05/20/2021 ISSUE 20

2 Shores criminal cases remain
in pandemic limbo. P12
Hip resurfacing can
be good alternative. P46

Republican women dispute
Sheriff’s bill for rally security. P11

For breaking news visit

MY VERO Huge price jump
for property on
BY RAY MCNULTY ocean and river

Chamber exec accused of
‘bullying’ School Board

Chamber of Commerce Worker shortage hits even companies like Piper BY STEVEN M. THOMAS
President Dori Stone wouldn’t Staff Writer
share her organization’s code BY RAY MCNULTY The squeeze is being felt Piper Aircraft, which is try-
of conduct, but she did say Staff Writer up and down supply chains ing to hire 75 to 100 new Oceanfront and riverfront
staffers are expected to “re- and across industries, hit- staffers to meet increasing real estate prices on the island
spect all of our members and It isn’t just restaurants and ting companies as diverse production demand. have jumped dramatically over
business community, as well retail shops that are having as Cheney Brothers – a food the past year and especially
as all of the elected officials a hard time hiring enough service distributor whose A small number of the in recent months, as ever-in-
in Indian River County.” workers in the wake of the trucks can be seen daily Piper openings are for high- creasing buyer demand runs
pandemic. making their rounds – to er-paying and highly spe- up against historically low in-
That includes, I assume, ventory.
members of the county’s School CONTINUED ON PAGE 3
Board. An astonishing case in point
is a .65-acre oceanfront lot
So, it’ll be interesting to see in Riomar south of the golf
how the Chamber’s board of di- course sold earlier this month
rectors responds to the deplor- by Cathy Curley, a broker as-
able behavior of its business re- sociate at Dale Sorensen Real
tention manager, John Corapi, Estate, for $5.5 million – more
who last week: than double what the land was
purchased for just last July.
 Disrupted a School Board
Meanwhile, median single-
meeting by knowingly tak- family home prices in The
ing an auxiliary seat reserved Moorings, where many homes
for board members, refused are waterfront, are up 40 per-
to vacate the chair when ap- cent so far this year compared
proached by sheriff’s deputies to last year, from $1.45 million
and verbally antagonized the
deputies as they physically CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

Longtime minister Scott Alexander to retire at end of July Riverside Theatre to reopen earlier than
planned with full 2022 season of hits
BY MICHELLE GENZ he would find his flock in the
Staff Writer midst of a deadly pandemic as BY MARY SCHENKEL last spring as the pandemic
well as a raucous political di- Staff Writer dramatically descended, had
Scott Alexander knew there vide over how to end it. planned to reopen in fall 2022,
would be challenges 11 years In another sign that things but changed course as public
ago when he took on leader- Fortunately, only six of his are getting better, the island’s health conditions improved
ship of the most socially liberal congregation’s 400 members renowned playhouse, River- more rapidly than expected.
congregation in heavily con- came down with COVID-19, side Theatre, announced it
servative Indian River County. and the cases were not traced will reopen in January with a Riverside Theatre market-
back to the church, where full season of big Broadway ing director Oscar Sales said
But he never anticipated that mask-wearing and social dis- musicals and serious drama. discussions about an acceler-
in the year-and-a-half before tancing were strictly followed. ated reopening began earlier
his retirement at the end of July, The theater, which went dark
CONTINUED ON PAGE 4 CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

PHOTOS BY BRENDA AHEARN

May 20, 2021 Volume 14, Issue 20 Newsstand Price $1.00 Golf-A-Thon raises
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2 Vero Beach 32963 / May 20, 2021 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

NEWS

My Vero with Flowers and had done a radio
show with him.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
As of Monday, Flowers had not re-
escorted him to the lobby. sponded to my email asking about his
agency’s investigation of Corapi’s con-
 Angrily demanded – not politely duct.

requested or respectfully urged – that Barefoot, meanwhile, already had
School Board members at the meeting contacted Indian River Shores Police
obey his command to end the district’s Chief Rich Rosell, who said last week-
in-school mask mandate and stop en- end he had alerted the private security
forcing social-distancing measures force in the chairman’s John’s Island
at public sessions, shouting at them, community and increased his agen-
“Enough is enough!” cy’s patrols there.

 Encouraged local anti-maskers “If this guy knows people at John’s
Island, he might be able to get through
to attempt to intimidate School Board the gate, but it would be a terrible idea
members, writing on the “We The if he did,” Rosell said. “We’re onto him.”
People Indian River” group’s Face-
book page, “It’s time to protest outside That means Corapi has put himself
their homes and let them really hear on the radar of at least one local law
and see we mean business and want enforcement agency – a distinction
change now!” that tarnishes the Chamber’s image
and should embarrass its directors.
The social-media chatter didn’t end
there. For her part, Stone said the Cham-
ber would investigate Corapi’s con-
When someone in the Facebook duct and submit its findings to the or-
group asked which School Board mem- ganization’s board of directors, which
ber should be targeted first, Corapi will determine his fate in accordance
suggested Mara Schiff, writing, “I think with its employment policies and code
Shiffy would be perfect! She is the of conduct.
most obvious to cave, I think. She can’t
handle the pressure.” “I’m tempted to write a letter to the
Chamber,” Barefoot said, adding that
Corapi’s response prompted anoth- he’s not worried about his safety but
er group member to write that both has concerns for other board mem-
Schiff and Chairman Brian Barefoot bers because, “I think this guy is crazy
“need to go immediately,” along with enough to do something stupid.”
School Superintendent David Moore.
Any thorough investigation should
“It’s bizarre,” Moore said. “He’s try- include a full review of the footage
ing to bully the board.” of Corapi’s deportment at the School
Board meeting – from his rude disrup-
Corapi nearly succeeded: Board tion of the proceedings to his defiant
member Jackie Rosario called for an interaction with deputies, to his pseu-
unscheduled and unadvertised vote to do-tough rant from the podium.
immediately make mask wearing op-
tional for the remainder of the school “They were trying to create a ruck-
year, but the mandate remains in effect us,” Moore said, referring to not only
as Barefoot, Schiff and Peggy Jones re- Corapi, but also former School Board
jected the motion. member Tiffany Justice and some
members of the anti-mask Moms For
The next day, upon learning of the Liberty group she co-founded.
disturbing Facebook posts, Moore’s
staff notified board members and the Both Moore and Barefoot said Jus-
Sheriff’s Office, which should be inves- tice went to the lobby and invited peo-
tigating Corapi’s social-media activity ple to come into the board chamber,
to determine whether the threat is real knowing there were no seats available.
and if it constitutes cyber-bullying. She then used her phone to record
video and audio of Corapi’s prolonged
In addition, Barefoot said he dis- interaction with the deputies assigned
cussed Corapi’s ugly antics with Sheriff to the meeting.
Eric Flowers at a school district event
later in the week. “This incident was, in my opinion,
choreographed by Tiffany Justice,”
“Flowers knows all about it,” Bare- Barefoot said.
foot said.
In her own Facebook post, Justice
Perhaps so, but Corapi didn’t seem wrote that she went to the lobby and
to be overly concerned Friday, when invited people into the chamber only
he posted on his personal Facebook after she spoke with Moore before the
page video footage of his confronta- start of the meeting and convinced
tion with the deputies. him to instruct district staffers in the
audience to vacate their seats to ac-
When one of his Facebook friends commodate more parents and visitors.
wrote, “I thought you were going to get
arrested,” Corapi answered, “Nope. I She went on to accuse Moore and
had people in the background that had the board of discouraging the pub-
my back if it got to that point.” lic from attending meetings, writing,
“I felt, and still feel, that this was a
He didn’t identify those people, but blatant move on the district’s part to
after being removed from the meeting,
Corapi was heard saying outside the
building that he was “good friends”

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / May 20, 2021 3

NEWS

make speakers feel uncomfortable efits package,” Piper spokeswoman eliminating the need for additional Piper’s executive leadership suc-
and unwelcome.” Jackie Carlon said. “So, if you haven’t trainer aircraft. cessfully navigated through the pan-
gone to college – if you’re a high school demic’s turbulence by continuously
That’s nonsense, of course. graduate with a great work ethic – this Production fell nearly 16 percent monitoring the global aircraft sales
The School Board has been limit- could be a good way to start a new ca- from 290 total aircraft in 2019 to 244 in market and making the necessary ad-
ing attendance in the chamber to ac- reer.” 2020, with the company’s wildly popu- justments to the company’s produc-
commodate social-distancing efforts lar trainers accounting for the bulk of tion and delivery schedule.
throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Carlon said Piper began reducing the decrease.
Parents and visitors who want to ad- its payroll through attrition when the Among those adjustments was a de-
dress the board during the public- COVID-19 pandemic hit in March “The flight schools went to an online cision to postpone work on trainers
comment segments of meetings may 2020 and flight schools were closed, training format,” Carlon said, “which
do so, but some must wait in the lobby meant they didn’t need airplanes.” CONTINUED ON PAGE 4
until their names are called.
For months, in fact, the board has
patiently listened as the same lineup of
anti-maskers paraded to the podium.
As for those auxiliary seats: They’re
reserved to allow board members to
watch presentations on the dais, as was
the case at last week’s meeting, where
students’ academic achievements were
recognized.
Corapi, however, didn’t accept that
explanation. He stubbornly argued with
deputies for several minutes before he
finally stood up and was physically es-
corted out of the chamber, attempting
to verbally provoke an escalation of the
incident on his way to the lobby.
“Why are you giving me a dirty
look?” Corapi snapped at one deputy.
“Why are you eyeballing me? You can’t
eyeball me like that. Who do you think
you are?”
In his belligerent remarks from the
podium, Corapi referred to masks as
“muzzles” and called the district’s man-
date a “political charade,” even though
four of the board’s five members are Re-
publicans.
“It stops tonight,” he told board
members, defiantly attacking the mask
mandate. “Get back on your podium,
do your job and finish this thing.”
Later in his tirade, he glared at the
members and barked, “Look at me.
Take a look. Don’t look down. Look at
me when I’m speaking. ... Don’t not
look at me and look at your phone and
play with your hair. Do it and listen.
“This is what we’re here for – to
speak our truth.”
Here’s my truth: Attempts to intimi-
date School Board members by dis-
rupting meetings, addressing them
in a hostile tone and threatening pro-
tests at their homes is an insult to this
community. It is bullying, and bullies
should not be tolerated by any of us.
Especially our Chamber of Com-

merce. 

Worker shortage
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

cialized positions, but most are for
entry-level jobs on the factory floor,
where the average starting pay is $14
to $16 per hour.

“Not only do we train the entry-level
people, but they also receive a full ben-

4 Vero Beach 32963 / May 20, 2021 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

NEWS

Worker shortage the delivery of avionics, engines, tires Piper does not require COVID-19 he brought the whole community
and propellers, but Carlon said the vaccinations as a condition of employ- into it and turned it into a source of
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3 delays have not caused any halts in ment, but Carlon said they’re strongly incredible donations – tens of thou-
production. encouraged. sands of dollars. And so many groups
– especially when purchase contracts were involved in supporting it and fol-
weren’t finalized – and focus on the “A lot of businesses are feeling it, “We offer them here,” she said. “The lowing it up.”
company’s other products, particular- and we’re no different,” Carlon said of Whole Family Health Center comes in
ly its luxurious M-Class line of single- the worker shortage spawned in part Birnholz has a long relationship
engine, turbo-prop aircraft. by the federal government’s supple- and does it.”  with the Unitarians. For years, the
ment to states’ unemployment pay- congregation’s home was next door to
“We didn’t know what to expect when ments during the pandemic. Scott Alexander Temple Beth Shalom. After Birnholz’s
the pandemic first hit, because we had arrival in 2002, the synagogue needed
never been through anything like it be- “It’s a common thread in our indus- CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 to expand, so it bought the building
fore,” Carlon said, “so we tried to mini- try, too,” she added. “It just hasn’t hit vacated by the Unitarians when that
mize our risks.” us as hard.” That comes out to a rate of 1.5 per- congregation moved to its current lo-
cent, he notes, far less than the coun- cation at 16th Street and 27th Avenue.
Over the past 15 months, Piper’s But can Piper attract the workers it ty’s infection rate of 8 percent. Birnholz was among more than a half-
work force has shrunk – without layoffs needs when so many people are still dozen local faith leaders who met with
– from nearly 1,000 employees to 900. choosing to stay home or have found Perhaps most impressive is that to- Alexander before he flew to California
new jobs they like? day, “virtually 100 percent” of his Vero to bless his bike.
Now, though, as flight schools reopen congregation is vaccinated, Alexander
and Piper’s production increases, more Carlon said the company has been claims. Today, those spiritual leaders and
workers are needed. advertising its open positions on online more are part of a countywide inter-
job boards and in a variety of publica- “Unitarians follow the science,” he faith group with Jewish, Christian,
“The trainer market is still down a tions. She believes the starting pay, ben- says. Moslem, Hindu, BaHai and humanist
little bit because flight schools are still efits and training will attract workers. representatives that meets monthly at
ramping up,” Carlon said, “but we have This summer, at age 72 and after 48 Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospi-
a healthy production schedule for our “The good news is, a lot of people years as a Unitarian Universalist minis- tal, hosted by hospital chaplain Mindy
M-Class line for the remainder of the have moved to Florida, and especially ter, Alexander will turn over the pulpit Serafin.
year.” the Treasure Coast,” Carlon said, “so to a new interim minister; interviews
there should be more people looking are taking place this week. It is the same group that came to-
Unlike some other industries, such for work.” gether in 2016 after the Pulse Night-
as residential and commercial con- He plans to keep the home in Vero club terrorist attack in Orlando. In
struction, aircraft manufacturers aren’t She also touted Piper’s accredited, that he shares with his longtime part- the days that followed that tragedy,
experiencing crippling and costly in- two-year apprentice program, which ner and now husband, Collins Mike- Bob and Casey Baggott, the rever-
terruptions in their supply chain as a offers a combination of on-the-job sell, who has been commuting to Vero ends at that time of Vero’s Community
result of the national worker shortage, training and Indian River State Col- from Washington, where he is a senior Church, organized a moving inter-
Carlon said. lege classroom instruction designed analyst with the Association of Ameri- faith service in their sanctuary honor-
to qualify participants as a journey- can Medical Colleges. ing the victims of that tragedy.
Piper has seen some slowdowns in man in aircraft assembly.
“We have a lot of friends here,” says The Baggotts went on to organize
Alexander. an annual interfaith memorial service
at Thanksgiving, and when they were
The two plan to divide their time be- ready to move on from Vero, Alexan-
tween Vero, a place in the Adirondacks der took over the service and held it at
and a riverfront condo they bought re- the Unitarian Universalist fellowship.
cently in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, where More than 20 groups came together
Alexander has a large extended family. to offer prayers, readings and songs
that year.
One practice that will follow him is
bike riding, a passion so intense that “He took the mantel from the Bag-
his congregation built a plaza at the gotts and really took it to the next lev-
church and installed a sculpture of a el,” says Birnholz.
bike in his honor.
Last year, the Thanksgiving ser-
Alexander puts in 40 miles nearly ev- vice had to be held on Zoom. So were
ery day, for a total of 13,000 miles a year. most church services, at least during
lockdown last spring. As they reopen,
During his future Vero stays – and some congregations, including Alex-
barring any wipe-outs like the one in ander’s, are not giving up virtual ser-
February when he broke his hip after a vices, after finding the outreach on
skid on slimy pavement in the church Youtube invaluable.
parking lot – Alexander will continue
to be a regular sight riding his bike UU members have the option of
“around and around and around” In- watching services live – or at their lei-
dian River County. sure later in the week – on the fellow-
ship’s Youtube channel, produced by
And the rides aren’t just for his own six volunteers in a production booth
benefit. with three computer-linked cameras,
part of a $20,000 technology upgrade
Five times, he has ridden across the to connect during COVID-19.
country for charity, dipping his back
tire in the Pacific Ocean and his front At one point in the pandemic, on-
tire in the Atlantic 30 days and 3,300 line services drew 180 viewers. Among
miles later. Three of the rides were to the earliest sermons: risk assessment
fight hunger in Indian River County in life. Today the number has dropped
and raised $150,000 for United Against to 120, some of whom watch the re-
Poverty. cording during the week.

“The energy he put into not just the Another 120 members show up in
ride but the fundraising [is impres- person for services. “Virtual services
sive],” says Rabbi Michael Birnholz of
Temple Beth Shalom. “He could just
as well have said, ‘This is my thing. I’m
going to ride across America.’ Instead,

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / May 20, 2021 5

NEWS

aren’t going away,” Alexander says. “It’s Alexander grew up in Wisconsin but He served a decade at each, and just Vero’s UU fellowship was founded
something we’re going to keep, going his calling to the UU ministry took over a decade in Bethesda, Maryland, in 1981 by the late Shirley St. John, a
forward. We have older members who him to Houlton, Maine, where he was with the River Road Unitarian Univer- Boston-born member for life of the
watch, or someone breaks a leg. We ordained in 1974 and served four years salist congregation. In the summer Republican Women’s Club. A charter
have snowbirds who watch from their before moving on first to a church in of 2010, he moved to Vero to lead the member of the Center for the Arts,
other homes. My accountant is Ro- Plainfield, New Jersey, and then to one congregation here, delivering his first now the Vero Beach Museum of Art,
man Catholic, and he watches.” in Boston. sermon in September.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

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6 Vero Beach 32963 / May 20, 2021 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

NEWS

Scott Alexander within the national organization, and home to the Florida Humanities Series, “We’re very much a community
in 2005 the congregation bought a which offers its programs for free. center, and very involved in the im-
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5 1,100-seat facility that was the former provement of the local community,”
First Church of God. The congregation’s Coalition for Racial says Alexander. “We’re not a navel-
St. John volunteered with the VNA and Justice is among the longest-running gazing, inward-looking congregation.
Council on Aging, but had to drive to In it, the Unitarians opened a reve- committees at the church. In 2015, after We’re outward looking, serving in a
Fort Pierce to find what her 2013 obit- nue-generating, non-denominational the killing of Trayvon Martin in Sanford, wide variety of ways. And that’s why
uary called “a liberal fellowship.” pre-school, called Bridges Early Learn- Alexander put a Black Lives Matter sign we’re growing. People are looking for
ing Center, which now serves 100 chil- in front of the church, likely one of the avenues to express their caring and
Eventually, she called the Boston dren from 8 weeks old to kindergar- first ministers in Vero to do so. The sign compassion. If a church doesn’t do
UU and found out how to start a fel- ten. And they started a money-making was defaced twice. that, they’ll go somewhere else.”
lowship here. The first meeting, with speakers series at Emerson Center.
15 members, was at her home. Within A week after the 2018 mass shooting Alexander, whose last day is July 31,
a decade, there were 100 members. Together those enterprises paid the at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High anticipates serving on the boards of
bills for the building while congre- School in Parkland, Alexander orga- local nonprofits once he has stepped
The group hired their first full-time gants pledged support for ministry nized a demonstration for gun con- down from the pulpit. “I’ll certainly
minister, Dr. Richard Speck, and by and staff. trol measures. It drew several hundred stay involved in progressive politics,”
1994 had settled into the location on supporters to the Indian River County he says.
43rd Avenue, next door to Temple Beth Today, the Unitarian Universalist Fel- Courthouse.
Shalom. In 2001, former School Board lowship may be best-known because of “This congregation is the progres-
member Claudia Jimenez became the the Emerson Center programs. In non- Other committees at the church in- sive religious voice of this community
church’s director of education. A sec- COVID times, the Celebrated Speakers clude an environmental group work- and I intend to be a progressive voice
ond minister, Gail Geisenhainer, re- Series brings in nationally known lec- ing on water quality in the Indian River in this town,” he says. “We’re for com-
placed Speck when he left for a post turers, often with a more liberal bent Lagoon, and a group offering support
than other series in town. It is also for the LGBTQ community. passionate politics.” 

Riverside Theatre Victoria Hood, assistant scenic charge, paints panels on the main stage at Riverside Theatre in When they were forced to shut down,
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 preparation for “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.” he said some refunds were requested
PHOTO BY BRENDA AHEARN but the vast majority opted to ease the
this year, as vaccines became more theater’s financial burden by either
available, and the pandemic appeared Riverside’s production of the beloved “Billy Elliot” will run April 12-May 1 donating their tickets back or carrying
to be waning. The theater made the 1945 Rodgers and Hammerstein mu- and the season will end with “Almost them forward into the new season. Ad-
decision to move forward with a Janu- sical “Carousel,” running Jan. 4-23. Heaven: John Denver’s America,” May ditionally, the Comedy Zone and Live
ary start even before Broadway an- That will be followed by “Comedy of 10-20. at the Loop have continued to bring
nounced that theaters in Manhattan Tenors,” Feb. 1-20, followed by “On people onto the campus.
would reopen in September. Your Feet,” which will run March 8-27 The two Waxlax Stage productions
before that show moves to the Walnut remain the same: “I love You, You’re Per- He said that Riverside did get some
“We were always working toward the Street Theatre in Philadelphia. fect, Now Change,” Jan. 18-Feb. 6, and “A PPP funding, adding that “the major-
shows,” said Sales. “We were fortunate Doll’s House, Part 2,” March 22-April 10. ity of our continuation was board led
enough to be supported by an incredible and Friends led.”
board, an incredible Friends committee Sales said that starting the season in
and a community that supported us, so January is proving beneficial in a num- Of their three major fundraisers,
we never had to let any of our staff go.” ber of ways. Festival of Trees, the Friends Fall Lun-
cheon and the Gala, Sales said: “We’re
As a result, he said, the production “Now we can concentrate on our big working on them. Festival of Trees is
team continued designing and build- fundraisers in November. Rather than definitely coming back. What exactly
ing sets during the forced hiatus, try- jam the first show into the fundraising that will be is still being worked out.”
ing them out on stage, and making any season, this way we start in January
necessary adjustments. and go all the way through May. It’s a While there is no word on the Gala
straight set of shows.” as yet, there is talk about the luncheon
“They just had a little more luxury, fundraiser. Riverside also plans to re-
timewise, to make sure that everything And while they will follow whatever sume informative backstage tours,
worked perfectly, and they’ve been do- procedures Actors’ Equity implements and adult classes in January.
ing that,” said Sales, adding that the the- in terms of audience capacity and/or
ater plans to hold auditions in Novem- masks, the later start allows them to “We’re really talking about ramping
ber, hopefully, in person in New York. gauge conditions on Broadway and up fully,” said Sales.
possibly other regional theaters.
The first Stark Stage show will be Summer camps will once again be in-
Financially, Sales said, Riverside The- person, although tweaked as two perfor-
atre is on solid ground, adding: “We’re mance camps, with participants in the
very, very grateful for all the support first camp performing “Joseph and the
that we have been shown.” Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” and
the second camp performing “Puffs.”

“We are moving forward with every-
thing; I can’t tell you how excited I am.
People are excited to come back to some
sort of normalcy,” Sales said. “All indica-

tions are trending the right way.” 

Property prices soar
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

to $2.435 million, according to Moorings
Realty Sales Co. broker Marsha Sherry.

And the average sold price for homes
on the river or on canals island-wide

CONTINUED ON PAGE 9



8 Vero Beach 32963 / May 20, 2021 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

NEWS

Panel now assigned to get schools into compliance with ’67 order

BY GEORGE ANDREASSI the people, to the programs – whatever said. “We want all students on every “It acknowledges that the legacy of
Staff Writer it is they need to be successful.” campus to have the same shot at what- slavery, segregation, and the imposi-
ever they want to do.” tion of second-class citizenship on
School district administrators and In a related matter, the School Board Black Americans and other people of
Equity Committee members have voted unanimously to assign the exist- School Board member Jacqueline color continue to permeate the social
been left with the challenge of figuring ing Equity Committee the challenge of Rosario joined several parents and po- fabric of this nation.”
out how to get out from under a half- advancing efforts to bring the school litical activists in claiming that some
century-old court desegregation order district into compliance with the 1967 are using words like “diversity” and Paul Westcott, a Vero Beach attor-
after public opposition quashed the federal desegregation order. “equity” as euphemisms to advance a ney, offered to draft a policy for the
hiring of an equity and diversity chief. “Neo-Marxist” political agenda in pub- School Board to keep critical race the-
The district has agreed to work to lic schools. ory out of the public schools based on
School Superintendent David Moore improve the academic performance the new laws in other states.
said the divisiveness caused by the and reduce the disciplinary disparities “This is in part where we’re getting
Feb. 24 job posting for a Chief Equity for African-American students, and the community’s uproar about this,” “There are a lot of people interested
and Diversity Officer for the 2021-2022 hire more African-American educa- Rosario said, reading from a right- in helping, but when we hear ‘white-
school year convinced him to instead tors, among other goals. wing website called Battlefront that ness’ and ‘white privilege’ and all of that
try a team approach to desegregating offers ideas on how to oppose the pur- stuff, it doesn’t give us warm and fuzzy
the public schools. School Board member Peggy Jones, ported “Neo-Marxist” agenda. feelings,” Westcott said. “Quite frankly, I
whose four-decade career in the dis- don’t want to show up and have reason
“The pushback was quite shocking trict included a stint as Sebastian River Rosario called for district administra- to feel guilty.
to me,” Moore said during the School High School principal, said having Af- tors to research legislation in Oklaho-
Board’s May 11 business meeting. “The rican-American educators helps mo- ma, Arkansas and Idaho that bans “criti- “My family comes from Kansas and
understanding I’ve come to is that I tivate better academic performance cal race theory” from public schools, Illinois. I haven’t done detailed research,
don’t need one position. I’m going to and behavior among African-Ameri- and figure out if similar policies can be but I’m pretty sure none of them owned
reallocate responsibilities within se- can students. instituted in Indian River County. slaves,” Westcott said. “I shouldn’t feel
nior staff and cabinet to ensure we do guilty, and I shouldn’t have to tiptoe
a much better job around access. “I want everyone to know, regarding An American Bar Association lesson around those issues showing up to help.
this Equity Committee: The work that on critical race theory dated Jan. 12, Neither should anyone else in our com-
“We need to be better in providing the is being done is so very important,” 2021 says: “It critiques how the social munity.”
resources to those that don’t have the Jones said. “This is a huge part of what construction of race and institutional-
resources to be successful,” Moore said. we’ve got to do in the district to move ized racism perpetuate a racial caste Others called it a waste of money to
“Connecting children to the systems, to it forward. system that relegates people of color pay an administrator approximately
to the bottom tiers. $100,000 per-year “to lead the district’s
“Equity is more than race,” Jones

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / May 20, 2021 9

NEWS

efforts to build a culture of equity, di- but I have been approached by top is- Zana has seen the same upward price still a month or two away from break-
versity and inclusiveness for all stu- land agents asking if she would be will- pressure at his Indigo development ing ground.
dents, families, employees and school ing to sell. If she does, I believe it will go south of Tracking Station Park.
community.” in the $10 million range.” Seeing the strength of buyer demand,
After he acquired the 4-acre track for Zana has begun raising the price of his
But Joseph Parr, a Stetson University “The homeowner wants $9.9 if she $6 million last fall, he was immediately oceanfront villas $100,000 with each
student and Vero Beach High School sells and I have several buyers who are approached by other developers who sale, maximizing profit as developers
graduate, told the School Board “criti- interested at that price,” says Webb, an offered him as much as $14 million for everywhere do as their projects sell out.
cal race theory directly threatens white estate agent with Premier Estate Prop- the prime oceanfront tract.
supremacy because it exposes the erties. “The only problem is, she just Brokers up and down the island say
various ways racism exists in law and got settled and isn’t ready yet to move Zana decided to keep the property the intense demand for island prop-
policy. again.” and develop a gated luxury subdivision erty continues to be driven by an in-
with 15 detached villas and a condo flux of buyers from large urban areas
“The attacks you will hear today “Ten million might seem like a high building with 6 units, with prices rang- from Miami to Manhattan to Los An-
are just a sideshow meant to distract price on that street right now, but the ing from $2 million to $3.5 million. geles who hated the experience of be-
the board from achieving full unitary same house would be $1.6 or $1.7 million ing stuck in an apartment during last
status with a desegregation order we in Delray Beach,” Zana says, “so maybe He debuted the development in Jan- year’s shutdowns.
should have fulfilled decades ago,” the price will end up being higher.” uary and already has 11 out of 21 units
Parr said. “Stay the course and work under reservation, even though he is CONTINUED ON PAGE 10
to make our school district more equi-

table for our students.” 

Property prices soar
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6

during the past 12 months is up 30
percent compared to the prior 12
months, from $1.576 million to $2.015
million, according to figures provid-
ed by Dale Sorensen broker/owner
Matilde Sorensen.

“I have never seen this market be-
fore,” says Sherry, who notes a previ-
ously unknown urgency on the part
of buyers coming to Vero from around
the country.

“There is an insatiable desire for is-
land real estate,” says ONE Sotheby’s
broker associate Mike Thorpe. “It’s hit
critical mass in the past 60 to 90 days.
There was a 20- to 25-percent increase
over the past year or so and then an-
other 10- to 20-percent jump in the
past 90 days. We are in uncharted ter-
ritory.”

“This is a market unlike any before,”
agrees Sally Daley, owner of Daley &
Company Real Estate. “It is, in part,
decades of being undervalued finally
catching up in a time of increased de-
mand and drastically reduced supply.”

“There has been a reset on our pric-
es,” says oceanfront developer Yane
Zana. “It happened around January.
An oceanfront house I built and sold
at 640 Reef Road was on the market all
last year for $7.995 million and there
were lots of showings but no sale.
Then, in January, Luke Webb brought
a buyer who paid $7.7 million. Almost
immediately multiple other homes on
the street sold for more than $7 mil-
lion. Nothing had ever sold over $6
million on Reef Road before this year.”

Even with the reset, Zana believes
there is plenty of room for further
price appreciation.

“A similar house I built next door to
640 Reef is owned by the same person
who sold 640 for $7.7 million,” he says.
“It was just completed, and she just
moved in, so she is not ready to sell,

10 Vero Beach 32963 / May 20, 2021 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

NEWS

Property prices soar client has already been offered a mil-
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9 lion more than what he paid, but he
will hold out for a higher price,” Cur-
Many who were planning to retire ley says.
to Florida in the coming years moved
up their plans, and others simply de- Scarcity – “Since I started here in
cided to get out of the city and find a 2004, there have typically been 300 to
place with abundant open space and 400 houses for sale on the island,” says
outdoor activities where businesses Sally Daley. “Today there are 60 to 70
were open, and their kids could attend – but it is far from the only one” – is a
school in person. key factor pushing prices higher, but it
isn’t the only one.
Having discovered they can work
remotely from anyplace broadband “Many factors at play here,” says
goes, top executives are coming to Curley. “We’ve always had the nice
Vero in search of large homes with weather and low taxes, but now we
room for an office and extended fam- are seeing people come up from Mi-
ily – and for some of them, price is not ami and Palm Beach to seek less traffic
their main concern. and get more for their money, and we
are seeing Northeasterners who were
“There are so many buyers out there snowbirds decide to stay year-round,
who are so motivated to get a slice of or at least extend the season longer,
our beautiful seaside environment and many of their kids and grandkids
and lifestyle that price is not always as are moving here. St. Edward’s is nearly
big a factor in a purchase,” says Webb. at capacity and that wasn’t the case
when I moved here 5 years ago.
“I recently placed two CEOs of pub-
lic companies and a top corporate of- “The lifestyle here can’t be beat and
fice of a large, publicly traded biotech actually our real estate looks pretty af-
company in homes on the island. Also, fordable to those in the Northeast. I
two other CEOs of large private com- believe people think Vero is like Palm
panies. Beach was many years ago, and that
Vero will continue to do very well. I’m
“And I’ve got two dozen other buy- hopeful we will get even better shops
ers in that stratosphere I am working and restaurants, and that people will
with who would buy a house here continue to invest here. Vero is becom-
tomorrow if we could find what they ing less of a ‘hidden gem’ every day.”
want, and price wouldn’t be so much
of a factor.” While waterfront is leading the up-
ward charge of prices on the island,
That was the case with Curley’s cli- property across the board is appreci-
ent, a sophisticated buyer from Palm ating rapidly.
Beach who obviously knew what the
property had sold for nine months Online real estate sales and data gi-
earlier and didn’t care. ant Redfin reports that asking prices
throughout 32963 ZIP code are up 37
“My clients wanted to live on that percent year over year.
stretch of Old Riomar Ocean Drive
where it’s not busy traffic wise, yet still “The price increase is across all prod-
close to everything and feels like a real uct segments on the barrier island,”
neighborhood,” Curley says. “They says Daley. “What was $900,000 a year
will build a beautiful home there, con- ago is $1.1 million or $1.2 million now.”
fident that property values in Vero are
likely to continue going up, up, up. Despite the price increases already
seen, most island real estate profes-
“The price may seem a bit high, sionals think there is plenty of room
but again, if you have a broader look for continued appreciation.
at what’s really going on in this mar-
ket and how few options there are for “Property values in Vero Beach have
oceanfront between the two bridges, a long runway ahead of them in com-
you realize that it’s not going to look parison to other parts of Florida,” says
high for very long. Matilde Sorensen.

“When we began negotiating in Feb- “It is not going to slow down,” says
ruary, $5.5 million seemed crazy high, Daley. “We are seeing a broader range
but now just after the close, I already of geography and demographic come
feel like it’s not that high because of here now, people from Delray Beach
how much the market has gone up in and California, as well as New York
the past 2 months!” and New Jersey.

Curley’s client, who closed on the “In the past few weeks, everyone I
Riomar property at 1746 Ocean Drive have had out for showings has been in
on April 2, is bullish enough on Vero’s their early 50s with at least one kid still
island that he bought a second prop- at home.”
erty later in the month as an invest-
ment, paying $3.4 million for the last “Even with prices as high as they
vacant oceanfront lot for sale along have come due to COVID, when you
Ocean Drive between the Vero Beach factor in scarcity and the desirability
Hotel and the Conn Beach boardwalk. of Vero, oceanfront property is still un-
dervalued in relation to similar locales
“That sale closed on April 29 and my in Florida,” says Zana.

“I don’t see the trend changing. It is

supply and demand.” 

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / May 20, 2021 11

NEWS

GOP women’s club disputes Sheriff’s bill for rally security

BY RAY MCNULTY planation of the billing dispute. providing security for the event. inside the Expo Center. The cost for
The invoice, however, lists by name Even if you deduct the $540 the agen- that service was $1,100, Teetz said.
Staff Writer
the 20 deputies assigned to the event: cy would’ve paid for two of the higher- “So, all in all, we spent almost $3,000
The Sheriff’s Office billed the Repub- four at $270 each ($45 per hour) and paid deputies to provide security for for security,” she said. “We weren’t go-
lican Women of Indian River nearly 16 at $240 ($40 per hour). Greene, anyway, the Sheriff’s Office still ing to make any money on this, any-
$5,000 for providing security last month must absorb the $2,820 for the other 12 way, and we broke even.”
at the club’s “America First Rally” at the If the club is charged for only six deputies Teetz said weren’t needed.
county fairgrounds, where controver- deputies – three at the higher rate and Teetz said the club did not pay Greene
sial Georgia Congresswoman Marjorie three at the lower rate – the total would The Republican women’s club also or any of the rally’s other speakers.
Taylor Greene was the featured speaker. be $1,530. Subtract that amount from hired two security guards with metal-
the total bill of $4,920, and the Sheriff’s detecting wands to scan every person The club did pay for venue rent and
The club, however, will pay only a Office must cover $3,390 of the cost of who attended the rally, which was held the breakfast food supplied by Chick-
fraction of that amount.
fil-A. 
According to past-president Linda
Teetz, who handles the group’s finan-
cial reporting, the 350-member club
has agreed to pay for six of the eight
deputies needed for security and traf-
fic control at the April 24 event.

She said the Sheriff’s Office would
cover the costs of the other two deputies
because Greene was a member of Con-
gress and “they have to protect all fed-
eral officials who come to the county.”

The invoice from the Sheriff’s Office,
however, listed 20 deputies – each work-
ing from 6 a.m. to noon at a scale of $40
or $45 per hour – for a total of $4,920.

“We said we pay for six, and then we
get to the rally and we’ve got a zillion
deputies that we didn’t agree to,” Teetz
said. “Why they needed a SWAT team
there, I don’t know.

“We certainly didn’t expect that many
deputies,” she added. “It was dumb-
founding to us.”

To be sure, there was a noticeable
police presence at the rally, which at-
tracted only three protesters: a man
standing outside the fairgrounds’ gate
and holding a sign that read, “Fruit
Loops For Breakfast,” and two women
standing outside the Expo Center en-
trance with protest signs.

Democrats of Indian River had put
out a social-media statement saying it
would not protest the event.

Teetz said she was out of town when
the club received the invoice and
didn’t know what prompted the Sher-
iff’s Office to increase its security force
or who made the decision, but she
was stunned by the total amount.

“Someone from the club called me
and asked, ‘Have you seen the bill?’”
Teetz said. “When I found out, I almost
blew a gasket.”

Eventually, Teetz said, she reached
Sheriff Eric Flowers via text message
and he told her: “Linda, don’t worry
about it. Don’t have an anxiety attack.
I’ll take care of it.”

She said the club hadn’t yet received
an amended invoice, but she expected
the cost to be about $3,000 less than
the previous bill.

As of Monday, Flowers had not re-
sponded to an email seeking an ex-

12 Vero Beach 32963 / May 20, 2021 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

NEWS

2 INDIAN RIVER SHORES CRIMINAL
CASES REMAIN IN PANDEMIC LIMBO

BY LISA ZAHNER As for the elderly couple, the husband
died, and the wife went into a long-term
Staff Writer care facility as the case dragged on. Just
before the pandemic, prosecutors were
With the courts ramping up to tack- trying to move these two cases rapidly
le a backlog of felony cases that lan- toward trial as the law allows for crimes
guished due to COVID-19 Court House against the elderly, but now it’s unclear
restrictions, three defendants arrested whether the remaining alleged victim
for crimes against Indian River Shores will see a verdict in her lifetime.
residents are still awaiting trial.
Stone said the standstill in court
The oldest is the case of Chiquita operations for six months, and the
LaShae McGee and Sophia Monae gradual resumption of trials, has been
Shepherd, arrested in March 2018, both frustrating for people he represents,
accused of stealing upwards of $50,000 especially for those incarcerated. As a
from an elderly John’s Island couple. former, long-time State Attorney him-
They are charged with exploitation of self, Stone said he understands the
an elderly adult, a first-degree felony, courts have a massive job ahead to get
and scheme to defraud a financial in- through the caseload. “There’s noth-
stitution, a second-degree felony. ing we can do but just to dig in and get
them done, one at a time,” Stone said.
McGee is being represented by the
Public Defender’s Office. Her trial, The other pending case that got a
which was set for April 26, was post- lot of attention in Indian River Shores
poned and a new trial date has not involved an extended family gathered
been set. Judge Dan Vaughn has sched- together at an oceanfront estate in
uled a docket call – a court hearing for Bermuda Bay in May 2020.
scheduling case activity – on May 26.
Two teenage girls were sharing a
Assistant State Attorney Lev Evans studio suite with an open bath, and
said the pandemic has made it more a local man is accused of installing a
challenging to gather everyone needed hidden surveillance camera allegedly
for the trial. “We had a witness from placed to capture private images from
Texas who couldn’t fly here due to CO- a teenage girl’s room in what’s still re-
VID-19. There’s a big witness list and it’s ferred to as the “Wackenhut House.”
tough to get that many people together
over the summer,” Evans said, but he Lennon Starkweather, 38, allegedly
noted that the defense attorney is as used the access he had to the home
motivated as he is to move the case to through his electronics and home secu-
trial. “If I had to give you my best guess rity system business to spy on the teen-
I’d say maybe August,” Evans said. agers by installing a stealth camera hid-
den in a cellphone charger box. The girls
Attorney Robert Stone is defend- discovered the device, didn’t recognize it,
ing Shepherd, and that trial seems a and looked up the name of the charger
bit farther down the road, Evans said. on Google to find it was a spy camera.
Stone agreed that Shepherd’s trial
would likely be one to two months af- Indian River County Sheriff’s Of-
ter McGee’s. “And depending upon the fice investigators were called in and,
outcome of that trial, we might be able according to the arrest report, caught
to resolve ours with a plea,” Stone said. Starkweather when he came to the
home and retrieved the camera. He
Defendants involved in the same had it in his bag when they stopped
crime typically are tried separately him. Starkweather is facing two felony
when they have made statements counts of video voyeurism
about each other, according to Evans.
Indian River Shores Public Safety
Stone said McGee and Shepherd Capt. Mark Shaw said last week he’d
have been set for separate trials “all heard Starkweather has been offered a
along, but I don’t think there were any plea deal. Assistant State Attorney Pat-
real incriminating statements.” rick O’Brien, who is prosecuting the
case, confirmed that development, but
Stone said Shepherd and McGee are noted the deal has not been sealed.
relatives and he doesn’t see any reason
why one would be compelled to testify “In 99 percent of cases we make a
against the other, because that might plea offer and in this case a plea offer
violate their Fifth Amendment rights has been extended. It’s just a matter of
under the U.S. Constitution, and pave whether the defendant chooses to ac-
the way for an appeal. cept it,” O’Brien said.

Both defendants are free on bond Plea offers typically come with a
and have had their pre-trial release deadline, O’Brien said, but the state
conditions loosened to allow for em- has yet to limit the time Starkweather
ployment, or participation in chil-
dren’s school activities. has to accept the deal on the table. 

Sara Beth and Dillon Roberts.

ALL BETS BENEFIT VETS
AT ‘NIGHT AT THE RACES’

FUNDRAISER P. 18

14 Vero Beach 32963 / May 20, 2021 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

‘Teddy’ tales attest to love, respect for retiring deputy

Corey and Megan Thompson. Aimee and Troy Floyd. Simon Schwartz and Steven Schwartz.

BY STEPHANIE LaBAFF Teddy Floyd is greeted with warm hugs at his retirement party. him to do, whether it was bicycles for
the kids at Christmas or setting up for
Staff Writer Anna Joseph, Osmita Sanon and Abigaelle Barthelemy. PHOTOS: BRENDA AHEARN the Back to School event, Teddy is al-
ways willing to help.”
Members of the community who
have had the good fortune of crossing Chuckling, LaPorte added “and
paths with Indian River County Sher- the kids always ask about the dancing
iff’s Dep. Teddy Floyd at some point cop.”
during his 32-year career gathered at
LaPorte Farms in Sebastian to bid him She noted that Floyd never said ‘no’
a fond farewell during a community when asked to help out, even when it
retirement party. came to riding the mechanical bull
or volunteering to take a turn in the
Boisterous laughter rang out as dunk tank.
well-wishers gathered in small groups
to swap Teddy stories, with friends, Whether as a football coach or a
family members, community leaders responding officer, off duty or on,
and even children all having tales to Floyd believed in community policing
tell. It was a clear indication that there through example, as became appar-
isn’t any aspect of the community that ent through the stories that were told.
Floyd hasn’t supported over the past
three decades, during which he pro- Floyd said that he had initially
tected and served local residents and thought policing was all about ar-
visitors alike. resting people and writing tickets,
but soon learned that he could affect
“I was giving my mom a hard time real change by “giving hope and mak-
about getting up for school,” shared ing sure our community was safe” by
one high school student. “So, Teddy following the counsel of his mother
told her to call him on the mornings to “never look down on a man unless
I gave her a hard time. He made sure I you’re picking him up.”
got up and went to school.”
He said he considers himself for-
“I came here today because of my tunate to have worked and lived in a
respect for Teddy. He’s been very community where people care and
good for the community,” said Char- take ownership, and readily admits
lie Pope, Youth Sailing Foundation that he couldn’t have done what he
founder, reflecting on the vast num- does were it not for his wife’s support.
ber of lives Floyd has touched and
sharing a story about Teddy dealing “I try to be the same officer in every
with a pair of trespassing fishermen. community, whether it’s Black, white,
whatever. Right now, if we ever needed
A mother who waited in the line to do anything, we need to come to-
to give Floyd a hug and a gift said gether as a community and put all our
that were it not for him, her children resources toward making what we call
wouldn’t have had Christmas gifts ‘unity in the community,’” added Floyd.
one year, adding: “He is always out
there helping people, no matter what And, he said, while it’s been hard
they need.” to say goodbye, don’t count him out
just yet. After spending some time
“Teddy has always been there for with his family, he plans to return as
me,” said Laura LaPorte, when asked a School Resource Officer and con-
what compelled her to host the retire- tinue with his community policing.
ment party. “No matter what I asked
So, for Floyd, it’s so long … for
now. 

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / May 20, 2021 15

PEOPLE

Pattie and Wayne Hall. Harry Jones with Teddy and Terri Floyd. Charlie Sembler, County Commission Chairman Joe Flescher
and Rev. Dr. John Vacchiano.

Kathleen Hillcoat and Freddy Woolfork.
Linda Scalco and Pam O’Donnell.
Isabella Nunez and Jesi Torres.

16 Vero Beach 32963 / May 20, 2021 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

Mom’s the word at Buggy
Bunch ‘Mother of all Races’

BY STEPHANIE LaBAFF per Closet, a community outreach
program that provides diapers, wipes
Staff Writer and formula to impoverished moth-
ers and families in the county.
Downtown Vero Beach was flood-
ed with pink the day before Mother’s “We saw double and, in some cases,
Day for the second annual Mother of triple our client base during COVID.
all Races 5K Run/Walk hosted by the There were a lot of people that were
Buggy Bunch. Walkers and runners already struggling that were impact-
left from and ended their Saturday ed even more because of COVID and
morning jaunt from the nonprofit’s the loss of income. That was defi-
recently completed facility. nitely reflected in our clients,” said
Wright.
Little ones dressed as superheroes
kicked off the morning with childlike She added that they were able to in-
enthusiasm in a 100-meter Fun Run crease their stock thanks to funding
for children ages 5 and under. The from the United Way of Indian River
caped-crusaders gave it their all and County and that once the mandate
crossed the finish line in a blaze of was lifted, outdoor programs recon-
cuteness, reminding everyone of the vened.
genesis for the event – to celebrate
mothers by supporting Buggy Bunch “Our moms were really desper-
programming. ate for interaction and relationships.
Oftentimes, when we’re considering
The objective of the Buggy Bunch, health and the safety measures that
a Christian-based organization, is we need to put in place to protect
to “build relationships and meet the ourselves, we forget about the whole
needs of Indian River County moms mental health side of this and what
and their families” through pro- that isolation can do. Moms were
gramming, outreach and disciple- just coming out in droves, just re-
ship. Its programs include education- ally ready to hang out and be in fel-
al playgroups, faith development, lowship with other moms. They just
family and social outings, fitness and need that support system, and that’s
nutrition, a Diaper Closet, marriage the basis of what we provide.”
enrichment, food delivery for new
mothers, and a speaker series. Participants each received a relat-
able T-shirt that encouraged them to
“Our mission is moms, and what “Run like your mom just used your
better way than to have the Mother middle name!”
of all Races on Mother’s Day week-
end,” said Tara Wright, Buggy Bunch Taking the message to heart, Jake
executive director, adding that the Kramer took first place overall with
event was organized to raise com- a time of 17:56, and Jessica Davis was
munity awareness and funds for its first in the women’s division at 23:12.
programs.
An upcoming grand opening and
Wright noted that most of their community open house at the new
programming was paused during Buggy Bunch facility will be an-
the pandemic’s stay-at-home man- nounced shortly. For more informa-
date, with the exception of the Dia- tion, visit thebuggybunch.com. 

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / May 20, 2021 17

PEOPLE

Tara Wright and Leslie Brown. PHOTOS: KAILA JONES Jaisree McCormick and Sherry Parsell.

Kim Metz, Dawn West and Darcie West. Chelsea Garrison with daughter Reagan and Mandy Madon. Bethany Baker with daughter Esther and Bonnie Martinelli.

DeeDee Roberts, Jennifer Budde, Aubrie Rice and April Rice.

Paul, Delaney and Erin Chung.

18 Vero Beach 32963 / May 20, 2021 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

All bets benefit vets at ‘Night at the Races’ fundraiser

BY STEPHANIE LaBAFF Kevin and Karen Nuccitelli with Robin Jones. PHOTOS CONTINUED ON PAGE 20 cil saw substantial increases in need
Staff Writer throughout the community.
veteran needs and their contributions PHOTOS: KAILA JONES
Indian River County veterans won to society.” Since March 2020, nearly $90,000
big on the eve of the Kentucky Derby which horse folks bet on – with funny in direct aid was provided to 110 vet-
during a Night at the Races fundraiser Ten “mystery” races featuring hors- money, of course – local veterans will erans and their families through the
at the Heritage Center, hosted by and es named by sponsors were projected get the help they need through Veter- Upward American Veterans program,
to benefit the Veterans Council of In- onto the screen, and anticipation built ans Council programs and services. which provides emergency funds for
dian River County. as the horses rounded the track head- utility bills, rent, medical expenses
ing for the finish line. But no matter More than 15,000 veterans reside and groceries to honorably discharged
As they sipped on mint juleps, la- in Indian River County, and during U.S. military veterans and their fami-
dies sporting elaborate hats and dap- the pandemic the Veterans Coun- lies.
per gentlemen all vied for top honors
in the Derby Hat and Best Dressed The Veterans Helping Veterans pro-
competition. The ladies’ hats were a gram, funded by an Impact 100 grant,
sight to behold, adorned with feath- enabled the VCIRC to allocate some
ers, tulle, ribbons and other decora- $100,000 to roughly 70 veterans un-
tive features in a rainbow of colors, able to pay for needed home repairs or
while the men strutted about in pastel improvements.
linen suits, cutting quite the debonair
figures. Other programs include transpor-
tation to the VA hospital in West Palm
A buffet catered by Wild Thyme for- Beach and the local community-
tified attendees as they cheered on based outreach clinic, college scholar-
their horses, took chances on raffle ships for the children of veterans, and
items, and tried their luck at a wine the Military Veteran Parking program,
pull and bourbon wall, all to support which offers reserved parking spaces
the VCIRC’s mission to “support all In- at local businesses to honor our local
dian River County veterans and their veterans for their sacrifices.
families while raising awareness of
“We have been serving veterans
here in this county for over 34 years,”

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PEOPLE

said Jim Romanek, VCIRC executive World War I with our troops,” said Ro- of the poem “Flanders Fields,” recited was made to have their annual Veter-
director. “We never ask for anything manek. To mark its significance, this by a descendent of Alex MacWilliam ans and Family Picnic (canceled this
back. This is all given to the veteran year’s Memorial Day Ceremony at Sr., a veteran, Vero Beach resident and February due to COVID) held in honor
for their service, help and dedication Veterans Memorial Island Sanctuary, member of the Florida Legislature, of Army Spc. Dale J. Kridlo, who was
to the country.” 9 a.m. Monday, May 31, will feature who led the creation of Veterans Me- killed in action in Afghanistan in 2010.
keynote speaker and Gold Star Moth- morial Island Sanctuary.
“This year is the 100th anniversary er Michelle Dale, as well as a reading For more information, visit veterans-
of the first ship that came back from Romanek also said that the decision councilirc.org. 

20 Vero Beach 32963 / May 20, 2021 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

PHOTOS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 18 David and Amanda Rodriguez.
Paula Stevens and Lynn Wannebo.

Renee and Michael Zickert. Emilie and John Brady. Stephanie and Kevin Klepac.

Susan and Randall Flinchum. Cynthia Ryan and Jim Romanek. Laura Moss and Marty Zickert.

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / May 20, 2021 21

PEOPLE

Hap Allston, Carroll Oates and Curtis Holden.

Tillie and Dave Newhart. Robert and Samantha Brackett.

Yocasta Mallen, Stacey Cade and Dr. Doris Ferres.

Carly Hasenauer, Joel Maldonado and Mandy Espinal.

22 Vero Beach 32963 / May 20, 2021 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

Rounds of applause as Golf-A-Thon raises record $450K

BY STEPHANIE LaBAFF Ryan Zug, Don Meadows, Frank Mentzer and Drew DiSesa. STORY & PHOTOS CONTINUED ON PAGE 24 hosted at Orchid Island Golf Club in
Staff Writer 1990, with four pros playing 100 holes
PHOTOS: BRENDA AHEARN and raising $20,000. Of those original
The day dawned with blue skies and players, Pat Gorman, director of golf at
green fairways for the recent 31st an- ten notes, calls and follow-ups. For more than three decades, Vero Bent Pine, is the only one remaining.
nual Golf-A-Thon to benefit the VNA & Their efforts clearly paid off. De- Beach golf professionals have teed
Hospice Foundation at Bent Pine Golf up to help raise funds to support the This year Gorman hosted fellow
Club, during which golf pros from 13 spite the difficulties caused by the foundation’s efforts to provide home pros: Don Meadows, Quail Valley Golf
local clubs played 135 holes of golf in pandemic, Michelle Deschane, VNA health and hospice services to un- Club; Steve Hudson, John’s Island Golf
a single day. & Hospice Foundation operations derinsured or uninsured Indian River Club; Ryan Zug, Pointe West Coun-
manager, announced that the event County residents. try Club; Matthew Challenor, Wind-
Unlike past years, which saw sup- raised more than $450,000 – a record- sor Golf Club; Drew DiSesa, Riomar
porters from the various clubs cheer- breaking year for the nonprofit. The inaugural Golf-A-Thon was Country Club; Randy Hedgecock,
ing on their pros and numerous VNA Vero Beach Country Club; Ian Killen,
volunteers helping out, because of Indian River Club; Jimmy Gascoigne,
COVID safety precautions players Grand Harbor Golf Club; Bela Nagy,
spent the day showcasing their skills, Sandridge Golf Club; Bob Gruber,
one stroke after another, aided by only Hawk’s Nest at the Moorings; Frank
a handful of VNA volunteers. To com- Mentzer, Oak Harbor Golf Club; and
pensate, the tournament was live- David Champagne, Orchid Island Golf
streamed, so that everyone was able Club.
to watch as the high level of competi-
tive golf unfolded. Don Meadows took first place in the
post-game Shootout, with Pat Gor-
Although the majority of volunteers man taking second place. The Closest
couldn’t be on hand during the tour- to the Pin winners were David Cham-
nament, a team of 27 Club Captains pagne, Steve Hudson, Don Meadows
had previously gotten the word out and Bela Nagy.
to friends and neighbors within their
communities via mailings, handwrit- “We thank the clubs for allowing
the pros to support us, and we thank



24 Vero Beach 32963 / May 20, 2021 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

STORY & PHOTOS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 22 Catherine Reichert and Mo Reilly. Lorentz Jasmin and Lundy Fields.
Steve Hudson, Matthew Challenor and Pat Gorman.

the club memberships that support pro, which supports the VNA, which think people have really connected patients in need, regardless of their fi-
their pros,” said Deschane. “These then supports the people that we sup- more with knowing that people are nancial resources. Programs include
charitable dollars are important. This port – the folks that really can’t af- hurting. COVID has leveled the play- bereavement support, the children’s
allows us to continue our mission of ford healthcare and don’t have great ing field in certain ways. In a way, it bereavement retreat Camp Chrysalis,
not turning anybody away. Every- access to healthcare. It’s a cascade of brought people together because we Hospice House, COVID vaccines for
body deserves high-quality, innova- love and support through the pros to were all experiencing the same fears the homebound, music therapy, re-
tive care.” the VNA and the VNA’s love and sup- and the same potential issues.” mote patient monitoring, community
port into the community.” health and a mobile health clinic.
“This is an amazing event,” said The VNA & Hospice Foundation
Lundy Fields, VNA president/CEO. Commenting on this year’s im- was founded more than 40 years ago For more information, visit vnatc.
“Club supporters are supporting their pressive contributions, Fields said, “I to help improve the quality of life of com. 

HURRICANE SEASON IS FAST
APPROACHING – ARE YOU READY?
For wind damage and other types of property losses,
make your claims process a smooth one:

• Report the loss to your insurance
company as soon as possible

• Cooperate with the carrier’s
investigation

• Document everything – take
pictures, get names and numbers,
and save receipts

• Know your coverages and any
applicable deductible

• If anything is torn out for repairs
before the insurance company can
inspect the premises, save those
items for their representatives to
view at a later date

• Take steps to preserve the property
and minimize further damage

Julie Lewis Hauf, Esq., a graduate of Boston College Law School, has been practicing
law for more than 20 years in the areas of civil, business, and insurance litigation. The
firm is based in Vero Beach, Florida, and maintains offices in Central Florida, South
Florida, and Southwest Florida, serving clients around the state.

700 Beachland Blvd., Vero Beach, FL 32963
www.lewishauf.com (772) 492-6591



Atherton, Calif., once a quiet whistle- Juul was the nation’s most popular e- Burns with stories of vaping, how they’d
stop along the Southern Pacific Rail- cigarette. It was born from a provoca- procured the devices, and how popular
road, is situated 30 miles south of San tive thesis project several years earlier they’d become. For some people, the
Francisco and minutes from downtown by Stanford graduate students James conversation might have served as a
Palo Alto. Fewer than 10,000 people live Monsees and Adam Bowen. With more red flag. Not Burns. He’d been in private
there, many of them behind tall hedges than 34 million smokers in the U.S. and equity long enough to know that when
and forbidding gates. It’s the wealthiest 1 billion worldwide, they envisioned you smell smoke, you run toward it, not
city in America, with an average annual creating a less harmful version of the away from it. That’s where the money is.
income above $525,000. notorious burning stick.
“We could not be more pleased to
In comparison, Kevin Burns’s stately Ultimately their project morphed announce Kevin as Juul Labs’ new
home in an Atherton neighborhood into Juul, a device that dispensed a po- CEO,” said Monsees in a news release
called King Estates seems modest. To- tent nicotine aerosol that could taste on Dec. 11.
ward the end of the summer in 2017, like dessert and fruit.
Burns was sitting in the kitchen with Burns was 54 when he took over.
his son and some of his son’s friends. By the time Burns was up for the top At Juul it looked as if Burns had been
They were students at Palo Alto High job at Juul, the company had grown dealt a series of fairly run-of-the-mill
School – Paly, as it’s known by locals. into one of Silicon Valley’s most illustri- challenges. This company was a long
ous startups. It had also become one way from yogurt, but Juul and Choba-
About a year earlier, Burns had left of the most controversial, for its role in ni shared a common problem: They’d
Chobani, the yogurt company, where hooking millions of teenagers on nico- both scaled too quickly and couldn’t
he’d pulled off an operational mira- tine. keep up with all that the growth en-
cle. After being brought in from the tailed.
private equity firm TPG Capital, he’d Burns wanted to do his own market
righted the ship of a promising com- research. The NewYorker described how While Burns sent his kids to the
pany that had been almost ruined by a he convened a meeting with his son and public high school in Palo Alto, many
crisis. Now he was considering taking his friends and asked them about vap- of Atherton’s elite sent theirs to Sacred
a new job, this time as the chief execu- ing. Three of them pulled Juuls from Heart Schools, a private institution on
tive officer of Juul Labs. their pockets. 64 serene acres in the middle of town.
Founded as a boarding school in 1898
Burns’s son and his friends regaled

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / May 20, 2021 27

INSIGHT COVER STORY

by an order of French nuns, it was now developed a trusting and close rela- “Wendy, you know, my daughter is Co., where he oversaw private equity
a day school for more than a thou- tionship and bonded over sports. As telling me that this is happening, and and venture capital investments for
sand children, from preschool to 12th they sat around the kitchen table in that it’s a real problem,” Briger told her. the university’s endowment. He’d had
grade. For parents paying full tuition, their Atherton home, Emma brought a long career at Makena Capital Man-
the cost was up to $50,000 a year. up the vaping. “It’s not happening, Pete,” Kridel re- agement, a $20 billion investment
sponded. management firm he started with
In early 2018, Emma Briger was a “That’s impossible,” her dad replied. another Stanford alum, and he sat
junior at Sacred Heart. She was a star Pete Briger wasn’t just another la- Briger and Kridel had a good relation- on numerous boards, including the
goalie on the girls’ lacrosse team, the crosse dad. He was the billionaire co- ship. “Just do me a favor,” Briger said. Carnegie Endowment for Internation-
Gators, and had been named a cap- CEO at Fortress Investment Group, a “Can you just go check into this?” al Peace, the University of Virginia,
tain of the varsity team. She was set on firm with more than $45 billion of as- and Sacred Heart. His kids attended
leading the Gators to the champion- sets under management. Within days, Kridel came back. “I’m the school with Briger’s daughter.
ship that year, so she was disappointed It wasn’t that Briger didn’t trust what just amazed,” she told him. “But you’re
and somewhat shocked to learn that his daughter was telling him. He was right.” Burke had started noticing some-
several of her teammates had taken up just in disbelief. He knew people did thing odd at his house. When his teen-
vaping. They’d hit the Juul before and stupid things, but surely no kid who As summer got under way, David age children had friends over, he’d see
after practice, and sometimes even attended Sacred Heart would show up Burke settled in to write a scathing these little devices plugged into the
vape marijuana, showing up to prac- to lacrosse practice high. Over the next message from his home in Atherton. outlets by the basketball court as they
tice high. couple of weeks, however, Emma kept The object of his rage was his neighbor, were shooting hoops or by the pool as
coming home with stories, and Briger Kevin Burns, who lived a five-minute they were swimming. When he first
This irked her, but she didn’t know and his wife, Devon, called the coach drive away. saw them, he had no clue what they
what to do. One night she turned to of the team, Wendy Kridel.
her dad, Pete, for advice. The two had Burke was a former managing di- CONTINUED ON PAGE 28
rector of the Stanford Management

28 Vero Beach 32963 / May 20, 2021 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 27 INSIGHT COVER STORY

were – like so many others, he thought
they were some sort of flash drive. He
quickly learned otherwise.

Burke’s own father had started
smoking cigarettes at 16 and struggled
mightily with the habit until finally
kicking it in his 40s. He’d died of esoph-
ageal cancer. Burke remembered
watching with a sense of satisfaction
and relief as smoking rates among kids
ticked down year over year. Now he
was furious. That’s how he ended up in
front of his computer on the afternoon
of June 23, banging out a note to Burns
on LinkedIn:

After a few days passed, Burke could
see that Burns had opened his Linke-
dIn message. But he received no reply.
That made him even madder. He de-
cided to take his anger public, with a
post on Facebook:

Not long after, Burke got a call from “These people should go to jail,”
Briger, who’d seen the post. As the two Briger said.
men talked, they grew angrier.
The two men decided that their
“We’ve got to stop these people,” neighbor, Burns, and his company
said Briger. needed to pay. “The only way is to play
hardball with them,” Briger said. “To
“Burns, this goddamned ass----, can make it uncomfortable for them. To
you believe how despicable he is?” Burke let everybody know that people in our
replied. “I mean, they’re pumping mas- community are making money off this.”
sive amounts of nicotine into kids.”

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / May 20, 2021 29

INSIGHT COVER STORY

Burke knew someone they could The U.S. Food and Drug Adminis- vestment in a corporation whose valu- ership, removing its candy-flavored
ask for help. The 2018 Stanford foot- tration began turning up the heat on ation was being written down quarter products from the market, and relo-
ball season was just getting under way. the company as data showed that mil- after quarter. cating its headquarters to Washington,
Burke was a die-hard fan. He’d had lions of middle school and high school closer to those who will decide its fate.
season tickets, with the same seats in students were vaping, a jarring public- The Federal Trade Commission has
the upper deck, for years. And for as health setback after two decades of sued to unwind the deal between Juul The tobacco industry long ago
long as he could remember, the same declines in youth tobacco use. Law- and Altria, alleging that the two com- learned that it was reliant on, and had
person had had the seats right in front makers began investigating Juul’s panies engaged in anticompetitive to continually solicit, what it has re-
of him: Jim Steyer. marketing practices. State attorneys practices. An administrative trial is ferred to as “permission from society
general began filing lawsuits against scheduled for June. to exist.” Now, Juul is learning the same
Many people knew Steyer because the company for its role in stoking the holds true for itself.
of his younger brother, Tom, the bil- youth nicotine epidemic. Meanwhile, Juul is waiting as the
lionaire founder of the San Francisco FDA considers whether to allow its The lesson is worthy of being taught
hedge fund Farallon Capital Manage- Juul’s largest outside investor, the product (and thousands of competing at Stanford: The enemies you least want
ment. Jim was eminent in his own tobacco company Altria, was coming e-cigarette products) to continue to be are the parents of your customers. 
right, as a civil rights professor at under its own pressure as sharehold- sold in the U.S., a decision that could
Stanford and longtime advocate for ers railed against its $12.8 billion in- arrive this year. Juul has tried to sal- Adapted from The Devil’s Playbook:
children. In 2003, he’d started anoth- vage its future by bringing in new lead- Big Tobacco, Juul, and the Addiction of a
er nonprofit, Common Sense Media. New Generation, publishing May 25.
Originally a source for movie and me-
dia ratings for parents, it had become
a grassroots army, with almost 150
million users.

Just before kickoff, Burke and Steyer
were catching up – about their sum-
mers, their families, the kids’ plans for
the year. Then Burke brought up vap-
ing.

“Jim, have you heard about Juul?”
Burke asked.

“Yeah, of course. I have four children.
They’re like the new Big Tobacco.”

They began swapping stories. Burke
told Steyer about Briger’s experience.
Briger and Steyer knew each other.

“Well, you run the biggest child ad-
vocacy group in the country,” Burke
said. “Do you want to get involved?”

Steyer decided to ask his own chil-
dren what they knew about Juul. At
the time he had a high schooler and
three older children. The high school-
er not only confirmed that Juul was a
big problem but acknowledged that
he’d tried it himself. Steyer was in-
censed. “Do you understand how bad
nicotine is?” he chided. His older kids
chuckled at his naiveté. “You have no
idea, Dad,” they said. “People Juul in
your class at Stanford, and you don’t
even know it.”

Steyer was in. Meanwhile in New
York, a well-connected group of angry
mothers whose own children had be-
come all too familiar with Juul began
organizing a group that was eventu-
ally called Parents Against Vaping E-
cigarettes, or PAVe.

By the fall of 2018, a formidable
group of wealthy parents whose chil-
dren had fallen prey to nicotine addic-
tion, from Atherton to San Francisco
to New York City, were organizing in
various ways to stop it.

Over the next year the fury of pow-
erful parents like Briger, Burke, and
Steyer was echoed by more American
moms and dads who’d discovered Juul
devices stashed in their kids’ back-
packs or colorful plastic nicotine pods
littering their bedrooms. The tide
soon began to turn against Silicon Val-
ley’s most dazzling startup.

30 Vero Beach 32963 / May 20, 2021 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

INSIGHT OPINION

It must be frustrating to make mon- former colleagues was to prove their the framework that the Fed adopted chored as inflation rises above target,
etary policy at the Federal Reserve commitment to their long-run infla- last year, when inflation was still be- then inflation could be more persistent
these days. Just before Labor Day last tion target of 2% by vowing to keep low target. and the costs of the policy could be
year the Fed proudly announced a new rates at zero until inflation averaged much higher than anticipated,” Ber-
strategy that was mainly focused on 2% for some period of time. Since in- “So what could go wrong?” Bernan- nanke wrote.
preventing deflation – falling prices. flation started out below the target, it ke asked in a 2019 blog post that neatly
would have to run above the target for prefigures the current snafu. “Imperfectly credible” seems like a
Less than a year later, The Fed is un- a while to average 2% over time. good description of the Fed these days.
der fire for failing to prevent the oppo- When the Fed manages to get infla- The bond market’s estimate of average
site – inflation. On May 12, the Bureau Once that objective was reached, the tion above 2%, he wrote, people may annual inflation over the next 10 years,
of Labor Statistics announced that con- Fed could finally lift rates off the floor not trust the central bank to guide it as measured by the yield gap between
sumer prices had risen 4.2% in April and go back to its old (2012) strategy back down. “If people don’t understand regular and inflation-protected Trea-
from a year earlier, the most since 2008. of trying to hit 2% on the head from or believe the Fed’s strategy – if the Fed sury notes, has soared from around 1%
month to month. This is more or less is imperfectly credible – and their ex- a year ago to over 2.5% now – i.e., from
France’s Maginot Line lasted longer. pectations of inflation become un-an- way lower than the Fed wanted it to sub-
To some critics, the Fed’s emphasis stantially higher than the Fed wants it.
on combating deflation looks like a
classic case of generals preparing to This has to be hard for architects of
fight the last war. the Fed’s new strategy such as Richard
Ben Bernanke, who was Fed chair- Clarida, a luminary of monetary eco-
man from 2006 to 2014, highlighted the nomics from Columbia University who
risk of the new policy before there even became vice chair in 2018. In a May
was a new policy. After the Fed he took 11 speech he called April’s consumer
up residence at the Brookings Institu- price reading “one data point,” and
tion, where he wrote a series of papers said, “I expect inflation to return to – or
that influenced what became the Fed’s perhaps run somewhat above – our 2%
new Statement on Longer-Run Goals longer-run goal in 2022 and 2023.”
and Monetary Policy Strategy.
The big idea of Bernanke and oth- That depends on how well anchored
ers was that the world had entered an the public’s inflation expectations are,
era of chronically low inflation and which is questionable.
low inflation-adjusted interest rates. In
such a world, it’s hard to combat eco- True, the Fed could shut down infla-
nomic weakness because there’s very tion fever in a minute with a surprise
little room to cut interest rates – they’re rate hike tomorrow. But that would
already close to the “effective lower undercut its promise to let inflation
bound” of approximately zero. run above 2% for some period to offset
Worse yet, expectations of average the years when it was below target.
long-run inflation ratchet lower and low-
er because inflation falls in recessions For now, anyway, Fed policymakers
and never fully rebounds in recoveries. seem intent on toughing it out. 
Bernanke’s recommendation to his
A version of this column by Peter Coy
first appeared on Bloomberg. It does
not necessarily reflect the views of Vero
Beach 32963.

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

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / May 20, 2021 31

INSIGHT WORLD NEWS AND OPINION

When Tatiana Litvin tries to return lets off gases and smells bad. I initiated bother to reply to the complaint. Can turns, but I think it's fair to assume that
her Tempur-Pedic bed, the company a return, and a Tempur-Pedic represen- you help me get my $4,827 back? it will happen quickly. A representative
promises a quick return. But it's been tative assured me that someone would told you the return would take place
two months. When will someone pick pick up my mattress within one to two ANSWER: within one to two weeks. That sounds
up her mattress – and return her money? weeks. After that, the company would about right.
refund my credit card. I'm sorry to hear about your gaseous
QUESTION: bed. That does not sound appealing to I recommended that you reach out to
It's now been almost two months. me. And if you spend $4,827 on a luxu- the managers at Tempur-Pedic (owned
Can you help get Tempur-Pedic to No one has contacted me to complete ry bed, you have every right to expect a by Sealy). I list the names, numbers
honor its return policy? I recently bought the pick-up of the mat-tress. I've called swift return. and email addresses on my consumer
a bed from Tempur-Pedic with the un- Tempur-Pedic over ten times. A repre- advocacy site, Elliott.org. Unfortunate-
derstanding that I could return it within sentative told me to contact a third party Tempur-Pedic's return policy is ly, that didn't work.
30 days. called NVC Logistics Group to arrange clear. It promises that you'll "fall in love
a pickup. When I did, they told me they with your mattress" – or your money I don't think it's fair of Tempur-Pedic
The mattress isn't working for me. It have no record of this return or pick up back. You have 30 nights (during the – or any other company – to make you
requested by Tempur-Pedic. first 90 nights of ownership) to try deal with a third par-ty. Nor is it fair to
your new Tempur-Pedic. If it doesn't make their pickup problem your prob-
I've already called Tempur-Pedic re- work out and you don't love your new lem. Someone from Tempur-Pedic
peatedly about this, and none of the reps mattress, it will take the mattress back should have taken ownership of your
were capable of assisting me. They just and refund your money, less shipping return request and seen it through to
keep saying they called NVC to arrange a charges. the end.
pickup, but pick up and NVC keeps say-
ing that they haven't. There's no timeline on product re- I contacted Tempur-Pedic on your
behalf. It arranged for a prompt pickup
At this point, because Tempur-Pedic and refunded your pur-chase back to
has been giving me the runaround, I your credit card. 
reported this to the Bet-ter Business Bu-
reau in the hopes that they will finally Get help with any consumer prob-
honor their return policy. They didn't lem by contacting Christopher Elliott
at http://www.elliott.org/help

32 Vero Beach 32963 / May 20, 2021 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

INSIGHT BOOKS

William Green’s new book, “Richer, Wiser, Hap- 2000, he earned a profit of Many of the investors talk about how they have
pier: How the World’s Greatest Investors Win in more than $90 million. created systems to mitigate risk, to the point
Markets and Life,” offers an immensely alluring that Green writes, “Adopting systematic analyti-
promise: By learning the secrets of great investors, Green’s book does suffer from some of the same cal procedures is the sixth strategy in our epic
from the famous, like Charlie Munger and Sir John flaws that affect most investing “how tos.” We’re quest to be non-idiotic.” But former SAC Capital
Templeton, to those who deliberately fly below the told over and over again that, as famed investor Joel hedge fund manager Jason Karp argues that ev-
radar, like Nick Sleep and Laura Geritz, we too can Greenblatt, the founder of Gotham Capital, says, the ery system is doomed to fail. He became frus-
be as successful as they are, in business and in life. entire secret of successful stock picking comes down trated with running his fund because, he says,
to this: “Figure out what something is worth and
Most of the featured investors are acolytes of War- pay a lot less.” Or as Benjamin Graham, the inven- there was no “clear linkage between process
ren Buffett and Munger, and while there’s little of tor of value investing and the intellectual forefather and outcome.” He added, “There’s so much
their wisdom any casual student of investing won’t of Buffett, Munger and most of the investors in this randomness that it can drive you insane.”
have encountered before, hearing their maxims book, said, make sure you have a “margin of safety.”
through the voices of others renders them as fresh In fact, the book almost proves that you
as they can be. Other conventional insights resonate Well, yes, but that’s way easier said than done. can’t emulate these investors. Greenblatt, for
because Green is a good storyteller. He recounts how The book also backfires in its implicit promise instance, set up a preapproved list of stocks
Howard Marks, a co-chairman of Oaktree Capital that the secrets of great investors can be synthesized people could buy and gave them two options:
Management, which manages $120 billion and spe- into consistency. They can’t. Investors like Mohnish They could either make their own decisions
cializes in less-well-trodden areas of the market like Pabrai, Greenblatt and Sleep often invest almost all about when to buy and sell, or follow a pre-
distressed debt, keeps in his wallet a folded $5 bill of their money in just a few stocks. That’s contrary to determined system. When Greenblatt stud-
that he found in the Harvard Business School library the advice given by Graham, who says diversification ied thousands of clients’ accounts, he was
as a reminder of the limitations of the efficient-mar- is key, and contrary to what’s done by many of the
ket theory (which essentially posits that $5 bills don’t other featured investors, like Jean-Marie Eveillard, shocked to discover how much worse the DIY
lie around waiting to be picked up). The experience who began running SoGen International in 1979 and investors performed: They failed to beat the
helps remind him to avoid the most efficient mar- who routinely owned more than 100 stocks. S&P 500, whereas the group that followed
kets and focus exclusively on less-efficient ones. the system beat the S&P by 21.4 percentage
points. “Their ‘judgment’ had transformed a
There’s also a wealth (pun intended) of less-ob- market-beating strategy into a market-trail-
vious insights. Ken Shubin Stein, a doctor turned ing dud,” Green writes. “It was a startling
hedge fund manager turned Columbia University
professor, explains that to invest successfully, you display of self-sabotage.”
have to know your own mind. He says that for his Green’s real message may be “don’t try
part, he’s highly susceptible to “authority bias,”
which has led him to place too much faith in stocks this at home,” but his book still offers many
owned by investment luminaries whom he admires. nuggets of wisdom. Great investors are
To help counter this, he always asks himself, “Have I rarely just money minds but also, as Green writes,
done the work?” Jeffrey Gundlach, a “brash and bril- “seekers of what the economist John Maynard
liant billionaire known as the King of Bonds,” says Keynes called ‘worldly wisdom.’” They study fields
he’s wrong about 30 percent of the time. So before he ranging from economic history to neuroscience to
makes an investment, he asks, “If I assume that I’m literature to stoicism to the science of habit forma-
wrong on this, what’s the consequence going to be?” tion, and try to use the insights they glean to make
His advice: “Make your mistakes nonfatal.” themselves better investors. You don’t have to apply
their insights to investing to appreciate them. Take
There’s also some wonderful history. In 1939, as the Marks, who has long been a student of Buddhism,
world was going to war, the man who would become which has led him to admit that he can’t predict or
Sir John Templeton opened the Wall Street Journal, control the future. As a result, he says, he is more
picked 104 American companies whose stocks were humble than he might otherwise be.
selling for $1 or less, and invested $100 in each of The reason to read this book is not so much that it
them. As war raged, the Dow fell to a generational contains a recipe for anything, but rather that it of-
low of 92, and stocks became so synonymous with fers a smorgasbord of ideas from which you can pick
risk that New York state insurance regulators banned and choose what works for you. 
them from the portfolios of insurance companies.
Templeton stuck with his bet. He ended up making RICHER, WISER, HAPPIER
five times his money. Six decades later, in 1999, he
shorted a basket of dot-com stocks that were adored HOW THE WORLD’S GREATEST INVESTORS
by the crowd, and when the bubble popped in March
WIN IN MARKETS AND LIFE

BY WILLIAM GREEN | SCRIBNER. 282 PP. $28
REVIEW BY BETHANY MCLEAN, THE WASHINGTON POST

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / May 20, 2021 33

INSIGHT BRIDGE

SLAM THE OPPONENTS WITH MAKING SLAMS WEST NORTH EAST
J963 KQ8 42
By Phillip Alder - Bridge Columnist K 10 7 2 J Q8654
76 Q942 83
Friedrich von Logau wrote, and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow translated, “Joy, J75 A K 10 8 3 Q942
temperance, and repose / Slam the door on the doctor’s nose.”
SOUTH
If you slam the door on your bridge opponents’ noses by bidding and making a slam, A 10 7 5
you and your partner will be joyful, especially if you are playing for money. A93
A K J 10 5
You should have a slam about every 24 boards. But my wife, Kitty, and I had four in 10 6
deals playing at Bridge Base Online last month. Let’s take them in chronological order.
Dealer: North; Vulnerable: Both
How would you play in seven diamonds after a trump lead with both opponents
following? The Bidding:

Note that my initial response was one diamond, not one spade. With a good hand, bid SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST
your longest suit first. Not only does one diamond not deny a four-card major, it does 1 Clubs Pass
not deny two four-card majors! 1 Diamonds Pass 3 Diamonds Pass OPENING
4 NT Pass 5 Diamonds Pass
Then Kitty made a well-judged raise to three diamonds. We are believers in the Losing 5 Hearts Pass 5 Spades Pass LEAD:
Trick Count, and her hand had only six losers, one fewer than a minimum opening. 7 Diamonds Pass Pass Pass 7 Diamonds

I immediately launched Roman Key Card Blackwood, learning that she had one ace
(five diamonds), the diamond queen and the spade king (five spades). That was
enough for me.

I won the first trick with my diamond king, cashed the heart ace, ruffed a heart with the
diamond nine, returned to hand with a trump, ruffed my last heart with the diamond
queen and claimed 13 tricks: three spades, one heart, five diamonds, two clubs and
those two heart ruffs.

Surprisingly, we were the only pair in seven. Five were in six diamonds and nine in
game.

34 Vero Beach 32963 / May 20, 2021 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

INSIGHT GAMES

SOLUTIONS TO PREVIOUS ISSUE (MAY 13) ON PAGE 62

ACROSS DOWN
1 Goods (11) 2 Avid (5)
9 Recommend (7) 3 Balmy (7)
10 Human body’s trunk (5) 4 Part of a stamen (6)
11 Weird (5) 5 Dissuade (5)
12 Reserve (7) 6 Exterior (7)
13 Reliable (6) 7 Flamboyance (11)
15 Feature (6) 8 Child’s allowance(6,5)
18 Permits (7) 14 Strange (7)
20 Surpass (5) 16 Bung (7)
22 Proprietor (5) 17 Respect (6)
23 Redress (7) 19 Eagle’s nest (5)
24 Extensive superstore(11) 21 Vestige (5)

The Telegraph

How to do Sudoku:

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

The Telegraph

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / May 20, 2021 35

INSIGHT GAMES

ACROSS like ___!” 44 Gervais series set in a The Washington Post
1 Int’l bank busted in 1992 93 Gone by nursing home
5 Work on somebody? 94 Million-to-one shot CORNY-COPIA By Merl Reagle
8 Ms. Farrow 96 Queen’s Mercury 45 Oak-to-be
11 Fetching buys 99 Auto pioneer 46 Logrolling contest THE Art & Science
16 Ringo’s preference? 100 When you might have 47 Big gun’s name
19 How this ans. reads 48 Thinks the world of of Cosmetic Surgery
20 Sequentialize white meat? 49 Caine Mutiny captain
21 1950s group popular around 104 Q. “Is filet mignon we are 52 In ___ (pronto) SPECIALTIES INCLUDE:
53 Sounds of war, perhaps • Minimal Incision Lift for the
Thanksgiving? having, comrade?” 55 Insurance giant
22 Thanksgiving topic? A. “No, ___” 56 “Foul!” Face, Body, Neck & Brow
24 Long periods 106 Olive chaser 57 Group of eight • Breast Augmentations
25 Photography compound, 107 Society-page word 58 QB’s hiking instruction,
108 Teach a child not to spill? & Reductions
silver ___ 109 Like Ricky, but not Lucy perhaps • Post Cancer Reconstructions
27 Post-mishap comments 110 Eponymous ice cream 59 Largest div. of the former • Chemical Peels • Botox
maker • Laser Surgery • Tummy Tucks
from toddlers 111 Fueling finale Soviet Union • Obagi Products • Liposculpture
28 Loon Lake author’s inits. 112 ___ kleine nachtmusik 65 David Copperfield’s faithful • Skin Cancer Treatments
29 Jacks, keepaway, etc.
30 Extraordinary examples DOWN nurse
32 Freeway nightmare 1 Lee, Starr, or Vaccaro 66 Jackson and Smith
35 Ishmael, for one 2 Java containers 67 The ___ the town
37 What the food fight was? 3 Nero’s 950 68 Free a granny
41 Popular brand of dye 4 “Dying ___” 69 Celeb events
42 Choreographer Alonso 70 Wild cat
(Sylvia Plath) 71 Of an arm bone
and actress Silverstone 5 Rife with regret 75 Minute orifice
43 Hse. debts 6 Cake completers 76 Broke a courtroom promise
44 “Dream Lover” singer 7 Gumbo need 77 H.S. test
47 Arctic Ocean sea 8 ___-jongg 79 War on Poverty pres.
49 Serious search 9 “___ been a contenda” 80 Gonzaga University city
50 Élève’s place 10 Schopenhauer 81 Tampered with
51 More uptight 82 Homophone of
52 Legend, for one and C. Clark
54 Result of the bread tray 11 Roo’s friend 33 Down
12 Part of A & E 84 “Sound” of a lame joke
overturning? 13 Contemporary of Ava, Rita 85 Salad green
60 Before of yore 86 Grocery section
61 Raison d’___ and Bette 87 Its advent hurt John Gilbert
62 Old English coins 14 Cut or cover ending 88 Utah city
63 What your spinal 15 Rush-hr. bus condition 89 Like Jake in Chinatown
16 Wild dog of India
cord and brain are part of: 17 Countdown terminology (to his dismay)
abbr. 18 Former jet of the 92 Seller feller?
64 Get impatient with 94 Greek cheese
the bird? Jet Set 95 Author Hubbard
72 Turner and Wood 21 Golf thingies 97 Buckboard or 18-wheeler
73 Short evening of theater 23 Put (a question) 98 University founder Cornell
74 Extended families 26 Part of EEG 99 Birthplace of Yves
75 Rio de la ___ 29 General for whom a
77 Big Mac needs Saint-Laurent
78 Stopper Florida city is named 100 Easy comparison?
79 Longest French river 31 Mila 18 author 101 Singer silencer
80 More impertinent 32 Little dances 102 Swift’s The Tale
82 In the style of 33 “Throw ___ over him!”
83 Thanksgiving dishes? 34 Some sports cars of a ___
85 TV Honeymooner 36 Amenity 103 Under-the-mat item
90 Charlie Kane’s best friend in 37 Oily liquid 105 Swiss canton
Welles classic 38 Grew as grapes do
91 ___ trot (antsy) 39 Blue cartoon character
92 “I could crush you 40 Incredible bargain
42 Counters a contention

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38 Vero Beach 32963 / May 20, 2021 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

INSIGHT BACK PAGE

Is it appropriate for bride to request cash wedding gifts?

BY CAROLYN HAX traditional registry or a separate set of fancy-occasion
Washington Post whatevers “for entertaining” is actually kind of a hero.

Dear Carolyn: My beautiful, If you’re a collector or entertainer, of course, then
have at it. We just need to uncouple life milestones
thoughtful daughter is getting mar- from acquisition.

ried later this year. She is paying for And that’s before, third, getting into the moral and
emotional math of wealth inequality – in which guests
much of the wedding with money who aren’t of means are nudged to part with high-
value cash for things a couple won’t need except to
she has frugally tucked away. maintain polite appearances for their parents. A reg-
istry can help guests know what to buy, and I’ve used
Rather than traditional gifts, she some gratefully, but they’re only as good as the items
are needed, wanted, reasonable.
wants to request cash toward improving her new, fixer-
Not to mention, fourth, especially now: Maybe we’re
upper home. all poised to dust off our party sets the nanosecond it
feels safe to party with other humans again, but that
I am appalled at this. I am told, lovingly, that I am out would be a hairpin cultural turn. We barely make it to
tables for meals now, much less ones set with china.
of touch with today’s trends. I respect it is her decision,
So what are etiquette-minded wedding guests and
but I can’t let it go yet without persisting. hosts supposed to do? Give up, go cash, be grateful for
the fig leaves available to those who – bless them all –
Your thoughts on this seemingly popular new trend? can’t countenance asking for money. Mostly, they can
“register” for just about everything they’d buy if some-
– Appalled one handed them cash. Mortified parents can also
spread the gospel of targeted gift cards among their
Appalled: I used to fight this myself. I will probably they have occasions to toast.Wedding guests just don’t judging-inclined, trend-immune friends.
never come around fully on the idea of shaking down need to build nests anymore with their – optional, al-
guests for cash. ways! – gifts. Unless the couple wants them to. (It is/ Otherwise: Her wedding. Let go.
was a lovely notion.) Memo to gift die-hards: Make sure it has either
But. Other cultures have had money-collection ves- KNOWN value to the couple, or a receipt and no
sels at wedding receptions for ages and their societies Second, the idea of replacing miscellaneous ac- guilt-strings attached. On-trend till death do all of
haven’t all died off from tackiness. Meanwhile, real ar- crued bachelor/ette stuff with expensive coordinated us part. 
guments against the “traditional” have been piling up marital stuff barely got a foothold before it dawned
for years. Decades. that 1. Life phases are hardly so tidy, and it’s suffocating
to treat them as such; and 2. Our attachment to stuff
First, the idea that couples move from their par- and stuff upgrades is killing the planet, and eventually
ents’ homes into their first, marital home hasn’t been us along with it. Which really kills the buzz of a sleek
a large-scale reality since I was a late-midcentury- new martini set. So anyone who says no-thanks to a
modern kid, and even then I might have gotten that
vision from movies. So even the couples who aren’t al-
ready living together already have more toasters than

GALLERIST ROWE’S PASSION FOR
PAINTING KNOWS NO BOUNDS

40 Vero Beach 32963 / May 20, 2021 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

ARTS & THEATRE

GALLERIST ROWE’S PASSION FOR PAINTING
KNOWS NO BOUNDS

BY STEPHANIE LABAFF | STAFF WRITER Lori Rowe at
The Rowe Gallery.
Artist Lori Rowe, a welcome ad-
dition to the Vero Beach arts com- PHOTOS BY KAILA JONES
munity, recently opened The Rowe
Gallery on Royal Palm Pointe, which
features her own artwork.

A self-taught artist who describes
her work as contemporary impres-
sionist, Rowe returned to Florida not
long ago, after having spent a lifetime
on the road; first as an Army brat and
later traveling with husband Greg-
ory. As a quality engineer involved
with the construction and decom-
missioning of power plants, primar-
ily nuclear plants, his work had them
on the move about every six months
for some 17 years.

As they traversed the country, the
lifestyle afforded her an opportunity
to pursue an interest in the arts. She
initially dabbled in watercolor, one

of the more complex mediums to into any one art form, art became
master. Despite its being unforgiving her outlet and Rowe filled her time
and unpredictable, she says it was on the road experimenting with vari-
the easiest to manage given their RV ous techniques and styles.
lifestyle.
At one point, when Gregory was
While they did not live in any one working on a project in Long Island,
place long enough for her to settle Rowe says they needed to rent a house

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / May 20, 2021 41

ARTS & THEATRE

Scott is a well-known finger-paint- lian Shepherds can attest to it – Rowe
ing artist who has dedicated her ca- sent one of her dog paintings to sup-
reer to the art form she describes as port a fundraiser sponsored by Strays
Instinctualism. of Abu Dhabi at the Millennium Ho-
tel there. Much to her surprise, the
“Finger painting is very different. painting ended up being used as the
It’s very messy. It’s a love-hate pro- featured face for the nonprofit’s fun-
cess. It’s infuriating at times,” says draising poster.
Rowe, adding that she soon gained
enough confidence to begin entering Before long, Rowe says, her work
her work into a handful of shows. was becoming more recognizable,
and she soon had more requests for it
“The first show I entered, I actually than she could handle.
won third place in acrylics. I dabbled
with acrylics for a minute. That’s all “I had them backed up on top of
it took to really encourage me to get each other,” says Rowe.
going a little bit more,” recalls Rowe.
For years, her husband had been
An animal lover – her three Austra-
CONTINUED ON PAGE 42

as there was no place nearby where “I was a watercolorist for 10 years,
they could live in the RV. It was during then I took a class with Iris Scott and
that period of time that she “spread fell in love with oils. I took this class,
her wings” and began to dabble in oils. and I never went back,” says Rowe.

42 Vero Beach 32963 / May 20, 2021 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

ARTS & THEATRE

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 41 “It was the perfect place for recov- quite a following through word of the canvases these days, with palm
ery. I think I got myself back a little mouth from visitors to the town. trees and beach scenes popping up, and
pushing her to do more with her art bit there,” says Rowe. she is currently working on a sea turtle.
and, after a bout with breast cancer, she Prescribing to a philosophy of “no
finally decided she had nothing to lose. During their time in that quaint, rules,” Rowe now paints whatever she Continuing with a stroll through
artsy village of 3,000 residents in the feels like and uses whatever tools spark the studio, there are hints of inspi-
By then the couple was living in middle of the desert – Borrego Springs her fancy at the time – brushwork, a ration from Master Artists such as
Borrego Springs, Calif., where she is surrounded by the Anza-Borrego palette knife, her fingers, impasto, and Claude Monet, along with the more
stumbled across a vacant storefront State Park, the largest state park in anything else within reach. modern influences of artists such as
that she felt was the ideal spot to ex- California – Rowe’s gallery garnered Scott, whose work enticed Rowe to
pand her reach. “I finally found my niche. I paint

what I want to paint,” she says, add- expand from palette knives into fin-
ing that she considers herself a con- ger painting.
temporary impressionist with some
abstract leanings. Today, Rowe’s passion knows no
bounds. And soon, her oil paintings
Walking through the gallery and won’t be the only works to admire
studio space, several vibrant cows in the gallery, as she plans to add in
boldly stand out for their lively colors. pieces by artists in various other me-
diums, including photography and
“They are certainly in no way true ceramics.
to life,” says Rowe.
“I’m always happy to have visitors
Despite that, she adds, “I do tend and share a cup of coffee,” says Rowe,
toward some realism. When I do inviting folks to stop by to view her
my animals, you will always see a works and the process.
real eye. That’s the first thing I do
because then they’re alive. Even The Rowe Gallery, located at 46
though that’s the only thing on my Royal Palm Pointe, is open Thursday
canvas in there, it’s now alive, and I through Sunday. For more informa-
work from there.” tion, visit therowegallery.com. 

A bit of Florida is also appearing on

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / May 20, 2021 43

COMING UP! ARTS & THEATRE

Meet ‘Human Element’ artists at the Emerson

BY PAM HARBAUGH shade trees and a fountain with relax- er to save that life,” Bootes said. Pups, 589-7297 or visit HALORescueFl.org. To
Correspondent ing sounds. “It’s a beautiful setting, Pints & Pinups runs 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at reach Mash Monkeys Brewing Com-
very conducive (to meditation), a com- Mash Monkeys Brewing Company, 920 pany, call 772-571-6283 or visit Mash-
1 Out-of-the-ordinary happenings fortable, quaint, magical little spot,” U.S. 1, Sebastian. Call H.A.L.O. at 772- MonkeysBrewing.com. 
should stir some interest for you Ford said. The program is part of the
ELC’s focus on educating, empowering
in the next few days. They start tonight, and inspiring all people to be stewards
of the environment. Advancing that
Thursday, May 20, at the Emerson Cen- mission, the ELC offers a whole array
of opportunities to reconnect to na-
ter where you’ll be able to mix it up ture, including wellness retreats, over-
night campouts, sunrise and full moon
with artists and art patrons at a Meet kayak tours, forest therapy and more.
The next Walking Meditation runs 11
the Artist Reception for “The Human a.m. to noon Sunday, May 23. The cost
is $15 for non-members with discounts
Element” exhibition. The exhibition for members, students and seniors 65
and older. After you go to the Walking
comprises “mysterious expressions Meditation, be sure to explore more of
the ELC’s 65-acre campus. The Envi-
of the human body” by area artists ronmental Learning Center is at 255
Live Oak Drive, Vero Beach. Call 772-
and photographers: Keila Small, Sara 589-5050 or visit DiscoverELC.org.

Alfaro, Mark San Souci, John Biondo,

Hector Cruz, Amy Saville and Anne

Whitney. The reception runs 5:30 p.m.

to 7 p.m. The exhibition runs through

July 1, 2021. Regular gallery hours are

10 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays. Free admis-

sion. Please wear masks. The Emerson

Center is at 1590 27th Ave., Vero Beach.

Call 772-538-2338.

2 Let the writer in you come out at 4 Animal lovers will say the best
a special 90-minute interactive deal in town happens Sunday

Zoom workshop with award-winning afternoon when Mash Monkeys Brew-

mystery and crime fiction writer Lib- ing Company holds a big fundraiser for

by Fischer Hellman. The workshop is H.A.L.O. – Helping Animals Live and

presented by the Laura Riding Jackson Overcome. The event, called “Pups,

Foundation. Hellman has written 16 Pints & Pinups,” is a collaboration be-

thrillers and dozens of short stories. tween the H.A.L.O. leadership team

She will teach how to build suspense, and Mash Monkeys owners Derek

whether you want to write fiction, Gerry and Pat Kirchner. There will be

memoir or creative non-fiction. The opportunities to adopt a dog, and pur-

workshop runs 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. this chase a pint of craft brew, with $1 from

Saturday, May 22. The cost is $35. To each pint sold going to H.A.L.O. In ad-

register, visit LauraRidingJackson.org. dition, H.A.L.O. will also offer beauty

makeovers (for the humans) and a spe-

3 It may be hard to choose what to do cial $25 pinup beauty shot by profes-
on Sunday, so you might want to
sional photographer Michael Jackson.

do it all, starting with a morning Walk- Just be sure to bring your own glamor

ing Meditation at the Environmental garb. “People are looking forward to

Learning Center. Held the fourth Sun- getting out, and we thought this would

day of each month, the Walking Medi- be a cute, fun event to do,” said Allyson

tation takes people through the ELC’s Bootes, director of development for

intimate Butterfly Garden. Led by Elise H.A.L.O. The organization was found-

Mahovlich of Living Yoga with Elise, ed in 2006 to provide a no-kill safe hav-

beginner and seasoned meditators en for abused and abandoned animals.

will keep their eyes open as they break Last year, there were many foster fami-

away from the stress of daily living and lies that ended up adopting pets, but

reconnect to nature and to themselves. there were also many people surren-

ELC executive director Barbara Schlitt dering their pets because they could no

Ford said the experience starts first longer afford them. Additionally, many

with a brief orientation where you are pet owners turned to H.A.L.O. to help

encouraged to listen, observe and see with medical costs for the pets. “Our

what the natural world wants to reveal. current save rate is 97 percent, so peo-

The Butterfly Garden has a mulch path ple turn to us because they know we

taking visitors along native plants, tall are going to do everything in our pow-



HIP RESURFACING CAN BE GOOD
ALTERNATIVE TO REPLACEMENT

46 Vero Beach 32963 / May 20, 2021 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

HEALTH

Hip resurfacing can be good alternative to replacement

BY KERRY FIRTH Dr. Anas Saleh.
Correspondent
PHOTOS: KAILA JONES
If you have a hip – or hips – that have
become painful and are limiting your
activity, you may be thinking of hav-
ing a hip replacement operation, and
that might be the best solution, too.
But there is another option for some
patients – hip resurfacing.

Hip resurfacing consists of placing
a cap – made of cobalt-chrome metal
and shaped like a hollow mushroom
– over the head of the femur while a
matching metal cup is placed in the
pelvis socket, replacing the articulat-
ing surfaces of the hip joint while re-
moving very little bone compared to a
total hip replacement.

“Cleveland Clinic is the largest re-
surfacing clinic in the world,” said Dr.
Anas Saleh, an orthopedic surgeon at
Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital
who is one of a select group of physi-
cians proficient at the procedure.

“A total hip replacement has a socket
and ball component to it which artic-
ulates with the socket, but it also has
a long stem that goes into the thigh

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Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / May 20, 2021 47

HEALTH

bone. Resurfacing also has a socket, ments would be made to the bearing pain,” said Dr. Saleh. “The pain won’t movement and reduce pain.
but instead of having a ball and stem, surface. The newer generation ceramic kill them, but it can lead to functional Once those treatments are exhaust-
it’s actually a metal cap. The difference on polyethylene implants can last up to decline, pulmonary complications and
between total replacement and resur- 30 years,” Dr. Saleh said. overall deterioration in health. While ed and no longer effective, the surgeon
facing is like the difference between the risk is minimal … the benefit of will discuss hip replacement or resur-
putting a hat on your head or cutting Recovery from hip replacement or being ambulatory can drastically im- facing. Treatments selected depend on
it off. The procedure is more precise resurfacing is fairly easy. The wound prove physical and mental well-being.” the severity of the joint deterioration
and less forgiving, so you really need a takes about two weeks to heal, and and the patient’s overall health.
surgeon who has done the resurfacing most people are driving by three weeks A consultation with an orthopedic
multiple times. Frequency is the key to and functioning well within four to surgeon can identify the treatments Dr. Anas Saleh is from Qatar in East-
expertise. six weeks. Those with sedentary jobs or procedures that are best for elim- ern Arabia. He was educated at the Weill
are back to work between three to six inating your hip joint pain. Most Cornell Medical College in Qatar and
“Resurfacing is really best suited for weeks, but those with more labor-in- doctors will advise starting with completed his residency in Orthopedic
younger males with strong bones,” Dr. tensive jobs may take up to two to three anti-inflammatory medications Surgery at Cleveland Clinic Foundation
Saleh continued. “Because we are put- months to be at full capacity. like Aleve and Motrin, followed by in Ohio. After finishing his fellowship at
ting a cap on the femoral head instead injections of cortisone. In addition, Rush University Medical College in Illi-
of cutting off, we are preserving the “Hip replacement is an elective op- there are gel-like injections that act nois, he joined the Cleveland Clinic In-
bone and it actually solves some of the eration and it’s ultimately up to the pa- as synovial fluid and help facilitate dian River Hospital team in Vero Beach.
issues we have with a traditional total tient to decide if they can live with the He can be reached at 772-463-2010. 
hip replacement. It eliminates the risk
for both dislocation and limb length
discrepancy. With resurfacing you
really don’t change the length at all.
Many high-profile athletes have opted
for hip resurfacing because it allows for
unrestricted activity and they can go
back to high impact sports.”

Hip resurfacing is seldom done on
females because there is a higher risk
of complication with smaller implant
size, and, on average, female joints
are smaller than male ones. There are
companies working on ceramic resur-
facings that will be more suited for fe-
males.

Mayo Clinic identifies three major
sources of hip joint pain – osteoarthri-
tis, rheumatoid arthritis and osteone-
crosis.

Osteoarthritis, also known as wear-
and-tear arthritis, causes damage to
the cartilage covering the ends of the
bones, which prevents the joints from
moving smoothly and inhibits activity.

Rheumatoid arthritis, caused by an
overactive immune system, causes
inflammation that can erode carti-
lage and underlying bone, resulting in
damaged and deformed joints.

Osteonecrosis is a condition where
there isn’t enough blood supplied to
the ball portion of the hip joint; it can
also occur in a dislocation or fracture
that causes the bone to collapse or de-
form resulting in painful hip joints.

Happily, hip surgeries are among
the most successful orthopedic proce-
dures and can dramatically improve
the quality of life for someone living
with hip pain.

The success rates for hip replace-
ment surgery and hip resurfacing are
high, with about 95 percent of patients
experiencing relief from hip pain.
The success rate of hip replacements
10 years after surgery is 90-to-95 per-
cent and at 20 years 80-to-85 percent.
Should an implant wear or loosen, re-
vision to a new hip replacement is pos-
sible.

“Total hip and resurfacing metal
components last almost forever once
they grow into the bone, so any adjust-

48 Vero Beach 32963 / May 20, 2021 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

HEALTH

Aaron’s Hearing Care Center Food for thought on making
your takeout orders healthier
As you reconnect with others, trust your hearing
to an audiologist with 30+ years of experience

Aaron Liebman, Au. D. Hopefully, all of you are doing well as we BY AMY KEATING tors, including whether the drink
Doctor of Audiology take the necessary precautions to reduce The Washington Post options were more or less sugary,
the spread of Covid-19 (coronavirus). We the availability of whole grains, the
Why wouldn’t you want to be fit are committed to keeping our patients, any You might be getting takeout variety of fruits and vegetables, the
with your hearing aid from the visitors to our offices and our staff healthy meals or food deliveries more fre- levels of sodium and saturated fat,
only audiologist-owned hearing and safe. quently than you used to because and whether you could get health-
aid office in Indian River At all times we’re careful to maintain clean- of the pandemic. Although a home- ier protein options, such as fish,
County? According to Aaron liness in our offices in Vero Beach. We take made meal is usually the healthiest legumes, nuts and tofu. Chipo-
Liebman, Au.D., Doctor of extra steps and follow guidelines to further choice, ordering in can be help- tle, Chopt, CoreLife Eatery, Panera
Audiology, “both Audiologists protect everyone. ful during stressful times, or even Bread and Sweetgreen were some
and hearing aid salesmen when you just don’t feel like cook- of the highest scorers. Find full rat-
are licensed by the state. But, We have instituted a deep cleaning policy ing. ings at CR.org/fastfood.
typically, the salesman has no and our staff disinfects all surfaces that are
formal education in hearing, touched throughout the day. We’re read- Fortunately, with a few smart Keep an eye on calories: A dish’s
while the audiologist has gone ing up to date recommendations as they strategies, you can maintain calorie count isn’t the only mea-
to college and obtained a degree become available while discussing and im- healthy eating habits even when sure of whether a meal is good for
in the field”. plementing best hygiene practices to ensure you’re ordering a meal to go. These you, but it may be the only nutri-
your safety. tips will help. tion info you see. In those cases,
What this means to you – use it as a guide. CR’s testing has
as a patient – is that Liebman than I thought possible.” Start with the right eatery: Con- found that the counts are generally
will not only fit you with “Aaron is a very caring man, sumer Reports recently rated 17 on target, so try to aim for less than
a hearing aid, he’ll use patient and works very hard to chain restaurants to see which ones 600 calories for your entire meal.
alternative methods of testing do the best for your problems. made it easier to opt for a nutritious An easy way to keep track is to use
for accuracy, so you receive I would highly recommend dish. We scored them on many fac-
the proper instrument. He’ll him.” These are just three
provide all-around service and of the glowing testimonials DR. KEITH KALISH
counseling so its full potential delivered by local people who
will be clear. And, perhaps most are “graduates” of Liebman at OVER 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE
importantly, he’ll consider you Aaron’s Hearing Aid Center.
as an individual…including Bunions • Hammertoes
the affordability of the product Dr. Liebman moved to Florida Corns • Ingrown • Fungal
he’ll be recommending. in 2001. He is originally from
This type of kid glove treatment Albany, N.Y. area where both he Warts • Calluses • Heel
may have contributed to a and his father were audiologists. Arthritis & Diabetic
finding quoted on the AARP He has found the residents Custom Orthotics
website that states ‘people fitted of Vero Beach and the rest & Diabetic Shoes
for hearing aids by audiologists of Indian River County to be
are 13 times more likely to receptive and loyal once they Same Day
be satisfied than people who are exposed to his caring and Appointments
made their purchase through a concern for them.
hearing aid salesman’. So, if the concept of having your DUAL BOARD CERTIFIED MEDICAL
hearing aid fitted by someone & SURGICAL FOOT
Dr. Liebman’s satisfied clients who offers more than 30+
have willingly put their praises years of experience, who offers SPECIALIST PODIATRIST
into print. no-fee consultations, who will
“Everything I needed to know return your phone calls, who 772-567-0111 I KALISHFOOTCARE.COM
was talked about up front in a will supply free batteries for the
very professional way.” “Aaron life of your hearing instrument, VERO BEACH I 1285 36TH ST I SUITE 203
has done more for my hearing and who will provide quarterly
clean up and adjustments
attractive to you, there’s only
one local audiologist to seek
out: Dr. Aaron Liebman,
owner of Aarons Hearing Care,
IOthnWediaNOnENRDiLvYhereaCAroiUnugnDtaIyiO.dLoOffiGceISiTn

For more information call
(772) 562-5100 in Vero Beach.

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / May 20, 2021 49

HEALTH

whether you can swap them for a vegetables you have on hand; serve
salad, a vegetable or fruit. If you’re your dish with raw sliced carrots,
really craving a less healthy side, celery and tomato; or heat up a
be extra savvy about your main frozen vegetable as a side. Feeling
dish – for instance, if you want the more ambitious? Roast some fresh
onion rings, have them with a grain cauliflower or carrots or steam
bowl or a veggie wrap, not a bacon- green beans or broccoli.
topped cheeseburger.
Split a dish: Restaurant portions
Incorporate home cooking: Have tend to be oversized, which can
the main dish you’ve been crav- encourage you to overeat. To avoid
ing but prep your own accompani- this, plan from the outset to share
ments. For instance, get the pizza one entree with a family member.
or chicken sandwich to lighten the Another option: When your food
cooking load one night, but skip arrives, pack up half and put it in
drinks, fries and extras. Instead, the fridge to save it for the next
toss your own salad with whatever day’s lunch. 

the chain’s mobile ordering app. to your order for just a dollar may
Many allow you to view how calo- seem like a good deal. Unfortu-
rie counts for customizable dishes, nately, all those added sugars will
such as salads and sandwiches, undercut your goal of ordering in
change when you add or subtract a healthier meal. It’s wisest to skip
ingredients. drinking soda altogether. Better
beverage options include water,
Upgrade when you can: Opt for unsweetened iced tea or no-sugar-
brown rice instead of white, or a added seltzer, if it’s available.
whole-grain bun or pasta, if avail-
able. Add extra vegetables to a Rethink your sides: Just because
pizza or beans to a taco, burrito or your order comes with chips or
salad. onion rings by default doesn’t
mean they’re your only option. Ask
Sip smartly: Adding a large soda

NOTICE OF RELOCATION OF PRACTICE

Effective Monday,April 12, 2021 LESLIE HUSZAR, M.D. has relocated his
neurology practice from Cleveland Clinic to 3725 10th Court Vero Beach

FL 32960. Phone: 772-213-8323 Fax: 772-365-0861

To maintain continuity of care for my patients, all medical records will
remain with Cleveland Clinic as custodian of all patients’ medical records.
All patients who want to continue under my care- may personally obtain a
copy of their medical records from Cleveland Clinic to present at our new

practice location at the time of their appointment.

Upon written notice to Cleveland Clinic, any patient may request that their
medical records be transferred to any other health care provider.

This notice is being provided to the patients in accordance with 64B8-
10.002(4) Florida Administrative Code and Section 456.057{11},
FLORIDA Statutes.

50 Vero Beach 32963 / May 20, 2021 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

HEALTH

Retinoids remain the gold standard for fighting wrinkles

BY JANNA MANDELL orders including acne and skin cancer. product was also reducing their wrin- tion and, for some skin types, hyper-
The Washington Post Although it was deemed too irritating kles and improving their complexion, pigmentation.
for practical use, American derma- Kligman and his associates conducted
Although they’ve been around for tologist Albert Kligman became de- a study on 400 adult women, conclud- Evan Rieder, a New York-based der-
decades, the vitamin A derivatives termined to find the optimal dosage ing that topical tretinoin is capable of matologist and psychiatrist at NYU
known as retinoids remain the gold for acne treatment, which he did. This at least “partly reversing the structural Langone, thinks education about reti-
standard for treating wrinkles and led to tretinoin’s approval by the Food damages of excessive sunlight expo- noids is as vital as the products them-
acne, with the skincare and pharma- and Drug Administration in 1971, sub- sure and may be useful in decelerating selves. “I have a picture from my soph-
ceutical industries continuing to de- sequently marketed under the brand the photoaging process.” omore dance in high school where
velop and manufacture new products name Retin-A. my skin is literally falling off my face
featuring them. Retinoids – including Since Kligman’s 1986 work, there from using too much Retin-A to treat
the most commonly known, retinol – In 1986, after adult patients using have been thousands of studies on my acne,” because he wasn’t given the
are found in both prescription medi- tretinoin to treat acne reported that the tretinoin, making it one of the most right information, he said. “So, part of
cations and over-the-counter formu- researched anti-aging ingredients in this is the fault of dermatologists. We
lations in a variety of strengths and dermatology. “Tretinoin is considered need to give people the right infor-
product types. the gold standard in skin care, because mation about how to safely and toler-
of the extensive body of research that ably introduce a retinoid.” That means
But despite their longevity and prov- supports how well it works at increas- knowing what strength retinoid to
en results, these compounds retain the ing cell turnover,” said Ranella Hirsch, start with and how often to apply.
potential for undesirable side effects, a dermatologist based in Cambridge,
such as peeling skin and sun sensitiv- Mass. This boost in cell turnover helps Retinoids are usually categorized
ity. It’s important, therefore, to under- increase collagen production, unclog by where they fall in the conversion
stand the various types of retinoids pores, smooth fine lines, reduce the pathway to retinoic acid, which is the
and the safest ways to incorporate appearance of sun damage and man- strongest and the most likely to cause
them into a skin-care regimen. age dark spots, Hirsch added. irritation. “For example, tretinoin is
retinoic acid, so it’s much more po-
Attempts to use retinoids to tame The ability of retinoids to vanquish tent than over-the-counter versions,
acne date to the mid-20th century, wrinkles and acne, however, has been because there is no conversion neces-
when tretinoin, a derivative of vita- accompanied by their reputation for sary before it has a biological effect on
min A also known as retinoic acid, was painful side effects, such as peeling, the skin,” said Joshua Zeichner, a New
studied in Europe for treating skin dis- flaking, redness, sun sensitivity, irrita- York-based dermatologist and direc-