04/22/2021 ISSUE 16

Wabasso Beach Park closed
for sand restoration. P17
COVID-19 vaccine here

now exceeds demand. P10
Restaurant backs out on GOP
event with Marjorie Taylor Greene. P17

For breaking news visit

W. Galen Weston, founder of Windsor and developer of Orchid Island, dies at 80

BY MICHELLE GENZ
Staff Writer

Photomontage of Hilary and Galen Weston in the heart of Windsor’s Village Centre. PHOTOS BY JESSICA GLYNN AND KAILA JONES W. Galen Weston, the Ca-
nadian billionaire whose
vision transformed a strip
of Vero’s north barrier is-
land into the internation-
ally known residential en-
clave of Windsor, died at his
home there last week.

Weston, who was 80, was
known for his vigor and so-
ciability, though his health
had declined in the past
several years.

The passing of the depart-
ment store and grocery store
magnate triggered head-
lines around the world. But
his death caught many by
surprise in the close-knit
community of Windsor,
which was muted in sorrow
last week as residents al-
lowed the family, especially
Weston’s widow, Hilary, to
grieve in peace.

“Everyone here is just
devastated,” said Windsor

CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

MY NAACP needs to give school district Construction starts on Retired Undersheriff Jim Harpring moves into
VERO new job as Indian River Shores town manager
chance to resolve long-outstanding issues environmentalpavilion

BY RAY MCNULTY resolve the remaining issues BY SAMANTHA ROHLFING BAITA BY LISA ZAHNER dive right in to work on Friday
Staff Writer cited in a 1967 federal court- Staff Writer Staff Writer morning to replace Joe Griffin,
imposed desegregation order. who resigned in February for
Longtime local NAACP chap- Construction was slated to After being chosen from health reasons.
ter president Tony Brown has As he so eloquently put it: begin this week on a $1.3 mil- among 53 applicants for the po-
legitimate reasons to doubt the “We’ve had 53 years of this fool- lion event pavilion at the En- sition of Indian River Shores Harpring, 58, a longtime is-
sincerity of the school district’s ishness.” vironmental Learning Center Town Manager, retired Un- land resident, retired from the
latest promise to address and dersheriff Jim Harpring will Indian River County Sheriff’s
That’s more than five de- CONTINUED ON PAGE 10
CONTINUED ON PAGE 4
CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

April 22, 2021 Volume 14, Issue 16 Newsstand Price $1.00 Hospital garden
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Editorial 44 CALL 772-226-7925

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2 Vero Beach 32963 / April 22, 2021 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

NEWS

My Vero fix the problems that for too long have mediately announced the desegrega- adults little affordable housing and
been ignored, and allow him to do it tion order would be a priority for his limited social opportunities.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 his way, with his plan and his people. administration.
None of those factors, he said, is as
cades of School Board members and He needs to trust that Moore, un- The two men don’t appear to be problematic as the “history of systemic
superintendents pretending to care like his predecessors, is serious about fond of each other, and their interac- racism” in the county and school district.
about the plight of Black students in improving academic achievement tions thus far have been, for the most
our public schools, offering lip service among Black students, increasing the part, contentious as they’ve disagreed “But nobody wants to talk about
while no meaningful action was taken. percentage of Black teachers and ad- from the outset on aspects of what’s that,” Brown said. “Nobody wants to
ministrators, and confronting the dis- supposed to be a joint plan between talk about the faculty and administra-
Now, though – in the best interests of trict’s other troubling racial dispari- the district and NAACP to address the tion not being reflective, percentage-
the students he so passionately wants ties, such as the alarming difference desegregation order. wise, of the school district or the com-
to help – Brown needs to put aside the in how Black and white students are munity. Nobody wants to talk about
district’s past indifference and take disciplined. They’ve also clashed over the legiti- the number of Black teachers they’ve
one last, massive leap of faith. macy of the district’s efforts to recruit turned away.”
That won’t be easy, given Brown’s and retain Black teachers and admin-
He needs to give School Superin- current feelings about Moore, who istrators, as well as over who Moore Moore strongly defends his efforts,
tendent David Moore a real chance to was hired in November 2019 and im- should hire as his “chief equity and di- noting the number of Black teachers
versity officer,” a newly created position working in our public schools – where
that will pay up to $115,000 annually. 18 percent of students are Black – has
increased from 9 percent to 11.4 per-
Brown’s recent remarks won’t do cent since his arrival and that the dis-
anything to bring them closer. trict offered contracts to eight more
Black teachers at a recent job fair.
Brown openly admits he doesn’t
trust Moore – that he considers him a Regarding other aspects of the de-
more-polished version of the district’s segregation order, Moore points to a
previous all-talk, no-action super- reduction in Black students who’ve
intendents – and he believes Moore been suspended on his watch, saying
doesn’t respect him. the number has been cut in half.

PHOTO BY KAILA JONES

He also questions Moore’s motives, “There were a lot of factors involved,
saying they “aren’t pure,” and remains particularly COVID, which kept a lot of
skeptical of the superintendent’s com- students out of school,” he said. “But
mitment to resolving the issues that put when I first came here, an African-
Black students here at a disadvantage. American student was four times
more likely to be suspended than a
In fact, Brown described the quar- white student.”
terly, court-mandated status report
the district filed last month as “seven That is no longer the case.
pages of fluff” that weren’t relevant to Moore said he’s also committed to
the order. improving the academic achievement
levels of Black students – a mission
“It’s all just window dressing,” Brown stressed throughout the district’s new
said. “He was brought in to be a fixer, strategic plan – and said the soon-to-
and he just wants to check the boxes so be-hired chief equity officer will be
the district can put the desegregation immersed in that effort, though he or
order in the past.” she won’t work alone.
“One of the first moves I made when
Brown is especially wary of Moore’s I got here was to say, ‘Equity was every-
claims that the district is making one’s responsibility, and we’re going to
progress in recruiting Black teachers put it on everyone’s evaluation,’” Moore
– a formidable challenge for an over- said at last week’s School Board meeting.
whelmingly white community that
offers Black, college-educated young

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / April 22, 2021 3

NEWS

“We’re fully committed to doing this All the while, Moore continued to em- ground. If you’re not part of the solu- That means it’s up to Moore, who
work,” he said, adding that the district’s brace the challenge of an embarrassing, tion, you’re part of the problem.” has done enough through his first 18
goal is to “ensure all students have the decades-old desegregation order and – months here to earn the benefit of the
opportunity to maximize their full po- Brown’s disapproval of the superinten- Brown said the desegregation order doubt – yes, even in his handling of the
tential.” dent’s strategy and tactics notwithstand- makes the NAACP and school district desegregation order.
ing – he seems to be making progress. partners in addressing the issues. And,
Brown, however, isn’t satisfied with certainly, the NAACP’s input should be So let the man work.
the district’s efforts, and he remains “This shouldn’t be a them-versus-us welcomed and seriously considered. Let him present his plan. Let him bring
critical of Moore’s decision to revise thing,” School Board Chairman Brian in his people. Let’s see what he does.
a 2019 plan that included 53 recom- Barefoot said. “What we’re trying to Ultimately, though, it’s the district Then decide whether he can be
mendations presented by the district’s do is too important. There’s no middle that’s responsible for making the nec-
Equity Committee that were agreed essary changes. trusted. 
upon by both the district and NAACP.

“We did some monumental work,
but Moore felt compelled to change
it,” Brown said. “He came in and threw
it in the trash, at least figuratively. And
why? Because it wasn’t his.

“The way he sees it: He knows more
than everybody else, and he has to be in
control,” he added. “Everything’s got to
be his way or no way. And when some-
one like me challenges him, he makes
me out to be an obstructionist.”

Moore said the recommendations
put forth by the Equity Committee
in 2019 have been “incorporated and
highlighted” in both the district’s
strategic plan and African American
Achievement Plan.

In addition, he said he’ll continue
to accept recommendations from the
committee, the NAACP and town-hall
sessions with the public.

As for his desire to be in control,
Moore, who was an assistant superin-
tendent in Miami-Dade County before
taking the top job here, cited his ex-
tensive background working in school
districts in urban core areas and his
“deep understanding” of the issues in
the desegregation order.

“I understand that Mr. Brown has
been told things in the past and noth-
ing happened, but now there’s follow-
through and action,” Moore said.
“This district – for the first time in
forever – is getting things done with
regard to the order, and we’re going to
continue to move forward.

“I assure you: With or without the
support of the NAACP, this district is
going to be successful in addressing
and resolving these issues.”

The School Board hired Moore be-
cause it believed he was the “rock
star” administrator needed to embark
on transformational and impactful
change in a district that, as he de-
scribed it, was on the “verge of finan-
cial and academic bankruptcy.”

Three months in, however, Moore was
forced to contend with a global pandem-
ic that required schools to quickly adapt
to a new way of educating students, and
his response has been impressive.

He and school leaders across the
county opened classrooms at the be-
ginning of the school year, despite the
pandemic, and kept them open, while
also providing ways for students to
study at home if they didn’t want to at-
tend school in person.

4 Vero Beach 32963 / April 22, 2021 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

NEWS

New Shores town manager “We had four really good finalists; I
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 think any one of them could do the job,”
Foley said.
Office in 2020 after nearly 16 years of
service. Knowledge of local issues and people,
plus the need to fill the position swiftly,
Hired by Sheriff Roy Raymond, gave the two Indian River County resi-
Harpring most recently served as Gen- dents an edge over competitors who
eral Counsel for Sheriff Deryl Loar be- would need time to relocate to the area.
fore being promoted to undersheriff
– an administrative job which closely Both local finalists were also sea-
resembles the duties of a municipal soned attorneys, an important factor
manager, according to Shores Mayor to provide continuity in anticipation
Brian Foley. that 83-year-old Town Attorney Ches-
ter Clem, who has held the position for
“When you think about the under- more than 40 years, would retire dur-
sheriff job, Mr. Harpring was kind of ing the next town manager’s tenure.
the COO of the Sheriff’s Office, so he Harpring is a graduate of New England
has extensive project management ex- Law in Boston, and a member of the
perience,” said Foley, who interviewed Florida Bar Association.
Harpring and three other finalists on
Ultimately, Harpring’s ability to start
immediately, as he’s not required to give

New Indian River Shores Town Manager Jim Harpring. PHOTO BY BRENDA AHEARN

April 10. “We’ve got the town hall cen- notice to a current employer, tipped the
ter project in progress.” scales in his favor.

Foley said the Shores town council Town Treasurer Heather Christmas
had a very tough time deciding be- had taken on the interim town man-
tween the top two applicants, Harpring ager duties, but the town is now deep
and Assistant County Administrator in budget season and needs the full
Mike Zito. complement of its small-town staff.

“With the City of Vero Beach utility Since the town spends 60 percent
issues still going forward, both Mr. Zito of its budget on its triple-trained Pub-
and Mr. Harpring both have solid back- lic Safety Department, Harpring’s law
grounds for being able to really dig into enforcement experience will bring a
the details of the issue,” Foley said. useful outside perspective to bear on
public safety staffing, expenses and
“It was very, very close ... a very dif- other matters, Foley said.
ficult decision to make,” Foley said,
adding that he was grateful to Griffin Harpring’s contract for an annual
for doing the tough work of narrowing salary of $145,000 plus a town vehicle
a vast field of hopefuls to a handful of and town contribution to a pension
highly qualified candidates – two lo- plan was set to be considered at Thurs-
cal, one from South Florida and two day’s town council meeting. Foley said
from out of state. he did not expect any problems as the
council fully vetted the contract provi-
An applicant from Georgia removed sions at last week’s public meeting.
himself from consideration, leaving
four men to complete a full day of On Monday, Harpring said that –
30-minute individual interviews with provided the council votes to approve
each of the five council members. his contract – he is looking forward to

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / April 22, 2021 5

NEWS

diving into his new position on Friday. dian River Shores, I have a unique Harpring has served on numerous his tenure at the Indian River County
“I am passionate about public ser- insight into and have relished coastal local, regional and statewide boards Sheriff’s Office, Harpring often dealt
living in our community,” Harpring and councils, including the Florida De- with the media and fielded difficult
vice and look forward to serving as said. “I am committed to preserving partment of Law Enforcement’s Mar- questions. He served during numer-
town manager and contributing to the and enhancing all the unique charac- jory Stoneman Douglas High School ous declared emergencies due to hur-
Town in such a meaningful way. teristics that make Indian River Shores Public Safety Commission. ricanes and managed a large agency in
such a wonderful place to live.”
“As a barrier island resident for over In times of crisis and turmoil during CONTINUED ON PAGE 6
30 years and a former resident of In-

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6 Vero Beach 32963 / April 22, 2021 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

NEWS

New Shores town manager and undersheriff for the Sheriff’s Of-
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5 fice,” Harpring said when asked what
he brings to the Town of Indian River
the first months of the COVID-19 pan- Shores.
demic. He also serves as an adjunct
professor at the Treasure Coast Public “I have an excellent working rela-
Safety Complex at Indian River State tionship with elected officials, com-
College. munity and business leaders, and the
public. I believe this will be of great
“My professional background in benefit to the citizens of Indian River
public service and the private sec- Shores.”
tor for more than 30 years uniquely
aligns with the role of Town Manager. Harpring lives in Castaway Cove
My career has included wide-ranging with wife Sandi, a former aide to then-
experience as an attorney and litiga- Rep. Debbie Mayfield, and their two
tor, managing partner of a law firm, children. In his off time, Harpring em-
and serving as both general counsel cees live comedy shows at Riverside
Theatre’s Comedy Zone and practices

standup comedy as a hobby. 

W. Galen Weston and even royalty often come and go
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 at Windsor without a mention beyond
the community’s gatehouse. Such
resident Dhuanne Tansill, a promi- strictly guarded privacy also extends
nent supporter of the arts in Vero to residents, a tradition of discretion
who was unaware until recently that much valued by the Westons them-
Weston’s illness had progressed to a selves.
critical phase. “Nobody told us,” she
said. The family still bears the trauma of
being targeted for kidnapping by ter-
“I wrote them a letter thanking rorists in Ireland in 1983. Police were
them for everything they’ve done for tipped off to the plot, slated to occur
us. They had such beautiful vision,” at the Westons’ home south of Dublin,
said Tansill. and the family stayed away.

“He created what he set out to do,” Galen Weston was in England play-
said Betsy Hanley, president of Wind- ing polo with Prince Charles when a
sor Real Estate. “He was visionary in decoy car put in place by anti-terrorist
the retail world, and he had this vi- police lured a half-dozen masked gun-
sion for here. He was a man of great men into the open at the estate. Police
achievement, but we’ll remember him engaged them in a shoot-out that left
for what he’s done for the community several of the accused wounded.
by creating this environment.”
After that, the Westons began
Windsor gave great pleasure to the spending more time at homes in Can-
Westons. “Mr. Weston definitely loved ada and the U.S.
it but so does she,” said Tom Fish,
Windsor tennis pro who, over his 30 In his business life, Weston took over
years there, came to know the Westons management of Loblaws supermar-
well. “They spent longer and longer kets in Canada in the 1970s. The stores,
amounts of time here every year. part of his family’s Canadian business
empire, were faltering. Weston led a
“He was an amazing human be- turnaround that included the intro-
ing,” Fish added. “He’s going to be so duction of a successful private-label
missed. He loved people. The second food line and transformed the chain
he got here, he’d want to talk to every- into what is today the largest food re-
body, all the members and all the em- tailer in Canada.
ployees.”
His retail holdings continued to
“I don’t know of any Windsor mem- grow when he bought the Canadian
ber who doesn’t thank Galen Weston department store company Holt Ren-
and his wife Hilary for creating an en- frew in 1986, London-based Selfridges
gaging, architecturally perfect com- department stores in 2003, and Ca-
munity,” said Cynthia Bardes, an in- nadian drugstore chain Shoppers in
terior designer and children’s author 2013, paying $12 billion.
who has a home in the community.
For their tropical vacations in ear-
She praised Weston’s creative vision, lier years, the Westons stayed mostly
and said he embodied the Windsor in the Bahamas, renting “little shacks”
mix of “total elegance” with a “fabu- on Harbour Island and Eleuthera, as
lous and fun lifestyle.” Hilary told Architectural Digest.

Tansill recalled an outdoor dinner Later, at the urging of Weston’s fa-
party where she shared a table with ther, who knew Florida well, they be-
Weston and Sen. Rick Scott. “We talk- gan to look for a place to build a home
ed mostly about politicians,” she said. on one of Florida’s barrier islands. In
“He was the most handsome man and northern Indian River County, they
so easy to talk to and very clever.” found a 400-acre swath of grapefruit
groves north of Wabasso Causeway.
Politicians, celebrities, dignitaries
CONTINUED ON PAGE 8



8 Vero Beach 32963 / April 22, 2021 NEWS Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

W. Galen Weston Windsor Boulevard. PHOTO BY PAUL COSTELLO wonderful young families moving in.”
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6 “This place – this is a dream of a new

If he was going to build his family way to live, and the new way to live is
a private home from scratch, Weston like living in a little town,” said a long-
thought, why not create a private vil- time Windsor resident who asked not
lage to put it in? to be identified. “It’s a very comforting
place, where everybody knows you
To create that village, the Westons and everybody cares about you. There
turned to a much talked-about emerg- is neighborhood solidarity – and that’s
ing concept, New Urbanism, that had him. He fought for that, he made it
captured the imaginations of many happen. And of course, he was helped
planners, chief among them, Miami- tremendously by his wife Hilary.”
based architects Andres Duany and
Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk. Considered Weston became an increasingly fa-
pioneers of the movement, the team miliar presence at Windsor after turn-
was already turning heads with Sea- ing over the reins of the family com-
side, a second-home community in panies to son Galen Jr. and daughter
Florida’s panhandle. Alannah.

In the late 1980s, Weston recruited And he never stopped having a hand
them to design Windsor, where they in Windsor’s ascent toward residential
created a site plan that melded close- perfection. As curious as he was gre-
set, lushly landscaped, Anglo-Carib-
bean residences on a simple grid of Hilary and Galen Weston at their Windsor residence. PHOTO BY CHRIS NICHOLLS
narrow streets. Five of those lanes
meet at the Village Centre, designed Windsor Town Hall. PHOTO BY PAUL COSTELLO garious, Weston typically arrived at
by Vero Beach architect Scott Mer- Windsor eager to find out the latest
rill, and the focal point of Windsor’s from staff and residents alike. Then he
stunning entrance, a shaded allée that asked what they thought of his latest
leads from Highway A1A to the Village. ideas for improvements.

Hilary Weston took over designing “When he came to Vero he wanted
the interiors of seven homes built to to talk to everybody and anybody,” said
represent the Windsor standard. Fish.

Recruiting would-be neighbors for Galen Weston met Fish by chance
their “village by the sea,” the Westons at a nascent development next door
invited friends and celebrities to visit. to Windsor: Orchid Island Golf and
Beach Club.
“In the beginning the Westons
would bring a lot of their personal When Orchid’s original developer
friends and celebrity guests,” re- failed in 1994, Weston bought the com-
called Fish. “Right away, we had all munity and oversaw completion of
sorts of interesting people here. Once some 300 homes there before turning
the tennis center got built, tennis it over to residents, putting his stamp
became the center of lots of activi- on a second iconic island country club
ties – tennis round robins, beautiful community.
lunches at the tennis courts.”

As more homes were built, the We-
stons moved from one to another un-
til finally building the house of their
dreams.

A golf course and polo field were add-
ed to the community and larger homes
were built outside the village around
the perimeter of the 425-acre prop-
erty, along with a South Village section,
oceanfront residences that sell in the $10
million range and other housing types –
development that continues today.

In 2018, Windsor Properties de-
buted the Windsor Park Residences,
luxury condominiums overlooking
the Indian River Lagoon, and Wind-
sor North Village, an enclave of sin-
gle-family homes on the last 47 un-
developed acres in the community,
currently is being permitted.

There is no better proof that Weston
and his designers saw the future in
his vision than the fact that 30 years
later, Windsor is drawing increasingly
younger buyers.

“The average age of buyers is 55
now,” said Tansill. “We’ve got all these

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / April 22, 2021 9

NEWS

Fish was Orchid’s tennis pro when age on a billboard and having a friend honor of Windsor’s 30th anniversary. this or that and they assess you. Galen
Weston invited him for a lunch that who knew her set them up for a date. The Westons recently redesigned the Weston never assessed any of the resi-
“didn’t really feel like an interview, it felt dents for anything. That is unheard of
like a really nice chat – with really good That Irish style icon of the 1960s oceanside pool cabanas to finally in- in a development.”
food.” is the namesake of Frayne Drive in clude a view of the ocean from the out-
Windsor, and the force behind the pol- door area of the beach club. “They built “They wanted this to be wonderful,”
Weston ended up offering Fish a ish in Windsor’s pastimes and parties. this fantastic cabana bar looking out said Hanley, who has worked at Wind-
job as Windsor’s pro. “There weren’t over the ocean, which everybody loves,” sor for 26 years. “They were constantly
even any courts yet, there were may- In Vero, the Westons never stopped said Dhuanne Tansill. The spa is also reinvesting in the community.”
be three houses built,” Fish recalls. “I rarifying Windsor, always looking for getting a redo, she said.
didn’t understand the concept, but I ways to inch the enclave ever closer to At one point, Weston opted to reme-
didn’t care.” their ideal. Through all the improvements, resi- dy a major snag in the “walkable” town
dents of Windsors were never assessed he created; residents had to cross a
Fish stayed on at Windsor, calling Among Galen Weston’s last altera- fees, a remarkable gesture on the We- state highway – albeit the narrow and
his job the opportunity of a lifetime. tions was a major upgrade of the stons’ part. not heavily trafficked A1A – to get to
“He was a wonderful blessing to my Windsor golf course. the ocean and pool.
family,” said Fish, who credits Weston “He was exceedingly generous,”
with supporting his son, Mardy Fish, The 2019 redesign by Robert Trent said one resident who preferred not To fix that glitch, Weston decided to
in his efforts to turn pro. Jones II, the course’s original architect, to be identified. “Most developers do
reopened in October of that year in CONTINUED ON PAGE 10
“He changed the path of my life as
well as my children’s and my grand-
children’s.”

“He’s been such a good person to
me, a good boss and a good mentor,”
said Fish.

Fish was invited more than once to
the Westons’ summer home in Eng-
land, Fort Belvedere, a country house
on 100 acres, best known as the one-
time home of King Edward VIII. “I got to
play on the beautiful grass courts,” said
Fish. “Every time I visited, I couldn’t be-
lieve I was there, it was just so magical.”

Weston was a sportsman in many
realms, and “very competitive,” Fish
recalled. In addition to tennis, he was
an excellent squash player. He also
played golf, particularly in his later
years – Tansill remembers him playing
with his son, Galen Jr. and Ivan Lendl,
the former tennis champion who has a
home in Windsor.

By far, the sport that won Weston
the most publicity for his Vero devel-
opment was polo. Twice, Weston wel-
comed Prince Charles to Windsor when
it first opened its equestrian facilities.

It is doubtful that Vero Beach ever
enjoyed more spectacular press, with
an international audience following
the Prince down the field.

Weston got his fair share of the
spotlight too, with Canadian and U.K.
press having covered him since he first
took over the family business from his
own news-making father.

Galen was born in 1940 in the town
of Marlow, 30 miles west of London.

The youngest of nine children, he
grew up watching his Canadian father
Garfield Weston build a grocery store
empire out of the bread bakery busi-
ness started by Galen’s grandfather.

In 1962, at age 22, Weston moved to
Ireland to break out on his own, away
from his enormously successful fa-
ther. He opened a grocery store, add-
ing five more in three years. In short
order, he bought a Dublin department
store in bankruptcy and developed it
into a chain of 16.

By then, Galen had met and married
Hilary Frayne, Ireland’s best-known
fashion model, after admiring her im-

10 Vero Beach 32963 / April 22, 2021 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

NEWS

W. Galen Weston Barbara Schlitt Ford, Timothy and Carol Buhl, Thomas Schidel, Don Barr and John Daniels at the Envi- oak-ringed grass oval able to accom-
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9 modate up to 1,000 guests; and a rest-
ronmental Learning Center during a ground-breaking ceremony for the Thomas R. Schidel Education and room with showers.
build an underground tunnel, not a
unique idea along that stretch of the Event Pavilion. PHOTO BY KAILA JONES Ford noted that there will be “ample
beach but certainly an expensive one. space for attendees to distance com-
The Westons absorbed the cost. There was a COVID-condensed id soil so foundation work can start. fortably for any number of public or
groundbreaking ceremony Wednesday Ford said the project “should be done private gatherings.”
“He was committed to the project for the Thomas R. Schidel Education by the end of 2021.”
of Windsor, an extraordinary commit- and Event Pavilion, named for the lo- The project team – local firms chosen
ment that I had never seen before,” said cal businessman and inventor whose The ELC’s 64-acre riverside campus from numerous applicants – includes
the resident. “It’s a burden to be a capi- $1-million donation jumpstarted the is located at the western base of theWa- Mike O’Neil of Barth Construction;
talist with feelings because you have to pavilion project. Construction was set basso Bridge on the south side of the John Blum of Carter and Associates En-
prove yourself every step of the way.” to begin with removal of a spongy lay- 510 Causeway. The 2,500-square-foot gineers; John Binkley of EDB Architects;
er of soil that will be replaced with sol- pavilion and adjacent 9,000-square- Robin Pelensky of Surlaterre Landscape
“It’s really sad,” said Fish. “He’s go- foot grassy oval will be built northeast Architects; and David Cox, consultant.
off the entrance road, on the grassy ex-
ing to be so missed.”  panse where the Laura Riding Jackson Barr says discussion of the expansion
homestead once stood. plan began “five or six years ago,” and a
Environmental Learning Center concept drawing of the entire campus
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 With a capacity of up to 1,100 peo- was created at that time. However, the
ple, the pavilion complex will accom- journey through the permitting pro-
that is the centerpiece of the organi- modate large events and concerts, and cess took “much longer” than antici-
zation’s multimillion-dollar, master- can be rented for private occasions. pated, and the advent of COVID-19 last
planned expansion. year slowed the project further.
It will include a multi-purpose out-
The expansion is intended to “rein- door classroom and event space/ At the groundbreaking, board vice-
vent” the highly popular nature center, stage that can seat 80-100 people; in- chair John Daniels called the project
elevating it “to the next level, as a major, door and outdoor kitchen areas; a live “the first significant step forward in
regional environmental education re- realizing the vision set out in the Cam-
source,” said Environmental Learning pus Master Plan several years ago to
Center Executive Director Barbara Ford. transform our unique Wabasso Island
Campus into a more compelling place
“This is a real game-changer for the for environmental education, science,
ELC,” said Environmental Learning human and environmental health,
Center Board Chair Don Barr. and nature experiences for all ages.”

Daniels recalled his first meeting
with Schidel, early in 2019. Schidel
had learned about the ELC’s plans
and asked how he could help. The ELC
could use a couple of canoes, he was
told.

That wasn’t quite what Schidel had
in mind. “Are you going to build some-
thing?” he asked. After studying the
concept, said Daniels, Schidel decided
“the pavilion was a good place to start,”
and donated $1 million to build it.

As guest of honor at the ground-

COVID-19 vaccine now exceeds demand here
with 90 percent of seniors over 65 vaccinated

BY LISA ZAHNER through the once-long waiting list
Staff Writer of names. To reach more people, the
county has for the past two Fridays
With nearly half of all county resi- offered walk-up, no-appointment-
dents and 90 percent of seniors age needed first-dose shots at the Indian
65 and older having received at least River County Fairgrounds.
one COVID-19 shot, vaccine supply
in Indian River County now outpaces Provided that the weather cooper-
demand. ates, anyone age 18 or older wishing
to get a first-dose vaccine can show up
“We’re having trouble filling appoint- between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Friday, April
ments. We’ve got plenty of supply,” said 23 at the Fairgrounds. Heavy rains and
Indian River County Emergency Ser- lightning can cause the closure of the
vices Director Chief Tad Stone. outdoor tent clinic, as happened on
Monday when the county had to re-
State officials increased counties’ schedule people with appointments
allocations of vaccine doses in April for another day.
and nearly 1,200 shots per day can be
administered by appointment here, Those looking to get the shot should
but public health workers have run
CONTINUED ON PAGE 14

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / April 22, 2021 11

NEWS

breaking, Schidel was “thrilled that this creating dynamic collages from vari- ed, as the ELC grows to the next level, and focusing on fundraising.
project has been given the go-ahead.” ous items found in nature. One of his “in the next few years, it will definitely In that vein, Ford announced that
He called the pavilion and oval “a full- pieces, said Ford, is on display at the become a major destination.”
circle venture commemorating my Center. “loyal donors Tim and Carol Buhl have
deep affinity for nature, and I hope it While waiting for the project to get offered up to a $50,000 match donation
brings joy to all who experience it.” County Commissioner Joe Earman underway, ELC staff, volunteers and for any funds raised from the public
called the project “exciting – a wonder- supporters have been improving ex- now through the end of the ELC’s fiscal
Schidel is an accomplished artist, ful place on the lagoon,” and predict- isting programs, adding new ones
year June 30.” 



Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / April 22, 2021 13

NEWS

Beachland teachers accuse ex-School Board member of disruptive actions

BY GEORGE ANDREASSI disrespectful to the PE area teacher,” for hindering “innovation” in schools part,” Justice claimed during her April
Newberry told the board. “I appreciate but doesn’t explain how or why. 8 radio interview.
Staff Writer your time and hope your support and
advice will hinder any future negative Justice drew attention to the con- “The fact that the district acted this
County public school administra- [actions].” flict at Beachland by spending more way, and the school acted this way,
tors are investigating an incident at than 14 minutes during interviews on shows they do have something to
Beachland Elementary in early April Justice, a founder of the Moms for Newsradio WTTB on April 6 and April hide,” Justice said, without offering
in which former School Board mem- Liberty parental rights group, declined 8 complaining about the way educa- any evidence of wrongdoing. “They
ber Tiffany Justice has been accused to comment for this article. tors treated her on April 5 and April 7, were defensive.”
of angrily disrupting classrooms and including rejecting some, but not all,
flouting the board’s mandatory face- Her personal statement on the Moms of her requests for special treatment. Beachland Elementary allowed Jus-
mask policy. for Liberty website blames teachers tice and her fifth-grade son to sit in
unions and government bureaucrats “There was no disruption on my
Two Beachland Elementary fifth- CONTINUED ON PAGE 14
grade teachers last week begged the
School Board for help coping with the
fallout from the parental rights advo-
cate’s confrontational behavior during
the week of April 5.

Justice and her fifth-grade son re-
fused to wear facial coverings, as re-
quired by School Board policy, and
Justice angrily disregarded educators’
directions during her April 7 visit to
the school, teachers Megan Brescia
and Tina Newberry told the School
Board last Tuesday.

Newberry and Brescia also accused
Justice of repeatedly telling lies about
the incident during an April 8 inter-
view on Newsradio WTTB’s local news
magazine podcast while complaining
about her treatment at Beachland El-
ementary.

“Currently I have a parent in my
classroom who has made my job a
nightmare,” Brescia said. “The con-
stant threatening and bullying tactics
on her part is something I will no lon-
ger tolerate.

“She has created a hostile situation,”
Brescia said. “She has personally at-
tacked my teaching practices, grad-
ing policies, classroom management
and even accused me of lowering her
[child’s grades].

“As witnessed by another colleague,
the parent [also] berated the principal
in front of the children,” Brescia told
the board. “I look forward to your sup-
port, so I am able to handle this un-
fortunate disruption with compassion
and grace.”

Newberry told the board, “I am ap-
palled with the actions of one parent
who has no regard for me as an educa-
tor.

“For instance, the parent had an is-
sue with the location of recess and
where the children could play,” New-
berry said. “I informed her she could
remain in the area, but the children
needed to move to the recess court.
She then turned to the students and
started pointing with both fingers at
each of them and angrily said ‘No! Did
you hear that? She said no!’

“Not only was this in complete dis-
regard to me, but her actions were

14 Vero Beach 32963 / April 22, 2021 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

NEWS

Beachland disruption ing District 5, called Justice’s behavior COVID-19 vaccine COVID-19 patients remained low this
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13 at Beachland Elementary School “to- CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10 week with 10 people hospitalized as
tally unacceptable.” of press time Monday night. Emer-
his class without a facemask, in viola- expect to have to read and sign forms gency room visits for COVID-like ill-
tion of School Board policy, but turned “It was extremely uncomfortable when they arrive, and to stick around ness recently dropped from 42 per
down her request to visit the school on and very unfair for the teachers,” Bare- 15 to 30 minutes for observation after week to 15 per week.
April 5 without providing 24 hours’ no- foot said in an interview last Thursday. getting “the jab” as emergency medi-
tice and her request to eat lunch with “It’s hard to believe that any parent cal help will be on-hand in case of a The wearing of masks – a controver-
her son during her visit on April 7, Jus- would make an issue, a scene that she rare allergic reaction. sial topic since the beginning of the
tice said during the radio interviews. did. This is just over the top.” pandemic – has been in the news once
Stone said about one third of his again in Florida.
Justice also criticized School Board It’s up to Schools Superintendent Da- firefighters and paramedics have been
member Teri Barenborg for listing valid vid Moore and his administrative team vaccinated. He’s got two people out Education Commissioner Richard
reasons for the 24-hour notice policy for to decide upon the appropriate response sick currently with COVID-19, a vast Corcoran announced last week that
visiting classrooms – such as protecting to Justice’s behavior at Beachland during improvement after a recent outbreak schools shall have no mask mandates
students and minimizing disruptions – the week of April 5, Barefoot said. on one shift at one fire station that re- when kids start fall classes in August,
and pointing out Justice voted for the quired some creative staffing during and the Indian River County School
24-hour notice policy in 2018 while a Barenborg, the board’s vice chair- the quarantine period. Board voted to create a plan to phase
member of the School Board. woman, and School Board member out mandated masks.
Jacqueline Rosario declined to com- New COVID-19 infections among
“When you have board members ment Friday about Justice’s behavior local residents held steady over the Meanwhile, Gov. Ron DeSantis is
defending the system, instead of do- at Beachland because the school dis- past week in Indian River County, with upset about federal guidance that ful-
ing their job, which is advocating for trict is conducting an investigation. an average of 26 new cases per day, ly vaccinated people still need to wear
students and families, you’ve got a real and the number of new weekly barrier masks and practice social distancing.
problem,” Justice said. “When the good “The situation is under investiga- island cases in the single digits. DeSantis has repeatedly told vaccinat-
of the system is put over the good of the tion and until I receive all of the in- ed people to “act immune” as the vac-
child, the system needs to change.” formation, I won’t make public com- The county’s COVID-19 positivity cines promise protection from severe
ments too prematurely,” Rosario said. rate among people tested for the virus illness and death.
Justice, who represented District 5 on stayed below 8 percent every day for
the School Board from November 2016 But Rosario pointed out the School the past 14 days, and below 5 percent That advice is contrary to the latest
through November 2020, emailed her Board approved the Safe at School plan, six out of the past 14 days. CDC guidelines that advise fully vac-
complaint about Beachland Elementary including the policy requiring everyone cinated people to “still take steps to
to all five School Board members, but to wear a facemask in school buildings, Three people died from compli- protect yourself and others in many
none of them took her side in the dispute. last summer when Justice was still a cations of COVID-19 over the past situations, like wearing a mask, stay-
member. week, raising the county’s death toll ing at least 6 feet apart from others,
School Board Chairman Brian Bare- to 290. Current hospitalizations of and avoiding crowds and poorly ven-
foot, who succeeded Justice represent- “It is a plan that is still active today
and was active the day Tiffany Justice tilated spaces.” 
visited Beachland Elementary School,”

Rosario noted. 

TRUST A FIDUCIARY pSocshiotioolnsutoperreisnotlveenddeesnetgarergguateisofnororndeewr

As an independent advisor, our sole allegiance is to our client. BY GEORGE ANDREASSI “The school system can be an agency
Our fiduciary role requires us to act with the highest standard of trust Staff Writer within the community that pulls the
and best interest to clients regarding all client matters from investment community together.”
analysis to financial planning. We are proud to serve as fiduciaries. A Chief Equity and Diversity Offi-
cer is needed to help the School Dis- The schools district’s 17,000 stu-
There is never a wrong time to do the right thing. -Mark Twain trict of Indian River County overcome dents are roughly 54 percent white, 18
community intransigence and resolve percent African American and 22 per-
NEW a 54-year-old federal desegregation cent Hispanic, Moore said.
LOCATION order, School Superintendent David
Moore said last week. The school district has been under a
Sharon Bastide Vero Beach Investment Advisor Representative federal desegregation order since 1967
772.231.3122 / 4445 HWY A1A, Suite 239, Vero Beach, FL 32963 Opponents have spoken out against and was instructed by a federal judge in
the proposed position as a waste of January to intensify efforts to integrate
www.c1ag.com money and a threat to Indian River and bring greater equity to the schools.
Offices in Clearwater and Vero Beach, FL and Hattiesburg, MS County’s cultural norms.
Client 1st Advisory Group is an SEC Registered Investment Advisor The school district advertised the
But Moore said it will take an all-out new Chief Equity and Diversity Officer
effort to help the school district get out position on Feb. 24, but has not inter-
from under the federal order by hiring viewed anyone, Moore said. The job
more African-American educators and will pay up to $115,000.
improving the academic performance
of African-American students. The proposed position will be among
the topics he discusses during a series
“It needs to be all-encompassing,” of public meetings in May, Moore said.
Moore said last Wednesday about the
position during a meeting of the Indian “I want to create a position for the
River County Taxpayers Association. school system based on the needs of
the Indian River County’s community
“We need to put more resources into – nothing more,” Moore said.
that office, that work,” Moore said.
“The design of it is to be determined. Improving the academic perfor-
I’m just asking for a little trust. mance of African-American students
will help the school district reach its
“It’s very unique on how we’re go- goal of being in the top 10 of Florida’s
ing to have to do it here,” Moore said. 67 counties in all performance cat-

egories, Moore said. 

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / April 22, 2021 15

NEWS

FACEMASKS EXPECTED TO BE OPTIONAL
WHEN NEW SCHOOL YEAR STARTS AUG. 10

BY GEORGE ANDREASSI of seven COVID-19 cases involving five
Staff Writer students and two staff members be-
tween April 12 and April 18. The seven
Schools Superintendent David Moore cases represented the lowest num-
has until April 27 to draft a long-awaited ber of COVID-19 cases since the early
plan to phase out the mandatory face- weeks of the school year.
mask policy instituted this school year
amid a spike in COVID-19 cases. In addition, the rate of increase in
COVID-19-related deaths and hospi-
Barring an unforeseen spike in CO- talizations in the county has slowed
VID-19 cases, facemasks are expected since mid-February, state Health De-
to be optional for students when the partment records show.
new school year starts on Aug. 10, said
School Board Chairman Brian Bare- The School Board voted unani-
foot. mously last Tuesday to direct Moore
to work with local, state and national
“The goal is to eliminate them ASAP, health and medical experts to develop
certainly before summer school begins,” a plan to make face masks optional in
Barefoot said last Wednesday. “Nobody the public schools.
likes the idea of wearing masks.”
A group of about a dozen parents
The school year ends May 28 and the has repeatedly called upon the School
school district’s summer programs start Board to make the facemasks optional
this school year, arguing they impede
June 7. Moore’s plan will determine the students’ breathing as well as in-
whether students will be required to tellectual and psychological growth.
wear facemasks during summer school. Several raised the same issues during
the April 13 School Board meeting.
“All of that could change tomorrow
because there’s some new guidelines, School Board Vice Chairwoman Teri
there’s a surge or an outbreak, although Barenborg said she wants the face-
the trends are certainly headed in the mask phaseout plan to include crite-
right direction,” Barefoot said. “I think ria for local COVID-19 levels, vaccina-
we all hope we can have masks be op- tion rates and health safeguards in the
tional, if not eliminated.” schools that would allow facemasks to
be optional.
The Florida Department of Health
had administered at least one COVID-19 Barenborg noted she originally called
vaccinations to a total of 73,988 people for Moore to present the facemask
in Indian River County as of Sunday, phaseout plan to the School Board in
about 46 percent of the population. October, but COVID-19 surged in the
county after that, and the process also
The school district reported a total was delayed by an unsuccessful law-
suit by four parents challenging the
mandatory facemask policy.

“In October, that all got put on hold
because of a lawsuit,” Barenborg said
during the board’s April 13 business
meeting. “So, we had to be very quiet.”

A state judge dismissed the case on
Feb. 9, ruling the School Board had
the unquestioned authority to require
students to wear facemasks in school
to reduce the spread of the virus.

Now would be a bad time to rescind
the facemask requirement because
crucial assessment tests are being con-
ducted at schools across the district
and a policy change could create a dis-
traction, Barenborg said.

“I think that would really cause an-
archy and chaos and I don’t want to do
that,” Barenborg said. “What I do want
to do is give parents a light at the end
of this tunnel.”

“My concern is we need to have some
sort of plan now for what’s going to hap-
pen this summer,” Barenborg said. “I
also think we have to give parents the
option of protecting their child the way

they want to protect their child.” 

16 Vero Beach 32963 / April 22, 2021 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

NEWS

Study underway at Bee Gum Point may lead to more game fish

BY SUE COCKING function as important nursery habitat ing and who is staying,” Shenker said. The current study involves catch-
Staff Writer for juvenile snook and tarpon. Shenker said the scientists expected ing and tagging more fish – with help
from the Treasure Coast chapter of the
A two-year scientific study under- So along with diking and flooding to find that the baby fish would flee Coastal Conservation Association –
way at the Bee Gum Point Preserve on mud flats to prevent mosquitoes from the impoundments with the approach and continuing experimental culvert
the east side of the Indian River La- breeding from April to August, local of winter cold fronts. But instead, they openings in the summer.
goon may yield important information mosquito control districts have in- stayed put and later made a beeline for
to help control mosquitoes, enhance stalled culvert pipes with gates to con- the exits at the beginning of mosquito “The aim of the current study is to
sport fish populations, and improve the nect the impoundments with the main breeding season in April, at a time when show that this management tactic ap-
overall health of the 156-mile estuary. lagoon. They usually open the gates the impoundment gates were closed. plied across Indian River Land Trust's
from fall through spring when the in- approximately 800 acres of mosquito
Directed by Florida Tech Professor sects are not reproducing to enable When the scientists got permission impoundments will boost the nursery
Emeritus Dr. Jon Shenker and Bone- young fish to move freely into sheltered from the mosquito control district to production of these important game
fish & Tarpon Trust scientific and con- water where they are safer from preda- open the gates temporarily in the sum- fish,” Fuss wrote.
servation director Dr. Aaron Adams, tors and move back out as they mature. mer as an experiment, the fish rushed
with field work conducted by graduate out in droves. “Not only are these fish important
students from Harbor Branch Ocean- The overall impound strategy was for their own sake, but as an indica-
ographic Institute, the research fo- effective in drastically reducing the “Our first study showed that juvenile tor species – think about the canary
cuses on how popular game fish such mosquito population while cutting the tarpon and snook preferred to migrate in the mine – that will reveal the larg-
as snook and tarpon use the 100-plus district's use of harmful pesticides, but out of the impoundments to join the er health of the lagoon. If success-
acres of manmade mosquito ditches wasn't so good for sport fish populations, main fish populations in the lagoon ful, this approach could be adopted
at Bee Gum Point. as a study published by Shenker and his during the summer months,” Indian across thousands of acres of mosqui-
colleagues in 2019 demonstrated. River Land Trust director of land stew- to impoundments which would have
The mosquito impounds are owned ardship Dave Fuss wrote in an email. a tremendous impact on the fish, the
by the Indian River Land Trust and The researchers implanted small lagoon, and beyond.”
managed by the Indian River County snook and tarpon they caught in Bee Keeping the fish contained when
Mosquito Control District. Gum Point Preserve with tiny tags un- they are ready to migrate interferes The fish tagging project could use
der the skin, similar to microchips vet- with their life cycles and the overall some more angler volunteers. If you
Marine scientists have known for erinarians insert in dogs and cats. They success of fish populations. would like to help out, contact Harbor
decades that mangrove marshes also installed receivers in the impound- Branch graduate student and volun-
along the lagoon are not just breed- ments near the culverts to pick up the Added Shenker: “They are waiting teer coordinator Maggie Rodrigue at
ing grounds for mosquitoes, but also tags’ signals and“get a feel for who is leav- till they are genetically programmed
to go into bigger bodies of water and mrodrigue2020@fau.edu. 
join the adult population.”

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / April 22, 2021 17

NEWS

Wabasso Beach Park closed until April 30 for sand restoration

BY RAY MCNULTY “We need to be off the beach before PHOTO BY BRENDA AHEARN dune as well as on the berm, including
Staff Writer peak sea turtle nesting season begins,” in the water, resulting in a wider beach,”
Keenan said. “Beach surveys for bio- ect is done, the county’s Fort Pierce- the county’s website stated. “Following
Wabasso Beach Park closed this week logical monitoring are being complet- based contractor, Guettler Brothers sand replacement, native dune grasses
– and will remain shut down through ed every morning – before any work Construction, will have placed more are installed along the dune.”
April 30 – to allow work crews to com- begins on the beach – to protect nest- than 380,000 cubic yards of sand
plete the first phase of a $14 million ing sea turtles and shore birds.” onto a 3.7-mile stretch from Wabasso The two-phase project – it was sched-
beach-restoration project on the is- Beach northward to the Seaview sub- uled across two fiscal years to spread
land’s northern tier. When the first phase of the proj- division. out the cost – became necessary after
the county’s beaches and dune sus-
Treasure Shores Beach Park also “The sand is being placed on the tained significant erosion damage dur-
will remain closed through the end of ing hurricanes Matthew (2016), Irma
the month, but Indian River County (2017) and Dorian (2019).
spokesperson Kathleen Keenan said
Monday that Golden Sands Beach The cost is being covered by near-
Park was scheduled to temporarily re- ly $6 million in Federal Emergency
open this week as beach repair work Management Agency hurricane-re-
moves south to Wabasso Beach. imbursement funds and more than $8
million in local tourist taxes.
The busy-season closure of Wabasso
Beach Park was initially scheduled for The project’s second phase, which
mid-February to allow sand to be placed will cover nearly 3 miles from Wabasso
northward from the park. However, the Beach Park south to the Turtle Trail
county’s Public Works Coastal Engineer- beach access, isn’t scheduled to begin
ing team postponed the closure be- until November and be completed by
cause high tides prevented sand trucks April 30, 2022. That phase is currently
from accessing the beach in that area. budgeted at about $13 million.

The first phase of the project, which The project was delayed for more
began Jan. 4, must be completed by than a year because the county had
April 30, before the official start of the problems obtaining permission from
sea turtle nesting season. beachfront homeowners to access the

dunes on their property. 

GOP rally with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene
moves to Fairgrounds after 14 Bones says ‘No’

BY RAY MCNULTY "We were a paid vendor, not an or-
Staff Writer ganizer or sponsor of the event."

Local Republican Club Chairman Jay Kramer said he understood Wilke’s
Kramer said he expects more than 300 decision to withdraw.
people to attend a Saturday morning
rally at the Indian River County Fair- “When Scot called, I could tell he was
grounds, where controversial Georgia shaken,” Kramer said. “He said he was
Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene getting too much pressure. I appreciate
is scheduled to be the headline speaker. him trying to help us out.”

“It’s becoming a bigger event than I Kramer said he’s anticipating the
thought it would be,” Kramer said, “so arrival of protesters, but Democrats
we might get more.” of Indian River President Al Griffiths
said his attempt to organize a protest
The breakfast event initially was failed because “people are afraid of
scheduled to be held at 14 Bones Bar- the people she will attract,” especially
beque on U.S. 1 in Vero Beach, but a at a time when mass shootings are so
harsh social-media backlash convinced prevalent in America.
the restaurant’s owner, Scot Wilke, to
back out. Griffiths said the local Republican
club invited Greene because she has a
Kramer said he toldWilke that Greene “receptive audience” in the county.
would be the event’s marquee attrac-
tion, but Wilke said he didn’t recall Since being elected to Congress in
Kramer mentioning her name or warn- November, Greene has made national
ing that she is a political lightning rod. headlines with her far-right views, fer-
vent embrace of conspiracy theories
“We’ve worked with the Republi- and inflammatory rhetoric.
can Club before, and when we agreed
to do this one, we thought it was just Kramer said that after speaking at
another event,” he added. “We were the Fairgrounds, Greene is scheduled
blindsided by the response. to travel to Donald Trump’s Mar-a-La-
go Club in Palm Beach later Saturday

for a fundraiser. 

18 Vero Beach 32963 / April 22, 2021 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

NEWS

Manatees in Indian River Lagoon dying at alarming rate

BY SUE COCKING have died from starvation, and many Save the Manatee says the federal Institute and organizer of the school’s
scientists believe the drastic decline government itself bears much of the annual lagoon symposium, traces the
Staff Writer of seagrass in the Indian River Lagoon blame for the surge in manatee deaths. demise of seagrass in the 156-mile-
over the past decade is the prime cul- “Staffing for the manatee recovery pro- long estuary to the extended cold snap
Manatees in the Indian River Lagoon prit in the crisis – that the lack of food gram has been reduced, despite the in early 2010, followed by the algae
and elsewhere along the coast have has caused many of the threatened growing problems manatees have faced “superbloom” in 2011, followed by the
been dying at such alarming rates that sea cows to starve to death. since they were prematurely and unjus- massive fish kills of 2016; then the pas-
the federal government has launched tifiably downlisted from ‘endangered’ sage of Hurricane Irma in 2017; and
an investigation, and directed addi- Seagrass and other aquatic vegeta- to ‘threatened’ in 2017,” a statement on most recently another algae bloom of
tional money and personnel to rescue tion is the manatees’ preferred diet, the organization’s website says. undetermined origin that caused a fish
the animals and determine what is and they eat a great deal of it. During kill last fall in the northern lagoon.
causing the spike in deaths. cool winter months when ocean water “The federally managed Manatee
temperatures fall, manatees flock to Recovery Program was once the pride “It’s not gone. It’s having a winter
NOAA Fisheries and the U.S. Fish & warm-water refuges, such as the la- of the FWS. Now it is underfunded and break,” Hanisak said of the most recent
Wildlife Service last month declared goon and inland freshwater springs, neglected ... There is no active Mana- bloom. “It’s probably going to continue.”
an “unusual mortality event” for Flor- to graze on seagrass and other plants. tee Recovery Team, Manatee Imple-
ida manatees after at least 539 died mentation Team, or Manatee Warm- Algae blooms kill seagrass by pre-
between Jan. 1 and March 19, includ- But today, according to the St. Johns Water Task Force.” venting sunlight from reaching it. The
ing 235 of them in the Indian River La- River Water Management District, the dead seagrass then robs the water of
goon or its tributaries. Indian River Lagoon has only about 42 To the extent starvation from lack oxygen, suffocating fish and depriving
percent of the seagrass it had a decade of seagrass is driving the increase in other marine animals such as mana-
That amounts to nearly 10 percent ago, leaving much of the lagoon bot- deaths, then at least one veteran ma- tees of their food supply. What causes
of the estimated statewide manatee tom barren. rine scientist who studies the lagoon the algae blooms, Hanisak says, is an
population of 5,733, according to Save says the situation is not going to get overload of the nutrients nitrogen and
the Manatee, a nonprofit conservation “Environmental conditions in por- better next winter – or anytime soon. phosphorus from “septic tanks, bad use
organization, and is almost as many as tions of the Indian River Lagoon remain of fertilizer from lawns and agriculture.”
died in the entire previous year. Eigh- a concern,” according to the state fish Dr. Dennis Hanisak, research profes-
teen manatees have been found dead and wildlife agency’s manatee mortal- sor at Harbor Branch Oceanographic “We’ve totally disrupted the system
along Indian River County’s shores. ity website. “Preliminary information with too much nutrients,” he said.
indicates that a reduction of food avail- “Everybody kind of contributes to the
The new UME was declared just ability is a contributing factor.” problem. The only thing to do is try to
three years after the marine mammals reduce nutrients going into the lagoon.”
were taken off the endangered spe-
cies list and re-categorized as merely That effort is underway on multiple
“threatened” under the U.S. Endan- fronts, but Hanisak says improvement
gered Species Act. The UME designates in water quality and habitat won’t
the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conserva- happen right away.
tion Commission to lead the response
to the crisis, and provides additional “It will take several years before you
funds and staff support to the agency see improvements in water quality and
and its environmental partner groups. a few years after that, an improvement
in seagrass,” Hanisak said.
The deaths have come in such an
onslaught that state wildlife rescuers “It’s going to take a fairly long time
can’t keep up; there have been no nec- to turn it around. I wonder why it took
ropsies performed on 372 of the ani- this long for this [manatee] starvation
mals, some of which were too decom- thing. These seagrasses haven’t been
posed to examine by the time they good for a long time. Nobody really
were seen by state investigators. saw it coming. What’s going to happen
going forward for the manatees is up in
As for the others, veterinarians so far
have determined that cold stress killed the air.” 
27; 66 died of natural causes; and 20
were struck by boats. Others appear to $4.6 MILLION ROAD PROJECT COMING TO
INDIAN RIVER BOULEVARD NEXT YEAR

BY SAMANTHA ROHLFING BAITA into U.S. 1. just beyond Grand Harbor.
Staff Writer The majority of the 40 or so people

Traffic jams like those island resi- who showed up at a public workshop
dents have sporadically endured for on the project last Thursday were bike
months on Highway A1A will be com- enthusiasts who, for the most part,
ing to Indian River Boulevard just complained loudly that the proposed
across the river early next year. bike lanes would be 5 feet wide rather
than 7 feet wide as they are on the sec-
That is when construction begins tion of A1A being resurfaced on the
on a $4.6 million resurfacing and bike island.
lane project that will extend from the
Merrill Barber Bridge to the road’s ter- Indian River County Assistant Public
minus at 53rd Street, where it feeds Works Director James Ennis explained

CONTINUED ON PAGE 20



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

NEWS

Indian River Boulevard The project will be funded through PHOTO BY BRENDA AHEARN ic and construction climate, the resur-
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 18 a grant from the Florida Department facing should not be postponed, En-
of Transportation Small County Out- The county applied in 2017, at nis said. The worn roadway must be
several times that requirements for reach Program, which provides 75 which time it was required to identify resurfaced before it deteriorates to the
state roadways such as A1A are differ- percent of the agreed-upon cost but major project components and pro- point where the base layers are dam-
ent than those for county roads like can only be used for specific kinds of vide a cost estimate. In the ensuing aged, which would cost significantly
Indian River Boulevard. projects – maintenance, in this case. five years, though, construction costs more to restore.
have become “volatile” due to CO-
He said changes to the project that “We’re getting 3 to 1 on the county’s VID-19, unstable commodity prices, Currently, the roadway has grass
would have to occur to accommodate money,” Ennis said. materials shortages and heavy con- medians, limited water quality treat-
7-foot bike lanes would not only cost tractor workloads. ment and inconsistently paved shoul-
much more but also render the coun- But there is a caveat. Ennis explained der widths. The intersections do not
ty ineligible for state grant funding, that there is “a five-year lead time be- The county’s final cost estimate – have through-lane shoulders and bike
because the project would no longer tween grant application and project $4,660,176 – must be submitted to lanes are not marked.
qualify in the “maintenance” grant construction commencement. FDOT by June, Ennis said, but by the
category. time bids come in early next year, “the In addition to a new road surface,
costs could be a lot more, maybe 20 to planned improvements include me-
When an audience member asked 30 percent,” which will be the county’s dian and water treatment upgrades;
why the county doesn’t wait until the responsibility. shoulder widening to a consistent 5
money for wider bike lanes becomes feet throughout the project; and re-
available, Ennis said that the road Even in such an uncertain econom- moving and realigning shoulders with-
would likely be more deteriorated, in intersections so bikers won’t have
and less safe, at that point, and far to move into traffic lanes. In addition,
more expensive to repair or replace. restriping and additional signage will
designate bikeways, and high-contrast
Built in the 1990s as part of the markings will further identify bike
county’s long-range plan, and last lanes at intersections that have dedi-
resurfaced in 2013, the well-traveled cated right-turn lanes.
stretch is a major county arterial road-
way of “critical importance in main- As to the inescapable traffic slow-
taining an infrastructure that will keep downs during construction – which
pace” with commercial and residen- is slated to begin in March 2022 and
tial development, officials said. wrap up in February 2023 – Ennis said
at least one lane will always be open
According to FDOT data, the cur- and no stretches of Indian River Bou-
rent daily load on this 3-mile stretch is levard or cross streets will be com-
25,500 vehicles per day. pletely blocked off.

With any luck, the A1A project will
be complete, and traffic will be flow-
ing freely on the island long before it

bogs down on the mainland. 

PROPERTY APPRAISER CLOSING BEACHSIDE
OFFICE DUE TO LOW DEMAND FOR SERVICES

BY RAY MCNULTY Tax Collector Carole Jean Jor-
Staff Writer dan, however, said she has renewed
her $4,092-per-month lease at the
County Property Appraiser Wesley 1,200-square-foot beachside office,
Davis said he will discontinue service which opened in June 2019, and she
at the Oceanside County Complex on plans to use the space vacated by Da-
Cardinal Drive at the end of Septem- vis to increase her staff there.
ber, citing a lack of demand for his
office’s services there and insufficient Jordan said the traffic at all four of
Internet capability. her locations – at the County Admin-
istration Building, Sebastian and Vero
“Our lease is paid through September, West branches, and on the island –
which allows me to have a presence there continues to grow.
through the end of the TRIM,” Davis said
referring to the Truth In Millage Rate no- From April 2020 through March
tices his office sends out in August. 2021, she said the county’s Tax Col-
lector’s Office processed 21,351 more
“People on the island can continue transactions than it did the year be-
to schedule appointments there until fore, and it received a total of 127,632
then,” he added. “Even after we leave, phone calls.
we’ll keep some printed materials over
there.” “I’m excited to have the extra space,”
Jordan said, adding that she plans to
County Clerk Jeff Smith pulled out move two more clerks to the island.
of the beachside office last April, after “The beachside office turned out to be
the COVID-19 pandemic shut down a blessing when COVID hit, and we had
courthouses and prompted the state to do everything by appointment. We’re
to cut clerk-of-court budgets. booked solid at all of our locations.

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / April 22, 2021 21

NEWS

“We’ve gotten so busy that we’ve had Ave. to expand her existing office space “Carole Jean needs to expand, and said. “Ninety percent of our customers
to limit our services to county resi- or move into a larger unit on the prem- there’s certainly a lot of growth to the love it, because they can schedule when
dents.” ises. She said she has spoken with Da- west, so we’re looking at it,” Davis said. they want to come in. And our clerks
vis about adding a Property Appraiser’s “But with homestead exemption ap- love it, too, because they don’t have all
In fact, Jordan said she is planning branch office at that location. plications available online now – 45 to those people standing in line.
to expand the size of her office space at 50 percent of the applications we get
both the County Administration Build- “Vero West is the busiest office we are filed online – the beach location “If there are emergency situations,
ing and Vero West sites. have,” Jordan said, citing the ongoing didn’t really work for us.” we’ll still be able to work them in.”
real-estate boom and new-home con-
She said the patio near the handi- struction on the western edge of the Jordan, meanwhile, said the pan- Jordan spearheaded the move to
capped parking area at the County Ad- county’s urban services area. demic-mandated, appointment-only open the Oceanside County Complex,
ministration Building will be enclosed process has been so successful that located at 3003 Cardinal Dr., with the
and become an add-on to the current Davis, whose office shares space her office is likely to continue the intent of lessening traffic at the coun-
Tax Collector’s Office. with the Tax Collector’s Office at the Se- practice after COVID is gone. ty’s mainland offices and providing
bastian location, said he’s considering a more convenient service for island
She’s also working with the owner adding a branch at Vero West. “I don’t see any reason to change,” she
of the Vero West complex at 1860 82nd residents. 

Shores seems focused on switching water-sewer provider

BY LISA ZAHNER County Attorney Dylan Reingold Vero Water Sewer Director Rob Bolton staff to assist the town with staff time
said the county earlier obtained an urged commissioners to table the to provide the information the Shores
Staff Writer outside opinion that the county had vote until the next meeting when Falls needs to make a decision.
the ability to legally serve the unincor- could attend, as he needed to be at a
The breach of contract suit filed by porated South barrier island custom- Vero council meeting going on at the “The proposal is for a feasibility study,”
the Town of Indian River Shores against ers now on Vero’s utility system once same time across town. Moss also Flescher said. “It is not taking sides.”
the City of Vero Beach is plugging along, the county’s franchise agreement for pressed for the item to be delayed but
with the parties exchanging interroga- the area with Vero expired. she was outvoted. Flescher pointed out that the study
tories and providing documents, but might come out in favor of Vero, or
win or lose, the Shores seems focused “Consistent with that opinion, I do Chairman Joe Flescher, Vice Chair- in favor of the town staying with Vero
on ending its water and sewer utility ar- not see where we are prohibited from man Peter O’Bryan and Commis- Beach Utilities.
rangement with Vero in 2027. serving the town of Indian River Shores sioner Joe Earman all said that since
at the expiration [of the town’s franchise Shores residents are residents of the “If we don’t do this, we’re taking the
While the lawsuit proceeds, the agreement with Vero],” Reingold said. county, it’s perfectly fine for county side of Vero Beach because the town
Shores and a consultant hired by the has a deadline,” O’Bryan said, refer-
town are examining whether it’s feasible Reingold said he did not see county
to switch water-sewer providers, getting staff working with the Shores to exam- CONTINUED ON PAGE 22
services from the county once its fran- ine its options as taking sides in the
chise agreement with Vero expires. Shores-Vero dispute, because county Established 18 Years in Indian River County
staff did the same for Vero Beach when
If the Shores wants to make the leap, it was looking at options for its waste- (772) 562-2288 | www.kitchensvero.com
town officials must give notice by Oc- water treatment facility. 3920 US Hwy 1, Vero Beach FL 32960
tober 2023, so everything being done
now backs up from that date. “We don’t plan to insert ourselves
in the battle between the city and the
Because the $121,000 feasibility study town. We believe it is important for
by the Arcadis consulting firm would them to resolve that issue,” Reingold
require the cooperation of county em- said.
ployees and data from county systems,
the Indian River Board of County Com- Shores Mayor Brian Foley said the
missioners discussed the Shores’ efforts town has obtained an outside opin-
and voted 4-1 to approve the use of staff ion from the Holland and Knight law
time to participate in the study. firm on the service territory issue that
concurs with the county’s separately
That is an encouraging sign for the obtained outside legal opinion.
Shores. If the county had no interest in
having Indian River Shores as a utility Foley said the city’s assertion of a
customer, a ‘no’ vote would have end- permanent service territory to the ex-
ed the process. clusion of the county utility compet-
ing to provide water and sewer servic-
In anticipation of the county hear- es raises “serious antitrust issues,” and
ing this issue, Vero City Manager Mon- said if the City of Vero Beach wants to
te Falls sent County Administrator try to enforce that, the town would
Jason Brown a letter on March 24 in- need to litigate it.
tended to thwart the Shores’ hopes of
getting out of its deal with Vero when Foley summarized the Holland and
it expires in 2027. Falls attached a copy Knight opinion on the 1989 service ter-
of a 1989 utility territorial agreement ritory agreement, saying “if anybody
the city thinks prevents the Shores attempted to enforce that provision,
from contracting with Indian River they’d be in a boatload of trouble.”
County Utilities.
Commissioner Laura Moss does see
“Paragraph three of the agreement the county’s involvement as taking the
states, ‘The County shall not provide Shores’ side in the breach of contract
water or sewer service within the City lawsuit, so she voted against approv-
Service Area without the written ap- ing the staff time the Shores’ consul-
proval of the City,’” Falls quoted from tants need to do their work.
the document.
Prior to the vote earlier this month,

22 Vero Beach 32963 / April 22, 2021 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

NEWS

Water-sewer service for Shores sewer service from the county. ed of them by the county commission. public records documenting utility
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 21 Moss asked that county staff keep Meanwhile on the pending breach decisions and issues back to the 1980s.

ring to the notice of termination the track of all time spent on helping with of contract lawsuit filed by the town Vero has already handed over its first
Shores must give Vero by October the feasibility study, but Flescher shot against the city, attorney Paul Berg batch of documents to the Shores to
2023 if the town decides to get water- back that this is “not a matter of billable said he asked the city for a bit more comply with the town’s narrower dis-
hours” and that county staff cannot be time to turn over portions of the mas- covery request. No hearings are set in
asked to do anything that is not request- sive request for correspondence and
the case. 

Don and Bonnie Bergman.

SUPPORTERS HEAD OVER HEELS
FOR ‘WHEELS & KEELS’ MISSION P. 28

24 Vero Beach 32963 / April 22, 2021 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

Grit expectations exceeded at inaugural Vero triathlon

Shirley Reul and Walter Harnischfeger. PHOTOS: KAILA JONES Fonda Loughery, Cheryl Winchell, JR Crooks and Krissie Bernie. PHOTOS CONTINUED ON PAGE 22
Dan Pierce and Carlos Lloreda.
BY MARY SCHENKEL
Staff Writer

Vero Beach Triathlon hosted a spec- The event had originally been letes ranged in age from 23 to 71 and Susan Young and Glen Fritz.
tacular inaugural race recently, with planned to take place last May but, like females from 20 to 69. Male sprint rac-
about a quarter of the 300 triathletes everything else, had to be rescheduled. ers ranged in age from 19 to 80, and fe- ger and better. I think the community
opting to compete in the Olympic To run the race, Harnischfeger enlisted males from 22 to 81. can get behind it just to enjoy seeing it,
distance race – a first for Vero Beach Sommer Sports, an event management and also from an economic standpoint.
– and the remainder competing in the and race timing company owned by Harnischfeger has competed in all It’s a real boost to our economy. The
Sprint distance race. Triathletes from Fred Sommer, an early pioneer in the triathlon distances except Ironman, triathletes come from all over and are
all over Florida and as far away as Cal- sport of triathlons in Florida. the most grueling of the lengths that staying over at the beach; they some-
ifornia made their way to South Beach include Sprint, Olympic and Half- times make a weekend out of it. It’s a
Park, eager to prove their mettle and “I did this because I’m an enthusiast Ironman. He had competed in the LLS big side benefit,” said Harnischfeger.
swim, bike and run their way to vic- and I love Vero Beach and I think Vero Conquistadores Sprint Triathlon at
tory. Beach should have a triathlon. Every- Jaycee Park, which ended about four “The profile of this event and its as-
body that I spoke to said, ‘Fred Som- years ago, and was determined to re- sociation with Vero Beach, in my opin-
The conditions on that Sunday mer is the best in the business,’” said kindle the sport in Vero. He opted to ion, is a real plus for everybody. There
morning were perfect despite omi- Harnischfeger, who tasked himself change the venue from Jaycee Park to are not a lot of communities that have
nousindications.HighwindsSaturday with interacting with city and county South Beach Park over safety concerns the reputation for really knowing how
afternoon had produced whitecaps officials, police and lifeguards. from the ongoing construction on to put on a good triathlon. And so, I
and a roiling surf, and thunderstorms north A1A, and it turned out to be the think that Vero Beach and the sport of
were forecast for Sunday afternoon. “It was a real community effort and ideal spot. triathlon are now on the map.”
But Mother Nature pulled through, I want to keep it that way. My goal is
giving what Walter Harnischfeger, to have an event that the entire com- Harnischfeger closed the registra- The winner of the Olympic distance
Vero Beach Triathlon founder and munity can be proud of, can enjoy and tion at 300 people, and despite being was Federico Scarabino, a Uruguayan
race director, called a “magnificent, participate in,” said Harnischfeger. inundated with others hoping to get in, currently living in Weston.
miraculous weather window.” says he felt it was an appropriate num-
A 20-year resident of Vero Beach, ber for an inaugural event. “Let me tell you, that guy was fast. I
“The water might have looked Harnischfeger took up the sport at age saw him attack the water; he went out
rough, but it was pretty calm com- 60, which he said is not uncommon, “There’s no dress rehearsal for this; there like a torpedo through the break-
pared to the day before; there was a explaining that time is freed up as “en- it unfolds before your very eyes,” said ing waves,” said Harnischfeger.
swell out there, but it was not crash- tanglements of life” lessen. Harnischfeger.
ing waves,” said Harnischfeger. “We For more information, including
lucked out. You often have to cancel In this race, Male Olympic triath- “I hope it stays with us and gets big- full race results, visit verobeachtri-
a swim or shorten it because you just athlon.com. 
don’t know what kind of conditions
you’ll have.”

“Remember, you signed up for this
to have fun,” sports announcer Ca-
rissa Galloway reminded the excited
competitors, while spectators looked
on in admiration as the first Olympic
group made a mad dash to the water.

The Olympic triathletes would
swim 1,500 meters (.93 miles), bike
40 kilometers (24.8 miles) and run 10
kilometers (6.2 miles). The Sprint dis-
tances were half that: 750 meters (.46
mi), 20K (12.4 miles) and 5K (3.1 miles).



26 Vero Beach 32963 / April 22, 2021 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

PHOTOS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 20 Julie and Robert Atkins.
Sarah Bristol, Mark and Cheryl Herndon and Tina Clark. Kristen Faust.

Zach Crain with Sammi and Zach Helmberger.

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / April 22, 2021 27

PEOPLE

Kim Capps.

Charles Richardson. Debbie Mackay.

Jenna Kingsley.

28 Vero Beach 32963 / April 22, 2021 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

Supporters head over heels for ‘Wheels & Keels’ mission

BY STEPHANIE LaBAFF
Staff Writer

The 10th annual Antique & Ex- PHOTOS & STORY CONTINUED ON PAGE 26
otic Car & Boat Show hosted by the
Wheels & Keels Foundation was held Gavin and Marcia Ruotolo with Peter and Cathy VanLancker. PHOTOS: KAILA JONES Marsha Sherry and Peter Ford.
recently at the Moorings Yacht and
Country Club with proceeds sup- fore reeling in bidders with the temp- rupted lives for 13 months. “Every- stop was the need for the charita-
porting organizations that improve tation of travel excursions, items re- body is finally feeling comfortable ble organizations to continue their
residents’ lives through the preser- lated to the featured nonprofits, and enough to come out from under- work, and the expenses they contin-
vation, conservation and apprecia- a Bid from the Heart. neath their rock.” ued to incur.
tion of the Indian River Lagoon.
“It is so nice to be back to some He noted that while it was at this Each of the beneficiary nonprofits
The two-day event kicked off Fri- semblance of normalcy,” said Davis, time last year that fundraisers such has a special connection to the In-
day evening, when 220 guests en- noting that the pandemic has dis- as this were canceled, what did not dian River Lagoon:
joyed cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, a
live auction and video presentations
from the five featured nonprofits
while dining on a delicious dinner in
the Governor’s Lounge.

“We’re a foundation that focuses
on the quality of life helping chil-
dren and adults. The five charities
that we are committed to basically
do that very thing,” said Vincent De-
Turris, Wheels & Keels Foundation
vice president.

Auctioneer Wesley Davis said he
was thrilled to be back in action, be-

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30 Vero Beach 32963 / April 22, 2021 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

PHOTOS & STORY CONTINUED FROM PAGE 24
Helen and Reese Brackins with Heather Dale and Noreen Davis.

Members of Vero Beach Rowing.

 Vero Beach Rowing and the revving up and boats were ready to
Youth Sailing Foundation teach drop anchor last year when the pan-
young people how to row or sail demic stopped them in their tracks,
while instilling discipline and an ap- adding that this year’s event was one
preciation for our local waterways; of the first major car shows in Flori-
da. “People are excited to get back out
 The Navy SEAL Trident House is there again and have some fun,” said
a haven on the lagoon where SEALs DeTurris.
and their families can recover from
the ravages of war; The impressive collection included
a burnt orange 1927 Chevy Car Haul-
 The Arc of Indian River County er Truck, a sassy gray and orange 1970
helps individuals with intellectual Fiat 500 Nuovo Jolly and a racy red
and developmental disabilities to Belair Nomad. Classic Woody Wag-
earn money making oyster mats ons, Nash Metropolitans and Buick
which filter water in the lagoon; Skylarks were showcased, along with
a lemon-colored 1966 Dodge Charger
 Lines in the Lagoon, the most hardtop, a 1915 Case Model 30R Tour-
recent addition to the lineup, is a ing car, a 1937 Cord Winchester Se-
youth-founded and run fishing tour- dan and a seafoam green 1957 Chevy
nament that raises awareness about Cameo luxury pickup truck acces-
the lagoon and develops younger en- sorized with a matching boat.
vironmental stewards.
On the keel side, a 1976 Donzi and
On Saturday morning, Wheels & a 2009 teak and mahogany Canadian
Keels teed up more than 100 Ameri- Fantail Electric boat were juxtaposed
can and foreign-made antique and alongside a 2000 Odyssea wet subma-
exotic cars on the first hole of the rine.
Pete Dye Signature Golf Course
with boats and yachts moored at the The afternoon culminated with
docks. a lecture by Cindy Purcell, grand-
daughter of the founder of Huckins
Car enthusiasts moseyed past the Yachts, and a red-carpet award cer-
lineup of impressive automobiles, emony with 17 trophies for car and
where Porsches, Jaguars and Cor- boat classes categorized by era and
vettes gleamed in the sun alongside models.
Austin Healey Roadsters, viewing
the assortment of curvaceous chas- For more information, visit wkvero.
sis and enviable engines with de- com. 
light.

DeTurris said that engines were

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / April 22, 2021 31

PEOPLE

Karen Soleau and Gloria Vigneault. Sally and Dick Daley with Anne and Marty Farb. Hayden Posner and Jo Zaza.

Gordon Sulcer Sam Gagliano and Joe Gagliano,

Stu Keiller and Chris Pope.

32 Vero Beach 32963 / April 22, 2021 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

‘Place of peace’: Hospital garden honors Loy’s legacy

BY STEPHANIE LaBAFF icate our beautiful new garden to
Staff Writer the First Lady of Vero Beach, Alma
Lee Loy, a Vero Beach native who
The legacy of the late Alma Lee devoted herself to public service
Loy continues to grow, most recent- and philanthropy and her commu-
ly with the dedication of a garden nity,” said Dr. Greg Rosencrance,
situated just outside the Post Cha- CCIRH president.
pel at Cleveland Clinic Indian River
Hospital to honor the beloved com- He noted that in addition to serv-
munity leader. ing on the original Indian River
Medical Center board from 1986
“We are here this morning to ded- to 1992, Loy served on the hospital

Donna Morris, Dr. Greg Rosencrance and Marybeth Cunningham.

district board from 2007 to 2014. was second only to her passion for the
Additionally, she served as an Indi- community. A landscape architect has
an River County commissioner and designed the space using indigenous
on the boards of numerous organi- plants and trees, with benches, rock
zations, including the United Way features and a circular path.
of Indian River County, Education
Foundation, Environmental Learn- Indian River County Hospital Dis-
ing Center and McKee Botanical trict executive director Ann Marie
Garden. Suriano and chairwoman Marybeth
Cunningham, both of whom called
“Many Indian River County resi- Loy a friend and mentor, are credited
dents may not realize their lives are with the idea for the memorial garden
impacted daily in some way due as a space for people to sit amongst na-
to her life-long commitment and ture to relax and reflect.
dedication to this community. Her
achievements and legacy in Indian “It’s supposed to be a place of respite
River County will live on for genera- for people. A beautiful place to be with
tions to come,” said Rosencrance. somebody or get away,” said Cunning-
“This garden is to her memory, to ham. “Alma Lee gave so much to the
her legacy. It embodies the past, it community that we wanted to give
embodies the present, and it looks something back to the community in
forward to growth for the future.” her memory.”

One could sense a nod of approv- Suriano added that a garden in Loy’s
al from Loy during the intimate name was a fitting tribute given her
gathering of family members and longstanding connection to McKee Bo-
contemporaries, who knew that her tanical Garden.
love for Vero’s native flora and fauna
“She was an advocate for green spac-
es,” said Loy’s cousin Donna Morris.

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / April 22, 2021 33

PEOPLE

Bretton Jenks and Ann Marie Suriano. PHOTOS: STEPHANIE LaBAFF

“Alma Lee once said, ‘You can never cause she was such a strong part of the
have too many parks.’ She always hospital. That’s an important way to
wanted to better the quality of life for commemorate her and what she did
everyone in Indian River County, and here for the hospital.”
she was passionate about the hospital,
so she would be very appreciative that “This was a great way to pay tribute
something like this is done for the ben- to someone who had such an impact on
efit of all.” Indian River County and Vero Beach,”
said Ralph Turner, CCIRH COO.
Especially, noted Morris, the pink
hibiscus. “She really loved pink. She Attendees were gifted an orchid,
would be humbled but very gratified plant much like those growing in the
that such a lovely memorial has been garden, as a remembrance of the cer-
created in her memory.” emony and of Loy.

“It’s a wonderful place for us to re- “We know many visitors, patients
member her,” added Loy’s goddaugh- and caregivers will use it as a place
ter Bretton Jenks, a speech-language of peace, as a place of tranquility,
pathologist at CCIRH. “Especially be- and as a place of reflection,” said
Rosencrance. 

34 Vero Beach 32963 / April 22, 2021 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

Everyone on board with ELC at Cruisin’ for a Cause benefit

BY STEPHANIE LaBAFF Mike O’Neill and Tyler Moler. PHOTOS: KAILA JONES life. Just think about how we are so
Staff Writer dependent on food and air and water,
programs that feature the local flora the ELC and the treasure was revealed not silver and gold. Everyone deserves
The Environmental Learning Cen- and fauna of the 64-acre campus that to be our natural resources. a healthy planet, and it’s up to us to
ter hosted a virtual Cruisin’ for a Cause Ford said is the perfect place to find help.”
version of its annual benefit which, buried treasure. “They and our environment are
in the days leading up to the pirate- priceless. Our natural resources are “We need to help the environment,
themed celebration, offered support- With hook and spyglass in hand, the real treasures that help sustain and it’s up to us to make a difference,”
ers auction items and ‘Captain a Boat’ Capt. Wyatt tried his luck at solving a us all,” said Ford. “Our environment declared Capt. Wyatt, challenging
opportunities that would enable them riddle found on the back of the trea- plays an extremely important role in viewers to treat their treasure with
to host up to 12 of their best mates on sure map, where X marked the spot at healthy living and the existence of all care.
a guided pontoon excursion on the In-
dian River Lagoon. “Next time you think about silver
and gold as your prize treasure, think
Proceeds will support the nonprof- about what really matters in life. What
it’s mission to “educate, inspire and never fails us. Nature needs us, and
empower all people to be active stew- we need nature. Thank you for joining
ards of the environment and their and being part of the solution,” said
own well-being.” Ford, before sailing off into the sunset.

Barbara Schlitt Ford, ELC executive A few days after the virtual fund-
director, and Don Barr, board chair- raiser came to a close, the ELC cam-
man, invited viewers to “get on board” pus was visited by supporters who
with the help of 12-year-old ELC en- witnessed the long-awaited ground-
vironmental steward “Capt. Wyatt,” breaking for the Thomas R. Schidel
who took wannabe pirates on a hunt Education and Event Pavilion, a
for treasure. central piece in the Master Plan for
the ELC. See the full story about the
Capt. Wyatt’s adventure showcased groundbreaking in our news section.
community events as well as the
hands-on and feet-wet educational For more information, visit discov-
erelc.org. 

Law Offices of Jennifer D. Peshke, P.A.

Ryne E.Hartt, Esq.recently
joined The Law Offices of
Jennifer D. Peshke, P.A. as
an Associate Attorney. A
Florida native, Ryne grew
up on a cattle and citrus
operation in Highlands
County, Florida. He graduated from the University of Florida with a BS in
Food and Resource Economics and a Master of International Business
in 2015. He continued to earn his JD from the University of Florida Levin
College of Law in 2018. Prior to joining The Law Offices of Jennifer D.
Peshke, P.A., Ryne worked as an Associate Attorney in Sebring, Florida,
for two years focusing on estate administration and probate, estate
planning, and guardianships. He is an active member of the Florida Bar
Association.

Ryne is available to meet with clients regarding real estate matters,
estate planning consultations including wills, trusts, powers of attorney
and healthcare directives, and probate and trust administration as well as
guardianship matters and business entity formation and advice.

Please Call 772-231-1233 to learn more
and schedule your consultation, or

visit: www.peshkelaw.com for more information.

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / April 22, 2021 35

PEOPLE

Pam Barr and Carol Buhl. Catherine and Tom Schidel. PHOTOS CONTINUED ON PAGE 32
Ray Weatherdon, Christina Chambreau and Philip Chieco.

Amy Shea, Ann Ricciardi and Sara Piotter. County Commissioner Laura Moss, Jim Roberts, Logan Dritenbas and John Binkley.
ELC executive director Barbara Schlitt Ford, Commission Chairman Joe

Flescher, and Commissioners Susan Adams and Joseph Earman.

Law Offices of Jennifer D. Peshke, P.A. The attorneys and staff at The Law Offices of Jennifer D. Peshke, P.A. bring a wide variety of talent
and experience to the table and are available to assist with your legal needs including:

Real Estate Purchases & Sales • Business Entity Formation & Advice

Estate Planning Needs Including Wills,Trusts, POA and Healthcare Directives for Florida Residents

Probate & Trust Administration Services • Guardianship and Special Needs Planning Matters

Please Call 772-231-1233 to learn more and schedule your consultation, or
visit: www.peshkelaw.com for more information.

36 Vero Beach 32963 / April 22, 2021 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

PHOTOS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 31 Kay and Thomas Schidel. Jean Catchpole and Tim Glover.
Jim Sourbeer and Rob Tench.

Joan Edwards and Melissa McSulla.

Patty and Walter Garrard.

Rosanne Dlugosz and Ann Ricciardi.
Lynn and Jerry Babicka.



38 Vero Beach 32963 / April 22, 2021 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

ST. EDWARD’S

Senior savors St. Ed’s lacrosse’s sweet postseason run

BY RON HOLUB mult broke out se- and had a great plan for us. We made
it all the way to states.
Correspondent nior year, although
“He made sure that we followed
A fourth straight district cham- the team-bonding all the rules, that we didn’t go out
pionship was on the line last week on weekends, and that we had our
for St. Edward’s varsity boys la- Ian Horvit. Horvit cited re- masks on. He was always watching
crosse team, and the simple act of out for us.”
being able to play was not lost on mained intact as
the participants following the sud- The first-year coaches earned re-
den termination of the season last Mark Gowin took spect for plowing through the ex-
spring. Being on the field for a full traordinary circumstances and, by
2021 schedule was especially grati- over as head coach. every measure, the football and soc-
fying for a senior class of student- cer teams responded like champs.
athletes nearing the end of all sports “It was very dif- Horvit referred to another factor
activities – and adventures – in high that aided the cause.
school. ficult coming into
“Most of the kids from football
After unleashing a barrage of this new school played soccer too,” he said. “We
goals before the home fans to stun were really connected with each
Benjamin, 17-10, the Pirates wear year,” Horvit said. other. That really helped with the
the district crown once again. It transition to new coaches.”
might have been five straight but for “We didn’t have
the asterisk attached to the lost sea- There was no such continuity con-
son a year ago. One of those seniors any summer con- cern with Doug Bailey in his sixth
on the field this year was Ian Horvit. season. Goals come in bunches at
ditioning and the times, but that is not the mission for
“We played our best game of the Horvit. He is noted for using his ath-
year,” Horvit said. “We came out season was post- letic skills on defense to frustrate
with confidence and ambition. We faster opponents looking to attack.
hadn’t beat Benjamin in several poned for several
years.” “Coach Bailey is one of the best
weeks. Other teams coaches I’ve ever had,” Horvit said.
It’s always nice to remove a thorn. “We definitely want to go far be-
Horvit was encouraged to attend St. were already play- cause this is the last year of high
Ed’s as a freshman by lacrosse head school sports for the seniors. We’ve
coach Doug Bailey, who coached ing their games been practicing hard this whole
Horvit on a club team in middle year and now it’s time to sharpen
school. Lacrosse was obviously his and our school was our tools and use everything we’ve
favorite sport; however, the first got.”
coach he would play for at St. Ed’s really behind.
was Bill Motta on the varsity foot- Horvit will attend the University
ball team. “But everybody of North Florida to study business
and economics. He might explore
“I came primarily for lacrosse and came together and club soccer or lacrosse, or he might
then I met Coach Motta,” Horvit re- “retire from my athletic career”
called. “I played football for most of we followed all the in favor of surfing and fishing. He
my life and loved it. I was actually a summed up in one word what ath-
starter for all four years. I was a run- rules to make sure letics meant to him at St. Ed’s, and
ning back, defensive back, and I also wanted it to be known.
played on special teams. nobody got COV-
“Brotherhood!”
“Coach Motta implemented a ID. We figured out The Pirates host a regional semifi-
nal this Friday. 
what our strategy

was going to be and

were undefeated

(4-0) before losing

in the first round

sense of camaraderie very well. He of the playoffs. I felt that during the
made sure we were all connected
and had good relationships. That pandemic times we really came to-
lasted throughout my high school
career because many of those guys gether as a team.”
from football were on other teams
with me. We developed strong bonds Horvit picked up soccer as a ju-
on and off the field.
nior when the varsity program was
“Trusting your friends on and off
the field is a great feeling. That was a on a roll. The Pirates captured a dis-
very key takeaway from my athletic
career here.” trict title in 2020 with head coach

St. Ed’s was a cumulative 12-20 Pape Seye, and surged to the 2021
in Horvit’s first three years with
Motta. Then just about complete tu- state semifinals in a dream season

coached by Esteban Rosano.

“During this soccer season it was

really touch and go for a while to

see if the games would be played,”

Horvit told us. “Our new coach was

really great. He was really confident



issues. “With rates set to go up, they are ready to
get out.”

When hedge fund billionaire David Tepper left
New Jersey in 2015 for Miami, his move prompted
consternation over the size of the hole the Garden
State’s biggest taxpayer would leave in its budget (he
returned in 2020, paying an estimated $120 million to
the state last year). Now, neighboring New York faces
a bigger loss in revenue if an exodus to Florida accel-
erates among the financial industry’s upper echelon.

To be sure, even if some of the wealthy leave per-
manently, the fiscal impact would be relatively small
compared with the threat of millions of tourists and
office workers staying away from Manhattan. What’s
more, rich taxpayers who fled during Covid-19 may
find it difficult to stay away. And at least some mem-
bers of the top 0.1% were already returning this spring.

With residents busy getting vaccinated and bet-
ting on a post-pandemic boom, there’s some hope
that New York may once again find a way to bounce
back after a crisis.

has already left New York.
Dan Sundheim is planning to leave. Larry Fink is
staying, but is worried about its future.

New York was struggling to retain some of the
world’s richest people and the firms they operate
even before Governor Andrew Cuomo and state
lawmakers hiked taxes on millionaires and billion-
aires. Wall Street’s biggest names – including Gold-
man Sachs Group Inc., Apollo Global Management
Inc. and Point72 Asset Management – are taking
steps to expand elsewhere, especially Florida.

Key to the Sunshine State’s allure is its income
tax – it doesn’t levy any. By contrast, New York City’s
wealthiest now face the highest state and local rates
in the U.S.

“There definitely is an unprecedented migra-
tion of high-net-worth taxpayers from New York
City, and some of them are taking their businesses
with them,” said Timothy Noonan, a law partner
at Hodgson Russ who specializes in tax residency

But if New York City’s crown as the financial capi-
tal of the world starts to slip, the first signs will be
in the investing business. While banking dealmak-
ers and hotshot advisers may eventually go back to
meeting clients face-to-face, hedge fund managers
can – at least in theory – execute trades as easily
from a Florida mansion as a Midtown Manhattan
high-rise.

The $42 billion Elliott Management Corp. has
seen several of its highest-paid executives leave
Manhattan. Jesse Cohn, head of U.S. activist invest-
ing at the firm, and Jon Pollock, the company’s co-
chief investment officer, have moved near its new
headquarters in West Palm Beach. Paul Singer – El-
liott’s founder – has also left the city, but is staying in
the Northeast.

Other hedge fund titans are also moving to Flor-
ida permanently. Scott Shleifer, co-founder of the
private equity unit at the $40 billion Tiger Global
Management, bought a $132 million house in Palm
Beach, where he plans to relocate. Sundheim, who

runs the $20 billion D1 Capital Partners, is relocat-
ing near his new office in Miami.

New Yorkers, rich or otherwise, have been moving
to Florida for decades, particularly as they got older.
The tax savings from such moves were boosted in
2018, after the passage of a Republican reform that
capped the state and local tax deduction at $10,000.

The new law meant the wealthy could no longer
lower their federal taxes by deducting millions of
dollars in state and local levies – a change that made
states without an income tax like Florida and Texas
more appealing.

Some rich New Yorkers, like Icahn, did move to
Florida in the aftermath, but the total number of
rich taxpayers in New York held steady, and tax rev-
enues kept rising.

“We’ve had high taxes and it hasn’t driven all the
multi-millionaires out,” said George Sweeting, dep-
uty director of the city's Independent Budget Office.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 42

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 41

The question is whether that may change, he said.
“We don’t know what the limit is. At what point does
it become more than people are willing to pay? The-
oretically there is some point there.”

Hedge fund partners who move to Florida, but
keep staff and operations in New York, will still owe
some tax in the Empire state. And larger firms find
it more difficult to disentangle themselves from the
city, said Steven Winter, a partner at Grant Thornton.

One of Winter’s clients, a hedge fund principal,
just moved himself to Florida, gave up the firm’s New
York City office space, and shifted all his employees
to remote work. It’s “easier to do when you have a
workforce that’s only 15 to 20 people,” he said, while
it’s “harder to do for 50 or greater” employees.

Icahn, the 85-year-old activist investor who
moved from New York to Florida in 2019, named a
new chief executive for his firm this month. He told
the Wall Street Journal that his current CEO and
chief financial officer were both leaving the com-
pany because neither planned to follow Icahn to the
Miami area.

Taxes are an important part of the discussions for
smaller firms. Take the example of a manager who
makes $10 million per year. In New York City, they
would have paid more than $1.1 million in state
and local taxes last year, and more like $1.2 million
this year after the tax hike. By moving to Florida, the
manager avoids that charge every year, as well as
about $400,000 annually that their firm owes to the

Vero Beach 32963 / April 22, 2021 43

INSIGHT COVER STORY

President Joe Biden has not pro- looking to move are also a more diverse income tax revenues, or about $2.1
posed ending the SALT cap, but a bi- group, he said, including parents with billion.
partisan group of lawmakers is push- children and millennials.
ing for repeal. Critics of the effort, In January, the city projected income
including New York Representative Al- There is little data available yet on tax revenues will fall 6% in the 2021 fis-
exandria Ocasio-Cortez, have argued how many people have, in fact, moved cal year, to $12.7 billion.
that an end to the SALT cap would be permanently out of New York. But un-
expensive – costing $88.7 billion per der its progressive income tax regime, But the city got a “shot in the arm”
year, according to the Joint Commit- the loss of even a small number of from the Biden administration’s $1.9
tee on Taxation – and mainly benefit high-earning taxpayers can have a no- trillion stimulus bill, finance commis-
the rich. ticeable impact. sioner Sherif Soliman said at a March
24 City Council hearing, also citing the
Hodgson Russ’s Noonan estimates Statewide, taxpayers earning $10 city’s mass vaccination campaign as a
the number of rich New Yorkers seek- million or more paid 17% of income reason to be upbeat about the future.
ing to leave is about 20 times greater taxes in 2018, or $8.1 billion. In New
now than after the Republican tax bill York City, about 1,800 people earned “While we acknowledge that we face
that passed in late 2017. Taxpayers at least $10 million in 2018, and they a tough road ahead, we are optimistic
were responsible for 18.5% of the city’s for a full recovery,” Soliman said. Time
will tell. 

city’s 4% unincorporated business tax.
The savings are even bigger for the

most successful managers. In addi-
tion to hiking the top rate on single
filers earning more than $1.1 million –
from 8.82% to 9.65% – the state added
two new brackets: income above $5
million will be taxed at 10.3% and $25
million at 10.9%.

Adding these to the city’s top rate
of 3.88%, rich New York City residents
now face marginal rates of 13.5% to
14.8%, surpassing the 13.3% top rate
in California, previously the U.S.’s
highest.

In approving the tax hike, Cuomo
said he “fully” expects the blow to be
offset by a repeal of the cap on state
and local tax, or SALT, deductions.
“When SALT is repealed, the taxes will
be going down,” he said.

44 Vero Beach 32963 / April 22, 2021 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

INSIGHT OPINION

Travelling at nearly 17,000 miles an hour, 340 ers to avoid a crash. After a delayed initial response Janka, head of regulatory affairs at Viasat. He adds it
miles above the Earth, a small satellite from Elon to the collision warning, Starlink put it down to a would be useless if a satellite failed for another reason.
Musk’s Starlink shot past another spacecraft at a dis- “bug” in its alert system for its satellite engineers. “If you are doing 70 miles an hour on a motorway and
tance of 160 feet. the brakes fail, what good is your system?”
Space collisions are extremely rare but not impos-
The width of a high-school football field might sible. In 2009, an Iridium satellite collided with a der- Professor Marek Ziebart, of University College Lon-
seem like reasonable room for maneuver on Earth. elict Russian probe at a speed of 26,000 miles an hour. don, says the danger of a collision could go far be-
But in orbit, where objects are normally separated yond just the cost of replacing the satellites.
by hundreds or thousands of miles, it was much too Rivals say they have no idea what Starlink’s artifi-
close for comfort. cial intelligence will do if allowed to automatically “If you have two objects about the size of a car con-
try to avoid a collision. verging in space, when they collide they create an un-
The near miss on March 30 has led to renewed controllable shower of debris in orbit, like a shower
scrutiny of an avoidance system built by Musk’s Starlink’s satellites operate using Linux powered of grenades,” he said. “Removing that detritus is an
broadband satellite company. In 2019, Musk an- processors combined with GPS data and tracking impossible task.”
nounced Starlink’s constellation, which is set to in- data from the U.S. military that monitors thousands
clude 12,000 satellites, would “use their thrusters to of space objects of 4 inches or larger. But there is little Ziebart says it should be possible to solve some of
maneuver automatically around anything that [the public information about how its algorithms work. these issues. Modern air traffic control makes plane
US military] is tracking.” collisions almost unheard of, but this requires deals
Yet just days before the March 30 incident, Star- between companies and even international treaties
But the near miss late last month has infuriated ex- link signed a memorandum with NASA promising between various space agencies.
ecutives at rival companies as an example of SpaceX, a “deeper level of co-ordination, co-operation and
which owns Starlink, putting the safety of competing data sharing” between launches and Starlink’s con- McLaughlin, of OneWeb, says SpaceX has since of-
projects in jeopardy. “It was very close. An unaccept- stellation. In the agreement, NASA says that it will fered to open up its algorithm so his company will
able distance to OneWeb,” says Chris McLaughlin, not attempt to move in the event of a near-miss event have a better idea of how it works. Viasat argues
head of regulation at OneWeb, a rival satellite com- with Starlink under the promise Starlink will auto- SpaceX should be forced to keep to tighter orbits in
pany. matically get out of the way “to ensure the parties do space. Starlink should also reduce the failure rate of
not inadvertently maneuver into one another.” its satellites, which he says is as high as 2 percent.
McLaughlin says OneWeb’s engineers received a
red alert from the U.S. Space Force after the compa- “The truth is nobody knows anything about this au- But disclosing its algorithm is not likely to be quite
ny’s latest launch of 36 satellites. As these ascended tonomous collision avoidance mechanism,” says John so simple if it were to a Chinese state-backed low-
into orbit, they passed through a mesh of Starlink earth orbit constellation. SpaceX did not respond to
satellites orbiting at 340 miles high. “Our engineers requests for comment.
tried to contact SpaceX via email. They didn’t get a
response at first. When they did, we were told not to The company is currently applying for a further
worry. Our engineers thought they had to be kidding.” 2,700 extra satellites with the U.S. Federal Com-
munications Commission, amid vocal protest from
Eventually, in spite of Starlink’s in-built automated OneWeb, Viasat and Amazon, with a decision ex-
avoidance system, OneWeb agreed to move its satellite pected to be reached in the coming days.
slightly to avoid a crash. McLaughlin adds: “Our engi-
neers said we were not prepared to accept for them to “This is a point for people to really start talking to
go fully automated. We had no idea how it worked.” each other,” Ziebart says.

It is not its first near miss. In 2019, SpaceX once With tens of thousands more satellites whizzing
again shut off its automatic avoidance system after it around the Earth, the increasing space jam makes a
came close to a $560 million European Space Agency potential crash ever more likely. 
climate observation satellite, which fired its thrust-
A version of this column by Matthew Field first ap-
peared in The Telegraph of London. It does not neces-
sarily 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 / April 22, 2021 45

INSIGHT WORLD NEWS AND OPINION

The seat belts on Richard Johnson's lem getting out of a seat belt. The seat not be able to get out in an emergency. belt isn't an amenity – it's a necessity.
Lexus RX350 won't release. But his belt should release upon one push by This is not right. When I purchased I can understand why your dealer-
dealership can't help him. the right hand. But most of the time my
seat belt does not release with multiple my vehicle, I also purchased an ex- ship didn't want to replace your seat
QUESTION: pushes and nearly always requires us- tended warranty for several thousand belts. Some auto dealerships have a
ing the left hand to effect release. dollars which has hardly been used. It policy that they have to replicate the
I have a problem with my Lexus RX350 seems to me that Lexus has made ample problem before they can authorize a
that I can't resolve with my local dealer- More than once, I was concerned that enough profit on my purchases to jus- repair. That's fine. But a little common
ship. The front seat belts, especially the I would not be able to exit the vehicle. I tify a remedy of this problem, regardless sense would have led to a quick reso-
driver side, do not release cleanly. reported this problem to my dealership of whether a technician can duplicate it lution. Maybe you should have just
last year. A representative told me that when I bring the car in for service. shown them your box cutter. (Shown,
I have owned several dozen cars they could not duplicate the problem not brandished.)
during my 60 years of driving, and and so nothing could be done. ANSWER:
driven hundreds of rental cars, and I I love the way your case was resolved.
have never before had this much prob- As the problem continued, I returned Lexus should have fixed or replaced You used the executive contacts for
the car to the service department two your seat belt quickly. When you told Lexus (Toyota) from my consumer ad-
months later. A service manager said them that you had to carry a box cut- vocacy website, Elliott.org.
that they spent several hours latching ter, that was an enormous red flag. And
and unlatching the seat belt and did not that's particularly true for a manufac- Within a day, you received a call
see a problem. turer with such a sterling reputation from Lexus corporate. You discussed
for customer service. I'm just shaking the concern about your seat belt, and
A technician reported that the seat my head. the company arranged for your Lexus
belt operation was consistent with that dealer to evaluate the problem one
of other, similar vehicles, so I am be- It turns out some other Lexus mod- more time. That resulted in full re-
ginning to wonder if this issue is stan- els have had problems with a seat belt placement of both of your front seat
dard with Lexus. release, although I can't find any evi- belts. You noted that the Lexus corpo-
dence that it's widespread on the Lex- rate representative closely monitored
This is not some random engine is- us RX350. Obviously, a seat belt that the entire process, all the way to a so-
sue where the fix can't be known if the keeps you trapped in your vehicle is as lution. I love it! 
issue can't be seen. Obviously, this latch dangerous as one that doesn't protect
needs to be replaced. Moreover, this is you from a collision. Get help with any consumer prob-
a serious safety issue, and I now keep a lem by contacting Christopher Elliott
box cutter in my car for fear that I will The ability to easily release your seat at http://www.elliott.org/help





48 Vero Beach 32963 / April 22, 2021 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

INSIGHT BOOKS

In the recent Washington Post poll to choose the tions of dust jacket storytelling. James Sheppard,
greatest fictional detectives of all time, the top four the village doctor who assists
vote-getters, tallied in descending order, were Ar- and paperback cover Poirot and narrates the book,
mand Gamache, Sherlock Holmes, Harry Bosch and proved far more witty than I re-
Hercule Poirot. Pfui, as Rex Stout’s Nero Wolfe would art, photographs or membered, though his deduc-
say. Faced with a mind-boggling murder, would tive skills are no better than Dr.
anyone turn to Louise Penny’s Gamache instead of movie stills. Being a Watson’s: When Sheppard first
Sherlock Holmes or to Michael Connelly’s Bosch over sees Poirot, he tells his comi-
Hercule Poirot? I certainly wouldn’t. What the poll ac- lecturer on film at Eng-
tually reveals is the tyranny of the contemporary. The cally nosy sister Caroline,
results reflect the influence of a devoted social media land’s Solent Univer- “There’s no doubt at all about
fan base, an ongoing TV series and two best-selling what the man’s profession
authors still regularly bringing out new work. sity as well as the au- has been. He’s a retired hair-
dresser. Look at that mus-
No, looked at historically, the only true contenders thor of “Agatha Christie tache of his.”
for world’s finest super-sleuth are Holmes and Poirot
(with Wolfe and G.K. Chesterton’s Father Brown close on Screen,” Aldridge Throughout, Christie ex-
behind). Being a member of the Baker Street Irregu- cels in using conversation
lars and having written a book about Arthur Conan particularly shines in to propel the action (and to
Doyle, I don’t need to say more about my own loyal- plant clues). However, the
ties. But what about that other fellow, the protagonist his behind-the-scenes various people suspected
of 33 novels and more than 50 short stories by Dame of Ackroyd’s murder – the
Agatha Christie? As it happens, Mark Aldridge’s just account of the David enigmatic butler, the pretty
published “Agatha Christie’s Poirot: The Greatest De- parlor maid, the blunt Ma-
tective in the World” exhaustively and entertainingly Suchet television series
surveys the book, stage, radio, magazine and film ap- jor Blunt, the fair-haired
pearances of that fussy little Belgian, known for his and in his evenhanded ingénue, the scapegrace
impressive mustaches and his even more impressive heir – are such genre ste-
“little grey cells.” appraisal of “Death on reotypes that I grew convinced that Christie employed
them, here and throughout her work, in a spirit of
Are family wagers an underrecognized generator the Nile” and “Evil Under ironic affection. She recognized how inherently artifi-
of literary accomplishment? In 1916, Agatha Christie cial her mysteries were.
argued with her sister Madge that it must be relative- the Sun,” two spare-no- Consider the swirl of activity before and after Roger
ly easy to write detective stories. To prove it, Christie Ackroyd is stabbed with a Tunisian dagger in his study.
jotted down some ideas, scribbled for three weeks expense films starring a Each member of his household has something to hide,
in a hotel and came away with the manuscript of during one crucial hour several people frenetically run
Hercule Poirot’s first case, “The Mysterious Affair at slightly buffoonish Peter around like characters in a French farce, and everyone
Styles.” After several rejections, the novel was finally always knows the precise time they did anything sig-
published in 1920 when its author was 30 years old. Ustinov. In a foreword to nificant. Ultimately, for Christie, the true solution to
Ackroyd’s murder needn’t be plausible, merely pos-
For the next decade, Christie experimented with Aldridge’s book, actor and sible. Still, one key revelation near the end – involving
various kinds of thrillers and whodunits, while creat- a bit of period technology – struck me as unfair, being
ing a sensation in 1926 with “The Murder of Roger screenwriter Mark Gatiss contrary to what we’d previously been told about it.
Ackroyd.” By the 1930s she was laughingly calling No matter. “The Murder of Roger Ackroyd” re-
herself “a sausage-maker,” cranking out two or even calls the second “the best mains a triumph. As Poirot stresses when speaking
three books a year. In nearly every instance, the least of its solution, “Everything is simple, if you arrange
likely suspect, anyone with an unassailable alibi or time anyone can have in the facts methodically.” That sounds easy enough,
the person with no apparent motive would turn out but only a great detective, like the fastidious Belgian
be the ruthless killer. Several of the Poirot mysteries the cinema.” To check that (or Sherlock Holmes!), can disentangle the essential
from this decade are breathtaking classics of mis- from the inessential. 
direction, notably “Murder on the Orient Express” assertion, I rented “Evil Under
(1934) and “The ABC Murders” (1935). AGATHA CHRISTIE’S POIROT
the Sun” and can vouch for it as a perfect COVID-era
Aldridge’s encyclopedic “Poirot” features brief, THE GREATEST DETECTIVE IN THE WORLD
spoiler-free plot summaries, quotes apt passages escape, the action being set on a gorgeous Mediter-
from contemporary reviews and brightens nearly BY MARK ALDRIDGE | HARPER COLLINS. 512 PP. $29.99
every page with postage-stamp-sized reproduc- ranean island, with a glamorous cast dressed to the REVIEW BY MICHAEL DIRDA, THE WASHINGTON POST

nines in 1930s outfits, and everyone – especially Di-

ana Rigg and Maggie Smith – camping it up and hav-

ing a ball.

Aldridge’s bold subtitle, “The Greatest Detective

in the World,” echoes Poirot’s self-description (in

1928’s “The Mystery of the Blue Train”). Though that

claim is debatable, the book itself unquestionably

belongs on the same shelf as John Goddard’s “Agatha

Christie’s Golden Age,” which meticulously dissects

Poirot’s novel-length investigations, and John Cur-

ran’s two volumes devoted to Dame Agatha’s “secret

notebooks.” However, Aldridge’s text should have

been more closely copy-edited, not just to catch

some minor factual errors – forthrightly listed on his

website – but also to fix a number of loose and baggy

sentences.

Having so enjoyed this celebration of all things

Poirot and in the mood for more, I impetuously de-

cided to try an experiment: What would it be like to

reread, after half a century, “The Murder of Roger

Ackroyd” when I already knew its trick?

This time, Christie’s hints to the killer’s identity

stood out almost too obviously, yet I quickly surren-

dered to the zest and smoothness of the fast-paced

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / April 22, 2021 49

INSIGHT BRIDGE

TELL YOUR STORY WITH THE RIGHT CARDS WEST NORTH EAST
754 Q 10 AK982
By Phillip Alder - Bridge Columnist AJ65 K 10 9 7 832
43 A Q 10 9 J6
A. Whitney Brown, who is best known for his work on “Saturday Night Live” in the J 9 5 20 A83 K Q 10
80s, said, “There are a billion people in China. That means even if you’re a one-in-a-
million type of guy, there are still a thousand guys exactly like you.” SOUTH
J63
At the bridge table, you’re a one-in-a-million type of guy or gal if you always play the Q4
right card at the right time, especially when on defense. K8752
764
In this deal, what should West lead against three diamonds after the given auction?
Dealer: East; Vulnerable: Both
The bidding was straightforward. Neither West (only three spades) nor East (no extra
spade length or high-card strength) had any reason to compete to three spades, The Bidding:
which can be defeated by one trick.
SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST OPENING
West should lead the spade seven. He supported the suit, so partner knows he has 1 Spades
length. He leads top of nothing to deny an honor in the suit. Pass 2 Spades Dbl. Pass LEAD:
3 Diamonds Pass Pass Pass ??
If West does this, East stands some chance of finding the right defense. He must win
with the spade king and shift to the club king. (West should signal enthusiastically
with his nine to show the jack.) A moment later, when West gets in with the heart ace,
a club continuation gives the defense five tricks: two spades, one heart and two clubs.

If West leads the spade four at trick one, East will assume West has an honor in the
suit, which must be the jack. It would then be safe for East to start with two spade
winners before switching to clubs. Here, though, that is fatal because South discards
a club from the dummy on his spade jack.

50 Vero Beach 32963 / April 22, 2021 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

INSIGHT GAMES

SOLUTIONS TO PREVIOUS ISSUE (APRIL 15) ON PAGE 74

ACROSS DOWN
1 Be nosey (3) 1 Summits (5)
3 Moral wrong (3) 2 Shouting (7)
5 Emotional disaster(5) 3 Stitched (4)
8 Permit (5) 4 Drink of the gods(6)
9 First-rate (7) 5 Bewitching (8)
10 Large vessel (4) 6 Offspring (5)
11 Innocuous (8) 7 Pardons (7)
13 Extent (6) 12 Red veils (anag.)(8)
14 Raps (6) 13 Let go of (7)
17 Beliefs (8) 15 Applauded (7)
19 Final (4) 16 Sufficient (6)
22 Tableland (7) 18 Picture (5)
23 Kinds (5) 20 Flavour (5)
24 Put on clothes (5) 21 Staunch (flow) (4)
25 Edge, border (3)
The Telegraph 26 Female deer (3)

How to do Sudoku:

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

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