Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / September 14, 2023 51 Style The price tags may seem bonkers but vintage tour merchandise has crossed the line from collector’s item to fashionista must-have. When is a YSL T-shirt not a YSL T-shirt? When it’s actually a vintage Nirvana T-shirt, and it’s selling for as much as $3,200 as part of Saint Laurent Rive Droite’s “The Vintage” drop. The luxury fashion house had nothing to do with the production of these tees back in the 1990s, yet the new collection is already mostly sold out on its website. The price tag might seem bonkers, but Nirvana T-shirts have been selling for thousands of dollars for decades. A 1991 Nirvana Nevermind Riverman U.K. Tour tee sold for $12,100 three years ago, while a Sonic Youth T-shirt worn on stage in 1994 by Kurt Cobain, who died the same year, is thought to be the most expensive performerworn T-shirt of all time, selling for a whopping $25,000 back in 2014. While that comparison verges on making the Saint Laurent drop seem almost reasonably priced, many have pointed out that $3,200 for a Nirvana shirt goes against everything Kurt Cobain stood for, being, as he was, so passionate about making Nirvana as accessible as possible. Kate Hiscox, a music PR and author of the “Wears My Money” blog, who herself has a wealth of old Kiss T-shirts in her collection, explains the band’s enduring sartorial appeal. “Nirvana burned fast and bright and they completely changed the face of music at that time,” she says. “It went from hair metal to grunge almost overnight once they entered the scene. Plus their T-Shirt designs are just iconic.” Luxury labels and fast-fashion brands alike have been co-opting the band-inspired tee since the midteens. In 2012, Nicolas Ghesquière sent a T-shirt down the catwalk emblazoned with a red font that resembled Iron Maiden’s logo; five years later, Primark was selling replica Kiss T-shirts and Topshop’s bestseller was an AC/DC design. Cue a backlash from music fans irked at the idea of a teenager wearing a badly made Guns n’ Roses T-shirt having never heard “Sweet Child O’Mine.” Like many people, however, I started wearing band merch in my teens precisely because I wanted anyone to know at a glance what music I was into. My vintage cords, ski jackets and adidas sneakers, teamed with a Blur T-shirt, left no doubt as to my tribe: Britpop. So strong is my affiliation to this movement that I recently bought a vintage Elastica T-shirt for $75 at my local vintage store, conjuring fond memories of buying the band’s eponymous debut album in HMV for my 18th birthday. “My rule about wearing band T-shirts is that you really should be able to name at least two songs by that band,” agrees Hiscox. Authenticity is key when you’re a fan of the artist you’re wearing. “When I saw Bruce Springsteen in Hyde Park in July, I wore a T-shirt that I bought back in 1992 at Wembley Arena when he was on the Human Touch tour,” says Lynne Leaper, a 64-yearold fan of the Boss. “It made me smile when a couple of young fans, who probably weren’t born when I bought that T-shirt, came over to compliment it at the concert. It shows that band T-shirts – like the artist in this case – just get better with age.” It’s true that there’s something about the feel of that old cotton that you just can’t replicate with a new T-shirt. “Weirdly another of my favorites is a Status Quo tour T-shirt from the End of the Road tour in 1984,” continues Hiscox. “I bought it in a thrift store to be ironic back in the mid-1990s, but I actually kind of love Status Quo now in a totally unironic way. It’s wafer-thin though, so I have to be careful when I wash it in case it literally falls apart.” She has a point: You might even want to avoid wearing your own vintage tee too often to prolong its life. If you do wear it though, hand-wash it, or wash it inside a pillowcase at a low temperature, and don’t dry it in direct sunlight to prevent fading of that allimportant print. As for investments for the future, a final word from Kate Hiscox on the new Nirvana tee. “Tour T-shirts that are only sold at the gigs will be the ones that are worth buying. I think Taylor Swift and Harry Styles will be the golden tickets for merch, as well as gig tickets themselves.” BY HANNAH ROCELL The Telegraph Trying to make sense of the rise of the $2,500 band T-shirt
WINE COLUMN 52 Vero Beach 32963 / September 14, 2023 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Fine Dining, Elevated Exciting Innovative Cuisine Award Winning Wine List Unparalleled Service Expanded outdoor dining in The Café. Proud recipient of Trip Advisor’s Traveler’s Choice Award placing us in “The Top 10% of restaurants worldwide”. Catering Now Available (772) 234-3966 • tidesofvero.com Open 7 Days a Week Starting at 5 PM 3103 Cardinal Drive, Vero Beach, FL Reservations Highly Recommended • Proper Attire Appreciated Wine Spectator Award 2002 – 2021 Wine prices have been creeping upward for several years, even before global inflation took off in 2022. While the sweet spot for value used to be $12 to $20, I would now put it at $15 to $25, and that hurts those of us who prefer wine over other drinks. So here are three affordable wines that still show quality for the price – two of these are repeat recommendations that have increased in price but still bring pleasure to the palate. EA Red Blend 2020 Vinho Regional Alentejano, Portugal, $15 This delicious red blend demonstrates why Portugal, and especially its Alentejo region, is a reliable source of bargain wines. This is good burger wine. Spaghetti wine. Weeknight wine. Independent Garnacha 2021 Bajo Aragón, Spain, $16; $43 for a 3-liter box The label describes this wine as “explosive.” I might opt for effusive to describe its fruit-forward, juicy character. This is a fun wine, meant for casual sipping. Inflation has hit its price tag but splurging on the 3-liter box format brings the per-bottle price down to just under $11, still quite a value. Domaine de Chevilly Quincy 2022 Loire Valley, France, $25 Here’s crisp and supple sauvignon blanc, with a stony minerality that evokes the fine terroirs of the Loire Valley. Quincy is less famous and expensive than the better-known sancerre (even with inflation), and more complex than the wider Touraine designation. It’s a great partner for seafood, salads or any dish featuring goat cheese. Prices are approximate. For availability, check Wine.com, Wine-searcher.com and the websites and social media feeds of the wineries, importers, distributors, and your favorite local wine store. BY DAVE McINTYRE The Telegraph As wine prices rise, these three reds show bargains do exist WWW.COSTADESTE.COM YOUR BEACHSIDE OASIS IS CALLING... Enjoy Breakfast from the Comfort of your Oceanview Room Enjoy Fresh, Local Seafood & Cuban Specialties! Live Entertainment Fri -Sun WEEKLY SPECIALS Tuesday PRIME RIB NIGHT Wednesday PAELLA NIGHT Daily Happy Hour | 4 - 6 PM Sunday Brunch 11 AM - 3 PM 772-562-9919 1/2 OFF SELECT SHARABLES $5 DRAFT BEER $6 HOUSE WINE $7 WELL LIQUOR
Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / September 14, 2023 53 Vero & Casual Dining
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Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / September 14, 2023 55 Vero & Casual Dining 1006 Easter Lily Lane, Vero Beach Hours: Sun-Thurs:11 am-9 pm Fri-Sat:11 am-10 pm LARGE OUTDOOR SEATING AVAILABLE DELIVERY AVAILABLE FOR DINNER Now Offering Gluten Free Cauliflower Crust Pizza “The Best Authentic Cannelloni in Vero Beach” 772.231.9311 Established in 1981 Where the Locals Go for Pizza NOW OFFERING ONLINE ORDERS NINOSRESTAURANTS.COM Beachside On The PARTY PLATTERS AVAILABLE 56 Royal Palm Pointe 772-567-4160 Follow us on Facebook & Instagram OPEN FOR DINNER WEDNESDAY-SUNDAY BEGINNING AT 4 PM. CLOSED MONDAY & TUESDAY. ORDER ONLINE FOR DELIVERY OR PICKUP THROUGH Pizzoodles.com or ToastTakeout.com SALADS, PASTA, VEAL, CHICKEN , SUBS AND DESSERTS OPEN WEDNESDAY - SUNDAY 1931 Old Dixie • 772.770.0977 fishackverobeach.com • Like us on Facebook! Gift Certificates, Private Parties & Patio Dining Available TUESDAY NIGHT l ALL YOU CAN EAT FISH FRY HAPPY HOUR 4-6 PM l TUES.- SAT. WE CAN ACCOMMODATE LARGE PARTIES TUES OPEN FOR DINNER AT 4 WED-SAT OPEN FOR LUNCH & DINNER CLOSED SUNDAYS & MONDAYS OFFERING Local Fish Northern Fish Patio Dining Happy Hour Best Margaritas Full Liquor Bar Large Parties Daily Specials &&&&&& 1930 14th Ave. (772)217-2179 in Downtown Vero Beach 1920 14th Ave. (772) 907-5774 Big selection of Ready to Eat Meals, Imported Meats & Cheeses Imported Pasta, NY Bread Pastosa Pasta, Ravioli & More Homemade Cheese & Parsley Sausage Fresh Mozzarella made daily Soups & Sauces made fresh daily Enjoy a little bit of Italy at Armani's Enjoy a little bit of Italy at Armani's Enjoy a little bit of Italy at Armani's The BEST Hero in Vero!! Boars Head Cold Cuts Imported Olives, Tomatoes, Peppers & More Cannolis, Sfogliatelle, Rainbow Cookies Imported Olive Oils & Vinegars Imported Italian Beverages Catering Available *must bring receipt *UP TO 2 PEOPLE *Spend $60 at Armani's Italian Market Get 10% OFF your tab at Armani's Cucina (drinks included!) Let the Pours Begin! Our Private Label, Aged-Barrel "Fighting 69th" Irish Whiskey Where Vero goes for a Lil Bit of Ireland - Chef Chet Perrotti Tues. - Trivia Wed. - Bingo & $7 Burgers Thur. - $.75 Wings Fri. & Sat - LIVE Music Sun. - Music Bingo w/Dr. Rock - Happy Hour All Day Come and Try Sean Ryan's Very Own Private Label Lager & "Fighting 69th" Aged-Barrel Irish Whiskey 2019 14th Avenue Downtown Vero (772) 217-2183 Happy Hour Daily 4-6pm & 9-close and all day sunday Opens 11:30am Tues-Sun seanryanpub.com Special Occaision? Book our Private Room We Carry EVERY College & NFL Game! We Carry EVERY College & NFL Game!
PETS 56 Vero Beach 32963 / September 14, 2023 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Tola Tavener is a Totally Feminine Mini Golden Doodle, about the size of a bag of sugar, curly white coat with touches of gold (APER-cott in Dog Lingo) in her fluffy ears – in which she was wearing pink feathery bows which matched her pink kerchiff. And she has sparkly dark eyes that can knock you right off your paws. Just sayin’. Anyway, me an my assistant met Tola at her workplace, where she’s office Morale Maintenance Pooch an Event Supervisor. With a nice lady by her side, she doodle-danced up for the Wag-an-Sniff an gave my assistant several welcoming bumps. “Good morning! Good morning! I’m Tola Tavener! This is my Mom, Amy! My Dad is Ed! He’s at work elsewhere. Welcome to our office! Follow me to the CON-frence Room so we can CHAT!” She led the way, an we got settled at a Very Looong Important Table. Tola sat at the Head Chair an, even though she only weighs 10 pounds, there wasn’t any doubt she was In Charge. “I’m eager to hear your story!” I said. “I’ll begin then. We have extra pencils if you need ’em. Now then: I grew up in Hilton Head. It’s an EYE-lun in a state up THAT way (she pointed) called South care-oh-LINE-uh. It’s real pretty. I was Dad’s dog first, an I met Mom when I was a liddle pupper. (Now I’m 4.) Dad named me for another EYE-lun he loves, which is WAY down THAT way (she pointed the OTHER way) in the Briddish VURRjun EYE-luns, called Tor-TOE-luh. Cool Kibbles, doncha think?” “Totally, Miss Tola! So, how’d you get here?” “We drove down to visit an loved it. The beach an all. An this is an EYElun, too! We do early-morning beach walks every day. It’s my favrite time of day. It’s kinda magical, I think. I speshully love those teensy crabs. They’re miss-TEARY-us. I see the sand move, an I sniff an poke around, an I THINK I see one. But then it vanishes. They’re so fast. Maybe they’re invisible. Do YOU think they’re invisible, Mr. Bonzo?” “I’ve never ackshully seen one, Miss Tola,” I admitted. “I’ve only seen the sand move, now that I think about it. You might be right. Maybe they ARE invisible.” It gave me paws. “What’s life like so far?” “Pawsome. When Dad first got me, I totally loved his flip-flops. I’d chew ’em an carry ’em all over the place, an shake ’em to bits. Fortunately for them, I outgrew that. Now I have a Large Amount of stuffies, mostly with squeakers cuz I’m PAR-shull to squeakers. I learned How To Do My Dooty pretty fast, Thank Lassie. Now I have this roo-TEEN: I wake Dad up at 3 or 4 a.m. by licking his fingers. He takes me out to Do My Dooty. Then I jump back in bed with Mom. (I guess I’m a Momma’s Grrrl.)” “Whaddya do for exercise?” “I usta go to the Dog Park, but, you see, I’m a Peeple Pooch. So, while the other pooches were tearing around, I’d go from human to human, hop up on their laps an socialize the whole time. So I don’t go there anymore. I get my exercise at the beach.” “Do you have any speshull pals?” “I love Miss Tiffany, she works atta place called Bobby’s an she says hello when she brings our foodstuffs to us. My favrite person is Miss Lindsey, she’s Office ree-SEP-shunist. I go with her while she gives the office plants drinks of water, an I say HI to all the office peeple an they all give me TREATS. One time I was Official Trainer for Miss Lindsey’s dog, Bentley, a Scottish Terrier, when he was a pupper. I taught him how to buh-HAVE an be a Good Dog, which is EX-TREEMLY important when you work in an office. I might have taken advantage of him a teeny bit. I might have taken a few of his toys on occasion.” She looked a little bit rueful. I tried not to smile. “I have a nap bed on Mom’s desk so, when clients pass by, they usually stop an pat me and perhaps a treat is involved. Honestly, Mr. Bonzo, next to the beach, the office is my favrite place! I can’t wait to get to work. Soon as we arrive, I jump outta the car and run to the door, activate the sensor, zip into the lobby an wait to get let in. Then me an Mom go up to the office. Everybody loves me. It’s SO Cool Kibbles!!!! An guess what? Miss Gina LOVES dogs but she can’t be around ’um cuz she’s uh-LURR-gic, which is SO unfortunate.” I nodded. “But,” Tola continued, “since I’m HYPO-allergenic, Miss Gina CAN pat ME! Isn’t that SO pawsome?” “Totally!!!” I agreed. Everybody knows most humans can’t help but smile when they’re pattin’ a dog. “Do you like travelin’?” “YES! I’ve visited The Outer Banks, Savannah, the Keys. Woof, Key West was MY PAR-TAY. I was The STAR! Everybody loved me! An there were, like, a zillion CHIGGENS!! Mom hadda explain I shouldn’t try to socialize with ’em, tho. They OWN Key West. There were also these big lizards called eee-GWA-nuhs. A liddle scary, but cool. But I kept my distance cuz I’m so liddle, an I didn’t know if I looked like lunch to them, you know?” “That was prudent of you,” I commented. “I like your hairbows. Do you have outfits?” “NO!” she responded instantly. “Hairbows and ker-chiffs are IT. Mom got me a Dolly Parton cowboy hat once an I was like NO WAY! THIS (she indicated her pink hairbows an ker-chiff) is what I’m wearing to our Tail-Gate party, which I have been organizing. I’ve been So Busy cleaning the floors an making multiple trips to be sure all the snacks an games are in order.” Heading home, I was smiling, thinkin’ about all the advenchurs an treats that lay ahead for charming, happy Miss Tola, eager for what’s next, full of fun, feathery pink hairbows at the ready. Till next time, Hi Dog Buddies! Tola, all sweetness and light, makes everyone feel special The Bonz Don’t Be Shy We are always looking for pets with interesting stories. To set up an interview, email [email protected]. Tola. PHOTO: JOSHUA KODIS
Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ CALENDAR 58 Vero Beach 32963 / September 14, 2023 ONGOING Check with organizations directly for updates/cancellations. Riverside Theatre: Friday and Saturday Comedy Zone 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. in Waxlax Theatre, and free Live in the Loop outdoor concerts, 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. 772-231-6990 or RiversideTheatre.com First Friday Gallery Strolls, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. in Downtown Vero Beach Arts District. SEPTEMBER 16 International Coastal Cleanup Fay, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at 20+ waterfront locations across Indian River County, with 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. after party & awards, food trucks and entertainment at Walking Tree Brewery. Free Coastal-connections.org 17 Wedding Showcase, 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Heritage Center, with unveiling of the redesigned venue space, a signature cocktail, and multiple wedding-themed vendors. $6 advance; $10 at door. VeroHeritage.org 19 Pearl Anniversary Lifestyle & Media Auction hosted by the Sebastian River Area Chamber of Commerce, 5:30 p.m. at Capt. Hiram’s, with live and silent auctions, pirate costume contest, and cornhole tournament. $30 and $40 auction entry, includes dinner. $40/ team cornhole. SebastianChamber.com 23 10th annual Lines in the Lagoon Junior Fishing Tournament, 7 a.m. lines in, 2 p.m. lines out, with all fishing on the Indian River Lagoon by boat, dock or seawall, with 3:30 p.m. Awards Ceremony at American Icon Brewery. LinesInTheLagoon.com 23 Clay Shoot to benefit Veterans Council of IRC, 8 a.m. at Vero Beach Clay Shooting Sports, with breakfast, scramble shotgun start, prizes and lunch. Lunch only option available. 772-410-5820 23 Sickle Cell Awareness Khamoni’s Walk, 10 a.m. from MLK Plaza to Victor Hart Community Enhancement Complex (Gifford Park). 772-633-4724 23 Hunt for Hope Florida, a family-friendly team scavenger hunt to raise funding and awareness of inflammatory breast cancer, 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Riverview Park pavilion in Sebastian. 772-589-1140 23 Boots on the Beach, United Vero for Veterans, 5:30 p.m. at Riomar Golf Club, with guest speaker Ret. U.S. Army Green Beret John Wayne Walding, and musical guest Pauline Reese, to benefit the Boot Campaign individualized programs for veterans. $250. BootCampaign.org 24 Space Coast Symphony Orchestra presents American Icons, a celebration of Gershwin, Ellington, Bernstein and more, 3 p.m. at Community Church of VB. SpaceCoastSymphony.org 29 Indian River CARES (Connect, Advocate, Renew, Educate, and Strategize) Nonprofit Summit, 8:15 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church, for nonprofits, service clubs and faith-based organizations. Free. IndianRiverCares.org 29 to Oct. 15 – Vero Beach Theatre Guild presents the comedy “The Addams Family, The Musical.” VeroBeachTheatreGuild. com or 772-562-8300 30 Substance Awareness Center of IRC 5K Run/Walk, 7:30 a.m. from South Beach Park to celebrate recovery journeys and raise money to support freedom from substance misuse. RunSignUp.com 30 Pink in Paradise Gala to benefit Friends After Diagnosis, 7 p.m. at the IG Center, with dancing, auctions, hors d’oeuvres and cocktails. $75. FriendsAfterDiagnosis.com 30 to Jan. 28 – Vero Beach Museum of Art exhibition, Infinite Variations: The Imaginative Worlds of M.C. Escher. VBMuseum. org or 772-231-0707 OCTOBER 2-27 Indian River Bird and Nature Show at the Environmental Learning Center sponsored by Pelican Island Conservation Society, with artist meet and greet 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Sat. Oct. 7, followed by a presentation on Pelican Island Wildlife Refuge. 7 Carl Hiaasen speaks about his new book, Wrecker, 2 p.m. at the Vero Beach Book Center. Tickets issued with book purchase from VBBC. 772-569-2050 7|8 Inaugural ‘On Location’ Fine Arts Festival hosted by Vero Beach Art Club, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sat., 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sun. at Pointe West Heritage Pavilion, with artists, pumpkin painting and entertainment. VeroBeachArtClub.org 7|8 Treasure Coast Flea Market, Boat Sale and Seafood Festival, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at IRC Fairgrounds. $10; children 12 and under free. 9 Inaugural Hoe Down Fundraiser to benefit Indian River Cattlewomen, 6 p.m. at Marsh Landing, with dinner, drinks, raffles and dancing to Whiskey Trip. $35; $60 for two. IRCattleWomen.com 10 Village Arts VB presents Celebrating Special Needs Village Artists Exhibition, with Meet the Artists reception 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Emerson Center. Show runs through Nov. 1. TheEmersonCenter.com. 13-14, 20-21, 27-31 Haunted House Terror on Main Street hosted by Sebastian River Junior Women’s Club, 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. at 1036 Main St. $10. sebastianhauntedhouse.org Sudoku Page 32 Sudoku Page 33 Crossword Page 32 Solutions from Games Pages in September 7, 2023 Edition Crossword Page 33 (Familiar-Sounding Places) Advertising Vero Beach Services | If you would like your business to appear in our directory, please call 772-633-0753 VERO BEACH 32963 BUSINESS DIRECTORY Althea Powell, Board Certified Pedorthist State Licensed • Custom Molded Orthotics • Custom Molded Shoes • Diabetic Shoes • Elevation 2686 U.S. HWY 1 • VERO BEACH, FL www.powellshoes.com • 772.562.9045 POWELL SHOES PEDORTHIC FACILITY Our directory gives small business people eager to provide services to the community an opportunity to make themselves known to our readers at an affordable cost. This is the only business directory mailed each week. If you would like your business to appear in our directory, please call 772-633-0753 or email [email protected]. Oils • Edibles • Teas • Pain Topicals Skincare • Beverages & Non Alcoholic Spirits Gummies • Vape Cartridges Sleep Aids • Accessories (772) 226-7598 YOUR WELLNESS NOOK CBD & THC Products, Delta 8 & Delta 9 hempnookcbd.com hempnook hempnookvb 476 21st Street • Miracle Mile (next to Kelley’s Pub) Vero Beach, FL 32960
RIVERFRONT MAGIC ‘Charming house full of love’ in Orchid Isle Estates 8760 Seacrest Dr. in Orchid Isle Estates: 4-bedroom, 4.5-bath, 4,158-square-foot, two-story, waterfront home offered for $2,995,000 by Estate Agent Lange Sykes, Premier Estate Properties: 772-473-7983
REAL ESTATE 60 Vero Beach 32963 / September 14, 2023 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ During a visit to Disney’s Vero Beach Resort, Michael and Kristy Murphy did some exploring with their children and discovered Orchid Isle Estates part way across the Wabasso Causeway. They knew immediately that when they were ready to plant their roots, this was where they wanted to be. “We fell in love with it and bought the property,” recalls Kristy of the lot they purchased all those years ago at 8760 Seacrest Dr. in Orchid Isle Estates, which was developed on an island in the Indian River Lagoon. “It’s a special island. We love it because there’s a lot of wildlife,” says Michael, noting the abundance of native vegetation and the majestic, oldgrowth oak trees. While working in Columbia about 25 years ago, Michael asked a childhood friend who was an architect to design the house for them, which inspired the two-story home the couple eventually built. “It’s a charming house full of love,” says Michael. “This sprawling Spanish-colonial riverfront estate is ensconced in a canopy of mature live oak trees and old-growth landscaping, which affords a serene feeling and ultimate privacy for its residents,” says Premier Estate Properties Estate Agent Lange Sykes. “This estate is elevated ‘OldFlorida’ living with refined modern amenities at their finest.” The home’s architectural style creates a place to relax and retreat that blends with its natural surroundings. The comfortable layout allows breezes to flow through the mostly one-room depth of the house. And somehow, the spacious estate home feels very livable and cozy. Black, wrought-iron gates at the center of the house create a courtyard-like entry between the guest cabana and main house, directing guests to the spectacular poolside oasis. Metalwork on balconies, terracotta roof tiles, ornate archways and sym- ‘Charming house full of love’ in Orchid Isle Estates BY STEPHANIE LABAFF Staff Writer
REAL ESTATE Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / September 14, 2023 61 metrical exteriors are features of this timelessly beautiful home with its simple, yet elegant, interior spaces. The Mediterranean architecture blends with its natural environment and features outdoor living spaces like balconies and patios. Various access points encourage indoor-outdoor living and bring the beauty of the natural world inside. Several sets of doors along the rear of the main house offer entry points into the communal areas. The primary entry opens into the kitchen and family room, a welcoming space conducive to everyday family life and large gatherings. The chef’s island kitchen is equipped with high-end appliances and seating. A pass-thru window to the patio with an outside bar shelf eliminates the need for poolside guests to traipse in and out of the house. “It’s an entertainer’s paradise with expansive outdoor living areas, multiple grand covered loggias and eleven-foot ceilings on both levels of the home,” says Sykes. The pantry, laundry room, powder room, under-stair storage and access to the two-car garage with a workshop are conveniently just off the kitchen. A separate storage closet that can be converted into an elevator was thoughtfully placed here, too, in alignment with a matching closet upstairs, ensuring owners can age in place and accommodate guests. Around the corner, the L-shaped layout allows for a lovely flow into the dining room and formal living room, with doors opening to the pool patio, making the most of the views and providing more formal areas for entertaining. The stairs at the center of the house open at the top onto a landing where an office nook, wet bar and secondary living room with a cozy woodburning fireplace provide the family a private space to relax. To the right, two en suite guest bedrooms enjoy private balconies – one with a sunrise view and the other a sunset view. The primary suite overlooks the pool and a slice of the Indian River Lagoon with treetop views. The en suite bathroom completes the spacious bedroom with a step-in tub, water closet, dual sinks, vanity, shower and walk-in closet. To the right of the gated courtyard entrance, the guest cabana is perfect for long-term guests or as an office. The owners have a Murphy bed in this space so that they can use it as both. The full bath is accessible from the suite and the pool. Outside, the large stone pool deck surrounds a heated, saltwater pool CONTINUED ON PAGE 63
REAL ESTATE Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / September 14, 2023 63 and tranquil water feature. An outdoor, walk-in, wraparound shower ensures those returning from time on the river can rinse off before hopping into the pool. “It’s great to be outside and entertain,” notes Kristy, sharing that boating and kayaking are favorite activities. “When the kids and family are here, we spend most of the day outside,” adds Michael. With 125 feet of direct river frontage, the views of the river through the mangroves are spectacular. The owners have enjoyed the privacy afforded them with a 10-foot privacy wall as they watch the mullet jumping in the river and birds nesting in trees on the spoil island across the way. “The estate’s proximity on the lagoon allows for easy access north and south to the Intracoastal Waterway, and the spoil island across the waterway affords both privacy and a natural wind break for the boat lift, dock and residence,” says Sykes. Orchid Isle Estates is a private, gated community on Pine Island in the middle of the Indian River Lagoon. Located conveniently off the Wabasso Causeway in a protected nature preserve, the 300-acre subdivision has just over 80 homes. It is close to the Environmental Learning Center, Sebastian Inlet, and the Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge, adding to the area’s natural allure. It is a short drive away from Vero’s island village with all its boutiques, fine restaurants, resorts and beaches, and close to downtown Sebastion and its charming riverfront. VITAL STATISTICS Neighborhood: Orchid Isle Estates • Year built: 2004 Construction: Concrete block with stucco Lot size: .68 acres • Home size: 4,158 square feet Bedrooms: 4 • Bathrooms: 4 full baths and 1 half-bath Pool: Gas heated, saltwater swimming pool • Views: Indian River vistas Additional features: Gated community; wood-burning fireplace; crown molding; wood and tile flooring; chef’s kitchen; wine cooler; laundry chute; walk-in closets; step-in tub; office nook; wet bar; sunrise and sunset balco- nies; two-car garage with workshop; guest cabana; alarm and audio system; impact windows and doors; saltwater pool filtration system; whole house generator; two propane tanks; outdoor shower; boat dock and lift. Listing agency: Premier Estate Properties Listing agent: Estate Agent Lange Sykes, 772-473-7983 Listing price: $2,995,000 8760 SEACREST DR. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 61
REAL ESTATE 64 Vero Beach 32963 / September 14, 2023 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ A secret plan backed by tech billionaires to create a new city northeast of San Francisco is running into resistance – an indication of the long road ahead in a state where it’s hard to build almost anything. Catherine Moy, the mayor of Fairfield, has been lining up opposition to the group of Silicon Valley moguls after learning last week that they were behind the purchase of at least 52,000 acres of farmland in Solano County, a buying spree done extremely discreetly over several years. The purchases – with backing from former Sequoia Capital Chairman Mike Moritz, LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman and venture capitalist Marc Andreessen, among others – were part of a plan to build a city that’s self-sufficient and sustainable. They aim to address the Bay Area’s dire housing shortage, while bringing jobs and economic growth to the lowest-income county in the region. But California laws make it challenging for the developers to move forward, especially without strong support from the local community. “This is no way to go about any kind of development,” said Moy, whose city is the administrative seat of Solano County. “We’re going to do everything we can to stop this.” Over the past five years, Delawareregistered Flannery Associates LLC, spearheaded by Jan Sramek, a former Goldman Sachs Group Inc. trader, mysteriously snapped up $800 million worth of land in an unincorporated part of the county, becoming the area’s biggest landowner. The investors often paid well above market rates – up to five times more – and kept their plans hidden from local officials. It wasn’t until a week ago that the community became aware that the group of prominent Silicon Valley investors were involved, following coverage by the New York Times and other media outlets. Mike Thompson, a Democratic congressman who represents a part of Solano County, said on social media that he met with the founder of Flannery last Wednesday evening, without identifying the person. “The secrecy under which they operated caused consternation and concern from residents, local elected officials and federal agencies,” he said. “Honesty is the best policy and they need to begin to work with our community and local leaders if they want to advance their ideas.” Last Thursday, California Forever, the parent company of Flannery, unBillionaires’ secretive plan to build a new city is backfiring BY NADIA LOPEZ, LIZETTE CHAPMAN AND KAREN BRESLAU Bloomberg
REAL ESTATE Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / September 14, 2023 65 veiled a splashy website featuring the first renderings of the planned development. It showcased a walkable community with a focus on energy, transportation and water infrastructure, as well as wildfire protection. Some of the images depicted a city reminiscent of Italy’s Tuscan countryside, albeit with wind turbines in the background. The group said that it had operated in “stealth mode” for so long to avoid “reckless” short-term land speculation while it acquired the properties. They are now starting to engage with public officials and plan to establish a community advisory board, according to the website. “To date, our company has been quiet about our activities. This has, understandably, created interest, concern, and speculation. Now that we’re no longer limited by our confidentiality, we are eager to begin a conversation about the future of Solano County,” the website reads. “Like much of our state, Solano County faces many challenges – but also presents countless opportunities.” Flannery faces an uphill battle on many fronts. Rezoning agricultural land for residential and commercial use will be no easy task and could take years. Local residents and leaders also say the project poses a national security risk because of its proximity to Travis Air Force Base and that it threatens the livelihoods of farmers. The land mass borders three sides of the Travis facility, the busiest transit base in the US and a major economic driver. It’s the single largest employer in Solano County, with more than 26,000 people living or working there, generating $1.6 billion in economic activity for the region. John Carli, mayor of Vacaville, which is also in Solano County, said preserving the base is crucial to the region. Travis is known as the military’s “Gateway to the Pacific,” since its airplanes carry the largest share of U.S. cargo of any military air terminal. Encircling the base with new residences could put it in jeopardy of closing, Carli said. “I’m not opposed to development, but I also am looking out for the best interest of our city and for the residents of our county,” he said. California has long been a battleground for housing development and faces a chronic shortage of homes. While the state needs to consider bold solutions to addressing this crisis, Flannery’s proposal isn’t the right option, Carli said. “The answer isn’t necessarily to just build a brand new city without consideration for all the impacts that you’re creating,” he said. The California Forever website says the development, which will require voter approval, would create thousands of jobs, and feature homes, shops, restaurants and schools, located within walking distance. The project may also include a new large solar farm, major upgrades to an aqueduct that will deliver cleaner water to more than 400,000 people, and safeguards to respect the boundaries of the air base. State Senator Melissa Hurtado, a Democrat representing the Central Valley, singled out Flannery’s land purchases as an example of the threats facing California’s nearly $50 billion agriculture industry and roughly 70,000 farms and ranches. “You can’t just buy up large amounts of land for some new city or energy production,” Hurtado said in an interview. “You have to think about the food system as a whole.” “We’ve got a long way to go with this yet,” said Ken Rosen, chairman of the Berkeley Haas Fisher Center for Real Estate and Urban Economics. “The worst case is they own some farmland at a nice price.” Many locals believe the lack of existing infrastructure will make it too difficult to build the development. “It’s a terrible place to put a new city,” said Arvin Chaudhary, 58, a Solano County resident who has lived northeast of the air base for 12 years. “People are going to spend a lot of time and money, and it’s probably never going to happen.” Whether or not the development succeeds, locals worry it will distract from the investment that’s needed to support current residents. “Many residents have been waiting decades for infrastructure improvements,” said Nora Dizon, who lives in Fairfield. “It would be an insult to leapfrog the residents who have patiently waited for promised changes.” Ron Kott, mayor of Solano County’s Rio Vista, has raised concerns about traffic congestion on Highway 12 – a two-way road that cuts through the region that’s so dangerous it’s dubbed “blood alley” by locals. “Whatever this project is, it will influence the future of our city,” he said. Then there are the environmental concerns. The Greenbelt Alliance, a Bay Area nonprofit focused on climate-change resiliency, opposes the development because it’s in a highrisk location for wildfires, extreme heat and flooding. Laying a nonpermeable surface atop the virgin land further increases those risks, according to Executive Director Amanda Brown-Stevens. “This doesn’t make sense from an open space or a climate perspective,” she said. But some residents are eager for a new development and say the proposed project could boost economic activity to the county. “I personally think this will be amazing for the community,” said Drew Townsend, a 44-year-old Fairfield resident. “I’m sure there will be a ton of ‘not in my backyard’ people, but I don’t think they understand the economic and social impact this could have for generations.” Flannery has leveled its own accusations about unfair dealings. The firm filed a lawsuit in May alleging that landowners colluded to fix real estate prices; a charge they deny. Representative John Garamendi, a Democrat, descends from a long line of California ranchers and represents the Fairfield area, including the air base. At a state Senate committee hearing last Tuesday, he accused Flannery of “using secrecy, bullying and mobster tactics to force generational farm families to sell.” “If these investors plan to convince Solano residents and their elected representatives that building a new city on productive agricultural land is a wise scheme, they are off to a terrible start at earning the community’s trust,” Garamendi said.
REAL ESTATE 66 Vero Beach 32963 / September 14, 2023 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Blink and you would have missed the brief fall in U.S. house prices late last year. Even as the Federal Reserve raised benchmark U.S. interest rates at the fastest pace in decades and the average mortgage rate surged above 7 percent, the housing market has barely budged. It’s a dynamic that’s defied expectations, with many analysts blaming the so-called ‘lock-in’ effect – where inventory is squeezed by homeowners who are disincentivized from selling their house and taking on a new mortgage at a much higher cost. Economists at Barclays Plc, however, are looking elsewhere to explain America’s weirdly resilient housing market. In a note titled “Blame the Boomers” they point the finger at the millions of aging Americans who are helping to push up demand for homes. “The U.S. housing sector is on the upswing again, even with mortgage rates at multi-decade highs,” Jonathan Millar, Barclays senior economist, writes in the research. “Although much has been attributed to shortages of existing properties and mortgage lock-in effects, we think strong demand is a symptom of the aging population.” While the idea of an older population keeping home prices high might seem counterintuitive – after all, an aging and eventually declining population should in theory reduce housing demand – the Barclays analysts argue that we’re currently in a crunch point where more and more boomers are reaching retirement age and forming new households, but aren’t yet elderly enough to actually freeing up existing inventory. “Many presume that the gradual deceleration in the overall populaBarclays: ‘Blame the Boomers’ for surging house prices BY TRACY ALLOWAY Bloomberg
REAL ESTATE Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / September 14, 2023 67 tion should diminish the pace of increase in housing demand,” they say. “Although such effects eventually occur, for the time being the dominant effect is from composition, with more of the population shifting into age ranges where people are more likely to form a housing unit. “In our view, these upward pressures on household formation are boosting unit demand, helping to push up both prices and construction. Although this effect hit its stride around the time of the pandemic, it has been ramping up for more than a decade.” To understand the impact on housing, it helps to know about household formation. Morgan Stanley housing strategist James Egan explained the concept on an Odd Lots episode last year: “So to talk about household formations, let’s talk about how we define a household, if you will. And so basically a household is a unit living together in a shelter. It can be ownership or rentorship. I like to use an example where you basically have four people that just kind of, maybe they graduated from college. They moved to, let’s say New York City, where we’re sitting right now. And they live in one apartment. They are one household. “When they moved, when they graduated, when they moved to the city, that was a formation of a household because as part of their parents’ household before, that they didn’t count as one. So you have one household formation. “What we’re really going to be talking about is headship rates. That’s the percentage of any group, cohort of the population, how you choose to define it – we’re defining it by age here – that heads their own household. So this group of people, OK, their headship rate’s 25 percent, four of them in one household, two years later, they all move into their own apartment. We now have four households. Formation would be three. We went from one to four. It’s a net figure. And the headship rate for this very small cohort is a hundred percent. So when we think about how household formations are going to evolve, we’re looking at how those headship rates evolve in particular by age.” As Egan notes, headship rates are intertwined with age. The rate picks up as people tend to leave college or move out of their parents’ house in their twenties, and then continues to rise as they leave their roommates and start new families in their thirties. Later on, people may get divorced or retire, and this can start a whole new wave of household formation and a boost in headship rates. That means that even though population growth in the US may be slowing, the sheer number of baby boomers still in household formation mode is boosting demand for houses and outstripping existing supply. People of retirement age (65 years or older) now account for about 16.5 percent of the U.S. population, compared to just 13 percent in 2010, Barclays says. “Given this age profile for the headship rate, it is not surprising that aging places upward pressures on household formation,” that analysts add. “Although decisions to form households are economic ones at a micro level, we can gain a strong sense of the state of housing demand by applying assumptions about the aggregate headship rates within age groups to population projections for each age group through time.” For Barclays, all of this leads to a supply-demand imbalance in U.S. housing that’s unlikely to be resolved any time soon, with higher home prices the result. U.S. house prices have already defied expectations even as mortgage rates rise. (At Morgan Stanley, Egan expects U.S. house prices to reach a new record next month). And of course, boomers who have already spent decades accumulating their wealth have a leg-up on younger would-be homeowners. The one silver lining is that higher house prices seem to be encouraging construction of new houses – for now. “Data suggest that demographics are likely to support demand for the foreseeable future, consistent with annual household formation of around 1.3 million units through the end of the decade,” the Barclays analysts say. “Meanwhile, the accumulated shortage of new housing units remains considerable, putting upward pressure on house prices and rents, thereby encouraging additional construction.”
REAL ESTATE 68 Vero Beach 32963 / September 14, 2023 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Listing Date: Original Price: Recent Price: Sold: Selling Price: Listing Agent: Selling Agent: Listing Date: Original Price: Recent Price: Sold: Selling Price: Listing Agent: Selling Agent: Real Estate Sales on the Barrier Island: Sept. 1 to Sept. 7 The first week of September was a slow one for the barrier island real estate market with just three transactions recorded, two of them for more than $1 million. The top sale of the week was of an oceanfront property in the small enclave of Sanderling – 2230 Sanderling Lane – which was marketed as an opportunity to build your “coastal masterpiece close to Windsor and Orchid Island Golf and Beach Club.” Placed on the market June 20, 2022, for $3.5 million, the asking price more recently was $2.5 million. The sale closed on Sept. 7 for $2.325 million. The seller was represented by Cindy O’Dare and Richard Boga of ONE Sotheby’s International. The purchaser was represented by Matilde Sorensen of Dale Sorensen Real Estate. 7/31/2023 $450,000 $450,000 9/5/2023 $435,000 Christine Hughes Dale Sorensen Real Estate Inc. Matilde Sorensen Dale Sorensen Real Estate Inc. Subdivision: Oceanside, Address: 1441 Ocean Dr, #207 7/11/2023 $1,150,000 $1,065,000 9/1/2023 $1,025,000 Sally Daley Douglas Elliman Florida LLC Rita Curry Dale Sorensen Real Estate Inc. Subdivision: Island Club Riverside, Address: 1396 W Island Club Sq
REAL ESTATE Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / September 14, 2023 69 Q: I own 5 acres of land with two other people. Two of us have paid all of the property taxes on the property for 30 years. Is it possible for the two owners who have paid the taxes to take ownership of the property? The third owner was deeded his share of the property about 30 years ago but has never paid anything. Now that owner has filed for the judicial sale of the land. Doesn’t paying property taxes give us the rights of ownership? Do you have any advice for us? A: We receive similar questions to yours from time to time, and our answer is generally the same. You don’t automatically become the owner of a property simply because you paid the real estate taxes and maintenance costs. You might have heard the term “adverse possession.” Adverse possession does allow you to become the owner of a property if you openly and notoriously make use of someone else’s land, you pay the real estate taxes on that land, and you use the land exclusively for at least 21 years. (In some situations, it may be less time depending on the laws of your state.) Here’s how it might work. First, you claim the property as your own. You don’t let others use the property – even the rightful owner. And you do everything an owner would do with that property including maintaining it and paying the real estate taxes. In this scenario, the rightful owner is likely nowhere to be found. They may have forgotten about the property. Or, they may have unknowingly inherited it. Or they simply stopped looking after it because they couldn’t afford it. You step in and start using the property. You treat it as your own and even let everyone else know that it’s yours. In your case, we don’t think you pass the adverse possession test. First, you acknowledge the third owner’s right to the property. Next, while you make reference to that owner’s failure to pay expenses, you don’t assert that you used the property exclusively as your own. You don’t say, for example, whether you kept him from using or accessing the property. We bet that you reached out to him over the years requesting reimbursement for expenses. Even if you never got an answer back, reaching out means you were acknowledging that owner’s interest in the property. Let’s say you find that you did have ownership of the property for the required period of time in your state (the number of years varies somewhat by state) and can claim adverse possession. You’d still need to go to court to prove your case and get sole ownership of the property. So, adverse possession is a real long shot. That said, there may be a way for you to get reimbursed for some or all of the money you and the other owner shelled out over the years. From your letter, it looks like you and the other owner paid all the expenses for the property over 30 years. We don’t know if you lived there or rented it out. If you lived there and got the benefit of the use of the property, then it’s fair for you to pay for the real estate taxes and other maintenance expenses for the property. If you and the other owner rented the home, did you share the rent with the third owner? If so, then you could have deducted his share of the maintenance and taxes from the income generated by the property. If not, then it’s fair for you two to pay those expenses (like repainting or replacing appliances) out of the rent generated. When it comes to long-term improvements to the property, those might fall into a different category. Say you put on a new roof, a new heating and cooling system, new bathrooms and a new kitchen in the last couple of years and now you sell the home. You can claim that you and the other owner should get reimbursed for the improvements you made to the home out of the sale proceeds. And this line of thinking shows how you and the second owner might get reimbursed for your expenses over time. Let’s say that you and the second owner never rented the property and maybe never used it. You just paid the expenses for 30 years. We don’t think it’s fair that the third owner gets the benefit of the money you put into the home when the home is sold. You’d likely need to determine what you put into the home and how those improvements increased the value of the home so that on the sale of the home, you could get reimbursed for one-third share of the expenses over time and the second owner could get reimbursed for their one-third share. If you and the second owner used the property exclusively for 30 years, and you were friendly with the third owner, then perhaps you’d share the profit equally. If there was a mortgage outstanding, then you’d share the profits after paying that off. Of course, we understand that there may be other complicating factors involved that could change these parameters. But it doesn’t sound like a friendly situation. The third owner wants to Does paying property taxes give you rights of ownership? BY ILYCE GLINK AND SAMUEL J. TAMKIN Tribune CONTINUED ON PAGE 70
REAL ESTATE 70 Vero Beach 32963 / September 14, 2023 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ force the sale of the home by going to court. Given this situation, you’ll need to sit down with your attorney and figure out first whether you qualify for adverse possession. If you don’t, then you need to figure out how much money you and the second owner put into the home through the years. You also need to look at the value you received and decide what will make you whole. Then, you can propose a split with the third owner. One final thought: If the property in question is vacant land and you never leased or received any benefit from owning the land, you have a good case to claim that the taxes you paid over all those years were your investment into the land and you are entitled to a return on that investment ahead of the owner that never put any money in. We hope the court would allow you to recover the money you put into the property along with a fair return on that money. Then, if there is a profit, dictate how to split that profit between the three of you. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 69
The Vero Beach Barrier Island Newspaper www.vb32963online.com September 14, 2023 Volume 16, Issue 37 Newsstand Price $1.00