04/29/2021 ISSUE 09

$15 million transit hub

A7 A10 B5County eyes Selvitz Road site
Seasonal allergies? ‘Summer ShakesPierce’

Effective treatments available Troupe making ‘Dream’ come true

VOLUME 6, ISSUE 9 YOUR INDEPENDENT LOCAL COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 2021

COVID-19 PANDEMIC
St. Lucie close
TRANSFORMING TRADITION to full opening,
urges vigilance

Owners of Sansone Group and elected officials BY GEORGE ANDREASSI | Staff Writer
scoop the first shovels of dirt during a groundbreaking [email protected]
ceremony at Legacy Park at Tradition. PHOTO: LINDA KLOORFAIN
St. Lucie County government
‘New’ city developing before our eyes as Sansone expands industrial project facilities will open up fully with-
out COVID-19 safety protocols
BY GEORGE ANDREASSI | Staff Writer park featuring a FedEx regional its Legacy Park project to other group breaking ceremony last on May 10 as an increasing num-
[email protected] distribution center. prospective tenants. Thursday. “Because we’re able ber of residents are getting vacci-
to use that name, you’re mak- nated against the virus.
Sansone Group plans to FedEx’s decision to invest $44 “We cannot think of a bet- ing the job of our leasing guys a
transform 400 acres of agricul- million in a 245,000-square-foot ter name to have to anchor our heck of a lot easier.” County commissioners sun-
tural land along Interstate 95 in sortation facility on a 22.5-acre project and anchor our develop- set the declaration of the public
western Port St. Lucie into a 5.4 site north of Becker Road is ment,” said Nick Sansone, a San- In addition to the FedEx facil- health emergency, but encour-
million-square-foot industrial helping Sansone Group market sone Group principal, during a aged residents to continue taking
CONTINUED ON PAGE A6 safety precautions.

SELF-DRIVING BUS, REC PATH WILL LINK “Generally speaking, the state
NEW PARKS IN WESTERN PORT ST. LUCIE of the pandemic is manage-
able at this point in time thanks
BY GEORGE ANDREASSI | Staff Writer Ultimately, the Tradition Trail multi- Beep in part to the vaccine rollout,”
[email protected] use path and Tradition in Motion au- shuttle used county spokesman Erick Gill said
tonomous bus service will wind 25 miles for Tradition Tuesday. Florida Department
A lushly landscaped recreational through 2,800 acres west of Interstate 95, of Health vaccinated a total of
path running through new parks and serving 7,100 residences and businesses in Motion.
preserves and a self-driving bus service totaling 1.2 million square feet. CONTINUED ON PAGE A7
offering easy access to Tradition Town
Center are key selling points for the ul- Mattamy Homes moved its massive ‘Project Midway’
tra-modern city Mattamy Homes is project forward April 19 when the Port St. distribution center
building in western Port St. Lucie. gets council’s OK
CONTINUED ON PAGE A3
BY GEORGE ANDREASSI | Staff Writer
[email protected]

Western Port St. Lucie’s develop-
ment boom is spreading north to
Midway Road with the proposed
construction of a 1.1 million-
square-foot distribution center
and 4,000 new houses on the for-
mer LTC Ranch.

Approximately 500 employees
are expected to work at the indus-
trial distribution and fulfillment

CONTINUED ON PAGE A6

IN THIS ISSUE ‘The Planets’ align at
IRSC for trek through
LOCAL NEWS A1-A8 PETS A16 solar system. Page B6

HEALTH A9-A13 ARTS/PEOPLE B1-B9

ADVICE A17 GAMES B12-B14

REAL ESTATE A18-A28 SPORTS B15

© 2021 Vero Beach 32963 Media LLC. All rights reserved.



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WESTERN PORT ST. LUCIE Mattamy Homes agreed to pay $2.1 mil- Plans call for Stars and Stripes in the Mattamy Homes for SOGRO Park and Stars
lion in parks impact fees ahead of schedule Park to be built on a 15.6-acre parcel north and Stripes in the Park.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE A1 to jump-start construction on Tradition Re- of Marshall Parkway and SOGRO Park to be
gional Park, Garrett said. constructed on a 36.7-acre tract south of In addition, the City Council voted unani-
Lucie City Council approved the latest plans Becker Road. mously to approve Mattamy Homes’ plan to
to build three new parks and expand the City Manager Russ Blackburn said the city extend Tradition Trail and Tradition in Mo-
fledgling multi-use path and autonomous could borrow $10 million against future park The basic concept for Stars and Stripes in tion by 1.2 miles along Discovery Way and
bus service. impact fee revenues and raise $2 million the Park is to provide gathering spaces to cel- Village Parkway.
from other sources to help pay for the $14 ebrate the United States and honor military
Mattamy Homes expects to start construc- million first phase of the 110-acre park. veterans, active-duty service personnel and The multi-use path and autonomous bus
tion on the $33 million Tradition Regional other heroes, Garrett said. service currently run from the Manderlie
Park this summer while extending Tradition The City Council voted unanimously April subdivision at Discovery Way and Commu-
Parkway about a mile from its western ter- 19 to approve the Tradition Regional Park An American flag-themed Veterans Plaza nity Boulevard to Tradition Town Center.
minus near Renaissance Charter School at master plan and the plan for the first phase, will be located on the north side of the park
Tradition. featuring a lighted ballfield complex and entrance and a celestial-themed entry fea- The new leg will run from Manderlie east
three multi-purpose fields. ture will be placed on the south side. along the south side of Discovery Way and
Mattamy Homes wants to speed up the south along the west side of Village Parkway
park project by five years as a selling point for The complex will include a baseball sta- A glass-enclosed waterfront pavilion will to the proposed East-West Road No. 2, re-
its family-oriented Emry, Cadence and Se- dium and a softball stadium each with four overlook a large pond with a fountain. There cords show.
ville subdivisions, said Steve Garrett, a plan- fields, a concession stand with restrooms, will also be a celestial plaza with an interac-
ner representing the Toronto-based builder. stadium seating, bleachers, a maintenance tive sundial and a large lawn. A 6-foot landscape strip will separate east-
facility and a large parking lot, records bound Discovery
Emry’s plans call for 131 single-family show. In addition, plans call for a boardwalk
houses on 57 acres northwest of The Bren- through a wetland preserve and a connec- Way from the 12-foot Tradition in Motion
nity at Tradition assisted living facility, city Construction on the first phase is ex- tion to Tradition Trail. route, records show. Next will come an 8-foot
records show. Cadence’s plans envision 326 pected to be completed by the summer of landscape strip, the 15-foot Tradition Trail
single-family houses and 113 townhouses on 2022. SOGRO Park will feature an amphitheater multi-use path and a 15-foot landscape buf-
129 acres further west on the Tradition Park- with 1,500 seats and a lawn with room for an- fer.
way extension. Future phases also will include a other 3,500 people, city records show.
24,000-square-foot community center, an A 10-foot landscape strip will separate
No plans were immediately available for events plaza for food trucks and art exhibits, The project includes small shops, an ob- southbound Village Parkway from the 8-foot
Seville. an events lawn with a stage, a dog park, an servation tower, a restored citrus packing Tradition in Motion route, records show.
18-hole disc golf course, an “All Ages” play- house, a community grove and community Next will come a 4-foot landscape strip, the
But Mattamy Homes plans to build 4,000 ground, a tower with picnic areas, nature gardens. 12-foot Tradition Trail multi-use path and a
homes in the vicinity of Tradition Regional trails, a BMX (Bicycle MotoCross) trail, a ca- landscaped berm.
Park, Garrett said. noe/kayak waterway and a sports court zone The preliminary plan also calls for a boat
for tennis, pickleball, volleyball, racquetball/ ramp on the County Line Canal, a nearby Plans call for a variety of improvements at
“The value of having the regional park handball and basketball. kayak/canoe outfitting station, a connec- the intersection of Discovery Way and Com-
started and having that asset and amenity is tion to the leg of the East Coast Greenway munity Boulevard as part of the extension
huge,” Garrett told the City Council. “We will Mattamy Homes also proposed working planned along the canal and a connection to of Tradition Trail and the TIM autonomous
immediately come through with construc- with the city to develop two new parks on the Tradition Trail. bus service, including stops at the Heart in
tion documents and begin construction.” west side of Village Parkway. the Park feature proposed on the southeast
The City Council voted unanimously to corner. 
agree to begin the planning process with

4 April 29, 2021 ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | NEWS www.stlucievoice.com

Vero community mourns passing of billionaire visionary scaped, Anglo-Caribbean residences on a
simple grid of narrow streets. Five of those
BY MICHELLE GENZ | Staff Writer Photomontage of Hilary and Galen Weston in Windsor’s Village Centre. PHOTOS: JESSICA GLYNN AND KAILA JONES lanes meet at the Village Centre, designed by
Vero Beach architect Scott Merrill, and the
W. Galen Weston, the Canadian billion- targeted for kidnapping by terrorists in Ire- 2003, and Canadian drugstore chain Shop- focal point of Windsor’s stunning entrance, a
aire whose vision transformed a strip of Vero land in 1983. Police were tipped off to the pers in 2013, paying $12 billion. shaded allée that leads from Highway A1A to
Beach’s north barrier island into the interna- plot, slated to occur at the Westons’ home the Village.
tionally known residential enclave of Wind- south of Dublin, and the family stayed away. For their tropical vacations in earlier
sor, died at his home there on April 12. years, the Westons stayed mostly in the Ba- Hilary Weston took over designing the in-
Galen Weston was in England playing hamas, renting “little shacks” on Harbour teriors of seven homes built to represent the
Weston, who was 80, was known for his polo with Prince Charles when a decoy car Island and Eleuthera, as Hilary told Architec- Windsor standard.
vigor and sociability, though his health had put in place by anti-terrorist police lured a tural Digest.
declined in the past several years. half-dozen masked gunmen into the open at Recruiting would-be neighbors for their
the estate. Police engaged them in a shoot- Later, at the urging of Weston’s father, who “village by the sea,” the Westons invited
The passing of the department store and out that left several of the accused wounded. knew Florida well, they began to look for a friends and celebrities to visit. As more
grocery store magnate triggered headlines After that, the Westons began spending more place to build a home on one of Florida’s bar- homes were built, the Westons moved from
around the world. But his death caught many time at homes in Canada and the U.S. rier islands. In northern Indian River Coun- one to another until finally building the
by surprise in the close-knit community of ty, they found a 400-acre swath of grapefruit house of their dreams.
Windsor, which was muted in sorrow as resi- In his business life, Weston took over groves north of Wabasso Causeway.
dents allowed the family, especially Weston’s management of Loblaws supermarkets in A golf course and polo field were added to
widow, Hilary, to grieve in peace. Canada in the 1970s. The stores, part of his If he was going to build his family a private the community and larger homes were built
family’s Canadian business empire, were home from scratch, Weston thought, why outside the village around the perimeter of
“Everyone here is just devastated,” said faltering. Weston led a turnaround that in- not create a private village to put it in? the 425-acre property, along with a South Vil-
Windsor resident Dhuanne Tansill, a promi- cluded the introduction of a successful pri- lage section, oceanfront residences that sell
nent supporter of the arts in Vero Beach who vate-label food line and transformed the To create that village, the Westons turned in the $10 million range and other housing
was unaware until recently that Weston’s ill- chain into what is today the largest food re- to a much talked-about emerging concept, types – development that continues today.
ness had progressed to a critical phase. tailer in Canada. New Urbanism, that had captured the imag-
inations of many planners, chief among In 2018, Windsor Properties debuted the
“He created what he set out to do,” said His retail holdings continued to grow them, Miami-based architects Andres Duany Windsor Park Residences, luxury condo-
Betsy Hanley, president of Windsor Real Es- when he bought the Canadian department and Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk. miniums overlooking the Indian River La-
tate. “He was visionary in the retail world, store company Holt Renfrew in 1986, Lon- goon, and Windsor North Village, an enclave
and he had this vision for here. He was a man don-based Selfridges department stores in In the late 1980s, Weston recruited them of single-family homes on the last 47 unde-
of great achievement, but we’ll remember to design Windsor, where they created a veloped acres in the community, currently is
him for what he’s done for the community by site plan that melded close-set, lushly land- being permitted.
creating this environment.”
Weston became an increasingly familiar
Windsor gave great pleasure to the presence at Windsor after turning over the
Westons. “Mr. Weston definitely loved it but reins of the family companies to son Galen
so does she,” said Tom Fish, the Windsor ten- Jr. and daughter Alannah.
nis pro who, over his 30 years there, came to
know the Westons well. “They spent longer And he never stopped having a hand in
and longer amounts of time here every year. Windsor’s ascent toward residential perfec-
tion. As curious as he was gregarious, Weston
“He was an amazing human being,” Fish typically arrived at Windsor eager to find out
added. “He’s going to be so missed.” the latest from staff and residents alike. Then
he asked what they thought of his latest ideas
“I don’t know of anyWindsor member who for improvements.
doesn’t thank Galen Weston and his wife Hil-
ary for creating an engaging, architecturally “When he came to Vero he wanted to talk
perfect community,” said Cynthia Bardes, an to everybody and anybody,” said Fish.
interior designer and children’s author who
has a home in the community. Weston was a sportsman in many realms,
and “very competitive,” Fish recalled. In ad-
Politicians, celebrities, dignitaries and dition to tennis, he was an excellent squash
even royalty often come and go at Windsor player. He also played golf, particularly in his
without a mention beyond the community’s later years – Tansill remembers him playing
gatehouse. Such strictly guarded privacy also with his son, Galen Jr. and Ivan Lendl, the
extends to residents, a tradition of discretion former tennis champion who has a home in
much valued by the Westons themselves. Windsor.

The family still bears the trauma of being By far, the sport that won Weston the most
publicity for his Vero development was polo.
Twice, Weston welcomed Prince Charles to

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Windsor when it first opened its equestrian ily business from his own news-making fa- In 1962, at age 22, Weston moved to Ire- ary Frayne, Ireland’s best-known fashion
facilities. It is doubtful that Vero Beach ever ther. land to break out on his own, away from his model, after admiring her image on a bill-
enjoyed more spectacular press, with an in- enormously successful father. He opened board and having a friend who knew her set
ternational audience following the Prince Galen was born in 1940 in the town of a grocery store, adding five more in three them up for a date.
down the field. Marlow, 30 miles west of London. The young- years. In short order, he bought a Dublin de-
est of nine children, he grew up watching partment store in bankruptcy and developed That Irish style icon of the 1960s is the
Weston got his fair share of the spotlight his Canadian father Garfield Weston build a it into a chain of 16. namesake of Frayne Drive in Windsor, and
too, with Canadian and U.K. press having grocery store empire out of the bread bakery the force behind the polish in Windsor’s pas-
covered him since he first took over the fam- business started by Galen’s grandfather. By then, Galen had met and married Hil- times and parties. 

6 April 29, 2021 ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | NEWS www.stlucievoice.com

LEGACY PARK LTC RANCH PROJECTS

CONTINUED FROM PAGE A1 CONTINUED FROM PAGE A1

ity, Sansone Group plans to construct two ed Sansone Group a chance to show off how Artist Geoffrey C. Smith displays facility planned on a 109.8-acre site in the
buildings totaling 688,000 square feet on its contractor, ARCO Construction Corp., a model of a future sculpture Midway Business Park, just east of the Inter-
a speculative basis, the company said in a cleared and graded an expansive swath of for Legacy Park at Tradition. state 95 interchange.
media alert for the groundbreaking cere- the former Southern Grove.
mony. PHOTO: LINDA KLOORFAIN The identity of the company remained
The Sansone family also took the oppor- confidential Monday even as the Port St.
Sansone Group recently expanded its de- tunity to honor the memory of their patri- years, Mary Anne, eight children, 42 grand- Lucie City Council voted unanimously to
velopment site to 400 acres and construc- arch, Anthony F. Sansone Sr., who founded children and 28 great-grandchildren. approve the site plan for Project Midway.
tion potential to 5.4 million square feet the company in 1957 and died last April 27,
from its initial proposal to build facilities at 93, at his Palm Beach Gardens home. The Legacy Park property was special to “We’re still under an NDA (non-disclosure
totaling 3.2 million square feet on 300 acres, the elder Sansone, even though he champi- agreement) and we’re not releasing any of
the company’s marketing literature shows. Legacy Park’s primary access road head- oned a results-driven approach, said Nick the sexy stuff,” said Mayor Greg Oravec. “We
ing north from Becker Road will be named Sansone, one of four sons serving as princi- look forward to publicly discussing what
A Sansone Group subsidiary, PSL In- Anthony F. Sansone Sr. Boulevard. pals in Sansone Group. we’re so excited about.”
dustrial Owner LLC, paid Port St. Lucie
$1,765,700 on Jan. 7 for the FedEx site, re- Sansone Group picked award-winning The family company’s founder was so The company’s name and the details
cords show. fine artist Geoffrey C. Smith of Stuart to proud of the project in the works at I-95 about the project are expected to be made
create a 12-foot-tall public art work called and Becker Road, he discussed it frequent- public in May or June, said Jill Marasa, vice
The St. Louis-based developer has op- “The Tree of Life” to symbolize the elder ly with his sons and had a photo taken of president of the Economic Development
tions to purchase the rest of the land Sansone’s strength and focus on family, himself at the site three days before he died, Council of St. Lucie County. “This is a very
bounded by I-95, Becker Road, Village Park- faith, community and country. Nick Sansone said. large, complex project,” Marasa told the
way and the proposed Paar Drive extension council. “It’s on a very rapid timeframe.”
from Port St. Lucie. The patriarch left behind his wife of 66 “We had a lot of deals going, but he talk-
ed about this one,” Nick Sansone told a Midway Business Park developer LTC
As part of the deal, Sansone Group is crowd of about 100 government officials Ranch Joint Venture, of St. Augustine, is still
constructing the roads and utilities for and business leaders at the ceremony. “He listed as the owner of the 54.33-acre and
the entire 400-acre site, which will include loved this deal. Up until his passing, he was 64.22-acre parcels where Project Midway is
commercial development along Becker talking about this deal.”  planned. The land has a combined assessed
Road and Village Parkway. value of $9.3 million, county records show.

That’s roughly a third of the 1,245 acres City Councilwoman Stephanie Morgan
in Tradition Commerce Center the city gov- said she’s concerned about traffic safety be-
ernment acquired for $100 in June 2018 cause of the increase in the number of trucks
from Tradition Land Company, which that will be exiting I-95 at Midway Road en
wanted to stop paying $5 million per year route to the distribution center.
in property taxes and assessments.
“Midway is probably the worst road we
The ground-breaking ceremony provid- have in St. Lucie, or one of the worst,” Mor-

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gan told the traffic engineers working on the COUNTY DEVELOPING $15 MILLION TRANSIT HUB ON SELVITZ ROAD
project.
BY GEORGE ANDREASSI | Staff Writer Selvitz Road site of planned Treasure Coast PHOTO: LINDA KLOORFAIN
An average of 77,647 vehicles per day trav- [email protected] Transit Operations and Maintenance Center.
el on I-95 between Okeechobee and Midway will enable the county to start three new
roads, St. Lucie County records show. An St. Lucie County plans to spend $15 county records show. The property has fixed routes and auction off seven anti-
average of 21,000 vehicles per day travel on million to build a centrally-located tran- an assessed value of $962,200 and was quated vehicles.
Midway Road between I-95 and Glades Cut- sit hub to manage the free bus system’s obtained by St. Lucie County on June 30,
off Road. The distribution facility is expect- growing ridership and fleet of vehicles. 2004 for $100 from Midway Properties of St. Lucie County is working with a
ed to add 2,000 to 2,500 vehicles per day to St. Lucie. consulting firm, Jarrett Walker + Associ-
Midway Road, including 336 trucks per day, The proposed Treasure Coast Transit ates of Portland, to evaluate the transit
city records show. The facility will have 390 Operations and Maintenance Center County Transit Division Director Mur- system and figure out ways to efficiently
trailer parking spaces and 1,000 employee will be built on a 27.5-acre wooded-tract riah Dekle updated the Port St. Lucie City increase the number of routes and im-
parking spaces. on Selvitz Road, south of Energy Lane, Council on April 19 about the recent im- prove service.
between Midway and Glades Cut-off provements to the bus system.
The developer plans to make major im- roads. The Transit Route Optimization Study
provements to the intersection of Midway “For the past year, we have been laser is due by the end of 2021. The county
Road and LTC Parkway, including adding Plans call for a 22,000-square-foot focused on our operations, getting our has eight bus routes with the most pop-
a traffic signal and northbound and south- building with operations offices, main- operations up to speed, getting our fleet ular being along U.S. 1.
bound turn lanes on the parkway, records tenance bays, a bus wash and an expan- brought to where it needed to be,” Dekle
show. Access will be coordinated with the sive parking area for the transit system’s told the council. The county started express bus service
Speedway gas station and convenience store 68 vehicles and 85 employees. between the Port St. Lucie Intermodal
planned on the 13.55-acre parcel on the MV Transportation of Dallas started Facility near the Community Center on
southwest corner of Midway Road and LTC The proposed transit center is about running the county’s public transit ser- Airoso Boulevard and the Fort Pierce In-
Parkway, records show. 3.3 miles from Interstate 95 and 3.2 miles vice on July 1, replacing longtime provid- termodal Center on Avenue D and 8th
from U.S. 1. er Council on Aging of St. Lucie, under a Street in March 2020.
The City Council also approved an $10.5 million contract running through
amendment to the planning documents The timing of the construction de- June 30, 2025. The county also uses minivans to pro-
for the LTC Ranch Industrial Park to delete pends on St. Lucie County’s ability to vide micro-transit service in Port St. Luc-
a planned internal access road and permit a obtain federal and state grants for the The county spent $1.2 million late last ie, enabling mobility on demand service
distribution and fulfillment facility. project, county spokesman Erick Gill year on 16 new paratransit buses and for disadvantaged people. 
said Tuesday. minivans, county records show. That
In addition, the City Council approved
the rezoning of a 1,804-acre agricultural Once the funding is in place, it will
tract south of Midway Road, west of I-95 and take about three years to complete the
north of Glades Cut-off Road to allow 4,000 design, permitting, contract bidding and
houses and 4.2 million square feet of busi- construction process. Florida Depart-
ness space. The LTC Ranch West project will ment of Transportation has already com-
also include a 55-acre high school site and mitted $3 million for the project, records
465 acres of wetland and upland conserva- show.
tion areas, records show.
County commissioners voted unani-
The project was first proposed approved mously on April 6 to rezone the property
by the St. Lucie County Commission in 1997, to set the stage for the new transit center,
but the land was annexed by Port St. Lucie but did not discuss the plans for the fa-
in 2003, records show. Midway Glades De- cility.
velopers LLC of Jacksonville, a subsidiary
of Greenpointe Developers LLC, purchased The St. Lucie Transit Development
a 1,975-acre agricultural tract that includes Plan for 2020-2029 says the new tran-
the 1,804-acre development site for $30 mil- sit center won’t be built until 2029. The
lion on July 30, 2020 from LTC Midway LLC, project may also be scaled back so more
a subsidiary of Associated Real Estate South- money can be spent on new bus routes.
west of Naples, records show. 
An independent appraiser set the
value of the property at $1.4 million,

VACCINE ROLLOUT urged city residents to get vaccinated. until 7 p.m., seven days a week. No ap- with COVID-19 since the pandemic start-
“Just to remind folks, COVID-19 vacci- pointment or registration is required. ed. That’s about 8 percent of the county’s
CONTINUED FROM PAGE A1 320,000 residents.
nations are available at your local Publix, COVID-19 caused the death of 17 coun-
115,901 county residents as of Monday, Walgreens and CVS, and we are bring- ty residents during the past two weeks, a St. Lucie County Public Schools re-
with 74,287 completing the process and ing pods close to your home wherever 15 percent decline from the previous two ported 40 COVID-19 cases in the past two
41,614 still needing a second dose. That we can,” Blackburn said during the City weeks when 20 died from the virus, state weeks with 25 students and 15 employees
means more than 36 percent of St. Lucie Council meeting Monday. Health Department reports show. Alto- testing positive for the virus.
County’s 320,000 residents have received gether, COVID-19 caused the death of 621
at least one shot. The city teamed up with Dr. Mark Pa- county residents since last March. Altogether, 443 students and 321
mer, a pulmonologist, for a Facebook Live employees have been diagnosed with
But the pace of FDOH vaccinations has meeting about COVID-19 vaccinations set Another 1,781 county residents have COVID-19 for a total of 764 cases since the
slowed with 17,953 receiving a shot be- for this Thursday evening, April 29, on Port been hospitalized with the virus since last school year started Aug. 24, district records
tween April 12 and April 26, a 12 percent St. Lucie’s Facebook page and the city’s March, including 61 between April 12 and show.
decline compared to March 29 through television website. April 26. That represented a 34 percent de-
April 12 when 20,513 were vaccinated, re- cline from the previous two weeks when Treasure Coast High School had the
cords show. “There’s so much misinformation out 92 COVID-19 patients were admitted to most cases with 74, followed by St. Lucie
there creating hesitancy in the popula- county hospitals. West Centennial High School with 64 and
However, the state Health Department tion,” Pamer said. “I think it’s important Fort Pierce Central High School with 63.
statistics do not include vaccinations ad- for us to take a step back, see where the pa- However, the number of COVID-19 cas-
ministered by health care providers, such tients are coming from and then try to ex- es in St. Lucie County increased by more Meanwhile, county officials are working
as pharmacies and physicians. plain to them nicely and with compassion, than 20 percent in the past two weeks as on plans for spending $63.6 million from
why the vaccine is in their best interest.” 1,010 residents were diagnosed with the the American Rescue Plan, Gill said.
Port St. Lucie City Manager Russ Black- virus, compared to 837 between March
burn noted the decline in demand for The Fort Pierce Recreation Center, 903 29 and April 12. Overall, 25,741 people Commissioners anticipated discuss-
COVID-19 vaccinations and Blackburn S. 21st St., is offering Pfizer vaccines on a in St. Lucie County have been diagnosed ing new construction projects the county
first-come, first-served basis from 9 a.m. could undertake with the federal money
during their May 11 meeting. 

8 April 29, 2021 ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | NEWS www.stlucievoice.com

Mast backs president on ending military engagement in Afghanistan

BY PATRICK McCALLISTER | Correspondent volved in Operation Freedom’s Sentinel The war in Afghanistan started on Oct. 7, velopment assistance to the Afghans along-
side military strikes against al Qaeda and
U.S. Rep. Brian Mast agrees with Pres- from Afghanistan was ongoing when Biden 2001. Following the multipronged terrorist Taliban fighters.
ident Joe Biden that it’s time to end Opera-
tion Freedom’s Sentinel, America’s military assumed office in January. Indeed, the Sept. attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, the U.S. quickly “The name of today’s military operation is
involvement in Afghanistan. ‘Enduring Freedom,’” Bush said.
11 deadline for total drawdown Biden an- unraveled al-Qaeda’s role and focused blame
“It may be the first thing I agree with him One of the chief objectives of Operation
on,” the Republican lawmaker said. nounced can be viewed as an extension. on Osama bin Laden. He was in Afghanistan. Enduring Freedom – the capture or killing of
bin Laden – happened in Pakistan on May 1,
Afghanistan is something Mast knows “There’s another deadline The Afghan government, the U.S. time, in 2011.
about. He’s a catastrophically injured Oper-
ation Enduring Freedom – Afghanistan vet- (for ending Operation Free- Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan Depending on how one counts states
eran. In 2010, while serving under the Joint of war, Operation Enduring Freedom – Af-
Special Operations Command as a bomb dom’s Sentinel) as well,” Mast – known by the shorthand Tali- ghanistan (and its 2015 successor, Opera-
disposal expert alongside a Ranger regiment, tion Freedom’s Sentinel) has been America’s
Mast was clearing IEDs when one exploded. said. “The May 1 deadline ban – condemned the terrorist longest. Some hold that the protracted pres-
It amputated both his legs. He received the ence on the Korean peninsula due to an ar-
Purple Heart and Bronze Star. agreed to by President Trump. attacks, but cited Pashtun tra- mistice rather than peace treaty with North
Korea, or the Indian Wars rooted in the In-
On April 14 Biden gave a televised ad- I was supportive when Presi- ditions of melmestia (hospi- dian Removal Act of 1830 and subsequent
dress from the White House Treaty Room legislation, should be counted as America’s
vowing the about 2,500 servicemembers dent Trump said we’d be out tality) in refusing to hand over longest states of war.
now deployed to Afghanistan will be out by
the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 (of Operation Freedom’s Senti- to the United States bin Laden The Florida Department of Veteran Affairs
terrorist attacks. reports that more than 173,000 veterans of
nel) by May 1.” and others known or suspect- Afghanistan – and the related anti-terrorism
Mast, who serves on the House Committee operations Iraqi Freedom/New Dawn – live
on Foreign Affairs and its subcommittee on The Trump administration ed to be in al-Qaeda. in Florida, which in total has about 1.5 mil-
Middle East, North Africa and International lion veterans.
Terrorism, noted that the Democratic pres- signed a peace deal with Tali- Almost a month after the
ident wasn’t announcing a policy change, Mast’s 18th Congressional District, which
but rather the fulfillment of a deal with the ban leaders in early 2020, but terrorist attack and weeks into includes all of St. Lucie and Martin coun-
Taliban negotiated and signed by the Trump ties, along with some of Palm Beach, has al-
administration. A drawdown toward total the withdrawal of U.S. forces U.S. Rep. Brian Mast. fruitless, strained negotiations, most 62,000 veterans. More than 24,000 are
removal of remaining servicemembers in- involved in military training President George W. Bush ap- younger than 65. 

and support of Afghan forces peared from the Treaty Room

had conditions. Some of those conditions for a televised address.

haven’t been consistently met. Nevertheless, “On my orders the United States military

there has been a large reduction of service- has begun strikes against al-Qaeda terror-

members in Afghanistan over the last year – ists training camps and military installa-

from about 10,000 to 2,500. tions of the Taliban regime in Afghanistan,”

Since Mast talked to St. Lucie Voice, Don- Bush said. “These carefully targeted actions

ald Trump released a statement praising are designed to disrupt the use of Afghani-

Biden for honoring the peace deal and urged stan as a terrorist base of operations and to

him to speed the end of Operation Free- attack the military capabilities of the Tali-

dom’s Sentinel to well before the symbolic ban regime.”

Sept. 11 date. Bush promised humanitarian aid and de-

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LEAD POISONING CAN
AFFECT ADULTS, TOO

BY FRED CICETTI toys and furniture. Small children can be Fall Special Includes Exam,
exposed by eating lead-based paint chips
Question: I know lead poisoning is a dan- or chewing on objects painted with lead- $69 Xray, Cleaning SLV
ger to children, but what effect does it have based paint.
on adults? NEW PATIENTS SC (0150)
SOIL. Lead from exterior paint, old lead- (0272) (1110)
THE HEALTHY SENIOR ed gas or other sources can be absorbed by
soil that you can track into your home. Expires 05/31/21
It’s true that children are more vulnera- Insurance Accepted
ble to lead poisoning than adults because DUST. Household dust can contain lead
lead is more easily absorbed by growing from old paint or soil brought inside. New Patient Special
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sensitive to lead’s damaging effects. How- CONTAINERS. Food or liquids stored .00
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but the primary victim is the nervous sys-
tem, which can be weakened by exposure HOBBIES. Refinishing furniture, pottery NEW PATIENTS
to this metal. and making stained-glass artifacts are hob-
bies that use lead.
Lead exposure can cause anemia, make
you irritable, affect your memory and abili- FOLK REMEDIES. There are potions
ty to concentrate, and it can increase blood that contain lead such as greta (lead ox-
pressure, particularly in older people. Lead ide) and azarcon (lead tetroxide) that have
can also lead to digestive problems and been used to treat intestinal problems.
cataracts. Exposure to high lead levels can
be fatal. CANNED FOOD. In 1995, the United
States banned the use of lead solder for
Symptoms of lead poisoning in adults sealing food cans, but some foods still are
may include numbness in extremities, imported from other countries where lead
weak muscles, headache, abdominal pain, solder may be used.
loss of memory, mood disorders and ab-
normal sperm. COSMETICS. Kohl, a mixture used in
eye makeup, frequently has high levels of
Lead is a natural component of the lead.
earth’s crust. However, people have spread
lead throughout our environment by burn- Here are some steps you can take to pre-
ing fossil fuels, mining and manufacturing. vent exposure to lead:
Two common sources of lead in our envi-
ronment were paint and gasoline; lead has  Clean up paint chips immediately.
been banned from both of them.  Clean floors, window frames, win-
dowsills and other surfaces weekly.
The following are sources of lead expo-  Wash hands often.
sure:  Clean or remove shoes before enter-
ing your home to avoid tracking in lead
WATER. Plumbing can contain lead, from soil.
which you cannot see, smell or taste. You  Repair damaged painted surfaces.
can have the water tested.  Plant grass to cover soil with high lead
levels.
PAINT. The federal government banned To remove lead hazards permanently,
lead-based paint from housing in 1978. you must hire a certified lead-abatement
Many homes built before 1978 have lead- contractor. Contact the U.S. Department of
based paint both inside and outside. This Environmental Protection Agency to locate
kind of paint can also be found on old certified contractors in your area. For more
information go to: www.epa.gov/lead. 

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10 April 29, 2021 ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | HEALTH www.stlucievoice.com

MANY TREATMENTS AVAILABLE FOR SEASONAL ALLERGIES

BY KERRY FIRTH | Correspondent most likely an allergy and not a routine cold Dr. Michael Wein. tive in your soap, shampoo, laundry deter-
[or other infection]. gent or cosmetic.
Spring is in the air – literally. But along with PHOTO: KAILA JONES
blue skies, balmy temperatures and budding “If nasal symptoms get worse in the spring So, what do you do if you are experiencing
flowers come the dreaded itchy noses and or fall when the pollen counts are higher, it’s year long and grows both indoors and out- any of these symptoms?
eyes associated with seasonal allergies. most likely an allergy,” he continued. “If they doors. Dead leaves and farm areas are com-
happen all the time, you might have a year- mon sources for molds, as well as indoor The best bet is to consult with a board-cer-
More than 60 million people in the United round allergy due to indoor allergens like plants, old books, bathrooms and damp ar- tified allergy doctor to evaluate your prob-
States suffer from allergies – hypersensitive dust, pets, chemicals or mold.” eas. Even foods contain molds. lem and find a solution. In addition to gath-
reactions of the immune system to sub- ering a detailed history and completing a
stances like mold and pollen. Mold is a tricky one because it’s present all Some allergies can affect the skin as well thorough examination of the ears, nose,
the eyes and nose. Your skin may become throat, head and skin, an allergist will offer
This overreaction can cause symptoms scaly, bumpy, itchy or otherwise irritated, advice on proper environmental control.
like runny nose, nasal congestion, itchy, symptoms that can be caused by a preserva-
watery eyes, asthma and even gastrointes- To test for allergies, small amounts of
tinal or skin disorders. Nasal allergy, known suspected allergens are placed on the skin
as allergic rhinitis, affects up to 30 percent of the arms, without the use of needles. The
of all adults. procedure lasts about 15-20 minutes. For
some patients, patch testing is performed
Nasal allergy symptoms can be hard to with paper tape to apply allergen patches
distinguish from the symptoms of colds, to the back to help with skin sensitivity and
or even COVID-19, but Dr. Michael Wein, a rashes (dermatitis).
board-certified allergy doctor on the Trea-
sure Coast, offers some guidance: “Gener- “Once we isolate the allergy, there is an
ally, allergy does not result in a fever,” said endless range of treatments and allergy
Dr. Wein. medications beginning with simple avoid-
ance and including many recent interven-
“If you have a fever along with the sneez- tions such as monoclonal antibodies and
ing, itchy eyes and nose, nasal discharge and desensitization,” Dr. Wein said.
scratchy throat, it’s a pretty good sign that
something other than allergy is the cause. “In many cases, over-the-counter and
The confusing aspect is that allergy symp- prescription medications such as antihis-
toms are the same as those of a common tamines, decongestants, inhaled nasal ste-
cold – and they can increase the frequen- roids, asthma inhalers, anti-leukotrienes
cy of infections. But if the problem is per- and other anti-inflammatory medicines will
sistent, lasting for weeks or months, then it’s alleviate the symptoms.

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“If that approach doesn’t work, allergy THOSE BLOOD PRESSURE READINGS YOU GET AT
injections, which are a form of immuno- DOCTOR’S OFFICE MIGHT NOT BE SO ACCURATE
therapy, are proven to be very effective.
This FDA-approved treatment, also known BY JANICE NEUMANN | The Washington Post sure is taken. But it’s also clear, experts say, ed to talk with you is because I got my
as allergy desensitization, may reduce and, that some clinics just aren’t doing it right. blood pressure measured and they said it
in some cases, even completely remove al- My blood pressure is one of those health was 160 over 100, but I had no previous
lergy symptoms for many years after the benchmarks I’ve never worried much Kevin Hwang, an associate professor of symptoms,’” Hwang said. “A lot of times,
treatment is completed. Symptom control is about. It has always been well below 120 general internal medicine at McGovern they will say, it was in a dentist’s office,
most successful when multiple approaches over 80, a normal level according to the Medical School at the University of Tex- they were lying back in a dentist’s chair
are used simultaneously.” American College of Cardiology, the Cen- as who has studied the reasons for office or it was done in a pharmacy where they
ters for Disease Control and Prevention blood pressure mistakes, says he has heard didn’t rest and their back was unsupport-
Pets have also been blamed for allergies. and other health organizations. from patients about them. ed. By the time they are seen in our office,
There is a myth that allergies are triggered by
animal hair, but in reality, they are caused by I learned to check my pressure at home “I’ve had a lot of patients come to me CONTINUED ON PAGE A12
a protein found in pet skin and saliva. Some to be sure it stayed normal, carefully fol- and they will say, ‘Hey, one reason I want-
dogs are supposedly hypoallergenic, but lowing guidelines set by the American
that is also a myth. Heart Association and American Medical
Association, including that the cuff should
No dog is 100-percent hypoallergenic, be placed over bare skin, the patient
but there seems to be fewer problems with should not be talking, the arm should be
breeds with shorter hair and less shedding. supported with elbow at heart level, with
The good news for pet lovers is that sever- back supported, legs uncrossed and both
al studies provide evidence that exposure feet flat on the floor.
to cats and dogs actually lowers the risk of
developing allergic sensitization in children So I was surprised last winter when, as I
and young adults. waited to see my doctor, a nurse came in to
the exam room and, in a rushed encoun-
Left untreated allergies can develop into ter, told me to hold my arm in the air as she
asthma. “In the United States, asthma affects placed the cuff over my sweater sleeve and
only an estimated 8 percent of the popula- took the measurement.
tion,” Dr. Wein said.
My blood pressure was 130 over 66,
“But nearly 90 percent of children and 50 which is still normal but on the high side
percent of adults with asthma have allergy as of it. Some might classify it as borderline
the underlying cause.” high pressure.

Dr. Wein offers a number of proactive High blood pressure, considered a lead-
steps to reduce your exposure to common ing risk factor for heart attack and stroke,
allergens: can be a scary thing. About 45 percent
of people in the United States have high
 Wear a pollen mask when mowing the blood pressure and only 24 percent of
grass or cleaning house. them have their blood pressure under con-
trol, according to the CDC.
 Change your air filter regularly in heat-
ing and air-conditioning systems and vacu- Having an accurate idea of your blood
um cleaners, or install an air purifier. pressure is important – in 2018, there were
nearly a half-million deaths in the United
 Keep windows and doors closed during States that were caused by hypertension or
heavy pollen seasons. in which it was a contributing cause.

 Wipe down indoor-outdoor animals as Several studies have shown that how
they return inside to remove pollen on their blood pressure is measured can alter the
fur. result and I wondered if that is what could
have raised mine. A study of people who
 Use daily saline nasal rinses to cleanse took part in the Systolic Blood Pressure
your nose and sinuses of allergens. Intervention Trial (SPRINT) found that
blood pressure readings taken during rou-
 Rid your home of sources of mildew. tine clinic appointments were consistently
 Change feather pillows, woolen blan- higher than those taken during the study’s
kets and woolen clothing to cotton or syn- trial, which carefully adhered to AHA
thetic materials. guidelines.
 Enclose mattresses, box springs and
pillows in a plastic barrier. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force,
 Use over-the-counter antihistamines an independent body of medical experts in
and decongestants as needed and tolerated. prevention and evidence-based medicine,
 Sleep with the head of the bed tilted found in 2015 that 15 percent to 30 percent
upward. Elevating helps relieve nasal con- of people with high blood pressure read-
gestion. ings at routine clinic appointments may
Dr. Wein graduated magna cum laude have lower readings outside of that setting.
from Brown University and has advanced
training in Allergy, Asthma and Immunology There can be several explanations, in-
from Johns Hopkins. He has served as pres- cluding that some patients feel anxious
ident of the Florida Allergy Society and was at the doctor’s office – they experience
a medical school faculty member at Florida the “white-coat syndrome” – which can
State University for over a decade. cause a high reading. And others may have
rushed to get to their appointment, navi-
Dr. Michael Wein is board certified by the gating subways, traffic and parking with-
American Board of Allergy and a Fellow of the out time to calm down before blood pres-
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and
Immunology. Dr.Wein is on staff at Cleveland
Clinic Indian River Hospital and Cleveland
Clinic Martin Health. He has offices in Port
St. Lucie and Vero Beach and can be reached
at 772-299-7299. 

12 April 29, 2021 ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | HEALTH www.stlucievoice.com

BLOOD PRESSURE READINGS white-coat hypertension and mistakes difference in young patients but does so in ing from guidelines can be serious, given
when taken in an office. He said even tak- older patients.” the link between high blood pressure,
CONTINUED FROM PAGE A11 ing a measurement through a thin sleeve heart disease and stroke.
may boost a reading. Paul Whelton, Show Chwan professor of
it’s 20-30 points lower.” global public health at Tulane University’s “It leads to a lot of error and most of the
Hwang said one study showed up to 50 “It’s a mixed bag when you look at re- School of Public and Tropical Medicine time the error is going to be overestima-
search, depending on thickness of the who has led many National Institutes of tion of the true average blood pressure,
percent of patients had lower blood pres- sleeve, age of patient and other factors,” Health-funded blood pressure interven- but sometimes it’s underestimation and
sure at home, probably because of both he said. “For example, it may not make a tion trials, said the consequences of stray- there’s no way to deal with that,” he said.

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Whelton pointed to one small study don’t take the time,” he said. and his doctor took it. But he still won- tainly do whatever it takes to be sure my
showing many medical students per- Ray Thomas, 67, of Chicago, is one of dered whether their methods played a part blood pressure is taken correctly. That will
formed poorly on doing accurate blood or whether he just needed some time to mean asking to sit quietly for a few min-
pressure tests. He suggested technicians, those patients who feels nervous when he destress. utes first and resting my arm on the arm-
or other staff with more time than nurses, goes to a doctor’s office, his “heart pound- rest of a chair. I may get an annoyed look
medical assistants or doctors, should be ing.” The next time, Thomas said he planned from the individual taking my pressure,
trained to take blood pressures. to be more assertive about his care by ask- but it will be well worth knowing if I really
He wasn’t surprised when his blood ing to rest first. have hypertension. 
“Usually people who are pretty busy pressure was high on a nurse’s reading, but
then became normal after he had rested As for me, the next time I go in, I will cer-





16 April 29, 2021 ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | PETS www.stlucievoice.com

Bonzo says ahoy to arrgh-some Pirate the pug

Hi Dog Buddies! “Of course! Gotta look the part,” he Pirate. PHOTO: KAILA JONES who had two toddlers (wobbly liddle
said, glancing at my assistant, who humans). WELL, I was all happy an
This week I had a Pleasant Porch Yap was rooting about in The Satchel for a him an Mom were waiting. Then one of playful like puppies are. But, when I was
with a hansome liddle almost-2-year- Turkey-an-Sweet Puh-Tay-do Snack. ’em called an said, ‘I think I have The Dog about 6 months old, the mother said, ‘I
old poocheroo, a shiny, totally black pug On the prompting of Pirate’s Mom, my for You.’ don’t need THREE toddlers,’ so she sold
whose Only Mission in Life is bein’ a Per- assistant said, “Sit!” me to another breeder. Before I could
fectly Perfect Companion. Which he IS. “Meanwhile, when I was 8 weeks old, find my Forever Famly, that breeder
After a quick glance at his Dad, my breeder sold me to a young famly went to heaven alluva sudden. So I got
The companion part comes natural Pirate sat, then enjoyed his reward. sent back to my first breeder. My pooch
cuzza his breed, but finding his Forever “Dow I’b breaddy,” he said, then swal- parents, Shade an Stanley, were still
Famly, well, that took a lot longer than lowed. “Should I start my story?” there, plus I had six bran-new puppy
you’d think. brothers an sisters. My dad played with
“Absolutely!” I opened my note- me a lot cuz my mom was busy with
His Official Pay-pers Name is Pirate of book, an Pirate hopped into his Dad’s the puppies. An that’s when my breeder
the Treasure Coast Terry, which his Forev- lap. called Daway.”
er Dad picked cuz he’d always wanted a
black pug named Pirate. “Mom had other Pugs pre-me (but “So that was your uh-RID-juh-null
not black; they were the regular Pug breeder?” I asked, a liddle confused.
Me an my assistant walked along a real color, tan with black faces). When they
pretty path to Pirate’s comftubble porch. went to the Rainbow Bridge, Mom “YES! I ree-lized it was one of those
Pirate trotted confidently up for the Wag- said, ‘NEVER AGAIN!’ cuz it made her Meant-To-Be things. Mom an Daway
an-Sniff, wearin’ a Crispy Biscuits blue- heart hurt so much. However, when were getting a Pug of Stature. Not too
an-red harness. His tail was curled up on that duh-zeeze thing started last year, old, not too puppyish. Not barky like
his caboose like a shiny chocolate-cov- Daway said it might be time to get (no offense) liddle pooches can be.
ered donut. another dog. He wanted a Black Pug An black like Daway wanted. An I was
who wasn’t a puppy or a Very Old dog. (finally) getting my Forever Famly.
“Ahoy! Welcome! Have a seat!” he said He called a buncha rescue places, an
cheerfully. “So glad you could make it! I’m kennels within a 100-mile ray-dee-us, “It was when we were drivin’ from
Pirate Terry. This is my mom, Linda, an but the rescue places were all out of my Gulf Coast kennel to my Treasure
my dad, David. I call him Daway.” lap dogs cuz lotsa humans were lookin’ Coast forever home that Daway decided
for liddle comfort pooches. The breeders what my Official PAY-pers name would
“Umm. Ahoy! It’s a pleasure, Pirate,” said they’d have what Daway was lookin’ be: Pirate of the Treasure Coast! An, guess
I replied. “Are those pirates an ships on for in 6-months-to-a-year. He had it what?”
your harness?” narrowed down to three breeders, and “What?”

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“Mom an Daway had a whole buncha THIS GROUPON DOESN’T WORK. CAN I GET A REFUND?
Dog Stuff waitin’ for me. Two cozy beds,
heaps of toys, my very own dishes, a spe- Diane Luedtke’s Groupon for TSA PreCheck the cost of your ticket. But I digress.
cial gate on the kitchen, an a nighttime doesn’t work. Can she persuade the company Looking at the details of your case, I don’t
crate they call a Bunky, like pirates do. Af- to refund it?
ter dinner, when Mom says ‘Pirate! Bunky, think you could have done anything differ-
Bunky!’ I know it’s time to go to sleep.” Q: I purchased two Groupon vouchers for ently. It seems that there was a glitch in the
a TSA PreCheck application fee. I followed system that prevented one of the two TSA
“Cool Kibbles!” I exclaimed. “So, what’s the directions on the voucher, entering one PreCheck Groupons you purchased from
your day like?” code to register at the TSA site. At the end of working. You had no way of knowing that the
the registration process, the site asked me to Groupon wouldn’t work until you arrived for
“I’ve been takin’ classes at Paw Prints. bring a credit card, money order or cashier’s your interview at the airport. Then, you tried
Mr. Sean says I’m a very quick stoo-dent. check to the airport for payment. to reach someone at Groupon who could fix
I really nail that OB-stikkle course. This the issue in real-time. But that proved to be
Saturday I’m graduating from Beyond That did not sound right to me. I scheduled impossible. So you ended up paying full price
Basics. Then I’ll probly take Canine Good my appointments at my local airport. My hus- for your husband’s TSA Precheck.
Citizen, so I can visit people in hospittles band and I made the trip to the airport and
an care homes an help ’em feel Much completed the process for applying for TSA Groupon’s terms and conditions are pretty
Better. PreCheck. At the completion of mine, I hand- confusing, at least when it comes to nonwork-
ed in the voucher and after the gentleman en- ing vouchers. It looks like you had two hours
“But,” he announced with great em- tered it into his computer, it came back as “already used.” to cancel your purchase under Groupon’s
phasis, “I DON’T DO TRICKS! I see no terms, but what if the thing doesn’t work?
point. For instance, Fetch. Seriously? I I was shocked. I gave him the second voucher and that worked I don’t agree with Groupon’s contention that ‘all sales are fi-
don’t have a Fetch bone in my body. I say, successfully. But my husband had to complete the process and nal.’ Groupon had an obligation to send you a code that worked.
‘YOU throw it. YOU get it.’ Pugs were bred pay by credit card. When it didn’t, it should have made arrangements with the TSA
in China to be Com-PAN-yuns. I do like to send you a working code or agreed to refund your purchase.
sittin’ by the window watchin’ trucks. I When I returned home, I contacted Groupon by phone and In your case, Groupon tried to issue a new coupon code for
really like trucks. was basically told that all sales were final, even on a defective PreCheck after you had already paid the $85 application fee
purchase. I sent an email and they offered a replacement code (and also after you had been approved for the program). Of
“Me an Daway have a sunrise roo- which I have no use for. Can you help me get my money back? course, no one needs two TSA Prechecks, so by then, it was too
TEEN. Daway takes me out to Do My late. The offer from Groupon was useless.
Duty. Then, after breakfast he gets his A: You should have received a valid code for your TSA Pre- You could have reached out to one of Groupon’s executive
cuppa coffee (ukky brown stuff, but Check. But when it didn’t work, Groupon should have refunded contacts. I list them on my consumer-advocacy site, Elliott.org.
humans really like it), an he sits in a your purchase. But I contacted Groupon on your behalf. It issued a refund, plus
lounge chair he calls ‘The Treasure a $25 credit to make up for your inconvenience.
Coast.’.We pretend it’s a boat. I sit on his TSA PreCheck is a trusted traveler program that lets you
lap, he reads his PAY-per an we sail on the get screened faster (shorter lines, no full-body scans). It costs Get help with any consumer problem by contacting Christopher
Treasure Coast for a half hour. It’s a pirate $85 for a five-year membership, but I’ve always thought the Elliott at http://www.elliott.org/help. 
thing. government shouldn’t charge you for screening at the airport
– something that should be included in the taxes tacked onto
“An then (he pawsed) there’s Millie, a
Golden Retriever from across the street. Grandpa was a miser, and Grandma was just miserable
The most beautiful dog in the world. The
Love of my Life!” Dear Carolyn: My grandfather get over being mad so she can mourn
died and my grandmother was real-
“So, how’s that going?” I had to ask. ly broken up at first, but something my grandfather, who wasn’t really a
“She might as well live across the came to light that changed her feel-
ocean. It’s totally un-re-KWY-ded,” he ings. After my grandfather retired, bad guy? – Grandkid
replied gloomily. he insisted they live really frugally.
“Bummer!” I sympathized. Grandkid: Wait a minute, no, do
“But, I have tons of other pooch pals. CAROLYN HAX
This neighborhood’s got more dogs than not “help her get over being mad.”
doors. Molly, Logan an Tigger are my They ate mainly beans and rice,
leash-walk besties.” canned vegetables – so my parents He took her family from her, priori-
“I noticed how Super Shiny your coat treated them to some meat when
is. Who’s your stylist?” they could or a dinner out. Also, the tizing his fear. That’s flat-out awful,
“Dog Kidz Spa. I get a mani-pedi anna house was always cold in the winter, so my mom made them
bath, then have a play date with the other quilts and bought my grandmom a space heater, which my even before the shivering. It is not
spa pooches. All-in-all, I feel Very Lucky grandfather let her run a couple of hours a day. They couldn’t
Dog. I have a grrreat Forever Famly. Total- visit her sisters and brother because it was too expensive, which your responsibility and, more im-
ly worth the wait. Isn’t it Cool Kibbles the really bothered my grandmom; she even missed their funerals.
way things happen?” portant, not your place to negate her
Heading home, I had to agree with After my grandfather died we found out they were worth
Pirate: It IS Totally Cool Kibbles the way over $1 million. My grandmom was so hurt and angry to rage. She earned it, he deserves it.
things happen that bring the right pooch realize she had been essentially living in poverty, taking from
an the right forever famly together. I also her daughter’s family, when they didn’t have to. I don’t think If you want to help her, then try,
agree with him about that Fetch Thing. my grandfather was being mean, just scared of running out
of money, but my grandmom now hates the memory of him “Amen, sister, I am so sorry he did that to you. Can I help you
Till next time, and says she’s glad he died. This has my mom so torn up. My
grandmom is also spending money pretty wildly – her house cook that shrimp?”
The Bonz is like a sauna and she has steak and shrimp all the time and
wants to buy me a car. Take the car, too. She wants to use her agency and her
DON’T BE SHY!
We are always looking for pets First, is it OK if I take the car, and second, how can I help her money, and better it goes to you than into the atmosphere
with interesting stories. To set
from her furnace.
up an interview, email
[email protected]. But: Deposit a car payment’s worth monthly into a sepa-

rate account. If Grandma rage-spends herself to bankruptcy,

pay her back from the account in monthly installments. If her

money outlives her, then enjoy your nest egg in her honor.

Also, one of you can help her ensure she has money for life

and isn’t at risk of torching it all.

In time, if granted her rage, your grandmother may well

burn off the anger and come around to a more nuanced

opinion of your grandfather – including sadness for his also

depriving himself. But the key is not trying to tell her how she

“should” feel.  –­ THE WASHINGTON POST

18 April 29, 2021 ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | REAL ESTATE www.stlucievoice.com

MORTGAGE RATES PULL BACK
FOR THIRD STRAIGHT WEEK

Prepare For Hurricane For the third week in a row, mortgage tended period,” he said.
Season Now! Get Your rates pulled back as Treasury yields con-
Impact Doors Today! tinued to exert downward pressure. Bankrate.com, which puts out a weekly

• Glass patterns for every style & budget According to the latest data released mortgage rate trend index, found the ex-
• Customize to your style last Thursday by Freddie Mac, the 30-year
• Impact Glass fixed-rate average tumbled to 2.97 percent perts it surveyed evenly divided on where
• Wood Interior / Exterior Doors with an average 0.7 point. (Points are fees
• Fiberglass Doors paid to a lender equal to 1 percent of the rates will head in the coming week. Half
• Patio & Sliding Glass Doors loan amount and are in addition to the in-
• Framed / Frameless Shower Units terest rate.) It was 3.04 percent two weeks said they will go down, the rest said they
• Etching ago and 3.33 percent a year ago.
• Schlage & Emtek Hardware will remain about the same.
• Mirror Wraps Freddie Mac, the federally chartered
mortgage investor, aggregates rates from Ken H. Johnson, a real estate economist
NO CONTACT ESTIMATE & MEASURING! around 80 lenders across the country to
come up with weekly national averages. It at Florida Atlantic University, is one who
772-463-6500 uses rates for high-quality borrowers with
Regency Square strong credit scores and large down pay- predicts rates will decrease somewhat.
2426 SE Federal Hwy, Stuart ments. Because of the criteria, these rates
Licensed & Insured are not available to every borrower. “Ten-year Treasury yields have been

The survey is based on home purchase moving slightly lower over the past week,”
mortgages, which means rates for refinanc-
es may be higher. The price adjustment for Johnson said. “Seeing no imminent threat
refinance transactions that went into effect
in December is adding to the cost. The ad- to the financial markets, 30-year mortgage
justment, which applies to all Fannie Mae
and Freddie Mac refinances, is 0.5 per- rates should move slightly down as well.
cent of the loan amount. That works out to
$1,500 on a $300,000 loan. Moderating 10-year Treasury yields are re-

The 15-year fixed-rate average fell to 2.29 ally helping keep a lid on long-term mort-
percent with an average 0.6 point. It was
2.35 percent two weeks ago and 2.86 per- gage rates right now.”
cent a year ago. The five-year adjustable
rate average edged up to 2.83 percent with Mortgage delinquencies declined last
an average 0.3 point. It was 2.8 percent two
weeks ago and 3.28 percent a year ago. month as many borrowers used their stim-

“The Freddie Mac interest rate for a 30- ulus checks to catch up on overdue pay-
year loan slid again [last] week,” said Dan-
ielle Hale, chief economist at Realtor.com. ments. According to data from Black Knight,
“Long-term bond rates, which shifted from
a gradual climb to an accelerated one in a mortgage and real estate technology and
early 2021, have done an about-face since
mid-March due to the [Federal Reserve’s] data provider, the national mortgage delin-
patient approach to monetary policy. This
has given investors confidence that the Fed quency rate fell to 5.02 percent last month
won’t push rates up too quickly.”
from 6 percent in February, a 16.4 percent
The yield on the 10-year Treasury fell
to its lowest level in more than a month drop. Such big drops often happen in March
this week, dropping to 1.57 percent last
Wednesday. because borrowers use their tax refunds on

“After a sustained sell-off in 2021’s first missed mortgage payments. Even so, last
quarter, demand for Treasurys has in-
creased recently, keeping downward pres- month’s decline was higher than the usual
sure on yields and thus mortgage rates,”
said Matthew Speakman, a Zillow econ- 10 percent decline in March.
omist. “Continuing a recent trend, yields
showed little regard for strong economic Despite the big drop in delinquencies, 1.9
data reports released last week.”
million mortgage-holders remain at least
Even though mortgage rates have fallen
the past three weeks, Speakman doesn’t ex- 90 days past due on payments. That’s 1.5
pect the slide to last.
million more than a year ago and five times
“Despite another weekly downtick,
Lic.#CGC1528458 the longer-term trend for mortgage rates pre-pandemic levels.
remains to the upside and barring a sig-
nificant economic or pandemic-related Meanwhile, mortgage applications
setback, it’s unlikely that this downward
movement in rates will continue for an ex- picked up again after a weeks-long slump.

According to the latest data from the Mort-

gage Bankers Association, the market com-

posite index increased 8.6 percent from a

week earlier.  ­– THE WASHINGTON POST

Charming home includes
Vitalia’s awesome amenities

11380 SW Aspen Lane in Vitalia in Tradition: 3-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom, 2,531-square-foot home
offered for $388,973 by Kay Rodriguez, 772-486-2126 of Lang Realty

NOW SEEKING TOP Real Estate. Redefined
PRODUCING AGENTS
TREASURE COAST FEATURED PROPERTIES
To join our team
The Real Estate Leader
Call John Falkenhagen:
772.467.1299

Serving The Treasure Coast
Call the leading sales specialists at Lang Realty. (772) 467-1299

800-682-5551 | LangRealty.com

20 April 29, 2021 ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | REAL ESTATE www.stlucievoice.com

Charming home includes Vitalia’s awesome amenities

BY SHELLEY KOPPEL | Columnist and foliage that provide beauty, shade and The house has a formal dining room (13 frigerator, gas cook top and double wall ov-
[email protected] privacy. Even the walkway to the front door feet, 2 inches by 10 feet, 9 inches) and a liv- ens. You can chat with guests or keep an eye
is flanked on either side by greenery. When ing room (22-2-by-15-4), but your family on visiting grandkids as you whip up some-
Readers of this space know that I am a fan you step inside, you see the stunning view and friends will live in the family room, a thing special.
of Vitalia, a 55+ community in Tradition. The of the lake, a view that is replicated in many generous 27-1-by-15-6. It is adjacent to the
houses are lovely and the amenities are great, of the rooms. You are immediately in relax- gourmet kitchen (14-4-by-12) with warm- The master suite is really an oasis, be-
which makes for a terrific combination. ation mode, the kind that only watching wa- toned, upgraded 42-inch cabinets, quartz ginning with the master bedroom, an envi-
ter flow past can bring. counters and snack bar, stainless-steel re- able 17.1-by-14. Imagine waking up to lake
Outside, the house at 11380 SW Aspen views, or seeing the glistening water as the
Lane is charmingly landscaped with trees

This Week’s

FEATURED LISTING

LAKE PARK AT TRADITION

11464 SW Lake Park Dr

OPEN HOUSE • SUNDAY, MAY 2ND • 1PM - 3PM

BEAUTIFUL WATERFRONT POOL HOME
Previous waterfront model home in the sought-after Lake Park in Tradition community features
3BR, 2BA, PLUS a Den. The extended lanai offers a fully automated heated pool with spa. The
Kitchen has white cabinets, under mount lighting, quartz countertops and SS appliances. This

Villa has designer updates throughout including, a grand entry way with coiffured ceilings,
crown molding and wood-look tile throughout the home, accent walls in both living room and
master BR and central music with ceiling mounted speakers. The large master BR has 2 closets
and is separate from other bedrooms and has a pool and lake view. Added pluses- impact glass
throughout, HOA fees that include lawn care, cable, internet and security system with the use

Lake Park and Town Park amenities. Come see this gem! RX-10705145
$399,900

Linda Hart
772-595-2822

[email protected]

To Advertise (772-633-1115) ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | REAL ESTATE April 29, 2021 21

sun goes down. The master suite has two joy that first cup of coffee of the day or to on a Sunday morning to get the paper, have in the back,” she said. “Inside, there is an
large walk-in closets and a separate space relax with a beverage of choice at the end of coffee and a bagel and do the crossword upgraded kitchen, luxurious master suite
for a home office. The master bath has dou- a busy day. puzzle before stopping at Publix to pick up and a separate space for a den or office.
ble sinks, a soaking tub and walk-in show- a few things. There are big box stores nearby, The expanded covered and screened lanai
er, and if I had the choice, I would live and If you can tear yourself away, Vitalia and restaurants and shopping in nearby St. provides a long view of the lake and is the
work in this suite, in my own little world. has amenities galore, beginning with a Lucie West. perfect place to relax and enjoy the Florida
24,000-square-foot clubhouse. There are lifestyle at its best.”
Outside, the covered and screened patio activities indoors and out, including bocce For Kay Rodriguez of Lang Realty, this
is a wonderful place to entertain. Imagine and pickleball, tennis, a putting green, pool, house is a beauty, inside and out. A house in Vitalia is always worth a look.
inviting the book club or lunch bunch to fitness center and game room. Go a little This one has so much to recommend it, in-
sit and enjoy the day while relaxing and en- further and you have all that Tradition has “This spacious, well-maintained origi- side and out, that you’ll want to put it on
joying the lake. It’s the perfect place to en- to offer. You can come down to Main Street nal owner home has tremendous curb ap- your list. 
peal in the front and stunning lake views

PUT TEAM

NAPOLITANO

YOUR COMMUNITY REALTORS TO WORK FOR YOU AnnMarie
WITH RESULTS Napolitano

TEAM NAPOLITANO PRESENTS A CUSTOM BUILT LUXURY WATERFRONT ESTATE
PROPERTY ON THE SAINT LUCIE RIVER! CALL LISTING AGENT FOR A PRIVATE SHOWING!

FEATURES FOR 11380 SW ASPEN LANE 12010 Riverbend Road (BAY ST. LUCIE)

Neighborhood: Vitalia in Tradition Majestic Waterfront Estate property on the St. Lucie River w/dockage for multiple boats
Year built: 2007 • Construction: CBS & jet ski’s. Bay St. Lucie home sits on a corner 0.82 Acre Lot offering lush tropical
Square footage: 2,531 sq. ft. • Total square footage: 3,605 sq. ft.
landscaping & privacy. Two story exquisite home features 5 BRs, 5 Full BAs, 3 1/2 BAs &
Bedrooms: 3 • Bathrooms: 2.5 3 CG w/AC. Property includes Elevator, 2 Stairways, Fireplaces, Bar, 2 Laundry Rooms,
Flooring: carpet, tile • Security: manned gate custom moldings & gourmet kitchen & full home generator. This home is available for lease
Additional features: lake views, impact glass, covered and
with option to buy. Rental Amount can go toward deposit of purchase. $2,900,000
screened patio, room for a pool
Community amenities: 24,000-sq.-ft clubhouse, bocce ball, fit- KELLER WILLIAMS Call AnnMarie Today!
ness center, game room, pickleball, pool, putting green, tennis
R E A LT Y 954-675-2804 (Cell)
Listing brokerage: Lang Realty
Listing agent: Kay Rodriguez, 772-486-2126 PORT ST. LUCIE 772-236-5700 (office)

Listing price: $388,973 [email protected] • www.annmarienapolitano.kw.com
9700 Reserve Blvd. St. Lucie West
Each office independently owned and operated

22 April 29, 2021 ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | REAL ESTATE www.stlucievoice.com

TRADITION AND ST. LUCIE WEST REAL ESTATE SALES

TOP SALES OF THE WEEK

Another brisk fortnight of real estate sales in Tradition and St. Lucie West saw 67 transactions
of single-family residences and lots (some shown below).
The top recent sale was the home at 7842 Sabal Lake Drive. First listed last October for
$1,050,000, this 4-bedroom, 4-bathroom residence sold for $950,000 on April 12.
Representing the seller in the transaction was agent Nicholas Bezek of NV Realty Group, LLC.
Representing the buyer was agent Michael Wertz of Luxury Real Estate Group LLC .

SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENCES AND LOTS
ORIGINAL SELLING
PRICE
TOWN ADDRESS LISTED ASKING PRICE SOLD
$950,000
PORT SAINT LUCIE 7842 SABAL LAKE DRIVE 10/16/2020 $1,050,000 4/12/2021 $640,000
PORT SAINT LUCIE 9619 FAIRWOOD COURT 1/4/2021 $669,000 4/19/2021 $630,000
PORT SAINT LUCIE 11799 AVENTINO DRIVE 11/29/2020 $659,900 4/12/2021 $530,000
PORT SAINT LUCIE 573 ROMORA BAY 2/27/2021 $549,000 4/14/2021 $479,900
PORT SAINT LUCIE 17016 AMBROSE WAY 4/11/2021 $479,900 4/23/2021 $475,000
PORT SAINT LUCIE 894 LAKE CHARLES CIRCLE 3/22/2021 $475,000 4/13/2021 $469,808
PORT SAINT LUCIE 10058 RED OAK COURT 1/28/2021 $488,393 4/22/2021 $469,000
PORT SAINT LUCIE 10204 ISLE OF PINES COURT 3/8/2021 $469,000 4/13/2021 $449,000
PORT SAINT LUCIE 7217 MAIDSTONE DRIVE 3/17/2021 $449,000 4/20/2021 $440,000
PORT SAINT LUCIE 1134 GREENBRIAR COVE 2/14/2021 $440,000 4/16/2021 $435,000
PORT SAINT LUCIE 9111 CHAMPIONS WAY 12/1/2020 $449,900 4/15/2021 $415,000
PORT SAINT LUCIE 5833 ZENITH DRIVE 3/22/2020 $389,000 4/21/2021 $410,000
PORT SAINT LUCIE 543 HAMPTON COURT 3/10/2021 $405,950 4/15/2021

COAST TO COAST...
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To Advertise (772-633-1115) ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | REAL ESTATE April 29, 2021 23

HERE ARE SOME OF THE TOP RECENT TRADITION AND ST. LUCIE WEST REAL ESTATE SALES

9619 Fairwood Court, Port Saint Lucie 11799 Aventino Drive, Port Saint Lucie

Listing Date: 1/4/2021 Listing Date: 11/29/2020
Original Price: $669,000 Original Price: $659,900
Sold: 4/19/2021 Sold: 4/12/2021
Selling Price: $640,000 Selling Price: $630,000
Listing Agent: Kay Rodriguez Listing Agent: Elise Danielian

Selling Agent: Lang Realty Selling Agent: Lang Realty

Adam Fatigate Renee Normandy-Shane

Douglas Elliman Keller Williams Realty

573 Romora Bay, Port Saint Lucie 17016 Ambrose Way, Port Saint Lucie

Listing Date: 2/27/2021 Listing Date: 4/11/2021
Original Price: $549,000 Original Price: $479,900
Sold: 4/14/2021 Sold: 4/23/2021
Selling Price: $530,000 Selling Price: $479,900
Listing Agent: Valerie Juno Listing Agent: Elaine Davis

Selling Agent: Lang Realty Selling Agent: NextHome Atlantic Coast

Valerie Juno Elaine Davis

Lang Realty NextHome Atlantic Coast

24 April 29, 2021 ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | REAL ESTATE www.stlucievoice.com

Want to change your bedroom flooring? Here’s some tips

BY MICHELE WERNER | The Washington Post “Some homeowners prefer the warm to share the pros and cons of bedroom floor area rug to add warmth and softness to the
and plushy feel of carpet at their feet and options that you may be considering: space. It may sound counterintuitive to put
Remodeling and moving have been its great sound-deadening quality,” Mullin hardwood in and cover it with an area rug,
popular pastimes during the pandemic for wrote. “Laminate floors can give you the HARDWOOD but this gives you so much more freedom to
those who had the means to upgrade their same look as hardwood with more stability “If you are trying to decide what kind of make the rug a real statement piece and you
living space. Nearly 16 million Americans and often end up less expensive than other flooring would be best for your bedroom, I can easily switch it out in a few years if you
moved between February and July, accord- options. Luxury vinyl tile is a great option always recommend going with hardwood want to get the room a refresh.”
ing to analysis by MyMove.com, and home- for basement bedrooms that could be sub- flooring,” wrote Tracy Morris, owner of Tracy
owners spent nearly $420 billion on home ject to water intrusion and they still look Morris Design in McLean, Va., in an email. Pros:
improvements in 2020, according to the great after getting wet.” “Hardwood is classic and will look good • Timeless.
Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard for many years to come. Then I add a large • Good for resale value.
University. We asked several architects and designers • Long life span – can be sanded and re-
stained for new life.
If your plans for a remodel or for a new • Durable.
home include replacing the bedroom floors, • Softer underfoot than tile.
you may want to consider the advice of ex- • Nonallergenic.
perts to help you choose the right material • Can be recycled.
to install. Cons:
• Expensive to buy and install.
“Deciding on the best flooring option • Scratches easily.
for your bedroom often is a matter of pref- • Won’t tolerate moisture or water.
erence,” Marnie Oursler, president of Mar- • Repairing scratches and warping can
nie Custom Homes in Bethany Beach, Del., be costly.
wrote in an email. • Less pet-friendly than some materials.
• Lacks sound insulation.
“Do you like to step onto carpet when • Harder underfoot than carpet.
getting out of bed in the morning or is du- Even if you decide on hardwood, you will
rability your number one concern? Hard- need to choose between solid or engineered
wood, luxury vinyl flooring and carpet are hardwood flooring.“With real solid hardwood
all good options for bedrooms.” flooring, each board is made from one solid
piece of wood, ensuring a tight, dense grain
Most high-end homes have hardwood pattern for strength,” Oursler wrote. “With
in the bedrooms, perhaps with rugs to add
some coziness, wrote architect Sean Mullin
with Anthony Wilder Design/Build in Cabin
John, Md., in an email.

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To Advertise (772-633-1115) ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | REAL ESTATE April 29, 2021 25

engineered hardwood, each flooring board • Easy to install, which makes them a • Plenty of options for the color, pile and tions of more exotic wood species.
is made up of multiple component layers to great option for DIYers. padding. • Easier to install than some other mate-
achieve the desired thickness and wear.”
• Inexpensive, around the same price • Can be less expensive than other op- rials.
LUXURY VINYL TILES AND PLANKS point as carpet. tions. • More stable because of how it is made.
“Luxury vinyl tile and luxury vinyl planks • Some options have foam backing built
are water resistant, and some are even con- • 10-20-year life span depending on • Better for pets because it is less likely to
sidered waterproof depending on their in- quality. be scratched. in, which could help with sound.
stallation,” wrote Kirsten Gable, a designer Cons:
with Anthony Wilder Design/Build, “which Cons: Cons: • Can wear easily.
makes this material a great option for base- • Not considered a green material, not • Hard to keep clean. • Hard to replace – may not be able to
ment bedrooms.” recyclable. • Easily traps allergens.
Pros: • May off-gas chemicals during and after • Can get worn down – shorter life span find a match.
• Durable. installation, especially if glued in place. than other options. • Can be harder or colder on your feet.
• Scratch resistant. • May be considered cheap at resale. • Can look dated.
• Easy maintenance by occasional dust “If you are moving into a new home and
mopping or sweeping. CARPET LAMINATE FLOORING debating redoing the floors, I always rec-
• Somewhat soft underfoot. Pros: Pros: ommend clients to do them prior to mov-
• Quiet. • Can be less expensive than carpet or ing in,” Morris wrote. “Redoing floors after
• Warm and comfortable, with insula- hardwood. you’ve moved in with a house full of furni-
tion against heat loss. • Plenty of options – including reproduc- ture is much more difficult.” 

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NEW LISTING COMING SOON

CATALINA LAKES - PBG $385,000 CASTLE PINES $220,000

MOVE IN READY TOWNHOUSE IN THE HEART OF PBG • Meticulously maintained Divosta GROUND FLOOR CORNER CONDO IN CASTLE PINES! • 2BR/2.5BA ground floor unit being
property in the popular community of Catalina Lakes. 3BR/2.5BA/1CG with fresh interior paint, plantation shutters offered fully furnished/turnkey. Great as a winter getaway, investment property or full time condo. Kitchen
t/o, hard surface flooring t/o, brand new kitchen appliances and W/D, newer WH and screened patio. Nest security with granite and newer stainless steel appliances. Tile throughout the living areas and laminate flooring in
cameras, Nest thermostat, electronic door lock and more. Built in closet organizers in all upstairs closets. Won’t last! the bedrooms. HOA dues include cable, water, sewer, building insurance, lawn care and amenities.
RX-10709854 180 Santa Barbara Way 8000 Carnoustie Place

UNDER CONTRACT UNDER CONTRACT UNDER CONTRACT UNDER CONTRACT

PGA VERANO $699,900 PGA VERANO $605,000 PGA VERANO $449,500 PGA VERANO $330,000

SHOW STOPPING POOL HOME! Gorgeous lake views from GORGEOUS LAKE VIEWS ON OVERSIZED LOT! Privacy BREATHTAKING LAKE VIEWS ON EXTRA LONG LOT PRIVACY AND LAKE VIEWS IN VERANO! Meticulously
this elegant 3BR+Den/4.5BA/2+CG home on oversized abounds in this rare ‘Adamo’ floor plan. Located on a large lot and Popular ‘Alessa’ floor plan with 3CG! Situated at the tip of the lake and featuring maintained ‘Bella’ floor plan with lake views from the front of the house and
lot. Salt water pool w/ travertine paver deck, gorgeous walking distance to the clubhouse. 3BR+Den/3.5BA/2+CG w/ re- long lake views. Kitchen w/ granite counters, stainless appliances, newer refrigera- garden views in the back yard. Tile on a diagonal through the living areas,
kitchen, master suite w/ dual bathrooms, both guest rooms cent updates. Features include light & bright kitchen w/ granite & tor, pendant lighting and wall oven. Plantation shutters t/o, impact glass windows carpeted bedrooms, plantation shutters throughout, screened patio, glass
w/ en-suites. Newer ACs & WH, SS kitchen appliances and ss, large master suite w/ beautiful views, screened & covered lanai, & doors, tiled living area, carpeted bedrooms and extra long driveway. Master suite entry front door and upgraded lighting & ceiling fans. Impact glass windows
oversized garage. Won’t last! spacious laundry room, impact glass, newer WH & AC. Call today! overlooks the lake and has private ensuite w/ frameless glass shower. Call today! and doors and barrel tile roof. Still under builder’s warranty! Won’t last!
RX-10701144 9955 SW Nuova Way RX-10697135 10025 SW Nuova Way RX-10705239 10730 SW Visconti Way RX-10707174 11045 SW Visconti Way

UNDER CONTRACT UNDER CONTRACT UNDER CONTRACT UNDER CONTRACT

DOWNTOWN FORT PIERCE $619,900 CASTLE PINES $215,000 PGA VILLAGE $334,900 VALENCIA CAY $339,900
WATERFRONT LIVING IN HISTORIC FORT PIERCE!
Gorgeous intracoastal views from this 3BR/3BA condo. Spa- GROUND FLOOR CONDO IN PGA VILLAGE! First floor RELAXING RETREAT IN PGA VILLAGE Welcome home MOVE RIGHT IN - VALENCIA CAY BETTER THAN
cious bedrooms, two balconies and open living area. Kitchen corner unit being offered fully furnished/turnkey. This to this 3BR/2BA/2CG home with built in spa and NEW! Move right in to this 2BR+DEN/2BA/2CG
w/ granite counters, SS appliances and wood cabinetry. Two 2BR/2.5BA unit can be used as an investment prop- oversized lanai. This property features the best of all Osprey plan. No need to wait over a year for new
parking spots included and fabulous amenities! Minutes from erty, full time residence or winter getaway. Brand new worlds...privacy as well as golf & water views. Master construction. This home shows like new and has
the beach and steps to all downtown Fort Pierce has to offer. AC! Newer WH & Washer/Dryer. HOA dues include suite w/ dual closets & frame-less glass shower. Pride GORGEOUS LAKE VIEWS, impact glass, whole house
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fun, food SECTION
festivities
THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 2021 YOUR INDEPENDENT LOCAL COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER

‘LITTLE MERMAID’ ... BIG SPLASH!

From left above, Emma Green (as a Mersister), Lucia Gomez (Ariel) and Davon Arthur (Scuttle) perform in Renaissance Charter School of St. Lucie’s

production of “The Little Mermaid” last weekend at the Sunrise Theatre in Fort Pierce. PHOTOS: LINDA KLOORFAIN

Coming Up! Who’s hosting a virtual ‘Who’ show? Sunrise, that’s who!

BY PAM HARBAUGH | Correspondent tures high-octane performances starring are Lana Gordon, who many times as desired from 8 p.m. sures and locally grown plants.
by Broadway performers who re- starred in “Chicago” and “The Friday, April 30 to 8 p.m. Sunday, The event runs 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
1 Fort Pierce’s Sunrise Theatre ally know how to deliver a show. Lion King,” and Michael Wartella, May 2. For more information, visit at Glidden Park Garden Center,
is hosting a virtual stream Headlining the production is who was in “Charlie and the Choc- SunriseTheatre.com or call 772- 911 Parkway Dr. (Georgia Avenue
concert of some great rock and Constantine Maroulis, the two- olate Factory” and “Wicked.” The 461-4775. and 10th Street), Fort Pierce. Free
roll by the Who. The show, called time Tony Award nominee and concert features such great tunes admission. Sales help benefit the
“Reflection of Who’s Next,” is popular contestant on “American as “Won’t Get Fooled Again,” “Pin- 2 The Garden Club of Fort Garden Club of Fort Pierce com-
by the Rock Project and it hon- Idol.” Another headliner is Justin ball Wizard” and “Baba O’Riley” Pierce will hold a Spring munity projects.
ors the 50th anniversary of the Matthew Sargent, who brought (some people incorrectly call that Plant Sale this Saturday, May 1.
Who’s great album, “Who’s Next.” the house down in the Broadway “Teenage Wasteland”). Tickets to There will be an indoor boutique 3 Head to the historic down-
The show was shot live from the shows “Rock of Ages” and “Spi- stream this concert are $20. The and outdoor venue with a large town section of Fort Pierce
Tilles Center for the Performing der-Man: Turn Off the Dark.” Also concert can be viewed online as selection of household trea-
Arts on Long Island, N.Y. It fea- CONTINUED ON PAGE B4

2 April 29, 2021 ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | ARTS www.stlucievoice.com

ATHENA SOCIETY SELECTS SHEELER PAINTING FOR VERO MUSEUM

BY ELLEN FISCHER | Columnist Belgian mill where a specialized electronic,
computerized Jacquard machine scanned
The year’s purchase by the Athena them and created digital matrixes that
directed the machine’s loom to reproduce
Society, a special membership group of them as tapestries.

the Vero Beach Museum of Art, has been Born in 1954, Smith is the daughter
of American sculptor Tony Smith. Her
ART made. fascination with depicting the human
At the annual Athena form began in the 1980s, with the deaths
of her father of a heart attack at age 67,
REVIEW Society Dinner last and eight years later her younger sister, of
Friday, the vote went to AIDS. In that decade, Smith began casting
human body parts as independent sculp-
American artist Charles Sheeler’s tem- tural works. She also began exploring the
symbolism of fairy tales, Bible stories and
pera and ink on paper painting, “Hydro accounts of Catholic saints. She became
interested in transmogrification of the
Electric Power, Hoover Dam” of 1950. The body through magical curses or religious
ecstasy, as well as by the body’s normal,
painting was on offer from Meredith Ward mammalian functions.

Fine Art of New York City, a gallery spe- The two most interesting tapestries of
the group portray blond, human females
cializing in 19th century and 20th century in settings that included elements of
nature: trees, woodland plants and wild
American art. animals. In one of these, a nude woman
stands on the lower branch of a tree whose
Membership in the Athena Society trunk turns into a giant black serpent. The
scene recalls Eve, or perhaps Eve’s apocry-
is $5,000 per year, with monies pooled phal, headstrong predecessor Lilith, whom
Smith has also portrayed in a bronze sculp-
to purchase artworks for the museum’s ture, versions of which are owned by New
York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art and the
collection. The funds have exceeded over San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.

$400,000 per annum over the past few Leaving Smith’s work, Van Wagenberg
leads the way into the Schumann Gallery
years, and usually all or most of those to view the other two offerings.

funds are spent on one of the three to five Near the gallery’s entrance is a sculpture
made of hundreds of small stainless-steel
artworks selected for the society’s delibera- bars welded together in an openwork,
human-shaped configuration. Its there-
tion by the museum’s director, curator and but-not-quite-there presence in the gallery
suggests a Star Trek humanoid being
collections committee from retail galleries beamed from one place to another.

“up north.” Titled “Scaffold XVI,” the artwork was
created by the 70-year-old British sculptor
The artwork to be purchased is select- Antony Gormley. Offered by the Sean Kelly
Gallery of New York City, the sculpture is
ed by secret ballot and announced at the slight, but the artist’s reputation is out-
sized. The 1994 winner of the Turner prize,
annual Athena Society Dinner. This year’s Gormley was made a Royal Academician
in 2003 and knighted Officer of the British
dinner was especially happy, because Above: Charles Sheeler’s “Hydro Electric Power, Hoover Dam.” Below: Antony Gormley’s “Scaffold XVI.” Empire in 2014.

members were once again able to meet Charles Sheeler’s “Hydro-Electric Power,
Hoover Dam” of 1950 is itself a powerhouse
following its cancellation last year due to Athena Society members and the public selection would have made the other two of a painting, despite its small size. It is an
alike, for about a week prior to the society’s selections, a human-scale figural sculpture abstract “landscape” of electrical towers
the pandemic. dinner. That is because when galleries and a 14.5-inch-square painting, appear that carry power from the dam, seen in
temporarily loan the artworks to the insignificant by comparison. the distant center of the painting, through
The Athena Society is an important, but VBMA, they are, for that duration, off-mar- the rocky terrain on the Arizona side of the
ket to other would-be buyers. “The other two choices are in the mighty structure.
not sole resource for museum acquisitions, Schumann Gallery,” she says.
This year, however, the Concerning Smith’s But for the small figure of a workman
thanks to private endowments that fund artworks were installed for an tapestry set, Van Wagenberg standing between the huge insulators of a
additional two weeks before says that people had a lot of nearby structure, you might be fooled for
VBMA art purchases, as well as private the selection. (By the time this questions about how they a second into thinking the painting was a
article is published, the un- were made. hard-edged abstraction. Its color palette
donations of art. purchased artworks will have She explains that the de- is monochromatic in the limning of the
gone back to their lenders.) signs for the tapestries were plant and its structures; the sky, however,
Although the society was not able to created by Smith at the same
Standing in front of six size as the completed tap- CONTINUED ON PAGE B4
choose an artwork for the VBMA last year, large tapestries designed by estries. In the tapestry trade
American artist Kiki Smith, these large-scale, preliminary
the permanent collection did grow in 2020 Van Wagenberg explains that artworks are called “cartoons.”
the grouping counted as one Smith created them, says Van
with a John Marin watercolor landscape choice for this year’s selection. Wagenberg, as collages on
Each tapestry is from an edi- paper composed not only
gifted by Graeme and Claudia Bell, and an tion of 10 issued by Magnolia of new art materials, but
Editions, a California-based also of drawings, paintings
oil portrait by Henry Salem Hubbell gifted publisher of multiples on and prints by Smith that she
paper as well as tapestry edi- “repurposed” for her tapestry
by Elizabeth Phillips Marshall. tions. These tapestries came cartoons.
from Krakow Witkin Gallery in The cartoons were photo-
The Athena Society, whose membership Boston. graphed at Magnolia Edi-
tions in Oakland, California,
currently stands at 88, can afford to give Van Wagenberg says that printed to scale, and then
while all the artworks under sent back to the artist for
the museum artworks that would other- consideration by the Athe- her further creative
na Society are generally work. When Smith
wise be out of reach for the average small hung together in the main decided that her
hall, this year the museum designs were ready to be
museum. In the VBMA’s fiscal year 2019- staff decided to hang only the translated into tapestries, the
tapestries in the hall. Each is 9.5
2020, membership dues from the society feet high and over 6 feet wide. The completed cartoons were sent to a
half-dozen pieces that comprise one
added up to over half a million dollars.

Every year, society members can choose

to spend part or all of its funds on an annu-

al art purchase. If, for some reason, funds

are left over from an art purchase or if no

purchase is made, the remaining money

rolls into the following year’s membership

income. With no expenditure made last

year, the Athena Society had a healthy

purchase fund.

The cramp that the pandemic put into

everybody’s style also changed the way the

artworks for the society’s consideration

were displayed this year.

Senior curator Anke Van Wagenberg says

that in past years, the art offerings for the

Athena Society have been on display to



4 April 29, 2021 ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | ARTS www.stlucievoice.com

ATHENA SOCIETY COMING UP 5,000 attendees get a free goody bag
with coupons, magazines, samples and
CONTINUED FROM PAGE B2 CONTINUED FROM PAGE B1 more. The free fishing seminars include:
pompano surf fishing 10 a.m. Saturday;
is painted in three distinct shades of blue: on Friday evening and you might dis- surf fishing techniques and how to
a powdery light ultramarine, a glowing cover something different – Pierced catch fish, 11:30 a.m. Saturday; Shark
aqua and a rich cobalt. Each color fits Ciderworks. The business converted fishing tips and tricks, rules and regula-
neatly into its own precinct, as outlined by a 117-year-old building into a cidery. tions 1 p.m. Saturday; and offshore fish-
the human structures that divvy up that This unique locale employs industrial ing for ladies, 2:30 p.m. Saturday. The
improbable sky. décor as a backdrop to some intimate Treasure Coast Seafood Festival offers
music “concerts.” The group “The Lit- a huge range of mouth-watering menu
Born in 1883, Sheeler was both a pho- tle Things” will perform from 6 p.m. items like fried fish (snapper, shrimp
tographer and a painter. He exhibited six to 9 p.m. this Friday, April 30 at
paintings in the 1913 Armory Show in New One of Kiki Smith’s tapestries. PHOTOS: KAILA JONES Pierced Ciderworks’ outdoor
York City, and made his living taking archi- deck. Food will be available from
tectural photos for paying customers. career, as “Hydro Electric Power, Hoover the Ragin’ Cajun Café. Before that,
Dam,” demonstrates. Sheeler died 15 years you can bring a leashed dog from
He also took photos strictly for art’s sake. after that painting’s creation, in 1965. noon to 2 p.m. and get half off ci-
Sheeler used the medium of photography der pints. Pierced Ciderworks is
as an artmaking means in and of itself, as Perhaps his greatest achievement was at 411 N. 2nd St., Fort Pierce. Call
well as inspiration for his paintings. An embracing photography and painting as 772-302-3863.
observation long ascribed to Sheeler goes, co-equals in his vision of a modern art for
“Photography is nature seen from the eyes America. The Athenians chose wisely this 4 And for something com- and whiting), conch salad, red snap-
outward; painting from the eyes inward.” year. pletely retro, try out the per stick, stone crabs, oysters, Maine
Treasure Coast Park and Watch lobsters and Florida lobsters, fritters,
By 1920, when he showed a collection The Vero Beach Museum of Art is located Drive-In Movie Theatre family mov- shrimp scampi over rice, shrimp cock-
of his photo prints and paintings at the at 3001 Riverside Park Dr.,Vero Beach. For ie night. On Saturday, the movie will tail, crab fries, Spanish fish tacos, surf
de Zayas Modern Gallery in New York, he more information call 772-231-0707 or visit be the hilarious “Dumb and Dumber” ’n turf burger, grilled shrimp remou-
was hailed as the leader of a then brand- vbmuseum.org.  starring Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels. It’s lade, shrimp po boy … hungry yet? Or
new style that came to be known as “Pre- just $10 per vehicle plus tax. Gates open maybe you’re thirsty. No problem, there
cisionism” for its simplified, crystalline 7 p.m. Movie starts at 8:15 p.m. The will also be a beer garden at the event.
interpretation of cityscapes and industri- Treasure Coast Park and Watch Drive- Visitors can also stroll through tents of
al buildings. In is at 601 Seaway Dr., Fort Pierce. Call arts and crafts and generally get their
772-222-7570. fill o’ fish. The 12th Annual Indian Riv-
In 1939, Sheeler was honored by a major er Marine Flea Market and Treasure
retrospective of his paintings, drawings 5 The 12th Annual Indian River Coast Seafood Festival runs 9 a.m. to 5
and photographs at the Museum of Marine Flea Market and Trea- p.m. Saturday and Sunday, May 1-2 at
Modern Art in New York. It was the end of sure Coast Seafood Festival runs this the Indian River Fairgrounds, 7955 58th
Precisionism’s popularity as an art move- weekend, May 1-2, at the Indian River Ave., Vero Beach. Admission is $7 gen-
ment, but not the end of Sheeler’s active art Fairgrounds. The event includes a boat eral and free for children 12 years and
show and sale, a fishing show, seminars, younger. For more information, visit
and merchants offering a whole host of FlNauticalFleaMarket.com or call 954-
items for boating and fishing. Those 205-7813. 
items include offshore rods, reels, seats,
Bimini tops, life vests, maps, marine ar-
tifacts, lures and much more. The first

To Advertise (772-633-1115) ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | ARTS April 29, 2021 5

IRSC’s Summer ShakesPierce making ‘Dream’ come true

BY SHELLEY KOPPEL | Staff Writer ages? It’s so exciting and the college is fully sup-
[email protected]
porting it. Innovation is the key and we have to
What do you get when you mix Shakespeare
with Fort Pierce? You get Indian River State Col- keep thinking outside the Black Box to ask how we
lege’s “Summer ShakesPierce” program. Featur-
ing area high school students and IRSC perform- make theater relevant.”
ing arts students, the inaugural program will
present Shakespeare’s popular comedy “A Mid- Kanter gave me a sneak peek at IRSC’s upcom-
summer Night’s Dream” June 10-12 on the Fort
Pierce campus. ing theater season.

Alex Kanter, master instructor in the performing “In September, we’ll have a festival of one-act
arts program, is leading the program. He reached
out to high school teachers with whom he has plays I wrote in the Black Box Theatre,” he said.
been networking all year and held auditions.
“For Halloween, we’ll have ‘The Invited,’ a haunt-
“I work with some high school students in the
dual enrollment program,” he said. “It’s a chance ed house ghost story, set in a haunted house in
for high school students to take part in a college
production.” England. In January, in honor of Moliere’s 400th

He chose “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” for its ac- birthday, we’ll present ‘The Imaginary Invalid,’
cessibility. “It’s a very good gateway to Shakespeare,” he
said. “There’s a lot of action and it’s a good one to involve set in 1969. It will be groovy, with hippies. Our big
a lot of different characters. I’ve cut down the script to 1
hour and 15 minutes, but we are using the original text. musical, in March, will be ‘Pippen,’ celebrating its
It’s Shakespeare’s poetry. It’s fun for the family, with phys-
icality, fairies and all the magical stuff that has always ap- 50th anniversary. I’m very excited about that. We’ll
pealed to children.”
have a film project, creating a film production of
The production will take place in seven different loca- PHOTO COURTESY OF REBECCA SHEARER/IRSC a play, using our television studio. The students
tions, with the actors and audience moving from place
to place. “It’s similar to a theme park show or haunted ers, leading the audience around. They’ll probably have have explored acting on the screen. We’ll have a screening
house,” Kanter said. “It’s very interactive. Some of it will
be indoors and some outdoors. The fairies will be the ush- to do improv.” in April. The final show, in May, will be Lynn Nottage’s ‘In-

It sounds confusing, but as some of the scenes occur timate Apparel,’ a beautiful piece about an African-Amer-

simultaneously, the audience will see the production in ican seamstress.”

shifts, so every audience member will see the entire show. It’s an ambitious schedule, one that will challenge the

“It’s not your grandmother’s Shakespeare,” Kanter said. students and their instructor, as well. IRSC productions are

He is going to try to get food trucks to come prior to the well-done and reasonably priced, and if you haven’t been to

show to make the event a fun night out. a show or a concert, it’s a great way to support students and

“Part of my graduate work was adapting the classics,” enjoy yourself.

he said. “One of the biggest challenges is that audiences

feel they won’t get it. We try to break down barriers. Shake- Indian River State College’s McAlpin Fine Arts Center is

speare did not write for the intelligentsia. When we boil it located at 3209 Virginia Ave., Fort Pierce. Tickets are avail-

down to the heart, there are universal themes of comedy able at the McAlpin Box Office, Monday through Friday 11

and love. What has made Shakespeare last through the a.m. to 3 p.m. or by calling 772-462-4750. 

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6 April 29, 2021 ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | PEOPLE www.stlucievoice.com

‘Planets’ align at IRSC for far-out journey through solar system

BY SHELLEY KOPPEL | Staff Writer Jon Bell in IRSC’s Hallstrom Planetarium.
[email protected]
PHOTO, ABOVE, COURTESY OF MOLLY BARTELS/IRSC
There’s a whole lot of twinkling going
on. When the Hallstrom Planetarium at Earth, with volcanoes erupting. It’s a over, on May 22, at 11 a.m., there will be a program written
Indian River State College presents “The delight to the eyes and senses. It’s stun- for kids ages 4-12. As if all of that were not enough, on May
Planets,” an immersive trip through our ning. It’s literally out of this world.” 21, if the skies cooperate, you can take a look at the skies
solar system, on May 21-22, you’ll have the through telescopes. “We’ve shown it to you on the dome,
twinkling of millions of stars. Then there’s Ever the educator, Bell emphasized so let’s look at the real thing,” Bell said.
the extraordinary coincidence that the that the script did not hold back on con-
two professors presenting this program PHOTO COURTESY OF IRSC cepts that underpin our understanding With the help of volunteers from the Treasure Coast As-
are planetariums director Jon Bell and as- of the solar system, including the sun as the source of en- tronomical Society, telescopes will be set up in the parking
tronomy professor William Lee Tinker. Re- ergy. You visit the planets, including the downgraded Pluto, lot to view Mars, Orion, the Pleiades, Vega, the Ring Nebula
verse it and you’ve got TinkerBell. and look beyond the stars and constellations. “The way I and more. “The moon will be waxing and it feels like you’re
wrote the script was to see the stars in springtime,” he said. coming in for a landing,” Bell said.
I digress. The 40-minute program, with “I show where they are on the ceiling and where the pos-
a recorded voice track of Kate Mulgrew sibilities of earthlike worlds may be. It’s a full-circle show, Bell also reminded the community that the college ac-
(Captain Janeway of “Star Trek: Voyager”), going into the Orion nebula, where stars and planets are cepts donations of telescopes for students and for the as-
is a grand tour of the planets. Bell, who is forming as we watch. The story is not over; it’s just begin- tronomy club. “It’s easier to teach when you have actual
also the scriptwriter, was delighted to talk ning. It was a great adventure doing this show.” telescopes,” he said. Those wishing to make a donation of
about the project and how This is not the first version of the program, but the previ- a telescope can contact Bell at [email protected].
it all came together with ous version was done before the New Horizon probe found
funding help from the new moons to view. The Hallstrom Planetarium at IRSC Main Campus pres-
Southeastern Planetari- While the program is recommended for those 10 and ents “The Planets” May 21-22. Tickets are $5. For show times
um Association. and ticket information, call 1-800-220-9915. 

“We’re a college plan-
etarium,” he said. “We
don’t have a lot of mon-
ey and so we applied for
funding. I did my research
and found Kate Mulgrew’s
agent. When I wrote the
script, I had her range and
timbre (in mind). She’s
almost a contralto and I
had her voice as Janeway
in my head. I went to New
York and recorded her. She did beautifully.”

That took care of the vocals. For a soundtrack, they
looked to Jonn Serrie.

“He’s world-famous for electronic music and did an
electronic version of Gustav Holst’s ‘The Planets,’” Bell
said. “You can’t go into a planetarium without hearing it.
Jonn did a really nice job with the score. WQCS master en-
gineer Joe Lenartiene was able to make a voice master for
the New York recording and Serrie put in the music and
sound effects. One of our students, Kyle Delaune, did full-
dome immersive visuals. They’re astonishing; they’re fully
immersive in 3-D. The Great Orion Nebula surrounds you.
You go past the rings of Saturn and to the early forming of

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AT EMERSON, CLASSIC OLDIES LINEUP COMING AT YOU IN ’22

BY SHELLEY KOPPEL | Staff Writer The Hit Men come to Vero Beach Feb. PHOTO COURTESY OF LIVE! FROM VERO BEACH concert features songs like “I’m Into Some-
[email protected] 10. These are the guys who performed with thing Good,” “Mrs. Brown, You’ve Got a
legendary artists from Foreigner, Journey, March 17 brings Loudon Wainwright III Lovely Daughter” and There’s a Kind of
Live! From Vero Beach is bringing back Styx, Steely Dan, Cheap Trick and Cream, to town. Part of a legendary musical fami- Hush.”
concerts with a 2022 series lineup that cele- and they present a multi-media concert ly, Wainwright was a 2010 Grammy winner Classics Albums Live returns with
brates the music we grew up with and love. sharing first-hand experiences as eyewit- for Best Traditional Folk Album. His songs “Pink Floyd: The Dark Side of the
All concerts take place in the Emerson Cen- nesses to rock history. have been covered by Johnny Cash, Bonnie
ter in Vero Beach. Raitt, Earl Scruggs, and Kate and Anna Mc- Moon.” This ground-breaking album sold
Livingston Taylor and Jonathan Edwards Garrigle. more than 15 million copies in the United
Classic Albums Live opens the season take the stage Feb. 24. Singer/songwriter States and 45 million worldwide, and spent
with two shows recreating two groups and Taylor has songs and stories from decades The Space Coast Symphony Rocks! 937 weeks on the Billboard 200.
albums that defined an era. Classic Albums of writing and performing, and Edwards takes the stage March 19. In a unique con-
Live recreates albums cut for cut and note brings his powerful tenor to four decades cert, they will present rock hits that became “One Night in Memphis” is a tribute to
for note. For an early New Year’s celebra- of making music. well-known because of the brass, wood- Sun Records artists Elvis Presley, Carl Per-
tion, the Rolling Stones’ “Let it Bleed” will wind, strings and rhythm orchestrations kins, Jerry Lee Lewis and Johnny Cash. Star-
be presented Dec. 30, and the Who’s “Who’s “Broken Arrow: The Music of Neil that surround classic rock, R&B and Mo- ring former cast members of the Broadway
Next” takes the stage Jan. 13. Young” celebrates the distinct sound of this town sounds. hit “Million Dollar Quartet,” the music
artist, from the rocking Crazy Horse tunes keeps on coming April 7.
Jan. 20 brings “The Rocket Man Show: A to the more acoustic country rock. The Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone
Tribute to Elton John.” Rus Anderson was show will be presented March 3. brings the music that sold more than 60 “Touch and Go” bills itself as “the ul-
handpicked by Elton John to be his body million recordings and had 14 singles and timate Cars tribute band.” Stylistically
double for his “Farewell Yellow Brick Road” seven albums that went gold. The March 24 unique, the group remains true to the Cars’
tour videos and photos, and Anderson has music, celebrating the most successful new
recreated costumes and moves that bring wave band of the late ’70s and early ’80s.
the artist to life.
These are shows that span decades and
Gary Puckett & The Union Gap come to feature the music of some of the greatest
town Jan. 27. The group had six consecutive rock and folk albums of the last 50 years.
gold records with songs like “Young Girl,” There is something for every musical taste
Lady Willpower” and “Over You.” You’ll be and the pleasure of live music again.
16 again as you sing along to every song.
Live! FromVero Beach is presented by Mu-
On Feb. 3, “Do It Again: The Music of sicWorks at the Emerson Center, 1590 27th
Steely Dan” appears, recreating the sound Ave., Vero Beach. Visit www.musicworks
of Donald Fagan and Walter Becker as they concerts.com or call 1-800-595-4849. 
bridged jazz, rock and R&B.

RALPHIE ROCKS

PHOTOS: LINDA KLOORFAIN Ralphie Rhodes, 15, shows his
guitar playing skills while jamming
with Port St. Lucie band CoverUp
South Florida at Tiki52 in Tequesta.
Larry Demers, lead singer, said, “I
can’t wait to see Ralphie make it big
one day.” 

8 April 29, 2021 ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | CASUAL AND FINE DINING www.stlucievoice.com

REGULAR VS. ENAMELED CAST IRON: HOW THEY COMPARE

BY BECKY KRYSTAL | The Washington Post can more readily get trapped and stick, That being said, enamel can help with cases when the pan experiences ther-
it is not inherently nonstick and does not a more even distribution of heat, says Li- mal shock, or a rapid change in tem-
What’s the difference between build up a seasoning. So each time you heng Cai, Green’s collaborator on a sci- perature – one reason an enameled
traditional and enameled cast-iron cook, you’ll need a sufficient amount of ence of cooking class and an assistant pan should not be heated empty on a
cookware? The good news for those fat to avoid stuck-on messes. professor of materials science, chemical burner. The same rationale applies to
tight on money or kitchen space is and biomedical engineering. But that re- why you shouldn’t hit a hot enameled
that most things that can be done in Heating. Enamel is less conductive distribution of heat is actually correcting pan with cold water, when the metal
an enameled pot or pan can be done than cast iron (which itself is less con- the uneven nature of the burner rather can contract faster than the enamel.
in traditional, well-seasoned cast ductive than some other metals). That than hotspots generated by the cast iron
iron, with a few adjustments. A lot of will change the rate at which the exteri- itself. While regular cast iron is not as
the major differences come down to or of the pan – in which the cast iron is likely to crack, it’s generally good
caring for the pieces, though there sandwiched between two coats of enam- Being aware of the different heating practice to not plunge that type of
are some things to keep in mind while el – heats, according to David Green, an properties is just half the battle. That hot pan in cold water, either. Rarely
cooking, too. Here’s a rundown. associate professor of materials science, “material mismatch,” as Green calls it, does thermal shock cause a preheat-
chemical and mechanical engineering at can wreak havoc on the pan itself if not ing cast-iron skillet to crack, so unless
Price. If you’re thinking about beef- the University of Virginia’s School of En- handled properly. On the direct heat of a you know you’re dealing with a very
ing up your cookware collection and gineering & Applied Science. Compared burner, the metal will heat (and expand) unreliable burner, you can and should
money is a consideration, traditional to traditional cast iron, an enameled pan faster than the enamel, Cai says, poten- preheat it on the stovetop empty. That
cast iron is almost without excep- will heat up at a slightly slower pace, he tially creating stress on the enamel and prevents the fat from breaking down
tion cheaper than enameled pieces, says. resulting in cracking. That’s more likely in or burning and ensures the food be-
sometimes several times less expen- gins to crisp and brown as soon as it
sive, depending on size and brand. hits the surface.
When treated properly, both types of
cast iron can last a lifetime, and then Use with certain ingredients. Reg-
some. Whether you spend a little or a ular cast iron is reactive, meaning
lot, consider it a long-term investment. acidic ingredients (vinegar, tomatoes,
etc.) can interact with the metal, impart-
Seasoning. Home cooks fear and love ing off flavors or color to the food. Reac-
the seasoning on traditional cast iron. tions are less likely with well-seasoned
Seasoning is what happens when fats pans, especially for dishes with brief
are heated to a certain point that causes cooking times, but it’s something to keep
them to polymerize, or reorganize into in mind. Enamel is minimally reactive
something resembling a plastic coating, and acceptable for acidic foods.
and bond to the metal. While many pans Color. No, I’m not just talking about
come pre-seasoned, a little regular main- the exterior enamel colors that make
tenance (oiling after cooking) and fre- many people swoon (but, hey, if you
quent cooking will help build up the pa- prefer enameled cookware for the aes-
tina. If the seasoning is damaged, more thetics, go for it). Many enameled piec-
intensive care – a couple of rounds of oil es have a pale, cream-colored interior,
application in the oven or on the stovetop making it particularly easy to monitor
– may be required. Eventually you’ll get the color of the flavorful fond (cooked-
a naturally nonstick surface that rivals on juices) at the bottom of the pan or just
manufactured nonstick coatings. While check for burning. While it’s not impossi-
enamel is useful in that it eliminates the ble to do in a traditional cast-iron pan –
pitted surface of cast iron where food or black enameled pan – you just need to

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10 April 29, 2021 ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | COMMUNITY/CALENDAR www.stlucievoice.com

‘Summer of Success’ job fair upcoming for St. Lucie County youths

BY PATRICK McCALLISTER | Correspondent to participate,” Woodworth said. ployment between February and March – 2020 to March this year. Overall, the two
St. Lucie’s not-seasonally-adjusted un- excepting 2020 – was 2012. Usually there’s counties are down 3,100 jobs from March
St. Lucie youths have until Thursday, a slight decrease in unemployment from 2020 to March this year. Of the 13 industry
May 6, to sign up for this year’s “Summer of employment rate ticked up from the ini- February to March. sectors the state tracks monthly, 10 have
Success.” The jobs preparation and intern- tially reported 4.8 percent in February to lost positions locally. The sectors that
ship program is open to 16- to 21-year-olds 5.3 percent in March. But the real increase Nevertheless, Woodworth said there’re have added jobs are mining, logging and
who meet other requirements. All St. Lucie is less than that. Woodworth explained no reasons for concern. construction, along with manufacturing,
job seekers have an upcoming job fair to there was a change between the state’s transportation, warehousing and utilities,
put on their calendars, too. February and March jobs reports that peo- “We continue to see significant (job) and, as stated, professional and business
ple need to know. growth month over month,” she said. “The services.
“CareerSource Research Coast has part- CareerSource Research Coast area has seen
nered with the City of Port St. Lucie for a “The (Florida) Department of Econom- significant increase in jobs in professional The state’s not-seasonally-adjusted un-
job fair on May 20 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.,” ic Opportunity adjusted their algorithms and business services.” employment rate also increased from Feb-
said Tonya Woodworth, communications for calculating employment data,” Wood- ruary to March – 5.1 percent to 5.3 percent.
manager. worth said. In the Port St. Lucie metropolitan sta- The nation, however, went the opposite
tistical area – which is all of St. Lucie and direction in the not-seasonally-adjust-
It will be a virtual job fair. Registered The state released the March jobs report Martin counties – the professional and ed rates – 6.6 percent to 6.2 percent. The
veterans will get to speak with employ- on Friday, April 26. With it the state also business industry sector has added 1,400 state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment
ers starting at 9:30 a.m. Woodworth said released a revised February not-season- jobs from March 2020 to March this year. rate held steady at 4.7 percent. Seasonal
job seekers and employers alike can learn ally-adjusted unemployment rate for St. However, that has been offset by losses in adjustment is a statistical tool for evening
more and sign up at www.careersourcers. Lucie – 5 percent. While that adjustment other sectors. normal month-to-month employment
com. That’s also where youths can learn diminishes the slight increase in the re- fluctuations. The state doesn’t report sea-
more and register for “Summer of Success.” ported unemployment rate from February “Unfortunately, we continue to lag in lei- sonally adjusted unemployment numbers
to March, there’s still an increase. That’s sure and hospitality due to the COVID-19 for counties. 
“Any businesses that are located in St. unusual for recent years. The last time pandemic,” said Woodworth.
Lucie, Indian River or Martin counties who there was an increase in St. Lucie’s unem-
are looking to fill positions are encouraged That sector has lost about 1,600 jobs in
St. Lucie and Martin counties from March

Boys & Girls Clubs’ Fishing Tourney hooks up with Family Fun Festival APRIL

The 3rd Annual Fishing for Futures tains fresh and saltwater aquaria, a touch STAFF FILE PHOTO 29 Sunrise City Bluegrass Jam. 6 p.m.
Tournament, benefiting Boys & Girls Clubs tank, interactive displays, and other inter- to 9 p.m. Pierced Ciderworks, 411 N
of St. Lucie County, is not just for the an- active living and non-living exhibits. chase a ticket for the pig roast for $10. 2nd St., Fort Pierce. If you play an acoustic in-
glers on our waterways. In anticipation of “We appreciate all of our partners and strument or if you’re just a fan of music, join
the return of the fishing vessels, all chil- Up to 60 Club kids will enjoy their first us every Tuesday for a Bluegrass Jam. One free
dren and families will be able to partici- fishing experience on the water thanks to sponsors that have stepped up to give kids cider for all jam participants. Food by the Ragin
pate in the Fishing for Futures Family Fun Daymaker Charters, MetCo Marine Elec- something to do both on and off the water Cajun Café.
Festival at the Manatee Observation and tronics and Stuart Sailfish Club Founda- with their families after so many have gone
Education Center. tion. with limited human contact for the past MAY
year,” said Will Armstead, CEO of BGCSLC.
The one-day festival on June 12 will Each of the winning fishing teams will 1 Downtown Fort Pierce Farmers Mar-
keep families entertained with a slew of ac- receive a complimentary ticket for a pig Vendor space is available for the Festival. ket. 8 a.m. to noon. Marina Square, on
tivities including hermit crab races, music, roast following the tournament weigh-in. Indian River Drive in Historic Downtown Fort
a frog catching contest, a performance by Guests of the Festival will be able to pur- For additional information or to sign up, Pierce. A tradition for residents and tourists
the BGCSLC Drum Line, a demonstration alike with live entertainment and delicious
by the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office Ma- visit https://bgcslc.rocks/fishing or call 772- food options!
rine Unit, fishing demonstrations for kids,
and more. There will also be a BGCSLC 460-9918.  –­ CONTRIBUTED 1 Port St. Lucie Spring Art & Craft Expo.
Pop-Up Club, the traveling roadshow of 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. MIDFLORIDA Credit
the games, fun and activities which usually Union Event Center, 9221 SE Event Center Place.
take place in a Club house. 200+ booths of inspiration and creativity at the
Port St. Lucie 3rd Annual Spring Art & Craft Expo
The Manatee Education and Observa- benefiting the Port St. Lucie Arts League. Free
tion Center will offer free goodie and activ- admission and parking, kids zone, yummy food,
ity bags to the first 100 youths, in addition adult beverages, live music and FUN! Expect the
to hosting a visit to their 2,000-square-foot unexpected.
environmental education center that con-
2 Pop-Up Nature at the Oxbow. 3 p.m.
Solutions from Games Pages ACROSS DOWN to 3:30 p.m. Oxbow Eco-Center, 5400
in April 15, 2021 Edition 1 MARSHMALLOW 1 ALLEY NE St. James Dr., Port St. Lucie. These inter-
9 PELOTON 3 SATCHEL active programs, held every Saturday, are de-
10 GUEST 4 MUNICH signed to engage families in nature-themed
11 GLYPH 5 LAGER learning and exploration. Topics vary each
12 CURTAIN 6 OREGANO week and might include elements such as live
13 TUMBLE 7 SPIGOT animals, stories, discovery walks or demon-
15 SPOONS 8 STUN strations. Pop-up Nature programs are free
19 CENTRAL 14 MUNDANE to the public and advanced registration is not
21 OCCUR 16 PROBLEM necessary. Participants will be spaced appro-
23 LEARN 17 SPRATS priately for social distancing. Facial coverings
24 VALIANT 18 SLIVER are required.
25 MEASUREMENT 19 CALF
20 RINKS
22 CHAIN

Sudoku Page B13 Sudoku Page B14 Crossword Page B13 Crossword Page B14 (THE WORLDWIDE WEB)

To Advertise (772-633-1115) ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | COMMUNITY April 29, 2021 11

‘SAFETY’ STARS!

PHOTOS: LINDA KLOORFAIN Adaline Rosenquist, 2, high-fives Officer Krecik
and K-9 Jackson, left, while Robert Favrey,
International Police Tactical Training Academy,
provides instruction as Brandy Favrey disarms
Dennis Romo during a mock exercise during
the 6th Annual Safety Festival at Clover Park in
St. Lucie West last Saturday. The event featured
live demonstrations, displays, food trucks, a
kids zone and bounce houses. 

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SOLUTIOPNRSETVOIOPURSEVEDIOITUISOINS’SSUSEO(LAUPTRIIOLN2S2,) SOENEPPAAGGEEBB1120

The Telegraph ACROSS DOWN
1 Joint (5) 1 Composed (7)
4 Ruled (7) 2 Lacking sense (5)
8 -- Gershwin, lyricist (3) 3 -- Twitchit, cat (7)
9 Inlet (3) 4 Tempo (6)
10 Oath (5) 5 Sustain (5)
11 Give medical care (5) 6 And not (3)
12 US university (7) 7 Fear (5)
15 Song of praise (4) 13 Stuart queen (4)
17 Bahamas capital (6) 14 Tree (3)
19 Male relative (6) 16 Circular tent (4)
22 Lively dance (4) 18 Male descendant (3)
24 Card game (7) 20 Stretchy (7)
26 Monastery head (5) 21 Onlooker (7)
28 Concur (5) 23 Crude, off-colour (6)
30 Small child (3) 24 Map (5)
31 Untruth (3) 25 Period of weather(5)
32 Completely (7) 27 Style of curry (5)
33 Film extracts (5) 29 Furrow (3)

How to do Sudoku:

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

The Telegraph

To Advertise (772-633-1115) ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | GAMES April 29, 2021 13

ACROSS 100 One of the less popular 50 Caine film, The Washington Post
1 Goldfinger’s Frobe Beanie Babies? Too Late ___
5 Famous Friend 51 Hacked THE LESSER-KNOWN BEANIE BABIES By Merl Reagle
9 Buddy 108 Fantastic 52 Actor Jannings
12 Visitor from Melmac 110 Through 53 Resinous tree
15 ___ for (exquisite) 111 Field cover 54 Wyo. neighbor
16 “Sandwich” in the cookie 112 Triangular sail 55 Random House founder
113 One of the less popular 56 Confused
aisle 57 Area meas.
17 Lutelike instrument Beanie Babies? 62 Purse feature
19 Roadblock 117 “Emergency!” 63 Rise
20 One of the less popular 118 Noted Burmese 65 Plot of land
119 Conservatory subj. 66 Fishing floats
Beanie Babies? 120 Sasha or Sacha Baron 67 The Y, for one
22 Make ___ 121 One of the less popular 70 Ex-NYC mayor
(emulate Loman) 71 Christmas
23 Trait transmitter Beanie Babies? 72 This, to André
24 Pluralized y 124 Shapiro of NPR 73 Mel of football or Piet of
25 See 64 Across 125 With Gay, a plane
26 One of the less popular 126 Scratches (out) math
127 Hammerin’ Hank hit 76 Recede
Beanie Babies? 128 Greek letter 81 Temporary suspension
29 Bravo starter 129 Dine 82 What ht. is to alt.
30 Bear abodes 130 Santa’s checking it twice 84 Rabbit’s tail
32 Dread 131 Erwin et al. 85 Zero
33 Used an old phone 86 Algia opener
35 One of the less popular DOWN 87 Alien costar
1 Leaves home 88 Food of the gods
Beanie Babies? 2 Gorey or Teller: abbr. 89 RCA truckload
40 Lulu 3 Saudi capital 90 Actor Romano
41 Movie terrier 4 Big name in tea 91 Grumpy Grant
42 Santa ___ 5 Ligeia author 95 Name of many a Catholic
43 Buckeyes’ sch. 6 Adds wrong, e.g.
45 Pub drink 7 Hud costar church
46 One of the less popular 8 Contact 96 Poet Wylie
9 Nightclub 97 Rid of listening devices
Beanie Babies? 10 D-Day beachhead 99 Above, to poets
55 Some sweaters 11 Bundled, as hay 101 “Oh, you’re ___
58 It means 1/2 12 King of Jordan, 1946-51 at all!”
59 Flamenco shout 13 Actor Frank 102 Oat genus
60 Abbr. on a lawyer’s card 14 Monk’s title 103 Cribbage marker
61 Till bill 15 Possessive pronoun 104 Launch
62 Betsy’s forte 17 Doctor’s order 105 No problem
64 Thieves’ thwarter 18 Left-over 106 Wedding promises
68 Ring cop 20 Around, date-wise 107 Result
69 One of the less popular 21 Suggestion 109 Critic Jeffrey
27 Ran into 114 Holier-than-___
Beanie Babies? 28 Love Story composer 115 Golfer Isao
74 Actress Courteney 116 Low digits?
75 Destiny Francis 119 Wild West?
77 Saw the sights 31 Cool place, perhaps 122 L.A. time zone
78 Golf prop 34 Food coloring 123 Down Under bird
79 Diamond stat 36 Waist wear
80 Prelude to relief 37 Comes crashing down
83 Benny Goodman’s instr. 38 Salary
84 Minx’s quality 39 “___ said!”
87 One of the less popular (Mom’s retort)
44 Sellout sign
Beanie Babies? 47 Treatment regulators: abbr.
91 Actor Herbert 48 Lens-cleaner brand
92 Ltr. container 49 Build
93 Summer mo.
94 Not new
98 “Hot diggity”

The Telegraph

14 April 29, 2021 ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | GAMES/BOOKS www.stlucievoice.com

USE YOUR ASSETS TO HELP PARTNER WEST NORTH EAST
— QJ74 8652
By Phillip Alder - Bridge Columnist 10 9 6 2 Q83 AKJ
10 9 6 2 Q83 754
Edward G. Bulwer-Lytton, a 19th-century English author who coined the phrases “the K Q 10 8 7 J43 952
great unwashed,” “pursuit of the almighty dollar,” “the pen is mightier than the sword,”
and the well-known opening line “It was a dark and stormy night,” said, “In science, SOUTH
read, by preference, the newest works; in literature, the oldest. The classic literature is A K 10 9 3
always modern.” 754
AKJ
In bridge, if you cannot make an encouraging signal or discard to tell partner which A6
suit to lead, try to help him with a suit-preference play. However, I will admit that this
is advanced defense, not made any easier by requiring both you and your partner Dealer: South; Vulnerable: North-South
to watch all of the cards like a pair of hawks. But if you do, suddenly you will be
defeating contracts that were making before. The Bidding:

This deal highlights two ways to achieve the desired end. SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST OPENING
1 Spades Pass 2 Spades Pass
Against four spades, West leads the club king: three, two, ace. What happens after 4 Spades Pass Pass Pass LEAD:
that? K Clubs

South would have done well to rebid three no-trump. North, despite four-card
support, would surely have passed with such a soft hand, and that contract would
have made easily.

Suppose declarer draws trumps immediately. East should follow eight-six-five-two,
always playing his highest spade to show interest in hearts, the higher-ranking of the
two red suits. Then, when South plays his second club toward dummy’s jack, West
goes in with the queen, and East should drop the nine. The higher remaining club
again signals for hearts. With luck, partner is watching.

South does better to return his club six at trick two. Again, East must drop the nine.

BY JOHN FEINSTEIN | The Washington Post magazine story about a team that came A: I never write the first sentence of a book until
over here from South Sudan to play in I know the last sentence. I made the mistake of not
John Grisham’s new book a summer showcase tournament a few doing that with “A Time to Kill,” and I got halfway
years back. They were from a war-torn through and was completely lost. I learned that lesson
“Sooley” may be his 36th novel country with horrors happening every the hard way. Now, I finish an outline before I start
day, but they became the darlings of the writing, Sometimes, I get halfway through the outline
– and his 45th book in all – but tournament with their skill and cha- and realize I’m lost and start over. But at least I haven’t
risma. They played with so much joy in written half a book already.
it’s his first about basketball. The spite of where they’d come from.
Q: You have been remarkably prolific since “A Time to
novel, which came out April 27, Second was Mamadi Diakite, a kid Kill.” How do you turn out books so quickly?
from Africa who became a very good
BOOK tells the story player at Virginia after not playing A: I think I’m very disciplined. I’m up and writing
of Samuel Sool- much at all when he first got there. by 7 a.m. five mornings a week. I work four or five
And third was Len Bias. He could have hours and write at least 1,000 words most days. I have
REVIEW eymon, a South been another Michael Jordan but died a process. I start a new legal thriller every year on
Sudanese teen so tragically in 1986. Jan. 1 with the goal of writing about 100,000 words to
Q: When you write legal thrillers, you have expertise produce a first draft by July 1. Sometimes, like with
who comes to the United States on the subject because you were a trial lawyer. Did you “Sooley,” I work on a different schedule but I’m still
feel you had that sort of expertise on basketball? writing every morning. Then, in the afternoons, I’m
to play college ball and hopes to A: No. I’m a fan and I see a lot of games, but I’m not free to relax, maybe play golf.
an expert. So, I leaned on people like [Virginia coach]
make it to the NBA so he can help Tony Bennett, [former Virginia star] Barry Parkhill Q: How’s your golf?
and some of the guys who played recently at Virginia. A: (Laughing) I never played until I was 55, so it’s
the family he left behind. The I called people I knew who know basketball. about what you’d think. I play with guys who are
Q: What was your thinking using North Carolina about as bad as I am. We don’t even keep score. But I
book is not a thriller, but it shows Central as a key part of the story? enjoy it.
A: Well, it had to be a small school, given that Sooley Q: Do you ever sit back and wonder at your success?
Grisham’s passion for a sport he’s wasn’t considered much of a prospect at first. But I A: All the time. I started writing because I was
also liked the idea that Central is the “other” school in looking for a way to make some extra money. I was
loved since his days playing on his high school team Durham. … In my family, we don’t like Duke at all. a small-town lawyer in Mississippi not making a lot
Q: When you’re creating a plot, do you start writing of money. But I never thought for a second that “The
in Mississippi and figure out where you’re going as you get deeper into Firm” would have the success it had or become the
the book? Or do you know your ending right from the huge moneymaking movie that it became. I’ve often
In a phone interview, Grisham, a season tick- start? said I haven’t worked a real 40-hour workweek in more
than 30 years. I love working on the books I write. It’s
et-holder for the Virginia men’s and North Carolina never felt like a job. 

women’s basketball teams, discusses “Sooley,” why he

loves basketball – and more.

Q: Where did the idea for “Sooley” come from?
A: Last March, when there was no NCAA tourna-
ment because of the pandemic, it was like a kick in
the gut. I knew I wanted to write a basketball book. I
needed to write one to make up for missing the tour-
nament. I wanted to have it out for March Madness
this year but it took me longer than I expected. My
other sports books have been about 50,000 words. It
took me closer to 100,000 to tell this story.
Q: How did you come up with the plot?
A: There were three things involved. I read a

To Advertise (772-633-1115) ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | SPORTS April 29, 2021 15

Every ‘1’ is special DON’T LET BAD START TO A ROUND GET YOU DOWN

More hole-in- All golfers are familiar with the ex- ent you’ve reached the crossroad or crit- each shot one at a time. Again, it will
one fun at PGA citement and anticipation of their next
Golf Club! Karen round of golf. We very often are looking ical point of the round. At this point or be an important factor in you turning
Brengard, right, forward to the round with the hope of
scored an ace playing well: getting off to a good start, very soon thereafter, we have to change around your poor play.
on the Ryder playing up to our potential and possibly
course’s 16th having that career round we have been the round’s momentum, which will lead 3. Positive self-talk. Just as we did
hole, knocking looking for.
in a 6-iron from to a better mental and emo- with your body language, stay
108 yards. Car- What happens, then, when the round
olyn Howe (not begins to not go the way we had visual- tional state of mind. KEVIN’S positive even though, by na-
pictured) also made an ace, on the Dye ized? We begin to make bogeys, or have The following are “Kures” KURES ture, you want to feel sorry
course’s third hole (8-iron from 139 yards). that terrible hole of a double bogey or tri- for yourself and focus on how
Congrats Karen and Carolyn!  ple bogey. At that point it’s quite appar- to help you understand what

you need to do to turn around poorly you are performing.

the momentum of a round af- Keep the self-talk positive and

ter getting off to a poor start: start to look for a positive shot

or bounce that you can key on

1. Fake it till you make it. to turn the round around. A

If you are struggling, don’t good attitude or shifting your

THEY ‘FIT’ RIGHT IN AT FUNDRAISER allow your body language focus to something as simple

and posture to change. Even as enjoying the weather, the

though you don’t feel up to it, great course conditions or

keep your chin up, shoulders By Kevin Perkins how you are fortunate to be
back and try to smile and not among some close friends,

frown. As well-known social and how fortunate you are

psychologist Amy Cuddy suggests, good to be playing golf, can play an import-

posture and positive body language will ant part in turning your momentum

lead to you infusing your blood stream around.

with the good, resulting in you physio-

logically being able to perform better. So Kevin Perkins is a PGA Master Profes-

watch your body language; it is a key to sional and operates his Golf Academy at 76

recovering from a low point during your Golf World in Stuart. Kevin has authored

round. the golf instructional book Golf Everyone,

2. Go through your normal pre-shot published by Hunter Textbooks. Kevin

routine. It is imperative you stick to your may be reached at 561-301-3783, email:

normal routine. Stay focused; keep your [email protected], or visit his website at

attention and targets very sharp. Take www.kevinperkinsgolfacademy.com. 

Clockwise from above, John Whitaker of the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office,
Brian Hester, chief deputy of the SLCSO, and Cody Wells of the SLCSO partic-
ipate in the Hero Throw Down Fundraiser on April 17. The competition took
place at the Sgt. Gary Morales Training Complex in Fort Pierce. Participants did
12 workouts over 12 hours to raise awareness and funding for the Inner Truth
Project, Place of Hope and the St. Lucie Sheriff’s Police Athletic League. 

PHOTOS: LINDA KLOORFAIN