03/21/2019 ISSUE 12

Were men arrested in sting hit
with wrong charge? P10
Ballet Vero dancers
wow ‘em at Windsor. P20

Pelican Island Wildlife Festival
draws big flock of fun-lovers. P36

At last, prospects For breaking news visit
appear bright for
Vero Beach Marina Cleveland looks at
complication rate
BY SAMANTHA ROHLFING BAITA for maternity cases
Staff Writer
ing there short-term have among disgruntled marina PHOTO BY KAILA JONES BY MICHELLE GENZ
Prospects for theVero Beach been moldy, broken down or users and city residents, the Staff Writer
Marina are looking up – at closed for repair much of the City Council at first seemed favor of leasing the facility to
long last – with a new mari- time. not to pay attention and then an outside operator. Weeks before Cleveland
na manager at the helm, the was divided over how to fix Clinic Florida stepped into the
payoff of a crushing debt that As frustration mounted the problems, with some in In the meantime, as com- birthing business by acquiring
kept the facility strapped for over the past several years plaints grew louder, much Indian River Medical Center
cash, and work on a compre- of the blame was placed on and two other Treasure Coast
hensive marina master plan hospitals doing labor and de-
posed to get underway. CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 livery, officials at the hospitals
were under siege.
For years, the municipal
marina, located in one of While in the throes of pre-
the most beautiful locations paring for the Jan. 1 Cleveland
along the Intracoastal Water- takeover, the hospital officials
way, has languished in various were being peppered with “10
states of disrepair, creating an million questions,” as one in-
unfortunate first impression sider put it, about their mater-
of Vero Beach with its bro- nity complication rates.
ken and rotting docks, piles
of rusting, abandoned bikes The scrutiny came not from
and mounds of miscellaneous ratings organizations, accredi-
construction debris. tation commissions or even the
state or federal government. In-
Restrooms used by people
living at the marina or anchor- CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

Taxpayers dig deep
for murder defense

School Board seen likely to not renew contract of superintendent BY FEDERICO MARTINEZ
Staff Writer

MY New board grapples with problem overload Rendell on shaky ground with three members Florida taxpayers have
VERO coughed up $170,000 so far
to pay for the defense of Vero
BY RAY MCNULTY contract negotiations and the BY FEDERICO MARTINEZ board members indicated last Beach resident Asbury Lee
Staff Writer troubling departure of dozens Staff Writer week they want new leadership Perkins, who is charged with
of teachers since the begin- for the district. premeditated murder in the
There’s so much our School ning of the school year. Embattled Indian River School 2015 shooting death of his
Board needs to talk about – a District Superintendent Mark At its March 12 business estranged wife at a house on
long to-do list that includes That’s why board mem- Rendell has until the end of July meeting, the board directed South Beach. By the time Per-
the district’s financial troubles, bers, who meet as a group two to convince the Indian River Rendell to submit by July 1 a kins’ case is over, the cost to
next year’s budget, exorbitant Tuesdays each month, often County School Board it should report on whether he accom- taxpayers could be close to
legal fees, the superintendent’s find themselves working from renew his contract, which ex- plished goals and objectives $1 million, according to court
performance review, union 9 a.m. until 11 p.m. on those pires June 30, 2020. But three set for him during the 2018-19
CONTINUED ON PAGE 9
CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

March 21, 2019 Volume 12, Issue 12 Newsstand Price $1.00 Groundbreaking
shows ‘rowing is
News 1-10 Faith 73 Pets 53 TO ADVERTISE CALL growing.’ P18
Arts 37-42 Games 55-57 Real Estate 75-88 772-559-4187
Books 52 Health 59-63 St. Ed’s 54
Dining 68 Insight 43-58 Style 64-67 FOR CIRCULATION
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© 2019 Vero Beach 32963 Media LLC. All rights reserved.

2 Vero Beach 32963 / March 21, 2019 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

NEWS

Vero Beach Marina Electric to retire the remainder of a GEC to oversee development of a After that, it will proceed to create a
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 $4.7 million loan taken out in 2007 master plan for the facility. draft master plan for the Marine Com-
that cost $338,000 a year each year to mission and City Council to review in
longtime harbormaster Tim Graben- service. Coastal Tech proposes a detailed sur- August, prior to presenting the finished
bauer, who stepped down in Febru- vey of existing conditions at the marina plan to the council in mid-September
ary. For his part, Grabenbauer pointed Now, instead of struggling in a fi- followed by a public meeting with Vero
to a perpetual budget shortfall at the nancial stranglehold for the next nine Beach Marine Commission to identify The City Council and Marine Com-
marina – which is supposed to pay its years – which is how long it would goals and objectives, and present “up mission have expressed great confi-
own way as an enterprise fund – due to have taken to pay off the debt – the to three conceptual alternatives” for dence in Collins, who will be closely
a multimillion debt that cost hundreds marina can use money it generates renovation and redevelopment. involved in the master plan develop-
of thousands each year to service. from dock and fuel fees for capital ment process.
improvements. The company will then consider en-
Now, finally, the City Council has vironmental impacts of the possible With two decades marine and mari-
made the marina a priority, hiring a The loan payoff was approved by plans, look into state and federal per- time experience, Collins comes to Vero
new marina manager and using $2.9 the City Council Feb. 5, Sean Collins mit requirements, come up with a cost from a job as harbormaster with the
million in funds from the sale of Vero was hired as marina manager on Feb. estimate, suggest funding sources and City of Naples, where he was part of
12, and on Feb. 23 the city entered meet with state and federal agencies a complete dock restoration and up-
into an agreement with Coastal Tech/ to get feedback. grade of that city’s marina facilities. 

My Vero

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

seemingly endless days, the final
hours of which are spent in business
meetings that begin at 6 p.m.

Still, having inherited a mess from
the previous panel, it is a struggle for
the current board to keep up with the
work load.

Presentations from the superinten-
dent and his staff are postponed. Items
are removed from meeting agendas.
Board discussions are cut short or re-
scheduled.

“We’re just so behind right now,”
School Board Chairman Laura Zorc
said.

So, in late February, Zorc appealed
to her fellow board members, asking
them to consider adding a third Tues-
day to their monthly meeting sched-
ule, so they could discuss staff presen-
tations, unresolved issues and other
matters they need or want to address.

After much discussion and some
compromise, all five members finally
agreed to commit to an additional
monthly meeting – three-hour sessions,
from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. – which they hope
will be enough to conduct the district’s
business in a more timely and effective
manner.

It was the right call.
Given the challenges facing a board
operating with three new members
and limited experience in the two
other seats, more time together is
needed to produce better decisions
and improve the group’s chances of
meeting deadlines.
The night-time business meetings
have too-often run too long and too
late, forcing the board to either shelve
agenda items or confront important
issues when members were physically
worn out and mentally weary.
That’s troubling.
Worse, though, are the time con-
straints and jam-packed meeting
schedules that Zorc said have prevent-
ed board members from getting “all
the information necessary” to address

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / March 21, 2019 3

NEWS

and sufficiently discuss the issues on said adding meetings on school days In doing so, she mistakenly gave the sons – most of them pertaining to
which they must vote. would force her to take more time off impression that she would not attend family obligations – why holding ad-
from her full-time job as a teacher and additional meetings on school days. ditional meetings at night, on week-
“Meeting twice a month and trying teaching coach in St. Lucie County. ends and during spring break would
to condense all our decision-making That prompted Schiff to respond, be more difficult for them.
and discussion into those two days, She said she could attend extra meet- saying, “I don’t want your students to
wasn’t very productive,” Zorc said. ings in the evenings, on weekends and suffer, and I don’t think they should. Barenborg’s remarks also spurred criti-
“But it goes beyond just discussion. during spring break, but she preferred to On the other hand, I don’t want our cism on social media from former school
not miss classes the next few weeks, dur- students to suffer, either.” board candidate Stacey Klim, who ran
“There’s still a lot of informational ing what she called “crunch time,” when against her in November and lost.
stuff we need to have presented to us, she is preparing her students for tests. Schiff and other board members,
so we can ask questions and be pre- particularly Tiffany Justice, gave rea- CONTINUED ON PAGE 4
pared to vote on things,” she added. “I
feel we’re really getting behind on the Exclusively John’s Island
information that we need.”
This majestic, award-winning oceanfront jewel takes full advantage of enchanting
She cited information presented to sunrises, poised on 130’± of pristine shores and direct beach access through a
board members on the afternoon be- serene and secluded dune walk. Marked by an intimate, circular courtyard pool
fore their Feb. 26 business meeting, and expansive views over the 1.21± acres, the 8,532± GSF manor is framed
saying the presentation initially was by a stately main residence with spacious bedrooms, unparalleled architectural
scheduled for January. detailing accentuating soaring ceilings, four fireplaces and magnificent finishes.
A separate guest home with recreation room area sits above a 3-car garage.
Board members had already agreed 682 Ocean Road : $6,400,000
to add an hour to their last-Tuesday-
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Superintendent Mark Rendell, who health & wellness center : pickleball : croquet : vertical equit y memberships
now meets with them from noon to 4
p.m., and they believe that will help. 772.231.0900 : Vero Beach, FL : JohnsIslandRealEstate.com

Clearly, though, they still need to
talk more as a group – a lot more, at
least for a while.

Board member Mara Schiff strongly
endorsed Zorc’s pitch for adding days
to the meeting schedule, referring to
the group’s struggle to do “everything
that needs to be done” while the pan-
el’s newcomers learn on the job.

“I don’t feel that two days a month
is getting it done,” Schiff said at that
Feb. 26 meeting. “I feel we’re always
running to catch up. We never have
enough time to talk about things and,
as a result, we’re giving short shrift to
conversations that deserve more.”

Indeed, Schiff expressed doubt that
the additional three hours for board
discussion will suffice, saying, “I’m
personally feeling like we need more
than that.”

She referred to what she called a
“packed agenda” for that night’s busi-
ness meeting.

“I reviewed everything before we
got here and, in reviewing it, really
wondered how we were going to get
through all of it because I knew I had a
lot of questions on some of the things,”
Schiff said.

Schiff said the homework she and
the other board members do between
meetings is substantial, but it’s done
“in a vacuum” because Florida’s gov-
ernment-in-the-sunshine law restricts
their ability to discuss district matters
– other than those involving litigation
and personnel – to public meetings.

“Even if we’re all individually talking
to the superintendent or anybody else
in the district,” she said, “I don’t know
what conversations you’re having, and
you don’t know what conversations
I’m having ... Because we are a five-
member board that has authority only
as the five of us, our time together is re-
ally critical.”

Board member Teri Barenborg

4 Vero Beach 32963 / March 21, 2019 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

NEWS

My Vero at her school – not because she didn’t To be sure, Barenborg isn’t alone: The new or not renew Rendell’s contract be-
care enough to attend. members of this board appear to be yond June 30, 2020, she repeated, “The
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3 putting in the time, doing the prep work board may by majority vote – decline
“It was a tough decision,” Barenborg required to confront the district’s many to employ the superintendent beyond
Klim wrote in a Facebook post that said Sunday. “It wasn’t that I didn’t issues and earning their $33,000 salary. June 2020.”
she was “very upset” as she watched want to be there, but some things
the Feb. 26 meeting, where Baren- came up that I’d rather not discuss They say they’ll do more, if necessary. Two other board members who asked
borg “indicated she was too busy in publicly. And I knew I could listen to “If we get to a point where we see that not to be named said after the meeting
her other job as a teacher in another the audio of that training session. adding those three hours on an off-week that they intend to vote against renew-
county ... to attend all the meetings isn’t enough,” Zorc said, “I’ll definitely ing Rendell’s contract. Both said they
that were necessary to conduct busi- “I’ve been an educator for a long ask to add more time, even if it means believed Rosario’s choice of words was
ness.” time,” she added. “I was an assistant adding another day of the week.” intentional and meant to send a mes-
principal for seven years and a principal As she should. sage to the superintendent.
Referring to Barenborg’s stated for five years. I have a master’s degree in There’s so much our School Board
concern for her students in St. Lucie educational leadership, which required needs to talk about.  “He isn’t going to make it,” one of
County, Klim asked: “What about the a course in educational finance. the board members told Vero Beach
staff and students of the district she Rendell 32963. Rosario could not be reached
was elected to serve? Her implication “I’m very familiar with educational for further comment.
was that they were less important.” finance.” CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
Rendell, whose annual salary is
She then noted Barenborg’s absence Barenborg shrugged off Klim’s criti- school year. The board then has until $163,200, has faced mounting criti-
from the board’s recent training ses- cism and any doubts about her com- the end of the month to decide wheth- cism by some board members and res-
sion on finances and budgets, writ- mitment to the board. She said she er to extend his contract. idents unhappy with his management
ing: “Considering the current finan- fully intends to attend the additional style, the district’s financial woes, poor
cial situation in our school district, it board meetings. “It was brought to my attention that student test scores and low morale
is imperative that the School Board based on the second amendment to among teachers and staff – concerns
has a clear, knowledgeable base going “I never said I wouldn’t attend, and Dr. Rendell’s contract ... the board may board members repeated during the
forward. The school board needs to I’m not planning to miss any meetings,” by majority vote [on or before July 31] – business meeting last week.
understand how the budget works to Barenborg said. “I simply explained my decline to employ the superintendent
ensure the district stays solvent. situation ... There’s no question I can do beyond June 2020,” board member Jac- Rendell, who was present during
both jobs, because I’m doing it.” queline Rosario told other board mem- the March 12 meeting, did not di-
“Ms. Barenborg did not come to the bers during the business meeting. rectly respond to board criticisms, but
meeting,” she added. “She couldn’t get Barenborg said she does much of her promised to deliver his self-evalua-
away from her other job to attend.” board-related work on her own time When other board members asked tion by the July 1 deadline, which will
and comes to meetings well-versed on Rosario if she meant to say that the give him time to include state assess-
That’s true: Barenborg couldn’t get the issues being discussed. In fact, she board needs to decide whether to re- ment results that arrive in mid-June,
away, but it was because of unexpect- was in Tallahassee earlier this week, he said. Rendell told board members
ed circumstances beyond her control meeting with Florida Department of his report would also include strate-
Education officials to get information
she’ll need to address district issues.

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / March 21, 2019 5

NEWS

gies on how he plans to address the in January threatened to withhold $1.8 Joe Nathaniel on charges that were re- the exodus of teachers from troubled
district’s many challenges. million in transportation funds from the futed in a scathing ruling by Adminis- schools such as Gifford Middle.
school district for inflating the number trative Law Judge John G. Van Laning-
The superintendent’s tenure has been of kids carried to and from their classes ham; a cheating scandal at Vero Beach Rendell’s past annual job perfor-
plagued by numerous controversies, in- each day by school buses. High School that resulted in many mance evaluations and contract re-
cluding several audit discrepancies, and students who didn’t cheat losing valu- newals have resulted in contentious
an embarrassing investigation by the Other controversies included Ren- able educational certifications; and battles between board members. For
state Department of Education, which dell’s disastrous attempt to fire teacher
CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

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6 Vero Beach 32963 / March 21, 2019 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

NEWS

Rendell paying higher salaries that Indian River but Rendell said students have im- serious maternal complications – prob-
cannot match. He also said the district proved overall on their annual state as- lems before, during and after delivery.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5 has conducted several surveys this sessment tests. He also said there has
school year to try and develop strate- been a decrease in student discipline is- This month, multiple articles
example, in 2017, a closely divided gies to improve morale and retain staff. sues, with law enforcement officers now emerged filled with disturbingly graphic
board voted 3-2 to extend the superin- located in all schools, and that teacher accounts of hemorrhage, horrible pain
tendent’s contract to June 2019. Rendell’s report will be one of sever- salaries have increased each year. and even death in hospitals nationwide.
al tools the board will use to evaluate In the local Treasure Coast Gannett pa-
In 2018, Rendell received a one-year the superintendent, Zorc said. “As you can see from the information pers, Martin Health System’s hospitals
contract extension despite receiving in my response, we are moving in the in Stuart and Tradition were singled out
failing grades on his evaluation from This past weekend Rendell spoke right direction and the district is better as having maternal complication rates
two board members at the time – Lau- with Vero Beach 32963 and provided off than it was four years ago,” Rendell close to twice the state and national
ra Zorc and Charles Searcy. Three oth- a nine-page summary highlighting said.“Student performance is rising, our medians, according to the “secret” data
er board members – Shawn Frost, Tif- what he says are his accomplishments students have more academic opportu- Gannet says it found.
fany Justice and Dale Simchick – voted since arriving in the district in 2016. nities than ever before, our schools are
to retain the superintendent. safer than they ever have been before, Martin Medical Center in Stuart saw
Among the highlights cited were an we have increased our employee reten- serious complications in 2.9 percent
Two of Rendell’s supporters and one increase in graduation rates and a sig- tion rates, implemented new commu- of births, while the rate at Tradition
of his critics are no longer on the board. nificant enrollment increase in advanced nication tools, and we have stronger Medical Center in Port St. Lucie was
Simchick, Frost and Searcy were re- courses for all students, including minor- partnerships with community organi- 2.4 percent, the papers claimed.
placed in the last election by Rosario, ity students. Rendell also claimed credit zations than we ever had before.”
Teri Barenborg and Mara Schiff; Zorc for enhanced vocational education. Indian River Medical Center also
now serves as the board’s chairman. Rendell also noted that “not a single came under fire, with a reported rate
“When I arrived here, the district board member has informed me that of 2 percent, a third higher than the
During the March 12 business meet- lacked a clear vision for expanding ca- they plan not to extend my contract.”  state median of 1.5 – even though it
ing, Barenborg, Schiff, Zorc and Rosa- reer and technical education courses,” has been working since 2015 with a
rio told Rendell that they were con- Rendell said. Maternity cases statewide healthcare collaborative to
cerned with the low morale at schools. reduce maternal complication rates.
To address that problem the district CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
They noted that teacher absences opened the Treasure Coast Technical According to the Gannett stories, all
continue to increase every year and College, consolidated adult education stead, the questions came from USA To- three hospitals had significantly worse
20 percent of the district’s teachers left courses and added construction trades day and its affiliate Gannett papers, who rates of complications than Lawn-
after the 2017-18 school year, a num- courses, the superintendent noted in assigned reporters to grill hospital offi- wood Regional Medical Center, owned
ber that is likely to be surpassed this his summary. cials over their reportedly high rates of by HCA, whose rate equaled the state’s
summer, board members said. median.
A recent report by Vero Beach 32963
Rendell said a big part of the prob- found that fewer than half of local stu- Now the newly expanded Cleveland
lem is that neighboring districts are dents pass the 10th grade English Lan- Clinic Florida is pushing back with
guage Arts test mandated by the state,

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / March 21, 2019 7

NEWS

its own data analysis after USA Today delivering babies – remote though the University of South Florida Col- in nationally. Statewide, they range
would not release its methodology for Cleveland officials claimed it to be in lege of Public Health’s Florida Perinatal from 17 percent to 61 percent, the
assigning complication rates to the the partnering process – struck fear Quality Collaborative. spokesman said. But they have come
hospitals, even to its own reporters. in Andrea Berry, CEO of Indian River down at Indian River to 25.5 percent,
Healthy Start Coalition. “I would lay on The 18-month-long initiative of- according to the national safety ratings
While awaiting the outcome of its the tracks before anything happened fered hospitals ways to prepare for or organization, the Leapfrog Group.
study, Cleveland Clinic Indian River to labor and delivery at Indian River,” prevent maternal complications, and
said state data tracked by the Florida Berry said. “How would a woman with improve response and reporting by Only a fifth of Florida’s hospitals have
Perinatal Quality Collaborative showed a problem pregnancy in Fellsmere even tracking blood loss, transfusions and hit the national goal of 23.9 percent.
the hospital was “at or better than state get to Lawnwood? I can’t imagine. That unplanned hysterectomies, among Lawnwood’s rate is also improving, at
averages on the majority of [maternity would be crazy high risk. It takes two other data. It also required an annual 25.2. But Martin Medical Center’s rate
complication] indicators.” hours and four bus changes just to get drill by doctors and nurses. is still very high at 34.9 percent. Tradi-
to Indian River [from Fellsmere].” tion is slightly better at 31.3.
For years, what is now Cleveland Clin- Indian River upped those drills to
ic Indian River has been the only hospi- Until now, the issue getting the most quarterly, with the entire 50-member There has been greater success here
tal in the Indian River County delivering attention in Indian River County has staff on the maternity floor participat- and nationally in another key focus for
babies. For that reason, labor and deliv- been infant mortality. It is one of four ing along with six Partners in Women’s improvement in maternal health: elec-
ery was named a “required service” for top priorities named in the 2016 to 2019 Health doctors – OB-GYNs now em- tive deliveries before 39 weeks of ges-
the next 10 years in the takeover agree- Community Health Improvement Plan. ployed by Cleveland Clinic. Two other tation. The formerly common practice
ment between Cleveland Clinic and obstetricians deliver babies at Indian of delivering babies early by induction
Indian River Medical Center, meaning That focus has led to improved River but are in independent practice. or C-section has far more frequent
Cleveland would continue the service. maternal care as well, in the form of complications for mother and infant.
greatly increased prenatal and post- That high ratio of employed physi- Indian River’s percentage of early elec-
But there is an out for Cleveland partum care provided by the Partners cians at the Indian River hospital could tive deliveries was zero last year, as it
that no one wants to think about: If, in Women’s Health Collaborative. That give leadership here an advantage in was at Martin Medical Center and Tra-
within 25 miles of the hospital, there is clinic, across the street from the hos- initiating change in labor and delivery dition. That is well below a target of 5
another hospital that can provide the pital, is a joint effort of the county’s practices as compared to Martin and percent set by Leapfrog.
same service “at a comparable level,” taxpayer-funded Hospital District and Tradition, which use independent ob-
Cleveland Clinic can discontinue that Cleveland Clinic Indian River hospital. stetricians. In a statement, Cleveland Clinic In-
required service. dian River said the state data tracked
In another effort to improve care, In- Employer oversight may have helped by the Florida Perinatal Quality Col-
Fort Pierce’s Lawnwood Regional dian River Medical Center, beginning reduce rates of C-sections, according laborative did show room for improve-
Medical Center, which is 18 miles in 2012, became part of the Obstetric to a spokesman for USF’s Florida Peri- ment on the number of blood transfu-
south of 37th Street in Vero, appears Hemorrhage Initiative, a program in- natal Quality Collaborative. sions after delivery.
potentially within that defining range. tended to reduce excessive bleeding
when women give birth developed by C-sections are known to increase a Indian River began an effort to reduce
The possibility that Indian River woman’s risk for blood clots and infec-
Cleveland Clinic Hospital might stop tion. High rates have been hard to rein CONTINUED ON PAGE 9



Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / March 21, 2019 9

NEWS

Maternity cases bowel control and damage to the pel-
vic floor. Episiotomies can also cause
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7 vaginal hematomas that can lead to
hemorrhage. And like all unnecessary
transfusions hospital-wide in 2016 and procedures, they add to the cost of the
has seen a reduction in transfusions of birth.
5.6 percent, the statement said.
Another positive step at Indian Riv-
At the same time, Indian River’s rate er is its involvement in an initiative to
for another frowned-on procedure, the increase access to long-acting revers-
once routine episiotomy, is far higher ible contraception in the hopes of
than surrounding hospitals: 18.1 per- lengthening the time between wom-
cent as measured by Leapfrog. en’s pregnancies. Adequate spacing
can reduce the risk of low-birthweight
Lawnwood’s rate again was the best and premature babies, studies show.
in the area, with episiotomies in just
5.4 percent of births, close to the Leap- “I see Cleveland Clinic as an agent
frog goal of 5 percent. Episiotomy is for change,” said Healthy Start’s Berry,
an incision in the perineum, the area as she dug into her own research on
at the outside of the birth canal, made maternal complications following the
during a vaginal delivery. It must be recent USA Today articles.
sutured once the baby is delivered and
can cause significant pain and danger- In January, Berry spoke with Cleve-
ous complications. land Clinic Indian River’s new CEO,
Dr. Greg Rosencrance, and came
The procedure once was thought away encouraged. “When they say
to prevent tears in the perineum but they care about population health, I
has been found to make tears worse believe them. There’s a lot of innova-
and can result in loss of bladder or tion going on.” 

Murder defense one attorney who was appointed and
then dismissed by Perkins.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
The attorney asked that his name not
documents, attorneys, judges and be used because Perkins on several occa-
other legal experts. sions has subpoenaed former attorneys
and added them to the list of witnesses
That’s because Perkins, who was he wants to question during his trial.
deemed indigent after his arrest on
Nov. 4, 2015, has fired multiple assistant “The judge is in a very difficult posi-
public defenders and private court- tion because if he doesn’t allow Perkins’
appointed attorneys during the past access to the experts he requests, he can
three years and four months, prolong- claim he was denied a fair trial. That’s
ing proceedings, and filed a blizzard of why Perkins is filing so many motions –
motions and requests while acting as he’s blowing smoke, and he’s very good
his own attorney for much of that time. at blowing smoke. He hopes the judge
screws up somewhere along the way.”
Perkins, 60, was arrested Nov. 4,
2015, and charged with the shooting According to court records and in-
death of Cynthia Betts, 63, at her home voice statements from the Florida Jus-
on Seagrape Drive. Deputies said at tice Administrative Commission, the
the time that Perkins admitted to kill- state has paid approximately $120,000
ing her. But he later pled not guilty and to private court-appointed lawyers
has been housed at the Indian River who have represented Perkins for vari-
County jail for the past 40 months. ous lengths of time during the past
three years as counsel, co-counsel or
During that time, he has forced the stand-by counsel when he was acting
court to hire multiple private detec- as his own lawyer.
tive firms, psychologists, ballistic ex-
perts and forensic experts – along with That is addition to money that was
a hypnotist and videographer – to try paid to salaried assistant public de-
to build a defense against the life-and- fenders in the 19th Circuit Public De-
death charge he faces. By law, the state fender’s Office who represented him.
must pick up the tab for Perkins’ de-
fense, spending the taxpayers’ money The state has also paid more $50,000
to make sure he gets a fair trial. to various experts requested by Per-
kins, including $19,000 for a forensic
Besides hiring a slew of profession- expert and private investigator firms,
als to assist him, Perkins has also filed $7,233 for a hypnotist and videogra-
an astounding 263 motions thus far pher, and $6,400 for ballistic experts.
that have slowed his case and added
to the cost of trying him – even though The almost $200,000 spent on Per-
the vast majority of his motions have kins so far is just the tip of the iceberg,
been denied and deemed nonsensi- the attorney who represented him
cal. And a trial date is still nowhere in said. If Perkins is found guilty, he is
sight. certain to appeal.

“His whole strategy is to drag this “We’ll be having the same conversa-
case out for as long as possible,” said tion about Perkins in 10 years, but by
that time we’ll be talking about $1 mil-
lion, not $200,000.” 

10 Vero Beach 32963 / March 21, 2019 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

NEWS

Were men arrested in sting hit with the wrong charge?

BY RAY MCNULTY ors under Florida Statute 796.07 (2) “Based on the affidavits I’ve read, the person in the room, especially if you
Staff Writer (f), which makes it unlawful to “solicit, vast majority of these men have been don’t have audio?
induce, entice or procure another to overcharged,” said Vero Beach attorney
Defense attorneys representing commit prostitution.” Andy Metcalf, who represents more “Now, if you’re charging them with
some of the men arrested for solicita- than two dozen of the men busted dur- a second-degree misdemeanor, you
tion during last month’s prostitution The defense attorneys say they could ing the sting. “Solicitation and partici- simply need to prove someone en-
sting in Indian River County say their successfully challenge the first-degree pation are not the same thing. gaged in prostitution.”
clients might have been overcharged – charge if they can prove the alleged spa
and not by the massage spas. prostitutes initiated the solicitation, or “The state is going to have to prove The penalties for a first-degree mis-
prosecutors can’t prove that the johns did. the men solicited, induced, enticed or demeanor pertaining to prostitution
State Attorney Bruce Colton said procured the women to commit the include: a $5,000 fine, 100 hours of com-
Monday all of the johns arrested were Merely engaging in prostitution is a act,” he added. “How do you prove munity service, mandatory attendance
charged with first-degree misdemean- second-degree misdemeanor, which that without testimony from the other at an educational program on the nega-
carries a significantly lighter penalty. tive effects of prostitution and human-
trafficking, and one year of probation.

A judge also could impose a sen-
tence of up to a year in jail, but it’s rare
for first-time offenders.

A person convicted of a second-de-
gree misdemeanor pertaining to pros-
titution faces only a $500 fine, up to 60
days in jail or both.

Prosecutors are offering first-time
offenders plea deals that include all
of the above-mentioned, first-degree
penalties with no jail time, plus nearly
$900 in other costs – but adjudication
of guilt would be withheld.

That means the men would not be
convicted of a crime, as long as they ful-
fill the terms of the deal, and any crimi-
nal record eventually may be sealed.

“I think it’s a fair offer,” Colton said,
adding that he expects many of the
men to accept the deal rather than go
to trial and risk further public scrutiny.

Colton said prosecutors have video
of all 160-plus johns arrested in con-
nection with the Feb. 19 raids.

He said those videos likely would be
used as evidence and played in court
if the men opt to go to trial.

However, Metcalf and other defense
attorneys say they expect some of their
clients to take their cases to court.

One challenge to the first-degree
charge could come from the affidavit
used by Vero Beach police to obtain
warrants, Metcalf said, citing an un-
dercover officer’s sworn statement
that the women working in the now-
closed East Spa on 14th Avenue initi-
ated the solicitation.

He said he’s prepared to file court
motions seeking the identities of the
alleged prostitutes so they can be ques-
tioned.

“To prove the first-degree misde-
meanor, the state has an obligation to
divulge the names of the women in-
volved in this,” Metcalf said.

Colton defended the decision to file
first-degree charges, saying the “pro-
curement part” of the statute meets the
legal criteria.

He also said he expects defense at-
torneys to challenge the warrants,
“but I think we’re on solid ground
there.” 

WONDERFUL BALLET VERO DANCERS
WOW ’EM AT WINDSOR P. 20

12 Vero Beach 32963 / March 21, 2019 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

Check of an effort! Moorings scores big for Habitat

PHOTOS CONTINUED ON PAGE 14 that this year’s final fundraising
amount was $385,459. It was a 12 per-
Craig Lopes, Pat Allex, Jean Hyde and David Sommers. PHOTOS: DENISE RITCHIE cent increase over last year, which
Hyde credited to an increase in spon-
BY MARY SCHENKEL Hyde and Pat Allex led the most suc- mers stressed. sorships, additional silent-auction
Staff Writer cessful weekend effort ever.” “The club supports multiple Vero items, and a new bid-from-the-heart.

Members of the Moorings commu- He noted that every year for the past Beach charities, but Habitat is our “Jean and I found this to be an en-
nity who volunteer with Indian River two decades, residents have volun- longest charitable relationship,” said riching experience because of all of
Habitat for Humanity throughout the teered and raised funds for Habitat, Kati Rosato, president of the Moor- you here today,” said Allex, thanking
year were invited to an Ice Cream So- toward the construction and rehabili- ings board of governors. In 2004, she everyone who helped make the week-
cial Reception last Friday afternoon at tation of homes, and for educational said the club began its participation end a “smashing success,” before the
the Moorings Yacht and Country Club, scholarships for homeowners and in the Community Contribution Tax pair handed over the ‘baton’ to their
highlighted by a record-breaking their children. Credit Program, which enables it to vice chairs, Randy and Karen Sones,
check presentation. divert sales-tax dollars from the state who will lead next year’s committee.
Throughout that time, Sommers directly to Habitat.
“This afternoon we have several said the Moorings Club has supported “This year we have outdone our
treats for you, in addition to the ice their efforts, donating the use of facili- “This year, the club contributed earlier selves,” said Sommers, noting
cream,” said David Sommers, chair- ties during the fundraising weekend sales tax in the amount of $150,000, that the funding will enable Habitat to
man of the Moorings Habitat commit- and providing food, beverages and which will go directly to next season’s build four new homes, rehabilitate six
tee. “The Moorings Classic Weekend services at cost. home-building,” said Rosato. “Since homes and will provide scholarships
is our major fundraising event every 2004, the club has generated $1.9 mil- to seven Habitat scholars.
Presidents Weekend. This year, Jean “Without that steadfast support lion for Habitat through CCTCP.”
over the last 20 years, none of what “To say that I am humbled is an un-
we do would have happened,” Som- Hyde and Allex proudly announced derstatement, with respect to the grat-
itude of this community and all of the
work that you have done on behalf of
Habitat,” said Sheryl Vittitoe, Habitat
CEO, accepting a ceremonial $535,000
check. “You’re making a difference in
the lives of people living and working
in Indian River County.”

To put a face to a few of the people
impacted by their generosity, Vittitoe
introduced a new Habitat homeowner
whose home was being dedicated the
next day; another woman whose fam-
ily home, damaged by Hurricane Mat-
thew, received a new roof; and a young
man whose Habitat scholarship is en-
abling him to pursue a degree in crim-
inal justice.

For more information, visit irchabi-
tat.org. 



14 Vero Beach 32963 / March 21, 2019 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

PHOTOS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12
Dick Winkler, Bob Samuels and Sheryl Vittitoe.

Peter Hanson, Ann Hill and Walt Nelson. Mary and Harvey Struthers. Kati Rosato and Sheryl Vittitoe.

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / March 21, 2019 15

PEOPLE

Heidi Sommers, Cyndy Hazlewood, Margery Sparks and Michelle Flaherty.

Karen and Randy Sones. Kent Seeley, Karyn Carter and Peter Sparks.

16 Vero Beach 32963 / March 21, 2019 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

Feelin’ groovy at Mental Health Association dance party

BY KERRY FIRTH Stacey Morabito and Debbie Noonan. tion. I am very proud to serve as direc- Shepherd. “It’s No. 8 for adults with
Correspondent Jeanne Shepherd and Maureen Nicolace. tor and I look forward to growing our mental illness and No. 9 for adults
services.” seeking mental health care. Our walk-
The ‘Boss’ was back in town for the in center gives immediate access to
recent Party through the Decades fun- Coppola, who became CEO of the care. All anyone has to do is walk in
draiser at the Oak Harbor Club to bene- organization in January following the and we provide free mental health
fit the Mental Health Association of In- retirement of Bob Brugnoli, Ph.D., con- screenings for any Indian River Coun-
dian River County. Roughly 150 guests, gratulated the staff, board and sup- ty resident. As the local affiliate of
attired in clothing reminiscent of their porters for their efforts in serving the Mental Health America, we promote
favorite musical decades, gathered to mental health needs of the community ‘B4Stage4” for mental wellness, which
dance the night away, boogieing to the for the past 60 years, where the prima- is to treat concerns before they reach
sounds of the Rivertown Band playing ry message has been and continues to Stage 4.”
iconic rock tunes from the ’50s, ’60s, be: “It’s OK to get help.”
’70s and ’80s. Last year, roughly 10,000 hours of
In 1958, recognizing that there was professional services were provided to
Dressed as the ‘Boss’ himself, Bruce no place for individuals with mental nearly 1,300 unduplicated clients. Ser-
Springsteen, the MHA’s new boss, Dr. health issues to go for help, Inga Olla vices included mental health screen-
Nick Coppola, took center stage to en- Helseth, Ph.D. (1888-1987), of one of the ings, psychotherapy visits, psychiatry
courage partiers to reach into their area’s early pioneer families, founded visits and group services. They also
pockets in support of mental health the Mental Health Association of Vero operate three peer-operated drop-in
services in Indian River County. Beach; the current organization was centers in Indian River, St. Lucie and
incorporated in 1978. Okeechobee counties that are open
“I was a family doctor for 23 years 365 days a year, providing a safe, con-
and treated mental health patients. In 2007, the MHA opened a Walk-In fidential and empowering environ-
When my son died four and a half years Counseling Center to provide immedi- ment where members support one an-
ago, I became the patient and sought ate access to mental health care when other and engage in recreational and
treatment for my own mental health,” it is first needed, rather than waiting social activities.
said Coppola. “I have been on both until the problem is at its worst.
sides of the illness and I bring a unique For more information, visit mhairc.
perspective and empathy to the posi- “Florida is ranked No. 1 in the nation org. 
for adults with thoughts of suicide,”
said MHA clinical director Jeanne

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / March 21, 2019 17

PEOPLE

Susie Marikle, Traci Preuss and Anne Lanier. PHOTOS: KAILA JONES Angela Guzenski, Dr. Nick Coppola, Anne Lanier and Stacey Morabito. Nicole Noonan, Troy Harmon and Debbie Noonan.

Montie Labadie and Julie Ann Steckel. Dr. Suzanne Conway, Pat Nick, Roz Cline and Dr. Mickey Conway. Scott Nuttall and Alexandra Radu.

Eileen and Victor Basile, Chris Sexton and Carole Jean Jordan.

Alexandra Posada and Morgan Smith. Karen Deigl and Judge Cynthia Cox.

18 Vero Beach 32963 / March 21, 2019 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

Boathouse groundbreaking shows Vero ‘rowing is growing’

City Councilman Tony Young, Chris Ryan and Jaci Ruppert. PHOTOS: KAILA JONES Jim Toffey with Dr. John and Lindy Kastendiek.

BY STEPHANIE LaBAFF collaborative effort with Friends Af- “I can’t tell you how excited I am boats and fill it up with rowers, and
Staff Writer ter Diagnosis. about today,” said Brian Colgan, new- we’ll take the country by storm.”
ly hired as VBR director of rowing. “In
Members of Vero Beach Rowing While the rowing term ‘a clean about eight months’ time, we’ll have The Community Boathouse, to be
swapped their oars for shovels last row’ means there is little to no this tremendous asset that will really built by Proctor Construction, will
Wednesday afternoon at a Ground- splash, this club’s dictum is: “We’re transform rowing in our communi- enable VBR to further its goal of pro-
breaking Ceremony for the non- making waves. Rowing is growing ty. All we have to do is fill it up with moting and teaching the sport of row-
profit’s Community Boathouse at in Vero Beach.” ing as a means to develop physical
MacWilliam Park and Boat Ramp. fitness, personal character and a co-
The organization has raised all but operative ethic through competitive
$225,000 of its $2.5 million capital and recreational rowing programs.
campaign to fund the project.
Joe Amlong, an Olympic Gold Med-
“This has been a long time com- alist in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics,
ing,” said Todd Young, VBR president. credited rowing clubs for his success
He noted that the organization got its as a rower.
start in 2008 with five people row-
ing in the main canal in Fellsmere, “The only reason I have that gold is
before moving in 2013 to the foot of because of boat clubs,” said Amlong.
the Alma Lee Loy Bridge and finally “This will be the sixth boat club in my
in 2017 to MacWilliam Park. life, and I really think it’s a great one.
I’m amazed at what you’ve accom-
Now a countywide program, Vero plished here.”
Beach Rowing has grown to include
adult and youth programming, Learn After VBR board members and
to Row events, a dragon boat team, Proctor Construction representatives
summer rowing camps and partner- “launched” the project by turning the
ships with other nonprofits, such as first spades of dirt, youth rowers con-
Rowing Beyond Diagnosis, which is a cluded the occasion with a rowing
demonstration.

For more information, visit vero-
beachrowing.org. 

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / March 21, 2019 19

PEOPLE

Megan Kuehm, Marcia Norman and Lin Reading. Brian Colgan, Heidi Sutherland, Chuck Cook and Sugaree. Nick and Liz Melnick with Jeff Pickering.

Joe Amlong and Brian Colgan. Eddie Pines and Sam Buckley.

Susan Brown, Megan Kuehm, Chris Deathe, Lachlan Deathe and Piper Till. Ryan and Melissa Weaver, Agency Owners
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across from Classic Car Wash on US-1

20 Vero Beach 32963 / March 21, 2019 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

Wonderful Ballet Vero dancers wow ’em at Windsor

BY MARY SCHENKEL
Staff Writer

Talented Ballet Vero Beach dancers Katherine Herrema, Robert Lewis and Sheryl Herrema. PHOTOS: KAILA JONES Adam Schnell and Stacey Lewis.
enchanted a gathering of about 120
people last Thursday afternoon during Karen Seamen and Chris Schenk. In addition to four main stage per- Beach was chartered, and the second
Ballet at the Pergola, a performance formances each season, Schnell said act is set on the Indian River Lagoon,
at Windsor’s beautiful Village Centre, graphed by Kate van der Mars, Camilo they began focusing on education complete with dancing manatees.
thanks to an introduction by Windsor Rodriguez and Adam Schnell. and outreach initiatives six years ago, And their educational initiatives are
resident Stacey Lewis, who joined the beginning with a ticket donation pro- incorporated into the production.
BVB board this year. “At Ballet Vero Beach, our mission is gram that now provides complimen-
to promote the art of dance as a uni- tary tickets to 14 nonprofits to reach “This year we had 16 fourth-graders
“I love dance. I grew up dancing and versal language in our community and an underserved population of the who had never danced before. They
I’ve always loved ballet,” said Lewis. beyond,” said Adam Schnell, BVB ar- community. got to be in the performance and have
“These performers have been working tistic director/CEO. “I always like to tell their parents watch them on stage,
on their craft since they were 5 years people that at Ballet Vero Beach we’re “And that snowballed into us part- and that was a transformational expe-
old; daily perfecting their techniques more than dance.” nering with Quail Valley Charities to rience for the kids.”
to bring something beautiful to you start our absolutely free student mati-
and me. I think we should support that. nee series,” said Schnell, of the two Jane Smalley, Windsor marketing
Windsor is a great supporter of the arts matinee performances offered yearly director, shared that residents could
and we wanted to introduce our com- to all third- and fourth-graders. support the troupe through donations
munity to this company.” to the Windsor Charitable Founda-
Thanks to generous philanthropic tion.
Lewis said she has been coming to support, he said BVB was able to pre-
Vero Beach since 1988, when cultural mier its own spectacular production On April 5 and 6, Ballet Vero Beach
offerings were in their nascent years of Nutcracker on the Indian River, will close its sixth season with “Comedy
and commented on the numerous op- now performed each Dec. 30 and 31. Tonight” at the Vero Beach High School
portunities now available. The ballet is set in 1919, the year Vero Performing Arts Center. For more infor-
mation, visit balletverobeach.org. 
“It’s been so wonderful to see how
this town embraces the arts organiza-
tions,” said Lewis. “I used to have to
drive to Miami to see ballet and now
we have this beautiful ballet company.
I can’t believe what they’ve accom-
plished in such a short time and I look
forward to a bright future.”

Ballet Vero Beach dancers Camilo
Rodriguez, who also serves as BVB
ballet master, Katherine Eppink and
Anders Southerland performed four
delightful pieces Thursday, three of
which were world premieres, choreo-

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / March 21, 2019 21

PEOPLE

Susan Crocker and John Hunkin with Tara and Ed Ayranto. Janis Evans and Maria Whittle.

Patti Mitchell, Annabelle Hasselbeck and Sarah Hasselbeck. Camilo Rodriguez. Carla Meyer and Bobbie Olsen.

Christine Schmidt and Charles Baillie. Susan and Larry Salustro. Margaret Carr-Harris, Helen Graham and Kelly Meighem.

22 Vero Beach 32963 / March 21, 2019 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

All’s read and ‘write’ in the world at Love of Literacy event

BY MARY SCHENKEL
Staff Writer

Being able to read and write is often Michelle Servos with Don and Sandy Mann and Diana Castleman. PHOTOS: KAILA JONES & MARY SCHENKEL Jessica Schmitt and Jeanne Selander Miller.
taken for granted. And yet, according to
Literacy Services of Indian River Coun- Ann Hamner, Nat Jackson, Gertrude Terry and Helen Brackins. school system,” said Bass, tutored by
ty, one out of five adult residents strug- Melanie Atkins. Although his daugh-
gles with substandard literacy skills. trilogy of memoirs awarded the Best make move the story one direction or ter is an ROTC student destined to do
Another 13.5 percent speak a primary Spiritual Book at the London Book Fes- another, but that it can be rewritten if well in life, Bass said his son also had
language other than English. tival, who spoke about the unexpected you don’t like the direction it is taking. trouble reading. Bass now reads with
life paths that led to her becoming a him at night and is better able to com-
At the annual Love of Literacy Lun- writer. “I would say that our students here municate with his son’s teachers. Bass
cheon last Monday at the Quail Valley are like that,” said Miller. “They are is pursuing his dream of becoming a
River Club, two dedicated individuals “I want you to think today about a changing the direction of their lives.” professional cook and now works at
were honored for their commitment story being a metaphor for life; where Marsh Landing.
toward improving their own literacy you are the author and you are the Tutor trainer Anali Vieyra and North
skills as well as those of their children. main character,” said Miller. County coordinator Elida Gomez in- Learning to speak English has been
troduced Larry Bass, Literacy Student life-changing for Lopez, tutored by
“This organization has a tremendous She shared that her own story as an of the Year, and Kenia Lopez, ESL Stu- Linda VillaMil, especially in her role
history,” said Jessica Schmitt, execu- author evolved from a series of journals dent of the Year, and their tutors. as caregiver to her autistic, epileptic
tive director, in her welcome to the 150 she wrote relating to pivotal moments daughter. In addition to wanting to
guests, thanking them for their support in her life. Miller said the choices we “I am an example of the student who help her son with school, being able to
of the organization’s vision to end gen- fell through the cracks of the public- speak directly with her daughter’s phy-
erational illiteracy. She also recognized sicians was critical.
guests Nat Jackson, Ann Hamner, Ger-
trude Terry, Kathryn Moss and Helen “Now I don’t need a translator at the
Brackins, some of the founders of the doctor’s, because my tutor has given
organization in 1971. me the tools and confidence to express
myself in English,” said Lopez.
Michelle Servos, immediate past
president, said more than 295 students “Our dream is that every person
were able to improve their lives this who comes to Literacy Services for
past year with the assistance of 190 vol- help finds the resources they need
unteer tutors. to feel empowered to turn the page
and write a new chapter of success,
“As a result of what our students and and to achieve their dreams,” said
their tutors are accomplishing, their Schmitt in closing. 
lives are enriched, and our community
is better for it,” said Servos. She noted
that students have been able to become
U.S. citizens; obtain jobs, driver’s li-
censes, bank accounts and GEDs; at-
tend college, trade schools and adult
education classes; and have become
more engaged in their children’s edu-
cation.

“Literacy is an essential aspect of our
everyday life, and the ability to read
can open so many doors,” said Servos.

The luncheon’s guest speaker was
Jeanne Sealander Miller, author of a

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / March 21, 2019 23

PEOPLE

Pinky Martin and Susan Kintner. Donna Remsnyder, Melanie Atkins, Larry Bass and Fran Adams. Elizabeth Carvalho and Joan Hoffman.

Linda VillaMil, Kenia Lopez and Trudie Rainone. Diana Walker, Penny Chandler, Alma Lee Loy and Lois Appleby.

Lorraine Day and Stella Covill. Carmen Stork and Gerri Smith.

Mary Arnold and Natalie Calixto. Maureen Campeau and Maggie Foreman.

24 Vero Beach 32963 / March 21, 2019 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

Childcare Resources: Good as gold on silver anniversary

Brian Baker, Kathy Marshall and Bill Penney. Shannon McGuire Bowman with Peter and Maureen Lee. Elke and George Fetterolf with Monica Cheslak.

BY STEPHANIE LaBAFF Bowman, executive director, reflected
Staff Writer on the growth of Childcare Resources
in the years since Sandy Kahle, Kathy
Childcare Resources of Indian River Marshall and Sherry Waddell first
celebrated its silver jubilee last Mon- founded the program. Proponents of
day evening during a 25th Anniversary early education, they had recognized a
Celebration and Annual Meeting at need to serve the working poor; fami-
their own Childcare Resources School. lies earning too much to qualify for ed-
ucational assistance but not enough to
Anthony Donadio, who served as afford quality childcare or preschool.
the nonprofit’s first board president
25 years ago, and Shannon McGuire “They deeply understood what chil-

Skyler, Ava and Aleah. PHOTOS: STEPHANIE LABAFF

dren and parents need in order to pre- dealing with our children, that really
pare a child; not only for kindergarten make our community special.”
but for life,” said Bowman.
A brief video recapping the history
“It’s amazing what they’ve done of the organization included testimo-
here,” added Donadio. He noted that nials from parents sharing the impact
in its first year, Childcare Resources the preschool has made on their chil-
served 24 children and now impacts dren’s lives. One father said he consid-
the lives of 2,000 children annually. ers it to have been the foundation for
“I’m proud to have been involved in the life his son, now a college graduate,
this program.” has been able to build.

Marilyn Brock’s class of 4-year-olds Guests were invited to tour the class-
impressed the audience with adorable rooms and visit with teachers, getting a
performances, singing songs and re- glimpse of where children, ranging in
citing poems before announcing with age from 6 weeks to 5 years, spend their
confidence and no shortage of cute- days – a world where colorful artwork
ness what they would like to be when papers nearly every wall, butterflies
they grow up. The group included an flutter overhead and books are scat-
aspiring firefighter, two police officers, tered all about the rooms.
a farmer, a chef and an artist who plans
to study in Paris. Later, as they gathered in tents for a
cocktail reception, guests discussed
“Whenever I talk about Indian River the high-quality preschool, as well as
County I always talk about how it’s such its partnerships with other childcare
a philanthropic community,” said In- centers, and such innovative programs
dian River County Commissioner Pe- as a Credentialing Program for Early
ter O’Bryan, presenting Bowman with Educators.
a proclamation honoring Childcare
Resources. “We have all of these great “At Childcare Resources we change
people that volunteer their time, their children’s lives. We make them better
effort and their money to make Indian and give them opportunities that they
River County a special community. We wouldn’t have had otherwise,” said Su-
have a lot of the sexy things like the san Donovan, incoming board presi-
theater and the art museum, but it’s or- dent.
ganizations like Childcare Resources,
For more information, visit child-
careresourcesir.org. 

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / March 21, 2019 25

PEOPLE

PHOTOS CONTINUED ON PAGE 26
Anthony Donadio and Sherry Waddell with Peg and Bob Martin.

John and Karla Spooner. Katie Block Healy and Steve Healy.

Meredith Egan, Patricia Brier and Michael Kint.

Susan Donovan with Tim and Cynthia Hultquist.

26 Vero Beach 32963 / March 21, 2019 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

PHOTOS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 25 Shelley Adelle and Richard Giessert. Dale and Betty Jacobs with Patricia Brier.
Sam and Linda Block with Mark Rendell.

Jim Beindorf with Tracey and Dave Griffis. Paulette Maggiacomo, Jeffrey Pickering and Carol Buhl. Lenora Ritchie, Maj. Eric Flowers and Jennifer Jones.

Trudie Rainone, Patrick Farrah and Wanda Lincoln.

Joy Lambert, Linda Downey, Mary Graves and Janie Graves Hoover.

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28 Vero Beach 32963 / March 21, 2019 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

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10,000 get their fill at ‘ShrimpFest & Brew Hullabaloo’

BY STEPHANIE LaBAFF
Staff Writer

Riverview Park in Sebastian over- Harvey Sorensen. PHOTOS: DENISE RITCHIE Melinda Gerding, Barbara Wallace and Debbie Spivey.
flowed with an estimated 10,000 peo-
ple last weekend during the fourth as the tasty shellfish were simmered,
annual ShrimpFest & Craft Brew Hul- sautéed and barbecued by local chefs
labaloo, collaboratively hosted by using every recipe imaginable.
the Rotary Club of Sebastian, City of
Sebastian and the Exchange Club of Crowds of gourmands tested the wa-
Fellsmere. ters as featured restaurants cooked up

Attendees to the three-day festival
didn’t let a few raindrops dampen the
mood, and instead had a crustaceous
good time in spite of the weather. Even
as temperatures began to cool things
off, craft beers continued to flow from
the taps of nearly 30 breweries and
home brewers.

Saturday afternoon’s beer garden
was a favorite spot as attendees made
their way through, sipping from “pint-
sized” tasting mugs. In addition to
brews, kombucha, cold-brew coffee,
root beer and hard ciders were on tap
for the tasting.

Nearby, the tempting aroma of
scrumptious shrimp wafted about

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Any One Item & Buy Estates! Chubby Mullet Bar & Grill had folks and frothy beverages, attendees could
(Excluding Furniture) Any Purchase Of puckering up for their pickled shrimp; walk off their meals perusing classic
$500 or More Store is over The Old Fish House served up peel cars, visiting educational exhibits and
32963-1 coupon per purchase per day. 9000 Sq. Ft. and eat shrimp; Squid Lips tossed in shopping from more than 90 vendors,
Expires 4/4/19 (1 Hour Limit) shrimp tacos; and The Tiki Hut Bar and where they could pick up miniature
Mon-Friday 10-5 Grill offered garlic shrimp on toast. cornhole games, handmade soaps, art
10% OFF 32963-1 coupon per purchase per day. & Sat 10-4 and jewelry.
Expires 4/4/19 And a hoard of food trucks offered
Furniture everything from curried shrimp to Event chair Marc Gingras said they
shrimp cakes, garlic shrimp and vol- cast the net wide in hopes of topping
32963-1 coupon per purchase per day. cano shrimp po’boys, along with each last year’s $70,000 to “generate monies
Expires 4/4/19 of the mobile eateries’ specialties. The for local youth sports clubs and orga-
Rotary Club provided shrimp pizza nizations.”
Voted Best Consignment Store and, for landlubbers, a few non-prawn
related items, including hot dogs and Proceeds from the event support the
(772)226-5719 hamburgers. Sebastian River Girls Basketball, Sebas-
644 Old Dixie Hwy SW tian River Wrestling, Sebastian River
(Between 4th St. & Oslo) The park was abuzz with music play- Track & Field, Sebastian River Interact
Blue Heron Plaza, Vero Beach ing all weekend long, Harley Davidson Club, Sebastian Sharks Youth Football
kaleidoscopeconsignments.com motorcycles roared in with hogs aplen- & Cheerleading, Sebastian River Crew
ty, and a kids zone bustled with activ- and the Boys & Girls Club. 

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / March 21, 2019 29

PEOPLE

Dede Lin and Dot Rochester. Nancy Blauers and Greg Piecora. Jennifer Shaw, Geoff Shaw and Sandy Kirkman.

Gary and Elizabeth Nicklaus.

Sandi Gehrke.
Adam Davis.

30 Vero Beach 32963 / March 21, 2019 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

Stellar fundraising efforts help Children’s Home Society

BY STEPHANIE LaBAFF Finklin, referencing two CHS he-
Staff Writer roes, Tony Huerta and Kelly Dono-
van, who were honored for helping
The stars shone a little bit bright- Kelly Donovan and Sabrina Sampson. PHOTOS: DENISE RITCHIE to transform children’s lives.
er at the sixth annual Reach for the
Stars Gala to benefit the Children’s and over 1 million children and Sabrina Sampson, CHS executive
Home Society of Florida last Thurs- their families assisted by CHS since director, shared that she was born
day evening at the Grand Harbor its 1902 founding. to a young mother and had a father
Golf Club. addicted to drugs and alcohol, but
“The work that we do is to ensure that unlike some children, she was
Guests enjoyed nibbling on items that the playing field is leveled for fortunate to have a grandmother
from a raw bar and charcuterie ta- all children to have a chance to be who supported her.
ble, partaking of wine and whiskey
tastings and even puffing on sto- “My passion comes from the fact
gies from the cigar bar. The Elegant that my life isn’t very different from
Harp Ensemble played beautifully the clients that I serve every day,”
as attendees perused 10 specialty said Sampson. “I know it is not as
auction items or tried their luck at a important where I start. What’s im-
cork pull in hopes of winning mys- portant is where I finish.”
tery bottles of wine and whiskey,
before dining on a buffet dinner. Sampson also spoke of several
residents of the CHS transitional
Proceeds from the evening will housing and independent living
support the nonprofit’s mission to programs, ages 18 to 23, who have
help children reach their full po-
tential through early education
and care, community partnerships,
counseling, foster care and adop-
tion services. The evening celebrat-
ed the more than 50,000 adoptions

Premier 3 successful in life,” said Willie Fin- exited foster care and would other-
klin, CHS senior grant writer. “We wise have no place to go.
know that the pursuit of the success
of children is worth every effort “These kids represent a few young
that we put forward, no matter how people who without your help
small or how great.” would probably be on the streets
somewhere on the Treasure Coast.
He said the harsh reality is that We can invest $1 now to give them
one in four children suffers from a hand up, not a handout. Or we can
abuse or neglect. Those children pay for them in another social ser-
are more likely to turn to drugs, en- vices arena,” said Sampson.
gage in criminal activity or further
the cycle as they become teenaged “An ounce of prevention is worth
parents themselves. a pound of cure,” said Finklin be-
fore an Appeal to the Heart, not-
“Growing up I used to think that ing that the cost to support a child
only people who save and change in foster care is roughly $112,000
the world were superheroes; ex- versus $2,600 for intervention and
traordinary beings with amazing programming. “Together, we are re-
gifts and talents to get the job done. shaping the future of children.”
I now know they’re everyday people
who do extraordinary things,” said For more information, visit chsfl.
org. 

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / March 21, 2019 31

PEOPLE

PHOTOS CONTINUED ON PAGE 32
Debbie Brenner, Mary Parks, Richard Schlitt and Alexis Stallings.

Betty and Dale Jacobs. Bob and Marta Schneider.

Stewart and Sidney Rose. Tiffany and Mark Justice.

Jane and Mike Harrell. Susan and Chris Mehiel.

32 Vero Beach 32963 / March 21, 2019 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

PHOTOS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 31 Teleria Petion, Lavonte Irvin and Alexis Stallings. Stephanie Womack, Diane Parentela and Janet Baines.
Rodger and Diana Pridgeon with Tasha and Aaron Bowles.

Andrea and Bill Adamany. Samantha Ramlall, Marty Zickert and Laura Moss. Willie Finklin with Laura and Tim Zorc.

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34 Vero Beach 32963 / March 21, 2019 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

‘Amazing creations’ dazzle at Art in Bloom Luncheon

BY MARY SCHENKEL Susan Lawson Bouma and Dhuanne Tansill. PHOTOS: KAILA JONES Amazing creations,” said Jean Uelts-
Staff Writer chi, as she pondered each piece before
the purses used for inspiration came Space constraints also forced the marking her ballot.
Organizers of this year’s Art in from the collection of Marguerite number of floral designs to be reduced
Bloom Luncheon at the Vero Beach Jones Miller. to 11 versus prior years when they had The popular event once again ne-
Museum of Art were presented with between 14 and 16 arrangements. cessitated two seatings for the nearly
some new challenges due to the strict Jones said that after reading that 500 guests, with earlier arrivals dining
restrictions placed on the museum’s Leiber had died and realizing they “I think we all found it to be a brand- in the great hall and the latter group in
Victorian Radicals: From the Pre- would have limited space, she thought new challenge. It was something peo- the atrium, all enjoying a luncheon of
Raphaelites to the Arts & Crafts it would be fun to use the purses as ple hadn’t done before so it was fun,” poached salmon catered by Elizabeth
Movement exhibit, on dis- the inspiration for the arrangements. said Jones. D. Kennedy & Co.
play through May 5. But the
luncheon co-chairs Susan “It was fun; it was interesting,” said This year’s guest presenter was
Bouma and Dhuanne Tans- designer Betty McCarthy in agree- Charles Masson, artist, floral design-
ill, and exhibition co-chairs ment. “There were animals and there er, author of “The Flowers of La Gre-
Ann Jones and Susan Pyles, were different forms. I think that my nouille” and creator of the Majorelle
took it all in stride. biggest surprise was the size. The bags restaurant at the Lowell Hotel in New
are so small.” York City, who delighted the ladies as
One thing that made this he shared slides and tips and gave flo-
year’s event unique was that view- “What is rather special about a lot of ral arranging demonstrations.
ing took place strictly in the museum’s these women is they’re national judg-
hallway rather than in the galleries. es,” said Jones of the floral designers. “Through the eyes of artists, you
The other was that the gorgeous flo- “And so the caliber here is quite high. learn to appreciate the smaller things
ral designs were, for the first time, We’re very fortunate here that we have in life. There’s beauty everywhere,”
not based on the museum’s exhib- this group of women who are unusu- said Masson. Indeed. 
its, but rather on colorful and spar- ally qualified. This is an art form, al-
kly museum-quality clutches by the though it’s not always recognized that SHOW WINNERS:
famed fashion designer Judith Leiber, way until people see it. What we try to
who passed away last April. Seven of do is interpret these pieces, not repli- Best Use of Color:
cate them.” floral designer Nancy Murray,

“Some of the clever interpretations ladybug purse
are the most impressive I’ve ever seen.
Best Use of Texture:
floral designer Elaine Sigler

striped horse purse

Best Interpretation:
floral designers Liz Farnsworth

and Susan Pyles
lemon slice purse

Best in Show:
floral designer, Lee La Pointe

frog purse

Curator’s Choice Award:
floral designer, Arun Wijetilleke

butterfly purse

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / March 21, 2019 35

PEOPLE

Ann Jones and Susan Pyles. Dee Gordon, Carol Newman and Wilson McKane. Lynne Whipple, Marilynn Goldsmith, Mary Susan Lyon and Terry Nolan.

Susan Richardson, Jane Wittmann and Kitty Simpson.

Sue Saraceno and Laura Penfield.

Gail Keeler and Sally Woodruff.
Dhuanne Tansill, Suzanne Mallory and Gisela Kenyon.

36 Vero Beach 32963 / March 21, 2019 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

Fun-lovers flock to Pelican Island Wildlife Festival

Triana Romero and Brian Coon. Jim and Joanne Torpey. PHOTOS: BENJAMIN THACKER Kyle Wald and Richard Papperno. Pat and Sherry Carrigan.

Ed Bowes with Cabo the Crested Cara-Cara. Tamara and Tim Carroll.

Tracee and Frank Vanbrunt. Kim Smith with Sue Farnsworth.

Gorgeous weather and the promise of yet another great event drew huge
crowds to Sebastian’s Riverview Park to the recent Pelican Island Wild-
life Festival. The annual event celebrates the anniversary of President
Theodore Roosevelt’s historic March 14, 1903, enactment that established
Pelican Island as the nation’s first National Wildlife Refuge. Roosevelt ap-
pointed German-born Sebastian resident Paul Kroegel as the country’s
first refuge manager to protect the area’s magnificent birds from being
slaughtered for their plumage. Festival attendees enjoyed live wildlife
shows, educational, historical and environmental exhibits, arts and crafts,
children’s activities, viewed submissions to the annual Photography Con-
test and got out on the water with boat tours to get a closer look at Pelican
Island and the birds that call it home. 

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RIVERSIDE’S ‘MY FAIR LADY’:
A LOVERLY ENTERTAINMENT EXPERIENCE

38 Vero Beach 32963 / March 21, 2019 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

ARTS & THEATRE

Riverside’s ‘My Fair Lady’: A loverly entertainment experience

BY PAM HARBAUGH John Donovan Wilson as Freddy Eynsford-Hill, named his play after a mythological
Correspondent Kristen Beth Williams as Eliza Doolittle, Greek sculptor who falls in love with
Kathleen Huber as Mrs. Higgins. his own ivory sculpture of a woman.
Yes, you can go to Broadway to see Although the musical’s happy ending is
“My Fair Lady,” but you would be hard PHOTOS BY HOLLY PORCH different than the play’s cynical ending,
pressed to find a more energetic, ex- much remains the same.
quisitely directed and rapturous pro- Karen Murphy as Mrs. Pearce
duction of this great American musi- and Kristen Beth Williams. Inspired by hubris, famed phoneti-
cal than that which is on stage now in cian Professor Henry Higgins bets his
your own backyard. James Ludwig as Henry Higgins and colleague, Col. Pickering, that he can
Kristen Beth Williams as Eliza Doolittle. turn a poor Cockney flower girl, Eliza,
And you better hope you already have into a lady who can turn heads at a fancy
tickets, or you might not get to see it. In- ball. He wins the bet, but it leaves Eliza
deed, on opening night, the much-de- not fitting in anywhere.
served standing ovation and shouts of
“Bravo!” shook Riverside Theatre before She had wanted only to be cultivated
the curtain call began. enough to work at a flower shop. But
now, she’s too good for even that, so her
Directed and choreographed by only hope is to marry. At the same time,
James Brennan, this professional pro- Prof. Higgins has grown fond of her, but
duction of Lerner and Loewe’s 1956 he denies his feelings.
award-winning classic is a theatrical
feast, serving up humor, strong perfor- Within this simple set-up are some
mances, lusty choreography, impec- of Shaw’s progressive themes, such
cable elegance and music that tests the as the injustices of class distinction
audience’s will to behave. and privilege and the mistreatment
of women.
The stage musical, and its dazzling
1964 movie version, is set in 1912 Lon- Higgins is sophisticated, dismissive,
don, the same year George Bernard misogynistic and superior. This, of
Shaw wrote his play “Pygmalion,” upon course, is what Shaw, a politically ener-
which “My Fair Lady” is based. Shaw gized Irish playwright, wished revealed
in “Pygmalion” – the gnawing distinc-

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Cast with Tom Souhrada as Vero Beach 32963 / March 21, 2019 39
Alfred Doolittle.

ARTS & THEATRE

tion between classes and gender and work designing this opulent array of
the hypocrisy of the upper classes. costumes and wigs. And lighting de-
signer Julie Duro makes it all shine so
But those are the deeper currents, pretty.
there if you want to swim in them. River-
side’s production has so much entertain- With a celebrated production of
ment you won’t notice the lesson at all. “My Fair Lady” on Broadway right
now at Lincoln Center, area audienc-
The direction and choreography of es are lucky that Riverside secured
this show is bold and big, filled with the rights long ago.
satisfying performances and a snappy
pace. It is what we have come to expect As Henry Higgins, James Ludwig, study. And she’s a good girl she is, so “My Fair Lady” runs through March 31
from Brennan, who has directed and/ who was in the original Broadway she deserves a room with a door. Nev- with evening and matinee performances
or choreographed 10 shows at River- cast of “Spamalot,” displays comic ertheless, his multitude of drops and at Riverside Theatre, 3250 Riverside Park
side, including “Miss Saigon,” “Crazy for befuddlement over the aggravation gorgeous study for Higgins are winning. Drive, Vero Beach. Tickets begin at $35.
You,” “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Eliza causes him. We see Higgins’ du- Call 772-231-6990 or visit RiversideThe-
Spike” and “Hello, Dolly!” ality, the war in him between rational Kurt Alger continues his superior atre.com. 
thought and human heart, especially
You’ll whoop with delight at his ro- in “I’m an Ordinary Man.” And despite UNEXPECTED DETAILS
coco design, vaudeville shtick and even his dastardly actions, your own heart
a can-can line in the vivacious musi- will break in his mournful “I’ve Grown GABRIEL OFIESH TRUNK SHOW
cal number “Get Me to the Church on Accustomed to her Face.”
Time.” There were audible cheers after AND PERSONAL APPEARANCE
that number on opening night. As Alfred Doolittle, Eliza’s drinking FRIDAY & SATURDAY
and womanizing father, Tom Souhrada MARCH 22ND-23RD
And “woke” audience members will is nothing short of perfect. Like many
get a #MeToo kick out of his emphasis on of his cast mates, he has a wealth of
an otherwise throw-away line said by credits and it shows in his confident,
Col. Pickering: Higgins says “Have you infectious fun. When this role is done
ever met a man of good character where right, like it is here, Alfred Doolittle
women were concerned?” Beat. Picker- would come close to stealing the big
ing answers, “Yes. Very frequently.” musical numbers like “With a Little
Bit of Luck,” if it weren’t for the overall
He also takes a big chance with tim- strength of the standout ensemble.
ing in the resplendent Ascot Gavotte
number where the ultra-bored high A Drama Desk Award winner and
society gathers to watch a horse race. Broadway veteran with credits as long
You’ve probably never seen such a long as your arm, Ed Dixon gives warm lov-
bit of silence on Riverside’s stage as in ability to his character of Colonel Pick-
that number, but it pays off with sweet, ering, the ideal foil to Higgins.
witty comedy.
Other standouts include Kathleen
But no matter how gifted Brennan Huber as the stately Mrs. Higgins and
is, he can’t deliver without his talented John Donovan Wilson who, as Freddy
cast, especially its quartet of remarkable Eynsford-Hill, sings an exquisite “On
performers, who have stage presence the Street Where You Live.”
from here to Broadway.
Music director Anne Shuttlesworth
An energetic ball of total delight, Kris- gets such rich sound from her nine pit
ten Beth Williams gives flesh and fury musicians you’ll come close to believing
to Eliza Doolittle. And, like Williams did a full orchestra has snuck in.
in her role of Sibella in the first national
tour of “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love Scenic designer Paul Tate dePoo
and Murder,” she sings like a dream III does some splendid work here, al-
while exuding character. Her “Wouldn’t though it’s a bit perplexing why Higgins’
It Be Loverly” and “Show Me” are filled grand London home would not have a
with verve. She is also drop dead hys- separate room for Eliza, who here has
terical when, at the Ascot races, she uses been forced to sleep on the couch in the
perfect elocution to describe an experi-
ence worthy of a Penny Dreadful.

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40 Vero Beach 32963 / March 21, 2019 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

ARTS & THEATRE

Backus and Butcher: Inspired pairing of landscape legends

BY MICHELLE GENZ many on loan for the show.
Staff Writer Backus and Butcher and the Florida

The works of two iconic Florida land- Landscape: Two Paths, One Passion
scape artists, painter A.E. Backus and is the third major show in the second
photographer Clyde Butcher, hanging season of J. Marshall Adams’ tenure
side by side at the A.E. Backus Museum as executive director of the museum.
in Fort Pierce, are a fascinating study He joined the staff of the newly ex-
in contrasts: the jubilant hues of Back- panded museum after the retirement
us’ billowing clouds and cypress trees of longtime director Kathleen Fred-
compared with the starkly ominous rick. In his first year, Adams, the for-
swamps and storms of Butcher’s black- mer director of education at the Vero
and-white photos. Beach Museum of Art, carried out a
show schedule set by his predecessor.
While both artists convey the emo- This year, the exhibitions are all his
tional power of nature’s beauty, they doing; the Butcher and Backus show
also call to mind the brevity of life. Fort follows an exhibition of Highwaymen
Pierce still grieves for its loving and paintings, and before that, selected
eccentric native son, Backus, nearly works of glass artists Dale Chihuly
30 years since his death. And fans of and Marlene Rose.
Butcher worry about his well-being, 22
months after the 78-year-old bearded In inviting Butcher to show his works,
bulwark of a man suffered a serious Adams pointed out that there were
stroke at his home in Venice, on Flori- “amazing similarities” between Backus
da’s southeast coast. and Butcher. “Both are in the Florida
Artists Hall of Fame. Both have land-
On March 30, Butcher will appear scapes as their primary subject. They
at a book signing at the Fort Pierce both felt nature was a refuge for them.”
waterfront museum, where 13 of his
large-format photographs are on view For Butcher, nature is more than a ref-
along with some of Backus’ best works, uge: It is healing him. After the May 2017
stroke and two months of rehabilitation,

it was only a matter of months before the reedy shore where his walker was
he was shooting in the swamps again. perched. Butcher snapped the shutter
The making of his first photo since the of his digital camera, his standard large-
stroke, Myakka Lake 1, involved what he format camera traded for something
now calls his favorite photo prop: a four- lighter weight for his now-trying treks
wheeled walker with a built-in seat. He into the wilderness.
describes waiting patiently for the in-
stant when luminous clouds seemed The notoriously intrepid Butcher
to launch out of a black sky toward was not new to a sense of mortality;
he had had that lesson delivered in the

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Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / March 21, 2019 41

ARTS & THEATRE

harshest of ways, when his teenage about exploring these themes, the style Pierce, where the owner, the late Bud his website, next to a print from his
son Ted was killed by a drunk driver and spiritual similarities?’ And they Adams, had several Backus paint- day on the ranch. “A fellow artist saw
in 1986. Butcher mourned the loss by were on board immediately.” ings in his home. Adams told Butcher the beauty of Florida in his heart and
heading into the swamp before dawn that Backus considered the ranch one wanted to share that beauty through
every day, driving “until there were Butcher was already well acquaint- of his favorite places to paint. “That his paintings.”
no roads left to drive,” as authors Tom ed with Backus. In 2003, he shot made me smile,” Butcher wrote on
Shroder and John Barry, described in photos at Adams Ranch west of Fort That Butcher photo from Adams
their book, “Seeing the Light.” Ranch is among the prints on ex-
hibit, suggested by Butcher himself,
Butcher would hoist his heavy camera Adams says.
and equipment to his massive shoulders
and begin a trek into primeval swamp- Butcher will sign books at the Backus
lands. He would return after nightfall, Museum Saturday, March 30, from 1
exhausted. Months later, he loaded up p.m. to 3 p.m. The Butcher and Backus
the resulting black-and-white images show continues through April 28. The
and hit the road, selling them at art museum is at 500 North Indian River
shows across the country to whispers of Drive, Fort Pierce. 
“the next Ansel Adams.”

It was high praise for a man who start-
ed out studying architecture at Califor-
nia Polytechnic University. As Shroder
and Barry tell it, after graduation and
newly married to Niki, Butcher and a
friend started a business building ar-
chitectural models out of balsa wood in
a rented farmhouse next door to a wild
scene led by Timothy Leary.

Butcher had learned to make the
models in college, learning how to pho-
tograph them in settings that made
them look full size and developing the
photos himself. When business tanked
in the collapse of the real estate market,
Butcher took up nature photography,
selling his photos at art shows and even-
tually as decorator art at major depart-
ment stores.

After a spell living on a sailboat, he
and his wife and two children moved
to Florida. After a string of challenges,
they eventually bought a rare prop-
erty within Big Cypress Preserve; the
home of an old orchid grower and the
14 acres surrounding it. Today Butch-
er keeps one of his three galleries
there with a darkroom in a warehouse
in Venice.

Along the way, Butcher became an
avid environmentalist, championing
most fervently the Everglades.

“It was clearly a calling for him to
settle here in Florida, to be in tune with
his natural environment and to capture
that in order to share it with others and
to impress upon them that this is im-
portant,” says Adams.

While Butcher has had a prior exhibit
at the Backus Museum, the notion of
having a joint show was novel, Adams
says. “Backus is considered the dean
of Florida landscape painters. So when
I got the idea of putting these two to-
gether, it was like, wow, wouldn’t that be
cool. I was interested in seeing what the
possibilities could be.”

Adams said he approached Butch-
er’s agent gingerly at first. “I was try-
ing to be delicate. You don’t see his
work in a lot of group shows; he’s kind
of his own master. I didn’t want him
to feel like I was not paying his work
the proper respect.

“So I asked, ‘What would you think

42 Vero Beach 32963 / March 21, 2019 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

ARTS & THEATRE

Coming Up: Vero Beach Opera’s
fabulous finale features Giordani

BY SAMANTHA ROHLFING BAITA
Staff Writer

1 It’s great. It’s grand. It’s op-
era. The exciting finale of Vero

Beach Opera’s dynamic 2019 season

bursts onto the VBHS Performing

Arts Center stage this Friday, March

22, with no less than international

opera superstar Marcello Giorda-

ni in concert with the winners of

VBO’s prestigious Rising Stars Vo-

cal Competition, which concludes

this Thursday, March 21. The Ital-

ian tenor is a favorite with the New

York Metropolitan Opera, where he

has performed more than 200 works

since his 1993 debut there, as well 1 Marcello Giordani Friday at VBHS
Performing Arts Center stage.
as in leading roles in opera houses

across Europe, according to Wikipe-

dia. His wide repertoire includes the this field, an impressive panel of
judges – including, shares Paxton,
Bel Canto works of Rossini, Doni- the president of the National Sculp-
ture Society and a Ringling College
zetti and Bellini; the lyric French of Art and Design dean – selected
75 of the best for the inaugural ex-
repertoire; and the heavy drama hibition. Paxon says “New Dimen-
sions” is likely “the only major art
of Verdi, Puccini and Berlioz. Gior- exhibition consisting exclusively of
3-dimensional art on the Treasure
dani will be joined by some of the Coast, and perhaps all of Florida.”
Art aficionados note: If some piece
very best young operatic voices (be- of art calls to you, you’ll be able to
make it your own. Plus: parking and
tween 20 and 30 years old) chosen admission are free. Marsh Island,
by the way, is off 510, north side,
from among 80 or so singers from about half way across the Wabasso
Bridge. Time: Friday, 6 p.m. to 8
around the world, who have jour- p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m.
to 4 p.m. Admission: free. 772-2231-
neyed to Vero Beach for the fourth 0303.

annual event, which awards career-

advancing cash prizes including

a $10,000 grand prize. If you’re fa-

miliar with this exciting event, you

know well the talent that will share

the spotlight with Giordani. If this

will be your first time, prepare to be

thrilled. Time/tickets: Thursday fi-

nals, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., $20. Friday,

Giordani and Rising Star winners

concert, 7 p.m., $30-$50. 772-64-

5537 or VeroBeachOpera.org. 3 Talk about dinner and a show!
Putzke’s Theatre-Go-Round

2 First time ever – art exhibition has the perfect on-the-beach com-
March 29-31: There’s a new kid
bo, Costa d’Este (gourmet) din-

in town. For “new,” read “some- ner and ABBA music. The always-

thing the Vero Beach Art Club has packs-’em-in Theatre-Go-Round

never done before.” For “kid,” read company of top-flight performers,

“art exhibition consisting exclu- under the skilled hand of well-

sively of 3-dimensional art.” For in known, longtime director Jon Putz-

town, read “the beautiful Marsh ke, opens its all-new musical show,

Island club house.” According to “The Best of ABBA,” at its new beach-

spokesguy George Paxton, the side venue this Sunday, March 24.

VBAC decided to “branch out and If you’re as dedicated an ABBA fan

up” from the Art on the Island show as I am, any combination of songs

of previous seasons. And what they the show includes will be “The Best

came up with, “New Dimensions,” Of.” This show runs through May

seems to have done just that. Seek- 5, with no performance on Easter

ing entries, they didn’t mess around Sunday. Theatre-Go-Round shows

– they put the word out to about frequently sell out, so – Note to Self.

20,000 3-D artists nationwide – and Time: dinner, 4 p.m.; show, 6 p.m.

ended up with 180 entries, includ- Cost: $65, including tax and tip.

ing from Cali and New York. From 772-252-9341. 



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46 Vero Beach 32963 / March 21, 2019 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

INSIGHT COVER STORY

Calls for fairer burden-sharing among
NATO Allies were high on the agenda
at the Brussels Summit.

Reaching 70 is an extraordinary For its first four decades NATO was some 16,000 troops in Operation Res- management simultaneously. At 70, it
achievement for the North Atlantic busy deterring the Soviet threat. Its olute Support). is hardly settling for an easy life.
Treaty Organization. role was to keep “the Russians out, the
Americans in and the Germans down,” NATO’s founders would have been Its birthday celebrations will be
Most alliances die young. External as its first secretary-general, Lord Is- stunned by such mission creep – as modest: just a one-day gathering of
threats change; national interests di- may, put it. But after communism col- well as by the circumstances in which foreign ministers on April 4th in Wash-
verge; costs become too burdensome. lapsed, the alliance did not proclaim Article 5 of its treaty, which says that ington, DC, where the North Atlantic
Russia’s pact with Nazi Germany sur- victory and shut up shop; instead it re- an armed attack against one member Treaty was signed in 1949.
vived for only two years. None of the invented itself, helping to stabilize the will be considered an attack against
seven coalitions of the Napoleonic new democracies of eastern Europe. them all, was put to use. The only time NATO wants to avoid a repeat of
wars lasted more than five years. the allies invoked this pledge was on the bruising confrontations that took
Realizing that it needed to go “out September 12, 2001, the day after al- place at its summit in Brussels last July,
A study in 2010 by the Brookings of area or out of business,” it then em- Qaeda’s terrorist attacks on America. where America’s president, Donald
Institution, a Washington think-tank, barked on a period of far-flung crisis- Trump, berated his allies for not pulling
counted 63 major military alliances management, from the Balkans (with After Russia’s annexation of Crimea their weight on defense. If they did not
over the previous five centuries, of interventions in Bosnia and Kosovo) in 2014, the alliance moved swiftly shape up, he said, his country might go
which just ten lived beyond 40; the to the Horn of Africa (where an anti- back to its core business of deterrence its own way. Another damaging row is
average lifespan of collective-defense piracy mission ran from 2009 to 2016) against its eastern neighbor. Now for the last thing the organization needs.
alliances was 15 years. and Afghanistan (where it still leads the first time it is having to juggle in-
vigorated collective defense and crisis At times, Trump has seemed to sug-
“NATO is the strongest, most suc- gest that he would be happy to see it
cessful alliance in history”, says Jens die. On the campaign trail he called
Stoltenberg, the organization’s secre- it “obsolete.” Once in office, he ini-
tary-general, “because we have been tially avoided backing its collective-
able to change.” security pledge; instead, he seemed
to regard NATO as just another deal,
It has expanded from 12 members in which American taxpayers were
at its birth to 29 – soon to be 30 when getting ripped off.
North Macedonia joins, its dispute
with Greece over its name now settled. In January the New York Times re-
Of the eight countries that made up its ported that several times last year he
erstwhile rival, the Warsaw Pact, seven privately said he wanted to pull the
have become part of NATO, as have United States out of NATO. Such re-
three former Soviet republics. The ports only fuel fears that he might be
eighth one, the Soviet Union itself, has doing Russia’s bidding. Trump calls
ceased to exist. these suspicions “insulting.”

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / March 21, 2019 47

If he were to decide to abandon INSIGHT COVER STORY
NATO, he would face resistance in
Congress, where bipartisan support any point since polling began in 1974
for the alliance remains strong and favor increasing their country’s com-
control of the purse strings powerful. mitment to the alliance.
A record number of more than 50 sen-
ators and representatives attended NATO optimists offer three reasons
the Munich Security Conference last for not fretting too much over Trump.
month to show solidarity. First, NATO is no stranger to crises,
from Suez in 1956 to France quitting
Last July the Senate voted 97-2 to the integrated military command in
back NATO. In January the House of 1966 and splits over the Iraq war in
Representatives voted 357-22 in fa- 2003. It has a record of resilience.
vor of the NATO Support Act, which
would prohibit any use of federal Second, they point out that since be-
funds for withdrawal. Though heart- coming president, Trump has said that
ening for NATO, these votes highlight the alliance is “no longer obsolete,”
the sense of threat hanging over it. that he is “committed to Article 5”
and that America will be “with NATO
Yet its pharaonic new headquarters 100%.” True, he continues to lambast
on the outskirts of Brussels projects his allies for failing to pay their fair
the permanence of an organization share of their own defense, but on this
preparing for its next 70 years, not one matter his bullying is justified and use-
about to perish. ful: the allies do need to spend more.

Opinion polls show solid public Their third and strongest argument
support for NATO in its member coun- for remaining sanguine about Trump
tries (with the significant exceptions is based on his deeds rather than his
of Turkey and Greece). Even in Amer- tweets. On his watch America has in-
ica, despite Trump’s attacks, 64% of creased, not decreased, its defense ef-
those polled by Pew Research Centre forts in Europe, with more equipment,
are favorable towards NATO, up from more troops and more money. Fund-
49% in 2015, and a survey last year by ing for America’s military presence in
the Chicago Council on Global Affairs Europe, under what is called the Euro-
showed that more Americans than at pean Deterrence Initiative, has risen by
40%.

This is part of NATO’s determined
response to the increased threat from
Russia. At summits in Wales in 2014,
Warsaw in 2016 and last year in Brus-
sels – even as the world focused on Mr
Trump’s bolshiness – the allies took a
series of decisions designed to restore
robust territorial defense.

They created a Very High Readiness
Joint Task Force, prepared to move
within days, and put combat-ready
multinational battlegroups into the
three Baltic countries as well as Po-
land. They committed themselves to
a costly “Four 30s” initiative, with the
aim of having 30 mechanized battal-
ions, 30 air squadrons and 30 war-
ships ready to move in no more than
30 days by 2020. To ensure swift move-
ment of forces, they planned two new
commands, in Norfolk, Virginia, and
Ulm in Germany.

Last autumn NATO tested its capa-
bilities in Trident Juncture, its biggest
exercise since the end of the cold war,
which involved some 50,000 people
in and around Norway. Gaps remain,
but the erosion of defense capac-
ity that NATO had allowed as a peace
dividend after the collapse of commu-
nism is being reversed.

In the short term, the wild card re-
mains Trump. For two years the allies
were reassured by the presence around
him of NATO-friendly generals such
as James Mattis, the defense secretary.
These generals could not prevent trans-
atlantic rows over trade and the nuclear
deal with Iran, which Trump has aban-
doned, but they could exercise some

CONTINUED ON PAGE 48

48 Vero Beach 32963 / March 21, 2019 INSIGHT COVER STORY Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 47 dite a Turkish cleric, Fethullah Gulen,
whom President Recep Tayyip Erdo-
restraint. They are now gone; Mattis Secretary General of North Atlantic gan blames for an attempted coup in
quit in December. His resignation letter Treaty Organization (NATO), Turkey in 2016. And they disagree over
pointedly stressed the importance of Jens Stoltenberg the fate of Kurds in Syria, who fought
“treating allies with respect”. alongside America but are seen as ter-
rorists by Erdogan. If relations were
Even without Trump, however, the to sour badly, America could “devas-
cohesion and the democratic values tate Turkey economically,” Trump has
that the alliance is supposed to share said. Both sides seem to be working to
are under strain. It can still summon avoid that.
up solidarity, for example in response
to Russia’s nerve-agent attack on Ser- These are not the best of times for
gei Skripal, a Russian ex-spy, and his the allies to be tackling an issue as
daughter Yulia in Salisbury in England. thorny as intermediate-range nuclear
But divisions among the Europeans forces (INF). On February 1st, Amer-
look worryingly wide. ica pulled out of the 31-year-old INF
treaty banning land-based missiles
Britain, usually a NATO stalwart, is with a range of 500-5,500 kilometers
consumed by Brexit, and might even in response to what it called clear Rus-
elect a seasoned NATO-basher, La- sian violation.
bour’s Jeremy Corbyn, as its next prime
minister. Nationalist governments in NATO has backed America’s move,
Hungary and Poland are at odds with but the issue threatens to become
their EU partners. France’s relations as fraught as when American cruise
with Italy sank so low that it recently re- and Pershing II missiles were being
called its ambassador. deployed in Europe in the 1980s to
counter the Soviet Union’s mid-range
Relations between America and nuclear arsenal. Now, as then, there
strategically critical Turkey, which will is a risk of holes in America’s nuclear
soon be overtaking Germany as NA- umbrella that could leave the Euro-
TO’s second-most-populous country, pean allies vulnerable.
have been strained, too. Turkey’s plan
to buy a Russian air-defense system is NATO has been very effective for 70
a sore topic in Washington. years, says Mike Pompeo, America’s
secretary of state, who will host the
The two countries have also been anniversary meeting in Washington,
at odds over Turkey’s detention of
an American pastor (now released)
and over America’s refusal to extra-

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / March 21, 2019 49

INSIGHT COVER STORY

“and we want to make sure that it con- force and an opportunistic willingness na, America faces a rival that has four presidency, and will continue and in-
tinues to be effective for the next 70 to disrupt the status quo, in the long times as many people and will soon tensify far beyond it.
years.” That will not be easy. run it is seen as a declining power. The outstrip its economy. As China rises,
emerging giant is China. challenging America’s interests around How can the transatlantic alliance
The tectonic plates of geopolitics the world, it will take up ever more of hold together as America becomes less
are shifting. A return to great-power The old Soviet Union peaked at America’s attention and resources. focused on Europe and more immersed
rivalry is in prospect. Although Russia less than 60% of America’s GDP and a That process started before the Trump in Asia? That is a vital question, but so far
has a potent nuclear-tipped military population about a fifth bigger. In Chi-
NATO has barely started tackling it. 

50 Vero Beach 32963 / March 21, 2019 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

INSIGHT OPINION

If life is better in Europe, why don’t more Americans emigrate?

Mercer, the global human resources consulting the U.S., together took in 23 percent more immi- Since World War II, the U.S. has been the planet’s cen-
firm, last week released its annual Quality of Living grants from 2010 to 2016 than the U.S. did. tral cultural, economic, military, political, scientific
list, which ranks cities around the world based on and technological power. For many of those born to
economic conditions, housing, health care, pub- Those immigrants did not, it must be said, in- affluence in other countries who now live in the U.S.,
lic services, safety, natural environment and other clude droves of Americans looking to score some of that’s why they came here: It’s where the action was.
metrics. that higher quality of life in Europe, Canada or the
Antipodes. Unless they wanted to be, say, soccer stars, ambi-
For the 10th year in a row, Vienna came out on top, tious U.S. citizens had far less reason to emigrate –
with Zurich, Vancouver, Munich, Auckland, Dus- Not only are there relatively few U.S.-born residents and U.S. citizens also had less interest in and knowl-
seldorf, Frankfurt, Copenhagen, Geneva and Basel of Sweden, but there are also more than twice as many edge of the outside world than the outside world had
rounding out the top 10. Swedish-born residents of the U.S. Something similar in and of them.
is true of almost all the other high-rated countries.
The top U.S. city on the list was San Francisco, all The world is getting less U.S.-centric, though. If you
the way down in 34th place. London, the top U.K. There are a bunch of reasons why these disparities adjust for purchasing power, China now has a bigger
city, was at 41st – tied with Milan, the top Italian city. don’t necessarily mean that the quality-of-life rankings economy. Universities elsewhere have been chipping
Paris was 39th, New York 44th, Tokyo 49th, Beijing are wrong or that Nordic social democracy is a sham. away at U.S. research dominance. So it stands to rea-
120th, Baghdad 231st and last. son that the U.S. might exert less automatic attractive
One is that the Americans who would benefit most power going forward, and that factors like quality of
When some of these results were posted on Twitter, from Nordic social democracy – poor people – gener- life might play a bigger role in determining whether
it drew a response from Hoover Institution economist ally can’t afford to go to Europe, and they would have people come here or not.
Russell Roberts, that effectively asked, “If the quality of a hard time getting permission to stay there.
living is so low in U.S. cities, why do so many people It won’t always be quality of life as measured by
from around the world keep trying to move here?” By contrast, the Europeans who could benefit most Mercer. I don’t think the ranking is wrong in indicat-
from the lower taxes and higher top incomes of the ing that, for globetrotting corporate managers and
It’s a good question! Part of the explanation is simply U.S. tend to be well-educated, entrepreneurial sorts other professionals, the U.S. is seen as a little bit of a
that Mercer’s Quality of Living rankings exist to help who can afford to come here and often are allowed hardship posting. Overall, the U.S. just scores poorly
corporate clients make decisions ranging from “where to stay. for such a rich country on most objective measures
to establish offices to determining how to distribute, of well-being.
house and remunerate their global workforces.” Also, most Europe-born residents of the U.S. have
been here for quite a while: 65 percent arrived before Still, not everybody prioritizes the same things. The
That is, the list measures where skilled managers 2000, and 36.7 percent of those from northern and Organization for Economic Cooperation and Devel-
and professionals with families, good salaries and am- western Europe were 65 and older in 2017, compared opment has a fun Better Life Index that allows users
ple benefits packages who are assigned or recruited to with 14.9 percent of the overall U.S. population. Fi- to decide which metrics matter most to them. Give
a new city by a multinational firm might find the tran- nally, Swedes can speak English. Few Americans income and housing the heaviest weighting and the
sition easiest and most pleasant. Most immigrants to speak Swedish. U.S. comes out on top; put the emphasis on work-life
the U.S. (or to anywhere) aren’t in that boat! balance and safety and it falls to 14th place among
That language disparity gets at something crucial. OECD members.
But the notion that people all over the world are
itching to move to the U.S. and not to any other rich For those hoping to stay, the U.S. also has a good (if
countries is mistaken. All but three of the countries far from spotless) track record of integrating immi-
with cities that outranked San Francisco on the Mer- grants into its labor force and society, which can’t be
cer list have higher percentages of foreign-born res- said of some continental European nations. Lots of
idents than the U.S. (as does the U.K., which didn’t people are still going to want to come to the U.S. But
have any such cities). that doesn’t mean we should ignore experts bearing

The U.S. has far and away the largest number of tidings that we’re not Number 1. 
foreign-born residents of any country and remains
the top destination country for new immigrants. But A version of this column by Justin Fox first appeared
Australia, Canada, Germany and the U.K., which on Bloomberg. It does not necessarily reflect the views
combined have about two-thirds the population of of Vero Beach 32963.