12/02/2021 ISSUE 48

Is Orchid on verge of appointing
town manager? P9

COVID-19 reappears
in public schools. P12
School Board cuts back to
just one meeting a month. P14

For breaking news visit

MY VERO Bill and Carol Yates Brackett enters
race for seat in
BY RAY MCNULTY PHOTO BY KAILA JONES Florida House

Should anyone do time
in a house of horrors?

Is it possible to feel sorry Long covid: Infection ends, but recovery often very slow BY RAY MCNULTY
for Jaime Williams, the drunk Staff Writer
driver whose car fatally struck BY MICHELLE GENZ two years, they sailed together later, they both have been diag-
16-year-old Cole Coppola as Staff Writer from New England to the Ca- nosed with long COVID. Vero Beach Mayor Robbie
he pedaled his bicycle near the ribbean. Brackett is running for the
crest of the 17th Street Bridge Bill and Carol Yates are both In the initial infection, Bill, Florida House of Represen-
and knocked his lifeless body workout fanatics. Married Last August, they both caught 78, had little more than body tatives seat currently held by
into the dark waters of the In- nearly 50 years, they have both COVID-19 at a meeting of aches and fatigue. Carol Yates, local attorney Erin Grall, who
dian River Lagoon in the wee competed in triathlons. For their bible study group. 79, developed a terrible cough he said will seek to represent
hours of Sept. 27, 2014? a newly created district in the
Now, more than three months CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 state Senate.
Before you respond, you
need to consider where she has If approved, the Senate’s
spent the past five years. new District 25 would include
all of Indian River County and
After negotiating a plea deal all or most of St. Lucie County,
that allowed her to avert the Okeechobee and Highlands
maximum penalty for DUI counties.
manslaughter and a misde-
meanor marijuana-posses- State Senator Debbie May-
sion charge – up to 16 years field, meanwhile, said she will
in prison – Williams, then 23, seek to stay in the Senate rep-
was sentenced to seven years resenting a newly drawn Dis-
and required to serve a mini- trict 17 that doesn’t include In-
mum of four. dian River County, which she
has represented since 2016.
Little did she, or any of us
here, know that a house of hor- The Florida Constitution re-
rors awaited her at the Low- quires that legislators approve
ell Correctional Institution in redistricting plans for the state’s
Ocala.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 8
CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

Matilde Sorensen, Vero’s billion-dollar Evidence challenged in Spencer murder case
broker, sets record for career sales here
BY LISA ZAHNER are seeking to have several key
BY STEVEN M. THOMAS was recognized this month for Staff Writer pieces of evidence tossed out.
Staff Writer closing more than $1 billion in
real estate sales in her career. As 20-year-old Elisha Martin The defense is challeng-
Two hundred million here, sits in an Indian River County ing two warrants obtained
$132 million there – after a “She’s actually done way jail cell awaiting trial on first- by Sheriff’s Office detectives
while it all starts to add up. Just over a billion, but the MLS re- degree murder for the Febru- to enter and search Martin’s
ask Matilde Sorensen, who cords only go back to 2010,” ary 2019 shooting death of residence on Carnival Ter-
16-year-old Sebastian River race in Sebastian. The first
CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 High School football player Lo- search warrant was limited
gan Spencer, Martin’s attorneys to drugs and drug-related

CONTINUED ON PAGE 8

December 2, 2021 Volume 14, Issue 48 Newsstand Price $1.00 Service League
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News 1-14 Editorial 34 People 15-28 TO ADVERTISE CALL with time, too. P20
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2 Vero Beach 32963 / December 2, 2021 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

NEWS

Long COVID mind is still foggy, she says. It was hard
for her to pin down the time frame of
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 her illness – and no wonder. It’s been
going on for almost four months.
and ended up hospitalized for nearly
three weeks. She had gone by ambu- As the Delta surge retreats and a
lance Aug. 27 after fainting, her fall new variant threatens, several thou-
broken by the bathroom door when sand COVID-19 patients infected dur-
she fell against it and slid to the floor – ing the Delta surge in Indian River
the door stop poked a hole in the wall. County may be living in the limbo of
long COVID, out of the woods of an ac-
Bill called a neighbor who was a tive infection, but plagued with symp-
nurse; she rushed over to take Carol’s toms that have not resolved.
oxygen level. It was 70 percent. Nor-
mal is around 95 or above. That estimate, up to one-third of the
10,000 people infected here since late
Today, three months later, both Bill July, comes out of a new study released
and Carol are fighting the mysterious earlier this month on long COVID syn-
syndrome known as long COVID. At drome.
first, Bill’s only obvious symptoms fol-
lowing the achy fatigue of initial CO- Applied over the course of the pan-
VID were weight loss and depression demic, the study’s finding would
triggered by missing Carol – he wasn’t mean up to one-third of Indian River
allowed to see Carol over those three County’s 22,000 reported cases – more
weeks she was hospitalized. Instead, than 7,000 people – took months to
he baked brownies and brought her transition back to their former health.
Sonic milkshakes every day, waiting in
the lobby to make sure someone took The rate for hospitalized patients
them up to her. is much higher. One study examined
records of a quarter-million COVID
But silently, as the weeks passed af- survivors, 79 percent of them hospital-
ter Carol’s release, his blood pressure ized. Of those, more than half suffered
began to climb and his resting pulse physical or mental symptoms for two
was faster, up from 50 to 60 beats per to six months. Topping the list of com-
minute to 70 to 80. Bill went to his car- plaints were trouble getting around to
diologist, Dr. Brian Deonarine, for a manage daily life, either due to muscle
workup. It turned out his atrial fibril- pain or fatigue; breathing problems;
lation, discovered and brought under and mental health disorders including
control in 2019, had returned. Deon- difficulty concentrating and general-
arine diagnosed long COVID. ized anxiety syndrome.

Carol had it too, and worse. After Among COVID-19 patients who aren’t
weeks of feeling “like every breath hospitalized but go on to develop long
was my last breath,” she remembers COVID, one-third never had a single
being wheeled out to the hospital’s symptom when they were first infected,
portico to Bill’s waiting car one day. according to one recent analysis.
She can recall thinking to herself in a
fog of confusion: “Oh, OK. I guess this Vero pulmonologist Dr. Diego Mal-
means I’m well.” But she felt anything donado saw firsthand the recent rav-
but well. That was in mid-September. ages of acute COVID in the ICU at
Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospi-
It was November before she was tal. He feels the Delta variant is bound
able to brush her teeth without gasp- to generate more long COVID cases
ing for air. Finally, a couple of weeks than previous surges since it produced
ago, she was weaned from an ever- more severe disease, a red flag that
present oxygen machine. And she can long COVID is more likely to develop.
walk around the neighborhood with-
out Bill trailing her with the portable Delta cases began receding in early
oxygen tank. September and had dipped to 2020
levels by mid-October. But long CO-
Thanksgiving Day marked a mile- VID diagnoses resulting from delta
stone. Invited to a neighbor’s house infections will likely continue to show
for dinner, Carol was able to socialize up for another month or so and could
standing up. stick around well into the new year.

“People told me, Carol, sit down, Beyond Delta, this county may see
and I said, no, I have got to get strong.” many more long COVID cases than
its neighbors to the south, Maldona-
She is just getting back to lifting do said. That’s because Indian River
weights again, though “sometimes County has a disproportionately high
only doing one set.” She is walking 15 number of older residents.
to 20 minutes a day. Bill is still tracking
her stats every day – her blood pres- “We are seeing much more long
sure, which for some reason has low- COVID here than in other counties,
ered, and her oxygen level, which has and probably more than other states,”
steadily improved. One day she even Maldonado said. “The age of our pop-
got to 100 percent. ulation here and in Florida is very ad-
vanced.”
But the cough from COVID has nev-
er cleared completely; it interrupts her With the odds of developing long
speech every minute or two. And her COVID increasing with the severity of
the initial infection, and that the risk

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / December 2, 2021 3

NEWS

of severe infection increasing with and research, awareness of the syn- hospitalized patients are discharged, months, if those patients are progres-
age, Maldonado says it stands to rea- drome has come largely from patient- doctors at Indian River are educating sively improving, they don’t usually re-
son that an area with a large retire- based groups, beginning in May 2020 them about the possibility of developing quire a significant workup,” said Mal-
ment population will see more long when it was first named on Twitter by long COVID, according to Maldonado. donado. “The problems start when
COVID patients than elsewhere. a U.K. archaeologist suffering from after two to three months, instead of
symptoms herself. At the one-week follow-up visit, of- improvement, the patient is persis-
“We probably have more than 70 ten by telehealth, doctors – typically tently short of breath, and you notice
percent of (hospitalized COVID pa- Since then it has been largely self-re- pulmonologists or infectious disease on the chest imaging that those shad-
tients) that are over 65 years old. If you ported to a registry, though Medicare has doctors – check to see if the patient is ows in the lungs are improving.
extrapolate that patients over 65 with now assigned long COVID symptoms continuing to improve.
comorbidities are at risk of long CO- separate diagnostic codes. And before CONTINUED ON PAGE 4
VID, then you have your answer. Doz- “We start with that. Then, after two
ens, hundreds? Yes, we do have it. I’m
seeing it every single day.”

That appointment-book barometer
– and a raft of retrospective studies –
are for now all that is available to quan-
tify long COVID locally.

“We do not have an actual preva-
lence yet. I wish we would, but this is
an ongoing problem. We are living it,”
said Maldonado.

“Hopefully we get to a point where
we have more accurate numbers and
percentages to understand better the
natural course of this disease.”

As a pulmonologist, Maldonado has
a lead role in referring long COVID pa-
tients to specialists for treatment. He
said he communicates regularly with
them as a team, much the same as
long COVID clinics that have popped
up at major health care centers and
universities around the world. At the
corporate level, Cleveland Clinic has
mounted a multi-discipline response
against long COVID called the reCOV-
er clinic.

“Some people are miserable for long
periods after recovery,” said Dr. Gerald
Pierone, an infectious disease doctor
who has just begun to find time in the
lull of active covid cases to begin treat-
ing people with long covid.

Pierone described a spectrum of
disease that is as broad as for the acute
phase of COVID.

“On the severe end, there are people
who are profoundly disabled after ven-
tilator ICU stays. On the milder end,
some people have loss of taste and
smell and fatigue that lasts for a few
weeks,” said Pierone.

In between are people with “varying
degrees of diverse symptoms,” includ-
ing brain fog, insomnia, decreased ex-
ercise tolerance, unstable blood pres-
sure, shortness of breath, racing heart,
and scarring of the lungs.

Other common problems in long
COVID are insomnia and obstruc-
tive sleep apnea. Maldonado said
Cleveland Clinic’s team is talking with
Pierone about doing a study of sleep
disorders in long COVID.

Deonarine, the Yates’ cardiologist,
is working on a January conference
on long COVID with Dr. Leslie Cooper,
the Jacksonville-based chair of the de-
partment of cardiovascular medicine
at Mayo Clinic Enterprise.

As physicians work together to stay
in the loop on long COVID treatment

4 Vero Beach 32963 / December 2, 2021 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

NEWS

Long COVID Institutes of Health has pegged with
research dollars to try to solve. So far,
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3 the NIH has dedicated more than $1
billion in research funding to hone in
“What you’re wondering is, is this on the syndrome’s root cause.
patient developing complications of
post-COVID? At that point, we’re not So far, there is no formal test for
just observing, we start treating this long COVID. Scientists are working to
patient differently. We start addressing establish levels of anti-viral immunity
the problems with antibiotics or we in long COVID sufferers, looking for “a
restart steroids.” signature of changes that could be de-
finitively tested in a small blood test,”
Depending on symptoms, other as one expert put it during a conference
treatments may help improve the pa- last week at Imperial College London.
tients’ condition. Many patients are
discharged directly into rehab centers. The expert, Danny Altmann, is look-
Doctors may order physical therapy ing at immune response differences in
for those with muscle decondition- people who get well within a couple of
ing. They may refer patients to sleep weeks after COVID infection, and those
specialists for insomnia; order medi- whose symptoms linger for months.
cation to bring blood pressure into a He thinks the difference may have to
normal range; or request psychiatric do with autoimmunity, in which anti-
treatment for post-COVID mental dis- bodies attack the body’s own cells.
orders like anxiety.
There may be a new hurdle to get-
While long COVID patients are no ting out of long COVID limbo. As of
longer infectious, the ripple effect of last week, some scientists feared it
their incapacitation – whatever the de- may pose a greater risk of reinfection,
gree – spreads throughout the commu- including in those with natural immu-
nity, more markedly post-delta, which nity imparted from a COVID-19 infec-
saw younger, sicker patients than in tion. Tests are underway to see how
prior surges. effective current vaccines are against
omicron, and companies are already
Today, co-workers are covering for working on a specific vaccine that tar-
long COVID patients’ reduced work- gets the new variant.
loads, and family members take over
parenting or household chores, as an All that news is not weighing heav-
estimated 3,000 Delta-related long ily on Bill and Carol Yates, at least not
COVID patients in the county try to get yet. Although six of their eight friends
back on their feet. infected that night at bible study were
not vaccinated, they still aren’t inter-
That translates to a significant loss ested in getting the shot. “I think it’s
of productivity not only in the work- government controlled,” said Bill Yates.
force, where employees are already “They should focus more on, if you get
scarce, but in families, where the toll the virus, treating it right away.”
of a parent’s illness extends beyond
the fear of contagion to an inability to Maldonado is full-throated in urg-
fully participate in family life as covid ing people to get vaccinated. While
recovery drags on, sometimes as long there isn’t enough data yet on the
as a year. typically mild or asymptomatic break-
through cases still turning into long
“There are case reports saying more COVID – it appears that may happen
than 50 percent of post-COVID pa- in about a third of breakthrough cases
tients are manifesting some degree of – that number is small since vaccina-
worsening quality of life,” said Maldo- tion does prevent severe disease and
nado. “That means it might affect dif- hospitalization, the greatest risk fac-
ferent areas of their daily lives. That in- tors for long COVID.
volves how they function at work, and
how they function in their own homes “Vaccination is extremely essential,”
as parents. You name it: It definitely is he said.
going to affect the economy and the
society in general.” As concerned as he is for long COVID
patients, he remembers the patients
In mid-November, one study not that didn’t make it out of the ICU.
yet peer reviewed showed COVID-19
vaccination may increase the odds of “This is beyond anything I have lived
escaping long COVID, even if people in my whole career, especially this
get vaccinated after they have already last wave,” said Maldonado. “Unfor-
contracted the disease. tunately we saw hundreds of patients
that were critically ill and dying and we
Maldonado stresses that vaccina- were very limited in what we could do
tion against COVID-19 is a strong pre- for them. We saw a lot of patients dying
ventive of long COVID simply by re- in their 20s, 30s, and 40s.
ducing the viral load in the event of a
breakthrough infection, the same way “Those things are preventable,” he
the vaccine greatly lessens the risk of said. “I wish we had done a much bet-
severe disease. ter job as a society to prevent that, and
of course, that means education. Pre-
Exactly why people develop long co- vention means the use of masks, social
vid is still a mystery, one the National distancing and most important vacci-

nations.” 

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / December 2, 2021 5

NEWS

My Vero conducted a two-year investigation of than 100,000 pages of documents and er cruel and unusual punishments.
inmate abuse at Lowell, detailed how interviews with dozens of inmates. Investigators from the DOJ’s Civil
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 corrections officers “raped, sodomized,
beat and choked” inmates at Florida’s The report alleged that Lowell vio- Rights Division also exposed the fail-
For those who missed the headlines: oldest and largest women’s prison. lated women’s Eighth Amendment ure of the Florida Department of Cor-
A 34-page report released last December rights by failing to protect them from rections and the prison’s administra-
by the U.S. Department of Justice, which The investigation, which began in the sexual abuse, which was not only tors to take timely action to address the
April 2018, included the review of more tolerated but “normalized,” and oth-
CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

6 Vero Beach 32963 / December 2, 2021 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

NEWS

My Vero driving by sharing her sad story with
others who need to be reminded that
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5 “trouble often comes disguised as fun.”

nightmarish problems – which were as Asked if she felt any sympathy forWil-
systemic as they were sickening – thus liams, who was only 21 and employed
allowing the abuses to persist. at the Citrus Grillhouse when the crash
occurred, Ciambriello replied, “Yes” –
The DOJ report came five years after something she conceded she would
the Miami Herald published a series ti- not have said seven years ago.
tled, “Beyond Punishment,” which doc-
umented how more than three dozen But she also believes Williams de-
former and then-current inmates were served to go to prison.
forced to perform sexual acts with Low-
ell corrections officers who threatened “She needed to be held accountable
them with solitary confinement or the for her crime, for what she did to Cole
loss of visitation privileges with their and all the suffering she has caused
children. us,” said Ciambriello, who requested
that we not contact other family mem-
Outrage spawned by the DOJ re- bers and disrupt the progress they’ve
port prompted hard-hitting editori- made in coping with such a loss.
als – from the Orlando Sentinel, South
Florida Sun-Sentinel and other state Others, too, should be held account-
newspapers – excoriating the Correc- able, she said.
tions Department and Lowell. Four fe-
male legislators called for the removal Ciambriello said she’s still“really angry”
of the prison’s administrators. with the friends and other local restaurant
workers who interacted with Williams on
The report, however, stopped short that fateful night and did nothing to pre-
of holding anyone criminally liable and, vent her from driving drunk.
according to the Corrections Depart-
ment website, Stephen Rossiter was still “To me, they’re just as culpable,” she
serving as Lowell’s warden last weekend. said. “They knew she was drinking. They
never should’ve allowed her to get behind
Williams, however, is no longer there. the wheel of a car.They should’ve stopped
Two weeks ago, she was transferred to her, even if they had to take her keys.”
the Suncoast Community Release Center
in St. Petersburg, where she will be given Ciambriello, a local realtor, said she
the opportunity to work outside the facil- hasn’t driven across the 17th Street Bridge
ity, which requires that she wear an elec- since her grandson’s death, but she thinks
tronic monitoring device and maintain about him every day and remembers that
regular communication with the staff. fateful night “like it was yesterday.”
Was Williams among the abused
inmates at Lowell? We’re not suggest- She took no pleasure, though, in
ing that, and she is not willing to talk learning that Williams spent the first
about her stay at Lowell. five years of her sentence in a prison
In fact, her Melbourne-based attor- rife with violence and abuse.
ney, Alan Landman, wrote in an email to
Vero Beach 32963 that neither his client “Did I want her to serve her sentence
nor her parents, who visit her regularly, in a hell hole like that? Absolutely not,
wanted to discuss her incarceration. but we had no control over where they
“At the present time, Jaime’s parents put her,” Ciambriello said, referring to
do not believe it would be in her best her and other family members. “I know
interests to speak out publicly or com- our prison system has problems, but that
municate with you,” Landman wrote. kind of abuse shouldn’t be tolerated.”
“Possibly, their position may change
once she is released.” So, what do you say now?
Williams, now 28, had her sentence Is it possible for you to feel sorry for
reduced by one year – her reward for the drunk driver who ended the life of
good behavior – and is scheduled to a teenage boy and was sent to prison
be released next November. But unless for at least six years?
and until she’s ready to talk, there’s no Let there be no doubt: What hap-
way to know how she’ll respond to the pened in the wee hours of Sept. 27,
fatal crash and her prison experience. 2014, was a heartbreaking, devastat-
Mary Lou Ciambriello, Coppola’s ing and entirely preventable accident
73-year-old grandmother, is hoping caused by a young woman who made
for the best. a conscious decision to drive home af-
“I don’t know her, and I never want ter having a few drinks after work.
to meet with her or speak to her, but It was a bad decision many of us
I’ve often wanted to write her a letter,” have made during the foolish years of
Ciambriello said. “I don’t want her to our youth – but somehow managed to
waste her life. I hope her life has a pur- escape unscathed.
pose and that she uses this tragedy to Williams didn’t.
do some good.” She made a tragic and catastrophic
Perhaps, Ciambriello added, Wil- mistake that likely will haunt her for the
liams will join the effort to stop drunk rest of her life. She knows she killed a
teenager.
She’ll never forget the five years she
spent in a prison where brutalizing and
sexually abusing inmates was the norm.
How can you not feel a bit sorry for

her? 



8 Vero Beach 32963 / December 2, 2021 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

NEWS

Spencer murder case discovered in the course of conduct- the Office of Criminal Conflict and intent to distribute, then added a charge
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 ing the first search – presumably would Civil Regional Counsel in Fort Pierce. for the murder of Spencer six days later.
have never been applied for. Eight months later the case was brought
items. That warrant was sought after Martin’s defense was farmed out to to a grand jury, which indicted Martin
a deputy said he smelled marijuana at The homicide investigation tracked that agency because his case caused a on first-degree premeditated murder –
the home. While serving that warrant, Spencer’s travels in the days and hours conflict of interest involving a separate a charge which requires the review of a
detectives saw items possibly related before he was reported missing, and person the public defender represents, grand jury because in Florida it’s pun-
to their open homicide case. police say Martin was the last person court records say. To defend Martin, ishable by the death penalty.
to see Spencer alive because surveil- the public defender might have need-
So deputies obtained a second, ex- lance video shows Martin picking ed to incriminate the other person. If there was insufficient probable
panded search warrant to seize a hand- Spencer up from Spencer’s girlfriend’s cause for the first warrant, and detec-
gun and an iPhone from the same house in his silver Chrysler 300. The office’s Managing Attorney Don- tives had not gathered enough evidence
Sebastian home. Martin’s lawyers are ald Chinquina and Assistant Regional at the time to get a search warrant re-
challenging the probable cause leading Martin, the son of a longtime Vero Counsel Jerome Stone filed a motion in lated to the homicide, they would not
to the first warrant, which means the Beach Police Department sergeant August 2020 for Judge Dan Vaughn to have found what ballistics testing al-
second warrant – stemming from items who, after retiring, went to work for sever the drug charges against Martin leges to be the murder weapon, and
the Sheriff’s Office, is represented by from the first-degree murder charge. So what turned out to be Spencer’s iPhone,
two seasoned defense attorneys with far, that motion has not been granted. which was not found with his body in
Then in January the defense team filed Fellsmere. Court records show Spencer
a separate motion to have evidence was shot in the back of the head, execu-
obtained via both warrants tossed out. tion style, and dumped in a wooded lot
near the Stick Marsh.
The evidence in question includes
a Colt .38 caliber handgun with six Martin admitted to picking Spen-
rounds of ammunition, 36 grams of cer up late that night, and giving him
TPW or medical-type marijuana in a a ride out to Fellsmere where Spencer
bag, 5 grams of marijuana in a bag, 1 was scheduled to confront some oth-
gram of loose marijuana, an iPhone 6s er men. Martin said he circled around
and some documents. to pick Spencer up but then left, trav-
eling north on Babcock Street to Bre-
Chinquina and Stone say the depu- vard County.
ties’ accounts of events that happened
at Martin’s home when they showed Without the phone and the firearm,
up to question him are not consistent. prosecutors would still have state-
As part of the homicide investigation, ments from numerous people – most-
detectives had staked out Martin’s ly with criminal records – who claim
home. When Martin arrived in the Martin told them he killed Spencer, or
silver Chrysler 300, the detectives ap- told them he had committed a murder.
proached the house to question Mar-
tin in the driveway. But the first-degree murder case
would be a whole lot tougher to prove
One deputy said he “could smell a beyond a reasonable doubt. Martin
strong odor of raw, not smoked mari- and Spencer had been friends, but po-
juana coming from the interior of the lice say Martin’s motive was that he be-
garage.” They knocked on the front
door and the same deputy again said lieved Spencer had stolen his cash. 
he smelled raw, unsmoked marijuana
at the front door. Robbie Brackett

Almost all the marijuana deputies CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
found was sealed in plastic Ziplock-
type bags in bedrooms on the op- House, Senate and congressional seats
posite side of the 3,200-square-foot during the first regular session of the
house, so the defense attorneys argue second year following the census –
that it would be pretty tough to smell which means the process should be
that marijuana in sealed bags from the completed by mid-March.
open garage door, or the front door.
The new districts will be in effect for
“Police used this phantom smell of next year’s elections.
marijuana as a basis to obtain entry
into the house, because they did not “Politics is not something I planned
have a basis to enter the home to look to get into, so this was never really a
for evidence related to the homicide,” goal of mine,” Brackett said. “I ran for
the defense argued. the City Council because I wanted to
give something back to the community.
If true, the defense says this consti-
tutes a violation of Martin’s civil rights. “About a year ago, people began talk-
Case law, the defense argues, would ing to me about running in 2024, when
require the court to remove the detec- Erin would’ve reached her term limit,
tive’s allegedly “false statements” from but I told them that was too far away to
the affidavit used to apply for the search think about,” he continued. “And if you
warrant and then to judge whether had asked me two weeks ago, I’d have
or not the warrant should be granted told you no. It wasn’t on my radar.
based upon the remaining informa-
tion. If the warrant no longer stands “But now, with the redistricting, it’s
up to the court’s test, the evidence ob- something that has become available,”
tained should be excluded, and not be he added. “I’ve been getting a lot of
presented at trial, the defense said. encouragement to do this, so I talked
with my family and decided last week
Deputies arrested Martin on the to go for it.”
charge of possession of marijuana with

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / December 2, 2021 9

NEWS

Brackett, who was elected to the City efit Vero Beach and Indian River County
Council in 2019 and is serving his sec- when they need assistance from the
ond term as mayor, said he planned to Legislature.
file the necessary paperwork with the
Florida Division of Elections in Tal- He said he’s prepared to spend time
lahassee this week and formally an- away from his family when necessary
nounce his candidacy. and that he won’t mind the commute.

He said his newborn campaign al- “Tallahassee is where the business is
ready has the support of every consti- done,” Brackett said. “Fortunately, most
tutional officer in the county – except, of it is done during the first quarter of
of course, for Supervisor of Elections the year, so I don’t anticipate any prob-
Leslie Swan, who is prohibited from lems. Besides, my family supports this.”
endorsing candidates – as well as 19th
Judicial Circuit State Attorney Tom The newly drawn district Mayfield
Bakkedahl and Public Defender Dia- would represent, if she is re-elected,
mond Litty. stretches north from Brevard-Indian
River county line to the Titusville area
He also has Grall’s backing. – which is convenient.
“Before I made the decision, I sat
down with Erin and we discussed our Mayfield, who has served in the
plans, and we talked again (Monday) Legislature since 2008, moved to Bre-
morning while she was driving back to vard County in 2016, after she married
Tallahassee,” Brackett said. Robert Scaringe, a wildly successful
“I’m not running against Erin Grall,” businessman with deep roots in the
he added with emphasis. “I think she’s Melbourne area.
doing a fine job. I’m thrilled to have
her support.” She was previously married to Vero
Grall, who was elected to the Flori- Beach’s Stan Mayfield, a member of the
da House in 2016, did not respond to Florida House from 2000 until 2008,
phone messages left on her cellphone. when he reached his term limit and
Brackett, 58, is a managing partner was succeeded by his wife. He died in
in the family-owned Edge Information September 2008 at age 52 after a year-
Management, which conducts pre-em- long battle with cancer.
ployment background checks. He also
uses his real-estate license to work with “Between Stan and I, we served
the Brackett Family Limited Partner- the people of Indian River County for
ship, a property management business. more than 20 years, so I have a special
If he’s elected to state office, Brack- connection there,” Mayfield said. “Just
ett said he has enough flexibility in his because the district lines have been
schedule to devote the time necessary redrawn doesn’t mean I won’t care
to his job in Tallahassee. Similarly, he about those constituents.”
doesn’t foresee his campaign infring-
ing on his duties as mayor. If she is re-elected to the state Sen-
In fact, Brackett said he believes his ate, Mayfield said she would consider
presence in the state Capitol could ben- a future run for longtime U.S. Con-
gressman Bill Posey’s seat – but only
after he decides to step aside.

“At some point, yes, that’s a role I’d
have an interest in,” Mayfield said. “But

I’ve got to get re-elected first.” 

Orchid on verge of naming town manager?

BY SAMANTHA ROHLFING BAITA quest. Stowe had previously stated past
Staff Writer and present council members have
asked her if she’d be interested in be-
More than three months after Noah coming town manager at some point,
Powers’ surprise announcement in but she never actively sought the job.
August that he’d be stepping down as
town manager on Sept. 24, the Town Powers’ Aug. 9 resignation letter,
of Orchid may be on the verge of ap- which only referred vaguely to “re-
pointing a permanent town manager. cent events” which gave him “cause
to re-evaluate my employment status
During a Dec. 7 meeting called spe- with the Town of Orchid,” sparked sur-
cifically to discuss internal candidate prise and consternation among coun-
Town Clerk Cherry Stowe, the council cil members. At the Sept. 13 council
is expected to vote whether to promote meeting, Powers explained that over
Stowe or continue the search process. the summer he’d met with Gibbons
Since Powers’ departure, Stowe has and the mayor suggested a transition
undertaken both her own position and plan for Powers’ retirement, with Stowe
that of interim town manager. moving into the town manager posi-
tion. Powers said Gibbons presented
According to Orchid Mayor Bob Gib- the idea in such a way that Powers felt
bons, Stowe, who has served in her he was being “forced out.”
position since 2015, has recently sub-
mitted an application, per council re- CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

10 Vero Beach 32963 / December 2, 2021 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

NEWS

Orchid town manager Association, Ken Parker. Parker’s advice Prior to the Dec. 7 meeting, each will know the right approach with the
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9 proved invaluable, Gibbons said. council member had a one-on-one with right person.”
Stowe as well. There will be no external
At the time, Gibbons said he’d never Parker’s presentation detailed the search, said Gibbons, until the internal In 2015, as Orchid’s fifth town manag-
intended to fire Powers, but had actu- entire process, including how to han- candidate issue has been decided on er, Powers’ starting salary was $80,000,
ally told Powers he wanted to both re- dle an internal candidate, as well as one way or another. If Stowe is cho- with no additional benefits. His 2021-
new his contract and establish a new alternatives. He provided question- sen, and a salary can be agreed upon, 22 salary would have been $128,544.
transition procedure. naires for each council member and Orchid will have its new town manager
conducted one-on-one discussions as soon as the necessary papers are Stowe’s town clerk salary is $74,984. 
Following Powers’ departure, sev- with each, to determine their expec- signed. Then the search will get under
eral town council members opined that tations and the attributes each mem- way for a new town clerk. Billion-dollar broker
Stowe would in fact be a strong and log- ber felt were most important for their CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
ical choice, but agreed not to rush the town manager to possess. If, however, the council decides to
process. To that end, council sought the keep looking, then the council would says Pat Mays, office manager and num-
services of a senior advisor from the In- Parker then consolidated the infor- seek Parker’s assistance in the search. bers-cruncher-in-chief at Dale Sorensen
ternational City/County Management mation to create a profile of the ideal “Then,” says Gibbons, “we have a Real Estate’s Cardinal Drive office.
town manager, and Gibbons noted that great deal of confidence in him, he
profile was well-received by the council. Sorensen was inducted into Who’s
Who In Luxury Real Estate’s Billion-
CRISTELLE CAY aire’s Club on Nov. 18 after Mays sub-
mitted an MLS report and company
One must not wait until dusk to see how splendid life can be records documenting more than $1
billion in sales.
Oceanfront Cristelle Cay is entirely surrounded by preserves in perpetuity
Find matchless quality and value in a wide pristine beach setting Only 60 brokers have been admitted
Each condominium has a 32’ x 8’ direct oceanfront patio balcony to the club since it was created in 2007
and Sorensen is joining an elite group
All windows and sliding glass doors exceed the Florida Building Code that includes celebrity brokers like
Custom design ceilings~Marble Bathrooms~Engineered wood floors~Painting Mauricio Umansky, founder and CEO
of The Agency in Beverly Hills, who
Custom Gourmet Kitchen appears frequently on “Million Dollar
9-unit SAILFISH has four 3-bedroom & 3-bathroom condos remaining Listings Los Angeles.”
12-unit MAHI-MAHI has six 2-bedroom & 3-bathroom condos remaining
Garage parking - AC storage units - Gym - Gated Entry - Dog Walk - Barbecue No other Vero Beach broker has ever
made it to this level.
Design-Developed by Cardinal Ocean Development LLC
52-years Florida oceanfront condominium development “Achieving over $1 billion in real estate
sales is an amazing accomplishment,”
Peer-reviewed engineering integrity says Kate Ledbetter, vice president of
marketing at Who’s Who In Luxury Real
Now Under Construction Estate, a global referral network with
125,000 top agents in 62 countries. “It
4804 Atlantic Beach Boulevard (A1A) North Hutchinson Island, Florida takes true dedication to your clients to
Fifteen minutes south of Vero Beach 17th Street Bridge achieve this incredible milestone and
Email: [email protected] Tel: 772.321.9590 we are honored to welcome Matilde
from $1,025,000 into the Billionaires Club.”

50% Sold Sorensen has been the top-selling
agent in Indian River County many
Sailfish Mahi Mahi times, including in 2020 when she sold
$132 million, according to Real Trends.
This year she has far surpassed that
number, closing $184.5 million so far,
and is on track to sell $200 million, ac-
cording to Mays.

“I think I have enough sales pending
to make it to $200 million,” Sorensen
told Vero Beach 32963 last week. “If
I do, it will be the biggest thing I have
ever done.”

Sorensen’s blockbuster numbers in
2020 and 2021, which helped propel
her into the real estate stratosphere,
come in the midst of the most intense
market in modern times, as pandemic
migration pushes home sales, home
prices and brokerage numbers to re-
cord heights.

But her long-term success is due to
hard work, market knowledge and a rare
talent for deal-making, according to is-
land agents and brokers who know her.

“Matilde and I entered the real es-
tate business at about the same time
nearly 40 years ago,” says Buzz Mac-
William, owner and broker at Alex

CONTINUED ON PAGE 12



12 Vero Beach 32963 / December 2, 2021 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

NEWS

Billion-dollar broker customers, which translates into being
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10 available 24/7. Her family sees her work
tirelessly for her customers, sometimes
MacWilliam Inc. “We were both trying missing days off with family and friends.”
to learn sales and marketing as well as
how to run a brokerage business and “Matilde knows so much,” Curley
we talked often about our experiences says. “She knows the people, history and
and how to solve problems. She al- properties of our town – built by who,
ways took real estate very seriously, al- sold to who, designed by who. She also
ways wanting to learn more and work listens, which is key in our business, and
harder and faster.” she is, in my opinion, the queen of mak-
ing creative off-market deals happen.”
“Her success is well deserved be-
cause she is an incredibly hard worker,” Sorensen says she has seen a major
says Cathy Curley, a top-selling agent shift in her clients’ thinking since the
at Dale Sorensen Real Estate. “She did pandemic began that is helping fuel
not get lucky. She continues to put an the red-hot housing market.
extraordinary amount of time and en-
ergy into her business.” “People value their families more now,
I think, and they have realized that mon-
Case in point: Sorensen says she ey is not so important, that you can have
worked straight through the pandem- all the money in the world and if you
ic, continuing to make deals – and she have COVID and you die all that mon-
hasn’t taken a vacation in two years, ey is not going to help you,” Sorensen
other than a quick five-day trip to says. “I think, all along, people had a lot
Maryland to visit friends. of money that they were saving, I don’t
know for what, and all at once they said,
“My business didn’t really slow ‘I am going to live my life.’
down,” Sorensen says of the frighten-
ing early days of COVID-19. “Pat and “Those who are retired decided to
I were here every day during the shut-
down, me downstairs and her upstairs.
We were the only ones in the office.”

Sorensen’s workday often extends
until 3 a.m., according to Mays.

“It’s true,” Sorensen says. “But it is
not work to me. Late at night is a time
for me to think things through and be
more creative. I love it.”

Sorensen’s daughter, Elizabeth So-
rensen, a successful realtor at Dale So-
rensen Real Estate, says her mother’s
“knowledge of the market, historically
and currently, is invaluable to those look-
ing to accomplish a sale or purchase.

“She is 100 percent committed to her

COVID-19 REAPPEARS AT VERO BEACH
HIGH, TREASURE COAST ELEMENTARY

BY GEORGE ANDREASSI however, will remain vigilant and
Staff Writer prepared should cases rise in the fu-
ture,” school district spokeswoman
COVID-19 returned to the coun- Cristen Maddux said Monday.
ty’s public schools last week as two
students at Vero Beach High and The two cases at Vero Beach High
one at Treasure Coast Elementary were not enough to trigger addi-
tested positive for the virus. tional health and safety precautions,
Maddux said.
The three new COVID-19 cases
were the first in the public schools “At this time, masks are optional
since Nov. 4, school district records across our district,” Maddux said.
show. “Cases are very low in our district
and our county.”
No new COVID-19 cases have been
reported since the three students test- The one-day uptick brought the
ed positive last on Nov. 22, according number of student cases to 1,125
to the school district’s COVID Dash- since the school year started Aug. 10,
board at press time Monday. school district records show. A total
of 210 employees have also tested
“We are not concerned at this time,
positive, but none since Oct. 20. 

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / December 2, 2021 13

NEWS

spend their money and live the life ter season, Sorensen doesn’t expect the Sorensen says it is not money, pri- “That is what makes me feel good,”
they had been dreaming of, moving market to slow down anytime soon. marily, but the satisfaction of com- she says, “helping people achieve their
to Florida and living by the water, and pleting transactions that drives her dreams. Absolutely. It is so nice. It makes
those still working realized they can “I just showed a house that went on and keeps her enthusiastic and moti- my day. I love it. It is fun.
work anywhere and decided to move the market at noon on Monday and vated after four decades in the real es-
someplace that makes them happy.” had six offers by Tuesday morning,” tate business. That and the people she “Of course, it can be frustrating some-
she says. “I’m just hoping they pick my meets and works with. times when deals don’t come together,
Barreling into the island’s busy win- client’s offer!”
CONTINUED ON PAGE 14

14 Vero Beach 32963 / December 2, 2021 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

NEWS

Aaron’s Hearing Care Center School Board to focus on ‘transforming schools’
and hold just one business meeting each month
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 debate during the 2020-2021 school year.
Doctor of Audiology take the necessary precautions to reduce School Superintendent David Moore
the spread of Covid-19 (coronavirus). We Staff Writer
wWithhyywoouurldhne’atryinoug want to be fit are committed to keeping our patients, any said cutting back on School Board
aid from the visitors to our offices and our staff healthy At least for the next year, the school meetings would give administrators
only audiologist-owned hearing and safe. district hopes to spend less time on more time to focus on improving the
aid office in Indian River At all times we’re careful to maintain clean- School Board meetings and more time academic performance of students.
County? According to Aaron liness in our offices in Vero Beach. We take “transforming schools.”
Liebman, Au.D., Doctor of extra steps and follow guidelines to further “Over two-thirds of counties in our
Audiology, “both Audiologists protect everyone. That means the Indian River County state conduct one business meeting a
and hearing aid salesmen School Board will have only one busi- month,” Moore told the School Board.
are licensed by the state. But, We have instituted a deep cleaning policy ness meeting per month to oversee a “This is a process that will allow us
typically, the salesman has no and our staff disinfects all surfaces that are $327 million budget, 22 public schools, to maximize our amount of time in
formal education in hearing, touched throughout the day. We’re read- 17,000 students and 2,000 employees. schools and removes a lot of the logis-
while the audiologist has gone ing up to date recommendations as they tical compliance work of prepping and
to college and obtained a degree become available while discussing and im- From now until November 2022, the having board meetings. I need staff to
in the field”. plementing best hygiene practices to ensure School Board scheduled business meet- be involved in transforming schools.”
What this means to you – your safety. ings for 6 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of
as a patient – is that Liebman the month, with exceptions on Dec. 14, Earlier on Nov. 16, the School Board
will not only fit you with than I thought possible.” March 15, July 19 and Aug. 30 to avoid discussed the proposed instructional
a hearing aid, he’ll use “Aaron is a very caring man, scheduling conflicts. calendar for the 2022-2023 school year,
alternative methods of testing patient and works very hard to which is set to start Wednesday, Aug. 10
for accuracy, so you receive do the best for your problems. The School Board previously held two and conclude May 27, 2023.
I would highly recommend evening business meetings per month,
him.” These are just three generally on the second and fourthTues- A new process designed to maximize
of the glowing testimonials days of each month, following mid-day student time in class already eliminated
delivered by local people who workshop meetings. half days so students benefit from a full
are “graduates” of Liebman at day of instruction, Moore said during a
Aaron’s Hearing Aid Center. The School Board voted 4-1 on Nov. Nov. 19 interview.
16 to approve the new business meet-
Dr. Liebman moved to Florida ing schedule. Dissenting board mem- “We used to have those half days at
in 2001. He is originally from ber Jacqueline Rosario said she wanted the end of December, that last week – we
Albany, N.Y. area where both he to keep the workshop meetings on the no longer do that,” Moore said. “They’re
and his father were audiologists. same days as the business meetings. full days of instruction. We’re not going
He has found the residents to waste those days away.
of Vero Beach and the rest Controversies involving manda-
of Indian River County to be tory facemask policies, a proposed “We’re going to make sure we have
receptive and loyal once they chief equity officer position, criti- good quality instruction,” Moore said.
are exposed to his caring and cal race theory lessons and sexual “I know we’re going to have some cele-
concern for them. content in school library books have brations and that’s fine too, but we want
So, if the concept of having your turned School Board business meet- to maximize the time we have with our
hearing aid fitted by someone ings into marathons of repetitious
who offers more than 30+ students.” 
years of experience, who offers
the proper instrument. He’ll no-fee consultations, who will
provide all-around service and return your phone calls, who
counseling so its full potential will supply free batteries for the Billion-dollar broker This year, the company, which is
will be clear. And, perhaps most life of your hearing instrument, CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13 managed by Matilde’s son Dale So-
importantly, he’ll consider you and who will provide quarterly rensen Jr., had closed $1,333,093,000
as an individual…including clean up and adjustments but I don’t get down. It is so exciting to in sales as of last week, on the way to
the affordability of the product attractive to you, there’s only meet new people – such accomplished what will almost certainly be a $1.5
he’ll be recommending. one local audiologist to seek people you can learn so much from – billion year, including more than $1
This type of kid glove treatment out: Dr. Aaron Liebman, and many of them become my friends. billion in sales in Indian River Coun-
may have contributed to a owner of Aarons Hearing Care, They are not just clients. ty.
finding quoted on the AARP the ONLY AUDIOLOGIST
website that states ‘people fitted IOnWdiaNnERDivhereaCroinugntayi.d office in “I don’t want to do a onetime deal If you stop by her office on Car-
for hearing aids by audiologists with someone and then never see dinal Drive this week, you will find
are 13 times more likely to For more information call them again. My business is built on Sorensen making calls from a thick
be satisfied than people who (772) 562-5100 in Vero Beach. real, long-term relationships with peo- sheaf of spread sheets, tapping into
made their purchase through a ple whose children’s children come to her network to let people know how
hearing aid salesman’. me when they are looking for a home.” much their home is worth in the
Dr. Liebman’s satisfied clients current market in hopes of getting
have willingly put their praises Sorensen and her husband, Dale them to list their property for sale
into print. Sorensen Sr., founded their brokerage if it makes personal and financial
“Everything I needed to know in the 1978 in what she calls “a teeny, sense.
was talked about up front in a tiny office on Beachland.”
very professional way.” “Aaron “Back when we started, Matilde made
has done more for my hearing It has since grown to be the largest and it very clear that she wanted to some-
most successful brokerage based in Vero day be the No. 1 agent and own the No.
Beach with 12 locations in three counties 1 real estate brokerage in Vero Beach,”
– St. Lucie, Indian River and Brevard. says MacWilliam. “She has accom-
plished that and so much more. No
Last year the family-owned company one works harder or is more deserving
sold more than a billion in real estate – a of this [Billionaires Club] honor than
first for any island brokerage – includ-
ing $700 million in Indian River County. Matilde.” 

RESOLUTE ‘GOLD STAR MOMS’
ON AWARENESS MISSION
AT WALK-A-THON P. 26

Marty Zickert, Shelly Ferger,
Joe Flescher and Rosie.

16 Vero Beach 32963 / December 2, 2021 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

Land Trust’s pick-up picnic hits the spot with supporters

Emily and Ned Sherwood. PHOTOS: MARY SCHENKEL Barb and Sherm Hotchkiss. Lucy Shurtleff and Nicholas Platt.

Clay and Mary Stobaugh. Greg and Kathy Sullivan. Patty and David Leeds.

BY MARY SCHENKEL habitat, protect our scenic water- serve, Protect and Provide nature to
Staff Writer front and provide access for public all.’
recreation and education. The pick-
Copying a page from last year’s up picnic served over 400 dinners in To date, the nonprofit has pro-
playbook, the Indian River Land Trust environmentally friendly, reusable tected more than 1,200 acres and 12
opted, for safety’s sake, to once again jute bags,” said Ken Grudens, IRLT miles of lagoon shoreline, including
invite its supporters to take part in a executive director. the important acquisition of the 65-
‘Picnic to Protect the Land that Pro- acre Hoffmann property, located be-
tects the Lagoon,’ rather than hosting “The benefit this year served as low and north of the Merrill Barber
its usual Land Water Wildlife event at the Land Trust’s kick-off of the pub- Bridge. The Land Trust has steadfast-
Rock City Gardens. lic phase of a $12 million Campaign ly restored vital wildlife habitats and
to Protect the Land that Protects the highly sensitive salt marshes and is
Attendees drove by the office to Lagoon. The goal of the public phase working on designs for a research and
pick up attractive IRLT tote bags filled is to complete a $1 million Campaign education facility at its Coastal Oaks
with a delicious repast from Wild Challenge put forth by Meg and Don- Preserve property.
Thyme Catering of sliced fillet mi- ald Steiner by raising an additional
gnon, New England style lobster salad $375,000 to meet that challenge. The Grudens also announced the ap-
and other goodies, along with wine support of this community is un- pointment of Melissa DePriest as
from Alimentari Gourmet Market. paralleled so I have no doubt we will their new director of philanthropy
Many of the supporters hosted small reach our goal and take us past the and marketing. A native Floridian,
gatherings of friends to enjoy their $12 million mark. We appreciate the DePriest previously worked in fund-
festive dinner together. tremendous support we have received raising and outreach for the College
to this point.” Foundation of Indian River State Col-
“The Land Trust was excited to lege.
host its second Picnic to Protect the The Land Trust, initially formed in
Lagoon in support of the organiza- 1990 to save McKee Botanical Garden, For more information, visit www.
tion’s efforts to preserve wildlife soon expanded its mission to ‘Pre- irlt.org. 

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / December 2, 2021 17

PEOPLE

Sandy and Randy Rolf. Barbara DuPont, Dick Sameth and Lee Westerberg. Rody and Tommye Johnson.

Chuck and Francie Cramb.
Joan and Michael Hoben.
Nancy and Byron Sugahara.

18 Vero Beach 32963 / December 2, 2021 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

For Museum’s ‘Circle,’ art at heart of community initiatives

Becky Torbin and Robyn Orzel. Connie Murphy, Diane Wilhelm and Serena Kratz. PHOTOS: MARY SCHENKEL Toni MacPherson and Jenny Wellschlager.

BY MARY SCHENKEL 13th season. that you have made is immeasur-
Staff Writer “This is the largest attendance able,” said Orzel.

“Everyone deserves access to art we’ve had for an opening and the She spoke about the challenges
– everyone. Art is hope, art is oppor- largest number of guests,” said the museum experienced over the
tunity, art is education,” said Becky Torbin, explaining that the Circle past 18 months, and the numerous
Torbin, chair of the Circle, a funding is a philanthropic group of women ways they continued to connect with
arm of the Vero Beach Museum of committed to making a difference the community, including through
Art, welcoming members and guests by evaluating and funding VBMA Zoom and virtual presentations.
to an afternoon tea in the museum’s community-focused, art enrichment Since July 2020, they have also dis-
newly renovated atrium to kick off its initiatives. tributed 6,000 art kits to children in
the community.
She noted that the pandemic pro-
“We needed to be something for
Join us for Sunday Worship Cindy Binder and Susan Smith. everyone, and we did our best to do
8:00am, 9:30am, & 11:00am just that,” said Orzel, adding that
vided them with an opportunity to they hope to reintroduce live pro-
Quality discipleship, fellowship, music, reflect on the past and explore ways gramming in 2022.
youth programs, and more - for all ages! to ensure the longevity and vitality
of the group through a five-year plan Last year, she said, the Circle vot-
We would love for you to join our church family! “to preserve the specialness of the ed to fund Museum Explorations in
Circle and to fuel the future.” schools and, in partnership with the
Sunday, December 5th Alzheimer and Parkinson’s Associa-
Robyn Orzel, VBMA director of tion, their Artful Engagement and
(2nd Sunday of Advent) development/associate executive Movement in the Moment programs.
This week’s message: director, related that Circle mem-
There’s No Place Like Home: bers have collectively gifted nearly The VBMA worked with the schools
“The Affection of Christ” $400,000 to a diversity of programs through classroom PowerPoint pre-
and initiatives. sentations, virtual tours and by dis-
Philippians 1:3-11 tributing art kits. They hope to have
Rev. Dr. G. Timothy Womack, Senior Pastor She said the Circle has enabled the students back at the museum for live
VBMA to build on its relationship tours next year.
520 Royal Palm Blvd First Presbyterian Preschool with the Indian River County School
Vero Beach, FL 32960 www.firstpresbyterianpreschool.org District through its Museum Explora- Orzel said the museum also added
(772) 562-9088 PRIMO School of Performing Arts tions program, formerly Artists in the a new pilot program, Museum Explo-
www.FirstPresVero.org Schools, especially with schools hav- rations on the Go, funded by a grant
www.PRIMOMusic.org ing “more vulnerable populations,” from the Cornelia T. Bailey Founda-
such as Indian River Academy and tion, which takes the curriculum
Fellsmere Elementary School. They where it’s needed. This summer, they
have also funded bus transportation inaugurated it with the Boys and
so that students could visit the mu- Girls Clubs in Vero Beach, Fellsmere
seum. and Sebastian, the Main, Brackett
and North County libraries, and the
“You were the catalyst to get our Environmental Learning Center.
Art for Health Sake initiative off the
ground and you provided training for Although Holidays at the Museum
our facilitators,” said Orzel, noting that this December will again focus on
the Circle has continued to fund exist- art kits and small family tours, Orzel
ing, new and expanded initiatives. said they hope that the Children’s Art
Festival in April will be “bigger and
“You continue to invest in the mu- better than ever.”
seum and the arts, and the impact
For more information about the
Circle or VBMA programs, visit vbmu-
seum.org. 

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / December 2, 2021 19

PEOPLE

Leah Tompkins and Nancy Butler. Nancy Edmiston and Lyn Adams.

Susan Von Hagen, Mary Wright and Kathleen O’Brien Joachim.

Jamie Schulte, Lynn Miller, Debra Schmidt and Mary Ryan.

Diana Hoffman, Marilyn Bosland and Gail Prauss.

20 Vero Beach 32963 / December 2, 2021 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

‘Committed’ Service League members generous with time, too

Lucy Shurtleff, Rennie Gibb, Sandy Rolf and Wheatie Gibb. PHOTOS: MARY SCHENKEL Pat Thompson, Molly Goodman and Jane Coley.

BY MARY SCHENKEL 2021. From their Marlyn Scully Strate- dition to serving time on various JICSL “People were so committed. There
Staff Writer gic Fund, they granted an additional committees, they serve on the boards, wasn’t such a thing as a no-show,” said
$120,000 in grants this spring and have advisory councils and committees of Miller. “And the trust and the respect
It’s well known that members of committed to multi-year grants of innumerable nonprofits, and volunteer between the volunteers and the staff
the John’s Island Community Service $150,000 each to the HEART Program in a variety of hands-on capacities with was wonderful. I’m a pretty optimis-
League are generous philanthropically. and an Intensive Outpatient Mental agency clients. Frequently, they are the tic person, but honestly, my faith in
Health Program at Cleveland Clinic for first people to step in wherever help is humanity just burgeoned tenfold by
Despite the pandemic putting a halt teens with severe mental health issues. needed. this volunteer experience,” said Miller.
to in-person fundraisers, the JICSL To date, she said, those 75 volunteers
distributed $1.2 million as tradition- However, less known is that they are “The last time we met in this room helped to administer 25,000 shots.
al grants and scholarships in March equally assiduous as volunteers. In ad- it was two years ago and Hope Wood-
house was president. A lot has hap- “When I think about the volunteer
pened since then,” said Betsy Fox, JICSL work that you all have done, to me it’s a
president, welcoming guests to the Fall gift that just keeps on giving during this
Luncheon. Fox noted that last year, the COVID roller coaster that we’ve had,”
15-member JICSL board alone volun- said Miller. “I’ve learned, once again,
teered 10,348 hours, which, based on that often miracles are just good people.
the national value of a volunteer hour, They’re good people with kind hearts
equates to nearly $300,000. doing what they do with love; lots of it.
Clearly, John’s Island Community Ser-
Guest speaker Judi Miller spoke of vice League has a huge heart for Indian
the vital role volunteers played when, in River County and the people you serve.”
January 2021, Treasure Coast Commu-
nity Health was unexpectedly informed As there were a number of new mem-
that they would be managing COVID-19 bers, Fox explained the difference be-
vaccination clinics at the fairgrounds. tween the JICSL, which funds operating
A TCCH board member, Miller was expenses, and the John’s Island Foun-
charged with mobilizing and training dation, which funds capital expenses;
75 volunteers to coordinate that mas- adding that the two complement each
sive task. John’s Island residents quickly other.
stepped in and provided 40 percent of
those volunteers. “We have a very diverse group of 40
agencies. There’s hardly a need or a
“You truly live your motto: ‘Trans- challenge that the underprivileged in
forming lives in Indian River County our community face that we can’t help
through leadership, collaboration and remedy,” said Lynn Whipple, co-chair
dedicated philanthropy,’” said Miller, of the 60-member grants committee.
who retired after 27 years as CEO of Big
Brothers Big Sisters, and now also vol- Having visited with many of the
unteers on the Moonshot Community agencies over the summer, Michelle
Action Network leadership team and Julian, chair of the financial analyst
with the Children’s Trust Campaign. team, said, “I wanted to pass along their
heartfelt thanks to all of you. As many of
Miller said that once people learned the agencies said, if it wasn’t for the sup-
they might have access to a COVID vac- port of the John’s Island Community
cine, the demand was instantaneous. Service League and all of its members,
With TCCH staff already stretched to they would not be able to carry out their
the limit, and no funding to hire addi- missions to help the residents of Indian
tional staff, volunteers were needed to River County.”
assist with everything from managing
traffic to, in some cases, becoming cre- For more information, visit JIService-
dentialed to administer the shots. League.com. 

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / December 2, 2021 21

PEOPLE

Judi Miller, Annette Rodriguez and Susan Solomon. Karen Drury, Susan McConnell and Lisa Bullock. Laura Barrett, Nancy Brewer and Terry Nolan.

Vicki Soule and Ellen Kendell. Betsy Fox and Cheryl Watkins.

Connie Derman and Sarah Jane Moore. Karen Keating and Baerbel O’Haire.

Amy Conlee and Hope Woodhouse. Jean Ueltschi and Ba Stone.

22 Vero Beach 32963 / December 2, 2021 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

Costa d’Este earns a yay for ‘Sea Turtle Friendly’ efforts

Amanda Hudon, Michael Curtis, Liliana Defago and Megan Lynch. PHOTOS: STEPHANIE LABAFF Gail Lafferty, Quintin Bergman and Melody Sanderson.

BY MARY SCHENKEL “Ultimately, our mission is to pro-
Staff Writer tect coastal habitats for the protection
and survival of sea turtles, and we use
Costa d’Este Beach Resort and Spa education and physical connections
was recognized by Coastal Connec- through our immersive programs,”
tions with the presentation of an in- said Kendra Cope, founder and execu-
augural Sea Turtle Friendly Certified tive director of the nonprofit, which
Award for its efforts to aid in the recov- strives to encourage and guide con-
ery of sea turtles, which are listed un- servation-minded behavior changes in
der the endangered species act. residents and visitors.

Chad Olson, Kendra Cope and Paul Hart.

“We’re really focused on a long-term Rosemary and Commissioner Joe Flescher.
vision of being a respected leader for
the recovery of sea turtles,” said Cope. to nesting turtles and hatchlings, per-
mit each facility to devise its own per-
Recognizing that there is no one- sonalized environmental plans.
size-fits-all solution, Coastal Connec-
tions has diversified their approach  Lighting: Follow local and state
with three initiatives. ordinances to keep outdoor lighting
low and mitigate indoor lighting from
 Turtle Connections: Focused on spilling out onto the beach.
conservation and research programs.
 Natural beaches: Remove obstruc-
 Vero Goes Zero: A community-driv- tions, such as furniture and equip-
en sustainability program, focused on ment, clean trash from beaches daily,
the reduction of single use plastics and and host at least one beach or coastal
increasing recycling opportunities. cleanup annually.

 Turtle Travels: Focused on produc-  Sustainability – Reduce or elimi-
ing more eco-minded travelers. nate single-use plastics and have recy-
cling bins available to staff and guests
The Sea Turtle Friendly Certified throughout the facility.
program, which falls within the Turtle
Travels initiative, is a certification ef-  Education: Provide materials about
fort that challenges the hospitality the importance of sea turtle conserva-
industry to meet specific sea turtle- tion to staff and guests.
friendly standards, especially those
whose facilities are along nesting
beaches.

Facilities must meet specific year-
long requirements, including being
compliant and open to scheduled in-
spections during the nesting season.
In return, they get the recognition of
being a conservation minded location
with state and national organizations,
which can help attract eco-minded
travelers.

Four categories of standards, all
meant to minimize harmful impacts

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / December 2, 2021 23

PEOPLE

J.T. Fischer, Amanda Smalley and Kirk Funnell.

Francis Purvey and Kathleen McKinnon. Mayor Robbie Brackett and Helene Caseltine.

Norbert Young, Betsy Savery and Jeff Cloninger.

Invited guests at the reception, held dryers and encourage guests to hang
in the resort’s Crystal Room, were also up and reuse towels to reduce water
given a small tour of the facility, where usage.
they learned about the various initia-
tives Costa d’Este has put into place to Outdoors, either washable plates
come into compliance with the stan- and silverware, or biodegradable uten-
dards of the program. sils, plates and straws are used, the
lighting around the deck and tables is
Costa d’Este staff spoke about such turned off at 9 p.m., and they use am-
room improvements as tinted win- ber lighting on the staircases.
dows and attractive curtains that can
stop any light from spilling out. There “We want to work together,” said
is posted information and a televi- Cope. She added that ultimately, they
sion loop informing guests about sea want to be able to host more award
turtle nesting, two-part garbage/re- ceremonies to recognize the achieve-
cycling pails, glass vs. plastic drink- ments of other hospitality industry fa-
ware, and shampoo/conditioner/lo- cilities.
tion dispensers to minimize waste.
They use energy-efficient washer/ For more information, visit coastal-
connections.org. 

24 Vero Beach 32963 / December 2, 2021 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

Literacy Services’ 50th Anniversary Party: One for the books!

Joan Edwards with Judge Paul and Carol Kanarek. Chris Ryall and Tammy Bursick. PHOTOS: STEPHANIE LABAFF Jessica Schmitt and Hollie McDougall.

Judy and Jim Schorner. Ray and Leslye Casas with Dylizah and Darian. Juliana Bennett and Julia Coote.

BY STEPHANIE LaBAFF visiting a story room, journaling and are English language learners. lish and literacy skills are key to achiev-
Staff Writer participating in environmental educa- “While they might be able to read, ing that goal.
tion activities.
Literacy Services of Indian River they might not understand their chil- Literacy Services volunteers current-
County hosted a 50th Anniversary There was also a ‘People Library’ dren’s schoolwork or be able to talk to ly work with about 200 students and
Launch Party at the Brackett Library re- where visitors could learn firsthand the teacher. That’s why the language they maintain a continual waiting list
cently, as the start of a series of events about the role volunteer tutors play in piece is really important,” she added. of about 60. More than 100 tutors work
to celebrate a half-century of teaching the process and where they heard from one-on-one with students ages 16 and
English and literacy skills to adults. The students about their goals. Online tutoring has also enabled stu- older.
nonprofit engages volunteer tutors to dents to attend sessions more regularly,
work with its students, following a com- “We wanted to engage parents and as they don’t need to find transportation Schmitt said they have added drop-in
prehensive and innovative curriculum, children in fun literacy activities to cel- or childcare. That, coupled with tablets classes for students on the waiting list
to create better futures for the pupils ebrate our program, because teaching and hotspots secured through Cares to help them get started, and there are
and their families. the parent is the best indicator of the Act funding, meant learning could con- plans to expand services to include fi-
child’s academic success. We wanted tinue throughout the pandemic. nancial literacy, workshop-style learn-
During the launch party, attendees to encourage parents to engage in their ing, and field trips for a more immersive
made their way around and through child’s education and see the resources “Students participate in Literacy Ser- learning experience.
the Brackett Library, following a map available in the community,” said Jessi- vices programs in hopes of getting bet-
of literacy-themed activities. Oth- ca Schmitt, Literacy Services executive ter jobs, increasing their engagement On Dec. 8 at 4:30 p.m., Literacy Ser-
er partners – Ballet Vero Beach, Big director. in their children’s education, and be- vices will host a Tutor Social for past,
Brothers Big Sisters, the Buggy Bunch, coming a United States citizen. Literacy present and future volunteers at Walk-
Environmental Learning Center, Lau- Schmitt said their services had improves financial stability and tran- ing Tree Brewery, and on March 7, their
ra (Riding) Jackson Foundation and been moved online at the start of the scends generations,” said Schmitt. main fundraiser, Stories by the Sea,
the Learning Alliance – were all on pandemic, resulting in an addition to a 50th Anniversary Celebration and
hand, with Moonshot, TLA’s literacy their toolkit. There has been a marked “Having the parents more engaged in Cocktail Reception, will take place at
ambassador puppet, coaxing reticent increase in participation in their Con- their children’s education will help the the Sea Oaks Beach Club.
children into making bookmarks, versation Club which enables students children not need these kinds of ser-
to practice their English with one an- vices in the future. Becoming citizens For more information, visit literacy
other, as the majority of their students affords them more opportunities in the servicesirc.org. 
community,” she said, noting that Eng-

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / December 2, 2021 25

PEOPLE

Bill and Lorna Stengel. Harriet Kabel, Linda Barker and Brenda Douple. Linda and Pete Dercoli with Casey Lunceford.

Bridget Lyons, Adam Schnell and Shanti Sanchez. Judi Miller, Kent Jones and Chris Schmitt. Dylizah and Darian Casas.

26 Vero Beach 32963 / December 2, 2021 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

Resolute ‘Gold Star Moms’ on awareness mission at Walk-A-Thon

BY SAMANTHA ROHLFING BAITA
Staff Writer

Some 300 participants gathered in
the field by the Riverside Park gazebos
for the American Gold Star Mothers
of Indian River County’s third an-
nual Walk-A-Thon and Veterans Expo,
as a huge American flag fluttered in
the wind from atop an Indian River
Shores Fire Department ladder truck,
75 feet above the crowd.

The event was organized to height-
en awareness of the tragically increas-
ing number of Armed Forces members
lost to suicide, currently averaging a
stunningly heartbreaking 22 a day.

With grace and determination, Mi-
chelle Dale, founder and president
of the local Gold Star Mothers, wel-
comed and thanked everyone, despite
the fact that the bright, beautiful day
was also the 11th anniversary of the
day she lost her own son, U. S. Army
Cpl. Dale Kridlo, killed in action at age
33.

“He was a crazy guy. He wouldn’t
have wanted me to stay home and be

sad today,” said Dale. “He would’ve “It’s a group you hate to be a part
said, ‘Go for it, Mom!’” of, but you’re glad to have it,” said one
Gold Star Mother, succinctly describ-
The pre-walk hour saw tears, ing the organization.
laughter, treasured memories and the
warmth of comfort, as small groups Among the Gold Star Mothers was
gathered around those who had lost Roma Anderson, who lost her son,
loved ones, as they shared their sto- USMC Lt. Col. Joseph Trane McCloud,
ries. in Iraq in 2006.

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / December 2, 2021 27

PEOPLE

Peg and Karl Hauschildt. Don Peterson and Chocolate. Dawn Orr and Laura Moss.

Shelly Ferger, Kathy Schumann and Marisel Munoz.

Diana D’Angelo said her son, HM3 PHOTOS CONTINUED ON PAGE 28
Edward Troy Reynolds, 19, died “41
years ago this month,” while serving Jane Coyle, Gladys Laforge, Naomi Kennedy, Maria Elena Kitchell, Diane Mellow and Linda Colontrelle.
in the U.S. Navy. “It is a joy,” she said,
“to be able to carry on his memory.” service dogs, a vital part of the sup-
port system for veterans struggling
Tammy Thurber’s son, Navy Sea- with PTSD.
man PO1 Brandon Thurber, was
home on leave from the Navy Nov. 10, The event concluded with a sym-
2018 when he was killed by a drunk bolic 2.2-mile walk led by Gold Star
driver. He was just 18. Chris Clement mothers. The silent column of walk-
lost his son, U.S. Navy Petty Officer ers wound along the river, across the
1st Class Aircrewman/Rescue Swim- footbridge and through Memorial
mer Jon Clement, 31, in 2018. Island before returning to the pavil-
ions. It was a breathtaking sight, a
A Wall of Valor was quickly filled moving tribute to the fallen sons and
with touching notes and names of daughters, and a poignant reminder
other military loved ones who served, of the insidious dangers of PTSD, “the
penned on paper stars and crosses. battle within” that can follow them
home, even far from the battlefield.
Among the other organizations
represented were Chuck Gerrald and For more information visit ircgold-
Ingrid Hernandez of Next Genera- starmoms.org or call 570-885-2811. 
tion Veterans; Philip Cromer, CEO of
Mental Health Association; Veter-
an Facilitators Michael Wright and
Kris Hasenauer; and Connie Doane,
American Legion Auxiliary.

Labrador retrievers Chocolate
and Rosie attended with Dogs for
Life volunteer and Ret. U.S. Army Lt.
Col. Don Peterson and Dogs for Life
founder Shelly Ferger. They are be-
ing trained at DFL to become veteran

28 Vero Beach 32963 / December 2, 2021 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

PHOTOS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 27 PHOTOS: KAILA JONES
Amy Granberg, Gail Boatwright, Karen Guidry and Linda Colontrelle.

Carrie, Barrett and Anders Todd. Maryann Braden and Linda Kouns.

Vanessa Bartoszewicz, Ingrid Hernandez and Cindy Williams.

Bill Penney and Sheriff Eric Flowers. Shelly Ferger, Kathi Schumann and Marisel Munoz.

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30 Vero Beach 32963 / December 2, 2021 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

INSIGHT COVER STORY

Traffic on Route 60 skirts
the walls of Jerusalem's
Old City.

Israel’s Route 60 begins at a traffic light in the city less ripe or the status quo of occupation more en- estinian labor and spending, while the local econo-
of Nazareth and heads due south along a course that trenched. my that would sustain a state founders.
can be measured in both miles and centuries.
The troubled state of statehood is immediately vis- Fifteen miles south of Nazareth, there is no doubt
Its path largely follows the ancient “Road of the ible out the windows of vehicles traveling Route 60. when Route 60 crosses from Israel into the West
Patriarchs,” running through Nablus and Hebron There are the Israeli settlements that have not only Bank. Past the last Israeli gas station and a handwrit-
just as it did in biblical times. The roadway traverses grown larger in recent years, now home to a half- ten Hebrew sign advising Jewish farmers about an
an antique landscape from the Galilean hills in the million Jews in the West Bank, but also are reaching evening prayer service, the highway funnels through
north to the Negev Desert in the south, winding deeper into occupied territory, hollowing out any fu- an Israeli military checkpoint. Beyond, the signs on
among terraced hillsides – slanted pancake stacks ture Palestine. garages and shops are all in Arabic, men in plastic
of white limestone rising from olive groves and to- chairs smoke hookah pipes, and women in heads-
bacco fields – and skirting the great stone walls of Israeli businesses are proliferating, attracting Pal- carves bag up fruit in the markets.
Jerusalem’s Old City.
A view of Jerusalem's Old City from the Mount of Olives. Separating these two worlds is the Green Line, the
These days, the two-lane highway cuts through internationally recognized boundary between Israel
a topography of conflict, curving between Israeli and the land it captured in the 1967 war. Many Pal-
settlements and Palestinian villages. While it begins estinians envision the line as the border of any state.
and ends inside Israel, most of its 146 miles trace the Many Israelis pretend it doesn’t even exist.
spine of the occupied West Bank. If Palestinians ever
achieve an independent state, Route 60 will be its The banner hanging over the doorway of the cin-
national road. der-block building in central Jenin bears the photo-
graphs of four men, all young, all smiling, all dead.
But now, with the goal of Palestinian statehood They were killed a day earlier by Israeli border police
once again at the center of American diplomacy as conducting an armed raid.
part of a “two-state” solution to the Israeli-Pales-
tinian conflict, a road trip along Route 60 reveals Abu Saif sits near the front door, bent low, his arms
just how distant that prospect has become. Condi- resting on his thighs, but straightening to shake hands
tions for Palestinian statehood have never seemed whenever a newcomer stops to greet him. His 21-year-
old son Raed is one of the faces on the banner.

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / December 2, 2021 31

“Allah yerhamo,” they say. “God have mercy on INSIGHT COVER STORY
him.” One man leans down: “You should be happy
you are the father of a martyr. He will be your com-
panion to heaven.”

Abu Saif nods without speaking.
A few blocks away, another banner bearing the
images of Raed and the other dead men hangs out-
side Jenin’s city market. Below, shoppers press along
the crowded street, holding their children’s hands,
looking at phones. They take little notice of the new
batch of faces portrayed overhead.

For people being kicked out of their houses, the
settlers are in a fine mood.

Neighbors chat as they load hampers into hatch-
backs. Children play. Men with knit yarmulkes and
automatic rifles burst into song: “Am Yisrael chai –
the people of Israel live!”

It’s eviction day in Evyatar, a hilltop outpost a few
hundred yards off Route 60 in the arid countryside
about an hour’s drive south of Jenin. Evyatar is the
newest of more than 100 settlements reaching ever
farther into occupied territory, each adding another
Palestinian no-go zone to the heart of a would-be
Palestine.

Amid Palestinian olive groves south of the city
of Nablus, settlers built this community – houses
for about 50 families, paved streets, sewers and a
synagogue – in a matter of days in May with help
from hundreds of volunteers bused in by a right-
wing group that aims to derail Palestinian state-
hood.

Because Evyatar was erected without formal Is-
raeli government approval, the Israeli army said
the settlers would have to leave. Previous attempts
to evict unauthorized outposts have led to clashes
between settlers and soldiers. But these settlers –
younger and more politically plugged in than previ-
ous generations of religious Zionists – have instead
brokered a deal with the government: They would
vacate, but for only as long as it took to survey the
land and gain official approval.

Settlements like Evyatar, deep inside the West
Bank, strike at the very integrity and coherence of
any independent state. “It is already cutting us off
from the other villages,” says Ali Akal, a 32-year-old
Palestinian, while working in his uncle’s butcher
shop on Route 60.

“It’s not only hard to imagine making a continu-
ous state here; it’s even hard to make a continuous
city,” Akal says, wiping his hands. “They are taking
our sovereignty bit by bit.”

It takes only minutes for Jamil Hazalin to walk to
his job just over the ridge. The delay each day comes
at the gate to the Sha’ar Binyamin industrial park,
an Israeli settlement located about a half-hour drive
south of Evyatar along Route 60. Israelis pass freely;
he is told to wait, and his ID is checked by the same
guards who checked it yesterday and will check it
tomorrow.

“They know me, but still they put me through this,
while the Jews just pass through,” says Hazalin, 40,
wiry and bronzed from a lifetime of outdoor work.

Hazalin is one of 40,000 West Bank Palestinians
who turn to Israeli settlements for a paycheck. An-
other 140,000 cross the Green Line into Israel every
day for work. That’s about one-fifth of all Palestinian
workers in the West Bank.

COVER STORY CONTINUED ON PAGE 32

32 Vero Beach 32963 / December 2, 2021 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 31 INSIGHT COVER STORY 3

1 2

4 56

7 1. Jewish and Muslim pedestrians make their way through the Old 8
City of Jerusalem. 2. A banner hangs outside a Jenin mourning hall

with the images of four young men killed by Israeli forces. 3. Ziad

Abu Saif, the father of Raed Abu Saif, speaks in front of Palestinian

security officers and others who have come to pay their respects

after the death of the young man. 4. A large Star of David looms

over the homes quickly erected in the Israeli settlement of Evy-

atar. 5. Jamil Hazalin sets up chairs for a Jewish wedding at Psagot

Winery. 6. An Israeli soldier is positioned at a bus stop on Route

60 serving an Israeli settlement near Bethlehem. 7. Ali Akal works

as a butcher in Huwarah village near Nablus. 8. Simkha Raz leads a

Jewish group seeking to pray on what Jews call the Temple Mount

and Muslims call the Noble Sanctuary. 9. Alaa Judeh prays inside

the Dome of the Rock shrine. 10. Jewish worshipers, accompanied

by Israeli police, walk toward the Dome of the Rock shrine in Je-

rusalem. 11. Israeli police officers keep an eye on a Muslim wor-

shiper who prays in the courtyard of al-Aqsa Mosque.

9 10 11

Hazalin has worked for 13 years as a With the arrival of evening, Hazalin Bedouin encampment that has been Simkha Raz is determined to defy
security guard and then maintenance mounts the winery’s blue tractor and his family home since the 1950s. the prohibitions of his government
man at PsagotWinery, an elegant stone trundles onto the highway, towing a and many of his rabbis. As he ascends
complex at the far end of the indus- trailer full of freshly stripped grape Looking back across the ridge to his the long wooden staircase leading up
trial park. Before that, he was a guard stems and leaves he gets as a perk. After Israeli workplace, Hazalin can no lon- to the sacred plaza revered by Jews as
at another settlement and previously a one harrowing stretch through Route ger imagine two separate states being the Temple Mount, the 22-year-old re-
construction laborer inside Israel. Pal- 60 traffic, he ascends a dirt ridge and split from the single economy of oc- ligious school student prepares to pray.
estinian employers could never afford pulls up beside a collection of metal cupation. “We are too mixed together
to pay him, he says. shacks and corrals, the impoverished now,” he says. “There is not a border
you could fit between us.”

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / December 2, 2021 33

INSIGHT COVER STORY

From the opposite side, a 24-year- Lidor Zahari, 25, seems almost sur- Beersheba because the Gaza Strip is flict with the Palestinians ranked sixth,
old Palestinian gas station attendant prised to be asked about the genera- 25 miles away. well behind the economy, cost of living
named Alaa Judeh enters the plaza, tions-long standoff with the Palestin- and other domestic issues.
which Muslims revere as their Noble ians. His interaction with them largely “What they don’t understand is that
Sanctuary, determined to stop him. amounts to selling them cellphone they shouldn’t be afraid,” he says. “It’s The era of terrorist bus bombings
chargers, cases and screen protectors just regular life.” that rattled Israelis for years is a de-
Route 60 runs alongside the ancient when they stop by the kiosk where he cade in the past.
walls of the Old City. A short walk away works. So if there’s no pressing dispute to be
is the Temple Mount, where the First settled, what need is there for a solu- The accords that Israel signed last
and Second Temples of the Jews once “It feels that it’s not really connected tion – much less a two-state solution year to normalize relations with the
stood. The government of Jordan, to me,” he says. that would require substantial sacri- United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Mo-
which controlled the area before the fices by Israel? rocco and Sudan showed Israelis they
1967 war, still administers the plaza Zahari, who is training to be a bar- could make diplomatic inroads with
and forbids non-Muslim prayer there. ber, says he is taken aback when the The “Palestinian issue” used to dom- their neighbors even if the Palestinian
issue is raised by outsiders, like for- inate Israeli political discourse, but it issue was unresolved.
As Raz approaches the outdoor eign singers who balk at performing has all but disappeared as a topic dur-
staircase leading to the plaza, an Is- in Israel or the European soccer play- ing the four national elections Israel After decades of stalemate, the sta-
raeli police officer instructs him: Jews ers who recently hesitated to play in conducted in the past three years. In tus quo has been woven into the fabric
must not pray here – no prayer books one survey of voter concerns, the con- of daily life. 
or prayer shawls, no swaying as many
devout Jews do when they pray.

But Raz is bent on guerrilla wor-
ship. He is part of a movement that
once dwelled on the fringe of Israeli
politics. In years past, when religious
zealots visited the Temple Mount, os-
tensibly to sightsee but surreptitiously
moving their lips in silent prayer or
pretending to speak on a cellphone,
Israeli police would intervene. But in
the past two years, Israel’s powerful
right wing has pressured security forc-
es to turn a blind eye.

For Judeh, the plaza is not only a
sacred place but a unique haven. On
the streets of his predominantly Arab
neighborhood, Israeli security forces
routinely ask for his ID. But here, no
one bothers him as he walks toward
the iconic Dome of the Rock. “It is the
only place in Jerusalem we are free,”
he says.

Raz and his group pause in the
shade of an olive tree. He begins recit-
ing prayers, clearly if not loudly. An Is-
raeli security officer looks at him, then
looks away.

Judeh stands at a distance, outside
al-Aqsa Mosque, alert for provoca-
tions. He cannot tell if Raz’s group is
praying. If they are, it is quietly.

Judeh relaxes.
But he knows that they will be back.
And so will he.

South of Hebron, the Negev Des-
ert spreads wide and dry as Route 60
winds to another military checkpoint.

Palestinian day laborers amass at this
southern exit from the West Bank, wait-
ing for rides into Israel. Soldiers wave
through most cars with Israeli plates,
stop those with Palestinian ones.

Twelve miles on, in the Israeli city
of Beersheba, Route 60 comes to end,
terminating at an entrance to the Mall
of the Negev, the city’s largest shop-
ping center. Here, amid 1.2 million
square feet of air-conditioned com-
merce, the question on the lips of
many Israelis when asked about the
conflict with the Palestinians is: What
conflict?

34 Vero Beach 32963 / December 2, 2021 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

INSIGHT OPINION

Preventing a potential U.S.-China Cold War has the Trump administration took no action on the port, and only the U.S. can effectively provide it. So
emerged as a top foreign policy priority for Gulf Arab grounds that no Americans were killed. they remain committed to keeping Washington as
countries, especially Washington's key partners: Sau- their main strategic partner.
di Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. But the attack knocked Saudi production off course
for weeks, and significantly affected global energy But there are other imperatives. The Gulf states
But, as illustrated by the recent controversy over a markets. Moreover, it demonstrated an alarming de- need to cultivate China as a rising local presence
secret Chinese port being built in the UAE, balanc- gree of Iranian proficiency in precision guidance and and a crucial customer. They also need to ensure
ing relations between the established superpower accuracy. that Iran, which is solidifying a partnership with Bei-
and the rising one is getting harder for smaller states. jing, does not develop an exclusive relationship with
This was an inflection point, but not the begin- the Chinese into the future.
Construction of the Chinese facility, near the Emi- ning, of Gulf Arab doubts about Washington's de-
rati capital of Abu Dhabi, was halted due to protests pendability. So, as part of a wide pattern of strategic Saudi Arabia and the UAE cannot afford to allow
from Washington. The UAE insists it was merely a diversification, Saudi Arabia and the UAE are solidi- the only Gulf voices in Beijing to be Iranian. They
shipping port. Still, it’s understandable that U.S. fying relations with Russia and China, de-escalating need to hedge against China's mighty global and re-
officials suspect China may be trying to establish a with rivals including Iran and Turkey, and reaching gional future.
military foothold in the Gulf. out to a potential new partner, Israel.
As the kerfuffle over the reported Chinese port
For the Gulf states, fears about being forced to For now, these countries need outside security sup- construction demonstrates, it's going to be extremely
choose between their key strategic partner, the U.S., difficult to balance a close strategic partnership with
and their biggest energy customer, China, now rank Washington alongside warm and friendly ties, going
alongside the threats from Iran and Islamist groups beyond mere commerce, with Beijing.
ranging from the Muslim Brotherhood to al-Qaeda.
Recent cooperation between the UAE and China
These anxieties reveal much about the uncertain has included defense industries, Covid vaccine pro-
realities of power in the epicenter of global energy. duction, global investment and development, green
energy and other significant non-oil trade.
Even as U.S. attention has shifted to rivalry with
China, the Gulf has remained a big part of the geopo- At the same time, the U.S. has been pressing the
litical conversation. When President Barack Obama UAE to drop the Chinese communications company
was advocating a "pivot to Asia" to combat China's Huawei Technologies Co. from its telecommunica-
rise, he was implicitly suggesting a shift of resources tions network, saying it is an obstacle to a planned
away from Europe and the Middle East. That aspira- $23 billion sale of Lockheed Martin F-35 aircraft and
tion has persisted under Presidents Donald Trump drones.
and Joe Biden.
This demonstrates why Gulf leaders are openly
Yet no major drawdown of U.S. military resources fretting about the potential for a full-blown U.S.-
in the Gulf has taken place. This is because a pivot of China Cold War, in which they would be forced to
U.S. attention to East Asia would pull the Gulf and its throw full support behind one or the other.
energy resources along in tow. Most of the dynamic
economies of East and South Asia, including China, A leading UAE government foreign-policy strate-
remain dependent on the energy exported from the gist, Anwar Gargash, explains, "We are all worried
Gulf. The two regions are inextricably intertwined. very much by a looming cold war … because the idea
of choosing is problematic.” That's a diplomatic un-
Still, Washington's Gulf Arab partners have ev- derstatement. 
ery reason to worry about a weakening of the U.S.
commitment to their security. When Iran attacked A version of this column by Hussein Ibish first ap-
key Saudi Aramco oil facilities in September 2019, peared on Bloomberg. It does not necessarily reflect
the views of Vero Beach 32963.

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

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / December 2, 2021 35

INSIGHT OPINION

After the Schitt's Creek reunion tour is The Tickets-Center.com site has a Instead, it says you will be eligible for contract that applies to you, but not the
canceled, Lori Glazer wants a refund. "100 percent guarantee," and I think a credit "or, in our sole discretion, a company – and it is as frustrating as it
But Tickets-Center.com is only offering they should refund my money. There cash refund." The default appears to is unfair.
a credit. Can it do that? are no events I would like to go to be a credit.
right now. I am hoping you can help How about that 100 percent guar-
QUESTION: me get my $359 back. Next time you order tickets, please antee? It's not what you think it is. By
review the fine print. It could save you "guarantee,"Tickets-Center.com means
In March 2020, I bought two tick- ANSWER: a lot of trouble later on. your transaction will be safe and secure,
ets to the Schitt's Creek reunion tour and the tickets will be delivered on time.
from Tickets-Center.com. The event If your event was canceled, you "If an event is postponed or resched- It's not one of those blanket, "satisfac-
was postponed, and I heard noth- should receive a full refund. But let's uled, your order will not qualify for a tion guaranteed or your money back"
ing until today when they said they have a look at the terms of your pur- credit, and your tickets will be valid for things. If only!
were giving us a credit of 110 percent. chase. the rescheduled date unless otherwise
That's not acceptable. required by applicable law," it says. When I reviewed your case, I recom-
According to Tickets-Center.com's mended that you write to Tickets-Cen-
Terms & Privacy Policy, you don't au- Interestingly, the same contract gives ter.com, politely requesting a refund.
tomatically get your money back if an Tickets-Center.com the right to can- You did, but the company just reiter-
event is canceled and not rescheduled. cel your tickets with no penalty. This ated its offer of a 110 percent credit.
is known as an adhesion contract – a Maybe a bot responded to you. That's
been happening a lot lately.

I publish the names, numbers and
email addresses of the executives at
Tickets-Center.com on my consumer
advocacy site, Elliott.org. You could
have appealed to one of them, too.

I reached out to the company and
asked if it could exercise its discretion
and return your money. It did. 

Get help with any consumer prob-
lem by contacting Christopher Elliott at
http://www.elliott.org/help

36 Vero Beach 32963 / December 2, 2021 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

INSIGHT BOOKS

It has been more than 40 years since Ken Follett NEVER for increas-
first topped bestseller lists with his classic World War ingly violent responses, and
II thriller, “Eye of the Needle.” He followed that suc- BY KEN FOLLETT | VIKING. 802 PP. $36 the prospect of a peaceful resolution begins to fade.
cess with crisp international thrillers including “Tri- REVIEW BY BILL SHEEHAN, THE WASHINGTON POST Matters take an even darker turn when rebel forces in
ple” and “The Man from St. Petersburg,” books that North Korea revolt against Supreme Leader Kang U-
placed him in the company of such contemporaries for the dream of a new life in Europe. Their journey jung, taking control of all nuclear bases in the coun-
as Frederick Forsyth and Robert Ludlum. In the de- across the desert through increasingly hazardous try and bringing the prospect of an actual nuclear ex-
cades since, Follett has confounded early expecta- conditions is one of the dramatic high points of the change that much closer to reality.
tions, taking his fiction in surprising new directions. novel. Just as they did in the days and months preceding
In his latest novel, the urgent and fiercely compelling the First World War, a variety of circumstances come
“Never,” he has done so again. Events in Africa take on international significance together to create the conditions for a global catastro-
when an incident at the border of Chad and Sudan phe. “Never” is a cautionary tale about the power of
Follett began reinventing himself with 1989’s “The results in the shooting death of an American soldier. unintended consequences, and it is disturbing and il-
Pillars of the Earth.” A thousand-page epic centered When investigators learn that the rifle involved was luminating in equal measure. Follett has always been
on the building of a cathedral in medieval England, supplied by North Korea, major players from China an accomplished storyteller, but his latest reflects a
the book was a commercial and artistic gamble that and the United States step in, setting the stage for es- sense of urgency that lifts it well above typical apoca-
paid off for Follett in a number of ways. It remains calating actions and reactions. lyptic thrillers. “Never” is first-rate entertainment that
his most popular title, and it served as a template has something important to say. It deserves the popu-
for much of Follett’s subsequent fiction: vast, thor- In the United States, President Pauline Green reacts lar success it will almost certainly achieve. 
oughly researched novels filled with huge casts of by tightening existing economic sanctions against
characters and multiple interconnected story lines. North Korea, a move regarded as “proportionate” to
In his latest, the two main strains of Follett’s career the offense. But that proportionate response only ex-
come together. “Never” is both an up-to-the-minute acerbates an already desperate economic situation,
thriller that explores the tensions and conflicts of the which in turn exacerbates the United States’ fraught
modern world, and a sprawling, globe-spanning saga relationship with North Korea and its principal ally,
that contains multitudes. China. From this point on, things will deteriorate
with astonishing speed, despite strenuous efforts by
The central theme of “Never” is the never-ending peacemakers in China and the United States. Shots
possibility of nuclear catastrophe. In a brief preface, are fired. An oil exploration vessel carrying Ameri-
Follett notes that the inspiration for “Never” came can scientists is sunk. Hard-liners on both sides push
from his research into the origins of World War I for
“Fall of Giants,” the first volume of his Century Tril-
ogy. That devastating conflict was, in Follett’s view, “a
war that nobody wanted.” Yet it happened, anyway,
the result of a complex series of treaties, internation-
al alliances and shortsighted decisions that would
reshape the world and alter the nature of modern
warfare. In “Never,” Follett posits a similar scenario,
one made infinitely more dangerous by the world-
wide proliferation of nuclear weapons. The resulting
portrait of a world stumbling toward the unthinkable
is credibly detailed and alarmingly plausible.

The story begins in the Sahara Desert, thousands of
miles from what will become the center of an emerg-
ing nuclear confrontation. Other narrative threads,
each of which contains enough drama to fuel a con-
ventional-length novel, take place in the corridors of
power in China and the United States. The Saharan
section features a young Lebanese American CIA
agent, Abdul John Haddad, who is on the trail of a
cocaine shipment that will be used to fund a local
arm of the Islamic State. He will be joined by a young
widow desperate to exchange her poverty in Africa

Vero's Largest Book & Specialty Toy Store

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / December 2, 2021 37

INSIGHT BRIDGE

THE FINESSE ODDS ARE THEORETICAL WEST NORTH EAST
63 KQJ72 5
By Phillip Alder - Bridge Columnist K74 653 J 10 9 8
J964 A85 Q 10 3
Samuel Goldwyn said, “I’ll take 50 percent efficiency to get 100 percent loyalty.” Q 10 5 2 94 K8763

A finesse supposedly has a 50 percent chance of success. As you know, though, SOUTH
in these columns, finesses win much less often than that; one succeeds only when A 10 9 8 4
declarer needs it. AQ2
K72
In this deal, how should South play in four spades after West leads the club two, and AJ
East puts up his king?
Dealer: South; Vulnerable: North-South
Over North’s game-invitational limit raise, South wondered about making a slam-try, but
remembered that balanced hands need more high-card power than usual to bid that The Bidding:
high. (Losing Trick Count users will have noted that the North hand is theoretically worth
a game-forcing raise because you deduct one loser for a 10-card or better fit. But, SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST OPENING
again, balanced hands suggest caution.) 1 Spades Pass 3 Spades Pass
4 Spades Pass Pass Pass LEAD:
When the dummy appeared, South noted the mirror distribution, which was bad news 2 Clubs
because he couldn’t get any discards or ruffs. Declarer had four potential losers: two
hearts, one diamond and one club. So, did he need the heart finesse to work?

South won the first trick with his club ace, drew trumps and played three rounds of
diamonds.

East took the sixth trick with his diamond queen and shifted to the heart jack (the best
defense). But declarer won with his ace — finessing would have been fatal. Then he
exited with the club jack.

West took that trick but was endplayed. If he played a heart, South’s queen would have
become a winner. Or, if West exited with a diamond or a club, declarer would have
ruffed in one hand and sluffed a heart from the other. Either way, he lost only one heart,
one diamond and one club.





40 Vero Beach 32963 / December 2, 2021 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

INSIGHT GAMES

SOLUTIONS TO PREVIOUS ISSUE (NOVEMBER 25) ON PAGE 66

ACROSS DOWN
1 Look for (4) 1 Sailor (8)
3 Movement of air; empty 2 For all time to come (8)
4 Affront (6)
talk(4) 5 Undress (7)
9 Angry (5) 6 Young sheep (4)
10 Gemstones (9) 7 Signify; stingy (4)
11 Small thrush (5) 8 Outhouse (4)
12 Bony-plated animal (9) 13 Evergreen shrub (8)
15 Fascinated (6) 14 Broadsword (8)
17 Bring to mind (6) 16 The Pope (7)
19 Infamy (9) 18 Building for horses (6)
21 Trainee (5) 20 Chess piece; bird (4)
23 Confused situation (9) 21 Truncheon (4)
24 Bundle (5) 22 Profound; sunk low (4)
25 Touch; sense (4)
26 Stun; stupor (4)

The Telegraph

How to do Sudoku:

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

The Telegraph

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / December 2, 2021 41

INSIGHT GAMES

ACROSS 118 Fox, in Italian 60 “So!” The Washington Post
1 African nation or preppy 121 Billy Joel hit, 61 Casals’ instrument
65 Protein-rich bean THE POINT OF APRIL 15TH By Merl Reagle
name “___ to Extremes” 66 Full of foliage
5 Writers with cartridges 122 Sharp-angle turn 67 Bug THE Art & Science
9 Melodious Horne 123 Both ___ 69 Common verb
13 Loos 127 Tokyo Rose’s real name, 70 Where Ephesus was of Cosmetic Surgery
16 Why TAX and 71 Drop in on
___ Toguri 72 Refreshing place
TACKS sound the same: 128 Both ___ 73 Bon mot
Both ___ 129 For each 74 Language of Pakistan
20 Library org. 130 Change for a five 75 Checkers move
21 Both ___ 131 German car make 76 PETA peeves
22 Papa Playboy 132 Backtalk 78 Israeli airline
23 Arm-over-arm swinger 79 Admired one
24 Sib’s kid DOWN 80 What to do if you don’t see
25 Ralph of The Waltons 1 Witches’ meeting
26 Knight time? 2 Mauve, e.g. what
27 Director Riefenstahl 3 “Son of ___!” you want
29 Tall bird 4 Lucy’s guy 82 Play about Capote
31 Student buys 5 ___ out (outwit) 84 ___ up to (admit)
34 Collar 6 Lauder of cosmetics 85 Adheres (to)
37 Loose 7 Japanese theater 87 Secy., e.g.
40 Source of Asian butter 8 Type of duck 88 Shampoo ingredient,
41 Both ___ 9 Stringed instrument, to Luigi perhaps
51 City law: abbr. 10 Actor M. ___ Walsh 89 ___ Paulo
52 Opened 11 Cornhuskers’ home: abbr. 93 Bridge support?
53 Like parking garages 12 Beast of burden 94 Purpose
54 Entomologist’s first name? 13 Cowboy’s shout 95 Charged particle
56 Both ___ (continues at 70 14 Record keeper 96 Put on the feedbag
and 83 Across) 15 Secure places 100 Loosen, in a way
59 Annoy 16 Yawn 101 Unsophisticated
60 Play section 17 Above, in Zwickau 102 Certain Cuban
62 Actress Moore 18 JFK or LAX datum 103 Cleric’s garb (anagram of
63 Org. that inspired this puzzle 19 Skinny A ROLE)
64 Hawaii, basically 21 2001 computer 104 Fungus fuzzies
67 A car, to a teen 26 Oxen linker 105 Star Trek character
68 Red river? 28 Imbibing parlor 107 Vine-covered, as colleges
70 See 56 Across 30 “Rumble in the jungle” victor, 108 Spherical bacteria
71 Pill bottle 109 Nevada city or county
72 Word before deal 1974 111 Christian fashions?
or meal 32 Looked over 112 1943 Spencer Tracy film,
75 Kangaroo kids 33 Uniform sew-on ___ Named Joe
76 Evergreen 35 Singer Lane 113 “Timely” doz.
77 Star Wars princess 36 1950s hairdo 116 Ordinarily, in the dict.
81 Snatcher’s target 38 Hill dweller 117 “¿Como ___?”
82 Wine vat 39 Caesar’s dozen 119 Name of 12 Popes
83 See 56 Across 41 Canada Indian 120 Volcano near Palermo
86 Reinforcements, e.g. 42 Silly Sandler 123 Galley slave’s least favorite
87 General assemblies? 43 Greek marketplace Greek letter?
90 “Drop us a line!” 44 Buddies 124 A million millennium
91 Fine 45 Oct or prop ending 125 Day of the wk.
92 Both ___ 46 “Not if my life depended on 126 Fax machine ancestor: abbr.
97 Erstwhile spy org.
98 Glop it” SPECIALTIES INCLUDE:
99 San Fran time 47 “Chic” adjective • Minimal Incision Lift for the
100 ___ Cabin 48 Curse
106 Thoughtful 49 Pot opener? Face, Body, Neck & Brow
110 Dutch cheese 50 Part of Amtrak’s 800 number • Breast Augmentations
114 File this 51 Creaky
115 Way to go 55 19-in. items, sometimes & Reductions
57 1977 U.S. Open winner • Post Cancer Reconstructions
58 Trig function • Chemical Peels • Botox
• Laser Surgery • Tummy Tucks
• Obagi Products • Liposculpture
• Skin Cancer Treatments

The Telegraph Proudly caring for patients over 29 years.

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

772.562.5859

www.rosatoplasticsurgery.com

Ralph M. Rosato
MD, FACS

42 Vero Beach 32963 / December 2, 2021 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

INSIGHT BACK PAGE

Is it OK to keep things from a loose-lipped mother-in-law?

BY CAROLYN HAX from his parents as he (non-)answers their difficult the form of their anger and their hurt feelings.
Washington Post questions, civilly and without lying to them, which · You and your husband will have to carry, for weeks
is doable but taxing.
Hi, Carolyn: I have been mar- and even beyond, the weight of secret-keeping.
ried to my wonderful husband for · You both will have to get through your recovery, You ask what’s “fair,” but you need to specify to
over a decade, we have two kids and all the post-op care, child care and housekeep-
and live within driving distance ing that entails, without his parents’ help. whom. It’s fair to your in-laws to withhold, yes,
of our parents. I am looking into completely; they earned this. It’s fair to your hus-
some health concerns (non-life- · You will assume the risk of his parents’ finding band to withhold only if you and he communicate
threatening) that may require a rather major sur- out from some other source besides you and your freely about the burden he’ll need to carry for you
gery. husband, which is pretty high given that others (rightly); withholding is fair to you only if the pain
My mother-in-law often shares sensitive informa- will assume they know – with a high likelihood of of your mother-in-law’s blabbing is worse than the
tion about extended family members with us, and it all rebounding back onto you mid-recovery in hassle of trying to stop her.
likewise has shared our sensitive info with others.
The recovery would take several weeks, and I don’t Again – she does need to stop, yes, now, immedi-
want to offend them by not telling them – but I feel ately. And when I have a magic wand, I’ll prioritize
it is a personal issue that will be shared with others making her stop. (I have a few other things to do
against my wishes if they are told. first, if you don’t mind.)
Is it fair to ask my husband not to tell them about
this surgery, should it happen? In the meantime, all any of us can do is manage
the extras that come with not living in a vacuum.
– Not Everyone’s Business And that means weighing the relative merits of two
bad options.
Not Everyone’s Business: It is absolutely fair. Ac-
tions have consequences, and her unacceptable None of this means you have to tell his parents, or
blabbing has the natural consequence of costing anyone, anything. This is unequivocally your body,
her access to information. Done. your life, your information to give or withhold. But
principles are hard work at a time when you have
As far as that goes. other, really important work to do for yourself.
But there’s more to it when you include the con- Please make sure you don’t take on too much.
sequences of your actions. By choosing not to tell
your mother-in-law, you will create other ripples: And, whatever you decide, it sounds like time
· Your husband will have to withhold information for you and your husband especially to say to his
mom out loud, in much kinder words than mine,
“Put a sock in it, Lady, or you’ll hear nothing from
us again.”

Best wishes for a quick recovery. 

CORTEZ’S NOT-SO-HIDDEN
TALENTS EVIDENT IN
ECLECTIC EXHIBIT

44 Vero Beach 32963 / December 2, 2021 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

ARTS & THEATRE

Cortez’s not-so-hidden talents evident in eclectic exhibit

BY MARY SCHENKEL | STAFF WRITER Ed Cortez.

Although Edmund (Ed) Cortez didn’t PHOTOS BY KAILA JONES
fully engage his artistic abilities until
later in life, his talents began percolat-
ing at an early age. Cortez, who is the
guest artist at the Main Street Vero
Beach Gallery through the month of
December, will exhibit a selection of
his pencil portrait drawings and bird
paintings, and will also have a couple
of the smaller ship models he has built.

Cortez was born in Brooklyn, where
he lived throughout his childhood, ex-
cept for a brief period as a young child
in Puerto Rico, where both parents were
born. His father was a cook’s helper at
the Garden Cafeteria, a landmark deli
in Manhattan, where famed Holocaust
survivor Eli Wiesel and other Jewish in-
tellects would gather for long philosoph-
ical conversations.

“Ironically, my dad was part of the

D-Day Invasion and Battle of the Bulge, sioner of education, in charge of spe- “I stayed in that job for 18 years and much art in there, have you?”
and he was one of the guys who helped cial education policy. He next served retired from that position,” says Cor- He did, however, continue to draw
liberate the camps where Eli Wiesel was as president of the National Center for tez, adding with a laugh, “So there’s
a prisoner,” says Cortez, noting that the Disability Services. my career. You haven’t heard about all through his working career and,
two men never knew the parts they had as time permitted, began working on
played in each other’s lives. model ships.

Although his parents were not artis- “My godfather used to say, ‘If you find
tically inclined, all four children were, a corner of a piece of paper that’s blank,
especially his late brother Richard, who you’re going to fill it with a picture.’ And
was five years older. He recalls wanting that was basically true. I was always
to copy Richard, but adds, “I never ever doodling but never taking it seriously.”
took it seriously as a career, even as a
child. I was more into science and math.” After retirement, however, he began
to actively explore his creative side, par-
Those interests propelled him to study ticularly after moving to Vero Beach in
psychology and liberal arts at Wesleyan 2014 with wife Karen Loeffler.
University, after which he taught sixth-
graders in Baltimore. He obtained a Once here, he met Mackie Duch, a
master’s degree specializing in teaching volunteer at the Vero Beach Museum
children with hearing impairments and of Art, who put him in touch with in-
authored his thesis on why hearing-im- structor Dawn Miller, and he began
paired Hispanic children didn’t fare as taking her art classes. He initially
well as those of other nationalities. painted birds, “because people like
birds,” donating them to nonprofits to
He was eventually recruited to run sell at their fundraisers. He also cre-
a five-year project in New York State to ated a series of ‘Birds of the Treasure
look into that same issue, and by age 40 Coast’ notecards, and white pelican-
was New York State’s assistant commis- inspired holiday cards, such as a flying
pelican wearing a Santa hat.

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / December 2, 2021 45

ARTS & THEATRE

Although he has painted in oils and composer Jimmy Webb, whom he and
acrylics in the past, his current medium Karen had met in California. He present-
of choice is colored pencil. He wanted ed it to Webb when he was in Vero Beach
his colored pencil work to “have a more to perform at the Emerson Center.
painterly effect” and, through research,
discovered colored pencil artists who “So much of what I do as an artist is
use mineral spirits to do just that. inspired or created or the result of so
many people in my life. The most im-
“Some of their work is so good portant one is Karen,” says Cortez. He
that it’s now competing with
acrylics and oils as a medium credits her with calling on her enor-
of choice for some artists,” says mous circle of friends and col-
Cortez. “I decided that’s what I wanted leagues to pack the house at ev-
to pursue. So all of my colored pencil
paintings, I hope, give you the impres- ery one of his exhibits or performances.
sion that they could be oil paintings or “No one knew who I was, but they all
acrylic paintings.”
knew who Karen was. I’m telling you
Cortez, who now teaches at the mu- she’s incredible. She’s my muse, and my
inspiration and a great agent.” 

His choir director, an avid
sailor, would take Cortez and his
siblings sailing aboard his 42-
foot sailboat.

“As I was growing up, he en-
couraged me to do scrimshaw,
model ship building, all kinds of
things related to art and the lure
of the sail,” Cortez recalls, adding
that it also piqued his interest in
the history of the ships.

He began with model ship kits,
but eventually realized that the

seum, chuckles and says, “The details, and often the accuracy, of the
first courses I taught was kind of ships’ designs were lacking.
like an oxymoron; it was called
painting with colored pencils.” His largest, a highly intricate, de-
tailed model of the Continental Navy
In addition to people portraits Sloop Providence, built for the Provi-
and bird paintings, he says, “I’m dence Tall Ship Foundation, was 9 feet
now having a lot of fun doing pet long and 12 feet high.
portraits. Animals have differ-
ent personalities that show up in “Obviously, that was not a kit. That
their expressions, and I’ve tried was all from scratch,” says Cortez. “It’s
to capture those expressions.” now housed in Old Town Alexandria.
I built it on a platform with wheels, so
Once in Vero, Cortez gave into they can bring it out when they have pa-
his musical side as well, join- rades and events.”
ing the band Riptide, known for play-
ing music of the 1960s and ’70s. While Another model built from scratch was
he enjoyed it, he says he found that the for John Gray, who retired in 2018 as di-
music wasn’t his style. He eventually rector of the National Museum of Ameri-
formed the band Night and Day, playing can History at the Smithsonian Institute
music from the American Songbook and in Washington, D.C. His staff wanted to
Broadway shows at events and venues give him a unique gift, and asked Cor-
around town until the pandemic ground tez to build a model of the Revolutionary
things to a halt. War gunboat Philadelphia. The actual
Philadelphia, raised from the depths
“I haven’t really performed since of Lake Champlain where it had been
then, although I practice every day. I sunk, was one of Gray’s favorite exhibits
was self-taught on the guitar, but I was at the Smithsonian.
a trained singer from when I was a child
and that stayed with me,” says Cortez. He also built a schooner as a birth-
day present for “MacArthur Park”
He began singing in the choir of the
Church of the Transfiguration in Man-
hattan – fondly known by New Yorkers
as the Little Church Around the Corner.
A parishioner took notice of him and
offered to pay his tuition at the Church
of the Cathedral Choir School, a private
school with a highly acclaimed choir,
associated with the Church of Saint
John the Divine.

It was there that he got his classical
music training, as well as his interest in
all things nautical.

46 Vero Beach 32963 / December 2, 2021 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

ARTS & THEATRE

COMING UP! Take a jolly jaunt down ‘Christmas Tree Lane’

BY PAM HARBAUGH In fact, that bake sale is so popular that zie, a busy stand-up comic whose
Correspondent the best goodies go fast. In fact, if you schtick includes music, props,
want home-baked goodies, get there homegrown characters and
1 The turkey is a but a memory. early because they sell out early. There rapid-fire improv. He has
Time to turn your sites onto the will be Cookies-by-the-Pound, pack- been seen on television,
aged cookies, home-baked cakes, pies heard on radio and cheered
next big hurdle – getting presents for and fruit breads. You can also pick up in comedy clubs around the
some homemade pickles, jams and country. Feature act Mi-
all those good little boys and girls, no fresh Louisville pecans. Visitors who chael Murillo has opened
are not vaccinated are requested to for big-name comedians
matter the age. A good spot to kick wear masks. Christmas Tree Lane runs such as Amy Schumer, Tig
9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at First Presbyterian Notaro, Judy Gold and Greg
off this jolly part of the season is the Church of Vero Beach, 520 Royal Palm Fitzsimmons. The shows be-
Blvd. Admission free. Ample parking. gin 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. Friday,
Christmas Tree Lane at First Presbyte- For more information, call 772-562- Dec. 3, and Saturday, Dec. 4 at
9088 or visit FirstPresVero.org. Riverside Theatre, 3250 Riverside
rian Church in Vero Beach. This 67th Dr., Vero Beach. Tickets are $20.
Arrive early and enjoy a free music
annual event, run by the Church Wom-
Michael Murillo.
en’s program, will be held this Satur-

day, Dec. 4, indoors and outdoors at

the church. This grand event includes

the popular Unique Boutique, which is

filled with new and gently used items 2 You can also pick up items for
holiday gift giving at the Young
perfect for stocking stuffers and more,

and Mrs. Claus’ Pantry, which is filled Entrepreneurs Market running 10 a.m.

with tasty temptations. “I know there to 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 4 at the Envi- those partaking and $10 for designated
drivers, be sure to bring along some ex-
are some real bargains,” says Christ- ronmental Learning Center, 225 Live tra cash so you can pick up some tasty
offerings by an army of food trucks.
mas Tree Lane co-chair Joan Irvine. Oak Drive, Vero Beach. For more infor- There will also be music by the Dave
Scott Band and games. Organizers ex-
“Except for the Boutique and sewing mation, check out their Facebook page. pect 1,500 to attend. Proceeds from the
Brewfest will help the club’s charitable
and quilting, you can walk around efforts, such as high school athletic
teams, Backpacks for Kids Program,
outside to shop for the famous Christ- 3 Riverside Theatre’s Comedy Sebastian COTE unit, Our Little Free
Zone will present headliner Mut- Library, the Riverfront dock and board-
mas cookies and other baked goods.” walk, the Linus project and local non-
profits. The Sebastian Brewfest runs
concert in the Loop. Food and drinks noon to 4 p.m. at Riverview Park, U.S.
available for purchase. This weekend, 1 and Sebastian Blvd., SR 512. For more
the Live in the Loop concerts will fea- information, visit the Facebook page.
ture the Jacks Band on Friday, Dec. 3
and the Real Deal on Saturday, Dec. 4. 5 The AAUW Book Review Break-
Both nights sound like a fun way to kick fast will be held 9:30 p.m. to 11:30
back and remember when. For more
information, call 772-231-6990 or visit a.m. Monday at the Indian River State
RiversideTheatre.com.
College’s Richardson Center. The event

explores the acclaimed book “Coura-

geous Conversations about Race” by

4 The Sebastian Brewfest is the Glenn E. Singleton. The lecture and dis-
spot to be Saturday for beer lov-
cussion will be led by Deborah Taylor-

ers and for those who want to get to- Long, coordinator of equity, family and

gether for a good cause. Presented by community engagement of Indian River

the Rotary Club of Sebastian, the event School District. Taylor-Long will lead

features unlimited tastings of Florida the discussion as it delves into our need

Craft Brewers, ciders and wines. While for candid conversations about race.

the cost to attend the Brewfest is $35 for The result of these candid discussions

should lead to an understanding about

how achievement gap exists. It also is

designed to raise educational equity

and excellence. The Richardson Cen-

ter is on the campus of IRSC, 6155 Col-

lege Lane, Vero Beach. The continental

breakfast includes coffee, tea, juice and

various pastries. Organizers are happy

to accept donations to defray cost of

the food. There is no cost to attend the

event, but organizers would appreciate

the donation of a pre-K book. For more

information, call 772-567-8890. 



48 Vero Beach 32963 / December 2, 2021 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PETS

Jessica the Yorkie is definitely Bonzo’s cup of ‘Tea’

Hi Dog Buddies! a nice vet tech human in Naples, Flori- callin’ me to come play. My favorite
da, where My Mom an Dad were living
Jessica (Jessie Jane) Cugno is a teensy at the time. However, when Dad was beach activity is SNIFFING! There’s
PUREBRED Teacup Yorkie who was res- at the vet’s picking up Harry’s speshull
cued from one of those Horrible Puppy food (Harry was gettin’ Up There an had a lot to sniff: shells, seaweeds, those
Mills an is now, in her words, “One Lucky some ISH-yous), he saw me an thought
Gal.” She’s also Super Cute, an Totally I was, you know, a cute, perky liddle super cool liddle teeny crabs. Birds
Fearless Except for Garbudge Trucks. pooch (I certainly didn’t feel that way).
In her Woofmail inquiring about an in- Mom was in Calla-FORN-yuh workin’ are kinda meh, tho. Harry taught
nerview, she mentioned that I look ex- an Dad told her about me. When she
actly like her brother Harry, also an Eng- returned, they decided maybe gettin’ a me to love the beach. He swam, but
lish Springer Spaniel, who had crossed fren for Harry’d perk him up a liddle. So
the Rainbow Bridge a couple years ago. they hemmed an hawed. (That’s what I just run around in the soap-sudsy
(Obviously, a hansome poocheroo.) Mom said. I don’t know what it means.)
Anyway, when they finally decided to part on the edges. (I always wear my
Jessica anna lady answered the door, get me, I was already ’dopted!”
an I innerduced myself. Before ap- leash, so I don’t get washed away.)
proaching for the Wag-an-Sniff, Jes- “Wait! Wha-at?” I gasped.
sica stood sizing me up, her head tilted “The humans who ’dopted me didn’t “Every morning I give Mom an
and her ears at attention, in that Crispy ree-lize I wasn’t potty trained, an I didn’t
Biscuits way Yorkies have, looking Very know how to go up or down stairs, an I Dad lotsa kisses to wake ’um up.
Serious Yet Perky, in a pretty pink col- got scared trying to cross thresholds.
lar an bow. An didn’t even know how to play, cuz Then I go outside to do my duty,
I’d lived inna box my whole life till then.
After reassurances from the lady, an I was much too high maintenance, so always with Mom so hawks, owls,
a very formal Wag-an-Sniff, she said: they returned me.
“Good morning, Mr. Bonzo. You may “The vet tech told Mom an Dad right an Cats named Bob can’t grab me
call me Jessie. This is my Mom Sue an away, an they quickly ’dopted me. They’d
my Dad Richard. You must excuse my brought a liddle pink carrier to take me for breakfast. When Mom’s in her
initial reticence. Most of my experienc- to my new home in but, soon as I saw it,
es with Fellow Dogs have been of the I Totally Freaked, an leaped into Dad’s home office, I help. I sit on her lap Jessica.
kind I prefer to forget.” arms. So – no more boxes for me! Now
I have my own Forever Famly, an The an assist with Conference Calls.
“I totally understand, Miss Jessie,” I Best. Life. EVER!”
replied. I sniffed an wiped my nose with my After dinner is Mom’s an My Spe-
paw. I love Happy Endings. An Happy
A nano second after we sat down, Jes- Beginnings even more. cial Time: We walk down a path, right “Shut the doghouse door!” I ex-
sie, whose been told she’s about 5, appar- Jessie continued, “Mom an Dad were
ently flipped her Puppy Switch: She be- so patient, an I learned fast. I aced Pot- onto the beach. Yep, it’s definitely my claimed.
gan happily showering my assistant with ty Training in a week! Crossin’ thresh-
puppy kisses, ceasing only briefly to con- olds took a liddle longer. I thought I was Happy Place.” Moving on, I inquired whether she en-
tinue her story. My assistant, meanwhile, gonna fall in an vanish. Now I cross
was laughin’ and givin’ Jessie liddle pats. ’em, but I always crouch, then LEAP “Any special pals?” joyed travel.
(Just between us, I think she flipped her over ’em just in case.”
Puppy Switch, too.) “Whaddya do for fun?” “Yes! My human brothers Derek an “Kinda. I snuggle on car rides. I’ve
“At first I didn’t know what playin’ was,
“I’m ready when you are, Miss Jessie,” livin’ inna box an all. But NOW I have Roc, an my sister Bridget. An my cous- been to Vermont, Maine, Georgia and
I told her. playin’ DOWN. Speshully the BEACH.
When I’m outside, I can hear the ocean in Custard, Derek’s lemon Bee-gull. Jacksonville on those metal bird thingys.
“Very well. So, after I’d had two lit-
ters (which I don’t wish to talk about They’re all comin’ for Thanksgiving They’re OK. However, gigantic gar-
because it makes me sad) I was rescued,
Thank Lassie, an was being fostered by an we’re gonna have So Much Fun! I budge trucks scare the kibbles outta me.

LOVE havin’ a famly! Then there’s my They’re SO LOUD! I hide in the closet.

neighbor Roxie, she’s a Rottie puppy; an I’m not scared of ANYTHING except gar-

Delilah, a Lab. We say hi when she runs budge trucks.”

through the yard.” Heading home, I was thinkin’ about

“How about foodstuffs?” Miss Jessie, a brave liddle teacup who

“Mom says I’m a Swiffer Sweeper, loves bestowing puppy kisses, and

’specially around Dad, cuz he drops lotsa brushes her two beautiful teeth with

crumms. Also cuz, for a Super Speshull chiggen-flavored toothpaste. I was still

treat, Dad gives me a smidge of almond smiling when I arrived home.

butter. You should try it, Mr. Bonzo. It’s

Way Yum! I hafta eat soft squishy food- Till next time,
stuffs cuz I only have two teeth, cuz no-
body took care of me before. The Bonz

“Now, every night, Mom brushes Don’t Be Shy
both of my teeth. See.” She grinned
an there they were, one on each side. We are always looking for pets
Gleaming white. with interesting stories.

“They’re beautiful!” I told her. To set up an interview, email
“I KNOW! I have my own pink tooth-

brush and special dog toothpaste from [email protected].

the vet that tastes like chiggen!”

ALL THE FIXINGS:
TREATMENT OPTIONS ABOUND

FOR AILING SHOULDERS

50 Vero Beach 32963 / December 2, 2021 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

HEALTH

All the fixings: Treatment options abound for ailing shoulders

BY KERRY FIRTH Dr. Daniel Plessl. something heavy, or you can wear therapy,” Dr. Plessl explained. “A
Correspondent down your tendons over time with tear from trauma might be severe
PHOTO: KAILA JONES no specific injuries. enough that it requires us to go in
Dr. Daniel Plessl, a Harvard- and repair the rotator cuff in order
trained physician who joined Vero of four muscles and tendons that “If the rotator cuff is worn down to restore the function of the shoul-
Orthopaedics in September, devel- stabilize your shoulder’s ball and with no specific injury, we can gen- der.”
oped an interest in sports medi- socket joint and let you lift and ro- erally treat those types of tears with
cine through his own involvement tate your arms. There are two ways medication, injections or physical A worn rotator cuff is called a
in sports. “I grew up playing sports you can tear your rotator cuff. You degenerative tear that comes with
and I wanted to pursue a medical can injure your shoulder with a age or simply wearing down the
specialty where I could take care of trauma like a car accident or lifting tendon over time. People working
patients and keep them active,” he at jobs such as house painting and
said. construction are at risk for rotator
cuff tears because of the repeti-
“The field of orthopedics gives tive overhead motion of the arms.
doctors the benefit of getting in- These types of tears are usually
stant gratification from some of the treated with medication, injections
surgeries we do. If someone breaks and physical therapy.
a hip, we can fix it with an implant
that allows them to start walking “The first step we’ll take is to
immediately. We can replace shoul- manage the symptoms with a
ders and knees and also do mini- combination of anti-inflamma-
mally invasive repair procedures tory medicines as well as injec-
for the joints, which gives us the tions into the shoulder,” Dr. Plessl
ability to make huge changes in our continued. “Physical therapy will
patients’ lives.” help maintain the range of motion
by strengthening other muscles
Rotator cuff tears in the shoul- around the shoulder. We address
der are one of the most common the issue conservatively first and
injuries that Dr. Plessl sees. A ro- hope it continues to ease the pain.
tator cuff tear is a rip in the group We have patients who get a cortico-

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1225 US HWY 1, VERO BEACH, FL 32960 JULIE A. CROMER, DDS