03/12/2020 ISSUE 11

Water to flush Bethel Creek
would flow one way. P11
New superintendent

loses temper at meeting. P12
Islanders contribute very little to
Democratic presidential campaigns. P11

For breaking news visit

Seminoles weigh Construction underway on Vero Beach Country Club’s expansion and revitalization project. PHOTO BY KAILA JONES Norovirus gives
suits to shut down senior facilities
illegal slots here Upgrades in progress at five private clubs not-so-dry run

BY NICOLE RODRIGUEZ BY RAY MCNULTY properties, building new facili- is ahead of schedule, General BY MICHELLE GENZ
Staff Writer Staff Writer ties and expanding their pro- Manager Tim Straley said last Staff Writer
grams to stay relevant in a high- week, and the new amenities
It will be game over for gam- Private clubs on the main- ly competitive environment. should be open and operating It was a dry run nobody want-
bling arcades blatantly break- land and up and down the in October. ed to have. Even as a nursing
ing state law in Indian River island from Windsor to The Work on Vero Beach Coun- home has emerged as the
County if the Seminole Tribe Moorings are sprucing up their try Club’s $3.8 million expan- “Barring any interruptions epicenter of a COVID-19 out-
of Florida gets its way, a lawyer sion and revitalization project break in Washington state, a
for the tribe said after learning CONTINUED ON PAGE 4 different virus – norovirus, the
about the illegal businesses highly contagious stomach
from a Vero Beach 32963 in- bug that comes on quickly and
vestigation. dramatically – has been tear-
ing through multiple facilities
The tribe’s outside legal in Vero Beach.
counsel Barry Richard was sur-
prised to find out that several The virus, perhaps best
of the county’s roughly 18 adult known for its outbreaks on
arcades are violating state laws cruise ships, has sent a stream
prohibiting cash payouts and of seniors to the hospital, put
slot-style machines – which others in quarantine, and has
the tribe has exclusive rights to cleaning staffs scouring sur-
operate. faces from elevator buttons to
saltshakers.
At least five adult arcades
in the county are mini Sin More than 200 residents of
Cities with glitzy slots, ATMs the Isles of Vero in both inde-
on site and hefty cash pay- pendent and assisted living
outs, sometimes as high as
CONTINUED ON PAGE 6
CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

MY School district facing gender discrimination lawsuit COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS SPECIAL COVERAGE
VERO
Health officials urge seniors to avoid
BY RAY MCNULTY unfairly by a coach who large gatherings and close contact
Staff Writer ignored her next-day apol-
Brie D’Elia with mother Megan D’Elia. ogy, by an athletic director BY LISA ZAHNER was the state’s seniors – the
Do you sue your school who provided no opportu- Staff Writer 20 percent of the population
district because your nity for the girl to present likely to suffer the most from
daughter was kicked off her her side of the story, and by As the number of cases of COVID-19.
soccer team days before a administrators who failed coronavirus continued to swell,
state semifinal for ques- to thoroughly investigate Gov. Ron DeSantis Monday People who are older or
tioning a coach’s decision? the incident. declared a state of emergency have underlying health condi-
for Florida. And the target au- tions – heart disease, lung dis-
You do when you believe You do when you believe dience of the most pointed ease, cancer, diabetes, kidney
your daughter was treated advice from health officials disease and immune disor-
CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
CONTINUED ON PAGE 8

March 12, 2020 Volume 13, Issue 11 Newsstand Price $1.00 ‘King of the Hill’
tennis tourney helps
News 1-12 Faith 86-87 Pets 85 TO ADVERTISE CALL Youth Guidance. P38
Arts 45-50 Games 61-63 Real Estate 89-104 772-559-4187
Books 60 Health 65-72 St. Ed’s 73
Dining 78 Insight 51-64 Style 74-77 FOR CIRCULATION
Editorial 58 People 13-44 Wine 79 CALL 772-226-7925

© 2020 Vero Beach 32963 Media LLC. All rights reserved.

2 Vero Beach 32963 / March 12, 2020 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

NEWS

My Vero happened wasn’t right, and we’ve got In addition to monetary damages both of whom were shot dead in head-
to stand up for our children.” and reimbursement for legal expens- line-grabbing, racially charged incidents.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 es – Rand said the D’Elias plan to use
That’s why D’Elia and her husband, any cash awarded to fund scholarships “This is not about the money; it’s
the coach’s actions, backed by the ath- Anthony, have retained the services for female athletes – the family wants about principle,” she added. “Brie is no
letic director and an assistant prin- of prominent civil rights attorney Jas- the district to replace Vero Beach High longer in school there – she has gone
cipal, were as personal as they were mine Rand, who last summer notified School girls soccer coach Dan Dickens. off to college – but her parents are tak-
excessive, and clearly violated the poli- the School Board of the family’s in- ing a stand.”
cies in the student conduct handbook. tent to file a federal lawsuit, alleging The family also wants the school
the actions taken in February 2019 district to train administrators to be School spokesperson Cristen Mad-
You do when you believe your daugh- against their soccer-playing daughter, more responsive to issues brought to dux did not reply to an email seeking
ter’s conduct would have been toler- Brie, violated Title IX protections from them by female athletes, and ensure comment on the impending lawsuit.
ated, even excused, if a male athlete of gender-based discrimination in pub- that female athletes will be treated the Likewise, Vero Beach High School Ath-
similar stature had behaved similarly. lic education. same as their male counterparts. letic Director Lenny Jankowski did not
respond to a text message, and a call
“We’re not lawsuit people who think Rand said she expects the lawsuit to “We did try to resolve the matter,” said to his cellphone produced a recording
our kids are always right,” Moorings be filed in U.S. District Court, probably Rand, who represented the families of that his voicemail box was full.
resident Megan D’Elia said. “But what in Fort Pierce, within the next month. Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown,
Based on interviews, statements
and records, here’s what happened:

The Vero Beach girls soccer team
was closing out a rousing, 3-1 victory
over perennial championship con-
tender Boca Raton at the Citrus Bowl,
a victory that would send them to the
2019 state semifinals. Then, in the clos-
ing moments of the Feb. 12 game, with
just three minutes remaining, Dickens
pulled Brie off the field and replaced
her with a substitute.

“Why are you taking me off the field?”
Brie asked as she arrived on the sideline.

“You’re not listening to me!” Dick-
ens said.

Brie had played the entire game to that
point and, as you’d expect, was miffed
she wasn’t allowed to finish off the home
finale of her high school career. She fired
back: “Coach, I haven’t listened to you all
game and we are winning.”

Dickens snapped. “Turn in your jer-
sey,” he told her. “You’re off the team.”

Brie was sobbing uncontrollably
when she told her parents what had
occurred – a revelation that prompted
her father to return to the field where
he confronted Dickens and angrily
swatted a cellphone out of his hand.

Hours later, Anthony D’Elia sent
Dickens an email apologizing for his
outburst, explaining that his daughter
felt demoralized by the coach, who of-
ten yelled at her during games. Dick-
ens wasn’t satisfied, insisting Brie’s fa-
ther be arrested for battery – a charge
prosecutors eventually dropped.

As for Brie, she went to see Dickens
the morning after the game and apolo-
gized for her snarky remark, hoping
she’d be allowed to play in the semi-
final. The coach, however, refused to
talk to her, saying only that she would
be contacted by school administrators.

The next day, Brie was summoned
to a meeting with Jankowski and Vice
Principal Greg Ahrens. They told her
she would not be reinstated.

“Brie called me, so I went to the
school, and I couldn’t believe what I
was hearing,” Megan D’Elia said. “The
athletic director defended the deci-
sion. He said Brie was defiant.

“And I’ll never forget what the vice
principal said,” she added. “His exact
words were: ‘This is my domain. You

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / March 12, 2020 3

NEWS

do what I say. If I tell you to stand on including the huge Hard Rock casinos nobody should be able to violate the landlords who knowingly leased space
your head in the corner, you do it.’ in Hollywood and Tampa, is consider- law with impunity.” to the illegal fronts, asking a judge to
ing taking legal action against the illic- shut down the operations.
“I was shocked.” it arcades in Indian River County, the Arcades in Jacksonville were closed
Without Brie in the lineup, Vero tribe’s Tallahassee-based lawyer said. after the tribe took legal action. Now The lawsuit became moot last year
Beach lost the semifinal 2-0. Weeks Indian River County is on the tribe’s when the Jacksonville City Council en-
later, Brie was still upset. “The tribe hasn’t made a decision radar. acted a law to shut down an estimated
A good student who was considered yet as to what to do or where, but it’s 200 adult arcades in the city, citing
a talented athlete, respected leader an issue that we’re going to take up,” The Seminole Tribe went after il- high crime at the establishments.
and dependable teammate by her Richard said, adding “these people are legal adult arcades in Jacksonville in
peers – a player who drew raves from just blatantly violating Florida law and 2017, suing the city and more than The Seminoles have paid more than
every other coach she had played for – two dozen arcade owners, along with
Brie was deprived of competing in the CONTINUED ON PAGE 4
biggest game of the season, all because
of one indiscretion.
She talked back.
It didn’t matter that Brie had never
before been formally reprimanded, or
that she did not use profanity, or that
she apologized for an inappropriate re-
mark made in the heat of the moment.
Nor did it matter that the School
Board’s written code of conduct pre-
cludes students being removed from
activities for minor infractions, re-
quiring that disciplinary actions be
progressive and due process be af-
forded before the most serious sanc-
tion is imposed.
For some unknown reason, no one
in charge wanted to hear Brie’s expla-
nation or give her a second chance.
It’s no surprise, then, that the D’Elias
are headed to court, or that our School
Board again must waste money on out-
side attorneys to defend itself against
a potentially ugly and embarrassing
lawsuit that could have – and should
have – been avoided.
The D’Elias already have collected
letters from several of Brie’s former
teammates who defended her and
were at least somewhat critical of Dick-
ens for an alleged lack of soccer acu-
men and inability to relate to players.
You can also expect Rand to dig
deeply into what she described as “sys-
temic” discrimination against Vero
Beach’s female athletes.
“The male athletes, particularly foot-
ball and basketball players, can yell at
their coaches and argue back and forth,
even use profanity, yet they aren’t re-
moved from the team,” Megan D’Elia
said. “Brie was removed from her team
because she’s a strong, young woman
who dared to voice her opinion to her
male coach.”
Brie has moved on, recently con-
cluding her freshman season at New
York’s Fashion Institute of Technology.
But she and her parents still believe
that what happened here was wrong.

So, they’re suing the school district. 

Seminoles weigh action
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

$6,000, Vero Beach 32963 found.
The tribe, which operates seven ca-

sinos in the southern part of Florida

4 Vero Beach 32963 / March 12, 2020 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

NEWS

Seminoles weigh action It was unclear what he meant by
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3 “monitor” since illegal activity is tak-
ing place openly at several arcades.
$1 billion to Florida for the exclusive
rights to conduct casino gambling in Assistant State Attorney Chris Tay-
the state, according to the complaint lor said if Loar brings the office evi-
filed in Jacksonville. dence of illegal gambling, prosecutors
would consider trying it.
The tribe – which reaps $2.2 billion
in annual gambling revenues, accord- “We would evaluate their evidence
ing to Forbes – is currently negotiating
a new revenue sharing compact with just like any other case,” Taylor said. 
the state that could generate upwards
of $700 million a year for state coffers. Upgrades at private clubs
An agreement with the state was origi- CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
nally inked in 2010, giving the tribe ex-
clusive rights to operate slot machines by Mother Nature,” Straley added, re-
and banked card games in exchange ferring to possible hurricane-related
for a share of gambling revenue. delays this summer.

As part of a 2013 agreement with the Construction on a new 4,500-square-
tribe, the Florida Legislature passed a foot fitness center, 1,500-square-foot
law clearly prohibiting adult arcades Key West-style tiki bar and 450-square-
from operating slot machines or other foot snack bar began in January. The
games of chance and paying winners walls are up, and the buildings are tak-
in cash or expensive prizes. Under the ing shape.
law, adult arcades are only allowed to
operate games of skill and can only Excavation for a 3,100-square-foot, re-
give out non-cash prizes valued at no sort-style pool is scheduled for late April.
more than $6.
“Historically, we’ve been a Florida
But Vero Beach 32963 found nu- golf club, which served us well for
merous arcades in Indian River Coun- nearly 100 years, but we don’t believe
ty operating illegal games of chance, it will take us through the next 100,”
including slot machines similar in Straley said. “We need to become
appearance to those found in casi- more family-friendly to attract young-
nos, and openly offering and paying er members, and these new facilities
out large cash prizes, which multiple will enable us to do that.
sources said sometimes amount to
thousands of dollars. “At the same time,” he added, “we’re
enhancing the experience we can of-
At five arcades visited by two report- fer to our current members and add-
ers, multiple players reported win- ing value to our club.”
ning cash prizes on gaming machines,
employees admitted paying out cash Other local clubs, including Wind-
prizes, and in some cases, signs were sor, Riomar, The Moorings and Oak
posted inside and even outside in Harbor, have embarked on improve-
front of arcades promising cash prizes ment projects in hopes of doing the
up to $5,000. same for their members.

“It shouldn’t be the tribe that has to Riomar Country Club is celebrating
enforce the law,” Richard said. “They its centennial year by extensively reno-
would prefer to see it done properly by vating and restoring its 14,000-square-
law enforcement authorities.” foot, concrete-and-stucco clubhouse.
Work began last April and is expected
Indian River County Sheriff Deryl to be completed this spring.
Loar has in the past declined to crack-
down on illegal gambling in arcades The remodeled clubhouse will in-
that attract predominantly an elderly clude an east-side, open-air patio that
crowd, saying the establishments overlooks the golf course and offers ca-
rarely pose a danger to the public. sual dining, as well as a new, modernized
kitchen that can accommodate special
Records of calls for service provided functions, such as weddings, along with
by the Sheriff’s Office for the past year daily lunch and dinner service.
show most calls to arcades are for area
checks and the occasional triggered “We’re probably looking at comple-
alarm, but a suspicious person and a tion in the next couple of months,”
complaint of criminal mischief were General Manager Mark Badertscher
also called in, records show, and Vero said, adding that the project comple-
Beach Arcade, 832 South U.S. 1, was ments the club’s golf-course renova-
robbed on Jan. 20 by a man armed tion in 2015.
with a tire iron who made out with an
undisclosed amount of money. Looking ahead a few months, The
MooringsYacht & Country Club will em-
Loar last month told Vero Beach bark on the second stage of its Master
32963 he and the State Attorney’s Of- Plan Project, installing six new Hydro
fice “continue to monitor the activities tennis courts, renovating the Hawk’s
in the arcades and their compliance Nest Golf Clubhouse and relocating a
with state law.” golf-cart barn to a new area on the prop-
erty – a move that will free up a building-
pad space for future expansion.

The two-year, $2 million second

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / March 12, 2020 5

NEWS

stage also includes improvements to investing $2.4 million to install three “The Moorings is not standing still, “Since the 2015 acquisition of the
the Pete Dye-designed Moorings Golf Hydro tennis courts – including a and we continue to enhance ameni- Hawk’s Nest Golf Course, the club
Course, where a new irrigation system stadium court – and four pickleball ties to meet the growing needs of our has experienced robust membership
will be installed and greens and tees courts, as well as building a state- current members and set the stage growth, lowered the average age by 10
will be renovated. of-the-art golf course maintenance for generations to come,” said Ursula years and enjoyed high levels of mem-
facility, access-control guardhouses, Gunter, the club’s director of mem- ber satisfaction and participation,”
In 2019, the club completed the Pilates studio and kids game room. berships and marketing.
first stage of the master plan project, CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

6 Vero Beach 32963 / March 12, 2020 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

NEWS

Upgrades at private clubs the re-grassing of theWindsor Club’s golf include “approximately 12,000 square lier “flu shut-down,” according to the
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5 course, which was celebrated at a gala feet of exercise and wellness space family of one couple living there.
re-opening event at the club in January. equipped with state-of-the-art exer-
she added. “We have our eyes on all cise equipment and include rooms for Calls to Brennity management were
the trends in the club industry and “The turf is brand new,” General a dynamic range of fitness and well- not returned by press time, but the
look forward to staying relevant in the Manager Bob Gallagher said. “We just ness classes as well as spa treatments.” Health Department said while norovi-
years ahead.” started playing on it – the front nine in It will also include pickleball courts. rus is often called the stomach flu, it
November, the back nine in December.” is not influenza virus. There are no flu
Oak Harbor, meanwhile, is in the At the same time, the club is add- virus outbreaks at this time, a spokes-
process of adding a regulation-size Gallagher said the course was re- ing a cabana bar at its beach club in woman said – meaning whatever af-
croquet lawn to its package of ame- surfaced “wall to wall” with Celebra- response to “a membership desire for flicted Brennity residents was some-
nities, which includes golf, tennis, tion, a drought- and shade-tolerant more casual dining options. The exist- thing other than the flu.
swimming pool, fitness center, walk- grass, and with “tried-and-true” Tiff ing cabana building on the east side
ing trail, dog park and 42,000-square- Eagle Bermuda grass on the greens. In of the pool will be transformed into a Suspected norovirus cases were up
foot clubhouse, which offers gourmet addition, the course was restored to its new two-story structure featuring two this week over last in multiple “facili-
dining and is home to a wide variety of original, Robert Trent Jones design. roofed, open-air seating areas flank- ties,” said Health Department spokes-
events throughout the year. ing a central open bar, all with views woman Stacy Brock on Monday, though
“The course is almost 30 years old and, she refused to further describe what
“We already have a very popular over time, the original design changes as of the ocean and pool area.”  sorts of facilities were involved, if any,
croquet program, but our current lawn a result of the maintenance,” Gallagher beyond senior living.
isn’t big enough,” General Manager Art said shortly after the project began last Norovirus
Spilios said. “We needed a regulation- April. “Typically, the greens get smaller The department doubled down on
size lawn to have inter-club matches as you cut the fringes. The fringes then CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 its message to the community at large
here. We plan to invite players from get longer. Even the shapes of the bun- to wash hands frequently – hand sani-
other clubs once it’s ready for play, kers change as they break down.” were still confined to their apartments tizer does not work on norovirus. It also
which should be next month.” as of late Monday after 32 people urged people to stay at home if sick,
The out-of-bounds areas were came down with gastrointestinal ill- and for 24 hours after symptoms stop.
The new croquet lawn, which will “tightened up,” he added, and more ness last week. Over the weekend, res-
be slightly larger than the required natural waste areas were created to idents were notified by letter that Isles “Healthy people usually recover
35 yards by 28 yards, is in front of the make the course more maintenance- management hoped to be able to get within one to three days at home with-
clubhouse. Work on the project began friendly, but the focus was on restor- back to normal by mid-week. out medical care,” said Miranda Hawk-
in December, Spilios said, “so we can ing the layout’s “original footprint.” er, director of the county’s Health De-
give it plenty of time to grow in.” A couple of miles west at The Bren- partment. “But the very young and the
Coming up at Windsor is a new Fit- nity, residents were over their ear- elderly are at greater risk for dehydra-
These projects come on the heels of ness & Wellness Centre, with construc- tion and severe illness.”
tion slated to start in the heart of the
village in June 2020. The facility will The illness typically lasts one to

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / March 12, 2020 7

NEWS

three days, with an onset of symptoms Health Department. As of Monday, At that point, residents weren’t sure ness going around on Tuesday, Isles
– nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, muscle officials said some patients’ tests had what the illness was. Neither was residents headed down to the dining
aches and low-grade fever – within 24 come back positive for norovirus; they the Health Department, which as of room for what turned out to be their
to 48 hours of exposure. People can were still waiting for results on others. Wednesday still hadn’t tested for noro- last group meal for at least a week.
spread the disease while they have virus. But symptoms – vomiting and They were greeted by a masked staffer
symptoms and for several days after. By Friday, things were looking up at diarrhea that came on quickly and passing out tiny bottles of hand sani-
Patients must be symptom-free for 72 the Isles, four days after the outbreak seemed to resolve quickly – pointed tizer from a blue plastic bucket.
hours before isolation orders are lifted. became obvious. to norovirus, not to COVID-19, the de-
partment said. That scenario probably added to
No deaths have been reported in “The infection was contained. The confusion, if not a sense of forebod-
the current norovirus outbreaks, the afflicted residents are recovering,” Based on symptoms, the Health De- ing. The mask, it turned out, was for
Health Department said Monday. said Lou Iannuccilli, executive direc- partment sent out a press release with asthma. But the hand sanitizer could
tor of the Isles, in an email late Friday the boldface, all caps banner: NORO- only have helped kill flu and corona-
Word of the outbreaks began to spread evening. VIRUS IS ON THE RISE IN INDIAN virus. Hand sanitizer has no effect on
early last week after Indian River County RIVER COUNTY. norovirus; only soap-and-water hand-
Fire Rescue sent out an operations advi- But by Monday, things were in doubt washing can slow the spread.
sory email concerning Isles of Vero after again, with confined residents get- It said patients should not prepare
experiencing “a sudden increase in calls ting a notice over the weekend that it food or care for others while sick and That afternoon, management met
related to nausea/vomiting.” would likely be mid-week before they for two to three days after recovery. with health officials to determine how
could see their neighbors and have Surfaces contaminated by an episode to proceed.
“The staff has not yet been able to meals together. of illness should be cleaned immedi-
pinpoint a root cause as most of the ately with a bleach solution, the re- By evening, residents had orders to
patients are from the Independent The scare began in earnest on the lease said. stay in their apartments, with meals
Living area,” the memo read. Resi- preceding Tuesday morning, March 3. and snacks brought to them by aides.
dents in independent living tend to With residents’ TVs tuned to non-stop Norovirus spreads by fecal-oral “Both dining rooms will be closed until
circulate more, including outside the COVID-19 updates, an unsettling pa- transmission. further notice,” a memo delivered to
facility, than those in assisted living. rade of ambulances was pulling up to residents read. “Please be patient. We
the Isles portico to take people to the At the county government level, an will update as the week progresses.”
Multiple reports say COVID-19 hospital. advisory that went out to fire-safety per-
can also have symptoms of diarrhea sonnel referred to “other area facilities On the Isles management’s end, the
and vomiting, especially early in the As one ambulance, believed to be dealing with viral issues” besides Isles. sick tray service included “strict con-
disease’s progression. But there was the fourth of the day, sent masked trol of the tray’s return to dining and
no mention of testing for COVID-19 paramedics inside with a stretcher, The advisory urged personnel to dishwashing areas,” said Iannuccilli,
among the suspected norovirus pa- one resident rose from her rocker on use proper protective personal equip- in a long email spelling out in detail all
tients, and not all patients were tested the front porch and turned her gaze ment, or PPE “when indicated,” and to the efforts the Isles was making.
for norovirus either, according to the toward a lake instead. “I can’t take all wash their hands after every call.
this. It’s too much,” she said. CONTINUED ON PAGE 8
With no one identifying the ill-

8 Vero Beach 32963 / March 12, 2020 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

NEWS

Norovirus avoid infecting an older or medically cruise and don’t go on a long flight,” with facilities that have had issues or
vulnerable person. DeSantis added. violations in the past – which would
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7 appear to include nursing homes in
But Centers for Disease Control Di- Basically, he said, avoid most close Vero Beach – and making sure the
“We follow a rigid and extensive rector Dr. Nancy Messonnier had dif- contact and large gatherings of peo- precautions are being taken to avoid
protocol to prevent the spread of all ferent advice for seniors. ple. outbreaks like the one in Washington
infectious diseases,” he wrote. state that has resulted in multiple
During the CDC briefing Monday, The goal of public health doctors deaths of patients and the quaran-
A designated outbreak leader made she gave seniors the same tough love and government officials is to “flat- tine of numerous healthcare work-
sure the Isles had adequate supplies she gave her own parents who are “in ten the epidemic curve,” meaning to ers.
of disinfectant, masks and gloves. their 80s.” slow COVID-19 down so it won’t over-
The facility’s two dining rooms were whelm our healthcare system. DeSantis said his emergency dec-
closed, and housekeeping services “Have enough household items laration would allow for out-of-state
were suspended in apartments of resi- and food on hand so that you will be Messonnier said people should be doctors and nurses to come into
dents who were ill. prepared to stay home for a period of prepared to live with COVID-19 as a Florida to help, if needed.
time,” she said. part of their lives for the balance of
Common areas were methodically 2020 and into 2021. The emergency declaration would
cleaned, as were surfaces commonly “Take everyday precautions, like also permit patients taking “mainte-
avoiding close contact with people She said epidemiologists now have nance drugs” to get their prescrip-
touched.  who are sick, cleaning your hands tens of thousands of documented tions for a 30-day supply of daily
often and avoid touching high-touch case studies and databases full of medications filled ahead of schedule
COVID-19 threat for seniors surfaces in public places. Avoid demographic information, medical to save them trips out to the phar-
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 crowds, especially in poorly venti- histories and treatment outcomes – macy.
lated spaces.” tools that China did not have in the
ders – disproportionately need hospi- first months of the onslaught of this Under a state of emergency, Flor-
talization to battle the virus. It will take neighbors and families new virus. ida also could get quicker access to
and friends working together to sup- supplies, including protective equip-
“Early data suggest older people port older residents and those who The CDC, state health officials and ment, and if conditions warrant it, to
are twice as likely to have serious CO- are medically less equipped to fight the World Health Organization all bring in National Guard troops and
VID-19 illness,” the U.S. Surgeon Gen- the virus. Messonnier said caregiv- agree that the numbers clearly show medic units to assist with logistics.
eral Dr. Jerome Adams said. ers should have a plan, and a backup that about 20 percent of people are
plan in case the caregiver gets sick as at risk for serious complications, or “They’re standing by ready to go,”
Young, healthy adults and kids can well. even death. DeSantis said.
get infected and spread the virus, but
they rarely have a bad case that re- “Everyone has a role to play in Florida state cabinet officials, mean- Florida Surgeon General Dr.
quires a hospital stay. Those people helping to protect our family mem- while, are clamping focusing on the Scott Rivkees said testing capacity
should stay home from school or bers, friends, colleagues and neigh- most vulnerable elderly, those in Flor- has greatly increased now that two
work when ill, and be very careful to bors who are at most risk,” she said. ida’s nursing homes and assisted living commercial laboratories, LabCorp
facilities (see related story on Page 1). and Quest Diagnostics, have been
“If you’re elderly or have an under-
lying health condition, don’t go on a DeSantis said he would be starting

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / March 12, 2020 9

NEWS

brought in to process COVID-19 tests. and Drug Administration to approve Eventually, home test kits will be Director Dr. Anthony Fauci says a
This will supplement what is being the use of automated tests to speed available so patients don’t even have widely usable vaccine is still about a
turnaround time. to visit a doctor to get a diagnosis. year and a half away.
done at the three state labs in Miami,
Tampa and Jacksonville. This would give public health Development and testing of medi- After small-scale testing on hu-
workers the best shot at contacting cations is in the works, as is a Novel mans, the vaccine would need further
Right now, each test has to be per- and isolating exposed people in time Coronavirus vaccine. testing before it is approved for mass
formed manually at the lab, but the to curb further infections.
State of New York is pushing the Food But National Institutes of Health production and distribution. 

10 Vero Beach 32963 / March 12, 2020 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

NEWS

Local drinking water supply not threatened by coronavirus

BY LISA ZAHNER plan to keep the water plants running. extend beyond our normal operations.” staffing. Indian River County Fire Rescue
Staff Writer “As far as operators, the City has enough The CVS store in Indian River Shores Chief Tad Stone said the group came out
licensed operators to cover shifts even with “no action items,” except the task of
Water is one of those items Florid- if some get isolated,” Bolton said. on Monday had a good supply of wa- “the education of their respective work
ians instinctively grab at the store ter on its shelves, but it was sold out of forces and the current guidance of social
whenever there is the whiff of a crisis, “As we do for any emergency situa- numerous other items that are in de- distancing, hand washing/sanitizing and
but city and county utility directors tion, the City and County can share re- mand as COVID-19 outbreaks pop up to keep current with the appropriate in-
say there’s no need to stock up on bot- sources such as operators, equipment across the country and uncomfortably formation as it comes out.”
tled stuff due to COVID-19. and chemicals if needed (In case there close to Indian River County.
is some type of large outbreak).” As of Monday afternoon, Chief Stone
Rob Bolton, director of Vero Beach All the Lysol-type sprays and disinfect- said the county’s Emergency Operations
Utilities which serves most of the bar- Indian River County Utilities Direc- ing wipes were gone, and the hand sani- Center has no follow-up emergency
rier island with drinking water, said he tor Vincent Burke seconded Bolton’s tizer shelves were bare. Even the ingredi- planning meeting scheduled, but local
sees no supply-chain issues related to confidence in the local water sup- ents for homemade hand gel – rubbing officials are receiving email updates on
Chinese-made goods that might be ply and water treatment capabilities. alcohol and aloe vera gel – had vanished the rapidly changing issue. “Situation
needed to keep Vero’s water treatment “IRC Utilities have not heard of any from stock. All the Zinc supplements reports will be sent out as new guidance
program running normally. “The City chemical shortages.” were gone, and Vitamin C was running is received from the Health Department
is not aware of any chemical short- low, indicating that island residents are or CDC,” Stone said.
ages,” Bolton said. To prevent infection in county facili- optimistic that they can ward off the vi-
ties like water treatment plants, Burke rus by boosting their immune systems. The Board of County Commission-
If workers become ill or need to stay said, “we are taking precautionary pro- ers was set to be briefed by public
home for observation because they’ve tocols to ensure that work areas are City and county emergency planners health officials Tuesday on the status
had close contact with someone who clean, and folks are not coming into met last Friday in a closed-door session to of COVID-19 as it relates to our com-
tests positive for COVID-19, there is a work if they feel sick. We have contin- scope out the emerging COVID-19 threat
gency protocols in place should illnesses and how it might stress services or stretch munity. 

If coronavirus closes schools, Internet may not be alternative here

BY FEDERICO MARTINEZ one of the hurdles we’re faced with.” Most likely, school days would have in classrooms explaining safety pre-
Staff Writer Indian River School District al- to be made up if schools are forced to cautions such as frequently washing
close, Jennings and Maddox said. Both hands and to avoid touching eyes, nose
Officials at Indian River County ready has a portal in place that allows are currently scheduled to wrap up the and mouth, and clean and disinfect fre-
School District and St. Edward’s School students to submit homework, said school year at the end of May quently touched objects and surfaces.
say if their schools are forced to shut Christen Maddox, the district’s public
down due to coronavirus, the school information officer. But the district Concerns about the virus have St. Ed’s and the school district have
year will likely expand into the summer. faces the same challenge as St. Ed’s on schools struggling to make long- and sent parents information about the
a greater scale – many students don’t short-term plans for what to do if infec- coronavirus and reassured them proac-
Public and private school officials have Internet access at home. tion becomes widespread in the county. tive measures are being taken to keep
say they are trying to craft plans that students safe.
would allow students to study and “Superintendent Moore has talked Indian River County School District
submit schoolwork to teachers via the about renting building space where last week provided two days of train- “We are working in partnership
Internet, but acknowledge those plans students could go to do their work and ing for custodians to teach them prop- with our local Health Department to
are unlikely to work. have Internet access,” Maddox said. er cleaning procedures. stay informed with accurate and up to
“But we realize that’s kind of unrealis- date information regarding the virus,”
“Unfortunately, some of our students tic – if the coronavirus virus did hap- In addition, the district has formed a stated a letter Superintendent David
don’t have Internet access or comput- pen here, it wouldn’t be just schools school employee task force that meets Moore recently sent to parents in the
ers at home,” said Monica Jennings, di- that are affected, it would be a com- daily to review coronavirus updates and school district. “Our daily cleaning
rector of marketing at St. Edward’s. “It’s munity-wide shut down.” discuss district efforts, Maddox said. schedules will continue in all of our
schools and buildings, using hospital
At St. Edward’s, the school’s 11 Chinese grade disinfectants and our state-of-
exchange students were not allowed the art cleaning technology.”
to return to China this week, which is
spring break for students, Jennings said. In addition to sending letters home to
parents, the district has also posted infor-
Looking ahead, St. Edward’s is plan- mation about the disease on the district’s
ning to livestream graduation ceremo- website, www.indianriverschools.org.
nies in May if the coronavirus remains
an issue and students’ parents cannot As of Monday, school officials had not
travel to the U.S., Jennings said. yet canceled any sports events or school
trips, but the coronavirus threat has af-
The Chinese students will likely re- fected several school-related events.
main in the U.S. with their host fami-
lies after the school year ends if the vi- The State Science and Engineering
rus remains a health concern in China Fair of Florida recently announced
and prevents their return. its annual statewide science contest
scheduled for March 26-28 has been
Officials at St. Edward’s and Indian canceled due to coronavirus concerns.
River County School District recently
began educating students, parents More than 950 Florida students,
and school employees about the virus. including dozens from Indian River

In both cases, principals and teach- County were scheduled to compete. 
ers have placed informational posters

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / March 12, 2020 11

NEWS

Scientist: Water to flush Bethel Creek would only flow one way

BY SUE COCKING pact of flushing at two other locations the ocean via either Fort Pierce Inlet flow in possible flushing scenarios
to the north in Brevard County. or Sebastian Inlet. through culverts, pumps and weirs
Staff Writer connected to the ocean.
He noted that ocean flushing of Zarillo and his FIT colleagues are
The scientist in charge of an $800,000 the lagoon, up and down its 156-mile gathering water data from sensors Findings from simulations conduct-
state-funded research project looking at length, happened naturally prior to deployed by Harbor Branch Oceano- ed so far in Brevard County show less-
the feasibility of flushing Bethel Creek extensive residential and commercial graphic Institute, Ocean Research and than-complete flushing of the Banana
with ocean water provided an overview building on the islands and the onset Conservation Association and the St. River by any mechanical means, but
of the project last week, and said water of beach nourishment projects that Johns River Water Management Dis- Zarillo said water turnover in that part
would flow only one way at the site – hold the ocean at bay. trict in the lagoon near Bethel Creek of the lagoon can take up to a year, and
from the ocean into the creek, and not to develop computer models that use the Banana River is many times larger
back and forth. “I do have a message here,” he said, virtual dye to track how water would
“and I think this is an important thing CONTINUED ON PAGE 12
Some have objected to the flushing to consider, that naturally there would
proposal out of fear that lagoon pollu- be exchanges between the lagoon and
tion could contaminate Vero’s beach- coastal ocean and it would have been
es, but that would not be the case, ac- fairly frequent, with overwashes may-
cording to Dr. Gary Zarillo, professor be a couple of times a years and tem-
of oceanography at Florida Institute porary inlets that might have a lifespan
of Technology, who spoke in county of a few years to few decades.
commission chambers March 4.
“It is all part of the natural process
"What I envision is a series of con- that we have by and large stopped in
trolled structures connecting the its tracks.”
ocean with the Indian River Lagoon
that can be operated on a schedule or That natural process tended to keep
when needed," Zarillo said. "A one- the lagoon clearer and cleaner, allow-
way exchange from the ocean side to ing for abundant seagrass growth and
the estuary side." marine life.

He assured a large audience of gov- Bethel Creek begins on the barrier is-
ernment officials, environmentalists land near the Village Market and curves
and others in the county commission through residential neighborhoods to
chambers on March 4 that beach res- enter the lagoon near the city marina.
toration projects would not be im-
pacted. If a flushing system is built at some
point and ocean water is pumped into
Besides Bethel Creek, Zarillo and the creek, gravity would cause it to
his team are studying the possible im- flow out of the creek into the lagoon,
where it would eventually return to

BARRIER ISLAND DEMOCRATS BET
ON JOE BIDEN AHEAD OF PRIMARY

BY GEORGE ANDREASSI presidential candidates combined.
Staff Writer Among the Democratic candi-

As early voting in Florida’s presi- dates, only self-funded billionaires
dential primary got underway Sat- Michael Bloomberg and Tom Steyer
urday, Democrats on Indian River – who both got nothing – and An-
County’s barrier island had already drew Yang, who got $312, received
indicated their preferred candidate, less support from barrier island
overwhelmingly backing establish- contributors than Sanders.
ment standard-bearer Joe Biden over
democratic socialist Bernie Sanders. Sanders’ fellow progressive, Eliz-
abeth Warren, also received scant
Biden’s campaign had received backing from the barrier island,
$29,595 in donations from 25 island collecting $2,945 from five donors
residents as of Saturday, Federal before ending her campaign.
Elections Commission records show.
Biden’s fellow moderate, Pete But-
Sanders’ campaign, by contrast, tigieg, fared much better, collecting
had collected donations totaling $26,381 from 27 island residents
$1,293 from four island residents. before dropping out of the race and
endorsing Biden, records show.
Meanwhile, President Don-
ald J. Trump’s campaign received Indian River County has 119,235
$107,550 in contributions from 124 registered voters, but only the 54,934
residents in the 32963 ZIP code, registered Republicans and 33,332
more than the top 10 Democratic registered Democrats can vote in their

party’s presidential primaries. 

12 Vero Beach 32963 / March 12, 2020 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

NEWS

New superintendent apologizes after losing temper at meeting

BY FEDERICO MARTINEZ with residents for about 20 minutes at Instead of ending the discussion, 75-minute presentation as the audi-
Staff Writer the Indian River County School Dis- his curt response fanned the flames ence’s discontent became apparent.
trict meeting at Gifford Youth Achieve- of discontent among the two-dozen
Superintendent David Moore has ment Center on March 2. people in attendance. “I haven’t seen any data tonight [re-
moved quickly to put a controversy lated to the African American Achieve-
behind him, publicly apologizing for “I’m ready to get to work, let’s get to Before Moore’s outburst, some at the ment Plan],” said Merchon Green,
a heated exchange with black leaders work,” an agitated Moore said, as he meeting were already grumbling out chairwoman of the districts Equity
when they pressed him for details about loudly talked over residents trying to loud about the meeting. Committee told Moore.
the district’s African American Achieve- ask questions about the plan. “I’m tired
ment Plan during a recent meeting. of talking. We’ve talked about the issues The presentation was initially con- “People here feel like they are get-
enough. The time for talking is over. ducted by Brian McManus, a data ting a tutorial and feel like they are
Moore lost his temper and argued The time for implementation is now.” analyst for the district. But Moore wasting their time.”
took over about midway through the
Others in attendance began ex-
pressing similar sentiments.

Moore continued to argue with resi-
dents, until Margaret Ingram, a retired
Beachland Elementary teacher, pub-
licly chastised him and urged him to
apologize.

“I also was expecting data tonight,”
Ingram told Moore. “I think you owe us
an apology. Just say, ‘We got it wrong.’”

When Moore tried to defend the
presentation, Ingram interrupted him
again and sternly told him, “Just apol-
ogize and say, ‘We got it wrong.’”

After a moment of silence, Moore
looked out at the audience and said,
“We got it wrong.”

His apology prompted laughter from
the superintendent and the audience,
which showered him with a chorus of

thank-yous and applause. 

Bethel Creek

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11

than Bethel Creek. The creek, Zarillo
said, exchanges water every few days
as incoming tidal flows from the two
inlets converge in Vero and then re-
cede, twice daily.

Zarillo said researchers will conduct
a series of Bethel Creek simulations,
ranging from virtual pumping stations
to water control structures to culverts
to see what works best before making
specific project recommendations.

Last week's public seminar was con-
vened by County Commissioner Tim
Zorc, who has been pushing for a project
to clean up Bethel Creek for years – es-
pecially since a 2017 sewer main break
along A1A that spilled 3 million gallons
of raw sewage into the waterway.

Zarillo expects to complete the first
phase of his research and present a
full report by June 30.

Phase two of the project, which has
not yet been funded by the legislature,
would involve getting permits and
building pilot projects to test the effects
of flushing and discover if seawater
helps restore the lagoon’s ecosystem.

"We'd like to see [the creek] pre-
served and recover and be like it used

to be,” Zorc said. 

Piper Kendrick
and Lileigh Matthews.

A WALK ON THE WILD(LIFE) SIDE
AT EDUCATIONAL ECOFEST P. 30

14 Vero Beach 32963 / March 12, 2020 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

Who wants $100K?!? Impact 100 announces finalists

Suzi Lock, Amy Acker, Denise Battaglini and Gladys LaForge. PHOTOS: MARY SCHENKEL Wanda Lincoln, Heather Dales, Sherri Kolo and Judith Cruz.

Stacey Watson-Mesley and Elke Fetterolf. Chuck Bradley, Suzi McCoy Shriner and Connie Bishop. PHOTOS CONTINUED ON PAGE 16
Bonnie Wilson and Edie Widder.

BY MARY SCHENKEL board president Amy Acker said, “I gage members of the community in “We are thrilled with the number,
was as excited and nervous these past solving the problems that are leading the quality, and the diversity of all
Staff Writer few weeks, anxiously awaiting the fi- to the degradation of the Indian River of the finalists that we have this
nal results of our grant evaluations.” Lagoon. year,” said Carter.
Members of Impact 100 of Indian
River County gathered last Thursday Grants chair Suzanne Carter  The Source, to fund a Dining “By the way, this is only the sec-
afternoon at the Vero Beach Country thanked committee members, pan- with Dignity Food Truck, a mobile ond time in our 12-year history that
Club for the 2020 Big Reveal and Cel- elists and financial advisors for their extension of their employment skills we have had over seven grant final-
ebration, sponsored by Ryan Weaver tireless efforts in reviewing this year’s training program that offers culinary ists; so truly a good year for us,”
Insurance, where it was announced large number of applicants, before training to help resolve the issues of said Acker, before Impact board
that the collective of philanthropic announcing the 2020 finalists: hunger, homelessness, poverty and members opened boxes and blue
ladies will be distributing a whopping unemployment. balloons floated up to reveal the
$516,481 to eight finalist organiza-  Big Brothers Big Sisters of IRC, $516,481 to be awarded.
tions. for a program to recruit veterans and  The ARC of IRC, to fund a Col-
service professionals to mentor and laborative Music program with the The amount represents contribu-
The determination as to which five engage struggling, disadvantaged Atlantic Classical Orchestra, to teach tions from this year’s membership,
nonprofits will be receiving $100,000 youth. individuals with varying degrees of the amount held over from last year
high-impact grants, with the other ability about musical genres and in- and an amount returned to Impact
three splitting the remainder, will be  Camp Haven, which assists home- struments so they may eventually ex- from a prior grantee which, after
decided by member votes at the Grant less men to rebuild their lives, to fund press themselves through ACO musi- successfully implementing their
Awards and Annual Meeting, April 16 a new multipurpose services building cal performances. program, underspent their budget.
at the Oak Harbor Club. as a meeting place for such programs
as training, psychological counseling  The Treasure Coast Food Bank, “I’m proud to say that this will put
“We want to thank Impact 100 for and AA meetings. to introduce a Mobile Mercado, a Impact 100 over $4.5 million in cu-
the great things you do for the non- self-contained, roving grocery store mulative dollars awarded in grants
profits of Indian River County,” said  Children’s Home Society, to as- on wheels and SNAP (food stamps) to Indian River County nonprofit
Melissa Weaver. Congratulating the sess and address school community access point, which will target local organizations,” said Acker. “This
finalists she added, “Whether they challenges at its Dodgertown Elemen- residents where they live, work and is truly a great year for Impact 100.
are winners or not, what we know is tary Community Partnership School, play. This could not have happened and
that through this process, their orga- through a program to provide behav- would not have happened without
nization has already been and will be ioral health services, after school en-  Visiting Nurse Association of IRC, all of you. Our members are the
impacted in a way that’s going to ex- richment and parental engagement. to fund a Home Health Music Ther- heart and soul of Impact 100 and I
ceed their expectations.” apy program for VNA Home Health thank you all very much.”
 Ocean Research and Conserva- Patients with chronic conditions, in-
Recalling the excitement and anx- tion Association, to fund a Citizen cluding neurological diagnosis, who For more information, visit www.
iousness of Christmas mornings, Science program at the ORCA Center are receiving rehabilitative services. impact100ir.com. 
for Citizen Science to educate and en-



16 Vero Beach 32963 / March 12, 2020 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

PHOTOS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 14 Beverly Smith, Ann Lanier and Maureen Burkart. Susan Littig, Tony Zorbaugh, Rob Morrison and Faye Estes.
Sue Tillman, Jean Cravens, Dale Jacobs and Sabrina Sampson.

Mary Ellen McCarthy, Tiffany Nixon and Tracy Sorzano. Sally Daley with Ryan and Melissa Weaver. Susan Smith, Barbara DiMarzo and Brenda Lloyd.

Beth Howard and Suzanne Carter Laura McDermott and Jane Coyle.

Cynthia Roden and Carol Hancock. Kim Lorimier and Brad Lorimier.

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / March 12, 2020 17

PEOPLE

March for Babies: Big-time support for the little ones

Danielle Negherbon, Colleen Dinardi and Tiffany Degnan. Catherine Ashley and Chelsea Platas.

James Savoie, John Locke, Deana Bills, Sandy Pyke and Ed Parker. Patrick Prescott, David Vino, Hailee Patzlaff and Vicky Picard.

Ivey Green. PHOTOS: KAILA JONES

Superheroes flew in to town re-
cently to participate in the annual
Indian River County March for Ba-
bies at Riverside Park. The 2.5-mile
walk helps fund March of Dimes
programs and research toward the
prevention of birth defects, infant
mortality and premature births.
According to MOD, “two babies
die every hour in the U.S. And
about every 12 hours, a woman
dies as a result of complications
from pregnancy,” so there is still
much work to be done. Their goal
is to give every baby the best start
in life possible. For information,
visit marchofdimes.org. 

18 Vero Beach 32963 / March 12, 2020 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

All aboard for the Boys & Girls Clubs’ ‘Angel Dinner’

Paula Shorts, Emilie Hinman, Marcy DeWolfe, Carol Twyman and Nancy Lynch. PHOTOS: MARY SCHENKEL Wheatie and Bob Gibb with Vero Beach BGC members Malik, Josh and Jaquan.

BY MARY SCHENKEL During a cocktail hour, a few of the space and we don’t have to worry “We have thoroughly enjoyed hav-
Staff Writer more than 1,300 children served an- about how loud we are.” ing Jaquan as a member of our Vero
nually through clubs in Vero Beach, Beach Club since he was about 8 years
A crowd of 400 nautically attired Sebastian and Fellsmere mingled and During a delicious dinner, Bill old, so he’s been attending for 10 years
guests packed the Moorings Yacht happily shared their experiences with Munn, board co-chairman with Bill now. He’s been a stellar member,” said
and Country Club last Monday for the guests. Grealis, said the ‘Anchors Up’ theme Elizabeth Thomason, BGCIRC execu-
19th annual Angels Dinner, chaired highlighted their goal of providing tive director, presenting him with a
by Marcy DeWolfe, to benefit the Boys “I love it,” said Annika, of the brand scholarships for children to set sail to- $500 scholarship for the college of his
& Girls Clubs of Indian River County. new Fellsmere Club, adding with a ward BGC summer camps. choice.
big grin, “I love that we have our own
“The Angel Dinner is the most im- Pledger and Lee recognized the
portant event we have during the generous sponsors, leading with pre-
year,” said Munn. With 44 percent of senting sponsor John’s Island Real
participant families having incomes Estate, before club members led the
of $25,000 or less, and about half be- pledge, code and invocation. In addi-
ing single-parent families, he stressed tion to maritime-themed songs sung
the importance of children having a by enthusiastic youngsters, children
safe place to go while their parents are shared some of their favorite summer
at work. camp experiences.

“We see the kids from early morn- Thomason introduced the Youth of
ing until 6 o’clock at night, five days a the Year, which recognizes members
week during a 10-week period during who exhibit “leadership, academic
the summer,” said Munn. Camps offer performance and impact to their
educational activities and athletics, community through service.”
with older members taken on college
tours and given assistance in finding Of the three local club finalists, Ki-
meaningful employment. ara Castro was chosen to represent
the community at the state level. If
He said all the seniors in their Des- she wins there she would go on to the
tinations Program last year gradu- regionals and nationals.
ated high school, and 99 percent of
other club members moved from one “I truly believe Kiara has a very good
grade to the next. After acknowledg- chance of advancing all the way to the
ing donors and board members for national level,” said Thomason.
their contributions and commitment,
Munn recognized Jay McNamara, “My parents and grandparents
BGCIRC founding chairman, who led came to the United States to provide
the organization for 14 years. me with opportunities for my future,
and Boys & Girls Club has given me
Emcees for the evening were ‘Cap- just that,” said Castro, a junior in the
tain’ Jaquan Pledger and his ‘First International Baccalaureate program
Mate’ Malik Lee, both Vero Beach at Sebastian High School, expressing
Club members. her gratitude to the staff at the Fells-
mere BGC. “I hope to make my club,
“This is a bittersweet moment for my staff and my peers proud, and I
me; this is going to be my last Angel feel that it is my responsibility to give
Dinner,” said Pledger. A high school back to them and the community that
senior, he has already been accepted has supported me since my first days
to the University of Arizona. “The at the Boys & Girls Club.”
Boys & Girls Clubs changed my life. All
the friends and mentors I met got me For more information, visit bgcirc.
to where I am today.” org. 

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / March 12, 2020 19

PEOPLE

Elizabeth Thomason with Mike and Sandy McManus. Kiara Castro, Boys and Girls Clubs of IRC Youth of the Year; Ashanti, PHOTOS CONTINUED ON PAGE 20
Vero Beach Club Youth of the Year; and Jerry Sheehan. Sherm and Barbara Hotchkiss with Bill Munn.

Dick Stockton with Marlynn and Bill Scully and Sue Dobbs. Jean Ueltschi with Michael and Kathie Pierce. Edie Dubord with Taylor and Muffy Metcalfe and Anne Grealis.

Trudie Rainone and Louise Hatch. David Bankston with Annika
from the Fellsmere Club.

Matilde Sorensen and Marcie Hunsaker. Connie and Ron McGlynn.

20 Vero Beach 32963 / March 12, 2020 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

PHOTOS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19 Jasmine, Jazaria from the Vero Club and Zenaiya from the Sebastian Club. Paul Hanson with Ellen and Dennis Ferro.
Barry and Lynn Wiksten with Jay McNamara.

Barbara Sotos with Dick and Sue Bergeman. Roger and Samantha Lynch with Jennifer and Charles Croom. Mary Grimm McClellan with Lou and Ginny Hoynes.

Lucius and Wendy Hill with Bink Shorts and Dick DeWolfe.

Maureen and Bob Baus with Donna and Howard Thrailkill.

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / March 12, 2020 21

PEOPLE

Trinity, Serenity, Rhianna and Liv welcome people aboard.

Eilis and Jeff Powers. Elke and George Fetterolf.

Teresa Winslow and Patty Leeds. Sally Spilman and Judy Munn.

Chris and Susan Mehiel. John and Ann Costello.

22 Vero Beach 32963 / March 12, 2020 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

Gleaming and beaming at glitzy ‘Stars and Stripes’ gala

BY KERRY FIRTH
Correspondent

With smiles as bright as the medals Retired Master Chief Rick Kaiser and Jim Romanek. PHOTOS & STORY CONTINUED ON PAGES 24 & 25 U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Eldon Peterson, Kristina Peterson.
on their uniforms, veterans and active
service members from all branches izing, guests stood for a touching pre- PHOTOS: MARYANN KETCHAM
of the military convened at the Grand sentation of the colors by the Sebastian
Harbor Golf Club recently to celebrate Area Honor Guard.
the brotherhood of veterans during the
second annual Stars and Stripes Spec- “Our Sebastian chapter is 655 strong,”
tacular Gala to benefit the Veterans said Jerry Lucci. “We’re the largest vet-
Council of Indian River County. eran honor guard in the nation.”

The men stood a little taller in their Telly Antona, a former U. S. Army
dress uniforms and tuxedos, while the sergeant who now serves as a mental
women dressed to impress in elegant
gowns during an evening filled with
pride for their service to the country
and a hope for ongoing service to the
local community.

“We have a sold-out crowd of 150
tonight,” said Jim Romanek, executive
director of the Veterans Council. “This
is my first gala and I can’t wait to hear
what our speaker, Master Chief Rick
Kaiser, who now serves as the execu-
tive director of the U.S. Navy SEAL Mu-
seum, has to say.”

After an animated hour of social-

Toby and Gwen Turner with Dr. Deborah Brown and Norman Wells.

health support coordinator overseeing the first “Survivor” series for spewing
PTSD classes for Next Generation Vet- politically incorrect comments known
erans, sang a moving rendition of the as ‘Rudyisms.’
National Anthem.
Kaiser shared highlights of his own
“Many of our vets come home and 34-year career as a Navy SEAL and his
suffer from PTSD,” said Antona. “I’m many deployments, including two mis-
one of them myself so this is my pas- sions that were later made into movies:
sion.” “Blackhawk Down” and “Captain Phil-
lips.” A personal story about his 2016
Guest speaker Rick Kaiser opened wedding day skydiving accident, which
with a tribute to his first Master Sgt. led to the amputation of his leg, was in-
Rudy Boesch, who passed away in No- fused with humor and irony, as well as
vember at age 91. Boesch trained on the an inspirational message of hope and a
Fort Pierce beach where the museum determination to never give up.
sits today, served as a SEAL for 45 years,
and gained notoriety as a contestant on “I’m very honored to be here and sup-

MEET THE ARTIST ...

LemonDaisy Designs Trunk Show

Artist Leslie Flanagan will share her whimsical hand painted linens and baby clothes!

Thursday,
March 19
11AM to 3PM

3201 Cardinal Drive • Next to Chelsea’s Market
772 213 8069 • trimmingsvb.com



24 Vero Beach 32963 / March 12, 2020 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

PHOTOS & STORY CONTINUED FROM PAGE 22 Retired Lt. Col. Hal and Patti Glassman with retired Col. Marty Zickert. Carole Jean Jordan, Chris Sexton and Laura Moss.
Sheana Firth and Dr. Nicholas Coppola.

Dr. Doris Ferres and retired Col. Carlos Halcomb. Michele and Kevin Peters. Retired Lt. Col. Curtis Holden, Harriet McCarthy and Steve Defren.

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / March 12, 2020 25

PEOPLE

port the veterans of Indian River Coun- civic associations and the general viding veterans with job training and ans in need with home improvements,
ty,” said Kaiser. “I live here and I’m not community through a variety of pro- skills to help transition from military and Veterans in the Classroom, which
going anywhere, so I’m on board to grams and services, including emer- to civilian life, and honoring veterans teaches students about respect for the
help fellow veterans in any way I can.” gency assistance with medical expens- with memorials and at military cer- country, military service and citizen-
es and household bills, transportation emonies. ship.
The Veterans Council supports vet- to medical appointments at the West
erans and their families through the Palm Beach VA Medical Center, pro- Other programs include Veterans For more information, visit veterans-
collective efforts of veterans’ groups, Helping Veterans, which assists veter- councilirc.club. 

26 Vero Beach 32963 / March 12, 2020 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

Explorer Experience: Sea-ing
is believing at ORCA benefit

BY STEPHANIE LaBAFF
Staff Writer

Thalassophiles – lovers of the sea Tim Glover and Paul Fafeita.
– took a deep dive recently during
An Explorer Experience, a special “It can grow as tall as a four-sto-
event at Triton Submarines in Se- ry building and you’ve never seen
bastian to benefit the Ocean Re- them,” said Widder. “We’ve barely
search & Conservation Association, begun to explore our ocean, which
founded in 2005 by Edie Widder, is basically our whole planet. I was
Ph.D. very distressed to think that we
were actually destroying the ocean
Guests mingled among state-of- before we even know what’s in it.
the-art submersibles while enjoying That was my motivation for starting
locally-sourced cuisine and glow- ORCA in 2005.”
in-the-dark cocktails as they chat-
ted with ORCA staff about the work With a tagline of ‘Mapping pol-
being done to protect our waters lution, finding solutions,’ ORCA is
– second only to air as the world’s currently exploring ways to halt the
most critical natural resource. deterioration of the Indian River
Lagoon.
Widder, an internationally re-
nowned, deep-sea explorer and bio- “The lagoon is an incredibly pre-
luminescence guru, founded the cious estuary,” said Widder. “Estuar-
nonprofit to explore new ways to ies are a tiny fraction of the ocean as
protect the ocean and, in our own a whole, but they have an outsized
backyard, the Indian River Lagoon. impact because so many open-
ORCA, “the nation’s first technolo- ocean animals spend some portion
gy-based marine conservation or- of their lifecycle, usually spawning,
ganization,” collects data to deter- in the estuary. To have this estuary
mine water quality and its impact collapsing is not acceptable.”
on marine ecosystems.
Footage of the deep-sea creatures
“Edie Widder is an ocean advo- she has photographed ran in the
cate, but she’s also a kindred spirit; background as guests visited infor-
somebody who loves the ocean like mational booths to learn about the
I do,” said Patrick Lahey, president methods ORCA is using to explore
of Triton Submarines. “The things and protect the lagoon. In a dark-
that she has done in her career are room tent, people were able to create
nothing short of remarkable. We’re their own works of art via light paint-
very proud to be supporting her in ings – waving wands of light in the
her effort to raise funding for the dark that were captured digitally, en-
ORCA organization. Edie is the abling artists to imitate the illusion of
closest thing we get to a rock star in what certain deep-sea marine life see
the ocean community. She’s been in the ocean’s depths.
involved in some pretty incredible
things in her lifetime, and we’re A variety of ocean-themed items
very fortunate to have somebody were offered in the silent auction,
like her, who is as passionate and as including a Dragonfly paddleboard
dedicated to the ocean and raising and a highly-sought-after dive in a
awareness for it as she is.” Triton 3K3 submersible in the Baha-
mas with Allen Exploration.
“I’ve spent my life as a deep-sea
explorer, diving in submersibles,” For more information, visit
said Widder. “In fact, it was one of teamorca.org. 
the Triton submarines that I used
off Japan in 2012, when we got the
first footage of a giant squid filmed
in its natural habitat.”

Widder was also able to get foot-
age of a giant squid last summer
in American waters; it was just the
second time a giant squid has been
captured on film. She said she had
been amazed at the enormity of the
creatures, which most people didn’t
even know existed.

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / March 12, 2020 27

PEOPLE

Joe and April Chiarella with Bill Penney. PHOTOS: KAILA JONES Kiernan and Kristina Moylan with David and Janet Croom. Claudette Roche and Jeff Woolnough with Marie Healy.

Edie Widder and Patrick Lahey.

Lara and Chris Gianella.

Savanna Ware and Victoria Lahey.

28 Vero Beach 32963 / March 12, 2020 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

South Atlantic regatta: Win-wind for Youth Sailing

Pat Harris and Stu Keiller. PHOTOS: KAILA JONES Kevin Mackin and Martha King.

David Elwell, Kitty Mountain and Jeff Wald.

Steve Rapp. Sailors harnessed the wind re-
Skip Willauer. cently at the South Atlantic In-
terscholastic Sailing Associa-
tion Varsity Regatta hosted by
the Youth Sailing Foundation. It
was the first time YSF has hosted
an SAISA event, and it drew 116
sailors from 19 schools, compet-
ing in seven varsity and eight
junior varsity races, along with
more than 175 spectators. Expe-
rienced YSF volunteers manned
safety boats and race commit-
tee boats, and assisted with
on-shore race activities. Youth
Sailing Foundation, a nonprofit
founded in 2009, offers free les-
sons to Indian River County
children so they may enjoy the
challenges and joys of sailing.
YSF also offers sailing programs
for adults. Set sail with YSF at
the fifth annual Rock the Boat
fundraiser, March 23 at Quail
Valley River Club. For informa-
tion, visit ysfirc.org. 

Established 18 Years in Indian River County

(772) 562-2288 | www.kitchensvero.com
3920 US Hwy 1, Vero Beach FL 32960

Bryan Dejesus and Jabbo Gorden.



30 Vero Beach 32963 / March 12, 2020 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

A walk on the wild(life) side at educational EcoFest

BY SAMANTHA ROHLFING BAITA tly poured back into the pond. Watch-
Staff Writer ing son Liam, 6, peering intently at the
little creatures, Mara Hall, a first-time
An estimated 1,000 visitors made Brandon Putzke leads a drum circle. PHOTOS: KAILA JONES visitor from Boynton Beach, said they
their way to the Environmental would absolutely be back.
Learning Center to enjoy the return of “real, live starfish” at the Discovery
EcoFest which, by all accounts, was an Station Touch Tank was their most fa- And what child could resist a game
absolute and heartwarming success. vorite thing. entitled “Race for the Poo”? Created
The exceptionally well-organized, by Ann Ricciardi to remind folks to
free event featured fun and educa- A 14-foot-tall Smokey the Bear and clean up after their pets, because “all
tional activities for all ages. his huge firefighting bulldozer were canals lead to the lagoon,” youngsters
donned gloves and at “GO!” ran down
All throughout the 64-acre island the course, poo bag in hand, grabbed
campus along the Indian River La- a bit of faux poo and raced back to
goon – home to Florida palm, pine the finish line. In the race between
and mangrove forests – exhibits and siblings Joseph Coles, 13, and Larkyn
activities had been set up by ELC vol- Coles, 10, Joseph edged Larkyn out,
unteers and other eco-centric organi- probably, he figured, because “I play
zations and agencies, all focused on soccer.”
this year’s theme, “Our Planet, Our
Health.” Popular with all ages was the Drum
Circle, led by Brandon Putzke, who
Wielding fat chunks of colored brought drums, bells, and sticks for
chalk, schoolchildren knelt on the an ever-changing circle of enthusias-
“sidewalk,” creating drawings of some
of the area’s wildlife. Lydia and Wil-
liam Lacivita and their parents, Joe
and Serena, traveled from Port St. Lu-
cie to enjoy their second EcoFest, and
both little ones agreed that holding a

Silas Lincicome learns to tie a knot.

extremely popular with the elemen- tic participants to try out.
tary school crowd, according to Forest The five-hour event also included
Rangers Dakota Voltolina and Ray-
mond Kirkland. an exhibition of “The Living Waters,”
the stunning black-and-white pho-
Visitor Constance Daly called the tographs by Clyde Butcher, eco-talks
numerous ELC volunteers “very and workshops by local experts, ca-
knowledgeable and amiable,” and noe mini trips, an osprey watch, citi-
longtime ELC board member Bill zen science walks, scavenger hunts
Stewart said he was “impressed with and live music.
the number of people here.”
Barbara Schlitt Ford, ELC executive
The Pond Watch was another favor- director, praised first-time EcoFest
ite, where children sloshed about in chairman Nicole Lemmo Saini, call-
a shallow pond, nets in hand, scoop- ing her “a rock star” for the terrific job
ing up whatever wiggled or swam by she had done.
(mostly tadpoles). Assisted by Junior
Interpreters (middle school volun- Saini said this year’s goal in bring-
teers), critters were placed into water- ing back EcoFest was to open the
filled jars so they could be observed event up to the community and show
through magnifiers, before being gen- in clear terms the connection between
the lagoon and global science. 

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / March 12, 2020 31

PEOPLE

Lydia Lacivita. Riley Stewart.
Maya Corley.
Camden looks at sea turtle skulls. ELC volunteer Wyatt Satterly.

David and Trisha Culver. Izabella Diaz. Samuel and Keren.

32 Vero Beach 32963 / March 12, 2020 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

Community pride at Orchid Island ‘Habitat’ party

Sheryl Vittitoe, John Morrow and Teryl Viner. PHOTOS: KAILA JONES Marilyn Kinsella and Shelley Morrison (seated); Myra Webber, Keena Clifford and Laura Shucart.
Barbara Crosby and Ann Loeffler (standing).

BY STEPHANIE LaBAFF owning a home. Since 2001 the resi- ate better lives for their families. nity really is all about.”
Staff Writer dents of Orchid Island have helped to “What a beautiful evening and what “We have a lot of opportunities to
build 29 homes, cementing not only the
Donors built upon their foundation construction of homes but also trans- a beautiful group of people who have support many different charities,” said
of generosity for Indian River Habitat forming the lives of future generations. gathered to support Indian River Habi- John Morrow, Orchid Habitat commit-
for Humanity during a recent Orchid tat,” said Sheryl Vittitoe, IRHH presi- tee chair. “Every day your mailbox is
Island Habitat House cocktail party at Members of this tightly knit commu- dent/CEO. “Orchid Island has support- packed with appeals. Quite a few of us
the home of Teryl Viner. nity provide financial assistance, work ed Indian River Habitat for almost 20 that are intimately involved with Habi-
on homes in Fellsmere’s Grace Mead- years, and did you know that Orchid Is- tat feel strongly that the funding goes
While mingling over cocktails and ows Community and volunteer at the land has literally helped construct and locally.”
hors d’oeuvres, Habitat supporters cel- Habitat ReStore so that Habitat home- financially support nearly 30 homes for
ebrated another successful year of help- owners may achieve the strength, sta- working families in need of an afford- Morrow said having that personal
ing individuals realize their dreams of bility and independence needed to cre- able house right here in Indian River connection makes a difference.
County? Thank you for your continu-
ous and generous support.” “We actually go to the home dedica-
tion and we meet the people. Last year
Having communities support one the little boy grabbed our hands and
another is very impactful, said Vittitoe. said, ‘Come here. I want to show you
my room. It’s the first time I ever had a
“Generationally, some of these Habi- room all by myself.’ It’s moving,” said
tat homebuyers haven’t grown up in Morrow. “You say, wow, I donated my
a family where their grandparents or time to help build the house, but that
parents were homeowners. This is re- makes it real. That real part makes a big
ally the first generation of establishing difference for us. We can touch it, we
some wealth for future generations in can feel it and we can see the difference
homeownership.” that it makes.”

Vittitoe said one of the homes Orchid Morrow appreciates the Habitat ob-
helped build last year was for an Orchid jective of breaking the poverty cycle for
Island employee, enabling the children that little boy and others, noting, “He’s
to spend their first Thanksgiving and going to be in a safe environment. He’s
Christmas in their own home. going to get past the poverty level and
he won’t need anybody’s help.”
“They are actually really thriving
in that Habitat home,” said Vittitoe. In addition to opening her home for
“That’s what community to commu- the celebration, Viner created a paint-

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / March 12, 2020 33

PEOPLE

Carrol Spurgeon with Mary Jane and Dominick Benedetto. John Sullivan, Jim Higgins and Doris Sullivan. Deedee Cunningham, Carole Finck and Mary Schwartz.

Twig Stickney with Deedee and Bill Cunningham and Marsha and Barry Reardon.

Nancy and Hal Ofstie. Carol and Myles Tintle.
Barry Reardon and David Crosby.
ing from her waterfront studio that
was auctioned off. The piece featured
a birdhouse, symbolizing a Habitat
home, and across the bottom of the
painting she had written, “I dream of
a land where bluebirds and angels play
among the flowers, and every family
has a home.”

“Teryl is a very giving person,” said
Morrow. “If you want to buy a piece of
her artwork, she’ll be more than happy
to sell it to you, but that money is donat-
ed to a charity of her choice. She’s quite
wonderful.”

Next up is a March 14 Habitat Island
Gala fundraiser at Grand Harbor Beach
Club. For more information, visit irch-
abitat.org. 

34 Vero Beach 32963 / March 12, 2020 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

‘Denim & Diamonds’ celebrates therapy horse power

Karen and Jimmy Johnson. PHOTOS: MARY SCHENKEL Chrissy Clark, Tim Barry, Christina Liceaga and Sebastian Liceaga. PHOTOS & STORY CONTINUED ON PAGE 36 & 37
Diane and Vinnie Parentela.

BY MARY SCHENKEL photos taken in front of a Western years, either first- or second-grad- who now number more than 120.
Staff Writer backdrop and perused a variety of ers.” “We love what we do, and I truly
equine-themed auction items. Many mean that. Everybody that has any-
Supporters of Special Equestrians chuckled over sweet thank-you During cocktails and a delicious thing to do with us loves it too.”
of the Treasure Coast trotted over notes written to “Dear Horse Ladies” buffet dinner, guests were enter-
to the Vero Beach Country Club for by first-graders at Dodgertown El- tained by soft music by singer/gui- In a video presentation, several
Denim and Diamonds to support the ementary School. tarist David Goodman. parents spoke about their children’s
special needs equine-assisted thera- remarkable developments thanks to
py programs that help improve the “It’s a program sponsored by a “We are having a very exciting equine therapy.
lives of children and adults. Grand Harbor Community Outreach year and we are seeing growth in all
grant,” explained Vickie Penly of the areas,” said Karen Johnson, SETC Bethany Gilman spoke of her
During the cocktail hour, guests ‘horse powered’ reading program. executive director. The nonprofit, 6-year-old daughter Aurora, born
nibbled on hors d’oeuvres, had their “They’ve been coming about five founded in 1992, has grown its pro- with an extremely rare genetic dis-
gramming, volunteers and students, order that delays physical and men-

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36 Vero Beach 32963 / March 12, 2020 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

PHOTOS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 34 Elizabeth Keller, Kimberly Chavis and Vikki Rogers. Bernadette and Mike Emerick with Karen Egan.
Lisa and Flip Crawford with Kingsley Crawford.

Mary Ellen Replogle and Beth Wood. Michael Lalota and Kimberly Nardone. Cassie Ford and Joan Swiderski. Tami and Rick Watters.
Beth Boudreau and Susie LaCorte. Greg and Angela Nelson.
tal development. Dar Dennis, a SETC instructor
“When she started riding with and breast cancer survivor, spoke
about their Ride Beyond Diagnosis
Special Equestrians, she was 4 years program for women diagnosed with
old and could barely sit upright in a breast cancer. Now entering its fifth
chair,” said Gilman. “She very quick- year, they are opening it up to all
ly gained much improvement, and women’s cancers.
I owe a huge amount of that to her
weekly riding lessons.” “This is a program built to give
support to our ladies for their jour-
Similar grateful testimonials de- ney,” said Dennis, adding that they
scribed improvements to children’s call one part of the equine therapy
balance, posture, self-confidence ‘hug a horse.’
and social interactions.
Breast cancer survivor Kimberly
“We also have a non-mounted pro- Nardone shared that “hugging hors-
gram for our students who, for one es was the first time in a whole year
reason or another, are not able to that I cried. Picasso, I think it was,
ride but they are able to learn all as- ended up saturated with tears. I felt
pects of horsemanship,” said John- safe and I felt loved. It was beyond
son.

Experience, Education & Maturity Can Make a Difference

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Vero Beach FL 32960

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Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / March 12, 2020 37

PEOPLE

any other thing that has healed me. national), which sets very rigorous add other programs, including one make it tonight, but they would mess
Hug a horse is really great; everyone standards. Their goal is to become a for veterans. up the carpeting and they’re really
was teasing me but it’s real.” PATH Premier Center with a covered hungry at this hour so we left them
arena on their own property. After thanking supporters, board out at the barn and the pasture.
Johnson explained that all SETC members and instructors, Vinnie Without them, this would not be
instructors are trained and certified “There’s so much that we can do if Parentela, board president, said, “I possible. They are our therapists; we
by PATH (Professional Association we have our own place,” said John- just want to briefly thank one other have to thank them also.” 
of Therapeutic Horsemanship Inter- son, adding that they would like to group of ours. Sorry they could not

38 Vero Beach 32963 / March 12, 2020 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

Net worth: ‘King of the Hill’ tennis helps Youth Guidance

BY STEPHANIE LaBAFF Fish Children’s Foundation Tennis Liz and Peter Remington. PHOTOS CONTINUED ON PAGE 40
Staff Writer Championships, which will be held
April 26 to May 3 at the Boulevard Jim McSweeney and Kevin Moree. Felix Cruz and Philip Barnes
It was game, set and match at the Tennis Club.
final games of the 25th annual King ance executive director. “We are so and your contributions help us to
of the Hill Tournament, held last The tournament was founded by excited to see you all here, coming do that.”
Tuesday evening at the Moorings tennis professional Gigi Casapu in out to support us and support the
Yacht & Country Club to benefit the honor of his brother, Jonny Casa- children of Youth Guidance Men- Cruz said it was with a heavy
Youth Guidance Mentoring & Activ- pu, a world-class tennis player who toring Academy. We serve young- heart that he would be retiring af-
ities Program. died 25 years ago in a car accident sters from low-income families and ter 35 years of serving children here
while in Romania. single-parent homes. Your support and in other cities, and he intro-
The stands were filled with ten- duced incoming executive director,
nis fans eager to cheer on their fa- “My brother was passionate about Philip Barnes.
vorite local tennis professionals, as tennis and helping children,” said
they competed in the three-division Casapu. “So the Youth Guidance Holly Forde, Youth Guidance pro-
tournament: open, 40 and over, and Foundation was a natural choice, gram specialist, presented the 2020
50 and over. To accommodate ever especially since I had already Gigi Casapu Scholarship, a $1,000
increasing crowds, this year the ear- worked with them when I was at award, to Vero Beach High School
lier tournaments in the eight-week Timber Ridge so many years ago.” student Isaiah Davis. Davis said he
round-robin professional doubles plans to attend Indian River State
competition had been played at the Proceeds from the tourna- College to earn a degree in fire sci-
Boulevard Tennis Club, followed by ment, which has raised more than ence before pursuing his dream of
matches on courts at the Moorings. $451,000 since 1996, support the becoming a firefighter.
300 children who annually partici-
Quail Valley professional Chase pate in Youth Guidance programs, “It’s great to see somebody us-
Perez-Blanco took home the title of including one-to-one and group ing the scholarship for his future,”
King of the Hill for the second year mentoring, academic support, ac- Casapu told the crowd, before the
in a row. He and runner-up Andrew tivities and summer camps, and a balls began to fly during the final
Butz earned a Main Draw Doubles nutritious meal each day. tournament play.
Wild Card into the 2020 Mardy
“This is the last day of our tourna- Shake out your grass skirts for the
ment,” said Felix Cruz, Youth Guid- 43rd annual Tropical Night Luau on
June 20 to benefit Youth Guidance.
For more information visit Youth-
GuidanceProgram.org. 



40 Vero Beach 32963 / March 12, 2020 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

PHOTOS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 38 Conner Pickering. James Van Deinse.
Chase Perez-Blanco.

Jill and Vinny Olmstead with son Trea Olmstead.

Linda and Don Proctor with Allison and Dr. Donald Proctor Jr.

Gigi Casapu and Isaiah Davis. PHOTOS: KAILA JONES

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / March 12, 2020 41

PEOPLE

Dr. Alastair Kennedy, Christophe Delavaut and Edward Kennedy.

Marsha Sherry and Susie Smith. Gigi and Mihaela Casapu.

Sara Marshall and Bill Young. Jamie Bloss and Robyn Nolan.

Jordan Gowan, Jacqui Zehe, Jackie Jensen and Rachel Clark.

42 Vero Beach 32963 / March 12, 2020 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

‘Out’-standing reviews for Vero Wine & Film Fest West

Bob Stanley, Beth Hager, Jerusha Stewart and Chef Ben Robinson. Patricia Miles and Barry Shapiro with Maryann and John Scott. Jack McKenney, Caesar Mistretta, Paul Cavalli and John Stringer.

Ali and Zac Dulac. PHOTOS: MARY SCHENKEL Mitch Dembrowski and Noreen Davis. Paula Ladwig and Heidi Hill.

BY MARY SCHENKEL spread by Wild Thyme Catering. you going to do with it? What I like to “This has been an incredible day.
Staff Writer “This is the fifth year of the Vero do is bring the extraordinary into the The love from the community, the
ordinary person’s home.” pass-holders, the shoppers and our
The overwhelming success of the Beach Wine and Film festival; yes, new volunteers has just been amaz-
Vero Beach Wine & Film Festival, en- we made it!” said VBWFF founder, During the weekend, retail store ing,” said Stewart on Saturday. “Ev-
joyed by thousands of people each Jerusha Stewart, in welcome. “We’re fronts had been converted into erybody is embracing the idea of
June, prompted organizers to give going to be screening some of our pop-up theaters, where a selection having an international film festival
seasonal residents an opportunity to award winners from past years and of short films, documentaries and in Vero Beach. It’s wonderful to see
see what they’ve been missing. The you will also get a sneak peek at the feature-length films were shown how inspired people are as they exit
resulting Vero Beach Wine & Film films in June. So tell all your friends throughout the day. the theaters.”
Festival West, held recently at the how great they were and why they
Vero Beach Outlets, drew film aficio- need to be at the Film Festival in Interspersed were food demon- Looking forward to June, she said,
nados, oenophiles and foodies, who June.” strations and wine tastings in Design “We promise that you will see the
all enjoyed a weekend packed with Within Reach by local chefs Travis most compelling and visually enter-
activities. Bob Stanley, VBWFF wine director, Beckett, Ben Robinson, Winston taining story-telling from around the
introduced Michael Goldberg, a rep- Guerrero, Mitch Dembrowski, Zach world. We have selected some of the
Festivities began Friday evening resentative of the featured vintner, Campion and Ashely Allison. And top award-winning films in the fes-
at the Restoration Hardware Outlet, David Frost Wine, who spoke about late Saturday afternoon there was a tival circuit, including ‘A Fine Line.’”
where British Chef Ben Robinson, the former PGA Tour golfer and his Grand Tasting of assorted wines.
who has traveled the world as a head South African vineyard. She said the film being embraced
chef on mega yachts, including as ex- “We saw some great funny movies by Suncoast Mental Health, the
ecutive chef on the Bravo reality TV “We’re really excited to have the this morning,” said Mary Ellen Bro- event’s beneficiary, was “Coming Up
show “Below Deck,” gave attendees a Wine and Film Festival here at the phy on Saturday. “‘Ludwig’ was hi- for Air,” which is about teen suicide.
demonstration on filleting and pre- Outlets and couldn’t be happier with larious and the other one, ‘Self Con-
paring an Italian tartare using fresh the turnout tonight,” said Beth Hag- trol,’ was also very funny. I’d like to “It’s about a young man close to be-
pompano. er, Vero Beach Outlets marketing di- see it again.” ing an Olympic diver,” she explained.
rector, before introducing Robinson. “His mother discovers he’s suffering
Beforehand, guests milled about Helen Tracy, who has attended all from mental illness. It’s incredible;
discussing which films they were Robinson said with a grin that he the June Wine and Film Festivals, it’s like you’re diving in with him.”
looking forward to while sipping on had chosen pompano for the demon- was enjoying this one as well. “I love
wines and noshing on a delectable stration because “during hurricanes film and I love wine,” she said. “I even Next up is Wine, Film and Fashion,
you might wake up and find one of take two days of my vacation in June June 7 at Vero Beach Outlets. For more
these on your doorstep; and what are just so I can do the whole four days.” information, visit vbwff.com. 

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / March 12, 2020 43

PEOPLE

Francois Gauthier with Karen and Phil Osborne. Kim Brady, Robyn Bethel, Torri Bethel and Tori Rich. PHOTOS CONTINUED ON PAGE 44
Dawn Hjorleifsson, Barb Mlinac and Jennifer Brova.

Libby and Gus Rogers. Michele and Rob Wayne. Jill Landes and Lewis Strauss. Stevie Cappelen and Casey Campbell.

44 Vero Beach 32963 / March 12, 2020 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

PHOTOS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 43 Barbara Hartman-Reid, Howard Ellman and Caryn Weiner. Bonnie Romano with Fritz and Sandy Trakowski.
Anthony Aruffo, Gary Mastro, Arlene Anello and Peggy Nelson.

Maria and Travis Beckett. Gordon Brunner and Mary Ellen Brophy. Helen Tracy and Carolyn Gibson. Deborah Kinney and David Mutters.

SEXTON AND KEMP:
KINDRED CREATIVE SPIRITS ON EXHIBIT

46 Vero Beach 32963 / March 12, 2020 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

ARTS & THEATRE

Sexton and Kemp: Kindred creative spirits on exhibit

BY ELLEN FISCHER much for his art and poetry as for his study under noted printmaker Ken The majority of Sexton’s works ad-
Columnist management of Treasure Hammock Kerslake, receiving his MFA in print- dress the shape, form and texture of
making (summa cum laude) in 1990. his subject matter, drawn in large part
Ranch, a working cattle ranch that has from minutely observed flora and fau-
By that date both Kemp and Sexton na. Kemp’s work, no less than Sexton’s,
The March exhibition at the Cen- been in the Sexton family for three gen- were married – Kemp to a psycholo- is observed from nature, but recorded
gist, Marilyn Sokolof, and Sexton to
ter for Spiritual Care in Vero Beach erations. Kemp, a resident of Florida for artist Sharon Koerner – and growing as abstract arrangements
families and demanding jobs kept of line and tone.
features etchings and drawing in ink most his life, is a printmaker who, until the men close to their respective “Michael and I have
homes. Kemp earned a living as a had our evolution as
and color pencil, by Florida artists recently, made his home in Micanopy. branch manager for the Alachua artists, and have drifted
County library system and Sexton in different directions,
– and longtime friends – The friends, compatible in intel- bred and raised cattle – a full-time but there is always
job and then some. that common
Sean Sexton and Michael lect, interests and outlook, first met in thing,” says
Kemp and Sexton still managed Sexton.
Kemp. Titled “Sun Cir- Gainesville during Sexton’s college to spend time together, making
art, discussing art, visiting Michael Kemp.
cles and Land Lines,” days at the University of Florida. art museums and present-
ing their works and ideas
the exhibit continues “We’ve been friends since 1979,” together in art exhibitions,
gallery talks and at least
through March 31. notes Sexton. one panel discussion.

Sexton is a Vero na- Although his 1979 bachelor’s de- Despite the passage
of years, you might have
tive, known as gree was awarded in animal sciences, trouble distinguishing
who did what in perhaps
Sexton, a talented draughtsman one or two of the works
on display in their cur-
from childhood, haunted rent show.

the art department and

the Gainesville art scene,

where Kemp, according to

Sexton, was a “fixture.”

Kemp’s B.A. in paint-

ing was awarded in

1974. He subsequent-

ly decided that the

graphic arts – espe-

cially prints – suited

Sean Sexton. him better. He re-

PHOTOS BY KAILA JONES turned to UF for

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / March 12, 2020 47

ARTS & THEATRE

into an ephemeral dimension.”
As an example, Sexton points out

Kemp’s brush and ink painting on pa-
per titled “Covered Road.” In it, Kemp
used silvery areas of ink wash to sug-
gest gentle light filtering onto a wide
path through overarching trees.

On the postcard announcement
for the show, the image “Cover Road”
appears next to an image of Sexton’s
latest etching, “Locust,” which was
printed at Kemp’s printmaking studio.
Sexton’s print of an up-close view of a
grasshopper clinging to a stem of grass
is also in the show.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 48

“Yet, I think in many ways he is the “I love that kind of description in art.
better artist. One of the reasons I feel It’s a meditative kind of thing; his work
that way is I think he is more willing to is not about how something looks, it is
try anything. He’s a much less product- about how it is.”
oriented artist,” says Sexton. “His ap-
proach to art is not toward an end point; If you haven’t gotten the idea al-
it’s an ongoing exploration. I admire his ready, “Sun Circles and Land Lines” is
courage and also his willingness to ex- a kind of love letter between two art-
periment, at the expense of all of our un- ists who have remained close despite
derstanding what the hell he’s doing.” the major events and myriad minor
distractions of their lives.
Kemp, in turn, describes Sexton’s
manner of getting to the heart of his Sexton points out that the title, “Sun
subjects. Circles and Land Lines,” slyly refers to
a means of electronic communication.
“When Sean paints a slash pine tree, “We were tying into the 21st century
you can tell that he is responding to with the ‘land lines.’ There is also the
the individual scales in the bark, un- allusion to simply drawing the land.
veiling the mystery in it,” says Kemp. With ‘sun circles’ we were trying to get

48 Vero Beach 32963 / March 12, 2020 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 47 ARTS & THEATRE

It is fitting that the works of both With the advent of the smartphone and farm, in Nancy, Kentucky. After I got lia, her husband and their two chil-
artists appear side by side on a post- other devices, the habit of lettered writ- done there, I rented a truck at the Lex- dren live. On one of his postcards to
card; the U.S. Postal Service has been ing dropped off considerably. ington airport and drove to Vancou- Kemp, Sexton drew a still life in color
one of the means by which they have ver, Washington.” pencil of seven small green apples and
stayed in touch all these years. In 2019, however, they found a re- a few maple tree samaras (winged seed
newed correspondence in the hand- That is where Sexton’s daughter Ju-
Beginning in the 1990s, Kemp and made postcards they have sent each
Sexton exchanged handwritten letters other during their various travels.
– often illustrated with a sketch or two –
to keep each other apprised of what was “I decided to drive across the coun-
happening in their art and their lives. try this past summer,” says Sexton. “I
actually had a poetry gig at an Angus

Visionary TruthsJ A M E S F . H U T C H I N S O N

FEBRUARY 21 - APRIL 26, 2020
OPENING RECEPTION: MARCH 13, 6:00 - 8:00PM

MEMBERS FREE, NOT-YET MEMBERS $20

Exhibition Sponsor

500 North Indian River Drive, Fort Pierce, FL 34950
772-465-0630 • BackusMuseum.org

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / March 12, 2020 49

ARTS & THEATRE

COMING UP! Art-loving folks, flock to ‘Under the Oaks’

BY PAM HARBAUGH
Correspondent

1 Art lovers surely will put on the
top of their agenda the 69th An-

nual Under the Oaks Fine Arts & Crafts

Show. This is a huge event where that

pods) that he found on the ground out- beautiful park on the south side of
side Julia’s house. On the apple nearest Riverside Theatre is turned into an
the center of the picture, a wrinkled outdoor gallery, filled with little white
brown spot denotes the passing of
time and the brevity of life; themes CONTINUED ON PAGE 50
that run throughout Sexton’s oeuvre.

On the back of the framed work in the
show is affixed a photocopy of the back
side of the post card. Sexton explains
that he sent his postcards to Kemp with
a drawing but no line of greeting.

“He actually wrote on his,” Sexton
says. “There are great messages on his.”

One of Sexton’s favorites from Kemp
contains an ink painting executed in
different shades of gray, with a few
black strokes added as punctuation to
the composition.

Titled “Young Struggling Oak,”
Kemp painted the picture during a
two-and-a-half week sojourn with his
wife to a friend’s house in Maine.

While Kemp’s handwriting was legi-
ble, his abstract communication on the
front of the card was not so easy to read.

“I had to ask which way I should look
at it. It seemed like a field painting
when I viewed it the wrong way. Right-
side up you can see the subject of a tree
in an environment,” says Sexton. “Mi-
chael reduces the scene to marks. But
it’s also all about what it’s about, too.”

“I did quite a few postcards,” says
Kemp. But because Sexton was on
the road so much last summer, Kemp
says he wasn’t always sure how to
address the cards so that they might
reach his friend.

“Sean doesn’t know this, but I ended
up sending some of the postcards I
made for him to other people,” Kemp
admits with a chuckle. 

50 Vero Beach 32963 / March 12, 2020 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 49 ARTS & THEATRE

booths loaded with art by more than gins this Friday, March 13, when the Indi- “La Cage aux Folles,” it’s also bringing 2 Firefighters Fair starts this weekend.
200 artists from around the country. an River Symphonic Association presents acclaimed Broadway star Kelli O’Hara
There will also be some great food Brevard Symphony Orchestra led by Mae- for its premiere benefit of the season.
vendors with a wide range of offer- stro Christopher Confessore performing Patrons will gather for an evening of
ings. The show has been ranked one Ravel, Beethoven and virtuoso flautist music, food and all-around rare fun as
of the top 30 nationwide by “Sunshine Amy Porter performing “Trail of Tears” O’Hara shares stories and performs on
Artist” magazine. It runs 9 a.m. to 5 by Grammy Award-winning Michael the Stark Stage. The evening begins 5
p.m. Friday, March 13, and Saturday, Daugherty. The contemporary composer p.m. Tuesday, March 17, with cocktails
March 14; and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sun- dedicated his poignant work to Porter, a al fresco in the Loop Area. The evening
day, March 15, at 3001 Riverside Park Juilliard graduate who has been featured ends with a sit-down dinner. As this is a
Dr., Vero Beach. Admission is free and on NPR and “Live from Lincoln Center.” major fundraiser, tickets are limited and
there is ample parking. Call 772-231- The concert begins 7:30 p.m. at the Com- start at $600. Riverside is at 3001 River-
0303 or visit VeroBeachArtClub.org. munity Church of Vero Beach, 1901 23rd side Dr., Vero Beach. Call 772-410-0470
Street. Tickets are $60. Call 772-778-1070 or visit RiversideTheatre.com.
or visit IRSymphonic.org. Palm Blvd., Vero Beach. A donation of
2 As long as you’re outside, head $10 is requested. Call 772-562-9088 or
over to the Indian River County 6 Hear bluegrass and folk music visit FirstPresVero.org.
performed by accomplished mu-
Firefighters Fair. That event will offer up 4 Or, perhaps you’d prefer your mu-
sic with a more “down home” feel.
carnival rides, games, good, 4-H live- sicians forming the Hanneke Cassel 7 Those who love the music of
Neil Young will find some bliss
stock and agricultural competitions, Then grab your folding chairs and blan- Trio. A performer and teacher, Cassel

and some family friendly entertain- kets and head to the Rhythm on the has performed around the world with at “Broken Arrow – A Tribute to Neil

ment. It’s scheduled to open Friday, River Concert Friday evening. The con- a variety of instruments that can cre- Young” when it returns next week to

March 13, and run through Sunday, cert features the Orlando-based Sandy ate a cutting-edge aesthetic to the tra- the Emerson Center. The program, part

March 22. Doors open 1 p.m. weekends Back Porch bluegrass group and the very ditional Scottish sound. She has been of the Live! From Vero Beach series,

and 5 p.m. weekdays. Location is the popular Penny Creek Band. It runs 5:30 hailed by the Boston Globe as having features those iconic Neil Young tunes

Indian River County Fairgrounds, 7955 p.m. to 8 p.m. this Friday, March 13, at “an irresistible playfulness.” The other like “Cinnamon Girl,” Heart of Gold,”

58th Ave., Vero Beach. Admission is $8 Riverview Park, 600 U.S. 1, Sebastian. two trio members are Mike Block and “Only Love Can Break Your Heart” and

general, $5 children 6 through 12 years, Presented by the Sebastian Chamber of Christopher Lewis. Block is part of Yo- the plaintive “Southern Man.” This

seniors 55 and older, veterans and first Commerce, the concert is free. For more Yo Ma’s celebrated Silk Road Ensemble show has “sold out” written all over it,

responders. There are additional charg- information, call 772-589-5969 or visit and teaches at the prestigious Berklee so don’t delay in getting those tickets.

es for rides and concert tickets. Call 772- SebastianChamber.com. College of Music. Lewis, who graduat- The concert begins 7 p.m. Thursday,

388-8897 or visit FirefightersFair.org. ed from Berklee, performs in Boston’s March 19, at the Emerson Center, 1590

5 Riverside Theatre is plenty busy popular indie rock scene. The concert 27th Ave., Vero Beach. Tickets are $25
this week. In addition to having
3 Beautiful music is always a main- begins 7 p.m. Monday, March 16, at the to $65. Call 800-595-4849 or visit Mu-
stay for the Vero Beach area. It be-
opened its revival of the very popular First Presbyterian Church, 520 Royal sicWorksConcerts.com. 