08/04/2022 ISSUE 16

Copas home milestone

A3 A14 B7Facility welcomes first residents
Focusing on glaucoma Food – and fun – will fly

What it is – and how to treat it ‘Kitchen Witches’ at TC Theatre

VOLUME 7, ISSUE 16 YOUR INDEPENDENT LOCAL COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER THURSDAY, AUGUST 4, 2022

MATTAMY ALL ABOARD WITH EXPANDING TRANSIT SERVICE IN TRADITION County to mete
out $788K for
BY CHARLES CALOIA | Correspondent park upgrades

Mattamy Palm Beach LLC plans to ex-
pand the modern transportation options in

Tradition after the successful launch of its

self-driving transit service. BY GEORGE ANDREASSI | Staff Writer

The Toronto-based homebuilder con- [email protected]

tracted an Orlando transportation firm, Four waterfront parks in eastern

Beep, Inc., to develop the “Tradition in Mo- St. Lucie County will be undergo-

tion” (TIM) autonomous shuttle service that ing major upgrades in the next year

began serving the public in November 2020. as a result of $788,578 in contracts

The shuttles can transport up to 15 pas- awarded July 19 by county com-

sengers at a top speed of 15 miles per hour. missioners.

“The shuttles [are] available to anybody, South Florida Engineering and

whether you live in a gated community or Consulting LLC of Lake Worth won

not,” said Racquel Asa, Beep’s chief market- two contracts totaling $431,000 to

ing officer. improve the drainage in the Indrio

“Mattamy was actually one of our first Savannahs Preserve and Ancient

partnerships,” Asa said. “We’ve taken some A TIM Shuttle moves through Oaks Preserve/Weldon Lewis Park.
of the best practices here from Mattamy its hub area at Tradition Square. Commissioners awarded South

CONTINUED ON PAGE A8 PHOTO: CHARLES CALOIA Florida Engineering a $275,227

contract to design the restoration

Port St. Lucie stepping up septic to sewer conversions to protect North Fork of the shoreline of Lake Indrio, a
35-acre man-made lake near U.S.

1 in the 297-acre Indrio Savannahs

BY GEORGE ANDREASSI | Staff Writer poor,” Rhoden told the City Coun- news is that we’re only graded as an taries where environmental studies Preserve.

[email protected] cil during budget talks on July 20. F.” have found high levels of bacteria, The lake is an important recre-

Port St. Lucie is on track to con- “Now, that’s not the worst it City Utilities has been focusing Rhoden said. ational facility for paddling, fishing

vert 633 homes from septic sys- could have been,” Rhoden said. on removing 3,257 septic tanks That includes seven commercial and birding.

tems to city sewer service this year “There’s an F-minus and an F-mi- from businesses and residences septic systems feeding into the Hog Lake Indrio is currently isolated

as part of the longstanding effort nus-minus. So the good within 50 feet of North Fork tribu- CONTINUED ON PAGE A9 CONTINUED ON PAGE A6

to protect the North Fork of the St. ST. LUCIE TAXING AGENCIES COMBINE
Lucie River from pollution. TO CUT PROPERTY TAX RATES BY $1

That would be the highest an-
nual total since the record of 860

septic to sewer conversions set in

2005 during the height of the last BY GEORGE ANDREASSI | Staff Writer to 2021-2022 when it was $29 bil-

real estate boom, city records show. [email protected] lion, government records show.

The water quality in the North Property values rose so much in The St. Lucie County School

Fork in the city is so poor it received St. Lucie County, the three largest Board was to vote Aug. 2 on a pro-

an F rating in a March 2022 report government agencies combined to posed $939.1 million budget for

by the Marine Resources Council, cut the overall property tax rate by 2022-2023 and a property tax rate of

said Donna Rhoden, a top Utilities more than $1. $6.479 per $1,000 of assessed value.

System official. The taxable value of the coun- The School Board reduced the

“Unfortunately, the portion of ‘WONDER’ OF IT ALL: Wonderama singers Jacquez and Florenza Campos perform at ty’s real estate rose to $36 billion property tax rate by 37.4 cents, or
the river running through Port St.
the Meating Streets Summer Bash on July 23 in Tradition. PHOTO: LINDA KLOORFAIN for the 2022-2023 budget year, a 24 CONTINUED ON PAGE A7

Lucie is graded with an F for very percent increase compared

IN THIS ISSUE New theater manager:
Stage set at IRSC for an
LOCAL NEWS A1-A11 PETS A18 ‘exciting’ season. P. B6

HEALTH A12-A17 ARTS/PEOPLE B1-B13

ADVICE A19 GAMES B16-B18

REAL ESTATE A20-A32 SPORTS B19

© 2022 Vero Beach 32963 Media LLC. All rights reserved.



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COPAS VETERANS’ NURSING HOME WELCOMES FIRST RESIDENTS

BY PATRICK McCALLISTER | Correspondent FILE PHOTO U.S. Rep. Brian Mast was among those who
co-sponsored legislation to get Cashe the
The first resident moved into the Ardie R. Steve Murray, communications director at the Congressional Medal of Honor Society. nation’s highest recognition of courage for
Copas State Veterans’ Nursing Home in Tra- the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs, He received a posthumous Medal of Honor servicemembers.
dition on July 5, though the state veterans de- said two more residents had moved in as of in December after a 16-year wait.
partment said it could take upwards to a year press time. “We have three residents in house “I’m excited about them getting that one
to get the home to its 120-resident capacity. and one on the way,” he said. On Oct. 17, 2005, Cashe was on patrol as open at the same time,” Copas said.
a gunner in a Bradley Fighting Vehicle in
Shyrell Copas, daughter of the home’s In addition to the Copas home opening, Operation Iraqi Freedom. Insurgent fighters Additionally, the department is working
Medal of Honor namesake, had been waiting the state veterans department is about to first bombed then fired on the patrol. Cashe, on bringing its six other veterans nursing
for years to meet the residents. open the Alwyn C. Cashe State Veterans’ while his diesel-soaked uniform was on fire, homes and one assisted living facility back to
Nursing Home in Orlando. The department pulled servicemembers and an interpreter capacity. The SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 pan-
Copas said the first resident – she called expects the first residents soon, possibly as from the vehicle and got them to safety. He demic greatly reduced the number of resi-
him “Cal” – was a bit confused about who of press time. died from his wounds on Nov. 8, 2005. dents mostly due to natural attrition – the
she is. Fortunately, there was a portrait of Ar- state stopped new admissions for months.
die R. Copas nearby. “I pointed at the picture Cashe is the most recent and 24th Medal The upgrade from the Silver Star to Med- Florida’s veterans homes mostly avoid-
and said, ‘That’s my daddy,’” Copas said. “Cal of Honor recipient accredited to Florida by al of Honor required an act of Congress. ed outbreaks of the coronavirus during its
said, ‘Come over here and give me a hug. I deadliest days.
want a hug.’” COPAS’ DAUGHTER ON ‘MISSION’ TO MAKE MORE HEROES: P. 4
Since opening the first veterans nursing
Copas’ father, a Fort Pierce native, died on home in 1993, the Emory L. Bennett State
May 12, 1970, in Cambodia while standing Veterans’ Nursing Home in Daytona Beach,
on a burning armored vehicle to man the the state has consistently had them at a func-
machine gun and hold back an overwhelm- tional 100 percent capacity. Murray said the
ing force of enemy fighters as unit mates long-operating facilities are now at about 90
evacuated their injured. One of the prices to 95 residents (about an 80 percent occu-
Ardie R. Copas willingly paid to protect his pancy rate).
unit mates was never seeing his daughter.
The Indian River County resident said with The state veterans department lost a lot of
the opening of the Copas home, she’ll have its healthcare workforce during the pandem-
dozens of adopted fathers. ic, too. Murray said the Florida Legislature
and Gov. Ron DeSantis approved significant
“I take them Kisses,” said Copas. “They pay increases for nursing-home workers and
know when I walk in through that door what medical professionals to get all the homes
they’re going to get from me. They get a hug back to resident capacity while also opening
and a ‘Kiss,’ a chocolate one. I’ve been there the Copas and Cashe homes. 
almost every day since they’ve come.”

4 August 4, 2022 ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | NEWS www.stlucievoice.com

HERO’S DAUGHTER LOOKS TO ADVANCE COUNTY’S COVID-19
CHARACTER-DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM CASES HOVERING
AT 1,000 PER WEEK
BY PATRICK McCALLISTER | Correspondent her thinking about the world, about the na- Shyrell Copas receives her father’s belated post-
tion, about her community. She decided the BY GEORGE ANDREASSI | Staff Writer
Shyrell Copas’ father personified sacri- world needs more people with the character humous Medal of Honor from President Barack [email protected]
ficial courage. Ardie R. Copas is one of the her father had – including herself.
about 3,500 servicemembers who have Obama in 2014. WHITE HOUSE PHOTO St. Lucie County has been averaging
received the nation’s highest military rec- “He had a mission, and so does his daugh- about 1,000 cases of COVID-19 per week
ognition for selfless bravery – the Medal of ter, to help everyone,” said Copas. for printing materials to give attendees. since mid-June, according to the most
Honor. That’s a bit more than 3,500 service- “(We’re) holding character development recent Florida Department of Health re-
members since the Civil War. The Vero Beach woman recently started port.
the not-for-profit Ardie’s Mission. It’s an out- groups for free in the community,” said
“Until my daddy’s Medal of Honor was growth of something Copas has been doing Copas. A total of 1,082 county residents were
put in my hands and I realized what my dad- less formally for the last few years – helping diagnosed with the virus during the week
dy did – it changed my life forever,” she said. people build character using the Congres- “We’ll be able to assist people through ending July 28, a state Health Depart-
sional Medal of Honor Society’s Character these groups. We can have these groups ment report shows.
The elder Copas died while standing Development Program. from ages 4 years old to 104 years old. I’m
on a burning truck to man a machine gun going to be developing my character until That represented a 15 percent increase
to defend injured unit mates near Ph Ro- The Congressional Medal of Honor So- my death, I’m sure.” compared to the week ending July 14
meas Hek, Cambodia, in 1970. His daugh- ciety explains the program at its website, when 937 county residents tested posi-
ter received his posthumous Medal of cmohs.org. “The Medal of Honor Char- At press time, Copas is slated to teach tive for COVID-19.
Honor in 2014. acter Development Program (CDP) is a the character-development program to a
resource designed by teachers to provide group of area families. The July 14 total represented a decline
“When he left (for Vietnam) he told Mom- students with opportunities to explore the of 41 cases, or about 4 percent, compared
my he was going to help everybody, not just important concepts of courage, commit- To learn more about Ardie’s Mission, to the week ending June 30, when 978
his Army buddies,” Copas said. ment, sacrifice, patriotism, integrity and visit ardiesmission.org. To contact Copas county residents were diagnosed with
citizenship and how these values can be for volunteering, donating, or getting a the virus.
In addition to being a Medal of Honor exemplified in daily life. This program is program taught somewhere, info@ardies
recipient, Copas is the namesake for the available in every state and has conducted mission.org.  The number of COVID-19 cases in St.
state’s new veterans home in Tradition, on-site training for educators in 45 states Lucie County reached 1,017 during the
the Ardie R. Copas State Veterans’ Nursing and DC.” week ending June 16, state Health De-
Home. The home started getting its first partment reports show. That was the first
residents last month. Ardie’s Mission is looking for volunteer time the case count topped four figures
instructors to teach the character-build- since Feb. 10.
Receiving her father’s Medal of Honor got ing program. It’s also raising donations
Copas thinking about herself, her decisions, The positivity rate of county residents
her life. More importantly, perhaps, it got tested for COVID-19 rose to 23.9 percent

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during the week ending July 28, an in- idents tested for the virus had been in- The overall positivity rate of coun- crease compared to the week ending July
crease of nearly 2 percent compared to fected. ty residents tested for COVID-19 since 14 when 142 residents received vaccines,
the week ending July 14, when it was 23.5 March 2020 was 31.7 percent as of July state Health Department reports show.
percent. Overall, a total of 85,751 county residents 28.
have been diagnosed with COVID-19 since Altogether, 219,703 county residents
Those were the highest weekly pos- March 2020, state Health Department re- The number of county residents vacci- have been vaccinated against COVID-19,
itivity rates since the week ending Jan. ports show. That’s about 25 percent of St. nated against the virus rose to 210 during or about 56 percent of those age six
20, when 29.6 percent of the country res- Lucie County’s 342,398 residents. the week ending July 28, a 48 percent in- months and older. 

6 August 4, 2022 ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | NEWS www.stlucievoice.com

Felix Associates wins PARK UPGRADES
$30M Floresta Drive
reconstruction deal CONTINUED FROM PAGE A1

BY GEORGE ANDREASSI Staff Writer from the surrounding marsh system, which
[email protected] drains untreated water from east to west into
the Savannahs system and ultimately the In-
Stuart-based Felix Associates of Florida The intersection of Floresta Drive and Crosstown Parkway in Port St. Lucie. PHOTO: LINDA KLOORFAIN dian River Lagoon.
Inc., the contractor on the first phase of the
Floresta Drive Improvements, was awarded sales tax approved by voters in November safety for students walking to Floresta Ele- The project will restore the lake and create
a $30 million contract for the second phase 2018 for a 10-year period. mentary School. a stormwater detention area to reconnect the
of the lengthy $63 million project. surrounding marshes, improving hydrology
“This is a very high-profile project and the “Felix will schedule most of the work in and increasing nutrient absorption, county
Felix Associates anticipates starting con- second major project to be completed with this area during the summer break to min- records show.
struction on Sept. 26 on the reconstruction sales tax proceeds, Floresta Phase 1 being imize disruption as much as possible,” the
of the congested north-south thoroughfare the first,” city Procurement Manager Robyn company said in its Project Management One goal of the project is to improve the
from the Elkcam Waterway to Crosstown Holder said in the bidding document. and Project Approach narrative. quality of the water flowing into Lake India
Parkway, said Port St. Lucie spokeswom- and the North Savannahs wetlands by filter-
an Melissa Yunas. A public meeting will be City engineers expect the project to last Felix will also coordinate with homeown- ing surface water and runoff. Another goal
held on Sept. 21, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., at Flo- two years, city records show. It includes re- ers along Floresta Drive to avoid conflicts is to prevent flooding in the neighborhoods
resta Elementary School to inform neigh- placing the bridge over the Elkcam Water- and blockages during construction, the nar- north and west of the Indrio Savannahs Pre-
borhood residents about the two-year- way, while maintaining foot traffic across the rative said. Temporary sidewalks and roads serve. The project area is bounded by U.S.
long project. drainage canal. will be constructed when conditions allow. 1 to the east, Turnpike Feeder Road to the
north, Bald Cypress Trail to the west and In-
The City Council voted unanimously The improvements include the construc- Felix Associates is expected to complete drio Road to the south.
July 25 to award Felix Associates the con- tion of a two-lane road with a section with a the $12 million Phase 1 of the Floresta Drive
tract to reconstruct the congested north- landscaped median and a section with bidi- Improvements from Southbend Boulevard Commissioners also awarded South Flor-
south thoroughfare from the Elkcam Wa- rectional turn lanes, city records show. Both to Elkcam Waterway by the end of August. ida Engineering a $155,771 contract to de-
terway to Crosstown Parkway. sections include bicycle lanes, curbs and sign and construct a stormwater treatment
gutters, landscaping, irrigation, sidewalks The third phase stretches from Crosstown pond and treatment area at Ancient Oaks
Felix Associates’ bid of $29,997,174 was and pedestrian lighting. Parkway to Prima Vista Boulevard. Construc- Preserve/Weldon Lewis Park. The project
$6,914,204 lower than the only other bid- tion is tentatively set to start in summer 2024, will hold and treat large volumes of storm-
der, C.W. Roberts Contracting, of Palm City, The sidewalks and bike lanes will enhance following the completion of Phase 2.  water runoff before it flows into Ten Mile
city records show. Creek and ultimately the North Fork of the
St. Lucie River.
Port St. Lucie is paying for the project with
some of the proceeds from a 1/2 percent The project involves the design and con-
struction of a stormwater treatment area
with a pond on 1.7 acres in the southwest
corner of the Ancient Oaks Preserve. The

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design will use innovative technologies to Brightline pushes back construction completion date to 2023
maximize nutrient removal, which can in-
clude bioswales, extended littoral zones, bio- Brightline won’t be able to complete to Orlando by the end of 2022. in Fort Pierce was expected to reopen Aug.
absorption activated media, Florida native construction on its $2.8 billion extension Brightline is improving the Florida East 2 after being closed for reconstruction,
wetland plantings and floating vegetative of high-speed passenger train tracks to Or- Brightline’s July 25 construction advisory
islands. lando until 2023, a company spokeswoman Coast Railway tracks from West Palm Beach says.
said last week. to Cocoa and building new tracks along
The project area is bounded by U.S. 1 to State Road 528/Beachline Highway from Brightline plans to operate 32 passenger
the east, Weatherbee Road to the north, Ole- “We expect to reach substantial comple- Cocoa to the Orlando International Airport. trains per day at speeds of up to 110 mph
ander Avenue to the west and the Merritt tion in early 2023 and begin revenue service through St. Lucie County en route between
Ditch to the south. shortly thereafter,” Brightline spokeswom- The project includes installing a sec- Orlando and South Florida.
an Katie Mitzner said July 26. ond set of tracks in the FECR right-of-way
Dredging and Marine Consultants LLC of and upgrading the safety measures at rail- Brightline currently operates passenger
Port Orange, which has a continuing con- As recently as July 25, Brightline’s road crossings to meet Federal Railroad trains in South Florida at speeds of up to
tract with the county for general environ- construction advisories had reported Administration standards for high-speed 80 mph with stations in West Palm Beach,
mental engineering, received commission Brightline intended to complete con- passenger trains. Fort Lauderdale and Miami. 
authorization July 19 for $144,540 for Phase 1 struction on the high-speed train tracks
of the White City Park Shoreline Stabilization The Savannah Road Railroad Crossing –­ GEORGE ANDREASSI
project. The project includes the establish-
ment of a No Wake Zone in the North Fork of TAXING AGENCIES and $3.3 million toward the development police training facility, $4.5 million for fiber
the St. Lucie River. of Harbour Point in the Port of Fort Pierce. infrastructure construction and $1.1 million
CONTINUED FROM PAGE A1 for equipment at Tradition Regional, River-
The shoreline of the North Fork in White The commission is set to finalize the land Paseo and Pioneer at the Port parks.
City Park is eroding near the roadway, caus- 5.5 percent, compared to the 2021-2022 rate budget during public hearings on Sept. 6
ing safety and operational concerns, said of $6.853 per $1,000 of assessed value. and Sept. 20. The council is set to finalize the budget
Matt Baum, the county’s Parks and Recre- during public hearings on Sept. 12 and
ation director. St. Lucie County Commission voted July The Port St. Lucie City Council voted Sept. 26.
19 to set a $700.9 million budget for 2022- July 21 to approve a $731 million budget
In addition, commissioners awarded a 2023 and a property tax rate of $8.5609 per for 2022-2023 and a property tax rate of Overall, the county’s three largest gov-
$213,129 contract on July 19 to Municipal $1,000 of assessed value. $5.30 per $1,000 of assessed value. ernment agencies approved budgets to-
Contractors Inc., of Boynton Beach, to im- taling $2.37 billion for 2022-2023 and a cu-
prove the beach entry road at Frederick Dou- The County Commission lowered the The City Council lowered the property mulative property tax rate of $1.0239 per
glass Beach on South Hutchinson Island. property tax rate by 34.99 cents, or 4 per- tax rate by 30 cents, or 5.4 percent com- $1,000 of assessed value.
cent, compared to the 2021-2022 rate of pared to the 2021-2022 rate of $5.60 per
Municipal Contractors’ bid was $21,927 $8.5609 per $1,000 of assessed value. $1,000 of assessed value. The 2022-2023 fiscal year runs from July
lower than the next lowest bid of $235,056 by 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023 for the School
Ranger Construction Industries Inc., of West The budget includes $28 million to The budget includes $31.8 million to up- Board, and Oct. 1, 2022 through Sept. 30,
Palm Beach, county records show. widen Midway Road, $6 million for water grade the Westport Treatment Plant, $10 2023 for the St. Lucie County Commission
treatment plants, $4.5 million for parks million to continue the Floresta Drive Im- and Port St. Lucie City Council. 
Edens Construction Co., of South Bay, bid provement Project, $8.6 million for a new
$268,707 and C.W. Roberts Contracting Inc.,
of Palm City, bid $358,120. 

8 August 4, 2022 ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | NEWS www.stlucievoice.com

TRANSIT SERVICE serve more of Tradition. “Our partnership with Beep is just the Forbes Magazine reported on Move
“The definitive paths will vary, whether first step by providing residents greater Nona in July 2020, calling it “one of the
CONTINUED FROM PAGE A1 freedom to travel how, where and when most robust autonomous vehicle solu-
they’re on roads or dedicated paths,” Asa they want,” Dan Grosswald, Mattamy’s tions in the world.” Orlando Inno report-
in Tradition and implemented them in said. “What those definitive paths [will Southeast Florida Division president, ed in March 2022 that Beep raised $25
many of [Beep’s other projects].” be] are still something we work out with said in the case study. million from investors toward launching
Mattamy, but we want to make sure the 20 more routes nationwide.
A June case study published by Beep services that we’re implementing [align] Beep came to Tradition after their first
reported that the TIM shuttles carried with what the community wants.” project launched in Orlando’s Lake Nona “We looked long and hard for the right
13,000 passengers and eliminated 7,300 planned community in September 2019. partner and we were very lucky that we
car trips in the 20 months since the ser- Mattamy is entitled to build 7,144 The 1.2-mile “Move Nona” project’s suc- found [Beep],” said Sandi Quigley, Mat-
vice launched. homes and 1.2 million square feet of cess led to Beep receiving a $20 million tamy’s marketing director in Southeast
commercial space on 2,818 acres west BUILD grant from the U.S. Department Florida.
Beep and Mattamy are planning to ex- of Interstate 95 and south of Crosstown of Transportation that November.
pand their TIM fleet to 10 shuttles and Parkway. TIM uses the Autonom Shuttle Evo
built by NAVYA of Lyon, France, with a
Saline, Michigan, plant operating since
July 2017.

“We work with a number of what we
call ‘autonomous vehicle providers,’” Asa
said. “We take that vehicle, implement
it safely and then we monitor all of our
vehicles, whether they be in Tradition or
another part of the country.

“We know the exact, pinpoint location
of our vehicles,” Asa said. “We provide
that ‘end-to-end’ monitoring and over-
sight ... to enable that autonomous mo-
bility ecosystem for communities like
Tradition.”

The free TIM service has four stops
across two routes between Tradition
Square, The Landings shopping complex
and the Manderlie gated community,
which is under construction.

Asa recently demonstrated the TIM
shuttle to St. Lucie Voice on the “Indigo
Route” to Manderlie.

“NAVYA has its autonomous drive sys-
tem that ... makes this vehicle work,” Asa
said. “You have a sensor suite and a LI-
DAR [Light Detection and Ranging] suite
throughout the vehicle that then vali-
dates [its direction].”

The shuttle’s sensor suite detects ob-
stacles in a 15-foot radius, causing the
shuttle to stop before contact with er-
rant pedestrians or cars. “If it sees some-
thing, it errs on the side of caution,” Asa
also said, “and reacts to the environment
based off of what those sensors ‘see.’”

The TIM shuttles’ systems are built
upon a Microsoft Windows-based oper-
ating system. Each vehicle is supervised
by an attendant with access to a Micro-
soft Xbox game controller when the need
for manual driving arises.

“The No. 1 question we get asked a lot
from folks when they first ride the vehicle
is, ‘Is that an Xbox controller?’” Asa said.
“There’s no steering wheel, [pedals], no
traditional thing that you would see in a
car interior.

“We constantly do any tweaks that are
necessary,” Asa said. “Before we ever bring
a vehicle here, we do a full analysis with
our own two eyes ... that really allows us to
make sure ... we do it right the first time.”

Mattamy is developing an electric
bike-share program to incentivize green
transport in Tradition, Quigley said.

“If you purchase a Mattamy home,
you are gifted an electric bike,” Quigley
said. “We encourage community and
try to provide those platforms to do

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Racquel Asa, Beep’s chief marketing officer, demonstrates a TIM Shuttle’s sensor. PHOTO: CHARLES CALOIA SEPTIC TO SEWER tion in the costs of labor, building materi-
als and supplies.
that, whether it’s TIM or bike-share.” heart-shaped sculpture called Heart In CONTINUED FROM PAGE A1
The bikes and chargers will be built by The Park, a proposed amphitheater and That would increase the cost of a regu-
several parks and trails. Pen Slough in the vicinity of South U.S. 1, lar septic to sewer conversion to $6,026, or
Mattamy themselves, Quigley said. One Village Green and Niemeyer Circle, 1,743 $50.22 per month.
e-bike per household has been given to “Mattamy is really good at working septic tanks near the Monterey Waterway
residents moving into Manderlie since with the community and representatives south of St. Lucie West, 1,254 tanks near City Utilities officials anticipate con-
January 2021, according to AccessWire. of focus groups and understanding [their the Elkcam Waterway near Floresta Drive verting an average of 436 septic systems
needs],” Asa said. “Having the communi- and 253 tanks near the Sagamore Water- to city sewer service per year for the next
A mobile app is being developed for ty know what’s happening before it [hap- way east of St. Lucie West. 32 years in order to eliminate the 14,262
the bike-share program to track bike lo- pens] helps with that concerted effort of septic tanks currently operating in Port St.
cations and other statistics, Quigley said. giving [them] insight. Two business owners near Hog Pen Lucie’s city limits.
slough have expressed an interest in
“When you rent an electric bike from “When you look at what Tradition and hooking up to the city sewer system, Rho- Another 1,877 septic tanks are located
one of our chargers,” Quigley said. “You Mattamy are doing – planning for the fu- den said. City officials are still trying to in- in neighborhoods in unincorporated ar-
will be able to have free reign ... through- ture [in] every aspect of mobility – you terest the five other business owners. eas of St. Lucie County south of Midway
out the Tradition neighborhood.” don’t need a car,” Asa said. “It’s hats off Road that are within the city’s Utility Ser-
to Mattamy for having that foresight.”  So far, 120 homeowners in three vice Area, city records show.
The program compliments Mattamy’s neighborhoods have taken advantage of
other projects including a 60-foot-tall a $2,968 grant covering half the costs of Talks with county Utilities officials
the septic to sewer conversion, city re- have not yielded an agreement about
cords show. converting the septic tanks in the unin-
corporated areas to city sewer service,
That amounts to $24.74 per month, if Matyjaszek said.
financed under the city’s 10-year zero in-
terest loan program. The city currently has more than 70,000
sewer customers and nearly 90,000 water
The full cost is $5,937, or $49,47 per customers, Matyjaszek said. The Utilities
month, city records show. System has completed 9,641 septic to
sewer conversion since 1999.
The construction boom has resulted in
a waiting period of 40 to 44 months for the “The environmental benefits are tre-
connection to be made, said city Utilities mendous,” Rhoden said. “Our septic
System Director Kevin Matyjaszek. to sewer conversion program has been
and continues to be the vanguard for
The City Council is poised to raise the Florida. The Connect to Protect septic
conversion rate by 1.5 percent for the to sewer program will benefit the North
2022-2023 budget year, which starts Oct. Fork of the St. Lucie River for genera-
1. The increase is needed to cover infla- tions to come.” 

10 August 4, 2022 ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | NEWS www.stlucievoice.com

IRSC campus president Casey Lunceford taking retirement ... of sorts

BY STEVEN M. THOMAS | Staff Writer dent commencement for a number of Casey Lunceford. holding PTSD recovery class-
years and I still ask to read at commence- es at the Richardson Center.
Indian River State College campus pres- ment. A lot of times in education, we start enrolled 23,000 students last year, as a liber-
ident and trombonist Casey Lunceford is initiatives that we don’t see come to frui- al arts ivory tower. Extending himself into the
retiring at the end of August – sort of. tion, but at commencement you see the community at Gifford Youth
completion, the fulfillment. You see the stu- Instead, they see it as “an economic fly- Achievement Center, Lunce-
Based on his planned post-retirement dents and their parents smiling and happy, wheel,” in the words of Moore – an engine of ford “was a critical part of the
activities – serving on boards, consulting, sometimes crying, and that is a great sense social transformation that lifts up students facilities committee when
teaching college music classes and helping of satisfaction.” with non-stellar academic backgrounds, we were working on our ex-
local high school bands – he may actually be many from difficult economic circumstanc- pansion,” says Angelia Perry,
busier than ever starting Sept. 1. When asked what is most remarkable es, and puts them on a path to a better, GYAC executive director.
about the sprawling 141-acre Vero Beach more productive life at the same time as it
And he’ll definitely still be playing the campus he’s led since 2014, his response bolsters the area economy. Flowing back toward the
trombone, among other instruments. comes just as fast: “Our connection to the college, kids from GYAC par-
community.” To achieve that end in Vero Beach, Lunc- ticipate in a federally fund-
But Lunceford will leave his job at IRSC’s eford has been focused on figuring out how ed program on the Mueller
Mueller Campus in Vero Beach after 8 years That sounds like something most any to bring the community onto the Mueller Campus that teaches high
as president there, 25 years total at the retiring college president might say, but in Campus while also extending himself into school students about col-
five-campus community college, and 39 Lunceford’s case it expresses a passionate the community, serving on a wide range of lege applications, test-taking
years as an educator in Florida and Louisi- philosophy that has shaped his legacy and boards, with an eye to integrating outside and job interviews, and takes them on tours
ana. created a synergistic network of academic, organizations and the college while also of colleges they might attend.
business and nonprofit links. serving the needs of the various groups. In 2016, Lunceford created a hospitality
He will be replaced by Terri A. Graham, vocational program on the Vero campus to
Ed.D, a former elementary school teacher This network extends from the Gifford In 2019, Lunceford brought the historic train workers for the island country clubs
who worked her way up through the ped- Youth Achievement Center to the Quail Val- Laura Riding Jackson house to the Mueller and other area businesses, a plan he says he
agogical ranks to be a top administrator ley River Club, from John’s Island to Cleve- Campus, saving the home of the famed poet hatched in collaboration with Quail Valley
at Valencia College in Orlando, where she land Clinic, and from Piper Aircraft to uni- and naturalist and bringing a whole new River Club general manager Kevin Given.
served most recently as interim president of versities around the state where IRSC grads population of poetry lovers, history buffs In return, Vero communities and individ-
two campuses, overseeing the education of continue upward trajectories launched and school kids to a college many of them uals fund hundreds of scholarships for local
35,000 students annually. from the Vero campus. didn’t previously know existed. students.
“We feel very strongly about the need for
Asked what makes him happy when he Lunceford, IRSC president Dr. Timothy The college’s Brackett Library, which is top-quality vocational programs and de-
thinks of the Mueller Campus where his of- Moore, and other leaders of the five-cam- also a county library, jointly funded and grees, from HVAC to auto to airplanes,” says
fice is being redecorated for the incoming pus system don’t see their distinctly non-Ivy staffed by IRSC and the county, brings an- real estate broker Bob Gibb. “It is important
president, Lunceford replies without hesita- League but highly dynamic college, which other stream of visitors to the campus, as to my clients to have good technicians and
tion: “Student success.” does the Richardson Center, a conference we want the students to have degrees they
facility near the library where 119 business are proud of. Often liberal arts degrees turn
Said Lunceford: “I was in charge of stu- gatherings were held during the 2021-22 ac- out to be more or less worthless, but these
ademic year. students are learning an entrepreneurial
approach to business that will serve the
“Casey is just an incredible human be- community and make them successful.”
ing,” says Cynthia Ryan, executive director “A good plumber can make more than I
the Veterans Council of Indian River County. do per hour,” notes Lunceford, whose par-
“He has dedicated his career to serving his ents came from share-cropping families
students and his community and has been and leveraged education to rise in world.
an incredible asset for us. He is just so con- Gibb, his wife Wheatie, and their daugh-
nected everywhere. His ability to bring peo- ter, Rennie, recently made a substantial do-
ple and programs together is priceless.” nation to help build the Eastman Advanced
Workforce Training Complex on IRSC’s Fort
In 2021 the college used a half-mil- Pierce campus.
lion-dollar federal grant to establish the The college will consolidate much of its
IRSC Center of Excellence for Veteran Stu- technical training at the 60,000-square-
dent Success, which provides academic, foot, $31 million industrial education fa-
financial, physical and social support ser- cility where students from Vero Beach will
vices that help 500 veterans a year and cre- learn marine, aviation and automotive
ates an inflow of students for the college. technology, advanced welding and other
in-demand skills.
Lunceford has opened the door for the Lunceford, 62, comes by his Indian River
Veterans Council to move its headquarters County networking expertise naturally. His
onto the Mueller Campus, and proposed wife Brenda was born in Vero and he arrived
in town with his family in 1966 when his fa-
ther came here to be band director at Vero
Beach High School.
He went to the old Vero Beach Elemen-
tary School, where the Freshman Learning
Center is now, and was among the second
group of white students to attend Gifford
Middle School after desegregation.
Like a lot of Vero kids, he left for a while,
earning a degree in music education at the

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University of Florida and then going on to job skills training enterprise and entry point COUNTY UNEMPLOYMENT TICKS UP,
Louisiana State University for a master’s de- for higher education. BUT REMAINS EXCEPTIONALLY LOW
gree in conducting.
Some 80 percent of the diplomas it BY PATRICK McCALLISTER | Correspondent of this year, a 2.5 percent increase.
But he was back in Florida six years lat- awards are 2-year associate degrees. Many The second largest employment sec-
er, teaching music at Cocoa Beach High of those 2-year graduates enter the work- St. Lucie County’s not-seasonal-
School for a year and then moving to force, while others transfer to traditional ly-adjusted unemployment rate went tor is education and health services,
newly opened Port St. Lucie High School, 4-year colleges and universities. from 2.9 percent in May to 3.5 percent in which picked up 900 jobs from June to
where he was the first band director and June. Though the Treasure Coast annu- June. That sector had 29,100 jobs in June,
built the band program from the ground Besides its five campuses, the college ally sees an increase in unemployment 3.2 percent more than the previous June.
up, earning a regional Teacher of the Year operates five satellite learning centers, in- during the summer months, 3.5 percent
award along the way. cluding in Sebastian and Fellsmere. It has a is still remarkably low. The leisure and hospitality sector add-
large nursing program, partners with Piper ed the most jobs to the area from June to
He began his career at IRSC in 1997, Aircraft in the airplane manufacturer’s ap- The county started the year with a June, 1,400, bringing the total to 21,700, a
where he was an associate professor and di- prenticeship program, and does training for not-seasonally-adjusted unemploy- 6.9 percent increase on the year.
rector of instrumental music for seven years Cleveland Clinic. ment rate of 4 percent in January. That
before shifting to administration. In 10 dropped to 3.5 percent in February, 3 In June the manufacturing sector in
years as Dean of Arts and Sciences, he grew The cost of an IRSC education is aston- percent in March and 2.8 percent in St. Lucie and Martin had the second fast-
his division from 4,800 students to 13,200. ishingly low – $6,200 in total for a typical April – St. Lucie’s lowest unemployment est annual job growth rate compared to
associate degree and around $13,000 for a rate in decades. In the previous peak rest of the state. In June 2021 there were
He took over as head of the Vero campus bachelor’s degree, compared to an average good employment years of 2019 and 7,500 manufacturing jobs in the area.
in 2014. of $85,000 at a private college. 2006 St. Lucie only got to 3.3. percent at That rose to 8,200 in June this year, a 9.3
its lowest. percent increase.
Lunceford played trombone in the IRSC College President Tim Moore says 74
jazz band when he was only 13, and says he percent of graduates stay in the four-coun- St. Lucie and Martin counties form The state’s seasonally-adjusted unem-
plays all the other instruments in the band ty area the college serves – Indian River, St. the Port St. Lucie metropolitan statistical ployment rate in June was 2.8 percent.
as well – skills he will put to use in “retire- Lucie, Martin and Okeechobee counties area. From June 2021 to June 2022 the The national seasonally-adjusted unem-
ment” when he plans to return to teaching – and 91 percent of his students graduate MSA picked up 5,600 jobs, from 156,800 ployment rate was 3.6 percent. Without
music, conducting online courses for “a debt-free. to 162,400, a 3.6 percent increase. seasonal adjustment, the state’s unem-
couple of universities,” and volunteering his ployment rate was 2.9 percent; the na-
expertise to sharpen up “some high school “We want to provide the best-quality ed- The largest local employment sec- tion’s was 3.8 percent. Seasonal adjust-
bands in the region.” ucation at the lowest cost and get our stu- tor is trade, transportation and util- ment is a statistical tool to account for
dents out the door with the lowest debt and ities. There were 33,000 jobs in St. normal variances in month-to-month
He also plans to serve on several boards, the most wind at their back,” he says. Lucie and Martin counties in that employment rates. The state doesn’t
consult on higher education issues and con- sector in June. That sector picked up make seasonally adjusted employment
tinue his role as a “cheerleader” for IRSC. That is the student success that makes 800 jobs from June of last year to June rates available for counties. 
Lunceford smile.
“I think I still have a lot to offer higher
ed,” he says. New Mueller Campus president Terri
Graham will start Aug.1 and Lunceford will
Indian River State College began offering work alongside her for several weeks to en-
4-year degrees in 2008 but remains true to sure a smooth transition, retiring at the end
its community college roots, operating as a of the month. 

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Older and have prediabetes? Try to eat better and not worry

BY JUDITH GRAHAM | The Washington Post “For most older patients, the chance of “Always a diagnosis of prediabetes published in April in JAMA Network Open,
progressing from prediabetes to diabetes should be taken seriously,” said Rodica examined data for more than 50,000 older
More than 26 million people 65 and is not that high,” said Robert Lash, the Busui, president-elect of medicine and patients with prediabetes between Jan-
older have prediabetes, according to the chief medical officer of the Endocrine So- science at the American Diabetes Associ- uary 2010 and December 2018. Just over
Centers for Disease Control and Pre- ciety. “Yet labeling people with prediabe- ation, which recommends adults 45 and 5 percent of these patients progressed to
vention. How concerned should they be tes may make them worried and anxious.” older get screened for prediabetes at least diabetes annually, it found.
about progressing to diabetes? once every three years. The CDC and the
Other experts believe it is important to American Medical Association make a Researchers used a measure of blood
Not very, some experts say. Prediabe- identify prediabetes, especially if doing so similar point in their ongoing “Do I Have sugar levels over time, hemoglobin A1C.
tes – a term that refers to above-normal inspires older adults to add more physical Diabetes?” campaign. Prediabetes is signified by A1C levels of
but not extremely high blood sugar levels activity, lose weight and eat healthier di- 5.7 to 6.4 percent, or a fasting plasma glu-
– isn’t a disease, and it doesn’t imply that ets to help bring their blood sugar under Still, many older adults aren’t sure what cose test reading of 100 to 125 milligrams
older adults who have it will inevitably control. they should be doing if they’re told they per deciliter, according to the diabetes
develop Type 2 diabetes, they say. have prediabetes. Nancy Selvin, 79, of association. (This glucose test evaluates
Berkeley, Calif., is among them. blood sugar after a person hasn’t eaten
NEED A RELIABLE ELECTRICIAN? anything for at least eight hours.)
At 5 feet and 106 pounds, Selvin, a ce-
Family Owned & Operated ramic artist, is slim and in good physical Of note, study results show that obese
shape. She takes a rigorous hour-long ex- older adults with prediabetes were at sig-
Residential / Commercial / Service ercise class three times a week and eats nificantly heightened risk of developing
FREE ESTIMATES a Mediterranean-style diet. Yet Selvin has diabetes. Also at risk were Black seniors,
felt alarmed since learning last year that those with a family history of diabetes,
“High Quality & Prompt Service her blood sugar was slightly above nor- low-income seniors and older adults at
is our Tradition” mal. “I’m terrified of being diabetic,” she the upper end (6 percent to 6.4 percent)
said. of the A1C prediabetes range. Men were at
slightly higher risk than women.
Two recent reports about prediabetes
in the older population have heightened The findings can help providers per-
interest in this topic. Until their publica- sonalize care for older adults, Busui said.
tion, most studies focused on prediabe-
tes in middle-aged adults, leaving the sig- They also confirm the importance of
nificance of this condition in older adults directing older people with prediabetes
uncertain. – especially those who are most vulner-
able – to lifestyle intervention programs,
A new study by researchers at the CDC, said Alain Koyama, the study’s lead au-

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thor and an epidemiologist at the CDC. abetes to exercise more and eat carbohy- vated blood sugar because they produce tes, you will be prescribed metformin. But
Since 2018, Medicare has covered the drates evenly throughout the day,” said less insulin and process it less efficiently. it’s just nonsense to give you metformin
Medha Munshi, director of the geriatric While this is factored into clinical diabe- now, because you may be at risk, to re-
Diabetes Prevention Program, a set of diabetes program at the Joslin Diabetes tes guidelines, it hasn’t been incorporated duce the chance that you’ll need met-
classes offered at YMCAs and in other Center, an affiliate of Harvard Medical in prediabetes guidelines, she said. formin later.”
community settings designed to help se- School. “But it’s important to educate
niors with prediabetes eat healthier, lose patients that this is not a disease that is Aggressive treatments for prediabe- Unfortunately, some doctors are pre-
weight and become more active. Research inevitably going to make you diabetic and tes, such as the medication metformin, scribing medication to older adults with
has shown the prevention program lowers stress you out.” should be avoided, said Victor Montori, prediabetes, and many aren’t spending
the risk of diabetes by 71 percent in peo- an endocrinologist and professor of med- time discussing the implications of this
ple 60 and older. But only a small fraction Many older people have slightly ele- icine at the Mayo Clinic. “If you get diabe- condition with patients.
of people eligible have enrolled.
That was true for Elaine Hissam, 74, of
Another study, published in JAMA In- Parkersburg, W.Va., who became alarmed
ternal Medicine last year, puts prediabe- last summer when she scored 5.8 percent
tes in further perspective. Over the course on an A1C test. Hissam’s mother devel-
of 6.5 years, it showed, fewer than 12 oped diabetes in adulthood, and Hissam
percent of seniors with prediabetes pro- dreaded the possibility that would hap-
gressed to full-fledged diabetes. By con- pen to her, too.
trast, a larger portion either died of other
causes or shifted back to normal blood At the time, Hissam was going to exer-
sugar levels over the study period. cise classes five days a week and walking
four to six miles daily, as well. When her
The takeaway? doctor advised “watch what you eat,” His-
“We know that it’s common in older sam cut out much of the sugar and car-
adults to have mildly elevated glucose bohydrates in her diet and dropped nine
levels, but this doesn’t have the same pounds. But when she had another A1C
meaning that it would in younger individ- test at the start of this year, her number
uals – it doesn’t mean you’re going to get had dropped only slightly, to 5.6 percent.
diabetes, go blind, or lose your leg,” said
Elizabeth Selvin, daughter of Nancy Sel- “My doctor really didn’t have much to
vin and a co-author of the JAMA Internal say when I asked, ‘Why wasn’t there more
Medicine study. She is also a professor at of a change?’” Hissam said.
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Pub-
lic Health. “Almost no one develops the Experts said fluctuations in test results
[diabetes] complications we’re really wor- are common, especially around the lower
ried about in younger people,” Elizabeth and upper ends of the prediabetes range.
Selvin said. According to the CDC study, 2.8 percent
“It’s OK to tell older adults with predi- of prediabetic seniors with A1C levels of
5.7 percent to 5.9 percent convert to dia-
betes each year. 

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SPECIALIST ON WHAT GLAUCOMA Foundation, Laser peripheral Iridotomy
IS – AND HOW BEST TO TREAT IT (LPI) is the top treatment for angle closure
glaucoma and eyes at risk for this condition
BY KERRY FIRTH | Correspondent buildup of fluid that flows throughout Dr. Scott Piette. PHOTO: JOSHUA KODIS and has been used both as a treatment and
the inside of the eye. This fluid normally prevention of the disease.
Dr. Scott Piette, a board-certified, fel- drains out through a tissue called the tra- a small laser beam to open clogged chan-
lowship-trained glaucoma specialist becular meshwork at the angle where the nels in the trabecular meshwork. With a The angle is the space between the clear
and cataract surgeon, was attracted to iris and cornea meet. When the drainage surgical procedure called a trabeculectomy, part of the eye (cornea) and the colored
ophthalmology in part because both his system doesn’t work properly, the fluid the surgeon creates an opening in the white part (iris), close to their meeting point
mother and grandmother have glaucoma can’t flow out at the normal rate and eye of the eye and removes part of the trabecu- near the edge of the iris. It contains the tra-
and he wanted to help others like them. pressure increases. lar network. becular meshwork, which normally drains
Glaucoma is the second leading cause of fluid out of the eye. In closed angle glauco-
permanent blindness in the world, after “The most common type of glaucoma is Installing a small drainage tube the size ma, the angle is closed causing increased
blindness resulting from diabetic retinop- primary open angle glaucoma,” Dr. Piette of an eyelash is another option to drain eye pressure, which leads to optic nerve
athy. And it’s the first cause of bilateral continued. “There are no warning signs away excess fluid to lower eye pressure. damage and vision loss. The LPI procedure
blindness in African Americans between and it isn’t associated with any symptoms And there are other minimally-invasive creates a hole in the outer edge of the iris
the ages of 55 and 75. until it’s pretty advanced. It slowly takes glaucoma surgery options that are often which opens the angle. Once the angle is
away your vision without you knowing it. combined with cataract surgery that can be widened from the procedure, the trabecu-
“Glaucoma is a progressive loss of the Blind spots in the peripheral vision go un- discussed with your doctor. lar meshwork is exposed and fluid outflow
optic nerve tissue,” said Dr. Piette, who noticed because the central vision remains is enhanced.
recently joined the Glaucoma Institute at good until the last stage of the disease when “Acute angle closure glaucoma is anoth-
New Vision Eye Center, a state-of-the-art the patient goes blind.” er very serious condition where the natural “You can’t avoid getting glaucoma if you
facility in Vero Beach. “Think of the eye like drainage system is compromised,” Dr. Pi- are predestined to get it, so the best de-
a camera. The front of the eye is the lens Damage caused by glaucoma can’t be re- ette said. “The drain becomes closed, and fense is to get a good eye exam to establish
that focuses the light. In the back of the versed, but treatment and regular checkups the pressure will shoot up very high. This a baseline reading when you are healthy,”
eye is the retina which is like the film of the can help slow or prevent vision loss. Glau- form of glaucoma does have warning signs. Dr. Piette advised. “Know your risk factors
camera capturing that picture. Then it has coma is treated by lowering eye pressure Your vision will suddenly get blurry, your and be diligent about yearly eye exams. The
to be taken to our computer – our brain. with the use of prescription eye drops, oral eye will get red and the pupil will dilate. You earlier glaucoma is diagnosed and treated,
That is done through the optic nerve. medications, laser treatment, surgery or a start to see smoky vision or halos around the more sight is saved.”
combination of treatments. lights. You will also feel immense pain. You
“The optic nerve takes all that informa- need to call your eye doctor immediately The five major risk factors for glaucoma
tion back to our brain, but glaucoma at- If eye drops and/or medications don’t because within hours you start losing vi- are age, family history, African-American or
tacks the optic nerve like a rabbit chewing a bring down your eye pressure, improved sion permanently.” Latino descent, corneal thickness and ele-
cable and can eventually lead to blindness.” drainage of the fluid within eye might be vated eye pressure.
accomplished with a laser or surgical pro- According to the Glaucoma Research
Optic nerve damage is usually related cedure. With laser therapy, the doctor uses Dr. Piette will be conducting a study for
to increased pressure in the eye due to a a new treatment of open angle glaucoma,
working with a company called Elios on a
procedure called Excimer Laser Trabecu-
lostomy. This micro-invasive, implant-free
procedure uses excimer laser light energy
to create microscopic openings in the tra-
becular meshwork to re-establish the natu-
ral flow of eye fluid.

Dr. Piette earned his medical degree from
Midwestern University, Arizona College of
Osteopathic Medicine; interned at Henry
Ford Hospital in Detroit; and completed his
residency at Philadelphia (Pa.) College of
Osteopathic Medicine and Wills Eye Hospi-
tal. His glaucoma research fellowship was
at New York Eye and Ear Infirmary, followed
by additional training as a clinical fellow in
glaucoma the University of Iowa Hospitals
and Clinics. He can be reached the Glauco-
ma Institute at New Vision Eye Center, 1040
37th Place in Vero Beach, 772-257-8700. 

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SOME FOODS THAT HELP LOWER CHOLESTEROL

BY FRED CICETTI Caffeine occurs naturally in many plants,
including coffee beans, tea leaves and cocoa
Q. What foods are good for keeping your nuts. It is therefore found in a wide range of
cholesterol down? food products. Caffeine is added artificially
to many others, including a variety of bever-
THE HEALTHY SENIOR ages. The most common sources of caffeine
for Americans are coffee, tea, colas, choc-
A. Oatmeal contains soluble fiber that re- olate and some over-the-counter medica-
duces your low-density lipoprotein (LDL), tions.
the bad cholesterol that can increase your
risk of heart attacks and strokes. This type Here are some useful numbers to help you
of fiber is also found in such foods as kidney determine how much caffeine you take in:
beans, brussels sprouts, apples, pears, barley
and prunes.  A 6-ounce cup of coffee – 100 mg
 A 6-ounce cup of tea – 70 mg
There are other foods that work against  A 12-ounce can of cola – 50 mg
cholesterol. These include soy protein, wal-  An ounce of chocolate – 6 mg
nuts and fatty fish. Soy protein is found in  One tablet of Extra Strength Excedrin –
tofu, soy nuts, soy milk and soy burgers. 65mg
 One tablet of Anacin – 32 mg
Walnuts can significantly reduce choles-  One tablet of Maximum Strength No-
terol and may also help keep blood vessels Doz – 200 mg
more healthy and elastic. For most people, 200 to 300 milligrams
a day aren’t harmful, and coffee has been
Omega-3 fatty acids in fish are noted for shown to have a wide range of health bene-
lowering triglycerides, another form of fat fits. But, if you are sensitive to caffeine, you
in your blood. The highest levels of omega-3 may want to cut down or eliminate caffeine
fatty acids are in mackerel, lake trout, her- from your diet.
ring, sardines, albacore tuna and salmon.
Other good sources of omega-3 fatty acids Q. How long has marijuana been used me-
include flaxseed, walnuts, canola oil and dicinally?
soybean oil.
A. Marijuana refers to the parts of the
Of course, if you’re older and you plan to Cannabis sativa plant, which has been used
make a change in your habits that could af- for medicinal purposes for more than 4,800
fect your health, it is recommended that you years. Doctors in ancient China, Greece and
consult your doctor first. Persia used it as a pain reliever and for gas-
trointestinal disorders and insomnia.
Q. What is the most popular drug in the
USA? Cannabis as a medicine was common
throughout most of the world in the 1800s.
A. Caffeine. About 90 percent of Ameri- It was used as the primary pain reliever until
cans consume caffeine daily. More than half the invention of aspirin.
of all American adults consume more than
300 milligrams of caffeine every day. One of marijuana’s medical uses is for the
treatment of nausea. It can improve mild to
moderate nausea caused by cancer chemo-
therapy and help reduce nausea and weight
loss in people with AIDS.

Glaucoma increases pressure in the eye-
ball, which can lead to vision loss. Smoking
marijuana reduces pressure in the eyes. Your
doctor can prescribe other medications to
treat glaucoma, but these can lose their ef-
fectiveness over time. 

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16 August 4, 2022 ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | HEALTH www.stlucievoice.com

COFFEE DRINKERS People who drink a moderate amount ers tracked the coffee consumption and whether plain or sweetened with about a
MAY UP CHANCES OF of coffee – up to 3½ cups a day – might health of 171,616 participants, who were teaspoon of sugar, were up to 30 percent
A LONGER LIFE SPAN have a better chance at a longer life span, an average of nearly 56 years old and less likely to die in that time frame from
even if their coffee is lightly sweetened were free of cancer and cardiovascular any cause, including cancer and cardio-
with sugar, according to research pub- disease when the study started. vascular disease, than were those who
lished in Annals of Internal Medicine. did not drink coffee.
They found that those who regular-
For about seven years, the research- ly drank 1½ to 3½ cups of coffee a day, The type of coffee – whether instant,

To Advertise (772-633-1115) ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | HEALTH August 4, 2022 17

ground or decaffeinated – made no dif- a variety of health benefits for coffee, help reduce internal inflammation and
ference, but the results were described linking its consumption to a reduced risk cell damage and protect against disease.
as inconclusive for the use of artificial for Type 2 diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, Drinking caffeinated coffee also provides
sweeteners. The latest research does not liver disease, depression and more. an energy boost and increased alertness.
prove that coffee alone was responsible Caffeine, however, can disrupt sleep and
for participants’ lowered mortality risk. Nutritionists often attribute the ben- be risky during pregnancy. 
Still, over the years, research has revealed efits of coffee to the abundance of an-
tioxidants in coffee beans, which may ­– LINDA SEARING/THE WASHINGTON POST

18 August 4, 2022 ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | PETS www.stlucievoice.com

Unfor-Greta-ble! Bonz enjoys gab with lovely Lab

Hi Dog Buddies! Furever famly; what your daily life’s like; Greta. PHOTO: JOSHUA KODIS back into the ocean. That made me feel
pooch pals; fave things, stuff like that, happy.”
I hit it off with Greta right away, like she an I’ll write it down right here in my years ago, I think I helped a fellow creature.
was my liddle sister or somethin’. When me notebook.” I hope I did. Cuzza my instinks, I was over “Thank you for sharin,’ Miss Greta,” I
an my assistant arrived at her house, Greta atta neighbor’s house by the beach barkin’ said.
was already in The Back with my phu-TAH- “That sounds fun. OK. Here I go. It was an barkin’ an wouldn’t quit, wouldn’t move,
graffur. SHE was bouncin’ an playin’ an HE back when the famly’s other Lab Maui which was totally not like me. My Dad came “In our pooch frenly neighborhood,
was tryin’ to get some Shots, which he finely went to Dog Heaven: My human brother over an discovered there was a big turtle Mom an Dad ride their bikes an I run with
did. Greta is a beau-di-ful Yellow Lab, goin’ an sister Karson and Courtney wanted who had got stuck under the house packing ’em. Walkin’s too slow. We live right by the
on 9. another pooch but Mom an Dad sorta the sand up against the sides and couldn’t beach, so me an Dad go for a morning,
didn’t. I think it was mostly cuzza that get out. Dad an my brother anna fren dug well, it’s called a WALK, but like I said.
“Good afternoon, Miss Greta,” I said. “It’s human thing where the liddle humans an dug the sand, real careful to not touch Anyway, we go every morning at 6, rain
a pleasure to meet you in The Fur. I enjoyed say they’re Absolutely Gonna Take Care the turtle an I didn’t either cuz you’re totally or shine. (But NOT thunder. THEN I’m
your beach twirling video.” of the Pooch, but the mom an dad end of not s’pose to. Finally there was enuf room under the bed.) I LOVE when it’s SHINE,
ackshully doin’ it. Anyway, none of ’em for it to move an it wiggled out an went cuz I meet my pooch pals: Tuny, Oscar,
She approached with a small laugh, really wanted to be dog-less. They came Kiwi, Bennie, Chloe, Magic an Midnight,
“Oh, yes, well, I do love the beach so much, across my Irresistubble Puppy Portrait on an Bella.
specially playin’ ball ON the beach, I just get line, an drove to Palm Beach to get me.
all twirly.” I was a shy, scared, 8-week-old fluffball, “My FAVE beach activity is ROCK SKIP-
but I uh-MEDIATELY got so much love an PIN’! I find a nice, flat rock an Dad skips it
Following the Wag-an-Sniff, she said, snuggles that, by the time I got to my Furev- out into the wadder. THEN I splash out an
“This is my Dad Karl. My Mom Barb is else- er Home, we all realized how lucky we were feel around with my paw under the wadder,
where. Let’s go inside where it’s cooler.” to have each other. FIND it, an dive down an re-TREEVE it.
THEN I bring it back, dig a big hole an bury
When we got settled in, Greta began nose “Dad says that the next Sunday in it. Then I find another nice flat rock. Keep
bumpin’ my assistant inna frenly way, an church, the PASS-ter (that’s the human doin’ it till I fall over in a heap. Then I go
pokin’ about in The Satchel, having dis- who stands in front an talks about Very home for a lovely nap. Dad always fills the
cerned the duh-lish-shus yoghurt-an-ap- Important Human Things) talked about holes back in for me. After I rest up an Dad
ple snacks therein. With permission, she GRATI-tude (which means being GREAT-ful does some work in his office, we go for an
enjoyed one. for something) so they decide to name me afternoon walk.
Greta. Isn’t that So Cool Kibbles?” “My just-around-the-corner Bestie is
“That was yum,” she said. “So now what? Briar, a Lab like me, only black. Her Grampa
I never did an innerview.” “Totally!” I agreed. Buzz an my Dad work in the same office.
“I don’t wanna brag, but onetime, a few She’s the office mascot an I’m the backup.
“Simple! Just tell me how you found your

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To Advertise (772-633-1115) ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | ADVICE August 4, 2022 19

“Another Cool Kibbles human is Joey Delta’s e-credits don’t work. What can I do about this?
the UPS Guy: He has treets (an occasion-
ally I climb into his Crispy Biscuits truck). When Theodore Schmiechen canceled his that means the airline gets to keep your
Sometimes Bella an her humans come over Delta flight, he received credits for future money and give you nothing for it. There
for dinner or we go over there. The humans travel. But the credits don’t work, and the are ways to prevent a problem like this from
sit around an laugh a lot. I like goin’ over to airline is making it difficult to book a new happening. First, you could have booked
Bella’s cuz her Dad has treets in his pocket flight. What should he do? a refundable ticket. Unfortunately, those
an her Mom always gives us a duh-LISH-us tickets are often ridiculously overpriced –
frozen Frosty Paw. Q: I recently canceled two flights and as much as two or three times more expen-
submitted a refund request to Delta Air sive than a nonrefundable ticket.
“I also enjoy WADDERmelon. An (she Lines. Delta denied my refund but of-
leaned in, lowering her voice) don’t tell any- fered two e-credits for future travel. The Timing is important, too. You have 24
one, but my most favrite treet is – TOAST. problem is that they are both still listed as hours to cancel and receive a no-ques-
It’s just buh-tween me an Dad. When he’s “open” with an “oops, we can’t value this tions-asked refund on most airline tickets.
havin’ his breck-fust he makes me a liddle coupon” message. If you had canceled your flight within this
piece of toast. With (she whispered even time frame, you wouldn’t have had to wor-
softer) just a teeny liddle plop of jelly. I’ve contacted Delta’s customer service ry about the e-credits.
SCRUMP-shus! department repeatedly, with no response.
I then called, and after two hours on hold, A qualified travel agent might have ad-
“Oh, Mr. Bonzo, I am so fortunate. Each a representative told me I would need to vised you on the best kind of ticket to book
night, I sleep in one of my many beds, I call Delta reservations to book flights manually. for your trip. A resourceful travel advisor
have one in each room, an a splendid crate can sometimes get a refund a few days after you book your
in Dad’s office. Or, if it’s a warm night, I This is just not an option for me. I need the e-credit so ticket, even if it’s nonrefundable.
chose the nice, cool tile. I must say, you’re that I can easily book new flights. Would you please reach But I loved your case because it’s a great example of effec-
a very good LISS-ner. I haven’t been at all out to them and ask that they convert the open e-credits tive self-advocacy.
nervous yappin’ with you. Like I’d pick-shur into two actual credits for $1,402 that they already ap- I supplied you with the names, numbers and email ad-
a big brother, you know?” proved? dresses of the Delta Air Lines executives. You contacted
them, and within a few days, you had working e-credits. I’m
“Thank you, Miss Greta,” I replied, smilin’ A: Delta didn’t have to refund your tickets. The type of impressed that you ultimately were able to fix this yourself.
to myself, “I believe I do.” fare you booked is nonrefundable, but you can still get a Companies create seemingly impenetrable systems de-
flight credit. But Delta never promised the credit would be signed to turn away customers with legitimate requests. It’s
Headin’ home, I was still smilin’, thinkin’ easy to use. nice to see someone get the outcome they deserve.
about happily unexpected connections
between fellow creatures. An also about the So why would an airline make a ticket credit difficult to Get help with any consumer problem by contacting
possibility of persuading my Gramma to use? That’s easy. If you have a tough time redeeming a flight Christopher Elliott at http://www.elliott.org/help. 
buy a Frosty Paw for me to try. voucher, guess what? Chances are, you will never use it. And

Till next time,

The Bonz

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20 August 4, 2022 ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | REAL ESTATE www.stlucievoice.com

MORTGAGE RATES BROUGHT DOWN BY RECESSION FEARS

BY KATHY ORTON | The Washington Post “While no one wants a weaker econo- often influence them. From January to June sury yield, they also go up.
my, lower rates are just what the real estate this year, the 30-year fixed mortgage rate av- But in a recession, bonds are seen as a safe
Mortgage rates took a step back last week market needs in the middle of summer.” erage rose more than 2.5 percentage points,
as concerns about a recession outweighed going from 3.22 percent in January to 5.81 investment. More demand for bonds causes
worries about inflation. The Federal Reserve raised its benchmark percent in June. prices to rise and yields to fall, which usually
rate by another three-quarters of a percent- sends mortgage rates down. After peaking at
According to the latest data released age point last week, marking the fourth in- Although economists expect mortgage 3.09 percent earlier this month, the yield on
last Thursday by Freddie Mac, the 30-year crease this year. It started with a 25-basis rates to continue trending higher, they are the 10-year Treasury closed at 2.78 percent
fixed-rate average fell to 5.3 percent with point hike in March, followed by 50 basis unlikely to rise as rapidly as they did the first last Wednesday.
an average 0.8 point. (A point is a fee paid points in May and now back-to-back 75 ba- six months of the year. Concerns about an
to a lender equal to 1 percent of the loan sis points. (A basis point is 0.01 percentage impending recession are having a dampen- The Bureau of Economic Analysis re-
amount. It is in addition to the interest point.) Although the news came too late to ing effect on rates. leased the latest GDP reading last Thursday,
rate.) It was 5.54 percent two weeks ago and be factored into Freddie Mac’s survey, inves- showing the economy shrank for the second
2.8 percent a year ago. tors had been anticipating the move. “Mortgage rates have dropped about half quarter in a row. The report prompted con-
a percentage point in recent weeks, heading cerns about an impending recession.
Freddie Mac, the federally chartered “The Fed raising rates has been a bit like closer to 5.5 percent than the 6 percent rates
mortgage investor, aggregates rates from yelling into a cave and listening to your we saw in June,” said Mike Fratantoni, chief Meanwhile, mortgage demand contin-
around 80 lenders across the country to voice echo,” said Kate Wood, a home ex- economist at Mortgage Bankers Association. ues to plummet, falling for the fourth week
come up with weekly national averages. The pert at NerdWallet. “The first time the funds “There is a tug-of-war in market expecta- in a row. It is at its lowest level since Febru-
survey is based on home purchase mortgag- rate went up, back in March, the effect on tions, between the persistently high infla- ary 2000. The market composite index – a
es. Rates for refinances may be different. It mortgage rates was loud and clear. In May, tion numbers and resulting rapid Fed hikes, measure of total loan application volume
uses rates for high-quality borrowers with it was fainter, and in June, following a brief and the increasing risk of a sharp slowdown – decreased 1.8 percent from a week earlier,
strong credit scores and large down pay- spike, rates rebounded so quickly it was as and possible recession. As a result, mortgage according to Mortgage Bankers Association
ments. Because of the criteria, these rates if there’d been no sound at all. But with the rates may have already peaked and could data. The refinance index dropped 4 percent
are not available to every borrower. current level of economic uncertainty both stay between 5 percent and 5.5 percent from the previous week and was 83 percent
globally and in the U.S., we can’t take inter- through the remainder of 2022.” lower than a year ago. The purchase index
The 15-year fixed-rate average dropped to est rate stability for granted.” was down 1 percent. The refinance share of
4.58 percent with an average 0.8 point. It was When investors are worried about in- mortgage activity accounted for 30.7 per-
4.75 percent two weeks ago and 2.1 percent The Fed has been raising the federal flation, they lose interest in buying bonds cent of applications.
a year ago. The five-year adjustable rate av- funds rate to lower inflation, which has because the return on their investment is
erage slipped to 4.29 percent with an aver- been hovering at 40-year highs. Prices rose less when inflation is high. Inflation erodes “The summer slowdown in mortgage
age 0.3 point. It was 4.31 percent two weeks 9.1 percent in June, compared with prices the value of a bond’s future payments. Less applications continued,” Bob Broeksmit,
ago and 2.45 percent a year ago. the year before. But the hikes have caused demand causes bond prices to drop and MBA’s president and chief executive, wrote
mortgage rates to skyrocket. Although the yields to rise. Since mortgage rates tend to in an email. “Higher mortgage rates and
“The economy is starting to show signs Fed doesn’t set mortgage rates, its actions follow the same path as the 10-year Trea- weakening consumer confidence are im-
of weakness,” said Melissa Cohn, regional pacting homebuyer demand.” 
vice president of William Raveis Mortgage.

PGA Village pool home
has spectacular views

10322 Inverness Way in Calloway Place in PGA Village: 2-bedroom, 3-bathroom, 2,453-square-foot home
offered for $649,900 by Diane Gault, 772-342-7455 of Lang Realty

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22 August 4, 2022 ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | REAL ESTATE www.stlucievoice.com

Remodeled PGA Village pool home has spectacular views

BY SHELLEY KOPPEL | Columnist
[email protected]

The house at 10322 Inverness Way, in the
Callaway Place section of PGA Village, is
beautifully situated on an oversized lot with
a large expanse of lawn, lush landscaping
and a front door nestled under an archway.
The outside, in fact, is a delightful introduc-
tion to the elegant and yet inviting interior.

The kitchen, the heart of the home, is an
amazing 18 feet by 21 feet, with a stunning
mixture of textures and colors. The neutral
walls set off the white cabinets, Jerusalem
stone flooring found throughout the house,
stainless-steel appliances and darker wood
cabinets located in the island. The counter-
tops are granite and there is pendant light-
ing for added effect. The kitchen opens to
the spacious family room (32-by-24), which
also has a dining area. The family room is
an ideal entertaining space, with a bar for
thirsty guests and views of the lanai and
pool beyond. You’ll be able to cook up a
storm and keep an eye on things at the same
time as guests or family move inside and out
for a swim and a bite to eat.

The master bedroom is a generously
sized 19-by-13 and looks onto the waterfall
feature in the pool. What a calming way to
relax after a hard day at work or play! The
master suite has abundant closet space

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To Advertise (772-633-1115) ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | REAL ESTATE August 4, 2022 23

and the master bath has a separate shower bana bath across from it. It would be easy to around. Not only do you see the greens of day and a great place to entertain.
and tub and plenty of room for two. There transform it into a third bedroom with the the golf course, but you have a pond view For Diane Gault, broker-associate with
is another bedroom (15-by-14) with an en- addition of a Murphy bed. as well. You could sit and enjoy the view for
suite bath, and a den (15-by-11) with a ca- hours, entertaining friends and family or Lang Realty, the word for this house is “in-
Outside, you have one of the nicest views just relaxing with a morning cup of coffee credible,” both inside and out.
or a beverage of choice before retiring. As
FEATURES FOR 10322 INVERNESS WAY if all of that were not enough, the pool and “This lovely home, in one of the most
spa have a rock feature with a waterfall. sought-after communities in PGA Village,
Neighborhood: Calloway Place in PGA Village This outside is the antidote to a stressful was remodeled, literally from top to bottom,
Year built: 1990 in 2013,” she said. “There are incredible views

Construction: CBS, stucco CONTINUED ON PAGE 26
Square footage: 2,453 sq. ft.
Total square footage: 4,554 sq. ft.
Bedrooms: 2 • Bathrooms: 3

Flooring: Jerusalem stone
Security: manned gate, security patrol
Additional features: golf and pond views, pool, spa and wa-
terfall, on quarter-to-half acre, plantation shutters, cathedral/

vault ceilings
Community amenities: billiards, clubhouse, fitness center, golf

course, library, pickleball, pool, putting green, tennis
Listing brokerage: Lang Realty

Listing broker/associate: Diane Gault, 772-342-7455
Listing price $649,900

Erik L. Ugi

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24 August 4, 2022 ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | REAL ESTATE www.stlucievoice.com

TRADITION AND ST. LUCIE WEST REAL ESTATE SALES

TOP SALES OF THE WEEK
A solid fortnight for real estate sales in the Tradition and St. Lucie West market saw 45 transac-
tions of single-family residences and lots reported (some shown below).
The top recent sale was of the residence at 11401 SW Waldorf Court. Listed in June for
$985,000, this 5-bedroom, 5-bathroom home sold for $890,000 on July 25.
Representing both the seller and the buyer in the transaction was agent Cesar Trujillo of Keller
Williams Realty of Port St. Lucie.

SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENCES AND LOTS SELLING
ORIGINAL PRICE

TOWN ADDRESS LISTED ASKING PRICE SOLD $890,000
$750,000
PORT SAINT LUCIE 11401 SW WALDORF COURT 6/8/2022 $985,000 7/25/2022 $725,000
PORT SAINT LUCIE 17155 SW AMBROSE WAY 5/16/2022 $750,000 7/18/2022 $649,683
PORT SAINT LUCIE 11984 SW AVENTINO DRIVE 5/23/2022 $850,000 7/25/2022 $645,000
PORT SAINT LUCIE 12997 SW AMBRA STREET 2/23/2022 $649,683 7/28/2022 $589,000
PORT SAINT LUCIE 5343 NW ALAM CIRCLE 9/15/2021 $599,000 7/25/2022 $565,000
PORT SAINT LUCIE 5473 NW MODEL COURT 6/22/2022 $589,000 7/21/2022 $565,000
PORT SAINT LUCIE 11355 SW ROCKINGHAM DRIVE 5/25/2022 $579,000 7/25/2022 $550,000
PORT SAINT LUCIE 11182 SW SPRINGTREE TERRACE 6/2/2022 $585,000 7/20/2022 $550,000
PORT SAINT LUCIE 7724 WEXFORD WAY 2/15/2022 $599,000 7/20/2022 $550,000
PORT SAINT LUCIE 11173 SW SPRINGTREE TERRACE 6/1/2022 $557,500 7/26/2022 $540,000
PORT SAINT LUCIE 11173 SW SPRINGTREE TERRACE 6/8/2022 $557,500 7/26/2022 $521,400
PORT SAINT LUCIE 10658 SW WESTLAWN BOULEVARD 6/8/2022 $565,000 7/27/2022
PORT SAINT LUCIE 12716 SW AMBRA STREET 1/6/2022 $449,760 7/27/2022

To Advertise (772-633-1115) ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | REAL ESTATE August 4, 2022 25

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

17155 SW Ambrose Way, Port Saint Lucie 11984 SW Aventino Drive, Port Saint Lucie

Listing Date: 5/16/2022 Listing Date: 5/23/2022
Original Price: $750,000 Original Price: $850,000
Sold: 7/18/2022 Sold: 7/25/2022
Selling Price: $750,000 Selling Price: $725,000
Listing Agent: Ann Chauss Listing Agent: Elise Danielian

Selling Agent: Coldwell Banker Realty Selling Agent: Lang Realty

Renee Normandy-Shane Adena Williams

Keller Williams Realty Coldwell Banker Paradise

12997 SW Ambra Street, Port Saint Lucie 5343 NW Alam Circle, Port Saint Lucie

Listing Date: 2/23/2022 Listing Date: 9/15/2021
Original Price: $649,683 Original Price: $599,000
Sold: 7/28/2022 Sold: 7/25/2022
Selling Price: $649,683 Selling Price: $645,000
Listing Agent: Hector Lopez Listing Agent: Joseph Sabato

Selling Agent: AV Homes Legacy Developers Inc Selling Agent: Keller Williams Realty

Isabella Scott Matthew Dixon

Coldwell Banker Realty INLET Properties & Investments, LLC

26 August 4, 2022 ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | REAL ESTATE www.stlucievoice.com

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 23 This truly is a home where attention to
detail is a watchword, and where the re-
of water and the golf course. The beautiful modeling was done with thought and care.
rock-featured spa, with its waterfall, makes The crown molding, vaulted ceilings, and
this the most tranquil of spots. The incredible high-end choices in flooring and other
view is visible from almost every room. Inside, surfaces makes it a place anyone would be
Jerusalem stone flooring and extensive crown proud to call home. Come and take a look
molding add to the look of a home in which and you may do just that. 
no detail has been neglected.”

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28 August 4, 2022 ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | REAL ESTATE www.stlucievoice.com

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30 August 4, 2022 ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | REAL ESTATE www.stlucievoice.com

Road map to homeownership for those with thin credit files

BY FRANCIS CREIGHTON | The Washington Post seeking to purchase a new home or open- your credit score. (And make sure every- borrow a small amount that the lender
ing other kinds of credit accounts. one understands that this is a joint ac- then places in an account they cannot
Homeownership is an important life count, meaning all users are responsible access. After the consumer pays off the
goal and milestone for many Americans, Another group with little or no cred- for charges even if the other person made loan through a predetermined set of pay-
providing meaningful benefits beyond it history is immigrants who might have the charge). ments, that loan is then turned over to
building wealth and financial security. had credit accounts in their former coun- the consumer. Before applying for one
But today in the United States, 26 mil- try, but that previous credit history doesn’t A second option is to leverage your per- of these loans, however, make sure your
lion adults are effectively blocked from transition over to the U.S. system. sonal recurring payment data. Today, con- lender reports payments to the credit bu-
achieving homeownership because they sumers can report their payments for rent, reaus.
are “credit invisible,” meaning they have Regardless of the reason, consumers utility, cellphone and streaming service
no record of borrowing or repaying mon- with limited to no credit history will find it bills to the three nationwide credit bureaus Finally, immigrants who are faced with
ey through loans, credit cards or oth- harder to get loans, and when they do they (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion) and building a credit score from scratch upon
er forms of consumer credit. Without a are likely to pay more in interest and fees. see positive impacts to their credit scores. arriving in the United States have a fifth
credit history or credit score, these con- Services like Experian Boost help you do option. Applying for a credit card through
sumers are missing key tools mortgage While your credit history is certainly im- this automatically and across payment Nova Credit converts a consumer’s inter-
lenders use to help people achieve home- portant, lenders are also looking at wheth- types; there are also rent reporting services national credit history into a U.S. credit
ownership. er an applicant has enough income to re- available. score. While this service doesn’t yet work
pay, the consumer’s total amount of debt for immigrants from every country, it can
There are good reasons some people are and if they have enough cash on hand for Third, apply for a secured credit card. help establish a U.S. credit file.
credit invisible. According to the Consum- a down payment. So establishing a strong Many banks offer this option, which al-
er Financial Protection Bureau more than credit file isn’t a silver bullet – but it can re- lows consumers to pay a cash deposit as It’s important to note that once you es-
10 million of these consumers are younger ally help. Here are five ways consumers can collateral that typically becomes their tablish a credit file, it can take up to six
than 25 and are likely earning an income become credit visible: credit limit. From there, consumers can months of payment history for a cred-
for the first time; they’re just beginning charge purchases to the card and make it score to be calculated. So adjust your
adult life, so it stands to reason that they First, become an authorized user on regular, on-time monthly payments and home-buying and mortgage loan applica-
don’t have the long financial history that a friend or family member’s credit card. start to build a positive payment history tion timeline accordingly.
comes with time. As an authorized user, you get your own that is reported to the nationwide credit
card and share the primary account hold- bureaus. Outside of these tangible steps, credit
On the other end of the spectrum, er’s credit limit and payment history. The invisible consumers should also consider
spending tends to decline after a consum- important thing is to make sure both you Another option is to apply for a cred- working with third-party credit counseling
er retires, and many older Americans who and the primary account holder make it-builder loan. Many credit unions offer services like Credit Builders Alliance. These
might have had a strong credit score in the on-time payments and don’t max out these types of loans, and they can be great counselors can provide financial advice
past can see their credit file shrink. In most balances. With responsible management, for both building a consumer’s credit file and help consumers build their credit step
cases this isn’t a problem, as they are not this positive payment record will appear or repairing damaged credit. Consumers by step. 
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fun, food SECTION
festivities
THURSDAY, AUGUST 4, 2022 YOUR INDEPENDENT LOCAL COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER

Coming Up! Covering all the bases!

MAKE YOUR STAR The action was fast and furious during last Saturday’s St. Lucie Mets game against the Palm
TURN AT CITY’S Beach Cardinals at Clover Park. Pitcher Keyshawn Askew, above, was splendid, fooling Car-
TALENT SHOW dinals hitters with his side-arm delivery while striking out eight in six innings of relief as the
Mets posted a 2-0 victory. Tanner Murphy, left, rounds the bases following his third-inning
BY PAM HARBAUGH | Correspondent home run; he also drove in the Mets’ other run. The Mets’ Omar De Los Santos, below,
steals second base, eluding the Cardinals’ Brody Moore.
1 The City of Port St. Lucie is
getting ready for its Annual PHOTO: LINDA KLOORFAIN
Talent Show. You can audition for
it by submitting a video by Friday,
Aug. 5. Registration is free. Videos
should be three to five minutes,
no longer. Send the video to jgaz-
[email protected]. The tal-
ent show takes place in person
on Friday, Sept. 9. There is a $10
entry fee for the talent show.

2 Islamorada Brewery &
Distillery hosts plenty
of activities designed for fun.
Here’s what’s up just in the next
two weeks. The “Line Dance
Thursdays” begins 7 p.m. Thurs-
day, Aug. 4 and 7 p.m. Thursday,
Aug. 11. “Music Bingo Friday”
starts 6:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 5
and Friday, Aug. 12. “Bounce
House Saturday” starts 11 a.m.
Saturday, Aug. 6 and 11 a.m. Sat-
urday, Aug. 13. Live Music starts
1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 6, 1 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 7, 1 p.m. Saturday,
Aug. 13 and 1 p.m. Sunday, Aug.
14. “Family Feud” fun starts 6
p.m. Monday, Aug. 8 and 6 p.m.
Monday, Aug. 15. “Tuesday Triv-
ia” begins 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug.
9 and 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 18.
“Salty Bingo Wednesdays” starts
6:30 p.m. Wednesdays, Aug. 10
and Aug. 17. Comedy on Tap
starts 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 13.
Islamorada Beer Company also
has a 25,000-square-foot brew-
ery you are welcomed to visit.
There’s also a tasting room. This
is definitely destination fun.
Islamorada Beer Company is
at 3200 Saint Lucie Blvd., Fort
Pierce. Call 305-508-9093 or visit
IslamoradaBeerCo.com. Be sure
to notice that there are two loca-
tions, one in Fort Pierce and one
in the Florida Keys.

CONTINUED ON PAGE B8

2 August 4, 2022 ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | ARTS www.stlucievoice.com

‘Distinct style’ makes Rienzo’s art quilts extra special

BY DEBBIE TIMMERMANN | Correspondent in New York, and after their daughter
was born, began exploring various crafts.
While textile art, also known as fiber After making a quilt for her daughter, she
art, essentially dates back thousands of started studying the subject and joined
a newly formed quilt guild. The popular
years, it is only more recently that it has Amish quilts of the 1980s were “a big
inspiration” as well.
become recognized as an art form at
Her long fiber art journey began with tra-
ARTIST museums and galleries. ditional Log Cabin quilts, before exploring
Locally, some of the other techniques of the craft, which consists
of three layers: fabric, batting and backing.
PROFILE best examples can be Pieces are then sewn (she uses a standard
seen in the works of sewing machine), finished and signed.
Vero Beach artist Susan Rienzo.
Describing the “free motion stitching”
The artform involves choosing pieces of approach, Rienzo says, “It’s drawing with
fabric, often just small bits, before sewing thread.”
them into shapes and forms whose de-
signs, colors and patterns display a depth Commenting on the growth of fabric
art as an art form, she explains that the Art
and intensity equal to contemporary Quilt Movement began in California in the
museum paintings. early 1960s, before eventually spreading
throughout the country.
Rienzo, who says she has sewing in her
In 1986, quilt historian and curator Pen-
genes, and her husband, a retired land- ny McMorris and quilt dealer and publisher
scape architect, moved to Vero Beach in Michael Kile organized an Art Quilt Exhi-
2005 from Brooklyn, N.Y. The decision bition at the Whitney Museum in New York
was a great one, especially after discov- City. It was then that the term ‘art quilt’ was
first applied, intending for the exhibits to
ering “the extraordinarily supportive and be seen as works of visual art, distinct from
friendly artistic community, which I found traditional bed quilts.
totally unexpectedly.”
Today, the Studio Art Quilt Associates,
The couple designed and built their Inc., a global nonprofit organization of
home on a piece of property they loved. more than 4,000 artists, curators, col-
She says she only wishes they could add on lectors and art professionals, strives to
to the house, as their life here has taken on promote the recognition of art quilts as
a universally respected fine art medium.
bigger proportions than they had imagined. There are two levels of membership, Artist
Their vibrant home is awash in bold col- Member and Juried Artist Member. Rienzo
has earned the latter.
ors; from a bold, pink neon sign (made by
Rienzo discovered the art form in 1982,
her daughter who markets them in Miami) embracing and evolving her own signature
on a bright red wall, to an assortment of style as one that is colorful, whimsical art-
multi-colored wall hangings in a wide range work that brings joy.
of patterns and colors.
Currently immersed in collages and
Hanging above her living room sofa, abstracts, Rienzo, a self-certified fabric
Rienzo’s “Sunshine State of Mind” could junkie, has a closet filled with all variety of
hold its own in the Museum of Modern fabrics in varied colors and designs. She
also employs “conversation” fabrics (also
Art, as would “Sunshine Memories.” There called juvenile fabrics) which have printed
is also a cartoon portrait of herself which (illustration) designs.
she made when they first moved to Vero
and continued to add on to. In it, she says, Rienzo says her color palette changed to
bright colors when she moved south, ex-
“I have my house, my kids, my dog; it all plaining: “The sun, the blues of the ocean,
just came out.” it’s all inspirational to me.”

Both of Rienzo’s immigrant grandfathers Her process involves cutting out pieces
of fabric in colors and patterns that she “ob-
were tailors in the 1930s, and her father was Susan Rienzo. PHOTOS: JOSHUA KODIS sessively saves down to one inch in size.”
a marker in a dress factory; marking pro- They are then applied using a combination
posed patterns onto fabrics to ensure they of fusing, collage, raw-edged applique,
would fit and line up properly. He was also painting and mark making. She says she
mainly works with commercial fabrics, in
an amateur photographer, who inspired her addition to batiks and hand-dyed fabrics.
own love of photography.
As with any true artist, inspiration comes
Growing up in a creative environment, from everywhere, including other artists,
she loved her box of crayons, and sewing. fashion trends, topography, photography,
“Sewing came to me in the third grade; the natural world and the fabric itself.
girls were taught how to sew back then,”
says Rienzo. “I’m inspired by illustration styles, in-
digenous designs and colorful commercial
She considered becoming a fashion products,” says Rienzo. She adds that her
designer and earned a two-year degree at
the Fashion Institute of Technology in New CONTINUED ON PAGE B4
York. Still unsure of her calling, she attend-
ed two more years of college, switching
from home economics, which required the
dreaded chemistry, to art.

It took just one art class to convince her,
“This is for me!” says Rienzo, who received a
Bachelor of Fine Arts in graphic design from
the University of Georgia, where she also
met her husband.

Rienzo worked as a graphic designer



4 August 4, 2022 ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | ARTS www.stlucievoice.com

A.C.T. season: Mystery, merriment ... and Mamet SUSAN RIENZO

BY SHELLEY KOPPEL | Staff Writer CONTINUED FROM PAGE B2
[email protected]
love of children’s art and illustration began
When A.C.T. Studio Theatre with the Richard Scarry books that she read
to her children when they were little.
presents its new season, you
“Illustrations for children are so full of
can be certain there will be joy. I love the expressive spirit of chil-
dren’s art.”
comedy, drama, new works
Additionally, Rienzo comments that she
and classics, and something was inspired by an exhibition of monumen-
tal sculptures by Louise Nevelson (1899 to
for just about every taste. 1988). “Her composites of found elements
was quilt-like. I was inspired by how she
There is always something struggled and created, gathering found ob-
jects for her art,” says Rienzo. “For me, how
new to me and I relish the op- to merge disparate design elements took
a lot of introspection and time. Now my
portunity to learn something colorful quirkiness has given me my distinct
style and is very rewarding.”
new every year. This year, ev-
Working intuitively, Rienzo is constantly
erything from Santa to Godot pushing the boundary of her craft and
trying new things. Her collages, which
is on tap, so take a look and have evolved over the past five years, now
lean toward abstract and contemporary
maybe try something a little wall hangings.

out of your comfort zone. Entering competitions and shows from
California to the East Coast, Rienzo says it
The season opens with Yas- pleases her that textile arts quilts are now
being shown alongside other art and are
mina Reza’s Tony Award-win- increasingly being accepted as an art form.

ning play “God of Carnage,” At the current Summer Squared exhib-
it at Gallery 14 in Vero Beach, on display
directed by Dennis O’Dono- through Sept. 2, Rienzo says she found the
artist owners very accepting.
van. Reza, author of “Art,” tells
Explaining her process, Rienzo says she
the story of a playground alter- begins with a vision, pushing various fabric
scraps around on a background fabric, until
cation between two 11-year- deciding what to create.

old boys that brings together A.C.T. Studio Theatre presented the comedy-thriller “Anybody For Murder?” this past season. The upcoming season “A piece of an image from a previous
two sets of Brooklyn parents includes works by Agatha Christie, David Mamet Samuel Beckett and Yasmina Reza. PHOTO COURTESY OF A.C.T. STUDIO THEATRE project gives a glimmer of an image which
draws the viewer in to look further at it,”
to try to resolve the matter. At says Rienzo, who likes to add things that
make her smile.
first, everyone behaves well, but as the meeting progresses and when his television career fizzles, he is offered the oppor-
Rienzo has exhibited nationwide and
and the liquor flows, tensions emerge and the gloves come tunity to play Hamlet in Central Park. Unfortunately, he hates internationally, as well as locally at Gallery
14, the Vero Beach Art Club Annex, the Elliot
off. The New York Times called the play and its Christopher the play. When John Barrymore’s ghost appears (he once lived Museum in Stuart and the Fifth Avenue Gal-
lery in Melbourne, where two of her works
Hampton translation “a study in the tension between civilized in Rally’s New York apartment), funny verbal duels over every- have been accepted for the upcoming “Tex-
tile Trends” exhibit, opening Aug. 1. She also
surface and savage instinct; this play is itself a satisfyingly thing from art to the apartment take place. The Paul Rudnick recently stepped into a teaching role at the
Lighthouse Art Center in Tequesta. 
primitive entertainment.” The play runs from Sept. 9-Sept. 18. play, called appropriately “I Hate Hamlet,” will be presented

David Mamet’s “American Buffalo” will be presented Oct. Jan. 6-22 and Lester is directing.

7-Oct. 23 and is directed by Richie Lester. Three small-time “Waiting for Godot” by Samuel Beckett is considered one

crooks plot to rob a Chicago junk store owner of his coin col- of the most important plays of the 20th century. The play, fo-

lection, including the showpiece, a valuable “Buffalo nickel.” cusing on the meaninglessness of life, was the Theatre of the

As is often the case with Mamet, things don’t go according Absurd’s first theatrical success and will provide much mate-

to plan. The New York Times’ Frank Rich, reviewing the 1981 rial for conversation. It will be presented Feb. 10-19.

Off-Broadway production, called the play “brilliant,” saying: “Over the River and Through the Woods” by Joe DiPietro

“The play, though, is the thing. Working with the tiniest imag- will be presented March 17-April 2. Written by the creator of “I

inable vocabulary-words like nothing, great and no, as well as Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change,” this comedy is about a

those of four letters, Mr. Mamet creates a subterranean world young man who sees both sets of grandparents every Sunday

… in ‘American Buffalo,’ he has created a deceptively small- until he is offered a job in Seattle, far from his Jersey family.

scale tragedy that is packed with the power to explode the The family is not above trying ever more devious moves to

largest of American myths.” keep their beloved Nick in the Garden State, including dan-

I thought I knew Agatha Christie, but it turns out she wrote gling the lovely Caitlin at him. Will he stay or will he go? Come

a psychological thriller, “The Stranger,” set in a remote coun- see the Heidi Condon-directed play to find out.

try village. When Enid rejects her fiancé for a newcomer, Ger- “Red,” by John Logan, will be presented April 21-30. Win-

ald, and moves to a cottage with him, terrible things happen. ner of the Tony Award for Best Play, it tells the story of master

The play will be presented Nov. 11-Nov. 20 and Donna Amaru abstract impressionist Mark Rothko and his struggles to com-

is directing. plete the biggest commission in the history of modern art, a

And now for something completely different. series of murals for the famed Four Seasons restaurant. The

The holiday celebrations begin with “Yes, Virginia, There New York Times said it was “intense and exciting … a study in

IS a Santa Claus,” by Andrew Fenaday. Hearkening back to artist appreciation, a portrait of an angry and brilliant mind

the days of radio, Fenaday has taken one of his movies of the that asks you to feel the shape and texture of thoughts. ‘Red’

week and put together a radio play where you see and hear captures the dynamic relationship between an artist and his

the radio production. The play is based on the letter a young creations.” Dennis O’Donovan directs.

girl writes to the editor if the New York Sun, asking if Santa re- Finally, the season ends with Designer Shorts 2, A.C.T.’s

ally exists. The production runs from Dec. 9-18 and is directed second short-play festival, featuring the works of south Flor-

by Joyce Milligan. ida playwrights. Seven 10-minute plays will offer reflections

Keeping with the holiday theme, Matt Stone returns as El- on a theme, as yet undetermined, and will be woven into one

vis, featuring songs from The King’s Christmas albums and performance. The thoughtful and entertaining night of the-

favorite hits. The show will be presented Dec. 21. It’ll be a blue ater will be presented May 19-May 28.

Christmas if you’re not there.

Shakespeare may evoke strong feelings in people, but when A.C.T. Studio Theatre is located in Cedar Pointe Plaza at

an actor hates “Hamlet” and is pressured to play the role, 2399 SE Ocean Blvd., Stuart. Call 772-932-8880 or visit actstu-

comedy ensues. Andrew Rally’s career and life are in limbo diotheatre.com. 



6 August 4, 2022 ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | ARTS www.stlucievoice.com

New IRSC theater manager: Stage is set for ‘exciting’ season

BY SHELLEY KOPPEL | Staff Writer Althea Christine Wilson is the Holiday Kaleidoscope in Concert!” with the instrumental
[email protected] newly-appointed theater manager ensembles, under the direction of Southall. A medley of
at Indian River State College. sing-along music will be a highlight of the program. All of
There’s a lot going on at Indian River State College’s Southall’s concerts will be Saturday and Sunday matinees.
performing and visual arts department. A new season has PHOTO COURTESY OF JAMES CROCCO, IRSC
just been announced, there’s a grant from the National En- Feb. 16-18 brings “A Jazz and Big Band Phantasmagoria
dowment for the Arts and a new theater manager has just “It’s hugely exciting,” Wilson said. “We have, in general, in Concert!” Under the direction of Southall, the IRSC in-
been appointed. It’s going to be a busy season. focused on bringing more diversity with our shows.” strumental ensembles will bring together classic, jazz pop
and big band music from the past to the present. The mu-
Althea Christine Wilson may be new to her position as The theater season begins Sept. 22-24 with“The Moors,” sical season concludes with a “Singing Spectacular” April
theater manager, but she knows Fort Pierce and theater by Jen Silverman, a darkly comedic parody of Gothic liter- 13-15, featuring the IRSC Chorale and ‘Company’ Singers,
very well. Wilson grew up in Fort Pierce and attended John ature. From Oct. 27-29 the Yazmina Reza comedy “Life X under the direction of Rieth.
Carroll High School. She spent 2 ½ years at the presti- 3” will take the McAlpin Stage and Jan. 12-14 brings “The
gious Berklee College of Music, studying jazz saxophone Fan” by Carlo Goldoni. This classic 18th century farce has There is a lot going on and the price is always right. If
and voice. She received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in been reimagined in the 1980s, complete with disco. March you haven’t been to a performance, this would be a great
theater from California State University-Long Beach and 8-11 brings the musical “Company,” a tribute and celebra- season to do so.
a Master of Fine Arts degree in directing from Penn State tion of the work of the late Stephen Sondheim. The the-
University. She has experience as a freelance director, has ater season ends with “The Council,” by William S. Yellow The IRSC McAlpin Fine Arts Center is located at 3209 Vir-
taught theater at Palm Beach State College and was an Robe Jr., presented May 11-13. This comedy, by a Native ginia Ave., Fort Pierce. Box office hours are Monday through
associate director of DVD production at BBC Worldwide American playwright, weaves mythology, storytelling and Friday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Individual tickets will not be
America. innovative puppetry in a fable about coexistence among available until Sept. 7. Call -772-462-4750 or 1-800-220-
animals, humans and the natural world. 9915. 
Wilson is taking over from longtime theater manager
Rebecca Shearer, who received a promotion and is now on Of course, it wouldn’t be a season without music. Nov.
the Mueller Campus. 12-13 is a musical tribute to the armed forces, under the
direction of Southall. Nov. 17-19 brings a “Vocal Extrava-
“I have big shoes to fill,” Wilson said. “The theater is my ganza,” pulling together outstanding items from previ-
home. It’s steeped inside of me.” ous concerts, under the direction of Rieth. Dec. 1-3 is “A

The new manager brings experience both backstage
and in front of it, and has experience in academia. All of
that will be brought to bear in her new position.

“One of my main responsibilities as house manager is
being responsible for everything in front of the theater,”
she said. “That’s the box office and ticketing, the lobby and
keeping the building safe and secure. It’s like being the
hostess of the event. In this position I also get the joy of
interfacing with college theater students and to work with
(master instructor of theater) Alex Kanter (director of vo-
cal music), Dr. Dale Rieth and (department chair and di-
rector of instrumental music) Dr. John Southall. While the
season was already planned, we have added some Sunday
matinees. I’m excited and think our patrons will like that,
given the popularity of our Saturday matinees.”

The news of the National Endowment Award grant
had just been announced when I spoke with Wilson. The
$15,000 for the Arts Project is the first IRSC has received.
It originated with Kanter and he is the project leader. The
award will support an updated English translation and
production of Sor Juan Ines de la Cruz’s play “Amor es mas
Laberinto.” The play will be presented as part of the 2023-
2024 season. It was written in 1689 by de la Cruz, a Mexi-
can nun, playwright and philosopher.

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FOOD AND FUN WILL FLY AT TC THEATRE’S ‘KITCHEN WITCHES’

BY SHELLEY KOPPEL | Staff Writer the two witches bring
[email protected]
someone on stage.”
Summer is the perfect time for lighter fare,
be it in the kitchen or the theater. With the Food, as you can
Treasure Coast Theatre’s production of Car-
oline Smith’s “The Kitchen Witches,” you get imagine, is well-present-
both. The comedy, which will be present-
ed Aug. 19-28, takes you inside a television ed in the prop depart-
cooking show with childhood enemies as the
hosts. What could go wrong? ment. “There is some

Dawn Achin is directing the production inappropriate use of
and she is planning for lots of things to go
wrong. If they do, she’s done her job. food between these two

“Dolly and Isobel are childhood friends former friends,” Achin
whose friendship ended over a guy,” she said.
“More than 30 years later, Dolly’s streaming said. “There are carrots
baking show has brought Isobel back to
rub salt in her wounds. An on-air exchange and other produce, flour,
prompts the producer to come up with a plot
and it is sort of ‘cooking show meets Real and how much fun that
Housewives of Sudbury,’ the town where it
takes place, with a little Jerry Springer. It’s a will be, and frosting.”
fun show with only four actors, so everyone
has a chance to shine.” She said no more

Isobel will be played by Colette Schweizer about the frosting, leav-
and Dolly by Ellie Nicholas.
ing my imagination to
“Colette and Ellie have done several shows
with us and they are veterans who are going run wild.
to have more fun than they should be al-
lowed to have,” Achin said. Lest you think this

Dolly’s son and the show’s producer is is all flying food, Achin
played by Christopher Ketcham, who has the
said that the play has

heart. “There are family

Colette Schweizer and Ellie Nicholas will star in Treasure Coast Theatre’s “Kitchen Witches” Aug. 19-28. PHOTO COURTESY OF TREASURE COAST THEATRE secrets, but it ends on a

good, happy note, she

thankless task of mediating such important it with references to streaming and pop cul- said. “It’s a nice, feel-good story. It’s a great

questions as whose dressing room is closer ture, like the Kardashians and Ru Paul. There comedy for the summer and to kick off our

to the set. Zel Wampler will play the camera is also an ode to the ‘Wizard of Oz.’” third season.”

person. “The Wizard of Oz?” Just remember to duck if a parsnip flies by.

“At the read-though, we were rolling on You’ll just have to come and see.

the floor,” Achin said. “The playwright pre- “There is a chance for audience participa- The Treasure Coast Theatre, located at

sented it to Samuel French (a play publishing tion,” Achin said. “The audience is kind of the 10175 U.S. 1., presents “Kitchen Witches”

house) and it won a playwriting contest in fifth character. There are special guests and a weekends from Aug. 19-28. Call 772-418-2439

2005. During the pandemic, Smith updated competition in the middle of the show where or visit treasurecoasttheatre.com. 

8 August 4, 2022 ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | PEOPLE www.stlucievoice.com

FIRE DISTRICT HONORS ALERT HERO COMING UP es. The entire program was put together
by the young duo and I can’t wait to see
Assistant Fire Chief Jeff Lee, St. Lucie Fire District, presents Brian Kelsch with the Good Samaritan award CONTINUED FROM PAGE B1 what they have come up with.” Jake (Ja-
cob Velazquez) is a 14-year-old songwriter
during the Fire Board meeting on July 27 in Fort Pierce. On July 4, Kelsch noticed flames in a neighbor’s 3 The NY Rockabilly Rockets perform and multi-instrumentalist living in South
next weekend at the Lyric Theatre Florida. He has performed on “America’s
home. He alerted the home’s resident, who was able to escape with his pets. PHOTO: LINDA KLOORFAIN in Stuart. The group is known for specta- Got Talent,” numerous television network
cle, especially its “Shake Rattle and Roll.” shows and alongside big names like Harry
They take audiences through vintage rock Connick Jr., Andrea Bocelli and Gloria Es-
’n’ roll, from “sock-hoppin’ ’50s to the tefan. His younger sister, Sky (Skylar Rae),
surfin’ ’60s” in a full-on Las Vegas style is an aspiring performer who was select-
show with lights, sound, props, wardrobe ed for the Broward County Honors Choir.
and more. Don’t be surprised if you end Diagnosed with a form of autism when
up dancing in the aisle to songs by Roy he was 4 years old, Jake has lifted up the
Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, El- mission to “show the world that having a
vis, Johnny Cash, Bobby Vee, Chuck Berry diagnosis doesn’t mean you aren’t capable
… you name the star, and they’re prob- of great things.” Collins says Jake is a “real
ably in the show. “NY Rockabilly Rockets joy.” “He’s one of the most dynamic and
Shake Rattle Roll” begins 7 p.m. Saturday, intelligent musicians I have ever worked
Aug. 13 at the Lyric Theatre, 59 SW Flagler with,” Collins says. “He has won over au-
Ave. Tickets start at $47. Call 772-286- diences across the world.” The concert
7827 or visit LyricTheatre.com. will feature songs that Jake and Sky wrote
as well as some of their own arrangements
4 Billy Eilish and Finneas can step of popular tunes such as “Amazing Grace”
aside. There’s another brother and and “Sweet Home Alabama.” Collins says
sister musical duo set to entertain. It’s Jake also thrills audiences when he tack-
“Jake ‘n Sky,” two young music prodigies. les challenging Beethoven piano concerti.
They will perform in concert Sunday af- The concert begins 3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 7
ternoon at Vero Beach’s Emerson Center. at the Emerson Center, 1590 27th Ave., Vero
The presenting organization is the Space Beach. This free concert is brought to Vero
Coast Symphony Orchestra. “The program Beach courtesy of Collins and the Space
will be a joy for our audiences,” says Space Coast Symphony Orchestra. Do be sure,
Coast Symphony music director and con- though, to go onto the orchestra’s website
ductor Aaron Collins. “This is our seventh and reserve those free tickets. Visit Space-
time showcasing Jake and the first time Sky CoastSymphony.org. For more informa-
(his sister) has performed for our audienc- tion, call 855-252-7276. 

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12 August 4, 2022 ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | COMMUNITY www.stlucievoice.com

Jar stars! Community supports ‘Peanut Butter Brigade’ in bid to help hungry school kids

Beginning Aug. 15 until Sept. 15, PGA Vil- struggle with hunger. Feeding America dreds of meals weekly
lage residents may drop off peanut butter statistics reveal that this past year, an esti-
in support of Grace Packs Inc.’s efforts to mated 20.4 percent of children in St. Lucie from a centralized pantry
fight childhood hunger in St. Lucie County. County have struggled with food insecurity.
Thanks to Aldo Burga, head tennis profes- Grace Packs Inc. was created in 2011 when space donated by Sun-
sional at the Legacy Golf and Tennis Club, a Oak Hammock K-8 cafeteria manager Lisa
bin will be placed outside the tennis office Ferrick and teacher Laura Klosterman no- light Community Church.
for donations. The Legacy Club address is ticed children were hoarding and stealing
9000 Clubhouse Dr. Upon entering the club’s food from the school cafeteria. Other signs Thanks to the efforts of
driveway, the Tennis Club is on the right. of hunger were children visiting the nurse’s
office on Mondays complaining of head- these volunteers, children
Grace Packs Inc., a 100 percent volun- aches or stomach aches.
teer-run nonprofit, provides weekly week- carry home breakfast,
end meals for students whose families Volunteers sort, pack and deliver hun-
lunch and dinner items

on the weekends. At the

end of the past school

year, approximately 541

students were receiving

food assistance. Recently

a teacher helping stu-

dents with the food pro-

gram in her school noted,

“Grace Packs gives them

confidence and makes

them feel loved.”

Why peanut butter? The Grace Packs team. PHOTO COURTESY OF MARYANN KETCHAM

Peanut butter is the per-

fect protein, has a long shelf life and is loved are best, though all sizes are welcome.

by kids and parents alike! The Peanut Butter

Brigade was founded in 2020 to assist Grace Anyone interested in joining the mission of

Packs in adding peanut butter to their regu- feeding hungry local students through giving

lar weekly menu. Prior to the Brigade’s cre- financially, hosting a food drive or volunteer-

ation, peanut butter was only offered once or ing, can visit gracepacks.org to learn more.

twice a year. Thanks to a generous St. Lucie For those not residing in PGA Village and who

County community, more than 4,000 jars would like to donate, please contact Grace

were donated during the last school year. Packs Inc. Director Laura Klosterman at

Since children take their meals home in bags [email protected]. 

and backpacks, 12-ounce to 17-ounce jars –­ BY LAURA KLOSTERMAN/CONTRIBUTED

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REP. TRABULSY IS NAMED Baron Academy: Taking customized education model to new level
TO CAREERSOURCE BOARD

Gov. Ron DeSantis recently appointed Kristine Erice has never been afraid of a challenge. Raising sonal experiences with their autistic children, which led to an
her now 15-year-old son who was diagnosed with autism at age opportunity. Baron offered to help Kristine expand her school
seven people to the CareerSource Florida 2 has definitely had its share of challenges, but the greatest chal- and take it to the next level by helping fund the build-out of
lenge she felt came with realizing the lack of educational op- one of his existing buildings, allowing the school to serve three
Board of Directors, including Dana Trabulsy, tions for her son and others just like
him, living on the Treasure Coast. times the number of students being
a Fort Pierce resident and state representa- taught at its old school location. It
She turned frustration into op- was like a dream come true and the
tive for District 84. portunity in 2020 by opening the two quickly started working on the
only private school in St. Lucie school’s expansion.
Rep. Trabulsy was elected to the House of County that catered to teaching
children just like her son, children After months of COVID related
Representatives in 2020 and serves on sev- who needed more support and setbacks and delays, the build-out
would likely fall through the cracks of the newly renamed and renovat-
eral committees includ- in a typical school setting. ed school, Baron Academy, is finally
complete. They are currently en-
ing as vice chair of the The school, Exceptional Acade- rolling and set to serve up to 75 K-8
my for Differently-Abled Learners, grade students in the 7,000-square-
Health Care Appropri- opened its doors in January 2020 af- foot building in Port St. Lucie for the
ter much struggle in finding a loca- 2022-2023 school year beginning in
ations Subcommittee. tion that was suitable for a private August. Baron Academy will provide
school. Located in St. Lucie West, the same customized education
Relative to her appoint- the school welcomed 15 students that Erice set out to provide with
to begin classes, but, with a growing her original concept at Exceptional
ment to CareerSource waitlist the moment she opened her doors, Kristine knew she Academy, but will now be able to reach so many more students
had to do more. who need a more tailored and personalized education.
Florida, Trabulsy sits on
In March 2020, COVID came and crushed the fundraising
the Education and Em- Dana Trabulsy. goals that Erice set to expand her school to be able to serve
ployment Committee more students. She kept plugging on, knowing that the right
opportunity would come along when it was supposed to.
and Early Learning & El-
Fast forward a few months, Erice had a chance meeting with
ementary Education Subcommittee. local commercial real estate broker and developer, Jeremiah
Baron. The two talked and shared stories about their own per-
“In Florida, and at Career Source, we are

focused on job creation, partnerships, in-

novation and workforce education. I am

especially excited about the expansion of

workforce education and training programs.

These are essential elements of our mission,”

said Trabulsy, who has a special place in her The Baron Academy Ribbon Cutting and Open House will be

heart for children’s initiatives as well as ad- held on Saturday, Aug. 6 at 10 a.m. at the new school location at

vocating the importance of families to earn a 8557 Commerce Centre Dr., Port St. Lucie. Visit exceptionalacad-

fair living wage to support their families. emypsl.com for more information on the school and enrollment.

Reach out to Kristine at [email protected] for

For more information, visit careersourcerc. any questions.  ­– CONTRIBUTED

com.  ­– CONTRIBUTED

14 August 4, 2022 ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | SERVICE DIRECTORY www.stlucievoice.com

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BY LARRY DAVID ALLMAN of her skills, accomplishments and overcoming whatever prob-
the irrepressible energy necessary lems and issues come up. That
What might be considered the most to complete such a large project the British public strongly sup-
(print length: 846 pages). In the year ports the monarchy in these
interesting family in the world – also 2000, the Queen recognized Brown’s current times of “tear down all
many achievements by awarding institutions” is a tribute to the
BOOK probably the most her a title as a CBE (Commander of Queen, the royals who get up
misunderstood, or the Order of the British Empire); every morning to do their job,
thus, she is also known as Lady and the people in the Firm.
REVIEW the most respected Evans. Her late (2020) husband, Sir
or maybe even the Harold Evans, was knighted after One interesting point that
she was awarded her title. surfaces often but in subtle
most disrespected – is the family of the ways is the effect of Diana on
Brown adroitly gives us the sto- the monarchy. Diana became
United Kingdom’s Queen Elizabeth … ries, and the details and nuances, the superstar of the royals,
of the lives of all the royals, adher- overshadowing all including the
the House of Windsor, i.e., the British ing mainly to the main players. Queen, even after her sad death.
Life is not easy for any royal. Their This was a kind of mistake
Monarchy. So many books (and articles responsibilities and duties must (even though she was expressly
come first. They must be careful chosen for Charles), and the
and films, etc.) have been produced that their personal lives and private Firm understood that the “Di-
wants do not intrude – this is the ana effect” could never happen
about this family; certainly one of the most vulnerable area where their again. Nobody would be allowed
personal romances crop up and to overshadow the Queen. How
best is the recently published “The create public problems. Brown that principle was integrated
nicely weaves their personal into so many decisions concern-
Palace Papers” by Tina Brown. stories into the overarching story: ing the women/romances, most
the young Elizabeth (who became notably Markle, is the sort of
This book is something very special. Queen at age 25) and the handsome inside dish Brown is skilled at un-
Phillip Mountbatten; Charles marrying covering and relating. The departure
Meticulously researched and sourced, the young Diana, who checked all the of Harry and Meghan from royal life
palace boxes, except for the fact that happened because Markle’s Hollywood
exceptionally well written (with British Charles was always in love with Camil- “I’m a star” attitude was unworkable
la, who is eventually welcomed into the from the start. It had nothing at all to
flair), it covers the period post-Diana to royal family and Charles is rendered do with race. Besides, Harry wanted
complete; William, wounded by the out of his royal duties way before he
the present, a little over 20 years of roy- death of his mother, finally realizing met his future bride.
that Kate (Catherine Middleton; her “The Palace Papers” is a great book
al life which went through all kinds of machinations to close the deal with which moves along at a good pace while
William are worthy of John Le Carré) giving us the real inside view – and
internal and external turmoil. The driv- is his best friend and perfect Queen necessary details – of life inside the
Consort to the future King; Andrew’s British monarchy. Brown’s excellent
ing force that undergirded and led the struggles with Fergie, incompetence writing makes it a juicy read in a British
and ethical lapses in his royal duties, way: Would an American author ever
monarchy was, and currently still is, the and the sordid Jeffrey Epstein matter; describe a source’s comment as “pi-
and Harry, also deeply wounded by quant”? Highly recommended.
wisdom, leadership and intuitive sens- the death of his mother, his need to be
active in the military and serve in a real Larry David Allman is a resident of
es of Queen Elizabeth. “God Save the war zone, his almost romances, and his PGA Village Verano. His latest novel,
infatuation with Meghan Markle who “Downward Dog in Miami,” is available
Queen,” as the U.K. national anthem never fit into the royal picture, and thus on Amazon. He is a Broker Associate with
his departure from royal life. Branca Realty Professionals. He can be
goes. Her Royal Highness knew exactly journalistic skills almost every reached at [email protected]. 
Brown captures with highest-level turning point in their lives, and blends
when to be the Queen – protecting the that with the overall work and effec-
tiveness of the modern monarchy. The
monarchy, its culture, traditions, future monarchy is referred to as “the Firm.” It
is truly a multibillion-pound business
survival and wellbeing, on the one which produces several products, in-
cluding the royals individually as role
hand – and when to be the mother and models for U.K. (and foreign?) citizens,
extensive real estate holdings, domes-
grandmother of her family, of her four tic and foreign trade. and diplomacy
(often behind the scenes so as not to
“children” (Charles, Anne, Andrew and interfere with the actual government
headed by the prime minister; Eliza-
Edward) and their children. It was a beth is head of state and head of the
commonwealth), and very much the
very delicate balance, the razor’s edge, keeper and purveyor of U.K. culture,
tradition and heritage. Nobody puts on
so to speak, but one she navigated and a royal/governmental/official parade
like the British. And Brown gives us the
executed with skill and success. real inside on the hundreds of skilled,
faceless, caring behind-the-scenes
Author Brown could be the one people/bureaucrats who keep the mon-
archy out of trouble, moving forward
person in the world best suited to with purpose and effectiveness, and

write such an expansive, deep and

highly interesting book on the monar-

chy. Brown was the editor of the very

British Tattler Magazine (which had a

whole staff searching incessantly for

“dish” on the royals). She came over

to America and was editor of Vanity

Fair and the New Yorker, prestigious

American magazines, and in 2008

founded the Daily Beast website. She

has won numerous awards, and writes

with the best. This book is the product

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16 August 4, 2022 ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | GAMES www.stlucievoice.com

SOLUTIOPRNESVTIOUPSREVDIOTUIOSNI’SSSSUOEL(UJUTLIOYN2S8,)SOENE PPAAGGEEBB1124

The Telegraph ACROSS DOWN
1 Location (5) 2 Quit (5)
4 Chills (5) 3 Cutlers (anag.)(7)
10 Edible seeds (7) 5 Haven (5)
11 Art (5) 6 Free time (7)
12 Cabinet (5) 7 Room (5)
13 Debate (7) 8 Apart (5)
15 Observed (4) 9 Explosion (5)
17 Musical drama(5) 14 Notion (4)
19 Rims (5) 16 Garden (4)
22 Back (4) 18 Tableau (7)
25 Discs (7) 20 Hauled (7)
27 Pointer (5) 21 Faith (5)
29 Material (5) 23 Attempt (5)
30 More cross (7) 24 Mindful (5)
31 Gem (5) 26 Plunder (5)
32 Lazed (5) 28 Lift (5)

How to do Sudoku:

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

The Telegraph

To Advertise (772-633-1115) ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | GAMES August 4, 2022 17

ACROSS 107 What stamps are for? 42 Say hello with your head The Washington Post
1 Super or superb 110 Time to watch out 43 Mission: Impossible
6 Least beastly 112 Type of crow SOUNDS LIKE FUN By Merl Reagle
12 Made fun of, perhaps 113 Not fooled by composer Schifrin
16 Concert lead-in? 114 Undergarments 45 David’s Kill Bill
19 Two-under-par shot 115 Add names to the will?
20 Backspaces through 118 Funny folks co-star
21 Sp. miss 120 Likely 47 See 48 Across
22 It’s beyond normal “reading” 121 Make a faux pas 52 Where Sioux City is
23 Crusoe and Friday? 122 See 41 Across 53 Physiologist Pavlov
25 Anti-amphibian spray? 123 Sheriff with indigestion? 55 Old Egyptian symbol revived
27 Air Force ___ 125 What the little magician
28 Boxer separator in the 1960s
29 Write quickly was? 59 Grate material
30 Were down a little, as 131 Part of a play 60 Where the Bay of Pigs is
132 Heavenly messenger, in 61 Mo. of masks
stocks 62 Dickens tale exclamation
31 Deli decision? French 64 Fireproofing material
36 Ex-vice-president and 133 One-celled organism 65 Start to come round
134 First non-elected president 67 Greenish drink
family 135 Jaguar model 70 He coached the Packers
38 Concerning, to a lawyer 136 Attendee 71 Long time
40 Concert ending? 137 Jeff of racing 72 Japan’s capital, once
41 Order to a dog 138 Sources of spills on hills 74 Competed
42 What you’ll see in the 75 Clod chopper
DOWN 76 Mosul’s land
Chicago Bulls’ locker room? 1 Fetch 77 Sprightly dance, French-
44 Caesar’s accusation 2 Unprocessed
46 ___ buco 3 Freudian concept style
48 Popeye’s “goil” 4 “Take ___ at this!” 78 Demond’s sitcom co-star
49 One of Frank’s exes 5 Court sport 85 Action word
50 Start of many California 6 Book bet. Ezra and Esther 86 Screenplay
7 Red-faced reaction 87 Animation characters
place names 8 Nile delta city 89 Ignited anew
51 Vacation that involves goin’ 9 County near London 91 Grp. with many a GP
10 Part of “SASE” 92 Magazine contents
wherever ya feel like goin’? 11 Mao ___-tung 93 MacMurray’s Double
54 The fluid part of blood 12 “Any port in ___”
13 Jets, Mets, or Indemnity co-star
56 SE Asian language 94 Start
57 Ingmar directed her often Nets, e.g. 96 Photog’s original
58 Eat, as chips 14 Airport abbr. 97 Perform all over again
61 Bit of shogun attire 15 Some stay-at-home types 98 Be that as it may
63 Used to be 16 Wet quality, as on leaves 99 Part of Orion’s belt
66 Large container 17 “I am mad, or 100 Does darning
68 Big ball of fire 103 Blow up
69 Swiss abstract painter else this ___” 108 Trent of Mississippi
73 What modern sculptor (Twelfth Night) 109 Night sky shape
18 TV’s 86 or 99 111 Work periods
Christo wants to do next? 24 Very heavy, as some trucks 115 Rap sheet entry
79 Bangkok native 26 First letter of the Arabic 116 Exhorted
80 Back-of-a-book blurb alphabet 117 ___ alcohol
81 Shipping magnate’s 29 Allyn of They Won’t Forget, 119 Male deer
1937 121 “Tickle Me” doll
nickname 31 Boat-landing place 123 Car wash option
82 Enjoyed 80 Across 32 Divider’s word 124 Noted numero
83 6 on a cell 33 Island off Los Angeles 125 Sink in the middle
84 The ultimate climb 34 Serious cut 126 A premium channel
88 A Cabinet dept. 35 Popular disinfectant 127 Crayola shade
90 Little glob 36 Paintings by a famous 128 Brewery bottleful
92 Muttered comments Spaniard 129 Actor Beatty
95 Dieted successfully? 37 Relative of a half hitch 130 No and Phil: abbr.
101 84 Across, for ex. 39 Sicilian volcano
102 Freeway, for ex.
104 Caviar
105 84 Across stat.
106 Commedia dell’___

The Telegraph

18 August 4, 2022 ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | GAMES www.stlucievoice.com

A PANCAKE WITH NO-TRUMP TOPPING WEST NORTH EAST
K J 10 8753 42
By Phillip Alder - Bridge Columnist Q 10 8 7 6 4 AK5 3
10 5 984 QJ732
W.C. Fields said, “The laziest man I ever met put popcorn in his pancakes so they would Q 10 863 J9742
turn over by themselves.”
SOUTH
The first time I went to a movie in the United States, in Chicago in 1971, I remember AQ96
only one thing: the constant background noise of people eating popcorn. That was J92
something no one did in England, where I was born and lived until 1985. AK6
AK5
In bridge we have pancake hands — those with 4-3-3-3 distribution. They tend not to
be good for suit play, because the losers stay losers forever. They are better either in Dealer: South; Vulnerable: East-West
no-trump or on defense.
The Bidding:
With that hint, look at the North hand in today’s deal. South opens two no-trump; what
should North respond? SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST OPENING
2 NT Pass ??
With a pancake, do not use Stayman to hunt for a 4-4 spade fit; just raise to three no- LEAD:
trump. 7 Hearts

Against that contract, West will probably lead his fourth-highest heart seven. South can
run that to the nine, giving him eight top tricks: one spade, three hearts, two diamonds
and two clubs. By cashing the spade ace and playing another spade, South will shortly
establish a ninth trick in spades. Give that declarer some popcorn!

Suppose North does use Stayman, and South ends in four spades. West again leads
the heart seven. What happens?

If South wins with his heart nine, then tries to enter dummy with a heart, East ruffs. So
South cashes the spade ace, then plays another spade. West wins two spade tricks
and exits with a heart. South will be unable to avoid losing one trick in each minor to go
down one.

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