12/05/2019 ISSUE 49

Restaurant rebirth. P3 Small but serious. P28 One ‘smart’ comedy!

New ‘Doubles Beachside’ hopes Tiny thyroid gland plays outsize
to again be a home run with locals. role in the human body.

Signs of hilarity in South Beach
Players’ ‘Intelligent Life.’ Page 14

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2019 | VOLUME 04, ISSUE 49 www.melbournebeachsider.com | NEWSSTAND PRICE $1.00

A1A ROADWORK MAY Council again
FINALLY WRAP UP BY OK’s fluoride
END OF THE MONTH in city water

STORY BY JENNIFER TORRES CORRESPONDENT STORIES BY HENRY A. STEPHENS CORRESPONDENT
[email protected] [email protected]

There’s a silver lining to PHOTO: BENJAMIN THACKER Four out of five dentists
the traffic-clogging $1.1 mil- must be right when they say
lion Pedestrian Safety Im- Brevard’s beach replenishment projects in overdrive fluoride is safe in the water
provement project happen- supply and prevents cavities
ing along State Road A1A. It STORY BY GEORGE WHITE STAFF WRITER Pumping for the Mid-Reach sand from in children, the Melbourne
might end sooner than ex- [email protected] the Canaveral Shoals – the traditional collec- City Council agreed last
pected. tion point of ocean sand for replenishment week – for the second time
With the end of sea turtle nesting season, projects such as Cocoa Beach – began in late this year.
Florida Department of and shorelines still chewed up from hurri- November. The sand is being staged between
Transportation (FDOT) Com- canes Irma and Dorian, beach replenish- the north and south Spessard Holland Parks But this time, unlike Jan.
munity Outreach Specialist, ment projects are cranking up throughout in Melbourne Beach. Trucking will begin in 24, it wasn’t unanimous.
Mariam Ali said the contract Brevard County, with sand being trucked mid-December and be completed by May,
currently calls for the work into the Mid-Reach area of Satellite and In- In a 4-3 vote on Nov. 26,
to wrap up in late February dian Harbour beaches. CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 council members agreed to
2020, but it could happen keep adding fluoride to the
as early as the end of this city’s water supply as they
month, depending on vari- had been since 1966.
ous factors, such as weather.
In addition to Melbourne
Now in phase two, Ali said residents on both sides of the
the work between Eau Gallie Indian River Lagoon, the city
also serves about 170,000
PHOTO: TIM WIRTH people in Satellite Beach, In-
dian Harbour Beach, Indial-
antic and Melbourne Beach
on the county’s barrier is-
land, as well as West Mel-
bourne and Palm Shores on

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

LIFELONG BEACHSIDER’S RISE TO FIRE CHIEF HAD AIR OF INEVITABILITY

Boulevard and 5th Avenue in STORY BY JENNIFER TORRES CORRESPONDENT Born and raised in Mel- ment (MBVFD).
Indialantic includes install- [email protected] bourne Beach, Brown attended “So, it goes without saying
ing drainage pipe, adding Gemini Elementary School,
new sidewalks to the median It could be said that Gavin was part of Melbourne Beach’s that this community is super
separators, and reworking Brown was born to be a fire- Boy Scout Troop 330 (where he important to me, and I am
drainage ditches for the 11 fighter – and after a life de- earned the rank of Eagle Scout), honored to be able to serve in
new mid-block crossings. voted to securing the safety of and on his 18th birthday joined this capacity and give some-
others, he will now serve as fire the Melbourne Beach
“Once complete with this chief of the Melbourne Beach Volunteer Fire Depart- CONTINUED ON PAGE 4
Volunteer Fire Department.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 8 Dave Micka and new fire chief Gavin Brown.

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NEWS 1-8 GAMES 23-25 PEOPLE 9-12 Space Coast Basket Brigade
ARTS 13-16 HEALTH 27-29 PETS 22 attracts 2,000 volunteers to help
BOOKS 21 INSIGHT 17-26 REAL ESTATE 33-40 feed the less fortunate. Page 12
DINING 30 CALENDAR 32

2 Thursday, December 5, 2019 THE MELBOURNE Barrier Island Newsweekly

NEWS

ADD ‘VICE MAYOR’ TO MELBOURNE COUNCILMAN’S DUTIES

STORIES BY HENRY A. STEPHENS CORRESPONDENT can’t make it. said he wouldn’t want the vice mayor ing the last male vice
[email protected] In a 7-0 vote Nov. 26, Alfrey’s fellow job, made the motion to choose Alfrey.
mayor was former
Melbourne City Councilman Paul Al- council members chose him vice mayor LaRusso’s District 2 straddles the In-
frey will be busier than usual in 2020. for 2020. “I really had no idea the council dian River Lagoon and includes 914 Councilman Dan
members would all vote for me,” Alfrey homes on the barrier island.
In addition to the policy-making job said later. “But I look forward to the new Porsi in 2016. Paul Alfrey.
for which voters elected him in 2016, he’s year and I’ll do the best I can.” Alfrey, 49, a lifelong city resident and Thomas, mean-
got a re-election campaign for a second retired K9 officer with the city police de-
four-year term in the city’s District 5 seat. While Melbourne voters directly elect partment, succeeds District 4 Council- while, said she is
their mayor every four years, the council woman Debbie Thomas as vice mayor.
But he’ll also be running council annually chooses the vice mayor from considering running in 2020 to succeed
meetings, cutting ribbons or even rep- among its own ranks. “I look at this as an opportunity to
resenting the city in statewide gather- break up the girls’ club,” perennial audi- Meehan as mayor. And Meehan, who is
ings whenever Mayor Kathy Meehan Councilman Mark LaRusso, who has ence member Eric Ellebracht said, not-
term-limited next year, said she is toy-

ing with the idea of challenging County

Commissioner John Tobia for the coun-

ty’s District 3 seat. 

SAND REPLENISHMENT PHOTO: BENJAMIN THACKER

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 safety hazard and they should “walk the
other way” for now.
said Mike McGarry, program manager
for the Beaches, Boating and Waterways The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is
section of the Brevard County Natural constructing three project areas as a
Resource Management Department. single construction contract: the South
Reach and Mid-Reach with Brevard
The 7.8-mile Mid-Reach, which runs County as the local sponsor, and Patrick
from Pineda Causeway southward to Air Force Base on behalf of the Air Force.
Flug Avenue, will receive 350,000 cu-
bic yards of sand by truck to minimize South Reach, including the towns
burial of nearshore rock reefs. The cost: of Indialantic and Melbourne Beach,
$20.5 million. spans 3.8 miles and will receive 500,000
cubic yards of sand at a cost of approxi-
To compensate for the estimated 3 mately $10.5 million, fully funded by the
acres of Mid-Reach reefs that will be im- federal government in response to Hur-
pacted, 10 artificial reef sites have been ricane Irma.
constructed on 4.8 acres from Pelican
Beach Park to just south of Howard E. The Air Force-funded Patrick Air
Futch Memorial Park at Paradise Beach. Force Base project is placing 375,000 cu-
bic yards of sand along the full 3.7 miles
Winter resident Jim Cowan stood of base shoreline, at a cost of approxi-
south of the sand pump work site at mately $7.5 million.
South Spessard Holland Park, showing
his young grandsons several pieces of Brevard County is also doing an emer-
heavy equipment on the large opera- gency dune project in the South Beach-
tion. The trio, and all beachgoers, were es to place 98,500 cubic yards of sand
not allowed to pass by the temporary along the eroded dune face to repair
sand pile and heavy equipment for safe- erosion caused by Hurricane Dorian
ty reasons. between Spessard Holland Park and Se-
bastian Inlet State Park. The $4.5 million
“I know the beaches mean big money cost is being funded by the Tourism De-
to this county (as a tourism and resident velopment bed tax on short-term rent-
draw), but it’s like having a nice hotel. If als, with partial reimbursement to be
you never do any maintenance, even- sought from FEMA.
tually nobody will want to come stay
there,” he said. All sand placement is expected to be
completed by May 7, 2020.
As for the beach walkers upset at
the interruption in their daily routines, For a weekly construction update, call
Cowan, a former police officer, said 321637-5374 or visit the website https://
the temporary site indeed could pose a www.brevardfl.gov/NaturalResources/
Beaches 

Barrier Island Newsweekly THE MELBOURNE Thursday, December 5, 2019 3

NEWS

New ‘Doubles Beachside’ hopes to be a home run again with locals

STORY BY GEORGE WHITE STAFF WRITER work with me when I started,’’ Mull- rick Dr. in Indian Harbour Beach. In The exterior and interior of Doubles Beachside
[email protected] vehill said. 2006, with a growing menu and use restaurant at its news A1A location.
as a community gathering spot, the
The rebirth of the iconic Doubles Doubles Beachside was estab- restaurant moved across the street to PHOTOS: BENJAMIN THACKER
Beachside restaurant at 1612 State lished as a small sub shop in 1983 by 1896 South Patrick Dr.
Road A1A in Satellite Beach not only Ray Featherhoff at 1897 South Pat- The restaurant ended a combined
provides old favorites for longtime 35-year run there on June 28 when Zon
fans, but its young staff has started on Beachside Assisted Living and Memo-
a new legacy for the future. ry Care, located next door, purchased
Doubles Beachside to use its lot for a
A soft opening in late November two-story, nearly 30,000-square-foot
quickly became nearly overrun with expansion.
customers, split between older fans
from the South Patrick Drive location Doubles’ new home is located
and new faces of all ages checking out about two miles away at the intersec-
a new eatery option with a local twist tion of SR A1A at Desoto Parkway on
now including a drive-through, out- property that originally was the Peg-
door seating and a “green” design in- leg’s Seafood Restaurant and the Co-
cluding solar power meant to reduce rinthian.
energy consumption, water usage
and food waste. The lot was purchased in 2006 by
the Satellite Beach Community Re-
Architectural details reflect both development Agency to develop what
old and new, with the exterior remi- they now consider the best plan for
niscent of the old location but with the property.
the interior light-filled and spacious
with a modern “beachy” décor. (Dining review of the new Doubles
Beachside restaurant, Page 30.) 
General Manager Katie (Ackerman)
Mullvehill anticipated a crush of in-
terest like every new restaurant has,
but nothing like the sustained lines
that have put the young new staff to
the test.

“It’s been really crazy. We knew we
would start out busy but I’m definitely
surprised. I didn’t think it would sus-
tain so long,’’ she said.

Like a proud coach after a tough
stretch of games, Mullvehill smiles at
how her ‘team’ is coming together un-
der fire, a feeling she remembers from
the old days.

The new location will operate with
less staff than the old location but that
means each worker will have more
hours and can earn more, she said.

“They’ve had to learn fast and
they’ve done really well. We have a lot
of legacy kids of parents who used to

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Community Editor Advertising Director We are here to provide Brevard barrier President and Publisher
Lisa Zahner, 772-584-9121 Stan Blake, 321-615-7626 island readers with the most comprehen- Milton R. Benjamin, 772-559-4187
[email protected] [email protected] sive news coverage of Melbourne Beach, [email protected]
Indialantic, Indian Harbour Beach, Satellite
Staff Reporter Advertising Account Executives Beach, and South Merritt Island. Creative Director
George White, 321-795-3835 Lillian Belmont, 321-604-7833 Dan Alexander, 772-539-2700
[email protected] [email protected] For our advertising partners, we pledge [email protected]
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Columnists tive and marketing programs possible for Corporate Editor
Pam Harbaugh, 321-794-3691 the best return on your investment. Steven M. Thomas, 772-453-1196
Jan Wesner Childs, 941-725-0970 [email protected]

4 Thursday, December 5, 2019 THE MELBOURNE Barrier Island Newsweekly

NEWS

NEW FIRE CHIEF

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

thing back,” Brown said. With his mother holding the Bible, Gavin Brown is sworn in as the new chief of the Melbourne Beach Volunteer Fire Department by outgoing chief Dave Micka. PHOTO: JULIAN LEEK
Although a career in fire service was
to the rank of deputy chief. As for funding, Brown says the town time with my family and enjoying life.”
his dream, serving as a volunteer long “I took every opportunity I could to has been very receptive and willing to Micka originally joined the depart-
term and becoming fire chief of a vol- work with him to find creative solutions.
unteer department was never part of his learn from his experience,” Brown said. The department recently received ap- ment for “stress relief” from his regu-
original plan. “During our time working together we proval to hire a few contractors to help lar job as an engineering manager and
were able to lower our department’s In- with maintenance and administrative then safety manager at the Cape.
From the time he was a young, surance Services Office (ISO) score to a needs, which he said will greatly help
Brown, 31, always knew he wanted to Class 3 rating, won a large grant to pur- reduce some of the burden on the de- “That didn’t exactly work as
be a firefighter. chase all-new self-contained breath- partment’s volunteers. planned,” he said.
ing apparatuses and worked with our
“All of my toys and books had to be not-for-profit Firefighters Association At the next town meeting scheduled In the mid-1990s after having to put
fire-related and visits to the fire sta- to bring bleeding control kits and ‘Stop for Dec. 4, the commission was to re- a department volunteer in the water –
tion were a regular occurrence as my the Bleed’ training to every classroom visit a proposed stipend plan to help without any rescue training or equip-
mother was a volunteer with Harbor and place of worship in the Town of incentivize current volunteers and at- ment – to try and save an intoxicated
City Ambulance Squad, and then later Melbourne Beach.” tract new ones. individual who decided to jump off
a volunteer firefighter with Brevard the end of the pier one evening in an
County Fire Rescue and Melbourne As he takes on the new role, his “I never originally planned to be the attempt to swim to Melbourne, Micka
Beach Volunteer Fire Department,” plans for the new year include a resur- chief of the Fire Department, but I am realized he had work to do and be-
Brown said. “I grew up around the face of fire department garage floors honored to have been given this op- gan to develop the well-trained and
station helping out with events and to provide for better traction and im- portunity. I truly view this department -equipped water rescue program that
learning what I could. It was never re- proved firefighter safety in the station; as my home and all of the members as exists today.
ally a question for me what I wanted and a continued partnership with sur- my family,” Brown said. “I can tell you
to do with my life; I pretty much al- rounding agencies that will enable the that after working all over, the Town of But while he may be stepping down,
ways knew that this was what I was purchase of a new extractor fire gear Melbourne Beach really is one of the he is not stepping out, and plans to
meant for.” washing machine that will be shared best places to live and work. I love our take on a new role as deputy chief in
and help reduce the risk of firefighter small-town community, and I am re- charge of safety and compliance.
He began fire school while still in cancer. ally happy to be a part of making it a
high school, getting all his certifica- great and safe place to live.” As a retired safety manager with an
tions and classes out of the way, and “My overall goal, however, is to keep extensive technical background, he
then joining the MBVFD as a volunteer. working to improve our community’s After 34 years of service to the MB- said he will continue to bring need-
But he was seeking a paid position with fire department so that we can con- VFD, 30 as fire chief, Micka said he ed skills to the department, and help
a local fire department and had begun tinue to provide our citizens with the feels confident passing the torch to make the transition easier for the new
to apply for positions when the BP best level of service possible,” Brown Brown. chief.
Deepwater Horizon oil spill happened. said.
Emergency Medical Staff (EMS) were “The fire service has undergone ma- “The incoming chief wanted to be a
needed to help with the cleanup ef- And as with any position of leader- jor changes since I started, with far firefighter from childhood. He joined
forts, so Brown signed up, and worked ship, there is always plenty of paper- more administrative duties, require- the department while still in high
in Louisiana providing remote EMS on work, but Brown says he definitely ments and regulations to have to com- school, signing up on his 18th birth-
the beaches and islands in the gulf. doesn’t stay deskbound, and can usu- ply with as the chief,” Micka said. “That day. Since joining the department, he
ally be found with members of his trend along with the cost of vehicles has shown a steady growth in skills
He returned home after the cleanup team responding to emergency calls, and equipment, which meets these and leadership moving up through
efforts and started working for a local mopping floors, cleaning the trucks, new ‘predominantly safety improve- the ranks,” Micka said. “He is always
ambulance service. Shortly after that, and performing services out in the ment’ requirements, continues to grow studying new techniques or going to
he was offered a position with a tech- community and at local schools. at an ever-increasing rate every year. I classes to bring new and better ways
nical rescue/safety contractor for the have come to the realization that it is to do business back to the depart-
oil and industrial field and remained “I have always been a working chief, time for me to step back, to let others ment. Every task he takes on, he does
with the company for several years, and I personally believe that there is run with it, and for me to spend more so with great enthusiasm and I expect
acting in multiple roles including as no task that I am above,” he said. his new role as chief of the depart-
a safety consultant, remote EMT, and ment will be no different.” 
leading technical rescue and hazmat
monitoring teams in Texas, Louisiana,
Alabama, Mississippi and on oil rigs
and drill ships in the Gulf of Mexico.

“During this entire time, I remained
active as a volunteer with the MBVFD
during my weeks off,” Brown said. “I
also continued to take classes and ex-
pand my knowledge, as well as slowly
progress through the ranks to the po-
sition of lieutenant and then captain.”

Eventually, he said, the lifestyle of
being away from home so frequently
lost its appeal and he decided to come
back to Brevard and pursue a career in
fire service, which was always his true
passion.

When a position opened up with the
Town of Melbourne Beach as the fire
station manager, he took it – thinking
it would just be a short-term position.
He worked closely with Chief Dave
Micka and was eventually promoted

Barrier Island Newsweekly THE MELBOURNE Thursday, December 5, 2019 5

NEWS

FLUORIDE making the motion. “After (thou- Mayor Kathy Meehan supported all the great doctors who have come
sands of ) studies, if there was any ev- Minus’ motion, as did council mem- here care for their patients,” Alfrey
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 idence of harm, we’d know by now.” bers Tim Thomas and Debbie Thom- said. But the patients should have a
as, no relation. Vice Mayor Paul Alfrey say in fluoridation, he said.
the mainland. “Fluoride is naturally Minus also drew on endorsements dissented, as did council members
in our water … and it’s the most ef- of fluoride by the U.S. Centers for Mark LaRusso and Julie Sanders. Minus’ motion came after 2 ½
fective way to prevent tooth decay,” Disease Control and the Department hours of testimony, in which 24 peo-
Councilwoman Yvonne Minus said, of Defense. “There’s no doubt in my mind that
CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

6 Thursday, December 5, 2019 THE MELBOURNE Barrier Island Newsweekly

NEWS

FLUORIDE cerns about the chemical’s link to adds fluoride to the water in a steady Melbourne Utilities Director Ralph Reigelsperger. FILE PHOTO
low-IQ scores among children and stream of hydroflurosilicic acid.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5 cancer in adults. less than the optimal level.
“It’s a constant feed, so there’s no Dr. Yoshita Patel Hosking, a pe-
ple, mostly Brevard County dentists “Sugar is the main cause of dental bulk load,” he said.
or other scientists, urged the city to decay,” Palmisano said – not the ab- diatric dentist based in Viera and
continue fluoridation while half as sence of fluoride in a community’s The U.S. Department of Health member of the Brevard County Den-
many lay people expressed concern water. and Human Services in 2015 calcu- tal Society, collected a petition of 62
of fluoride being a possible neuro- lated the “optimal” level of fluoride names of fellow members all in favor
toxin. Some residents, while not outright as 0.7 parts of the chemical to 1 mil- of continued fluoridation.
condemning fluoride’s properties, lion parts of water. Reigelsperger
Council members heard similar nevertheless said the city should said Melbourne’s natural water al- “I’m pleased (council members)
pleas in a Jan. 24 meeting. But after have asked if they wanted the addi- ready contains 0.2 parts fluoride per made their decision for children and
that 7-0 vote to keep the fluoride, tive. They called for such “informed 1 million parts water. considered science-based evidence,”
Satellite Beach resident Linda Palmi- consent.” Hosking said.
sano continued to attend Melbourne He said his system adds enough
council meetings and express con- Melbourne Utilities Director Ralph hydroflurosilicic acid to bring the Palmisano, however, couldn’t be
Reigelsperger said his department fluoride to 0.6 parts per million, just reached after the meeting to say if
she would continue her council ap-
pearances in the fight to stop fluori-
dation. 

NO CHARGES
IN ACCIDENT
THAT KILLED
PEDESTRIAN

STORY BY JENNIFER TORRES CORRESPONDENT
[email protected]

An Indialantic man will not
face any charges in a deadly
pedestrian-vehicle accident last
month.

Anna Katherine Gallagher, 62,
of Palm Bay was transported to
Holmes Regional Hospital where
she later died from injuries sus-
tained after crossing South Har-
bor City Boulevard on foot and
into the path of a vehicle driven
by Adam Joseph Krebs, 29, of In-
dialantic.

Melbourne Police Officers re-
sponded to the accident that
occurred at 5:42 p.m. on Nov. 13
in the area of South Harbor City
Boulevard and Silver Palm Av-
enue in Melbourne.

After an investigation, MPD
Commander Marc Claycomb
said Gallagher was found to be
at fault.

“Intoxication was a factor and
they failed to cross at a cross-
ing and clear all lanes of traffic,”
Claycomb said. “So, no charges
pending.” 

Barrier Island Newsweekly THE MELBOURNE Thursday, December 5, 2019 7

NEWS

Melbourne High basketball guru’s influence felt near and far

STORY BY DAVID JONES CORRESPONDENT at Cocoa Beach and was athletic direc- Melbourne High assistant coach Mike Gaudy. PHOTO: TIM WIRTH averaged more than 5.0 points and led
tor before retiring. the team with 7.0 rebounds per game in
Indialantic resident Max Fielder is a Among those athletes Gaudy is cur- the first seven games of the season for
perfect example of what assistant coach Mike Soliven coaxed Gaudy out of rently helping to develop is 6-foot-7 se- the Rice Owls. He is focused on being
Mike Gaudy can mean to Melbourne retirement to work with Fielder and the nior forward Reggie Hill, who is already successful during his freshman season,
High School this upcoming basketball other promising athletes at Melbourne drawing interest from colleges, includ- but still keeping an eye on his old Bull-
season. High. Gaudy and Soliven, who has won ing Florida Gulf Coast. dogs team.
more than 500 games, got together 10
Fielder was a 6-foot-1 basketball years ago to form a deadly coaching “We have a lot more shooters this “You’ve got to learn to manage your
player uncertain of his future when he combination at Melbourne. year,’’ Hill said. “So it will be different. time and stay on top of everything ath-
first enrolled in Melbourne High School. We’re ready to get going.’’ letically and academically,’’ he said.
Today he’s a 6-10 freshman center and The Bulldogs opened their regular “(Houston) is good, I like it so far. I miss
engineering student at Rice University season on Nov. 25 at Cocoa Beach. Cameron Wickline is a 6-3 forward, my family and friends but with technol-
in Houston competing for a starting job and Josh Mims is a talented shooting ogy they are pretty easy to keep up with.
with the Owls’ basketball team. “I hate to be interviewed but I love guard. Carlin Gelin is a 6-6 sophomore It’s going good, I like it here.
to talk,’’ said Soliven. “We’re a work in stepping into the center spot formerly
He is what you call a project student- progress. It’s hard to compensate for occupied by Fielder. “I still have a group of friends (at Mel-
athlete, the kind high school coaches the loss of a Max Fiedler, so it’s next Hi) so I still talk to them,” he added. “I
often dream of. He averaged over 20 man up and hope that we can enjoy “Coach Gaudy worked with me a lot know they are excited about the year
points and 10 rebounds his senior year some success.’’ on my post moves,’’ Gelin said. “I feel coming up. They will be just fine.”
for a 25-win Bulldogs team. comfortable.’’
He doesn’t mind talking about Gaudy, Fielder also appreciates all that Gau-
Fielder is the nephew of former NFL who is now a volunteer coach. “We’ve Fielder, who weighed four to five dy has done to prepare him for the next
first-round draft pick Brian Bollinger, been together since 2010,’’ Soliven said. scholarship offers before choosing Rice, level. “I worked out with him a lot. He
also of Indialantic. The two met recent- “He’s certainly not a rival. It’s mutual really helped me become a better play-
ly in Houston, had dinner and talked respect. I have an incredible respect for er. He’s probably one of the best coach-
about how Fielder may be poised to Mike. We have a great relationship.’’ es I had. I still talk to him a lot. He just
continue the legacy of their athletic really cares about the kids.’’
family, especially if he keeps develop- Gaudy decided to return to the game
ing many of the skills he learned under when he realized how much he missed Fielder’s goal is to help the Owls com-
Gaudy. working with the student-athletes. pete for a Conference USA title. Soliv-
en’s goal is to rebuild the Bulldogs.
“I used to hang out with his kids and “It’s still a chance to develop kids,’’
play sports with them,’’ said Max, who said Gaudy, 65, who lives in Satellite So in Indialantic the excitement is
also spent a lot of his spare time work- Beach. “This is a really good fit for me. real for the start of prep and college
ing with Gaudy, who won two state titles It’s just a lovely school with a lot of great hoops. It’s a special time for all. 
athletes.’’

8 Thursday, December 5, 2019 THE MELBOURNE Barrier Island Newsweekly

NEWS

Councilman calls out the canine cavalry to help build new dog park in February

STORIES BY HENRY A. STEPHENS CORRESPONDENT really be done.” – within the Crane Field Park at 1550 water, made of treated wastewater,
[email protected] Alfrey suggested the first week- Mosswood Dr. works fine nourishing grass – but isn’t
good for drinking.
A week after local football fans thrill end in February – until Kukstis re- One of the big jobs in the new park
to TV coverage of Super Bowl LIV from minded him that was the weekend of will be removing pieces of the old con- Alfrey said he wanted a splash-pad,
Miami, Melbourne City Councilman Super Bowl LIV. So in hopes of getting crete tennis court and using them to where dogs would have fun and get
Paul Alfrey wants them to get off the more volunteers, they settled on the make a grass-covered hill that dogs exercise getting blasted with water jets
couch and help build a new dog park following weekend. could climb. Lengths of water-sewer and trying to stamp them out.
in the Eau Gallie area. pipes would provide exploration tun-
Volunteers in April built the city’s nels, Alfrey said. Melbourne general contractor Da-
Alfrey and city Parks Manager Nikki first dog park at the Southwest Rec- vid Bell said they might also want a
Kukstis last week set Feb. 8-9, 2020, for reation Complex on West Florida Av- But there’s more concrete at the ten- “dry-pad,” where the soaked dogs
the weekend they hope community enue. Alfrey said his goal is to improve nis court than would be needed for could dry off before getting back in the
volunteers will descend on the city’s the city’s parks, as much as possible, a hill, said Palm Bay volunteer John owners’ cars.
Crane Field Park to build Melbourne’s with volunteer labor and donations Casey, who previously helped Sheriff
second dog park. instead of tax dollars. Wayne Ivey set up his Animal Services The issue of lighting wasn’t an-
Division. swered at the meeting. Alfrey ques-
Alfrey led a planning meeting Nov. “We did a great project last time,” tioned if lights were needed if the park
22 with local engineers and contrac- Alfrey said. “I’d like to do a better proj- “The biggest problem will be to get closes at sundown. “Nope, this park
tors, who would be volunteering their ect this time.” rid of most of that (concrete) stuff,” closes at 9,” Kukstis said.
skills on the bigger tasks in the weeks Casey said. “We won’t be making use
before residents show up for the As before, Mark Pieloch, owner of of all of that.” So Alfrey and the others had a few
smaller jobs. the American Muscle Car Museum on remaining issues for future meetings.
Tami Road, is expected to be the big- Another task will be disconnecting
“On the day of the community build, gest donor with $50,000 in benches, reuse water from the park’s irrigation Residents can also discuss the new
we’ll have the (recycled) tires there, the chairs, fencing and other park equip- lines and replacing it with drinking dog park plans with Alfrey by the
recycled paint there and even the sod ment. The planned Pieloch Dog Park water, said Joe Sendelbach, the city’s methods he posts on the city of Mel-
will be there,” he said. “I’m looking for at Eau Gallie would take up almost irrigation specialist. bourne’s website: His cell number
that Saturday to do the work all day, an acre of unused space – formerly is 321-508-4339 and email is
and by Sunday evening the park will a swimming pool and a tennis court Otherwise, he said, thirsty dogs [email protected]. 
would lap up the reuse water. Reuse

A1A PROJECT way under construction,” Ali PHOTO: TIM WIRTH placed originally it was very haphaz-
said. ardly and it was not clear where to turn
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 nancial impact as well. to enter shopping centers and streets,”
A main irritation expressed “We have been affected; most of our Kemp said.
phase, about 90 percent of the proj- by many is the appearance of
ect will be done,” Ali said. “After phase barrels and cones in areas with regulars are making it in regardless of “Shortly after the meeting FDOT
two, there will be paving and then no visible work in progress. the mess but it’s very frustrating watch- took a second look and created more
adding in pavement markings, cross- ing our elderly customers trying to nav- defined entrances and broke the con-
walk signage and rapid flashing cross- According to the FDOT web- igate the construction on A1A and then struction up into sections. I think this
ing beacons, which will be the last site, placing and removing these the mess in our parking lot,” Eshelman helped motorists and hopefully helped
items to be installed before the public devices in a construction zone said. “The south entrance to our plaza the businesses. I’m still hearing some
may utilize the crosswalk access.” is “time consuming and could has been closed for months for the Pub- complaints from businesses located
significantly increase the cost of lix build. We’re doing the best we can to in the shopping plaza just north of 5th
It’s been a long road – literally – for construction projects.” In addi- keep serving our community and hop- Avenue, but I think the Publix construc-
local residents and business owners tion, they claim the devices are ing that they’ll continue to brave the tion is also a factor in that location.”
who have navigated the lane closures “left in place during non-work construction and support us.”
and numerous orange and white safe- hours to prevent injury to mo- Not everyone is upset about the
ty cones placed along the much-trav- torists who might attempt to drive in The FDOT does not provide mon- work. Jeff McDermott of Oceanside Vil-
eled route. travel lanes not yet suitable for use.” etary compensation for loss of business lage believes it encourages drivers to
to retailers in construction zones, but be more alert. “The improvements, in
Earlier this month, when news of “We leave work zones in place for say they try their best to minimize the theory, will force drivers to slow down
a bicyclist being pinned under a car safety and efficiency,” Ali said. “Crews impact. and will increase the visibility of pedes-
just outside Dunkin Donuts on A1A may rotate working from area to area in trians trying to safely cross the street,”
in unincorporated Indialantic spread, the limits of the project.” “At the last Coalition meeting I ex- McDermott said. “I do not mind the
residents took to the social media site pressed concerns for the businesses inconvenience of construction either;
NextDoor, with many wanting to know Indialantic Town Councilman Simon along the area of construction because it’s a part of life and you have to be flex-
if they accident was related to road- Kemp is also a member of the South I had heard from several that sales have ible.”
work. Beaches Coalition, a group represented dropped significantly. Along with that
by several beachside towns, that meets I believed when the barrels had been The work is all part of an improve-
It wasn’t. to go over and provide input on what ment project aimed at keeping pedes-
In fact, Indialantic Town Manager the Space Coast Transit Planning Orga- trians safer by installing raised, con-
Mike Casey said he’s had no reports nization (SCTPO) is doing. crete, mid-block crossing points at 11
from the police department of an up- locations – and improving one that
tick in accidents due to the roadwork. “I understand people are frustrated already exists – along State Road A1A
But that didn’t stop a conversation but this project is moving along quickly between 5th Avenue in Indialantic and
from starting about whether bicyclists and I think trying to put barrels in dif- Eau Gallie Boulevard. When complete,
should be riding along A1A while the ferent places every day where the work each crossing point will have flash-
work is being done. is happening would be more confusing ing beacons, pavement markings and
According to Ali, unless posted, there than the current situation,” Kemp said. lighting. The project also calls for some
are no restrictions against bicyclists on new sidewalks, asphalt replacement,
A1A during the work. “A bicycle is a ve- But the minor irritations and aggra- transit stop improvements and minor
hicle and should traverse the roadway vations of some may be more serious drainage work. 
carefully as any vehicle using the road- for Lisa Eshelman, who, as owner of
Beachside Produce in the Indialantic
Shopping Center on A1A, feels a fi-

Alaina Tymann.

Fixin’ to help,
Basket Brigade delivers

for less fortunate P. 12

10 Thursday, December 5, 2019 THE MELBOURNE Barrier Island Newsweekly

SEEN & SCENE

Food (and wine) for thought at ‘Love Our Lagoon’ benefit

Donna Jacobson. PHOTOS: TIMOTHY WIRTH Sue Ether and Frank Dimarco.

Eric Schwarze and Shannon Shneyder. Johnnie Naumann and Grace Naumann. Jennifer Stein and Carolyn Cooke.

STORY BY KELLIE LANDI CORRESPONDENT Livia Berni and Shelby Lazas. cil programs to help save the lagoon. pollution were found in areas where
[email protected] Dr. Leesa Souta, executive direc- the water was stagnant and didn’t
for sale, as well as T-shirts for the la- have as much water flow.
Last sunny Saturday was the Love goon and an artisan rain barrel for tor for the Marine Resource Coun-
Our Lagoon Foodie and Wine Tast- auction. Guests were also presented cil, presented the. The purpose of With the help of fundraisers like
ing Benefit for the Marine Resources with the 2nd Indian River Lagoon the Health Report Card is to deter- the Love Our Lagoon Foodie and
Council at Djon’s Steak and Lobster Health Update Report Card and a mine success rates so it can be de- Wine Benefit Tasting, the Marine
House in Melbourne Beach. Many showcase of Marine Resource Coun- termined what impact the efforts to Resources Council can continue to
locals came out to show their sup- save the lagoon are having on the educate, research and restore the
port for an important environmen- fragile ecosystem. lagoon. With the restoration of the
tal cause in Brevard County – the lagoon, the overall quality of life in
health of the Indian River Lagoon. The Indian River Lagoon covers Brevard County improves and so
one-third of Florida’s East Coast does revenue.
The sun was softly shining on from New Smyrna Beach to Jupi-
guests who ventured outdoors to ter. The Marine Resource Council With pelicans silently sailing over
munch on decadent dishes amongst is joining forces with the Marine the surface of the water in the dis-
the bamboo and live guitar mu- Discovery Center in New Smyrna tance, it was easy for guests to be
sic. Guests sampled dishes such as Beach, the Florida Oceanographic reminded of why it is important to
baked brie with citrus glaze and Society and the Loxahatchee River support the restoration of the la-
fresh berry sauce in puff pastry, District to organize a single volun- goon. As Dr. Sousa stated in the
Oysters Rockefeller, and mini crab teer network to obtain water sam- opening letter of the Health Report
cakes with smoked tomato remou- ples to have more complete and ac- Card, “It’s our lagoon and together
lade, and sipped on wine in Marine curate data. we can bring the IRL to life.”
Resource Council-etched glasses.
Part of the report states the lagoon To find out more about Marine Re-
Sheer curtains and magnificent is healthier near the inlets where sources Council, visit their webpage
chandeliers illuminated the inside, the polluted water mixes with the at www.savetheirl.org. 
where beautiful art was displayed ocean water. The higher levels of

Barrier Island Newsweekly THE MELBOURNE Thursday, December 5, 2019 11

SEEN & SCENE

Crystal Canina and Djon Pepaj. Lillie Newton and Kimberly Newton.

Teri Wagor and Cece Trotter. Rhanda and Dennis Mayo.

Stephanie Fields and Geoffrey Cooke.

12 Thursday, December 5, 2019 THE MELBOURNE Barrier Island Newsweekly

SEEN & SCENE

Fixin’ to help, Basket Brigade delivers for less fortunate

Audrey Laird gathers Thanksgiving goods. Paul and Patty Morrison with Makai Morrison and Mason Durden. PHOTOS: LEAH DUBOIS Sean Fairchild with his Thanksgiving basket.

STORY BY KELLIE LANDI CORRESPONDENT and joy, but for families who may be bounce houses. It was Fankins’ and
[email protected] struggling, holiday dinners can be a her family’s first year volunteering.
financial burden. Space Coast Basket They already are looking forward to
Satellite High School was standing Brigade aims to help lessen that bur- next year.
room only last Sunday as approximate- den by delivering food baskets to those
ly 2,000 volunteers flooded the school in need. Families are encouraged to volun-
campus to help other Brevard County teer as Space Coast Basket Brigade
residents in need for the Thanksgiving The annual outpouring started believes it creates a bonding experi-
holiday. small, founded by two sisters with ence for families and everyone gets to
huge hearts. experience giving to others. Families
This time of year brings happiness buy the food for their baskets, bring it
to the Basket Brigade, and pack and
In 2009, Erin and Keri Allen delivered decorate the baskets before deliver-
four baskets to families in need in their ing them to needy families.
community. The following year older
sister Jacqueline Giurkeo and mom “I like decorating the baskets; it’s
April Aulisi teamed up, and they were more personal,” Fankins said.
able to deliver 15 baskets. After other
families learned about the work the Baskets are given to anyone who
Basket Brigade was doing, they spread may be in distress such as children’s
the word. Space Coast Basket Brigade, shelters, the elderly, transition hous-
with the help of volunteers, has de- ing for homeless teens, families who
livered over 9,000 baskets to families. have lost a parent, illness or death in
This year the goal was to deliver bas- a family, women and children start-
kets to 2,500 families, including 250 to ing over, and also to military and
those living in transition housing. wounded warriors.

The courtyard was buzzing with ex- Tables with boxes and cans of
citement as locals lined up to assemble food piled high filled the Satellite
their baskets. A DJ was pumping up the Beach High School gym, some tables
crowd as they packed, decorated and stacked so high it was nearly impossi-
later delivered baskets. Each basket ble to imagine how all the food would
contained a 12-pound turkey, cranber- be packed. Volunteers, with incred-
ry sauce, green beans, corn, mashed ible amounts of energy and spunk,
potatoes, stuffing, sweet potatoes, rolls made sure it happened.
and a pumpkin pie. Baskets were also
decorated and drawings from children Local organizations, food vendors
volunteers are placed in with the food and sponsors pulled together along
donations. with help from the community to de-
liver a total of 3,346 baskets to fami-
“It’s families helping families,” De- lies in need in Brevard County in
nise Fankins of Satellite Beach said their 10th year.
as her two sons and daughter took a
break from decorating to jump in the “When the community comes to-
gether, big things happen,” Fankins
said as she watched volunteers pack-
ing up their vehicles with their deco-
rated and packed baskets.

If you are interested in learning
more about the Space Coast Basket
Brigade and their mission, visit their
webpage at www.spacecoastbasket-
brigade.com. 

Signs of hilarity in
South Beach Players’

‘Intelligent Life’

14 Thursday, December 5, 2019 THE MELBOURNE Barrier Island Newsweekly

ARTS & THEATRE

Signs of hilarity in South Beach Players’ ‘Intelligent Life’

“Intelligent Life” cast.

PHOTOS BY BENJAMIN THACKER

STORY BY PAM HARBAUGH CORRESPONDENT change of scenery from indoor to out- Playwright Clark Semmes with co-director Earth not for philanthropic reasons
door and back again. and costume designer Jeannine Mjoseth. but instead to stock up on supplies.
The quirky story of life in the fic- Blatoo is played by Clare Fogle, a for-
tional Florida town of Pompano Point “Oh, gosh, we struggled,” she said. and designers opportunities to learn mer stand-up comic who played the
continues with this week’s opening of Certainly, tackling a trilogy on and grow in their work. Swamp Ape in “Fishing Tournament.”
“Intelligent Life.” stage can be a challenge. Productions
frequently need similar sets, consis- After learning their theater tech “He’s on a beer run,” Mjoseth said.
Produced by the South Beach tency in casting and an audience with lesson, “Intelligent Life” returns to “He has picked up old TV shows and
Players, the play is written by Clark a memory long enough to remember that bait shop single locale. The com- comes down looking for Jeannie from
Semmes and is the third in a trilogy characters and, hopefully, look for- edy concerns Blatoo, a space alien ‘I Dream of Jeannie.’ He’s looking for
of funky Florida folk who love to fish. ward to revisiting them. who has learned about Earth from old beer and babes. His whole concept of
But they do give actors, directors signals of “I Dream of Jeannie.” what earthlings are about is based on
“He has this dry, wonderful, ludi- old reruns so he thinks she will wear
crous sense of humor,” said co-direc- Esoterically named after Klatoo, the a harem outfit.”
tor Jeannine Mjoseth. “This may be alien visitor in the 1951 film “The Day
the funniest of the three.” the Earth Stood Still,” Blatoo comes to Alerted by Cape Canaveral that a
spaceship has landed in Pompano
Semmes, a snowbird from Mary- Point, two Space Agents from the
land who works for the Internal Rev- Space Force come onto the scene to
enue Service (relax, he’s an IT guy), is find Blatoo.
a newcomer to the playwriting “busi-
ness.” His playwriting formula has One, played by Noreen Williams,
been to focus in on something unique thinks Blatoo will bring the answer
to the area. for all of humanity to get along. The
other, played by Gary Gates, does not
In the case of his Pompano Point trust Blatoo and would rather see him
Trilogy, that means fishing, surfing, “examined.”
hurricanes and space. His first play,
“Hurricane Helga,” brought disorder There’s also an appearance by
to JoAnn and Mel’s Real Estate and the character Elon Musk, played by
Bait Shop. The second, “Fishing Tour- 13-year-old Garrison Gates. Bait shop
nament,” took audiences from that lo- owners/real estate agents Joann and
cale into the swamps of Florida for an Mel are played by MJ Gillis, a crew
all-woman fishing tournament. member taking on her first on stage
role, and Ernest DeSantis, owner of
That was a tough one, Mjoseth the Floridana Beach Motel.
said, because it required a complete

Barrier Island Newsweekly THE MELBOURNE Thursday, December 5, 2019 15

ARTS & THEATRE

From left to right: Tom Gale as James Worthington, MJ Gillis and Ernest DeSantis, who play Joanne and Mel, Clare Fogle as Blatoo, Noreen Williams as Agent Smith with Gary Gates as Agent Jones, and Garrison Gates as Elon Musk.

Costumes are being organized and lights and a lighting board. like-minded theater enthusiasts, Clark is writing another play.”
created by Mjoseth, who used to be a “Dramatic lighting is so impor- some of whom had never been on And who knows, like Neil Simon,
professional wrestler and appeared stage before.
under the name of Mad Maxine, and tant,” Mjoseth said. “Thierry’s dona- Alfred Uhry, Eugene O’Neill, Lan-
sometimes, in her more demure mo- tion of the lights allowed us to move Typically, their productions sell out ford Wilson and even Aeschylus (for
ments, Lady Maxine. to the next level and we are so grate- to audiences as enthusiastic as the those theaters not afraid of the clas-
ful. It was a big vote of confidence players, so it is smart to get tickets sics), Semmes may have enough time
Both scenery and lighting have when we really needed it.” ahead of time. Additionally, the tick- between IRS duties to begin another
their jobs cut out for them. Working ets include the cost of entrance into trilogy.
together, they turn the upstairs ban- A small but mighty group of pas- the Sebastian Inlet State Park. Orga-
quet hall of the Surfside Grill in Se- sionate theater people, the South nizers suggest arriving an hour early “Intelligent Life” runs 7 p.m. through
bastian Inlet State Park into a theater Beach Players formed in the begin- for dinner and to make sure you get Dec. 4, 5, 6, 7, 11, 12, 13 and 14 at the
that seats about 66. ning of 2018 when Mjoseth and co- your choice of seat. Surfside Grill in Sebastian Inlet State
director Donna Roberts met by hap- Park, 9707 S. Highway A1A, South Mel-
Scenery has been created by Daryl penstance on the beach and began Mjoseth said the group hopes to bourne Beach. Tickets cost $12, which
Williams. Sound design is by Steve discussing their common passion for produce two shows a season. That’s includes park entry fee. They may be
Hilmy, former director of electron- community theater. enough time, she said, to forget how purchased in advance at Melbourne
ic and computer music at George much effort and time and sweat the Beach Properties at 6680 A1A, Mel-
Washington University. And lighting Realizing there were no nearby the- first one took. bourne Beach. Any leftover tickets will
is created by Thierry Sparfel, owner aters, they took it upon themselves to be available at the door. For more infor-
of TechnoSystems, an international begin the South Beach Players. Their “It’s a little like childbirth,” she mation, send a message to South Beach
company serving technical needs for first show was a couple of one-acts in joked. Players via its Facebook page, https://
the audiovisual, broadcast and enter- the now closed Sebastian Beach Inn. www.facebook.com/SouthBeachPlay-
tainment industries. Organizers do not yet know what ers32951. 
They moved into the Surfside Grill the next play will be.
Sparfel has donated stage LED at Sebastian Inlet State Park one year
ago. Their productions are created by “We’re mulling over a murder
mystery,” Mjoseth said. “Right now,

16 Thursday, December 5, 2019 THE MELBOURNE Barrier Island Newsweekly

COMING UP! ARTS & THEATRE

Heart-warming ‘Wonderful Life’ at Henegar

STORY BY SAMANTHA ROHLFING BAITA STAFF WRITER $20; seniors, $15. 772-562-9088.

1 Think classic Christmas movies 5 A Brevard family tradition: The
and finish this sentence: “Every Merritt High School auditorium

time a bell rings …” Got it? The beloved rafters will ring with holiday music this

1946 Christmas film, Frank Capra’s Sunday, Dec. 8, as the Community Band

“It’s a Wonderful Life,” is back this sea- of Brevard presents its annual gift to

son in a new iteration – a stage musical. the community, “A Holiday Concert.”

And it will open on the Henegar Main- This wonderful free event brings holi-

stage this Friday, Dec. 6. The Henegar day favorites, some old, some new, such

promises the musical faithfully follows as “Christmas Festival” and “Bugler’s

the film, which starred Jimmy Stewart, Holiday” by Leroy Anderson; “Rhap-

Donna Reed and Lionel Barrymore. Ac- sody for Hanukkah” by Stephen Bulla;

cording to IMDb.com, “It’s a Wonderful Suite from “Messiah” by Handel; “White

Life” tells the life story of George Bailey, Christmas” by Berlin; “Stars and Stripes

from “childhood dreams to midlife dis- for Christmas” by Sousa; and “Have

appointments.” Instead of following his Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,”

dreams, George stays in Bedford Falls to among many others. “I’m not sure who

prevent “rich skinflint Mr. Potter from loves this concert more, the band mem-

taking over the town.” Now, on what bers or the audience,” says conductor

might be his last Christmas Eve, a dis- Marion Scott, adding that he expects a

couraged Bailey considers suicide until full house. You’ll want to be a part of it.

Clarence, a low echelon angel, is as- It’ll be general seating. Time: 3 p.m. Ad-

signed to show George the value of life. mission: free. 321-258-5580.

When George sees what the town and its

people would be if not for him, he real- 2 “The Nutcracker” at King Center this Saturday. 6 Music’s in the air, everywhere:
including the Melbourne Audito-
izes Clarence was correct when he said,

“no man is a failure who has friends.”

The musical is cinematically scored and music across the centuries – classi-
cal, traditional and modern – will fill
theatrically staged, announces the Hen- the hall this Saturday, Dec. 7, as the
60-member, mixed-voice Brevard Cho-
egar: “This adaptation breathes musical rale (auditioned volunteer) under the
baton of James Boyles presents “Sing
life into a familiar story, while retaining We Now of Christmas,” performed to
piano accompaniment. This one-hour
the warmth, humor and pathos of the concert will take place in the Simpkins
Fine Arts Auditorium at Eastern Flori-
original.” Curtain: Fridays and Satur- da State College in Cocoa, and will in-
clude Faure’s lovely “Cantique de Jean
days, 8 p.m.; Sundays, 2 p.m. Tickets: $19 Racine” and an arrangement of tra-
ditional carols and the moving mod-
to $29. 321-723-8698. ern Christmas classic “Mary, Did You
Know?” by the one-and-only choir-
2 As necessary to include in your masters’ choirmaster, Norman Luboff.
holiday celebration as hot cocoa Imagine how magical the Chorale’s
performance of J.S. Bach’s “Sheep May
and twinkling lights: a production of Safely Graze” will be as flutes join in;
and how joyful Mendelssohn’s “Hark
“The Nutcracker.” The 17th Annual the Herald Angels Sing” will be per- 4 “Vila and Khachatourian in Recital” this Saturday at
formed as a piano duet by Jean Black Eastminster Presbyterian Church.
Space Coast Ballet Company’s pro- and Linda Cox. Time: 7:30 p.m. Tickets:
adults/seniors $10; students, $5. 321-
duction of this Christmas must-see 501-0833.

will be performed at the King Center

this Saturday, Dec. 7, for what the King cello at only 8, so skillfully that he had rium, where the Melbourne Municipal
his solo debut, with orchestra, at 14. Band, led by Conductor Staci Rosbury,
says will be “one of the most beautiful Considered, according to the concert will present its annual holiday concert,
promo, “one of the most inspiring art- “Songs of the Season,” this Wednesday
Nutcracker productions of all time.” ists of his generation,” Ashot Khacha- and Thursday, Dec.11-12. Guest sopra-
tourian, an Armenian-born, Belgium- no Rachel Carter will perform “O Holy
This season, “the beloved artistic based pianist, began playing the piano Night” and “My Grownup Christmas
at only 5, at the Charles Aznavour Mu- Wish,” according to the concert pro-
masterpiece is directed by Ekaterina sic School in his home country. If his mo, and there will, of course, be lots
name sounds familiar, it’s because his more of your holiday favorites. (Keep it
Shchelkanova, of the Kirov Ballet and great uncle, according to his bio, was under your earmuffs, but I have inside
Aram Khachaturian, “one of the fore- info that Santa and Mrs. Claus will
American Ballet Theatre, and features most composers of the 20th century, show up, and that Santa himself will
whose music bore the stamp of his actually conduct the band.) You will
internationally acclaimed principal Armenian roots.” Ashot is considered also have a chance to help those less
“one of the world’s foremost interpret- fortunate by bringing a new toy (not
dancers along with talented danc- ers of the concertos of Rachmaninov.” wrapped), or a non-perishable food
Vila and Khachatourian will perform item, which will go to the South Bre-
ers from our community.” A review of solo and together. Take this excellent vard Sharing Center. Arrive early for
opportunity to enjoy what the concert pre-show music by the Sunshine Brass
last year’s production raved that it “ri- promo calls “two of this generation’s Quintet. Time: 7:30 p.m. both nights.
most exciting young musicians.” Time: Admission: free, no tix required. 321-
vals any production in New York City 4 A piano. A cello. And a pair of 7:30 p.m. Tickets at the door: adults, 724-0555. 
internationally lauded classical
or elsewhere.” Curtain: 2 p.m. and 7

p.m. Tickets: start at $25. Military, first musicians. That is the recipe for an

responders and children age 12 and excellent classical concert this Satur-

under, start at $23. Everyone, includ- day, Dec 7, at Eastminster Presbyte-

ing infants and toddlers, must have a rian Church in Indialantic: “Vila and

ticket. 321-242-2219. Khachatourian in Recital.” Billed as

“an Ecuadorian-Spanish cello sensa-

3 Christmas celebrations can tion,” Francisco Vila, according to his
scarcely be imagined without
bio, was “born in Ecuador, grew up on

music, from a simple shepherd’s pipe, the Space Coast, and currently resides

to full orchestra and chorus. Holiday in Los Angeles.” He learned to play the



Something strange is sailing toward giants and tiny rocky spheres, worlds One night later, halfway across faint that scientists were never able to
us. Something small and cold and lit by dim red suns and ones that or- the planet, the strange report caught view it as more than a single pixel of
extraordinarily fast. No one knows bit the spinning remains of collapsed Durig’s eye. light.They were not quite sure what they
where it came from or where it is go- stars. There are even planets circling had seen – was it a metallic, rocky as-
ing. But it’s not from around here. medium-size yellow suns like ours – “I was the second person to observe teroid or an icy, dusty comet? And they
though nothing found so far can match it,” Durig said. “That confirmed the were unsure whether the detection was
This is an interstellar comet – an the breathable atmosphere and deep, comet was real.” just a lucky fluke, never to be repeated,
ancient ball of ice and gas and dust, blue oceans of Earth. or a harbinger of things to come.
formed on the frozen outskirts of a Within a couple of weeks, scientists
distant star, which some lucky quirk Yet even when viewed through the had collected enough observations to So researchers were thrilled when,
of gravity has tossed into our path. most powerful telescopes, exoplanets calculate the comet’s orbit. But they did less than two years later, another in-
are not discernible as anything more not find the oval path that comets typi- terstellar traveler arrived.
To astronomers, the comet is a care than specks of light. And no human cally make around the sun. Instead, the
package from the cosmos – a piece of alive has a hope of traveling to another orbit was hyperbolic – it did not close in The new comet, which has been
a place they will never be able to visit, star – merely approaching the nearest on itself. The object was also traveling at named 2I/Borisov (indicating its dis-
a key to all the worlds they cannot di- one would take 40,000 years. the blistering speed of 93,000 miles per coverer and its status as the second
rectly observe. hour, far faster than any comets, aster- known interstellar object), is expected
Scientists’ best hope for closely ex- oids or planets orbiting our sun. to be within reach of telescopes until
It is only the second interstellar in- amining another solar system was to fall 2020. At its closest approach this
terloper scientists have seen in our so- wait for a piece of one to come to us. “Wow,” said Davide Farnocchia, a weekend, it will be twice as far from
lar system. And it’s the first one they’ve navigation engineer at NASA’s Jet Pro- Earth as Earth is from the sun.
been able to get a good look at. By track- It was Aug. 30, in the quiet moments pulsion Laboratory, who was among
ing the comet’s movement, measur- before dawn, when a self-taught as- the first people to determine that the Though it entered the solar system
ing its composition and monitoring its tronomer in a Crimean mountain vil- comet came from another star. “I was from the direction of the constellation
behavior, researchers are seeking clues lage spotted a faint smudge low on the not expecting to see anything like that.” Cassiopeia, scientists do not know yet
about the place it came from and the horizon, barely distinguishable against where 2I/Borisov came from, or how
space it crossed to get here. They have the glittering background of stars. There has been only one other in- long it has flown through the desola-
already found a carbon-based mol- terstellar object spotted in our solar tion of interstellar space. Given its cur-
ecule and possibly water – two familiar Gennady Borisov submitted his ob- system: a cigar-shaped rock named rent speed, it has certainly been travel-
chemicals in such an alien object. servations to the Minor Planet Center, ‘Oumuamua, a Hawaiian word that ing for millions, if not billions, of years.
the astronomers’ clearinghouse for translates to “messenger from afar.”
As the sun sinks behind the Tennes- information about small bodies in the As the object gets closer to the sun’s
see mountains, and stars wink into solar system, so other scientists could But ‘Oumuamua was already on its warmth, ices on its surface turn into
view, astronomer Doug Durig climbs take a look. way out of the system when it was dis- gas. This creates the characteristic halo-
onto the roof of his observatory in Se- covered in October 2017, and it was so
wanee, powers up his three telescopes
and angles them skyward.

Every night, the comet grows big-
ger and brighter in the sky, expelling
streams of gas and dust that may offer
up clues to its history. On Dec. 8, it will
make its nearest approach to Earth, of-
fering researchers an up-close glimpse
before it zooms back into the freezing,
featureless void.

Far below in the darkness, Durig
will be waiting.

Each star in the night sky represents
a possible solar system. Every light in
the universe is, more likely than not,
some alien planet’s sun.

This is the chief lesson of two de-
cades of studying exoplanets. Sci-
entists have identified thousands of
worlds beyond our solar system: gas

like “coma,” which scientists can scru- AT THE CORDELL-LORENZ OBSERVATORY, tem and start to glow in the heat of
tinize to determine what the comet is ASTRONOMER DOUG DURIG WAITS FOR IMAGES OF THE COMET 2I/BORISOV. its star, they will appear as interstellar
made of. Already, 2I/Borisov has been comets to whoever might be watching.
observed more than 2,000 times. around an infant star. But then they A few weeks later, astronomer Adam
get stranded at the icy edges of solar McKay detected oxygen streaming off “There’s a universality to that, which
“That’s going to be fun, in terms of systems, where they can preserve the the comet, an indicator that sunlight is is amazing,” Bannister said. “Our plan-
looking at this object . . . as it comes in early ingredients of planet formation. striking water on the surface and break- etary system is woven together with
from the deep freeze for the very first ing up the molecule. If confirmed, this another planetary system by these lit-
time,” said Michele Bannister, an astron- Comets in our own solar system would be the first-ever detection of tle wanderers roving across the galaxy.”
omer at Queen’s University Belfast. “Let’s have been found to contain some of alien water in our solar system. It is also
open it up and see what we have with this the basic ingredients for life: water, another sign that 2I/Borisov is much With just an hour to go until day-
particular present from another star.” carbon, even complex organic com- like the comets we know. break, 2I/Borisov is due to appear
pounds. Now 2I/Borisov could tell us above the horizon and make its way
Exoplanet discoveries revealed we live whether life’s essential molecules were “Even in these other systems where across the eastern sky. Durig’s long
in a crowded cosmos. But they also awak- among the building blocks of a world their architectures are very different, night is almost over.
ened Earthlings to how lonely we are. beyond our own. maybe the underlying physics and
Most planetary systems discovered in chemistry is still pretty similar,” said It is tiring and often tedious work.
recent decades are wildly unfamiliar, and This fall, Bannister’s colleague Alan McKay, a research scientist at NASA’s Unlike discoverers, follow-up observ-
the most common type of exoplanet – a Fitzsimmons produced the first-ever Goddard Space Flight Center. ers do not get to put their names on
body larger than Earth but smaller than detection of a chemical compound anything. And unlike researchers work-
Neptune – doesn’t exist near our home. emitted by an interstellar comet. Models of our solar system suggest ing at the world’s largest observatories,
Separating light from 2I/Borisov into that about 90 percent of the leftover someone such as Durig faces real hur-
When astronomers had only our own its component parts, his team found material from planet formation was dles in achieving the findings that get
solar system to go by, “it used to seem a signature of cyanogen, a molecule ejected into interstellar space. The published in prestigious journals.
like planet formation was solved,” said made of a carbon atom and a nitrogen space beyond Neptune still harbors
Malena Rice, an astrophysicist at Yale atom bonded together. The gas is com- millions of icy bodies, which over mil- Still, extraordinary discoveries must
University. “And then all of a sudden mon in comets around this sun. lennia can be knocked out of orbit and be confirmed and refined, again and
there are all these strange systems that slung away from the sun. again, by ordinary people. News may
don’t fit our picture.” “When I saw that, I shouted in my office be made by breakthroughs, but knowl-
. . . something not repeatable in a respect- If any of these scattered fragments edge is cemented in the follow-ups.
Interstellar comets are uniquely use- able newspaper,” Fitzsimmons recalled. happen to be pulled into another sys-
ful for confronting this conundrum. Here in Sewanee’s cramped obser-
They are born of the same swirling disk vatory, cluttered with stacks of ob-
of gas and dust that produces planets servation records and piles of broken
equipment he hopes to one day re-
fashion into something usable, “we’re
doing essential science,” Durig says.

Once his telescope has captured an
hour’s worth of snapshots, Durig com-
piles them into stacks of 100. In the
images that emerge, colors are invert-
ed, so stars appear as black smears on
a white background. In the lower left
is a dark dot encircled in a halo of fuzz.

Durig clicks forward to the next
stack, and the dot moves by a centime-
ter. Another click, and it moves again.

That’s how he knows he is looking at
the comet, something swift and sur-
rounded by dust, something that does
not behave like anything else in the sky.

Durig sends his images and a record
of the comet’s location to the Minor
Planet Center – another drop of data
in the bucket of scientific knowledge.

Consistent observations like this,
conducted by the same people using
the same instruments every night,
will be even more important once the
comet becomes visible in the South-
ern Hemisphere, where many of the
world’s biggest telescopes are posi-
tioned. They need to be pointed with
extreme precision, so astronomers
must have a firm handle on the com-
et’s trajectory and things that might
subtly alter it, such as outbursts of gas.

An accurate orbit is also key to as-
tronomers’ most ambitious plan for
the comet.

“If we can get the best possible tra-
jectory, so we can trace it back with
the exact direction it’s coming in . . .
maybe we can find out what the ori-
gin system is,” said Farnocchia, the Jet
Propulsion Laboratory engineer.

Identifying the comet’s parent star
would be a tremendous feat, the astro-
nomical equivalent of tracing a mes-
sage in a bottle back to the person who
sent it millions of years ago from bil-
lions of miles away. 

ADVANCE CARE PLANNING, PART III pancreas, kidneys, corneas, liver and skin are donated. © 2019 Vero Beach 32963 Media, all rights reserved
Regardless of age or health history, your decision has the
End-of-Life Decisions potential to benefit countless other people. Some people
include organ donation in their advance care planning docu-
Having a conversation with someone you trust about how ments. You can carry a donation card in your wallet, and in
you want to live at the end of your life, and what you value some states (such as Florida) your decision can be included
the most, is probably not on your bucket list. But by thinking on your driver’s license. At the time of death, family may be
about it and making some decisions now, you’ll be prepared asked about organ donation and if they know how you feel,
if you ever face end-of-life issues unable to speak for yourself. they will be ready to respond.

Some questions to consider are: CARDIOPULMONARY RESUSCITATION (CPR)
IF MY HEART STOPS?
DO I WANT …
A “DO NOT RESUSCITATE” (DNR) ORDER? For an otherwise healthy person whose heart stops or goes
into a life-threating abnormal rhythm, there is a good chance
A DNR order tells medical staff in a hospital or nursing facil- CPR will restore his or her heartbeat to normal. But since
ity that you do not want them to try to return your heart CPR involves forceful, repeated pushing on the chest that
to a normal rhythm if it stops or is beating unevenly. Even can result in broken ribs and/or collapsed lungs, a patient
though a living will might say CPR is not wanted, it is helpful who is close to death may not want to undergo the potential
to have a DNR order as part of your medical file if you go to a trauma of CPR or electric shocks known as defibrillation.
hospital. The hospital or nursing facility may use a DNR arm- While these are difficult questions to consider, by thinking
band to avoid confusion in an emergency situation. Without about them and letting others know how you feel now, the
a DNR order, medical staff will make every effort to restore better prepared you and your loved ones will be for the fu-
the normal rhythm of your heart. A non-hospital DNR will ture. For more information, call 1.800.677.1116 or go on-
alert emergency medical personnel to your wishes regard- line to www.eldercare.acl.gov.
ing CPR and other measures to restore your heartbeat if you Next time we’ll discuss other important decisions to consider
are not in the hospital. such as the use of ventilators, the role of artificial nutrition
and “comfort care.” 
TO DONATE MY ORGANS AND/OR TISSUES? Your comments and suggestions for future topics are always
welcome. Email us at [email protected].
Organ and tissue donation allows organs or body parts from
a generally healthy person who has died to be transplanted
into people who need them. Commonly, the heart, lungs,

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Barrier Island Newsweekly THE MELBOURNE Thursday, December 5, 2019 21

INSIGHT BOOKS

Biography as literature lost one of its modern masters Yet his frequent failures before he turned 40. The Rea-
when Edmund Morris died in May. His magnum opus on and constant frustrations, gan entourage offered Morris
Theodore Roosevelt, begun in the 1970s and completed a in Morris’ judgment, had what looked like a presidential
decade ago, made a forceful impression with its intimate, their roots in the very quali- biographer’s dream: full ac-
puckish embrace of the extraordinary TR, its immersion ties that made him prevail cess to the president – and full
in detail and period context, its narrative pulse and verbal over his rivals, of whom independence in the finished
filigree. In this new biography, unexpectedly published there were many: “an im- product.
posthumously, Morris deploys those extraordinary tal- patient willingness, com-
ents again to sculpt a staggeringly grand likeness of the pulsion even, to take enor- The deal was irresistible,
American genius Thomas Alva Edison. mous risks,” “his certainty perhaps, but it had sad con-
that any idea, no matter how sequences. One was a des-
In the late 19th century, the unschooled Edison was revolutionary, was realizable perate book, when it finally
the mastermind of then-unimaginable, even magical, through sheer doggedness appeared in 1999, and an
technologies that revolutionized society in his lifetime of experiment,” “his habit of intellectual defeat for its au-
and ours: to name just the most transformative, the in- excitedly publicizing break- thor; unable to plumb the
candescent lightbulb and the electrification of cities; the throughs in advance, and his void he found at the heart of
phonograph record and the machine to play it; the mo- contempt for speculators,
tion picture and the way to screen it. Edison’s volcanic which did not stop him from his subject, Morris was driv-
brain and relentless drive spawned most of the conve- betting on himself,” Morris en to wild invention and
niences we take for granted and the world of screens we writes. near-reverie to cope. The
inhabit today. other consequence was
With the kind of relish and the delay in the comple-
There were many hundreds of inventions, and hun- study that would exhaust most tion of the Roosevelt tril-
dreds more Edison didn’t have time to complete or never biographers, Morris evidently ogy. But complete it Morris
thought through. (And Morris loved lists, curating them set himself the task of under-
with expertise and wit.) “On a single day, when he was 40 standing and mentally replicat- did with “Theodore Rex”
and full of innovative fire, he had jotted down 112 ideas ing every one of Edison’s scientif- (2001) and “Colonel Roo-
for ‘new things,’ among them a mechanical cotton pick- ic and engineering schemes. With energy and boundless sevelt” (2010), both fulfill-
er, a snow compressor, an electrical piano, artificial silk, curiosity Morris wades into every patent dispute, corpo- ing the great promise of the first volume.
a platinum-wire ice slicer, a system of penetrative pho- rate merger, partnership and estrangement and lawsuit The literary streak in Morris’ narrative approaches
tography (presaging radiology by 12 years), and a product that preoccupied Edison when he was not in the labora- gave us both the errant excess of “Dutch,” the Reagan
unlikely to occur to anyone else, except perhaps Lewis tory, or, as could happen, off fishing for a few days with book, and what, held in just enough check, makes the
Carroll: ‘Ink for the Blind.’” That Edison was almost en- the boys or taking his family on a lavish, weeks-long va- Roosevelt books so sublime. This almost mischievous
tirely deaf from the age of 12 made his determination to cation. stripe turns up instantly in “Edison.” Many a biography
capture and broadcast sound all the more poignant. (or novel for that matter) begins with a funeral and then
What kind of man was Edison? At the peak of his pow- goes back to the beginning. This is the first one I can re-
From his first teenage days as a railroad telegrapher ers, in his 30s, it depended on whom you asked. “To his member that tells a life story backward, from end to be-
and newspaper publisher, Edison exhibited “the traits employees, [he was] an Ubermensch; to his financial ginning, marching decade by decade from Edison’s death
that distinguished him as an inventor – contrary think- backers, an uncontrollable fantasist, half-genius, half- in 1931 to his birth in 1847.
ing, obstinate repetition, daydreaming, delight in diffi- fool; to rivals, a publicity whore of no especial originality; The biographer is not here to speak for himself, but
culty,” Morris writes. All his life he was given to intense to his wife and children, increasingly a stranger; to Patent one can surmise his attraction to a narrative arc that
periods of noodling, forswearing meals, sleeping at his Office examiners, a tireless nuisance, filing sixty applica- builds slowly to the peak – that is, to Edison’s yeasti-
desk, testing and retesting his ideas, and shepherding his tions in 1880 alone.” And more than 1,000 in his lifetime. est years of invention in the 1870s and 1880s. Written
favored brainchildren to manufacture, marketability and conventionally, the climax would have come too soon.
profit. His wives and real children paid the price. “Edison” has a structural distinction that begs for at- Fortunately, both Edison and Morris were eccentric
tention. In its creative audacity, it can’t help but recall the and brilliant enough to make even a life told in reverse
As befits an American giant, Edison was not merely a late biographer’s 14-year detour, in the midst of writing a compelling experience. 
scientific savant. He was an engineer and a businessman, the three-volume Roosevelt trilogy, to write President
too, a sui generis forerunner of the billionaire wizards of Ronald Reagan’s authorized biography. When Reagan EDISON
Silicon Valley, where this biography might be keenly ap- came to power in 1980, Morris was the toast of the liter-
preciated. Half of this sizable volume is the chronicle of ary world for “The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt,” which BY CHARLES TRUEHEART | 800 PP. $38
a gifted but clumsy corporate tycoon who lost many mil- won the South Africa-raised author, a former advertising REVIEW BY CHARLES TRUEHEART, THE WASHINGTON POST
lions “in a career remarkable for profligate spending and copywriter with no academic pedigree, the Pulitzer Prize
wasted opportunities.”

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Xanadu BY LES STANDIFORD
presents 2. The Guardians 2. Three Days at the Brink BY JEFF KINNEY

ALIAS CITY ~ Poetry BY JOHN GRISHAM BY BRET BAIER 2. Sister's First BY JENNA BUSH HAGER

with an introduction 3. Blue Moon 3. Sam Houston & the Alamo & BARBARA PIERCE BUSH
from Sean Sexton Avengers BY BRIAN KILMEADE
BY LEE CHILD 3. Dinky Donkey BY CRAIG SMITH
MadHat Press 4. With All Due Respect
4. The Paris Orphan & KATZ COWLEY
BY NIKKI R. HALEY
BY NATASHA LESTER 4. The Crayon's Christmas
5. Catch and Kill BY RONAN FARROW
5. Agent Running in the BY DREW DAYWALT & OLIVER JEFFERS
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5. Dog Man: For Whom the Ball
Rolls (Dog Man #7) BY DAV PILKEY

392 Miracle Mile (21st Street), Vero Beach | 772.569.2050 | www.verobeachbookcenter.com

22 Thursday, December 5, 2019 THE MELBOURNE Barrier Island Newsweekly

PETS

This amazing K-9 earns Bonzo’s SEAL of approval

Hi Dog Buddies! and fork-thingy on his vest.

This week, I innerviewed a pooch with “That’s the official SEAL insignia. We
a Very Serious Job. He’s a member of a
team of seals an, when I first heard about wear it proudly. It’s called a TRI-dent
that, I was, like, Wait! What? Aren’t those
the funny-looking animals with flippers and it means we’ve made it through
that live around the water?
SEAL training, which most human and
Then I Googled. Finn’s team is hu-
man and pooch, an you hafta spell it all dog trainees don’t. You earn your tri-
in big ledders, cuz it stands for Sea, Air
an Land. SEALS is a Special Ops force dent every day.”
for the Navy. Did you know that? I didn’t
know that. I was getting more an more im-

The innerview was at the National pressed. “Whaddya do for fun, you
Navy UDT-SEAL Museum in Fort Pierce
and, woof! is that uh-MAY-zing! Me an know, to chill out?” I wondered.
my assistant were shown to a special
innerview room: there was a lady, anna “I don’t DO chill-out. I’m a working
man in a uniform, an this good-looking
poocheroo. He was a Malinois; looked a dog. I always hafta have a TASK. But
lot like a German Shepherd but smaller.
He hadda Cool Kibbles uniform vest on, Hooman makes TRAINING fun. He
one side had a silhouette of a K-9, an
the other side hadda American flag and calls it positive reinforcement. Like, for
an eagle holding an anchor anna kinda
pointy-looking fork. scent training, he hides a sock an I sniff

“Good morning, Mr. Bonzo. Come on it out. I especially like water training.
in. I’m Finn. This is my partner (Finn
indicated the man). I call him Hooman. I’m a Florida pooch, after all. We train
He’s a U.S. Navy SEAL. An this is Elaine,
she’s in charge of museum PR.” every day.”

“I can’t wait to hear all about you an Finn. PHOTO: KAILA JONES “Um (I was almost afraid to ask), any
your job. An how come you don’t have a
last name?” pies, and we still train every day. When toys?”
the Navy or law enforcement need a K-9,
“I do. But me an Hooman are Active they go to Baden. Me an Hooman start- “Are you kidding?”
Military, an lots of SEAL assign-mutts ed being partners when I was 5 months
are Super Secret, so we don’t dis-CLOSE old.” “Treats?”
that stuff. Except for my first name.”
“I think I unnerstand. I felt that way “Seriously?”
“Woof.” I was impressed. “So, how’d about my Mom,” I said, wiping my nose
you get into this line of work?” with my paw. “What sorta stuff are you “Whaddya you eat?”
trained to do?”
“It’s all I’ve ever known, Mr. Bonzo. “It’s a very strict diet. All raw. Chick-
Me an my brothers and sisters were born “I’m a fully trained Warrior Dog,”
at Baden K-9 in Canada. Not to brag, but Finn said, in a not-bragging-at-all way. with bad guys, we instantly become en. Veggies. An tripe. I’m crazy for tripe.
us Baden dogs are elite, highly trained “Swimming, jumping outta planes, in-
canines: we start school as liddle pup- filtratin,’ taking down bad guys, sniffin’ fearless, ferocious warriors. Since 9/11, Part of the training for me an Hooman
out explosives an IEDs. I‘m also flu-unt
in German.” we’ve lost numerous brave fellow K-9s in is a fast every couple weeks, cuz you

I shook my head. What a dog! combat. I’m SO proud of my brothers an can’t eat in the field, or 24 hours before
“The SEALS use a lotta Malinois. We’re
more portable than German Shepherds: sisters in the military, law enforcement a flight. It isn’t bad for us or anything.”
we can ride on our partners’ shoulders,
get in an outta small spaces, are Super and as companions to vet-uh-runs. K-9 Note to self. Google tripe.
Excellent at agility, an very stable. We’re
polite an frenly with good humans. But teams work together like we were just “Do you sleep with Hooman?”

one pooch or human. We know our part- “The first night after I moved in with

ner can protect us just the same as we Hooman, he slept on the floor with me

can protect them. cuz I was still mostly a pupster and ev-

“My assign-mutt here or out in the erything was New an Un-fuh-MILL-yer.

community is to educate an enlighten Now, I sleep in my own bed.”

the public about the SEAL museum mis- Several times during the innerview,

sion, an how important K-9s are to it. Hooman’d come over an give Finn some

Hey, wanna take a tour? C’mon!” pats an ear-rubs and say soft words. An

He and Hooman led the way into the Finn never took his eyes off Hooman

display area. There were lots of grown- for more than a second. Obviously,

ups and liddle kids lookin’ around. Ev- although Finn was very CORE-jull,

erybody wanted to talk to Finn and pat Hooman was No. 1, an there weren’t any

him. other numbers.

“S’cuse me for a sec,” Finn said. He Heading home, I was still in awe

an Hooman greeted the group; Finn thinkin’ about the things K-9s like Finn

hopped onto a bench, looking Crispy can do, an how important they are to

Dog Biscuits and ready for a photo op. the humans who work to keep the rest

Elaine showed me an my assistant of us safe. When I got home, I Googled

some Super Cool Kibbles Navy stuff. You “tripe.” I wish I hadn’t.

pooches should totally check it out, ’spe-

cially the gigantic helly-copter called a Till next time,

Blackhawk. I’ve never seen ANYthing
-The Bonzlike it. I pickshured Finn in his combat

gear jumpin’ out of it with Hooman, on a
Super Secret Assign-mutt.
Later, I asked Finn about that eagle

Don’t be shy!
We are always looking for pets with interesting stories. To set up
an interview, please email [email protected].

Barrier Island Newsweekly THE MELBOURNE Thursday, December 5, 2019 23

INSIGHT GAMES BRIDGE

NORTH

SAY YOUR PIECE, THEN HOLD YOUR PEACE AQ652

By Phillip Alder - Bridge Columnist Q975

This is an interesting comment about a potential partner: The wrong one will find you in 96
peace and leave you in pieces, but the right one will find you in pieces and lead you to
peace. WEST 72
K EAST
At the bridge table, if you do not keep your peace at the right moment, you could leave your 63
partnership’s score in pieces. Q8752 4
J 10 9 5 4
Look at today’s North hand. Partner opens one spade, and West passes. Do you agree with AKJ82
the four-spade response? After that, East doubles, South passes, and West advances with
five diamonds. What about North’s five-spade rebid? K J 10 4

I do not mind North’s “weak freak” raise to four spades. He would normally have had a Q63
singleton or void, but a slam was unlikely, and he might have silenced the opponents when
they should have been in the auction. SOUTH

Here, East had enough to double. Then West should have advanced with four no-trump to J 10 9 8 7 3
ask his partner to pick a minor.
10 4
Finally, North should have passed over five diamonds because his hand was full of losers. If
he had, South would have doubled five diamonds, and North-South could have been plus A3
500, taking the spade ace, the diamond ace, the club ace-king and a club ruff in the North
hand. That would have been better than making four spades. AK8

How did five spades get on? Dealer: South; Vulnerable: Neither

Any lead was going to defeat that. At the table, West chose the heart six. East won with The Bidding:
his jack, cashed the ace and continued with the heart eight, which West ruffed with the
spade king. SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST OPENING
1 Spades Pass 4 Spades Dbl.
Pass 5 Diamonds 5 Spades All Pass LEAD:
6 Hearts

24 Thursday, December 5, 2019 THE MELBOURNE Barrier Island Newsweekly
SOLUSTOILOUNTISONTSOTPORPERVEIVOIUOUSSISISSSUUEE ((NNOOVVEEMMBBEERR282)8O)NOPNAGPEAG32E 68
INSIGHT GAMES

ACROSS DOWN
1 Pig (3) 1 Position (4)
3 Labour (4) 2 Dress in (4)
5 Trounce (4) 3 Financial hub (4,6)
8 Asian nation (8) 4 High repute (6)
10 Animal tooth (4) 6 Choral work (8)
11 Corn spike (3) 7 Got there (anag.) (8)
13 German sub (1-4) 9 Custom (5)
14 Closely bound (5-4) 12 Shocking (10)
16 Consumed (3) 14 Palpable (8)
17 Frozen water (3) 15 Produce (8)
19 Make effort (9) 18 Eros (5)
21 Waterfowl (5) 20 Ordained cleric (6)
22 Brooch (3) 22 Agreement (4)
24 Rhythm (4) 23 -- and tidy (4)
25 Special honour (8)
The Telegraph 26 Oversized jug (4)
27 Responsibility (4)
28 Small child (3)

How to do Sudoku:

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

The Telegraph

Barrier Island Newsweekly THE MELBOURNE Thursday, December 5, 2019 25

INSIGHT GAMES

ACROSS 83 Pepper and Oz boat The Washington Post
86 “Mayday!” (about a 37 Communicate with Marlee
1 Photographer Adams MAYDAY! MAYDAY! By Merl Reagle
6 Perfectly thrown basketball carpenter?) Matlin
11 Use your brand? 90 ___ dixit 39 Crude carrier
15 “For ___ a jolly ...” 91 Therapy prog. 42 Tycho Brahe, e.g.
18 Black tea 93 Mattress support 43 Throws water on
19 Actor Tony Lo___ 94 Kid___ 44 Turn signal, e.g.
20 Admiral Zumwalt 45 Competes
21 Raggedy doll (Sat. morning TV) 51 “Mayday!” (about mattress
22 “Mayday!” (about a 95 Belgian painter of the bizarre
96 Old warning fabric?)
baseball triple play?) 98 Comment after a long day 53 Mag income, partly
24 Slangy dollar 101 Men with myrrh 54 Uses a 10 Down
25 Effort 102 “Mayday!” (about Tyrone 55 Avis, to Hertz
26 Part of UNLV 56 ___-deucy
27 Red team walking off the set?) 58 “Mayday!” (about a
28 “Mayday!” (about a hoagie 104 ___: The Hunter from the
Graduation Day fitting?)
joint?) Future 59 A Gershwin
31 Karmann ___ 105 Pizazz 60 Nod off
33 Copied illegally 108 My ___, Vietnam 62 ___ farewell
34 Panicky 109 Plenty 63 Point near the nadir
35 Vault line 110 “Mayday!” (about certain 65 Pref. with adroit or adjusted
37 Lamentable 66 Jeff Lynne’s grp.
38 Southern cooking staple Sunday crosswords?) 67 Hawk’s holders
40 Old announcer 113 Space agcy. abroad 68 Macaw genus
41 Diatribe 114 Shadow 70 ___ Morgana
42 “Mayday!” (about a critic’s 115 Jong and others 71 Ran, in a way
116 Utah range 75 Ex-president who appeared
opinion of a new diner?) 117 Bears’ home
46 Nov. scores 118 A.A. Fair’s real first name on an episode of Dynasty
47 “That ___ hay” 119 Al of pasta fame? 76 ___ many words
48 The time of your life 120 Nigerian city 77 Bambi, for one
49 Snake eye? 79 Walk
50 Actress Virna DOWN 80 Hit the sack
52 Actress Carroll 1 Genesis victim 81 Joan of Arc, e.g.
54 Bloomer-to-be 2 PBS series 83 Spoke like some Southerners
55 The Eloi, for one 3 “Mayday!” (about a birthday 84 Put out
57 Landers, to Van Buren 85 Of GBS
61 Eliot’s carpenter girl and cake?) 87 Start of a carol
62 St. Peter’s (in the Vatican) 4 Poet’s word 88 Seductress
5 Stockpiles 89 Chew the scenery
and others 6 Caesar of ’50s TV 92 Exist
64 Weapons against disease 7 Fall by the ___ 95 Amount of gossip
65 Canasta actions 8 “A stranger ___ midst” 97 Grinder of a sort
67 “Mayday!” (about a blanket 9 Tanks for the drink? 99 “If ___ king ...”
10 Something to slave over 100 Take back the title
hog?) 11 Left the Union 101 Holstein hello
68 “They call it ___” (start of 12 “First Lady of Song” 103 Crop rotation concern
13 Beloved, 104 “Certainly”
“Suspicious Minds”) 106 Divider’s word
69 Plant that sounds like a in Barcelona 107 Green veggies
14 Cartland works 111 Norma ___
greeting 15 Terse negative review 112 Soccer star Hamm
70 Dissolves 16 Livid
71 Cracker cheese 17 Ex-host Tom et al.
72 Certain bass note 19 Go at it with gloves
73 Drinks for mates 23 Brazilian reptilian
74 Part of an Israeli city 29 Editor’s order
75 Soft and limp 30 Yonder Jane
78 Bruce Lee role on TV’s 32 “Mayday!” (about what to do

Green Hornet when a tape breaks?)
80 Popeye, e.g. 33 Top with blacktop
81 Larry smacker 35 Mortarboard wearer
82 Xanadu tenant 36 Heyerdahl’s second papyrus

The Telegraph

26 Thursday, December 5, 2019 THE MELBOURNE Barrier Island Newsweekly

INSIGHT BACK PAGE

She’s married, but her bank account remains single

BY CAROLYN HAX you see as yours?
The Washington Post That’s not good, either, but it does demand a

Dear Carolyn: My husband and different response.
You need to figure out why you don’t see and
I have been married two years.
treat your husband as your full partner. If this
Because I had a partial scholar- is just about securing more money for yourself,
then you need to apologize copiously, pool your
ship and worked through college, resources and come up with a plan that allows for
bills, debt repayment, savings and fair spending
I don’t have a lot of student loans. money. This can include some money in sepa-
rate accounts – but the idea is for joint financial
My husband’s parents paid for his health vs. “I’m fine and it’s your fault you’re still
flailing.” An attitude, by the way, that would point
first bachelor’s but refused to pay for his second when to a need for remedial work in counseling.

he changed careers, so he has a lot of debt. I pay 80 If you’re justifiably distrustful of him or his
handling of money, then you need to deal with
percent of the bills because I make more money and that, with him, without flinching. That whole “I
didn’t get two degrees to brown-bag it” attitude
so he can pay his student debt down, but other than is not a good look on him or on anyone asking
to spend someone else’s money for his luxuries.
the joint bill-paying account, we keep our money If he won’t be the adult about assuming so much
debt, then it makes complete sense that you don’t
separate. want to do it for him. I’d see any entitlement on
his part as a joint-finances deal-breaker.
He’s become extremely resentful of the fact that
This doesn’t even begin to address the legal im-
I have a lot more “fun money” than he does even plications of your marriage and his debt, so talk
to a lawyer, too, before you do anything else.
though I do things to save where I can, like pack my
Short version, though: You do sound as if you’re
lunch and bring coffee from home. He says he didn’t half in this marriage. Please figure out why you’ve
held back, and then choose your course from
get two degrees to brown-bag it and drink coffee out there. 

of a Thermos.

He wants us to put all our money into one account

and just pay all the bills, including his loans, from

that and then split what’s left over.

I’m resisting because it just doesn’t seem fair to me. and leaving him cash-strapped by his loans is not
marriage, it’s cohabiting.
He says it shows I don’t consider our marriage to be a
Unless you say you are, though, I’m not going
partnership. Is he right? Am I being greedy and petty? to call you “greedy and petty”: Did you choose
this setup out of distrust, and did he act in a way
– Resisting that damaged your trust? Do you think he’s irre-
sponsible, and that’s why you’re protecting what
Resisting: I’m with your husband, with major
caveats. Your insistence on splitting the finances

Tiny thyroid gland
plays outsize role

in human body

28 Thursday, December 5, 2019 THE MELBOURNE Barrier Island Newsweekly

YOUR HEALTH

Tiny thyroid gland plays outsize role in human body

STORY BY TOM LLOYD STAFF WRITER Dr. Felice Haake. pothyroidism – can have a major impact tient to a local endocrinologist – a phy-
[email protected] on how much weight you lose or gain. sician who specializes in glands like the
PHOTOS BY DENISE RITCHIE thyroid and adrenal glands and the hor-
Quick quiz: What weighs between As the Mayo Clinic explains, “hy- mones they make.
25 and 30 grams – roughly one ounce – family practice and bariatric weight-loss perthyroidism – or an overactive thy-
lives in your throat and has a lot to say medicine, she starts the conversation by roid – occurs when your thyroid gland One thing somewhat unique about
about how tall or short you are, what saying, “I am not an endocrinologist, so produces too much of the hormone Haake’s practice is that she doesn’t take
your heart rate is, how much weight I am by no means a thyroid specialist, thyroxine. Hyperthyroidism can accel- insurance. Or Medicare.
you might lose or gain and much, much but I do see a lot of it.” erate your body’s metabolism, causing
more? unintentional weight loss as well as a According to Forbes Magazine, “cur-
That’s probably because two thyroid rapid or irregular heartbeat,” along with rently insurers pay hospitals, clinics and
If you said the thyroid gland you are conditions – hyperthyroidism and hy- swelling of the thyroid gland, which can doctors only enough to justify 15-min-
correct. cause a noticeable lump known as a goi- ute appointments,” so Haake opted to
ter to form in the throat. go in a different direction.
It’s a busy and important little gland,
which makes it matter of concern that Meanwhile, an under-active thyroid “I left the insurance world,” Haake ex-
“an estimated 20 million Americans gland, known as “hypothyroidism,” plains, “because I felt they were dictat-
have some form of thyroid disease and occurs when the thyroid gland doesn’t ing [how much time I can spend] with
up to 60 percent of those with thyroid produce enough hormones, causing patients. I want to spend a good hour
disease are unaware of their condition,” symptoms such as tiredness, weight with a patient, which is what I do.”
according to the American Thyroid As- gain and feeling depressed.
sociation. “Some of my patients – actually
As Haake confides, “I have a lot of pa- quite a few of them – will submit their
It may sound odd, but thyroid dis- tients who come in and say, ‘I’ve gained own claims directly to their insurance
ease is sexist as well as widespread. The weight. I think it’s my thyroid.’” company. So, we give them the ICD 10
ATA says “women are five to eight times codes,” which are needed to file claims.
more likely than men to have thyroid The truth, as Haake tactfully ex-
problems.” plains, is that while “the thyroid gets a If “ICD 10 codes” are Greek to you,
lot of blame in weight gain,” weight gain they are the alphanumeric codes used
Dr. Felice Haake (pronounced “hock- actually is more multifaceted in most by doctors, health insurance compa-
ey”) volunteered to step in and shed cases. nies and public health agencies across
some light on thyroid problems, though the world to represent diagnoses.
she quickly offers a disclaimer. “There are a lot of contributing factors
in weight gain and it’s usually not just Officially they are called “the Inter-
While Haake is board certified in both thyroid,” Haake says. national Statistical Classification of
Diseases and Related Health Problems
Collins & Montz Married to Cleveland Clinic Indian Codes.”
River Hospital anesthesiologist Dr. Brett
DCOESMNETTICI&SFTAMRILYY Haake, and the mother of three chil- Every disease, disorder, injury, infec-
dren, Haake adds, “there is a constant tion and even every symptom has its
Experience the fusion of cascade of hormones in the human own ICD-10 code, so be prepared for
traditional values and body; I always say this is the symphony something of an alphanumeric ava-
and the thyroid is very much the con- lanche if you plan to file your own in-
modern dentistry. ductor of this symphony. surance claim. Still, Haake says, many
of her patients do.
At Collins & Montz, DMD, “I think thyroid problems are prob-
we will focus on improving every ably a little more prevalent here in Vero Dr. Felice Haake is board certified in
aspect of your smile for optimal Beach [than in a typical location] be- family practice and medical bariatrics.
appearance, function, and comfort cause they’re more common as you She also works in what she calls “age
through our general family dentistry, age,” and Vero has an older population. management” with an office at 3730 7th
and restorative procedures such as Terrace in Vero Beach. The phone num-
dental implants. Our comprehensive If Haake sees a patient with a thyroid ber is 772-492-6973. 
range of services and dedication of problem, she is likely to refer that pa-
quality set us apart. Call today to

schedule your appointment.

524 OCEAN AVENUE, MELBOURNE BEACH, FL 32951

(321) 725-6565 • MELBOURNEBEACHDENTISTRY.COM

Barrier Island Newsweekly THE MELBOURNE Thursday, December 5, 2019 29

YOUR HEALTH

Learn CPR – and you might save someone’s life

STORY BY FRED CICETTI COLUMNIST There are useful illustrated guides breathing normally, coughing or CONTINUE WITH 30 PUMPS AND
and online videos on this website. The moving, begin chest compressions. 2 BREATHS UNTIL HELP ARRIVES.
Q. I watched a man fall unconscious following is from one of these guides: Push down in the center of the chest NOTE: This ratio is the same for
on the sidewalk. A woman rushed up 2 inches 30 times. Pump hard and one-person and two-person CPR. In
and started to do CPR on him and, lat- CALL. Check the victim for un- fast at the rate of at least 100/minute, two-person CPR the person pumping
er, I heard she may have saved his life. responsiveness. If the person is not faster than once per second. the chest stops while the other gives
It made me sign up for a CPR course. responsive and not breathing or not mouth-to-mouth breathing.
You should tell your readers to take breathing normally, call 911 and re- BLOW. Tilt the head back and lift
one of these courses. turn to the victim. In most locations the chin. Pinch nose and cover the There is also a hands-only version
the emergency dispatcher can assist mouth with yours and blow until of CPR. You can learn this at:
If you would like to learn CPR, con- you with CPR instruction. you see the chest rise. Give 2 breaths.
tact the American Heart Association Each breath should take 1 second. ht t p://w w w.redcross.org/prepa re/
at www.americanheart.org. Another PUMP. If the victim is still not hands-only-cpr. 
CPR resource is the American Red
Cross at www.redcross.org. Or, you
can try a local hospital.

Here’s a troubling fact that is a mo-
tivation to take a course: About 80
percent of cardiac arrests happen at
home near family members who of-
ten do not know CPR.

CPR, which stands for cardiopul-
monary resuscitation, employs chest
compression and mouth-to-mouth
breathing to treat cardiac arrest,
heart attack, drowning and electro-
cution. CPR can keep some blood
flowing to the brain and heart dur-
ing an emergency.

Maintaining blood flow can pre-
vent brain injury and save a life. The
brain suffers irreparable damage in a
few minutes if it doesn’t get oxygen-
ated blood. An unaided victim of car-
diac arrest will die in 5 to 10 minutes.

The most common cause of sudden
cardiac arrest is an abnormal heart
rhythm called ventricular fibrilla-
tion (VF), which can be treated with
a shock from a defibrillator. Defibril-
lation is not effective for all forms of
cardiac arrest.

There are devices called automat-
ed external defibrillators (AEDs) that
are about the size of a laptop com-
puter. AEDs analyze the victim’s heart
rhythm, determine if defibrillation is
needed, then deliver a shock. There are
training programs available that teach
both CPR and operating AEDs. These
portable defibrillators are available in
many public places such as shopping
malls, airports and stadiums.

To learn CPR properly, take an ac-
credited first-aid training course
that includes CPR and how to use an
AED.

There is no substitute for taking a
course from a trained instructor, but
it is helpful to understand the basics
of CPR, and there are many good
sources of information.

The University of Washington
School of Medicine offers a free pub-
lic service that explains CPR. Go
to: http://depts.washington.edu/
learncpr/

30 Thursday, December 5, 2019 THE MELBOURNE Barrier Island Newsweekly

FINE & CASUAL DINING

First Bites: Doubles Beachside in new A1A location

REVIEW BY LISA ZAHNER STAFF WRITER
[email protected]

Headline News: Getting by on food
truck meals since September 2018, lo-
cals were chomping at the bit to crowd
into the new Doubles Beachside last
week to see if the new place might be
all the old place was to the community.
Bottom line is that it’s different, but
change can be a good thing.

Look & Feel: We love the new Dou-
bles Beachside’s curb appeal; the
building exterior is great. We expected
that cozy, traditional, almost Cape Cod
feel when we opened the doors, but we
found minimalist, industrial decor.
Bright white walls, exposed pipes and
bare light bulbs. Fixtures designed to
look like a very old commercial build-
ing retrofitted for electric and air con-
ditioning. Top to bottom they did a
terrific job on the building with the ut-
most attention to every detail.

Food & Drink: We realized immedi- Angelina Peterson, Maya Tracy,
ately that only a part of the allure of the Jamaal Augustave and Lizzie Holland
old place was the food – great food, gen- enjoy a meal at Doubles Beachside.
erous portions and reasonable prices.
The other part was the memories we’d PHOTO BY BENJAMIN THACKER
made at the old place. Eating meals with
friends, or after-game chow with team- Hoagie Meat
mates, listening to live music, playing Salad.
games and enjoying family time. That
will be up to Doubles’ customers to [email protected].
make new memories within the new The reviewer is a Brevard resident who
walls – without the pool tables, pinball
machines and vintage arcade games. dines anonymously at restaurants at the
expense of this newspaper. 
That being said, we enjoyed our din-
ner very much. My companion ordered
his favorite, the Hoagie Meat Salad
($9.25), and it was a large salad, pre-
sented very nicely with delicious rare
roast beef, turkey, ham and cheese,
plus “all the way” veggies, which in-
cludes banana peppers and pickled
sweet peppers. I ordered a small Tricol-
or Pasta Salad ($2.33) and a half Meat-
ball and Cheese sub ($5.50). The pasta
salad was tasty. The bread on my sand-
wich was fresh, toasted, warm and de-
licious. The meatballs were small but
moist and good, and the marinara was
flavorful. The slices of melted cheese
topped all it off perfectly.

Service: The staff at Doubles is very Overall, we like the new Doubles Meatball Sub. RESTAURANT HOURS
friendly and pretty efficient. You or- Beachside and it will likely become a 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mon.-Thurs.;
der at a counter, pick up your food and go-to place for a quick, freshly made
dump your own tray, so there’s no table budget dinner ($30 including tip) if 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fri.-Sat.;
service. Doubles still has the self-serve we’re over-scheduled and I don’t have Closed Sundays
fountain drinks ($2.25 for a 24-ounce time to cook. Satellite Beach is very glad BEVERAGES
drink), and if you want a beer or a glass to have Doubles in the neighborhood. Beer & Wine
of wine you have to go outside and or- ADDRESS
der from the bar. I didn’t mind wait- I welcome your comments, and en- 1612 Hwy A1A,
ing in line a second time to get my $4 courage you to send feedback to me at Satellite Beach
Dragon Point IPA draft beer. PHONE
321-773-5341

Barrier Island Newsweekly THE MELBOURNE Thursday, December 5, 2019 31

WINE COLUMN

Pioneering winemaker gets his due from Smithsonian

STORY BY DAVE MCINTYRE in Polish, its James Smithson Bicenten- chiavelli in Italy. He abandoned an aca- Warren Winiarski.
The Washington Post nial Medal in a ceremony Nov. 21 at Stag’s demic career and moved his family to
Leap Wine Cellars, in a room overlooking California in 1964, where he took a job prune orchard.”
It all started with a phone call, in 1994 the vineyard that produced the winning at Souverain winery. Two years later, he Winiarski sold the winery in 2007 to
or thereabouts. wine. He is the first winemaker to receive became the first winemaker at the Rob-
the medal, which honors people for con- ert Mondavi Winery. As a consultant, he a partnership of Ste. Michelle Wine Es-
Warren Winiarski, founder of Stag’s tributions to American art and culture. helped establish Colorado’s wine indus- tates and Italian vintner Piero Antinori
Leap Wine Cellars in Napa Valley, di- Previous recipients have been prominent try, purchasing grapes in California to for $185 million. He still owns Arcadia
aled up the main switchboard of the in cinema, music and literature. be sent to Colorado for processing. Vineyards, in the Coombsville area
Smithsonian Institution, in the era be- of Napa Valley, and sells the grapes to
fore websites and email, and asked the The seed Winiarski planted in the In 1970, Winiarski and some inves- Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars. 
nonplussed operator what the nation’s minds of the Smithsonian curators al- tors purchased an old prune orchard
museum was planning to commemo- most 25 years ago grew into the Ameri- off the Silverado Trail, a few miles
rate the 20th anniversary of the 1976 can Food and Wine History Project at north of Napa in what is now known
Judgment of Paris wine tasting, where the National Museum of American His- as the Stags Leap District American
California wines beat the best of France. tory. That’s the project that gave us Julia Viticultural Area. When the 1973, his
Child’s kitchen and created the exhibit second vintage, made history in Paris,
Nothing, as it turned out. Winiarski’s “Food: Transforming the American Ta- he famously quipped, “Never underes-
inquiry was bounced around from of- ble 1950-2000,” which opened in 2012 timate what you can accomplish with a
fice to office until it landed with the and reopened in October with fresh dis-
archivist of the National Museum of plays, including some on beer.
American History. A quick check of the
collections turned up a few desultory The project has sponsored annual
wine labels and an empty barrel, but winemaker dinners, highlighting issues
little else. When museum officials re- of labor rights, Mexican American wine-
searched the Judgment of Paris, they makers, and the rise of wine and food in
realized its significance to the history of American culture. It collaborates with
American wine. And they sensed an op- the Julia Child Foundation for Gastron-
portunity. omy and the Culinary Arts on an annual
Food History Gala, and has recently in-
Winiarski’s phone call prompted the stalled a demonstration kitchen in the
Smithsonian to host a symposium in museum “for programs that combine
1996 called “Red, White and American,” history, cooking and conversation,”
including a restaging of the famous Par- Johnson said.
is tasting. (American wines won again.)
As part of the event, Winiarski donated “The history of California wine is a
a bottle of his 1973 Stag’s Leap Wine Cel- wonderful lens to explore shifting de-
lars SLV Cabernet Sauvignon, the top- mographics and economies, landscape
scoring red wine in the Paris tasting, and land use, entrepreneurship and la-
to the museum’s collection. Chateau bor,” Anthea M. Hartig, director of the
Montelena also donated a bottle of its National Museum of American History,
1973 chardonnay, which scored highest said in her remarks at the award cer-
among white wines. The bottles were emony.
later designated as national treasures.
Winiarski, now 91, discovered his love
More recently, the Smithsonian of wine in the 1950s while researching
awarded Winiarski, whose name means the political writings of Niccolo Ma-
“from wine” or “from the winemaker”

Fine Dining, Elevated

Exciting Innovative Cuisine
Award Winning Wine List

Unparalleled Service

Reservations Highly Recommended  Proper Attire Appreciated

Zagat Rated (772) 234-3966  tidesofvero.com  Open 7 Days
2013 - 2017 3103 Cardinal Drive , Vero Beach, FL
Wine Spectator Award
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32 Thursday, December 5, 2019 THE MELBOURNE Barrier Island Newsweekly

CALENDAR

Please send calendar information 7 Music ad Muscle Cars at the American
at least two weeks prior to your Muscle Car Museum, live jazz, chamber
music, muscle cars, to benefit Satellite Beach
event to High School Instrumental Music. For more in-
[email protected] formation and tickets, visit https://www.event-
brite.com/e/music-and-muscle-cars-tickets-
ONGOING 75701574447?fbclid=IwAR36fUx8tMyB8uvYu
NWyx24BkIrrgB3CsmKW3lfnoJUzL2NMn0KX
jPR5low

Satellite Beach Farmers Market, 10 a.m. to 5 7 “An Evening of Spirit Communication”
p.m. Thursdays at Pelican Beach Park on A1A. with author and psychic medium, Mark
Anthony at Aquarian Dreams. Anthony will
Melbourne Beach Rotary Club meets at 7:30 connect random audience members with
a.m. the first and third Tuesdays of the month loved ones in spirit. Begins at 7:30 with lim-
at Oceanside Pizza, 300 Ocean Avenue, Suite 6, ited seating. Call 321-729-9495 for more in-
Melbourne Beach. formation.

Space Coast Lightfest every night until Janu- Dec. 7 | Melbourne Beach 54 Annual Children’s Christmas Parade and Pancake Breakfast 7 International stars “Vila and Khachtouri-
ary 1 from 6:30-10 p.m., Wickham Park. Stroll an in Recital” at Eastminster Presbyterian
through only Dec. 7 & 8, no cars. Bring a new Shows will be held in the banquet hall above the the 12th Annual Messiah Sing-Along concert at Church, Indialantic, performed on cello and pi-
unwrapped toy for Toys For Kids and revive Surfside Grill located at the Sebastian Inlet State 7 p.m. at Saint John the Evangelist Catholic Com- ano. Begins at 7:30 p.m., tickets $20 for adults,
a ticket discount. For more information visit Park (north entrance). $12 ticket fee includes the munity in Viera. Free. $15 for seniors. Call 321-723-8371
https://www.spacecoastlightfest.com/ park entry fee. For tickets, go to Melbourne Beach
Properties at 6680 A1A Monday through Friday. 6 Selfies with Surfing Santa and Mrs. Claus at 7 8th Annual Ocean Reef Beach Festival,
DECEMBER Long Doggers Indialantic from 6-8 p.m. t- Pelican Beach Park, all day, arts, crafts,
6 Town of Melbourne Beach Christmas Tree shirts on sale and giveaways of stickers and pins. music, beer, environmental groups, family
2-6 Friends of Satellite Beach Library Chil- Lighting. 6 p.m. in front of the Melbourne For more information, please call 321-725-1115. friendly, free. For more information, please vis-
dren’s Holiday Book Sale at the Satellite Beach Community Center pictures with Santa. it www.oceanreefbeachfestival.com.
Beach Library. Hours are Monday-Friday from 10 a.m.- For more information, visit: https://mbvfd.com/ 6 Commissioner Bryan Lober, District 2,
4 p.m. Monday and Tuesday night from 4 to 6 p.m. christmas-tree-lighting open house for the holidays at the Merritt 7 Brevard Chorale holiday concert Sing We
Island Service Complex to talk about community Now of Christmas, 7:30 p.m. at Simpkins
4 Sheriff Wayne Ivey will speak at the Eau 6 “The Mystical Magi: The Mystery of the issues and celebrate the season from 4 to 6 p.m., Fine Arts Auditorium at EFSC Cocoa. For tickets
Gallie Yacht Club to the Indialantic Rotary Star of Bethlehem” lecture by author and refreshments served. and more information visit BrevardChorale.org
Club and the public about current events for the psychic medium Mark Anthony about ancient or call 321-501-0833.
police department. Begins at 11:30 a.m. with mysteries surrounding the Star of Bethlehem at 7 Melbourne Beach 54 Annual Children’s
lunch at noon. Tickets are $25. Call 321-773- Aquarium Dreams. Lecture begins at 7:30 p.m. Christmas Parade and Pancake Breakfast. 8 The Adagio Sax Quartet holiday concert at
7747 for more information. Limited seating. Call 321-729-9495. Parade Starts at 9 a.m. All you can eat pancake 3:00 pm, at St. Timothy Lutheran Church,
breakfast at the Fire Station 10am. 507 Ocean 1903 Croton Road, Melbourne, FL, 32935. The
4-7 The South Beach Players present “In- 6 The Indialantic Chamber Singers and the Avenue. For more information visit https://mb- concert is free. A $10 donation is suggested.
telligent Life” to the stage at 7 p.m. Space Coast Symphony Orchestra present, vfd.com/childrens-christmas-parade/
8 An Old Fashioned Christmas presented
Solutions from Games Pages ACROSS DOWN at Riverside Presbyterian Church, 3:30
in November 28, 2019 Edition 1 PROBABILITY 1 ROMANCE PM in Cocoa Beach for a reserved free ticket
9 ADMIT 3 BATHE go online at www.RiversidePres.org or call 321-
10 MAGNATE 4 BEMUSE 525-7825.
11 TUNNELS 5 LUGGAGE
12 ALLOT 6 TRAIL 8 A Holiday Concert by The Community
13 CLENCH 7 PARTICIPATE Band of Brevard at Merritt Island High
15 BEATEN 8 DESTINATION School Auditorium, free For more information,
18 PLAZA 14 CHAMBER contact Community Band of Brevard at 321-
20 SUPPORT 16 TWOSOME 258-5580, visit CommunityBandOfBrevard.com
22 TREMBLE 17 ASCENT
23 PHOTO 19 ALERT
24 STORYTELLER 21 PUPIL

Sudoku Page 242 Sudoku PPaaggee 2433 CrosswordPPaage 242 Crossword Page 243 (SPREADING THE WORDS) 11 Selfies with Surfing Santa and Mrs.
Claus at Long Doggers Satellite Beach
from 6-8 p.m. T-shirts on sale and giveaways of
stickers and pins. For more information, please
call 321-773-5558.

THE MELBOURNE BUSINESS DIRECTORY

CERTIFIED Windows & Doors Join our directory for the most affordable way to reach out
Siding & Soffit to customers for your service or small business targeting
ALUMINUM AND WINDOWS INC. Aluminum Structures the South Brevard barrier island communitites. This is the
“Everything You Need To Be” Screen Room’s only directory mailed each week into homes in 32951,

CLAY COOK Car Ports Indialantic, Indian Harbour and Satellite Beach.
Contact Lillian Belmont, 321-604-7833
[email protected] CGC 1524354 [email protected].

321.508.3896 772.226.7688

BREVARD INDIAN RIVER

‘Fountains’ ranch home
features wide canal frontage

635 Fountain Blvd., Satellite Beach: 3-bedroom, 2-bath, 2,482-square-foot home offered for
$600,000 by Anthony Scaramouche, Coldwell Banker Paradise: 321-536-2775

34 Thursday, December 5, 2019 THE MELBOURNE Barrier Island Newsweekly

REAL ESTATE

‘Fountains’ ranch home features wide canal frontage

STORY BY BRENDA EGGERT BRADER CORRESPONDENT A grand-sized space, the living buffet and server furniture pieces. A access to the double-car garage.
room is the center of the home, easily large window lets in sunshine and a Terra cotta tiles and faux ceiling
The delightful Florida coastal accessible for entertaining or family view of the front lawn.
ranch home at 635 Fountain Blvd. in conversation. A large Christmas tree beams highlight the spacious family
Satellite Beach is a boater’s paradise, would easily fit in a corner without The eat-in kitchen includes the lami- room, which offers two water views, one
with 95 feet of backyard bordering a impeding the flow of holiday parties. nate flooring throughout the generous- through large sliders to the lanai and the
4.5 feet deep canal. The covered boat sized room designed with stainless pool and a second through an expan-
dock and deck has electricity with Also off the foyer is the large, car- appliances and granite countertops. sive south-facing window of the lawn
boat lift. peted dining room with plenty of A handy pocket door can be shut to sweeping down to the canal. A lot of liv-
room for dining table, china closet, close the kitchen off and hide prepara- ing can take place in this bright, sunny
Venture up the sidewalk from the tion messes from guests in the dining space with room for a large-screen tele-
canal toward the three-bedroom, room. A view of the pool and canal is vision and comfortable seating.
two-bath 2,482-square-foot home to offered from the large kitchen pass-
discover two large, grassy side yards through window to the lanai allowing Two guest bedrooms and the large
and a screened-in free form pool with for easy al fresco dining. master bedroom are on the east side
brick-paver surround and covered of the house. Both bedrooms are
lanai. The yard is fenced for security Adjacent to the kitchen is a lux- highlighted by generous louver-door
and privacy. urious laundry room with utility closets and plantation shutters on the
sink, storage cupboard above appli- windows. The white bathroom serv-
The yard is fenced and the home is ances and space to add additional ing these bedrooms has a tub and
listed for $600,000. countertops and cupboard storage shower and double vanity with shell-
and perhaps a desk. A door provides shaped integral sinks. A linen closet
“It’s move-in ready since the couple
has taken such good care of it,” said
Coldwell Banker Paradise luxury prop-
erty specialist Anthony Scaramouche,
who has the home listed for $600,000.

Starting in the front, the wide wel-
coming foyer places you in the cen-
ter of the home to easily admire the
sunken living room while also taking
in a grand view of the pool and canal
through wide sliding doors.

Todd Ostrander Top 1% of Brevard
“Door to the East Shore” ® County Agents
321.749.8405
Over 200 Million

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Spectacular Malabar Estate Home - $697,500 Fantastic Ocean Walk Condo unit - $325,000

Perfect Melbourne Beach Location - $425,000 SOLD
Great Melbourne Beach pool Home - $499,500

Representing Both Buyers and Sellers With Their Best Interest in Mind!

Barrier Island Newsweekly THE MELBOURNE Thursday, December 5, 2019 35

REAL ESTATE

VITAL STATISTICS
635 FOUNTAIN BLVD.

SATELLITE BEACH

hides in the hallway on the way to the “Visiting northerners this time of subdivision is a friendly place where Neighborhood: The Fountains
master bedroom. year love a pool home like this on the and neighbors help neighbors and Year built: 1976
canal,” Scaramouche said. “Estab- chat and socialize. Construction:
Louver-door double closets line the lished middle-age couples and fami-
wall of the master bedroom entrance. lies, along with doctors, lawyers and Neighbors working in their yards Concrete block/stucco
The room can easily accommodate other professionals live in the Foun- and on their homes during a recent Architecture:
a king-size bed and larger furniture. tains since the homes are in upper afternoon were evidence of how well-
Plantation shutters also are found level costs.” tended the neighborhood is. The sub- Florida coastal ranch
here for the large windows and slider division has sidewalks on each side of Lot size: 11,761 square feet
that provides private access to the la- Scaramouche says the Fountains the street and large trees and palms Home size: 2,482 square feet
nai and pool/spa. Bedrooms: 3 • Bathrooms: 2

The master bathroom shower has Pool: 31-foot by 17-foot
a built-in bench and shelving for heated pool with spa
hair and beauty products closed by a
frosted hinged glass door. The double View: Pool and deep-water canal
vanity with repeated shell-shaped Additional features: Lush green
integral sinks includes double stor-
age doors under each sink along with lawn with sprinkler system,
handy center drawers. fenced yard, storm shutters,
ceiling fans, plantation shutters
and numerous other upgrades

Listing agency:
Coldwell Banker Paradise

Listing agent:
Anthony Scaramouche,

321-536-2775
Listing price: $600,000

only found in older, well-established
neighborhoods.

To view this property, contact Antho-
ny Scaramouche at 321-536-2775. 

36 Thursday, December 5, 2019 THE MELBOURNE Barrier Island Newsweekly

REAL ESTATE

Real Estate Sales on South Brevard island: Nov. 22 to Nov. 28

The real estate market was a bit quiet on Thanksgiving Week in ZIP codes 32951, 32903 and 32937.
Indialantic led the way with seven transactions, followed by Melbourne Beach with five, and Satellite
Beach and Indian Harbour Beach reporting four each.
Our featured sale this week was of a Key West style oceanfront home in the Sunnyland Beach section of
Melbourne Beach. The residence at 7365 South A1A was placed on the market July 25 with an asking price of
$1.275 million. The price was later reduced to $1.1 million. The sale closed on Nov. 25 for $999,000.
The seller in the transaction was represented by Henry Saunders of ONE Sotheby’s. The purchaser was
represented by Richard Karr of the Karr Professional Group.

SALES FOR 32951

SUBDIVISION ADDRESS LISTED ORIGINAL MOST RECENT SOLD SELLING
ASKING PRICE ASKING PRICE PRICE
$820,000

RIVER COLONY EAST 402 COLONY ST 9/20/2019 $849,000 $849,000 11/22/2019 $572,000

RIVER COLONY EAST 507 ANDREWS DR 10/18/2019 $569,900 $569,900 11/27/2019 $142,000

OUTDOOR RESORTS 746 PIER LN 435 10/19/2019 $153,500 $153,500 11/27/2019 $118,000

LEISURE LIVING ESTATES CONDO 2580 S HIGHWAY A1A 4 11/18/2019 $123,900 $123,900 11/27/2019

SALES FOR 32903

RIO LINDO 2ND SEC 2230 N RIVERSIDE DR 11/23/2018 $1,450,000 $1,319,000 11/22/2019 $1,295,000
$650,000 11/25/2019 $629,243
INDIALANTIC SEC D 162 MIAMI AVE 8/22/2019 $650,000 $390,400 11/22/2019 $357,000
$350,000 11/26/2019 $325,000
OCEAN SD VIL P1 B8P6 251 OYSTER LN 10/21/2019 $390,400 $299,000 11/22/2019 $298,000
$259,900 11/25/2019 $250,000
SANDPINES SEC 1 304 SAND PINE RD 11/2/2019 $350,000 $179,900 11/22/2019 $179,000

OCEAN OAKS 204 OCEAN BREEZE CIR 10/20/2019 $299,000

OCEANVIEW CONDO 2160 N A1A HWY 101 9/25/2019 $259,900

INDIALANTIC VILLAS C 1145 N SHANNON AVE 6 7/5/2019 $189,000

SALES FOR 32937

WATERWAY ESTATES REP 344 S LAKESIDE DR S 4/19/2019 $779,000 $724,900 11/22/2019 $717,000
$475,000 11/26/2019 $475,000
OCEAN DUNES SUBD 1907 HIGHWAY A1A 103 9/19/2019 $475,000 $500,000 11/22/2019 $450,000
$389,000 11/27/2019 $385,000
FOUNTAINS UNIT 2 TH 255 MADRID CT 6/6/2019 $695,000 $290,000 11/27/2019 $290,000
$285,000 11/26/2019 $280,000
AMHRST GRD SEC 1 206 CARISSA DR 9/20/2019 $389,000 $259,000 11/25/2019 $255,000
$158,600 11/27/2019 $145,000
SEACOAST SHORES U5S2 308 CYNTHIA LN 4/16/2019 $389,900

MONTECITO PHASE 2B 88 REDONDO DR 10/23/2019 $285,000

COQUINA PALMS 806 MIMOSA PL 8/7/2019 $269,000

THE JAMESTOWN CONDO 923 N COLONIAL CT 31 8/4/2019 $158,600

Barrier Island Newsweekly THE MELBOURNE Thursday, December 5, 2019 37

REAL ESTATE

Here are some of the top recent barrier island sales.

Subdivision: River Colony East, Address: 402 Colony St Subdivision: River Colony East, Address: 507 Andrews Dr

Listing Date: 9/20/2019 Listing Date: 10/18/2019
Original Price: $849,000 Original Price: $569,900
Recent Price: $849,000 Recent Price: $569,900
Sold: 11/22/2019 Sold: 11/27/2019
Selling Price: $820,000 Selling Price: $572,000
Listing Agent: Gibbs Baum & Listing Agent: Audra Farley &
Gregory Zimmerman William Farley
Selling Agent: Selling Agent:
ONE Sotheby’s International Coldwell Banker Paradise

Gregory Ellingson Elizabeth Findley

Ellingson Properties Curri Properties

Subdivision: Rio Lindo 2nd Sec, Address: 2230 N Riverside Dr Subdivision: Indialantic Sec D, Address: 162 Miami Ave

Listing Date: 11/23/2018 Listing Date: 8/22/2019
Original Price: $1,450,000 Original Price: $650,000
Recent Price: $1,319,000 Recent Price: $650,000
Sold: 11/22/2019 Sold: 11/25/2019
Selling Price: $1,295,000 Selling Price: $629,243
Listing Agent: Jack Jeffcoat & Listing Agent: DeWayne Carpenter &
Gregory Ellingson Kirk W Kessel
Selling Agent: Selling Agent:
Ellingson Properties Dale Sorensen Real Estate, Inc

Effy McGuire Sherri Jacobs

Coldwell Banker Residential RE Dale Sorensen Real Estate, Inc

38 Thursday, December 5, 2019 THE MELBOURNE Barrier Island Newsweekly

REAL ESTATE

Here are some of the top recent barrier island sales.

Subdivision: Sandpines Sec 1, Address: 304 Sand Pine Rd Subdivision: Ocean Sd Vil P1 B8P6, Address: 251 Oyster Ln

Listing Date: 11/2/2019 Listing Date: 10/21/2019
Original Price: $350,000 Original Price: $390,400
Recent Price: $350,000 Recent Price: $390,400
Sold: 11/26/2019 Sold: 11/22/2019
Selling Price: $325,000 Selling Price: $357,000
Listing Agent: Donna Sica Listing Agent: Keith Mauter

Selling Agent: Oceans Realty Florida Selling Agent: Derrick Real Estate Group, Inc

Amanda Gonnella Christopher Martin

RE/MAX Alternative Realty A1A Law & Real Estate PLLC

WATERFRONTBREVARD.COM Subdivision: Ocean Dunes Subd, Address: 1907 Highway A1A 103
JUST LISTED IN THE CLOISTERS!

JUST LISTED! Listing Date: 9/19/2019
Original Price: $475,000
Recent Price: $475,000
Sold: 11/26/2019
Selling Price: $475,000
Listing Agent: DeWayne Carpenter &
Kirk Kessel
Selling Agent:
Dale Sorensen Real Estate, Inc

Rhonda Pavone

RE/MAX Aerospace Realty

517 Andrews Dr, Melbourne Beach Subdivision: Waterway Estates Rep, Address: 344 S Lakeside Dr S
5 Bedrooms PLUS Office, 4 Bathrooms · 3,373 SF
Renovated POOL home located South of Fifth Ave! Listing Date: 4/19/2019
Original Price: $779,000
David Curri 321.890.9911 Recent Price: $724,900
Sold: 11/22/2019
CALL US TO SCHEDULE YOUR Selling Price: $717,000
PRIVATE SHOWING! Listing Agent: John Curri

UNDER CONTRACT IN THE SANCTUARY Selling Agent: Curri Properties

Patrick McLoughlin

Keller Williams Realty

UNDER CONTRACT! UNDER CONTRACT! UNDER CONTRACT!

Subdivision: Fountains Unit 2 TH, Address: 255 Madrid Ct

842 Sanderling Dr 505 Sanderling Dr 233 Peregrine Dr Listing Date: 6/6/2019
Indialantic Indialantic Indialantic Original Price: $695,000
Recent Price: $500,000
David Curri Broker/Owner Sold: 11/22/2019
Selling Price: $450,000
321.890.9911 Listing Agent: Mary Galvin

davidcurri.com Selling Agent: SouthStar Realty Assoc. Inc.

[email protected] Anthony Gallo

2 Offices to Serve You! EXP Realty LLC
• 325 Fifth Ave, Indialantic
• Downtown Eau Gallie Arts District

Get Your Home Value Today, Visit: value.myckhome.com



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