04/27/2023 ISSUE 17

In a move that underscores the importance of Vero Beach in the bridge world, the organization that regulates all competitive bridge in North America has named a local woman, Bronia Jenkins, as its new chief executive officer. Jenkins, 54, will move from her home in Vero Beach to the Memphis, Tenn., metropolitan area to take up her new position effective May 1. The American Contract Bridge League (ACBL), which oversees all competitive bridge in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Bermuda, has its headquarters in Horn Lake, Miss., a Memphis suburb. In making the announcement, The engineers at the local Kimley-Horn & Associates office are experts in public infrastructure, particularly as it pertains to transportation and roadways, so they appear to be the right choice to conduct the Vero Beach City Council-ordered traffic counts on State Road 60 in our downtown area. But are they conducting the counts at the right time? Shouldn’t the counts have been done from January through March, during the peak months of our community’s busy season, to produce the most accurate and meaningful results? Don’t council members need to know that the roadways in and around downtown Vero have the capacity to comfortably accommodate the annually increasing traffic volume As the county’s population surges toward 170,000, Vero Beach Police Chief David Currey plans to ask the City Council to include in his fiscal 2023-24 budget the funding to hire three more police officers. While the population of Vero itself is not growing, Currey said the additional police officers are needed to help meet the increasing demands placed on his department by county residents who come to the city to work, shop, dine, socialize, use the city’s parks and airport, attend shows and sports events, and conduct business at the courthouse and government offices. “The more people who move to our county, the more we’re going to see these people in Vero Beach,” Currey said. “It’s something we’ve been talking about for a while now – because the county is going to continue to grow, and we’re the county seat. “And when people are here, regardless of where they came from, we’re responsible for their safety INSIDE To advertise call: 772-559-4187 For circulation or where to pick up your issue call: 772-226-7925 NEWS HEALTH PETS REAL ESTATE 1-5 6 B12 12 ARTS GAMES CALENDAR B1 B13 B16 © 2023 Vero Beach 32963 Media LLC. All rights reserved. By Lisa Zahner | Staff Writer [email protected] With two weeks remaining of the COVID-19 federal health emergency, and facemasks now optional at the county’s largest hospital for the first time in three years, the number of new infections in Indian River County remains low for April, but local residents are still being hospitalized for complications of COVID illness. As of Monday, “currently, there are seven patients in-house who are COVID-positive with none in the ICU,” Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital spokesperson Erin Miller said. Since March 2020, one fourth of the county’s residents have reported testing positive for the COVID virus at least once. This number is likely significantly larger, as it does not capture positive test results on popular and widely available home COVID test kits. Should a person test positive on a rapid, self-administered swab test at home and never seek medical care, their case would not be included in the aggregate numbers. Seventy-two percent of local residents age 6 and older have chosen to be vaccinated, many of those opting for not only the twoshot course of vaccine but also for multiple boosters, including the updated “bivalent” booster last fall, which was targeted at Omicron highly transmissible subvariants. Last week the U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized a fourth booster shot (a sixth shot for those who got the Moderna or April 27, 2023 | Volume 10, Issue 17 | Newsstand Price: $1.00 | For breaking news visit VeroNews.com YOUR LOCAL NEWS SOURCE FOR INDIAN RIVER COUNTY INSPIRED BY ‘PROCESS OF ART,’ VERO PAINTER PRODUCES BEAUTY Arts & Theatre, Page B2 ‘NEVER GIVE UP’: TREATMENTS CAN EASE CHRONIC PAIN Your Health, Page 6 Covid emergency wanes, but some still hospitalized Vero police chief: More cops needed in face of growth CONTINUED ON PAGE 4 By Pieter VanBennekom Staff Writer Emeritus CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 Vero’s Bronia Jenkins lands prestigious bridge post. PHOTO: JOSHUA KODIS By Ray McNulty | Staff Writer [email protected] IN THE CARDS: VERO WOMAN GETS TOP POST AT AMERICAN CONTRACT BRIDGE LEAGUE Push for a summer traffic count just doesn’t add up By Ray McNulty | Staff Writer [email protected] CONTINUED ON PAGE 5 MY TAKE CONTINUED ON PAGE 3 PHOTO: JOSHUA KODIS

2 April 27, 2023 VeroNews/Sebastian River News | LOCAL NEWS www.veronews.com DNA leads to arrest of sex-crime suspect CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 MY TAKE NEWS OTHERS MISS, OR CHOOSE TO IGNORE | PUBLISHED WEEKLY MILTON R. BENJAMIN President and Publisher | [email protected] | 772.559.4187 LOCATED AT 4855 NORTH A1A, VERO BEACH, FL 32963 | 772.226.7925 STEVEN M. THOMAS Managing Editor | [email protected] | 772.453.1196 DAN ALEXANDER Creative Director | [email protected] | 772.539.2700 Associate Editor: Paul Keaney, Asst. Managing Editor: Lisa Zahner, Society Editor: Mary Schenkel, Reporters: Stephanie LaBaff, Ray McNulty, Samantha Rohlfing Baita, George Andreassi, Columnists: Kerry Firth, Ellen Fischer, Tina Rondeau, The Bonz, Photographer: Joshua Kodis, Graphic Designers: Robert Simonson, Jennifer Greenaway, Tania Donghia-Wetmore JUDY DAVIS Director of Advertising [email protected] | 772.633.1115 KATHLEEN MACGLENNON | [email protected] | 772.633.0753 MARIO CORBICIERO | [email protected] | 772.559.5999 ADVERTISING SALES when the congestion is at its worst – before deciding whether to reduce lanes along the Twin Pairs? As any longtime resident can attest: There’s considerably less traffic on our roads from May through July than there is in the first three months of the year. This is especially true along State Road 60, the county’s primary east-west thoroughfare that connects Ocean Drive to Interstate 95 and runs through downtown. So why bother doing the count now, when we know the numbers will tell us nothing about the traffic volume during the winter months? The most-compelling reason is that three of the City Council’s five members – John Carroll, Rey Neville and Vice Mayor Linda Moore – want to reduce the Twin Pairs to two lanes in each direction because they’ve deluded themselves into believing the resulting bottleneck would drive more people to shop and dine downtown. They also want the state to pay for the reconfiguration as part of the Florida Department of Transportation’s $6.7 million plan to repave State Road 60 in 2026-27. And they’re racing the clock. Before agreeing to any such changes to its plan to repave State Road 60 – something the agency does every 20 years – FDOT is requiring the city to conduct a traffic study and present findings that show a reduced-lane roadway still would have the capacity to adequately handle the vehicular volume. FDOT officials also need to see a firm decision from the City Council, in the form of a resolution endorsing the proposed lane reduction, and proof of community support. They need it soon, too, because the agency is scheduled to start designing the project later this year and already has tolerated too many delays. The other reason? Kimley-Horn says it doesn’t matter when the traffic counts are done. According to Kimley-Horn Senior Vice President Brian Good, FDOT provides “correction factors” – derived from data the agency collects throughout the year at both continuous and short-term sites along state roads – to increase or decrease traffic count volumes to correspond with seasonal characteristics. “Based upon the correction factors published by FDOT,” Good wrote in an email responding to Vero News’ inquiries, “traffic engineers are able to collect vehicular data throughout the year and adjust the collected data to reflect peak season traffic characteristics.” These factors, he added, are utilized by traffic engineers throughout Florida by state, municipal and private-consultant engineers to produce such counts. But the most recent short-term counts conducted by FDOT at four portable traffic-monitoring sites along the Twin Pairs through the downtown area – and available for public viewing on the agency’s website – are from 2021. Certainly, as hundreds of new homes have been built and the county’s population continues to climb toward 170,000, the traffic along State Road 60 has increased dramatically during the past couple of years. Less than a month ago, in fact, a construction-related lane closure on westbound State Road 60, approaching 58th Avenue, created an early-afternoon traffic backup that required at least eight light changes to get through the intersection. You don’t need to be a traffic expert to know that the congestion caused by permanent lane reductions on State Road 60 through the downtown area would be far worse – particularly during our community’s busy season, especially during the morning, evening and lunch-time rush hours. We can only hope Kimley-Horn’s FDOT-adjusted traffic counts conducted over the next three months, after most of our seasonal residents and tourists depart, will verify what we all know. But will they? Will the data collected by Kimley-Horn, then adjusted using FDOT’s correction factors, provide an accurate representation of the annual surges in traffic volume the Vero Beach area has experienced the past three years? Are we really going to allow the City Council to take such drastic and unnecessary action – reducing the Twin Pairs to two lanes in each direction – based on a state-adopted formula, even one that might be generally accepted by traffic engineers? The harmful impacts of this self-inflicted disaster, which would do almost nothing to revitalize downtown Vero, would be felt for at least the next 20 years. This decision should be based on traffic counts conducted during our busiest months, when our seasonal population is at its peak and our roadways – particularly our most-traveled east-west corridor – are most crowded. Not May through July. Not at the wrong time, merely to meet FDOT’s deadline and get the state to pay for the lane reduction. Not because off-season numbers are more likely to be closer to what three City Council members want them to be. Vero Beach police have arrested a local man with a prior sex-crime conviction for a New Year’s Eve attack of a local woman outside an Ocean Drive hotel, after DNA evidence matched the suspect interviewed by detectives days after the crime. On April 13, three and a half months after the attack occurred, registered sex offender Robert Leetrell Coleman Jr., 30, was charged with sexual battery in relation to the case. His bail is currently set at $150,000. As of press time, he was still in custody at the Indian River County Jail. “It does generally take several months to get results back from the lab once we have evidence sent in,” said Detective Lee Evans. Coleman emerged as a suspect in the case after police reviewed security footage from Sol Mar Cocktail Lounge in Portales de Vero, where police say he was seen speaking to the victim at the bar. One of the establishment’s bartenders recognized Coleman and identified him to police, according to the warrant affidavit. When police interviewed Coleman on Jan. 4, they noted a “fresh small scar on the left side of his eye,” records say. He told police he went drinking with friends on New Year’s Eve and was punched for talking to a man’s girlfriend. When questioned, Coleman denied committing the attack, but consented to a DNA swab. The victim told police she left Sol Mar with friends to walk back to the Driftwood Inn where they were staying, and the attacker followed them and they talked along the way. When her friends went inside, she stayed in the parking lot talking with him. The victim told police that, when she and Coleman were alone in the Driftwood Inn parking lot, Coleman said, “You need to face the fact that you are gonna get raped tonight,” and proceeded to attack her. The woman told Vero Beach police she struck the attacker in the head with her phone, which stopped him. Upon investigation of the scene of the crime, police found blood droplets that were DNA matches to the swab from Coleman and to the rape kit. In 2015, Coleman pled “no contest” and was convicted in St. Lucie County on a charge of lewd computer solicitation of a child. His arrest affidavit claimed he blackmailed a minor to strip for him on Skype, for which he was sentenced to three years in prison. Coleman has been arrested four other times locally since being released – twice for possession of a controlled substance, once for violation of probation, and once for not providing email/instant messaging names as required by his sex offender registration. By Casey Stavenhagen | Staff Writer

Serving mainland Indian River County VeroNews/Sebastian River News | LOCAL NEWS April 27, 2023 3 Joann Glasson, president of the ACBL’s Board of Directors, said the board “unanimously and enthusiastically” endorsed Jenkins’ selection. “We wanted something different,” Glasson said, “and they (the board’s search committee) did a fabulous job finding Bronia. She is a breath of fresh air.” The local Vero Beach Bridge Center has decided to honor Jenkins on her appointment with a meet-and-greet during the mid-afternoon break of the regular duplicate game next Monday, May 1, starting at 1 p.m. Jenkins steps into an already difficult position at a difficult time, as the ACBL suffered a steep decline in membership during the COVID pandemic, dropping from about 170,000 members to about 140,000 – although the attrition seems to have slowed in recent months as face-toface bridge events started up again. The league is being torn in different directions by its various constituencies, including bridge clubs across the county, permanent headquarters staff and its individual members, including a small group of influential professionals at the top and a lot of aging recreational players who have pushed the average age of ACBL membership to well over 70. The league also faces serious choices as to whether to support and reward online bridge, which grew exponentially during COVID as clubs and tournaments were closed down, or the old face-to-face version. Cheating was rampant online and the integrity image of the league suffered some major black eyes with several high-profile cheating scandals. Additionally, there has been little stability at the top. Jenkins becomes the sixth executive director in less than a dozen years, so the average tenure of her recent predecessors was less than two years. Ironically, the last occupant of the job before the revolving door started, Jay Baum, also retired to Vero Beach after completing his term (although he and his wife Kathy later moved back to the U.S. heartland to be closer to family). Jenkins’ appointment was almost universally greeted with approval – and surprise – by the community of bridge professionals who hang out on the main bridge websites (although one cynic predicted not much would happen – the board would probably fire her in about a year anyway). Another commenter warned that the pros who support her need the rank-and-file to continue paying them, so she’d better pay some attention to them, too. With the bridge league being pulled in so many different directions, the new CEO will need a strong personality and all those who know her agree that Jenkins certainly has that. Jenkins was actually born in France (she speaks fluent French) and lived in Montreal, Canada, as a child before moving to California with her family. She represented Canada on a youth team, winning a silver medal, before she moved to the U.S., where she studied mechanical engineering at MIT. She started playing bridge as a teenager in North Canton, Ohio, while there as an engineering intern at The Timken Company. Jenkins captained the USA2 woman’s team at the 2017 World Championships (the Bermuda Bowl) and holds three national titles. She previously worked as a financial services executive, including a stint with Bank of America in New York, prior to taking a sabbatical to raise her two children in Vero Beach. She became actively involved with the St. Edward’s private school which her children attended and she eventually taught math there. She also formed a student bridge club at St. Ed’s. Jenkins said she decided to apply for the ACBL leadership position because for her, “it’s the perfect next chapter – it’s all the things I know I can do and care about. There’s no other game I love like the game of bridge. It creates bonds, friendships and wellness for people in the community.” Jenkins, who says she plays bridge “at a very high level,” has not been a member of the local club for several years. She has played mostly in national and international events, although she occasionally drops into the local club as a visitor. Apart from the Vero Beach Bridge Center at 1520 14th Avenue, Indian River County has two other “open” bridge clubs, at the Community Center and at a Sebastian church, as well as about 10 “invitational” clubs associated with private communities or country clubs that are affiliated with the ACBL and where MasterPoints can be won, making Vero Beach one of the most active bridge communities in the nation. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 PRESTIGIOUS BRIDGE POST Bronia Jenkins and Gisela Migliore during a game at the Vero Beach Bridge Center on 14th Avenue. PHOTO: JOSHUA KODIS

Pfizer BioNTech formula), but only for the immunocompromised and for people aged 65 and older. “Most individuals who have already received a single dose of the bivalent vaccine are not currently eligible for another dose. The FDA intends to make decisions about future vaccination after receiving recommendations on the fall strain composition at an FDA advisory committee in June,” an April 18 announcement said. Those with compromised immune systems may now get another bivalent booster two months from their last shot. Seniors 65 and older must wait four months from their last bivalent shot to get another bivalent booster. The original circa 2020 formula can no longer be given. “The monovalent Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines are no longer authorized for use in the United States,” the FDA said. A newly formulated booster shot which would be designed to protect people against emerging strains of the virus might be available this fall, if the FDA authorizes it. “At this stage of the pandemic, data support simplifying the use of the authorized mRNA bivalent COVID-19 vaccines and the agency believes that this approach will help encourage future vaccination,” said Peter Marks, M.D., Ph.D., director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research. “Evidence is now available that most of the U.S. population 5 years of age and older has antibodies to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, either from vaccination or infection that can serve as a foundation for the protection provided by the bivalent vaccines.” As the origins and handling of the COVID-19 pandemic are still being scrutinized, one thing the world has learned is to pay much closer attention to potential emerging threats to human health from pathogens circulating in the animal kingdom. To that end, public health officials are closely monitoring outbreaks of the H5N1 Avian Influenza or “bird flu” in wild birds and domesticated poultry around the globe A mild strain of bird flu broke out on turkey farms in North Carolina and South Carolina in March 2020, affecting more than 331,000 birds. Outbreaks also popped up in Tennessee and Mexico, with researchers hypothesizing that the virus was being spread that spring by migratory birds to domesticated flocks in what’s called the “Mississippi Flyway” and the “Atlantic Flyway.” The virus quickly evolved into the far more pathogenic H5N1 strain in the United States, and has now spread south into 16 countries, and into sea lions and other mammals. Foxes, otters, bobcats, coyotes, bears, raccoons, skunks and minks in the United States, Canada and South America have been found to be infected, as has a bottlenose dolphin in the Florida Panhandle. 4 April 27, 2023 VeroNews/Sebastian River News | LOCAL NEWS www.veronews.com CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 COVID EMERGENCY WANES Construction is finally scheduled to start in May on a new high bridge over the Indian River Lagoon in Fort Pierce that will replace the ancient drawbridge that long has served as the A1A southern gateway to our barrier island. The Florida Department of Transportation scheduled an open house meeting on the $111.5 million construction project for this Thursday, April 27 from 5 until 7 p.m. at the River Walk Center in Fort Pierce. FDOT plans to construct a new high-level fixed bridge that will directly link U.S. 1 to the barrier island, traversing the Florida East Coast Railway tracks and Old Dixie Highway. Construction is expected to be completed in late 2027, FDOT’s traffic report said. The new span is needed to replace a deteriorating drawbridge that was built in 1963. The new bridge will provide a navigational clearance of 85-feet for a 125-foot-wide section of the Intracoastal Waterway channel, FDOT records show. The bridge will feature one 12-footwide travel lane in each direction, a 12-foot-wide shared use path on the north side of the bridge, an 8-foot-wide sidewalk on the south side and 7-footwide bicycle lanes on both sides of the roadway. An observation deck will be built beneath the west side of the new bridge. A 12-foot-wide shared use path will also be built along Old Dixie Highway to connect to the East Coast Greenway. By George Andreassi | Staff Writer FDOT is finally set to start work on new bridge at southern end of island

and protection,” he added. “We still have to do our jobs.” Currey said the addition officers would allow his department to do those jobs more effectively and efficiently as it responds to more calls for service, sees more traffic on city roadways and provides a police presence at the Vero Beach Regional Airport terminal for more commercial flights. The agency currently employs 57 sworn officers who serve a 13.1-square-mile city with a population of 17,000. The annual salary for an entry-level officer is just over $48,000, plus benefits. The chief said one of the new officers would become the third member of the department’s Traffic Enforcement Unit, which is patrolling roads that over the past few years have become noticeably more congested, especially during the community’s busy season. “Everyone’s main concern seems to be traffic, which is the most visible issue,” Currey said. “We have 800 to 900 crashes per year in the city.” Currey said he also wants to add a “utility officer,” whose duties would include serving “on the boat, on the beach, or on the bike.” The department’s Marine Division operates a 20-foot police boat and works with other state and local agencies, particularly the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission. “With more people coming to the county,” he said, “we’re seeing more people with boats.” The third new hire could be assigned on a full-time basis to patrol – possibly by foot – the downtown area, specifically along 14th Avenue and including Pocahontas Park, both of which have been plagued with problems associated with an influx of homeless people. Those problems include panhandling, public drunkenness, sleeping on public benches and the accosting of passersby who work, shop or dine downtown. This latter problem became so alarming that the city has removed all the downtown benches. “We’re not Miami or Jacksonville or Tampa, but we are a city,” Currey said. “We’re the urban hub of this county. As a transient individual, where are you going to go? You’re going to gravitate to the hub, where people are. “It’s unfortunate that we had to remove the benches, but we had to do something to respond to the complaints we were getting,” he added. “The thing is, downtown is actually a low-crime area. The crimes we’re seeing from the homeless are just nuisance crimes – trespass, panhandling, drinking alcohol in public … “We patrol downtown, but we’re talking about having a full-time officer dedicated to that area, at least at certain times.” The recent arrival of Breeze Airways in Vero Beach also has put a strain on Currey’s department, which provides a police presence in the airport terminal for every departing flight. Those assignments, though, are covered solely by overtime hours. “We can’t pull officers away from the other assignments every time there’s a flight, so it’s an overtime detail,” Currey said. “And our officers can be there for two to three hours for each flight. Fortunately, some of that expense is covered by money the city gets form the airport.” In addition, Vero Beach police officers – since the 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland – have been assigned to school resource officer (SRO) duty at Beachland Elementary, Rosewood Magnet Elementary and St. Helen’s Catholic. “Before the Parkland shooting, we never had school resource officers before,” Currey said. “Now we have three, and we could have more. Some churches are looking to start kindergarten through Grade 6 schools, and if they do, they’ll need to have some type of police presence, too.” The growth and development beyond the Vero city limits is not just a challenge for the police department. As more homes are built and the county’s population continues to grow, City Manager Monte Falls said “it impacts many city departments,” and Falls said he plans to discuss with new county administrator John Titkanich ways a growing county might be able to ease the city’s burden. Two of the county’s most popular dining, shopping and gathering places are the Central Beach business district – particularly along Ocean Drive – and downtown Vero. Both attract county residents in big numbers. The much-anticipated Three Corners project, which is expected to draw big crowds to the city’s mainland waterfront, could open as soon as the summer of 2028. By then, even 60 sworn police officers might not be enough. “We’ll be ready for the challenge,” Currey said, adding that his department continues to protect and serve as it recovers from cutbacks and reductions in rank imposed by the city a decade ago, at least partly because of budget concerns. Currey said the department had a deputy chief and two captain when was appointed police chief in 2011. A year later, however, the city requested that he eliminate the deputy chief’s position, along with one captain, one lieutenant and a sergeant. Now, he said he’s bringing back the deputy chief’s position, and he already has regained one lieutenant and one sergeant. Serving mainland Indian River County VeroNews/Sebastian River News | LOCAL NEWS April 27, 2023 5 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 MORE COPS NEEDED

6 April 27, 2023 VeroNews/Sebastian River News | YOUR HEALTH www.veronews.com Living with chronic pain is debilitating and exasperating, especially when the pain continues after you’ve already undergone surgery to correct the condition. Many times, the surgery has corrected the physical problem and has healed completely, but the nerves that transmit pain to the brain have failed to turn off. “People with chronic pain should never give up,” Dr. Michael Esposito, pain management specialist and founder of the Interventional Spine and Pain Institute, said. “It’s easy to lose hope, but there is no need to suffer in silence. They need to speak up and see what else is available. There are new, cutting-edge interventional techniques that can alleviate the pain and allow you to live a pain free life again.” One of those techniques offered by Dr. Esposito is Dorsal Root Ganglion (DRG) Stimulation. The dorsal root ganglia are nerve structures inside your spine that contain primary sensory neurons that are responsible for pain signaling. Imagine the spinal cord as the highway that runs the length of the spine, and the DRGs as traffic signals directing what get through to the brain. The body has many dorsal root ganglia with each responsible for signaling to a different area. DRG stimulation directly targets the nerve responsible for pain in a specific area. “Sometimes the body gets stuck in the healing state and there is inflammation and pain,” Dr. Esposito explained. “All the signals get carried through the nerves that are injured to the brain. The DRG is the grand central station that decides what signals go to the brain and which signals are filtered out. With nerve injuries we ‘Never give up’: These treatments can alleviate chronic pain By Kerry Firth | Correspondent Dr. Michael Esposito. PHOTO: JOSHUA KODIS

Serving mainland Indian River County VeroNews/Sebastian River News | YOUR HEALTH April 27, 2023 7 find that the DRG is not functioning correctly. We are able to apply a low-level electrical current with a stimulator that reinitiates the filtering capacity of the nerve, allowing it to filter out the pain for different body parts. “The body is very well mapped out and we can pinpoint which nerve is signaling the pain for a specific body part. For the knee we target the L3 and L4, for the foot and ankle we target L5 and S1, for the hip it’s T12 and L1. It’s an exact science that enables us to block the pain signal for that specific body part,” said Dr. Esposito. “Theoretically the body part that was operated on has already healed but the signals simply haven’t turned off. We are allowing the nerve to function appropriately again and filter out the pain signals it doesn’t need.” DRG is FDA-approved to treat pain from injuries from the belly button down, although it can be used off label for upper extremities. It treats an entity called causalgia, also known as CRPS, or complex regional pain syndrome. The diagnosis often comes after some type of injury or surgery and is characterized by a persistent nerve pain. There may be persistent swelling, burning sensation and tingling. Once a diagnosis of CRPS is made, DRG can treat the root of the problem within the spine. “This procedure is always reversible and you are able to test drive it first,” Dr. Esposito said. “Once we identify the root of the pain, we put wires under the skin temporarily with an external battery to try it out for a week. The trial stimulator sends a mild electrical current through the wires to see if you feel a tingling sensation. This is done in the office. “If after the end of the week the patient feels the pain is relieved or reduced, the trial is considered successful. We take out the temporary wires and implant a long-term device in the buttock or abdomen with a battery that will last about six and a half years. This procedure will be done in a surgical setting. The battery doesn’t need recharging during that time, but at the end of the six and a half years it will have to have the battery replaced. The fixed wires stay in place. The unit is controlled by the patient with an external controller.” Many people confuse DRG stimulation with spinal cord stimulation. Both treatments replace pain signaling with a mild electrical current but there are some differences. Spinal cord stimulation blocks signaling from up the spinal cord to the central nervous system by implanting a device under the skin at the base of the spinal cord. It focuses on the entire length of the sciatic nerve instead of one small area. It is great at managing widespread pain, but the dorsal root ganglion stimulation is more precise, focusing only on the area that hurts. In a study, published in the National Library of Medicine, comparing the success rates of dorsal root ganglion stimulation verses spinal cord stimulation, dorsal root ganglion stimulation yielded higher treatment success in terms of improved pain relief and function. “We also have peripheral nerve stimulators that can be put around the knee, ankle or arm,” Dr. Esposito continued. “Rather than putting a stimulator in the spine we can put it in the periphery and it treats the nerves around the knee or shoulder but not the root of the pain. And we have new treatments for spinal stenosis which is prevalent in the aging population. If epidurals fail, rather than having back surgery we can put in little spacers between the bones that open up the tight spaces making it easier to walk and stand.” Dr. Esposito stresses the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to pain management. “Not everyone benefits from an injection or medication or physical therapy. I do everything from epidural injections to advanced interventions and utilize all the tools in my toolbox for the best outcome.” Dr. Esposito opened his private practice in Vero Beach in February 2022 after working for six years at a pain management group in Melbourne. He is double board-certified in pain medicine and anesthesia by the American Board of Anesthesiology. He received his medical degree from Georgetown University School of Medicine in Washington, D.C., and completed his residency in anesthesiology in the Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care at the University of Chicago Hospital in Chicago. He completed his fellowship in interventional pain medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital, a Harvard Medical School teaching hospital, in Boston. His office is located at 777 37th St. Suite C-101 in Vero Beach. You can call 772-360-1997 or visit interventionalspineandpaininstitute.com to schedule an appointment. “The body is very well mapped out and we can pinpoint which nerve is signalling the pain for a specific body part.” – Dr. Michael Esposito

8 April 27, 2023 VeroNews/Sebastian River News | YOUR HEALTH www.veronews.com For those wondering how they are getting urinary tract infections despite taking care of their hygiene and urinating after sex – two known ways to avoid the risk of UTIs – a new study suggests that bacteria from meat may be responsible. E. coli bacteria from meat is likely to cause hundreds of thousands of urinary tract infections in the United States each year, says a George Washington University study published last Thursday. Eighty-five percent of UTIs are caused by E. coli, and 8 percent of these infections are acquired from meat, according to the research. The study, published in the journal One Health, looked at 1,188 samples of E. coli from humans and 1,923 samples from meat, including chicken, turkey and pork, in Flagstaff, Ariz., and estimated, for the first time, that foodborne E. coli strains may be causing as many as 640,000 UTIs each year. “Most people understand that eating uncooked meat, or accidentally ingesting bacteria from meat, can cause you to have an upset stomach,” said Lance B. Price, a professor of environmental and occupational health at GWU and one of the scientists leading the study. “But now we also know that specific varieties of E. coli, coming from raw meat, are also causing hundreds of thousands of UTIs.” Price said the study has expanded the understanding of what a food-borne infection can look like and how it can be prevented. The team of scientists, which included Cindy Liu from the GWU Milken Institute School of Public Health, used a genomic By Jackie Holfelder | Correspondent Bacteria from meat may cause over 600,000 UTIs annually By Maham Javaid The Washington Post

Serving mainland Indian River County VeroNews/Sebastian River News | YOUR HEALTH April 27, 2023 9 approach to track the origins of E. coli infections. “E. coli bacteria adapts to its host, so each sample of bacteria we found had its own packet of DNA,” Price said. “We then developed a statistical model which analyzed all that DNA and predicted whether that bacteria came from an animal, and if so, which animal.” UTIs are extremely common in the United States; about 6 million to 8 million people get them annually. Women are at highest risk of contracting UTIs because of their anatomies, Price said. Children and older people also are at higher risk than other groups for reasons including the use of diapers, incontinence or limited access to bathrooms, he said. UTIs can be potentially life-threating in older people, said Christine Kistler, associate professor in geriatric medicine at the University of North Carolina, who researches UTIs in the elderly. “Most UTIs are caused by E. coli, if you wipe the wrong way, for example, or don’t empty your bladder often enough,” said Kistler, who was not involved in the study. “But the link to food is very interesting. If you have E. coli caused by food contamination, it usually shows up in the gut.” She pointed out, however, that older people often have bacteria present in their bladders that don’t produce problems and should never be treated. “We massively overtreat UTIs in older people,” she said. “We should only treat actual infections, meaning those that cause symptoms.” UTIs most commonly result in bladder infections, which are recognizable through pain or a burning sensation while urinating, frequent urination, blood in the urine, or cramps in the groin or lower abdomen, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Some UTIs also can lead to more serious kidney infections; symptoms include fever, chills, back pain, and nausea or vomiting, or life-threatening blood infections, according to the CDC. “Blood stream infections with E. coli kill 36,000 to 40,000 people a year in the United States,” Price said. “Reducing the number of infections spreading through E. coli that comes from meat will be a big contribution.” Data from the Food and Drug Administration suggests that most raw meat products are contaminated with E. coli., and the GWU study found that 81.7 percent of the 2,460 meat products they tested carried E. coli. E. coli can live in people and food animals. When animals are slaughtered, the bacteria living inside them can contaminate meat products and cause infections if the meat is ingested by humans. Before they find a chance to travel from the gastrointestinal tract to the urinary tract and trigger infections, E. coli bacteria that cause UTIs can live in the gut for a while, earning them the title of “opportunistic pathogens.” “It can a be a long time between your exposure to the meat and the time that you actually got the urinary tract infection,” Price said. Experts have long suspected that foodborne pathogens become part of our microbiome, and this “very nice study” suggests they “survive the acid of our stomach and digestive process,” and do take up residence there, said William Schaffner, professor of preventive medicine in health policy and professor of medicine in the division of infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. “Then something happens, often anatomically, that causes them to get into the bladder, causing a UTI, or the bloodstream, causing sepsis,” said Schaffner, who was not involved in the study. Earlier messaging was that E. coli infections could be prevented by ensuring that meat was well-cooked, avoiding cross contamination, which includes washing hands and the cutting board after handling meat, and minimizing exposure to raw meat. Infectious-disease specialists also have repeatedly warned of the dangers of indiscriminate use of antibiotics in food animals, a practice that contributes to the development of bacterial strains that do not respond to traditional treatments. “These findings illustrate the connections between animals in the food supply and humans, and underscores the importance of avoiding unnecessary antibiotic use in animals, which will lead to drug resistant bacteria that will find their way into humans,” said Elizabeth Connick, professor of medicine and immunobiology and chief of the infectious diseases division at the University of Arizona, who was not involved in the study. Understanding the new foodborne route of UTIs, on which the study focuses, also has opened the door for new interventions such as vaccinations. “We have identified the really risky strains of E. coli in animals,” Price said. “And now we can vaccinate them against these specific bacteria, resulting in a winwin for public health as well as the animal industry.” Vaccinating the animals against six of the most dangerous strains of bacteria will ensure that they do not enter the food supply. Price said concerned citizens could call lawmakers in Congress to ask that the Department of Agriculture put more money toward food safety, including eliminating dangerous bacteria from food animals. “We needed new ways to prevent these infections, and this is opening that door for us,” he said. “This study puts even more responsibility on food and animal producers to prevent these bacteria from making their way into the food supply.”

10 April 27, 2023 VeroNews/Sebastian River News | YOUR HEALTH www.veronews.com To build a better brain, just exercise. That’s the message of two important new studies of how physical activity changes our minds. In one, scientists delved into the lives, DNA and cognition of thousands of people to show that regular exercise leads to much sharper thinking. Another study helps explain why exercise is good for the brain. Researchers found that just six minutes of strenuous exertion quintupled production of a neurochemical known to be essential for lifelong brain health. The studies arrive at a moment when some recent, widely discussed research has been raising doubts about the extent to which exercise bolsters thinking and memory. But the new findings, which analyzed data for almost 350,000 people, make the strongest case yet that regular exercise can improve cognition. These studies reinforce the idea that “absolutely, exercise is one of the best things you can do” for your brain, said Matthieu Boisgontier, an associate professor at the University of Ottawa, who oversaw one of the studies. The first inklings that exercise remodels brains and minds came decades ago in mouse studies. Active, running animals How exercise leads to sharper thinking and a healthier brain By Gretchen Reynolds The Washington Post NEUROPATHY RELIEF CALL NOW! 564-2454 PAINFUL, BURNING, OR NUMB FEET? BALANCE PROBLEMS? PAINLESS EFFECTIVE TREATMENT NEUROPATHY & LASER CENTER 780 US 1, SUITE 200 VERO BEACH, FL 32962 DR. SUSAN PERKINS, DC TO DETERMINE IF YOU ARE A CANDIDATE NeuropathyAndLaser.com

Serving mainland Indian River County VeroNews/Sebastian River News | YOUR HEALTH April 27, 2023 11 in these experiments scored much higher on rodent intelligence tests than sedentary mice, and their brain tissues teemed with elevated levels of a substance known as brain-derived neurotrophic factor or BDNF, often referred to as “Miracle-Gro” for the brain. BDNF prompts the creation and maturation of new brain cells and synapses. It bulks up brains. Studies in people have since established that exercise also raises BDNF levels in our bloodstreams, although it’s harder to look inside our brains and see if it rises there. Multiple, large-scale epidemiological studies, meanwhile, have linked more exercise to better memories and thinking skills and less risk for neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s. Qualms have lingered, though, about just how potent exercise really is for our brains. In some scientific quarters, rumblings have begun about whether to continue recommending exercise as a way to maintain mental acuity with age, Boisgontier said. “But we say, ‘No, no. Don’t stop. Look at our findings first,’” he said. The study from Boisgontier and his colleagues, published in March in Scientific Reports, uses a novel and complex type of statistical analysis to go beyond traditional observational research and firmly establish that exercise does improve your brain skills. They turned to DNA and Mendelian randomization, a recently popularized method of using genetic variations to characterize and sort people. We each are born with or without certain snippets of DNA, some of which are known to contribute to a likelihood of being physically active. From before birth, we are, in effect, randomized by nature to be someone who is or isn’t prone to move. Other gene snippets play a similar role in cognition. By cross-checking the cognitive scores of people who have or lack the exercise-promoting snippets against those of people with the gene variants related to cognition, scientists can discern the extent to which exercise contributes to thinking skills. From two enormous databases of health information, they pulled genetic data for almost 350,000 people of all ages, along with objective measurements of physical activity for about 91,000 of them and cognitive scores for almost 258,000. People with a genetic predisposition to exercise typically did exercise, they found, and scored better on tests of thinking, if their exercise was at least moderate, comparable to jogging. And, yes, you can get brain benefits from exercise even if you don’t have the gene snippets. The interplay of exercise and thinking was strong enough to indicate causation, Boisgontier said, meaning, in this big study, the right exercise resulted in sharper minds. The other new study, although comparatively small, may help explain how exercise keeps your brain healthy. In this experiment, 12 healthy, young people rode an exercise bike at a very leisurely pace for 90 minutes, followed by six minutes of intervals consisting of 40 seconds of all-out pedaling interspersed with 20 seconds of rest. Before, during and after each session, researchers tracked BDNF in people’s blood. They also measured levels of lactate. Muscles release lactate, often called lactic acid, during exercise, especially if it’s strenuous. It can travel to and be sucked up by the brain as fuel. Past studies in mice suggest this shift in brain fueling is what jump-starts the creation of BDNF. When animals’ brains begin slurping up lactate in lieu of sugar, they start pumping out more BDNF and the mice soon blossom into rodent brainiacs. Now, the researchers found indications of something similar happening in people. During easy riding, lactate levels rose slightly in people’s blood after about 30 minutes, as did the amounts of BDNF in their blood. But during and after the six minutes of hard, fast pedaling, lactate soared and so did BDNF. (Another part of the study examined the effects of 20 hours of fasting, but it turned out to have no effects on BDNF.) What these results suggest is that “exercise is good for your brain and that exercising longer, or particularly, harder, may maximize the benefits,” said Travis Gibbons, a postdoctoral fellow at the University of British Columbia at Okanagan, who led the study. Boisgontier agreed. “Always, with exercise and the brain, it involves BDNF,” he said, adding that in his group’s study, both moderate and more-vigorous exercise – brisk walking and brisker running – improved cognition, presumably because they prompted a rise in BDNF. Many questions remain, Gibbons pointed out, including how long BDNF stays elevated after exercise, the ideal types and amounts of exercise to up BDNF, and whether the effects are the same in older or less-healthy men and women, as well as why fasting didn’t increase BDNF in this experiment. He and Boisgontier have follow-up studies planned or underway. But for now, this research tells us that exercise, fast or slow, should reliably protect our ability to think.

12 April 27, 2023 VeroNews/Sebastian River News | REAL ESTATE www.veronews.com With a façade that echoes the colors of cloud-laced blue sky, stately portico columns and a cheery cherry entrance door, the home at 6010 Indiangrass Dr. in the pastoral, gated Huntington Place community is as welcoming, charming and comfortable a dwelling as you can find. On a loosely pie-shaped lot, the lawn is spacious and lush, the tropical landscaping robust and well balanced. Toward the back, low palm hedges along the north and south sides almost converge, providing privacy while still allowing a lovely view of a serene lake and the wildlife who share the waterside and adjacent nature preserve areas. Entering the home, you step into a lightfilled space with lofty ceilings, white trim, pale tile floors and a wide-open view encompassing dining room, living room, family/TV room, lanai, and open hallways and entryways to the bedroom wings Walls are mostly whisper gray, but the Belgian artist homeowner, Therese Ambrose, created accent walls for the living room, family/TV room and dining room, each in a rich, delightful sunshine yellow. The addition of her own enchanting artwork and colorful décor complete the home’s sunny, smile-inducing ambiance. Look from the foyer directly across the living room, where glass sliders open onto the long, screened lanai, the home’s go-to space for sunrise coffee, relaxing with book, cellular, needlepoint (is that still a thing?), conversation, informal friends/family get-togethers, al fresco dining, and quiet enjoyment of the natural surroundings. To the right, the foyer flows into the dining room, which features an arched front window and, hanging from the handsome, four-section tray ceiling, one of the home’s several lovely chandeliers. A small hallway from the dining room to the kitchen houses a convenient half bath/powder room. The kitchen is a sleek beauty, featuring white quartz countertops with subtle blue striations; white shelf-top cabinetry; and stainless-steel appliances. The handsome stainless-steel hood vent qualifies as functional modern art; and the extended subway tile splash is a perfect ocean blue. The U-shaped counter includes the sink and long breakfast/snack bar, fabulously illuminated by a trio of small elegant crystal pendants. Any sink-related tasks are lots more fun with a view Artist’s home in Huntington Place is ‘charming and comfortable’ By Samantha Rohlfing Baita | Staff Writer [email protected]

Serving mainland Indian River County VeroNews/Sebastian River News | REAL ESTATE April 27, 2023 13 of the lanai and back lawn. The kitchen also offers a nice large pantry. Therese Ambrose rather gleefully points out that the well-planned wood shelving only extends about halfway up the walls, which was intentional. “We are both short and climbing on a ladder is just too dangerous. So we had the shelving built to my reach.” (She demonstrates.) Off the kitchen is the laundry room, which provides access to the two-bay garage. Left from the foyer, through double glass French doors, is a flexible space currently in use as Ambrose’s studio. It stars another gorgeous crystal chandelier and features a wide arched window with an exterior, push-out plantation storm shutter. This room could easily be transformed into a bedroom, den, library or office. Also off the living room and flowing east from the kitchen, the family/TV room features a double glass slider access to the lanai. Its sunny yellow contrast wall faces the kitchen and serves as a backdrop for its own beautiful crystal chandelier. This wall brings in ambient light via a pair of plantation-shuttered windows. Occupying the home’s north side, the spacious primary suite is an absolute haven of tranquility, its accent wall echoing the natural light flowing in from windows to the north and east and the double sliders letting onto the lanai. You can greet the sunrise without even raising your head from the pillow. The primary bathroom offers a long double vanity, large walk-in shower and sunny alcove suitable for installing a tub should you choose. There is a w/c room and linen closet, and the suite include a large walk-in closet with wood shelving. Therese Ambrose points out that all the home’s closets and pantries use wood and, specifically, “not wire.” On the other side of the house, a pair of cozy guest bedrooms share a full bath with walk-in shower. Just off of 58th Avenue and minutes from State Road 60, Huntington Place is convenient to downtown mainland Vero’s vibrant restaurant, pub and gallery district, which contains many historical buildings and a pickleball court complex. The subdivision is a short drive away from Vero’s famous Village by the Sea, with its beaches, high-end boutiques, restaurants, pubs, resorts, fine art museum, professional theater, marina, tennis complex and riverside dog park. Neighborhood: Huntington Place Year built: 2019 • Construction: CBS Home size: 2,176 square feet • Lot size: .35 acre Bedrooms: 3 • Bathrooms: 2 full baths and 1 half-bath Additional features: Central heat/air; 2 garage spaces; high ceilings; pantry; walk-in closet; split bedroom plan; open kitchen and family room; carpet/tile flooring; laundry room; large, screened lanai overlooking lake; community clubhouse with pool; public sewer and water; HOA with Watson Property Management covers common areas and recreation facilities Listing agency: AMAC Alex MacWilliam Real Estate Listing agents: Charlotte Terry, 772-538-2388; Patty Valdez, 772-473-8810 Listing price: $625,000 FEATURES FOR 6010 INDIANGRASS DRIVE

14 April 27, 2023 VeroNews/Sebastian River News | REAL ESTATE www.veronews.com MAINLAND REAL ESTATE SALES: APRIL 17 THROUGH APRIL 21 TOP SALES OF THE WEEK A strong week for mainland real estate sales saw 40 transactions of single-family residences and lots reported from April 17-21 (some shown below). The top sale of the week was in Vero Beach, where the 4-bedroom, 3.5-bathroom home at 1148 River Wind Circle – listed in December for $1,495,000 – sold for $1,150,000 on April 17. Representing the seller in the transaction was agent Kay Brown of Premier Estate Properties. Representing the buyer was agent Sherri Sproch of RE/MAX Crown Realty. SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENCES AND LOTS ORIGINAL SELLING TOWN ADDRESS LISTED ASKING PRICE SOLD PRICE VERO BEACH 1148 RIVER WIND CIR 12/14/2022 $1,495,000 4/17/2023 $1,150,000 VERO BEACH 2265 PINE VALLEY RD SW 2/24/2023 $990,000 4/17/2023 $960,000 VERO BEACH 3360 BUCKINGHAMMOCK TRL 3/26/2023 $750,000 4/17/2023 $740,000 VERO BEACH 2192 FALLS MNR 6/27/2022 $701,629 4/19/2023 $738,202 VERO BEACH 5220 W HARBOR VILLAGE DR #204 3/8/2023 $750,000 4/20/2023 $720,000 VERO BEACH 7537 S VILLAGE SQ 4/1/2023 $647,500 4/17/2023 $635,000 VERO BEACH 4836 FOUR LAKES CIR SW 12/13/2022 $625,000 4/19/2023 $615,000 VERO BEACH 1282 SCARLET OAK CIR 2/22/2023 $575,000 4/17/2023 $575,000 VERO BEACH 2145 11TH LN 2/10/2023 $599,000 4/21/2023 $575,000 VERO BEACH 2025 BENNINGTON CT SW 12/10/2022 $525,000 4/17/2023 $525,000 VERO BEACH 1845 TARPON LN #G301 7/15/2022 $584,900 4/17/2023 $500,000 SEBASTIAN 1642 WHITMORE ST 3/3/2023 $435,000 4/19/2023 $442,000 VERO BEACH 1000 SOUTHLAKES WAY SW 2/28/2023 $450,000 4/20/2023 $435,000 VERO BEACH 6237 THAMES PL 1/12/2023 $452,000 4/17/2023 $434,000 SEBASTIAN 376 SANDCREST CIR 2/2/2023 $425,000 4/18/2023 $409,000 VERO BEACH 5085 HARMONY CIR #204 2/24/2023 $395,000 4/20/2023 $402,000 SEBASTIAN 1296 SEBASTIAN LAKES DR 2/10/2023 $399,955 4/21/2023 $375,000 VERO BEACH 3216 62ND CT 1/6/2023 $400,000 4/21/2023 $367,000 VERO BEACH 4750 47TH CT 1/31/2023 $394,900 4/21/2023 $365,000 SEBASTIAN 921 LANCO AVE 8/21/2022 $449,900 4/17/2023 $349,900 SEBASTIAN 235 STONY POINT DR 11/21/2022 $375,000 4/19/2023 $340,000 SEBASTIAN 436 TUNISON LN 11/21/2022 $350,000 4/20/2023 $319,000 VERO BEACH 4815 49TH AVE 2/15/2023 $315,000 4/17/2023 $316,000 VERO BEACH 1757 AYNSLEY WAY 2/11/2023 $335,000 4/18/2023 $310,000 VERO BEACH 1171 27TH AVE 3/10/2023 $299,000 4/19/2023 $301,050 SEBASTIAN 991 SCHUMANN DR 4/2/2023 $289,500 4/20/2023 $289,500 VERO BEACH 9907 E VILLA CIR 1/10/2023 $300,000 4/18/2023 $283,000 VERO BEACH 1810 47TH AVE 1/27/2023 $259,000 4/18/2023 $242,500 SEBASTIAN 1030 ROSELAND RD 1/17/2023 $315,000 4/19/2023 $240,000 Stats were pulled 4/22/23 10:31 AM

Serving mainland Indian River County VeroNews/Sebastian River News | REAL ESTATE April 27, 2023 15 HERE ARE SOME OF THE TOP RECENT INDIAN RIVER COUNTY REAL ESTATE SALES. Listing Date: Original Price: Sold: Selling Price: Listing Agent: Selling Agent: Listing Date: Original Price: Sold: Selling Price: Listing Agent: Selling Agent: Listing Date: Original Price: Sold: Selling Price: Listing Agent: Selling Agent: Listing Date: Original Price: Sold: Selling Price: Listing Agent: Selling Agent: 3/8/2023 $750,000 4/20/2023 $720,000 Diane De Francisci Alex MacWilliam, Inc. Martin Carder Alex MacWilliam, Inc. 5220 W Harbor Village Dr, Unit #204, Vero Beach 6/27/2022 $701,629 4/19/2023 $738,202 Stacey Morabito Dale Sorensen Real Estate Inc. Bob DeWaters Dale Sorensen Real Estate Inc. 2192 Falls Mnr, Vero Beach 3/26/2023 $750,000 4/17/2023 $740,000 Kelly Fischer ONE Sotheby’s Int’l Realty Lori Davidson Laurel Agency, Inc. 3360 Buckinghammock Trl, Vero Beach 2/24/2023 $990,000 4/17/2023 $960,000 Megan Raasveldt Dale Sorensen Real Estate Inc. Tamsin Brosche Keller Williams Realty 2265 Pine Valley Rd SW, Vero Beach

16 April 27, 2023 VeroNews/Sebastian River News | REAL ESTATE www.veronews.com Q: My daughter, my wife and I are co-owners of the home. Our daughter lived with us until 2021. We bought the home for $350,000 around 20 years ago. When we refinanced our home loan four years ago, our daughter became a co-borrower and co-owner on the home. Do we have to pay capital gain tax for the home owned by me, my wife and my daughter when the home is sold? We’re wondering how the capital gains exclusion would work in this case. We understand $500,000 is an exclusion for joint tax returns that would apply to my wife and me. My daughter would get a $250,000 exclusion on her own return. If we sell the home for $1.2 million, can we distribute the capital gain on the basis of $500,000 to us and $250,000 to her? Does this work? Would that affect the future tax bill? We are trying to explore the best possible way to lower the tax. A: The Internal Revenue Service rule states that you are entitled to exclude from profit from the sale of your primary residence up to $250,000 if you are single or $500,000 if you are married. That’s only one part of the equation. The other part is that you must have owned your home as your primary residence and lived in it for two out of the last five years. You’d have to determine whether your daughter qualifies, as we can’t tell from your email if she lived in the home for two out of the last five years. If she did, it seems the three of you would qualify for the exclusion. However, your daughter didn’t buy the home 20 years ago for $350,000. You put her on title four years ago, and you need to make sure that she satisfies the two year primary residence requirement as an owner. Assuming she has satisfied the IRS requirements, let’s figure out her basis since you essentially gave her a share of the home fairly recently. Your cost basis is the $350,000 you paid for the home. When you added her to the title, you gave her onethird of the property. According to the IRS, “If the FMV [fair market value] of the property at the time the donor made the gift is equal to or greater than the donor’s adjusted basis, your adjusted basis is the donor’s adjusted basis just before the donor made the gift, increased or decreased by any required adjustments to basis while you held the property.” In other words, unless you made significant, material changes to the property (think adding a room or replacing the plumbing), you gave her one-third of the property at the $350,000 cost basis. It’s as if she bought her share of the property for $116,667. Let’s say you sell the property for $1.2 million net, meaning after subtracting commissions, fees and other costs of sale. At that point, you’d subtract the cost of purchase ($350,000) and any material improvements made over the years (let’s assume you haven’t touched the place, just to make it simple). So, the true profit would be $850,000. You and your wife’s share of the profits would be $566,667. Your daughter’s share of the profit would be $283,333. If you are able to take up to $500,000 in profits tax free, you would only owe capital gains tax on $66,667. Your daughter would owe capital gains tax on $33,333. We assumed in our calculations that you didn’t spend a dime over the years to improve your property. But, what if you had? If you needed to replace mechanical systems or added onto the property, you might easily have spent more than $100,000, which could bring down the actual profit below the tax exclusion threshold. You should review your expenses and talk to your tax preparer to go over the numbers. You’ll want to make sure you, your wife and your daughter qualify for the tax exclusion, and that you know exactly what the sale will mean for your tax liability. And, be sure to check out IRS Publication 551, Basis of Assets. MAKING SENSE OF CAPITAL GAINS EXCLUSION RULES By Ilyce Glink and Samuel J. Tamkin | Tribune

A rare treat is being offered this weekend, “Mass in Blue Times Two.” Presented and performed by the Vero Beach Choral Society, the relatively new jazz composition, “Mass in Blue” by Will Todd, will be performed twice at the First Presbyterian Church of Vero Beach. The organization’s musical director, Jacob Craig, who is also the church’s director of music and arts, says that although the music is jazz and not something more traditional like Bach or Brahms, it is nevertheless accessible because of Todd’s tuneful melodies. “Will Todd is an English composer who wrote this in 2003,” Craig says. “It is unique in that he kept the Mass ordinary text in Latin and wrote modern jazz arrangements under it. It is unusual.” Craig says that other jazz composers have tried this, but it usually comes out “kitschy.” However, the Todd “Mass in Blue” COSMO IS ONE CUTE COCKAPOO CONTINUED ON PAGE B5 VERO CHORAL SOCIETY PRESENTS MELODIC TREAT ‘MASS IN BLUE’ By Pam Harbaugh | Correspondent Coming Up 1 CHRONIC PAIN? 12 NEVER GIVE UP 6 HOUSE OF THE WEEK: ARTIST’S UNIQUE HOME B12 INSPIRED BY ‘PROCESS OF ART,’ PAINTER SIDDALL PRODUCES BEAUTY PAGE B2

B2 April 27, 2023 VeroNews/Sebastian River News | ARTS & THEATRE www.veronews.com Originally from Toledo, Ohio, artist Pa - mela Brown Siddall was raised by a cre - ative and cultured family, who exposed her to art, theater and music at an early age. It became, she says, a “very import - ant” part of her life. She often visited the Toledo Museum of Art, which she says is the fourth largest attended museum in the country. Her father, an architect by profession, was also an accomplished watercolorist. Siddall says that as a child, she became fascinated with his artwork and learned to draw and paint under his tutelage. “I feel the process of art is what I find compelling,” says Siddall. “So many of BY DEBBIE TIMMERMANN | CORRESPONDENT Inspired by ‘process of art,’ painter Siddall produces beauty Pamela Siddall. PHOTOS: JOSHUA KODIS

Serving mainland Indian River County VeroNews/Sebastian River News | ARTS & THEATRE April 27, 2023 B3 the small things in life are so special. I do want to encourage the viewer to be enthralled with the simple things, because they make up our lives.” Siddall advocates seeking joy in the everyday, such as observing the lushness of foliage and grasses, noticing how trees are dappled and highlighted by the sun, or how sunlight slips through to a particular leaf, or seeing the ocean’s watery presence on a sandy beach. “A piece of a landscape can be stunning,” says Siddall, whose works are clearly reflective of her passion for nature. “Water is such a reflective body; it sort of magnifies everything.” After an early life filled with a varied but always creative career, for the past 10 years Siddall has focused on her artwork. She now paints predominately in oil, although she is also practiced in acrylic, watercolor and mixed media. Siddall says her preferred subject matters are seascapes, landscapes, commissioned pet portraits and still life. That last category in particular is where she delights in zeroing in on the minutiae of selected images that might otherwise be missed without close scrutiny. For example, Siddall might ask the viewer to peer closely at the detailed aspects of objects in an artwork, such as examining the onion skins in her painting “Beautiful Bulbs,” a closeup of multiple onions, or the realistic seeds in her “Melon Compote.” Her seascape and landscape paintings are often ethereal, such as a beautifully softened sky shrouded in a heavy mist or fog. The result is a peaceful scene that takes the viewer down a winding dirt path or on a walk along the water’s edge. And her paintings of animal portraits clearly depict their personalities. Siddall obtained a degree in fine arts at Bowling Green State University in Ohio – her father was the architect of the school – and after graduation she was hired by an architect to work as a draftsman. However, after marrying and becoming pregnant, she was told that she needed to quit work. She reminisces that women of her generation were groomed to marry and give dinner parties, not have a career, but she saw it otherwise. “I was an entrepreneur at heart and went back to CONTINUED ON PAGE B4

B4 April 27, 2023 VeroNews/Sebastian River News | ARTS & THEATRE www.veronews.com work when my daughter was 2,” says Siddall. After working for an interior designer, she and a friend soon opened an ad agency, which lasted for some years. With her background in art, however, they turned their sights on designing gift wrapping paper, after not finding any they liked. “There was nothing out there. Starting at the top, we decided to go big or go home. Our first client was Neiman Marcus, and we got a lot of attention – not only nationally, but internationally,” she recalls, adding that their business included the manufacture of the paper. They attended multiple gift shows, gaining additional attention and new orders from other companies. “It was exhausting and demanding,” says Siddall, adding that it was especially busy during peak shipping season in the fall. “That was a wild, wild ride. We were young and full of energy. A lot of travel and all-nighters. It was an amazing adventure for two young women.” She remembers going at 4 a.m. to freezing cold loading docks to unload deliveries and then getting on a plane the next day to meet with clients or participate in trade shows in other cities. At one point, Siddall also owned a retail store, The Blue Dog, which offered home design and accent furnishings, some of which she designed. “Then one day I came home after a very tiring day and, passing through the kitchen, I heard laughter and giggles. Walking into the family room, I saw my two children with their nanny, sipping hot chocolate sitting in front of a crackling fire,” says Siddall. “It was my ‘aha’ moment, and something snapped in me. I said to myself, something’s wrong with this picture, and something has to change.” The family left Ohio and moved to Michigan, where they lived on a lake for some 18 years. Siddall and husband John Johnston Macionis purchased a home in Vero Beach about 25 years ago and were snowbirds for 10 years before moving here permanently. Macionis is a leading author of sociology textbooks that are translated worldwide, some in their 16th or 18th editions. Siddall is a member of the Circle at the Vero Beach Museum of Art, a philanthropic arm of the museum, and occasionally participates in shows such as the Quail Valley Charities Art Show. Siddall now has a network of clients in Vero Beach who keep her busy with commissions. Her current projects are large ones – two 5-foot by 5-foot commissioned paintings, plus a recently completed a 4-foot by 6-foot commissioned piece. CONTINUED FROM PAGE B3 ‘I do want to encourage the viewer to be enthralled with the simple things, because they make up our lives.’

Serving mainland Indian River County VeroNews/Sebastian River News | ARTS & THEATRE April 27, 2023 B5 rises above the others. “His is absolutely extraordinary. It’s very thoughtful writing ... lyrical and memorable.” The concert also features “I’ve Got Rhythm” by George Gershwin, and “Can’t Help Falling in Love” by Elvis Presley. Performers include soprano soloist Makilah Slaughter, who teaches music at Beachland Elementary. She will sing with the 48-member choir. Of course, there will also be a four-piece traditional jazz combo. That features Gary Haase on bass and percussionist Sam Moss, who is a Vero Beach High School student. The saxophonist is Jim Alexander, the former choir teacher at Storm Grove Middle School who is now a Delta pilot. Craig will play piano. Craig took over the leadership of the Vero Beach Choral Society a couple years ago and brought it to “roost” at First Presbyterian. It’s grown in popularity so rapidly that the decision was made to offer two performances of the concert. The last concert they had brought out 600 people, many of whom ended up sitting on the floor. The group also encouraged people to audition. “We want to grow,” Craig says. Will Todd’s “Mass in Blue” will begin 4 p.m. Saturday, April 29, and Sunday, April 30, at the First Presbyterian Church of Vero Beach, 520 Royal Palm Blvd., Vero Beach. The concert is free, but a $10 donation would be appreciated with funds going to the Choral Society’s scholarship program. For more information, call 305-797-7177 or visit VeroBeach ChoralSociety.org. Riverside Theatre brings back its Comedy Zone this weekend with headliner James Yon and feature act Absar Siddiqui. Yon is a Florida native who hosts the weekly “The Lowdown” on the Xfinity Comcast’s Afrotainment Channel. He has performed on the Fox Comedy Club and with Jimmy J.J. Walker and Michael Winslow. He also was a finalist on NBC’s “Stand up for Diversity” and won the 2011 and 2012 “Clash of the Comics” in Orlando. A Chicago native, Siddiqui has his own brand of observational humor of growing up in a Pakistani household. He also has a slew of vocal impressions. He’s performed around the country including at the Orlando Improv, Bonkerz Comedy Clubs and more. The evening’s emcee is Jim Harping, a Vero Beach resident, former trial attorney, law enforcement officer and bass player. What’s also a draw is the goings on with “Live in the Loop.” That concert is held outdoors in tandem with the Comedy Zone. You’re invited to dance, buy food and drinks from the full bars, and just have a mellow time at the onehour shows beginning 5:45 p.m., 7 p.m. and 8:15 p.m. Featured musical acts this weekend are American Bandstand (Friday) and Stones Clones (Saturday). The Comedy Zone stand-up acts perform 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. Friday, April 28, and Saturday, April 29. Tickets are $25. Admission to Live in the Loop is free. Riverside Theatre is at 3250 Riverside Park Dr., Vero Beach. Call 772-231-6990 or visit RiversideTheatre.com. Angels Below watercolor workshop will explore watercolor on paper effects. It is hosted by Cool Beans Brew. The instructor is area artist Laura Tarquinio. She will guide on color brush choice and techniques in painting Angelfish. All supplies are provided. The workshop runs 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, April 30, at Cool Beans Brew, 1115 Delaware Ave., Fort Pierce. Cost is $35. Call 772-828-2355 or visit CoolBeansBrew.com. CONTINUED FROM PAGE B1 2 3 5 Vero Beach Choral Society.

B6 April 27, 2023 VeroNews/Sebastian River News | SEEN & SCENE www.veronews.com The Vero Beach Art Club finally caught a break this year for its Under the Oaks Fine Arts and Crafts Fair at Riverside Park, after having been challenged in recent years by COVID and Mother Nature. “The weather’s been absolutely fabulous. You know, last year we had all four seasons in three days. We started with a day in the 40s, we had a day in the high 80s and we had a hurricane in the middle of it. But right now the weather is fabulous,” said Alicia Quinn, UTO co-chair with Adam Conard. Roughly 210 artists from around the country were juried into the three-day show, which draws the best of the best in a variety of mediums, including oils, watercolors, acrylics, photography, graphics, sculpture, glass, jewelry, pottery and woodworks. “There were many new artists, younger artists. We brought in a good 20 or 25 younger artists, and at least 30 who have never been with us before, which is great,” said Quinn. As is tradition, 15 percent of the exhibitors juried in were VBAC members. Additionally, Quinn said, “We had a full complement of sponsors back for the first time in a long time. So that’s been a big change this year.” The VBAC also provided space in trade to various local arts nonprofits such as the Cultural Council, Vero Beach Museum of Art and Vero Beach Film Festival. “Everything has been wonderful. The artists are delighted to be here. They all say this is their favorite show. They love being outdoors under the oaks in this beautiful setting. And the patrons are wonderful,” said Quinn. “The new artists have said, ‘I’ve been trying to get in this show for years,’” said Quinn, adding that they are known for providing the artists with a daily breakfast. “Wild Thyme Catering does a delicious catered breakfast for the artists every morning, right on site in our food court. He does a wonderful breakfast with eggs, French toast, juice, fruit parfaits and fresh fruit,” said Quinn. “We have a fabulous committee of 15 people plus our president and the office manager. And so the 17 of us work all year on this. Some of them start working the minute this ends, and others do theirs in the last two months. They all have jobs and they do them beautifully. We opened successfully with everything in place. The city has been so cooperative, too.” This year’s trio of judges were artists Nancy Baur Dillen, a retired Eastern Florida State College art professor; Audrey Hope, a visiting assistant professor of art at Rollins College; and Tom Joule, director of the Boca Raton Museum of Art School. The awards were announced at the Saturday morning breakfast. A fair to remember: ‘Under the Oaks’ art show excels By Mary Schenkel | Staff Writer [email protected] Richard and Lillian Becker Family Foundation Best in Show Award: Yanfang Inlow, Sculptural Mixed Media Anne Marye Barnes Outstanding Artist of Merit in Watercolor/Pastel/ Printmaking/Graphics Award: Witha Lacuesta, Watercolor Alicia Callander Memorial Award for Pottery/Ceramics: John Herbon, Pottery Ron Miller Friend, Artist, Volunteer Excellence in Art Award: Evan Schwarze, Oil Jean Nagy Memorial Award for Excellence in Acrylic/Oil: Paige Speight, Oil FIRST PLACE AWARDS Acrylic/Watercolor: Sandra Rodriguez Oil: Yu Zhou Jewelry: Steven Kolodny Photography/Digital Art: Michael Behr Pottery/Ceramics/Glass: William Kidd Sculpture/Sculptural Mixed Media/Wood: Chris Seeman Maren and Aleida Gonzalez with Laura and Luis Cuervo. PHOTOS:JOSHUA KODIS Barbara Zawadzki and Jerome Itzkoff. Jacqui Rizzo and Donna Boudreau.

Serving mainland Indian River County VeroNews/Sebastian River News | SEEN & SCENE April 27, 2023 B7 Cheryl Dwyer and Bonnie Bergquist. Susan Davis and Karen Kaderlik. Cindy Dorff and Loma Spencer. Wesley and Rachel Milillo. Lee and Maria Gordon. Richard and Lucy Kesler. Rose and Charlie Carroccia. Glenn and Barbara Introcaso. Patricia Rose and Patty Kafka.

B8 April 27, 2023 VeroNews/Sebastian River News | DINING & WINE www.veronews.com 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 We would like to invite you to join us for a relaxing evening featuring specially curated cuisine, wine tastings and live music on the pool deck at Costa d'Este Beach Resort & Spa. L E A R N M O R E A T C O S T A D E S T E . C O M O R C A L L 7 7 2 . 4 1 0 . 0 1 0 0 Poolside Wine Reception Wednesday, May 3rd Limited Availability! Reserve Now! Live Music | Seawind  6 - 9 PM RECEPTION | POOLSIDE $155++ PER PERSON *Exclusive of 20% Gratuity & 7% Tax

Serving mainland Indian River County VeroNews/Sebastian River News | DINING & WINE April 27, 2023 B9 Serving Dinner Tues - Sat from 5pm (772) 226-7870 Downwn Vero Bea 2023 14th Avenue www.VeroPrime.com Prime Steaks, Seafood & Italian Specialties Happy Hour featuring Premium Spirits Nightly 5 - 6:30pm (Bar Only) Early Dining Menu Nightly 5 - 5:30pm

B10 April 27, 2023 VeroNews/Sebastian River News | DINING www.veronews.com OPEN Tues-Sun 11:30 AM to Close Daily Drink Specials Daily Dinner Specials 2019 14th Ave (772) 217-2183 seanryanpub.com We supply the hats & adornments. You supply the imagination. Serving Famous Kentucky Mint Julips along with traditional Kentucky Derby food and drink. LIVE MUSIC EVERY THURSDAY, FRIDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHT HAPPY HOUR ALL DAY SUNDAY 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 JOIN US FOR DERBY DAY • MAY 6, 2023 DECORATE YOUR OWN DERBY HAT.

Serving mainland Indian River County VeroNews/Sebastian River News | DINING April 27, 2023 B11 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 $5.00 OFF No cash value One per visit One per customer 772.770.5970 | Oslo Rd, VB | CWWILLISFAMILYFARMS.COM Now Open! Come see us for fresh veggies and fruits plus fresh out-of-our-oven baked goods today! Good only at The Market The Market Beat the heat with our homemade ice cream. 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 GRADUATION PARTIES

B12 April 27, 2023 VeroNews/Sebastian River News | DINING www.veronews.com If ever a pup was Ready for his CloseUp it’s Cosmo Vincent, a perfickly perfick Cock-a-poo with tight liddle coppery-gold curls nose-to-caboose, big fluffy tail, earree-ZISS-tubble brown puppy eyes anna per-PET-chew-ell expression that says, “Oh, BOY! Oh BOY! What’s NEXT? I’m READY!” Only 18 months old, Cosmo is still a liddle jumpy-uppy, overflowing with joy, eagerness an zwah-duh-VEE. I wasn’t surprised cuz I remembered him from the Sea Oaks Parade of Champions where he was named Most Congenial. In addition, he’s already learning manners: After obtaining permission, my assistant produced a treat from The Satchel and said Sit (as instructed). Cosmo promptly Sat. An he didn’t Grab! I was impressed. He bounded right up for the Wagan-Sniff, an did a nice job introducing his Mom, Linda, an Dad, Alan. We got comf-tubble in a sunny room with lotsa windows an fluffy chairs, an Cosmo jumped onto the back of one an plopped down, where he hadda great view of trees, a sidewalk an human an pooch passers-by. As he told his story, he’d occasionally paws to bark a neighborly hellooo. “This is my favrite view. Isn’t it PAWSOME?” “It’s GRAND!” I agreed, opening my notebook. “I can’t wait to hear your story.” “My pooch pal Tess Potato told me what to do, so I’m all ready: Mom an Dad had a pooch pre-me, a BEE-jon something-Ican’t-pruh-nounce named Bo, for a Really Long Time, 13 people years, then he hadda go to Dog Heaven. Mom-an-Dad were ruhferred to a breeder way up someplace cold called MISH-again, who hadda new litter (mine). They studied all our pickshurs an vid-E-O’s On The Line an picked ME. I hadda red collar. Maybe that was why. I dunno. Anyway. A lady from there got me all ready soon as I was 8 weeks old, an put me inna box (it was just my size, I was only 4 pounds) an we were gonna fly from MISH-again to MELL-burn an meet my new Mom-an-Dad. But, there was this Very Big Storm so the big loud bird thingy, um, PLANE, hadda go to at-LAN-ta, an then to MOUSE town an that’s where Mom-anDad finally picked me up. It was a verrry looong day. I sat in the lady’s lap most of the time we were flyin’ an waitin,’ an I was VERY GOOD, but really sleepy an pooped by the time I met Mom an Dad in Baggage Claim. The lady handed me to them, an I’m preddy sure I napped all the way here. I’ve been good on car rides ever since.” “Woof, Cosmo, that’s quite an unusual start to your Furever Famly Life!” “I KNOW! Mom an Dad probly thought I was gonna be a calm, quiet pupper. Ackshully that was the last time I ever WAS that quiet, soon as I got used to my new home. An they’re fine with that. Mom fixed me a Cool Kibbles play pen for my first few months. Then I started jumpin’ outta it an that was the end of that. I don’t know if you noticed, but I have LOTS of energy.” “I DID notice that, Cosmo,” I smiled. “I really love jumpin,’” he said, jumpin’ down to woof at something unseen in the front yard, then jumpin’ back to his sofa perch, “so I don’t always remember when it’s OK an when it’s NOT OK to jump,- jump,jump. I never chewed furniture or shoes. I did like to munch dryer sheets for a while. I’ve never been to the beach, but I’ve been on car rides to upstate New York. An I still need a training collar cuz I get all eager an PULL, which is Not Appropriate. “Every day Mom takes me for a run. She has a bike thingy an I run beside her On Leash. We also do lotsa regular walks. Plus, I really love playin’ CATCH, which I’m Super Good at. Watch!” Cosmo jumped down an his Mom produced a sturdy chartreuse ball with on-purpose holes in it an tossed it up an Cosmo jumped and caught it. He did so as long as she threw it. Then he brought the soggy green orb to my assistant who threw it, but not quite as skillfully as Cosmo’s Mom, but Cosmo caught those, too. After Sitting for a couple more snacks, he jumped back onto his lookout spot. “I know you have lotsa pooch pals,” I said. “Oh, woof, yes! Lots! There’s Lucie. She’s a Dachshund. If you remember, she won the Shortest Legs Award in the Parade of Champions. When we first met I was her size. Now I’m wa-ay bigger: 22 pounds! Then there’s Lady, she’s a Golden Re-TREE-ver. We call her The Queen. I’m just a whipper-snapper to her. And Gia, she’s a Cock-a-poo like me, an so is Tigger. Since lotsa our humans love playin’ that game where they bop a fuzzy ball back an forth – an we’re Absolutely Not S’pose To Fetch It Under Any Circumstances when they’re doin’ it (even tho it’s the perfect size) – there is a designated place they named The Dog Pound up in those funny piled-up long seat thingys called BLEEchurs where us pooches can sit an watch. Sometimes we laugh. I don’t think they notice. Don’t tell, OK?” “Never!” I replied. “So, what’s you day like?” “I usta sleep with Mom an Dad. But now I sleep inna comfy bed Mom made for me. In the morning, Mom gets my breakfast. Then she has her coffee, then we go for a walk or a bike ride/run. “Then it’s play time. By myself or with my pooch pals. Or I watch the lizards an squirrels runnin’ around outside my window. Those squirrels make me a liddle nuts. I sometimes think it’s their JOB!” Heading home, I was thinkin’ about energetic, charming Cosmo, an rememberin’ my own Puppy days fondly, but also feeling glad I had my conf-tubble easy chair an duhlishus evening dish of yoghurt an my gramma an grampa to come home to after a long day at the office. Till next time, Hi Dog Buddies! Cosmo the cute Cockapoo is universally well liked The Bonz Don’t Be Shy We are always looking for pets with interesting stories. To set up an interview, email [email protected]. Cosmo. PHOTO: JOSHUA KODIS

Serving mainland Indian River County VeroNews/Sebastian River News | GAMES April 27, 2023 B13 ONLY WHEN YOU CAN SEE ALL OF THE CARDS By Phillip Alder - Bridge Columnist Both sides have the potential for winning play in this week’s deal. However, in the real world, the defensive coup is impossible to find. Therefore, let’s test your declarer-play. Cover the East-West cards and plan the play in four spades. West leads the club queen. North’s raise to four spades was preemptive. It is known as a weak freak, showing lots of spades and few high-card points. In an uncontested auction, the responder will usually have a singleton or a void somewhere. Note also how this makes life harder for East-West. Yes, West might have made a takeout double, but it wasn’t clear-cut. (Five clubs would probably have gone down one.) West led the club queen and continued with the club jack when declarer ducked in the dummy. The original declarer looked for a line that would work even if West had the heart ace — and found one. He ruffed at trick two, played a trump to dummy’s king, ruffed the club king high in hand and returned to dummy with another trump. Now South made a strange-looking play: He led dummy’s diamond 10 and ran it. (If East had covered, declarer would have won with his ace and taken a ruffing finesse through West.) After West won with his queen, he was endplayed. Whatever he led now — the heart ace, a diamond (into South’s tenace) or a club (conceding a ruff-and-sluff) — declarer would lose only one heart trick and make his game. What was the defensive coup? If East had overtaken the club queen with his ace at trick one and shifted to the heart 10 (or queen), the defenders could have taken the first four tricks. Too tough! Dealer: East; Vulnerable: Both NORTH K 10 9 8 3 2 7 6 2 10 K 7 3 WEST 6 A J 5 Q 6 5 4 2 Q J 10 8 SOUTH A Q 7 5 4 K 8 4 3 A J 9 5 EAST J Q 10 9 K 8 7 3 A 9 6 4 2 The Bidding: OPENING LEAD: Q Clubs SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST Pass 1 Spades Pass 4 Spades All Pass CARPET ONE CREATIVE FLOORS & HOME Creative Floors & Home has more for your entire home from the floor up! With Flooring, Tile, Cabinets and even vacuum cleaners! 772.569.0240 1137 Old Dixie Hwy • Vero Beach creativefloorscarpet1verobeach.com Professional Cabinet Design Available

B14 April 27, 2023 VeroNews/Sebastian River News | GAMES www.veronews.com 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 SOLUTIONS TO PREVIOUS ISSUE (APRIL 20) ON PAGE B16 ACROSS 1 Gunge (3) 3 Swallow (in fear?) (4) 5 Walking limbs (4) 8 Daredevil chap (8) 10 Himalayan monster (4) 11 Owns (3) 13 Cacophonous (5) 14 Poetry collection (9) 16 Yes (3) 17 That girl’s (3) 19 Whacked (9) 21 Flying elephant? (5) 22 Hole (3) 24 Isn’t (4) 25 Differ (8) 26 Touch with lips (4) 27 Rely (anag.) (4) 28 Cooking vessel (3) DOWN 1 Deep cut (4) 2 Work (4) 3 Hurry up! (3,1,4,2) 4 Shed (4-2) 6 Looking faculty (8) 7 Where large boats built (8) 9 Owl colour? (5) 12 Confrontational (2-4-4) 14 African burrower (8) 15 End of the line (8) 18 Weird (5) 20 Sermon (6) 22 Homework (4) 23 Nipple (4)

Serving mainland Indian River County VeroNews/Sebastian River News | GAMES April 27, 2023 B15 ACROSS 1 Robert, the would-be justice 5 Vegas counter 9 ___ diet 12 Dipped out, as punch 18 Actor Novello 19 Stitch anew 21 1971 hit, “Baby ___ Want You” 22 Ten-hut’s opposite 23 What ditch diggers do on Labor Day? 26 Very healthy 27 Like some ink 28 Crude bunch: abbr. 29 Mr. Dailey 30 Actress Charlotte 31 Fitting 32 Greek letter 33 What fishermen do on Labor Day? 36 Black Flag rival 38 Old denial 40 Awfully long time, eh what? 41 Lieut.’s lieut. 42 Lots and lots 45 Out-and-out 48 Pasta sauce 51 What door-to-door salesmen do on Labor Day? 56 Equanimity 57 “Nonsense!” 58 Remove, as Odysseus from the mast 60 What projectionists do on Labor Day? 64 Ms. Dickinson 67 Fwy., e.g. 68 ___ to say (implying) 69 Wells’s race of the future 70 Leg part 71 Actor James 72 Soft touch 73 Ms. DeMille 75 What surgeons do on Labor Day? 78 1992 Wimbledon champ 80 Scorch 82 Exchange 83 What comedians do on Labor Day? 89 Sagebrush tale 90 Hang in the air 91 “We’re all ___ together” 93 On 96 End up with nothing 98 Compass dir. 100 Bear’s urge 101 What umpires do on Labor Day? 106 Shortfall 109 “That’s interesting” 110 Medicos’ org. 111 Superman foe Luthor 112 Song for Battle 113 Chili ___ 115 Mexican revolutionary 117 What security guards do on Labor Day? 119 Special forces 120 Sugar tail 121 Wake 122 Soccer great 123 Much of Arizona 124 End up with everything 125 “Shall we?” answer 126 “The ___ the limit” DOWN 1 Elephant feature 2 Take too much on a trip 3 It happens as the world turns 4 Barbra’s A Star Is Born co-star 5 Wharf catches 6 Movie Van 7 “Ah ... say no more” 8 Sitting and singing site 9 3-by-5 items 10 Cocoon co-star 11 Courthouse VIPs 12 SoFi Stadium player 13 Make amends 14 Cotillion celeb 15 Palmer and Petrie 16 Cousins of editorials 17 Loathe 20 Impressed exclamation 24 Hour of down time? 25 Choose 29 Recipient 33 It means “cell” 34 2nd-yr. student 35 Cult film classic, Eating ___ 37 “A ___ golden sun ...” 39 Halo 43 Bus. course 44 Props for Picabo 46 Half of an ice cream flavor 47 Dukes of Hazzard spinoff 49 The art of harmonious building, feng ___ 50 Musical sound 52 Pale 53 Gratitude, memo-style 54 Abraham’s wife, in Genesis 55 Founded: abbr. 59 Coop group 60 Hemingway sobriquet 61 Custom 62 Missile moniker 63 Mr. Martini’s vermouth partner 65 Birds, at times 66 Conductor Solti 70 Noted ballet company 71 Summits 73 Between ports 74 Surrounded 75 Africa’s Burkina ___ 76 Hawaiian island 77 Paradise 79 Mine excavation 81 Give confidence 84 Fax’s grandparent 85 “... pretty maids all in ___” 86 Kettle of fish 87 Jimmy Snyder’s nickname 88 Sans sound 92 Places for aces 93 Thunderstruck 94 Mexican treat 95 Giraffe cousins 97 Fashion designer Arnold (it’s just his real name spelled backward) 99 Self-centered one 102 Amend 103 Seder, for one 104 Permit: abbr. 105 Lion portrayer, 1939 107 Poker stakes 108 Interest rate, for example: abbr. 113 Whodunit game 114 Europe’s high points 116 Had ham 117 Impressed exclamation 118 “You’ve got mail” co. The Telegraph The Washington Post LABOR DAY MADE SIMPLE By Merl Reagle SUNCOAST SCHOOL IS IN NEED OF TEACHERS FOR THE UPCOMING 2023-2024 SCHOOL YEAR. Grades 3 & 4: Math, Language Arts, Science & Social Studies. Grades 5 - 8: Math/Algebra and Language Arts Part time or full time hours, Monday-Friday. Small class sizes, creative, professional teaching environment. SunCoast uses multi age groupings and has always encouraged teacher creativity. Ideal for a retiree who still loves to teach and is looking for a new home. Send resume to: [email protected] 3050 43rd Avenue Vero Beach, FL 32960 772.778.0892 Monday-Friday 9am-2pm

B16 April 27, 2023 VeroNews/Sebastian River News | CALENDAR www.veronews.com INDIAN RIVER COUNTY - BUSINESS DIRECTORY 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. This is also where we publish Fictitious Name or “Doing Business As” notices, Public Notices and Employment ads. To place one, please email [email protected]. Riverside Theatre: “42nd Street” on the Stark Stage through April 30, plus Friday and Saturday Comedy Zone 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. in Waxlax Theatre, and free Live in the Loop outdoor concerts, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. 772-231-6990 or RiversideTheatre.com Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation Tennis Championship at Vero Beach Tennis & Fitness Club at Timber Ridge thru April 30. Mardy FishChildrensFoundation.org. 28 Concerts in the Park presents St. John’s Wood, 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Riverview Park. Free; BYO chairs/blankets. Sebastian Chamber.com or 772-589-5969 28 Tricycle War Block Party, 5:30 p.m. at Sailfish Brewing Co., with United Way top donors competing, street bars from Sailfish, Sol Mar and the Cellar, food, bounce house and live music. 28 Ballet Under the Stars, 6 p.m. at Tree House Vero Beach to benefit Ballet Vero Beach, with seafood-themed buffet, open bar, ballet performance and live music. $150. BalletVeroBeach.org. 20% DISCOUNT FOR ALL NEW CUSTOMERS Perfection one cut at a time 772-539-3365 State Certified Electrical Contractor TOM G. WALTON Hiring Electricians 772-569-1547 • [email protected] L. Walton Electric, Inc. EC13003596 Time to Clean Your Carpets/Furniture? Maxfield Carpet Cleaning • 772-538-0213 5300 N. A1A, Vero Beach • SINCE 1979 Three Reasons to Call Mitch Maxfield: QUALITY: My “2-step system” removes even tough ground-in dirt. All work guaranteed. SERVICE: I, personally, will clean your carpets and furniture. PRICE: Two (2) Rooms (any size)...$77, 6’ Sofa or 2 Chairs...$66 PREMIUM BURIAL PLOTS AVAILABLE At Hillcrest Memorial Gardens in an exclusive location: Prayer Section Lot 1, 2, 3, SP-1, 2, 3, 4 $5995 each ($6999 value each) 321-302-3164 Sudoku Page B10 Sudoku Page B11 Crossword Page B10 Solutions from Games Pages in April 20, 2023 Edition Crossword Page B11 (Q & A... AGAIN) ACROSS 1 REQUIREMENT 9 HOUND 10 CONTROL 11 PRAIRIE 12 AGENT 13 HEAVY 15 VENUE DOWN 2 EDUCATE 3 UNDER 4 RICHES 5 MUNDANE 6 NERVE 7 SHIPS 8 PLATE 20 CHAIR 22 PIGMENT 24 MARTINI 25 AVERT 26 WRITINGDESK 14 VERDICT 16 USELESS 17 SCAMP 18 OPTION 19 STATE 21 AIRER 23 GUARD APRIL MEDICARE ADVANTAGE. SUPPLEMENT. RX INDIVIDUAL & FAMILY HEALTH PLANS CALL FOR A NO COST QUOTE! JENNIFER TOMAS LICENSED INSURANCE AGENT 772-834-4703 TOMASINSURANCE.COM