03/09/2017 ISSUE 10

Charters’ suit for more tax money
is nearing a verdict. P11
Shores reconsidering

decisions on beach lot. P10
Vero sees body cameras for
police coming in near future. P10

MY VERO Unlivable rentals
seen factor in slide
BY RAY MCNULTY into homelessness

Passions still run high
over Holy Cross parking

Maybe the church-going BY KATHLEEN SLOAN
gentleman driving the maroon Staff Writer
Ford Explorer with the person-
alized tags had recognized my The big hit of the season, ‘Mame,’ opened at Riverside and is playing to packed houses. PHOTO BY HOLLY PORCH The lack of low- to-mod-
face, and merely was letting erate-income housing in In-
me know that I was his No. 1 Hospital reports progress in negotiations with insurers dian River County creates a
local columnist. desperate situation for many
BY MICHELLE GENZ names and pore over paint other hospital, Sebastian River low-income renters, and some
Probably, though, he saw me Staff Writer swatches for the nursery. More Medical Center, stopped per- landlords exploit the situa-
standing on the homeowners’ than likely, though, they will forming deliveries years ago. tion, demanding big up-front
side of Iris Lane, where I was In Indian River County, not have to think about which deposits and then keeping the
observing traffic before Satur- where around a thousand hospital to go to: only one That’s why last month, money when tenants move
day’s jam-packed 4 p.m. Mass babies are born each year, does labor and delivery, Indian when IRMC quietly put one out because of unlivable con-
at Holy Cross Catholic Church, couples may endlessly debate River Medical Center. The only of its four largest insurance ditions – a process that too of-
and wrongly assumed I was ten leads to homelessness.
one of the neighbors whose CONTINUED ON PAGE 4
complaints prompted Vero Mark Titone of Titone Prop-
Beach officials to restrict park- erties LLC, who lives in Cen-
ing on the street. tral Beach, appears to be one
of those landlords, accord-
Given the verbal hostility ing to non-profits that assist
expressed recently by unhap- the homeless and county re-
py Holy Cross parishioners, cords. His company owns 44
who are upset because they rental properties in the coun-
no longer can simply pull in ty and has brought nearly 70
and park perpendicular to the eviction actions against ten-
street on the unpaved right- ants since 2010.
of-way along the south side of
Iris Lane, I seriously doubt the CONTINUED ON PAGE 7
driver was giving me a thumbs-
up gesture as he rolled by. Surge in private jet traffic leads to
new construction at Vero airport
At least, he didn’t use his
thumb. BY LISA ZAHNER ingly popular destination for A private jet in front of the new Corporate Air terminal. PHOTO BY GORDON RADFORD
Staff Writer business and leisure travel –
This gentleman did park probably a good bet since the
on the street, however – after Corporate Air, one of two airport handled more than
flight service companies ca- 200,000 takeoffs and land-
CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 tering to Vero’s jet set, has ings last year.
bet big on the Vero Beach Re-
gional Airport as an increas- While much of that traffic

CONTINUED ON PAGE 8

March 9, 2017 Volume 10, Issue 10 Newsstand Price $1.00 ‘29 Ford Tri-Motor
gives Vero Beach
News 1-12 Faith 79 Pets 78 TO ADVERTISE CALL ‘Goose’ bumps. P32
Arts 39-46 Games 59-61 Real Estate 81-96 772-559-4187
Books 56 Health 63-68 St Ed’s 58
Dining 72 Insight 47-62 Style 59-71 FOR CIRCULATION
Editorial 54 People 13-38 Wine 73 CALL 772-226-7925

© 2017 Vero Beach 32963 Media LLC. All rights reserved.

2 Vero Beach 32963 / March 9, 2017 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

NEWS

My Vero rectly to the city with their complaints Cross pastor, Father Richard Murphy, Parking Only” signs along the Iris Lane
about church parking. met with city officials for a second right-of-way from State Road A1A to
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 time last week. Mockingbird Drive.
Several other churchgoers saw me
a Vero Beach Police sergeant forced jotting down notes as I monitored the The most common remark went Those signs replaced the “No Park-
him to turn around his vehicle so that pre- and post-Mass activities on Iris something like this: “We’ve been park- ing Anytime” signs the city had erect-
it faced the proper direction (east) Lane, and asked if I was “one of the ing here for 30 years, and now, all of a ed a week earlier in response to calls,
– and then dutifully walked into the neighbors.” They seemed to be disap- sudden, they’re complaining?” letters and emails from Iris Lane resi-
church, where I assume he sought pointed to learn I wasn’t. dents who complained that the on-
forgiveness for his un-Christian-like Actually, as a result of Murphy’s street parking – particularly when de-
behavior. In fact, I didn’t see any of the neigh- follow-up meeting with City Manager parting churchgoers backed out, often
bors outside their homes before or Jim O’Connor and code-enforcement in a hurry – had created a safety issue
The Explorer driver might’ve been after the Mass, which attracted more officials, Holy Cross parishioners and resulted in damage to mailboxes,
the only street-parking Mass attendee than 1,000 worshipers. still may park along the south side lawns and sprinkler heads.
to use a hand signal, but he wasn’t of Iris lane, adjacent to the church –
alone in feeling Iris Lane residents had However, I did overhear plenty of but they must now parallel park in Both Murphy and O’Connor said al-
blindsided the church by going di- griping among parishioners, some of marked spaces. lowing parallel parking was a workable
whom didn’t know the on-street park- compromise that provides a “tempo-
ing situation had changed after Holy Last week, the city posted “Parallel rary solution” to the problem. Church-
goers still may park on the street, and
residents don’t need to worry about
the damage from vehicles backing
onto their property.

But it’s not a perfect solution: As a
result of the change from pull-in to
parallel parking, there’s now room for
only 40 to 45 vehicles, down from the
70 the right-of-way could accommo-
date when perpendicular parking was
permitted.

And residents still must endure
Mass-produced traffic, which in-
cludes drivers using private driveways
and lawns to turn around, both before
and after services, and hurrying to get
away from the vehicular congestion.

Nor is it a permanent solution.
According to Murphy, he plans to
meet with Holy Cross’ neighbors to
discuss allowing pull-in, angled park-
ing along the south side of the street.
If they agree, the church would hire an
engineer and pay to re-grade the right-
of-way, install a sidewalk and paint the
necessary lines to mark the spaces.
“We’ll set up a meeting with them
in the next couple of weeks,” Mur-
phy said after the Mass. “The angled
parking should solve the problem.
People can pull in to park and back
out without crossing the center line
in the road.
“I’ve been told that some of the resi-
dents have had problems with dam-
age to their property – the some mail-
boxes have been knocked down – and
I understand their feelings,” he added.
“That’s not acceptable. We want to be
good neighbors.
“Unfortunately, you’re always going
to have some people who are incon-
siderate, even in our own parking lot.”
And that’s the real problem.
Charleston Square resident Mary
Jane Grant said she walks down Iris
Lane at least six mornings each week
and has seen “property destroyed,
cars hit and even pedestrians hit” by
churchgoers who park on the street.
“It’s about time something is being
done about this,” she said. “It’s a shame
that the church can just take over that
road. There are other options.”
Grant said Holy Cross could expand

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / March 9, 2017 3

NEWS

its lot or, as O’Connor has suggested, But what makes Vero Beach special neighbors who are simply trying to lot from the residents/community.”
use the nearby Riverside Park lot for – what really makes Vero “Vero” – are protect their property. Yet, if Holy Cross’ parishioners show
overflow parking and offer shuttle ser- the people who live here, the way we
vice. Nobody, though, believes River- work together as a community and Just so you know, the right-of-way the proper respect and consideration
side Park is a realistic option. how we treat each other. along Iris Lane was never intended to for the church’s neighbors on Iris Lane
be a parking lot. As Vero Beach Police – if folks on both sides of the street
The reason? The Mass attendees We don’t drive across our neigh- Chief David Currey wrote in a letter to conduct themselves the way people in
who park along Iris Lane do so be- bors’ lawns to make U-Turns. We don’t a parishioner who complained about Vero Beach should – the angled-park-
cause it’s more convenient and allows knock down our neighbors’ mailboxes the newly restricted parking: “The ing plan could work.
for a quicker exit, not because the and race away. site plan calls for a landscape buffer
church lot is full. to conceal cars in the church parking So let’s give it a thumbs-up . . . using
We certainly don’t get hostile with our thumbs, of course. 
I’m sure many of them, being the
church-going Catholics that they are, Exclusively John’s Island
would admit as much. And they’d
point to the snarl of traffic in the Holy Private and uniquely designed by renowned architect Clem Schaub,
Cross lot, which was still backed up 20 this beautiful 3BR/5.5BA residence embraces serene pool and Lake
minutes after the Mass had ended. Ream Views. Architectural detailing and generous outdoor living areas
compliment this 6,922± GSF home featuring an expansive main level with
Believe me, I understand where island kitchen, family room, dining room, living room with fireplace and wet
they’re coming from. bar, handsome library and game room. Upstairs, the private master suite
wing and two guest suites enjoy private balconies with unmatched views.
I was raised Catholic – and I mean 180 Sago Palm Road : $2,995,000
CATHOLIC, from baptism to com-
munion to confirmation. My parents three championship golf courses : 17 har-tru courts : beach club : squash
required me to go to Mass, not only health & fitness center : pickleball : croquet : vertical equity membership
every Sunday but also on holy days.
I attended a Catholic elementary 772.231.0900 : Vero Beach, FL : JohnsIslandRealEstate.com
school for a few years, then, when I
transferred to public school, went to
catechism classes on Saturday morn-
ings.

I’ve attended Mass in different parts
of America, and it’s always the same:
Some folks go because they’re obli-
gated to go, and when the service is
over, they can’t get away fast enough
and will do whatever it takes to beat
the traffic.

They have no interest in socializing
after church. Some don’t bother to
stay around for the benediction. Of-
ten, they’ll receive communion and
immediately bolt for the exit, the sa-
cred wafer still in their mouths as they
reach for their car keys.

I saw some of these people Sunday,
when the post-Mass scene along Iris
Lane resembled pit road at a NASCAR
race, with drivers anxiously looking
over their left shoulders for an open-
ing to pull onto the street.

Some of them immediately made
U-turns, rather than continue in the
path of traffic to State Road A1A, and
headed west toward Mockingbird
Drive – again, because it was quicker
and more convenient.

That’s why I have serious doubts
that simply installing angled-parking
spaces will solve the problem.

“We haven’t come up with a per-
manent solution yet,” O’Connor said.
“That might take some time.”

It shouldn’t.
Over the past few weeks, I’ve heard
numerous references to the “Keep
Vero ‘Vero’” slogan, usually in con-
nection to the proposed sale of the
old Dodgertown Golf Club property,
parking along Ocean Drive and even
this Holy Cross controversy. And I
agree that housing density, traffic and
growth are vital issues as we strive to
preserve our quality of life and small-
town charm.

4 Vero Beach 32963 / March 9, 2017 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

NEWS

Hospital reports progress of notice” of an insurer going out of
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 network – Florida Hospital did not
notify the thousands of patients po-
companies on notice of termination, tentially affected. It sent out letters of
for some county residents, a trip to the warning to its medical staff more than
hospital to have a baby started to look three months before the contract was
a lot longer and a lot more expensive. set to expire, but left notifying patients
up to the doctors.
Termination would have meant the
hospital was no longer an in-network “You’ve got two conglomerates that
provider for those insured by that un- don’t care about who they’re serving.
named company, forcing patients They care about the dollars,” said one
to pay much higher out-of-network disgusted patient, quoted in the Or-
costs, or search for another hospital lando Sentinel, who had only found
– for labor and delivery, that would out about cancelled coverage through
mean Fort Pierce or Melbourne. his primary care physician.

The notice of termination strat- IRMC’s spokesman Lewis Clark gave
egy is a common one in negotiations some reassurances that even in the
for higher reimbursement rates, the worst-case scenario, in-network cov-
amount insurers reimburse hospitals erage could be extended, though he
for their services. IRMC would not say did not say by how much or for whom.
which insurer had balked, or when no-
tice would expire, but odds are excel- “We do not anticipate that IRMC’s
lent it was less than nine months. patients will be out-of-network,” he
wrote by email last week. “In the un-
That state of limbo has lifted, at likely event that would happen, there
least for now. Late Friday afternoon, are protections in our current con-
after repeated inquiries by 32963, the tracts which provide for continuity of
hospital made it known that negotia- care for our patients.”
tions had begun with that fourth in-
surer. IRMC expects to know within 30 It was the not the first mention of
days if a new contract will be signed, patients suddenly finding themselves
keeping the hospital in-network with out of network at the taxpayer- owned
that still-unnamed insurer. hospital, though until now the con-
cern seemed more about a public out-
“The fourth payer is back to the ta- cry than patient care.
ble – it all sounded promising to me,”
said Hospital District Board Chair The hospital’s newly appointed CFO
Marybeth Cunningham, after a call to George Eighmy broke the news of go-
hospital CEO Jeff Susi. The negotiat- ing “non-par” – not participating with
ing scorecard with the four companies the fourth insurer – to the Hospital
stood at “two there, one very close and District board last month. “You may
the other in the works now,” said Cun- hear some noise in the community re-
ningham. lated to that, but that’s really our only
option,” Eighmy said.
It was Cunningham who proposed
last month that a collaborative com- Asked why the hospital couldn’t
mittee of District and hospital offi- name the balking insurer then, Susi
cials take a hard look at the hospital’s seemed disinclined to even give the
future options, including whether to public warning of the looming out-
sell. That self-examination, following of-network status. Despite the 30-
a first-quarter loss of $4 million and day notice policy announced on Fri-
Susi’s announced retirement, is cur- day, Susi told the District board last
rently underway. A recommendation month, “I think if we get to the end of
is expected in early fall. the notice period and we haven’t got-
ten back on line, then I think it will be
Hospital management’s move to very public.”
put the insurance company on notice,
while risky, appears to have worked Thirty days’ notice is an improve-
for now. ment over what sounded like a bomb-
shell-by-proxy policy. Still, it seems
When the strategy doesn’t work, an scant for patients already anxious
epic fail can result. Orlando’s Florida about an impending child birth.
Hospital System, a 23-hospital non-
profit chain that some say IRMC “It would be good to know two or
should be part of, has had its own three months in advance of a contract
taste of brinkmanship. Owned by ending,” says Dr. James Presley, one
the Seventh-Day Adventist Church of six practicing obstetricians in the
and known as a tough negotiator, county and the only one who is not an
its patients have sometimes paid employee of the hospital.
the price. For three years, starting in
2004, it left some 40,000 patients in “People need some time to think
the lurch when it terminated its con- about whether they’re going to trans-
tract with Florida Blue Cross Blue fer to another doctor. If they decide
Shield HMOs. they’re going to stay with me and have
the baby at Indian River, then they
Unlike IRMC – which last week said need time to make financial arrange-
it would give patients “at least 30 days ments for a cash pay. Around 28 weeks,
it starts getting pretty serious for these
women. I start to see them every two



















14 Vero Beach 32963 / March 9, 2017 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

The good times roulez at We Care Mardi Gras fest

BY STEPHANIE LaBAFF
Staff Writer

The We Care Foundation of Indian 12 3
River County had much to celebrate
last Monday evening at the third an- 45 6
nual Mardi Gras Celebration at the
Oak Harbor Club, and they did it in 7 PHOTOS CONTINUED ON PAGE 16 8
true New Orleans style. has increased access for indigent pa-
of what the doctors can provide.” MARDI GRAS CAPTIONS tients discharged from the hospital.
At the behest of her co-chair coun- “There are still about 14,000 resi- The clinic has also seen an increase in
terpart Eileen O’Donnell, Hala Lavio- 1. Eileen O’Donnell and Hala Laviolette. 2. Carolyn the number of subspecialty referrals,
lette became part of the “Krewe” last dents in our county who fall through Norton and Alan Singer. 3. Drs. James and offering podiatry, neurology, non-op-
year. She said the more she learned the cracks, who are too poor for health Katherine Grichnik. 4. Tracey and Dr. Val Zudans erative orthopedics and dermatology.
about the work being done at We insurance discounts, but not eligible with Kelly Enriquez. 5. Dr. John and Ru-ying Suen.
Care, the more involved she became. for Florida Medicaid. Their access to 6. Linda and Mel Teetz. 7. Jeannie Saver with Rev. “Funds raised from the Sea Oaks’
care is limited,” said Saver. “We Care Drs. Robert and Casey Baggott, and Bob and Liz 14th annual Dick Knoll Charity Golf
We Care was founded by Dr. Dennis is no gamble. This is an investment in Gallagher. 8. Kathy Hendrix, Earl Walker, Carol Tournament and a $70,000 grant from
Saver in 1991 as a way to provide free our own infrastructure. Our backlog Kanarek and Ann Marie McCrystal. the State of Florida will cover the sala-
healthcare for individuals without is decreasing and more patients are ry for our part-time eligibility special-
insurance. Since its inception, nearly being helped. We improve care, de- PHOTOS: DENISE RITCHIE ist and a social worker,” added Stuven.
$14 million in services has been pro- crease re-admissions and save tax-
vided by more than 130 volunteer payer dollars.” tation to medical appointments, spe- Saver closed by sharing a quote
physicians and medical professionals cial surgical supplies, surgery center from Dr. Albert Schweitzer, “Seek al-
who donate their talents. Shelley Stuven, executive director expenses and cataract lenses. ways to do some good, somewhere.
of the Indian River County Medical Even if it’s a little thing, do something
“I admire that Dr. Saver had the Society and the We Care Foundation, The We Care Clinic, now opened for those that need help, something
foresight to create We Care all those said funds raised that evening will five days per week, added Dr. Herman for which you get no pay but the priv-
years ago. This is one area that makes support the ancillary expenses of the Fountain as a full-time physician and ilege of doing it.” 
a huge impact. Healthy people are We Care program, such as transpor-
people that can be in our workforce
and contribute to society,” said Lavio-
lette.

At Monday’s revelry, more than 250
guests strolled down Bourbon Street,
greeted with beads, masks and Saz-
erac, America’s first cocktail, created
in New Orleans in 1838. Partygoers
also perused silent-auction items and
feasted on a New Orleans-style smor-
gasbord that included shrimp po’
boys, crawfish étouffée, hush pup-
pies, andouille sausage, oysters on
the half-shell and shrimp.

No self-respecting Three Kings Day
event would be complete without
sweets, and bananas Foster, Bour-
bon Street deconstructed pecan pie
shooters and post-celebration diges-
tifs complemented the dinner offer-
ings.

The Jammin’ Jambalaya Band kept
things lively as guests played black-
jack, roulette, slots and other casino
games with funny money, later cash-
ing in chips for a chance at vacation
packages and a King Cake.

Accompanied by “When the Saints
Go Marching In,” a parade of We Care
oncology doctors was introduced as
the “Saints of Indian River County,”
giving new meaning to the traditional
Fat Tuesday music.

“When a cancer doctor takes on a
patient, it’s a five-year commitment
and you get no return from it,” said
Laviolette. “The least I can do is help
to make sure that we can cover what-
ever the cancer patients need outside



16 Vero Beach 32963 / March 9, 2017 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

9 PHOTOS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 14 10 11
12 13

14

MARDI GRAS CAPTIONS

9. Carol Keefer, Diana Stark, Rod Keefer and Cheryl
Deacon. 10. Shelley Stuven, Dr. Dennis Saver and
Miranda Hawker. 11. Debrah Agnello with Robbie and
Sandy Robinson. 12. Mike and Bernadette Emerick
with Angela and Greg Nelson. 13. Dr. Tudor Scridon,
Dr. Daniela Shapiro, Sonia and Dr. Arley Peter. 14.
Jeanne Wordell, Barbara Knoll, Meredith Egan and
Melissa Medlock. 15. Scott Nuttall and Alexandra
Radu. 16. Rosanne and Jeff Susi. 17. Susan and Dr.
Ted Perry. 18. Toni Abraham and Dustin Haynes.
19. Bernadette Emerick, Michele and Dr. Chuck
Mackett and Dr. Nancy Baker. 20. Jeremy and
Dr. Jenna Schwibner with Tamra and Jeff Brown.
21. Kathie and Michael Pierce.

15

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / March 9, 2017 17

PEOPLE

16 17 18
19

20
21

18 Vero Beach 32963 / March 9, 2017 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

Driven to succeed: Mustang celebration for ‘Crossover’

BY MARY SCHENKEL and get on one accord. Ask yourself,
Staff Writer ‘What can I do?’ You have to be willing
to accept some of that responsibility
Wild mustangs are known for their Bill Harris, Antoine Jennings and Catherine De Schouwer. PHOTOS: GORDON RADFORD and put it on your own shoulders.”
unbridled power and perseverance;
much like the youth, coaches and zero to 60 in popularity. Jennings said he tries to demon-
mentors of Crossover Mission. Add Crossover Mission has enjoyed strate the changes he has made in his
the iconic Ford Mustang into the mix, life, including removal of the gold grill
and you’ve got a real confluence of its own impressively rapid growth, that was part of his former lifestyle.
winners. That’s exactly what occurred and before guests enjoyed their buf-
last Monday evening, as supporters fet dinner, board member Bill Harris “I’ve shared the story and I’ve told
of the nonprofit gathered at the Quail told them, “We’re the team; you’re the people about my background and
Valley River Club for a Fifty Years of where I’m from,” he said. “I’m encour-
Ford Mustang Celebration. aging the kids to be different and that
there’s a better life out there. It’s all
“I’m the connection with the Mus- about the image and changing our
tangs,” said John Vanderzee, whose mindset.”
son-in-law is Bill Ford, executive
chairman of Ford Motor Company. Revealing an impressive list of ac-
“But the student athletes of Crossover complishments, De Schouwer said
Mission are the real stars of the night.” their players have consistently im-
proved their basketball fundamen-
Ford had issued a limited-edition tals as well as their academics. By the
commemorative watch in recogni- middle of the third year, 49 percent of
tion of the 50th anniversary of the
Mustang, and Vanderzee generously
donated one to be raffled off. Vander-
zee related that the 1965 car was
introduced on April 17, 1964 at the
World’s Fair and quickly went from

Judy and John Vanderzee. Bob and Judy Carnevale.

team. The educators, pastors, donors, their 75 participants finished on the
tutors, friends and people who have AB honor roll. This year, 91 percent
helped us from the get-go, and we say of their 44 middle- and high-school
thank you. We are doing this all to- students are academically eligible for
gether.” school teams and half have joined
teams in a variety of sports.
Later, Crossover co-founders An-
toine Jennings and Cathy De Schou- “When a student rises to the level of
wer shared the inspirational story acceptance into a school sports team,
behind their mission to change the he is elevated to a new and higher aca-
lives of at-risk youth, drawing them in demic and social status among his
through basketball and giving them peers,” said De Schouwer. “This alone
an even greater assist through aca- is profoundly uplifting and motivat-
demic tutoring. ing for a young person and is the type
of success we push our student players
“Sometimes we just have to dig to achieve.”
deep to figure out what the root of
the problem is,” said Jennings, speak- As to that watch, De Schouwer says
ing from the heart about how initial with a laugh, “My son Louis’ name was
perceptions are often wrong. “A lot of the one that was drawn. Of course,
time kids are looking for help but they we didn’t want us to be the winner so
don’t know how to ask for it. There my husband, Fried, jumped up and
are people who want to help but they turned it into an auction right away.
don’t know how to give it. And that’s And then my 11-year-old daughter
where it becomes important that we Elizabeth became the auctioneer and
begin to tear down those walls and we earned an additional $1,200. It was
break down those barriers between pretty funny. Gail Norris was the high
black and white, the rich and the poor, bidder, so she got the watch.”
different religions and beliefs. And
that we bring everybody into a circle For more information, visit cross-
overmission.com 

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / March 9, 2017 19

PEOPLE

Trish and Mark Mulvoy. Elizabeth De Schouwer and Ava Justice. Gavin D’Elia and Anari Henry.

Haven and Shantral Jennings. Betsy Otteson with Dr. John and Carol Ceplenski. Gerry and Miles Nogelo.

Cathy De Schouwer and son Louis with Brian and Debbie Murdock.

(front) Jacobi Roberts and AJ Jennings; (back) Isaac Anderson,
Almando Cyrius, D’Angelo Lumenes and Quincy Jefferson

20 Vero Beach 32963 / March 9, 2017 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

‘United’ front (and center) at de Tocqueville shindig

BY STEPHANIE LaBAFF PHOTOS CONTINUED ON PAGE 22 pany. Lechleiter spoke to guests from
Staff Writer his unique perspective as a longtime
Antoine Jennings and Catherine De Schouwer with Erin Grall and Michael Bielecki. PHOTOS: DENISE RITCHIE United Way donor. He currently
The United Way of Indian River serves as Chairman of the Board of
County honored its highest-level do- ing the caring power of communi- the cultural and socio-economic di- United Way Worldwide.
nors at the fourth annual Alexis de ties around the world to advance the vide; coming together to create an
Tocqueville Society Gala last Wednes- common good.” The local United Way athletics-based, after-school program “The United Way is in the position
day evening the John’s Island Golf established its de Tocqueville Society for at-risk youth in our community. to help others because of the generos-
Club. The 78 philanthropic members more than 20 years ago. ity of all the folks in this room, which
of the de Tocqueville Society, who do- After a gourmet dinner, Vaughn enables us to work with innovative
nate a minimum of $10,000 annually, At this year’s event, Crossover Mis- Bryson introduced keynote speaker solution providers like Antoine and
generously contributed more than sion co-founders Antoine Jennings John Lechleiter, Ph.D., widely re- Cathy; the kind of people who have a
one-third of last year’s campaign dol- and Catherine De Schouwer shared spected for his tenure as the CEO and real impact in our communities,” said
lars. their story of how two people from board chairman of the pharmaceu- Lechleiter, referencing Jennings and
vastly different backgrounds crossed tical corporation Eli Lily and Com- De Schouwer.
“It’s amazing what people can
do when they put their mind to it. “You can see from their example
It’s been very rewarding,” said Fritz how critical your support is to the
Blaicher, de Tocqueville steering United Way of Indian River County.
committee chairman, noting that You are making a significant impact
nine new members were added to the on the outcomes of the young people
membership this year. in this community.”

The society is named for the French He noted that the United Way start-
historian and author Alexis de Toc- ed as a small collective effort in Den-
queville, who in 1831 praised Ameri- ver, Colo., 130 years ago, and today is a
cans for their volunteerism and global network.
spirit of giving. Members’ generosity
enables the United Way to achieve its “No organization can survive that
mission to “improve lives by mobiliz- long and grow as large as the United
Way is today without innovating and
transforming itself to meet the chang-

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / March 9, 2017 21

PEOPLE

ing demands of its mission,” Lechleit- mon good and improving the lives of business and the philanthropic sector from just a fundraising organization
er added. all of our fellow citizens in areas that to achieve shared goals. to a community impact organiza-
include education, financial stability, tion is now fairly complete. Big chal-
“At the United Way, we are certainly health and basic needs.” “There is a lot that has changed lenges, though, are not solved by one
not just about fundraising anymore. about the United Way in recent nonprofit at a time. The key to social
The old business model simply doesn’t To achieve sustainable community years, as you’ve been hearing,” said change is working together. We win by
work in today’s world. Our mission change, the United Way uses an in- Michael Kint, United Way of Indian living united.” 
today is about advancing our com- tegrated approach with government, River County CEO. “Our transition

22 Vero Beach 32963 / March 9, 2017 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

PHOTOS CONTINUED ON PAGE 20 Randy and Sandy Rolf with Sharon and David Northrup.
Kyle and Debbie Morgan.

Bob and Ellie McCabe. Kent and Judy Whittaker with Carol and Reg Newman. Ellen and Dennis Ferro.

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / March 9, 2017 23

PEOPLE

Bill Scully, Hope Woodhouse, Marlynn Scully and Richard Canty.

Sherry Ann Dayton, John McCord and Mollie Rogers.

Vaughn and Nancy Bryson with John Lechleiter and Gay and Fritz Blaicher.



Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / March 9, 2017 25

PEOPLE

Ann Rush, Cathy Filusch, Jennifer Taylor and Kathy Saxe. Richard Chadwell and Wanda Lincoln.
Sue Scully and Cynthia Falardeau.

Trudie Rainone and Louise Porter.

Gail Kinney and Rep. Erin Grall.

Priscilla Lamond and Danny Huneycutt.

David and Ardith Williams.

26 Vero Beach 32963 / March 9, 2017 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

Impact 100 names finalists for this year’s $100K grants

BY STEPHANIE LaBAFF Edie Widder, Ken Grudens, Wanda Lincoln and Suzanne Bertman. PHOTOS: DENISE RITCHIE Coalition – IRC Healthy Start Com-
Staff Writer munity Doula Program
divided among the three runners- win one then you’ve got the Good
The Indian River Impact 100 lead- up. Housekeeping seal of approval, be- Ocean Research and Conserva-
ership team dropped anchor at the cause we don’t make it easy for you tion Association – The Living La-
Vero Beach Yacht Club last Friday to The grant applications are thor- to go through the grant process.” goon Project
announce this year’s seven nonprof- oughly vetted, said Bertman. “If you
it finalists vying for four $100,000 “There were 16 grants submitted Tykes & Teens – Infant Mental
grants, which will be awarded at its this year. They were all good grants,” Health
Annual Meeting on April 19. said Wanda Lincoln, grant chair,
noting that the vetting process also “What I love about this is that our
The 2017 Impact 100 member- includes site visits to the nonprofits. organization focuses on mommies.
ship is comprised of more than 430 Obviously that’s women, and Im-
women, who have each contributed This year’s finalists are: pact 100 is a women’’s organization,”
$1,000 toward transformational Alzheimer & Parkinson Associa- said Andrea Berry, Healthy Start ex-
grants for projects centered on fami- tion of Indian River County – De- ecutive director, adding that this is
ly; education; health & wellness, and mentia Friendly Community Initia-
enrichment & environment. tive the first time their nonprofit has
Ballet Vero Beach – Nutcracker on reached finalist level in the Im-
“I have always loved matching the Indian River pact 100 grant process. “Our
gifts and collective giving. I can’t Childcare Resources of Indian proposal is about women
give $400,000, but I can give my River – Credentialing Program for going through childbirth.
$1,000 and watch it grow. I think all Early Educators What could be more trans-
the women at Impact 100 are thrilled Hibiscus Children’s Center – formational than that?”
at the idea of collective giving,” said Helping Children through Careers Ballet Vero Beach board
Suzanne Bertman, board president. Graphic Design Impact Center members Linda Downey and
Indian River County Healthy Start
Every membership dollar is allo- Ann Alleva Taylor said this is the
cated during the grant process, so first time the ballet company has
after awarding four $100,000 grants, applied for an Impact 100 grant.
the remaining funds will be equally
“We are a young organization,”
explained Taylor. “This grant would
make a big impact. The startup ex-
penses are huge but the fact that the
ballet can go on for as many as 20
years with the same costumes and
sets makes it a long-term investment.”

“We are really honored and hum-
bled that we were selected as a final-
ist,” added Downey. “The Nutcracker
project is what, for so many ballet
companies, helps them become fi-
nancially solvent. It will assure our
stability for a long time.”

This year’s Impact 100 awards dis-
tribution will culminate nine years
of “impactful” giving by its members,
who thus far have distributed more
than $3.3 million dollars to Indian
River County nonprofits.

To learn more, visit Impact100IR.
com. 

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Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / March 9, 2017 27

PEOPLE

Cindy Galant, Paul Sexton and Suzi Locke. Jan Pillard, Jean Beckert, Andrea Berry and Brenda Lloyd. Susan Hobbs, Suzanne Carter, Laura McDermott and Denise Battaglini.

Tiffany Padgett, Ken Grudens and Edie Widder.

Kathy Starr, Shannon Bowman and Katy Faires.

Ann Taylor, Pam Harmon and Linda Downey.

Michael York, Bonnie Wilson and Jeff Shearer.

Judy Lemoncelli, Ralph Evans and Linda Knoll.

28 Vero Beach 32963 / March 9, 2017 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

Haiti Partners’ Educate and Celebrate ... just great!

BY MARY SCHENKEL profit whose mission is to help Hai-
Staff Writer tians change Haiti through educa-
tion.
Vibrantly painted artwork was on
display throughout the Northern Wine glasses in hand, attendees
Trust Bank community room Friday wandered to various tasting stations
evening, where guests gathered to around the room, where specialty
enjoy the fifth annual Educate and wines donated by Varietals and More
Celebrate fundraiser to benefit Haiti owners Rob and Michele Wayne were
Partners, a Vero Beach-based non- being offered by cheerful volunteer
pourers.

Jean Cravens, John Engle and Lauren Wert. Shelly Satran with Chad and Elizabeth Leonard.

Joseph Arnold, Kent Annan and Duane Bluemeke. Ingrid Biesaart, Brian Stamey and Becky Moon.

Paired with the wines were a quar- years through Our Savior Lutheran
tet of tasty tapas dishes donated by Church,” said Ingrid Biesaart, who
talented chefs. Southern Social of- chaired this year’s event. “It’s been
fered up a juicy heirloom tomato and fun; I’ve really, really enjoyed it.
watermelon salad dressed with hon- We’ve gotten some wonderful sup-
ey vinaigrette; Wild Thyme Cater- port from the community.”
ing featured yummy Poke (ahi tuna)
nachos with Sriracha sauce; Citrus John Engle, co-founder of Haiti
Grillhouse served chilled spring pea Partners with Kent Annan, thanked
soup with a lush parmesan flan; and long-term supporters and invited
Bistro Fourchette dished up tian de newcomers to join their efforts.
crab avocat, a sumptuous compres-
sion of avocado and crabmeat. “The need is huge; people in Haiti
have terribly difficult lives. They’re
As in past years, a number of the our neighbors and we need to help,”
silent-auction items included tradi- said Engle.
tional hand-crafted Haitian artifacts
such as small, decorative hammered He stated that they have created a
metal art, carved wooden bowls, solid school-based community de-
beaded jewelry and the brightly col- velopment model that is now provid-
ored paintings Haitian artists are ing 1,200 young Haitians with a qual-
known for. This year’s offerings also ity education. Haiti Partners operates
included quite a few silent- and live- its own Children’s Academy and
auction items donated by local busi- partners with other primary schools,
nesses. and they provide scholarships to 32
Micah Scholars to attend seminary
“I’ve known Kent and John for schools and apprentice with church-
es to promote children’s rights and

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

Adam and Suzanne Bolinger.

Cathy and Willie La Croix.

transform communities.
“We invite you to experience the

meaning and fun of joining the fam-
ily of volunteers, committee mem-
bers, board members; so many peo-
ple in Vero Beach who are making
this work possible,” said Engle. “And
they’re doing it in partnership with
Haitians; like the Haitian parents
who are making handmade paper so
that their children can go to school.”

Parents work at least four hours
per week so that their children can
attend the Children’s Academy, and
one of the ways they can earn service
hours is by crafting the handmade
paper, which can then be used as a
canvas, adding yet another unique
dimension to their art.

“The energy of people working to-
gether, across social and economic
classes and international borders, for
such a worthy cause is life-giving and
joyous,” said Engle. “Haiti Partners
is grateful beyond words to have our
home in Vero Beach and to have such
a generous and loving base here.”

“So much was given here so that
every dollar that you spend on the
auction and what you spent to come
here all goes to help fund education
in Haiti,” added Kent Annan, reiter-
ating thanks to the event’s generous
sponsors and contributors.

Haiti’s former President Rene Pre-
val had only just died that day, and
Engle said, “His peaceful passing
is evidence of a Haiti’s young de-
mocracy evolving in positive ways:
a president who served two terms,
each one with peaceful transition
of power, and dies peacefully with
no outstanding scandal in his own
country.”

For more information visit haiti-
partners.org 

30 Vero Beach 32963 / March 9, 2017 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

A huge helping of ‘Hope’ at cancer society gala

BY STEPHANIE LaBAFF Dr. Michaela Scott and Suzon Franzke. “Unfortunately, even though we a bump in the road. This is why I will
Staff Writer are winning the war on cancer we’re continue supporting the American
sored, not-for-profit provider of re- losing way too many of the battles,” Cancer Society and why I continue
It’s highly likely every one of the 140 search in the United States in cancer he added, before introducing Kristen putting one foot in front of the other
guests who attended the American care. Since it was founded in 1946, the Tripson, the wife of one of his for- moving forward but never moving
Cancer Society Hope Gala last Satur- research arm has provided over $4.5 mer patients, Sam Tripson. The Vero on.”
day evening at the Oak Harbor Club billion worth of cancer research dol- Beach native and a great-grandson
has either had cancer or knows some- lars, sponsored 47 Nobel Prize win- of Waldo Sexton, Sam was one of the Earlier in the evening guests en-
one who has fought the debilitating ners and accrued $46 million worth 595,690 Americans who die of cancer joyed cocktails while listening to the
disease. And often their lives have in- of research last year,” Dr. McGarry ex- each year, according to the ACS. music of No Strings Attached, a Vero
tersected, as was the case with honor- plained. Beach High School Orchestra Quartet,
ary chairs Dr. Bill and Laura McGarry Kristen shared the story of their and perused more than 40 silent-auc-
and the Call to the Heart speaker, heartbreaking journey as Sam battled tion items. After dinner, emcee John
Kristen Tripson. the disease before ultimately suc- Moore used his considerable charm
cumbing to non-Hodgkin’s lympho- to solicit bids for such unusual items
Diagnosed with cancer at just 17 ma. as a ride in a Triton submersible and a
years old, Bill McGarry credits his sur- PonTiki Cruise.
vival and the decision to become an And though he is gone now she
oncologist to the support he received said, “I am still here and I will never Mr. Motown brought the festivities
from the American Cancer Society stop speaking for him and telling his to a close with live music and dancing
during those frightening days. About story because there is so much left to in celebration of the progress made
20 years, a marriage and three chil- do. So much research to conduct, so and an affirmation of hope that can-
dren later, McGarry was diagnosed many more families who will need cer will be relegated to a footnote in
with cancer once again. Then, just as help and soon, maybe the next young the annals of history.
he was finishing his treatment plan, dad who is handed a diagnosis like
Laura was diagnosed with breast can- Sam’s will make it to his daughter’s Upcoming Indian River County
cer. 10th birthday. And maybe the dad af- Relay for Life events: April 7, North
ter that gets to walk her down the aisle Indian River at Sebastian River High
“People don’t realize that the ACS and then maybe one day, just maybe, School; April 21, Indian River at Vero
is the largest non-government spon- cancer truly won’t be much more than Beach High School; and April 29,
Beaches at Riverside Park. 

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Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / March 9, 2017 31

PEOPLE

Dustin and Danielle Boring with David and Lori McCormick. Dr. Joe Zerega and Dr. Gloria Ryan with Robin and Dr. Daniel Glotzer. Hildie Tripson with Laura and Dr. Bill McGarry and Kristen Tripson.

Diane Parentela and Karen Egan. Katherine Leu, Val MacMillan and Maureen Leu.

Dr. Raul Storey with Maria and Dr. Hugo Davila. Rhonda Horowitz and Laura Kelly.

Doreen and Chuck Marchetti. PHOTOS: GORDON RADFORD John Moore and R.J. MacMillan.

Sue Engen, Tiziana Lahey and Liz Yavinsky. Joseph O’Neill and Rick MacDonald.

Theresa Woodson with Dr. Bill and Laura McGarry. Barbara and Dwight Hoffman.

32 Vero Beach 32963 / March 9, 2017 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

’29 Ford Tri-Motor treat gives Vero ‘Goose’ bumps

BY MARY SCHENKEL Donna and Carl Miller. PHOTOS: GORDON RADFORD the Dominican Republic before re- EAA Chapter 99 volunteers helping
Staff Writer turning to the U.S., where it saw use out over the weekend. “We’re going to
those are in museums. This was the barnstorming, crop dusting, aerial be our own little airline for the next
Residents and tourists had a first time passengers flew indoors, in firefighting and even had a role in a three days. It helps raise money to
chance to barnstorm Vero Beach in a an enclosed cabin. It became the first Jerry Lewis movie. In 1973 a mishap keep this flying.”
piece of history last weekend, flying plane for Eastern Airlines and it flew occurred while grounded, when a se-
in a lovingly restored 1929 Ford Tri- 90 miles per hour. That doesn’t sound vere storm lifted it from its tie-downs She said proceeds would also help
Motor. Affectionately known as the very fast today, but in 1927 that was and smashed it back down, belly up. support the local EAA, which has a
Tin Goose, the plane is recognized as blistering.” lending library and holds various
one of the world’s first luxury airlin- A 12-year restoration returned the workshops for flying enthusiasts
ers. This plane was also flown by Cu- plane to its former glory and EAA vol- such as her husband.
bana Airlines and the government of unteers now travel the country shar-
Now owned by Paul Poberezny, ing the lovely vintage craft with the “I had my first flying lesson in
founder of the Experimental Aircraft public. Inside, Art Deco-style read- 1969,” said Carl Miller, an experi-
Association based in Oshkosh, Wis- ing lights and wooden trim line the enced pilot in a variety of aircraft.
consin, there are many stories con- cabin walls, and the plane’s comfort- “Now I’ve started flying a powered
nected to this historic model 4-AT-E able cushioned seats – nine passen- paraglider; it’s a flex-wing machine
aircraft, which was number 146 when ger seats – offer more leg room than you fly with a motor on your back.”
it rolled off the Ford Motor Company today’s cramped aircraft. The plane
assembly line and made its maiden also gives new meaning to air-condi- The local EAA, which currently
flight on Aug. 21, 1929. The aircraft tioning – through open windows in has around 30 active members, also
helped to usher in the age of com- the cockpit and small port hole-type strives to get the younger generation
mercial air travel as an Eastern Air openings that allow air to circulate interested in aviation through its
Transport plane. throughout the cabin. Young Eagles Flights.

“There were 199 Tri-Motors built; “They do a tour of about 20 cities; “We take kids up and introduce
the first came out in 1927,” said Co- about one weekend a month except them to flying,” said EAA member
lin Soucy, the EAA volunteer who pi- December, and Vero Beach is one of Alex Walters. “We have a flight simu-
loted the plane. “There are only eight them,” said Donna Miller. She and lator we put them on and also we take
remaining that can fly, but most of husband Carl were among the local them up.”

For more information, visit eaa99.
com or FlyTheFord.org. 









Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / March 9, 2017 37

PEOPLE

Nancy Parker, Marica and Glenn Petkovsek, Laura Moss. Mark and Patricia Ashdown with Bruce Barkett. PHOTOS CONTINUED ON PAGE 38
Ashleigh Lovell, Allison Cloughley, Janet Barkett.

Ted and Ellen Donahue.

Jonathan Markett and Nicole McKee.

Mike and Leslie Swan

Jim and Maria Noonan.

Barbara Taylor, Patricia Wiseman and Wendy Peiffer.

38 Vero Beach 32963 / March 9, 2017 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

PHOTOS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 37 Martin Bireley, Wilma Connell, Patta Conboy and Renee Bireley. Blake and Suzanne Holliman with Jim and Allison Beindorf.

Eduardo Leal and Aggie Syzmanska.

Andrea Mears, Jayne Kenworthy.

Jerusha Stewart and Eve Kyomya.

Robert Irish, Donna Keys, Warren Dill.

Danny Davis.

SHE’S ‘GAME’: VERSATILE
VERO ACTRESS TAKING
HER SHOW ON THE ROAD

needcaption. PHOTO: DENISE RITCHIE

40 Vero Beach 32963 / March 9, 2017 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

ARTS & THEATRE

Henegar goes big and bold with ‘Hunchback’

BY PAM HARBAUGH Set in 15th-century Paris, the musi- Damon Dennin (Claude Frollo) and Amanda Manis (Esmaralda).
cal revolves around Quasimodo, de- P HOTOS BY GORDON RADFORD
Correspondent formed since birth, and Esmeralda, a
beautiful gypsy, who have both taken miered in Berlin; Disney Theatrical’s as clever as possible with the blocking
With Hank Rion’s production of “The sanctuary in the Cathedral of Notre first musical to premiere outside the and using non-conventional items.”
Hunchback of Notre Dame: The Musi- Dame. In it, there are life-and-death U.S. It ran there for three years and
cal” opening Friday at Melbourne’s moments and sinister threats against eventually was produced at a few The show retains its spectacle thanks
Henegar Center, it seems the director social outcasts. other regional theaters including the to Josh Huss’ lighting design and Da-
knows no fear. famous Paper Mill Playhouse and La vid Robertson’s scenic design, the
Rion calls the musical “grown-up Jolla Playhouse; but the show never hallmark of which is an 18-by-18-foot
First off, there’s the notion of bring- Disney.” But he says everyone, no mat- made it to Broadway. stained glass window in the cathedral.
ing to a community theater a musical ter what age, can relate: “Everyone has
with such a dark story, complete with felt like an outcast before.” Rion suggested letting a smaller ven- There are almost 250 costumes in-
smallpox and wars. ue in a smaller area mount a produc- cluding some 500 separate pieces. De-
As the Henegar’s artistic director tion of the musical. signer Vanessa Glenn has stepped up to
Then there’s wrangling more than since 2013, Rion has brought not only the plate on that one.
100 people to act, play in the pit orches- big productions into the 500-seat the- “Disney Theatrical got back to me
tra, sing in the choir or help backstage. ater, but also staged in its second-floor and says they’d love for us to do it,” he Glenn has built many of those cos-
black-box theater some more off-beat says. “So they’ve been guiding us. And tumes. But she does have a crew of
Oh, and don’t forget the Latin – Rion productions of provocative plays such it’s my continuing challenge to do new volunteers – two lead seamstresses
is over-the-moon ecstatic over the as “Spring Awakening,” “Venus in Fur” things in our area. And always, working that “really rock it,” she says, and
choir singing in Latin. and “Hand to God.” on new material is something I love.” about a half-dozen others who do
some hand sewing, cutting and laying
“I have directed a lot of shows and I Moreover, the Henegar has been the It’s no secret that Disney is particu- out of patterns.
have never just sat there and listened testing ground three times for musicals lar about how its properties are per-
to the cast sing and have my jaw fall waiting to break into theaters around ceived. So it’s not surprising that they The most daunting to design for are
open,” Rion says as he took a rare the country. would be pretty hands-on with the the male actors, she says; they have the
break from his job as artistic direc- Henegar’s production of a seldom- most costume changes. Those changes
tor for the Henegar. “It’s one of the The Henegar ventured into new ter- produced musical. have to be easy, she says, and still true
most beautiful scores I think I’ve ever ritory when it became the first com- to the historical period.
worked on in my life.” munity theater to produce the musi- “Their contracts are very specific,”
cal theater version of John Waters’ Rion says. “They don’t want anything “This has probably been my most
The musical is based on the 1996 “Cry Baby.” On that production, Rion duplicated from the movie or other the- challenging show since I started
Disney animated feature film. The mu- worked with the show’s librettist and atrical productions. So I’ve tried to be here,” Glenn says. “It’s a lot of fun,
sic, much of it new for the stage version, composer, who flew from New York though. Not a dull moment. And I’m
is composed by the incomparable Alan City to Melbourne to see first-hand
Menken, a Disney favorite who also their agreed-upon changes, made
composed music for “Aladdin,” “The with the hope that more theaters
Little Mermaid” and “Beauty and the throughout the country would pick
Beast.” Lyrics are by Stephen Schwartz, up the musical.
the musical genius behind “Wicked,”
“Godspell” and “Pippin.” He also got the rare permission to
stage “Witches of Eastwick: The Musi-
The book for the stage musical is by cal,” which in turn led to getting per-
Peter Parnell. Like the film, of course, mission to stage “The Hunchback of
the story comes from the 1831 Victor Notre Dame: The Musical.”
Hugo novel.
Rion’s request of Music Theatre In-
Rion says that although most of ternational, a licensor for musicals
the music comes from the Disney and plays, to do “Witches” was eventu-
movie, the story follows the dark- ally approved by Cameron Mackintosh
toned Hugo story. himself. In the process, Rion brought
up the idea of doing “Hunchback.”
“The show doesn’t shy away from
those darker elements,” Rion says. “It Surprisingly, “Hunchback” pre-
has amazing heart with this character
of Quasimodo.”

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / March 9, 2017 41

ARTS & THEATRE

also on stage.” SHE’S ‘GAME’: VERSATILE VERO ACTRESS
The role of Quasimodo is portrayed MALONEY TAKING HER SHOW ON THE ROAD

by Dillon Giles, who turns 22 the week BY STEPHANIE LABAFF shows during her formative years she’s as the show was recently retired to
after the show closes. lost count. There were times when make room for “Nutcracker on the
Staff Writer she would put in a full day at school, Indian River.” She danced in Bal-
Giles typically has been cast in roles rehearse for a high-school play after let Vero Beach’s “Program 1,” with
demanding both dramatic heft and a Shannon Maloney discovered her school, go to dance class, and then at- the Wylliams/Henry Contemporary
splendid voice. At Cocoa Village Play- love of theater when she was just 7 tend an evening rehearsal at Riverside. Dance Company, took on the role of
house, he was Tony in “West Side Story” years old. Watching her best friends the Burmese slave girl Tuptim in the
and Perchik in “Fiddler on the Roof.” in a Riverside Children’s Theatre pro- She performed in the first produc- Theatre Guild’s “The King and I” and
Last season, he was the Scarecrow in duction of “Children of Eden,” she tion of “The Nutcracker: In Swing-
the Henegar’s “Wizard of Oz.” was mesmerized. time,” and she was also in the last, CONTINUED ON PAGE 42

Now, he twists his body into the role “After the show I said, ‘I’m going to WHAT’S UP,
of the deformed hunchback. This phys- do that,’” recalls Maloney. And she has.
icality of the role is the most challeng- DOC?
ing part for him. Now 24, Maloney is playing the lead
female role of Babe Williams in the An artful combination
“Though I don’t do much dancing, musical comedy “The Pajama Game” of found objects and
there are a lot of acrobatics climbing- at the Vero Beach Theatre Guild. It will ceramic sculpture, our
wise, hunching over while singing. be her final curtain call in Vero Beach; one-of-a-kind Rabbit
And I have to get those really high the vivacious actress, dancer and sing-
notes,” he says. er is moving on to greener pastures. is an uncommonly

Then there is the tough personal Maloney and her boyfriend Zach Tu-
challenge met by Rion. “Hunchback” dor are moving to Chicago this sum-
is the sixth show he has directed, back- mer in pursuit of new opportunities.
to-back, since being diagnosed last She has already made inroads toward
summer with thyroid cancer. an audition for “Big River,” a show she
performed at Riverside eight years ago.
Right before the dress rehearsal for
“Witches of Eastwick,” he had his thy- “Most people don’t realize it, but
roid removed. While rehearsing “A Chicago is one of the best theater cit-
Christmas Story” he underwent radio- ies in the world,” says Maloney. “I’ve
active iodine treatment; and he’s re- always thought I was lucky to grow up
cently begun taking synthroid, which in Vero Beach. I couldn’t have asked
replaces hormones normally produced for better teachers and experiences.
by the thyroid. But if I don’t try it now, I’ll never for-
give myself.”
During all of it, he never missed a
curtain speech. He says his cast and While Maloney can’t trace her talent
crew have put him “back on his feet.” to anyone in her family, her parents
were always supportive. “I got lucky
And so has “The Hunchback of Notre with genetics. I just happen to be able
Dame: The Musical.” One of the show’s to hold a tune pretty well,” she says.
themes – struggling against all odds –
resonates loudly for him. The rest “takes a lot of hard work
and determination.”
“The musical shows how one can
overcome personal struggles, be em- Interestingly, she credits her drive
powered and be yourself,” he says. “I to the fact that she wasn’t cast in every
think the moral of the story is for ev- role she auditioned for. “If it wasn’t the
eryone.” show for me, then they wouldn’t cast
me, which in the end just made me
“The Hunchback of Notre Dame: The work harder.”
Musical” is at 8 p.m. Fridays and Sat-
urdays, and 2 p.m. Sundays, March 10 Maloney performed in so many
through 26, at the Henegar Center, 625
E. New Haven Ave., Melbourne. Tickets
are $16 to $26. Call 321-723-8698 or visit
Henegar.org. 

25th Annual Pelican charming character.
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Activities: 2910 CARDINAL DR.
10:00am – 4:00pm Raffles & Silent Auction VERO BEACH, FL
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Riverview Park, Sebastian
600 U.S. Hwy 1, Sebastian, FL

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www.firstrefuge.org • Event is free.















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211 Sandpiper Point : $3,995,000 150 Sago Palm Road : $3,500,000 250 Coconut Palm Road : $3,500,000

NEWLY RENOVATED

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luxury estates : condominiums : homesites : townhouses : cottages

It’s your lifetime. Spend it wisely.

50 Vero Beach 32963 / March 9, 2017 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

INSIGHT COVER STORY

It has been many years since France EMMANUEL MACRON with 81% grumbling that the world is
last had a revolution, or even a serious getting worse and only 3% saying that
attempt at reform. France’s borders. It could revitalize the vealed that he was being formally it is getting better.
European Union, or wreck it. investigated for paying his wife and
Stagnation, both political and eco- children more than $1 million of pub- Much of that gloom is economic.
nomic, has been the hallmark of a The revolution’s proximate cause lic money for allegedly fake jobs. France’s economy has long been
country where little has changed for is voters’ fury at the uselessness and sluggish; its vast state, which absorbs
decades, even as power has rotated self-dealing of their ruling class. The Fillon did not withdraw from the 57% of GDP, has sapped the country’s
between the established parties of left Socialist president, François Hol- race, despite having promised to do vitality.
and right. lande, is so unpopular that he is not so. But his chances of winning are
running for re-election. The estab- dramatically weakened. Since the end of the trente glorieuses,
Until now. This year’s presidential lished opposition, the center-right the three decades of strong growth that
election, the most exciting in living Republican party, saw its chances Further fueling voters’ anger is their followed the second world war, it has
memory, promises an upheaval. The sink on last Wednesday when its anguish at the state of France. One been debt, rather than growth, that
Socialist and Republican parties, which standard-bearer, François Fillon, re- poll last year found that French peo- has financed the high-speed trains, the
have held power since the founding of ple are the most pessimistic on Earth, blooming municipal flower beds and
the Fifth Republic in 1958, could be the generous provisions for child care,
eliminated in the first round of a presi- ill health, job loss and old age that are
dential ballot on April 23rd. the hallmark of France’s splendid pub-
lic sector.
French voters may face a choice
between two insurgent candidates: French public spending now ac-
Marine Le Pen, the charismatic lead- counts for a greater share of GDP than
er of the National Front, and Em- it does in Sweden. But no French gov-
manuel Macron, the upstart leader of ernment has balanced its budget since
a liberal movement, En Marche! (On 1974.
the Move!), which he founded only
last year. Over the past 15 years, there has
been a particular décrochage, or de-
The implications of these insurgen- coupling, between the French econ-
cies are hard to exaggerate. They are omy and that of Germany, its closest
the clearest example yet of a global ally. In 2002 the two countries enjoyed
trend: that the old divide between comparable GDP per head. Germany,
left and right is growing less impor- under Gerhard Schröder, began to
tant than a new one between open reform itself. France, under Jacques
and closed. The resulting realignment Chirac, didn’t. Today, Germans have
will have reverberations far beyond 17% more purchasing power per per-