07/27/2023 ISSUE 30

Almost a month has passed since island resident Tiffany Justice made coast-to-coast headlines and was hailed as the leader of a national movement during the Moms For Liberty’s annual summit in Philadelphia. Given Justice’s growing stature as a co-founder of this unapologetically political group, you’d think the big-time reporters who covered the Moms’ much-hyped event would be curious about her background – particularly the four years she spent as a failed, oneterm school board member here. But no one seems to be looking into that – not from the Wall Street Journal, not from the New York Times or the Washington Post, not from television’s major news networks, not even from the online news outlets. I find it odd … and disappointing. You’d think they’d want to know what in her education, professional experience or public past might qualify her for the out-front role she’s now playing in Republican politics and the ongoing culture war that continues to divide our nation. At the very least, you’d think they’d want to know what the Vero Beach community thinks of her. Apparently, though, there is no such interest – because my Internet search last weekend produced no links to national news stories that discuss, in any meaningful detail, Justice’s life before the birth of the Moms in January 2021. There are only the basics: She’s a 44-year-old mother of four chilFor the first time in 70 years, the Humane Society of Vero Beach has stopped taking in animals. The shelter, which has rescued and rehomed tens of thousands of stray and surrendered animals since 1953, announced it had temporarily closed its admissions department last week “in light of the critical lack of space to accommodate the unprecedented influx of owner surrendered and stray animals.” “HSVB is beyond capacity,” said chief communications officer Tracey Kinsley. “We’ve had a 71 percent increase in owner surrenders and 25 percent increase in strays, year to date.” But while the number of animals being brought in has soared, adoptions have not. Brightline blasted its new passenger trains through Indian River County at 110 mph this past week in a test of how things will go when it starts regular service between Orlando and South Florida on Sept. 1. Brightline ran high-speed trains through 31 of the 32 railroad crossings in Indian River County, excluding only the Roseland Road crossing just south of the St. Sebastian River Railroad Bridge, according to Brightline’s most recent construction update. “We wrapped up the Indian River County testing (Sunday),” said Brightline spokeswoman Katie Mitzner. “The next testing will be Brevard (County), which right now is scheduled for Thursday.” Sheriff Eric Flowers raised $40,300 in the first month of his re-election campaign. He also took in more than $22,106 in inkind contributions. However, all but four of those in-kind contributions – they totaled more than $19,600 – came from Flowers himself. According to Flowers’ July 10 filing with the county’s Supervisor of Elections Office, most of the “Candidate to Themselves” contributions were campaign items that appeared to be left over from his successful 2020 run for sheriff. They included clothing, signage, bumper stickers, balloons, pens, cups, plasticware, business cards, envelopes, party supplies, pop-up tents, folding tables, coolers, cornhole boards, a generator and golf cart wrap with logo seats. Signs and frames accounted for more than $9,500 of the in-kind contributions the 43-year-old sheriff made to his campaign. Flowers did not respond to an email sent by Vero News asking him to explain the in-kind conBy Samantha Rohlfing Baita | Staff Writer [email protected] INSIDE To advertise call: 772-559-4187 For circulation or where to pick up your issue call: 772-226-7925 NEWS HEALTH PETS REAL ESTATE 1-7 8 B8 15 ARTS GAMES CALENDAR B1 B9 B12 © 2023 Vero Beach 32963 Media LLC. All rights reserved. MY TAKE BY RAY MCNULTY By Ray McNulty | Staff Writer [email protected] The stories we could tell about this Mom ... July 27, 2023 | Volume 10, Issue 30 | Newsstand Price: $1.00 | For breaking news visit VeroNews.com YOUR LOCAL NEWS SOURCE FOR INDIAN RIVER COUNTY IT’S A GAME-CHANGER: DEMAND FOR HEALTH COACHES ON THE RISE Your Health, Page 8 RETIREE HARD AT WORK CREATING WONDERFUL ART Arts & Theatre, P. B2 Flowers has raised far less than rival in race for sheriff CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 By George Andreassi | Staff Writer CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 CONTINUED ON PAGE 4 Brightline tests give taste of speedy trains to come CONTINUED ON PAGE 6 Crisis situation as shelter stops taking in animals FILE PHOTO

dren, ages 11 to 18; she has been married for 19 years; she was a stay-at-home mom for more than a decade; and she served on the Indian River County School Board. There’s only what she wants everyone to know – not what we know, and not what the rest of the country needs to know about the face of a small-but-vocal group that claims to have 120,000 members and 285 chapters in 44 states. Truth is, we haven’t seen much of Justice the past couple of years. She’s not active in our local discourse, and there’s not much appetite in this community for the concocted cause she champions elsewhere. Instead, you’ll find her in Tallahassee, or Washington, D.C., or anywhere else she can attract an audience for the polarizing propaganda the Moms spout under the guise of advocating for parental rights. She knows she has no platform here. We saw how little Justice offered in the way of public service during her often-chaotic stint on our School Board, where she wasted too much of everyone’s time squabbling childishly with then-chair Laura Zorc. Justice regularly provoked conflict and stirred controversy with petty antics and snarky remarks that antagonized Zorc and too often dragged the board into crippling dysfunction. “There has been tension since Day 1 with Mrs. Justice,” Zorc said during a 2021 board workshop, referring to a strained relationship that other board members say made them uncomfortable. Mara Schiff, a Florida Atlantic University professor who shared the dais with Justice and Zorc for two years, said: “The ongoing cat-fighting was both toxic and embarrassing to me as an elected member of the School Board. “More significantly, though, it took both time and attention from the far more important school board matters around actual education governance,” she added. “It was undignified, it was unprofessional and, in my opinion, it was juvenile.” Throughout her term, Justice proved she was ill-equipped for – and overmatched by – a job that required more than simply caring about children. She lacked the maturity to handle scrutiny and the mettle to absorb criticism, whether from the public, other board members or the local press. And there was plenty to criticize, especially her foolish attacks on this newspaper, which endeavored to provide its readers with tough-but-fair coverage of Justice and the board. In fact, a review of Justice’s district phone records revealed a troubling text-message conversation between her and then-superintendent Mark Rendell in March 2019, when she wrote she was going to “takedown” the weekly paper. Those same phone records also showed that Rendell spoke to and texted with Justice noticeably more than he did with other 2 July 27, 2023 VeroNews/Sebastian River News | LOCAL NEWS www.veronews.com CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 MY TAKE Annette O’Malley, 81, wife of Peter O’Malley, president, Los Angeles Dodgers (1970-1998), passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her family after a longstanding lung illness on July 19, 2023 in Los Angeles. For 50 years, she always looked forward to spring training with her family at unique Dodgertown, Vero Beach, FL, now known as the Jackie Robinson Training Complex. The O’Malleys developed many longtime friends in Indian River County. In 2015, the O’Malleys and Terry O’Malley Seidler hosted a Thanksgiving family reunion at Dodgertown, including dinner at Vero’s McKee Botanical Garden around the world’s largest one-piece mahogany table, then on loan and since donated by Peter to McKee. The daughter of Dr. Alfred and Tove Zacho, Annette was born February 1, 1942 in Copenhagen. She was introduced to Peter O’Malley in 1970 through mutual friend Lauritz Melchior, the renowned Danish Heldentenor opera star, who hosted a dinner party and sat the two next to each other. She was in Los Angeles while taking a leave from her position as costume supervisor and designer at Copenhagen’s Royal Danish Theatre to look for opportunities in L.A.’s film industry. Several nights later, Peter invited her to the Hollywood Bowl. One year later, the couple was married July 10, 1971 at St. Ansgar’s Roman Catholic Church in Copenhagen. Several friends from Vero Beach joined the wedding party. Annette attended the Bernadotte School in Copenhagen; the Croydon College of Art in London; and the Academie de la Grande Chaumiere in Paris, pursuing her passion for design and graphics. For decades, Annette was active as a volunteer for numerous charitable causes and events, including the Los Angeles Music Center’s Amazing Blue Ribbon 400, a women’s support organization since 1971, where she was on its board of directors for many years. In 2022, Annette was made an honorary member of the organization’s board. She served as a member of Harvard-Westlake School’s Board of Trustees. Annette made many trips abroad with Peter in support of international baseball and, on October 7, 1984, was invited by South Korea Baseball Commissioner Gen. Jyong-Chul Suh to throw the ceremonial first pitch prior to Game 7 of the professional Korea Championship Series in Seoul. Her many interests included friends, skiing, horses, reading, swimming, music and life. Her family and the Dodgers were the loves of her life and she is survived by Peter, her husband of 52 years, their three adult children – Katherine, Kevin and Brian – eight grandchildren (Chloe, Peter, Grace, Brendan, Brooke, Margaret, Autumn & Julian), and her sister Merete Lunn. Service for immediate family was held. Annette O’MAlley tributions and identify which of them were initially acquired for his 2020 campaign. He spent $234,445 during that COVID-impacted race. Even with the in-kind contributions he made to his 2024 campaign, the combined $62,406 Flowers raised last month was considerably less than the $128,500 collected by his top challenger. Sheriff’s Captain Milo Thornton, a familiar face in the community but a political newcomer, raised $127,500 in money – plus another $1,000 in in-kind contributions – in the first month of his campaign after filing to run in April. He has since added $76,300 in May and $20,300 in June, bringing his monetary-contributions tally to nearly $224,000. Donations to a “Friends of Milo Thornton” political action committee give him a war chest of more than $300,000. As of mid-July, Thornton’s campaign had spent nearly $12,000 of that money. Fellsmere Police Chief Keith Touchberry, who also is seeking the Republican nomination for sheriff in 2024, filed to run in November and has raised nearly $68,000. The 59-year-old runner-up to Flowers in the 2020 primary, he already has spent more than $18,000 on his campaign. Deborah Cooney, a 60-year-old former bank executive, is running again as a no-party-affiliation candidate after suffering a landslide loss to Flowers in the 2020 general election. As of a week ago, her campaign had raised $5,400, and she already had spent more than $4,000 of that amount. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 SHERIFF’S FUNDRAISING

Serving mainland Indian River County VeroNews/Sebastian River News | LOCAL NEWS July 27, 2023 3 710 15th Pl., Vero Beach, FL 32960 I 772.999.3292 VBAutoSports.net Hours: Mon-Fri: 9:30 am - 5:30 pm Saturday: 10am - 4pm I Closed Sunday Buy I Sell I Trade I Consignment I Financing 2015 Mercedes-Benz E-350 4M. Wag., 81K Mi. 2007 Mercedes-Benz CLK Coupe, 39K Mi. 2011 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible, 10K Mi. 2002 Ford Thunderbird Premium, 42K Mi. 2015 Porsche Cayman PDK, 36K Mi. 2015 BMW 435i X-Drive Conv., 51K Mi. $17K $21K $29K $24K $41K $48K Family Owned & Operated NOW OFFERING Vero’s Exclusive Destination for Exciting Automobiles Specializing in Exotic, Luxury & Collectible Automobiles RECONDITIONING | DETAILING board members. Most of their exchanges concerned district business, but many others resembled friendly and occasionally personal conversations. That could explain Justice’s fierce and relentless defense of Rendell, who, as I wrote at the time, “struggled noticeably during a tumultuous tenure marked by scandal, controversy and other problems resulting from his many wrongheaded decisions.” It was Justice’s very public and unwavering support of Rendell, however, that spawned rumors of an inappropriate relationship – which made headlines when she tried unsuccessfully to have a longtime school district employee criminally prosecuted and fired for alluding to such gossip in social media posts. Though Justice initiated the vendetta, which involved the Sheriff’s Office and produced a stream of news reports and columns that generated more publicity than the Twitter posts deserved, she naively blamed this newspaper for keeping the story alive. Later, during a Florida School Board Association training session in March 2021, Justice accused Zorc of being the source of those rumors. Justice said she didn’t trust Zorc, then whined about the lack of support she received from others on the dais, claiming that the board members’ reluctance to rally around her amid the rumors was why she “felt so miserable” around them. Zorc denied the accusation, saying at the session, “I had nothing to do with those rumors.” She also defended her actions in dealing with Justice’s questioning of her board leadership. More disturbing, though, was Justice’s manipulation of the board and its secretary to call what was an unlawful meeting in April 2019, after the panel voted to not extend Rendell’s contract beyond 2020. When Rendell offered to resign, Justice promptly skirted board rules and arranged a special-call meeting at which she attempted to convince the panel to use taxpayer dollars to give Rendell the severance package he sought. It wasn’t until after Justice and board member Jackie Rosario engaged in a heated verbal exchange – Rosario called Justice a “liar” – that Justice finally admitted she had called the meeting, even though she lacked the statutory authority to do so. The board members ultimately rejected Justice’s efforts to hand Rendell a payoff, which he didn’t deserve after leaving the district in a financial and administrative mess. Days later, they would learn he had already accepted a job as the principal at Cocoa Beach Junior/Senior High School. This episode, however, was yet another example of Justice putting her own agenda and need to settle personal scores above the collective efforts of the board and best interests of the school district. That would be the underlying theme of her four-year term and, ultimately, her legacy in this community. That, and shameless hypocrisy. For example: Justice, who continues to embrace the efforts of Moms chapters across the U.S. to remove from school libraries books it deems inappropriate, was a member of the School Board that approved the purchase of some of those books here. Justice, who was neither seen nor heard here as our county’s Moms chapter pushed successfully in May for the repeal of the School Board’s racial equity policy, was a member of the previous board that voted unanimously to adopt the policy in 2020. Justice, whose group says it will not “partner with government” and claims to be nonpartisan, participated in the strategy session last winter when Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the names of 14 incumbent school board members he’s targeting for defeat in next year’s elections. DeSantis’ hit list, by the way, includes two incumbents here – lifelong Republican Brian Barefoot, a former Indian River Shores mayor whose 2020 candidacy convinced Justice not to seek a second term, and current chair, Peggy Jones, who might be the most qualified and effective school board member in the county’s history. Also, several prominent Republicans, including DeSantis and former president Donald Trump, spoke at the supposedly nonpartisan Moms’ summit, which news reports say attracted about 700 people. At that summit, Justice was cheered as if she were a rock star, promoting the group’s core belief that parents – not trained educators, particularly those who work in public schools – should decide what and how to teach their children. Justice carried that same arrogant and combative attitude to Beachland Elementary School during the COVID-19 epidemic in April 2021, when, no longer a board member, she visited her son’s classroom, ostensibly because he was struggling with wearing a mask. While there, however, Justice’s disruptive behavior instigated on-campus confrontations with her son’s teacher, Beachland’s principal and even Assistant School Superintendent Scott Bass, who was summoned to the scene. You’d think the national news media would want to know all this – get to know the Tiffany Justice we know. Maybe they’ll call today. FILE PHOTO Tiffany Justice.

There is simply no more room to house any additional cats and dogs until local residents adopt those already in the shelter. The overwhelming supply of unwanted and homeless pets, as compared to demand, is not just a local problem. Shelters across the country are experiencing similar overcrowding. The crisis has come on the heels of the COVID-19 pandemic, during which millions of people, confined to their homes, began adopting pets for comfort and companionship – and are now finding their work and school schedules too busy to care for them. That, coupled with housing challenges, families relocating or struggling financially due to high inflation – which has sent the cost of pet food through the roof – has forced too many to give up the pets they adopted. “The decision to temporarily close the admissions department was by no means an easy one,” said CEO Kate Meghji, and Kinsley said the HSVB found it disheartening that initial public reaction to the move has largely been negative and critical. “But the overwhelming surge in intakes made it necessary to ensure the safety and well-being of the animals already in the shelter’s care … and ensure that we can continue providing quality care and attention to every animal under our protection,” Meghji said. She stressed that despite the temporary closure, the Humane Society “remains committed to finding forever homes for the animals currently in their care, and adoption services are still available.” Meanwhile, H.A.L.O., a no-kill shelter located on U.S. 1 in Sebastian, is also dealing with the pressures of limited space and an influx of animals. CEO Jackie Petrone says H.A.L.O. always has a waiting list and works with other shelters and individuals who foster, in order to find space for the animals in need who find their way to the North County shelter. “Intakes are much harder this year across the country,” Petrone observed. “Surrenders are up, euthanasia is up, adoptions are down, the economy is down, the cost of pet food is up, it’s more expensive to adopt. “We’re having a Clear the Shelter event in August, but the momentum is down. We’re always at capacity. It’s a daily juggle. The animal world is not warm and fuzzy these days,” Petrone said. Amid this overpopulation at the Humane Society, Meghji recently announced that she will be leaving effective Aug. 8 after nearly five years at the helm to move out of state. During her tenure, Meghji spearheaded several groundbreaking programs, including earning no-kill status, ensuring no healthy or treatable animals would be euthanized because of lack of space, resources or time. She will take a position with the Humane Rescue Alliance in Washington, D.C. to “advocate for the welfare of animals on a broader scale.” 4 July 27, 2023 VeroNews/Sebastian River News | LOCAL NEWS www.veronews.com CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 ANIMAL SHELTER FULL NEWS OTHERS MISS, OR CHOOSE TO IGNORE | PUBLISHED WEEKLY MILTON R. BENJAMIN President and Publisher | [email protected] | 772.559.4187 LOCATED AT 4855 NORTH A1A, VERO BEACH, FL 32963 | 772.226.7925 STEVEN M. THOMAS Managing Editor | [email protected] | 772.453.1196 DAN ALEXANDER Creative Director | [email protected] | 772.539.2700 Associate Editor: Paul Keaney, Asst. Managing Editor: Lisa Zahner, Society Editor: Mary Schenkel, Reporters: Stephanie LaBaff, Ray McNulty, Samantha Rohlfing Baita, George Andreassi, Columnists: Kerry Firth, Ellen Fischer, Tina Rondeau, The Bonz, Photographer: Joshua Kodis, Graphic Designers: Robert Simonson, Jennifer Greenaway, Tania Donghia-Wetmore JUDY DAVIS Director of Advertising [email protected] | 772.633.1115 KATHLEEN MACGLENNON | [email protected] | 772.633.0753 MARIO CORBICIERO | [email protected] | 772.559.5999 ADVERTISING SALES PHOTOS: JOSHUA KODIS

Brightline plans to operate 32 trains per day between Orlando and South Florida, 16 in each direction between the hours of 5 a.m. and 12:20 a.m., starting Sept. 1. Tickets will sell for $79 and up for adults. Passenger trains will reach speeds of up to 110 mph in Indian River County, while Florida East Coast Railway operates approximately 20 freight trains per day at speeds ranging from 40-to-60 mph. Construction began in April 2019 on the $2.8 billion project, constructing highspeed railroad tracks between its West Palm Beach station and a new transit terminal at Orlando International Airport. Brightline upgraded the FECR tracks from West Palm Beach to Cocoa and built new high-speed railroad tracks along the Beachline Expressway/State Road 528 between Cocoa and Orlando International Airport. On June 21, Brightline celebrated the completion of construction on the 170-mile-long project. “Completing this project is the culmination of more than a decade of dedication, determination and hard work,” said Brightline CEO Mike Reininger, during the celebration. “We have built something remarkable.” Palm Beach County is evaluating plans for commuter service along the section of Brightline’s corridor north of West Palm Beach to Jupiter, according to Brightline’s March 2023 bond offering. As many as seven new commuter stations could be built along the route, including in Jupiter. But the 1,834-page Florida Development Finance Corp. document makes no mention of a Treasure Coast or Cocoa station. In the past, Brightline has said the location of a Treasure Coast station would be determined by a ridership study to be conducted five years after service starts between Orlando and South Florida. 6 July 27, 2023 VeroNews/Sebastian River News | LOCAL NEWS www.veronews.com Cash is king in Vero property market – and baby boomers have a lot of it Cash deals have always led the real estate parade here, especially in the upper end of the market. But now, in the post-pandemic world, pure, unadulterated cash plays an even bigger role in Vero’s property market, flowing more freely on the barrier island and spilling over onto the mainland – and a majority of it is coming from baby boomers. “Realistically, it comes down to the fact that baby boomers are the ones who have all the money,” said Berkshire Hathaway agent Chip Landers. His statement is backed up by Seniorliving.org, which reports that boomers possess 80 percent of personal assets in the United States, and by The Motley Fool financial website that says boomers have 70 percent of the country’s disposable income at their slightly arthritic fingertips. “It is all cash,” said Landers, who does a majority of his business on the mainland. “They cash out in the Northeast, selling their house for $1.5 million, and then come down here and buy for $500,000 and put the rest in the bank. Before the pandemic, my business was probably 70 percent financed and 30 percent cash. Today, 75 to 80 percent of my deals are all cash.” Landers is not alone. An interactive, color-coded map created by the Washington Post that shows the percentage of cash buyers by county blankets much of mainland Indian River County with dark shades of brown, indicating cash deals, accounting for 60 percent to 70 percent or more of real estate transactions. Of course, Vero’s barrier island is the deepest, darkest shade of brown from one end to the other, but the increase in cash is harder to detect beachside because greenbacks already predominated. “There’s absolutely been an increase in real cash buyers from a year or two years ago, when cash wasn’t really cash in many cases,” said Douglas Elliman broker-associate Sally Daley. “We always had 70 to 80 percent cash contracts but a good chunk – I’ll guestimate 60 percent – were putting cash on the contract to smooth the deal but actually securing cheap financing” at rates below 3 percent, the lowest in the history of mortgage financing. Facing unprecedented competition for houses, buyers wrote cash contracts to make their offers more attractive to sellers while still taking advantage of rock bottom mortgage rates – a strategy that entailed some risk. “To offer ... a contract free of all contingencies after the agreed upon inspection period – 10-15 days typically – many buyers with sufficient resources offered cash with no contingency to obtain financing, but in fact obtained financing to close the contract,” Daley explained. “Anybody who did this, of course, needed to have absolute confidence in their ability to get the loan, and have sufficient reserves to close in the unlikely event the financing was delayed or denied, as the contract would have no safety net to protect them. Once the inspection condition was removed, any contract free of conditions leaves only an obligation to perform on the buyer.” Now, with interest rates two and half times what they were on Jan. 1, 2021, when they dipped to a pandemic low of 2.65 percent, and prices much higher than they were before COVID-19 came along, the average financed buyer is looking at a monthly payment that’s double what it would have been in 2019 for the same house. So cash, if you’ve got it or can get it from “the bank of mom and dad,” has become more popular everywhere. According to the Washington Post, the percentage of cash contracts is the highest it has been in a decade. Not coincidentally, this flood of cash comes as baby boomers expand their share of the real estate market. “Baby boomers now make up 39 percent of homebuyers – the most of any generation – an increase from 29 percent last year,” according to “Home Buyers and Sellers Generational Trends,” an annual report from the National Association of Realtors. “Baby boomers have the upper hand in the homebuying market,” said Jessica Lautz, NAR deputy chief economist and vice president of research. “The majority of them are repeat buyers who have housing equity to propel them into their dream home – be it a place to enjoy retirement or a home near friends and family. They are living healthier and longer and making housing trades later in life.” Boomers – born between 1946 and 1964 – also reaped the greatest benefits of any generation from the biggest bull market ever witnessed on Wall Street. With a few ups and downs along the way, the Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped more than fourfold in the past 10 years and went up 1,000 percent over the past 30 years, from 3,500 in 1993 to more than 35,000 as of Monday, turning a $100,000 Clinton-era investment into $1 million today. As a result, boomers now possess more than $50 trillion in house wealth, stocks, bonds and other resources, according to Forbes. Other sources put the number at $60-$70 trillion. On top of whichever figure is correct, they are set to inherit another $15 trillion from their aging “silent generation” parents. And most of that wealth will be passed on By Steven M. Thomas | Staff Writer [email protected] New County Administrator John Titkanich and the County Commission have set out to reorganize the county government to better manage resources and be responsive to a rapidly growing population, and that’s already started with changes at the top. When County Attorney Dylan Reingold’s resignation becomes effective on Aug. 9, Deputy County Attorney Bill DeBraal will fill that position on a one-year employment agreement. “I’ve worked with Bill for 20 years. After watching him work so hard for 20 years, to have him lead the county attorney’s office is exciting for me,” said assistant county administrator Michael Zito. “He not only will serve the county well but he’ll be instrumental in selecting our next county attorney.” DeBraal’s position will be filled by Susan J. Prado, who has been with the Indian River County attorney’s office since 2019. In the new budget year which starts Oct. 1, Titkanich is adding two top leadership positions in his own office – an assistant county administrator for infrastructure and development, and an ombudsman who “will be available to work with our everyday citizens trying to navigate the development review process.” This reorganization will shift Zito to deputy county administrator, where he will oversee citizen services, encompassing Community Services (formerly General Services); Parks, Recreation & Conservation; Emergency Services; and the Sandridge Golf Course. “I’m very excited about the challenges that lie ahead,” said Zito, who served as the interim county administrator until Titkanich’s hiring. “The six months without having both a county administrator and an assistant, that was a challenge for me because there was no deputy there,” Zito said. “It also, as many challenges do, presented the opportunity to look at the organization and to restructure it. Once John got here, he elevated that mission to what we’re rolling out.” In Zito’s upcoming position change, which will go into effect on Oct. 1, he will also be in charge of special projects and events, alongside a newly created tourism liaison role. The management changes also reflect some succession planning, as Zito, DeBraal and other longtime county employees with massive institutional knowledge are nearing retirement. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 BRIGHTLINE TEST RUNS By Casey Stavenhagen | Staff Writer County re-organization starts at top

Serving mainland Indian River County VeroNews/Sebastian River News | LOCAL NEWS July 27, 2023 7 772-240-1417 Hiring Experienced Caregivers [email protected] www.tcoastangels.com • Meal Preparation • Hygiene Assistance • Light Housekeeping • Errands, Shopping, Walks • Medication Reminders • Affordable Hourly Rates • Hourly to 24 Hour Care • Temporary or Long Term Home Care Services Include: The School District of Indian River County will get less state and federal money in the coming school year than in 2022-23, but local property taxes, boosted by big gains in property values, will enable raises and improved benefits for the county’s public school teachers. The total proposed school district budget for the next year sits at just under $320 million, a $12.4 million increase from the previous year. The tax rate is set to decrease by 1.25 percent, from $5.98 per $1,000 of taxable value to $5.91 per $1,000 of taxable value, but in almost all cases, rising assessed property values will mean more school district taxes due this fall. Taxable property values districtwide increased by $4.5 billion this year. Residents with more expensive homes pay roughly $3,000 in school district property taxes for every half-million dollars in assessed property value. The budget was designed according to the ACHIEVE 2025 District Strategic Plan, which is packed with jargon like “alignment of academic improvement processes” and “increased focus on programmatic evaluation.” The district says that so far, its strategy has translated to “unprecedented levels of success and growth” on state tests. Indian River County public schools have improved their state rankings in many subjects and categories – most notably jumping from 46th in the state to 12th in the state on biology end-of-course exam scores, and from 31st in the state to seventh in the state in third-grade English scores. Of the school district’s $207 million general fund, 70 percent goes to teacher salaries, benefits and personnel costs, including $28.3 million for “talent development and support.” The balance pays for utilities, equipment, supplies and fuel for fleet vehicles. With its buildings and sports venues aging, the school district’s capital outlay fund is increasing by $7 million this coming year. Each middle school will get one additional dean, behavior technicians were added for elementary schools, and four ROTC teacher positions for the high schools rounded out new faculty positions in the budget. The district spends 3 percent of its overall budget on the superintendent’s office, school board offices, communication, engagement and public information. COUNTY SCHOOL SPENDING BUOYED BY HUGE HIKE IN PROPERTY VALUES By Casey Stavenhagen | Staff Writer to their children and grandchildren – some of it in the form cash allotments used to purchase homes that Gen Xers and millennials often cannot afford on their own. “Between higher home prices, higher interest rates, higher insurance costs and all the rest, it’s tough for younger people to get their foot in the door without help from the bank of mom and dad,” Landers says. “Whether a baby boomer is in the buyer’s market looking to downsize or fund a child’s purchase, it is this group that has allowed the housing market to remain buoyant,” according to a report from nbcnews.com. “With the pandemic lift in home values, equity-rich boomers are uniquely qualified to remain in the market, regardless of the interest rate environment,” says Daley. “There is no doubt that boomers and their wealth create a dynamic that is helping keep the market afloat.” Looking ahead, island brokerages are well positioned to benefit from that dynamic. Boomers range in age from 57 to 75 this summer. About half of them are 65 or older, with 10,000 more crossing into traditional retirement territory each day. That is good for Vero Beach because the city attracts way more than its fair share of people 65 and older. The latest census figures show that 16.8 percent of U.S. residents are 65 or older, but in Florida the percentage is 21.1 percent, the second-highest percentage in the country, after Maine. And Indian River County far outstrips the state in this category, with people 65 and older making up 35.2 percent of the population, more than double the national average. The number of 65 and older residents on the barrier island is even higher, estimated now at about 55 percent. Because Vero Beach has attracted a disproportionate number of people 65 and older in the past – boomers with cash looking for houses – it is likely that trend will continue as the group keeps up its rapid expansion.

8 July 27, 2023 VeroNews/Sebastian River News | YOUR HEALTH www.veronews.com Game changers: Health coaches gain in popularity, influence Do you think health coaches are just for the rich and famous? According to Forbes Magazine, the new focus on health and wellness that is partly a consequence of the pandemic has people of all ages, genders and socioeconomic levels flocking to these experts. Harvard Medical School says that people tend to hire health coaches to help them with a broad variety of issues, including the management of chronic health conditions, adjusting to a life-altering health events such as a heart attack, weight loss, stress reduction and quitting tobacco. Toni Armbruster, MS, NBC-HWC, a board-certified health coach who practices in Vero Beach, loves to help people get their lives on track. Whether it’s starting on a healthier diet or learning how to handle stress, the first thing she asks prospective clients is, “What are you trying to gain? Do you need someone to help you set goals?” A major part of her practice is helping people with conditions such as diabetes or elevated cholesterol make lifestyle changes aimed at improving their health. The NBHWC (National Board for Health & Wellness Coaching) states that health coaches work in various settings – some on healthcare teams alongside physicians and other health professionals as part of an integrative approach to client care, others in digital health, providing online coaching. Some work in community-based programs while others have entrepreneurial operations. Armbruster took 40 hours of training with a qualified health coach while pursuing certification. She had to demonstrate her coaching skill by coaching the coach. She then applied for – and received – board-certification from NBHWC in 2021. She must complete 36 hours of additional certification training every three years. “The industry is working towards strengthening the relationship between doctors and certified health coaches,” Armbruster says. “A billing/coding system is being developed so that doctors can refer patients to us for certifiable lifestyle changes.” The National Society of Health Coaches says that the job outlook for health coaches in 2023 and beyond is positive. The industry is expected to grow at a rate of 6.7 percent annually through 2030, reaching an expected worth of nearly $20 billion by 2026, $23 billion by 2028 and $26 billion by 2030. Titles of practitioners in the booming field can be confusing and have lots of gray areas, warns Armbruster. “You need to be cautious when choosing someone with whom to work,” she adds. There are people who call themselves health coaches who haven’t had much training in the field and other people who don’t call themselves health coaches who have great credentials and are more than capable of helping you get on the path to wellness. Registered and licensed dietitians have years of high-level education in their field and have passed rigorous qualifying exams and certifications on the way to their designations. Although they technically aren’t health coaches, they have the background, education and skills to function as a health coach, expanding their advice beyond just diet. Nutritionist Alicia Cost, MS RDN LDN, is the principal of Cost Effective RD, which serves Vero Beach and the entire Treasure Coast. She is an example of a professional who is highly qualified to help her clients achieve better health through better diet, habits and lifestyle. Cost finds that more and more people are coming to her practice wanting help with medical conditions. “I use the SMART method of goal setBy Jackie Holfelder | Correspondent Toni Armbruster, MS, NBC-HWC. PHOTO: JOSHUA KODIS “The industry is working towards strengthening the relationship between doctors and certified health coaches.” - Toni Armbruster, MS, NBC-HWC

Serving mainland Indian River County VeroNews/Sebastian River News | YOUR HEALTH July 27, 2023 9 ting,” she says. “I help people under - stand why they do what they do.” The SMART method is a framework that helps people create a clearly defined and detailed plan for succeeding at their goals. It’s an acronym that stands for: • Specific • Measurable • Attainable • Relevant • Time-bound This method has been praised for en - couraging people to write down their goals and helping them to commit to the steps necessary for success. Cost says many clients she sees are motivated to make changes after some - one close to them has had a serious health problem. “If someone in the fam - ily has passed away, my clients are will - ing to embark on the long- and shortterm goals they need for a healthier lifestyle. Losing weight, exercising – the very things that may help you avoid ever having to get on meds at all, especially cholesterol drugs. “It’s important to find a person who is an excellent listener, gives you their full attention, and takes your concerns se - riously when you’re choosing someone with whom to work,” she adds. A health and wellness coach needs empathy, passion and a drive to em - power others. Some might even draw on their own life journey to relate on a deeper level with their clients to create a non-judgmental environment for them. Most people want to take a more ac - tive role in their health to experience the benefits of good health but many don’t have the tools to do it. Every January first, New Year’s resolutions are made. For a few weeks, gyms are packed and salad kits fly off grocery shelves. Yet by February, more than 80 percent have abandoned our goals. Common challenges to lifestyle change include: • Lack of time. • Lack of accountability. • Lack of motivation. • Stress and mental or physical ex - haustion. Most people want to do better but most fail when they attempt to make changes. Professionals like Armbruster and Cost can help them to get where they want – and need – to be. “It’s never too late to change and ad - just,” says Cost. “Sometimes even the smallest steps are enough to get us start - ed on the right path to a healthier life.” Toni Armbruster has a master’s degree in Exercise Science and Health Promotion with a concentration in Health Coaching from California University of Pennsyl - vania. She is a National Board-Certified Health and Wellness Coach, Wellcoaches Certified Health and Well-being Coach, and National Academy of Sports Medi - cine Certified Personal Trainer. She serves clients in Vero Beach and the Treasure Coast and is accepting new clients at bal - ancedlifewellbeing.com. Alicia Cost, MS, RDN, LDN, received an undergraduate degree in dietetics in 1989 and a master’s degree in nutrition in 2018 from Arizona State. She completed her internship in 1990 in Oakland County, Michigan. Her practice, Cost Effective RD, serves clients in Vero Beach and the Trea - sure Coast and she is accepting new cli - ents. She can be contacted at 772-242-3570 or costeffectiverd.com.

10 July 27, 2023 VeroNews/Sebastian River News | YOUR HEALTH www.veronews.com Florida is the fastest growing state in the nation, according to new Census Bureau data, with approximately 900 people per day arriving to live here in recent years – which is making an existing shortage of doctors worse. To combat the shortage, Florida State University has opened seven satellite community-based medical school campuses around the state – including one in Fort Pierce that has already supplied the Vero Beach area with several physicians. “Florida doesn’t have enough primary care, internal and family physicians to serve the population,” said Dr. Juliette Lomax-Homier, Dean of Florida State University College of Medicine-Fort Pierce. “There’s also a shortage in our area of gynecologists, obstetricians and geriatricians. That is one reason why FSU College of Medicine, which is based in Tallahassee, has seven satellite campus throughout the state including this one on the main campus of Indian River State College.” The Florida State University College of Medicine provides third- and fourth-year clinical training at regional medical schools around the state through affiliations with local physicians, ambulatory care facilities and hospitals. At the Fort Pierce regional campus, students are given the opportunity to rotate in family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, surgery, obstetrics-gynecology, psychiatry, geriatrics and emergency medicine. Recently, FSU College of Medicine added physician assistant students who spend one year of clinical time on the campus. “Right now, we have 37 enrolled,” said Dr. Lomax-Homier. “Seventeen of them are third-year students, nine are doing their rotations and eight are physician assistant students. We have at least 300 local doctors and physician assistants who serve as our faculty to teach our collective groups of students with clerkship directors assigned for each specialty to implement the curriculum of those particular topics for students as they rotate.” Students attend lectures on campus on Wednesday mornings, but the rest of the week they are doing hands-on clinical training in the field with area doctors. These students are examining patients, watching surgeries, learning how to deliver babies and doing pediatric examinations. “Our doctors love teaching students, and while we do provide a small stipend, many physicians donate it back to the college for student scholarships,” Dr. Lomax-Homier continued. “We invite doctors in to do lectures within their specialty and they generally do this for free as a service to the medical community. None of us became physicians without the guidance of other physicians before us, so teaching our students is a way of giving back. “For the most part, patients welcome our students’ participation in their care,” Dr. Lomax-Homier said. “They understand that their physicians are teachers and that teaching physicians need to be most current in their practice because they have students who are learning from them and watching everything they do. Being a teaching physician adds to the level of service because those physicians work really hard to make sure they are up to date on all the newest procedures and technology. “Until recently, local students had to leave the area to complete their internships and residencies because there were no programs in the area. Now, there are both internal and surgical residency programs at HCA Lawnwood Hospital. HCA St. Lucie Medical Center in Port St. Lucie offers residencies in family and emergency medicine.” Many of the students at the Fort Pierce campus have ties to South Florida and choose to study there so they can go home on weekends and stay close to family. “I have students at this campus who call Jupiter, Port St. Lucie, Coral Springs, Miami and Fort Lauderdale home,” said Dr. Lomax-Homier. “I even have one student who grew up in Port St. Lucie and is living at home while pursuing his education. It seems that every year I have one or two students who have grown up in the area and they can come back home and live for two years which helps decrease the overall costs.” FSU seeks students who are mission-driven to serve the elderly, minority and underserved populations of Florida, which is why their satellite campuses are located in areas that lack the number of physicians needed to serve the communiSatellite medical school campuses help combat doctor shortage By Kerry Firth | Correspondent

Serving mainland Indian River County VeroNews/Sebastian River News | YOUR HEALTH July 27, 2023 11 ty. Studying at the regional campus in Fort Pierce gives students an idea of what it is like to live in the area and the hope is they will return to practice in the community. “There are two people who have complet - ed residencies and come back to practice in Vero Beach and a few in Martin County,” said Dr. Lomax-Homier proudly. “There’s even a pathologist who works at the local medical examiner’s office. “We are thrilled that Indian River State College opened up a part of their campus for our college,” Dr. Lomax-Homier add - ed. “This is not an Indian River State Col - lege program but we at the FSU College of Medicine are grateful they are our landlords because of its central location and the ame - nities they provide for us. Our students are well cared for on their campus and proud to be part of the community.” Dr. Juliette Lomax-Homier received her medical degree from Boston University School of Medicine and completed her res - idency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Boston City Hospital. She relocated to Fort Pierce after residency to fulfill a commit - ment to the Health Service Corps, where she worked as a staff obstetrician and gynecolo - gist at a Federally Qualified Health Center in Fort Pierce. She became Dean of Florida State University College of Medicine-Fort Pierce Regional Campus in 2015. For more information about the campus visit med.fsu.edu/ ftpierce. “Florida doesn’t have enough primary care, internal and family physicians to serve the population.” -Dr. Juliette Lomax-Homier, Dean of Florida State University College of Medicine-Fort Pierce.

12 July 27, 2023 VeroNews/Sebastian River News | YOUR HEALTH www.veronews.com Dangerously hot days recently are prompting questions about when it’s too hot to exercise outdoors. The stakes are high. The consequences of a too-hot workout “range from feeling thirsty to death,” said Clare Minahan, a sports scientist at Griffith University in Australia. But figuring out when to trade that woodsy running path for the old treadmill is not as easy as glancing at a thermometer. Is there a simple rule I can follow? Everybody and every environment is different, experts caution. “There’s no magic formula,” Minahan said. “When I talk about a hard-and-fast number, the amount of gray area around that is quite enormous.” But there is some basic guidance about when you should move your workout indoors. Minahan said she would be “starting to think about” moving indoors when the temperature climbs above 86 degrees Fahrenheit. She would “really” think about it as it moves closer to 90 degrees, she added. In Australia, if the temperature hits 95 degrees, sporting events start getting canceled, said Minahan. And unless you are specifically conditioned to exercise in the heat, “at 95, I would absolutely think about doing it another time or finding an air-conditioned room to do it in,” she said. Early signs you’re getting too hot during exercise include developing a headache, feeling thirsty, general muscle weakness and even irritability, she said. If you start to feel chills, that can be an early sign of heat stroke. Be aware of humidity You also should consider your location. A hot day is likely to feel worse in humid climates. “It’s hard to breathe, almost. It feels like a pea soup,” Minahan said. When humidity is high, there’s so much moisture in the air that your sweat cannot evaporate to cool your skin. That is why it is often more comfortable to exercise in dry heat than in humid conditions. Many people “would absolutely think twice about exercising” in 86 degrees and 85 percent humidity, Minahan said, but 90 degrees at 30 percent humidity is “going to feel fine for some people.” Use a weather app Weather apps often give more information about the safety of outdoor activity. And some apps may include something called “wet-bulb” temperature, which accounts for heat and humidity together. Ollie Jay, the director of the Heat and Health Research Incubator at the University of Sydney, said the risk of working out in the heat depends on a complex set of Heated issue: How hot is too hot to exercise outside? By Kelsey Ables | The Washington Post

Serving mainland Indian River County VeroNews/Sebastian River News | YOUR HEALTH July 27, 2023 13 variables, including posted temperature, actual temperature in the sun, humidity, wind, the kind of clothing or equipment a person is wearing and how acclimated they are to the heat. Jay has devised a heat tool that allows users to select their city or ZIP code and an activity such as cycling, walking or distance running to determine the level of risk over the course of the day. Type in Dallas, for instance, and you’ll be told that temperatures even late into a July evening are in the “red” zone for long-distance running, which indicates extreme risk for heat stress. Jay notes that outdoor temperatures are typically measured in shaded areas. On its own, a straight temperature reading “means not a great deal,” he said. The temperature in sunny areas may be significantly higher than you expected on the basis of the weather report, he said. Jay advises exercising in shade “because that will at least expose you to the temperature that you think you’re being exposed to.” If you can, find an area that has a breeze. “That’s going to make a big, big difference,” he says. And wear loose-fitting clothing, which will enable sweat to evaporate from the skin more efficiently. You also should consider the surface on which you are exercising, Minahan says. Asphalt and concrete retain heat. “The climate temperature might be [95] degrees,” she said, “but if you’re running on a black road, at ground level, it’s a lot hotter.” Sheri Belafsky, a physician and director of the medical surveillance program at the University of California at Davis, noted that time of day matters, too. She encourages exercisers to be “very choosy” and to select the coolest part of the day to exercise, even if it means shaking up your schedule. Get acclimated to the heat Before going for the hot workout, it is important also to think about how much you’ve previously exercised in the heat and your level of aerobic fitness, Minahan says. “If you’re reasonably fit, not carrying a lot of extra weight, you’re going to be much better off,” she said, noting that those who are in good physical shape typically start sweating earlier and are better at cooling themselves. Be patient and give your body time to acclimate to the heat. You can acclimate to steamier conditions by building up the intensity and duration of your workouts over a few weeks, said Belafsky, the UC-Davis doctor. “Our bodies are very good at adapting to heat; it just takes time,” she said. Stay hydrated by drinking water a few hours before exercise and listen to your body during the workout. Individuals’ hydration needs vary depending on the activity and weather in which it is being done, and you do not want to overdo it. The best advice is to have water available during your workout and to drink when you’re thirsty. Gatorade or a similar drink are even better than water because they replace chemicals lost in sweat. The elderly are more vulnerable to heat. And many people do not know certain medications can affect heat regulation and sweating. Some oral contraceptives, for example, can increase the resting body temperature by nearly 1 degree Fahrenheit, Minahan says. Jay advises us to be mindful of our heart rate and perceived exertion, and how they compare to how we normally feel doing the same activity in cooler conditions. If your heart rate is noticeably higher in the heat, consider reducing intensity to maintain a heart rate to which you are accustomed. The bottom line: Be aware of heat and humidity conditions, hydrate, listen to your body while exercising and scale back when needed. “‘Do less’ is my shortest advice,” Belafsky said. Getting acclimated to the heat, exercising in shade and listening to your body can keep you safer if you’re exercising outdoors in a heat wave.

14 July 27, 2023 VeroNews/Sebastian River News | HEALTHY SENIOR The difference between normal and abnormal memory difficulties comes down to this: If you forget a name or where you left your keys, you’re probably OK. If you can’t remember how to brush your teeth, you need medical attention. Here are more memory problems that aren’t part of normal aging: • Noticeable deterioration of memory over several months. • Repeating stories you told only minutes before, or asking the same questions over and over. • Inability to keep track of what you did earlier in the day. • Forgetting how to do things you’ve done many times. • Getting lost in a familiar place. • Unexplained mood changes. • Forgetting common words when speaking or using the wrong words such as “phone” for “TV remote.” • Difficulty following directions. • Trouble deciding. • Difficulty handling money. That old saw about staying young at heart apparently works to improve your memory. According to one study, older people who believe age diminishes memory may be undermining their mental abilities. The study was done at North Carolina State University. The researchers worked with about 100 adults in two groups in their 60s and 70s. Participants were asked to do a series of tasks involving arithmetic and memorization. The researchers told some of those tested that their age might affect the test results. The study found that members of this group did worse than those who weren’t influenced by the testers. What does aging really do to your brain? We begin to lose brain cells slowly in our 20s. The body also starts to make less brain chemicals. Aging may affect memory by changing the way the brain stores and retrieves information. Your short-term and remote memories aren’t usually affected by aging. But your recent memory may be affected. That’s why you forget where you put your keys two hours ago. The following are some techniques you can use to help you remember things: • I’m listing this one first because it works every time for me. Put important items, such as your keys, in the same place every time. When I’ve lost my car keys, I’ve found them in the weirdest places. • When you can’t think of a word, go through the alphabet in your mind. When you get to the first letter of the word, you might recall it. • Jotting appointments and reminders on a calendar helps. Most cellphones have a calendar in them. I put everything I have to remember in my cell. • Make lists for everything – shopping, chores, items to take when traveling. • Rely on routines. If you associate lunch with taking your medicine, it will help you remember. Associations are important for remembering other things such as a route to a friend’s house. • When you are introduced to someone, repeat the person’s name to yourself several times. Vast difference in normal and abnormal memory woes By Fred Cicetti

‘MANE’ EVENT! 5010 21st St. SW in Casa Campo; 1-bedroom, 1.5-bath, 1,936-square-foot home on a 5.11-acre equestrian property that comes with a 2-stall barn with 2-bedroom, 1-bath apartment offered for $1,045,000 by AMAC Alex MacWilliam agent Toni Marie Belmonte: 772-413-1024 Amazing equestrian property sits on 5 lush acres

16 July 27, 2023 VeroNews/Sebastian River News | REAL ESTATE www.veronews.com ‘Mane’ event! Equestrian property sits on 5 lush acres Get away from it all, “far from the madding crowd,” in your own peaceful country retreat. This custom equestrian property features a light and airy 2022 home with all the conveniences, and a tidy two-stall barn with attached apartment, all on five velvety green, fenced acres dotted with mature oaks and fruit trees – coconut palms, pineapple plants, jackfruit, starfruit, banana – not to mention a pond with fish and turtles. Here you’ll enjoy glorious sunsets; your children or grandkids, nieces, nephews, pups or whoever can run and play to their heart’s content; share hours of precious family time in your fabulous, spacious outdoor kitchen; from horses to goldfish, bring all the pets you want, large and small; and you may have a hard time tearing yourself away when it is time to leave the premises. If this seems attractive or even irresistible to you, you must see this once-in-alifetime southwest county property for yourself. From the covered, south-facing, bigenough-for-a-couple-of-rocking-chairs front porch, through the glass French doors, step into the spacious central living area – beneath a vaulted ceiling are great room-dining room-island kitchen, all glowing with abundant natural light that fills the entire home through well placed, unadorned windows and French doors. The beautiful gray, wood-look ceramic tile flooring flows throughout the home, along with the white on white hues of walls, ceiling and trim. Window treatments are white and minimal, allowing views on all sides of the beautiful green acreage surrounding and sloping ever so gently downward from the structures. Across the great room, another set of glass French doors opens to the covered back porch, which offers a view of the broad fields, horse pen, fencing and woods beyond. The porch extends the length of the house. Off the great room to the left/west are the kitchen and dining room. The kitchen features handsome dove-gray wood By Samantha Rohlfing Baita | Staff Writer [email protected]

Serving mainland Indian River County VeroNews/Sebastian River News | REAL ESTATE July 27, 2023 17 cabinetry offset by beautiful oak butcher block countertops and multi-hued, cream/gold/brown backsplash. Black fridge, dishwasher, oven, vent and microwave add sophisticated punch. The two-level, L-shaped island features a snack bar with space for six stools. Off the kitchen to the front are the laundry room, a large pantry and the half-bath. In the northwest corner, the dining room receives natural light from double windows facing west and French doors to the back porch that face north, ensuring sublime views any time of day or evening, supplemented when night falls by a simple, graceful chandelier. The spacious bedroom suite occupies the home’s east side. It is a cool and welcoming space with windows to the east and north and a private door to the back porch. Soft ambient light illuminates this space by day, recessed lighting by night. A pair of walk-in closets, one large, one massive, line the hall to the bathroom. The bathroom itself continues the home’s gray tile flooring, gray cabinetry and pale walls, and sports a handsome mottled granite vanity top, two white basin sinks and black fixtures. Take special note of the long vanity mirror within its slim white frame. Inconspicuous buttons along the bottom control the mirror’s lighting, from no-nonsense makeup, shave, etc., to mood variations – amber, warm, etc. This sleek bathroom also contains a window to the south, a linen closet, a Neighborhood: Casa Campo • Year built: 2022 Construction: CBS, metal roof • Home size: 1,936 square feet Bedrooms: 3 – 1 in the main house, 2 in the barn apartment Bathrooms: 2 in the main house – 1 full, 1 half; and 1 full bath in the barn apartment Additional features: Central heat/air; a/c in barn apartment; high ceilings; island kitchen; walk-in closets; laundry room; French doors; tile flooring throughout; pond; full outdoor kitchen; fire pit; new water system; septic system; well; closed circuit cameras, key card entry, motion detectors; garage w/ opener; RV access; chickens and ducks optional! Listing agency: AMAC Alex MacWilliam Listing agent: Toni Marie Belmonte, 772-413-1024 Listing price: $1,045,000 FEATURES FOR 5010 21ST ST. SW CONTINUED ON PAGE 19

18 July 27, 2023 VeroNews/Sebastian River News | REAL ESTATE www.veronews.com MAINLAND REAL ESTATE SALES: JULY 17 THROUGH JULY 21 TOP SALES OF THE WEEK A moderately busy week for mainland real estate sales saw 34 transactions of single-family resi- dences and lots reported (some shown below). The top sale of the week was in Vero Beach, where the 3-bedroom, 3-bathroom waterfront home at 8 Tarpon Dr. – listed in January for $2,350,000 – sold for a cool $2,000,000 on July 19. Representing the seller in the transaction was agent Sarah Garner of Dale Sorensen Real Estate Inc. SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENCES AND LOTS ORIGINAL SELLING TOWN ADDRESS LISTED ASKING PRICE SOLD PRICE VERO BEACH 8 TARPON DR 1/6/2023 $2,350,000 7/19/2023 $2,000,000 VERO BEACH 1410 46TH AVE 3/14/2023 $1,395,000 7/21/2023 $1,000,000 VERO BEACH 3025 PAR DR 1/25/2023 $975,000 7/17/2023 $880,000 VERO BEACH 4480 6TH PL SW 6/3/2023 $649,900 7/18/2023 $640,000 VERO BEACH 2322 VERO BEACH AVE 6/17/2023 $595,000 7/20/2023 $585,000 SEBASTIAN 1557 CROWBERRY LN 5/22/2023 $549,900 7/20/2023 $540,000 VERO BEACH 1775 BELMONT CIR SW 4/11/2023 $550,000 7/20/2023 $525,000 VERO BEACH 1609 SEGOVIA CIR 2/23/2023 $525,000 7/17/2023 $479,000 SEBASTIAN 452 SEAGRASS AVE 5/13/2023 $425,000 7/18/2023 $417,000 VERO BEACH 3385 63RD SQ 1/16/2023 $450,000 7/17/2023 $415,000 VERO BEACH 8171 WESTFIELD CIR 3/22/2023 $399,900 7/17/2023 $390,000 VERO BEACH 4705 STEPHANIE LN SW 10/6/2022 $519,000 7/17/2023 $390,000 VERO BEACH 6128 SPICEWOOD LN 6/23/2023 $379,000 7/21/2023 $379,000 SEBASTIAN 1186 COVERBROOK LN 7/18/2022 $381,600 7/18/2023 $376,900 Stats were pulled 7/22/23 11:17 AM

Serving mainland Indian River County VeroNews/Sebastian River News | REAL ESTATE July 27, 2023 19 HERE ARE SOME OF THE TOP RECENT INDIAN RIVER COUNTY REAL ESTATE SALES. Listing Date: Original Price: Sold: Selling Price: Listing Agent: Selling Agent: 3/14/2023 $1,395,000 7/21/2023 $1,000,000 Rick Winner Ziro Realty Chris Mickley Douglas Elliman Florida LLC 1410 46th Ave, Vero Beach Listing Date: Original Price: Sold: Selling Price: Listing Agent: Selling Agent: 1/25/2023 $975,000 7/17/2023 $880,000 Heather Reeb Proctor Kennedy Properties LLC Kimberly Taylor Dale Sorensen Real Estate Inc. 3025 Par Dr, Vero Beach w/c and a white subway-tiled shower with white/gray/black mosaic tiled floor. Off the back porch to the west is the gorgeous covered kitchen. It rests on a concrete slab supporting a pavilion with string lighting, a ceiling fan, plenty of room for seating, a sink, counter space, gas grill and smoker. The barn houses an apartment with two bedrooms, a bathroom with tub/shower, and a kitchenette with space for microwave and small fridge. The other side of the barn offers two roomy stalls and lots of space for tack, grain storage and a workshop – a very flexible space indeed. There is power and water here as well. Owner Georgia Dillon says what she loves best about her exceptional home are the amazing sunsets – and the way her grandkids can run and play all day long. She points out a long, narrow pathway leading aisle-like across the grass at the front of the house to a charming white gazebo. It was built for a wedding, she explains, and several couples have had their nuptials there. Now it is time for the owners to find their next chapter and this exceptional country home to find its new family – humans and animals. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17

Take the family to something wonderful. It’s the Tour de Turtles Loggerhead Turtle release. It begins 8:30 a.m. Sunday, July 30, at the Barrier Island Center, Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge, 8385 S. Highway A1A in Melbourne Beach. This is the 16th annual Tour de Turtles. The live release is also happening in Costa Rica, Panama and Nevis, a small Caribbean island. The event is hosted by the Sea Turtle Conservancy. For more information, visit TourDeTurtles.org. The Pareidolia Brewing Company’s annual “Open Golf Scramble” runs 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, July 29, at the Sandridge RESILIENT RESCUES RILEY AND RUGER CONTINUED ON PAGE B4 AT 'LOGGERHEADS' OVER SUNDAY PLANS? TRY TOUR DE TURTLES By Pam Harbaugh | Correspondent Coming Up 1 HEALTH COACHES 15 GAINING INFLUENCE 8 HOUSE OF THE WEEK: EQUESTRIAN PROPERTY B8 ‘SO MANY THINGS I WANT TO DO’ RETIREE BRINGS HER CREATIVE IDEAS TO LIFE PAGE B2 2

B2 July 27, 2023 VeroNews/Sebastian River News | ARTS & THEATRE www.veronews.com Grace Cormier produces works in a variety of artistic mediums, moving from one category to another without skipping a beat. Her repertoire ranges from paintings and sculpture to textile fiber art, jewelry and mixed media; each artform creatively conceived and equally well executed. Cormier says that while she first began creating art as a little girl, that pursuit was put on pause when work consumed the majority of her time. “But when I retired five years ago, my mind exploded with all of my ideas of what I always wanted to do, but I hadn’t had time. It’s not new ideas that I am experimenting with, it’s all the ideas I already had, and they finally have the time to come alive,” says Cormier. “There are still so many things I want to do.” Born and raised in Poland until age 18, Cormier was adopted by her aunt in the U.S., and came to Florida in 1972, where her green card was waiting. She entered high school in Miami as a senior, despite not speaking a word of English. She earned a degree in business administration from Miami Dade College and also studied at Allstate Construction College and Sheffield School of Interior Design, obtaining a general contractor license and an interior design license. Utilizing those skills, Cormier owned and operated a construction firm and worked as an interior design consultant. After spending many years living on Long Island in New York and in New Brunswick, Canada, she longed for home, which, to her, was Florida. She returned in 2017 and continued working until she was able to retire, whereupon she could devote all her time to art. “In most of my paintings, sculptures, textile fiber art and jewelry I use recycled silks, plant-dyed fabrics, repurposed vintage rusted drills or nails for unique patina dyeing, copper, brass, bamboo sheath, and gemstones from around the world,” says Cormier. She notes that 99.9 percent of the fabrics she uses for textile artworks are recycled. “I buy used clothing, linen and silk, all natural fibers, all hand dyed. I start with a single piece of fabric, and it builds from there.” Cormier explains that she concentrates on the balance of color, shape and texture, working spontaneously while letting the piece come into being. “Each piece is created with the desire to express the beauty in its simplicity and appreciation for imperfection of our nature.” Cormier has recently begun creating textile pieces based on the Japanese aesthetics philosophy of Wabi-Sabi, which she says incorporates “rustic elegance, impermanence and imperfect simplistic beauty,” and Boro, based on the Japanese technique of mending or patching together old fabrics. The results are unique artworks made from recycled natural fabrics, such as linen, silk and wool, hand sewn in a pleasing and balanced fashion. Cormier says she begins by pinning fabric pieces onto a solid backing, moving the pinned pieces around until the desired design is formed. Her fiber art, she says, is not supposed to be functional; it is just something to look at. An example is “Blue Heron,” a textile artwork of linen and silk. In it, a drawing of the heron is the main focus, to which she added five hand-cut layers of fabric, sewn to the backing in a layered design around the bird. She says this particular piece was very time consuming, taking more than 70 hours to complete. Her textile art piece “Wabi Sabi Red #2,” hand-dyed flax linen stitched onto canvas, is currently on display at the Vero Beach Museum of Art in the juried exhibition, Treasure Coast Creates: A Tribute to Local Artists. And a painting created for a Gallery 14 show last year combined colors and texture into a dimensional acrylic abstraction of the Ukrainian flag. She Retiree hard at work bringing her creative ideas to life BY DEBBIE TIMMERMANN CORRESPONDENT Grace Cormier. PHOTOS: JOSHUA KODIS

Serving mainland Indian River County VeroNews/Sebastian River News | ARTS & THEATRE July 27, 2023 B3 named it “Love and Peace,” as opposed to Tolstoy’s “War and Peace.” Cormier also created a unique textile sculpture, “Runway Fashion,” using a base of chicken wire layered with recycled and repurposed elements to fashion a ‘dress’ with a bust and skirt that featured a decorative belt from a belly dancer’s costume, beads, ribbon, feathers, jewelry and vintage trinkets. That sculpture earned Third Place in the state-wide 100% Pure Florida Show at the 5th Avenue Gallery in Melbourne. Another piece, “Lightning Thunder,” a mixed-media abstract of acrylic, ink and textured glaze, won First Place in the Life on Our Lagoon art show at the Eau Gallery in Melbourne to benefit the Marine Resources Council. A women’s face is visible in the central portion of the painting, which Cormier says gives it a spiritual connection, as she hadn’t painted the face intentionally. Another sculpture, “Golden Bowl,” was one of only 50 selected out of 1,300 entries to be featured in the July 2023 edition of “Fiber Art Now” magazine. That unusual work was made from crushed paper, palm frond, a tree branch and vintage wire, and the paper mâché bowl was then painted with layers of acrylic to give it a metallic patina. Cormier uses a variety of objects to incorporate in her jewelry pieces, such as natural gemstones, brass beads from Africa and Tibet, Baltic amber from Poland, vintage tribal jewelry from India, and amulets, thought to have positive energy. “When I see something, I buy it and just hold onto it until I need it. I am a collector of natural beads and other objects, and when I make jewelry, I draw from that. I search all over the world for these, for my art,” she says. Cormier is a member of the Vero Beach Art Club and Sebastian River Art Club. She exhibits her work at the SRAC Gallery and annual SRAC Art Show, the VBAC Gallery, the Eau Gallery in Melbourne, the annual Indian River Bird and Nature Show, and the Environmental Learning Center, where she will have a solo show next May. She also teaches classes at SRAC in textile art and jewelry making. Book Today And SAVE $55 772-766-0079 SHACKSHINE.COM We’ll give you the shiniest house on the block Book your appointment today! BOOK YOUR APPOINTMENT TODAY! We’ll give you the shinest house on the block. Book your appointment today!

B4 July 27, 2023 VeroNews/Sebastian River News | ARTS & THEATRE www.veronews.com Golf Club, 5300 73rd St., Vero Beach. The cost to participate is $75 per player, with proceeds benefiting the Florida Elks Chil - dren’s Therapy Services. To register, email [email protected]. Be sure to drop checks off at the brewery before Fri - day, July 28. The Pareidolia Brewing Com - pany is at 712 Cleveland St., Sebastian. The brewery has regular events throughout the week and month. On Friday, July 28, it pres - ents Eduardo Music from 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. For more information, visit Pareidolia Brewing.com or call 772-571-5693. The Birthday Par-Tee begins 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 2, at Big Shots Golf. Admission is $60, and in - cludes two hours of golf, appetizers, soft drinks, cash bar and birthday cake. Or, you can pay $35 to just attend the party and forgo playing golf. Proceeds benefit the Mental Health Association of Indian River County. For more information, call 772-569-9788 x 122 or email mhairc.org. Filthy’s Fine Cockails and Beer pres - ents a couple music events this weekend. First is the Joey Tenuto Band, which performs 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, July 29. Then, the Swamp Dawgs perform 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, July 29. Filthy’s Fine Cocktails and Beer is at 1238 10th St., Vero Beach. Call 772- 794-9512 or visit DrinkAtFilthys.com. The Environmental Learning Cen - ter will present a STEAM next week. The program explores where technol - ogy, engineering and the environment intersect. It asks if a student is ready to explore the Indian River Lagoon, build a robot or fly a drone. The free program runs 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 1, to Thursday, Aug. 3, at the Environmental Learning Center, 255 Live Oak Dr., Vero Beach. It is open to middle and high school students of Indian River County who meet certain qualifications. Admis - sion is free. The program is supported by Children Services Advisory Committee. To register, visit DiscoverELC.org. Riverside Theatre’s Comedy Zone presents headliner William Sloan and feature act Trish Keating this week - end. Sloan, a North Carolina native, comes from a family of comedians. He’s worked with Cedric the Entertain - er, Wanda Sykes, Jake Johanssen, Mi - chael Winslow and many more. Keat - ing explores social satire and mines a lot of fodder from her Catholic school upbringing. She’s worked with Wanda Sykes, Jay Mohr, Judy Tenuta and more. She’s done some television and likes to joke that she was “basically paid to stalk George Clooney” on “Ocean’s 11.” Co - median Josh Armenteros emcees. Shows start at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. Friday, July 28, and Saturday, July 29. All seats are $25. As long as you’re heading to the Comedy Zone, be sure to make time to take advantage of the free Live in the Loop concerts. Johnny Nick’s Beachland Band performs Friday. They are a variety tribute band specializing in music from The Beach Boys. On Satur - day, The Lattitudes perform. That group combines rock, reggae, funk and coun - try music. And of course, there are plen - ty of food and drink options to purchase. Riverside Theatre is at 3250 Riverside Park Dr., Vero Beach. For more informa - tion, call 772-231-6990 or visit Riverside - Theatre.com. Tickets are going fast for “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” on stage now at the Vero Beach Theatre Guild. This is a classic Andrew Lloyd Webber/Tim Rice musi - cal. It takes a humorous and heartfelt look at the story of Joseph, who receives a special gift from his father, which then infuriates his jealous brothers, who then set out to get rid of Joseph. They sell him into slavery and he encounters a pharaoh who has an Elvis Presley ap - peal. The musical won Tony Awards in 1982 for best musical, best book of a musical, best original score and more. It also won Drama Desk Awards, including one for outstanding musical. Tickets to the show are $35 to $40. The Vero Beach Theatre Guild is at 2020 San Juan Ave., Vero Beach. Call 772-562-8300 or visit VeroBeachTheatreGuild.com. 45 CONTINUED FROM PAGE B1 63 William Sloan. Trish Keating. 78

Serving mainland Indian River County VeroNews/Sebastian River News | DINING July 27, 2023 B5 Fine Dining, Elevated Exciting Innovative Cuisine Award Winning Wine List Unparalleled Service Expanded outdoor dining in The Café. Proud recipient of Trip Advisor’s Traveler’s Choice Award placing us in “The Top 10% of restaurants worldwide”. Catering Now Available (772) 234-3966 • tidesofvero.com Open 7 Days a Week Starting at 5 PM 3103 Cardinal Drive, Vero Beach, FL Reservations Highly Recommended • Proper Attire Appreciated Wine Spectator Award 2002 – 2021

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B8 July 27, 2023 VeroNews/Sebastian River News | PETS www.veronews.com Riley an Ruger Dillon live in this amazin’ place, with a house anna barn anna pond anna huge big field where they can run an run, an trees an chiggens an ducks, an its way, way far out onna long sandy road … Oops. I got a liddle carried away. I guess I should start at the buh-ginning. My assistant pushed a coupla buttons an the gate opened and we drove down a liddle road to a pretty house. A lady, two poocheroos an several Very Important Looking Chiggens came out to meet us. The lady puh-litely told my assistant to Not Reach Down to the liddle pooch cuz it’d make him Ner-vuss. Of course, my assistant Took Heed. Both pooches were Very Tidy an had short gold/brown hair. The larger of the two approached for the usual Wag-AnSniff first and made the introductions. “I’m Riley Dillon,” she said in a soft, pleasant voice. “I’m 9, an this is my liddle brother Ruger, he’s just 5. We’re rescues. THIS is our Mommy, Georgia. Our Daddy, Rob, is elsewhere. We are very pleased to meet you. Come on in, we’ll talk inside where it’s cooler.” “I’m so happy to meet you all,” I replied, following them all (except the chiggens) inside. We got settled an I opened my notebook. “I’ll be spokespooch,” Riley said. “But I’ll add stuff time-to-time, too,” said Ruger. “I ’speshully wish to state, up front, that I’m NOT a Bad Dog. I just have ISH-yous.” “Ackshully,” innerjected Riley, “why don’t you tell Mr. Bonzo your story now, Ruger.” “I’m ready when you are,” I said, pencil poised. Rugar began. “I was only about 1 year in human when me an a buncha other pooches got rescued when the puhLEECE raided a dog fighting ring in Orlando an arrested a buncha horrible, awful humans. Us pooches got taken to a shell-ter. Some of us didn’t make it. I almost didn’t. I am part pit bull and part chihuahua, which, I have come to learn, is a pretty challenging mixture under any circumstances. I was aggressive, but liddle an scrawny, so I had been used for BAIT, which I still can’t even THINK about, even though it’s been years since. All I knew about humans was that they were HORRIBLE. “If my human sister hadn’t got me for Mommy cuz she knew Mommy was the only human who would take care of me, I’da been what’s called Put Down. Mommy an Daddy took the time to understand me an have always given me my space an respect, an lotsa love -- from AFAR often. I am SO LUCKY. But my MEM-rees make me most of the time not wanna be snuggly or get pats an stuff like normal poocheroos, ’cept from Mommy an Daddy, then only on occasion. “I help out by shooing the chiggens off the porch. An I NEVER, EVER eat the chiggens. OR the ducks. I pride myself on that. That would be RUDE. They’re famly, after all. The ducks are Duck-Duck, Lucky Duck (because he was the only survivor of a bobcat raid several years back), Athos, Porthos and D’Artagnan; and the Chiggens are Chiggen 1, Chiggen 2, Chiggen 3, Chiggen 4 an, oh, poo, I can never remember the last one. “Also, unlike Riley, I can SING. Me an Mom sing together.” They proceeded to demonstrate and I was very impressed. They both had Very Big Voices. “Plus,” Ruger added with justified pride, “when I ree-lize I’m bein’ a JERK, I put myself to bed.” He showed me his and Riley’s beds: They were beaudiful, custom-built-by-their-Daddy wood cubbies one on each side of their Mommy an Daddy’s bed, fitted with comfy, fluffy pillows an blankets. Seriously Cool Kibbles! “Woof, Ruger! Talk about self-awareness!” I exclaimed, impressed. “Thank you for sharin’ your story. You’ve been through so much! I’m glad you have such a wonderful, understandin’ Furever Family!” “Now me,” said Miss Riley. “I am a Black Mouth Cur who my human sisters Gabrielle an Carmela found at the Vero Beach Humane Society cuz they thought Mommy needed another dog when her former pooch, Sage, a Catahoula Bluetick, went to Dog Heaven. “Ackshully, Mommy wasn’t thrilled. At All. Speshully when she found out I don’t bark. I had been abused an became so scared I just stopped barkin’. Period. Forever. Meanwhile, Mommy wanted a dog for security, an barkin’ is pretty much a requirement for that job. But Gabrielle an Carmela persuaded her to come an just take a look. “Well, Mr. Bonzo, it was love at first sight: Turns out we needed each other. We were a perfect match. I am a Total Mommy’s Grrrl. I love to run. She loves to run. We hang out together. I’m cool with the fam. Even the 5 or 6 cats she had back then. My best human buddy is liddle Everleigh. We’re BFFs. WE snuggle a lot. “With Mommy, I am the Fetch Queen. I could play Fetch the Ball for, like, EVER!” “OOOH, I like Fetch, TOO!” Ruger chimed in. “Weeelll,” Riley laughed, “what YOU like is to Fetch the Ball outta MY mouth.” “Yes! I wanna be the one to bring it back to Mommy!” said Ruger. “Any pooch besties? Fave foodstuffs?” I queried. “We love lamm an rice,” they agreed. “An we always have a ball hangin’ out with Daddy’s granddog, Blue, he’s a Huskey. He has these Crispy Biscuits blue eyes,” said Riley. “So beaudiful!” Headin’ home, I was thinkin’ about how lucky Riley an Ruger are to have found a Furever Mom an Dad who love ’em in spite of their backgrounds an challenges. There are so many poocheroos who are in Dire Straits that aren’t their faults an who can be saved with that kinda of love an understanding. It made me wanna give my Gramma an Grampa extra snuggles when I got home, an special thank you’s for my evening dish of yummy yoghurt. Till next time, Hi Dog Buddies! Resilient Riley and Ruger give rescues a great name The Bonz Don’t Be Shy We are always looking for pets with interesting stories. To set up an interview, email [email protected]. Riley & Ruger. PHOTO: JOSHUA KODIS

Serving mainland Indian River County VeroNews/Sebastian River News | GAMES July 27, 2023 B9 Taking potluck from the boards By Phillip Alder - Bridge Columnist This morning, while wondering what to write about, I selected the top board from a set sitting in a bookcase. I decided that we could take potluck. When I saw that all of the cards were in runs, I knew it was a teaching deal. It is quicker to preduplicate hands in which the cards are sequential. (I don’t own a dealing machine, and if I did, it would not talk to my software.) What is the point of this deal? A few players would upgrade the South hand to a one-no-trump opening. However, you should always try to show a five-card major. Here, also, you have a weak doubleton in hearts. North makes a game-invitational limit raise promising four or more spades, 10-12 support points and eight losers – textbook. South nudges on to game. West leads the heart queen. How does that help South? West continues with the heart eight, East winning with the king and shifting to the diamond six. What happens next? South has three top red-suit losers, so he must find the club queen to make his contract. After winning the third trick, declarer should draw trumps and play a diamond himself – a discovery play. East takes that trick and returns his last diamond. Who has the club queen? The opening lead placed the heart ace and king with East. He has also shown up with the diamond ace. Therefore, he cannot have the club queen. If he did, he would have 13 points and would have opened the bidding. Keep track of the high-card points. Dealer: East; Vulnerable: North-South NORTH K 8 7 6 5 4 Q J 10 A 9 8 7 WEST 2 Q J 10 9 8 5 4 3 2 Q 6 5 SOUTH A Q J 10 9 3 2 K 9 8 K J 10 EAST 5 4 3 A K 7 6 A 7 6 4 3 2 The Bidding: OPENING LEAD: Q Hearts SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST Pass 1 Spades Pass 3 Spades Pass 4 Spades Pass Pass Pass SUNCOAST SCHOOL IS IN NEED OF TEACHERS FOR THE UPCOMING 2023-2024 SCHOOL YEAR. Grades 5 - 8: Math/Science and Language Arts Part time or full time hours, Monday-Friday. Small class sizes, creative, professional teaching environment. SunCoast uses multi age groupings and has always encouraged teacher creativity. Ideal for a retiree who still loves to teach and is looking for a new home. Send resume to: [email protected] 3050 43rd Avenue Vero Beach, FL 32960 772.778.0892 Monday-Friday 9am-2pm

B10 July 27, 2023 VeroNews/Sebastian River News | GAMES www.veronews.com The Telegraph How to do Sudoku: Fill in the grid so the numbers one through nine appear just once in every column, row and three-by-three square. The Telegraph SOLUTIONS TO PREVIOUS ISSUE (JULY 20) ON PAGE B12 ACROSS 1. Scottish river (3) 3. Automobile (3) 5. Large branch (5) 8. Common (5) 9. Thin (7) 10. Swine (4) 11. Keep (8) 13. Allow (6) 14. Young child (6) 17. Confessed (8) 19. Present (4) 22. Walkouts (7) 23. Rips (5) 24. Paces (5) 25. Timid (3) 26. Secret agent (3) DOWN 1. Punch (5) 2. More youthful (7) 3. Ring (4) 4. Place for holidaymakers (6) 5. Benediction (8) 6. Below (5) 7. Most tough (7) 12. Errors (8) 13. Worships (7) 15. Creatures (7) 16. Banquets (6) 18. Coalesce (5) 20. Flavoursome (5) 21. Remain (4)

Serving mainland Indian River County VeroNews/Sebastian River News | GAMES July 27, 2023 B11 ACROSS 1 Levels a split-level 6 Turkish titles 10 Actress Plummer 16 CEO’s degree 19 Movie-ticket category 20 Berth place 21 Wooden shoes 22 Apr. addressee 23 Bar that holds up a merry-go-round horse? 25 Has a degree in rabbitology? 27 Bird in the bush 28 Character 30 Actress Claire 31 Armor harmer 32 Kayak kin 33 Song about a guy who’s a lousy jouster? 37 North Dakota city 40 It needs a lic. 42 Mr. Parseghian 43 Like wet cement 44 Teen follower? 45 Utah lilies 47 Have a dream 50 Like a well-kept lawn? 53 QU insert 54 High living?:abbr. 58 N.Y. prison 59 Biological mouths 60 Serpent’s hangout? 62 Bag, to Hefty 63 Certain pourer 64 Bus. calculator? 65 Soccer nation 66 Turn this way 69 Broom-handle thumps aimed at the loud guy upstairs? 73 Reed you read 74 Sohar resident 76 Wit prelude 77 Ocean shout 78 Super power, perhaps 80 Working title of Dorothy Meets the Blob? 82 Jersey comment 83 “A specter is haunting ___” (Engels) 87 Distort 88 In reverse 89 What happened at the southern ladies’ strip-poker party? 92 Dig discovery 94 Luxury carmaker 95 Archibald in Hollywood 96 Over 99 Very, in Veracruz 101 The, in Thuringia 102 Drain sites 103 What the “honkless” driver needed? 107 Agriculture goddess 109 Spigoted servers 110 Vacancies: abbr. 111 Led astray 113 Name for a goldfish? 116 What even the loudest critics of a certain president would not consider? 120 Store that caters to ballet companies? 122 Greenkeeper’s find 123 Cheated, in a way 124 Film warrior played by Miles O’Keeffe 125 Sensuous dance 126 Old republic letters 127 Does a yard job 128 Phoenician city 129 Encourage DOWN 1 “It’s all the ___” 2 Ponderosa name 3 Natal native 4 Old English measure 5 ___ nothing (barge ahead) 6 Passed 7 0 8 Singer about Alice 9 Note taker 10 Speak up, in a way 11 Some envelopes 12 Dry as ___ 13 “Forget it, pal!” 14 Sot’s woe 15 Tough wood 16 Desert image 17 Weill lyricist 18 Stamina, e.g. 24 “Big house” 26 Author Kingsley 29 “Interesting!” 32 Emlyn Williams play, The ___ Green 34 Algerian city 35 Russell and Waldheim 36 Way to go: abbr. 37 Doll’s word 38 “___ it!” (fielder’s cry) 39 Small salamander 41 Pianist Vladimir 45 Krait or mamba 46 Philosopher Kierkegaard 48 Gas-pump verb 49 Rebecca’s guy 51 Decorative shrub 52 Military exercise 54 Bonsai, for one 55 Ex-host Jack 56 Scrabble need 57 River of no return 60 Trained 61 Sneeze catcher 63 George et al. 66 Where Doloreses can see lorises 67 Start of a 1970s self-help book 68 Svengali’s look 70 Arabian Sea feeder 71 “___ Stop the Rain” 72 Stays fresh 75 Just released 79 Terse summary 81 0 people 84 The Good Earth wife 85 Added benefit 86 Breyer’s rival 89 Hazy image 90 Will figure 91 Elixir, so they say 92 Evergreen 93 Rare remark from Annie Oakley 96 Eagles’ nests 97 One born after 1965, for short 98 Lhasa ___ 100 No alternative 102 Calm 103 Squeeze plays 104 Gets ready 105 Centesis lead-in 106 Coup ___ 108 Graycoat 112 It calls 113 Circle of friends 114 Shakespearean troublemaker 115 Mr. Hubbard 117 ATM maker 118 Forest female 119 Paper peo. 121 Turn the other way The Telegraph The Washington Post ...Double the difference Stereo Homophones By Merl Reagle Established 32 Years in Indian River County (772) 562-2288 | www.kitchensvero.com 3920 US Hwy 1, Vero Beach FL 32960

B12 July 27, 2023 VeroNews/Sebastian River News | CALENDAR www.veronews.com ONGOING Check with organizations directly for updates/cancellations. Vero Beach Theatre Guild: “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat,” through Aug. 6. VeroBeachTheatreGuild.com or 772-562-8300 Vero Beach Museum of Art: Treasure Coast Creates: A Tribute to Local Artists; and Jack Tworkov: Drawings, both through Sept. 3. VBMuseum.org or 772-231-0707 Riverside Theatre: Friday and Saturday Comedy Zone 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. in Waxlax Theatre, and free Live in the Loop outdoor concerts, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. 772-231-6990 or RiversideTheatre.com First Friday Gallery Strolls, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. in Downtown Vero Beach Arts District. JULY 27 Fashion Show Luncheon to benefit the Environmental Learning Center, 11:30 a.m. at the Restaurants at Maison Martinique, with fashions from the Beach Shop and the Petite Shop. $125. DiscoverELC.org or 772-589-5050 29 Back to School Bash, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Indian River Mall, with vendors, free VNA school physicals and raffles. 30 Tour de Turtles Loggerhead Turtle release, 8:30 a.m. at Archie Carr NWR Barrier Island Center hosted by Sea Turtle Conservancy. TourDeTurtles.org AUGUST 2 Birthday Par-Tee, 5:30 p.m. at Big Shots Golf to benefit Mental Health Association of IRC, with two hours of golf, appetizers, soft drinks, cash bar and birthday cake. $60 pp; $350 private tee-box for 6; $35 party without golf. 772-569- 9788 x 122 or mhairc.org 3-5 49th annual Aerial Antics Youth Circus, 7 p.m. at St. Edward’s School, featuring children and teens performing acrobatics, gymnastics and dance routines. $8 adults; $7 seniors and children. Under 5 free. 773-567-2144 4|5 Riverside Dance Festival and Ballet Vero Beach present the Terminus Modern Ballet Theatre, 7:30 p.m. Fri. and Sat. and the Dance Festival’s Student Showcase, 2 p.m. Sat., all on the Stark Main Stage at Riverside Theatre. 772-231-6990 or RiversideTheatre.com 6 Space Coast Symphony Orchestra presents the Wild West, epic film music concert, 3 p.m. at AMC Indian River 24. SpaceCoastSymphony.org 7 Brunch to honor Purple Heart Recipients, 11 a.m. at Vero Beach Veterans Club. Free for recipients; $15 guests. 770- 905-9821 11 Grill Out Night, a Backyard BBQthemed Shop Local event presented by Sebastian River Area Chamber of Commerce, 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at businesses along U.S. 1 and surrounding streets. SebastianChamber.com 16 Cultural Council of IRC and Riverside Theatre host a Behind the Scenes tour, 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Riverside Theatre, with appetizers and beverages. $20. Cultural-Council. org or 772-770-4857 17 Sangarita Challenge hosted by Exchange Club of Vero Beach, 6:30 p.m. at the Vero Beach Community Center. 18 End of Summer Luau, 7 p.m. at Heaton’s Vero Beach, with pig roast, DJ, fire dancers, light bites and welcome cocktail. $55 at door. 772-469-4444 19 Downtown Vero VBQ: Brisket, Butts, Beer & Barbecue at the Heritage Center, with amateur teams only competing in rib, brisket, chicken and smoke fish dip categories, with everything done on site. Set up opens at 6 a.m.; guest admission at noon. $50 team entry, $20 guest admission, $5 children under 10. MainStreetVeroBeach.org/vbq 27 Space Coast Symphony Orchestra presents a fully staged production of Stephan Sondheim’s A Little Night Music, 3 p.m. at the Vero Beach High School PAC. SpaceCoastSymphony.org SEPTEMBER 19 Pearl Anniversary Lifestyle & Media Auction hosted by the Sebastian River Area Chamber of Commerce, 5:30 p.m. at Capt. Hiram’s, with live and silent auctions, pirate costume contest, and cornhole tournament. $30 & $40 auction entry, includes dinner; $40/team cornhole. SebastianChamber.com 23 Clay Shoot to benefit Veterans Council of IRC, 8 a.m. at Vero Beach Clay Shooting Sports, with breakfast, scramble shotgun start, prizes and lunch. 772-410-5820 23 10th annual Lines in the Lagoon Junior Fishing Tournament, 7 a.m. lines in, 2 p.m. lines out, with all fishing on the Indian River Lagoon by boat, dock or seawall, with 3:30 p.m. Awards Ceremony at American Icon Brewery. LinesInTheLagoon.com 24 Space Coast Symphony Orchestra presents American Icons, a celebration of Gershwin, Ellington, Bernstein and more, 3 p.m. at Community Church of VB. SpaceCoastSymphony.org 29 to October 15 – Vero Beach Theatre Guild presents the musical comedy “The Addams Family.” VeroBeachTheatreGuild. com or 772-562-8300 30 to January 28 – Vero Beach Museum of Art exhibition, Infinite Variations: The Imaginative Worlds of M.C. Escher. VBMuseum.org or 772-231-0707 OCTOBER 13-14, 20-21, 27-31 Haunted House Terror on Main Street hosted by Sebastian River Junior Women’s Club, 7:30 to 10 p.m. at 1036 Main Street. $10. sebastianhauntedhouse.org Time to Clean Your Carpets/Furniture? Maxfield Carpet Cleaning • 772-538-0213 5300 N. A1A, Vero Beach • SINCE 1979 Three Reasons to Call Mitch Maxfield: QUALITY: My “2-step system” removes even tough ground-in dirt. All work guaranteed. SERVICE: I, personally, will clean your carpets and furniture. PRICE: Two (2) Rooms (any size)...$77, 6’ Sofa or 2 Chairs...$66 Sudoku Page B8 Sudoku Page B9 Crossword Page B8 Solutions from Games Pages in July 20, 2023 Edition Crossword Page B9 (Stairway to Knowledge) BUSINESS DIRECTORY - ADVERTISING INDIAN RIVER COUNTY BUSINESSES Our directory gives small business people eager to provide services to the community an opportunity to make themselves known to our readers at an affordable cost. This is the only business directory mailed each week. If you would like your business to appear in our directory, please call 772- 633-0753. This is also where we publish Fictitious Name or “Doing Business As” notices, Public Notices and Employment ads. To place one, please email [email protected]. ARE you turning 65 or new to Medicare? ARE you looking to review Medicare Choices for 2023. I can help you with over 10+years of experience, the dedication and honesty of a LOCAL INDEPENDENT agent that specializes in Medicare choices. Rose Mary McIlvain Treasure Coast Insurance Sources MAKE IT YOUR CHOICE! 772-766-1558