05/04/2017 ISSUE 18

Encore! Encore! P15 Soothing sounds. P28 ‘Heel’ of a good time

Sequel to popular Wine and Film How music therapy hits all the At ‘In Her Shoes’ fundraiser,
Festival promises lots more. right notes in cancer care. guys steal the show. PAGE 8

THURSDAY, MAY 4, 2017 | VOLUME 02, ISSUE 18 www.melbournebeachsider.com | NEWSSTAND PRICE $1.00

Commissioners Expanded FIT
not fired up by camp options
burn ban plan run the gamut

STORY BY BILL SOKOLIC STAFF WRITER FIT’s Girls in STEM summer camp will include a field trip to drag-race champion Elaine Larsen’s engineering facility. PHOTOS: BENJAMIN THACKER STORY BY GEORGE WHITE STAFF WRITER
[email protected] [email protected]
New rescue tubes prove to be real LIFE savers
A proposed drought-fueled Florida Tech has expanded
burn ban got a somewhat STORY BY GEORGE WHITE STAFF WRITER its summer camps program
chilly reception from the [email protected] this year, offering more than
County Commission on April 35 week-long camps for high
25, mainly because commis- Deadly rip currents along Wyatt Werneth, vice president for LIFE Rescue Project. PHOTOS: GEORGE WHITE schoolers who want to train
sioners fear it would interfere Patrick Air Force Base could with college-coaches Billy
with 4th of July fireworks sales have claimed five lives Mims in basketball and Steve
and displays. last month if not for quick Englehart for football, take
thinking and fast action by flight lessons, or do hands-on
At the meeting, Brevard Fire longtime local lifeguard research in a wide range of aca-
Rescue asked for a permanent Wyatt Werneth, 51, who demic subjects, including for
burn ban when a fire index just happened to have with the first time a STEM – Science,
reaches a certain level. The re- him a new type of flotation Technology, Engineering and
quest follows Gov. Rick Scott’s device called a rescue tube Math – camp just for girls.
declaration of a temporary made of a material similar
burn ban to minimize brush to Crocs shoes. “We’re really proud of our
fires. More than 100 fires have
erupted statewide during the It turns out Werneth, for- CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
current drought, including
four in Brevard County. CONTINUED ON PAGE 5 On CRAs, seeking
answer to‘When
Clerk of Court Scott Ellis will this ever stop?’
said the drought affects the
barrier island beaches below STORY BY BILL SOKOLIC STAFF WRITER
Melbourne Beach where a lot [email protected]
of dry scrub can act as a tinder-
box. “Plus, there are no fire hy- The single decision to
drants” in most places, he said. come out of Brevard County’s
contentious April 13 work-
The ban would kick in when shop on the future of com-
the Florida Forest Service’s munity redevelopment agen-
Keetch Byram Drought In- cies was a proposal to set up
dex reached 500, rather than interlocal agreements with
the current standard of 700. A each agency in the county.
higher number means condi- That proposal got its first
tions are drier and the risk of hearing on April 25 with a
fire greater. recommendation that each
commissioner draw up a list
“The KBI runs as high as
750-plus, but you can’t wait CONTINUED ON PAGE 4
until those extreme condi-

CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

ADVERTISING: 772-559-4187 | CIRCULATION: 772-226-7925 Chim Chim Cher-ee!

NEWS 1-6 GAMES 23-25 PEOPLE 7-12 Musical fans should pop in to see
ARTS 13-16 HEALTH 27-30 PETS 22 ‘Mary Poppins’ at the Cocoa
BOOKS 21 INSIGHT 17-26 REAL ESTATE 33-40 Village Playhouse. PAGE 14
DINING 31

© 2017 VERO BEACH 32963 MEDIA LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

2 Thursday, May 4, 2017 THE MELBOURNE Barrier Island Newsweekly

NEWS

FIT SUMMER CAMPS

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

programs and want Brevard County to Michael Lieberman using the FIT flight simulator. cording to the camp website. It will give Larsen, who co-founded Larsen Motor-
know that we have these offerings. We high school-age campers up-close and sports and drives the 5,500-horse-power
have something for everybody,’’ said but at least they will consider FIT.” personal looks at research in the areas Florida Tech-branded jet dragster ca-
camp coordinator Erica Spencer. Florida Tech’s first-ever Girls in STEM of marine and environmental sciences, pable of achieving speeds of nearly 300
electrical and computer engineering, mph in a quarter-mile race.
There will be 2,500 to 3,000 camp- camp is intended to “encourage and and mechanical and aerospace engi-
ers at Florida Tech for the 2017 camps, inspire the next generation of female neering. FIT is also doing a similar STEM
some of which start May 30. Campers professionals in science, technology, camp sponsored by General Electric
get to experience campus life first- engineering and mathematics,” ac- The girls will be introduced to “graph for Stone Middle School eighth-graders
hand with full-day participants grab- theory, statistics, data mining and June 26-30, Spencer said.
bing meals at the Panther Dining Hall mathematical modeling techniques
and overnight campers housed in and software, while also developing Rockwell Collins is offering STEM
dorms, Spencer said. problem solving and analytical thinking camp scholarships for Brevard County
skills. Lab experiments, field trips and youth who want to immerse themselves
While sports camps have become social events are planned, as well.” in the study of science, engineering,
more elaborate and advanced at FIT math, computer programing or avia-
and other schools in recent years, Flor- “We want to show the girls, not that tion studies on a first-come, first-served
ida Tech has put equal emphasis on ex- this is easy, but that it is difficult and basis.
panding its academic camp program. that’s what makes it interesting. There
is no gender with success,’’ said Associ- Helping campers, seventh grade and
“It’s been a goal at the university,” ate Professor of Mathematics Munev- up, take to the skies is Nick Galli, stu-
Spencer said. “Now, we’re about 50 per- ver Subaski, who is running the Girls in dent services manager for FIT Aviation
cent academic and 50 percent sports.” STEM camp. Flight Camp, which runs several flight
camps segmented by age, ability and
Why does Florida Tech hold so many Field trips she has planned include ambition in the area of aerospace.
camps? Pick a reason – student recruit- a visit to the Florida Tech Plasma Spray
ment, community involvement, be- Lab and the high-tech engineering facil- “It takes a lot of work but it’s also
cause it is a rewarding experience for ity run by drag racing champion Elaine very it’s rewarding,” Galli said. “I es-
students and teachers alike. pecially like it when younger kids sign

“It’s an opportunity to expose the
students to a university environment
that they may or may not have had be-
fore. Is there way to track whether they
end up going to school here? I don’t
think anybody has ever tracked that,

Barrier Island Newsweekly THE MELBOURNE Thursday, May 4, 2017 3

NEWS

up with the instructors [to continue most other locations in the country.” keling camps for ages 6-13 that teach the partment is offering an Aquaculture, Bi-
studying to get their pilot’s license after Also on the summer schedule are art fundamentals of snorkeling. ology and Conservation camp.
camp is over]. I give them a log book
to get started. There are a lot of great camps at Foosaner Art Museum, locat- Florida Tech’s Evans Library is offer- “Most of them are just a week and
kids whose parents are engineers and ed in the Eau Gallie Arts District; sports ing a camp called What We Know: Un- that’s a good amount of time to get a
they are encouraged in this way. I don’t camps for boys and girls designed to derstanding Media and its Influence for taste of something new,” Spencer said.
know if they could get this exposure in teach basic to advanced swimming, ten- middle school and high school students
nis, baseball and other sports, and snor- age 13-16, while the marine science de- Registration is now underway at
http://camps.fit.edu. 

4 Thursday, May 4, 2017 THE MELBOURNE Barrier Island Newsweekly

NEWS

‘X’ factor: A SpaceX Falcon rocket returns to earth at but additional projects will keep the BURN BAN
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Landing Zone One on May 1. agency busy to 2042.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
CRAs Will they sunset their organizations “By then the 1988 project will be
after their last scheduled project? blighted again,” Smith said. “When does tions are in place to establish a burn
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 What are the debt service amounts this ever stop? We need to have a finite ban,” said county spokesman Don
and the terms, and what is the county time and plan when they are done.” Walker.
of ideas to be discussed as early as oversight on this?
May 9. Commissioner John Tobia said in- The lower index trigger mirrors what
“It seems CRAs never go away,” terlocal agreements should prohibit is happening statewide. “We would be
Commission Chair Curt Smith rec- Smith said. He cited the county-run taking on new debt. in line with surrounding counties at
ommended that CRAs say how much Merritt Island Redevelopment Agency 500,” Brevard Fire Chief Mark Schol-
money they need to finish their cur- as an example. The agency developed “We struggle with what is legally al- lmeyer said. “We’re also in line with
rent plans. He also raised these ques- its original plan in 1988. The blighted lowed for us to do as a board,” Com- other agencies across the state.”
tions: Would the agencies oppose us- area has long since been corrected missioner Kristine Isnardi said. “I
ing some CRA funds for county roads? would like clear and concise answers Despite safety concerns, the com-
as to what we can do. And I like to mission tabled the chief’s request. The
VERO BEACH 32963 Media LLC have us submit our recommenda- sticking point for some commissioners
PRESIDENT AND PUBLISHER: MILTON R. BENJAMIN tions individually.” was the impact a permanent ban would
have on fireworks sales, especially on
772-559-4187, [email protected] Commission Vice Chair Rita Pritch- holidays like July 4 and New Year’s Eve.
ett said she thinks that setting param-
CREATIVE DIRECTOR: DAN ALEXANDER eters is not likely to cause consterna- “I cannot support putting people
772-539-2700, [email protected] tion among the CRAs. “But there will out of business,” Commissioner John
be a lot of pushback if we try and con- Tobia said.
MANAGING EDITOR: STEVEN M. THOMAS trol debt service,” she said.
772-453-1196, [email protected] Commission Chair Curt Smith also
Commissioner Jim Barfield added expressed sympathy with fireworks
To learn about the cost-effective advertising rates being offered in that legislation in Tallahassee can af- businesses. “I marvel that two days a
The Melbourne Beachsider, please contact our advertising fect whatever is decided. He referred to year they do so well. At the same time
representatives listed below: HB 13, which passed the House on April caution is a motivator for me. If the
DIRECTOR OF ADVERTISING: JUDY DAVIS 26 and was sent to the Senate. The bill ban saves folks from a fire, it’s worth it.
772-633-1115, [email protected] requires that a county or municipality There’s nothing more devastating than
ADVERTISING ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES petition the legislature to create a new losing a life.”
community redevelopment agency and
LILLIAN BELMONT, 321-604-7833, [email protected] mandates ethics training for community Schollmeyer said fireworks can “ab-
WILL GARDNER, 407-361-2150, [email protected] redevelopment agency commissioners. solutely cause a fire during July 4th,”
KATHLEEN MACGLENNON, 772-633-0753, [email protected] but added that nothing in the pro-
It also requires the Department of posed ordinance would affect public
To talk about stories, or invite us to cover social and charitable events, Economic Opportunity to maintain a fireworks displays.
call 772-453-1196 or email us at [email protected]. website identifying all inactive com-
munity redevelopment agencies, cre- He also pointed out, “The general
ates an end date for agencies, and sets public cannot purchase fireworks with-
up requirements for audits and finan- out signing a paper at the fireworks store
cial oversight. saying that they will be using them for
agricultural purposes.” Such purposes
“Let’s come up with what . . . [com- include frightening birds from agricul-
missioners] would like to see, and get tural works and fish hatcheries.
back to the county manager before
the next meeting,” Smith said. In support of the ordinance, Com-
missioner Jim Barfield said, “I think we
Besides concerns about how long should err on the side of being safe.”
they stay in existence, objection to
CRAs stems from the belief by some Commissioner Kristine Isnardi said
commissioners and other county of- she had issues with the permanent
ficials that the agencies syphon off status of the ban. “If it’s just during dry
property tax money the county could season, I’d vote for it.”
better use for road repairs and other
projects, and that they function with- In the end, commissioners asked
out sufficient financial oversight by Schollmeyer to come back with KBI
elected officials.  numbers from last July 4 and Jan. 1 to
see what the drought index was then
compared to now. 

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Barrier Island Newsweekly THE MELBOURNE Thursday, May 4, 2017 5

NEWS

LIFE Rescue Station,” Rogers said. they were able to go on with their lives.
“It amazes me that most if not all Cape Canaveral public works ser-

health departments require a flotation vices deputy director Josh Surprenant,
device for swimming pools but not for a surfer himself, is helping coordinate
the beach. I think that’s coming to an installation of the LIFE Rescue Sta-
end because that is just not an accept- tions. He says beachgoers are grateful
able status.” There are plans for a total for the program.
41 LIFE Rescue Stations in Cocoa Beach
in addition to 24 already installed in “The most common response I hear
Cape Canaveral. is, ‘Why don’t we already have these?’”

After Werneth pulled the drowning Surprenant says the stations are
swimmers from the water on that fate- not meant to encourage false heroics
ful Friday last month, all five victims but to save lives in emergencies. “We
were transported to Cape Canaveral saw it as a way to make all the beaches
hospital where they kept under obser- safer. We want to make sure we don’t
vation overnight. Released the next day, have [the type of tragedy] that Wyatt
just prevented.” 

Josh Suprenant, Cape
Canaveral’s Community
Engagement Director and

Public Works Services
Deputy Director.

RESCUE TUBE cadets and a chaperone who were
caught by a powerful rip current.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
Two swimmers got in trouble initial-
mer head of the county ocean life- ly and the others went out to help, but
guards, is vice president and national all of them ended up swallowing sea
spokesman for LIFE Rescue Project, a water and needing to be rescued.
group dedicated to providing emer-
gency lifesaving equipment on public “I don’t know who is drowning, who’s
beaches. Formed in January, LIFE has not drowning or what’s going on,” said
so far installed a number of rescue Werneth. “There was one person who
stations in Cape Canaveral and Cocoa was lethargic and I had to get the tube
Beach, with the offer to supply them under him and keep his head above
throughout Brevard. water. There were people grappling all
over the place in the water. Those who
A rescue station consists of a pole went out to assist got into trouble be-
and a sign with a LIFE Rescue Tube at- cause they didn’t have flotation.
tached to it. The poles are either locat-
ed at the beach access or down on the “That gets back to what we’re trying
beach, about where a lifeguard tower to do with our project and mission. Had
would go. The rescue tubes are meant I come up 10 minutes later or without
to be used by beachgoers to help oth- flotation, it would have been very dif-
ers in trouble in the water. ficult [to rescue the swimmers].”

It was Friday, April 14 when Werneth LIFE Rescue Tubes are a variation
got a call from his wife, who was out on the “cans” you see lifeguards on
shopping in Satellite Beach, that swim- Bay Watch use.
mers were in trouble. He had one of the
new, elongated rescue tubes in his car “It’s soft but it’s still stiff so I can de-
because he had been servicing a LIFE fend myself [from flailing drowning
station and he raced down A1A to the victims] and it doesn’t hurt like the can
scene. did,” Werneth said. The tubes have
grips on all sides for victims and res-
When he got to the beach, bystand- cuers to hold onto.
ers told him people were drowning.
Life Rescue Project President Mike
“I got my tube, took my shirt off and, Rogers, founder of worldwide life-
as I come over the dunes, I saw a group guard equipment supplier eLifeguard.
of swimmers [struggling in the water]’’ com in Rockledge, consulted with
Werneth said. Werneth when he established the
beach safety nonprofit.
According to later accounts, the
crowd he saw was four Marietta, “We both had the idea of putting
Georgia high school Junior ROTC lifesaving devices on the beach. We put
our heads together and came up with a





8 Thursday, May 4, 2017 THE MELBOURNE Barrier Island Newsweekly

SEEN & SCENE

Guys in heels pump up Serene Harbor fundraiser

Timer Colen, Louise Jones and Staley Morgan. PHOTOS: BENJAMIN THACKER Karen Manno, Holly Herrmann and Terry Sanders.

Beverly Demeyer and Cristina Lanken. Brianna Smith, Miss Florida High School America and a junior at Heritage High in Palm Bay (center), Kellie Eckstein and Kathy White.
flanked by John Theiler, Kathy Warnke, John Fazekas and Neal Driscoll.

STORY BY CYNTHIA VAN GAASBECK CORRESPONDENT domestic violence. made jewelry and scented candles erably less than a mile in women’s
[email protected] In Her Shoes is exactly as it to membership in a women-only shoes.
gun club. A silent auction, raffles
Supporting a segment of life that is sounds: men walking in women’s and a dinner catered by UNO Pizze- “Take your time, fellas,” Ivey said,
anything but, Serene Harbor cloaks high heels. The visuals are enter- ria and Grill of Melbourne rounded chuckling as they struggled to navi-
its clients in safety and care while taining, certainly, but the message out the “FUNdraising” event. gate a set of steps. “Don’t worry
working to change their lives for the behind these good sports clomping about rushing.”
better, forever. Serene Harbor, one around in purple pumps is a deadly Four teams of brave, good-na-
of only two domestic violence shel- serious one. tured men were introduced on stage The men in heels soon gave way to
ters in Brevard County, the other be- to the sounds of ZZ Top’s “Sharp men dressed to thrill as the Ladies
ing the Salvation Army, assists more “It’s so nice to have these men Dressed Man” before heading out in Choice fashion show got underway,
than 1,000 women and children come out and support us, said Dr. a wobbly parade around the audito- with audience members encouraged
each year. Since opening its doors in Joni F. Oglesby, Serene Harbor rium. Walkers from Rockwell Col- to vote for their favorites.
1993, the organization has cared for board chairman, commenting that lins, Dead Bug Dave hockey team,
more than 26,000 families in crisis. the event is a lighthearted approach Slug-A-Bug and Brevard Old Red The fun and games came with
to raise community awareness Eye rugby team were out to prove a purpose, one that President and
The nonprofit organization host- about the seriousness of domestic that compassion is manly. It really CEO Melody R. Keeth reiterated in
ed its most important fundraising violence. “They understand. And it’s doesn’t get more masculine than a quiet moment. “We have become
effort of the year last Thursday at the important to get men to understand men kitted out in rugby and hockey very good at fundraising but what
Melbourne Auditorium by combin- the trauma of domestic abuse.” uniforms – and purple stilettos. we want is to make this a community
ing two popular events – the seventh awareness event. This community is
annual What a Girl Wants shopping More than 150 people came out Emcee Sheriff Wayne Ivey ribbed very giving. We really love Brevard.”
extravaganza, and the third annual to support the cause, shopping for the guys as they made their way
In Her Shoes men’s march against goodies and services from 38 ven- back onstage after walking consid- For help with an abusive situation,
dors offering everything from hand- call Serene Harbor’s 24-hour, confi-
dential hotline at 321-726-8282. 

Barrier Island Newsweekly THE MELBOURNE Thursday, May 4, 2017 9

SEEN & SCENE

Owen and Patricia Gary with Ann Parchinski. Teri Jones, Avery Plavin and Dr. Joni Oglesby, Serene Harbor board chairman. David Sugimoto and Rachel Russell.

Bobbi Whitmore and Jeannie Manzo. Kimberly Merrick and Heather Murdoch. Sheriff Wayne Ivey and Melody Keeth.

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Sharon Ballweber and Barbara Johnson. Bill and Susan Gattle.

10 Thursday, May 4, 2017 THE MELBOURNE Barrier Island Newsweekly

SEEN & SCENE

Runners seen and ‘herd’ at Thru the Ranch 5K

STORY BY CYNTHIA VAN GAASBECK CORRESPONDENT Ralph Cahoon and Tom Schuller. PHOTOS: BENJAMIN THACKER Erin Schuck and Mark Mihlebach. Nancy Buchanan and Sarah Haskell.
[email protected]
notice the 13 neat stacks of cowboy Schuck called out to the racers as they The terrain was about one mile of
A little sign planted in the shoulder hats awaiting, and they began try- flexed joints and warmed muscles. milled asphalt with the remainder
at the I-95 Malabar Road exit indicat- ing them on for size. The hats were being grass pasture, and participants
ed to convoys that they were headed among the unique race’s giveaways, Race management was a little dif- were urged to take in the environ-
in the right direction as they made along with petite bottles of Webb’s lo- ferent here too, as directors discussed ment as they passed by.
their way to a remote location for one cal honey. No, this was not your run- stationing volunteers at gates to allow
of Brevard’s more unusual foot races. of-the-mill run. runners onto pastures while keeping Farming is a family business and
cattle from escaping. They wanted runners are a sort of family as well;
The seventh annual Run Thru the “This is a ranch, so there is dirt! I only one kind of stampede. some actual kin and others keeping
Ranch 5K was hosted last Saturday hope you didn’t bring your new, white in touch between races. That spe-
at the 900-acre Nail Ranch spread, shoes today because they are going Competitive runners are generally cial relationship was evident as the
off the southernmost end of Babcock to get dirty!” Running Zone’s Erin familiar with various terrains and crowd joined together to cheer in four
Street in Palm Bay. The race, coordi- their hazards. But Tina Nail, whose Wounded Warrior participants, who
nated by the Brevard County Farm husband Corey is son to patriarch closed out the race.
Bureau in Cocoa and Melbourne’s Ronnie Nail, laughed when asked
Running Zone, has a twofold purpose what these runners would find, say- Race Director Jenny Cahoon, whose
– to raise money and to develop pub- ing that as far as hazards go, they own Cocoa ranch encompasses 1,000
lic awareness of the impact agricul- might land in a cow pie or two. acres, estimated $5,000 would be
ture has on Brevard’s economy and raised and split among the farm bu-
residents. reau, the UF Institute of Food and Ag-
ricultural Sciences and the Brevard
Arriving just after the 6:44 a.m. Cattlemen’s Association.
sunrise, runners were treated to a
tranquil setting of pastures and pines Race winners: Overall Male Win-
blanketed in a light fog and wet with ner - Paul Jaime of Indialantic, 20:48;
morning dew. The scene was set with Overall Female Winner - Caroline
cattle lolling in the distance, working Feagle of St. Cloud, 24:28; Male Mas-
horses saddled, trailered and dozing, ter Champion - Haskell Walker, 59, of
and herd dogs sensing a difference in Melbourne, 24:44; and Female Master
their daily schedule. Champion – Lynn Jaime (Paul Jaime’s
mother), 50, 27:36.
As the 180 runners picked up their
race packets, they couldn’t help but Official results are posted at run-
ningzone.com 

Barrier Island Newsweekly THE MELBOURNE Thursday, May 4, 2017 11

SEEN & SCENE

David Webb and Joe Walter. JJ, Jeff and Jayden McNamara. Jack Cattaneo, Duncan Knoblock, Paul Jaime and Liam Lund.

Jill Waite, Shawn Grezaffi and Sara McNamara. Kim Zipper, Carla Shofner, Mike Hallinan and Wendy Bobbitt. Kash, Ralph, Daisy and Jenny Cahoon, with Tyle Schuller (right).

Robin Moran and Deb Stokes. Linda Schultz and Kelley Lake.

Seher Swenson. Ranch owner Ronnie Nail and Mike Hallinan.



CHIM CHIM CHER-EE!
POP IN FOR ‘POPPINS’

AT THE PLAYHOUSE

14 Thursday, May 4, 2017 THE MELBOURNE Barrier Island Newsweekly

ARTS & THEATRE

CHIM CHIM CHER-EE! POP IN FOR ‘POPPINS’ AT PLAYHOUSE

STORY BY PAM HARBAUGH CORRESPONDENT

Although she’s directed the show, MARRY POPPINS PHOTO BY BENJAMIN THACKER There, with all the pomp and circum- cians under the baton of William H.
Anastacia Hawkins-Smith could stance of a presidential inaugural party, Yoh.
have cast herself in the role of the Playhouse,” Willsey says. “Their an emcee takes a look at the past season
magical nanny in Cocoa Village Play- production quality is just outstand- and introduces favorite performers who Willsey says the voices and the or-
house’s production of “Mary Poppins ing and in my opinion is on par with entertain the audience. Finally, after chestra in the show are fabulous.
the Musical.” anything you see being professional- intermission (yes, there is an intermis-
ly produced in Central Florida. Their sion at the announcement), Hawkins- “Live music always enhances any
Of course, Mary Poppins is that de- sets, costuming, lighting, sound – all Smith, bedazzling in sequined garb, production so much,” she says. “I love
lightful story of a family much in need those elements are always top notch. gets “piped” in with an army of bagpip- that Cocoa Village Playhouse is com-
of someone to get the children and the Because of that, they attract incred- ers and – eventually – announces the mitted to presenting not only live music
parents in line in order to make a hap- ible top quality performers as well. upcoming season to shrieks, squeals but using the full orchestration for ev-
pier home. Summoned rather won- and even a balloon drop. ery show. A lot of times a theater will say
drously by a letter the children write, “They bill themselves as ‘Broadway it has live music and it will be someone
she flies in on the wind – and her um- on Brevard’ and they really deliver on Those over a certain age would be with a piano and a drum set, that’s it.”
brella. She and her unusual assort- that.” wise to bring ear plugs.
ment of friends bring lessons of love Her favorite magical moments come
and true family values. It’s true, says David Dunn of Mel- Willsey was at last year’s season an- in the song “Feed the Birds,” which
bourne. He and his wife Midge are nouncement, and when she heard that teaches the lesson that a little bit of good
“The show gives you hope that avid arts patrons and have been going the Playhouse was going to produce magnifies the best in the world; and fly-
dreams really can come true,” says to both Riverside Theatre and Cocoa “Mary Poppins the Musical,” she went ing in with her umbrella and carpet bag.
Hawkins-Smith, the historic Cocoa Village Playhouse for years. into high gear.
theater’s artistic and executive di- “The scene when I’m about to fly onto
rector. “The Playhouse is built on Although the theater is not a profes- “I was like, oh my gosh, I’ve got to the stage, I’m hanging up high in the
dreams, so Mary Poppins is very in sional “house” like Riverside is, Dunn audition for this,” she says. “I love the wings, just waiting, and I look down
keeping with our story.” says the productions boast very good movie. I love the musical. Since I was a and see everyone on stage looking up
voices, wonderful orchestras and little kid. I had that audition on my cal- and singing to me,” she says. “I love that
Indeed, it was 1989 when Hawkins- stunning visuals. endar for months.” moment. It’s cool.”
Smith first stepped into the nearly
dilapidated venue, once known as “The costuming is especially won- Based on the P.L. Travers and the And that’s the kind of Cocoa Village
the Aladdin Theater, where people in derful,” he says. 1964 Disney film, the musical for Mary Playhouse magic Hawkins-Smith sees
the 1920s would flock to watch silent Poppins has its script written by Julian all about her. “Anything can happen if
movies. Although it had then become In fact, his only beef is that if he Fellowes, creator, writer and producer you let it,” she says. “That’s kind of the
home to pigeons and decades of dust, doesn’t get his tickets early enough, he of the ultra-popular “Downton Abbey” motto of the theater: If you dream it,
she saw only possibilities. can’t get the seats he wants. television series. and work hard, it can happen. It might
take years, but it can happen.”
Fast forward to today and you find Those season tickets get scooped up Although it does not follow the film
a jewel box of a community theater, as soon as Hawkins-Smith makes her exactly, there’s all those wonderful tunes Mary Poppins the Musical runs
complete with sparkling chandeliers, season announcement, always done audiences love, such as: “Chim Chim through May 21 at Cocoa Village Play-
twinkling lights on its marquee, 600 with as much flourish as the show Cher-ee,” “A Spoonful of Sugar” and “Su- house, 300 Brevard Ave., Cocoa, Florida.
seats and full-blown costume and woman can muster. percalifragilisticexpialidocious.” Tickets are $24 general, $22 senior, ac-
scenic shops. Now finishing its 27th tive military and students and $16 for
season, Cocoa Village Playhouse has a Productions themselves, the season At Cocoa Village Playhouse, more children. Call 321-636-5050 or visit Co-
full, part-time and seasonal staff of 52. announcements are made in the sum- than 70 people are in the cast of “Mary coaVillagePlayhouse.com. 
It teems with a base of 600 volunteers, mer. Once held at the Playhouse, the Poppins.” The orchestra has 16 musi-
scores of volunteer actors, lavish visu- announcements now draw so many
als, full orchestras and 250 students in people they had to be moved to the
its Stars of Tomorrow program. 2,000-seat King Center in Melbourne.

There’s also an audience base of
4,000 subscribers. The active season
bill performs to nearly 60,000 each year.
Indeed, the continuing growth caused
the Playhouse to burst at its seams, giv-
ing way to a busy annex and plans for
more expansion in another five years.

It also attracts performers from
around Central Florida, like Ashley
Willsey, marketing director at Orlan-
do Repertory Theater.

“I had that audition date on my cal-
endar for months,” says Willsey, who
plays Mary Poppins.

This is not her first time on the Play-
house boards. Willsey thrilled audi-
ences in her turn as Fiona in its wildly
popular production of “Shrek the Mu-
sical.” Like so many of the theater’s
shows, its run was extended to satisfy
audience demand.

“I love working at Cocoa Village

Barrier Island Newsweekly THE MELBOURNE Thursday, May 4, 2017 15

ARTS & THEATRE

ENCORE! WINE & FILM FEST SEQUEL PROMISES MORE

STORY BY STEPHANIE LABAFF STAFF WRITER year director Jeff films including festival-goers to taste a broader variety
[email protected] of wine, meet the winemakers and pur-
Woolnough has several U.S. and chase wine at festival discounts.
The Vero Beach Wine and Film Fes-
tival was barely in the can last summer stepped in, bring- Florida premieres. Premier Pass holders can attend the
when planning for the festival’s sequel Super-Secret VSP (Very Special Per-
was already underway. ing to the table From the Best sons) Welcome Party for the filmmak-
ers, winemakers and invited guests at a
The inaugural event was so well re- his wife, actress of Sonoma films private, waterside location with drinks
ceived, this year’s festival promises to and a tasting menu.
be bigger and better. What that means Claudette Roche, program comes
for film buffs is more film, more wine One of the new events is dubbed
and more fun. The festive four-day who has proved a the Best American Fierce Females and Films, a women’s
event takes place June 8-11 in a variety networking lunch and film screening
of venues around Vero Beach and will valuable resource Independent Fea- offering women a chance to view the
feature about 75 quality films vetted by award-winning documentary “The
a crew of local industry professionals for the festival in ture: “June Falling Perfume War” with the producer and
and film lovers. director. The afternoon includes a trip
terms of helping Down”; Best Ani- to the 7 Virtues Beauty Perfume Bar,
“It was such a success last year that lunch, movie and book signing at the
we knew we would have to up our spot quality films. mated Short: “The Riverside Theatre.
game to top ourselves,” says festival
founder Jerusha Stewart. “We’re going Woolnough is Orchestra”; Best With the guidance of Neil Mandt,
to need a bigger festival to repeat our a pioneer in virtual reality filmmak-
Cinderella luck.” watching all the Dramatic Short: ing, the festival is presenting a virtual
reality lounge at Riverside Theatre.
Susan Keller Horn, festival co-found- student films. A “A Tie Riceballs”; Two films will be shown at the virtual
er and director of submissions, says lounge.
the film committee has been watch- free screening the A3 Audience
ing films since September. The group After viewing the documentary
gathered as often as twice a week and and award cer- Award Winners; “Straws” about sea turtles endangered
watched more than 250 films. by toxic straws, attendees will take a
emony for the Best Documenta- guided sea turtle walk with Vero’s own
“It is an arduous but fun process be- Heather Stapleton from the Environ-
cause we watch every film from start to students, all with ry: “Perfume War” mental Learning Center.
finish,” says Horn.
ties to Florida, and “James Beard: Back again this year is the Vero Vi-
It’s not all about popcorn and Junior sions category with a whole new slate
Mints. Viewers fill out a checklist of cri- will be held at VBWFF founder Jerusha Stewart. America’s First of films that are for, by or about the
teria from sound to the story and writ- the Vero Beach P HOTO BY DENISE RITCHIE Foodie”; and Best
ing to editing. CONTINUED ON PAGE 16
Theatre Guild Animated Short:
Among the films this year: “Un-
leashed,” “Rebound” and “Dog Years,” during the festival. “The Orchestra.”
starring Burt Reynolds, are a few that
stand out, says Horn. “The appetite and enthusiasm for the To accommodate the crowds, addi-

One film in particular drew Horn’s event is so much higher this year, and tional screening times and more ven-
attention: “D-Love”: Horn’s brother
produced the music and had a small more than 2,000 people are expected to ues have been added, and the group
part. “When I showed the film, I didn’t
tell anybody that he was in it because I attend our four-day, full-bodied event. is currently negotiating the use of an-
wanted unbiased feedback.”
We’ve already surpassed last year’s other, very large venue that has yet to
Several weeks before the film festival
begins, festival chair Jeff Woolnough ticket sales,” says Stewart. be disclosed. The schedule will run
will host Desserts with Directors on
May 21 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the The Sonoma International Film Fes- from approximately 9:30 a.m. to 11
Springhill Suites. Guests will have the
chance to meet regional filmmakers tival has taken the Vero event under its p.m. most days.
over free dessert and champagne. The
event is free and open to the public. wing as a sister festival, which allows As for the wine component, the fes-

After proving itself last year, the fes- access to the Best of Sonoma, that festi- tival team has added the WOW Tast-
tival this year has attracted a number
of Hollywood insiders, which in turn val’s award winners. ing Lounge. The World of Wine Tasting
benefits filmmakers who can have
their work seen by the likes of producer The lineup boasts award-winning Experience and Pop Up Shop allows
Molly Smith, director Ari Sandel and
film critic Jeffrey Lyons.

“It’s an incredible opportunity for
them to get their work in front of all
those people gathered in one place,”
said Stewart.

It was a big coup to have “Judg-
ment of Paris” author George Taber
as the festival chair last year and this

16 Thursday, May 4, 2017 THE MELBOURNE Barrier Island Newsweekly

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15 ARTS & THEATRE

Treasure Coast. One returning film- COMING UP: SYMPHONY’S MOM’S DAY ‘BOUQUET’
maker brings a movie filmed in Vero
Beach with an all-local cast. STORY BY SAMANTHA BAITA STAFF WRITER and the truck – for all they’re worth, fuls are blown away with the arrival
[email protected] knowing only one can win. New York of Mary Poppins with her bumber-
Last year the Vero Beach Museum of Times theater critic Charles Isher- shoot and carpetbag. With magic,
Art presented the work of Dave, an en- 1 This year, show your mom how wood wrote that the
slaved African American potter from much you appreciate her with- show struck a fresh ‘Mary Poppins.’
Edgefield, S.C. Adding a multimedia note by “training a
film screening experience to the festi- out resorting to the flowers-and- compassionate eye on
val, this double feature will include the the struggles of the
film “Discovering Days,” a documen- candy cliché: treat her to “A Mother’s lower-middle classes.”
tary about the potter and poet, a selec- He goes on to say the
tion of pieces from Dave’s work and a Day Bouquet,” when the Space Coast show “doesn’t cloud
screening of the film “The Letter Carri- its vision by making
er,” which is American actor and singer Symphony Orchestra reprises its an- concessions to the
Jesse L. Martin’s directorial debut. kind of splashy spec-
nual concert favorite Saturday at the tacle and cozy senti-
With requests for more food a top mentality that most
comment last year, Culinary Chair Vero Beach High School Performing Broadway musicals
Kitty Wagner intends to offer eating trade in.” “Hands on
options all over the festival landscape Arts Center. Aaron Collins directs the a Hardbody” runs
this year, including food for purchase through May 21. Show
at the museum and Riverside Theatre. Space Coast Symphony in a perfor- times are Fridays and
Saturdays at 8 p.m.,
And wines will be featured more mance of pop and classical favorites, and Sundays at 2 p.m.,
prominently too, says Stewart. The through May 21.
event’s wine chairman is Rob Wayne, including works by John Phillip Sousa,
who with his wife Michele owns the
boutique wine store Varietals and Richard Rodgers, George Gershwin
More and has a significant following in
Vero’s wine culture. and others. The afternoon will feature

“The quality of wines that we’re go- 18-year-old clarinetist Alyssa Barry,
ing to be pouring and the breadth of
the companies that are going to be the 2016 winner of the Brevard’s Got
represented is amazing,” promises
Stewart. Music talent competition. A gradu-

Four Winds Winery will be return- ate of Satellite High School, Barry is
ing along with winemakers with a
Treasure Coast connection: Ard Aven, a freshman at the University of North
Redwood Hill and Paragon. The Vino
Veritas Vintner event at Costa d’Este Florida majoring in music perfor-
Resort will feature the Treasure Coast
wines poolside and a second riverside mance. She will perform a movement
dinner has been added at Quail Valley
River Club featuring wines from the from Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto in A
film “Decanted.” Costa d’Este will also
host a celebrity winemakers event, fea- major. Admission is $20. The concert
turing wines made by movie stars.
begins at 3 p.m. 3 Mozart’s ac-
Early risers can catch a flick in the
morning at the beachside café Grind + claimed Requiem
Grape, or head there for an after-party
in the evening. One of the post-event 2 “Hands on a Hard Body” opens Mass in D minor will
gatherings will feature the film “Bar- this Friday at the Henegar Cen-
tender at Large,” which will include a be performed by the
cocktail demonstration and cocktail-
making competition. ter. But wait, it’s not what you’re Brevard Community

And, one lucky festival pass holder Chorus this Saturday
will win a cruise for two on a cinematic
cruise from Vancouver to Los Ange- at the King Center. Ac-
les, with stops at American wine ports
along the way. Just as it did last year, companied by musi-
the festival benefits Suncoast Mental
Health Center. cians from the Brevard

Stewart warns movie buffs to get Symphony Orchestra, Dr. Robert common sense, memorable tunes
passes now. “They won’t last long. and assistance from jack-of-all-
Some of the events have limited seat- E. Lamb will conduct the 100-plus trades Bert, Mary teaches the chil-
ing, and we’ve already surpassed ticket dren and the grown-ups some valu-
sales from last year.” voice chorus and professional solo- able life lessons.

To volunteer or otherwise stay con- ists. This dark, intense piece was the
nected to the festival, go to VBWFF.
com. and join the VBWFF Facebook composer’s final work, and is widely
page. For help keeping events straight
during the festival, be sure to down- recognized in part because of the
load the Festival app. 
1984 biopic “Amadeus.” Much mys- 5 If you’re checking your musi-
cal menu for a nice helping of
tery still surrounds the creation of

this piece. As the most popular story classic country this weekend, you’ll

goes, Mozart composed his Requiem want to catch the May Night Sounds

in Vienna in 1791, and

it was left unfinished

at his death at same

year at the age of 35.

Mozart’s widow was

responsible for several

thinking: it’s a truck body, not a hu- other stories, includ-
man’s. This musical that opened on
Broadway in 2013 was inspired by ing the claims that
the documentary of the same title
(itself named after an actual con- Mozart received the
test in Texas) and was written by the
Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright commission from a
Doug Wright. With hard-edged hu-
mor, “Hands on a Hard Body” tells mysterious messenger Ring of Fire.
the story of 10 hard-luck, small-town
Texans who enter an annual contest and that Mozart came Concert Saturday at the Sebastian
sponsored by the local Nissan deal- Inlet State Park Coconut Point pa-
er. Whoever can keep his or her hand to believe that he was writing the re- vilions. The Ring of Fire Band, a
on the car the longest wins a new seven-piece band, will be playing
Nissan hard-body pickup – and a quiem for his own funeral. The pro- family-oriented classic country, a
new lease on life. As hours turn into little bluegrass and a smidgen of
days and the Texas sun beats down, gram begins at 7:30 p.m. rock ’n’ roll, all from the 1950s to
they stand clinging to their dreams – the 1990s. The Night Sounds series
4 The musical “Mary Poppins” is hosted by the Friends of Sebas-
continues its run at the Cocoa tian Inlet State Park.

Village Playhouse though May 14. The concert is free with regular
park entry fees. 
Audiences travel back to the London

of 1910, where George and Winifred

Banks struggle to retain a nanny for

their two precocious children, Jane

and Michel. At last, the nanny hope-



18 Thursday, May 4, 2017 THE MELBOURNE Barrier Island Newsweekly

INSIGHT COVER STORY

Once, Hainan was an alien, pesti- “China wants to be viewed China has only one of those, but plans
lential land, beyond the edge of civi- with wonder and respect but, to build more).
lization, to which mandarins who had as it grows stronger and more
fallen foul of the emperor were ban- powerful, it as often unsettles Sanya is the point in China closest
ished. Today China’s island province in to the edge of the continental shelf
the far south is being rebranded as the as it reassures” and the deeps of the South China Sea.
country’s own tropical paradise. Its strategic importance is obvious.
all about “mutual respect,” “win-win” Sanya in Hainan’s far south. The scale More than half the world’s merchant
Hainan can also be viewed as em- relationships and “common destiny” of these resorts dwarfs those in Hawaii tonnage passes through the South
blematic of much of what “China’s in Asia. But the billions of dollars for or Florida. The subliminal message China Sea. The Malacca Strait takes
rise,” a much-used if often ill-defined initiatives in the region, including for from Hainan is that “anything you can three times as much tanker traffic as
phrase, actually means. much-needed infrastructure, come do, China can do better – and bigger.” the Suez Canal and 15 times as much
predominantly from China. And the as the Panama Canal.
A decade ago, cars crept along mud- staging of the forum seems designed to But Hainan also reveals a harder
dy, potholed roads. Today an express- convey a sense that Asian leaders and side to Chinese power. Hidden around China’s sweeping maritime claims –
way whisks travelers from the top to foreign dignitaries are paying tribute to a headland in Sanya is the Yulin naval though based on no recognized legal
the bottom of the 12,800-square-mile the rulers of a benign imperium. base. Enormous caverns have been norms, and disputed by neighbors –
island in under four hours – or 82 min- cut, Bond-style, into the mountain- encompass almost the entire sea.
utes by bullet train. In the old days, the It is meant to inspire awe, and so too side, big enough to hide 20 ballistic-
town of Wenchang in Hainan’s north- are the luxury hotels going up along the missile submarines. The harbor is deep Over the past three years China has
east was famous for its poached chick- 14-mile-long half-moon beach outside enough for aircraft-carriers (at present used a rapidly expanding navy and
en. Today it is famous for a state-of-the- coastguard to enforce its claims to
art satellite and spacecraft launch site. reefs and rocks far out at sea. It has
employed dredging fleets to build ar-
Down the coast, in the middle of tificial islands and runways on them.
a manicured plain, is a convention This official policy is backed by unof-
complex in which China’s leaders each ficial force. In Tanmen, a gritty harbor
spring host the Boao Forum, often next to Boao, large trawlers act as a
described as Asia’s Davos. The talk is “people’s maritime militia.”

Barrier Island Newsweekly THE MELBOURNE Thursday, May 4, 2017 19

INSIGHT COVER STORY

They have chased Philippine and tives, and the AIIB in particular, smack The Silk Road strategy appears to Andrew Small, an expert on China-
Vietnamese fishermen from disputed of a powerful new order in the making involve extending China’s utilitar- Pakistan relations at the German Mar-
grounds, poached in neighbors’ ex- in which China rather than the United ian domestic model for infrastructure shall Fund, in a recent article warned
clusive economic zones and, with of- States will call the shots. Barack Obama’s (under which locals affected by large- of the shortcomings of the approach.
ficialdom turning a blind eye, ravaged administration urged allies not to join scale development are barely con- One of them is lack of transparency.
the South China Sea’s reefs, destroying the AIIB. Japan heeded the call; Austra- sulted) to the wider world. That would Even Pakistan’s central-bank governor
the coral to get at rare, slow-growing lia, Britain and South Korea ignored it. be risky. Some Chinese experts worry says he does not understand where all
giant clams for which China’s nou- about an investment frenzy, including the trumpeted money is coming from
veaux riches pay fortunes. It is easy to overstate the importance from local-level state enterprises with and how it is being spent.
of such Chinese initiatives. Arthur little experience of operating abroad.
Hainan is a microcosm of a wider Kroeber, in his book “China’s Economy: Another is insufficient regard for
problem: China wants to be viewed What Everyone Needs to Know,” reck- “Provinces, cities: they all want to grassroots support and for the social
with wonder and respect but, as it impact of projects. Chinese leaders
grows stronger and more powerful, it 1. Dredging fleets build artificial islands in the South China Sea. 2. Chi- do not need to pay much heed to this
as often unsettles as it reassures. nese freight service en route from Yiwu, in Zhejiang province, to London. at home, but in a poor and insurgen-
3. A Long March-7 Y2 carrier rocket is transferred to the launch pad at cy-torn region such as Balochistan it
When Deng Xiaoping counselled his Wenchang Satellite Launch Center. 4. China’s Liaoning aircraft carrier could be explosive. “Chinese officials
compatriots to “lie low and bide your with an accompanying fleet. 5. The bullet train travels the length of the still lack the instinct to take measures
time,” none of them thought he meant island in 82 minutes. 6. Hainan is the ‘tip of the naval spear’ in the South of this sort,” Small concludes.
for ever. Indeed, it was not long after China Sea. 7. The seaside city of Sanya, Hainan Province.
his death in 1997 that China’s presence In their open-handed approach to
increasingly made itself felt abroad. 1. 2. China’s periphery, Xi and his fellow
First, the government began to encour- leaders have America in mind. They
age state companies to invest around 3. 4. hope that countries brought into Chi-
the world, especially in the mineral re- na’s developmental embrace will feel
sources needed for the country’s grow- 5. 6. less willing to remain part of the Amer-
ing industrial surge. After a slow start, ican-led order of regional security.
such investment now runs at about $80 7.
billion a year. Yet buying power is not that simple.
ons that the headline figures for the au- go abroad. There is disorder,” says Closeness to local elites can stir popu-
A sharp turn in foreign-policy activ- thorized capital of China’s new finan- Ding Yifan of the State Council’s De- lar hostility. In Myanmar in 2011, re-
ism, however, came with Xi’s rise to cial institutions greatly exaggerate their velopment Research Centre in Beijing. sentment of China’s outsized commer-
power five years ago. The new territori- firepower. The actual combined capital Other researchers in Beijing warn that cial activities, and the small number of
al assertiveness is part of it. But so, too, base may be just $40 billion to $50 bil- little thought has been given to the generals benefiting from them, influ-
is a charm offensive, using economic lion by the early 2020s. political risks and security concerns enced even the military regime, lead-
power as a tool of reassurance. involved in putting Chinese projects ing the president, Thein Sein, to halt
That is, admittedly, about the size and workers in brittle countries in construction of a huge dam the Chi-
In 2014, Xi brought together several of the World Bank. But the value of Central Asia, or in the $50 billion Chi- nese were building. A weakened junta
regional infrastructure initiatives un- that institution lies less in the money na-Pakistan Economic Corridor, a set subsequently ceded much of its power
der the rubric of “One Belt, One Road.” it disburses than in its deep technical of infrastructure projects in Pakistan to a democratically elected govern-
The “belt,” confusingly, is a “New Silk and intellectual resources. China’s new launched by the two governments ment. Chinese influence in the country
Road”: a set of roads, railways and institutions cannot draw on anything amid much publicity in 2015. has not recovered.
power projects aiming to tie China’s comparable.
western regions more closely to Cen- In Sri Lanka, from the mid-2000s
tral Asia and eventually to Europe. China bet everything on the then pres-
ident, Mahinda Rajapaksa, and his
In January, with much fanfare, a Chi- family. But murky Chinese loans and
nese freight service travelled this route investments contributed to Rajapak-
all the way from Yiwu, in Zhejiang sa’s unexpected failure to be re-elected
province, to London. (It took 18 days, in early 2015, which came as a shock to
with the freight having to change train China.
several times because of different rail
gauges, laying bare how much of a work In Malaysia, China recently helped
in progress the belt is.) The “road” part with a multi-billion-dollar bail-out
of the rubric, equally confusingly, is a of a heavily indebted state invest-
“Maritime Silk Road” intended to link ment vehicle, 1MDB. That got the
China’s landlocked southwest to South- prime minister, Najib Razak, out of a
east Asia, the Indian Ocean and beyond. pickle, but many Malaysians do not
want to see their country in hock to
Part of the idea is to drum up busi- China, and Najib’s troubles may not
ness for Chinese engineering firms be over yet.
that are facing a sharp slowdown and
overcapacity at home. But in the main, Evelyn Goh of the Australian Na-
the Silk Road strategies are presented tional University says China has two
as Xi’s gift to a region in need of infra- blind spots in its dealings with smaller
structure – the foreign dimension of neighbors. The first is that it struggles
his “China dream” of a rise to pre-emi- to recognize what she calls their “au-
nence. To finance these projects, a “Silk tonomous agency”, ascribing any be-
Road Fund” under the central bank havior it dislikes to malign American
was set up, along with the New Devel- influence. The second, more broadly,
opment Bank and Xi’s new multilateral is its failure to understand that its ag-
institution, the Asian Infrastructure In- gressive behavior, such as in the South
vestment Bank (AIIB), with a combined China Sea, undermines its develop-
authorized capital of $240 billion. ment diplomacy.

“One Belt, One Road” resonates with That dissonance between its grow-
the historical notion of bringing barbar- ing power and its lagging status risks
ians under the Chinese heaven. But to adding to the sum of Chinese dissatis-
many Americans, the Silk Road initia- factions. 



Barrier Island Newsweekly THE MELBOURNE Thursday, May 4, 2017 21

INSIGHT BOOKS

Being one of the premier literary fig- But there the similarities way became friends in Paris in 1923 During these years, Dos Passos tried
ures of your generation can be a lonely ended. Dos Passos, who was (they had met briefly in June 1918 to involve his friend in some of the left-
business. Just ask Ernest Hemingway. born out of wedlock, grew up while driving ambulances in Italy), a wing political campaigns he champi-
According to Hadley Richardson, the in a series of European hotel somewhat envious Hemingway had oned (e.g., the Sacco and Vanzetti de-
author’s first wife, Hemingway always rooms and was educated at not yet made much of an impression fense), though without much success.
had trouble finding friends he could Choate and Harvard. Sickly and on the literary world. Even so, he clear- But the start of the Spanish Civil War
connect with “on his level, and with physically awkward, he wore ly regarded the older writer as a peer in 1936 changed all of that. Heming-
the same interests.” But there was one thick eyeglasses, spoke with rather than a mentor. The two would way, who seemed to find a bloody war
notable exception: “John Dos Passos,” a stutter and was never much sit for hours in their favorite cafe (La as invigorating as a bloody bullfight,
she once told an interviewer, “was of a ladies’ man. Hemingway, Closerie des Lilas in Montparnasse), embraced the anti-fascist cause with
one of the few people … whom Ernest the product of a much more drinking vermouth with cassis and gusto – just at a time when Dos Pas-
could really talk to.” stable and conventional Mid- reading to each other from the King sos was becoming disenchanted with
western family, never went to James Bible. Dos Passos did what he communism and with leftist politics
Certainly the two writers had a few college but always exuded an could to get his friend’s work noticed, generally. The two ended up going to
significant things in common. Both intellectual confidence and in- using his contacts to help Heming- Spain to collaborate on a documen-
born in Chicago, they each served a souciant athleticism that made way break into the New York publish- tary, but an incident in which a So-
formative stint as an ambulance driver him a great favorite with the ing world. But ultimately Hemingway viet special brigade executed a friend
in Europe during World War I, distill- opposite sex. Dos Passos was a didn’t need the assistance. His first of Dos Passos (on dubious evidence
ing the experience into war novels that lifelong political activist, while major novel, “The Sun Also Rises,” of spying) led to a decisive blowout.
helped shape the postwar American Hemingway (with one or two proved to be an international sensa- Dos Passos believed that the injus-
consciousness. And for several decades exceptions) typically steered tion when it appeared in 1926, cata- tice had to be exposed in the press;
around the mid-1900s, both would clear of movements and causes. pulting its author directly into the up- Hemingway felt that doing so would
have appeared on virtually any critic’s Books by Dos Passos seldom per echelon of American writers. be a betrayal of the anti-fascist cause
list of the greatest American novelists sold well; books by Heming- in the war. They parted as enemies on
of the century. way seldom didn’t. And yet, as Equals at last, the two writers met a Parisian train platform in May 1937.
James McGrath Morris illus- frequently over the next years, va- In a subsequent letter to Dos Passos,
trates in his trim and absorbing cationing together in places like Key Hemingway insisted that he no longer
new book, somehow the two writers West and various Alpine ski resorts. wanted to have anything to do with
managed to maintain an intense, of- They had many friends in common; his former friend.
ten competitive friendship over many Dos Passos even married Heming-
years – until one major disagreement way’s old high school crush, Katy Whether the story of this turbulent
in the 1930s tore them apart, leaving Smith. And although their prose styles literary friendship will matter to ca-
behind a bitterness that lasted until differed drastically, each sought out sual readers is a debatable question.
Hemingway’s suicide in 1961. the other’s editorial advice, the spar- Posterity, after all, has not been kind
It was Dos Passos, the elder of the tan minimalist and the cinematic to Dos Passos. While not exactly a foot-
pair by three years, who was first out maximalist somehow finding com- note in American letters, he is no lon-
of the gate in the race to literary promi- mon critical ground. But while each ger widely read beyond the university
nence. Although his first novel fizzled writer published his share of winners classroom, while Hemingway is still,
in obscurity, his second – “Three Sol- and losers over the years, a consistent well, Hemingway. But Dos Passos’ best
diers,” published in 1921 and based on pattern soon emerged in their reviews work bristles with verbal energy, and
his harrowing experiences during the and royalty statements – “Hemingway it achieves a philosophical scope that
Great War – was a controversial but had fame and fortune,” as Morris puts Hemingway rarely matched. Here’s
commercial success. Many critics con- it. “Dos Passos had unremunerated hoping that Morris’ book can help to
demned the book for its overwhelm- literary praise.” even up the score of their posthumous
ingly nihilistic view of the conflict (a literary reputations. 
writer in the New York Times called it The resulting imbalances put
“arrant tommyrot”), but most agreed some pressure on their relationship. THE AMBULANCE DRIVERS
that it was brilliantly written and gave (Hemingway found himself in the Hemingway, Dos Passos, and a
it the kind of extensive coverage re- annoying situation of having to lend Friendship Made and Lost in War
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22 Thursday, May 4, 2017 THE MELBOURNE Barrier Island Newsweekly

PETS

Bonzo has Lhasa fun with bow-tied Jaywok

Hi Dog Buddies! League?”
“Well. Ackhully, I visited one day
This week I yapped with Jaywok Jaywok Mendelssohn,
Mendelssohn, a Lhasa Apso-Poodle A Lhasa Apso-Poodle Mix. with Mommy and Daddy. Didn’t see
mix or, as the Official-Mixed-Breed- any ivy, though.
Name-Thinker-Uppers say, Lhasa- PHOTO MITCH KLOORFAIN
Poo, OR, as Jaywok himSELF says, “A “Whatever our adVENchure is, it’s
Lhasa with a perm.” puppy (guess who). Mommy started three languages: Dog, of course, the best fun, cuz Mommy, Daddy an
cryin’ cuz of tinkin’ of Iwok. So Daddy French an English.” me are togever.
Anyway, Jaywok woofmailed me in went in an asked the pet store human,
REFrence to a recent column I wrote ‘How much is that doggy in the win- “That is Totally Cool Dog Biscuits,” “I have a special squeaky toy for da
about Buddha Rico. You might recall, dow?’” I told him. “That must come in handy car, an one for On-tarry-o, an one for
Buddha’s a rescue mix, so he doesn’t when you travel.” down here. My very favorite’s a purple
know about his official Pooch Past. “Are you woofin’ me, right now?” I crinkly cow with a pink udder an nose.
But the minute Jaywok saw Buddha’s hadda ask. “It does. Me an Mommy an Daddy I keep it on da bed, I’ll show you, OK?”
pikshur, he thought he was lookin’ are always havin’ adVENchures. I
atta pikshur of himSELF. He wrote, “Dat’s what he said, Gander’s Hon- love cars. An hotels. I jump from bed He zipped off and returned with his
“When I see it, I say to myself, ‘HEY, or! So Mommy an Daddy brought me to bed to check em out. We’ve been crinkly purple cow. “Woof, that sure is
I tink dat looks jus like ME.’ I thought home an showered me with love. An to North CaroIina, Buffalo, Niagara a purple cow,” I commented cleverly.
you would like to know dat. I tink you snacks. Jappy an Ginger were so nice Falls, an dis huge buncha water called
will see the rezemblence.” When I saw to me, even though I was probly a Georgian Bay, up in On-tarry-o. I spe- “Oh, Mr. Bonzo,” he said behind his
his pikshur, I totally agreed. pain-in-da-tail back then. Dey were cially like Biloxi. We always stay at La- paw, leaning forward. “See dat crate
way older den me. I still miss ’em. Now Quintas cuz dey are super pet-frenly. over by de door? I don like it AT ALL.
Jaywok was super frenly, came right I’m a Daddy’s Dog. We go everywhere AN dey have dese delicious ben-yays. I’m tryin’ to get rid of it. I sent group
up for the Wag-and-Sniff. He was to-gever. An, guess what? I went to Harvard.” woofmails about it, had it on EBay,
wearin’ a dashing green bow tie with even tried to give it away. Don tell
white polkadots. “Please come right “I’m always very polite. An I speak “’Scuse me,” I said. “You’re Ivy Mommy an Daddy, tho. THEY tink we
in, Mr. Bonzo. Dese are my Mommy still need it for when dey aren’t home.
and Daddy, Marilyn and Howard. We Don’t be shy! You wouldn’t be interested, by any
read your artikles in the paper every chance?”
time. We like dem.” We are always looking for pets with interesting stories. To set up
an interview, please email [email protected]. “No, sorry. I’ll keep my ears open,
“Thank you, Jaywok. It’s a pleasure. though,” I told him. “I bet you have a
I understand you’re Canadian.” pooch pals.”

“Dat’s right. I’m a Canuck Snow- “I have lotsa friends here: Dere’s
birddog. You can call me Jay. I will tell Watson, my Bon Ami. He’s a 3-pound
you some tings about me. We’re from Yorkie who tinks he’s 6’3”. An Selby,
a small town in On-tarry-o called Bailey, Jake an Chico. We meet on our
Orillia. We drive down here in da win- walks and yap about all kinda stuff.
ter. Me an Mommy an Daddy have fun We also keep in touch using woofmail,
in da car, an we stay in nice hotels dat of course.
like dogs and give me cookies.
“My job is to protect Mommy and
“Me an Mommy an Daddy have Daddy, an supervise, help Daddy
been togever my whole life almost. I’m make good duhsicions (he’s a finan-
13 now. Before me, dey had I-wok an cial analyist), dat kinda ting. I was a
Jappy an Ginger (who came with the Big Help to Mommy when Daddy was
house dey bought). Iwok went to Dog Very Sick. I’d always know whether
Heaven when he was 20. Dat’s real Mommy an Daddy were happy or
old for a dog, ya know. Jappy was berry gloomy or tired, an I knew what to do.
sad an gloomy so Mommy and Daddy
went to the Mall where there was a pet “Oh, an one more ting, Mr. Bonzo.
store. Right in de front window was a Mommy usta be a high school princi-
pal and, to chillax, she did ceramics.
Solutions from Games Pages ACROSS DOWN She still does and, look, she made this
in April 27, 2017 Edition 7 RELIABLE 1 DELUGE for us pooches, me and Iwok and Gin-
8 EXAM 2 HIRE ger and Jappy. It’s very special.”
9 BUREAU 3 ABOUT
10 TURNIP 4 VENTURE It was a big, pretty plate with color-
11 RELAX 5 BEGRUDGE ful pikshures an all four pooch names.
13 PRODIGY 6 SAYING It was pawsome, I told Jay.
15 CLOTHES 12 ALTITUDE
17 HERBS 14 DEFROST As we were leaving, Jay called after
20 FACTOR 16 LEADER me, “Keep writing dose colums. Dey
21 REVEAL 18 BLAZER are great.” That made me feel happy.
23 FEED 19 GROUT
24 SQUANDER 22 VENT Heading home, I was thinkin’ how
spiffy Jaywok looked in his green and
white polka dot tie. Maybe, when I ex-
plore the possibility of getting some
beignets in the house (I love bread!),
I’ll also check out bow ties. I think I’d
look pretty stylish in red and white
polka dots.

Sudoku Paaggee4284 Sudoku PPaggee4295 Crossword PPaaggee4284 Crossword Page 4295(THE MARQUEE DE SOD) -The Bonz







26 Thursday, May 4, 2017 THE MELBOURNE Barrier Island Newsweekly

INSIGHT BACKPAGE

Here’s how lonely grandma can get closer to daughter

STORY BY CAROLYN HAX THE WASHINGTON POST cruit a fellow-grandma friend and we’ll team-bab- licited advice. I will not look at you funny when
ysit our grandkids on alternate weeks. you do things differently from the way I used to,
Dear Carolyn: I am retired and as if the criticism is throwing itself against my
live alone. Although my daughter Is there something useful, my beloved busy pursed lips in a death struggle to get out.
lives nearby, I rarely see or hear daughter, that I overlooked? Suggest away. Grocery
from her. If I text her a question, shopping? Take the youngest out in the stroller? I will not bring junk foods you’ve banned,
she will usually answer in as few Done. even if I secretly think you’re being uptight.
words as possible. A phone call is
very rare. Come by at bath-and-bed time with two ex- I will not remark casually to the wallpaper
tra hands and the most patient book-readings on that I find it hard to believe so many food aller-
She works full time and is very Earth? I’m on it. gies are real.
busy with a husband and four
kids. I realize she has a lot on her And while in your home, I will not give you unso- I will say out loud that you’re raising kids in
plate and is probably doing the best she can. How- a very different climate from the one I knew as
ever, I have friends who are blessed to talk to their a mom, and yours is harder, and you’re doing a
daughters almost every day. Should I just give up great job.
on ever having a closer relationship with my only
daughter? I will not ask you so many questions on what
to do next that I just become one more thing
– Close but Far Away! for you to manage. I’ll either be helpful by your
standards or get out of the way.
Disclaimer first. This answer isn’t for purists or
believers in the doctrine of “should”: A daughter I will not complain once, not even in point-
should make time for Mom. Loved ones shouldn’t ed-sigh form, that you don’t call enough. I will
have to be useful to be included. Etc. remind myself that guilt-regurgitators make
miserable company and I will choose not to be
Why? Because if my two choices are to be includ- miserable company.
ed or to be right, I’ll take included, thanks. And I will not wonder where my payoff is after
pitching in for all of a month. I’ll recognize it as a
So in your place, whether my daughter was too long-term investment in love.
busy for me or too fed up with me for past mis- If it’s too late and I’ve squandered your trust:
takes, I’d offer myself up as a way to make her life I’ll admit my errors – citing specifics; I’ll promise
easier. Who can I pick up from day care or soccer? better – citing specifics; then back off to prove I’m
Can I start dinner two nights a week? sincere.
Good luck, and good Grandma.
Or, date night – I’ll come babysit every Friday. If (Now, I burn this so my kids can’t make me eat it
you think I lack the patience or mobility to wrangle someday.) 
all four (it’s OK to say that to my face!), then I’ll re-



28 Thursday, May 4, 2017 THE MELBOURNE Barrier Island Newsweekly

YOUR HEALTH

Music therapy hits all the right notes in cancer care

STORY BY TOM LLOYD STAFF WRITER ally powerful tool.” the aid of a $100,000 grant from Im- Moreen Burkart
[email protected] The University of Michigan’s Com- pact 100 and the cooperation of VNA, and Barbara Ferrera.
Burkart’s once-a-month visits to Scul-
When Moreen Burkart walks prehensive Cancer Center agrees and ly-Welsh soon became a staple of the PHOTOS: DENISE RITCHIE
through the doors of the Scully-Welsh adds that aside from having at least center’s palliative approach to treat-
Cancer Center once each month, she a Bachelor of Science degree, “board ing and healing cancer patients. month visits to Scully-Welsh are re-
brings with her what might well be certified music therapists also train warding because “when [cancer pa-
the most low-tech piece of equipment for 1,200 hours with patients and Garage bands everywhere might be tients] allow me to work with them,
in the entire building: a Yamaha six- health care professionals. Using the jealous of Burkart’s booking schedule. they realize quickly how much more
string guitar. combination of musical talent and She and fellow VNA music therapist [music therapy] is then just, ‘Oh, sing
education, they enhance cancer treat- Mabel Ortiz are in high demand here a song for me and entertain me.’
Made of humble spruce and nata ment to help meet the physical, emo- in Indian River County.
wood, it has no LED readouts and tional, cognitive and social needs of “Music brings out emotions in us
no computer chips but, according to an individual.” Besides providing therapy at Scully- and allows us to express ourselves
Burkart, “It opens up so many doors Welsh, they also work with hospice, more easily.”
for discussions of life … emotional ex- Many of the nation’s most highly Parkinson’s and dementia patients,
pression … and processing what [can- regarded cancer centers, including and the demand for Burkart and Or- The U.S. National Library of Medi-
cer patients] are going through.” Memorial Sloan Kettering and Bal- tiz’s skills continues to grow. In fact, cine provides a pitch-perfect summa-
timore’s famed Johns Hopkins, have VNA is currently bringing in at least tion by saying “the effectiveness of
Indeed, the MD Anderson Cancer instituted their own music therapy one new intern to help share the load. music therapy for oncology patients
Center says, “when used in conjunc- programs, and to Scully-Welsh’s vol- has been documented in numerous
tion with conventional cancer treat- unteer coordinator Scott Duncan, Most of Burkart’s work at the Vero descriptive studies. A number of pub-
ments, music therapy has been found music therapy sounded like just what cancer center, she says, is done in the lications have described the specific
to help reduce pain and discomfort; the doctor ordered for Vero. infusion center and the fifth-floor benefits of music therapy interven-
improve mood and diminish stress; cancer in-patient unit. Because of the tions. Music therapy in cancer care
increase quality of life and allow pa- Duncan got in touch with Burkart schedules in those places, she has to focuses on both physiological and
tients to better communicate their and the VNA and told them, “We re- work fast. psychological needs arising from the
fears, sadness or other feelings.” ally would love to have music therapy disease as well as from side-effects of
here.” “In hospice,” Burkart explains, “you cancer treatment.”
Burkart is a certified music thera- get more time to build a relationship
pist who works for Vero Beach’s Visit- Funding was a challenge, but with and a rapport.” But even her once-a- For more information contact the
ing Nurse Association. Scully-Welsh Cancer Center at 772-563-
4673 or the Visiting Nurse Association
Just what is a “certified music thera- at 772-778-0159. 
pist” and what (aside from musical
instruments) do they bring to fight
against cancer?

Burkart first cites science.
“There’s the psychology of under-
standing people,” she says, “then
there’s the anatomy, the physiology;
there’s knowing how music affects the
body and the brain. And then there
are the music foundations; you have
to be able to pass proficiency in voice,
guitar, piano and percussion.
“I have certification in neurologic
music therapy, which is based on
how music affects the brain. They
have done a ton of research on it –
MRIs and CAT scans. They’ve prov-
en that music activates more areas of
the brain than any other activity we
do. Because of that, it actually is a re-

Donors of kidneys to strangers seen as ultimate altruists

STORY BY LENNY BERNSTEIN THE WASHINGTON POST them, providing a window on altru- found. And they are genuinely puz- everybody should do.”
ism in a world seemingly dominated zled that the rest of the world doesn’t When asked directly why they
Would you donate a kidney to by a me-first philosophy. view other people the same way.
someone you’ve never met? The idea would give up a kidney to a perfect
is layered with soul-searching judg- “Extraordinary altruists,” as the “They don’t see it as something stranger, “they see it as an obvious
ments – questions of risk and ben- researchers call them, come from all necessarily heroic or that they should choice,” added Abigail A. Marsh, a
efit, sacrifice and selfishness, not age, race and socioeconomic groups. be given praise for,” said Kruti M. Ve- psychologist at Georgetown who led
to mention the physical pain of the Some are religious, others are not. karia, a doctoral student in psychol- the research team. “They just seem
surgery itself. But unlike almost everyone else, ogy who was part of the team that politely puzzled. They have trouble
they don’t see less value in a strang- conducted a study published last answering the question.”
But a small number of people er’s life than in the life of a close week in the journal Nature Human
have done this, and researchers at friend or relative, the researchers Behavior. “They think it’s something Altruism is difficult to study be-
Georgetown University are studying cause most generous acts, such as

Barrier Island Newsweekly THE MELBOURNE Thursday, May 4, 2017 29

YOUR HEALTH

giving to charity, carry some benefit waiting for kidneys as of this week, cause the technology used to visual- tween altruists and others.
for the donor (a tax break, for exam- and an additional 20,000 need livers, ize brain activity is relatively crude Then the researchers asked people
ple). And small, kind gestures, such hearts, pancreases or other organs. and compassion for others is learned
as holding a door open, are partly as one goes through life, she said. to play a money allocation game. In
determined by social norms. Previous research by Marsh has each round, they could keep larger
established that extraordinary al- In the current study, the team sums for themselves by declining
But undergoing a surgical proce- truists have larger than normal compared 21 kidney donors with 39 to give part of the money to another
dure and increasing one’s own risk amygdalas, a portion of the brain in- control subjects. First, they asked person – a family member, a friend or
of future health problems is “pain- volved in compassion. (Psychopaths them to place avatars represent- a stranger, for example. Or they could
ful, costly, non-normative, exceed- have smaller than normal amygda- ing family, friends, neighbors and give some money away, resulting in
ingly rare and meets the most exact- las, she said). strangers on a computer screen at less for themselves.
ing definitions of costly altruism,” distances from an avatar for them-
the authors wrote. In brain scans, that part of altru- selves, to test their views of “social The altruists consistently placed
ists’ brains also appears to be more distance” – whether they consider more value on strangers than ordi-
“When we’re personally touched active than in average people when themselves closer to strangers than nary people did. The altruists gave as
by something, that’s when we react they are considering questions of al- most people do. They found that much money to very distant strang-
to it,” said Angela Cuozzo, a 49-year- truism, she said. there is no significant difference be- ers as control group members gave to
old from Albany, N.Y., who gave a a good acquaintance, for example. 
kidney to a 25-year-old woman in But that doesn’t explain much, be-
Bakersfield, Calif., seven years ago.
“We should take it upon ourselves to
be a little more forthcoming and pay
it forward before we’re personally
touched by it.”

Cuozzo said that she was single
with no children and going through
a minor midlife crisis when she over-
heard a co-worker discussing his sis-
ter’s fourth kidney transplant. She
began to research the idea of giving
a kidney and discovered that she
could participate in a chain kidney
donation if she gave to a stranger.
In that arrangement, organizers try
to maximize the number of kidneys
donated by having a friend or rela-
tive of each recipient give an organ
to someone with whom they are a
match, but strangers can donate as
well.

“I just really needed to make sure
that before I left this Earth I could
somehow contribute,” Cuozzo said.
Her donation eventually went to the
California woman, not the co-work-
er’s sister.

Vekaria said about 2,100 people
had given kidneys to strangers out
of a total of about 147,000 live dona-
tions at the time the research was
conducted.

There is a drastic shortage of trans-
plant organs in the United States.
According to the United Network
for Organ Sharing, 97,727 people are

30 Thursday, May 4, 2017 THE MELBOURNE Barrier Island Newsweekly

YOUR HEALTH

Scully-Welsh joins in key nationwide cancer trial

STORY BY TOM LLOYD STAFF WRITER Dr. Stephen Patterson with Clinical Research Nurse Coordinator Monica Richardson. PHOTOS: DENISE RITCHIE Memorial Sloan Kettering estimates
[email protected] that over 8,000 potential participants
for the ALCHEMIST trials will be
Vero Beach’s Scully-Welsh Cancer screened and that “each arm of the
Center is playing with the big kids now. trial will [likely] enroll approximately
400 patients.”
The Treasure Coast cancer center
has joined a list of some of the nation’s The Manhattan-based cancer cen-
most respected medical institutions ter flatly states, “We believe that these
– including Memorial Sloan Ketter- studies have the potential to change
ing, the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, the standard-of-care treatment for re-
Maryland’s Johns Hopkins, the Moffitt sected lung cancer.”
Cancer Center and the Walter Reed Na-
tional Medical Center – as participants The trial is a three-pronged look into
in a complex, nationwide clinical trial. certain cancer-causing gene mutations
as well as new medications.
The “Adjuvant Lung Cancer En-
richment Marker Identification and Specifically, it involves the “epider-
Sequencing Trials” (or ALCHEMIST) mal growth factor receptor” (or EGFR)
trials are, according to the National and the “anaplastic lymphoma kinase”
Cancer Institute, “a group of random- (or ALK) receptors.
ized clinical trials for patients with
early-stage non-small-cell lung cancer For patients who do not have the
whose tumors have been completely EGFR or ALK gene changes, the AL-
removed by surgery.” CHEMIST trial will compare and
evaluate the immunotherapy drug
So why, if tumors have already been nivolumab or Opdivo with the cur-
surgically removed, does such a mas- rent standard of care for non-small cell
sive clinical trial – involving hundreds cancers.
of hospitals and cancer centers across
the country – need to be undertaken? Admittedly, there’s a lot of the alpha-
bet and an overabundance of capital
Simple. Because, as of now, NCI says, letters to digest in the paragraph above,
“There is a 50 percent chance that the but Scully-Welsh clinical research
nurse coordinator Monica Richardson
Experience the fusion of cancer will come back,” even after all offers a simpler approach.
traditional values and existing tumors have been cut away.
First, she says, talk to your doctor
modern dentistry. Scully-Welsh medical oncologist and discuss the ALCHEMIST screen-
Dr. Stephen Patterson echoes that NCI ing trial. Information is available at
DENTISTRYCollins & Montz COSMETIC & FAMILY finding, saying, “We know that even the center. If your physician thinks
At Collins & Montz, DMD, we will after surgery, patients can have a risk you might be a fit, discuss having your
focus on improving every aspect of that the cancer’s going to come back,” tumor sample tested and providing a
your smile for optimal appearance, and then he adds, “so far, we have had blood sample.
function, and comfort through some strides forward using chemo-
our general family dentistry, and therapy to reduce the risk of recur- Patterson calls Opdivo “an exciting,
restorative procedures such as dental rence, but there’s still a lot of room to exciting drug that’s finding applica-
implants. Our comprehensive range go.” tion in lots and lots if cancers. It’s had
of services and dedication of quality a substantial benefit to the survival for
set us apart. Call today to schedule Then Patterson’s expression changes patients with lung cancer in the meta-
your appointment. and a broad smile comes to his face. He static setting. And now we’ll be able to
524 OCEAN AVENUE, MELBOURNE BEACH, FL 32951 calls this ALCHEMIST project “an ex- see if the patients who don’t have these
(321) 725-6565 • MELBOURNEBEACHDENTISTRY.COM citing trial for patients who have had mutations – EGFR or ALK – if the Op-
fully resected lung cancer; this trial is divo or nivolumab drug will minimize
using newer drugs that are targeted their recurrence rate as well.”
and have smaller toxicities. And in
patients who have metastatic cancer, The U.S. National Library of Medi-
they’ve already proven to be much cine says “genotype-directed target-
more effective than ordinary chemo- ed therapies have revolutionized the
therapy.” treatment of metastatic non-small-cell
lung cancer but they have not yet been
This particular trial is all about comprehensively studied in the adju-
genes. Or, at least, it’s mostly about vant setting.”
genes.
The ALCHEMIST trials seeks to play
As NCI puts it, “Recent advances in a major role in providing that compre-
deciphering the cancer genome have hensive study data.
enabled the development of targeted
therapies that have fundamentally For more information contact the
changed our approach to cancer treat- Scully-Welsh Cancer Center at 772-
ments.” 563-4673. Additional information can
be found online at https://www.cancer.
NCI goes on to endorse what it calls gov/types/lung/research/alchemist or
this style of “precision medicine.” at https://clinicaltrials.gov and use the
“search for studies” box on the left side of
Perhaps paradoxically, however, de- the page by typing in ALCHEMIST. 
veloping “precision” medicine often
requires casting a very wide net.

Barrier Island Newsweekly THE MELBOURNE Thursday, May 4, 2017 31

FINE & CASUAL DINING

Ristorante di Mare: Delightful French and Italian cuisine

REVIEW BY TINA RONDEAU COLUMNIST Risotto di Mare.
[email protected]
PHOTOS BY GORDON RADFORD
Ever have a day where you can’t quite
decide whether you are more in the
mood for French or Italian cuisine?

At our house, we call that di Mare
time, and head for Ristorante di Mare
– the Vero Beach bistro that specializes
in Mediterranean cuisine from both the
French and Italian Rivieras.

Di Mare’s menu now has one page that
offers an assortment of French appetiz-
ers, salads, entrées and desserts, with the
opposite page devoted to appetizers, sal-
ads, entrées and desserts from Italy.

Best of all, if you can’t quite decide
which way to go, you can mix and match.

So last Tuesday, we headed down to
di Mare. Arriving at 7:30, our party of
three was seated at a pleasant table by
the front window, and our server Cory
quickly brought a plate of bruschetta
topped with chopped tomato and basil.

(Score one for Italy.)
Before getting to the
French and Italian

Soft Shell Crab
Scampi Style.

Dover Sole
Almondine.

menus, however, we decided to sample ($15) off the French menu. wild rice [email protected].
a couple of appetizers from among the While the goat cheese salad was and a veg- The reviewer is a beachside
evening’s specials. etable medley. My husband gave very
very good, the di Mare salad was one high marks to his grilled filet of Scot- resident who dines anonymously at
The first we tried was the quail mi- of the best I have had recently. Score tish salmon, topped with a lemon butter restaurants at the expense of this news-
gnon ($18), a breast of quail wrapped another for Italy. Chardonnay wine sauce and served with paper. 
in bacon, sautéed in a black truffle very tender asparagus. On this evening,
cream sauce, and served in a nest of For entrées, from the French menu I the French entrées were easy winners. HOURS
fettuccine. Bacon wrapped quail is a chose the veal forestiere ($30) and my Closed Sunday and Monday
wonderful dish under most circum- husband opted for the salmon Fran- But French or Italian (and there are
stances, and prepared with Chef Jean caise ($28). From the Italian menu, our some great Italian seafood dishes on the starting May 15
Zana’s sinfully rich cream sauce, it companion went for the linguine Bo- menu), there are a lot of good things are Tuesday through Saturday,
was spectacular. lognese ($23). going on at di Mare.
5 pm to 9 pm
The next appetizer we tried was di My veal was sauteed in a Brandy cream I welcome your comments, and en- BEVERAGES
Mare’s pierogies ($12). The pierogis, sauce with wonderful exotic mush- courage you to send feedback to me at
stuffed with mashed potatoes and rooms, and was served with Jasmine Full bar
farmer cheese, are served here with ADDRESS
something resembling a carbonara Brevard restaurant reviewer 1517 South Ocean Drive,
sauce that may be even better than the Vero Beach
traditional sour cream. Delicious. The Melbourne Beachsider is looking for a freelance food critic to write weekly PHONE
reviews of restaurants in Brevard County. Until we find the right person, we will (772) 234-2809
Next came a cup of a very good Ital- continue to run reviews in this space by our Vero Beach restaurant reviewer. If you
ian wedding soup, after which we or- have food expertise and think you can help Beachsider readers with their dining
dered the di Mare salad ($14) off the choices, please send a resume and a 600-word review of a restaurant you recently
Italian menu and the goat cheese salad
visited to [email protected].

32 Thursday, May 4, 2017 THE MELBOURNE Barrier Island Newsweekly

FINE & CASUAL DINING

Convenience, craftsmanship
in Palm Beach-style home

3840 Riverside Drive in Indialantic: 3-bedroom, 4.5-bath, 3,737-square-foot waterfront home offered
by Dave Settgast of Treasure Coast Sotheby’s International Realty: 321-543-1187

34 Thursday, May 4, 2017 THE MELBOURNE Barrier Island Newsweekly

REAL ESTATE

Convenience, craftsmanship in Palm Beach-style home

BY GEORGE WHITE could materialize their vision for the
3-bedroom, 4.5-bath, 3,737-square-
Correspondent foot house.

The unique combination of Old They studied art, architecture, tile,
World materials and details and mod- stone and interior design to create the
ern conveniences designed for enter- look of a much older home with plas-
taining are all integral to the magic ter walls and stonework like those of
of “Villa Encantada,” the stunning Maria Seelman’s childhood.
property being offered for sale at 3840
Riverside Dr., Indialantic. “Every detail that you can think of
is in the house,” said Maria Seelman.
You can tell that the home – which “The plaster walls are unique be-
is based loosely on 1920s Palm Beach cause they are done in the Old World
architecture – is something special as style – I wanted every wall distressed
you pass the security gate and pro- more; I wanted more trowel marks.
ceed toward the river on the slightly The crown molding is plaster as well.
meandering driveway framed by me- The roof is a Spanish style roof that
ticulously manicured landscaping is double-capped. The inside tiles
that creates a garden-like ambiance are Portuguese and the outside tiles
on the 1.34-acre lot and provides pri- are hand-painted decorative Italian.
vacy from neighboring homes. There’s a lot of Chicago brick and
marble floors, and the library is all
The stunning front view of the black walnut. There are cypress ceil-
home, with turret and balconies, ings throughout and the cabinets
confirms the magic and foreshadows flanking the fireplace are wormy
a welcoming Mediterranean-style in- chestnut, which is a precious wood.”
terior with marble and carved wood.
The back of the home features ample “It takes you several visits to take it
balconies overlooking a pool, gazebo all in. The materials are from differ-
and dock, with panoramic views of ent places but they work together,’’
the Indian River. she said.

Personal touches throughout the The front entrance features a
home were orchestrated by sellers Dr. poured circular staircase cantile-
Robert Seelman and his wife, Maria vered from the wall in the turret lead-
Seelman, who was born in Madrid, ing to a second-floor master suite
Spain. The couple spent months with balcony that also gives access
learning about Mediterranean style down to the pool area.
of architecture and finding the ma-
terials and the local artisans who The adjoining master bath features
a double shower, Jacuzzi tub, bidet

Barrier Island Newsweekly THE MELBOURNE Thursday, May 4, 2017 35

REAL ESTATE

VITAL STATISTICS
3840 RIVERSIDE DR.,

INDIALANTIC

Year built: 1999
Architectural style:
Mediterranean Revival
Construction: concrete block,

stucco
Home size:
3,737 square feet under air;
total, 4,366 square feet.
Bedrooms: 3
Bathrooms: 4 full baths
and 1 half-bath
Lot size: 1.34 acres
Additional features: Excep-
tional materials and craftsman-
ship throughout, fireplace,
whole house generator, wet bar
in master suite, walk-in master
closet with dumb waiter, master
bathroom with bidet, double
vanity, Jacuzzi bathtub, multi-
jet shower, electric shutters
Listing agent: David Settgast,
321-543-1187
Listing Agency: Treasure Coast
Sotheby’s International Realty
List price: $2,150,000

36 Thursday, May 4, 2017 THE MELBOURNE Barrier Island Newsweekly

REAL ESTATE

and walk-in closets with a dumb video surveillance system and a built-
waiter to assist with laundry. in pest defense system.

The kitchen has an exposed wood- It’s the combination of the couple’s
en beam ceiling and opens out to collections and the specialized tiles,
large porches with a summer kitchen, woodwork and other building mate-
pool and dock with both boat and Jet rials that set the property apart from
Ski lifts. others on the market on the Space
Coast, said listing agent Dave Sett-
A riverside gazebo is equipped with gast, who is offering the home on the
couches and a fire pit that can be in- market for $2,150,000.
terchanged with a cooler for beverag-
es for entertaining in warm weather. “It’s Palm Beach architecture, but
the look and the quality of the work-
Modern features include a sur- manship is timeless. It’s got this clas-
round sound system throughout the sic quality but all the conveniences of
home and grounds, a whole-home a modern home,’’ he said. 
generator, electric storm shutters,

Barrier Island Newsweekly THE MELBOURNE Thursday, May 4, 2017 37

REAL ESTATE

Mortgage rates rise while pending home sales dip

BY DION HAYNES month and the situation seems to cent,” Hale added. “We had expected were up last week, according to the
Washington Post be moving in the wrong direction. home prices to increase 4 percent this latest data from the Mortgage Bank-
It’s a pretty challenging situation for year and now we’re expecting 5 per- ers Association. The market compos-
After steadily decreasing for much buyers, but contract activity is still cent.” ite index – a measure of total loan ap-
of April, mortgage rates ticked up last at a high level,” Danielle Hale, NAR’s plication volume – rose 2.7 percent.
week largely following a rise in Trea- managing director of housing re- Hale said the higher mortgage rates The refinance index rose 7 percent.
sury bond yields. search, said in an interview. shouldn’t dampen enthusiasm for The purchase index rose 0.1 percent.
most buyers. The boost from 3.97 per-
According to the latest data re- “I think the housing market is quite cent to 4.03 percent, she said, should The refinance share of mortgage
leased last Thursday by Freddie Mac, strong this spring. We updated our add only about $6.50 to $8 more per activity accounted for 44 percent
the 30-year fixed-rate average rose to forecast – instead of a growth of 2 1/2 month to a mortgage payment. of all applications, a 1.6 percent in-
4.03 percent with an average 0.5 point. percent, we bumped it to 3 1/2 per- crease from the previous week. 
(Points are fees paid to a lender equal Meanwhile, mortgage applications
to 1 percent of the loan amount.) It
was 3.97 percent a week ago and 3.66 MURPHYCADILLAC.COM
percent a year ago.
2016 MODEL CLEARANCE
The 15-year fixed-rate average rose
to 3.27 percent with an average 0.4
point. It was 3.23 percent a week ago
and 2.89 percent a year ago. The five-
year adjustable rate average reached
3.12 percent with an average 0.4
point, up from 3.1 percent last week.
It was 2.86 percent a year ago.

LIMITED NUMBER OF
NEW 2016’S AVAILABLE

“The 10-year Treasury yield rose AT DISCOUNTS UP TO $20,000!
about 10 basis points this week,” Sean
Becketti, Freddie Mac chief econo- MURPHY CADILLAC
mist, said in a statement.
174 E. HIBISCUS BLVD. • MELBOURNE, FL 32901
“The 30-year mortgage rate moved SALES: 866.295.2593 • SERVICE: 877.420.6613
with Treasury yields, rising 6 basis
points to 4.03 percent,” he added. All prices plus tax, tag, title and dealer fee of $599.50. Vehicles subject to prior sale. Discounts may include loyalty or conquest rebates. See dealer for details.
“Despite recent swings in mortgage
rates, the housing market continues
to show signs of strength – both ex-
isting and new home sales in March
exceeded expectations, and the Case-
Shiller Home Price Index posted an-
other solid gain.”

Analysts are looking at another
data set – contracts signings for listed
homes – as an indicator of a strong
spring housing market. Though pend-
ing home sales across the country
dipped 0.8 percent in March, accord-
ing to a National Association of Real-
tors (NAR) report released Thursday,
the figures are the third highest in the
past 12 months.

“We’re seeing low inventory every

38 Thursday, May 4, 2017 THE MELBOURNE Barrier Island Newsweekly

REAL ESTATE

Real Estate Sales on South Brevard island: April 21 to April 27

The last full week of April saw real estate activity slow a bit in island ZIP codes 32951, 32903 and 32937.
Satellite Beach led the way reporting 8 sales, with 7 in Melbourne Beach and 2 each in Indian Harbour
Beach and Indialantic.
The top sale of the week was of an oceanfront residence at Aquarina in Melbourne Beach. The home at
7585 Highway A1A was placed on the market March 1, 2016 with an asking price of $1,100,000. The price
was subsequently lowered to $1,075,000. The transaction closed April 21 for $1,025,000.
The seller in the transaction was represented by Eva McMillan of Dale Sorensen Real Estate. The purchaser
was represented by Julia Dreyer of Dreyer & Associates.

SALES FOR 32951

SUBDIVISION ADDRESS LISTED ORIGINAL MOST RECENT SOLD SELLING
ASKING PRICE ASKING PRICE PRICE

$360,000
CRYSTAL LAKES SUBD 430 LAKEVIEW DR 8/31/2016 $419,000 $399,999 4/21/2017 $515,000
3/22/2017 $539,000 $539,000 4/24/2017 $850,000
INDIAN LANDING PH3 244 CLYDE ST 10/3/2016 $899,900 $899,900 4/25/2017 $285,000
2/3/2017 $299,900 $299,900 4/26/2017 $80,000
HARBOR EAST SEC 3 AM 438 SANDY KEY 3/27/2017 $89,900 $89,900 4/26/2017 $655,000
3/14/2017 $669,000 $669,000 4/27/2017
ROMAC SUBD 219 SURF RD

LEISURE LIVING ESTATES CONDO 2580 S HIGHWAY A1A 87

TURTLE BAY 240 LOGGERHEAD DR

SALES FOR 32903

FLORIDA GARDEN CONDO 101 ATLANTIC AVE 1/6/2017 $320,500 $314,900 4/24/2017 $302,000
THE MARENDA 755 HIGHWAY A1A N 104 $699,000 4/24/2017 $660,000
2/18/2017 $699,000

SALES FOR 32937

HARBOUR ROYALE NORTH 500 PALM SPRINGS BLVD 207 11/30/2016 $140,000 $120,000 4/26/2017 $110,000
DOCK SIDE 31 CONDO 307 TRADEWINDS DR 307 $424,900 4/27/2017 $410,000
CHEVY CHASE GARDENS 32 ADAMS CT 2/4/2017 $449,900 $189,900 4/21/2017 $185,000
BERKELEY PLAZA NORTH 123 CHRISTINE CIR $157,900 4/21/2017 $145,000
DE SOTO PARK UNIT 2 450 TRINIDAD DR 2/4/2017 $193,500 $335,000 4/21/2017 $335,000
REFLECTIONS CONDO 1395 S HIGHWAY A1A 402 $675,000 4/26/2017 $650,000
SATELLITE BEACH ESTA 370 GREENWAY AVE 4/1/2017 $157,900 $267,500 4/25/2017 $240,000
HARBOUR ROYALE SOUTH 520 PALM SPRINGS BLVD 709 $229,000 4/27/2017 $200,000
VILLA DEL MAR SEC 3 220 LYNN AVE 4/19/2017 $335,000 $279,000 4/27/2017 $279,000
CARRIAGE PARK CONDO PH II 527 CARRIAGE CIRCLE $393,500 4/27/2017 $393,500
11/30/2016 $699,900

1/30/2017 $275,000

2/24/2017 $229,000

4/14/2017 $279,000

2/24/2017 $393,500

Barrier Island Newsweekly THE MELBOURNE Thursday, May 4, 2017 39

REAL ESTATE

Here are some of the top recent barrier island sales.

Subdivision: Indian Landing PH3, Address: 244 Clyde St Subdivision: Harbor East Sec 3 AM, Address: 438 Sandy Key

Listing Date: 3/22/2017 Listing Date: 10/3/2016
Original Price: $539,000 Original Price: $899,900
Recent Price: $539,000 Recent Price: $899,900
Sold: 4/24/2017 Sold: 4/25/2017
Selling Price: $515,000 Selling Price: $850,000
Listing Agent: David Settgast Listing Agent: Jantina Getz

Selling Agent: Treasure Coast Sotheby’s Intl Selling Agent: Tropical Realty Beachside LLC

David Settgast Patricia Halpin

Treasure Coast Sotheby’s Intl Salt Water Realty of Brevard

Subdivision: The Marenda, Address: 755 Highway A1A N 104 Subdivision: Reflections Condo, Address: 1395 S Highway A1A 402

Listing Date: 2/18/2017 Listing Date: 11/30/2016
Original Price: $699,000 Original Price: $699,900
Recent Price: $699,000 Recent Price: $675,000
Sold: 4/24/2017 Sold: 4/26/2017
Selling Price: $660,000 Selling Price: $650,000
Listing Agent: Laura Dowling Roy Listing Agent: Jennifer McCoy

Selling Agent: Premier Properties Real Estate, Inc Selling Agent: RE/MAX Elite

Erin Fernandez B. Sentz & C. Smith

Keller Williams Realty, Brevard RE/MAX Elite

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