04/18/2019 ISSUE 16

German shark victim thanks
Vero rescuers. P8

Shores getting new
A1A traffic light. P10
Incomparable Rita Moreno
shares joys of ‘Successful Aging.’ P36

For breaking news visit

MY VERO Rendell’s effort to
dictate exit terms
BY RAY MCNULTY gets little support

No role for party politics
in resolving school crisis

Anyone familiar with the BY FEDERICO MARTINEZ
challenges currently confront- Staff Writer
ing our School Board, particu-
larly the fate of its embattled One way or another, Mark
superintendent, knows these
are difficult times that need Rendell’s four-year run as Su-
to be addressed by serious
people. perintendent of Schools in In-

This is not the time for ide- dian River County this week ap-
ology-driven politics to infect
these local discussions with peared to be drawing to an end.
the toxic tribalism that has poi-
soned our national discourse. The major outstanding ques-

Just as party affiliation tions as the School Board pre-
should have no role in elect-
ing School Board members, pared to meet this past Tuesday
politics should play no part in
determining how they resolve were the timing of Rendell’s de-
their issues with Superinten-
dent Mark Rendell, whose parture, how much of a buyout
performance over the past
four years put his future with he would get, and whether re-
the district in doubt.
strictions like a non-disparage-
We don’t need to have the
Vero Beach mayor inferential- ment clause would apply.
ly questioning School Board
Less than 24 hours after the
CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
IS THIS 27-POUND SNOOK CAUGHT IN THE LAGOON A WOMEN’S RECORD FOR SIX-POUND TEST LINE? STORY ON PAGE 4 School Board informed Ren-
Fish Foundation up
for talks on Riverside dell last week that his contract
tennis partnership
Public Guardianship Program moving to Senior Resource Assn. would not be renewed, the em-
BY RAY MCNULTY battled superintendent offered
Staff Writer
to resign effective May 24 if the
Vero Beach’s fledgling ef-
forts to get its Recreation De- BY MICHELLE GENZ Morgan saw her mom’s work suddenly strung together, and I district paid him $62,545.60
partment’s facilities to pay for Staff Writer
themselves – or at least offset in a new light. thought, this is incredible what and promised to never say any-
operational and maintenance
“Allthebillionphonecallsthat my mother’s doing for these thing negative about
CONTINUED ON PAGE 6
The memory is so vivid it took her away in the middle of people,” Smith says. He also gave the board a

brings Morgan Libbey Smith something, all those moments CONTINUED ON PAGE 4 CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

to tears. Morgan was 14 when

her mother, a court-appointed Defense focused on charges of
guardian, had her gather up racial prejudice in Jones retrial
her childhood trove of stuffed
animals to bring to a run-down

nursing home in town.

There Morgan met her moth- BY FEDERICO MARTINEZ
er Margaret Libbey’s client, an Staff Writer
elderly woman with dementia

so severe it had rendered her In the retrial of accused murderer Henry

non-verbal. Like many such Lee Jones, defense attorneys relentlessly

patients, she had reverted to hammered away at the credibility of key

wanting to hold soft things, her prosecution witnesses, attempting to por-

mother explained to Morgan. tray them as racially prejudiced.

As her Teddy bears found new Henry Lee Jones during retrial for Simpson murder. PHOTO: KAILA JONES CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

purpose in the dingy room,

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Arts 39-44 Games 57-59 Real Estate 81-96 772-559-4187
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Editorial 52 People 11-38 Wine 71 CALL 772-226-7925

© 2019 Vero Beach 32963 Media LLC. All rights reserved.

2 Vero Beach 32963 / April 18, 2019 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

NEWS

Rendell exit terms “But, at this point, what he has of- ed during the past four years,” Zorc said. ing to Rendell’s contract, the board is
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 fered isn’t in the best interest of the Rendell’s tenure in the district, which required to notify him by July 31, 2019
school district. It’s in the best interest if they don’t plan to renew his contract.
deadline of this Wednesday for accept- of Dr. Rendell,” Zorc said. he joined in 2015, has been plagued by
ing his terms. controversy and scandals, several of Rendell responded by hiring Tallahas-
The payoff Rendell was seeking to re- which have cost the district millions of see-based H.B. Stivers as his attorney,
The board, which previously indicat- sign was the same amount he would be dollars in legal fees and fines. who in an email to the board, accused
ed it would not rush into any settlement entitled to if the School Board voted to them of meeting privately to discuss
with Rendell and wanted a longer pe- terminate his contract early, Zorc said. The school superintendent and some Rendell’s contract, thus violating the
riod to find a replacement, showed little School Board members have been state’s Open Meetings Act. The board
inclination to agree to his demands. The big difference, she said, was that locked in an increasingly bitter dispute vehemently denied the allegations.
under Rendell’s offer, the board would that erupted after the board began dis-
“I’m pleased to see he’s willing to be prohibited from ever saying anything cussing Rendell’s upcoming job evalua- Rendell further raised the ire of
negotiate his departure,” Board Chair- negative about him publicly, which tion during a March 12 work session. board members by informing them by
woman Laura Zorc said prior to Tues- would include attributing any financial, email on March 25 that he was seeking
day’s meeting. “I think the board will legal or academic problems to Rendell. At that time, several board members employment outside the district and
be willing to make a counter offer. indicated they might not support re- reminding them that by the terms of
“Basically, he wants to be let off the newing the superintendent’s contract, his contract, he is only obligated to give
hook for all the problems that he’s creat- which expires June 30, 2020. Accord- them a 30-day notice of his departure.

During an interview on a local radio
show in late March, Rendell said he al-
ready had applied for a job he “found
appealing.” If Rendell did apply for
a job before notifying the board, he
could be in violation of his contract,
and give the board grounds to fire him
without having to pay him anything.

Later during his radio interview,
Rendell walked back his comments
and said he meant to say that he had
found a job that appealed to him.

When Vero Beach 32693 sought to
ask him about the “appealing” job dur-
ing a break at the April 2 board work
session, Rendell responded by shout-
ing “No,” and angrily storming out of
the board room.

The board has said it would like Ren-
dell gone by July 23, but prefer he re-
sign willingly, so that the district would
not owe him anything when he leaves.

Other options include terminat-
ing Rendell’s contract and paying him
the remainder owed, or firing him for
“just cause,” which would require the
School District to prove he violated his

contract, Zorc said. 

My Vero

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Chairman Laura Zorc’s allegiance to
the Republican Party, merely because
her strong presentation at a recent
Taxpayers’ Association luncheon drew
praise from local Democrats.

The Taxpayers’ Association is, after
all, a non-partisan organization.

Besides, shouldn’t we welcome this
all-too-rare example of bipartisan civil-
ity? How can anyone find anything neg-
ative in the Democrats of Indian River
posting on its Facebook page a positive
review of Zorc’s appearance at the event?

“Some hard questions were raised,”
the post stated, “but she handled them
with transparency and respect.”

Anybody see anything wrong with
that? Mayor Val Zudans did, apparently.

Posting on his “Indian River Patri-
ots” Facebook page, Zudans wrote:
“The IRC Dem Party Chair sat in the

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / April 18, 2019 3

NEWS

front row at the same table as Jackie gations of employees during Rendell’s April, and Zorc is still waiting for the aid and comfort from partisan friends
Rosario, Mara Schiff and Stacey Klim” reign? Zorc would. information. in the media, spewing venom and al-
at that Taxpayers’ Association meet- ternate facts on social media and try-
ing, adding, “Apparently, the local Dem In fact, she sent Rendell an email Is it any wonder that Zorc and three ing to inject inane political rhetoric
party is satisfied.” seeking copies of “all engagement let- other board members have decided into the conversation.
ters of employee investigations since not to renew Rendell’s contract beyond
Was this – as some viewed it – an at- June of 2015,” requesting the investiga- the 2019-20 school year? The worst among them is this gas-
tempt to infer that Zorc, a staunch con- tors’ final invoices. That was on Feb. 15. bag Shawn Frost, a former School
servative who actively campaigned for Do you really need to ask why Zorc Board member who continues to em-
Ted Cruz and remains a member of the Rendell promptly responded, writ- wants to fire him? barrass himself on social media with
county Republicans’ executive com- ing that he would “have staff work on
mittee, has gotten too cozy with those this starting next week.” It’s now mid- Yet, Rendell’s tough-talking allies are CONTINUED ON PAGE 4
on the other side of the political aisle? out there in the community – enlisting

We need to be better than that, es- NEW LISTING
pecially when it comes to our troubled
school district, which under Rendell’s Exclusively John’s Island
leadership has become a financial and
administrative mess. Exquisitely designed and crafted 4BR/5.5BA retreat boasting a floral covered
pavilion and gorgeous vistas of the S. Course. At 5,377± GSF, the home features
Teachers are fleeing in droves. Em- a luxurious master suite and three ample guestrooms. The living room hosts a
ployees continue to complain of a fireplace and entry onto the secluded loggia overlooking a sparkling pool. A state-
management philosophy of bullying of-the-art island kitchen with premium appliances adjoins the family room, and
and intimidation. Hundreds of thou- intricate architectural features mark this alluring home in the heart of John’s Island.
sands of dollars have been wasted on 380 Island Creek Drive : $3,750,000
legal fees and investigations.
three championship golf courses : 17 har-tru courts : beach club : squash
Academic performance is down. health & wellness center : pickleball : croquet : vertical equit y memberships
And now there’s news the district’s
health insurance fund has for years 772.231.0900 : Vero Beach, FL : JohnsIslandRealEstate.com
been used to cover the costs of state-
mandated, bus drivers’ physicals – med-
ical exams that were, under the terms of
the support staff’s union contract, sup-
posed to be charged to the district.
According to recent emails between
Rendell and Mike Murray, president of
the Communication Workers of Amer-
ica’s Local 3180, the superintendent
refused to correct the mistake, even af-
ter being notified by the union late last
month.
Instead, Rendell responded with
a March 29 email, stating he would
make the necessary corrections in the
next budget and fully reimburse the
health fund for the erroneous charges.
“As you all are aware, we have been
short-handed in the Finance Depart-
ment this year, and a there have been
a lot of people handling a lot of addi-
tional duties,” Rendell wrote, adding,
“My goal is to finish out this budget
year with as few changes as possible.”
In his response, Murray wrote that
he disagreed with Rendell’s decision
to not act on a “direct violation of our
contract” and was left with “no other
choice but to proceed with filing a
grievance,” which he did.
Murray said Rendell finally agreed
to stop using the health fund to pay
for the physicals, but the grievance
will not be withdrawn until the district
fully reimburses the fund – an amount
in excess of $50,000.
“We still don’t know how long this has
been going on,” Murray said, “or how
much they owe.”
We don’t know a lot of things about
the district’s budgeting since Rendell
ran off his chief financial officer, Cart-
er Morrison, with a bunch of bogus
charges earlier this school year.
Wouldn’t you like to know how
much the district has spent on investi-

4 Vero Beach 32963 / April 18, 2019 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

NEWS

My Vero Public Guardianship 98, she says she meets them all “where ily members can view monthly Social
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 they are now,” determining how to Security checks as “hot commodities,”
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3 “marry all those worlds” of medical Smith says. She once “went bank to
Ten years later, at age 24 and with a and financial needs along with hap- bank” to track down a pension that
partisan nonsense. degree in health services administra- piness, all while following the direc- had been usurped by a family mem-
Did you see his Facebook rant, com- tion, Smith came home to Vero Beach tives of the court and the law. “That’s ber, its existence preventing the ward
and joined her mother’s company, emotional,” she said. “You have to be. from being Medicaid-eligible. “She
menting on Zudans’ post Friday about Treasure Coast Elder Care. At the same If you’re not, you’re not showing your was living in a nursing home for years.
Zorc’s presentation at the Taxpay- time, she took the reins of a fledgling human side to your clients. And they Nobody came to see her, yet some-
ers’ Association luncheon? He comes non-profit, the Public Guardianship deserve that.” body was taking her pension.”
across as angry and even unhinged in Program of Indian River County.
his desperate attempt to support and Morgan Libbey Smith. PHOTO BY KAILA JONES “Not everyone likes the decisions
defend Rendell, whom he described The program, founded by two we make,” said Margaret Libbey, who
as a “conservative superintendent.” guardianship lawyers in 2012, was Smith openly wept at the podium as has worked as a professional guardian
formed to provide court-appointed she told the Hospital District board of since 2002 and continues to take cases
Frost claims in his lengthy comment guardians for free to the indigent. In the multiple times she has sat at the pro bono today. “People who are in-
that Zorc was elected to serve as chair- the five years since Smith took over, deathbed of clients who would other- capacitated are owed extra protection
man by “Dems” and that the board is the agency has grown from four cli- wise have passed away utterly alone. and that’s what the courts are there for.”
“Democrat controlled 3-2,” ignoring the ents to 16.
fact that four of the panel’s five members Smith says she hesitated before tell- “We’re usually the most hated per-
are Republicans – probably because But with three times that many still ing her story for print; professional son in the room because this person is
they’re not his kind of Republicans. in need of services, Smith decided she guardianship has had its share of in charge of my life now,’ Smith says.
and the agency were ready to move on. controversy, with newspapers taking “I always try to thank my clients for
He also makes silly claims that the a hard look at cases in which court- letting me take care of them and to let
“Dems applaud Zorc’s fiscal policies “I told my board we’ve raised this appointed guardians drained bank ac- them know I’m grateful to be able to
as she wastes TENS of thousands in little baby of a program and it’s now counts and divided families. help them, because they should know
search costs,” alluding to the money the a teenager. We’ve reached a pivotal those things. This is an honor for us.”
district will spend to find a new super- point. We either have to find a lot more Professional guardians charge on
intendent, and mentions the “HEAVY money, or a bigger entity,” Smith said. average $65 an hour, according to It’s estimated that between 1.5 mil-
legal costs” that will result from her state estimates, usually paid out of the lion and 3 million Americans are un-
“handling of this issue.” After a year of discussion, the bigger estate of the person deemed incapaci- der court-ordered guardianship. Be-
entity turned out to be the Senior Re- tated. Those fees can accrue to a stag- cause of its huge senior population,
That, in every way, is ridiculous. source Association, a nonprofit agency gering sum over the ward’s lifetime. Florida ranks first in the number of
First, the cost of the district ridding with a $7 million budget. It will take complaints lodged, even as its reforms
itself of Rendell is a fraction of the over the Public Guardianship Program Even among indigent clients, fam- are said to serve as a model to the
costs of the legal fees, lawsuits and in- on July 1. “I am extremely excited,” said country.
vestigations – as well as the expense of Karen Deigl, Senior Resource CEO.
replacing teachers and staff – result- In Indian River County, attorneys
ing from his wrongheaded decisions. Smith’s announcement of the estimate there are hundreds of indi-
Second, there will be no legal costs, change at a meeting of the county’s viduals under guardianship, though
“HEAVY” or otherwise, as long as the Hospital District, which partly funds it’s believed only four of the 30 guard-
board fulfills the terms of Rendell’s the free guardianship program, was a ians registered to practice here live in
contract. This is especially true if he moving tribute to the profound emo- the county, Smith says.
resigns. tional investment she has made.
Frost also rambled on about conser- A competency hearing can be re-
vatives getting the “wool pulled over Smith’s youth makes her a rarity in quested by any adult on any individ-
their eyes,” his regrets over fundrais- the profession – she is now 29. With ual, though typically the process be-
ing and “clearing the field” for Zorc, clients ranging in age from their 20s to gins with a family member or friend.
and how Rendell “got into studying
political science after meeting (Ron- Is snook caught in lagoon on six-pound test line a world record?
ald) Reagan and has a “Make Educa-
tion Great Again” hat in his office. BY SUE COCKING on that fateful Saturday, spotted E6X and the reel was a Shimano Stel-
Then there were Frost’s posts on Staff Writer their target in the middle of a school la 4000.
Twitter, where he engaged with what where Gallant cast a live pilchard.
appears to be a knowledgeable district A 37-year-old local woman caught The couple has submitted pho-
employee and referred to Zorc and her and released alive a potential world- "I free-lined my pilchard into tos, measurements and samples of
county commissioner husband, Tim, record snook on April 6 in the Indian the school and felt the solid telltale the line and leader used to catch the
as being “on the government dole.” River Lagoon near Sebastian Inlet. thump," Gallant said, referring to the snook to the IGFA's world records
He also referred to “union thugs,” technique of casting the bait without division in Dania Beach. Certifica-
adding, “The unions (love) #Liberal- Artist and gallery owner Regina any weight on the line. "I came tight tion can take several months.
Laura and her stooge, Rosario.” Gallant caught the 27-pound snook and couldn't believe the fish charged
Clearly, Frost and his ilk should be on six-pound test line while wad- toward me and then proceeded to Gallant said the catch took a lot of
ignored, because they have deluded ing in the shallows with boyfriend scream off about 200 yards of line as perseverance.
themselves into believing that party Adrian Gray. The couple weighed, she went by. I battled her for over 20
matters more performance, that poli- measured and photographed the minutes before she was netted." "I've been working very hard on
tics matter more than principles. That’s fish, then put it back in the water to this. It's been a great time," she said.
too often the case in our nation’s capi- swim away. If certified by the Inter- Gallant and Gray – brand manager "We were catching some really big
tal. It should not be the case here. national Game Fish Association, the for the IGFA – were careful to weigh snook, and lost a bigger one. Both
We should want the best people for fish will beat the current women's the fish using a scale certified by the Adrian and I are very passionate
the jobs – teachers, principals, super- six-pound test mark of 23 pounds record-keeping organization. The about fishing."
intendents and board members – re- caught in Jupiter in 1995. fishing line Gallant used had been
gardless of whether they’re Republi- pre-tested to ensure it would not The all-tackle world record for
cans or Democrats, conservative or Gallant said she and Gray have break at a higher strength than six- snook – meaning the heaviest certi-
liberal, or even independent. been pursuing the record in local pound-test, which would invalidate fied fish of the species ever caught on
This district has serious problems. waters for the past two months, and the catch. Her rod was a G Loomis rod and reel – is 53 pounds, 10 ounc-
es caught by Gilbert Ponzi in Costa
We don’t need political solutions. 
Rica's Parismina River in 1978. 

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / April 18, 2019 5

NEWS

Because circumstances are often of worse in that prisoners typically have with alcoholism. He was deemed in- family up north and reunited them.
an emergency nature, typically the their rights restored on release. capacitated by the court after being After a year and a half, we realized he
process takes only a matter of days or evicted from his apartment and was was really with it, and we thought, let’s
weeks. That isn’t often the case with court- hospitalized when the Public Guard- see if the courts will restore him to ca-
appointed guardianship. Yet Smith ian Program took on his case. pacity. And he had his rights restored.”
Being deemed incapacitated is such has tried with some success to have a
a drastic removal of rights that it is of- ruling of incompetency reversed. She “We stepped him down to a nursing Professional guardians usually op-
ten compared to incarceration, only points to one client, a man in his 50s home,” she said. “Then we found his
CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

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6 Vero Beach 32963 / April 18, 2019 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

NEWS

Public Guardianship in seed money from the Hospital District tive director, it was hardly a dream ca- The Mardy Fish Children’s Founda-
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5 and the hospital itself. reer move: she worked for no pay for tion is exploring the benefits of entering
three years, though her mother put into a partnership with the city to refur-
erate as a for-profit business, charging Today, the Public Guardianship Pro- her on her own for-profit guardianship bish and reconfigure the Riverside Park
fees against the estate of the incapaci- gram of Indian River County receives company’s payroll Racquet Complex so that the island
tated person. The public guardianship $36,000 from the Department of Elder facility could be used for fund-raising
program is intended for people with less Affairs. For 2018-19, the Hospital Dis- “I started being paid last year,” she events, including tennis tournaments
than $30,000 in assets, though Smith trict upped its taxpayer-funded contri- said. “I make $12,000 a year.” and exhibitions, and youth activities.
says typically her clients have far less. bution by nearly half, to $28,500. And
the John’s Island Community Service While she expects to continue her “The city would prefer to not spend
When the program was founded in League effectively doubled its already professional guardianship career, Smith money on recreation, particularly im-
2012, there were no public guardian substantial contribution by donating an has decided not to accept the director- proving and maintaining facilities, and
programs on the Treasure Coast. At- extra $20,000 on top of its $20,000 grant. ship job offered her when the program we’re looking for a home,” foundation
torneys Mike Swan and Tom Tierney, moves to Senior Resource Association. president Tom Fish said last week. “So
who helped found the program, han- That bonus, intended to honor the She decided instead to take a post in maybe this is a way we can work to-
dled indigent cases pro bono; both program’s merger with Senior Resource the advancement office at St. Edward’s gether and help each other.
work in guardianship law with the Association by helping pay for training School, her alma mater.
firm Rossway Swan, as does Smith’s additional guardians, was announced “We’re still very early in the process,
husband, Blake Smith. last week at the league’s end-of-the- Deigl, a trustee of the Hospital Dis- and the talks we’ve had were very pre-
year luncheon. trict board, said the Senior Resource liminary,” he added. “But this is defi-
In Indian River County, the program Association continues to look for an nitely something we want to look at.”
came about largely to prevent months- “We’ve never done this before,” said experienced director for the Public
long stays at Indian River Medical Cen- Louie Hoblitzell, co-chair of the John’s Guardian Program, and will offer train- “We’re really excited about the Fish
ter. Even though they were no longer Island group’s grants committee, rais- ing to current case management staff. Foundation,” said Rob Slezak, the city’s
receiving hospital-level treatment, pa- ing her voice over broad applause. In addition, the agency’s finance and recreation director. “I know all the
tients deemed incapacitated were not administrative staff will be supporting wonderful things the foundation does
able to sign their own release forms “The program alleviates human suf- for at-risk kids, and this is chance for
or enter long-term care facilities. The fering, but also reduces long hospital the guardian program, she said.  us to work together to give them the
massive hospital bills accrued by those stays and assures effective use of com- home they’re looking for.
patients who were indigent were being munity resources,” Hoblitzell told the Mardy Fish Foundation
covered by taxpayers through the Hos- group, which raises more than $1 million CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 “The opportunity is there.”
pital District. a year for local charities. “The waiting list Fish said if the parties decide to
for these services is at least three times costs through public-private collabo- move forward and successfully ne-
The program was started with $30,000 the number of clients it currently serves.” ration – might’ve hooked a big one. gotiate an agreement, the founda-
tion might bring to Vero Beach a sec-
In 2014, when the charity’s board ond professional tennis tournament,
asked Smith to become its first execu-

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / April 18, 2019 7

NEWS

probably a minor-league level wom- Fish said, as well as the financial feasi- The money needed to pay for the Jones trial
en’s hard-court event in the fall. bility of embarking on a costly renova- renovations would not come from
tion project and how to raise the funds the foundation’s coffers, Fish said. In- CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
The $25,000 Mardy Fish Children’s needed to do so. stead, the board would appoint a task
Foundation Tennis Championship – a force or committee to form a separate Their efforts in the trial – which
lower-tier men’s clay-court event played “The tournament is coming up, limited liability company to raise and was expected to end late this week –
in Vero Beach since 1995 – is scheduled and that’s our priority now,” Fish said. oversee the funds. prompted some cringe-worthy testi-
for April 29 to May 5 at The Boulevard “Once we get through that, we’ll hold mony that raised the eyebrows of some
Tennis Club. a meeting devoted solely to the Riv- As for paying for naming rights – jurors, caused others to shift uncom-
erside Park proposal. We have a lot of something the city is seeking for other fortably in their chairs, and at one point
Fish’s tournament co-director Randy ideas that we need to talk about.” parks and recreational facilities – Fish prompted a visibly frustrated Chief As-
Walker said he already has begun com- said the foundation’s investment in the sistant State Attorney Thomas Bakken-
municating with the United States Ten- Slezak said the City Council is aware facility would cover the cost of re-brand- dahl to clap his hand over his forehead.
nis Association about the possibility of of his conversations with Fish, whose ing the place, possibly as the Mardy Fish
bringing a women’s competition to town. son, Mardy, grew up in Vero Beach and Children’s Foundation Tennis Center. One of the most awkward moments
went on to become one of the world’s occurred when William F. Schabot testi-
The foundation also could bring top-10 players. Fish said the public would still be fied seeing a “suspicious black man rid-
touring-pro exhibitions, top-tier ju- permitted to use the courts, adding, ing a bicycle” past his home on the eve-
nior tournaments and early-season If the foundation partners with the “They’d just have a nice place to play.” ning of Nov. 17, 2011 – around the time
college matches to the Riverside com- city, Fish said the Riverside complex victim Brian Simpson was murdered.
plex, Walker said. would need a substantial facelift – re- It was two years ago that a then-new
surfaced courts, improved lighting, City Council told Slezak to explore “Let me get this right; you see a black
“It would be really tough for us to new fencing and a reconfigured layout ways his department could generate man riding a bicycle and thought it
host a tournament during our busy to allow for a center court surrounded revenues to help cover the costs of was suspicious?” asked Assistant Pub-
season because it would be very diffi- by grassy mounds that would form a maintaining and operating its facilities. lic Defender Brett Peters. “Would you
cult to get the hotel rooms we’d need,” natural amphitheater. have thought it was suspicious if it had
Walker said. “We’re better off being on On Jan. 1, the city began allowing been a white woman on that bike?”
the fringe of the season, which is the “I’m not sure we’d want an actual stadi- people to reserve and rent the cov-
case with our men’s tournament.” um, but we could create something simi- ered pavilions at Jaycee, Humiston and “Well, yes, if I thought she was rid-
lar to what you see in golf at the Players South Beach parks, charging non-res- ing aimlessly,” Schabot responded, af-
Fish said he was initially approached Championship at TPC Sawgrass,” Fish idents more to do so. The Recreation ter fumbling his words several times.
last summer by Dick Yemm, the city’s said. “It would be something that would Department also has raised fees for us- “I had never seen anything like it.
recreation commission chairman, who fit in with the natural setting of the park.” ing its facilities.
arranged a meeting with Slezak in the fall. “It’s very rare to see a black person
He said the foundation also could “This gets me excited,” Slezak said, in that area at that time. They were rid-
The foundation’s board of directors use the adjacent racquetball courts “because it’s made us think outside
plans to discuss next month the pros for offices or other indoor space. CONTINUED ON PAGE 8
and cons of partnering with the city, the box.” 

8 Vero Beach 32963 / April 18, 2019 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

NEWS

Jones trial American in the jury pool from sitting
on the panel.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7
Assistant Public Defender Dorothy
ing their bike back and forth down the Naumann angrily hurled the accusation
street. I went inside the house and told after Bakkendahl questioned the black
my son, ‘That’s a look-out person.’” juror’s intelligence, calling her “intellec-
tually challenged,” and noting she was
When Peters asked if Schabot was employed as a sales clerk at Wal-Mart.
concerned that his comments could
be perceived as prejudiced, Schabot “I think it’s inappropriate to suggest
responded: “No. I didn’t call police be- I have some evil intentions, to prevent
cause I didn’t want it to be a Trayvon African-Americans from serving on the
Martin.” jury,” Bakkendahl responded during a
heated exchange with Naumann. After
Martin was an African-American acknowledging his words were “poorly
teen who was followed, shot and killed chosen,” Bakkendahl agreed to add the
by George Zimmerman, a neighbor- African-American woman to the jury.
hood watchman in Sanford, Florida.
Bakkendahl and Assistant State At-
Jones is accused of killing Simpson torney, Stephen Gosnell, scored several
during a 2011 burglary at his Central key victories during the trial. Naumann’s
Beach home. He was convicted of first- challenge to prevent Bakkendahl from
degree murder in 2014 and received a showing jurors explicit photos of Simp-
life sentence. According to testimony son’s wounds was overruled by Circuit
at his first trial, Jones shot Simpson af- Court Judge Daniel Vaughn.
ter he and an associate were surprised
inside the home. And Assistant Public Defender Alan
Hunt attempted, but didn’t have much
But Jones, now 30, was granted a luck, challenging testimony on the tra-
second trial in 2017 after the Fourth jectory of the bullets that killed Simpson.
District Court of Appeals overturned
his conviction. Justices decided a new The defense also failed to put a dent
trial was warranted because Jones’ in testimony given by Darius Robinson,
public defender had not been allowed Jones’ accomplice, who was sentenced
to question potential jurors about ra- to 10 years in prison after accepting
cial prejudice or bias. Jones is African- a plea deal in exchange for testifying
American, Simpson white. against Jones.

This time the court allowed Jones to Naumann unsuccessfully attempt-
include eight race-related questions in ed to have Robinson’s testimony dis-
a questionnaire that was mailed to po- missed by introducing an audio snip-
tential jurors in advance. Thirteen po- pet of what sounded like Robinson
tential jurors, who acknowledged bias, talking to a family member about a
were immediately dismissed during possible alibi after his arrest. Nau-
the first day of selection. mann argued that what Robinson said
on the audio contradicted his testimo-
Jones’ attorneys frequently used the ny at the retrial.
issue of race both before and during
the trial to challenge witnesses and, at But Bakkendahl argued that Robin-
one point, even the prosecutor. son has repeatedly admitted initially
giving false statements to police after
Bakkendahl was accused of “blatant his arrest, making the defense’s accu-
racism” during jury selection when he sation moot. Vaughn agreed, and over-
attempted to prevent the last African-
ruled Naumann’s dismissal request. 

GERMAN SHARK VICTIM RETURNS
TO VERO, MEETS WITH RESCUERS

BY RAY MCNULTY that day,” Stei told Vero Beach life-
Staff Writer guard Erik Toomsoo, who, upon hear-
ing her ear-piercing scream, sprinted
The hugs were long and tender. The through the sand and dived into the
tears were real. The reunion was as surf, swimming to her rescue and pull-
emotional as – and even more cathar- ing her to safety.
tic than – Karin Stei had expected dur-
ing Saturday’s get-together at Waldo’s. She would repeat those heartfelt
words to the other lifeguards who at-
One by one, starting with the man tended the gathering, which was orga-
who swam into the bloodied waters off nized by Toomsoo after learning that
the beach near Humiston Park after she Stei, now 54, was returning to Vero
had been bitten by a shark seven years Beach for the first time since that fate-
ago, the German tourist embraced each ful morning.
member of the crew that she believes
saved both her leg and her life. She would say them again to Shanna
Stokes, a nurse who happened to be on
“I’m so happy that you were there the beach with her mother when the

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / April 18, 2019 9

NEWS

shark attack occurred, and to Fire Rescue but I so much wanted to say thank you. May 9 – the anniversary of the horrify- the fastest that day.”
paramedic Dustin Hawkins, who had ar- “I’m so happy to be here,” she add- ing incident, which occurred at 11:30 He needed to be: Stei said the shark
rived on the scene within minutes. a.m. while she was swimming in about
ed. “I feel we’re all connected.” 10 feet of water, 100 feet offshore, in bite penetrated her left thigh to the
“I thought it would be harder to come Stei wasn’t alone. front of the Driftwood Resort in 2012. bone, perforating her femoral artery
back and see everyone again,” Stei said. Toomsoo said he and Stei have kept and ripping away two-thirds of the
“It was worse in my mind, probably be- “I’m not the fastest swimmer on muscle tissue.
cause I didn’t know how I would react, in touch. They email each other a cou- the team,” Toomsoo said, “but I was
ple of times each year, and always on CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

10 Vero Beach 32963 / April 18, 2019 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

NEWS

Indian River Shores is getting new A1A traffic light

BY LISA ZAHNER A1A and Fred Tuerk Drive, but the over drivers traveling eastbound, west- Velasquez said video cameras will
Staff Writer most abrupt change when the project bound or turning onto A1A from either be used to detect when a vehicle is ap-
is complete will be a fully activated red direction. According to Florida Depart- proaching the intersection.
Sometime in the next six or seven light for all four directions of traffic. ment of Transportation District 4 Proj-
weeks, drivers on A1A will need to ect Administrator Diego Velasquez, the Shores Public Safety Chief Rich Rosell
stay much more alert when passing This will come as a shock to locals contractor has until the first week of said his department will help make the
through Indian River Shores, or run and visitors who for decades have June to complete the construction. transition to the red light clear to driv-
the risk of cruising through a red light. grown accustomed to not stopping at ers. “The plan is to put the variable
the flashing light at that intersection. “Hopefully they will be able to com- message board out on the road a cou-
Crews are working on crosswalk plete it before then,”Velasquez said, add- ple of weeks ahead of time,” Rosell said.
safety enhancements and three new Drivers traveling northbound and ing that the fully activated traffic light will “We will also have an officer in a marked
streetlights at the corner of Highway southbound now have a blinking yel- be operational no later than June 6. police unit standing by for the first few
low light giving them the right of way days just to give warnings to people who
might not stop at the new light.”

After that honeymoon period, run-
ning the red light will be a moving vio-

lation. 

German shark victim
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9

She immediately raised her arm and
screamed, “Shark!” and “Help!” and be-
gan swimming toward the shore.

“It was the worst feeling, thinking he
was coming back to finish me off,” she
said. “I knew I had to get back to the
beach or I’d die.”

Suddenly, Toomsoo was there, reach-
ing his arm across her chest and churn-
ing his way back to shore, where other
lifeguards helped pull her from the wa-
ter and set her down on the sand.

That’s when Stokes took over.
Then a registered nurse and part-
time lifeguard, Stokes was enjoying a
day off on the beach when she, too,
heard the cry for help. She ran to the
scene, saw what was happening and
began assisting as the crew tried to
stabilize Stei’s condition.
Stei lost a lot of blood, but she nev-
er lost consciousness as Stokes con-
tinued to talk to her until the para-
medics arrived. She was transported
to the Indian River Medical Center,
then flown by helicopter to the trau-
ma unit at Lawnwood Regional Med-
ical Center.
Stei underwent emergency surgery at
Lawnwood, where she spent only four
days before flying back to Europe. In all,
she was hospitalized for more than six
weeks – including three weeks in a re-
habilitation hospital .
“I’m still in physical therapy, and I
still take pain medication,” Stei said.
Stei said she “had nightmares for a
while,” but they’ve subsided, though
she continues to see a trauma coun-
selor.
All these years later, Stei said she
still enjoys the seashore, so much so
that she visited the beach here the day
before the reunion.

But she didn’t go into the water. 

SAILORS’ SKILLS SHINE
AT RECORD-SETTING
‘MARTIN REGATTA’ P. 32

12 Vero Beach 32963 / April 18, 2019 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

VNA supporters bask in ‘Paradise under the Palms’

Helen Post and Liz Cundari. PHOTOS CONTINUED ON PAGE 14
Robin and Travis Blanton.

BY STEPHANIE LaBAFF Brenda and Eugene Stewart with Kim Metz. PHOTOS: DENISE RITCHIE plegic, Stewart’s insurance did not
Staff Writer cover the daily occupational and
members – Why do you donate to the ents: integrity, compassion, knowl- physical therapy he needed to regain
The VNA and Hospice Foundation VNA? Why do you volunteer? Why do edge and our special ingredient – love. any mobility whatsoever. The VNA
ordered up a balmy evening last Mon- you sit on a board and work for the We bring love into the equation, and & Hospice Foundation was able to
day for its Paradise under the Palms VNA? – I’m sure we all have our own we do all that so our patients can ex- supplement Stewart’s coverage and
donor reception at the Quail Valley reasons,” said Kathie Pierce, founda- perience optimal, quality of care at all provided care until he turned 65 and
River Club’s Tiki Bar. tion board chair. “Tonight I wanted to times.” qualified for Medicare.
give you an opportunity to see a little
Founded more than 40 years ago, bit of what the dollars that you donate Eugene Stewart, a VNA client who “My prayers go out to the founda-
the VNA of the Treasure Coast “pro- to the VNA actually do.” became paralyzed from the neck tion, the staff and all of the donors
vides compassionate, innovative care down after a tragic automobile acci- for what you guys are doing. You have
of the highest quality, setting the Lundy Fields, VNA president/CEO dent in 2015, and VNA occupational made a huge difference in my life,”
standard for patients and caregivers shared the VNA’s ‘why’ statement, therapist Kim Metz shared how Stew- said Stewart, who can now feed him-
needing private care, home health, saying that they collaborate as a team art had beaten the odds with the sup- self, shave, brush his teeth, get out of
hospice, and community health ser- “to provide excellent care to patients port of the VNA’s charitable care. bed and even walk.
vices.” Donor contributions to the and families with these four ingredi-
foundation enable the VNA to provide Despite being diagnosed as a para- Fields noted that Stewart’s journey
services to patients regardless of their “has been an absolute miracle. His
financial resources. therapists have just loved him into
healing.”
“If I went around this room and
I asked all of the donors and board To learn more information, visit
vnatc.com. 



14 Vero Beach 32963 / April 18, 2019 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

PHOTOS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12 Steve and Karen Schievelbein with Kit and Lundy Fields.
Carole Finck, Sarah Connors and Emily Sherwood.

Mary Ann and Ralph McCrea with Carol Kanarek. Lorna and Bill Stengel. Barbara Pearce with Scott and Susan Marzano.

Ginger and Martin Gibson with Laurie and Bill Stewart.

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / April 18, 2019 15

PEOPLE

Pam and Richard Johnson with Priscilla Reilly. Andrew Patykewich and Anne Cooney. Wanda Lincoln and Martha Redner.

Michael Pierce and Dan Bach. Ann Marie McCrystal and Kathie Pierce.

Steve and Lucia Bailey with Gail and Scott Alexander.

16 Vero Beach 32963 / April 18, 2019 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

It’s all good: Service League’s endeavors paying off

Dr. Nicholas Coppola, Louie Hoblitzell, Vicki Aspbury and Cynthia Falardeau. PHOTOS: DENISE RITCHIE Nancy Roney, Susan Kirchner, Karen Pierce and Colleen Bonner.

BY MARY SCHENKEL Louie Hoblitzel announced that of our community – the working poor. fall short of that dream, as spotlighted
Staff Writer more than $1 million in grants was As Hope Woodhouse, JICSL presi- in a report compiled by the national
being awarded to agencies focused United Way and Rutgers University.
Members of the John’s Island Com- on health and wellness, and educa- dent, introduced Egan, she called the
munity Service League and represen- tion. Additionally, under membership United Way a true partner, saying, “ALICE is United Way’s recent study
tatives of the 38 Indian River County chair Betsy Fox, membership in the JI- “the United Way, from my perspec- on financial hardship,” said Egan.
agencies they are providing grants CSL reached an all-time high of 1,040 tive, is the glue of the philanthropy in “ALICE refers to the very sizable por-
to this year had a lot to celebrate last women and men. Vero.” tion of our communities that are ‘As-
Monday as they gathered for the JICSL set Limited, Income Constrained,
Closing Luncheon at the John’s Island Prior to those announcements, “We may be the glue, but you really Employed.’ Employed being the criti-
Club. guests heard from Meredith Egan, are the engine that makes us move,” cal word.”
United Way COO, who highlighted the said Egan. She said that while the
Grant chairs Vicki Aspbury and need to support a growing population ethos of the American Dream is ever- ALICE workers are constrained by
lasting, even the hardest workers can the high cost of necessities, generally

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / April 18, 2019 17

PEOPLE

Meredith Egan, Andrea Berry and Nivea Torres. Marilynn Sparacino, Helen Higgs and Suzanne Betts. Eileen Furino, Hope Woodhouse and Annabel Robertson.

do not qualify for assistance, and live PHOTOS & STORY CONTINUED ON PAGES 18 & 19 The current Indian River Coun- cent of jobs paid below $20 per hour
paycheck to paycheck. Even a small Karen Deigl and Morgan Libbey Smith. ty ALICE report, built around 2016 and half of all jobs pay less than $13.60
emergency can put them at risk of be- point-in-time data, indicates: 55,427 per hour.
coming homeless. households with a median household
income of $49,072 (statewide average “The United Way ALICE report puts
“As a population, ALICE is above $50,860). Factoring in those living be- a spotlight on these families with a
the federal poverty level, yet still have low the federal poverty rate, the total goal of helping everyone understand
a difficult time affording the basics of number of households living below the challenges that more than 2.4
housing, food, healthcare, child care the ALICE survival budget is 51 per- million Floridians face,” said Egan.
and transportation, despite working cent (statewide 46 percent), a 10 per- “When we ignore ALICE, we risk the
hard,” said Egan. “In Indian River, 40 cent increase from 2014 to 2016. wellbeing of our community. When
percent of our population is ALICE. one part of our community is strug-
These families live on the brink of fi- Egan added that while the ALICE gling financially it affects the prosper-
nancial disaster every day.” household basic survival budget for a ity of us all.”
family of four in our county is nearly
The current Indian River County $54,432, low-wage jobs dominate the As a way to address change within
ALICE report, built around 2016 point- local employment landscape: 67 per- the John’s Island community, Wood-
in-time data, indicates house announced that while the JIC-

18 Vero Beach 32963 / April 18, 2019 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

PHOTOS & STORY CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17 Peggy Cunningham, Jean Ueltschi and Kathie Pierce. Barbara Detwiler and Felix Cruz.
Tina Nickle and Pat Thompson.

Mary Campbell and Lisa Carr. Susan Lovett, Anne Obrecht and Buff Penrose. Mary Stobaugh and Michelle Atkins

Susan McCord, Susie Smith and Betsy Fox.

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / April 18, 2019 19

PEOPLE

SL has always offered scholarships to cal certificate from IRSC. this consolidation and to celebrate the Resale Shop, dues and individual do-
the children of John’s Island Club em- Hoblitzel also shared that in July, spirit of collaboration, we are today nations.
ployees, they have introduced a new making an additional $20,000 award
program to improve the lives of the the Public Guardianship Program, to them,” said Hoblitzel . “Thank you again for supporting us
employees themselves by providing which protects vulnerable, low-in- and for being here,” said Woodhouse,
scholarships to full-time, year-round come seniors, will be merged into the Funding for all the grants is derived adding that they have big plans for
employees seeking a degree or techni- Senior Resource Association. through various fundraisers includ- next year when JICSL will celebrate
ing the annual gala, the Tambourine its 40th anniversary. 
“The Service League so applauds

20 Vero Beach 32963 / April 18, 2019 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

Poetry & BBQ benefit: How ’bout them Cowboy poets!

BY MARY SCHENKEL
Staff Writer

Lest you think real men don’t like Randy Rieman, Joel Nelson, Sean Sexton and Andy Hedges. PHOTOS: DENISE RITCHIE Marie Stiefel and Susan Markert.
poetry, think again. Indian River
County still has its share of real cow- two much-admired native sons to the by bidding on the silent auction and With a rumbling voice like distant
men, and dozens of them – more than stage – cowboy poet Will Barker and other items. thunder on the plains, well-respected
a few sporting mustaches that put storyteller Charlie Sembler. poet and reciter Joel Nelson started
Sam Elliott’s to shame – donned their The Florida cracker-style home that things off, followed by guitarist, re-
Sunday-best hats and boots and mo- “Whatever I do I kind of like to write the esteemed 20th century American citer and storyteller Andy Hedges, and
seyed over to the Heritage Center for about it,” said Barker in his soft drawl, poet lived in with husband Schuyler longtime master reciter Randy Rie-
the ninth annual Poetry and BBQ fun- before launching into “A Day Working B. Jackson is being relocated from its man. The three proceeded to enthrall
draiser to benefit the Laura (Riding) Cattle.” current location on the grounds of the the crowd with humorous and emo-
Jackson Foundation. Environmental Learning Center to tive poetry and songs about the lives
Sembler said his writings were com- the campus of Indian River State Col- and loves of a cowboy – their wives,
The three featured poets for this piled from thousands of notes jotted lege. Laura (Riding) Jackson Founda- their fellow cowhands and their most
year’s Cowboy Poetry readings were down in the course of many interac- tion supporters hope to raise roughly steadfast companion, the horse.
wrangled by Vero’s own cattleman, tions with local ranchers, farmers and $500,000 to relocate and preserve the
artist and Poet Laureate, Sean Sexton. fishermen over the years, before read- integrity of the home through its Let’s “We just want to thank Sean for tak-
Although Sexton had lassoed the trio ing “Day Work,” based on a day in the Move It Capital Campaign. ing a chance on bringing our commu-
in Elko, Nev., where they headlined life of a Florida cowman. nity into your community,” said Rie-
the National Cowboy Poetry Gather- Introducing the headliners, Sexton man.
ing, Joel Nelson and Andy Hedges hail Robin Blanton told the audience said, “I met all of them at the National
from Texas and Randy Rieman resides that the foundation’s fundraising ef- Cowboy Poetry Gathering; I’ve lis- Judging from the reaction of the
in Montana. forts will “help move Laura’s historic tened to all of them, and handpicked crowd, as they chatted with friends
home about 12 miles,” before explain- them for you. And, by gosh, they all and chowed down on a delicious BBQ
“Pretty soon this is going to be the ing ways that people could help fund agreed to come.” lunch, they would be warmly wel-
Elko of the East,” said emcee James that mileage through donations and comed back any time.
Johnson, a member of the LRJF Porch
Poets, welcoming the sellout crowd. For more information, visit laurarid-
Johnson explained that the nonprofit ingjackson.org. 
Laura (Riding) Jackson Foundation
exists to nurture a passion for writing,
supporting writers of all ages and all
genres.

Prior to the featured poets, Teen Fel-
low Awards were presented to select
students from the Teen Writing Work-
shops, and members of the LRJF Porch
Poets and the Tuesday Writing Group
bravely took the stage to each read
their own poetry. Sexton also brought

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / April 18, 2019 21

PEOPLE

Skipwith Coale with Holly Coale and Charlotte Terry. Stacey Miller, Curtis Dew and Mary Jane Stewart.
Ann Belinkoff, Steve Bradbury and Patience Killen. Alan Ryall, Laura Moss and Robin Blanton.

Sharon Sexton and Danny Frasier. Mike Sexton and Chandler MacWilliam. Rhonda and Tom Lowe. Toby Tettamanti and Louise Kennedy.

22 Vero Beach 32963 / April 18, 2019 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

All that ‘Razz’ at Riomar’s raucous Centennial Jubilee

BY STEPHANIE LaBAFF
Staff Writer

The Riomar Country Club closed Neill and Linda Currie with Susan and Ben Bailey. PHOTOS: DENISE RITCHIE John “Muggie” Hardy.
out its centenary season with a big
bang, harkening back to the swanky ately, with birthday cake, before danc-
days of yesteryear last weekend dur- ing to Big Band music reminiscent of
ing a two-day Centennial Jubilee and an earlier time.
Razzmatazz celebration.
Asked to be creative in their black-
On Saturday evening, members tie attire, attendees sported fancy
enjoyed cocktails in the current club- socks, crazy ties, short pants and even
house one last time. Riomar staff in a 100-year-old flapper dress. For the
hard hats took everything in stride as evening’s grand finale, everyone gath-
they greeted the arriving guests, wel-
coming them inside where a décor of
yellow caution tape and orange cones
was a not-too-subtle hint about the up-
coming renovations.

The writing was literally on the wall,
with people scribbling their names
on the soon-to-be-stripped walls and
leaving messages of gratitude for the
good memories. With some twinkles in
their eyes, many grasped that if walls
could talk what tales they could tell.

Revelers made their way down a
long, raised walkway to a large tent for
an elegant dinner topped off, appropri-

Jim and Betsy McConnell. Tom and Karen Keating.

ered on the green for a spectacular fire- mingoes. Both were in agreement that
works display to close out the season the membership is what makes the
and a 100-year-old legacy. Riomar Country Club so special.

Sunday morning featured a day of “None of us take ourselves too seri-
frivolity, with guests turning up for the ously,” noted Old. “We know almost
Razzmatazz part of the weekend at- everybody, and we enjoy each other’s
tired in golf knickers and crazy hats to company. It’s a very close member-
play less than conventional games of ship.”
‘cross country’ golf and croquet. There
was even miniature golf played on a As members raised their glasses and
Riomar course replica – accurate down toasted “Cheers to the next 100 years,”
to the lakes, sea grapes and even the the moment was bittersweet. While
club’s resident wounded crow. some were a tad sad to say farewell to
the clubhouse, there was also an un-
Randy Old and John Baker watched dercurrent of anticipation as the club
from the shade as other club members begins making memories for another
teed up among a colorful array of fla- centennium with fresh new look. 

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / April 18, 2019 23

PEOPLE

Elaine and Steve Burkhart. Hap and Liz Schroeder.

Ilona and Bunny Benham. John McClure and Debbi Peniston. PHOTOS CONTINUED ON PAGE 24
Carol and Wayne Lockwood.

Dace and King Stubbs with Josie Fischer and Chilly Foresman.

24 Vero Beach 32963 / April 18, 2019 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

PHOTOS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 23 Ann Dixon. Meg and Bobby Hall.
Bobbie and John Goodall.

Mike and Susan Neilson. George and Betsy McFarland. Art and Jen Merriman.

Kirsten Gullikson, Callie Dwinell and Brittany Miller.

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Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / April 18, 2019 25

PEOPLE

Marcia Poutiatine with Barbara and John Baker.

Sally and Hoyt Goodrich. Cille Ribaudo.

Anne Curti, Carol Lockwood, Randy Old.
Lisa Randall and Crissy Cherry.

Randy Randall, Ryan Ilardi and John Baker.

26 Vero Beach 32963 / April 18, 2019 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

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The Circle all in on ‘Museum Explorations’ outreach pick

BY STEPHANIE LABAFF Circle members contribute $250 munity Engagement Partnerships; really proud to have so many invest-
Staff Writer or more annually and a committee Student Programs; and Family Pro- ed and enthusiastic women that we
of volunteers reviews and narrows grams. can count among our supporters for
Members of the Vero Beach Muse- the choices for the final vote. The our programs,” said Klein.
um of Art funding group, The Circle, Circle’s funding helps to ensure that Over the past 10 years, funding has
gathered last Thursday afternoon educational art programs are avail- helped develop partnerships and “This is a really important part of
in the museum’s atrium for a Clos- able to everyone, regardless of eco- programs including the Alzheimer’s our funding outreach. It’s great to
ing Reception to cast their votes on nomic limitations. & Parkinson’s Association Partner- see so many people help us as we
which outreach programs the phil- ship, Art for Health’s Sake Initia- help the community,” added Brady
anthropic women would fund in the The Community Engagement tive, Senior Resource Association, Roberts, VBMA CEO.
upcoming season. Programs under consideration were Art Lab Teen After-School Program,
classified as School Programs; Com- Dasie Bridgewater Hope Center Pro- Once museum staff had tallied
gram, Artist in the School, Fellsmere the votes, Binder announced, “for
665 4TH STREET, VERO BEACH, FL 32962 Partnership Adopt-a-School, Indian the 10th year of The Circle we will
River Academy Elementary School be funding the Museum Explora-
(772) 567-2005 STEAM Program, Indian River tions PreK-12 School Program for a
County Moonshot Moment Initia- total of $22,710 and partially fund-
1”Thin Paver Overlays  2 3/8”Thick Pavers tive, Intergenerational Art Program, ing the Senior Resource Association
Cleaning & Sealing  Repairs  Travertine & Marble School Transportation Grants and Expansion.”
Summer Camp Scholarships.
Fire Pits  Concrete Removal  Asphalt Removal The Museum Explorations pro-
Bobcat Service  Pool Decks  Retaining Walls The women mingled over wine gram is geared toward helping stu-
and hors d’oeuvres and discussed dents to enhance visual literacy,
the merits of the four programs critical thinking, and socio-emo-
up for consideration to receive the tional learning through art museum
$36,000 which the group raised this experiences. In the 2018-19 school
year: Museum Explorations PreK- year the program reached more than
12, Art for Health’s Sake In-House 2,000 students, with youngsters vis-
Training, Senior Resource Asso- iting the museum and participating
ciation Partnership Expansion, and in student-centered, inquiry-based,
Program for Veterans. multisensory gallery engagements.

“As we know, The Circle is a gen- The Senior Resource Association
erous organization,” said Cindy program currently provides week-
Binder, steering committee chair. ly Artful Engagements at its Vero
“Including this year we have donat- Beach and Sebastian facilities and
ed over $300,000 to the museum’s provides opportunities for seniors
community impact programs. We to engage in creative expression,
are also generous in giving our time, cognitive and physical stimula-
our expertise and our talents to all tion. This year’s funding will enable
the needs that this organization the museum to add one additional
has.” Movement in Motion class per week
at both facilities and will provide
Sara Klein, VBMA director of edu- more advanced art instruction with
cation, gave a brief overview of the higher quality art materials.
programs under consideration one
last time before the ladies made New members are always welcome.
their choices. For more information, call Robyn Or-
zel at 231-0707 ext. 106 or visit vbmu-
“The Circle is vital to funding seum.org. 
educational programs at the Vero
Beach Museum of Art, and we are PHOTOS ON PAGE 28

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28 Vero Beach 32963 / April 18, 2019 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

PHOTOS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 26 Holly Lentini, Cindy Binder, Jan Calfee and Eileen Connelly. Lorraine Daugherty and Patty Tovell.
Mariam Michael, Leslie Zimmer and Leah Tompkins.

Sally Neuffer and Sharon Novak. PHOTOS: DENISE RITCHIE Maya Peterson and Suzanne Bertman. June Fitzgerald and Diane Rose.

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / April 18, 2019 29

PEOPLE

Moorings event goes head
over heels for Wheels & Keels

BY STEPHANIE LaBAFF
Staff Writer

The ninth annual Antique & Ex- PHOTOS CONTINUED ON PAGE 30
otic Car & Boat Show hosted by the Kip Jacoby and George O’Malley. PHOTOS: KAILA JONES
Wheels & Keels Foundation and held
at the Moorings Yacht and Country were some real beauties. Everything
Club is now a two-day, highly-antic- from a 1940 Woody sporting a hand-
ipated event that draws visitors from carved canoe on top, to a banana-
the Treasure Coast and beyond. yellow 1955 Chevy Nomad, with a
matching surfboard parked along-
While car-lovers and boat enthu- side an orange version of the same
siasts might debate over the benefits vehicle. A little further down the
of wheels versus keels, all support the line, a 1950 Studebaker Commander
foundation’s goal of positively im- looked almost more like a futuristic
pacting the lives of residents through airplane than a car.
local organizations focused on the
preservation and conservation of the To tempt boat hands, the varied
Indian River Lagoon. watercraft included such vessels as
an antique wooden Chris-Craft, a
“What’s particularly exciting for us ’41 Gentleman’s racer and a 30-foot
is that we’re pulling everybody from Prowler.
Vero Beach into this,” said Gordon
Sulcer. “We’re an outside group of Representatives of the lagoon-cen-
Moorings guys who care about cars tric nonprofits were also on hand to
and boats who want to give back.” pass out information.

On Friday evening, more than Matthew Villafuerte, a 16-year-
225 guests enjoyed cocktails, hors old Vero Beach High School student,
d’oeuvres, a live auction and a de- said he had two reasons for support-
licious dinner in the Governors ing Wheels & Keels. A Lines in the
Lounge, and learned more about the Lagoon junior board member, Vil-
five nonprofit beneficiaries. lafuerte is also the proud owner of a
candy apple-red ’68 Pontiac Firebird.
It’s no coincidence that event
founder and foundation president, “For people who were young when
Gavin Ruotolo, an avid car collector these cars came out it’s very nostal-
and Moorings resident, honed in on gic. I’ve just always loved old muscle
the lagoon nearly 10 years ago when cars,” said Villafuerte. As to his love
he first thought to host the fundrais- of the lagoon, he added, “I’ve grown
er. up on the lagoon and have seen it de-
teriorate over the years. I know just
“The nonprofits that we support how bad it has gotten. I just want to
really appreciate what we do and are help get the lagoon back to the way it
a very important part of the lagoon,” was.”
said Ruotolo, noting that three of the
nonprofits involve youth, the lagoon’s For more information, visit wkvero.
future stewards. com. 

Funds donated to the Youth Sail-
ingFoundation and Vero Beach Row-
ing enable disadvantaged youth to
learn how to sail or row, while also
teaching them discipline and the
importance of that stewardship. The
Navy SEAL Trident House is a place
for SEALs and their families to recov-
er from the ravages of war, and funds
donated to The Arc provide wages for
clients making oyster mats to help fil-
ter water in the lagoon. Lines in the
Lagoon, a nonprofit youth fishing
tournament founded by high school
students several years ago to raise
awareness about the lagoon, was
added to the roster this year.

On Saturday, more than 100 cars
and boats, glistening brightly from
hours of loving care, took over the
green near the clubhouse for gear-
heads to ooh and ahh over. And there

30 Vero Beach 32963 / April 18, 2019 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

PHOTOS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 29 Rick and Barbara Kaiser with Vince De Turris. Nelson III and Cassandra Cover with Gretchen and Nelson Cover Jr.
Harry Ellison with Marcia and Gavin Ruotolo and Melissa Ellison.

Diane and Stu Keiller.

Patty Gleason and Shotsie LaJoie.

Peter Hervish and Gus Hancock.
Graydon and Bob Seitz with Lisa Rose.

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / April 18, 2019 31

PEOPLE

Don Hamilton and Marge Muller looks at a 1954 Corvette. Matthew Villafuerte with his Firebird. Nick Crull and Emilio Challacombe.

Reed Sudderth with his 1957 Chevy 210.
Mark Carlson looking at a 1940 Ford.

32 Vero Beach 32963 / April 18, 2019 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

Sailors’ skills shine at record-setting ‘Martin Regatta’

Kai Cote. PHOTOS: KAILA JONES

Jeff Williams and Dida Hagan.

Tyler D’Amato, Brooke Biby and Gia Rivers. It was a perfect day for sailing as a
Caroline Locke. record 62 sailboats and 83 sailors
from seven clubs competed in the
Youth Sailing Foundation’s recent
sixth annual Steve Martin Memo-
rial Regatta – the largest sailboat
regatta in the city’s 100-year his-
tory. Meets took place along both
sides of the Indian River Lagoon,
with competitors cheered on by
spectators along the waterfront
areas and the bridge. YSF’s Vero
Beach Varsity Sailing team, man-
ning six brand new 420’s showed
off their skills, taking 1st through
6th place out of 21 boats compet-
ing. Others made the podium in
the Open Bic class and Opti Silver
fleet. Afterward, members of the
Kiwanis Club of Vero-Treasure
Coast cooked and served ham-
burgers and hotdogs to competi-
tors and parents, followed by an
awards ceremony. For more infor-
mation, visit www.ysfirc.org. 



34 Vero Beach 32963 / April 18, 2019 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

Orchid marvels at virtual tour of McKee Children’s Garden

BY STEPHANIE LaBAFF Larry and Carolyn Timmerman with Gerri and Bob Ripp. PHOTOS: DENISE RITCHIE Hawkins walked everyone through
Staff Writer the construction process, from the
citement over the addition of the new de Vogel. clearing of the space through the
Orchid Island residents tapped into Children’s Garden. She introduced Michael Hawkins, construction of the canopy walk and
their inner child and answered the discovery tree, a 97-ton concrete pi-
call to take a virtual adventure tour “Landscape architect Emmanuel founder and managing partner of rate ship known as the Scorpion, wa-
of the soon-to-be-opened Children’s Didier came up with this extraordi- EBL Partners, the contractor hired ter features, enormous hand-carved
Garden at McKee Botanical Garden. narily imaginative concept, which for the job, so that he could “tickle the mushrooms, a Fairy Garden and a
managed to put animation, amuse- imagination and fancy” of guests “to sandbox where children will dig for
Guests gathered at the home of ment and entertainment together better understand how extraordinary doubloons left behind by pirates.
Gerri and Bob Ripp, who co-hosted with knowledge and education,” said this children’s garden is going to be.”
the reception with Nancy and Paul His presentation left guests with
Knapp, Barbara and Dick Stockton, visions of fairies and pirates running
and Carolyn and Larry Timmerman. amok in the garden, and left them to
After enjoying cocktails and hors imagine the importance of a space
d’oeuvres, people settled in to learn where children will be able to discov-
more about the magical transforma- er and explore.
tion taking place at McKee.
“We are about to unveil something
Leading that spirit of adventure that this community has never seen,
was Marion de Vogel, a McKee board and that doesn’t look like anything
member and the great-granddaugh- else anywhere in Florida,” said de Vo-
ter of the late Arthur G. McKee, who gel.
co-founded McKee Jungle Gardens in
1929 with Waldo Sexton. She announced that McKee is
close to its $5 million goal to fund
“I grew up in the garden. My fa- the construction of the Children’s
ther ran it from the ’50s until it was Garden and to establish an endow-
sold in the ’70s,” said de Vogel, before ment of $2.5 million. To help them
sharing recollections of her own es- cross the finish line, an anonymous
capades there as a child and her ex- donor has offered a challenge grant

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Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / April 18, 2019 35

PEOPLE

Paul and Nancy Knapp with Barbara and Dick Stockton. Christine Hobart and Michael Hawkins with Marion de Vogel. Ginny Blossom with Vaughn and Nancy Bryson and Janet Kelly.

Jim and Donna Waterston with Howard Thrailkill.

Ann Costello with Joe and Sue Joyce.

of up to $200,000.
“Any dollar given by April 19 gets

matched by this grant, and we will be
there!” exclaimed de Vogel.

To contribute, contact Christine Ho-
bart, McKee executive director or Gin-
ny Blossom, director of philanthropy at
772-794-0601. 

36 Vero Beach 32963 / April 18, 2019 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

Incomparable Moreno shares joys of ‘Successful Aging’

BY MARY SCHENKEL PHOTOS CONTINUED ON PAGE 38 ‘West Side Story,’ scheduled to begin
Staff Writer this summer. She has many interest-
Peggy Cunningham, Rita Moreno and Trudie Rainone. PHOTOS: DENISE RITCHIE ing quotes about aging gracefully and
Inviting Rita Moreno to be the guest living well,” said Rainone, adding with
speaker for the Alzheimer and Parkin- Event sponsor Trudie Rainone noted and a Tony Award. a quick laugh, “I just want to tell you,
son Association’s second annual Suc- that Moreno belongs to an elite group “She remains as one of the busiest she’s fabulous!”
cessful Aging Luncheon was a stroke of only 15 living performers who have
of genius. The remarkable 87-year-old achieved EGOT status – having won stars in show business and was re- “First of all, I can’t wait to get rid of
megastar belies her age with an outer two Emmys, one Grammy, an Oscar cently contacted by Steven Spielberg, you all so I can hit the shops,” quipped
beauty that comes from within. who has cast her for the remake of Moreno, who had earlier commented
on the beauty of our town.
Moreno completely charmed the
250 guests last Wednesday at the Vero “Isn’t that great news about ‘West
Beach Museum of Art, graciously Side Story’?” she asked, before relat-
greeting people, posing for ‘selfies’ ing with a laugh that she would not be
and signing copies of her book “Rita playing the part of Anita. “That would
Moreno: A Memoir,” with an affability be a job.”
rarely seen among stars of that caliber.
Instead, Moreno will play Valen-
“I want you to know that all the tina, the widow of Doc, who ran the
proceeds of this event will be ben- candy store where the kids hung out.
efiting the families in Indian River She stressed that this time, all of the
County who are trying to manage Hispanic characters really are, and
the care of someone with memory is- that the girl who plays Maria is all of
sues and also those with movement 17 years old – the same age as Shake-
issues,” said Peggy Cunningham, speare’s Juliet.
executive director of the Alzheimer
and Parkinson Association of IRC, Moreno captivated her audience,
thanking the sponsors and everyone relating that she moved to America
involved in the event. from Puerto Rico with her mother at
age 5 and was greeted in New York
Harbor with the “Mother of Exiles,”

I RSC

“The 2019 Aspen Prize is a credit to the people of Indian River State College and
the outstanding communities we serve. From our Trustees, to our community
partners, to our employees, to our dedicated students, IRSC is enriched with
some of the most incredible people supporting our college mission, and this
distinct honor validates their commitment on a national level.”

Dr. Edwin Massey
Indian River State College President

www.irsc.edu

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / April 18, 2019 37

PEOPLE

the Statue of Liberty. Having watched only to be cast in a cornucopia of during Dr. Martin Luther King’s “I to get where we’re going that we don’t
her mother toil as a sweatshop seam- stereotypical ‘ethnic’ parts; the un- have a Dream” speech; her marriage to look back to appreciate where we’ve
stress to give her a better life, she said, restrained misogyny of the studio’s the late Dr. Leonard Gordon and their been. To lose that history denies us
“My fame is her fame.” most powerful men; her eight-year af- daughter Fernanda; and her introduc- the pleasure of fully living in our pres-
fair with Marlon Brando (when they tion to new generations through tele- ent,” said Moreno. “Just, whatever you
With humor and sincerity, Moreno first met, “that room became so hot vision shows including “The Electric do, don’t hang around there too long.”
related stories spanning more than even the walls began to sweat.”); her Company” and “One Day at a Time.”
seven decades: being signed by Lewis iconic role as Anita; sitting onstage “It’s good to see that as we get older
B. Mayer for a seven-year contract, “Sometimes in life, we fight so hard we can still do it all,” said Rainone. 

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38 Vero Beach 32963 / April 18, 2019 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

PHOTOS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 36 Sarah Boyce and Sue Franklin. Barbara Hallam and Ginny Miller.
Nancy Hardy, Jeanine Harris and Elizabeth Van Dyk.

Elke Fetterolf and Barbara Petrillo.

Pat Arnold and Kitty Elliott.

Nancy and Bill Bryant.

GLOBE-TROTTING GUITARIST HAPPY
HE PICKED VERO BEACH

40 Vero Beach 32963 / April 18, 2019 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

ARTS & THEATRE

Globe-trotting guitarist happy he picked Vero Beach

BY KERRY FIRTH Greg Reiter.
Correspondent
PHOTOS BY KAILA JONES
Greg Reiter has spent most of his life
practicing and perfecting the lively,
rhythmic, percussive sounds of the
flamenco guitar. And, while his ap-
pearance and musical style is that of a
true Spanish-born tocaore, Reiter was
actually born in Philadelphia.

Reiter’s flamenco-fusion style cap-
tures the essence of flamenco, merg-
ing the passion, fury and romance of
the acoustic guitar with the primal
beats and rhythms of Africa, Asia and
beyond. Like a gypsy exploring vari-
ous cultures, he attempts through his
music to take the listener on a journey
without borders.

Although strongly influenced by
some of the masters of flamenco, such
as Paco de Lucia and Vicente Amigo,
he says he doesn’t not follow the genre
in its purest state. Instead, he infuses
the classical sounds of Renaissance
and Baroque music with a pop struc-
ture, creating his own unique style of
composition.

His craft has taken him all around

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / April 18, 2019 41

ARTS & THEATRE

‘You locals may take Reiter recalls. “I played to audiences “That is a dream I’m working toward tients are engaged. Some just sit back,
of thousands every night of the week and I hope to be able to do that out of close their eyes and listen quietly;
it for granted, but and was a ship celebrity of a sort. I ac- my home in Vero Beach.” others tap their toes to the beat. Many
tually had a hard time with that noto- have tears in their eyes as the music
Vero Beach is truly riety, as I am really quite reserved and In the meantime, Reiter says he allows their mind to drift away from
shy. I remember I would have to sit at has been playing at a local oncology the task at hand. It is truly the most
paradise and there different guest tables in the dining practice for patients undergoing che- rewarding experience I’ve had as an
room and converse with the passen- motherapy. entertainer. I would literally do it ev-
is nowhere else I’d gers. I think that was the hardest part ery day if I had the opportunity.”
of the job. I worked on many different “There are studies that show music
rather call home.’ cruise lines including Oceana, Regent has healing qualities and I am hum- He says that while his music has
Seven (Seas), Silver Seas, Holland bled to be part of this pilot program taken him around the world, he is
– Greg Reiter America and Princess. It was a won- in Vero Beach. It has been my pleasure very happy to have made Vero Beach
derful part of my career, but it was to play for 10 to 20 patients receiving his home.
the world and has also garnered him very difficult on my family life, and I chemotherapy simultaneously,’ says
some measure of national acclaim. ended up divorcing my wife.” Reiter with a broad smile. “You locals may take it for granted, but
In 2009 his album “Sedona Sun” Vero Beach is truly paradise and there is
won both the Phoenix and L.A. Mu- Once back on dry land, Reiter con- “I play for three to four hours and I nowhere else I’d rather call home.” 
sic Awards in the instrumental mu- tinued performing, but in night clubs would say that at least half of the pa-
sic category. That same year another in Miami and Fort Lauderdale. After
album, “The Gathering,” a melodic meeting wife Veronica, they visited
collaboration with a Native Ameri- Vero Beach to escape the madness of
can flute player, was nominated for South Florida.
a NAMMY (Native American Music
Award). The “Flamingo Fusion Gui- “We fell in love with Vero’s beauty
tar” album he released in 2010 has and serenity and knew that we want-
garnered more than 300,000 plays on ed to move here,” says Reiter. “Final-
YouTube alone, and his work is readily ly, in 2016, I had the opportunity to
available on Spotify and Pandora. take a job as a video producer for an
internet TV station broadcast out of
“I started playing the guitar when I Vero Beach and we made the move.
was about 5 years old,” says Reiter, ex- My wife loved telling her friends
plaining that he took private lessons that she was moving to a town that
throughout most of his childhood be- was named after her, insisting that
fore attending Berklee College of Mu- the Vero was short for Veronica. We
sic in Boston. bought some property and we’re
looking forward to building a house
While there, began to create his own and living here full time.”
unique blend of flamenco fusion and
at the same time immersed himself While his day job limits his perfor-
into orchestrating sound tracks and mance time, Reiter occasionally plays
composing for television. at Grind + Grape and Vinz, as well
as at weddings and special events
“I learned the production end of the when he can work them into his busy
music industry which I was able to schedule.
use throughout the rest of my career,”
says Reiter. “In the mid-’80s I played “Most weekends I still have gigs
in a rock band which later evolved down in Fort Lauderdale, so I’ve actu-
into the multi-platinum selling band, ally had very limited exposure in this
Cinderella.” area,” explained Reiter. “I am thrilled
to be performing locally in May at the
When the lure of traveling the world annual (Cultural Council of IRC) Lau-
beckoned to him in the mid-1990s, he rel Awards.”
spent most of the next decade per-
forming on cruise ships. Reiter says he looks forward to even-
tually being able to focus solely on his
“It was an incredible experience,” music and composing sound tracks for
movies and television.

42 Vero Beach 32963 / April 18, 2019 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

ARTS & THEATRE

Seeing ‘Red’: A backstage peek at a Henegar production

BY PAM HARBAUGH Nellie Brannan, Susan Martin
Correspondent and Nancy Dillen.

We could not have put this show to- PHOTO BY PAM HARBAUGH
gether without them.

The artists, that is, who when I signed
on to direct the play, happily told me
that they would help. And that’s truly
fitting because “Red,” which opens
April 19 in the Studio Theatre at the
Henegar Center in Melbourne, is about
the making of art and the passions in-
fused in this divine discipline.

Written by John Logan, “Red” is an
award-winning play centering on art-
ist Mark Rothko’s famous Seagram
Murals. Rothko had received $35,000
for the commission, a truly hefty price
in 1958. When the 30 works he cre-
ated never made it to their target – the
swanky Four Season’s Restaurant – he
gave the money back. Eventually the
paintings found homes at the Tate
Modern in London, the Kawamura Me-
morial DIC Museum of Art in Sakura,
Japan, and the National Gallery of Art
in Washington, D.C.

In the play, Rothko hires a young
assistant, Ken. The play explores the

complexities in the characters of these what is now Eastern Florida State Col-
two artists – the established abstract lege and was head of its art department
expressionist that was Rothko and the for years, took the lead.
young firebrand and lover of Pop Art
who was Ken. The two argue, laugh, “I knew the play was important and
learn, explore and have thrilling discus- had a strong message, especially for
sions about art’s power and purpose. those who are artists,” Dillen said.
“Anything that can be of help to inform
Typically, when I direct shows in and educate the public about the value
Henegar’s black box, I like to arrange of art, I’m all for it.”
the venue in a “traverse style” which
has audiences on two sides of the act- Nellie Brannan, a beloved fixture in
ing area. I did that with “Venus in Fur” Brevard’s theater scene, was crucial
and “I and You.” With “Lady Day at in planning the project and, meeting
Emerson’s Bar & Grill,” we arranged over cups of latte, we geeked out dis-
the stage to be more of a “thrust” stage cussing Rothko, ideas for the paint-
with audiences along three sides of ings, schedules and invitations for
the acting area. other team members.

However, “Red” has a robust paint- Clifford Bragdon, then Henegar
ing scene which could create a “splash board president, was so excited at the
zone” so to speak, requiring the play idea that he purchased a painting for
to be done in proscenium style, with $500, which gave us the seed money to
the action at one end of the theater. buy wood, muslin and paints.
And, with the setting being Rothko’s
huge Bowery studio, we’re playing In addition to generous support-
with entrances and exits to make the ers and stores pitching in, other local
area feel larger. theatres helped out as well, including
Peg Girard at Melbourne Civic The-
Additionally, while a high-concept atre, and Cocoa Village Playhouse
production can be done without any scenic designer Joseph Lark Riley and
art on stage, we wanted the visuals techie Bean Smith.
but didn’t have the financial resourc-
es to pay royalties to replicate Roth- Talents from Titusville Playhouse,
ko’s works. which had just weeks before entered
into an alliance with the Henegar,
So we turned to award-winning art- jumped on board to help. Despite being
ists Nancy Dillen and Nellie Brannan stretched ultra-thin, working simulta-
and asked them to lead a project to cre- neously on mainstage shows 40 miles
ate art after the style of Rothko. apart, TPI’s associate director Niko Sta-
mos became our production manager;
Dillen, who was an art professor at Luke Atkison took on lighting design

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / April 18, 2019 43

ARTS & THEATRE

challenges; and Spencer Crosswell ex- Zack Roundy as Ken with artists, also members of The Ten, joined and Zack Roundy, who plays “Ken” in
uded patience while working with me Steven Wolf as Rothko. us in the rehearsal studio – Susan Mar- the show.
on the show’s glorious sound design. tin, a superb painter with a most glori-
PHOTO BY RYAN CLAPPER ous body of work, and Grace Leal, an Table reads are crucial times for
Also joining in the fun were Joan amazing multimedia artist whose bold both actors and director to discover
Crutcher, an award-winning vision- “I especially felt in the flow when work borders on the dramatic. more of the play’s nuances and deeper
ary artist, and Steve Costner, who just a rehearsal was going on around us truths. It also is a good time to discover
recently “stole the show” at the Straw- while we painted,” Crutcher said. “The Once Steven Wolf’s wife Jennifer speech patterns, the play’s movement,
bridge Art League’s Vision 2019 exhibit words of Rothko fueled my every brush came on board as my assistant direc- its pacing and arc. Roundy, who lives in
at the Foosaner Art Museum. stroke, putting the heart and soul of tor, we had “table reads” with Wolf Orlando, was in a play at the Mad Cow
this amazing artist in play on the can- Theatre at the beginning of our re-
We started out in the Studio The- vas before me.” hearsal process, so we used Skype for
atre where canvas was stretched and one read-through.
primed with red paint and, when there “It haunted me,” said Dillen.
wasn’t enough light, found an old par- Two more wonderful award-winning Once back at the black box, it was
can lighting instrument and plugged time for the actors to learn the practi-
it in. It worked! Actor Steven Wolf, who cal aspects of mixing paint, making
plays Rothko and was helping paint stretcher frames, priming, application
that first day, hung the par-can over a and stretching canvas on a huge frame.
doorway, giving sort of a spooky but ef-
fective light to the whole proceedings. Leading that project was another art-
ist, Steve Costner.
It was still too dark, so at the next ses-
sion we hauled everything down to a “Mark Rothko comes from the era
bright and airy rehearsal room where that I admire the most, abstract ex-
we could lean paintings against ballet pressionism,” said Costner. “This
barres and walls and on tables. show opens later this week, so I will
get to see the results of a lot of hard
We also started our blocking there work from very talented theater peo-
while the artists worked. Wolf found in- ple and art people.”
spiration as he watched and listened to
the artists’ serious, studied discussions “Red” opens Friday and runs through
over color and application. April 28 in the Studio Theatre at the Hen-
egar Center, 625 E. New Haven Ave., Mel-
“I keep hearing them say to me bourne. Tickets are $26 and $29. Perfor-
‘Broader strokes! Steven, stop with the mances are 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays
little brush strokes,’” Wolf said. and 2 p.m. Sundays. Seating is limited.
Call 321-723-8698 or visit Henegar.org. 
Dillen and Crutcher also loved hear-
ing the dialogue.

44 Vero Beach 32963 / April 18, 2019 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

ARTS & THEATRE

Coming Up: Get ‘Loopy’ on British pop at Riverside

BY SAMANTHA ROHLFING BAITA dishes as fish and chips, bangers and bastian Inlet State Park brings you live
Staff Writer mash, and pub burgers. There are a bands and good music in one of the
couple hundred chairs set up. But, most beautiful, pleasant, unique out-
1 Riverside Theatre says you can just in case, it’s a good plan to tote door music venues around. Enjoy the
“hang out, rock out or chill out.” in your lawn chair. Don’t, however, (usually) full moon experience again
tote in a tumbler (or any off-campus or for the first time this Saturday, April
And it’s true. You can do any or all of beverages). Or a cooler. Or a dog. So 20. Hosted, as always, by the dedi-
that what’s going on outside. Inside, cated Friends of Sebastian Inlet State
those almost every weekend at Live it’s the weekend for the high-energy, Park, this week’s concert brings the
always fun, audience participation five-piece St. Johns Wood band back
on the Loop, a humble driveway most event – Howl at the Moon – featuring to our shores with music from the epic
dueling pianos and a drummer. You years (’60s) of the British Invasion, and
of the week, but on Friday and Satur- get to request the songs (remember to the music that defined a generation.
keep them Brit – Elton John, Stones, Night Sounds regulars know the drill:
day nights it transforms into a total Beatles, Queen, Who, Led Zeppelin, Regular park admission applies. The
U2). Many have tried to stump the pi- concert takes place “under the moon
local hotspot – THE place to, well, see anists but few – very few – ever have. and stars” at the pavilions on Coco-
These musicians are good. And fun- nut Point, 9700 South A1A, Melbourne
above. You can count on great food ny. You’ll have a jolly evening. Times: Beach. Bring chairs or blankets. Time:
Live on the Loop: 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Park admission: $8 per
and bevs, always in keeping with the Howl at the Moon: 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 vehicle, multiple occupants up to 8;
p.m. Admission: Live on the Loop: $4, single occupant; $2, pedestrians,
month’s theme, and great, free live free. Howl at the Moon: side seats, bicycles, extra vehicle passengers. 772-
$12; table seating, $16 to $22. You can 388-2750 or 321-984-4852.
music. The current theme is “The reserve. 772-231-6990.

British Invasion,” and this coming

Friday, April 26, it’s the five-piece St.

John’s Wood band playing, what else,

British Invasion rock and pop from

the stellar likes of the Beatles, the

Rolling Stones, the Who, the Kinks, 3 Kravis Center April 24 to May 5.

the Zombies, the Animals, David ues. According to the show’s Broad-
way website, there are six indigenous
Bowie, Eric Clapton. And on. And on. African languages sung and spoken
throughout the show: Swahili, Zulu,
And on. Saturday, April 27, the band Xhosa, Sotho, Tswana and Congolese.
The musical is based on the Disney
Back in the Day will bring classic rock film, and with extraordinary music
and lyrics by none other than Sir Elton
from the Stones, Led Zeppelin, the 3 It is my personal opinion that John and Tim Rice. “The Lion King”
everybody should see Disney’s opened on Broadway in July 1997 and
Kinks and the always popular “more.” 2 Brit Sounds under the moon and is still running after more than 8,500
stars: Season after season, the performances, making it Broadway’s
Think Brit at the grill, as well: Grab a “The Lion King” live, somewhere, at third longest-running show ever and,
having grossed more than $2 billion
pint to wash down such traditional Night Sounds Concert Series at the Se- least once. More than 95 million peo- (yes, billion), it is the highest-gross-
ing production of all time. “The Lion
ple around the world already have, King” is recommended for theatre-
goers 6 and up. All the way up. Cur-
according to the Kravis Center, where tain: Wednesdays, 8 p.m.; Thursdays,
8 p.m.; April 25, also 2 p.m.; Fridays,
this phenomenal six Tony-winning 8 p.m.; Saturdays, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.;
Sundays, 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. through
musical opens this Wednesday, April May 5. Tickets: $45 to $135. Maximum
ticket limit is 9 tickets per account.
24. It is the story of the young lion Sim- 561-832-7469. 

ba (Swahili for lion) who is supposed

to succeed his father, Mufasa, as

king of the Pride Lands. But Mufasa’s

brother Scar, Simba’s evil uncle, kills

Mufasa and makes Simba believe it

is his fault. Simba is exiled and grows

into young adulthood in the company

of several interesting characters, as

well as his childhood pal and a sha-

man. The wisdom he gains from this

motley but loving crew helps him ma-

ture, until he is at last able to return to

the Pride Lands and claim his rightful

place. Thus, the Circle of Life contin-



46 Vero Beach 32963 / April 18, 2019 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

INSIGHT COVER STORY Sudanese demonstrators rally in
front of the military headquarters

in the capital Khartoum

With long swords and 1,000 spears covering his belly – a small sign, per- control by a presidency that came to pling bread prices last December that
glinting in hard sunlight, the Sudanese haps, of the pragmatism that enabled an end last week – tainted by multiple grew to topple the dictator.
Arab warriors rode camels toward the Mr. Bashir to reign for nearly 30 years. wars, indictment for crimes against
airstrip, cracking hide whips to honor humanity in Sudan’s western Darfur Last Friday, as Sudanese protesters
Sudan’s military ruler Omar al-Bashir. But the paper clip was also an early region, and street protests against tri- absorbed the news that the military
indication, perhaps, of only transitory had finally removed Bashir the day be-
It was a scene meant to exude power, fore and declared a state of emergency
and it largely did in 1992, at a rally on Demonstrators take part in a protest demanding the along with a two-year transition peri-
the southern edge of the Sahara, 500 departure of Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir od, the lessons of the 2011 Arab Spring
miles southwest of Sudan’s capital, loomed large.
Khartoum. The stocky president, who
had seized control in a military coup Crowds are dismissing what they call
less than three years before, was trium- the “clone” of renewed military rule,
phant amid the swirling clouds of dust. as they saw in Egypt. But at the same
time, they want to avoid the chaos and
General Bashir roused the mob with civil war that has shaken post-uprising
promises of victory over rebels in the Libya, Syria, and Yemen.
south and held aloft the dual badges
of his junta: a copy of the Quran and It’s a high-risk moment in a society
an AK-47 assault rifle – the proverbial already riven by decades of war and
book and sword. violence, with multiple armed groups
and a military apparently determined
“Whoever thinks of subjugating us, so far to cling to its own levers of
they will find a nation that loves mar- power.
tyrdom!” Bashir declared.
Many protesters hoping to steer their
Yet amid the trappings of military bra- revolution toward civilian control are
vado, a bright paper clip held the tongue staying where they’ve been for months:
of the president’s belt to the uniform in the streets. Their first step was to defy

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / April 18, 2019 47

INSIGHT COVER STORY

a new curfew, with thousands continu- falling into that kind of scenario. They nine days, in Algeria and Sudan, the then ousted despots in Tunisia, Egypt,
ing their overnight sit-ins in front of the would point to Egypt or Libya or Ye- successful fervor of current street pro- Libya, and Yemen, but with decidedly
army headquarters in Khartoum. They men if people took to the street.” tests does resemble the heady, regime- mixed results. And in Syria, protests
changed their chant – with many lower- toppling days of the Arab Spring. led to a devastating civil war, with the
ranking soldiers joining in – from “Fall, With two long-reigning north Afri- autocrat the victor.
that’s all!” to “Fall, again!” can autocrats deposed in the space of Popular uprisings that started back
With those recent examples as cau-
Then Saturday, in what appeared to Protesters rally at a demonstration tionary tales, Sudan’s opposition has
be another victory for the protesters, challenged the military council’s an-
the state news agency announced the nouncements, demanding a civilian
resignation of the intelligence chief, government.
Salah Gosh, a notorious figure in Su-
dan’s security establishment who was “What happened was that the masks
widely considered the second-most merely changed; it is the same regime
powerful figure after General Bashir. that people revolted against, seeking
to remove it from its roots,” the Suda-
“We’ve reached a tipping point where nese Professionals Association, which
this is beyond breaking the fear barrier; has spearheaded the protests, said in
people are just very angry right now,” a statement. “We are still in the path
says Isma’il Kushkush, a Sudanese of true revolution ... our martyrs have
American journalist. shed their blood in pursuit of freedom
and justice.”
“No one wants to see a repetition of
the failures of the Arab Spring, wheth- One lesson protesters look to – which
er it be establishment of an authori- may herald a much longer showdown
tarian system like we see in Egypt or on the streets – is that of Tunisia, where
a civil war in Libya,” says Kushkush. continued street pressure for weeks af-
“And I would say for a long time the ter the toppling of President Zine el-
Sudanese government was able to Abidine Ben Ali in 2011, after 23 years
manipulate fears that Sudanese had of
CONTINUED ON PAGE 50

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50 Vero Beach 32963 / April 18, 2019 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 47 INSIGHT COVER STORY

in power, finally resulted in the kind of Sudanese people gather to celebrate in the streets of Khartoum The military was “ready to step down
civilian-run, democratic outcome that as early as a month” if a civilian-led
Sudanese activists want to achieve. But his moves were rejected by the ised to try those who killed demonstra- government could be created, al-Abi-
opposition, which has seen at least tors. Omar Zein al-Abideen, head of deen said.
The normal narrative is that Tunisia’s 35 people killed in the past week, and the interim military council’s political
strong civil society made that possible dozens more deaths since December. committee, also called for dialogue “The tone is positive, because it sig-
– a characteristic shared by Sudan. But with the opposition. nals the military council really lacks
in fact it had more to do with continued The following day, Ibn Auf announced the confidence to crack down heav-
street pressure on “old elites” weeks af- he was resigning and being replaced ily,” says Gallopin. “It signifies that the
ter Ben Ali fled, says Jean-Baptiste Gal- by Lt-Gen Abdel Fattah Abdelrahman street pressure that we’ve seen con-
lopin, a Ph.D. candidate in sociology Burhan, who is seen as a less controver- tinuing in the past 24 hours is working,
at Yale and an expert on the collective sial figure. and it’s really compelling the military
dynamics of revolutions. council to – at least for now – take a
Adopting a conciliatory tone, Gen- posture of conciliation.”
“This idea that the balance of power eral Burhan called on the opposition to
only exists when it’s shown on the street “help us restore normal life” and prom- Some observers have raised con-
is really well understood by Sudanese cern over the potential for Sudan’s
opposition parties,” says Gallopin. multiple security forces to fracture,
however, sparking further conflict if
“Democratization doesn’t just hap- some remain loyal to the previous re-
pen when a leader is pushed out of gime and some do not. Earlier this
power. It happens when the opposition week, soldiers reportedly intervened
remains mobilized in the aftermath of to prevent security forces from break-
authoritarian breakdown and makes a ing up protests.
show of strength on the street,” adds
Gallopin, citing the Tunisia model. The commander of the Rapid Sup-
port Forces, Mohammed Hamdan
In his first statement announcing Dalgo, has said the paramilitary
that Bashir had been arrested, chair- group opposes solutions that don’t
man of the military council Ahmed satisfy popular demands and called
Awad Ibn Auf – the deposed president’s on opposition leaders for dialogue.
deputy and former defense minister, Last Friday he also reportedly an-
who is sanctioned by the U.S. for his nounced that the RSF would not join
role in the Darfur war – acknowledged the military council.
that Sudan had been afflicted by “poor
management, corruption, and an ab- Protest organizers are determined
sence of justice,” and apologized for to keep up the pressure, Hajooj Kuka,
the “killing and violence.” a film director and member of Girifna,