07/30/2020 ISSUE 31

Community Needs Assessment
finds families struggle. P10
Confederate flag ban
ushers in a new era. P14
Upgrades and additions set

for Fairlane Harbor community. P9

For breaking news visit

MY VERO 57 cases of COVID-19–and 5 deaths–at Sea Breeze County buys 20
BY RAY MCNULTY thermometers
for $2,200 each
How do we get officials to
require masks in public?

So, what’s it going to take? PHOTO BY ROSS ROWLINSON BY LISA ZAHNER
How many more of our Staff Writer
friends and neighbors must BY MICHELLE GENZ Deaths from coronavirus: Carmella Aspromonte, Annie Rowe and Norvell Gaynor.
become infected and get sick Staff Writer For the past couple of
before our local elected offi- tom of Medicare’s Star ratings combined total of 60 patients months, as COVID-19 infec-
cials stop playing politics with The wave of coronavirus – Sea Breeze Rehabilitation and 32 staff members current- tions here have climbed week
the community’s health and infections swamping Indian and Nursing Center, Consul- ly infected with COVID-19. after week to an average of
get serious about a worsening River County senior care facil- ate Health Care and Palm Gar- 55 new cases a day – with 10
coronavirus pandemic? ities appeared to have crested den – as of Monday reported a The largest publicly re- more local residents aged 38
How many more people this past week. to 95 dying last week from
must die here before our Indi- CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 complications of the virus –
an River County commission- Three nursing homes that the Vero Beach City Council
ers and Vero Beach City Coun- consistently rank at the bot- and the Indian River County
cil members embrace their Commission have done next
responsibilities to act in the to nothing.
public’s best interest and find
the fortitude needed to make We thought that was as bad
the tough decisions during a as it could get. Now we almost
time of crisis? want to beg them to just go
How many new COVID-19 back to doing nothing.
cases must be reported daily to
convince our local leaders to Indian River County got a
require everyone – excluding few million dollars in CARES
those with documented medical Act money and they needed
exemptions, of course – to wear to figure out what to spend it
masks in indoor public places? on. Lo and behold, they found
some $2,200 thermometers
CONTINUED ON PAGE 6 to buy to protect themselves

CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

Retired Vero fighter pilot aims to bring down Congressman Posey Conceptual plan for less ambitious version
of Centennial Place to be unveiled Friday
He’s a staunch conser-
BY RAY MCNULTY vative who supports a bal- BY LISA ZAHNER on Municipal Channel 13 and
Staff Writer anced budget and term Staff Writer will be live streamed at www.
limits, and proudly iden- covb.org. Those who cannot
Even though he is a politi- tifies himself as pro-gun Vero Beach residents who attend in person can submit
cal newcomer, Vero Beach’s and pro-life. He’s also a re- want to know the final details of comments and questions to
Scott Caine brings impres- tired Air Force colonel and the riverfront redevelopment the City Council before and
sive credentials to his run fighter pilot whose 30 years plan they will be voting up or during the meeting by going to
for Congress as he tries to of military service included down in November should the website www.covb.org and
knock off longtime U.S. Rep. multiple combat missions tune in at 10:30 a.m. Friday as searching for “public com-
Bill Posey in the upcoming the latest plan is discussed. ment.” A fill-in form is avail-
Republican primary. CONTINUED ON PAGE 8
The discussion will be aired CONTINUED ON PAGE 8
PHOTO BY KAILA JONES

July 30, 2020 Volume 13, Issue 31 Newsstand Price $1.00 Christmas in July
is a summer gift
News 1-14 Editorial 26 People 15-20 TO ADVERTISE CALL to shoppers. P20
Arts 35-38 Games 29-31 Pets 44 772-559-4187
Books 28 Health 39-43 Real Estate 55-64
Dining 48-52 Insight 21-34 Style 45-47 FOR CIRCULATION
CALL 772-226-7925

© 2020 Vero Beach 32963 Media LLC. All rights reserved.

2 Vero Beach 32963 / July 30, 2020 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

NEWS

COVID-19 ravages Sea Breeze “It’s going to be the new normal In all, 167 people connected to 19 Over the weekend, the families of
around here,” said Pendleton, an RN of the county’s 25 senior-care facilities affected residents were frantically ex-
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 for the past 37 years who joined the have tested positive for the corona- pressing worries on social media about
staff of Sea Breeze only recently. “None virus. That includes 76 infected resi- loved ones they have not seen since
ported outbreak in the county was at of us have ever dealt with this before. dents currently in the facilities, 29 resi- March. One post by the daughter of a
Sea Breeze, which peaked on Friday We’re doing the best we can to take dents transferred out, and 62 positive positive resident at Sea Breeze drew
with 39 active cases among residents care of our patients.” staff members, a significant portion of more than 450 comments.
and 18 infected staff members. Five of the long-term care workforce.
those infected at Sea Breeze died. Asked to confirm if a staff member Suddenly, ailments ranging from
brought the virus in, Pendleton said More than half of the COVID-19 re- hallucinations to headaches took on
“We have opened up a COVID unit only that “they should have stayed lated deaths in Indian River County – frightening significance to families of
so we can take care of our patients home like they were supposed to.” 19 out of 35 – are connected to senior- patients the facility called asymptom-
here, and we are setting up something care facilities. Along with five deaths atic, believed to comprise most of the
with Cleveland Clinic when people are While the numbers at Sea Breeze at Sea Breeze, there were five deaths at positive cases.
getting sick enough that we can’t man- were down a bit on Monday, Consul- HarborChase in April and four deaths
age them,” said Sea Breeze’s director of ate of Vero rose to 17 positive residents at Rosewood Manor in late June and At the same time, families were bury-
nursing, Steven Pendleton. and 11 staff members. Palm Garden early July. ing loved ones, all suffering through
had 12 positive residents and 10 staff. the macabre restrictions COVID-19
imposes. One son, Tom Aspromonte,
was told he couldn’t bury his mother
Carmella in the favorite outfit she had
picked out. So he and his wife Cindy
asked the funeral director to lay the
clothes – including her favorite gold
slip-on shoes – next to her in the coffin.

Cindy Aspromonte said her 89-year-
old mother-in-law, who went by Mil-
lie, had gone to Sea Breeze at the end
of May to recover from a medical pro-
cedure. Twice she was tested for CO-
VID-19 and twice she was negative.

She was slated to move to Harbor-
Chase, an assisted living facility, on
Monday, July 13. But that weekend,
Sea Breeze sent her to the hospital
with nausea and difficulty breathing.
By Thursday, Millie was well enough
to go back to Sea Breeze. But by Friday
evening, she was back at the hospital.

The couple rushed to the hospital
themselves. “I asked the nurse where’s
our mom?” recalled Cindy. “She said,
‘She’s behind you in that room.’ I
looked, and she was lying there staring
at the ceiling.” Millie was near death,
the nurse told her. She would not let
Cindy in the room.

Prior to those final moments, the
only time they had seen Millie was
through the window of her room at
Sea Breeze, just a couple of weeks be-
fore her death.

Millie had called that day, upset
with the food, upset with her care,
and missing her grandchildren. Cindy
piled the kids in the car and called Sea
Breeze to arrange for a nurse to wheel
Millie to her window.

There, the kids pressed their hands
to the cobwebbed screen while Millie
from the inside pressed her hand to
the glass.

“All we could do is look at her cry-
ing,” Cindy recalled. “This is real,” she
said in an imploring tone aimed at CO-
VID-19 skeptics. “This is not political.”

Melissa Schwanke said last week her
mother, who tested positive for CO-
VID-19, hadn’t been bathed in three
weeks, presumably due to the short-
age of nurse’s aides. She and other
positive residents are confined to one
wing within Sea Breeze, blinds drawn
and doors closed. Even housekeeping

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / July 30, 2020 3

NEWS

has stayed away, Schwanke said, apart “I’m sure it’s been difficult to staff ‘Hey, how is your mom doing?’ OK, retired St. Lucie County parks depart-
from changing sheets. up for something like this at a facil- so she was nothing to you? She lived ment worker. Rhyant stays in close
ity,” said Rigsby. “But when you work there for two years.” contact with Gaynor’s daughter, who
Last week, her mom went for days at a place like a nursing home and you lives in the U.K.
without ice in her water glass because don’t have family members come in No one has called from Sea Breeze
staff couldn’t take ice into the COVID and check, do you become lax about to extend sympathy, or to ask what to Gaynor died July 16 after being taken
wing. Her mom won’t drink water the care you give? Were they really do with Rowe’s belongings – family to the hospital by ambulance from Sea
without ice, she said. looking in on my mother to make sure photos and a bible. Breeze on July 11, the same day as two
she had something to drink? other residents. Like those residents,
As frantic as she and her sister are Wendy Rhyant didn’t get a sympa- he too tested positive for COVID-19 at
over their mother’s diagnosis, they “No one has even called back to say, thy call either. She had been caregiver
are frustrated beyond measure to not for 10 years to Norvell Gaynor, 82, a CONTINUED ON PAGE 4
be able to check on her in person. In-
stead they rely on phone calls to de-
cipher how she is doing, demanding
answers from staff as to why she has
not been hospitalized.

“How can they say she’s asymptom-
atic? I can hear her coughing on the
phone. Her diaphragm hurts from
coughing,” said Melissa. “She begged
me for cough drops last week, before
we even knew she was positive.”

Schwanke called the VNA, hoping to
get an outside nurse to get past the facil-
ity lockdown and examine her mother
in person. The VNA has nurses trained
to do just that for COVID-19 patients
and some facilities welcome them. But
Schwanke was told Sea Breeze would
not let their nurses in, she said.

“It’s been a challenge,” said VNA
CEO Lundy Fields. “There’s no coordi-
nated approach to facilities from the
state level.”

Friday night, Schwanke dialed the
non-emergency number at the police
department and told them her con-
cerns. They forwarded her call to the
sheriff’s office which offered to send
an ambulance to take her mother to
the hospital. But when it arrived at Sea
Breeze, employees turned the ambu-
lance away, Schwanke said.

“How could he know it wasn’t an
emergency since no one has looked at
her or given her an X-ray?” she said.

For Judy Rigsby, there was no tip-off
that something was wrong with her
mom. She got a call at 1 a.m. Sunday
that Annie Rowe, 88, had left Sea Breeze
by ambulance with what the medical
examiner’s report would later call a “de-
creased level of consciousness.”

Tested for COVID-19 in the Cleve-
land Clinic Indian River emergency
room, the retired packing house
worker of 40 years was found to be
positive. For Rigsby, another test was
equally alarming. “The doctor told
me her sodium level was the highest
he’s ever seen, and that she probably
hadn’t had anything to drink for four
days,” she said. By 5 a.m. the next day,
her mother had died.

Rigsby had been taken aback when
a nurse at the ER told her Sea Breeze
“didn’t know much about your moth-
er,” Rigsby said. “She said they said
she was new. She was there over two
years, and they didn’t know her?”

Rigsby strongly believes it was a
mistake to ban family from elder-care
facilities.

4 Vero Beach 32963 / July 30, 2020 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

NEWS

COVID-19 ravages Sea Breeze vesting in the best equipment for the
long haul, and stands behind it. He also
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3 said the $2,200 thermometers were in
the lower cost range of the ones the
the hospital ER, apparently triggering county looked at. “Most of the other
the widespread testing of fellow resi- vendors/products that we looked at
dents that revealed the true extent of were in the $4,000 the $5,000 range per
the outbreak. unit,” he said.

Rhyant said a hospital nurse set up The most compelling argument
a call to the U.K. so relatives could say Stone made for pricey, automated ther-
goodbye. Rhyant’s husband, Gaynor’s mometers was their potential for use in
pastor, helped her stage a graveside isolation rooms at the county’s hurri-
service for Gaynor last Friday. The cane shelters, and for separating people
only family member in attendance with infection upon entry, from healthy
was a cousin who drove down from people sheltered during a storm.
Ocoee, north of Orlando.
“As shelters open, the county needs to
Rhyant had tried unsuccessfully to make sure we can meet the initial push
see Gaynor in the hospital. That fail- of citizens that may present themselves
ure still troubles her. to a shelter. That was the primary pur-
pose for the screening equipment, the
“You think about how the patients use in the county buildings was a sec-
die alone,” Rhyant said. “That’s what ondary consideration on my part. It was
puzzles me. What were they thinking a good fit at the end of the day to dual
at the time of their transition? It’s not purpose this equipment,” Stone said.
a good thing. It’s not a good thing to
take your last breath, and you don’t Hopefully nothing will happen to
have one person standing by? Not a this very expensive equipment while
deployed every day at county facilities
thank you? Nobody?”  in the meantime.

$2,200 thermometers What’s Brevard County doing with
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 its tens of millions in CARES Act mon-
ey? Brevard is giving away kits full of
from sick people potentially coming Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
into county buildings to take care of to small businesses with fewer than 25
business or attend a meeting. employees – masks, gloves and other
items to protect employees and the
More than $44,000 spent on no- public. Seems like a much better use
touch thermometers!! Many business- of the CARES Act money.
es or families have probably purchased
these gadgets in recent months. How And then there’s Vero Beach, where
much did you pay for yours? we can say without hesitation that no
amount of effort is ever spared in pur-
Indian River County Emergency suit of a bad idea.
Services Director Chief Tad Stone said
he paid $150 each for the no-touch Failing twice to approve an ordinance
thermometers used at all the county or order mandating that face masks be
fire stations to check firefighters and worn, Vero now has up for consider-
paramedics for fever at shift change, ation on Friday the most idiotic piece
but he said those won’t work for entry of bureaucracy we’ve seen recently.
checks into county buildings because
they require a person to point the Councilman Joe Graves wants the city
thermometer at peoples’ foreheads. to pass an ordinance that would make
all businesses that are requiring masks
“If the county was to use the hand- to be worn to fill out a form and regis-
held units (similar to those we use at ter with the city, so a list can be made
the fire stations), we would have had of these businesses. Graves also wants
to have personnel assigned to all of the those businesses to obtain official signs
entry points in all of the buildings to from the city saying masks are required.
screen people as they enter,” Stone said.
What good does this do? It creates
“The raw, long-term economics of a hoop for local businesses to jump
buying the equipment vs. pulling peo- through, and it creates ridiculous busy
ple off the job or hiring additional part work for the city staff. But it still does
time employees was one, among many, nothing to stop the spread of corona-
of the driving issues,” Stone said. virus in the City of Vero Beach, where
the number of cases in the 32960 ZIP
But doesn’t a real person need to code soared to 525 on Monday.
be stationed at entry points anyway,
to let people into the building after Graves’ arguments range from his
their temperature is taken? That same doubts about the science behind wear-
person could presumably perform the ing masks, to the city not having the legal
temperature checks. Won’t employees authority to enforce a mask mandate.
and visitors be funneled through main
entry points, similar to the security On Monday, a judge in Palm Beach
check point at the courthouse? County affirmed that county’s ordi-
nance mask mandate was legally val-
Stone said he made the decision, in- id, tossing out a lawsuit filed by anti-
maskers. We think Circuit Court Judge
John Kastrenakes was a bit ticked off

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / July 30, 2020 5

NEWS

about this seemingly frivolous lawsuit. the judge wrote. “This is particularly He characterized the legislation be- Vero and Indian River County offi-
“The ideals of limited government true when one’s individual choices can ing litigated by saying: “It is reason- cials need to throw citizens here that
result in drastic, costly and sometimes able and logical that our elected offi- same lifeline. Not a layer of bureaucracy
do not absolve a citizen from the real- deadly consequences to others. cials are throwing the citizens of Palm registering businesses that are already
world consequences of their individual Beach County a lifeline in an attempt doing the right thing. Not wildly expen-
choices, or allow them to wholly shirk “After all, we do not have a constitu- to ameliorate the spread of this deadly, sive thermometers. What we need now
their social obligation to their fellow tional or protected right to infect oth- unbridled and widespread disease.”
Americans or to society as a whole,” ers,” Kastrenakes wrote in his ruling. is some serious common sense. 

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6 Vero Beach 32963 / July 30, 2020 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

NEWS

My Vero We also see too many unmasked peo- ing masks or wearing them properly. sive position on masks:
ple in too many places around town, Yet, as the number of COVID-19 What about the folks who refuse to
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 even in business establishments that
claim to require customers to wear face cases continues to climb at an alarm- wear them?
We had 104 new cases reported last coverings when they enter the premises. ing rate and the death toll rises, three Fact is, not everyone in our commu-
Saturday. Was that not enough? What’s county commissioners and two City
the magic number? True, the must-wear-masks signs Council members have chosen to do nity cares enough about their neighbor
probably prompt more customers to nothing to slow the spread of infection. to voluntarily do what’s right. Some
We had a whopping 470 new cases wear them, but in some places the pol- people are selfish. Others are misin-
reported from Sunday through Sunday, icy isn’t enforced any more than social- Their arguments are as feeble and formed, ignorant or – as we’ve seen at
July 19 to July 26. Did that get their at- distancing requirements, which are wrongheaded as they are gutless and these public meetings – delusional.
tention? What about the 11 virus-con- widely ignored and seem to have gone reckless, but their opposition was
nected deaths during that same span? the way of the pay phone. enough to prevent the county and city We’re in a state of emergency. Local
from requiring that masks be worn in medical experts and health officials are
Surely, by now, everyone knows this When confronted, anti-maskers sim- indoor public places, at least when so- imploring our elected officials to act.
pandemic isn’t going away anytime ply can say they’ve got health issues, cial distancing isn’t possible. We need our city and county officials to
soon and that there’s a real chance and no business owner is going to chal- force people to put first the well-being
we’ll be forced to endure its conse- lenge their claim and risk being sued. A Watching the City Council’s meeting of their friends, neighbors and com-
quences until a vaccine comes to our government mandate, however, would last week was especially frustrating, munities and serve the greater good.
rescue. allow such matters to be handled by lo- particularly listening to Joe Graves’ hy-
cal law enforcement agencies. pocrisy as he strongly encouraged all It’s not asking much.
We know – because the medical ex- of us to wear masks but, at the same “We cannot do nothing,” Vero Beach
perts at Cleveland Clinic Indian River And, contrary to what some city and time, questioned their effectiveness Mayor Tony Young said. “Doing noth-
Hospital keep showing up at County county officials have said, such a man- and scrambled to find any excuse to ing is negligence.”
Commission and City Council meet- date would not be difficult to enforce: not support a mandate, citing cherry- Yes, it is.
ings and telling us – that wearing masks Wear a mask or pay a fine. picked articles to back his argument. All five of the local elected officials
helps slow the spread of infection. who refuse to make masks mandatory
In addition, a mandate also would One minute, he was saying there was – Graves, Brackett and county com-
We also know merely asking and urg- decrease the likelihood of potentially “nothing definitive” and no “scientific missioners Tim Zorc, Joe Flescher and
ing people to wear masks doesn’t work. violent conflicts between those who certainty” that masks significantly slow Bob Solari – say they believe masks will
wear masks and those who refuse by the spread of infection. The next min- slow the spread of infection.
How do we know that? removing the need for the parties to ute, he was proclaiming that he was They know the longer we go without
Because small-but-passionate groups publicly confront each other. They can “all for wearing masks” and saying, “We a mask mandate, the more this virus
of anti-maskers also keep showing up call the police. should do all that we possibly can.” will spread, making people sick and,
at these public meetings, marching to in some cases, killing them.
the podiums, spewing nonsense about Another concern is that some em- But neither he nor his fellow coun- They say they want to protect the
their “individual liberties” and telling ployees, too, are not masked – or they’re cilman, Robbie Brackett, would en- public health and our local economy.
us – in no uncertain terms – why they covering only their mouths – claiming dorse a mask mandate. Nor did either
don’t and won’t wear masks. health issues prevent them from wear- of them address the flaw in their pas- So, what’s it going to take? 

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / July 30, 2020 7

NEWS

Community group advocates for mask-wearing during pandemic

BY STEPHANIE LABAFF ease Control and Prevention Direc- She wanted to do something to help inflammatory, with members shar-
Staff Writer tor Dr. Robert Redfield said that if all keep herself, her family and others ing observations, business reviews
Americans wore a mask, the COVID-19 safe but didn’t know what until she and stories of their experiences when
Vero resident Tess Whelan seems to pandemic could be brought under stumbled across Mask Wearing Estab- shopping masked in Indian River
have a better sense than local govern- control in weeks. lishments Brevard County on Face- County. Many posts are documented
ments what side of the mask debate book and decided to duplicate the ef- with scientific citations.
most county residents come down on. “We are not defenseless against CO- fort here.
VID-19,” Redfield wrote in an editorial “We’re really focused on our mis-
The group she founded, Mask Wear- published in the Journal of the Ameri- The rapidly growing Facebook page sion of bringing the community to-
ing Establishments Indian River Coun- can Medical Association. “Cloth face is a platform for residents to share in- gether to work on the common goal of
ty, saw a surge in new members after coverings are one of the most powerful formation about local businesses so getting businesses to require masks,”
County Commissioners Bob Solari, weapons we have to slow and stop the members can identify and support said Whelan, who fears lack of a mask
Joe Flescher and Tim Zorc last week spread of the virus – particularly when businesses following CDC guidelines mandate will lead shoppers to turn to
formed a 3-2 majority to vote down used universally within a community about COVID-19 and specifically big box stores and other large chains
an ordinance making masks manda- setting. All Americans have a respon- masks. instead of patronizing local business-
tory after a handful of anti-maskers sibility to protect themselves, their es. “The city [and county are] unfairly
showed up at commission chambers. families, and their communities.” Everything from restaurants to hair forcing businesses to shoulder this
salons and medical offices to retail responsibility.”
“The day the county commission- For Whelan, the debate over mask stores are reviewed. Those who post
ers voted down the mask mandate, we wearing is a matter of life or death. A information categorize each business: In recent weeks, many large corpo-
grew by 600, which is exciting because cancer patient with an autoimmune no mask required, mask required for rate retail and restaurant chains have
it’s a bipartisan group,” said Whelan, disorder, Whelan was shocked by the employees only, and mask required mandated mask wearing in their
noting her embarrassment that Indian lack of effective, coordinated action to for employees and patrons. stores to give customers a level of
River County had garnered national combat COVID-19 she saw in Indian protection while shopping and din-
attention as the first county to vote River County when she moved to Vero As of Monday, the group had 1,496 ing.
down a mask mandate. Beach in June. members who had reported on 378
local businesses, including 200 that In Indian River County, Walmart,
The Vero Beach City Council last Whelan, a 56-year-old piano teach- require masks for employees and Publix, Winn-Dixie, Home Depot, Low-
week declined even to vote on the is- er, and her 69-year-old husband are customers, more than 100 requiring es, Best Buy, McDonald’s and Panera
sue. both high-risk for COVID-19. “I saw all masks for employees only, and about are among the stores mandating masks
of this and thought this is insane. We 60 with no mask requirement. for employees and customers to pro-
The lack of local government action can’t go anywhere.”
came a week after U.S. Centers for Dis- The tone of the site is upbeat, not tect public health. 

8 Vero Beach 32963 / July 30, 2020 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

NEWS

Scott Caine challenges Posey of the Posey-Caine primary will face “I’m saying loudly and up front: I Centennial Place plan is expected to
Democrat Jim Kennedy of Merritt Is- believe in term limits,” he added. “You be much less ambitious than what was
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 land in the Nov. 3 general election. don’t need to hang around forever to called the “maximum development
get something accomplished. We saw plan” that excited the Steering Com-
and several command-level assign- “That’s certainly a challenge,” Caine, that with [former South Carolina Con- mittee early this year.
ments. 59, said of Posey’s Brevard roots. “It’s gressman] Trey Gowdy on the Repub-
an even greater challenge during a lican side. We’re seeing it with AOC That vision called for three restau-
As the Orlando Sentinel wrote in pandemic, when there’s limited face- [New York Congresswoman Alexan- rants, shops and a massive hotel and
endorsing the Vero Beach High School to-face interaction with voters. But dria Ocasio-Cortez] on the other side convention center planner Andres
graduate in his party’s August primary we’re overcoming those challenges us- of the aisle. Duany hoped might someday fill the
for the 8th Congressional District seat: ing digital-age technology and social shell of Vero’s Big Blue power plant.
“Caine checks a lot of boxes …” media, which is quite effective. “If you do, then maybe you don’t
have the leadership qualities needed Last fall when residents attended
And Caine’s campaign has deposit- “I launched my campaign on Zoom to do the job.” the first presentations on the river-
ed a lot of checks: He has raised more and I’ve done a lot on Facebook,” he front vision – a place for people to
than $160,000 since he announced his added. “I’ve been making the most Caine said he’s plunging into poli- gather, to dine, to shop, to recreate –
candidacy in April – during a worsen- of my opportunities to get on TV and tics because he is concerned about the no one could have imagined we’d be
ing coronavirus pandemic – with 90 radio, and I’m talking to newspapers. problems and challenges confronting so focused on staying at least 6 feet
percent of that money coming from We’ve also been busy with our phone the U.S., and he believes he can help apart or even avoiding people entirely.
individual donors. banks and canvassing. – especially in the areas of foreign pol-
icy and national security. The steering committee’s plan, in all
So, you can’t blame him for being “It’s just a matter of getting my name its glory, just won’t fly in the age of CO-
optimistic about his chances, even in front of enough people enough “Retiring from the Air Force at 55, VID-19, consulting architect Duany
against an entrenched incumbent with times.” there were a lot of things I could do, but told the City Council by speakerphone
lots of cash. none was as attractive to me as serving last week.
Caine also needs to overcome Posey’s in Congress,” Caine said. “Some people
Meanwhile, Posey, a Rockledge real- campaign fundraising, which began have asked why I’m not starting at the The amenities must adapt to the
tor who is seeking a seventh two-year almost immediately after his 2018 elec- local level, but you’ve got to do what times or wait years until society truly
term, finds himself facing a primary tion and has brought in more than fits your experiences and abilities. gets back to normal.
challenge for the first time since win- $600,000 so far. More than 40 percent of
ning the seat in 2008. that money, however, was contributed “What I have to offer lines up well Duany’s solution is to craft an alter-
by political action committees. with national issues more than local native plan with more outdoor dining,
“I’ve got a unique set of skills, and issues, so it only makes sense for me and a scaled-down lodging alternative,
I bring a lot of tools and experiences In addition, Posey has received an possibly cabins.
to the job that Posey doesn’t have,” endorsement from President Trump. to jump in at that level.” 
Caine said. “Throughout my Air Force The new plan is being produced as
career, the American taxpayers have Still, Caine believes Posey is vulner- Centennial Place part of the package deal the city signed
provided me with a wealth of training able – particularly on the issue of term CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 with Duany’s Miami-based urban
and leadership skills that would prove limits. planning firm, Duany Plater-Zyberk &
extremely valuable in Washington. able on the Forms page. Company (DPZ), a partnership with
In 2010, Posey co-sponsored an The City Council voted last week to Duany’s wife and fellow urban plan-
“This country is at an inflexion point, amendment to the U.S. Constitution to ner, Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk.
and we need new voices and new impose term limits of 12 years on mem- move forward with a Nov. 3 referen-
ideas,” he added. “We need to change bers of the House of Representatives dum on the conceptual plan, which “The total fee for DPZ is $156,000.
the culture in Congress and get rid of and Senate, saying at the time: “Our if approved would give Vero officials The amount has not changed since
the crippling divisiveness. I’m ready to government needs fresh faces with new the authority to lease portions of the the approval of the contract in October
lead the way.” ideas and different approaches.” power plant site protected under the 2019. The additional work for the ‘post-
city charter. COVID’ Scenario is being done by the
First, though, Caine needs to unseat Congress never voted on the pro- consultant for no additional cost,” Ve-
Posey in the Aug. 18 primary, and that posal, and Posey is now seeking re- After more than a year of planning, ro’s Planning Director Jason Jeffries said.
won’t be easy. election to a seat he already has held a carefully crafted, 75-word ballot
for 12 years, a clear contradiction of item will pose a simple and descrip- Even with the more realistic plan,
Posey, 72, enjoys several advantages, the platform he ran on in 2008. tive choice to voters, who will then Duany told the council last week that
not the least of which is name recog- vote yes or no, to approve or derail the his hopes of breaking ground very
nition, particularly in Brevard County, “If he believes 12 years is enough proposal. What’s built must be sub- soon on the development have faded.
which has a population of 600,000 – or and that we need fresh faces and new stantially similar to the plan approved Instead, the site would be cleared of
440,000 more than Indian River County. ideas, then why is he running again?” by council. miscellaneous equipment, the build-
said Caine, who recently signed a ings mothballed, and the parcel se-
The Republican-leaning district pledge in support of a constitutional The final iteration of the riverfront cured by fencing to keep out vandals
covers all of Indian River and Brevard amendment that would limit House and loiterers.
counties and a mostly rural slice of members to three terms and senators
eastern Orange County. The winner to two terms. Whatever the city ends up deciding

Cofuonrty Commission ENDORSED & SUPPORTED BY:
District 5 • VoteWater.org
• Treasure Coast Builders Assoc.
Help Steve Maintain And Improve The • Realtors Association of IRC
Quality Of Life In Indian River County By:
• Cleaning Up The Indian River Lagoon

and The Lakes
• Attract Higher Paying, Professional Jobs
• Quality Development And Growth
• Promoting Local Businesses

Paid for by Steve Boyle for County Commission Dist. 5

SteveBoyle2020.com

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / July 30, 2020 9

NEWS

to do, Duany said, it won’t be for two be able to deal with the entire 34 acres
or three years. as a whole, without the aesthetics
and aroma of a sewer plant to work
The riverfront sewer plant is set to around. The two-acre parcel west of
be dismantled in 2024 or 2025, so if Indian River Boulevard, known as the
there’s any silver lining, it’s that, once Old Postal Annex, will be listed for sale
the economy has recovered and it’s
time to build something, the city will as surplus city property. 

New owner plans to take Fairlane Harbor
mobile home community to ‘the next level’

BY RAY MCNULTY renovating the clubhouse and rec-
reation area; converting the shuffle-
Staff Writer board courts into an outdoor pavilion;
expanding the pool patio and adding
Regardless of what Vero Beach offi- a grilling area; utilizing greenspace
cials decide to do with the city’s sew- to create a fenced-in dog park with a
age treatment plant, Fairlane Harbor gazebo; and adding a new laundry, in-
will remain a mobile home communi- door mailbox area and a fitness center.
ty for the foreseeable future, the new
owners of the lagoon-front property The new owners – Capital Square
said last week. is based in Glen Allen, Va. – also plan
to repave the community’s roads, up-
In fact, a representative of the Virgin- grade its boat-dock area and install a
ia-based real-estate investment firm boardwalk.
that purchased Fairlane Harbor from
Vero Beach’s Stawara family for $36 mil- “Not all residents of 55-and-over
lion earlier this month said his group is communities want the same ameni-
preparing to embark on a series of up- ties,” Miller said. “So, our approach is:
grades, additions and other improve- Whether you’re in your 50s and 60s or
ments to the 31-acre, 232-lot com- your 70s and 80s, or if you’re active or
munity, which adjoins the sewer plant not, we want you to enjoy living at Fair-
property. lane Harbor.

“When Frank Stawara bought this “It doesn’t matter if you enjoy fish-
property 50 years ago, his original vision ing or boating, or simply listening to
was to develop and build an affordable, live music on the pavilion,” he added.
55-and-over, coastal-living, mobile- “We want to provide our residents with
home community for Vero Beach,” said more and better amenities, especially
Bob Miller, chief executive officer of outdoors, so they can fully embrace
MHM Communities, which partnered the lifestyle the community offers.”
with Capital Square Realty Advisors to
purchase and operate Fairlane Harbor. Residents already might’ve noticed
contractors and workers on the prop-
“We’re going to take it to the next lev- erty, Miller said, but most of the major
el,” he added. “Our plan is to make ev- projects won’t begin for another two to
erything nicer and better and, in some three months, depending on how long
cases, newer. And when we’re finished, the city’s permitting process takes.
we’ll be proud to have anyone in Vero
Beach drive through, knowing they’ll In addition, Miller said new homes
be impressed.” will be placed on the “five or six” lots
that currently are unoccupied.
Miller said his group’s plans include
CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

10 Vero Beach 32963 / July 30, 2020 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

NEWS

Fairlane Harbor tax-advantaged real-estate investments, lane Harbor has been rampant since tage of the prime waterfront location.
purchased the property through a Dela- the Vero Beach City Council voted ear- That’s not happening, though, at least
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9 ware statutory trust – CS1031 Fairlane lier this year to move the neighboring
Harbor MHC – which enables investors sewage-treatment plan off the lagoon not in the foreseeable future.
“You’ll see major changes this year,” to defer paying taxes on any capital gains. and utilize the property as part of a new Stawara’s son, Joey, who managed the
he said. waterfront dining and entertainment
Announcing the purchase on July complex. With that change impending, property prior to the sale, wrote in an
You’ll also see rent increases, though 13, the firm said it hopes to raise $29 there was talk the mobile home park email that the family “felt comfortable
Miller said they won’t happen immedi- million in equity from “accredited in- might give way to a new luxury condo- selling to this buyer because of their
ately and, when they do come, they’ll be vestors” with a minimum investment minium project designed to take advan- track record in mobile-home park man-
gradual – as the new owners promised of $50,000. agement and the great plans they have
residents during a town-hall-type meet-
ing before the community was sold. “We own other mobile-home prop- for the future of Fairlane Harbor.” 
erties in other states, but we focus on
“We’re not looking for a quick turn- 55-and-over communities in Florida,” COMMUNITY NEEDS ASSESSMENT
around and short-term profit,” Miller Miller said. “I was born and raised in FINDS MANY FAMILIES STRUGGLING
said. “This is a long-term investment Florida, and I’m very familiar with
for us. We’ll increase rents little by lit- Vero Beach. I’ve also known the Sta- BY MARY SCHENKEL It was in June last year that several
tle over the next five, six, seven years, wara family for a number of years, and Staff Writer Indian River County funding organi-
but our goal is to continue to provide I have a lot of respect for what they’ve zations, along with government and
an affordable community and give our accomplished. A year-long assessment of hu- community leaders, began compiling
tenants more for their money.” man need in Indian River County has a comprehensive Indian River County
“Fairlane Harbor is not a trailer found a huge gap between family in- Community Needs Assessment – the
Lot leases at Fairlane Harbor ranged park,” he added. “It’s an impeccably come and the cost of living for many first of its kind since 2008.
from $600 to $900 per month before clean community where the residents families, and concluded that the cost
the property was sold. With 232 home take tremendous pride in living there, of daycare during the pandemic is a The purpose was to identify unmet
sites leased for an average monthly which you can’t say about a lot of mo- time bomb that could tip some fami- needs and community strengths in
rent of $750, the Stawaras had the po- bile-home communities, and the Sta- lies into homelessness. five focus areas: services for children,
tential to take in more than $2 million wara family has a lot to do with that. economic opportunity and employ-
annually before expenses. The assessment also found that ment, health, housing and seniors.
“They’ve maintained a very strong many older residents, especially wom- The report was completed in June
Miller said acquiring Fairlane Har- relationship with the residents there, en, are living in or near poverty, often 2020 and, while the data collected was
bor, which his group said was at 97 so much so that Frank still lives there.” in squalid, substandard housing.
percent capacity at the time of its pur- CONTINUED ON PAGE 12
chase, “isn’t just a business venture for Stawara purchased the lagoon-front
us.” The new owners, however, likely property in 1969 for a price believed to
expect to turn a bigger profit. be less than $100,000 and began put-
ting mobile homes there in 1971.
Capital Square, which specializes in
Speculation about the future of Fair-



12 Vero Beach 32963 / July 30, 2020 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

NEWS

Community Needs Assessment somebody maintaining their rent or
getting evicted, once that [eviction]
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10 prohibition is lifted.”

primarily pre-pandemic, it highlights The report indicates that while the
problem areas likely to worsen due to cost of living for a family of four in this
the pandemic. county is $63,000, the average house-
hold income is $43,000.
“COVID has accelerated the need
and increased the volume of people “If you look at that gap, much of that
that are in need right now,” says Jeff comes from the high cost of childcare
Pickering, Indian River Community and housing,” says Pickering.
Foundation president/CEO, who en-
visions updates to the report as need- Even pre-pandemic, this report and
ed. the United Way ALICE (Asset Limited
Income Constrained, Employed) Re-
“The study hadn’t been done in port show that half of county resi-
more than a decade. And so, we were dents live in poverty or one paycheck
not only doing this study at a point in away. Pickering says that while he ex-
time for last year, but we were looking pected seasonal workers would be in
back at multiple years’ worth of data that population, he was surprised to
and information. So we did get a bit of see teachers and other professionals
a longitudinal perspective on trends included.
that were improving and, unfortu-
nately, on some problematic trends “That’s just a huge number of peo-
that have been persistent and not get- ple that are barely making it. You think
ting much better.” about not just the practical things that
result when somebody is in jeopardy
Having a decade of data, says Pick- of losing their housing or not making a
ering, enabled the study group to bill payment, but the emotional stress
look at years side by side, which in and psychological stress,” says Picker-
turn helped to better identify statisti- ing, adding that it can create a toxic
cal trends and anomalies. That said, environment for children.
he believes it would be beneficial to
do assessments more frequently. Another surprise was the high lev-
el of low-income seniors, 75 percent
“To me it’s about momentum. Being of whom are women, living alone,
able to take a look at it in this fashion often in substandard housing. Ad-
gives us the ability to put some energy ditionally, the rate of risky behaviors
toward some of these things that are such as smoking and binge drinking
working well and really dig in on the in that group is double the state av-
things that aren’t.” erage.

The United Way, with assistance “I’ve gone on a couple of ride-
from the Community Foundation and alongs with Meals on Wheels and it
the John’s Island Community Service is shocking the squalor these people
League, has already raised $1.5 million are living in,” says Pickering. “And the
for the United Way COVID-19 Fund for social isolation that goes along with
emergency relief, spending much of it that creates a fairly significant recipe
on rental assistance and food. for adverse health incidents.”

“But the big, blow-a-hole-in-this- He cites the St. Francis Manor hous-
whole-thing, that I think has caught ing model and Meals on Wheels as
the world by surprise, is the cost of af- excellent examples of programs that
fordable child care and the availability work, but both have huge wait lists.
of it, so that people can get back to
work,” says Pickering. “Two months “They’re proven concepts and so-
of childcare, which is very expensive, lutions that are serving a finite popu-
could mean the difference between lation, only because that’s as many
as they can serve,” says Pickering.
“We have solutions that work; we just

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / July 30, 2020 13

NEWS

haven’t had the ability to scale them higher than the state average. adverse effect on low-income resi- “We moved the needle to about 60
up yet.” The section on health indicates dents. percent who are reading on grade level,
but there’s still 40 percent who aren’t,”
Another surprising challenge un- that while the uninsured have de- Regarding education, the past five says Pickering. “There’s going to have
covered by the assessment is the high cent access to medical care, the high years have shown improvements in to be a shift in public dollars if we want
rate of tobacco use and vaping by costs associated with it, including kindergarten readiness and third- to see this substantially improve. Phi-
teens. With one in four teens an ac- prescriptions, specialty care, dental grade reading skills, much of it the
tive user, that number too is much care and mental health care, have an result of philanthropic efforts. lanthropy can only do so much.” 

14 Vero Beach 32963 / July 30, 2020 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

NEWS

Aaron’s Hearing Care Center CONFEDERATE FLAG BAN SIGNALS
NEW ERA FOR COUNTY SCHOOLS
As you reconnect with others, trust your hearing
to an audiologist with 30+ years of experience

Aaron Liebman, Au. D. Hopefully, all of you are doing well as we BY GEORGE ANDREASSI teachers, I only had three that look like
Doctor of Audiology take the necessary precautions to reduce me,” Walker said.
the spread of Covid-19 (coronavirus). We Staff Writer
Why wouldn’t you want to be fit are committed to keeping our patients, any Christopher Peterson said his par-
with your hearing aid from the visitors to our offices and our staff healthy The school district last week ents had to fight to get him into gift-
only audiologist-owned hearing and safe. banned display of the confederate ed classes in elementary school and
aid office in Indian River At all times we’re careful to maintain clean- flag on campus and held its first Eq- he wound up graduating from Vero
County? According to Aaron liness in our offices in Vero Beach. We take uity in Action conference as part of Beach High this spring with honors,
Liebman, Au.D., Doctor of extra steps and follow guidelines to further the new superintendent’s crusade to a merit scholarship and membership
Audiology, “both Audiologists protect everyone. boost the performance of African- in the national honor society.
and hearing aid salesmen American students.
are licensed by the state. But, We have instituted a deep cleaning policy “In my sophomore year, Vero Beach
typically, the salesman has no and our staff disinfects all surfaces that are In addition to banning the confed- High School made the news for per-
formal education in hearing, touched throughout the day. We’re read- erate flag at school events and institut- mitting the confederate flag on cam-
while the audiologist has gone ing up to date recommendations as they ing more inclusive policies, Superin- pus,” Peterson said. “When I saw the
to college and obtained a degree become available while discussing and im- tendent David Moore said the district confederate flag draped over students
in the field”. plementing best hygiene practices to ensure will update disciplinary procedures to with pride, I was literally speechless. I
your safety. minimize out-of-school suspensions thought it was illegal.
What this means to you – and coach unruly students to behave.
as a patient – is that Liebman than I thought possible.” “We were outraged as black stu-
will not only fit you with “Aaron is a very caring man, “I promise you I will make the dif- dents to see a flag that represents
a hearing aid, he’ll use patient and works very hard to ficult decisions to stand in a righteous white supremacy and oppression of
alternative methods of testing do the best for your problems. place with equity,” Moore said during our black people.”
for accuracy, so you receive I would highly recommend the conference at Storm Grove Middle
the proper instrument. He’ll him.” These are just three School. The School Board voted unani-
provide all-around service and of the glowing testimonials mously last week to approve a new
counseling so its full potential delivered by local people who At the Friday conference, two Afri- Code of Student Conduct Handbook
will be clear. And, perhaps most are “graduates” of Liebman at can-American high school students for the new school year prohibiting
importantly, he’ll consider you Aaron’s Hearing Aid Center. and a recent graduate told an audi- students from displaying the confed-
as an individual…including ence of more than 100 attendees they erate flag in any way, including cloth-
the affordability of the product Dr. Liebman moved to Florida felt excluded from academic programs ing, jewelry, posters, stickers, flyers,
he’ll be recommending. in 2001. He is originally from and extracurricular activities. buttons, writings, images or symbols.
This type of kid glove treatment Albany, N.Y. area where both he
may have contributed to a and his father were audiologists. The students also described feel- The handbook identified the con-
finding quoted on the AARP He has found the residents ing fear and confusion when white federate flag and Nazi swastika as
website that states ‘people fitted of Vero Beach and the rest Vero Beach High School students dis- hate symbols that will be limited to
for hearing aids by audiologists of Indian River County to be played the confederate flag on their educational materials.
are 13 times more likely to receptive and loyal once they attire on campus or on their vehicles
be satisfied than people who are exposed to his caring and with impunity. This time around, there was no
made their purchase through a concern for them. push back against the confeder-
hearing aid salesman’. So, if the concept of having your The school district has been under ate flag ban, unlike 2017 and 2018
hearing aid fitted by someone a federal desegregation order since when the former superintendent and
Dr. Liebman’s satisfied clients who offers more than 30+ 1967 and was instructed by a federal school board majority didn’t consider
have willingly put their praises years of experience, who offers judge in January to intensify efforts it offensive, said School Board Chair-
into print. no-fee consultations, who will to integrate and bring greater equity woman Laura Zorc.
“Everything I needed to know return your phone calls, who to the schools.
was talked about up front in a will supply free batteries for the “I was raised in the Deep South ...
very professional way.” “Aaron life of your hearing instrument, One of Moore’s first tasks after as- under a mindset the confederate flag
has done more for my hearing and who will provide quarterly suming office in December was up- was a Southern pride thing,” Zorc
clean up and adjustments dating the district’s African-American said during the July 21 board meet-
attractive to you, there’s only Achievement Plan for the 2019-2020 ing. “I apologize. [After] learning how
one local audiologist to seek school year. hurtful that is to our African-Amer-
out: Dr. Aaron Liebman, ican students and other students, I
owner of Aarons Hearing Care, “I told the School Board when I was apologize.”
OthWe NOENDLYheaAriUngDaIiOdLoOffiGceISiTn hired: I’m not afraid to make the dif-
Indian River County. ficult decisions, I’m not afraid to be School Board Vice Chairwoman
fired,” Moore said. “I’m here to tell Mara Schiff, one of three new mem-
For more information call you: ‘Damn the torpedoes, but this bers who joined the board in 2018,
(772) 562-5100 in Vero Beach. work is going to move from words on said “it’s been a long time coming
papers to actions and improvements and it is long overdue. I am proud we
of realities in schools.’” are now doing it.”

Two African-American students School Board member Teri Baren-
and a recent graduate described how borg, who also joined the board in
the school system marginalized them 2018, said she supported the confed-
and their peers, while teachers and erate flag ban to protect children who
classmates subjected them to daily feel threatened by it.
slights and insults.
“It’s a no-brainer because children
“Why is it that when I walk into my – and that’s who we are responsible
AP and honors classes, only two or for – feel intimidated,” Barenborg
three other kids look like me?” asked said. “When a child feels intimidated
Rylie Walker, a senior at Vero Beach by something that’s when we need to
High. act. So, I had no problem making this

“When I look at all of my high school decision.” 

Clair Brunetti
and Barbara Sharp.

MAIN STREET’S CHRISTMAS IN JULY
IS A SUMMER GIFT TO SHOPPERS P. 20

16 Vero Beach 32963 / July 30, 2020 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

Waterway Cleanup: ‘Week’ effort produces strong results

Aaron Nichelson and Paul Balabus. PHOTOS: KAILA JONES John Piecuch and Jane Booth.

Sean Kashawlic, Connie Dominianni and Toby Jarman. Margot Elsey, Margie Knapp and Lee Bowden.

BY STEPHANIE LaBAFF sociation of the Treasure Coast. as a way to reduce their own carbon communal duty and gives us a sense
Staff Writer As the date for the cleanup ap- footprint, said Price. The virtual of being part of a bigger community.”
aspect and extension of the event
The 13th annual Treasure Coast proached, Price said it became ap- from one day to seven also created TC Waterway cleanups have re-
Waterway Cleanup litter-ally took parent that changes would have to an opportunity for more people and moved more than 89 tons of trash
a virtual turn this year, as more be made due to the coronavirus. A groups to participate. from Treasure Coast waters since
than 525 volunteers contributed large portion of the volunteers who 2008, with more than 9,500 volun-
to a weeklong effort to be part of a regularly help with the cleanups are A small group of nautical mem- teers putting in the work.
solution to pollution by collecting considered high risk, and yet fol- bers of the Vero Beach Yacht Club
trash along 125 miles of waterways lowing social distancing guidelines set out last Saturday morning in This year, volunteers submitted
in Indian River, St. Lucie and Mar- during a one-day event would be two boats and headed over to clean photos and digital data collection
tin counties. difficult. up the north end of Boat Club Is- cards with details about the number
land, aka IR-25. It is one of the more of trash bags filled, estimated weight,
With people turning more to As a result, they expanded the popular spoil islands in the lagoon what was found and where it was col-
outdoor activities during the pan- collection timeline to a seven-day and is located just north of Grand lected.
demic, there has been an increase Waterway Cleanup Week. Harbor.
in traffic along the Indian River La- “It’s all about personal responsibil-
goon. Some of that has been caused Instead of one big cleanup day, Connie Dominianni, VBYC event ity. If everybody does their part, then
by people turning to boating rather many of the volunteers made nu- organizer, said the club adopted we won’t find trash. Boaters need to
than traveling elsewhere for their merous pilgrimages throughout the island about 20 years ago, as bring back everything they take out
vacations this year. All has direct- the week, making their multiple part of the Florida Department of with them – and some more,” said
ly correlated to the current rise in cleanup trips by foot, boat, canoe or Environmental Protection’s Indian Price.
trash. paddleboard. And instead of having River Lagoon Aquatic Preserves Of-
one-day designated trash collec- fice’s Spoil Island Project, and they As a sad sign of the times, in addi-
“We know more people are out tion sites around the area, volun- picked up whatever trash has found tion to the typical items found during
boating right now. It’s been some- teers relayed the details about the its way there on a quarterly basis. annual cleanups, such as cans, grills,
thing that people can do safely amount of trash they had collected fishing line, bottles, caps, tents,
while socially distancing,” said all throughout the week. “We enjoy it. It gives us a destina- clothing and toilets, Price said this
April Price, event coordinator on tion to go out on our boats to and year’s hauls included quite a few face
behalf of the Marine Industries As- Fortunately, they already had enjoy while also giving back,” said masks.
plans underway to transition from Dominianni. “It is part of our civic,
paper data cards to online reporting For more information, visit tcwa-
terwaycleanup.com. 



18 Vero Beach 32963 / July 30, 2020 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

Kids and cops bond at ‘Harmony in the Streets’ camp

BY STEPHANIE LaBAFF PHOTOS: KAILA JONES
Staff Writer

The Indian River County Sheriff’s
Office and Florida Sheriffs Youth
Ranches teamed up recently to
bridge the widening gap between
citizens and law enforcement at their
annual Harmony in the Streets Sum-
mer Camp.

“It is important for us to reach out
to kids in our community so they can
see us in a positive light when they’re
outside the school; for them to have
that interaction with law enforce-
ment,” said IRCSO Maj. Eric Flowers.

Children ages 6 to 12 were in-
vited to attend the free, week-long
camp, held at Sebastian River Middle
School, although this year fewer chil-
dren were able to participate, given
coronavirus social distancing regu-
lations.

The FSYR has offered mobile and
sleepover camps since 1957 to sup-
port its mission to develop lawful,
resilient and productive citizens
through enhanced relations be-

tween children and law enforcement with the Learning
officers. It first brought its mobile Alliance’s Moonshot
camp to Indian River County more Rocket, which flew in
than 20 years ago, providing school to deliver free books
resource officers an opportunity to to the children.
build relationships with the students
they encounter in their positions at Some of the older
local public schools. children were also in-
vited to attend a sleep-
Throughout the week, the chil- away camp in Barber-
dren viewed law enforcement dem- ville – for many their
onstrations, participated in envi- first camping experi-
ronmental education activities, ence. In past camps,
created arts and crafts, and partici- most returned home
pated in team-building activities. with a trusted law
To celebrate the bonding experi- enforcement “friend”
ence, parents attended a graduation they can turn to while
on the last day of camp, complete navigating adoles-
cence.

“The Youth Ranches
are a great compo-
nent of the Florida Sheriffs across
the state,” said Flowers, explaining
that the mobile camps enable more
children to participate. “To bring
that into our community and let lo-
cal kids experience a little bit of what
those kids see at the ranches is just
incredible. It’s life-changing for a lot
of these kids.”
Proceeds from the Indian River
County Sheriff’s Office’s annual
Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches BBQ,
held each spring, provide funding for
the camps.
“These camps help us to develop a
relationship with the kids from our
community,” explained IRCSO Sgt.

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / July 30, 2020 19

PEOPLE

Cheyanne Christman and Cali Roulston.

Ross Partee. “We want to continue more at ease should they need assis-
the relationship that we build in tance at school or out in the commu-
school through the summer.” nity at large.

While any child may apply for the Partee said the bonds they build
camp, school resource officers also – especially during the sleepaway
identify students who seem to be camp – help children to view the of-
heading down the road toward bad ficers as “real people instead of as
decision-making. law enforcement officers,” which can
take their on-campus relationship to
“We want to get them going in the another level.
right direction,” explained Partee,
adding that the camp is as much fun “We want to get as many kids there
for the officers as it is for the chil- [camps] as possible to touch as many
dren. hearts as we can. It gives the kids a
different perspective of us and vice
Their camp time together helps versa. Right now, we definitely want
the officers form positive, healthy to get that message to as many kids
relationships with the students they and parents; to let them know we’re
work with during the school year. here to help,” said Partee. 
The aim is to make students feel

20 Vero Beach 32963 / July 30, 2020 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

Main Street’s Christmas in July
is a summer gift to shoppers

Elaine Jones and Sue Gromis. PHOTOS: BRENDA AHEARN

Joey Caldwell. Barbara Glover.

Marie Wygonik Blanchard. Christine Marion.
Tashiema “Beemer” Brown.
It may not have felt like December,
but that didn’t deter Main Street
Vero Beach from getting into the
spirit of the season with its two
recent Saturday Christmas in July
Sidewalk Sales. Vendors and food
trucks staked their claim with
booths along 14th Avenue in His-
toric Downtown Vero Beach, and
shops opened their doors, eager to
welcome back shoppers after the
coronavirus shutdowns. The non-
profit MSVB follows the national
Main Street America’s four-point
approach: organization, promo-
tion, design and economic vitality.
For more information, visit main-
streetverobeach.org. 



22 Vero Beach 32963 / July 30, 2020 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

INSIGHT COVER STORY

Tear gar rises toward a group
of protesters observing clashes
from an overpass.

BEIRUT – Most parts of Lebanon are Families have increasingly relied on Bread, a staple of the Lebanese diet, Newly impoverished people are
receiving no more than two or three food distributions after the value of is in short supply because the govern- taking to Facebook to offer to trade
hours of electricity a day. An incoming the Lebanese pound plummeted. ment can’t fund imports of wheat. Es- household items for milk. Crime is on
flight at Beirut’s airport had to abort a sential medicines are disappearing the rise. In one widely circulated vid-
landing this month because the lights with acute shortages of essential prod- from pharmacies. Hospitals are laying eo, a man wearing a coronavirus mask
on the runway went out. The traffic ucts and services, runaway inflation off staff because the government isn’t and wielding a pistol holds up a drug-
signals in the capital have stopped and rising lawlessness – in a country at paying its portion, and canceling sur- store and demands that the pharma-
working, adding to the congestion on the heart of an already unstable region. geries because they don’t have electric- cist hand over diapers.
Beirut’s already chaotic streets. ity or the fuel to operate generators.
The Lebanese pound has lost over “Lebanon is no longer on the brink
These are among the latest symp- 60 percent of its value in just the past of collapse. The economy of Lebanon
toms of an economic implosion that month, and 80 percent of its value has collapsed,” said Fawaz Gerges, pro-
is accelerating at an alarming pace in since October. Prices are soaring and fessor of international relations at the
Lebanon as its government, its banks goods disappearing. London School of Economics. “The
and its citizens run out of foreign cur- Lebanese model established since the
rency simultaneously. end of the civil war in 1990 has failed.
It was a house of glass, and it has shat-
The collapse is the result of decades tered beyond any hope of return.”
of economic mismanagement, cor-
ruption and overspending. Hopes for The implications are worrying, he
a rescue are fading as the country’s said. Lebanon occupies a uniquely
ruling elites balk at the kind of reforms fragile position as a country in a state
and outside scrutiny that would un- of war with one of its neighbors (Israel),
lock international aid. Talks with the located next door to another war (Syr-
International Monetary Fund to se- ia’s) and in the crosshairs of the conflict
cure a $10 billion loan have stalled. between the United States and Iran.

Known as an oasis of prosperity and The country has served in the past
relative stability during the past de- as a battleground for regional and in-
cade of Middle East turmoil, Lebanon ternational rivalries, such as during
is descending into poverty, despair and the country’s 15-year civil war, and in
potentially chaos. Economists are now 2006 when Israel fought a brief war
predicting a Venezuela-style collapse, with Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / July 30, 2020 23

INSIGHT COVER STORY

Protesters burn tires along a highway leading to central Beirut.

Riot police face protesters in Left: Some of the organizations that
central Beirut on June 6. distribute food are tied to Lebanon’s
main political parties.
militia that now plays an important
role in Lebanese politics. Ibrahim and Suhad Kahud and their and perhaps draw in regional powers,
two children were evicted from their as has happened in recent years in Syr-
The region is on edge again, with previous home because they couldn’t ia, Libya and Yemen – and in Lebanon
Iran blaming Israel for mysterious ex- afford to pay rent. The family sold all in the past.
plosions at sensitive sites inside Iran their furniture to pay their rent and
and the Trump administration dou- mostly live off donations. “This isn’t your average small-coun-
bling down on a range of sanctions try collapse,” said Mike Azar, a Beirut-
against Iran, Hezbollah and Syria. based financial analyst.

The sectarian tensions that fueled Of the 6.8 million people living in the
the civil war are rising, too, as the coun- country, 1 in 5 is a refugee, most of them
try’s political leaders, along with their Syrians, giving Lebanon the highest per
followers, trade blame for the crisis. capita refugee population in the world,
according to U.N. and World Bank fig-
The politicians today are drawn ures. They will be hit hardest as prices
from the same sectarian dynasties soar beyond their meager means and
that fought the war and then turned as the work in the informal sector they
their militias into political parties. rely upon dries up, said Nicolas Ober-
They include leaders of the Christian, lin, deputy regional director of the U.N.
Sunni, Shiite and Druze communities World Food Program.
who took government positions and
bought stakes in banks that then lent Hundreds of thousands of Leba-
money for official projects carried out nese are now expected to join them
by firms owned by the officials or their in poverty, he said. The WFP already
friends or relatives. The elites were en- feeds 750,000 Syrian refugees in Leba-
riched at the expense of the poor, and non. Now, for the first time since the
the foundations of the current col- 2006 war with Israel, the organization
lapse were laid. plans to start distributing food to hun-
gry Lebanese with the expectation of
No one is anticipating another war reaching an equivalent number by the
soon, Gerges said. But there are expec- end of the year.
tations of deepening social and political
unrest that would risk a wider conflict The Lebanese themselves could be-

CONTINUED ON PAGE 24

24 Vero Beach 32963 / July 30, 2020 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 23 INSIGHT COVER STORY

come refugees as those with the ability build after the 2006 war, have said they A beggar sleeps on a sidewalk on Those dollars fueled an arrange-
to do so seek to flee the country, said will not offer any more assistance to a Hamra street, a main commercial ment that Azzi and other analysts say
Nasser Saidi, a former Lebanese eco- country in which Hezbollah, backed thoroughfare in Beirut, in front of amounted to a Ponzi scheme, under
nomic minister who is now a financial by Iran, is a dominant force. a shop that was closed because which banks offered high interest rates
consultant in Dubai. “There could be of the economic crisis. to lure U.S. dollar deposits and then
a massive refugee crisis,” he said. “Is Whether Lebanon’s powerful politi- lent the money to the government –
this what Lebanon and the rest of the cal elites will ever consent to the kind money wound up in their pockets or until the deposits ran out.
world want? Do they want another of reforms that would unlock interna- in overseas bank accounts, said Dan
failed state on the Mediterranean?” tional assistance is perhaps the big- Azzi, a Beirut-based financial analyst. Staggering amounts are now miss-
gest question now. They are the chief ing from the banking system – per-
Yet there is no sign that the world is beneficiaries of the system that bank- The coronavirus pandemic has con- haps as much as $100 billion, accord-
prepared to step in to help. Six weeks rupted the country, and it is widely tributed to the sharp downturn in the ing to government figures.
of talks between the government and suspected that much of the missing economy, but it is not the cause of the
the IMF have hit a dead end, stalled huge hole that emerged late last year Three-quarters of the deposits in the
by arguments among members of the in the country’s finances, Azzi said. entire banking system were denomi-
Lebanese delegation over how much Lebanon produces almost nothing nated in U.S. dollars, and many ordi-
money has been lost and how to dis- and has relied for years on an inflow nary Lebanese may have lost most or
tribute the losses, according to three of dollars from the sizable number of all of their savings, said Jad Chaaban,
people familiar with the talks. Lebanese working overseas. an economist at the American Univer-
sity of Beirut.
“It has been really difficult,” Krista-
lina Georgieva, the IMF’s managing The elites are now teaming up to resist
director, told reporters late last month. measures proposed by the government
“The core of the issue is whether there that would open the door to aid but also
can be unity of purpose in the country.” undermine the system that benefited
them, he said. An estimated 1 percent
Lebanon’s Western allies long ago of the population controls more than
made it clear that they won’t help out 80 percent of the country’s deposits,
until the government undertakes ef- and the wealthy are reluctant to counte-
forts to reform the corrupt and bloat- nance any proposals that would impose
ed public sector. An $11 billion pack- a haircut on their holdings.
age of loans and investments has been
on offer since 2018 — on the condition Financial analyst Henri Chaoul said
that the government undertake some one measure that is urgently needed
limited changes. It hasn’t. and would be required as part of any
IMF deal is a capital-control law to
The wealthy Arab countries of the prevent the flight of money from the
Persian Gulf, which piled in to help re- country.

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / July 30, 2020 25

INSIGHT COVER STORY

Yet politicians are resisting such a law meanwhile, face restrictions from their gone. The politicians have balked at the American University of Beirut.
amid indications that the wealthy have banks on how much they can withdraw. that, too, according to the people fa- “God knows where we are heading
continued to shift their assets offshore, miliar with the talks.
according to Chaoul, who resigned last Another typical IMF requirement, and what will happen, but I fear the
month as an adviser to Lebanon’s IMF endorsed by the government’s recov- An audit that revealed where the worst,” he said. “We are heading for the
negotiating team, citing the govern- ery program, is for a forensic audit of money went would probably implicate full collapse of everything, and there is
ment’s foot-dragging. Ordinary people, the central bank’s accounts to deter- the political establishment, said Simon no will for those in power to fix the situ-
mine where the missing money has Neaime, a professor of economics at
ation because they are complicit.” 

26 Vero Beach 32963 / July 30, 2020 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

INSIGHT OPINION

HOWTOSPOTACORONAVIRUSSCAMANDAVOIDIT

From socially isolated seniors to dis- RELIEF-PROGRAM THEFT still employed, just in case they lose their action, or the promise of a set return,
tracted parents working from home, Bad actors are angling to get a piece of jobs: Set up a username and password something legitimate money manag-
the coronavirus has exposed victims the government programs intended to at a state employment office website ers don’t do. The best place to check a
to scammers. Pandemic-related com- help people cope with financial hard- preemptively. If a scammer tries to open financial professional’s credentials is on
plaints to the Federal Trade Commis- ships. Identity thieves can steal unem- an account in the name of someone al- the Financial Industry Regulatory Au-
sion, the agency responsible for pro- ployment benefits or exploit a small- ready registered, it will set off alarms. thority’s BrokerCheck or the Investment
tecting U.S. consumers, started spiking business loan offering. The best site to Adviser Public Disclosure website at the
in mid-March. report and recover from identity theft COVID-19 INVESTMENT FRAUD Securities and Exchange Commission.
is the FTC’s identitytheft.gov. Some investors have been duped by
The AARP says that its fraud hotline companies claiming to offer a product POISONED MEETING LINKS
is on track to field twice as many scam People who receive stimulus payments that can detect, prevent or cure the coro- Many employees working from home
reports this year as last. And it’s not via a debit card rather than through di- navirus. For example, cold-callers some- on their personal computers lack securi-
just the 50-plus crowd or multitask- rect deposit should beware of scammers times recommend a medical- or drug- ty systems provided by employers. That
ing parents who are unwittingly wiring calling to get the card’s information or company stock and suggest that a victim makes it easier for scammers to trick
money, sharing personal information saying there’s a fee to activate it. buy it commission-free, then dump it people into clicking on faux meeting
or investing in a con. once enough people pump up the price. links as Zoom and other online meeting
Likewise, small-business owners (and platforms replace conference rooms.
Those under 40 are actually more like- their staff) who applied for Paycheck Pro- Victims are easier to target than ever
ly than their elders to fall for schemes tection Program loans should be wary of because a relief package approved by Links can install malware for stealing
amid the pandemic, but they tend to anyone calling or emailing to say they’re Congress in March lets people with- passwords and other sensitive informa-
lose less money and get less attention. from a government organization and draw up to $100,000 from their 401(k) tion embedded on home computers.
demanding a fee to access the loan or an retirement plans without paying the The best protection is vigilance and
Here are some of the most common identifying tax number. Remember, the usual penalty. common sense: Look before you click!
cons and some steps consumers can Internal Revenue Service generally com- The website virustotal.com can scan
take to protect themselves: municates by mail, not phone or email. Pump-and-dump scammers and links and email attachments to see if
others tend to demand immediate there’s anything suspicious about them.
ROBOCALLS And here’s a protective trick for people
Savvy criminals are taking advantage of LONELY-HEARTS SCHEMES
health-related fear and recording auto- Criminals have preyed on the lovelorn
mated messages that sound like they’re forever, and the pandemic just makes
coming from a state health department it easier. Regulators say more and more
or other government agency. The mes- schemers are striking up online romanc-
sages mimic the approach of legitimate es with the lonely and homebound, then
contact tracers, telling the person on persuading them to part with money.
the receiving end that he or she has Alas, no consumer-protection website
been in contact with someone who’s ill can dissuade someone from draining
with Covid-19 and asking for personal life savings in the name of love. 
information that a real contact tracer
would never request, such as a Social A version of this column by Alexis
Security number or health insurance Leondis first appeared on Bloomberg.
ID. The best advice is to hang up, and to It does not necessarily reflect the views
report the number to the FTC at donot- of Vero Beach 32963.
call.gov.

During the coronavirus crisis, our Pelican Plaza off ice is closed to visitors. We appreciate your understanding.

© 2020 Vero Beach 32963 Media, all rights reserved Anyone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19 and re- Convalescent plasma therapy may be helpful for peo-
covered has a rare opportunity. The transfusion of their ple with COVID-19 who aren’t helped by other treat-
donated blood plasma, which includes antibodies their ments. People with COVID-19 who become very sick
body created to fight off their infection, may lessen the and don’t respond to other treatments or drugs are
severity and even save lives of patients in the throes of at high risk for developing acute respiratory distress
fighting the disease. “Convalescent” plasma appears to syndrome – a severe lung condition. They may require
also keep people who are moderately ill from becoming mechanical assistance, such as a ventilator, to breathe
worse and it seems to decrease complications. and develop organ failure. Plasma therapy may also
COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by a virus – a help other people with chronic medical conditions,
new type of coronavirus. Antibiotics do not work against as heart disease or diabetes, and those with weak im-
viruses. Despite rigorous efforts being made by scien- mune systems.
tists, biotech and pharmaceutical companies, physicians
and others to develop effective drug therapies and vac- If you are considering becoming a COVID-19 convales-
cines to treat and/or prevent COVID-19, none has yet cent plasma donor, talk to your doctor and contact One-
earned approval as a treatment for COVID-19 by the U.S. Blood, Florida’s designated blood bank for collecting,
Food and Drug Administration. processing and delivering COVID-19 convalescent plas-
The blood is made of white blood cells, red blood cells, ma, at www.oneblood.org.
platelets and plasma. When separated from the rest To qualify, you must have complete resolution of symp-
of the blood, plasma is a light yellow liquid that carries toms at least 14 days prior to donation and provide doc-
water, salts, enzymes, nutrients and hormones to parts umentation from a laboratory test or letter from a hospi-
of the body that need it. Plasma also contains clotting tal that confirms your diagnosis of COVID-19 or a positive
factors, proteins albumin and fibrogen, and antibod- serological test for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies.
ies. It’s the antibodies that have been produced in pa- OneBlood is presently testing all blood donations for
tients’ bodies who have recovered from COVID-19 that the COVID-19 antibody. The antibody test, which is au-
are needed so urgently to boost the immune systems thorized by the FDA, indicates if the donor’s immune
of patients who are currently battling this life-threating system has produced antibodies to the virus, regard-
infection. less of whether he or she ever showed symptoms. Do-
Convalescent plasma therapy is a promising, albeit ex- nors are able to see their results approximately two
perimental, treatment for severe COVID-19. And the to five days after donating by logging into their donor
surge in the number of people being diagnosed with portal at www.oneblood.org. Donors who test positive
coronavirus, coupled with the fact that hospitals are for the antibody are eligible to become COVID-19 con-
providing convalescent plasma earlier in treatment, is valescent plasma donors.
driving the demand for convalescent plasma sky high. Plasma can be donated every 28 days. 

Your comments and suggestions for future topics are always welcome. Email us at [email protected].

28 Vero Beach 32963 / July 30, 2020 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

INSIGHT BOOKS

Here’s a clue, “Jeopardy!” hood, he attended the Royal Canadian Air Force suits and get a makeup touch-up. (Or abruptly shave
fans: For decades, Alex Trebek resisted writing this military academy college – for three days. He off his signature mustache, which Trebek did in 2001
type of book before finally delivering one on the eve of dropped out when he learned the college planned to much ballyhoo.)
his 80th birthday. to buzz his luscious head of hair. Instead, he stud-
ied philosophy while working as a disc jockey, ulti- The behind-the-scenes intel is fun, especially for
If you responded, “What is a memoir?” for around mately spending 12 years with the Canadian Broad- longtime fans of the show. But the rare insights into
$30, you could spend your winnings on “The Answer casting Corporation. Trebek’s personal life are far more revealing. He de-
Is …,” the long-awaited reflections from the beloved votes loving passages to his “soulmate” – his wife,
game show host. In the early 1970s, Alan Thicke lured Trebek to Jeanie – and their two grown children, Emily and
the United States to film a game-show pilot in Los Matthew. (He’s also a father figure to his first wife’s
In March 2019, Trebek – who has spent 36 years with Angeles. That led to a flurry of hosting gigs and a daughter, Nicky.) Trebek notes that Matthew recently
“Jeopardy!” – announced that he’d been diagnosed new Hollywood lifestyle to complement his new returned home, allegedly to weather the pandemic.
with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer. He received an out- address. Still, Trebek jokes that he didn’t easily fit in It’s a convenient excuse: “He recognizes this is our
pouring of support that convinced him that perhaps with the guys: He had no vices; his drink of choice last go-round. He’s here to spend quality time with
a memoir was warranted, after all: “I want people to is low-fat milk. “People can be suspicious of some- me before we have no time left to spend together.”
know a little more about the person they have been one who’s so chaste,” he realized, so he temporarily
cheering on for the past year,” he writes. “It’s an aper- took up cursing. Over the years, Trebek has had so many maladies
çu of Alex Trebek, human being. What is he like? What that “Jeopardy!” turned them into a category. (Ail-
has he done? How did he screw up? Things like that.” Trebek quotes Mark Twain, Malcolm Gladwell ments include: a torn Achilles’ tendon; two heart at-
and Chinese proverbs, and he shows off a quick wit tacks; and blood clots in his brain.) The pancreatic
In the opening pages of the slim book, which Trebek and reverence for intellect. Those are among the cancer, he acknowledges, has taken the hardest toll.
worked on during the coronavirus pandemic, he traits that have served him well since joining “Jeop-
warns readers that, aside from contributing the oc- ardy!” in 1984, when the show was revived by creator “This morning I sat down with (Emily), Matt, and
casional “Jeopardy!” clue, he’s not a writer. But those Merv Griffin. Hosting, he says, is similar to being a Jeanie, and told them I had made my decision,” he
who adore him for his reassuring nature and warmth Broadway actor. “We both do the same show night writes. “I’m going to stick with this current proto-
likely aren’t interested in his literary prowess; they’ve after night, and we have to find new ways to make col, then that’s it. If it doesn’t work I’ll probably stop
come for his stories. And “Answer” delivers. It’s an it unique and interesting to ourselves,” he writes. “I treatment. It wasn’t an easy conversation, and it isn’t
amusing and at times sobering series of vignettes – a have to keep the show moving, guide it, present an any easier writing these words. Quality of life was an
quickly inhaled highlights reel of Trebek’s life. environment in which the contestants are going to important consideration.”

The memoir opens in Ontario, Canada, where be performing at their Trebek then slides into more comfortable territory:
Trebek grew up. After a relatively uneventful child- very best.” a joke. He hasn’t lost his levity and says he’s not afraid
of dying. “I’ve lived a good, full life, and I’m nearing
Trebek dishes on “Jeop- the end of it. I know that. The only thing that might
ardy!” superstars like bother me is if I pass on before I get to have grand-
Ken Jennings – who’s co- children. (Hint, hint.)”
narrating the audiobook
version of the memoir After nearly four decades at the lectern, Trebek is
with him – and whisks more than the face of “Jeopardy!” – he’s its heart. He’s
readers backstage at the so synonymous with the show, and the charm that’s
game show. He appreci- made it an evening ritual, that even after a satisfying
ates the work-life balance memoir, at least one question remains. How does the
the show affords, taping show continue without him?
just two days a week. On
those days, Trebek ar- Give a “daily double” to whoever has the answer
rives at 6 a.m. to start for that one. 
prepping. The team tapes
five shows a day, with 15 THE ANSWER IS ...
minutes in between each Reflections on My Life
– enough time to change
BY ALEX TREBEK | SIMON & SCHUSTER. 287 PP. $26
REVIEW BY ANGELA HAUPT, THE WASHINGTON POST

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / July 30, 2020 29

INSIGHT BRIDGE

A RUFF NEEDS CAREFUL PLANNING WEST NORTH EAST
K63 QJ9 52
By Phillip Alder - Bridge Columnist K83 Q6 A 10 9 7 4
962 AK75 Q J 10 8
Howard Ruff, a financial adviser, helped popularize the proverb, “It wasn’t raining when Noah J 10 9 8 7632 54
built the ark.”
SOUTH
Bridge has a faint connection with Noah because each side plays two cards to each trick, and A 10 8 7 4
more often than not, they will be from the same species — I mean suit. In today’s deal, how J52
should South play to make sure that he moors safely on Mount Ararat? The declarer is in four 43
spades, and West leads the club jack. AKQ

North might have raised one spade to two. Then, South’s two-club rebid was New Minor Dealer: North; Vulnerable: Both
Forcing, which promised at least game-invitational values and primarily asked opener if he had
three-card spade support. The Bidding:

South saw immediately that if the spade finesse was working, he would have 10 top tricks. SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST OPENING
Then he noticed that if the spade king was offside, he might find clubs 3-3 or be able to ruff a 1 Diamonds Pass
heart on the board. So, there was an immediate reaction to play a heart to the queen at trick 1 Spades Pass 1 NT Pass LEAD:
two. However, here, that would have been fatal if East had taken the trick and shifted to a 2 Clubs Pass 2 Spades Pass J Clubs
trump. 4 Spades Pass Pass Pass

Instead, declarer spotted an unusual type of avoidance play. He crossed to dummy with a
diamond, then led the heart six. If East had won with his ace to shift to a trump, he would have
gifted South a heart trick. But when West took South’s jack with his king and led a trump,
declarer won on the board and played the heart queen. East won and returned his second
trump, but South took the trick with the ace and ruffed his last heart on the board. He collected
four spades, two diamonds, three clubs and the key heart ruff.

30 Vero Beach 32963 / July 30, 2020 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

INSIGHT GAMES

SOLUTIONS TO PREVIOUS ISSUE (JULY 23) ON PAGE 54

ACROSS DOWN
1 Dog (3) 1 Blokes (5)
3 Light brown (3) 2 Dismissal (7)
5 Gets colder (5) 3 Neat (4)
8 Having weapons (5) 4 Peers (6)
9 Equilibrium (7) 5 Educational institutions (8)
10 Retain (4) 6 Possessed (5)
11 Guarded (8) 7 Slim (7)
13 Topped up (6) 12 Banter (8)
14 Improved (6) 13 Red flea (anag.) (7)
17 Theatrical (8) 15 Mocking (7)
19 Battles (4) 16 Aperture (6)
22 Connected (7) 18 Assign (5)
23 Similar (5) 20 Doze (5)
24 Unit of capacity (5) 21 Quick (4)
25 Moist (3)
The Telegraph 26 Pause (3)

How to do Sudoku:

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

The Telegraph

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / July 30, 2020 31

INSIGHT GAMES

ACROSS 92 Chariot race venue 49 ___ shine The Washington Post
94 Certain computer memory 51 Nikita’s cops
1 Green shots 95 Second publication: abbr. 52 Ventilates IF YOUR DIET STARTS TODAY... By Merl Reagle
6 Perignon, e.g. 96 Go for ___ in the pool 54 Figurative language
9 My, in French 97 ... forget this car! 55 Some horses THE Art & Science
12 TV horse 99 Sub or trans, e.g.: abbr. 56 Yemen’s capital
18 Parts of hearts 101 Carpet type 59 Able to drive, perhaps of Cosmetic Surgery
19 ... avoid this boxer! 103 “Today ___ a man” 63 Sacred Jewish text
21 Send anew 106 De plume intro 64 Actor Cassidy et al. SPECIALTIES INCLUDE:
22 Shower place 108 Pluck from peril 65 ... steer clear of these • Minimal Incision Lift for the
23 ... don’t read this book! 110 A woodwind
25 Playboy No. 1 112 Hockey Hall of Famer craftspeople! Face, Body, Neck & Brow
26 Not just any 113 WWII theater 67 Fast flyers • Breast Augmentations
28 Exxon, before 114 ... don’t visit these parks! 68 Fill, as a van
29 Who-kicks-off decider 118 Sneeze sound 69 Olympian Comaneci & Reductions
30 Ellington’s inits. 120 Nero’s tutor 70 Sydney the astrologer • Post Cancer Reconstructions
31 Kennel sound 121 ... and if someone does 71 ... don’t tour this building! • Chemical Peels • Botox
32 Last place? 74 Ten Commandments site, • Laser Surgery • Tummy Tucks
34 Do per diem work this, ignore him! • Obagi Products • Liposculpture
36 ... turn off this old show! 122 Item of food today • Skin Cancer Treatments
38 Leaning type: abbr. 123 CEO, Editor-in-Chief, etc. 75 ... don’t wear this!
40 Less than medium 124 Parallel bar perfection 76 Blue Angels, e.g.
42 Old college cheer 125 Right angle from 77 Like some 1960s attire
44 Exceedingly 80 Everglade’s kin
47 Chew out 116 Down 82 ... avoid this exclamation!
48 Mexican bear 126 Eastwood’s Rawhide role, 84 “Life ___ picnic”
49 Retina receptor 85 Solver’s cry
50 Fight souvenir Rowdy ___ 86 Frozen-sculpture chippers
51 Lieutenant with a lollipop 91 German industrial area
52 Piercing tools DOWN 93 Oft-disputed French region
53 ... don’t ask someone to give 94 Invitation notation
1 Turkish title 95 Violin precursor
you this! 2 Say
57 Finishing-school folks? 3 ... don’t get caught (or, the start of a girl’s name)
58 Ending of many animal 98 “Tra” followers
in this! 100 Anti-slippage aid for a
adjectives 4 Store hrs. word
59 Family member 5 ... avoid these negotiations! gymnast
60 Extinct bird 6 “Silly me!” 102 Big Cartwright
61 Beer-bust buy 7 Ugly character 104 Make amends
62 “Will you ___ valentine?” 8 Conductors 105 Ambiences
63 Tests, as vests 9 Garr-Keaton film of 1983 106 Boss Tweed caricaturist
65 Actor James 10 Mer contents 107 “You’re the ___ love”
66 24 Down et al. 11 Part of PBS: abbr. 109 Formerly, formerly
67 ... shun this actor! 12 Just picked 111 After sundown, in ads
69 OK indication 13 Opens doors for 115 Blanc who voiced Bugs
72 Love god 14 “Colour” ending 116 Compass pt.
73 Free-oxygen bacteria 15 ... ignore these photos! 117 Before, before
74 Hormel product 16 Beamed-up captain 119 A Bush org., once
78 French soul 17 Church section
79 Ankh letter 19 Plant part
80 Big ___, Calif. 20 Consult again
81 Shortened, as a ref. work 24 Three-term N.Y.C. mayor
82 Game, in Italian 27 Phone limbo
83 ... don’t visit this place! 33 ... don’t think about these girls!
86 In an uncaring way 35 Bosses of TAs
87 No turn ___ 37 Uptown
88 Name of the garage in the 39 Yes-man
41 Like Dracula by day
comic strip Shoe 43 Nabokov novel
89 Is afflicted with 45 Like William Burroughs’s

90 Signal, as an actor Lunch
91 Lingers in the tub 46 Undesirables
47 Angry

The Telegraph Proudly caring for patients over 28 years.

3790 7th Terrace, Suite 101, Vero Beach, Florida

772.562.5859

www.rosatoplasticsurgery.com

Ralph M. Rosato
MD, FACS





34 Vero Beach 32963 / July 30, 2020 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

INSIGHT BACK PAGE

How to respond to mom’s passive-aggressive barbs

BY CAROLYN HAX sumed with trying to convince her I care? And, how you as often as you’d like.”
Washington Post Stop, wait.
do I communicate with her knowing she does not
Dear Carolyn: Because of dif- If she says no or backpedals
ficult childhood experiences, my have healthy communication skills? or says another nasty thing,
mom has unhealthy and hurtful then just say as neutrally as
communication patterns – mainly – Anonymous possible, “OK, my mistake.”
a tendency to avoid direct com- Then change the subject or
munication and instead use mean, Anonymous: It’s your job to tell your mother the end the conversation.
passive-aggressive comments or totally avoid an is- truth. It’s not your job to sell it to her.
sue. She passed those patterns down to me. Through But keep up the reflective
therapy and with the support of an incredible spouse, There is a way to talk to your mom that’s worth try- listening regardless. As calmly
I’ve been able to identify these unhealthy patterns and ing, IF (big if) you have the presence of mind to do it as you can muster, holding
largely break away from them. in the moment. And it’s not a failure on your part if firm. This response is both
My mom has a deep fear of being deserted or left you can’t; it’s difficult, especially when emotions are loving communication – be-
behind, and she frequently makes snide, cutting high. But if you’re able: cause you’re showing willing-
comments about how far away I live – an hour – ness to express your feelings and validate hers – and
how she feels alone and unwanted, etc. She does not Try listening to her mean and hurtful comment a firm boundary, because you’re demonstrating that
come out and say that she feels insecure about our until she is finished, and then reflecting back to her you will be genuine with her but won’t react to hostil-
relationship or fearful of being left alone; rather, she the emotion you think is driving it. For example: ity and won’t be manipulated by it.
holds on to those emotions and then slips in mean That is what is happening now, by the way – your
and hurtful comments that feel like grenades being She: “[Mean and hurtful comment.]” mother’s barbs are very effective at getting you to act
launched at me. You: “I’m hearing that you’re worried I won’t visit in service of her feelings.
I feel confident that I am doing my part to maintain Given how deep these issues run and how you’ve
contact with her and send the message that I love her, struggled with breaking the pattern yourself, the best
but her insecurities run very deep and her fears be- place to address this is probably ongoing therapy –
come her perceived reality, and all the efforts I make so you can bring situations to your appointments
don’t change her perception. while fresh in mind and role-play them. “She said X.
How can I continue to show love and a desire for My response was, Y. Could I have handled that more
relationship when she seems to not believe it’s true? productively?’ ”
How do I set boundaries so that I do not become con- Here’s a cheat-sheet version to get you through as
you figure this out: Engage with the good, disengage
from the bad. Good luck. 

Mark Wygonik, Lee Smith
and Judy Burgarella

36 Vero Beach 32963 / July 30, 2020 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

NEW BRUSHES
by Isabel Garrett

SEBASTIAN MANGROVE
by Richard Gillmor

ETREAT CLIFFS
by Joel R. Johnson

A PIRATE’S LIFE FOR ME
by Merana Cadorette

When public buildings, art galler- 8ARMS2HOLDU (VERSION 2) ally put a part of themselves out there
ies and museums began shutting their by Gina Carra for the world to see.
doors in March to comply with the
shutdown, their closures also tempo- “I think there’s a real art to choos- “It’s great to see what influences and
rarily put a halt to the Cultural Coun- ing pieces; some artists are very good inspires people at this point, when they
cil’s decades-long Art in Public Places at making cohesive shows. I feed off of can’t go out to see other people’s work.
initiative. that and I know a lot of other artists, What is their influence? What is pulling
friends of mine, that also feed off of them, what is driving them right now?”
Art in Public Places, which offers that. They get inspiration from seeing
rotating shows of local artists’ works, other artists’ work.” Hundreds of pieces have been sub-
is coordinated by Lee Smith, who mitted to the virtual show, which has
handles the solo shows at the Indian As viewing works in public was no been online for the past several months.
River County Courthouse; Judy Bur- longer possible, Wygonik began ask-
garella, who manages shows at Coun- ing artists about their current projects, “A lot of them (artists) are remember-
ty Administration Buildings A and B; and how the isolation was affecting ing places they’ve been or things that
and Mark Wygonik, who coordinates their creative process. have made them happy. That’s the one
shows at the Intergenerational (IG)
Center and in the Vero Beach Regional “I was hoping maybe it would help ROYAL MY POINCIANA
Airport passenger lounge. me as well. I was being community- by Josh McMiller
minded, but I was also being very self-
When access to in-person viewing ish. Artists have to be self-centered in
came to a standstill, Wygonik, an art- terms of what they do,” says Wygonik,
ist, arts advocate and former Cultural noting that in essence, artists continu-
Council board member, came up with
the idea for an offshoot of the program.
Although he calls it the more descrip-
tive ‘Art in Public Places in the Age of
Social Distancing,’ the virtual art gal-
lery on the Cultural Council website is
called Art for Art’s Sake (located under
the Community tab).

“I’m the kind of person who likes to
be out there seeing what other artists
are doing; how they display their work,
how they show their work and the shows
they put together,” Wygonik explains.

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / July 30, 2020 37

ARTS & THEATRE

eral public, that this project has been “I hope to have Lee and Judy and
very helpful to them. It’s been benefi- myself be able to coordinate one big
cial, it’s been uplifting, it’s been en- exhibit of all of this work, in all four of
lightening,” he says. the different venues,” says Wygonik.
“There are several artists who have
“I think that’s important. There are submitted images that might be great
a lot of artists in this county. They’re for a solo show at the courthouse, be-
seeing this art that’s being submitted cause their work is big, or they have a
and they’re getting a little bit of inspi- lot of it. But that’s down the line. Again,
ration from it. This is a way to be able we’re just now having things loosen up
to show the public what they’re doing. a little bit.”
Even if it can’t be in a public place, it
can still be online.” In the meantime, he says, “we’re con-
tinuing this project right now because
His hope is that much of the art- we’re seeing that people are still hun-
work that has been shown online will, kering down and painting in their cre-
at some point, be exhibited for in-per-
son viewing. CONTINUED ON PAGE 38

BEACH DAY
By Barbara Landry

thing I think that the general theme may soon drive people back into iso-
has been; things that have brought me lation.
happiness or that have brought a smile
to my face in the past,” says Wygonik. In the meantime, he says he has
been impressed by the work being
“I don’t see a lot of dark subject matter, churned out by two of the artists re-
which is interesting. I think that artists cently profiled in Vero Beach 32963,
are trying to find the light and the hap- Xaque Gruber and Josh McMiller. De-
piness and the optimism right now. But spite the isolation, Wygonik says Mc-
art can also be a reflection of the politi- Miller has been “turning out things left
cal and the social times, and I think we’re and right; it’s amazing.”
going to see some of that. I think there’s
going to be a period when we’re going to “It’s inspirational for me, but hon-
see some darker subject matter.” estly, it’s also frustrating from a per-
sonal level. I’m working on several
Wygonik says he has read about arts pieces but I’m finding it still very hard
organizations around the world that are to get past my block,” says Wygonik.
similarly promoting virtual art shows He adds that it isn’t unusual for artists
during this time of greater isolation. to find their creative juices blocked at
some point in their lives.
“The New York Times had a huge
project where there were artists all “It started before the isolation and
over the world who were submitting this whole shutdown, but it has been
what they are doing during this time. an effort for me to see how other art-
We’re talking about sculptors, photog- ists get past a block that is not neces-
raphers, architects, and they were also sarily self-imposed, but is imposed
pulling in the written arts, with poetry upon us,” says Wygonik. “That block of
and short stories.” not being able to go out in the public
and see things. As an advocate for Art
Of particular interest to him were in Public Places and as an advocate for
the shows where people, sometimes galleries and museums and being able
even masked, have been putting their to get out there and see what’s going
own spin on classical paintings. on in the world, this is my frustration
right now.”
“They are the ones where people are
looking at classical paintings and sculp- To those artists who might also be
tures, and they’re reinterpreting that for having a hard time connecting, Wygon-
today. There’s some beautiful stuff be- ik wants them to know they are certainly
ing done in the big arts centers,” says not alone. It’s one of the reasons he feels
Wygonik. “So that’s really great.” that having this virtual outlet might be
constructive.
Although some galleries and build-
ings are gradually reopening, he is “I hear it from artists, I hear it from
rightly concerned that the rapidly in- collectors and I hear it from the gen-
creasing coronavirus levels in Florida

38 Vero Beach 32963 / July 30, 2020 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 37 ARTS & THEATRE

ating studios. Even though the gallery ners that will hang in the main lobby “We are in the process of looking for exhibits are on the first-floor of the court-
strolls are open again, it’s not anywhere of the Vero Beach Municipal Airport underwriters or sponsors to cover the house; the first floor of County Adminis-
like it used to be. And the museum is for several months before being tran- costs and I’m working with the airport tration Buildings A and B; the classroom
still not open. We’re dealing with a time sitioned to other places. to come up with a final theme; prob- hallways of the IG Center; and in theVero
that is very uncertain, so we’re still ask- ably flight or aviation related,” said Beach Airport passenger lounge and,
ing artists to send us work.” The Cultural Council will be sending Wygonik. with the banners, in the main lobby.
out invitations to its member artists to
Wygonik says their newest idea is to submit designs, which will be juried down When buildings do reopen to on-site To view or submit art, visit cultural_
create at least a dozen good-sized ban- to the chosen number and then printed. viewing, the Art in Public Places program
council.org. 

Museum enlightens with smart online offerings

BY PAM HARBAUGH months and probably will remain that
Correspondent way for months to come. The classes
include Titus Burgess teaching “Sto-
1 Stay up to date with your art ed- 4 rytelling Through Song” ($40), Alex
ucation by visiting the website Brightman teaching audition tech-
niques and confidence ($100), and
for the Vero Beach Museum of Art. The more. Visit TodayTix.com. TodayTix
also has an intriguing offering: the
website has some smart and illumi- Geffen Playhouse online production
of “The Present,” which is described as
native videos with its senior curator, a show with “mind-bending illusions.”
What makes it particularly intriguing
Anke Van Wagenberg. Her “Anke’s Art is that “The Present” is an interactive
show presented on Zoom and lim-
Moment” series takes a look at works ited to 25 households per show. Each
household will be mailed a mystery
in the museum’s permanent collec- package, which they are supposed to
open during the show. To that end,
tion. One of the most recent is her you have to provide a mailing address
at least four days out. The run time
exploration of the museum’s iconic is 70 minutes with no intermission.
It will be presented until Oct. 11. It is
outdoor sculpture, “Yorkshire Soul recommended for ages 12 years and
older. The only problem is that the
III” by celebrated artist Jaume Plensa only tickets still available are the $30
lottery tickets, which are distributed
of Barcelona. Her easy explanation weekly for upcoming performances.
Go to TodayTix.com and scroll down.
of the artist’s interests gives wonder-

ful insight into the thoughts behind

his works, which are shown the world

over. Visit VBMuseum.org and click

onto “enjoy art 24/7.” Additionally,

art lovers will want to sign up for the

VBMA’s online Gallery Tours Art Talk. some good exercise. There’s a fenced-
in area along the Indian River Lagoon
Presentations will feature up to an that allows him or her to run to their
heart’s content. But just remember,
hour of careful inspection of select while the doggies don’t have to practice
social distancing, you still do. The Vero
subjects. The first one, “Redefining Beach Dog Park is at 3449 Indian River
Drive East. For more information, visit
the Artist,” begins noon Aug. 19. The VeroBeachDogPark.org.

second, “Women Artists,” begins noon

Sept. 16. Even though these are on-

line, space is limited and registration 5 While everyone else is watching
“Hamilton” for the umpteenth
required, so act now.

1 time on Disney Plus, you can head to

2 Don’t forget that lovable family 3 Fans of Riverside Theatre’s Com- YouTube to see some free Broadway
member who can’t put two words edy Zone need to know that this
musical shows. They’re part of the line-

together – Fido. The Vero Beach Dog weekend is the last time the shows will up on “Full Length Stage Plays.” The

Park is an off-leash, 5-acre green space be presented at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. utes. And by the way, this weekend the offerings there are numerous, from
Comedy Zone presents standup com-
that gives you and your beloved pet Next week, they’ll be moved up 30 min- ics Tim “The Dairy Farmer” and BC “Rent” and “Legally Blonde” to “Into
Murphy. There’s indoor dining and free
music before the show in the theater’s the Woods” and “Hairspray.” There are
Live in the Loop spot just past the box
office. Tickets to the comedy shows are scads more, many of them profession-
$14 and $16. They are recommended
for ages 16 years and older. Riverside ally rendered. There’s no telling how
Theatre is at 3250 Riverside Park Dr.
Call 772-231-6990 or visit Riverside- long these videos will be up. As with
Theatre.com. Masks are required.
many of the theatrical offerings, they

last for only so long.

6 Now that you’re in the “screen-
ing” mode, why not create your

own “Coming Up” event – outdoor

movies! The idea is to find a spot in

4 For those who have been won- the garage or in your yard where you
dering how to spend money,
can hang a sheet, prop up a projector

you can drop a lot of it with some on- and a Bluetooth party speaker. Next,

line classes by Broadway luminaries. grab the blankets, sleeping bags, lawn

Called “TomorrowTix Classes,” this is furniture and popcorn. Just make sure

a series created by Today Tix, a go-to you choose a film that is appropriate

spot for tickets to Broadway shows, for public viewing because for sure
neighbors will be curious. 
which have been shuttered now for

NEW HEART SURGEON PUMPED
TO JOIN INNOVATIVE VERO TEAM

40 Vero Beach 32963 / July 30, 2020 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

HEALTH

New heart surgeon pumped to join innovative Vero team

BY TOM LLOYD Dr. Mariano Brizzio. or three years, we’re going to have an
Staff Writer approved device to implant.”
PHOTO: KAILA JONES
Cardiovascular surgeon Dr. Mariano With the thoroughness you might
Brizzio arrived at the Cleveland Clinic It is done by running a catheter – expect from a highly qualified sur-
Indian River Hospital just a few weeks usually through the femoral artery in geon, Brizzio adds that while there are
ago but he’s already got something of a the groin – up to and inside the heart two other valves in the heart – the pul-
minor challenge on his hands. muscle itself. No incisions are made in monic valve and the caster valve – he
the chest at all. states it is “very, very uncommon that
Local scuttlebutt had pegged the en- we need to replace them.”
gaging Brizzio as the “replacement” for A fully collapsible tissue replace-
the now-retired Dr. Cary Stowe who, ment valve is then delivered to the site Brizzio seems to have meshed well
for all intents and purposes, is the one of the existing damaged or diseased with a key colleague, Stowe’s former
who put the Vero Beach hospital “on the valve or valves through the catheter. partner in surgery Dr. Malias.
map” as a first rate heart center.
Once in place, the new valve is ex- “I’m the happiest guy in the county,”
Brizzio, however, makes no claim panded with a small balloon, pushing Malias exclaims, “because I now have
at all that he’s capable of “replacing” the old valve leaflets out of the way and a person who’s affable, kind and capa-
Stowe. taking over the job of regulating blood ble. His surgical skill sets are meticu-
flow in and out of the heart muscle lous. I’m so delighted to have someone
“I can’t replace Dr. Stowe,” Brizzio ex- more efficiently. [like Brizzio] to help share the work and
plains. Instead, he calls the now-retired take care of people in our community.”
Stowe “the father” of Vero’s highly re- An unabashed fan of the TAVR pro-
garded Welsh Heart Center. cedure, Brizzio smiles and adds, “one Still, as most of us are all-too-aware,
of the things that drove me to join America’s hospitals have been under a
He does, however, share a passion for the team here in Florida is because, I range of strains and stresses these past
the same procedure that helped Stowe think, the potential to grow this tech- several months.
and cardio-thoracic surgeon Dr. Mark nology is here.”
Malias build the Vero hospital’s repu- Brizzio certainly knows that all too
tation: Trans-catheter Aortic Valve Re- Since its inception, this trans-cathe- well. “I’m coming from New Jersey,”
placement (TAVR). ter approach has been limited to aortic Brizzio explains, “and as you know,
valve replacements but Brizzio thinks New Jersey was a major COVID-19 hot
In a nutshell, TAVR is a minimally inva- it may soon be adapted to mitral valve spot. A very, very hot spot [at the time].”
sive heart valve replacement procedure. replacement procedures as well.
It was in New Jersey that Brizzio
Why is that important? faced a problem almost unheard of
Because, as Brizzio explains, “prob- before. Patients in need of coronary
ably 99 percent of all valve replace- care – or even heart surgeries – he says
ments in the heart are either the aortic were refusing to go to the hospital be-
or the mitral valves so if you can take cause of their fear of being infected by
care of 99 percent of valve replace- the virus.
ments, you’re doing all right.”
Brizzio notes that, for now, there are Then Brizzio makes a bold state-
no FDA-approved procedures or devic- ment. “I can tell you,” he says in a
es for mitral valve replacements, but slow and measured pace, “that at this
he quickly adds, “within the next two point, the hospital is probably the saf-
est place to be. The protocols that we
follow here are extremely strict. So,
what I can tell you is that we are work-
ing in a very safe forum. Probably
the last place we are going to get CO-
VID-19 is the hospital. Trust me.”

Finally, Brizzio reiterates that while
he is not here in Vero Beach to “re-
place” Dr. Stowe, he does plan “to
continue doing what Dr. Stowe started
here,” continuing to work with trans-
catheter technology and the staff that
Stowe built.

“That’s something I’m going to be
working hard to develop even more
and help bring this technology to ev-
erybody.

“The bottom line is we have a very
good team here and I hope to help
make this team even better,” Brizzio
concludes.

Dr. Mariano Brizzio is with Cleve-
land Clinic Indian River Hospital and
the Welsh Heart Center’s cardiovas-
cular surgical services. His office is at
3450 11th Court, Suite 105. The phone
number is 772-563-4580. 

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / July 30, 2020 41

HEALTH

How to wash your hands properly to prevent disease

BY FRED CICETTI or injured person
 After handling garbage
Columnist  Before inserting or removing

Health officials have been telling contact lenses
us to wash our hands to prevent the It’s important to wash frequently
spread of coronavirus. What is the
best way to wash your hands? because we collect germs on our
hands during the entire day from
Answer: Handwashing is the best most objects we touch. We can infect
and simplest way to prevent infec- ourselves by touching our eyes, nos-
tion and illness, but it must be done es or mouths with infected hands.
properly and often to be effective. We can infect others by touching
Below are some tips I’ve collected them or objects they touch. 
from several reliable sources.

Washing your hands with soap
and water works well. Here are the
correct techniques:

 Wet your hands with warm, run-
ning water.

 Rub on soap and make a thick
lather.

 Scrub vigorously over every sur-
face of your hands and wrists for
about 20 seconds.

 Use a scrub brush to get under
your fingernails.

 Rinse completely.
 Dry your hands with a dispos-
able paper towel or air dryer.
 Use the paper towel to shut the
faucet.
Alcohol-based hand sanitizing
gels are better than soap-and-water
in killing bacteria and viruses that
cause disease. If you clean your
hands with one of these sanitizers,
apply the gel to one palm. Then rub
your hands together and spread the
sanitizer on all surfaces until dry.
The gel doesn’t need water to work;
the alcohol in it kills the germs on
your hands.
Not all hand sanitizers are the
same. You should use only sanitiz-
ers that contain at least 60 percent
alcohol.
Antibacterial soaps, which are
different from alcohol-based sani-
tizers, are no better at killing germs
than regular soap. The combination
of scrubbing your hands with soap
– antibacterial or not – and rinsing
them with water loosens and re-
moves bacteria from your hands.
When should you wash your
hands? Here’s a list of some impor-
tant befores and afters:
 Before and after preparing food
 Before eating
 After going to the bathroom
 After changing a diaper
 After touching animals
 Before and after treating wounds
 After blowing your nose
 After coughing or sneezing into
your hands
 Before and after touching a sick

42 Vero Beach 32963 / July 30, 2020 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

HEALTH

Gyms lure back cautious members with outdoor classes

BY ZACHARY LEWIS others, these facilities are moving
The Washington Post group fitness classes into the fresh
air, where, experts say, transmis-
Some gyms at this stage of the sion of the virus is less likely than in
coronavirus pandemic are like bar enclosed spaces. Still, they’re being
owners anticipating a brawl. They’re cautious and following many of the
ordering their instructors to take it same guidelines they would indoors.
outside.
“We can’t put a bubble around our-
In efforts to meet state regulations, selves all the time,” said Humberto
boost business and lure back mem- Choi, a triathlete and pulmonologist
bers wary of exercising indoors with at the Cleveland Clinic. “We just need

to follow the precautions by the book Some gym junkies are seeing the
… Taking those activities outdoors benefit of exercising in the great out-
whenever the weather allows is one doors.
safe way to do that.”
When West Virginia reopened
Though it’s now permitted again gyms and fitness centers last month,
in some states, indoor group exercise Dewana Waters Grillot, co-owner of
is still highly risky, said Henry Ray- Balanced Life Studio in Beckley, fig-
mond, an associate professor in the ured her 200-plus clients would be
School of Public Health at Rutgers beating down her door, eager to re-
University. turn to in-person yoga classes.

Distancing, smaller class sizes and Not so. Even at the 40 percent ca-
cleaning certainly help, Raymond pacity mandated by West Virginia,
said. Nothing, however, fundamen- slots were going unfilled. Participa-
tally alters the fact that an infected tion in virtual classes, meanwhile,
person in an enclosed setting could remained steady. A May survey by
unwittingly spread the coronavirus the Associated Press-NORC Center
with little more than a cough. for Public Affairs Research found
that only half of those who regularly
Outdoors, Raymond said, it’s eas- exercised in a gym before the pan-
ier to maintain distances of six feet demic would feel comfortable doing
or more, and members are unlikely so again.
to breathe the same air, as long as
they’re not in shoulder-to-shoulder “I saw it in the numbers,” Waters
cycling or running groups, which he Grillot said. “I couldn’t believe peo-
advises against. ple weren’t flocking back into the
studio.”
Solo exercise is still preferable,
Raymond said, but if participants Turns out, they were just waiting
in outdoor group classes avoid clus- for a different kind of class. As soon
tering, and instructors wear masks, as Waters Grillot began conducting
mark off personal exercise zones classes on an outdoor deck newly
and wipe down equipment, the risk built for that purpose, members re-
of transmission drops to a level he turned in droves, she said. The class-
said he can tolerate. “If it’s really im- es were so popular, Balanced Life
portant to your mental and physical launched a boot camp, combining
health, maybe this is the way to go,” calisthenics on the deck with run-
he said. ning on nearby wooded trails.

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / July 30, 2020 43

HEALTH

“I feel fortunate. We’re in a much bet- By contrast, in his parking lot, Tay-
ter position than a lot of places.” lor said he’s able to host as many as 22
at a time for high-intensity interval
The shift outdoors has been even classes and youth exercise programs.
more beneficial to I Perform Fitness, He wears a mask and pre-loads indi-
in Wickliffe, Ohio. Since he began vidual spaces with whatever equip-
holding classes outdoors, owner Jor- ment participants will need. He also
dan Taylor has seen membership at cleans up. Business has increased as
his small personal training and group a result. “It’s kind of refreshing,” Tay-
exercise studio nearly double. lor said. “It’s been a real blessing, for
sure.”
Zoom classes and a smartphone
app kept Taylor’s fledgling business “We’ve found that happy medium,”
(he opened in January) afloat during Taylor said. “As long as people are safe
the shutdown. But the return to live and we’re meeting the health con-
sessions wasn’t as rewarding as he’d cerns people have, we’ll just continue
hoped. State regulations limit his in- on this path.” 
door class sizes to 10.

“I think people feel safer this way,” there to see 60 people at a time during
Waters Grillot said. “I think they peak hours.
don’t feel so cooped up. The distanc-
ing in that class is easy.” The view is different today. Gyms in
Kentucky are only allowed to operate
One of those who felt safer was Lori at one-third capacity. At Newport Fit-
Smith, of Beckley. She wasn’t ready ness, that translates to just 22 people
for indoor classes but felt actively in the facility, Wagner said, less than
drawn to the deck and its picturesque enough to meet demand.
surroundings. “It’s the place to be,”
she said. “Even with the gym open, Her solution? The gym’s large
you really don’t want to go back in, parking lot. There, in June, Wagner
a ny way.” launched four outdoor boot camps on
weekdays, each capable of hosting 20
Neither the American College of people in separate, marked-off spac-
Sports Medicine nor the Association es. The workouts consist primarily of
of Fitness Studios has numbers on calisthenics and use no equipment
how many gyms are turning to out- other than bands. “We’re still impro-
door classes. But examples are pop- vising a little,” Wagner said.
ping up all over the country. In the
D.C. region, instructors are turning Some members attend because
to parks, tennis courts and sports they have little choice, Wagner said.
fields. Their preferred indoor classes are
full. Others attend because that’s the
“We had to add time slots the day only place they feel comfortable. At
we opened,” said Alex Perrin, co- least one member, she said, held off
owner of Cut Seven in Logan Circle, returning until outdoor classes ap-
which now holds up to eight socially peared, and some 20 have joined the
distant outdoor classes a day, first at gym since the boot camps’ launch.
Bundy Field and now at Marie Reed “We’ve had people specifically reach
Field, and plans to rent an open-air out, saying they were looking for out-
studio later this summer. “We almost door workouts,” Wagner said.
doubled within a week.”
At $5 a class, the outdoor sessions
Before the pandemic, Newport Fit- aren’t yet a significant source of rev-
ness in Newport, Ky., was a bustling enue, Wagner said. They are, however,
gym with 375 members interested in pulling their weight, prompting her to
a wide array of classes. Owner Emily consider giving trainers more hours.
Wagner said it was not uncommon
“It’s definitely helped,” Wagner said.

44 Vero Beach 32963 / July 30, 2020 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PETS

Bonz is happy to meet Papi, a delightful ‘Doodle’

Hi Dog Buddies! “Thank Lassie! Then what guess it was buttoned on or some-
thing. Now, outta respect for a fel-
This week I innerviewed a pooch happened?” low creature, I don’t do that any-
with the coolest name EVER: Papillon more.”
Stribley! It’s not cuz she’s a Papillon “Mom calls it ‘Duh-vine In-
breed, though. She’s a Golden Doo- “A wise decision.”
dle. It’s cuz her French cousin said, ner-VEN-shun.’ I call it Dog- “When I ride around with Pup,
when she runs, her long, wavy ears in my golf cart, I Totally Own the
fly out from her head like a beautiful gone Good Luck. See, cuz Pup World! Every morning, I wake Mom
budder f ly. up, then I go nudge Pup. If he’s not
is sick, he doesn’t usually feel up by 9:15, I stand nose-to-nose with
A Big, Serious Bark answered our my chin on the bed an Stare Him
knock. If I hadn’t known there was a like doin’ anything. So his Down. Works real well, too. When
Golden Doodle on the other side of the I’m not playin’, I’m usually nappin’
door, I wudda thought it was a Big, Se- doctor said they should get on Mom’s foot. I’m real protective of
rious Doberman. Actually, Papillon’s Mom.”
bark is her only Serious characteristic. a DOG to bond with Pup an “I like your short haircut,” I ob-
In the fur, Papillon Stribley is frenly, served. “It’s Super Sheek.”
gentle, an real pretty: snowy white with ‘encourage his ack-TIV-iddy.’ “Thanks, Mr. Bonzo. Ackshully, I
golden glimmers on her back, ears, got into a Big Buncha of Bugs an hadda
elbows, tail an around her snoot an Mom wanted a Golden Doo- Papi.PHOTO: KAILA JONES have it shaved. It freaked me out cuz its
mouth. dle cuz we’re Smart, Gentle naturally much longer an wavier. Usu-
ally I prance outta the Groomer’s, but
“Come IN, Mr. Bonzo! I’m Papillon an Com-PAH-shunnit. She this time I slunk. It was embarrassing.”
Stribley. Call me Papi. This is my Mom “Not to worry, Miss Papi. It’s suh-
Margie. My Dad, Strib (I call him Pup), searched On The Line for FISTA-caded! Plus, it makes your gold
is wa-ay over there.” She pointed to- places and extra-long eyelashes really
ward another room. A man waved. “He months an finally found an Pop!”
has Health Issues, so he hasta be Extra “That is so sweet, Mr. Bonzo,” she
Careful.” ad from Miss Lisa. Before she smiled.
Headin’ home, I was thinking about
Me an my assistant waved back. We even got my pick-shur, Mom the Series of Events that led to Papi and
got settled, an Papi gently accepted a her Forever Famly finding each other.
duh-li-shus turkey-an-sweet puh-tay- hadda fill out this 3-page-long form “For sure!” I’ve long believed that every dog, soon-
do treat from my assistant. er or later, finds his or her Purpose. I
so Miss Lisa could be sure Mom an “Anyway, the other day, she fell over know I did.
“I understand that neighborhood
weight restrictions caused you to loose Pup’d be excellent pet parents. There an was layin’ there, nose down. So I lay Till next time,
your first home,” I began.
was a CON-track an everything. Miss down right next to her an put my chin The Bonz
“Yes,” Papi replied. “It was in Saraso-
ta. My family had me anna Toy Poodle. Lisa was Very Suh-LECK-tive. Mom on her back to protect her an help her Don’t Be Shy
When we moved, our new neighbor-
hood had a 40-pounds-per-pooch limit, an Pup hadda promise they wouldn’t feel Not Scared till she could get back We are always looking for pets
which I was over. So they kept the Poo, with interesting stories.
an surrendered me to a shelter. I was 2.” give me to anybuddy else, an that up. She’s better now, Thank Lassie.
To set up an interview, email
“Woof! Soggy Dog Biscuits!” they wouldn’t dye my eyelashes, anna “I also have several pooch pals. On [email protected].
“Totally. I was bummed,” Papi re-
plied. “But Miss Lisa an her shelter, bunch of other stuff.” our morning leash walks, Mom an me
Tender Heart Charity Rescue, were SO
KIND. I didn’t feel as if I was cast aside “Dye your … are you Woofin’ me?” usually meet up with frens. When Mom
like an ol’ sock.”
“Nope! It’s true. Anyway, Last Oc- and her frens yak for a Really Long Time

tober, I was scheduled for a Meet-an- (’specially if you figure it in Dog Time),

Greet with another famly, who had I just sit down in a cool spot an chill.

Dibs on me. Miss Lisa said if they didn’t When my neighbor’s daughter and her

adopt me, Mom an Pup could. ‘I’ll let Lab, Buddy, visit from Oregon (which

you know tomorrow,’ she told them.” is way far That Way), we have The Best

“Thank Lassie it worked out,” I ex- Time. I also hang out with my neighbor,

claimed. Stecker, a Golden Retriever. An I meet

“The moment we met, I wanted to up with my BFF, Piper, on our morning

crawl into Pup’s lap. I KNEW they were walks. She’s a mini Schnauzer and, to

my Forever Famly. Now, when Pup gets tell you the truth, the only time I ever

a liddle, well, lazy, I get a toy and drop it pull on my leash is when I see Piper. Or

smack in his lap for a game of catch. He a Ra-butt. I know it’s not puh-lite, but I

knows I won’t give up til’ he starts playin’ just can’t help it.”

with me. “I totally understand.”

“I love takin’ care of Pup an Mom an “I usta catch Geckos in my paws, I

our human neighbors: There’s a neigh- didn’t hurt ’em. I was just playin,’ but

bor lady I like to visit, just to cheer her up. I don’t think they saw it that way. One

(Lotsa humans are gloomy and stressed time, I peeked to see if the Gecko was

these days cuzza that Soggy Dog Biscuits still there, an he shot outta my paw so

VIE-russ. Maybe you’ve noticed.)” fast he ackshully left his tail behind. I

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Style Vero Beach 32963 / July 30, 2020 45

The new ‘Mom style’ lessons to try this summer

1 2 3 4

Drew Barrymore in tie-dye Demi Moore in overalls Reese Witherspoon accessorizing Nicole Kidman in The Bardot + Jeans

cover your favorite styles as a shortcut home, it’s understandable that pajamas
to summer casual chic. Try playing are still a go-to. But that needn’t mean
with proportions by teaming your fa- sticking to faded old M&S favorites.
vorite skinnies with a more voluminous Laura Dern’s striped set is from Pour
top; a Bardot blouse, a la Nicole Kid- Les Femmes, designed by Robin Wright
man, works nicely or take the Duchess and Karen Fowler. They look crisp, cool
of Sussex’s lead and wear your denim and breezy. In fact you could almost get
with an oversized mannish shirt – flat- away with slipping on sleek trainers or
tering and effortless. sandals and wearing them beyond the
lounge. Toast’s striped set would also
5. SMART PAJAMAS work well as separates on holiday. 
If you’re spending more time at

5

Laura Dern in pajamas

BY HIKMAT MOHAMMED, 2. SUMMER OVERALLS
The Telegraph Overalls are one of those easier-than-
it-looks trends; you may need to order
In recent months, our view on the a few pairs to find the right fit for you
world of celebrity has transformed; (leg and body length are both impor-
tulle gowns, tiaras and sky-high heels tant), but once you’ve found the ones
have been replaced with relatable(ish) for you, they’ll become style saviors –
tales of going gray, hanging out in the you can take them from gardening to
garden and home schooling. having a glass of wine at the local res-
taurant with a simple swap from a tee
Now that summer is here, there’s to a smart blouse. Even though they’re
plenty to be gleaned from how red car- denim, overalls often tend to come in
pet stars have been styling out their soft, elasticated fabrics so can be com-
time in lockdown. Read on for genu- fier than normal jeans.
inely useful pointers on elevating your 3. THE RIGHT ACCESSORIES
post-lockdown summer holiday look a Reese Witherspoon, who is renowned
la Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman for playing glamorous characters, from
and more ... the flamboyant Elle Woods in “Legally
Blonde” to Californian mom Madeline
1. TIE-DYE TEES Mackenzie in “Big Little Lies,” demon-
A tie-dye tee in lockdown can only be strates the elevating power of a selec-
the product of one thing: homeschool- tion of carefully chosen accessories. By
ing. Tie-dye T-shirt-making not only piling on a straw hat, wrist-mess (that’s
whiles away the hours, but you’re left wearing more than three bracelets to-
with a new statement wardrobe addi- gether) as well as chic sunglasses, an
tion at the end of it. Even if you don’t get otherwise casual look has instant el-
round to making your own, a tie-dye egance.
tee is also a pleasingly stain-proof top 4. THE BARDOT + JEANS COMBO
– everything from pen marks to straw- Maybe you’ve been avoiding jeans
berry smudges should blend in; for in- during lockdown, but it’s time to redis-
spiration, look to Drew Barrymore’s
purple tie-dye.

46 Vero Beach 32963 / July 30, 2020 Style Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

The 4 most flattering haircuts of all time

Halle Berry’s pixie cut (2001). Jennifer Aniston in “Friends” (1995). Demi Moore in “Ghost” (1990). Michelle Pfeiffer in “Scarface” (1983).

BY ANNABEL JONES Swinging Sixties to Farrah Fawcett’s neck out; we’ve all been feeling cooped so you get this fine balance between a
The Telegraph feathered hairdo in the ’70s, to Jenni- up for far too long – most of my clients power bob and flattering, choppy tex-
fer Aniston’s layered shag in the ’90s. want to celebrate with a new style and ture.”
Lockdown has reinforced the pow- there’s a freedom in lopping off those
er of a professional cut; its ability to Hair has always had the power to grown-out lengths into a sharp, proper Northwood suggests that whatever
transform your style and facial fea- make over one’s image in a way that haircut that puts us back in control.” length you’re going for, you take inspi-
tures from frumpy to fierce in an in- even clothes cannot. So, I’m dying to ration from classic cuts and have your
stant. know, with three months of lockdown He reveals “I’ve been asked to cut hairdresser modernise them for now.
to dream up their next big hairstyle, a lot of chin-length bobs, inspired by “The most famous cuts stand the test
Look back in history and every de- what is the cut everyone’s gravitating Alexa Chung’s original haircut that of time; it’s just a question of tailor-
cade has had a distinctive haircut to towards right now? I created 10 years ago. It has a defi- ing them to your face and style.” Take
represent the mood of the time, from nite graphic shape that brings out the your pick from our selection of the best
Vidal Sassoon’s five-point cut in the Celebrity hairdresser George North- cheekbones with soft, invisible layers, haircuts of all time, above. 
wood says “it’s all about getting your

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Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Style Vero Beach 32963 / July 30, 2020 47

MAKEUP LESSONS WE’VE LEARNED FROM ‘CLUELESS’

BY SAMEEHA SHAIKH the runway ruled and inspired every-
The Telegraph one’s makeup,” says Taylor.

Question: Is there any other 1990s “We were overdrawing our lips,
taupe eyeshadow ruled and pink was
film that encapsulates all the fun, as everyday as nude is today. Make-
up was soft but powerful and pops of
sass and dreaminess of the gold- color still lived on from the punk ’80s
era, but in a monochromatic, sophis-
en, supermodel decade better than ticated way.”

“Clueless”? Ugh, as if! The beauty of makeup during this
era lies in the fact that it was truly
This month marks 25 years since flattering, it was all about enhancing
actual beauty and being authentic
the cult classic graced our screens to what was already there. And this
is what makes it relevant to this day.
and the film’s beauty styles are just “We see so many ‘Clueless’ influenc-
es in today’s makeup, it is just more
as relevant now as they were then. amplified now.

From the understated power of “Lips are still being lined with
brown liner, but it’s used to enhance
headbands to the importance of hav- and overdraw now. Color-correcting
is still a thing, but it has been finessed
ing an instant redness-correcting to more subtle cream formulations to
blend easier into the skin. And the re-
face powder at your disposal, a quar- turn to pink eyeshadow is definitely
happening right now,” adds Taylor.
ter of a century on and this iconic
Without further adieu, here’s our
adaptation of Jane Austen’s Emma, top 5 “Clueless”-inspired makeup
products, totally suitable for right
centered around the lives of Beverly now. 

Hills’ most glossy high school-goers,

is still a treasure trove for beauty

takeaways. This month marks the 25th anniversary of the cult classic “Clueless.”
So, other than the plaid co-ords

and chic berets, what is it about Cher

and Dionne, played by Alicia Silver- isn’t a mystery at all,” says makeup so-feminine wash of pink and brown

stone and Stacey Dash, that makes artist Zoë Taylor. “I think this is why shadow across lids, meant “Clue-

their style so classic? every woman (and man) wanted to, less” embodied all the hallmarks of

“The makeup. It’s the fact that you and did achieve looking like Cher.” ’90s glamour, which is back on trend

can actually see it. You know what The quintessential brown lip liner, this season. “The ’90s was the super-

goes where and how much to use, it bushy, natural-looking brows and oh- model moment, where the queens of
The ’90s beauty toolkit

FOR FAUX FRECKLES:
Freck OG

BROWN LIP LINER:
Mac Lip Liner in Spice

PINK POWDER
BLUSH:
SUQQU Pure
Color Blush

CRYSTAL CLEAR GLOSS: SOPHISTICATED SHADOWS:
Glossier Lip Gloss in Clear Huda Beauty the New Nude
Eyeshadow Palette

48 Vero Beach 32963 / July 30, 2020 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

WINING & DINING

–Smanadll ewxipnaenrides–pwivitoht
Zoom tastings

BY DAVE MCINTYRE like wine and cheese tastings, yoga and shipping. Macari told her fam- people. And maybe even to people
classes and pilates sessions. It’s about ily’s story, showed a video of the cooped up in pandemic isolation.
The Washington Post bringing some relaxation and stress vineyard and winery, and talked her
relief during a hard time.” guests through a tasting of the wines. Since her initial tasting for Mid-
Virtual wine tastings are one way Ocean Partners, Macari has done
wineries and their clients and cus- When the pandemic struck New Virtual tastings allow Macari to several similar events, including a re-
tomers are adapting to the weird York City, Jennifer Eiseman saw her give online guests an expanded view union weekend fundraiser for Ford-
situation we find ourselves in today, team members at MidOcean Part- of the winery compared with what ham University, her alma mater. She
where traditional business models ners, a Wall Street equity firm, dis- actual visitors see, she told me. “Our views corporate tastings as a vehicle
have been upended by the pandemic. perse to telework from their homes vineyards are closed to visitors, but to expand Macari’s online sales by
throughout Manhattan, New Jersey with a video I can show them our bio- reaching new customers.
Kathleen Inman, owner and wine- and Connecticut, and from family dynamic viticulture and our compost
maker of Inman Family Wines in refuges as far away as Virginia, Flor- field,” she said. Winemakers and their clients I’ve
the Russian River Valley of Sonoma ida and Texas. spoken to generally agree that three
County, usually regales customers Yes, compost is exciting to wine wines over an hour are sufficient for
about her wines face-to-face over the “Everyone was on phone call af- a virtual tasting. And even though
bar in her small tasting room. ter call, day after day,” she says. So you aren’t actually in wine country,
in mid-April, she decided to create a a virtual session with a winemaker or
Today, she logs onto her laptop steam-valve release to substitute for winery owner can offer some advan-
computer and spreads the word to the after-work happy hour no longer tages over an in-person visit.
people across the country. happening at the corner bar. Eise-
man contacted several wineries on “It was unlike going into the actual
Businesses, law firms and pri- the North Fork of Long Island to see winery,” says Noah Doyle, a finan-
vate clubs, unable to entertain em- if they could accommodate a long- cial adviser with Janney Montgomery
ployees, clients and members in the distance, online event. Scott in New York City, who connect-
usual manner with happy hours or ed with Macari to do a tasting for sev-
expense-account dinners, are latch- “I wanted to support a local busi- eral of his clients around the coun-
ing on to virtual events such as wine ness,” Eiseman said in an interview. try. “The program was part tasting,
tastings to maintain a sense of com- She found Gabriella Macari, who han- part history about the family and her
munity and togetherness in a time of dles marketing for her family’s Ma- grandparents, and about winemak-
social distancing. cari Vineyards in Mattituck, on Long ing on the North Fork,” he said.
Island. The Macaris had closed their
Jen Lee, a regional vice president tasting room to visitors and were con- When I asked whether he would
for Salesforce, a San Francisco firm centrating on shipping wines directly consider doing such an event after
that sells “customer relationship” to consumers. the world returns to normal, Doyle
software the old-fashioned way, says paused. He mused about bringing
that after the pandemic hit, “we real- Gabriela shipped three wines – a clients together on a regional basis or
ized we had to reinvent how we sell, rosé, a white and a red – to about reaching several around the country
quickly.” 85 MidOcean employees who had at once.
agreed to go online at a designated
But how do you build a rapport time. MidOcean paid for the wines “Yeah, I’d be open to doing it again,”
with a prospect over Zoom? “We got he said. 
creative and pivoted to fun activities

50 Vero Beach 32963 / July 30, 2020 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

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Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / July 30, 2020 51

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