02/06/2020 ISSUE 06

Dale Sorensen Real Estate has
a record year. P10
Cruise Party for
Youth Center. P28

John’s Island Foundation:
20 years of benevolence. P40

For breaking news visit

Increased access to D’Agresta billed
treatment needed
for teen depression socvehro$ol2.d4ismtrililciton

BY MICHELLE GENZ BY FEDERICO MARTINEZ
Staff Writer Staff Writer

In Vero Beach, one set School District Attorney
Suzanne D’Agresta may have
of parents wants to tell the priced herself out of a job.

world about their son if it The Orlando-based lawyer,
who has held the school district
helps prevent another sui- job for more than a decade, is
already on thin ice with the
cide. Two weeks ago, the School Board after submitting
a rogue desegregation report to
17-year-old senior at Vero a federal judge that aroused the
ire of the judge, School Board
High took his own life. members and the district’s new
superintendent.
Now his mother, who has
But it may be her billable
been hospitalized six times hours that end her career in
Indian River County, where the
with bipolar disorder, is School Board is considering
options for replacing her.
struggling again. Helping
A review of records shows
others look for signs of de- D’Agresta charged the school
district more than $2.4 million
pression may help her make in legal fees and travel expens-
es over the past seven years, at
sense of what has hap- A slide shown by Andres Duany of his plan for development of part of the old Vero Beach power plant site. PHOTO OF ARTIST’S RENDITION
CONTINUED ON PAGE 8
pened, she says.
“If my baby can save one

Could this vision become Vero’s Centennial Place?other child, then I’m going

to talk about it,” said Caro-
MY
VERO

lyn Pierre, the mom of the BY RAY McNULTY – a rousing “Bravo!” for the waterfront design worthy of
boy. Holding up a photo of nearly two-hour presentation the name Centennial Place;

her son smiling broadly, she The standing ovation Andres of his comprehensive plan for it was not your grandfather’s

said, “This is what depres- Duany received Friday night transforming 38 acres of city- notion of an old-fashioned

sion looks like.” from the 300 people gathered owned, lagoon-front property Vero park that would be called

In Sebastian, another set at Vero Beach’s First Presbyte- into something special. Three Corners.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 4 rian Church was well-deserved This was a creative, dynamic CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

Brian Barefoot plans to run Harry Howle ponders entering Rail construction not
for seat on the School Board race for County Commission starting here this year

BY LISA ZAHNER Brian Barefoot. BY LISA ZAHNER Harry Howle. BY GEORGE ANDREASSI
Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer

Former Indian River Shores Mayor Just three months since stepping down Virgin Trains USA will not
Brian Barefoot said he’s running for the from the Vero Beach City Council follow- close any railroad crossings
county School Board to support Super- ing the successful conclusion of the Vero in Vero Beach for construc-
intendent David Moore’s reform efforts electric sale, Harry Howle is feeling the tion until late 2021 or early
and to bring transparency and greater urge to run for office again – this time for 2022 as part of its $2.5 bil-
accountability back to the local school the District 5 County Commission seat lion expansion of passenger
service between West Palm
CONTINUED ON PAGE 6 CONTINUED ON PAGE 7
CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

February 6, 2020 Volume 13, Issue 6 Newsstand Price $1.00 Laura Jackson
house reopens at
News 1-12 Faith 86 Pets 84 TO ADVERTISE CALL new home. P26
Arts 43-50 Games 63-65 Real Estate 89-104 772-559-4187
Books 60-61 Health 67-71 St. Ed’s 85
Dining 78 Insight 51-66 Style 72-77 FOR CIRCULATION
Editorial 58 People 13-42 Wine 79 CALL 772-226-7925

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

2 Vero Beach 32963 / February 6, 2020 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

NEWS

My Vero boardwalk and walking paths through- the outside,” Duany said, “but it’s mag- Those who like the idea of dining
out the property, which would contain nificent inside and offers tremendous and boating and a boutique hotel will
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 a small lake; Youth Sailing Foundation potential.” need to mobilize and support Duany’s
headquarters; boat docks; wedding vision in the face of almost certain op-
The world-renowned, Miami-based chapel; beach volleyball courts, skate- “Andres was given an enormous position from those who would love
architect and urban planner’s vision board park and playground area; and amount of data to digest, and he found nothing better than to “build” an emp-
for the waterfront parcel that now con- small retail buildings. a way to consolidate just about all of ty field with a couple of benches on the
tains the city’s shuttered “Big Blue” it,” Vero Beach Mayor Tony Young said. land and call it a park.
power plant and active water-sewage “Big Blue” would be converted into “Looking at the total package, I don’t
treatment facility was impressive – in a landmark conference center that think anybody could be unhappy with “The final plan won’t be submitted
fact, close to spectacular. would contain a great hall with meet- what he came up with.” until the city officials take what we’re
ing rooms, as well as a bar and rooftop recommending and decide which ele-
For those who didn’t attend Friday dining. A 140-room hotel – with lagoon Despite the mayor’s enthusiasm, it is ments they want to include,” Duany
night’s meeting, Duany’s plan for the views and a swimming pool – would be a key point to know that what we see on said.
power-plant site on the north side of built adjacent to the existing structure. paper now isn’t necessarily what we’ll
the Alma Lee Loy/17th Street Bridge in- get. The designs and drawings Duany “They may decide to take out some
cludes: three restaurants; a waterfront “If you haven’t toured the plant, you presented were not etched in stone and things, and they may decide to add
might think it’s not very attractive from some modifications will be made. some things.

“The plan I recommended has all the
elements, based on the input my team
received from the public at the char-
rettes and via the Internet,” he added.
“But the plan I presented Friday night
isn’t necessarily what will be voted on.

“Changes can be made.”
Changes almost certainly will be
made: Politics will infect the process,
affordability will be a factor, and who
manages all the plan’s components is
anyone’s guess.
It wasn’t surprising, then, to hear
Duany say the “mortality rate” for such
projects designed by his company is
nearly 70 percent, primarily because
not everyone agrees on the best use
of the property and opponents always
surface to attack perceived flaws.
“The highest point of acceptance is
the night it’s presented, because every-
one there knows what’s in the plan and
why,” Duany said. “But our society has
become so adversarial – social media
sites like Facebook have become so
toxic – there’s a tendency for the nega-
tive to emerge and kill these kinds of
plans.
“If I came back in a month, I’d be cor-
recting factual mistakes spread mostly
on the Internet, where people can say
what they want without fear of correc-
tions,” he added. “From what I’ve seen
in Facebook posts, there’s already a lot
of misinformation being spread.
“But anyone who wasn’t at the pre-
sentation doesn’t know what they’re
talking about.”
That’s why, Duany said, he wants his
team to deliver its final recommenda-
tion to the city officials sooner rather
than later.
The design team’s post-charrette re-
port is due no later than March 13, fol-
lowed by a draft report – with revisions
and updates, including further input
from the city’s Three Corners Steering
Committee and city staff – due no later
than April 17.
The team’s final report and presen-
tation to the City Council is scheduled
for May 5.
“We have six weeks to file our post-
charrette report with the city,” he said,
“but I want it done in two weeks, which
would move the process along and also

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / February 6, 2020 3

NEWS

keep it from dragging into the election out ever catching a glimpse of the river. “But it didn’t,” he added. “Andres un- munity voice their preferences.
season.” “The City Council wanted to be able derstood the dynamics of Vero Beach, But he remains cautiously optimis-
with all the rival interests, and he has
The power plant site hosted only to walk away from a planning endeav- presented a conceptual plan that is, by tic.
part of Duany’s vision. or and be able to say we listened to the and large, harmonious.” “It’s a very rich, up-to-date plan
public,” Young said.
On the water-sewage treatment fa- Duany said he doesn’t know how and, if it’s adopted, I certainly would
cility site south of the bridge – the city “In that regard, we exceeded expec- much of the plan he presented Friday look forward to visiting as it becomes
hopes to move the smelly operation off tation. We’ve had a stream of people night will be embraced by City Coun- a reality, because that property has
the lagoon within five years – Duany’s providing input, and with all the com- cil members as the process continues so much potential,” Duany said. “But
plan includes a “glamping” (glamor- peting ideas, this thing could have gone and influential members of the com- will that happen? I don’t really have a
ous camping) area, a small canal for off the rails in a lot of different ways.
launching kayaks and repurposing the pulse yet.” 
two existing cement tanks into build-
ings used for arts and entertainment
activities.

There would also be plenty of green
space, surrounded by “workforce hous-
ing apartments” near the boulevard,
Duany said, adding that those rental
units would sit atop offices or other
commercial space.

“Normally, in most places, the chal-
lenge is how do you make everything
fit,” Duany said. “You have to choose
what to include and what to leave out,
because there’s not enough space for
everything.

“That’s not a problem here; there’s
plenty of room,” he added. “Our chal-
lenge was: How do we make it fit coher-
ently? But that’s what we do.”

Something Duany and his team
wanted their plan to accommodate
and appeal to all segments of the lo-
cal populace, but especially to younger
people in hopes that more of them will
be drawn to the Vero Beach commu-
nity.

In fact, he openly speaks of the plan’s
“bias” toward nightlife and weekend
activities, even though young adults
didn’t attend the charrettes in great
numbers.

“It’s not about the number of people
who show up,” Duany said. “If we get
40 older people and three younger
people, we give their input the same
weight.

“It’s not a vote. It’s an inquiry. So as
long as we get a representative sample
– and we did – we evaluate them all on
their merits.”

According to Young, the city’s Steer-
ing Committee received 7,000-plus re-
sponses to its SpeakUpVeroBeach.com
website and more than 1,000 people
took city-provided tours of the Big Blue
plant and property.

He credits Duany for sifting through
the input and producing a plan that, if
implemented, will give Vero Beach the
active, attractive riverfront gathering
place the community so sorely lacks.

Every town and city along the coast
from Stuart to Cocoa has a beautiful
riverfront shopping, dining and enter-
tainment district that gives locals won-
derful recreational options and attracts
visitors who spend money and some-
times buy real estate and become part
of the community.

But in Vero Beach you can drive the
length of Indian River Boulevard with-

4 Vero Beach 32963 / February 6, 2020 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

NEWS

Teen depression ably high in Indian River County – violence prevention program that Rail construction
though, thankfully, the suicide rate is currently being expanded in the CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 is low. schools. In just four days of thera-
pists presenting the curriculum to Beach and Orlando. Construction
of parents has told virtually no one For children under 18, the hos- 13- and 14-year-olds at Vero High’s had previously been expected to
outside their family what they went pitalization rate is twice that of the Freshman Learning Center, 37 stu- start in Vero Beach this summer, but
through on New Year’s Day when state as a whole and the third high- dents sought additional counseling, Virgin Trains again pushed back the
their child attempted suicide. est among Florida counties after stipulating that they wanted it with- timetable for the oft-delayed pas-
Volusia and Flagler. in a day or a week. senger rail project.
But a month later, their 14-year-
old daughter, pursuing what she In 2018, Indian River’s rate of The hope is increased availability VTUSA construction teams will
sees as a fresh start, is ready to share child mental health hospitalizations of mental health treatment, at low or start work on “Heading 2” in Jensen
her experience to try to help others, neared its highest level in 20 years, no cost, will get at-risk kids who pre- Beach this year and proceed north
passing on the encouragement she topped only by a spike from 2012 to viously felt they had nowhere to turn through Martin and St. Lucie coun-
got in a mental health hospital and 2014. to come forward and seek help. ties before reaching Indian River
the hope she is finding in continued County.
therapy. At Cleveland Clinic Indian River The Mental Health Association
Hospital’s Behavioral Health Center, therapists conducting the anti- “So that puts Vero Beach and Se-
“I never talked to anyone about pediatric inpatient admissions for suicide and anti-violence program bastian closer to the end of the con-
how I felt because I didn’t think any- mental health issues were up 27 per- in schools say besides helping stu- struction phase,” VTUSA Vice Presi-
one would understand or be able to cent in 2019 compared to 2017. dents, an intergenerational benefit dent Rusty Roberts told Vero Beach
help me,” the eighth-grader said. became apparent last year when the officials in an email.
Attempting to deal with the prob- program was first presented: Chil-
After keeping things “bottled up lem of fearful, depressed or other- dren were encouraging their parents “Our team tells me that we should
inside” and nearly giving up, she wise distraught children, the Indi- to get treatment. expect the Vero Beach design plans
wants to encourage anyone else an River School District has added to be ready sometime in second
whose problems seem hopeless to several social workers, as well as a The nonprofit agency is ramping quarter this year . . . well in advance
speak out and get help as she has. mental health services coordinator. up its search for philanthropic dol- of the actual construction,” Roberts
Recently hired superintendent Dr. lars to cover the cost of expanding said.
“Being in the stability facility with David Moore and Dr. Sharon Pack- the program to more children. Dr.
other kids that were going through ard, head of school mental health Nick Coppola, a family practice doc- Roberts also agreed to take up the
the same thing made me realize I’m services, have voiced a goal of hav- tor who is head of the MHA, feels the Vero Beach City Council’s offer to
not the only one. We all shared our ing a psychologist on staff at every surge of students stepping up for make a presentation about the pas-
stories with one another and were school in the county. care is a sign that kids trust his ther- senger rail project and the idea of
each other’s rocks.” apists after seeing them in schools developing a multimodal terminal
The school district has also al- last year. for train, bus and air lines at Vero
The rate of youth hospitalizations lowed in an outside agency to con- Beach Regional Airport. But no date
for mental health issues is remark- duct a depression awareness and Whether that need is presenting was set.
itself because of awareness efforts,
or because of stress caused by school Meanwhile, the council was ex-
shootings, tragedies in the news and pected to vote Tuesday to approve
incidents like last month’s death of a a resolution supporting state Sen.
student as well another in 2019, the Debbie Mayfield’s High-Speed Pas-
surge serves as a clarion call for in- senger Rail Safety Act.
creased access to treatment for ado-
lescent depression. Mayfield’s bill would give Flori-
da Department of Transportation
“My prayer has always been that more authority over passenger rail
neither of my boys would ever have projects and require tighter safety
any mental issues. Depression is a controls at railroad crossings, more
painful, lonely, miserable disease,” fencing along train tracks and new
said Carolyn Pierre, mother of the training for public safety workers,
boy who died in January. among other initiatives.

As for the eighth-grade girl who Virgin Trains’ poor safety record
nearly gave up, she wants to encour- made national headlines again last
age anyone else whose problems Wednesday when National Public
seem hopeless to speak out and get Radio reported the state legislature
help as she has. is considering Mayfield’s bill in re-
sponse to the passenger service’s
The girl said in a text to Vero high death rate in South Florida.
Beach 32963 that she and others in
the facility “prayed for one another “The NPR story just reiterated the
and gave advice to each other.” need for such important legislation
and the need for it to be passed into
“I was so glad to see them go home law now, before there is any further
and say how they were going to get loss of life,” said Adrienne Crone-
help and focus on themselves.” baugh, a Mayfield aide.

As her treatment moves from in- VTUSA, formerly known as Bright-
patient to out-patient therapy – she line and All Aboard Florida, has the
is starting with a therapist at Trea- “worst per-mile death rate of the na-
sure Coast Community Health – the tion’s 821 railroads,” the Associated
14-year-old says her bond with her Press reported on Dec. 2.
mother “has grown tremendously.”
Virgin Trains killed 31 people be-
“People understand and want to tween January 2018, when it started
help,” she says. service in South Florida, and Decem-
ber 2019, Federal Railroad Adminis-
“Now that I’m out, I feel closer tration records show. Some number
with my parents and my brothers. I of these were suicides.
feel like I can truly be myself around

them. I don’t feel alone anymore.” 

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / February 6, 2020 5

NEWS

Virgin Trains travel less than 80 The passenger rail project was The change to Virgin Trains came end of 2022, three years from now.
mph between Miami and West Palm called All Aboard Florida in March after a 2018 partnership deal with Track construction between Or-
Beach, where the passenger service 2012 when the company announced Richard Branson’s Virgin Group.
now operates. Vero Beach residents service would start in 2014. It had lando and West Palm Beach was
are bracing for VTUSA to send 34 been rebranded Brightline by the Virgin Trains currently says it ex- originally to start in 2014 but did not
passenger trains a day through the time trains got rolling in South Flor- pects to provide service between actually begin until the summer of
city at speeds of up to 110 mph. ida. Orlando International Airport and 2019.
downtown West Palm Beach by the
CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

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6 Vero Beach 32963 / February 6, 2020 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

NEWS

Rail construction terminal to accommodate a second Brian Barefoot Barefoot said he’s a big advocate for
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5 commercial air carrier if one began school choice and for charter schools
operations here. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 and hopes to help make Moore’s goals
VTUSA is upgrading the Florida in the area of school choice come to
East Coast Railway tracks from West The terminal would be at the system. “The kids are getting short- fruition because Indian River County
Palm Beach to Cocoa and construct- northeast corner of the airport prop- changed, and the taxpayers are not get- is full of extremes. “We have pockets of
ing new railroad tracks along the erty, in the southwest quadrant of ting a good return on their investment,” extreme poverty and we have a lot of
Beachline Expressway/State Road the Dixie Highway/41st Street inter- Barefoot said over the weekend. wealth. School choice is all about taking
528 from Cocoa to Orlando Interna- section, north of the North Runway. kids who have the least opportunities
tional Airport. Barefoot said he’s met with Moore and and giving them the best shot you can,”
“Let’s say we did get the train and said he’s convinced the new top man at Barefoot said.
Cocoa, Fort Pierce and Stuart are another airline and needed a com- the school district is “clearly the best
among the cities on the Space and mercial terminal – that would be a candidate if you want someone who is Local residents might know Barefoot
Treasure coasts that VTUSA is con- good place to put it because it could going to shake things up.” But Moore from his role in the fight to sell Vero elec-
sidering for a local station that would be intermodal,” Drndak said. needs School Board members with the tric, or in his capacity as vice chairman
be serve the area with two trains per knowledge, the skills and the fortitude of the Cleveland Clinic Indian River
day in each direction. Most trains The federal government offers in- to back him up, Barefoot said. Hospital Foundation. But unless they
would be express, shooting back and centive grants for “multimodal” proj- happened to have children enrolled at
forth between West Palm and Orlan- ects that link different forms of mass If Moore’s ambitious reform agenda St. Edward’s School during his seven
do with no stops. transit. meets with an obstructionist School years on the board of trustees, they
Board that is ill-equipped to steer the might not know of Barefoot’s breadth of
Talk about a possible Virgin Trains To be sure, VTUSA officials have district through a needed process of experience in education or that he was a
station at the airport in Vero Beach said the company won’t pick its Trea- change, that attitude will trickle down key figure in the Pirate Fund that helped
started after Indian River County sure Coast train station for several to administrators and teachers. Moore’s rejuvenate the finances of the county’s
lost a decisive federal appeals court years after service begins with the plans could get bogged down in bureau- most prestigious private school.
ruling on Dec. 20 in its $3.5 million latest startup date being late 2022. cracy. “That would be a huge missed op-
legal battle to halt the passenger rail And a new airport terminal hinges portunity,” Barefoot said. Barefoot’s credentials in academia ac-
project. on a second commercial airline join- tually go back decades, to 1996 when he
ing Elite Airways. “School districts have a lot of differ- became a trustee of Babson College. In
Airport Commission Chairwoman ent constituents – you have the students 2001 became president of the Boston-
Barbara Drndak said the idea for the “It’s not imminent by any stretch and the parents, and the taxpayers are area school with a combined budget of
multimodal terminal for train, bus of the imagination,” Drndak said. also constituents,” Barefoot said. “You nearly $250 million plus a $300 million
and air passengers came up because need total transparency. Your constitu- endowment fund.
the airport would need a new air “This is so far off in the future be- ents need to have complete confidence
cause we don’t have another airline. in what you’re doing.” Former Vero mayor Harry Howle, who
It wouldn’t get built by the airport
unless the airport needs the terminal

space.” 

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / February 6, 2020 7

NEWS

worked with Barefoot on the Vero elec- five women on the School Board,” Bare- with business expertise on that board. Harry Howle
tric issue and saw his leadership and foot said, adding that the current mem- “Brian brings a fresh perspective to
skills, and how widely respected Bare- bers work hard and are probably very CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
foot is locally and in Tallahassee, said: well intentioned, “But from what I can what’s occurring at the school district,
“Brian Barefoot has proven himself to see, not one of them has any financial or and he brings his experience at Babson being vacated by Bob Solari.
be an asset to our community.” management experience or real leader- [College] and other nonprofits,” Au- His motivation: Solari, Howle said, is
ship experience.” waerter said. “He is very intelligent and
“He is a successful past mayor of In- he ran the meetings very well as mayor leaving enormous shoes to fill and right
dian River Shores as well as a successful With regard to incumbent District 5 of Indian River Shores. He brings the now, he doesn’t like the way the Republi-
financial advisor and entrepreneur. Mr School Board member Tiffany Justice, combination of educational experience, can primary race is shaping up.
Barefoot has years of experience on the who Barefoot would be running against financial experience and business ex-
board of trustees at Babson College in if she seeks re-election, he said he had perience to the table that you just don’t “I’ve been in discussions with trusted
Massachusetts, including seven years a sit-down meeting with her but has no have there now.” advisors and supporters for a few weeks.
as President,” Howle said. “Mr. Barefoot idea if she plans to seek another term.
certainly has a proven resume that makes “I’ve never heard anyone in the Shores NEWS ANALYSIS
him extremely qualified for a position on As of press time, Justice had not filed complain about the taxes they pay for
Indian River County School Board.” paperwork to run in 2020, according to the schools, but I have heard people Looking at the current field, I’m not
the Supervisor of Elections online elec- concerned about how the money is convinced anyone gets close enough to
Before taking the helm at Babson, tions database. Anticipating that he’ll spent,” Auwaerter said. “They might Commissioner Solari’s level of dedica-
Barefoot served as executive vice presi- have an opponent and be involved in not have children or grandchildren in tion to limited government for my lik-
dent and director of investment banking debates and candidate forums, Barefoot school in Indian River County, but at ing,” Howle said.
for PaineWebber Inc. and as CEO of the has been meeting with numerous peo- some point in their lives, our residents
subsidiary PaineWebber International. ple involved in the school district and have sent their kids to private schools or By the end of the week, Howle said he
In the 25 years prior to that, Barefoot gaining knowledge and perspective. to good public schools and they see the will decide whether to file papers to run.
worked his way up the ranks of Merrill importance of it.”
Lynch & Co., retiring as senior vice presi- “I’m no expert, but I’m a fast learner,” Howle ran for Vero Beach City Council
dent and managing director. he said. “I am not spending my time go- Auwaerter said island taxpayers un- in 2015 to beat back what he saw as the
ing over the past to point out anyone’s derstand that having a high-quality city running amok under Dick Winger
Over the past 50 years Barefoot has mistakes. The past is the past. My focus school system is integral to a robust and his cohorts in the “Keep Vero Vero”
volunteered on boards of numerous is on moving forward. “ local economy and to a better quality crowd. Now Howle thinks he sees that
public and private schools, educational of life and that they are willing to pay same element, with the same group of
commissions, education-focused non- Shores Vice Mayor Bob Auwaerter for quality and results. “Brian Barefoot supporters, creeping into the race for
profit organizations, as well as on the said he began recruiting Barefoot to run running for School Board will get In- Solari’s seat.
corporate board for Blue Cross Blue for the District 5 seat after serving on the dian River Shores residents engaged in
Shield of Massachusetts. “I applaud the school district’s audit committee and “I believe in . . . [Solari’s] mission, and
seeing the dire need for strong leaders School Board issues,” he said.  I want his legacy to endure future com-

CONTINUED ON PAGE 8

8 Vero Beach 32963 / February 6, 2020 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

NEWS

Harry Howle $12,000 in his war chest and Moss has D’Agresta bills $2.4 million bids from other lawyers to perform the
raised $4,100 so far. Howle would need CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 district’s legal work.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7 to play catch up the next few months
in terms of fundraising. Plus, he would the same time she raked in cash work- Recently, however, board mem-
missions. For that reason, I am strongly need to overcome the fact that Solari has ing for other districts around the state. bers have expressed concern over
considering a run,” Howle said. already thrown his support behind Au- D’Agresta’s legal missteps and hefty
waerter and donated $500 to Auwaert- In addition, the local school district fees and begun considering options to
“Ronald Reagan said that freedom is er’s campaign. had to cough up another $2 million replace her, either by taking bids from
never more than one generation away during the same period to pay outside other outside lawyers or hiring an in-
from extinction; this is why I can’t stand “If led to do so, I will run for the In- law firms D’Agresta hired to help her house attorney.
idly by and watch liberalism infect the dian River County Commission. Not for fight lawsuits and perform other legal
current positive direction of our county,” the betterment of a political career, but work, according to school district fi- School Board Chairman Laura
Howle said. instead to protect the God-given rights nancial records. Zorc said she has long been unhappy
of my friends and neighbors in Indian about how much the district is paying
Keeping current Vero Beach City River County,” Howle said. D’Agresta receives a $264,000 annual D’Agresta. She’s also been concerned
Council member Laura Moss out of retainer fee, paid in monthly install- that the board has never sought bids
Solari’s seat is a special motivator for Howle moved to Vero Beach in 1989, ments, that covers 30 hours of legal from other firms since D’Agresta was
Howle. Though both ran for council with attending St. Edward’s School and gradu- work per week. Along with that income, hired in 2009.
the goal of getting the Vero electric deal ating from Vero Beach High School. After she’s also received money each year for
over the finish line, Howle and Moss – earning his bachelor’s degree in political “additional work performed,” beyond “I brought [the issue] to the board
already a declared candidate to replace science from Florida State University in 30 hours a week. two years ago,” Zorc said. “It’s past time
Solari – diverged on a host of other im- 2000, Howle embarked upon a 20-year to look at this.”
portant issues while they served togeth- career in the insurance business. He is a In her most lucrative years, she took
er. Howle believes he can beat Moss in a partner at Gottzmann Insurance Group, in around $400,000 in retainer fees “It’s nothing personal,” Board
countywide race, provided his conserva- Specialty Risk Management. He and wife and “overtime” pay. During the 2013- Vice-Chairwoman Mara Schiff told
tive base gets behind him. Heather live in the historic McAnsh Park 14 school year, the district paid her a D’Agresta during a Jan. 14 work ses-
neighborhood of Vero Beach. total of $406,927.65 for legal fees and sion. “We’ve been dancing around this
“Over the next few days I will contin- expenses. She collected $393,624.26 in for the past year.
ue to weigh support for a Harry Howle In addition to four years on the Vero 2016-17.
County Commission race,” he said. council and a rotation as mayor, Howle “We need to make a decision sooner,
has chaired the county’s Emergency Expenses for her travel toVero Beach, rather than later.”
The race has already attracted two Services District Advisory Committee included in the totals above, typically
other candidates besides Moss: Indian and the Vero Beach Code Enforcement range between $10,000 and $15,000 per Board member Jacqueline Rosario
River Shores Vice Mayor Bob Auwaerter Board. He’s also served on the Vero year, according to financial records. said as elected officials, the board must
and local real estate appraiser Stephen Beach Planning and Zoning Committee look at ways to cut costs without harm-
Boyle. As of the last reporting cycle, Au- and the Indian River Tourist Develop- During her long tenure with the In- ing the quality of education provided to
waerter leads in fundraising with more dian River School District, the School students.
than $30,000. Boyle has more than ment Council.  Board has never sought competing
“We have been elected to be the
voice of our constituents and be good

CONTINUED ON PAGE 10



10 Vero Beach 32963 / February 6, 2020 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

NEWS

D’Agresta bills $2.4 million old federal desegregation order. Dale Sorensen Real Estate, largest
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8 D’Agresta, who selected Husch brokerage in county, has record year

stewards,” Rosario said during the Jan- Blackwell for the job, was paid an ad- BY STEVEN M. THOMAS cess breeds success as newer agents are
uary work session.” ditional $400,000 for working with the inspired by and learn from a stable of
firm on the case, raising the total cost Staff Writer successful top producers.
D’Agresta, who’s contract expires in to $1,175,000, according to district re-
March, has not made any public state- cords. Dale Sorensen Real Estate had its “Dale has a philosophy of a manage-
ment in response to the board’s con- best year ever in 2019 with more than ment team, rather than one person,”
cerns and did not respond to requests In addition to her work for Indian $800 million in transactions across the says Jim Goldsmith, regional managing
for comment. River County School District, D’Agresta three-county region where it operates, broker. “We have titles but there is a lot
has been performing legal work for including well over $500 million in of overlap. We all share responsibilities
The district’s largest legal bill came Brevard, Polk and Sarasota school Indian River County, making it by far and have each other’s backs and it has
during the tenure of former superin- districts during the past three years, the largest real estate brokerage in the been very, very good.”
tendent Mark Rendell, when it paid school administrators in those districts county in terms of both dollar volume
$775,000 to the law firm of Husch Black- confirmed. and number of transactions. Under the evolving management
well, which fought a losing battle to get style, agents who have legal questions
the district out from under a 52-year- The amount D’Agresta has been paid According to figures from the MLS, or need help handling a client or figur-
by those districts was not immediately Sorensen’s four offices in Indian River ing out how to land a listing or close
County handled 1,350 transactions a particular sale can turn to multiple
available.  that totaled $508 million, up nearly 10 senior people. If one manager doesn’t
percent from 2018, when the company have the exact expertise needed, they
did $465 million in business here. That know who does and can send the agent
averages out to 26 transactions and to the best person to provide assistance.
nearly $10 million a week, in season
and out, year-round. “It’s a really great support structure
to know that we can all pull from each
Transactions in Brevard totaled other to help the agents,” says Katie
$249.3 million in 2019, up 25 percent Keltner, who manages two offices in
from just two years before when the Brevard County.
number was $200.1 million. St. Lucie
sales were $14.2 million in 2019, down Coaching is another key to the com-
about $2 million from 2018. pany’s success, according to Sorensen.

Besides the $771 million in sales re- Goldsmith conducts weekly coach-
corded in the MLS in the three coun- ing sessions for groups of agents and
ties, Managing Partner Dale Sorensen meets one-on-one with those who ask
Jr. says an additional $44 million in for individual attention.
sales didn’t show in the multiple list-
ing service because they were of new “I have worked with a lot of agents
construction, outside the three-county over the years,” Goldsmith says. “Every-
area or simply not listed on the MLS, one gets fired up and ready to go at one
bringing the company total to $815 time or another, but it is the ones who
million, the biggest number ever for an keep that level of enthusiasm and stay
Indian River County-based brokerage. with it that achieve success.

Sorensen and his top managers at- “One of the reasons a lot of the coach-
tribute the company’s success last year ing really works is because the agents
to a collaborative management style, who seek out coaching know they’re go-
a strong coaching program and a kind ing to see me every week, or every other
of internal momentum in which suc- week, and they sure don’t want to sit in
that chair and have nothing to report. It
provides a good, healthy accountability

The Dale Sorensen Real Estate management team outside the Cardinal Drive headquarters. PHOTO BY KAILA JONES

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / February 6, 2020 11

NEWS

to help them achieve their goals.” asked the panelists questions and they he says. “There is no doubt that being to see, wow, if they can all do it, I can
In addition, “successful agents are shared their strategies with all the other around successful people helps others do it too,” says Goldsmith. “And you can
agents.” be successful. At our listing meeting ask those people questions and learn
willing to share with other agents,” says last week, agents presented 20 some- from them.”
Pat Mays, managing broker for the two And just being around agents who thing new listings and 40-some trans-
Sorensen offices on Vero’s barrier is- are doing tens of millions of dollars in action sides. That is so motivating!” “The agents feed off that energy,”
land. “We had a listing symposium re- sales inspires newer agents, accord- says Keltner. “It gets them excited to
cently with a panel of top agents. Jim ing to Sorensen. “Levels elevate levels,” “Being in those meetings helps you
CONTINUED ON PAGE 12

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

NEWS

County tourism director files complaint of being drugged

BY LISA ZAHNER 40-year-old Allison McNeal had not McNeal’s defense attorney Bobby Guttridge said he would not release
Staff Writer filed a complaint with his agency, but Guttridge says his client was the victim his copy of the police report, or the
three days later revised that statement. of a serious crime while out with friends, drug test results, even though reveal-
The county’s tourism director, ac- “I just found out that McNeal did file a which led to her run-in with the po- ing those details might lend more cre-
cused of battery on a police officer, report with us on the 23rd. The report lice and arrest. “We do have test results dence to McNeal’s defense.
has filed a complaint with the Vero was delayed showing up in our system,” showing an illegal drug in her system
Beach Police Department saying she Monaco said in an email on Jan. 30. that she did not take,” Guttridge said. “The complaint is being investigat-
was drugged in a local bar while out ed. We wouldn’t want to do anything
with friends prior to a 3 a.m. Dec. 22 Details of the complaint, such as When asked why McNeal delayed fil- to compromise that investigation,”
incident at IHOP on U.S. 1 that landed which drug was used and the name ing the drink-spiking complaint for more Guttridge said.
her in jail. of the bar, are not yet available. “We than a month, Guttridge said, “There
are unable to release the report at this are a lot of reasons why you wait. You’re McNeal for the past nine years
Vero Police Capt. Matt Monaco had time since it is an active investiga- making an accusation, and you really served as tourism director for the In-
told Vero Beach 32963 on Jan. 27 that tion,” Monaco said. don’t know exactly what happened.” dian River County Chamber of Com-
merce, where she was reportedly sus-
pended after her arrest and release
from jail on bond.

Police were called to the IHOP by a
restaurant employee in response to a
disturbance and McNeal was removed
from the building and warned not to go
back. After struggling with police in the
IHOP parking lot, McNeal was charged
with battery on Vero Beach Police Of-
ficer Kassandra Ayala, plus resisting ar-

rest with violence and trespassing. 

Dale Sorensen Real Estate
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11

come in and train and ask questions.”
As other island brokerages have been

sold to or merged with larger firms, So-
rensen says there are no plans to sell
his family’s company – even though he
says he is approached on a weekly ba-
sis by suitors.

At the same time, he says he doesn’t
expect to expand beyond the St. Lucie/
Indian River/Brevard area where Dale
Sorensen Real Estate currently oper-
ates. “We are focused on expansion
within the area we serve,” Sorensen
says, pointing out there is plenty of
room for growth.

In Indian River County for instance,
Sorensen has a dominant 17.5 percent
market share, far more than any other
company, but “that means there is 82.5
percent that we don’t have,” says So-
rensen.

Sorensen and his management team
are equally focused on growth in the
booming Brevard County housing
market, which is much larger than the
market in Indian River County.

Founded in 1978 in a small office
on Beachland Boulevard by Dale So-
rensen Sr. and Matilde Sorensen, Dale
Sorensen Real Estate has grown dra-
matically in recent years to include
232 agents working out of eight offices
spread between North Hutchinson Is-
land in St. Lucie County and the city of
Cocoa in Brevard County. It also oper-
ates satellite sales centers in the Sea
Oaks community on the Island and

Oak Harbor on the mainland. 

Jacque Jacobs, Eric Crockett
and Louise Kennedy.

WELCOME, HOME! ELATION AT
REOPENING OF JACKSON HOUSE P. 26

14 Vero Beach 32963 / February 6, 2020 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

Oohs and aahs for sweet new Toffey Rowing Center

Mayor Tony Young with Sheila and George Marshall. PHOTOS: KAILA JONES

Chris Ryan and Shotsi Lajoie. Lindy and John Kastendiek. PHOTOS CONTINUED ON PAGE 16
Jim and Sally Toffey.

BY MARY SCHENKEL Lee Loy Bridge in 2013, and finally to never seen anybody with more drive; rowing, they had a love for the sport
Staff Writer MacWilliam Park at the base of the more determination and skills. He and thought enough about it to help
Barber Bridge, beginning in 2016. brought such a layer of strength to build the boathouse. “It’s a testimony
Supporters of Vero Beach Rowing those of us who were struggling to to the value of rowing in your life.”
were given a first peek at the nonprof- “So we’ve gone from the swamp to break rowing into Vero.”
it’s brand-new Toffey Rowing Center at the sewer plant to this beautiful area At a boat-naming ceremony after-
a Donor Appreciation Reception last here,” said Young, adding “it’s a pretty “It’s been 10 years since we did our ward, Brian Colgan, director of rowing,
Tuesday afternoon. amazing accomplishment.” first presentation to the City Council. sliced champagne tops off with a saber,
And here we are in this beautiful lo- and three newly named boats – the
The graceful 14,736-square-foot, “I always say in every group I’m in, cation,” said Ryan, adding that they Klaas, the Veni Vidi Vici and the Sally
two-story building has ground-floor together we make a whole person, are just shy of their $2.5 million goal, N. Toffey – were christened.
boat and equipment storage space, because nothing gets done without thanks to “vision, commitment and
while the second floor contains a large everyone’s participation,” said Shotsi teamwork,” words highlighted on their Jim Toffey said he had three words
central room opening to the John and Lajoie, campaign co-chair with Chris donor wall. to offer: “Ready all; row! It’s been a long
Lindy Kastendiek veranda, offices, re- Ryan, thanking everyone involved in time being associated with rowers, and
strooms with lockers and showers, and the project. Ryan said they were thankful for I’ve yet to meet one I didn’t like. And
a kitchen. several leadership gifts given by Jim you’re no exception; this group here is
Lajoie commented that at an upcom- and Sally Toffey, saying that in each fantastic.”
Todd Young, board president, re- ing grand opening, they will dedicate a case, their donation was critical, en-
minded guests that the organization new boat in memory of Grace Rett, the abling them to move to the next step. Sally Toffey agreed with that assess-
got its start in 2008, rowing in the C-54 young Holy Cross rower whose life was ment, adding with a smile, “May the
canal in Fellsmere, before moving to so tragically lost during a recent traffic “Gathered here today are many old winds always be at your back.”
the water treatment plant by the Alma accident. rowers; I’m one of them,” said Ryan,
adding that while most are not still For more information, visit vero-
Introducing Ryan, Lajoie said, “I’ve beachrowing.org. 



16 Vero Beach 32963 / February 6, 2020 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

PHOTOS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 14 Marcia Norman with James and Katy Dyreby. Don and Linda Proctor with Rick MacDonald.
Jay and Linda Knoll with Gus Hancock.

Dan and Michele Downey with Charlie Downey. Jeb Rumbough and Brian Colgan. Melissa and Harry Ellison with Laura Moss.

Roger and Karen Marcil with Staffan and Eva Lundberg.

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / February 6, 2020 17

PEOPLE

Jeb and Jennifer Rumbough with Klaas ten Broeke. Priscilla and Bob Joy. Nancy Freiheit and Joyce Kashawlic.

Catalina Pines and Chris Pensch. Ronnie Cook and Caroline Sant.

Tom and Diane Neligan with Patty and Tom Gleason.

Jim Toffey, Todd Young, Sally Toffey, Brian Colgan and Shotsi Lajoie toast the newly christened boats.

18 Vero Beach 32963 / February 6, 2020 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

You nailed it! Habitat for Humanity thanks donors

BY STEPHANIE LaBAFF
Staff Writer

Indian River Habitat for Humanity Jean and Gene Cravens with Georgia Irish. PHOTOS: DENISE RITCHIE Lacey Johns and Sheryl Vittitoe.
hit a ‘home’ run last Tuesday evening
during its annual Donor Appreciation make it affordable for them to own
Night at Northern Trust Bank. Bene- a home so they can have a roof over
factors nibbled on hors d’oeuvres their family.”
and listened to music by Jerzi, while
previewing a slideshow chronicling Lacey Johns, a homebuyer and
Habitat milestones over the past year. single mother who began her Habitat
journey nearly a year ago, said that
Smiling faces of volunteers and the impact of homeownership on a
homebuyers beamed off the screen, family is far-reaching.
filling the room with rays of happi-
ness. Of particular note was excite-
ment over the Feb. 1 wall-raising on
Habitat’s 400th new home, this one
sponsored by the Grand Harbor com-
munity.

“This event is for and about you,”
said David Johnson, a Habitat board
member and Northern Trust vice
president. “We can have 100 volun-
teers, we can have buildings, but
without your support and your do-
nations, we cannot do what we do
and meet our mission. We don’t give
things away. We just help people. We

Fritzi and Kemp Byrnes. Bob and Maureen Bauchman.

“When I close, I feel like that’s just unteers and buyer sweat equity. They
the beginning because then I can also assist with neighborhood beau-
do more,” said Johns. She and her tification and revitalization projects
daughter have worked on their house and help repair homes for individuals
every step of the way, which she feels who could not otherwise afford to do
will make her more self-sufficient in so.
the long run.
Vittitoe said two bills have been
“Without Habitat, without every- sponsored in the Florida Legislature
body here, I would not be able to af- that, if passed, would have affordable
ford to get a home for my daughter housing supported by local tax dol-
to come home to. This is a program I lars.
want to be part of forever,” she added.
“It’s very important that Sen. (Deb-
Sheryl Vittitoe, IR Habitat presi- bie) Mayfield and Rep. (Erin) Grall all
dent/CEO, noted that Dyer Auto, know that you all are passionate, and
Johns’ employer, has also contributed you share a passion with Indian River
volunteer work hours on the home. Habitat for affordable housing here at
home,” she added.
“Without partnerships we couldn’t
do what we do,” said Vittitoe. “It’s a After quoting Sir Winston Churchill
three-legged stool. It is the partner- – “We make a living by what we get; we
ship of donors, the homebuyer and make a life by what we give” – Vittitoe
Habitat. We’re the ones that have the said, “It’s applicable to every one of
privilege of pulling all of those par- you in this room tonight. We just are
ties together.” so grateful for how you love us by giv-
ing so generously and so tirelessly.”
Habitat offers eligible participants
qualified, no-interest mortgage loans For more information, visit irchabi-
to purchase new homes built by vol- tat.org. 

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / February 6, 2020 19

PEOPLE

Eve Kyomya with Rene and Alice Donars. Anne Hanna and Eric Fris. David Mike, Linda Van Name and Aaron Bowles.

Sally Harrison, Carol DeRenzo and Glenda Dicks. Renee and Martin Bireley with Connie Poppell. Kyle and Debbie Morgan with Jay Rinchack.

Alice Brady, Jan Truebner, Joan McCormick and JoAnn Mettler.

Jeff Francisco and Al DeRenzo with Kim and Fr. Keith Allen.

20 Vero Beach 32963 / February 6, 2020 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

Orchid Outreach gives valuable dollars to young scholars

BY STEPHANIE LaBAFF Rob Tench and Tracy Lamport. PHOTOS: DENISE RITCHIE cation of 76 young scholars. Orchid, spoke from the heart as she
Staff Writer “You have offered possibilities and shared her dream of attending law
tions would go toward the scholarship school at Florida State University, so
Orchid Island residents have taken fund. support at a time when tuitions are that she can make a better life for her-
to heart G.K. Chesterton’s dictum that high, aid is limited, and family savings self and her 1-year-old daughter.
“education is simply the soul of a so- “The committee underwrites all are slim,” she added.
ciety as it passes from one generation expenses of this gathering and all as- “I was very, very grateful to also
to another.” Passing the baton locally, sociated costs during the year,” said Edwin Massey, IRSC president, receive this award,” said Orchid em-
benefactors gathered at the home of committee chair Tracy Lamport. “This spoke with appreciation of the part- ployee Anna Downing, who is work-
Rahul Ghai and Priyanka Singh for event is the committee’s opportunity nership with Orchid Outreach. ing toward a degree in Human Ser-
the annual Orchid Outreach Cock- to thank our Orchid Island friends and vices, and hopes to become a U.S. Air
tail Reception, to thank donors and neighbors who generously support our “You don’t see the outcome all the Force or Army pilot. “Now I am able
honor current scholarship recipients. scholarship program.” time. Maybe you don’t even meet the to go to school completely free.”
students, but you are changing their
Orchid Outreach, founded in 2001 Lamport said that to date, Orchid lives,” said Massey. “You can go to bed “These are the type of individuals
by Nancy Bryson and the late Mary Outreach has contributed to the edu- every night with good thoughts, be- that you are helping through your
Ellen Strawser, is a dedicated group cause even if you didn’t meet them, generosity,” said Thrailkill. “Through
of women whose mission is to help lo- they are going to be better people. They the years, we were able to bestow
cal students pay for their college edu- are going to be stronger people. They and grant more scholarships than we
cation. Three endowments have been are going to be educated people. They have ever done before for matricula-
established to provide scholarships are going to be contributing people to tion at Indian River State College.”
to the children of first responders, our community and they’re going to be
Orchid Island employees and their successful. They’re going to have what This year’s IRSC Scholars are:
children, and local students attend- we call the American Dream.” Kiersten Carroll, Anna Downing,
ing Indian River State College. Adrian Figueroa, Nicole Martz,
Donna Thrailkill, committee liai- Andrea Morency, Erin Morency,
Guests and scholarship recipi- son, introduced two scholarship recip- Cindy Tadeo and Mary Scibelli.
ents chatted poolside as committee ients and shared letters from two oth- Haley Snowhill is the recipient of
members served hors d’oeuvres they ers unable to attend due to the rigorous the Orchid Island Scholarship, ad-
made, ensuring 100 percent of dona- academic demands of college. ministered through the Scholarship
Foundation of Indian River. 
Cindy Peralta Tadeo, a single, work-
ing mother whose father works at

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / February 6, 2020 21

PEOPLE

Rahul Ghai and Priyanka Singh. Cindy Peralta Tadeo and Marcelo Garcia.

Bruce Behrens, Sharon Harding, Barbara Wright and Paul Knapp.

Molly Angelucci, Bernadette Covelluzzi, Joan Gulley and Susan Stickney.

Chase Ogle and Anna Downing with Katherine and Dale Downing.
Donna Spackman and Joan Crosby with Betsy and David Sams.









26 Vero Beach 32963 / February 6, 2020 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

Welcome, home! Elation at reopening of Jackson house

BY SAMANTHA ROHLFING BAITA
Staff Writer

History, literature and education Brenda and Casey Lunceford with Ed Massey, Tina Hart and Suzanne Seldes. Susan Boyd and Sean Sexton. PHOTOS: DENISE RITCHIE
came together on a sunny afternoon,
as celebrants gathered on the Mueller “We got a phone call and after 10 value for students and the community, made sure “all the moving parts went
campus of Indian River State College minutes we said, ‘Bring it!,’” recalls the college offered a section of campus. the right way at the right time.”
to welcome home, at last, the historic, IRSC President Edwin Massey, who
110-year-old Laura (Riding) Jackson with Muller campus provost Casey What appeared a daunting hurdle Among numerous participants rec-
house and pole barn, at a grand-re- Lunceford saw the possibilities almost had become a blessing in disguise. ognized was project manager Eric
opening that featured a ribbon-cutting, immediately after getting wind of the Funding came in for the 12-mile move Crockett of Proctor Construction, the
house tours, poetry and cake. home’s plight. Recognizing the home’s – about “$5 for each foot,” according company charged with the decon-
educational, historical and teaching to LRJF board president Marie Stiefel. struction and reconstruction.
Far more well-traveled than your Other funding and in-kind donations
typical house, the Florida Cracker covered reconstruction and even a na- “What better way to teach history:
home of the internationally renowned tive plant garden. not in a classroom, but in the history
poet was built in Wabasso and later itself,” commented Vero Beach Mayor
moved to the Environmental Learning Thus, on this sunny Sunday, in the Tony Young.
Center, where it stood for 25 years as a shade of the pole barn, the painstak-
beacon of history and environmental ingly reconstructed home had its own Of course, poetry was a part of the af-
awareness and a gathering place for housewarming. Recognizing the nu- ternoon, with comments and readings
poets to share, teach and hone their merous individuals and entities whose by Indian River County Poet Laureate
craft. support had made it all possible were Sean Sexton, who recalled that meet-
Stiefel, who had managed to remain ings with the college “were all about
In 2017, the LRJ Foundation was jolt- bold, calm and pleasant through what Yes.” Other readings were by Florida
ed to learn the homestead would have were often bumpy seas; and the foun- poet Sydney Wade, Kennedy read a
to be relocated. Its future was uncer- dation’s soon-to-be first executive di- poem by Jacobs, and Jackson friend
tain until the community united with rector, the charming, ebullient Louise and biographer Elizabeth Friedmann
strong support and endless generosity, Kennedy. shared a piece by Jackson.
determined to save the fragile treasure.
Another key player, Jacque Jacobs, Formally presented was a sturdy
handled what Stiefel called “the hard- pink hibiscus plant from the original
est task: chairing the Relocation Com- Wabasso homestead, which will now
mittee,” akin in many ways to juggling become a permanent resident in the
cats. Without losing her cool, Jacobs new garden. A good omen if ever there
was one. 

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Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / February 6, 2020 27

PEOPLE

Susan Jaramillo, Susan Lovelace, Marie Stiefel and Joanne Mitchell. Dr. Alistair Kennedy, Nico Kennedy, Marion Kennedy and Andrew Kennedy.

Chris Runge with Julie and Robie Weary.

John Granath with Eric and Janet Crockett
and children Kai, Kalani and Kona.

Annie Padnuk with children Leela and Arya Padnuk.

28 Vero Beach 32963 / February 6, 2020 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

‘Shore’ thing! Cruise Party benefits youth center

BY MARY SCHENKEL Anna Valencia Tillery with Trudie Rainone and Laurie Collings. PHOTOS: DENISE RITCHIE operate the new Cis and Bill Glavin
Staff Writer Educational Center, which opened in
and doctorate degrees. She has been that you are in it with us, for all of your May.
‘What do we do with these?’ was employed 35 years with the School contributions, hard work, dedication
the question of the evening, as guests District of Indian River County, and and love that you show us. I want to “So ladies and gentlemen, I’m
sailed into the Oak Harbor Club and served on the initial GYAC board in say thank you on behalf of the center, pleased to announce that we are ar-
were handed wireless headphones at 1998. because we could not do what we do riving at our final destination, with
the recent Ship to Shore Cruise Party without you.” the news that the $7.4 million goal has
to benefit the Gifford Youth Achieve- “Our vision and dream has not been achieved and the Dream Weavers
ment Center. changed. We want to be that place of Scott Alexander, honorary chair of Cruise has officially ended,” said Al-
hope for all children and our com- the Dream Weaver Campaign, spoke exander, thanking everyone who con-
Headphones in hand (more about munity,” said Taylor-Long. “We know about the campaign to construct and tributed to the successful campaign,
those later), guests mingled in the lob- and encouraging continued support.
by, meeting and chatting with some “We should celebrate, but we always
of the polite, well-spoken youth who need to be thinking about tomorrow.”
participate in GYAC’s numerous pro-
grams, before heading into the dining Alexander also paid tribute to Mary
room. McKinny, who spearheaded a Com-
munity Campaign that raised 146 per-
Diners were treated to great enter- cent of their goal, adding, “Clearly the
tainment – the hallmark of any great Gifford community was behind this
cruise – by members of the Indian campaign, giving a strong statement
River Charter High School Theater De- of support for GYAC that will resonate
partment, under the direction of Mi- throughout the county.”
chael Naffziger.
Guests heard from Curtis Webb,
Deborah Taylor-Long, GYAC board youth programs director, and Jordan
chair, shared that while neither of her McPherson, a seventh-grade student
late parents had formal educations, with a 3.8 GPA at Gifford Middle School,
they understood its importance, and who spoke eloquently about how GYAC
encouraged her to pursue masters programs give students the chance to

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Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / February 6, 2020 29

PEOPLE

Deborah Taylor-Long, Freddie Woolfork and Robin Williams. Stephanie Nelson, Angelia Perry and Peggy Gibbs. STORY & PHOTOS CONTINUED ON PAGES 30 & 31
Andy Williams with Elizabeth and Dane Ullian.

Mike and Joan Hoben. Todd and Kathy Fennell. Mike and Bernadette Emerick. Maryann Kann and George Cooke.

Winfred and Denise Smith. Michele and Kevin Peters.

Raynor Reavis and Diane DeFrancisci with Marlen and George Higgs.

30 Vero Beach 32963 / February 6, 2020 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

PHOTOS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 29 Jordan McPherson, Jhovanny Vite, Leo Swanigan and August Deleon. Elliott Johnson, Lenore Carter and Kytiana Williams.
Susan Lorenz, Marie Lorenz and Janine Dillon.

Cindy and John Granath with Kathy Mulvey. Joe and Sue Joyce. Gordon and Carol Matulonis with Barbara Diemer and Scott Alexander.

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / February 6, 2020 31

PEOPLE

“grow and learn more every day.” GYAC provides afterschool and cal collaborative partners. own private little dance parties; danc-
Angelia Perry, GYAC executive direc- summertime educational, social, Back to those headphones. Puzzled ing with abandon to seemingly noth-
cultural, recreational and devel- ing, while enabling table conversations
tor, commented on the African proverb opmental programs for children in expressions turned to smiles of enjoy- to continue uninterrupted by loud mu-
that ‘it takes a village to raise a child.’ grades K-12, a Beyond Special K pro- ment as headphones began glowing sic. Genius!
gram for senior citizens, and numer- in red, blue or green – different colors
“We wouldn’t be here without you,” ous programs and activities with lo- for varied musical channels – and folks For more information, visit GYAC.
said Perry. “This village is making a began to jam in a silent disco to their net. 
difference in this community.”

32 Vero Beach 32963 / February 6, 2020 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

‘Settle’ up: Wylie’s bold art graces Windsor Gallery walls

BY STEPHANIE LaBAFF paintings have
Staff Writer
proved that neither
Windsor residents and invited
guests were drawn into the “picture age nor gender de-
book-like” paintings and drawings
of Rose Wylie at a recent reception fines her art.”
to introduce the thought-provok-
ing, larger-than-life works of her The Royal Acad-
‘Let it Settle’ collection, on display
through April at The Gallery at emy curatorial
Windsor.
partnership was
This specially curated exhibi-
tion, Windsor’s third curatorial col- forged with Chris-
laboration with the Royal Academy,
features a diverse cast of characters topher LeBrun,
committed by Wylie on canvas and
paper. The exhibit features the not- artist and former
ed contemporary artist’s uninhib-
ited use of wit to visually represent Royal Academy
the world as she sees it, featuring
representations from British mon- president, who was
archs to fictional characters, most
prevalently Snow White. PHOTOS: STEPHANIE LABAFF PHOTOS CONTINUED ON PAGE 34 on hand for the
gallery opening.
The Hon. Hilary M. Weston, co-
founder of Windsor with husband Rodolphe von Hofmannsthal, Hon. Hilary Weston and Tim Marlow. Emma McKee and Dennis McManus. “It’s been our
Galen and the creative director for
The Gallery at Windsor, shared her happy job to select

excitement over the thought-pro- Commenting on the importance artists. When we were choosing the

voking contemporary works. of the exhibition, Weston noted that first artist, who better to have than

“Tonight, we are truly privileged Wylie is the collaboration’s first fe- a British transvestite,” LeBrun re-

to unveil Rose Wylie, ‘Let it Settle,’ male artist. called. “I was a little bit worried pre-

an exhibition of Rose Wylie’s bold “We felt she represented a strong senting a big man in a dress as the

and colorful paintings and draw- voice in contemporary art, draw- first. Hilary was immediately enthu-

ings,” said Weston. “At Windsor, art ing inspiration from sources as di- siastic and, as you remember, it was a

and culture are paramount to our verse as film, fashion, literature and wonderful exhibition.”

community. The gallery is now in its newspapers. But every painting or Of Wylie’s intriguing work, he said,

18th year and has a strong reputa- drawing occupies its own world.” “she’s a wonderful artist. Her work

tion of showing world-class contem- She went on to point out that makes me feel happy when I see it. It

porary artists.” Wylie’s “humorous and rebellious makes me feel rather free; which is a

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / February 6, 2020 33

PEOPLE

right attitude for an artist to convey sion with guests Melissa Blanch- as being “cocooned in creative cha- To her credit, and much to the art
to an audience.” flower and Jari-Juhani Lager, who os.” community’s pleasure, that is pre-
offered insights into Wylie’s work, cisely what she has done.
After screening a short film of an before answering questions from Wylie had replied, “I don’t see it as
interview with Wylie in her studio, the audience. chaos. I see it as liberation. I don’t ‘Let it Settle’ is open to the pub-
Tim Marlow, recently appointed like imposed instruction and art lic at The Gallery at Windsor by ap-
London’s Design Museum chief ex- Marlow said that while visiting structures. I like people to be what pointment thru April 30. For reser-
ecutive director, led a panel discus- Wylie’s studio, he had referred to it they are. Do what they are.” vations call 772-388-4071. 

34 Vero Beach 32963 / February 6, 2020 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

PHOTOS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 32 Brett Sherlock, Humberto Baulto and Nancy Lockhart. Susan and Jeffrey Zimmer with Georgia Welles.
Douglas and Janice Davis with Marilyn and Charles Baillie.

Connie Buckley with Doug and Dhuanne Tansill and Pam Ulm. Ryan Dhanraj, Thorsten Albertz, Paul Carter Robinson and Dennis Chang.

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36 Vero Beach 32963 / February 6, 2020 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

Museum’s ‘Little Night Music’ scores a perfect ten-or

Doug and Dhuanne Tansill, Brady Roberts, Judy and Bill Schneebeck. PHOTOS: DENISE RITCHIE PHOTOS CONTINUED ON PAGE 38
Ned and Emily Sherwood with Stacey and Robert Lewis.

BY STEPHANIE LABAFF Arriving guests were whisked people back and officially start a said was a perfect way to highlight
Staff Writer down a tented red carpet to the East new season at the museum,” said Amante’s impressive career, which
Terrace, where event co-chairs Judy Brady Roberts, VBMA executive di- includes leading roles on Broadway,
Vero Beach Museum of Art patrons Schneebeck and Dhuanne Tansill rector/CEO. “We’ve got a new cura- television appearances and perfor-
enjoyed a ‘Little Night Music’ at its and their committee had created tor with lots of great ideas for future mances with symphony orchestras.
annual fundraising Gala last Friday an intimate setting among white exhibitions and acquisitions. We’ve
evening, which featured an intimate lanterns and twinkling spheres of got a lot of momentum now.” Lauded by opera legend Franco
concert with world-renowned tenor lights. Corelli as “one of the greatest voices
Michael Amante. The evening was an elegant black- I’d ever heard,” Amante gave a spec-
“This is a nice way to welcome and-white affair, which Tansill tacular performance in the Holmes

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / February 6, 2020 37

PEOPLE

Great Hall, touching on classical Guests also enjoyed a delicious photographs, and candelabras atop The current exhibit, From Homer
operatic favorites as well as popular three-course dinner catered by striped tablecloths awaited the ap- to Hopper: American Art from The
Broadway tunes. Elizabeth D. Kennedy & Company, preciative audience. Phillips Collection, is on display
where the stage had been set for a through May 31, in the Holmes and
“I absolutely love to raise money romantic affair. Lights dangled from Guests later trickled back out to Titelman Galleries.
for nonprofits, and I’ve always loved the ceiling, giant black-and-white the East Terrace to finish off the eve-
the arts, ever since I was a little girl,” murals showcased iconic theater ning with music and dancing under For information, visit vbmuseum.
said Tansill. the stars to the band, Night and Day. org. 

38 Vero Beach 32963 / February 6, 2020 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

PHOTOS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 36 Madeline and George Long with Dede Gilbert and Karla Spooner. Dace and King Stubbs with Ba Stone.
Judy Schneebeck, Michael Amante and Dhuanne Tansill.

Carolyn and Bill Stutt. Jim Maguire and Cathy Padgett. Nancy and Roger Lynch. Peter and Kjestine Bijur.

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / February 6, 2020 39

PEOPLE

Peter and Pat Thompson. Brace and Landis Young.

Charlotte Terry and John Hilton.

Roberta Titelman and Marjorie Wasilewski with Michael and Margaret Strueber.

Robert and Cynthia Green with Lyn and Tony Buford.

40 Vero Beach 32963 / February 6, 2020 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

John’s Island Foundation: 20 years of big-time benevolence

BY MARY SCHENKEL PHOTOS CONTINUED ON PAGE 42 know how grateful she is to be hon-
Staff Writer Ryan Cobb, Deborah Taylor-Long, Freddie Woolfork, Angelia Perry and George Nagy. PHOTOS: DENISE RITCHIE ored tonight, and how proud she is of
the good work that the John’s Island
Close to 400 people gathered at vans to take children to afterschool bound seniors, and housing units for Foundation has done for the past 20
the John’s Island Club last Monday programs, computers and techni- the working poor. years. She also wanted me to thank
evening for a cocktail reception to cal equipment, delivery vehicles all of the supporters of the founda-
celebrate the 20th anniversary of the to bring nutritious meals to home- “The support of all of you in this tion, because none of these good
John’s Island Foundation and honor room means so much to us. Your un- works could have been done without
its founder and first president, Ele- paralleled outpouring of generosity you. We are all in this together; we
onora (Ellie) McCabe. The event was allows us to provide dozens and doz- are a community.”
a bittersweet one, as McCabe was ens of significant grants each year,”
unable to attend due to the illness of said Sherwood. “You open up your Calling McCabe “kind, intelligent
husband Bob. Both were very much hearts to those less fortunate, and and beautiful inside and outside,”
missed. we thank you from the bottom of our Brier said that her focus has been
hearts.” on providing mental health coun-
Emily Sherwood, serving as its seling, and a desire to “create envi-
10th president, noted that the foun- In addition to the generosity of ronments that make children, adults
dation has donated more than $11 residents, Sherwood noted that and families feel safe and loved, so
million to local charities since its sponsors had underwritten the re- they can feel free to talk about their
1999 founding. At the time, McCabe ception in its entirety. concerns.”
had recognized a need to fund capi-
tal expenses, complementing the Having personally visited most To honor that legacy, the foun-
efforts of the John’s Island Commu- of the charitable organizations the dation provided a special $50,000
nity Service League, which provides foundation assists, Pat Brier, grant grant, which McCabe chose to give
grants for nonprofit programs and review chair, said, “I can assure you to the Gifford Youth Achievement
operating budgets. that you truly do make a difference Center to continue their efforts in
in the lives of the clients they serve.” the area of counseling and mental
Sherwood shared just a small health.
sampling of the types of capital Speaking on behalf of McCabe,
expenditures they fund, such as Brier said, “She wanted all of you to Before presenting the check to
GYAC representatives Angelia Perry,
Freddie Woolfork and Deborah Tay-
lor-Long, Brier read a note from Mc-
Cabe, in which she noted that GYAC
received one of the first JIF grants 20
years ago. McCabe envisions the grant
to enable a mental health counselor in
a welcoming and comfortable office,
with the latest technology and read-
ing materials, where young people
can receive counseling to help them
navigate the difficult teenage years.

No anniversary is complete with-
out cake, and the three 20th anni-
versary co-chair couples – Warren
and Virginia Schwerin, Ned and
Sherry Ann Dayton. and Ron and
Nancy Rosner – joined Sherwood to
symbolically ‘blow out’ a brightly
sparkling candle. 

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42 Vero Beach 32963 / February 6, 2020 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

PHOTOS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 40 Martin Gibson, Caroline Ervin and Jay McNamara. Julie Macrae with Doug and Sally Brooke.
Lila Stillman, Emily Sherwood and Pat Brier.

Betsy and Don Kittell.

Marilee Matteson and Bob Gibb.

Warren and Virginia Schwerin with
Ray Oglethorpe and Nancy and Ron Rosner.

Ellen Kendall, Hope Woodhouse,
Peter Kendall and Susan Gibson.

ACING THE CLUBS: BALLET VERO
TAKES TALENTS ON TOUR

44 Vero Beach 32963 / February 6, 2020 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

ARTS & THEATRE

Acing the clubs: Ballet Vero takes talents on tour

BY MARY SCHENKEL Kathy Mulvey and Adam Schnell. “We try and keep it small and inti-
Staff Writer mate,” said Schnell.
PHOTOS BY DENISE RITCHIE
Ballet Vero Beach has been taking “They do a fantastic job,” said Kevin
the show on the road recently, with Given, Quail Valley COO/partner, in-
a series of Club Tours, including one troducing Schnell. “Ballet Vero Beach
last Thursday evening at the Quail has grown so much. It’s been seven
Valley River Club. Previous perfor- years now since they started the ballet.”
mances have taken place at Indian
River Estates, John’s Island, Oak Har- “At Ballet Vero Beach, our mission
bor, Sea Oaks and Windsor. is to promote the art of dance as a
universal language in this communi-
“The goal of this program, from ty and beyond,” said Schnell. “We do
the very beginning, has been to raise that with performances by our resi-
visibility for the organization,” ex- dent professional company, which
plained Adam Schnell, BVB artistic you are about to see; through the
director/CEO. “What we try to do is to presentation of national and interna-
do a mini sampling of what our entire tional dance artists; and through our
repertoire looks like, so there will be education and community engage-
some contemporary works this eve- ment programs.”
ning and some classical. Because we
can say, yes, we do great work, but it Since its inception, he said they
doesn’t always register unless people have attempted to challenge the per-
see it.” ception of what a professional ballet
company and an arts organization in
The setting was relaxed, with tables Indian River County can be. Through
surrounding a special dance floor, its Outreach initiatives, BVB current-
where BVB ballet master Camilo Ro- ly donates performance tickets to 16
driguez, Katherine Eppink, Kelsey social service nonprofits.
Schwenker and Anders Southerland
performed four captivating pieces. Quail Valley Charities funded their
first grant request to provide a free
student matinee series, for which

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Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / February 6, 2020 45

ARTS & THEATRE

on campus, so that they can join the ‘We would be nowhere as
production in the theater and share an organization ... without
the stage with our professional danc-
ers and have a mentorship opportu- our donors, without our
nity,” said Schnell. board members, without
organizations like Quail
“That led to our second request for Valley Charities supporting
funding from Quail Valley Charities.
This year, for the first time, we are the us along the way.’
only arts organization in the area to
have an abbreviated, accessible ver- – Adam Schnell
sion of our ‘Nutcracker’ that is aimed
at the differently abled individuals in
our community. The goal of this pro-
gram, and hopefully it will expand
to some of our other programming,

CONTINUED ON PAGE 46

THE LAUGHING DOG GALLERY | CELEBRATING

BEAUTY AND
THE BEACH

Katherine Eppink and school cam- JOIN US FOR A JEWELRY SHOW
Anders Southerland. puses. WITH SEAGLASS ARTIST,
In its fifth sea-
Ballet Vero Beach has now assumed son, when Ballet SONJA GRONDSTRA
financial ownership, expanding the Vero Beach pre-
program to serve miered its own “Nut- FRIDAY & SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 7 & 8
first-, third- and cracker on the Indian Riv-
fourth-grade stu- er,” Schnell said they again
dents through- reached out to underserved
out the county. youth.
They also provid- “We go to two underserved
ing bus funding to elementary schools ev-
the schools, and of- ery year to teach
fer pre- and post-
performance
outreach on

Camilo Rodriguez. 2910 CARDINAL DRIVE, VERO BEACH • 772-234-6711 • THELAUGHINGDOGGALLERY.COM

46 Vero Beach 32963 / February 6, 2020 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 45 ARTS & THEATRE

is to make sure that we are reaching The third dance, he explained, was
each and every person in Indian River a world premiere of “Playing with
County.” Strings,” which will get its official
debut on April 5 during the Atlantic
The first two dances Thursday were Classical Orchestra’s Chamber Mu-
“Pourquoi,” performed by Rodri- sic Concert at the Vero Beach Mu-
guez and Schwenker; and “Love me seum of Art.
Always,” performed by Eppink and
Southerland. Schnell said the next “Hopefully, this is the beginning of
two pieces celebrated two recently a very fruitful partnership between
established partnerships. two successful arts organizations
in our area, in which we will be able
“We would be nowhere as an orga- to work together to provide a higher
nization, even seven years in, without quality arts and entertainment ex-
our donors, without our board mem- perience to the community,” said
bers, without organizations like Quail Schnell.
Valley Charities supporting us along
the way.” The final piece was an excerpt of

Camilo Rodriguez and
Kelsey Schwenker.

“The Sleeping Beauty” Wedding Pas shows that by doing so, “you engage
de Deux, a company premier danced the children in a way that is much
by Eppink and Southerland. more meaningful than a standard
academic experience. We are using
Schnell noted that BVB was recent- all of these great classics to really and
ly awarded a $25,000 grant from the truly be at the forefront of the arts in
Indian River Community Foundation this community.”
to continue its educational program-
ming for school-aged children. One Upcoming performances include
way they plan to do that is to work on Composers Notebook: The Music of
literacy programs by aligning one-act Paul Gay, Feb. 28-29, and Clarity of
story ballets in partnership with The Vison, April 17-18, both at VBHS PAC.
Learning Alliance. The Bach to Ballet performance with
Atlantic Classical Orchestra is April 5
“The Learning Alliance has agreed at VBMA. For more information, visit
to train our dancers in the techniques balletverobeach.org. 
of arts literacy and arts integration,”
said Scnhell, adding that research

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / February 6, 2020 47

ARTS & THEATRE

Art-felt emotion at Vero museum’s veterans program

BY KERRY FIRTH PHOTOS BY KAILA JONES
Correspondent

Veterans have been known to be as
protective of their innermost feelings
as they were courageous on the battle-
fields, where they often faced death for
the love of their country. That stoicism
was instilled during military training,
where they were taught how to sup-
press fear and emotion in the face of
adversity and danger.

But while those traits may have
served them well in military service,
suppressed emotions have also been
known to stifle happiness in civilian
life. In an effort to give veterans a way
to deal with repressed emotions, the
Vero Beach Museum of Art recently
began offering a program designed
especially for them, providing an out-
let for artistic expression in a conge-
nial environment.

The Veterans Program is being of-
fered through a collaborative part-
nership between the museum and
the Veterans Council of Indian River
County. It is being offered free of

CONTINUED ON PAGE 48

48 Vero Beach 32963 / February 6, 2020 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

ARTS & THEATRE Aric Attas.

Dawn Miller.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 47 Tom Little, Terry Treat and Joe Gomez. p.m. through Feb. 4. Veterans, regard-
less of their photography experience,
charge thanks to a donation by mem- design and paint a PEACE mural, which Great Seal of the United States display- are welcome to join in on the classes at
bers of The Circle, a funding group of was unveiled just before Veterans Day ing the eagle and the colors of the flag. any time, but must inform the museum
VBMA members who contribute to the and now graces the courtyard wall The ‘C’ depicts a man, woman and child ahead of time.
museum’s outreach programs. south of the museum. Roughly 20 vet- saluting within a background of cam-
erans, from varying military branches ouflage colors. The final ‘E’ displays the “Photography is all about being in
“We were looking for new ways to and wars, participated in the creation Silver Star Medal, an award presented the moment,” explained instructor
serve our community and do our job of the mural. for “gallantry in action against an en- Aric Attas during the first class. “Some
better, when the professional develop- emy of the United States.” A white dove, think that we need to travel to an exotic
ment team asked what we were doing Against an American Flag backdrop, the symbol of peace, graces the upper place, or stage the perfect setting for
for veterans,” said Sophie Wood, VBMA symbols of honor representing service right-hand corner of that ‘E.’ the desired photo, but in reality, some
director of marketing. to country are depicted inside each of of the accidental photos are the best
the letters that spell out the word PEACE. “It was an incredible experience,” and most creative.”
“We interviewed all of the veterans said retired U.S. Army Maj. Terry Treat.
on our staff and overwhelmingly found Portrayed inside the letter ‘P’ are the “The first few sessions were really Attas presented a slide show showing
a need,” said Wood. “That’s when we words, “We the People,” the start of the brainstorming and trying to formulate the evolution of his own photography,
contacted the Veterans Council and Constitution. The ‘E’ depicts a soldier what we wanted our mural to convey. explaining how he evolved from snap-
started working on a program.” holding dog tags, standing in front of a Cat Faust, the artist who worked us, shots to creating his own reality with
headstone to pay tribute to a fallen sol- sketched out several drafts before we digital composites and layering.
The multi-faceted program incorpo- dier. The letter ‘A’ has the portion of the settled on the design we liked. In the
rates many different art forms, intro- end, she had it all sectioned off so all As a two-time cancer survivor, At-
ducing veterans to creative ways of in- we had to do was paint by numbers. We tas said he found solace and healing
terpreting and expressing themselves had so much fun and we’ve made some through photography.
through art, while also connecting new friends.
them to one another. “I created some ethereal photos with
At the unveiling and dedication cer- camera movement and lighting and I
The first of three five-week class ses- emony last fall, some of the veterans was able to focus on these and medi-
sions was held last fall. Its focus was to also read heartfelt poetry they had writ- tate through painful radiation and
ten about their upbringing and favorite chemotherapy,” he said. “I’m now in-
memories. A commemorative pamphlet volved with a program that integrates
entitled ‘From These Things – Poems art therapy into cancer treatments.
from the Veterans Community’ was Creative expression has tremendous
published by the VBMA as a keepsake. healing power.”

The current session, ‘Through the Over the course of the session, stu-
Eyes of a Veteran,’ encourages ob- dents will learn various exposure and
servation and interpretations of sur- developing techniques and hopefully
roundings through the camera lens. discover their own creative vision
These classes are held at the museum and energy.
Tuesday evenings from 6 p.m. to 8:30
The third session, ‘Exhibition Explo-
rations and Studio Interpretations,’ will
be held Thursday evenings from March
19 to April 16. In addition to discussions
on interpreting the works of artists in
the current VBMA exhibitions, veter-
ans will make their own creations in a
studio setting. A variety of mixed medi-

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / February 6, 2020 49

ARTS & THEATRE

ums including watercolor, clay, acrylics paints or create a pot. It’s all about the apparent during the first session that a safe place to talk and the creative pro-
and collage will be supplied for their process. It doesn’t matter if they do a there was a unique connection among cess opens up communication.”
individual projects. masterpiece or draw a stick figure. It’s veterans.
about tapping into their emotion and An exhibition of the photography
“This program is therapeutic,” ex- sharing their experiences with other “Through the process of creating art, and the studio art creations will be held
plained Dawn Miller, VBMS Art for veterans.” our participants shared feelings and at some point in the spring.
Health’s Sake Program Manager. “It’s experiences with other veterans that
not about teaching them how to mix Miller said that it quickly became they wouldn’t share with civilians. This For more information contact Dawn
Miller at 772-321-0707 ext. 155. 

50 Vero Beach 32963 / February 6, 2020 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

ARTS & THEATRE

COMING UP! You’ll love these pre-Valentine’s cultural options

BY PAM HARBAUGH Museum of Art presents quartet jazz
Correspondent with percussionist Fred Goodnight and
pianist Mike Telesmanick, outdoors
Valentine’s Day is still a week away, but from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Bring your own
you can start the romance early by tak- chair, and some money because there
ing in some of the exciting and roman- will be cash bars and food concessions.
tic offerings of the cultural community. Rain or moonlight. The museum is at
3001 Riverside Park Dr., Vero Beach. Call
1 The top of the list goes to the 772-231-0707 or visit VBMuseum.org. 4 At Kane Center this Sunday.
“Sinatra Valentine Pops Concert” The Indian River Symphonic association
presents the Russian State Symphony
featuring acclaimed vocalist Michael Orchestra with pianist Polina Osetins-
kaya, 7:30 p.m. at Community Church of
Andrew performing with the Brevard 1 Michael Andrew with Brevard VB. Call 772-778-1070. However, you can get on a waiting list.
Symphony Orchestra this Friday. The lectures have become so popu-
Symphony Orchestra. Andrew has lar that they are held in the large Stark
Stage auditorium and also simulcast in
made a solid national reputation for the Waxlax Stage auditorium. Call 772-
231-6990 or visit RiversideTheatre.com.
excellence in the swing and Sinatra

songbooks. And the BSO, led by Mae- Dance” Saturday evening. Presented 4 Here’s a nice dichotomy to dust off
by the Exchange Club of the Treasure the gray matter: Exploring mul-
stro Christopher Confessore, always Coast, the dinner features a bounteous
buffet of seafood, carved prime rib and
brings wonderful exuberance to a carved pork loin. There’s also a cash bar. ticulturalism one day and questioning
Tickets are $125, with funds helping lo-
pops concert. The concert is brought cal child abuse prevention programs. it the next. The Kane Center will pres- 5 The Sebastian Art Studio Tour of-
It begins 6:30 p.m. Feb. 8 at the Indian fers up a self-guided exploration of
to Vero Beach by the Indian River Sym- River Club, 800 Carolina Circle, SW Vero ent “Multiculturalism in Music” 2 p.m.
Beach. Call 772-584-1087 or visit TCEx-
phonic Association. It begins at 7:30 changeClub.org. this Sunday, Feb. 9, at 900 SE Salerno the studios of 10 artists, all working in a

p.m. this Friday, Feb. 7, at the Commu- Road, Stuart; tickets are $10, call 772- variety of media. The event runs 10 a.m.

nity Church of Vero Beach, 1901 23rd 223-7800 or visit KaneCenter.org. On to 5 p.m. this Saturday, Feb. 8, in various

St. Single tickets are $65. Call 772-778- Monday, Feb. 10, the Riverside The- galleries. You can begin at the studio of

1070 or visit IRSymphonic.org. atre Distinguished Lecturer Series will Sheila Lougheed and Suze Lavender, 166

present prize-winning author Heather Dickens Ave., Sebastian. From there, you

2 Set the stage for romance and MacDonald, who wrote “The Diversity can head west or north. For a detailed
help others at the same time at the
3 Plan ahead for two concerts next Delusion,” at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. Tickets map, visit http://sebastianartstudiotour.
Thursday, Feb. 13. The Vero Beach
“Healing Hearts Exchange Dinner and to the lecture are $100, but are sold out. com/2019-tour-map. 