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Published by Vero Beach 32963 Media, 2018-02-08 16:01:18

02/08/2018 ISSUE 06

VB32963_ISSUE06_020818_OPT

County urges state lawmakers
to keep beaches open. P12
School Board split over
size of raise for Rendell. P8

County preparing to continue
battle against All Aboard Florida. P10

For breaking news visit

MY VERO Medical center
again outsources
BY RAY MCNULTY emergency room

The Day Vero Stood Still:
Crash results in gridlock

It will long be remembered Impact of future Cleveland Clinic changes weighed BY MICHELLE GENZ
on the island as The Day Vero Staff Writer
Stood Still. BY MICHELLE GENZ a hospital takeover agreement of changes at IRMC weighed
Staff Writer with Cleveland Clinic. heavily on the minds of hos- While all eyes were on last
After a fatal accident closed pital board members and week’s vote to pursue negotia-
the Merrill Barber Bridge in Indian River Medical Cen- The hospital, with 1,750 Hospital District trustees as tions with Cleveland Clinic to
both directions for hours on ter officials continue to show workers, is second only to they considered their votes take over Indian River Medical
a busy Friday at the height of concern not just for lives, but the school district in number last week. Center, the IRMC board of di-
the season – while construc- livelihoods, as they negotiate of employees locally, and the rectors hired a new company
tion and secondary accidents potential economic impact CONTINUED ON PAGE 6 to run the hospital’s emergen-
severely impeded traffic flow cy room.
on the 17th Street Bridge – A1A,
Ocean Drive and other routes Envision, parent company
turned into parking lots. of physician outsourcing giant
EmCare, is the third outside
Many longtime residents company in four years to staff
described the backups that the medical center’s ER. The
lasted from around 1 p.m. un- last group, Apollo, was let go
til past 6 p.m. as the worst traf- in May 2016 and the hospital
fic mess in Vero Beach history. resumed staffing the ER with
its own physicians for the first
“I’ve never seen anything time since 2009.
like it,” island realtor Cliff Nor-
ris said, “not in 50 years.” The IRMC board of direc-
tors approved its patient care
As Seaside Grill owner Dan committee’s recommendation
Culumber aptly put it: “You
can’t get everyone off the is- CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 Vero City Marina to
finally get needed
The Moorings plans major expansion repairs, renovations
of the club’s racquet sport facilities
BY LISA ZAHNER
BY RAY MCNULTY level course that has helped The Vero Beach City Marina Harbor Master Tim Grabenbauer. PHOTO BY GORDON RADFORD Staff Writer
Staff Writer Moorings club grow its mem-
bership to more than 1,000. The Vero Beach City
The Moorings is planning to Council was set to award a
embark in May on a $2 million The racquet-sports plan contract this past Tuesday
project to upgrade and expand includes the relocation of two night for desperately need-
its racquet sport facilities. tennis courts and the conver- ed renovations to 30-year-
sion of a third into a stadium old bathrooms and laundry
The project is the next step court that can be used for
in an ambitious capital im- exhibitions, inter-club team CONTINUED ON PAGE 8
provement campaign that in competitions and the annual
2015 saw the island club pur- King of the Hill fundraising
chase the Hawk’s Nest Golf Club tournament.
– a long-sought, championship-
CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

February 8, 2018 Volume 11, Issue 6 Newsstand Price $1.00 Vero puts up signs in
bid to put a damper
News 1-14 Faith 58 Pets 75 TO ADVERTISE CALL on panhandling. P13
Arts 39-44 Games 59-61 Real Estate 85-96 772-559-4187
Books 54-55 Health 63-68 St. Ed’s 57
Dining 76 Insight 45-62 Style 70-74 FOR CIRCULATION
Editorial 52 People 15-38 Wine 77 CALL 772-226-7925

© 2018 Vero Beach 32963 Media LLC. All rights reserved.

2 Vero Beach 32963 / February 8, 2018 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

NEWS

Moorings tennis expansion four-court pickleball complex, which “Getting a championship-length The new parking area will serve
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 also will include LED lighting. golf course was always this club’s both the clubhouse and the new ten-
goal, and we addressed that need in nis pavilion, which was rebuilt with
HydroCourt underground watering In addition, The Moorings will build 2015,” Gunter said. “That acquisition new roofing after Hurricane Irma.
systems will be installed beneath all a new, 40-space parking area east of has brought younger families to the
three new courts, which also will have the stadium court and install gates club, and we’re seeing an increased “This is a very exciting time in the
LED lighting. Fixed bleachers will be at the Harbour Drive entrance to the interest in tennis. history of the club,” The Moorings
built adjacent to the stadium court, club – not to the community – as well General Manager Craig Lopes said.
which is currently Court 4. as at the employee entrance on State “We’ve also got about 150 mem- “The master plan project will contin-
Road A1A, north of Harbour Drive. bers who play pickleball,” she added, ue to deliver on our goal of enhanc-
The relocation of the two eastern- “and with the popularity of the sport ing member services, satisfaction
most courts – Courts 5 and 6 will be According to Ursula Gunter, The booming, we want to provide a place and value.” 
shifted to the northwest, behind the Moorings’ marketing and member- for our members to play here.
new stadium court and closer to the ship director, the project has been My Vero
St. Edward’s School property line – approved by the club’s members and “So with all this going on, now is
will allow for the construction of a is scheduled to begin in May. The the time to take care of our racket- CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
work is expected to be completed by sports people and create the ultimate
next January. club experience.”

land with one lane.”
Not on a Friday afternoon.
Not in February.
Not here.
“It was a perfect storm,” Vero Beach

Police Chief David Currey said. “We did
the best we could, but there was only so
much we could do. There are only two
ways on and off the island – unless you
go up to State Road 510 or down to St.
Lucie County – and one of the two ways
was [closed while the other was] down
to one lane in one direction.”

So what were the circumstances
that allowed one driver, one bicyclist
and one ill-fated turn to create a de-
bacle, snarling traffic along State Road
A1A from south of Castaway Cove to
SR-510 for more than five hours?

According to police, 58-year-old
Christopher Hannon of Melbourne
Beach was pedaling south along In-
dian River Boulevard and was turning
left to go east over the Merrill Barber
Bridge, attempting to cross the busy
boulevard at 12:40 p.m., when he was
hit and killed by a northbound car.

To investigate the incident, police
closed the bridge and blocked traffic
on Indian River Boulevard between
Royal Palm Pointe and 37th Street.

“When there’s an accident and some-
one gets killed, you want to do a com-
plete investigation,” Currey said. “You
have to preserve the crash scene, talk to
witnesses, take photographs and record
all the necessary measurements.

“You don’t know if there are going to
be charges, or if there’s going to be a
lawsuit, but there’s always a chance it
could end up in court. So we’re going
to do a thorough job, which is what
I’m sure most people want us to do.”

Meantime, secondary accidents, in-
cluding one at the 17th Street Bridge,
and construction work on and near
the bridge that restricts westbound,
off-island traffic to one lane, intensi-
fied the problem.

Last summer, the Florida Depart-
ment of Transportation embarked on a
$3 million project to widen the shoul-
der and install buffered bike lanes in
both directions along 17th Street, be-
tween the base of the bridge and U.S.

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / February 8, 2018 3

NEWS

1. To do the work, road crews closed “We had officers at the closed inter- one direction and let all the backed-up cult ordeal that began with tragedy and
the right lane on the westbound side sections to keep people away from the cars go through. There was no place to did not end until after dark.
of the bridge, approaching the Indian crash scene,” Currey said. “As far as the send you. There was congestion in ev-
River Boulevard intersection. other intersections are concerned . . . ery direction. “In a lot of cases, we’re able to clear
Yeah, it was congested, but the lights a lane and keep traffic moving,” the
That impediment to traffic flow has were operating properly and traffic “There was no place to go, so you chief said. “This time, we couldn’t.
been a hassle for months, but on Fri- moved with the light changes. just had to be patient.” The crash was right in the intersec-
day it turned into a nightmare. tion.”
“If I’m in the middle of the intersec- For what it’s worth, Currey said he
As people struggled to find a way off tion, how can I move you along?” he appreciated the patience and courtesy On a Friday afternoon.
the island, traffic congestion spread added. “It’s not like I can stop traffic in shown by local motorists throughout In February.
from A1A to other roads and side streets. The Day Vero Stood Still – a long, diffi- Here. 

Some southbound drivers opted to
take Ocean Drive through the island
business district to Riomar Drive and
then to Club Drive, which created bum-
per-to-bumper traffic on those roads.

Others stayed on Ocean Drive un-
til the bend onto Bay Oak Lane, with
hopes of jumping ahead of the traffic
on Club Drive. But those drivers also
hit gridlock.

Some mainland-bound motorists
gambled on driving north on A1A to
SR-510 and the Wabasso Bridge, be-
lieving traffic wouldn’t be as congest-
ed heading away from town.

They were wrong: not only was the
northbound A1A jammed, but west-
bound traffic on the Wabasso Cause-
way also was at a crawl.

Leaving Central Beach at 5:30 pm, it
took an hour to reach CR-510 and an-
other 10 minutes to U.S. 1.

It was just as bad going south.
“It took me 45 minutes to get from my
restaurant [at Sexton Plaza] to the PNC
Bank by the 17th Street Bridge, then an-
other 30 minutes to get home,” said Cu-
lumber, a Pebble Bay resident. “A1A was
a parking lot, so I tried Club Drive and
that was bumper-to-bumper, too.
“Some of my employees said it took
them two hours to get of the island,”
he added. “I’ve heard a lot of com-
plaints.”
Several island merchants, particu-
larly those along Ocean and Cardinal,
said there was a noticeable drop-off in
their business Friday afternoon.
“Everything stopped,” said Tom Han-
lon, owner of Hanlon’s Men’s Shoes &
Clothing on Cardinal Drive. “People just
stopped coming by. There were empty
parking spaces all over the place.”
Caesar Mistretta, owner of the JM
Stringer Gallery on Ocean Drive, said
his business fell off on Friday after-
noon but that island restaurants and
bars probably benefited from the
snarled traffic.
“My parking lot was filled with peo-
ple who couldn’t get home,” he said.
“They had nowhere to go, so they de-
cided to stay on the island and eat and
drink.”
More than a few people called the
police to complain about the traffic,
some asking why there were no police
officers directing traffic at major in-
tersections, such as at the 17th Street
causeway and A1A. But Currey said
there was nothing his officers could’ve
done to help.

4 Vero Beach 32963 / February 8, 2018 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

NEWS

Emergency room changes ing the ER medical director at Lake EmCare, one of the largest physician The hospital fired Emergency Phy-
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Norman Regional Medical Center. Six outsourcing companies in the nation sicians of Central Florida, which had
other states were ultimately involved, currently provides ER staff for HCA’s been running the ER since 2009, and
of Envision just weeks after the Justice as well as a second physician services Lawnwood Regional Medical Center hired an Atlanta group called Apollo,
Department announced the company group. They were the subject of a “60 in Fort Pierce and HCA’s St. Lucie Med- paying them a fee based on perfor-
settled a massive fraud case dating Minutes” broadcast in 2012, as well as ical Center in Port St. Lucie. In all, its mance instead of a set amount.
back to 2008. a New York Times article in 2014. services are contracted by 55 Florida
hospitals. Wait times improved slightly in
The $29.6 million settlement with That article pointed out one hospi- 2014, but the wait to get a room after
Envision and its ER services division, tal where doctors allegedly were given Emergency rooms are a key access being admitted was still at five hours
EmCare, involved the company’s con- a goal of admitting 50 percent of all point for hospitals nationwide, with 4 and 45 minutes – much worse than
tracts with the now-defunct Naples- patients over 65 – Medicare eligible, in million people a year relying on their the Florida and national average of
based health system giant, Health other words – and their success or fail- on-the-spot care. around four-and-a-half hours. Both
Management Associates. ure to achieve that goal was charted Sebastian River and Lawnwood beat
on scorecards for all the ER physicians As IRMC has struggled for patient those average times.
Whistleblowers alleged that the for- to see. revenues, much of its patient outmi-
profit HMA was paying off EmCare gration – people opting for a com- In May 2016, IRMC stopped using
doctors to admit ER patients as in- The good news for IRMC is that petitor hospital like Sebastian River or Apollo and went back to staffing the
patients when their conditions didn’t Envision will now be overseen by the Lawnwood – has been blamed on bad ER with its own physicians. Envision
warrant it. The alleged fraud cost tax- Department of Health and Human experiences in the ER, with long wait took over Feb. 1.
payers millions of dollars in higher Services Office of Inspector General as times historically topping the list of
Medicare costs, since Medicare pays part of the lawsuit resolution. complaints. IRMC’s most recently available wait
about three times as much for inpa- times are from January to March of
tient care as it does for outpatient. IRMC spokesperson Angela Dick- The scenario was at its worst five last year, when it took 16 minutes to
ens, who was not aware of the Envi- years ago, when the ER was staffed and be seen by a healthcare professional,
EmCare’s contracts were alleged to sion settlement, said the reason the operated by Emergency Physicians about the same as the state average
have included incentives from HMA hospital decided to go back to a con- of Central Florida, which charged and less than the national average of
to admit ER patients for hospital stays. tracted physicians services company IRMC a flat fee of $890,000 a year, over 27 minutes.
is that IRMC has been unable to fill and above doctors’ pay. In 2013, wait
The Justice Department joined in the post of emergency department di- times averaged 46 minutes to see a The wait from arriving at the ER to
eight suits filed under the False Claims rector due to the uncertainty of ongo- healthcare professional such as a tri- being admitted to a patient ward was
Act involving allegations from 2008 to ing employment once a new hospital age nurse – twice the national average five hours, still greater than the state
2012, including some against former partner takes over. – and six-and-a-half hours before ad- and national averages but an im-
CEO of HMA, Gary Newsome. mission. That year, 1,600 patients left provement of 35 minutes compared to
Currently IRMC is in exclusive ne- the Vero ER without ever being seen – IRMC’s average from 2014 to 2016.
The lawsuits were filed by two wide- gotiations with the Cleveland Clinic, 3.4 percent of the hospital’s 58,000 ER
ly-respected emergency room doctors hoping to reach a definitive acquisi- patients. Saturday, wait times looked particu-
in the Charlotte, N.C., area, includ- tion agreement by late spring. larly good at IRMC, according to the
interactive ProPublica website that

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / February 8, 2018 5

NEWS

tracks ER times across the country. It tian, and only an hour and a half at Weston: three hours and 10 minutes, result in inpatient rooms being left un-
took only 16 minutes to see a triage Lawnwood. as compared to two hours and six supervised, and therefore unusable.
nurse, as compared to 6 minutes at minutes at IRMC.
Lawnwood and 17 at Sebastian. After Cleveland Clinic Weston, the sys- Current IRMC job openings on the
being admitted, the additional wait tem’s only Florida hospital – so far Often, long ER wait times are due to Emcare.com website include emer-
time to get to an inpatient bed was – had wait times that beat Vero’s, but a shortage of support staff, which can gency medicine physicians, nurse
about two hours in Vero and Sebas- only by two minutes. The wait to get a slow down delivery of lab results and practitioners, and an emergency med-
room once admitted was far worse at X-ray readings. Staff shortages can also icine medical director. 

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6 Vero Beach 32963 / February 8, 2018 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

NEWS

Impact of hospital changes dramatic with Cleveland, and it would case of independent physician prac- There are boxes to check for educa-
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 be immediate.” tices – may feel like invasive surgery to tion, measuring participation in resi-
established medical practices here. dents’ training, and for engagement in
Jamie Burgdorfer, the investment Philanthropy, already at a level Burg- both the clinic and outside communi-
banker who has advised hospital offi- dorfer said he had never seen for a town No doubt, the sales pitch of hav- ties. Career goals are reviewed and up-
cials through the partner-selection pro- this size, would swell with the arrival of ing access to the Tiffany of healthcare dated. A sample review shared by two
cess, told the boards that there would an institution like Cleveland Clinic. seems likely to boost the housing mar- former Clinic executives at a health-
be change no matter which of the four ket generally. And one doctor in the care trade group conference last year
finalists they picked, including new Chairman of the IRMC Founda- audience last week remarked on the could get thin-skinned doctors quak-
construction, the hiring of employees, tion board, Tony Woodruff, seconded pro-Cleveland vote coming almost en- ing in their surgical booties.
and physicians moving to the area. that notion after the hospital board’s tirely from affluent island residents.
unanimous vote for Cleveland Clinic, “They don’t just talk the talk, they
But with Cleveland Clinic, Vero can claiming “new doors are going to open But for the 1,750 people who make walk the walk,” said District Trustee
expect the “super-dramatic impact” of now” as “people in this community their living at IRMC, the “Cleveland Allen Jones, wincing on behalf of
a national brand, with reverberations who never gave to this hospital and Clinic standard” promised in the com- IRMC doctors.
in everything from philanthropy to foundation” reconsider support under pany’s first proposal may have chal-
the housing market to enrollment in a name like Cleveland Clinic. lenging consequences. Particularly for At the same time, Cleveland Clinic’s
schools, including the barrier island doctors, Cleveland’s performance mea- achievements in medical innovation
prep school, St. Edward’s. But to those elected officials on the sures are known to be tough and em- – a major point of pride – can impact
Hospital District Board, who had two ployment contracts are only for a year. its own employees, and conceivably
“The economic impact could be sig- months to check in with constituents cost some their jobs. There are robots
nificant and therefore represent dra- about the partner choice, the decision As an academic, physician-led in- in the basement of the main campus
matic change,” said Burgdorfer, wrap- was more nuanced. stitution, Cleveland Clinic’s threefold that move goods around on a track.
ping up a presentation in advance mission is patient care, education and Astonishing, and perhaps very cost-
of the Jan. 30 votes that selected the District Board chairman Marybeth research, and all are touched upon in a effective, but some cart-pusher some-
Cleveland hospital company. Cunningham found one doctor’s com- comprehensive annual review of each where isn’t getting a paycheck.
ment particularly insightful: “In the physician.
“We’re not used to advising hospi- long run, Cleveland Clinic will be the Another innovation takes the place
tals that would join Cleveland Clinic,” best thing for the community,” he told Conducted one-on-one by the de- of at least one physician. A remote ICU
he said. “Cleveland doesn’t do this his- her. “In the short run, it will be the partment chair, the review includes care unit, featured in an article last
torically; it’s a rare day that someone hardest.” patient volumes, and quality of care, spring in the Economist, consists of a
of their stature is interested in doing as well as patient satisfaction surveys. doctor and nurses in a room they call
that. But the overall economic impact While high-end real estate brokers It asks to what degree the physician “the bunker,” watching from far away
for the community would be the most may be rubbing their hands in antici- has been involved in research, includ- 150 patients they are monitoring, all
pation of well-paid physicians trans- ing participation in clinical trials and of them in special-care and ICU clin-
ferring here from Ohio, the slots those having papers published.
docs will take – and the patients, in the

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / February 8, 2018 7

NEWS

ics but with no specialist on the night doing this for the future. Are we doing Part of the hesitation had to do with “It’s exciting to be a part of a corpo-
shift. Along with multiple monitors, the this because it’s easier right now or are the commitment hospital physicians ration that is held in such high regard
medical staff looks in on the patients we going to be the best? I would like to would’ve had to make to take on the nationally and internationally,” Wal-
via a camera at the end of their beds. be the best.” intensive, one-on-one teaching in- ton said. “And there are endless possi-
“The transformation in the coming de- volved in training doctors. bilities that come with that.”
cades will be as wrenching as any hos- Her fellow trustee, Allen Jones, who
pitals have yet seen,” says the article. is treasurer of the District Board, had “I wasn’t sure we had the clinical Walton pointed to the Institute
also done his share of research among material and prestige to attract the for Nursing Excellence, a Cleveland
“When I think of the hospital of the Vero physicians. “In terms of employ- kind of program we wanted here,” Clinic initiative to further education
future, I think of a bunch of people ers of choice, the doctors that I’ve spo- Spackman said. “Certainly if it’s Cleve- and training for the 22,000 nurses in
sitting in a room full of screens and ken with, that I have great respect for, land Clinic, that will be an attraction a system that includes nine hospitals
phones,” said Dr. Toby Cosgrove, the were unanimous: the one that raises for a lot of people looking for residen- and multiple surgical and family care
recently retired Cleveland Clinic CEO, the bar the most is Cleveland Clinic.” cy programs.” centers. “It speaks to how they value
as quoted in the Economist article. nursing,” she said.
Dr. George Mitchell, a longtime crit- Such a program, should Cleveland
District Board chairman Cunning- ical care physician at IRMC, dropped agree to one in current or future nego- “I think with any change, there’s
ham, the retired head of operations for in for the hospital board vote. When tiations, could attract a pool of highly always a little bit of fear of the un-
the Packard Electric Division of Delphi it came in unanimously for Cleveland talented young doctors from which to known,” said Walton, who came to
Corporation, listened closely to reac- Clinic, he thanked the board for its de- recruit future physicians who want to IRMC less than a year ago from Or-
tions of healthcare workers imagining cision. “There are a lot of top-notch live and work here permanently. lando Health, one of the four finalists
life under the Clinic’s scrutiny. doctors here and when they hear this, considered; she also served as an Army
they are going to stay.” Cleveland Clinic has one of the larg- nurse in Iraq. “You can lessen that fear
“I talked to a lot of the doctors here at est graduate medical education pro- when you know you’re partnering with
the hospital and some doctors around Dr. Tom Spackman, a former Dis- grams in the country, with 1,500 resi- an organization that has done great
town who have nothing to do with the trict Board chairman and a retired ra- dents and fellows spread between its things and is innovative and is focused
hospital. Some are very nervous about diologist who did his training at Yale main campus and two other hospitals on excellence.
Cleveland Clinic,” Cunningham told New Haven Hospital and chaired the in Cleveland, as well as at its Weston
her fellow District trustees as they set- radiology department at the Universi- location in Broward County, two hours “We know that healthcare has to
tled in for the vote last week that split ty of Connecticut School of Medicine, south of Vero. change and it’s going to continue to
four-to-three for Cleveland. looks forward to the possibility of Vero change going into the future. Cleve-
finally having a graduate medical edu- As for IRMC’s nursing staff, there land Clinic is trying to make a positive
“Others are really excited about cation program at the hospital. were “some high-fives in the hallways” impact on the future of health, as op-
Cleveland taking us to a new level when the news of the vote for Cleve- posed to waiting to respond to it. To be
and they want to be a part of it,” Cun- “Five or six years ago, there was an land Clinic filtered through the ranks, part of that whole process is very in-
ningham went on. “But we need to be effort to establish medical educa- according to Linda Walton, chief nurs- spiring.” 
prepared to be understanding. We’re tion here and it was resisted,” he says. ing officer at the hospital.

8 Vero Beach 32963 / February 8, 2018 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

NEWS

Vero City Marina repairs As of Monday, the Harbormaster rooms, have been on the city’s wish list Grabenbauer assured the council
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 said he had about 90 vessels bobbing for a decade. But when tourism took a he would immediately address the
around the marina’s mooring ball downturn in 2008, there wasn’t enough problems; in July, he hired an architect
facilities at the city marina, which is field, plus another 25 to 27 new guests marina revenue to support major ren- and consultant and put together a bid
brimming with boats this time of year. renting out slips each week. ovations while still paying off millions packet that went out in November and
in debt for a dry-storage facility. closed in December.
Longtime Harbormaster and Ma- Ahead of the council vote, staff rec-
rina Director Tim Grabenbauer said ommended the $114,600 renovation The marina is supposed to operate Despite having a full house right
the marina’s business has been bol- contract be awarded to Vero Beach- as a self-sustaining enterprise fund, now, Grabenbauer said the bathroom
stered by a rebounding economy, based Bill Bryant Construction, which but Vero taxpayers and city leaders renovation will start as soon as possi-
brutal weather up north and condi- was the lowest in-county bidder, with- value the amenity and sometimes ble after the contract is awarded, even
tions at competing marinas that still in 5 percent of a Brevard County firm subsidize its operations, and the though he said last year that he didn’t
have unrepaired storm damage dat- that bid slightly less – close enough to Florida Department of Environmen- want to tear up half the facilities in the
ing from Hurricane Irma in Septem- trigger the local preference provision tal Protection helps out with money middle of high season.
ber 2017 and Hurricane Matthew in in the Vero city code. for things like pump-out equipment,
October 2016. Grabenbauer said. “That was our thinking last year,
Some of the marina repairs, like the but now we just want to get the work
northern set of men’s and ladies’ bath- But neither the city or state has been done,” Grabenbauer said.
willing to fund the needed renova-
tions, and years of neglect came back The restrooms were moved ahead of
to bite the city recently when a series remaining dock repairs after the most
of mishaps occurred involving docks critical safety threats on the docks were
in disrepair, including a woman and taken care of. Dock repairs included in
her dog getting dunked into the la- a three-year plan total $185,000. As the
goon when a “finger pier” collapsed refurbishment progresses, city staff
beneath them in April 2017. continues to look for state or agency
grant funding to offset the local share
Grabenbauer took some heat last of the cost.
summer during budget talks for mov-
ing too slowly on the bathroom reno- Grabenbauer said guests will be
vations and the docks. Councilmem- shifted over to the southern set of
bers said a first-class city like Vero bathrooms and showers while the new
should have a first-class marina to molded-fiberglass shower units and
match. They also criticized some of new plumbing fixtures are installed.
the services, like long lines for fuel. “It will be a little crowded, but we’ll
make it work,” he said. 

COUNTY GEARS UP FOR NEXT
ROUND IN BATTLE AGAINST

ALL ABOARD FLORIDA

BY BETH WALTON injured by the high-speed engines in
Staff Writer the first days of operation after they
tried to cross the tracks despite safety
In the wake of multiple fatalities, warnings. There was another fatality
officials in Martin and Indian River and a derailment during trial runs on
counties are gearing up for a sec- the West Palm to Lauderdale route.
ond expensive legal battle against All
Aboard Florida in an attempt to derail “Life itself is at stake for the people
plans for the high-speed passenger who are crossing those tracks,” said
train before it hits the Treasure Coast. Steve Ryan, an attorney with McDe-
mott Will and Emery, a law and lobby-
Hundreds gathered last week in ing firm that represents CARE-FL and
downtown Stuart at a meeting of the Indian River and Martin counties.
Citizens Against Rail Expansion in
Florida to discuss legal, political and This isn’t just people in cars inconve-
advocacy efforts against Brightline’s nienced by longer waits, he said. This
planned expansion north from West is children playing and people carrying
Palm Beach to Orlando. groceries home from the store.

Among those in attendance at One-hundred and 10 miles per
the Lyric Theater were Indian River hour is an unimaginable speed, Ryan
County Commissioner Bob Solari and explained. “If you can see it, you are
County Attorney Dylan Reingold. within striking distance.”

Concerns over safety have increased Even though Brightline’s expansion
following Brightline’s introduction over the next few years looks increas-
of service between West Palm Beach ingly hard to stop, the Indian River
and Fort Lauderdale, starting with VIP County Commission agreed in January
runs Jan. 12. to another six-month, $50,000 contract
with McDemott Will and Emery.
Two people were killed and a third
The Indian River County Commis-

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / February 8, 2018 9

sion also gave Reingold permission NEWS
to use additional taxpayer funds to
sue federal agencies if proper vetting PHOTOS BY GORDON RADFORD one place where we can win.”
of Brightline’s publicly-subsidized fi- In the last round of legal battles,
nancing is not done.
Martin and Indian River counties suc-
Funds for such legal actions come cessfully attacked public financing of
from a pot of nearly $2.9 million bud- the train venture, alleging the Depart-
geted between 2013-2018 to fight All ment of Transportation attempted to
Aboard Florida’s extension through In- skirt obligations to the National Envi-
dian River County. At the end of January, ronmental Policy Act by selling its Pri-
nearly $2.3 million had been spent in vate Activity Bonds before the vetting
the uphill battle, the bulk on legal fees. process was complete.

The Department of Transportation When a federal judge ruled in 2016
announced a final decision approv- that the approval of the financing was
ing the Brightline’s plans in December. in fact subject to environmental re-
Shortly after, All Aboard Florida boast- view, All Aboard Florida terminated
ed a provisional $1.15 billion Private the bonds and sought private financ-
Activity Bond allocation and approval ing at a higher rate of interest. 

from the South Florida Water Manage- The Florida East Coast Railroad has
ment District to lay track between Or- seen 103 fatalities and 185 injuries
lando and Cocoa Beach. between 2011 and 2017, Crandall re-
ported. Those numbers are going to
“This $1.15 billion is the dagger get even worse if dozens of new high-
at the heart of the community,” said speed trains are added to the tracks.
Ryan, the attorney with McDemott
Will and Emery. “We do not believe Indian River and Martin counties
this project will be built unless it’s sub- estimate a $15 million price tag for 60
sidized by the government.” grade crossing safety upgrades if the
project moves forward. Neither gov-
If All Aboard Florida gets that sec- ernment has agreed to shoulder the
ond set of bonds, they will have a sub- cost and it remains unclear who will
stantial amount of the money they pay for the improvements.
need to build phase two, from West
Palm to Orlando. Facing increased political scru-
tiny and public outcry after the most
Phase two would send 30 high-speed recent fatalities, All Aboard Florida
trains barreling through Indian River said in January that it will expand its
County each day during daylight hours. rail safety efforts, pledging to put up
This would quadruple the number of lo- warning signs and recruit safety am-
comotives coming through Vero Beach, bassadors.
dramatically altering the quality of life,
advocates against the train say. Despite the serious safety incidents
and local opposition, the permitting
More trains will mean more delays process for the phase two is almost
on Treasure Coast roadways and wa- complete, a spokesperson for the agen-
terways, causing traffic and boat con- cy told 32963 last month. Brightline is
gestion and the possible slowdown of actively pursuing financing alterna-
crucial public services like emergency tives, and once funding and permit-
response, according to Bob Crandall, ting are in place, construction between
a member of CARE-FL and the for- West Palm Beach and Orlando will be-
mer president, chairman and CEO of gin. It’s expected to take 30 months.
American Airlines.
“We have to go to judicial branch
“This is the most dangerous railroad and hope that when we do that all of
in the United States,” Crandall said the facts and the issues that you have
at the Stuart meeting as he presented seen us raise will be addressed,” Ryan
data CARE-FL is using to further its ar- said at the Stuart meeting. “That is
gument against expansion.

10 Vero Beach 32963 / February 8, 2018 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

NEWS

School Board split over size of raise for Rendell

BY KATHLEEN SLOAN on the organizational chart – and at eliminate elected superintendents, ment, which was 3 points below the
Staff Writer a recent workshop a couple of board leaving only board-hired superinten- state’s less-than-stellar 58-percent
members said that should be the raise dents. “Appointed supervisors will be in pass rate.
Despite problems and failures at the he gets as well. demand. Perhaps we need to renegoti-
Indian River County School District ate his contract for additional money.” Traditional-school third-grade math
under his leadership, Superintendent But one board member – Tiffany scores were similarly lackluster, with a
Mark Rendell is getting a raise. The Justice – pushed for a bigger increase “We got some pretty good grades 59-percent pass rate compared to the
only question is how much. for Rendell, and board Vice Chairman over the last three years and we need to state’s 62-percent pass rate.
Charles Searcy seemed to agree. reward him,” Vice Chairman Charles
Rendell recently pushed through a Searcy said. While student achievement has
$1,200-a-year increase for upper-level “Several superintendents around the lagged, Rendell’s budget has increased,
management – principals and above state are getting raises,” Justice said, Board Member Laura Zorc said she from $268 million his first year, to
claiming proposed legislation could was “satisfied” with the $1,200 bump nearly $287 million this year, with very
and wouldn’t consider a bigger raise little transparency or reporting to ac-
unless Rendell’s whole contract was count for much of the spending.
opened up for renegotiation. Board
Member Dale Simchick agreed. Staff turnover is up as well, while
morale is down.
Board Chairman Shawn Frost did
not express an opinion on the matter Both the teachers’ union contract,
at the workshop and declined to com- representing about 1,100 teachers,
ment when asked afterward. and the Communications Workers of
America union contract, representing
Despite Searcy’s statement, grades about 700 workers, went to impasse
in traditional schools in the District, last year. The teachers didn’t get a raise

Ryan and Melissa Weaver, Agency Owners the key measurement of Rendell’s and the CWA workers got about $500
Ryan Weaver Insurance Inc. is a locally owned success, leave much to be desired. more per year this year. At the same
and operated independent agency. Located in the time, the CWA workers’ yearly bonus-
CenterState Bank Building, just off of Miracle Mile If grades in the charter schools, es were discontinued and health in-
and across from Classic Car Wash in Vero Beach. which Rendell does not control, are surance costs shot up, meaning most
factored in, the District does about workers are taking home less now
Serving Vero Beach for over 10 years! average. Take those good schools out than when Rendell was hired.
All lines of commercial or personal insurance available. of the mix though and the District
consistently comes in below average – Probably no coincidence, nearly
Contact any one of our professional agents for a quote! sometimes far below. 20 percent of teachers left the district
855 21st Street – CenterState Bank Building last year – high even in Florida, which
2nd Floor – Vero Beach For instance, Algebra 1 is required is ranked as one of the worst states
for a standard high school diploma. for teacher retention, 45th among 50
(772) 567-4930 The state pass rate for that course was states – with some schools losing more
62 percent last year while Vero Beach than 30 percent of those responsible
[email protected] High School’s pass rate was 26 percent for educating children.
rweaverinsurance.com and Sebastian River High School’s was
only 37 percent. Despite those and other troubling
statistics, Justice and board member
The district’s Florida Standard As- Dale Simchick gave Rendell a 4, the
sessment scores for middle school highest possible score, on his most re-
students also lagged behind state cent evaluation and Justice thinks the
averages – and Florida is not a high- board should give him a substantial
ranking state in educational achieve- raise to keep from losing him to an-
ment, coming in 28th nationwide in a other district.
recent assessment. The eighth-grade
English Language Arts pass rate was 50 Rendell is currently scheduled to be
percent compared to 55 percent state- evaluated by the board in late July, but
wide. In math the traditional eighth the board could move that up and de-
grades averaged a 42 percent pass rate cide on a raise sooner.
compared to the state’s 46 percent
pass rate. Rendell was asked by Searcy at the
workshop how much he makes. The
Third-grade scores are considered superintendent didn’t answer, but a
predictive of future academic and life public records request revealed it is
success and by that measure, Indian $162,000 a year.
River County did not shine last year.
The 13 traditional elementary schools If the board awards him the same
had an average 55 percent pass rate $1,200 raise other administrators are
for the English Language Arts assess- getting, that would bump his salary up
to $163,200. 

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / February 8, 2018 11

NEWS

Shores delays approval of John’s Island reuse water pipeline

BY LISA ZAHNER On its face, the 2012 franchise agree-
Staff Writer ment would appear to allow the Shores
to have other providers of reuse wa-
Indian River Shores needs more The county’s 3-million-gallon effluent tank at 77th Street, near Old Dixie Highway. PHOTO BY GORDON RADFORD ter besides Vero Beach, but the docu-
time to review its utility pact with the ment is a bit contradictory. Right after
City of Vero Beach before signing off it states Vero’s “exclusive” right to pro-
on a plan for John’s Island and Indian vide water, wastewater and reuse water
River County to bring 1 million gallons services within the Shores, designated
of reuse irrigation water to the barrier the “Service Area” of the agreement on
island daily via a new 16-inch pipeline page 2 of the document, the next sen-
under the Indian River Lagoon. tence says, “Indian River Shores May
grant additional non-exclusive reuse
The matter came up at the most water franchises to customers not cur-
recent Shores Town Council meeting, rently being served by Vero Beach, and
with representatives from the gated may grant further non-exclusive reuse
community and Indian River Coun- water franchises within the John’s Is-
ty Utilities – but not the City of Vero land community.”
Beach – present.
It was the consensus that the most
Town Attorney Chester Clem said he important thing is to get reuse water to
wasn’t prepared to give the legal all- John’s Island without creating poten-
clear for the deal, because he wanted tial future legal issues with Vero
to make sure the town does not run
afoul of a May 2012 renewal franchise The proposed $6 million pipeline,
agreement it signed with Vero for wa- which John’s Island will pay for, is
ter, wastewater and reuse water. needed because Vero Beach simply
doesn’t have the volume of treated
“We need to get all the parties togeth- wastewater that John’s Island needs to
er and make sure everybody is in agree- keep its golf courses, lawns and com-
ment, that we’re all on the same page,” mon areas green. That forces John’s
Clem said, adding that a lawyer could
read the documents in various ways. CONTINUED ON PAGE 14

12 Vero Beach 32963 / February 8, 2018 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

NEWS

County urges state lawmakers to keep beaches open

BY KATHLEEN SLOAN hassee stating that all 24 miles of the which have not been alienated, includ- establishes a right of continued use
Staff Writer county’s ocean beaches should re- ing beaches below mean high water over and above any private interest.
main accessible to the public. lines, is held by the state, by virtue of its
The Indian River County Commis- sovereignty, in trust for all the people." State Rep. Katie Edwards-Walpole, a
sion has weighed in against bills that According to the Florida Constitu- Democrat representing Lakeland who
have been introduced in the Florida tion, in accordance with traditional Three counties among the 67 in is sponsoring House Bill 631, and State
Legislature that could allow owners of common-law understandings of prop- Florida – Volusia, St. John’s and Walton Senator Kathleen Passidomo, a Naples
oceanfront houses to bar the public erty rights, beachfront property owners – also currently have laws on the books Republican who is the sponsor of Sen-
from the beach in front of their homes. do not actually own the beaches. Article proclaiming beaches must be accessi- ate Bill 804, don’t want other counties
X, section 11 of the constitution states, ble to the public under the “Customary to pass similar ordinances.
Commissioners voted unanimously "The title to lands under navigable wa- Use Doctrine,” which asserts the pub-
to send a letter to legislators in Talla- ters, within the boundaries of the state, lic’s long and historic use of beaches Both bills would prohibit local gov-
ernments from proclaiming custom-
ary use of its beaches and mandate
that customary usage be determined
parcel by parcel by the courts.

The issue has become contentious
because in some parts of Florida, pri-
vate landowners – from residents to
posh clubs and restaurants – have at
times erected “no trespassing” signs
and put up barriers to keep residents
and visitors off their beaches.

After Walton County passed its ordi-
nance affirming public access in 2017,
a property owner sued to overturn the
law but a judge ruled in the county’s
favor, supporting home-rule powers
over private property rights. That rul-
ing is now being appealed in federal
court.

Indian River County argues in its let-
ter that the county needs to retain its
power to pass laws to enforce custom-
ary use because, “Florida’s beaches are
essential to both economic develop-
ment and tourism . . . [and because
the law] could undermine beach res-
toration programs across the State of
Florida and here locally in Indian Riv-
er County.”

County Coastal Engineer James
Gray said millions in local and state
funds are spent on beach replenish-
ment. Skipping private land wouldn’t
work, he said. “It would destroy the
engineering,” just as a missing tooth
weakens adjacent teeth.

“Should local governments and the
State of Florida continue to use tax-
dollar funds on beach restoration proj-
ects for the public’s benefit knowing
that the public access could be denied
as soon as an impacted parcel is sold to
a private-fee holder?” the letter asks.

In a final appeal, the county letter
asks, “What happens when a private
property owner restricts permitted sea
turtle monitors’ access to a section of
beach that has had a recent nest?”

The Florida Association of Coun-
ties Director of External Affairs Cragin
Mosteller said the organization is lob-
bying against the legislation. Florida
League of Cities lobbyist David Cruz
said his group is letting the counties
“take the lead” while it monitors the
situation, but added that his organiza-
tion too opposes the legislation. 

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / February 8, 2018 13

NEWS

Vero puts up signs in bid to put a damper on panhandling

BY RAY MCNULTY had to be careful with the wording," PHOTO BY GORDON RADFORD He said many of the "homeless"
Staff Writer O'Connor said. "Wayne and I looked calls probably involved the same
at what they were doing to address the According to Currey, Vero Beach po- people referred to in the panhandling
Responding to residents' complaints problem in other cities across Florida, lice has received nearly 300 calls over calls.
about the increase in panhandling at and there was a wide array of signage. the past year – from January 2017 to
some of Vero Beach's busiest intersec- January 2018 – from people complain- "These signs are just a way to get the
tions, city officials last week erected "We decided to focus on the safety ing about panhandling on the city's message out, and we hope they deter
signs it hopes will discourage motorists issue," he added. "We want people to streets. His department also received people," Currey said, "because we
from giving roadside handouts. help, but to do it in a different way." more than 700 calls alerting police to want to keep our streets and intersec-
"homeless individuals on the corner." tions safe."
The signs read: "DUE TO PUBLIC
SAFETY CONCERNS, PANHANDLING O'Connor said he opted for the
IS DISCOURAGED" in red lettering, signs after a recent City Council meet-
with "Please Donate To Local Chari- ing at which members said they had
table Organizations" underneath in received an increasing number of
smaller black letters. complaints about panhandling on lo-
cal street corners.
The signs were installed at four lo-
cations where panhandlers have been But he's not sure how effective the
most visible: State Road 60 eastbound signs will be.
at U.S. 1; U.S. 1 southbound at 17th
Street (near Walgreen's); 17th Street "When I went by one of those in-
westbound at U.S. 1 (near CVS); and tersections last week, there was a guy
17th Street eastbound at U.S. 1 (near the standing under the sign," O'Connor
Chevron station). said. "We're not going to discourage
the panhandlers, but the signs weren't
City Manager Jim O'Connor said he designed for them. They're designed
approved posting the signs after con- to discourage the motorists."
sulting with City Attorney Wayne Co-
ment and Police Chief David Currey O'Connor said there was "no real
on the wording. cost" to erect the signs because the
materials were already in stock.
"Panhandling is not illegal, so we
"Maybe a couple of hundred dol-
lars," he said. 

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14 Vero Beach 32963 / February 8, 2018 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

NEWS

Disney Vero Resort guest says mold caused health problems

BY BETH WALTON Professional Regulation on Dec. 4, just A refrigerator in another room was [Inspectors] could have come out and
Staff Writer days after her trip. found soiled with a “mild accumula- found nothing.”
tion of old food debris on [the] bottom
A couple from Indiana is suing Dis- She told regulators her room shelf.” The couple is asking for more than
ney Vacation Club Management alleg- smelled and the stench lingered even $15,000 in damages in the com-
ing mold in their room during a 2013 after the owner cleaned the carpet, In Walls’ legal filing, drafted by at- plaint, filed with the 19th Judicial
stay in Vero Beach caused serious according to records from the De- torney Patrick Cousins of Cousins Law Circuit. “[Disney] was under a duty
health concerns. partment’s Division of Hotels and in West Palm Beach, Walls claims her to operate, manage, maintain, con-
Restaurants. stay resulted in personal injury, pain, trol and supervise said premises in a
The complaint filed in Indian River suffering and medical expenses. Her safe, proper and lawful fashion such
County claims negligence at the island Walls claimed she developed a husband, William Walls, further suf- that no person would be exposed to
resort located a block south of the Wa- cough from the alleged mold and fered the loss of companionship and mold,” Cousins argues in the law-
basso Causeway. mildew in the room and was going consortium of his wife. suit.
to need medical attention. She said
Disney denied wrongdoing in court she reported her problem to the hotel Walls’ illness turned out to be a lot In Disney’s defense, Kurt Spengler,
filings. An Orlando-based spokes- management. more than a cough, said the lawyer, a lawyer at the Orlando-firm, Wick-
woman for the company told 32963 who is working with attorneys in Indi- er, Smith, O’Hara, McCoy and Ford,
the lawsuit was unfounded. Inspectors came to the Vero Beach ana on the lawsuit. Her medical prob- claims the hotel had no prior notice of
resort Dec. 6, 2013, two days after lems were severe, he said. the alleged dangerous condition and
“We disagree with the allegations Walls notified the state agency. The that if such condition existed it was
in the complaint and will respond hotel met regulatory standards, but “It definitely arose from her stay open and obvious to the Walls.
to them, as appropriate, in court,” management was told to address there and we will have medical proof
said Kim Prunty. Neither Disney nor two violations before the next unan- of the links and connections,” Cous- The firm has asked the family to
its attorney offered any further com- nounced visit from the state. ins said. “Whatever was in that room turn over its medical records, financial
ment. is what legally caused her illness and documents and travel itinerary for re-
There were issues with the ventila- the damages that resulted from it . . . view. 
Thelma K. Walls, of Nashville, Indi- tion system in one room, and an ap-
ana, stayed at Disney’s Vero Beach Re- pliance was improperly maintained in Reuse water pipeline the new utility asset that it doesn’t
sort in 2013 from Nov. 29 through Dec. another. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11 have to pay for, the county says it will
2. It was during that visit, she claims, give John’s Island Water Management
she was exposed to mold. The air-conditioning unit in the Island to rely on well water, which is the water for half-price. So not only
room Walls stayed in had an “accu- subject to saltwater intrusion. would the county be selling water in-
Walls filed a complaint with the mulation of a mold-like substance,” side the town, but John’s Island Water
Florida Department of Business and investigators noted. Residents within Vero proper are Management would be buying the
also clamoring for reuse water and are water in bulk from the county and re-
on a waiting list for it, so the supply selling it to residents.
issue will only get worse as more resi-
dents hook up to the limited supply. On top of that, distribution will ex-
pand beyond John’s Island to other
Indian River County, on the other communities in a future phase of the
hand, is flush with reuse water from its project, and when it does, John’s Is-
expanding sewer system as homes and land will receive a 25 percent cut of
businesses are converted from septic those proceeds.
tanks to sanitary sewers. The Board
of County Commissioners approved All of those details, Clem said, could
sending 1 million gallons per day of the potentially be problematic in light of
grayish, reuse water to John’s Island – the franchise agreement with Vero
and that’s where things get tricky. and he wants to avoid costly surprises
down the road. A close review of the
John’s Island plans to build the 2012 agreement is needed, as well as
pipeline and sign it over to the county clear, explicit agreement among all
when it’s completed. In exchange for parties. 

Dana Calise with daughter Jaelynn.

SEA OF GREEN:
FLOURISHING GARDENFEST

ATTRACTS 20,000 P. 36

16 Vero Beach 32963 / February 8, 2018 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

Success stories delight JI Foundation supporters

BY MARY SCHENKEL
Staff Writer

Ken Wessell, Ned Dayton, Jim Poole and Sherry Ann Dayton. Charlie and Pam Richards with Bob and Wheatie Gibb. PHOTOS: MARY SCHENKEL “If you think you don’t change the
world just a little bit because of your
PHOTOS CONTINUED ON PAGE 18 Janet Baines and Scott Alexander. Margaret Bragg and Lois Appleby. donations, think again,” said Ken
Ellie and Bob McCabe. Wessell, president of the John’s Island
Foundation, to the donors and sup-
porters who had gathered last Mon-
day evening for a lovely cocktail party
at the John’s Island Club underwritten
by local businesses.

Wessell made the comment after
showing a brief video presentation
shot at the dedication of the Wabasso
School’s Real Lab, a life-altering facili-
ty that teaches developmentally-chal-
lenged students ages 18 to 22 how to
transition into society. The Wabasso
School grant, made at the request of
the Education Foundation, was one of
23 charitable expenditures funded by
the foundation last year.

Once grants are allocated this
spring, the John’s Island Foundation,
which strictly funds the capital ex-
penses of local nonprofit agencies,
will have contributed roughly $10.6
million to hundreds of charities since
1999 when it was established. Many
John’s Island residents also support
the John’s Island Community Service
League, which provides grants to fund
nonprofit programs and operating
budgets.

“What I tried to do this year is to
build on the spirit and pride of this
very generous community,” said Wes-
sell.

Mission accomplished. 



18 Vero Beach 32963 / February 8, 2018 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

PHOTOS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 16 Barbara Sedam with Rod and Julie Parker. Don and Betsy Kittell with Steve and April Anderson.
Emily Sherwood, Bink and Paula Short, and Ned Sherwood.

John Werwaiss, Michele Witt, Beth Werwaiss and Michael Witt.
Jack Preschlack, Valerie Kalmbach and Nick Schaus.

Mary Grimm McClellan and Helen Higgs. John and Diana Lewis.

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / February 8, 2018 19

PEOPLE

Dale and Matilde Sorensen with Joan and Al DeCrane. Kathy Strickland, Roger Lynch and Lynn Preschlack. Tuny Hill, Lyndal Hill and Betsy VanPelt.

Lila Stillman and Pat Briar. Ann Smith and Marlen Higgs. Steven and Leslie Caruso.

Abbott Stillman with Kathryn and John Hamill.

Jan and Bill Sayler with Susan McConnell.

20 Vero Beach 32963 / February 8, 2018 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

Orchid Outreach hails generous scholarship program

Yester, Gloria, Walter and Mariel Castillo. PHOTOS: STEPHANIE LABAFF Charlotte Klein, Penny Kelly, Susie Stickney and Jacinthe Osborn.

BY STEPHANIE LaBAFF cipients and benefactors alike. Guests said committee chair Tracy Lamp- son with the Indian River State Col-
Staff Writer enjoyed cocktails and hors d’oeuvres ort, to the crowd gathered around the lege Foundation noted, “because of
– made and served by members of the pool. your generosity, we were able to afford
Members of the Orchid Island Golf 40-woman strong committee – at the each one of them a full scholarship,
& Beach Club lifted their glasses in a home of Louis and Adrienne Lower. Lamport explained that 100 percent including books and expenses. Our
toast to 17 years of providing schol- of donations to Orchid Outreach di- families are something that we are so
arships to deserving students at the “This event is the community’s op- rectly benefit scholarship recipients. proud of, and through your generosity
recent Orchid Outreach Cocktail Re- portunity to thank our Orchid Island Of the two endowments held at the we have enriched their lives beyond
ception, an annual event honoring re- friends and neighbors who generously Scholarship Foundation of Indian Riv- their dreams.”
support our scholarship program,” er County, one provides scholarships
to Indian River County first respond- The 2017 Orchid Employee Scholar-
ers and family members, and another ship recipients were Mariel Castillo,
was established for Orchid Island Golf Nicole Martz and Grace Waage and
& Beach Club employees and fam- the 2017 Orchid Scholarship recipi-
ily members. The Orchid Scholarship ents were Ashley Scott, Mary Brooks
Endowment at Indian River State Col- and Allison Fahey.
lege enables county residents in need
to attend IRSC. “This helps me to get one step closer
to my dream of becoming a veterinary
“To date you’ve contributed to technician. I probably wouldn’t even
the education of 47 young scholars be able to go to college if it weren’t
through Orchid Outreach. This year for this scholarship,” shared Castillo
three of our students either work at whose father works at the Orchid Is-
Orchid Island or are children of em- land Golf Club.
ployees here and three of our students
are the children of first responders; The women of Orchid Outreach
the men and women who work tire- continue to work tirelessly to help
lessly to save lives every day,” added deserving local students, who would
Lamport. otherwise not be able to afford col-
lege, to receive the assistance they
Donna Thrailkill, committee liai- need to fulfill their dreams. 

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / February 8, 2018 21

PEOPLE

Adrienne and Louis Lower with Soirée. Judy Gow, Gerry Collins and Carol Stolz. Donna Thrailkill and Tracy Lamport.

Barbie and Ed Martz with Nicole Martz. Howard Thrailkill and Dr. Edwin Massey. Janet Kelly, Caryn Morrow and Michele Henry.

Ann Decker, Rich and Emily Waage, Grace Waage and Julia Keenan.

22 Vero Beach 32963 / February 8, 2018 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

Recipients detail positive ‘Impact’ of $100K grants

BY MARY SCHENKEL Nancy Depp and Pam Doughty. doned and neglected 13- to 17-year-old Charter High School students assist-
Staff Writer teens have “had a really rough life.” ed with the process until increasing
every single layer of what we do at the They now can learn graphic design lagoon pollution made it unsafe for
The Northern Trust Bank commu- Alzheimer & Parkinson Association.” skills and receive real-world training them. The third created Kilroy Acad-
nity room was packed with Impact They purchased a “rolling classroom” experience in a competitive job market emy, with teachers utilizing videos to
100 current and prospective members RV to reach out to the community and can continue working in the de- demonstrate real-time monitoring in
last Tuesday afternoon, to hear about through their Dementia Friendly Com- sign program even after they leave. their classrooms. “If you want to talk
the accomplishments of the four 2017 munity Initiative. Lemoncelli said that about impact,” said Widder, “one of
Community Partners since being businesses, nonprofits and individuals “We graduated our first group of 12 the videos we produced has had three-
awarded $100,000 transformational have embraced the concept, and more graduates in December,” said Shannon quarters of a million views.” For the re-
grants last April. Impact Day was spon- than 800 people have taken the Virtual McGuire Bowman, Childcare Resourc- cent Living Lagoon Project, they part-
sored by Robin Lloyd & Associates, P.A. Dementia Tour. es of IRC executive director, speak- nered with Indian River Land Trust
ing of their Credentialing Program for and students at various schools are
Moderator Carolyn Antenen noted “I’m thrilled to tell you, we opened Early Educators. Despite many of the rebuilding waterfront areas by grow-
the total amounts granted over the the doors to our new Graphic Design graduates previously having just GED- ing and planting a living shoreline.
past nine years to programs in their Impact Center,” said Paul Sexton, Hi- level education, all passed the four “This has got legs,” said Widder, noting
four focus areas: $956,000 to Educa- biscus Children’s Center president/ college classes to earn their Staff Cre- the number of businesses who are now
tion, $1.331 million to Health & Well- CEO, noting that their abused, aban- dential and several have since received getting involved.
ness, $644,000 to Family, and $445,000 promotions and raises. “All of them
to Enrichment & Environment. She know how special they are to be part of Impact 100 membership is open
then asked each of the panelists to this first cohort.” through Feb. 28 to all women who con-
share what has happened within their tribute $1,000; the number of transfor-
organizations in the months since re- Over the years, the Oslo Riverfront mational grants is dependent on that
ceiving their $100,000 grants. Conservation Area has received four year’s membership. A Meet the Final-
Impact 100 grants, each one building ists Member Reception will be held
“It sparked a metamorphosis of on the one before said Edie Widder, March 2 and voting takes place at the
sorts, in all of us,” said Judy Lemoncel- Ph.D., ORCA CEO and senior scientist. Annual Meeting in April.
li, Alzheimer & Parkinson Association The first grant enabled the creation
of IRC Development and Communica- of a pollution map of the Indian River For more information, visit www.im-
tion director, “because it permeated Lagoon. With the next, Indian River pact100ir.com. 

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Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / February 8, 2018 23

PEOPLE

Suzanne Carter, Scott Alexander and Brenda Lloyd. Rebecca Emmons, Linda Knoll and Judy Peschio. Carol Ovitz Hancock, Christy Northfield and Suzy Osgood.

Paul Sexton, Judy Lemoncelli, Carolyn Antenen, Shannon McGuire Bowman and Edie Widder.

Suzanne Conway, Robin Lloyd, Diane Hess and Leslie Bergstrom. PHOTOS: MARY SCHENKEL

24 Vero Beach 32963 / February 8, 2018 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

At ‘Old Vero’ gala, digging what lies below and ahead

BY STEPHANIE LaBAFF Gale Gillespie with Rody and Tommye Johnson and Sandra Rawls. PHOTOS: STEPHANIE LABAFF “We don’t dig to find; we dig to find
Staff Writer out. What we’re trying to do now
Randy Old, board president, out- four years of excavation,” said Old. is summarize all the things we’ve
Members and supporters of the lined the direction the nonprofit “We’ve had a good group of archae- learned.”
Old Vero Ice Age Sites Committee is taking in their quest to uncover ologists and a lot of volunteers at
gathered last Wednesday evening at more of Vero’s ancient secrets and the site. Now, it’s time to go on to They plan to devote this year to
its Quest for Knowledge Gala at the illuminate the future through the another site.” publishing Vero site findings, cre-
Riomar Country Club, where guests excavation, education and preser- ating displays and finding a new
celebrated archaeological discov- vation of the past. Before digging in too deeply at dig site, and in the fall will begin
eries made over the past four years a new location, previous findings working on a Vero Site exhibit at the
and learned of future plans to dig “We’ve had an extraordinary last need to be published, said Old. Indian River State College Mueller
into Vero’s past. campus.

As they enjoyed cocktails and Old shared the board’s vision for
hors d’oeuvres, Dann Jacobus spoke what’s been referred to as the most
about various Vero Dig artifacts, in- significant community Ice Age proj-
cluding a mammoth molar, saber- ect in North America and presented
tooth skull, mastodon tooth and rib. a video highlighting recent findings
and plans. The visual journey gave
The dig, located near the Coun- donors a clear picture of the group’s
ty Administration Building, is the direction and its growing relation-
site where “Vero Man” was first ship with IRSC, where artifacts are
unearthed in 1915. For nearly a being analyzed.
century the find was discredited,
until a University of Florida profes- IRSC President Edwin Massey
sor emerita of archaeology and an- noted that as a result of the collabo-
thropology dated a mammoth bone ration, the college now has an an-
from the area as originating be- thropology lab and a DNA sequenc-
tween 12,000 and 14,000 years ago. er, adding, “You guys have dug up a
Renewed interest led to the creation lot of dirt in Vero. It’s going to move
of OVIASC. our college forward.”

To learn more, visit oviasc.org. 

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / February 8, 2018 25

PEOPLE

Neepie Bourne, Randy Old and Mary Singer. Kalyn O’Connor and Jessica Higley. Jody Old, Anne Dunn and Catherine Walker.

Ron Rennick, Helen Post and Patty Rennick. Carol Fennell, Patty Rennick and Judy Luke. Kyle Freund with Brenda and Casey Lunceford.

Jennifer Watson with Todd and Kathy Fennell. Marie Stiefel and Andrew Currie. Edwin Massey and Peggy Lyon. Karen Meyer with David and Tina Banta.

26 Vero Beach 32963 / February 8, 2018 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

‘Love Your Lagoon’ honors Harbor Branch team effort

BY STEPHANIE LaBAFF perfect backdrop for the eco-centric
Staff Writer evening.

Love was in the air last Friday eve- Over cocktails and hors d’oeuvres,
ning at the seventh annual Love Your guests chatted with HBOI Gradu-
Lagoon fundraiser to benefit the Har- ate Research Fellows, who typically
bor Branch Oceanographic Institute spend their time knee deep in area
Foundation. The Quail Valley River waterways, studying the lagoon’s
Club, with its front-row seat along the unique ecosystem and devising ways
Indian River Lagoon, provided the to conserve the natural resource flow-
ing through our community.

Stephanie and Jeff Pickering with Katha Kissman and Marjorie Raines. PHOTOS: STEPHANIE LABAFF

“We have honored wonderful indi- tific knowledge and leadership in mak-
viduals who have really contributed ing our lagoon cleaner and better.”
to the health of the Indian River La-
goon,” said Katha Kissman, HBOI “Harbor Branch has some amazing
Foundation president/CEO, noting faculty, scientists, engineers, research-
that each year the foundation has ac- ers and project managers,” added Kiss-
knowledged steadfast advocates for man. “It was easy for us to decide that
their efforts to preserve and protect this year that’s who we were going to
the lagoon. honor. The work they are doing right
now on behalf of ocean science, ma-
Past honorees include: Florida en- rine science, our ecosystems, our estu-
vironmentalist pioneer Nathaniel ary and particularly the Indian River
Reed; environmental conservationist Lagoon is really amazing, and we’re
Alto “Bud” Adams; Vero’s first lady, very, very proud of them.”
Alma Lee Loy; Florida Oceanograph-
ic Society’s Mark Perry; the Smith- The foundation provides funding
sonian’s early lagoon champion Dr. and support for research, education
Mary Rice; and former Florida Insti- and outreach efforts in the fields of
tute of Technology professor Diane marine sciences and ocean engineer-
Barile. ing. Event proceeds will enable the
foundation to host the 2018 Annual In-
This year the board departed from dian River Lagoon Symposium: Resto-
its selection of a single honoree, ac- ration of the Indian River Lagoon, and
cording to Michael O’Reilly, HBOIF to fund 10 new researchers for the 2018
board chairman, who noted, “We Indian River Lagoon Graduate Student
really like to honor somebody that’s Fellows Program.
important to the health of the la-
goon. This year it became obvious The symposium will be hosted at
we should honor all of the principal FAU Harbor Branch in Fort Pierce, Feb.
investigators that provide their scien- 8-9. For more information, visit hboi-
foundation.org. 

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / February 8, 2018 27

PEOPLE

Guojun Wang, Adam Schaefer and Laurent Cherubin. Lucinda Gedeon, Harold Baker and Molly Steinwald. Ron and Kathy Edwards with Emmett Evans.

Bill Stewart and Katha Kissman.

Brian and Lee Lapointe.

Adam Schaefer and Jim Sullivan.

Pam and Dennis Corrick.

Colleen Brennan and Patrick Boles.

28 Vero Beach 32963 / February 8, 2018 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

Jane Fleming and Diane Stephens [seated]; Kathy Tonkel, Ginny

Sally Woods, Nan Freiheit and Pam Nettune. Mitchell and Donna Griffith [standing]. PHOTOS: MARY SCHENKEL Marcia Blackburn, Pat Hoff and Mary Susan Lyon.
100 years young! Tip of the ‘Kappa’ to Jane Fleming

BY MARY SCHENKEL Grand Harbor Beach Club for Jane day’s Vero Beach Museum of Art. to serve on the previously all-male
Staff Writer Fleming, who turned 100 on Jan. She also supports SafeSpace, Gifford John’s Island Property Owners As-
11, and also recognized her as an Youth Achievement Center, Planned sociation. A proponent of education,
Members of the Vero Beach Chap- 80-year member of Kappa Alpha Parenthood, Riverside Theatre and Fleming has awarded 108 full-year
ter of Kappa Alpha Theda, the first Theda. Long known for her philan- countless other nonprofits. She was scholarships to deserving students
Greek letter fraternity for women, thropic endeavors, Fleming was a active with the John’s Island Com- at the University of Nebraska and
commemorated Founders Day with founding member of the Alliance munity Service League and she this year gifted 10 scholarships for
a special birthday celebration at for the Arts, which evolved into to- and another woman were the first semesters abroad. 

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30 Vero Beach 32963 / February 8, 2018 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

Heartened by progress at ‘Haiti Partners’ luncheon

BY MARY SCHENKEL Elizabeth Hipp and David Johnson with Cathy
Staff Writer
Merline and John Engle with daughter Leila. and Willie LaCroix. PHOTOS: MARY SCHENKEL Marianne Johnson with Don and Carolyn White.
A room filled with core supporters Adam Bolinger and Jack Diehl.
of Haiti Partners gathered for their Myrlene Charette, Merline Engle and Elsie Mokoban. Betty and Al Sammartino.
annual Stories of Gratitude luncheon
at Costa d’Este last Friday afternoon.
Co-founders John Engle and Kent An-
nan expressed their appreciation and
spoke about recent advances and chal-
lenges in their quest to “help Haitians
change Haiti through education.”

Annan, via video from Chicago,
spoke about the Micah scholars, young
leaders who work with churches to re-
unite exploited youngsters living in
servitude with their families. Advo-
cates of social justice, Micah scholars
also champion women’s rights and en-
vironmental issues. “The program has
never been stronger and it’s only pos-
sible because of you,” said Annan.

“It’s no coincidence that ‘Partners’
is part of our name,” said Engle, who
spoke about the growth of the Chil-
dren’s Academy and Learning Center,
which has grown from 30 students six
years ago to today’s 216 students; many

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / February 8, 2018 31

PEOPLE

more students are being educated at It is not just children who benefit Haiti Partners promotes innovation ings and loan groups.
partner schools. “We always say to the from their life-long-learning approach in ways that get the entire community Haiti Partners will host its annual Ed-
parents and the members of the com- said Engle, noting, “Part of the vision involved, through social businesses
munity that they are the most impor- is the school is helping to care for the and entrepreneurships such as a hand- ucate and Celebrate fundraiser March
tant part of it. Without their invest- community. The school can reach made paper enterprise, poultry farms, 8 at Grand Harbor Golf Club, featuring
ment in the vision we wouldn’t have people that a lot of times the churches community garden, boutique grocery, food and wine pairings, Haitian crafts
anything.” cannot.” construction training and village sav- and artwork. For more information,
visit haitipartners.org. 

32 Vero Beach 32963 / February 8, 2018 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

Expert unlocks ancient artistic secrets of Mah Jongg

BY STEPHANIE LaBAFF
Staff Writer

Guests bonded over their love of Gregg Swain, Theresa Bounassi, Sara McLean and Brenda Cavicchio. PHOTOS: STEPHANIE LABAFF Carol Seidman and Fern Orzech.
an ancient Chinese game at a book
talk and luncheon hosted by the Ed- According to Swain, during Chi- Rindy Dodge and Cindi Dixon. and giving our brains a workout are
ucation Foundation of Indian River na’s Cultural Revolution, records keys to good aging. While you’re at
County last Tuesday at the Orchid Is- and Mah Jongg sets were systemati- the table, you forget about all the
land Beach Club that featured Gregg cally destroyed, leaving much of the other things you’re worried about.”
Swain, author of “Mah Jongg – The game’s history and culture to specu-
Art of the Game.” lation. Swain walked the interested As they departed, guests all re-
listeners through a visual presenta- ceived a copy of her book courtesy of
Swain spoke about the artistry tion of vintage, hand-painted, hand- Indian River Home Care.
of Mah Jongg sets, relating that she carved sets in intricately designed
first became intrigued by the game cases, explaining the symbolism Proceeds from the event support
during walks along the streets of behind the characters that adorn the the goal of the Education Foun-
New York City. tiles. dation to assist local schools and
achieve excellence for students and
“Before anyone had air condition- In addition to the beauty of the educators by developing, evaluating
ing, a lot of the ladies would sit on pieces, Swain stressed that playing and securing funding for innovative
the sidewalk, in the shade, playing the game can be beneficial. projects.
this mysterious tile game. They’d
say words like ‘Dragons!’ and ‘Bam!’ “Being with others, socializing For information, visit edfounda-
and ‘Crack!’ and then there would be tionirc.org. 
a lot of laughter,” said Swain, noting
that she didn’t actually learn how to
play until age 60.

“Mah Jongg changed my life for
the better and hopefully, by the end
of the talk today, you’ll understand
how lovely, on so many levels, this
game can be,” said Swain, adding
with a warning, “It’s a bit on the ad-
dictive side.”

Admitting that she dreamed
of making an art discovery while
studying ancient art at Smith Col-
lege, Swain said, “I didn’t discover
an Egyptian tomb, but I did discov-
er a type of art that had been over-
looked for way too many years, Mah
Jongg art.”

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / February 8, 2018 33

PEOPLE

Woody and Gregg Swain with Cynthia Falardeau. Evelyn Copeland, Mary Mullan and DeDe Snowden. Cynthia Falardeau, Cathy Filusch, Ardith Williams and Wanda Lincoln.

Sara McLean and Brenda Cavicchio.

Marilyn Crockett Marion, Ailish Miller and Melody Gabriel. Karen Riley and Margot Cornices. Domitra Moore and Cori Tate.

34 Vero Beach 32963 / February 8, 2018 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

IRSA revels in 25 years of showcasing elite orchestras

Linda Coleman and Ed Shanaphy.

Loel Baldwin and Penny Odiorne. PHOTOS: MARY SCHENKEL BY MARY SCHENKEL the world’s finest orchestras to Vero
Staff Writer Beach with a Cupcakes and Cham-
pagne Reception and a rousing
The Indian River Symphonic Asso- “Broadway Our Way” Pops Concert,
ciation celebrated a quarter century last Friday evening at the Commu-
of meeting its mission of bringing nity Church of Vero Beach.

Maestro Christopher Confessore
conducted the brilliant Brevard
Symphony Orchestra which, fitting-
ly, was the first orchestra presented
by the nonprofit organization on
Jan. 23, 1994.

The timing was right 25 years ago,
when the vision of founder Penny
Odiorne’s love of symphonic mu-
sic merged with the BSO’s interest
in expanding and then Community
Church Music Director Dr. Ray Ad-
ams recognizing an opportunity to
promote that wonderfully acoustic
venue.

In addition to the BSO, which has
continued its relationship through
the years, IRSA has presented world-
class performances by 54 different
orchestras from 23 countries plus
10 from the United States. To fos-
ter a love of music in younger gen-
erations, IRSA annually hosts a BSO
Children’s Concert for all local fifth-
graders. Since 1998, IRSA has award-
ed $143,750 in college scholarships
to 45 students and in 2017 provided a
grant to the Vero Beach High School
Philharmonic Orchestra for its Aus-
trian tour.

For information on upcoming con-
certs, visit irsymphonic.org. 

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / February 8, 2018 35

PEOPLE

Ernst Furnsinn, Maria Murray, Ali Furnsinn and Margaret Parker. Michele Witt, Jim and Ann Smith, and Beverly Cambron.

Ed and Susan Smith
John Crosby, Elizabeth D. Kennedy and Steve Leary.

36 Vero Beach 32963 / February 8, 2018 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

Sea of green: Flourishing Gardenfest attracts 20,000

BY STEPHANIE LaBAFF Vendors plying their wares again spected professionals impart their other green-minded nonprofits, and
Staff Writer numbered at 85, offering every con- green-thumbed expertise. representatives of the Environmen-
ceivable gardening accessory imag- tal Learning Center, Shining Light
The Garden Club of Indian River inable. Wagonload after wagonload of Garden Foundation and the Vero
County, which celebrates its 90th an- fruit trees, flowering plants, palm Beach Orchid Society shared their
niversary this year, transformed Riv- In addition to all-things-green, trees, ferns, succulents, bromeliads, missions to educate and beautify the
erside Park into a veritable Garden of bee boxes, birdhouses, planters, Florida natives, herbs, orchids, bam- community through gardening, flo-
Eden last weekend for its 17th annual pottery, furniture, fire pits, lighting boo, roses, African violets and gar- ral arrangement, horticulture and
Gardenfest, a two-day horticulture and statuary were there for the tak- den accessories left the park pow- landscape design.
extravaganza that drew an estimated ing. And Ask an Expert workshops ered under the steam of Boys and
20,000 gardeners to the park. attracted audiences of novices and Girls Club volunteers. Proceeds from the event support
master gardeners alike to hear re- the protection and conservation of
The Garden Club partnered with native plants and natural resources,
provides scholarships and enables
club members to continue their civic
beautification projects.

Next up, the Bougainvillea Circle
will host its 20th Annual Antique and
Vintage Show and Sale Feb. 10-11 at
the Garden Club. For information,
visit gardenclubofirc.org. 

Lisa Rose and June Gaston.
Tricia Lott and Elaine Saeva.

Jess Tonn with daughter Marji Hansen.

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / February 8, 2018 37

PEOPLE

Sandy O’Bradovic and Jackie Chan. Valerie Flanagan, Nili Twersky, Marilyn Richardson and Karen Pannell. PHOTOS: GORDON RADFORD PHOTOS CONTINUED ON PAGE 38
Ava Castell and Alexis D’Orsi.

Stephen and Tricia Boyle with children Molly and Clara.

Courtney DiPietro and Allison Votzi.

38 Vero Beach 32963 / February 8, 2018 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

PHOTOS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 37 Barbara Stockton, Posie Shailer and Nancy Cameron.
Karen Vatland, Julie Eisdorfer and Barbara Russell.

Joanne and Wolfgang Kintzner. Jan Schubert, David King and Barbara Sotos. Bella Bailey. PHOTOS: STEPHANIE LABAFF



40 Vero Beach 32963 / February 8, 2018 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

ARTS & THEATRE

Strum through time at Museum’s guitar history exhibit

BY ELLEN FISCHER cussion at every venue as to which
Columnist pieces will be included in that par-
ticular setting.
The current Holmes Gallery Medieval to Metal: The Art &
exhibition at the Vero Beach Museum of Evolution of the Guitar. He adds, “There are some
Art purports to follow the history of the that we always
guitar from its roots in the ancient oud to PHOTOS BY GORDON RADFORD show, because
the relatively recent development of the we feel they are
electric guitar in the U.S. science and history museums featuring the core of the
displays geared toward guitar construc- exhibit.”
“Medieval to Metal: The Art & tion, acoustics and the nature of sound One of the cases in
Evolution of the Guitar” is a traveling itself. the gallery appears to
art installation produced by the be empty. A glance
National Guitar Museum. The word Your first glimpse of the current ex- at the text panel in-
“museum” implies a brick and mortar hibition may focus on the 40 identi- side reveals that we
building with galleries and collection cal black cases that line the walls of are looking at an air
storage, perhaps a performance area the gallery; their design looks like a guitar, which, says
and a museum shop – but the National Newquist, is included
Guitar Museum, a privately-held in every presentation
company established in 2008, has of this show.
none of those. Its mailing address is a
residential home in Fairfield, Conn.

It does have a collection of about 250
guitars, according to founder and CEO
Harvey P. Newquist, and roughly two
thirds of them have been traveling in
two exhibitions since 2011. “Medieval
to Metal” is aimed at art museum dis-
play, while “Guitar: The Instrument that
Rocked the World” is marketed toward

cross between a telephone booth and “It’s the one that everybody has al-
a sci-fi transporter. Each one displays ways asked for. Every place that we’ve
a stringed instrument with its corre- ever been like, ‘Bet you don’t have an
sponding text panel. Some of the instru- air guitar!’”
ments, like the oud and lute, are prede-
cessors of the guitar. The lion’s share of The instruments on view are a mixed
the show is devoted to the development bag. The oldest object is the “Romantic
of, and variations on, the electric guitar. Guitar” made by the German company
As it arrived at the VBMA, the full exhi- Goldklang around 1890. It is intriguing
bition contains 60 objects; the 20 not on for the carved web of wood – complete
view will spend their time in Vero Beach with a tiny spider at its center – that fills
behind the scenes, in storage. the guitar’s sound hole. The vihuela,
predecessor to the modern acoustic
Newquist says that there is a dis- guitar, is displayed nearby. This vihuela

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / February 8, 2018 41

ARTS & THEATRE

is a modern reproduction (crafted by Newquist has several answers, none of In between bouts of writing, his ca- He refers to the shows as “gateways,”
U.S. luthier, Daniel Larson) of a precious which address the question. reer as the chief curator of the National because they lure in “those people
16th century instrument owned by the Guitar Museum keeps Newquist touring who otherwise might not visit an art
Cité de la Musique museum in Paris. “This show is about the evolution with the museum’s two traveling exhi- museum.”
Others in this section, the theorbo and of the guitar. Mostly the guitar is a bitions. As separate entities they have
the Baroque guitar, are also beautifully workhorse. It is not about the aesthetics been installed in more than two dozen Newquist seems convinced that the
crafted reproductions. of the look, it is about the sound,” he says. public venues over the past seven years. first heady whiff of his guitar show
will somehow produce a new crop of
Some instruments are readily The objects on display, he explains, “We are booked into 2020 for both art addicts who will scramble to buy
obtainable examples of their kind; are “the physical manifestation of exhibits and we do six a year. Three of museum memberships – or at least show
including the sloppily crafted oud on music.” each exhibit,” Newquist says. up for another VBMA offering.
display. Most of the late-20th century
guitars in the show were mass produced; That is to say, musical instruments Like his books, which are chock-full Concerning the construction of a
the Fender Stratocaster, designed in make the art of music possible, and of factual nuggets aimed at a general building to house the National Guitar
1954, is still in production. must therefore be considered part of audience, Newquist’s guitar exhibitions Museum, Newquist says that plans
music’s art. are for people who know what they like to “settle down” keep getting moved
“You can buy an identical one today,” – and they like their learning sweetened back. “Now we are looking at maybe
says Newquist. He adds that, although his first with entertainment. 2022,” he says. 
consideration was to exhibit objects
There are also some hand-crafted that would illustrate the historical MAGICAL
electric guitars on view; notable among development of the guitar, some of the PATTERNS
these is an eccentrically gorgeous lyre- instruments “show a level of design and
shaped model by Di Donato Guitars of craftsmanship that you would normally JOIN US FOR A JEWELRY SHOW WITH
Venice, Italy. associate with an artist.”
ADEL CHEFRIDI
Most of the pieces in the show, Newquist said that the idea to
however, are not particularly rare or create a guitar museum began with FRIDAY & SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9 & 10
valuable. As a whole, this offering can his own collection, which he and his
best be described as a study collection, wife displayed on the walls of their
one that can endure the rigors of home. Newquist’s fascination with the
travel and handling by everyone from instrument began in 1974, when he was
shippers, to museum preparators to, a young teen intent on learning to play.
well, anyone Newquist invites to try one Ten years later he was the lead guitarist
out, beginning with himself. in a band called “Thief” that included
two of his brothers and a friend. Not
“I play all of them, every year,” he part of that group, a younger sibling,
boasts. Jimmy Newquist, gained notice as the
primary songwriter, guitarist and lead
Newquist adds that he allowed singer for the alternative rock band
Dane Roberts, the museum’s mem- “Caroline’s Spine.”
bership coordinator, to play the ex-
hibition’s translucent, cherry red B.C. While Harvey P. Newquist did not find
Rich Warlock electric guitar. Its ag- rock stardom, the University of Notre
gressively angled styling – more like Dame graduate did attain prominence
a piece of weaponry than a musical in the 1980s as a business analyst in
instrument – has made it the darling the artificial intelligence industry.
of heavy metal guitarists for nearly 40 Changing course in the 1990s, he was
years. One like it can be purchased for editor in chief of Guitar Magazine “for
a few hundred dollars. a good portion” of that decade. As H.P.
Newquist he is currently an author of
When asked why he thinks the objects books on “weird science.” His published
in “Medieval to Metal” are art objects, works include “The Great Brain Book:
An Inside Look at the Inside of Your
Head” of 2005 (it won kudos from the
National Science Teachers Association
and the Children’s Book Council); “This
Will Kill You: A Guide to the Ways in
Which We Go” of 2009; and “The Book
of Blood” of 2012.

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42 Vero Beach 32963 / February 8, 2018 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 35 ARTS & THEATRE

A winning production: Legend comes to life in ‘Lombardi’

BY PAM HARBAUGH Lombardi’s fashionable mid-’60s “Mad Richard Zavaglia as Vince Lombardi.
Men” era home to the locker rooms, the
Correspondent practice field and even a bar, all slipped PHOTOS BY GORDON RADFORD
into place in an instant.
At the risk of sounding sexist ...
Riverside Theatre has opened a IntothislandscapewemeetLombardi
handsome production of a play that through the eyes of Look magazine
could turn husbands into theater reporter Michael McCormick, who has
patrons. traveled from New York to Green Bay
to stay at the coach’s home for an up-
It’s “Lombardi,” a long one-act about close-and-personal interview.
famed Green Bay Packer coach Vince
Lombardi, that is not a musical and Greg Fallick forges an earnest
doesn’t have an intermission, so even likability for the reporter, a young man
those husbands who went to Sunday’s struggling with his own father issues,
matinee still got home in time for the who finds himself confronting a larger
Super Bowl. than life man in Lombardi.

That’s probably the way Lombardi Denise Cormier brings to life Marie
would have wanted it. No fuss, no muss. Lombardi, an attractive woman as adept
Just get the job done … in a winning at mixing a highball as she is advising
fashion, that is. her husband … and the reporter.

And that’s what director and designer But the show belongs to Richard
Allen D. Cornell has accomplished with Zavaglia, who carves out a rich portrayal
“Lombardi,” a show that is as tightly of Lombardi. His mix is a complicated
formed and smartly paced as any one – filled with gruffness and love,
complex offense play jotted down on a confidence and vulnerability. His
coach’s blackboard. Lombardi nearly aches with affection
for his players, yet all the while he is a
Cornell’s scenic design uses the split-second away from lecturing them.
outline of a football field, with Green Even when he yells “Shut up, Marie,”
Bay’s gold and dark green colors to serve you have to laugh because you feel the
as the backdrop. He takes you from

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Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / February 8, 2018 43

Greg Fallick as ARTS & THEATRE Denise Cormier
Michael McCormick. as Marie Lombardi.

tenderness between the two. waking up. Players want more money, of Vince Lombardi. In fact, it’s not so Waxlax Stage. However, that venue is
The beloved football legend is the more health insurance. Sons want to much the play as Riverside’s production busy so it was produced on the Stark
spread their own wings and not fly in that advances the intriguing layer of so- Stage, Riverside’s larger mainstage.
man in whose honor the Super Bowl’s their father’s orbit. Lombardi com- cial change. Nevertheless, the show has an intimate
Vincent Lombardi Trophy is awarded plains, “Young people today don’t trust feel to it primarily because of the sound,
each year. The award processional their leaders.” And Marie? Well, other Where we first hear boos and cheers which is rich and acoustic like a live
includes the trophy being brought down than looking stylish in Anna Hillbery’s in Craig Beyrooti’s sound design, we end theater of, well, the mid-’60s … long
a gauntlet of the players on the winning period costumes, she seems content to up hearing the Rolling Stones’ playful before body mics became de rigueur.
team. Each player tries to touch the mix the drinks, maybe a bit too often for but sexually charged song “Satisfaction,”
trophy and sometimes even kiss it. her own good. and then music by the Doors, a group so So yes, the times they were
iconic of the ’60s drug culture. a-changin,’ but the football legend lives
This is the man who turned a losing But that’s about as far as the audi- on and comes to affectionate life at
team into one that secured the first two ence is taken by Eric Simonson’s slim Beyrooti needs another compliment Riverside Theatre in its handsome and
Super Bowl wins and to whom multiple play, which is based on David Maraniss’ here. This is a straight play, meaning smart production of “Lombardi.”
quotes are attributed, including, book, When Pride Still Mattered: A Life it’s not a musical. Normally, Riverside
incorrectly, “Winning isn’t everything, produces its straight plays on its smaller “Lombardi” runs through Feb. 18 at
it’s the only thing.” Riverside Theatre, 3250 Riverside Drive,
Vero Beach. Tickets start at $35. Call 772-
But there is a threat of change in the 231-6990 or visit RiversideTheatre.com. 
air. It’s the mid-’60s and people are

44 Vero Beach 32963 / February 8, 2018 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

ARTS & THEATRE

Coming Up: You asked for it … and Symphony’s delivering

BY SAMANTHA BAITA chestra. Belyavskiy, a Russian and a Beethovenian triumph over fate/pes-
Staff Writer highly regarded interpreter of Liszt, simism”; and Barber’s Concerto for Vi-
will play two big fan favorites, Gersh- olin, Opus 14. In spite of a lengthy and
1 The Space Coast Symphony win’s “Rhapsody in Blue” and Liszt’s rocky genesis, this has become one of
Orchestra’s concert – this Sun- “Totentanz” (Dance of the Dead), the most frequently performed of all
a thrilling piece which, according 20th century concertos, and an excit-
day at Trinity Episcopal Church in to Wikipedia, is notable for “being ing young musician, violinist Sirena
based on the Gregorian plainchant Huang, will be performing it Thurs-
Vero Beach – could be called “SCSO’s melody “Dies Erae,” and for its dar- day. Winner of the inaugural Elmar
ing innovative style. Tickets are $20 Oliviera International Violin Compe-
Greatest Hits.” Preparing the pro- in advance; $25 at the door; and free tition, Huang was praised by the Bal-
for 18 and under or with student ID. timore Sun for her “impeccable tech-
gram certainly required more time Show time is 3 p.m. nique … deeply expressive phrasing
… and poetic weight,” bringing not
than usual, and the orchestra will only “technical brilliance and power-
ful artistry,” but also a strong sense of
definitely be “playing favorites”: Ar- connection to her audience. The com-
petition website says Huang made her
tistic Director Aaron Collins and his solo debut with the National Taiwan
Symphony Orchestra in 2004 at only
musicians reviewed hundreds of au- 9, and, since then, has performed in
17 countries across three continents.
dience requests from the past nine The music begins at 7:30 p.m. Tickets
are $40 to $60.
seasons (Collins says the orchestra’s 2 So much wonderful classical mu-
sic this week: On Thursday, Feb.
“dedicated and knowledgeable audi-

ence” has never had a problem “let- 15, the Atlantic Classical Orchestra

ting me know what they like”). That takes the stage at St. Edward’s School’s

abundance of choices resulted in an Waxlax Center for its Masterworks II

exciting musical evening brimming program, “Songs and Dances.” The “following the demise of Buffalo
Springfield in 1968” and in the first
with the biggest and best-loved sym- music will soar to the rafters as the wave of the West Coast country rock
genre. Think “Crazy Love,” “Heart
phonic works by Gershwin, Stravin- orchestra performs Prokofiev’s Clas- of the Night,” “Rose of Cimmaron.”
They’re bringing all that and more
sky, Respighi, Rimsky-Korsakov, sical Symphony, Opus 25, written in to the Emerson Center this coming
Thursday, and they’re still going
Prokofiev, Debussy, Ravel, Grieg and loose imitation of the style of Haydn; strong, even cranked up that energy
and ’tude. Music starts at 7 p.m. 
others: official title – “Fan Favorites.” Schumann’s Symphony No. 2, Opus 61

Making this concert even more of a in C Major: The uplifting tone of this 3 Next up on the LIVE! From
Vero Beach concert schedule
Must Attend event, 2017 Van Cliburn symphony, according to Wikipedia, is

piano competition quarter-finalist remarkable in the face of Schumann’s it’s Poco, the California country

Sergey Belyavskiy will join the or- health problems, and “can be seen as a rock band formed, says Wikipedia,



46 Vero Beach 32963 / February 8, 2018 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

INSIGHT COVER STORY

LEAVING A DILEMMA AT THE WALL

BY MICHAEL E. RUANE | WASHINGTON POST

When Vietnam veteran Gordon J. drove from Corpus Christi, Tex., to the but in a practice the National Park Ser- vice curator. “But it’s becoming more
Castro died six years ago, his older Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Wash- vice is now trying to stop. and more of an issue . . . It’s something
brother, Leon, had him cremated and ington to fulfill his brother’s wish that that we have to definitely deal with.”
placed his remains in a specially in- he be laid to rest at the Wall. With an aging population of Viet-
scribed, stainless-steel box. nam veterans, the 50th anniversary This past fall, signs were erected at
It was hard to leave him so far from of the worst year of fighting and Ken the Wall telling visitors that human re-
He glued on Gordon’s Purple Heart home, Leon Castro said, but Gordon Burns and Lynn Novick’s powerful mains “and associated objects” should
medal, his silver and blue Combat In- had said he “left the better part of him- Vietnam War documentary, the Park not be left or scattered there, or any-
fantryman Badge and a 1st Cavalry Di- self” in Vietnam. Service said, there has been an in- where on the Mall.
vision insignia. crease in remains being left.
Gordon Castro’s remains are among Leaving mementos at the Wall has
Then he got into his Ford pickup, scores that have been left at the Wall “It’s been happening for years and been a tradition since the polished
put the box on the passenger seat and over the years, in gestures of devotion, years,” said Janet Folkerts, a Park Ser- stone memorial bearing the names

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / February 8, 2018 47

INSIGHT COVER STORY

PARK SERVICE STRUGGLES TO DISCOURAGE PEOPLE FROM
PLACING VIETNAM VETERANS’ ASHES AT THE MEMORIAL

Dick Lundskow’s family and friends “We don’t have a way of knowing if
left two small manila packets there it’s even a Vietnam vet,” she said. “Some
this past Memorial Day. He wasn’t a of them could be other family mem-
veteran but was devoted to veterans’ bers. They could be veterans from other
causes, his daughter Angela Childers wars. . . . We don’t know.”
said, and would have wanted part of
him left there. Spokesman Mike Litterst said the
remains can’t be added to the Park Ser-
Some cremains are in wooden, glass vice’s official collections.
or metal urns. Some are in small pill-
style boxes. Some are in plastic bags or “We’re not permitted,” he said. “And
Tupperware containers, according to a right now, we don’t have an answer for
Park Service list. what to do with these remains. But we
do know that they won’t become part
A 155-mm artillery shell casing said of the collections.”
to contain the cremains of a Daniel
Dhee Hughes was left in 2006. Anderson, in an interview at the re-
source center this month, said: “We’ve
been talking for a long time now about
what to do about it . . . trying to come
up with a policy for how we want to
handle this.

This box contains the cremains of “Because we’re not really equipped,”
Vietnam veteran Gordon J. Castro. she said. “I imagine it’s a big decision –
what do you do with your loved one – es-
of the 58,000 Vietnam War dead was Maryland. The human cremains are An elegant wooden box labeled “Mas- pecially if somebody is asking to be left
dedicated in 1982. kept in a locked metal cabinet with the ter Gunnery Sergeant Ronald William here. You want to honor those wishes.
windows papered over. Looney” was left after he died in 2008. But we’re not allowed to accept them.”
Hundreds of thousands of letters, It is adorned with the Marine Corps
photographs, jungle boots, stuffed About 70 cremains – some in con- globe-and-anchor insignia and has an Most parks do allow the scatter-
animals, sculptures, dog tags, college tainers, some scattered – have been left ornate metal clasp. ing of remains under certain circum-
rings, a motorcycle, cigars, a piece of a at the Wall over the years, said Folkerts,
helicopter rotor blade and human re- a curator at the resource center. The A silver container labeled “Martin stances and with a permit. But rules
mains have been left. first were left in 1990, she said. The most Ranko” still bears the logo of the Long vary from park to park, according to
recent appeared several weeks ago. Island Cremation Co. of West Babylon, regulations provided by Litterst.
The artifacts are gathered and N.Y. It was left Veterans Day weekend,
stored in the Park Service’s large Mu- Thirty-one have been left in the past 1990. Shenandoah National Park allows
seum Resource Center in suburban five years, including five in 2017. scattering but does not allow urns.
A small gold cylinder left in May
2011 has a taped-on label, reading: At Pearl Harbor, cremains of survi-
vors of the World War II attack on the
SFC William R Shales USS Arizona can be placed in urns
174th assault helicopter company aboard the sunken wreck. And the ash-
Retired 20 years of service es of Pearl Harbor attack survivors can
3 tours of Viet Nam be spread in the harbor.
1937 - 2011 Rest in peace.
Yosemite National Park prohibits
An envelope containing the cre- scattering from the air. It requires re-
mains of Roger B. Probst Sr. was left mains to be further “pulverized” after
June 21, 1991. Someone had written cremation and prohibits any publicity
on the envelope: “You finally made it.
Enjoy your reunion . . . ” STORY CONTINUED ON PAGE 50

Many of the containers are not marked
with a name, said Laura Anderson, cura-
tor for the Mall and Memorial Parks.

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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 47 Mike Litterst, spokesman for the Mall and Gordon entered the Army and
Memorial Parks, and curator Laura Anderson served in the infantry with the 1st Air
of the scattering event. remove containers left at the Vietnam War Cavalry Division in 1970
Colonial National Historical Park, in Memorial from a cabinet at the National
Park Service archive in Landover, Md. He lived in Victoria, Tex., and worked
Virginia, allows scattering by air but at a nearby Alcoa plant. His sister said
from a minimum altitude of 2,000 feet he was a gentle person who played the
and not over developed areas or bod- violin and did fine woodworking. He
ies of water. had been married and divorced twice
and had no children.
The Wall is unique.
“A lot of Vietnam veterans feel very But the brothers were very close.
connected to the memorial,” Folkerts “We didn’t have a father and grew
said. “It speaks to them in a way that up fairly poor,” Leon said. Later, “we’d
many other places in the country don’t. go ride motorcycles all over.”
So they would like to become part of it.” When Gordon got sick, he asked to
Jan Scruggs, founder of the Vietnam be cremated, Leon said. And “one day,
Veterans Memorial Fund, which built out of the blue, said he wanted me to
the Wall, said in a email: take his . . . remains and leave them on
“Many veterans and their families the Wall.”
want ashes spread at THE WALL and “I didn’t quite understand it,” he said.
will do as they please. The vets want “Trying to figure out why he wanted that,
to be reunited with those who they re- I asked him, and he just said he felt he left
member as ‘forever young’ who laid the better part of himself” in Vietnam.
down their lives in Vietnam, and to ease “He kind of felt he died there, sort of.”
their pain that time cannot heal.” His sister said he had made an emo-
Leon Castro, 70, said that in the final tional visit to the Wall several years
months of his brother’s life, Gordon ago and took rubbings of the names of
abruptly announced he wanted his friends.
cremains left at the Wall. Gordon died April 20, 2012, age 61.
Both men had served in Vietnam but Leon had the box specially fabricat-
had rarely talked about their experienc- ed and engraved. He drove the 1,600
es, he said in a telephone interview from miles from Corpus Christi to Washing-
Corpus Christi. The men and their sister, ton in his red pickup. It was a two-day
Linda, had been raised there by a single drive. He said he didn’t feel alone: “My
mother who worked as a secretary. brother was with me.”
Leon, a retired carpenter, had gone to
Vietnam first, serving in 1966 and 1967.


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