. 366 PP. $30.
caracaras – colloquially known as Johnny rooks — are REVIEW BY KAREN SANDSTROM, THE WASHINGTON POST
epic journey of the word’s smartest birds of prey,” as his

subtitle tells us. But he also takes us on a series of pere-

grinations, intellectual, imaginative and actual wander-

ings loosely wrapped around his ambition to know the

striated caracara, a delightful oddball of a raptor.

The story begins with Meiburg’s first encounter with

the species during a visit to Sea Lion Island in the Falk-

lands, its coasts teeming with seals and penguins, when

he unexpectedly finds himself in the company of two

caracaras. True to their sociable, curious nature, they

approach rather than fly off. “One took a few steps in my

direction and cocked its head like a dog,” he writes – and

the interaction becomes more interesting from there.

It does not, however, become a human-bird relation-

ship story. Unlike Helen Macdonald in her exquisite and

To Advertise (772-633-1115) ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | SPORTS May 13, 2021 15

HERE’S THE SKINNY ON HOW TO ELIMINATE THE ‘FAT’ SHOT KEVIN’S
KURES

ALL ‘FOUR’ ONE: QUARTET MAKES ACES AT PGA GOLF CLUB All of us have ex-

Four more golfers got into the hole-in-one act recently at PGA Golf Club. From left: Louis Cera made his ace on the Dye course, perienced the situa-
holing a 6-iron shot from 157 yards on the sixth hole; Gary Ostrega made his second ace in five months, making a 6-iron shot from
160 yards on the Ryder course’s 10th hole; club member Nancy DeLonge used a 5-wood from 102 yards to ace the Ryder’s fifth hole; tion: We’ve struck a
and Curt Minaya aced the Wanamaker course’s 11th hole with an 8-iron from148 yards. Congrats Louis, Gary, Nancy and Curt! 
wonderful, long and

straight drive that fin-

ishes in the middle of

the fairway. All that’s By Kevin Perkins

left to negotiate on our

approach is to carry the lake fronting the

green by hitting a short-iron shot onto the

putting surface for a chance at birdie or,

at worst, an easy two-putt par. We set up

for our approach shot, begin the swing …

and proceed to hit 3 to 4 inches behind the

ball, resulting in the ball coming up 40 to

50 yards short of the green and right into

the lake! The dreaded fat shot. Let’s dig in

and “Kure” this all too common shot.

Anytime your ball is on the ground,

the most efficient way to get it into the

air is to strike the ball with a descending

below. In other words, the club, when it’s

coming in contact with the ball, must be

moving slightly down and, of course, for-

ward. In common teaching terms, we call

this reaching the low point of your swing

in front of the ball. Some of you are well

aware that when you hit irons, hybrids and

also fairway woods, the divot, bruise or

the brushing of the grass must take place

in front of the ball. One interesting fact

that we’ve discussed in the past is the av-

erage player reaches the low point of his or

her swing 5 inches behind the ball, while

the average touring professional reach-

es his or her low point 5 inches in front of

the ball – an amazing 10-inch differential!

The following tips will help you reach your

low point in front of the ball and strike the

golf ball while the club is on a descending

and forward movement:

1. The left and right arms must be

swinging effectively down and forward,

carrying the hands and wrists. When this

is done effectively, the right wrist at im-

pact will be bent back slightly, in a con-

Left: Victoria Ortiz, winner of four events, swims the 1000-yard freestyle. Right: Aramis Rivera, leading point-scorer, wins the 200 Yard Individual Medley. cave position. The left wrist at impact will

IRSC rules pool in NJCAA Swimming and Diving Nationals be flat to the left forearm and in a slightly

convex position.

2. The club shaft will be leaning forward

slightly at impact … this means the han-

The Indian River State College Swim- secutive men’s swim titles and 39 con- Victoria Ortiz and Taryn Dailey shared dle of the club will be slightly more toward
ming and Diving Team won two new secutive women’s swim titles (43 overall the title of 2021 NJCAA women’s Swim-
national titles and earned multiple indi- women’s titles). mer of the Year – winning four events the target than the shaft and clubhead.
vidual recognitions at the 2021 National each. Ortiz placed first in the 200, 500,
Junior College Athletic Association (NJ- In addition to their championship ti- 1000 and 1650 freestyles. She additional- 3. There must be a slight down, for-
CAA) Swimming and Diving National tles the IRSC swim team earned numer- ly set a new IRSC record time of 4:53.59
Championships held at Indian River State ous individual recognitions. swimming 500 freestyle. Dailey won the ward and rotary shift with the lower
College in Fort Pierce on April 28-May 1. 200 individual medleys, 100 and 200 but-
Aramis Rivera was named 2021 NJCAA terfly, as well as the 100 freestyle. IRSC body. Even on chip shots and small pitch
The men’s team earned 1,340 team Male Swimmer of the Year. Rivera was the women’s dive team member Lainie Rivas
points and the women’s team earned leading point-scorer, earning 77 points was recognized as 2021 NJCAA Female shots, there must be a slight lateral move-
1,374 team points – both securing re- for the IRSC men’s team, claiming wins in Diver of the Year.
cord-setting titles and earning first-place the 100, 200 and 400 individual medleys, ment. This lateral movement places the
finishes in over 25 events including ev- and placing second in the 200 breast- Additionally, David Suba, IRSC diving
ery event relay race. This unrivaled per- stroke. IRSC’s men’s diving team member coach, was honored alongside Mike Mc- low point of the swing in front of the ball,
formance extends the longest unbroken TJ Ray took home first place in both the Dowell of Erie Community College as
U.S. championship-winning streak in 3-meter (426.8) and 1-meter (402.35), 2021 NJCAA Diving Coach of the Year.  producing the desired divot which is in
any sport at the collegiate level to 47 con- earning him recognition as the 2021 NJ-
CAA Male Diver of the Year. ­– CONTRIBUTED front of the ball.

4. Lastly, the left arm must move for-

ward, stabilizing and controlling and

bearing the force of the right arm and

right wrist, which, for most of us, subcon-

sciously, wants to move too much down-

ward, increasing the radius of the golf

club and leaving you very susceptible to

fat shots. 