November 19, 2020 | Volume 7, Issue 47 Newsstand Price: $1.00
YOUR LOCAL NEWS SOURCE FOR INDIAN RIVER COUNTY
For breaking news visit VeroNews.com
PAGE B2 PAGE 7
BRACKETT SEEN AS RIGHT 5 7EARLY DETECTION KEY TO PATRIOTISM PERVADES B6
CHOICE FOR VERO MAYOR BEATING THYROID CANCER VETERANS DAY EVENT
MY TAKE New COVID-19
cases creeping
BY RAY MCNULTY up on July level
Major Milo Thornton:
Best for undersheriff
If Sheriff-elect Eric Flowers is From left: Susan Heritage, Mona White and Daniela Martinez at the Whole Family Health Center. PHOTO BY BRENDA AHEARN By Lisa Zahner | Staff Writer
as smart and savvy as he wants [email protected]
us to believe, he’ll begin his Vero researcher involved in COVID-19 drug trials
reign as the county’s top cop in As families ponder how to safe-
January by promoting Maj. Milo By Michelle Genz | Staff Writer closer attention than infectious a back entrance, away from oth- ly celebrate Thanksgiving and get
Thornton to undersheriff – and [email protected] diseases specialist Dr. Gerald er patients – to participate in tri- back to something resembling a
not merely because it would help Pierone. als of drugs under development “normal” life, the number of new
his agency’s relationship with The news last week that the to treat the disease. COVID-19 cases reported here
the Black community at such a FDA had given emergency use Since late October, COVID-19 this week crept closer to the level
tumultuous time in America. authorization for a COVID-19 patients with active infections Among those drugs is bam- experienced during the July peak.
treatment drew worldwide no- have been coming to Whole lanivimab – accent on the “iv.”
My reasons for endorsing tice. In Vero Beach, few paid Family Health Center – through In the seven days leading up to
Thornton, in fact, go well be- CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 Monday press time, 332 Indian
yond the national turmoil over River County residents were in-
social justice or any concerns fected with the virus, according
about the lingering distrust be- to state reports. The daily aver-
tween the Black community and age of 47 cases was closing in on
law enforcement in the wake of the peak July average of 55 new
the headline-grabbing events of daily cases.
this past year.
Thirty-three of those testing
Indeed, I’m probably doing positive in the past week were
Thornton an injustice by men- island residents. That makes 54
tioning his skin color, which is island residents diagnosed with
the least of his qualifications for COVID-19 thus far in November
a job that requires administra- – a 30 percent increase over the to-
tive experience, professionalism tal for the first eight months of the
and knowledge of every aspect pandemic.
of the agency’s operations – all of
Two people have been reported
CONTINUED ON PAGE 4 dead of COVID-19 complications
so far this month, and 38 people
CONTINUED ON PAGE 3
INSIDE DOWNTOWN VERO GETS ITS FIRST NEW OFFICE BUILDING IN A DECADE
NEWS 1-6 ARTS B1
HEALTH 7 GAMES B15
PETS B19 CALENDAR B18 By Steven M. Thomas | Staff Writer able visual upgrade on most of
[email protected] the buildings along that stretch
REAL ESTATE 15 of 20th – is nearly complete, and
The first new Class-A office commercial real estate broker Bil-
To advertise call: 772-559-4187 building in Downtown Vero ly Moss says there is strong inter-
For circulation or where to pick up Beach in more than a decade is est from potential tenants.
your issue call: 772-226-7925 going up on 20th Street a cou-
ple of blocks west of the county “It is always a pleasure to rep-
© 2020 Vero Beach 32963 Media LLC. All rights reserved. courthouse and will be complete resent a distinctive building,” says
next summer, according to devel- Moss. “I think the design is spec-
oper Joe Foglia. tacular and its location and visi-
bility will add to its success.
The concrete shell of what will
be a handsome, brick-clad, Fed- “With this building being locat-
eral-style structure – a consider-
CONTINUED ON PAGE 6
2 November 19, 2020 VeroNews/Sebastian River News | LOCAL NEWS www.veronews.com
DRUG TRIALS Pierone Research Institute, Six other patients here have
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 located inside Whole Family enrolled in a study of remde-
The drug, made by Eli Lilly and based on Health, is one of seven sites in sivir, an antiviral drug also given
synthetic monoclonal antibodies, is simi-
lar to a drug given by IV to an ailing Pres- Florida conducting the random- to Trump.
ident Donald Trump when he contracted
the disease. It effectively “neutralizes” the ized, double-blind trial in which That study also is temporarily
virus by blocking it from the place where it
binds to human cells. neither the patient, the provid- on hold due to protocol chang-
The drug is intended to keep high-risk er nor the investigator knows es, Pierone said. When it re-
patients who are still in the early stages
of the disease from developing severe which COVID-19 patients re- sumes, it will involve three daily
symptoms.
ceive the drug under investiga- IV infusions.
Three COVID-19 positive patients here
have enrolled in that out-patient trial, tion and which patients receive Most of the patients in-
known as ACTIV-2, with four more sched-
uled to be screened this week. a placebo. volved in the studies had come
In all, some 2,000 patients in 62 loca- During the ACTIV-2 trial, the to Whole Family for COVID-19
tions were expected to enroll in the study.
Late Monday, enrollment in the study participant gets an IV infusion testing, Pierone said, but were
was placed on temporary hold, Pierone
said. “When the study resumes, which of the drug or the placebo – a sa- not regular patients at the low-
will be very soon, all of the patients will
receive the active agent – no one gets a line solution. The patient is then cost community clinic. Others
placebo,” Pierone added.
asked to note daily the presence heard about the study taking
“This is perfect,” he went on. “I am
very pleased with this decision. Now we and severity of a list of 18 COVID place and got in touch with the
can treat patients with an agent that we
know is active while we wait for the next symptoms. On the third and clinic.
promising medication in the pipeline. So
in the near future, we can compare new- seventh day after the infusion, While none of the patients in
er therapies or perhaps a combination
of medications to see which approach is the patient has to be swabbed the trials had what is considered
most successful going forward.”
to determine the amount of vi- severe disease, several have be-
rus present and then come back come “really ill,” Pierone said, and
for more swabs once a week for nearly required hospitalization.
the next three weeks. “Because of the double-blind
Any adverse event in the nature of the study, I had no way
first month has to be noted by to determine if our treatment is
Pierone’s team, as do hospi- helping,” Pierone said.
talizations or deaths. A list of Knowing from now on that all
secondary outcomes includes Mona White of the Pierone Research Institute. PHOTO BY BRENDA AHEARN patients will be getting active
when symptoms resolve and agents in the study is a relief to
when the patient self-reports a return to decision to do away with placebo treat- Pierone. Using active agents for all pa-
normal health.” ment comes after bamlanivimab received tients will “allow us to better understand
“The goal is to see if this treatment emergency use authorization last week. the safety and efficacy of this agent on
will lessen the risk of hospitalization,” Under that authorization, drugmaker Lil- a number of outcomes in patients with
Pierone said. ly will be delivering 300,000 doses to pro- early stage COVID-19,” he said, after
The temporary hold on the trial and viders over the next two months. learning of the change.
NEWS OTHERS MISS, OR CHOOSE TO IGNORE | PUBLISHED WEEKLY
MILTON R. BENJAMIN
President and Publisher | [email protected] | 772.559.4187
STEVEN M. THOMAS
Managing Editor | [email protected] | 772.453.1196
DAN ALEXANDER
Creative Director | [email protected] | 772.539.2700
Assistant Managing Editor: Michelle Genz, Associate Editor: Paul Keaney, Staff Editor: Lisa Zahner,
Society Editor: Mary Schenkel, Reporters: Stephanie LaBaff, Tom Lloyd, Ray McNulty, Samantha
Rohlfing Baita, George Andreassi, Columnists: Ellen Fischer, Ron Holub, Tina Rondeau, The Bonz,
Photographers: Kaila Jones, Brenda Ahearn, Graphic Designers: Robert Simonson, Jennifer Green-
away, Tania Donghia-Wetmore
ADVERTISING SALES
JUDY DAVIS Director of Advertising
[email protected] | 772.633.1115
KATHLEEN MACGLENNON | [email protected] | 772.633.0753
MARIO CORBICIERO | [email protected] | 772.559.5999
LOCATED AT 4855 NORTH A1A, VERO BEACH, FL 32963 | 772.226.7925
Serving mainland Indian River County VeroNews/Sebastian River News | LOCAL NEWS November 19, 2020 3
He praised his research study coordi- INCREASE IN COVID-19 AMONG LONG-TERM CARE
nators, Mona White and Daniela Marti- RESIDENTS – BUT NOT STAFF – BAFFLES EXPERTS
nez, for their frontline role in the drug’s
hoped-for approval. By Michelle Genz | Staff Writer visitation restrictions further on Oct. 16. versus residents versus visitors to elder-care
[email protected] Children, who were banned from entering facilities,” said Bruns. “And without that data,
“I am incredibly proud of my team in the September reopening plan, were now we don’t think it is possible to say if the com-
for caring for these patients during the A recent uptick in coronavirus cases allowed to visit indoors. paratively flat line for infections among staff
phase of the illness when they are quite among residents – but not staff – in Florida indicates Florida is going a great job at keep-
contagious,” Pierone said. long-term care facilities is baffling experts. At the same time, limits on the number of ing staff from infecting residents, or if visitors
visitors were removed, and outdoor visita- are responsible for the recent growth. We
While the world is holding its breath The marked increase in COVID-19 among tion was allowed even with active COVID-19 concur that you are raising a critical question
and hoping for effective COVID-19 ther- residents of the state’s nursing homes and cases in the facility. Previously, facilities were – we just don’t have any answers.”
apeutics, trials of two vaccines breached assisted living facilities over the last three required to shut down visitation for two
the despair of coronavirus headlines in weeks is in stark contrast to the steady de- weeks if even a single staff member or resi- Studies show the elderly are not only at
recent days with their stunning rates of cline in infections in facility staff members dent tested positive for the virus. risk for more severe COVID-19 disease; they
effectiveness. over the same period. are also more susceptible to becoming in-
DeSantis also opened the doors for resi- fected in the first place.
Pierone has known that elation before. How can that be when, since the start dents, allowing them to leave for overnight
Over the course of three decades, begin- of the pandemic, long-term care staff has visits and return to the facility, and letting “Nursing home residents are a very vul-
ning when he trained in infectious dis- shouldered the blame for bringing infection facilities decide whether to test residents on nerable population, they have comorbidities
eases at Mount Sinai, Pierone has worked into facilities? Could months of training on their return. which make them much more susceptible
with “hundreds of patients in dozens of COVID-19 precautions have taken hold with to the virus; that’s why staff still remain vig-
protocols” to find treatments for the HIV/ caregivers’ families and friends, keeping staff Currently, assisted living facilities are un- ilant in wearing the PPE and screening pro-
AIDS pandemic. safer at home than the families of residents der no obligation to test staff or residents. tocols are still in place,” said Kristen Knapp,
who are now visiting with fewer and fewer Nursing homes are required to test staff on spokeswoman for Florida Health Care Asso-
In all, Pierone’s research center, locat- restrictions? a monthly, weekly or twice-a-week basis, ciation, a group that advocates for long-term
ed here and in Fort Pierce, has participat- depending on the positivity rate in the sur- care facilities and vendors.
ed in “most of the HIV medications that Or are false negatives from rapid tests to rounding community.
were in use as well as the more effective, blame, with thousands sent to facilities just DeSantis’ further loosening of visitation
less toxic ones that we currently use.” before the rise in resident cases began? Florida long-term care facilities recently rules in October seemed intended to nor-
received from state and federal governments malize the upcoming holiday season.
Even today, as Pierone’s team tracks “We have been mulling this over and look- hundreds of thousands of rapid tests, which
the two drugs’ effects on local COVID-19 ing at our available resources and let me tell are not as reliable as the more expensive PCR “I hear people say, ‘Oh well, you shouldn’t
patients, Pierone is studying the first you in one word what we have on the ques- tests. If facilities are testing staff with rapid have Thanksgiving this year.’ I’m just think-
combination injectable HIV medication tion you’re asking: nada,” said David Bruns, tests it could create a false sense of security ing to myself, shouldn’t individuals be in a
– cabotegravir and rilpivirene. The single communications manager at AARP’s Florida in an at-risk population. position to be able to make those determina-
injection, taken every two months, re- office. Bruns called the disparity “critical,” tions?” he said in a press conference.
places a regime of daily pills, and Pierone but said it came as a surprise to the orga- “We have no hard data on testing staff
believes the drug will win FDA approval nization. “We didn’t notice the dichotomy
in a matter of months. between the relatively flat trend line in staff
versus resident infections until [Vero News]
For Pierone, who diagnosed several of pointed it out. We will be paying close atten-
Vero’s earliest COVID-19 cases in March, tion to this as things move along.”
the double good news of vaccines and
treatment was a welcome relief. Like the rest of the state, Indian River
County has seen an increase in cases in the
But the rising number of cases across community generally, with a worrisome
the country seemed as alarming as those spike in schools in recent weeks.
first cases as the increase slowly bleeds
into Vero Beach. While most Indian River County long-term
care facilities seem to be keeping COVID-19
“I don’t think I’ve ever been busier,” at bay among both residents and staff, they
Pierone said late Sunday, apparently are operating under the same recently liber-
wrapping up another working weekend. alized testing and visitation policies that may
“It’s going to be a grim, deadly season.” be to blame for the rise in cases among resi-
dents in facilities in the rest of the state.
COVID-19 CASES CREEP UP
Throughout the pandemic, it has been
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 staff – and not residents – who have been
viewed as a key source of virus transmis-
have been admitted to the hospital sion in long-term care, since care workers
with the virus. As of Monday evening, circulate in the community at large, tending
14 people were hospitalized, and 50 to their families, shopping and sometimes
percent of the county’s 28 staffed in- working at other facilities to supplement
tensive care beds were available. their income. By contrast, residents were
largely confined to their rooms or apart-
Nursing homes and large events ments for months, eating boxed meals alone
are no longer the source of major in their rooms, unable to have even family
outbreaks inflating case numbers members visit.
here, but long-term care facilities
still have isolated cases in residents That changed Sept. 2, when Gov. Ron De-
and staff. Santis reopened nursing homes to visitors,
under strict guidelines. In the weeks that
The guidance being pushed out followed, COVID-19 rates among residents
now by public health officials is actually declined, dropping 73 percent by
that the virus is mostly spreading mid-October. Staff rates also declined, but
at smaller social gatherings with not as sharply – by 32 percent.
friends and family, and in situations
where people let their guard down Then DeSantis, citing the apparent im-
and are in close contact – such as provement in controlling the virus, loosened
kids’ sleepovers or carpooling to af-
ter-school sports.
4 November 19, 2020 VeroNews/Sebastian River News | LOCAL NEWS www.veronews.com
MY TAKE fice – along with Flowers (Bureau of Law fice here, Thornton spent two years as a munity, working with the Gifford Youth
Enforcement) and Selby Strickland (Bu- corrections deputy in St. Lucie County Achievement Center, New Horizons of the
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 reau of Corrections) – Thornton currently and four years as a patrolman with the Treasure Coast, Crossover Mission, Dasie
heads the agency’s Bureau of Administra- Vero Beach Police Department. Hope Center, Sunrise Rotary, Head Start,
which he possesses. tion, where he oversees human resources, Dodgertown Elementary Community
While it’s true Thornton has served as vehicular fleet, records, information tech- For the past 15 years, he has been an Partnership, and Substance Awareness
nology, courthouse operations, school re- instructor at the Treasure Coast Public Center of Indian River County.
a deputy here for only 18 years, he has source officers, and part of its Homeland Safety Training Academy at Indian River
worked in a wide range of units, includ- Security team. State College in Fort Pierce. Two years ago, he helped organize
ing stints on the road patrol and as a de- what has become an annual Christmas
tective in the criminal investigations divi- He’s also been a patrol supervisor and Clearly, Thornton has the necessary bicycle-giveaway program for underpriv-
sion, and risen quickly through the ranks. commander of patrol operations, where background to help Flowers, 40, succeed ileged kids. In years past, he volunteered
he oversaw day-to-day road patrols and as the county’s 11th sheriff. He also has to coach Vero Beach High School’s fresh-
At age 42, he is the third highest-rank- special operations, including the Traffic, the community connections needed to man football team.
ing member of the Sheriff’s Office and the K-9, Aviation and Agriculture-and-Ma- create and nurture relationships that can
highest-ranking Black law enforcement rine units. only enhance the agency’s mission. “That makes a difference,” said Teddy
officer in the county’s 95-year history. Floyd, the Sheriff’s Office’s longtime com-
Prior to his work with the Sheriff’s Of- In addition to his Sheriff’s Office du- munity relations deputy. “That kind of
One of three majors in the Sheriff’s Of- ties, Thornton remains active in the com- involvement builds relationships with the
kids, their parents, and the entire com-
munity.
“The badge is only $11.50,” he added.
“It’s the man behind the badge that mat-
ters. When you go beyond the call of duty
and people see you’re human, they’re
more likely to trust you.
“That’s especially true in the Black
community, where people tend to see the
color of the uniform more than the color
of the man.”
So, Thornton would bring some
much-needed street cred, too.
Let’s not be naïve, though.
As Tony Brown, president of the coun-
ty’s NAACP branch, told me: Simply pro-
moting Black deputies – even those with
deep community roots – probably won’t
be enough to build the two-way trust and
cooperation necessary for the Sheriff’s
Office to effectively police the black com-
munity.
“You need to look deeper than just
color,” Brown said. “You need to follow
through with citizens review boards and
body cameras. You need accountability.
That would be more beneficial to us.
“That’s how you gain trust.”
When I called Thornton last week to
tell him my plans for this column, he de-
clined comment, saying only that he sup-
ports Flowers – he actively campaigned
for him – and will respect both the pro-
cess and the decision.
He’s confident in his abilities, and with
good reason: Two summers ago, after pro-
moting him to major, Sheriff Deryl Loar
praised Thornton’s leadership, saying, “It
wouldn’t surprise me to see Milo as a po-
lice chief someday, or in a few years, even
run for sheriff.”
Might Thornton someday embark on
a run to become the first Black sheriff in
Indian River County?
“That’s probably going to scare some
people, but I’d be lying if I said the thought
hasn’t crossed my mind,” Thornton said
in response to Loar’s remark. “There’s no
rush, though ... I’ve got plenty of time.”
Let’s hope Flowers has the wisdom to
make sure Thornton spends that time as
his undersheriff, where a loyal, qualified
and dependable second-in-command
could greatly benefit his administration.
The fact that Thornton is Black is a bo-
nus.
Serving mainland Indian River County VeroNews/Sebastian River News | LOCAL NEWS November 19, 2020 5
Brackett lauded as ‘excellent choice’ as Vero’s mayor
By Lisa Zahner | Staff Writer Robert Brackett, Honey Minuse and Bob McCabe are sworn in by City Clerk Tammy Bursick. PHOTO BY BRENDA AHEARN He’s proven himself to be a pragmatic
[email protected] and detail-oriented thinker who keeps
throw money at problems and just throw- into the general fund. the best interest of all our residents in
It was no shock when the Vero Beach ing money at something doesn’t mean That period will come to an end when mind with every decision. I’m absolutely
City Council elected Robbie Brackett you will get good results,” Brackett said. certain Mr. Brackett will prove to be one
mayor Monday to lead meetings for the proceeds of the sale are exhausted, of the best leaders we’ve had in our won-
the next year, but it’s harder to predict “Instead of throwing money at things Brackett said, and in the interim city staff derful town,” Howle said on Monday.
whether the results of the Nov. 3 election we would better serve the city by thinking should be preparing to maintain all vital
will have any drastic impact on the polit- outside the box.” city services and stay on budget. Among the many challenges Brackett
ical bent of the council in terms of fiscal faces is one likely never previously con-
policy, handling the pandemic or plot- Since the Vero electric sale, the city Former mayor Harry Howle said he ex- templated by a Vero mayor – making sure
ting the future of the city’s two riverfront has been using “soft landing” reserves to pects great things from Mayor Brackett. the council stays healthy enough to have
utility sites. cushion the loss of nearly $6 million per a quorum at all of its meetings in the age
year in transfers from the electric utility “Mr. Brackett is an excellent choice for of COVID-19.
Brackett said Monday he thinks the the position of Vero Beach’s new mayor.
City Council has been doing a great job, As of Nov. 1, all elected bodies in Flor-
but that he’d like to infuse more creativi- ida must have a quorum physically pres-
ty and ingenuity into solving some of the ent to hold a meeting.
lingering issues like beachside parking
and stormwater runoff. Fortunately, by Monday, Brackett had
finished his 14-day quarantine from
“I’d like for us to work more efficient- testing positive for COVID-19 and Coun-
ly, to get the most out of what we have cilman Joe Graves had finished his pre-
and to always keep in mind who we are scribed quarantine after traveling in-
serving and what their needs are. The city ternationally, so all five members were
staff does a terrific job, but we need ev- present in chambers.
erybody to keep in mind that they work
for the city residents and for the taxpay- As case counts rise in Vero and the rest
ers,” Brackett said. of the county, Brackett said the city has a
vital role to play, beyond setting a good
At his weekly meetings with City Man- example.
ager Monte Falls, Brackett said he tries
to brainstorm innovative ways of doing “Most people have been wearing a
things that don’t cost a lot of money. mask, most people want to do the right
thing. We need to help educate people,”
“In government there’s a tendency to Brackett said.
6 November 19, 2020 VeroNews/Sebastian River News | LOCAL NEWS www.veronews.com
NEW OFFICE BUILDING built downtown,” says Moss, referring to time I acquired the site, I didn’t see a lot of He bought the lot at the edge of down-
the attractive Mission-style Indian River commercial construction downtown and town in 2016 for $550,000 but was too busy
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 County Chamber of Commerce building I still don’t. This was a good opportunity.” with other projects for several years to tack-
by the railroad tracks on 21st Street – which le the office building. He says he paid a
ed so close to the courthouse, I figured it was completed way back in 2007. The new building is located at the edge higher price than he otherwise would have
would most likely contain law offices, so of Vero Beach’s designated Downtown Dis- because the site came with city approvals
I felt it needed to be dignified, solid, and New first-class construction is appealing trict where it gets certain zoning advantag- for a new office building, which saved him
done in a classically American architectur- to investors who like to buy leased-up office es, including a reduction in the number of time and expense.
al style,” says architect Hal Lambert, who buildings as income properties because they parking spaces required because the city
designed the building. can count on repair expenses being lower provides downtown parking, including Some preliminary work was done at
than for older buildings, and to tenants who in the courthouse parking garage, a block the site in 2019 and building began in ear-
The two-story building will be distinc- like the prestige of being in a new building east of the project. nest earlier this year after Foglia secured a
tive not just for its design but also be- customized to their preferences with all the construction loan from MidFlorida Credit
cause it doesn’t have much competition latest comforts and technologies. Foglia says financial and medical ten- Union.
as a brand-new downtown office building. ants are being courted along with legal
None, in fact. The lack of commercial development in firms. With a grand, two-story lobby facing The office space is being marketed at
the area was one of the things that attract- 20th Street on the first floor, along with cov- $24 per square foot. If Moss is successful in
“I think the Chamber headquarters was ed Foglia to the project. “I like the down- ered parking, there is about 7,500 square getting that rate, the building would gen-
the last substantial commercial building town area of Vero Beach,” he says. “At the feet office space on the second floor, which erate around $180,000 per year, fully occu-
could go to a single marquee tenant or be pied, making it worth between $3.6 million
divided into as many as five office suites. to $4.5 million to an investor.
Space will be built-out to suit tenant re-
quirements, whether for wood-paneled at- “Relatively few buildings in Vero Beach
torney’s offices, heavy on the millwork, a are clad in brick,” says Lambert. “This
more open, cubical-based design for a fi- building will be all brick, with decorative
nancial services company or with special- stone columns and trim. This, along with
ized features needed by a medical office. the green standing seam metal roof, will
make it stand out and become a ‘Land-
Foglia is known to barrier island residents mark’ building. It adds [to the built envi-
as the builder of spectacular oceanfront ronment] a prominent, first-class proper-
homes – including the 40,800-square-foot ty with covered parking close to the heart
compound at 1940 S. A1A in the Estate Sec- of downtown Vero done in an enduring
tion that resold last summer for $25 million American architectural style.”
and the modernist masterpiece at 3700
Ocean Dr. currently listed for $19,950,000 “I think it will help stretch downtown
with Brown Harris and Web at Premier Es- west and bring more customers to down-
tate Properties – but he says Foglia Con- town restaurants,” says Moss. “Joe has vi-
tracting, founded by his father 40 years ago, sion. He does first-class work all the way
began as a commercial builder. and I think he will do more projects down-
town.”
$79
NEW PATIENT
SPECIAL
*CLEANING, COMPREHENSIVE
EXAM & X-RAYS
*Not to be used with other offers or
reduced fee plans. X-rays non-transferable.
(D0150) (D1110) (D0210) (D0330)
DENTAL LAB
ON PREMISES
COSMETIC DENTISTRY GUM SURGERY
GENERAL DENTISTRY WALK-INS WELCOME
DENTAL IMPLANTS FINANCING AVAILABLE
Locally Owned for 25 Years JULIE A. CROMER, DDS
Call 772-562-5051
CromerAndCairnsDental.com
The patient and any other person responsible for payment has a right to
refuse to pay, cancel payment, or be reimbursed for payment for any other
services, examination, or treatment that is preformed as a result of and
within 72 hours of responding to the advertisement for the free, discounted
fee, or reduced fee service, examination, or treatment.
1225 US HWY 1, VERO BEACH, FL 32960
Serving mainland Indian River County VeroNews/Sebastian River News | YOUR HEALTH November 19, 2020 7
To beat thyroid cancer, a quick, accurate diagnosis is key
‘We try to be precise able lump or swollen area at the “It’s kind of one of my niche things.”
and narrow down the front of the neck. However, because Asked which specific surgeries he
number of people that many thyroid nodules are benign, performs most frequently, Perry pauses
we operate on based the diagnostic process requires a briefly and says, “hernias of all types,
complete and thorough clinical as- gallbladders and, for me, probably thy-
on risk.’ sessment, along with imaging, bi- roid and parathyroid procedures – and
opsies and blood testing.” then breast” surgeries.
– Dr. Theodore Perry So just what is thyroid cancer?
In other words, it takes skill and According to the Mayo Clinic, “thy-
experience and Perry certainly roid cancer occurs in the cells of the thy-
brings that to his practice. roid – a butterfly-shaped gland located
at the base of your neck, just below your
“Altogether, with thyroid and
parathyroid surgeries, I do 125 to CONTINUED ON PAGE 8
150 a year,” he says.
Dr. Theodore Perry.
PHOTO: KAILA JONES
By Tom Lloyd | Staff Writer
[email protected]
Although the American Thyroid As-
sociation admits “thyroid cancer is rel-
atively uncommon compared to other
types of cancer,” that hasn’t stopped
longtime Vero Beach surgeon Dr. The-
odore (Ted) Perry from leaving what he
calls “corporate medicine” behind him
to concentrate his considerable skill
and experience on procedures he feels
are under-utilized – and that includes
thyroid and thyroid cancer surgeries.
Not a bad idea, since as the American
Thyroid Association points out, “thyroid
cancer is usually very treatable and is of-
ten cured with surgery.”
And it’s not as if this cancer is a minus-
cule problem. Every year, according to
the Centers for Disease Control and Pre-
vention, “about 12,000 men and 35,000
women get thyroid cancer and more
than 900 men and 1,100 women die from
the disease.”
According to Tampa’s Moffitt Cancer
Center, thyroid cancer “can form when
some of the cells that make up the thy-
roid tissue grow and multiply at a very
rapid pace. The resulting buildup of ex-
tra cells can form a mass or tumor that
can potentially become cancerous.
“Malignant cells can also break away
from the thyroid and travel through the
lymph nodes or blood vessels and invade
other parts of the body.
“Most often,” Moffitt continues, “the
initial sign of thyroid cancer is a detect-
8 November 19, 2020 VeroNews/Sebastian River News | YOUR HEALTH www.veronews.com
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7 is now the fifth most leading cancer in
women.”
Adam’s apple. Your thyroid produces
hormones that regulate your heart rate, Unfortunately, according to Cancer.
blood pressure, body temperature and net, it is common for people with thy-
weight. Thyroid cancer might not cause roid cancer to have few or no symptoms.
any symptoms at first. But as it grows, Symptoms that do occur may include a
it can cause pain and swelling in your lump or swelling in the front of the neck,
neck.” a sore throat that does not get better and
difficulty in swallowing. It is best to
Several types of thyroid cancer exist. consult your primary care physician if
Some grow very slowly, and others can you think you may have this disease.
be aggressive.
If there is a bright side to that situa-
But there’s an even darker side to this tion, according to Perry, it’s advances in
disease. imaging.
No one knows what causes most cases “Thyroid imaging,” Perry explains,
of thyroid cancer – which makes taking “has improved with these high-defini-
steps to prevent it next to impossible – tion ultrasounds. And the other thing is
and Perry points out the number of cas- a lot of these cancers are found inciden-
es are going up each year, noting that “it
tally, when people are getting carotid per- or hypo-functioning thyroids or an
artery ultrasounds to rule out vascular enlargement or a lump. And when they
disease, which is now a pretty com- get the lump, that’s when we start doing
mon screening technique, or they have the work-up.”
a headache and they get a CT of their
head, which includes part of the neck” Here Perry adds “you want to make
exposing previously unknown thyroid sure you go to somebody who knows how
problems. to interpret the results.
The key to treating all thyroid can- “We try to be precise and narrow down
cers, according to Perry, is a quick and the number of people that we operate on
accurate diagnosis. That might begin based on risk.”
with someone noticing an unexplained
lump in their throat and contacting If a patient is rated ‘low risk,’ according
their primary care physician who, in to Perry, he may send that patient home
turn, might very well refer them to Per- and check again in another six months. If
ry’s office. the patient is rated high risk, an immedi-
ate procedure may be scheduled.
According to Perry, “the first test we
get for somebody is what’s called a fine Dr. Theodore (Ted) Perry is a longtime
needle aspiration which is a needle bi- Vero Beach surgeon. He has just opened a
opsy. People will show up with either hy- new office at 3790 7th Terrace, Suite 102.
The phone number is 772-492-9912.
Serving mainland Indian River County VeroNews/Sebastian River News | YOUR HEALTH November 19, 2020 9
Why ‘moderation’ is the worst weight-loss advice ever
By Tamar Haspel And some of them did gain; 20 regressed I eat what I want but still reasonable.” “At a certain point you have to surrender.”
The Washington Post over the year they were tracked, although “I can buy the chocolate today, but I will “If I am tired or have had a hard day at
not quite back to their original weight. An work or have controlled my food for some
“Just eat everything in moderation.” additional 13 maintained their weight loss, not eat it until Saturday.” time then I feel like I deserve it, then I eat
Anyone who’s trying to lose weight give or take. But nine continued to lose. “Candy is a treat for me, and at weekends crisps, and chocolate – sometimes several
hears it all the time, along with its cous- days in a row.”
ins: eat less, move more; eat fewer calories What did they do that the regainers I reward myself for not eating it the rest of We’ve all been there! It’s tough, strug-
than you expend. didn’t? In this study, unlike most, the re- the week.” gling with the call of food. And diets fail
Sure, fine, good, yes. All that is true. But if searchers conducted detailed interviews because rules are hard to follow. So, the key
I could do that, do you seriously think I’d be and included quotes from the participants. “I have a maximum limit of 2.5 [hours] question is: How can you find the rules that
overweight in the first place? The results are striking. between my meals.” you’re most likely to be able to stick to?
If you ask people about weight-loss at- Try every diet!
tempts, you get a lot of similar answers. The weight losers made rules. “Each main meal must not contain more
Most people try a diet – a particular way “Monday to Thursday I eat 1,200 kcal than 500 calories.” CONTINUED ON PAGE 10
of eating that’s supposed to help you lose [calories], and Friday, Saturday and Sunday
weight – and it works, almost regardless of The regainers struggled.
what the particular diet is. “To resist a craving is like trying not to
And then, of course, it doesn’t. breath[e].
What happens? Life, usually. I asked my
Twitter people to send me their stories, and
I heard some of the many ways life derails
diet: illness, pregnancy, bike crash, new
baby, new job, menopause, bad work situ-
ation, even a church breakup. But some-
times, it’s just that you get really tired of not
eating bread. Or of tracking every meal. Or
of eating things that are different from what
your friends are eating.
The common thread running through
the stories I’ve heard – not just this time,
but in 20 years on this beat – is also what
study after study has confirmed. People
can lose weight until they can’t. They go on
a particular diet, and as long as they stick to
it, they succeed, but they usually can’t stick
to it forever. “Regain happens when we de-
cide to come back to our comfort zone,” one
tweeter told me.
Weight loss is, for most people, a toggle
between diet and not-diet. Diet = weight
loss, not-diet = weight gain. So why on God’s
green Earth are we spending all our time
arguing about the difference between this
diet and that diet, when people lose weight
on all of them? The obvious, stare-you-in-
the-face problem is the difference between
diet and not-diet.
The difference is rules.
Diets have rules. Eat this, not that. Eat
now, not then. Eat this much, not that
much. Eat this with that, but not with the
other thing.
The rules insulate you from the
come-hither, obesogenic, food environ-
ment known as normal. Instead of going
out into the world of tasty, convenient food
with a hazy idea of moderation, you go out
with a plan. And it works.
What if normal had rules? What if, in-
stead of “moderation,” you had specific
strategies to navigate normal?
In 2017, researchers recruited 42 vol-
unteers and put them on a “low-calorie
powder diet” (appetizing!) for eight weeks.
Participants lost an average of 12 percent of
their body weight.
This sounds like a setup for the same old
story: They would all regain the weight, and
then some, over the next couple of years.
10 November 19, 2020 VeroNews/Sebastian River News | YOUR HEALTH www.veronews.com
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9 (I wait for the first hunger pang). When they don’t, it doesn’t. A Twitter friend Gardner has done some of the field’s most
Don’t eat more than 800 calories during told me one simple rule worked for him: No influential diet trials, and he, too, is frus-
Diets are useful for the very obvious eating in the car. trated by the arguments about the differ-
reason that they usually help you lose the day; the rest at dinner. ences among diets.
weight. So, use them for what they’re good Never eat after dinner; the kitchen is Try a diet knowing that there’s nothing
for without expecting them to be a per- magic about it. They all work by restricting “They agree more than they disagree,” he
manent solution. They are, instead, clues closed. your intake to the point where you expend told me over Zoom. “Limit added sugars and
to a permanent solution. Other than a little chocolate, desserts more calories than you take in. (Although refined grains, and eat more non-starchy
it’s possible that diets can affect the way vegetables.” Sure, people disagree about
Where our weight is concerned, we’ve only on special occasions. your body burns calories, those differences what comes after that – do you eat legumes?
been the victim of learned helplessness. Be vigilant at home and more relaxed are small; next month, I’ll be writing about do you eat meat? – but “if you do those two
We’ve been told – by experts – that weight keto and its claims, so hold your fire.) But things, you get 90 percent of the benefits.”
loss is the province of experts. We need a at parties or in restaurants. (Remember who’s going to be better at figuring out a
list of rules developed by somebody else, those?) combination of rules that work for you – you, “You’re biohacking,” he said. “Try no
often somebody with a complicated phys- or some “expert” who has never met you? snacking, try intermittent fasting, try in-
iological explanation for why eating their Keep junk food and any food I find par- cluding a little chocolate, try getting better
particular way is better than eating all oth- ticularly tempting (yes, cashews) out of Now that I’ve dissed experts, I will bring sleep.” Vegetarianism has worked for him,
er ways. Enough already! Think about all the house. one into this conversation. Stanford Uni- but he doesn’t expect it to work for all of us.
those diets by all those experts as a smor- versity professor of medicine Christopher
gasbord of rules and strategies. Go down Always have fruits and vegetables on And then there’s that one thing that of-
the line, mix and match. hand for snacks. ten gets overlooked: “You have to have joy
and pleasure in food,” Gardner said. If you
In my own house, my own husband Weigh in every day. enjoy what you eat, you have a much better
kicked off a weight-loss effort with a month When rules work, weight loss works. chance of doing it forever. “It will be differ-
of no-alcohol veganism. He knew he wasn’t ent from one person to the next, and there
going to eat that way for the rest of his life, will never be a randomized trial of it.”
but he thought he was overindulging in
butter, meat and wine. He found that do- There is absolutely nothing about weight
ing without for a while reset his appetite loss that is true for everyone. For some, too
for those things at a lower level. To keep it many rules may feel like the road to disor-
there, he switched to olive oil on his toast, dered eating, and this is the wrong path.
black coffee and smaller meat portions. Others do find a specific diet that works for
Eighteen months later, he was down 40 them long-term, and that’s great. And some
pounds, and he has stayed there. (He is, decide to try to eat healthfully, get some
however, building a wine cellar; some rules exercise and stop worrying about their
just won’t take.) weight, and that’s great, too.
I have different rules: There are even some people who suc-
Put off breakfast as long as is comfortable ceed with moderation. My hat’s off to
both of them.
12 November 19, 2020 VeroNews/Sebastian River News | YOUR HEALTH www.veronews.com
Teletherapy is helping Americans get through the pandemic
By Allyson Chiu worries about her relatives in Wuhan, Chi-
The Washington Post na, where the coronavirus was first detect-
ed, and the stress of finishing college re-
By June, Jessica Liu was feeling over- motely. “I really felt like I wasn’t going to be
whelmed. The novel coronavirus pan- able to keep going with my life unless I did
demic that had cut short her senior year at something I should have done a long time
Northwestern University was still raging. ago, and that’s what motivated me to seek
Protests sparked by the police killing of help finally.”
George Floyd were erupting nationwide,
and as one of the few people of color in her Like many others experiencing height-
Pennsylvania community, Liu was partici- ened struggles with mental health amid a
pating in local organizing efforts. turbulent year, Liu found the support she
needed through teletherapy. The alterna-
“Everything just kind of converged,” said tive to traditional in-person sessions has
Liu, 21. At the time, she was also juggling
emerged as a critical resource during the pansion of insurance to better cover more
pandemic, experts say, helping to reduce methods of teletherapy, including phone
barriers to mental health treatment that sessions, said Jonathan Shepherd, presi-
previously may have deterred people from dent of the board of directors for the Black
getting help. Mental Health Alliance.
“I think of [teletherapy] as a dusty dirt “Before the pandemic, we received re-
road that no one wanted to take that is now imbursement at rates much less for tele-
a 16-lane highway,” said Ken Duckworth, health services” compared with in-person
chief medical officer for the National Alli- services, said Shepherd, a board-certified
ance on Mental Illness. And with experts child, adolescent and adult psychiatrist in
anticipating that the demand for mental the Baltimore area. “But now it’s on equal
health support will only keep rising even footing, and so as long as it remains on
when the pandemic is over, teletherapy is equal footing, I can see where organiza-
probably here to stay, they say. tions would definitely continue it.”
“This is a ball rolling down a hill,” Duck- The changes have also made it possible
worth said. “It’s got a lot of momentum. It for people to do teletherapy sessions at
would take something material to stop it.” home, which can benefit both providers
and patients, Shepherd said.
But while providers and people in need
of support have been buoyed by the pos- “There were things that I learned about
itive impacts of teletherapy on mental people that I had not known until I saw
health care, what those virtual services them in their home,” he said. “It was amaz-
will look like in the post-COVID-19 era re- ing what insight I was able to gather just by
mains “a big unknown,” Duckworth said. looking inside their home as a session was
conducted.”
In addition to being driven by the pan-
demic and the availability of technology, Rubina Jain, 35, of Ellicott City, Md., said
the proliferation of teletherapy in recent the convenience of being able to hop on a
months has been aided by COVID-related video call with her therapist from home is
emergency policy changes that have in- one of the main reasons she’s planning to
creased accessibility to services in many continue with teletherapy even if there is
areas of the country. One of the modifi- an option to be seen in person.
cations to existing regulations is the ex-
“I’ve got a 2-year-old daughter, my hus-
Is The One-Stop Location
for All of Your Medical Services
Call for an appointment: 772-567-6340
We are proud to announce the addition to our practice of
Lori Torres, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC
Lori Torres has been a member of our medical community for the past decade and
has extensive experience with management of acute and chronic illness
She also is experienced in osteoporosis and weight management.
Call now to schedule an appointment. 772-567-6340
WE HAVE TWO LOCATIONS TO SERVE YOU
1265 36TH STREET, VERO BEACH, FL 32960
Erol Atamer, MD • Fredrick Baker, MD • Hal Brown, MD • Andrea Kaupas, DO • Collin Kitchell, MD • Richard Penly, MD
Joshua Shipley, MD • Gary Silverman, MD • Arthur Splendoria, MD • Guy Ulrich, MD • Andre Vendryes, MD • Samuel Watkins, MD
Debora Baxa, PA • Meredith Kitchell, MMS, PA-C • Richard Miller, PA-C
Laura Hanke, ARNP • Lori Torres, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC
801 WELLNESS WAY, SEBASTIAN, FL 32958
Nancy Baker, MD • Christina Namvar, DO • Mark Sultzman, PA-C, PharmD
WWW.PRIMARYDOCS.NET
Serving mainland Indian River County VeroNews/Sebastian River News | YOUR HEALTH November 19, 2020 13
band works nights, and so it’s super easy if I La Keita Carter’s clinic in Owings Mills,
can do it at my home,” said Jain, who start- Md., has been solely offering remote care
ed remote sessions about two months ago. since March and will continue to be “100
“I don’t have to go anywhere for it, and as percent virtual” for the foreseeable future.
soon as I’m done, I’m back with my family.”
“Every time I had a little whisper of,
The question, though, is whether ‘Maybe you could go back,’ the numbers
the modified regulations will continue didn’t stay stable,” said Carter, who is still
post-pandemic, said Jay Shore, who chairs paying rent and utilities for her 15-office
the American Psychiatric Association’s te- suite. “At this point, I’ve wiped out all of
lepsychiatry committee. 2020. It’s just done.”
“It may be the emergence from COVID Still, Carter and other mental health
doesn’t occur over two to three months experts have recognized that teletherapy
but is longer and drawn out. That impacts may not be the appropriate type of care for
how we begin pacing ourselves,” Shore everyone.
said. “Different institutions, depending
where they’re located, will begin to blend Although some are more comfortable
back into in-person, and then there’ll be at home, for others, “sometimes home is
these existential organizational ques- the place in your life that has the most
tions about, ‘Now that COVID’s over, how angst,” Carter said. Or, she noted, people
much of this virtual stuff do we continue may feel like they can’t express them-
to offer?’” selves as freely because they are worried
about their family members or room-
Insurance coverage can differ from state mates overhearing.
to state, leading to a patchwork implemen-
tation of emergency orders with varying Sophie Maccagnone, who started ther-
expiration dates. Recent reports that some apy for the first time during the pandem-
major insurers have started to roll back cer- ic, said she was initially nervous about
tain aspects of their coverage of telehealth doing a remote session from her home
services, which generally encompass ther- in Indianapolis, where she lives with her
apy as well as other types of doctors’ visits, fiance. Maccagnone, 26, has since gotten
have sparked concern among some health- more comfortable with the situation by
care experts. taking the video calls in her basement
and scheduling times when she is more
But others, including Shore, say the fu- likely to be by herself.
ture is still unclear.
“My therapist always checks and says,
“We don’t know what’s going to happen” ‘Do you have privacy? Are you alone?’ And
to the emergency declarations, Shore said, that just establishes another sense of se-
noting that insurance regulations can be curity in it,” she said.
influenced by federal, state and local legis-
lation. He later added, “There is just all this Another issue that has been highlight-
uncertainty. . This is obviously the most ed by the rapid shift to virtual health care
dynamic and uncertain time I’ve ever seen is the “digital divide in America,” Shore
in health care.” said. “When you don’t have access to that
bandwidth, right now you may not have
In the meantime, though, providers and access to health care,” he said. “And the
patients should prepare for a future where digital divide isn’t just bandwidth, it’s
hybrid offerings of telehealth and in-per- having bandwidth, the equipment and
son services are the norm, said Adam feeling comfortable with whatever tech-
Haim, chief of the National Institute of nology you’re having to use.”
Mental Health’s Treatment and Preventive
Intervention Research Branch. For telehealth and other remote care
delivery methods to be effective, Haim
“When the issues related to social dis- emphasized the importance of constantly
tancing are relaxed once the pandemic adapting technology and an “ecosystem
is no longer a pandemic, for individuals where it’s commercially viable,” meaning
who have received those mental health that companies are able to support the
interventions remotely, it’s likely that a platforms, there is insurance coverage,
significant portion of them will continue and it’s affordable for consumers.
to receive those interventions remotely by
choice,” Haim said. “That involves providing the right ev-
idence,” Haim said, noting that research
A survey conducted between April and needs to be conducted to determine
May by the American Psychological Asso- whether teletherapy can be clinically ef-
ciation found that about three-quarters fective and cost-effective. On top of that,
of the 2,000 member clinicians who re- Haim said, there should be systems in
sponded reported that they had switched place to educate consumers and provid-
to solely providing teletherapy services. An ers about how to best use the various care
additional 16 percent said they were offer- options.
ing both remote and in-person sessions. A
separate survey of American Psychiatric “Telehealth is here to stay, and I think
Association members presented a similarly what we’ve learned is that there’s an ap-
widespread adoption of telehealth. petite for it,” Haim said. “There’s an ap-
petite on behalf of the clinicians who are
Duckworth said he knows of practi- able to reach more individuals more ef-
tioners who have largely abandoned their fectively, more efficiently, and there’s ap-
office spaces or terminated leases during petite from the consumer side in that in-
the pandemic. Keeping those environ- dividuals don’t need to leave their house.
ments “sanitized, ventilated, secure is way … It’s really adapting to the needs of the
above their pay grade,” he added. consumer.”
14 November 19, 2020 VeroNews/Sebastian River News | HEALTHY SENIOR
THE MANY FORMS AND CAUSES
OF TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY
By Fred Cicetti | Columnist preventing further injury.
Patients with mild to moderate inju-
Question: What is the leading cause of
ries may receive skull and neck X-rays to
brain injuries? check for bone fractures or spinal insta-
bility. For moderate to severe cases, tests
About 1.4 million people suffer a Trau- such as a computerized tomography (CT)
or a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
matic Brain Injury (TBI) each year in the scan are required. Approximately half of
severely head-injured patients will need
United States. Half of all TBIs are caused surgery to remove or repair hematomas
or contusions.
by accidents involving automobiles,
Moderately to severely injured pa-
motorcycles, bicycles, and pedestrians. tients receive rehabilitation that in-
volves individually tailored treatment
These accidents are the major cause of programs in the areas of physical ther-
apy, occupational therapy, speech/
TBI in people under age 75. language therapy, physiatry (physical
medicine), psychology/psychiatry and
Falls cause the majority of TBIs in peo- social support.
ple 75 and older; this group has the high- Treatment and outcome depend on
the severity and location of the injury,
est rates of TBI-related hospitalizations the patient’s health and age, and the
time it took to get the proper medical
and death. treatment. Healing of the brain takes
time and a lot of rest.
[A note to older people who suffer
After an injury, about 40 percent of
a blow to the head: If you are taking a TBI patients suffer from post-concussion
syndrome (PCS). Symptoms include
blood thinner such as Coumadin, get headache, vertigo, memory problems,
trouble concentrating, sleeping prob-
immediate attention from a healthcare lems, restlessness, irritability, apathy,
depression and anxiety. These symp-
provider to check for internal bleeding.] toms may last for a few weeks after the
head injury. Treatment for PCS may in-
TBIs fall into several categories: clude drugs and therapy.
Concussion, which is an injury pro- Many TBI patients have sensory prob-
lems, especially problems with vision.
duced by a violent blow or impact. A con- Also, TBI patients often have difficulty
with hand-eye coordination. Other sen-
cussion is followed by a temporary, some- sory deficits may include problems with
hearing, smell, taste, or touch. Some TBI
times prolonged, loss of function. If you patients develop tinnitus, a ringing or
roaring in the ears. Language and com-
suffer a concussion, you may pass out, munication problems are common dis-
abilities in TBI patients.
feel dazed and may lose vision, balance or
Most TBI patients have emotional or
memory for a while after the injury. behavioral problems that fit under the
Contusion, which is a bruise of the broad category of psychiatric health.
In addition to the immediate
brain. This means there is some bleeding post-injury complications,
other long-term problems
in the brain, causing swelling. can develop after a TBI.
These include Parkinson’s
Skull fracture. Sometimes the edges of disease and other motor
problems, Alzheimer’s
broken skull bones cut into the brain and disease and post-trau-
matic dementia.
cause bleeding or other injury.
Hematoma, which is bleeding in the
brain that collects and clots, forming a
bump.
Symptoms of a serious head injury
may be include: headaches, vomiting,
nausea, sleepiness, convulsions, di-
lated pupils, slurred speech, weakness
or numbness in the arms or legs, loss
of coordination, confusion, agitation,
bloody or clear fluids emanating from
ears or nose, blurred vision or seeing
double, dizziness, respiratory failure,
paralysis, slow pulse, ringing in the
ears, inappropriate emotional re-
sponses, and loss of bowel or
bladder control.
Anyone with
signs of moder-
ate or severe TBI
should receive
medical atten-
tion as soon as
possible. Be-
cause little can
be done to reverse
the initial brain
damage caused by
trauma, medical per-
sonnel try to stabilize
an individual with
TBI and focus on
Well-kept Verolago estate home
has room for a large family
5569 57th Way in Verolago: 5-bedroom, 3.5-bath, 3,313-square-foot home on ¼-acre,
offered for $379,700 by Denise Russo, Alex McWilliam, Inc., Real Estate, 772-299-8493
16 November 19, 2020 VeroNews/Sebastian River News | REAL ESTATE www.veronews.com
Well-kept Verolago estate home has room for a large family
By Samantha Rohlfing Baita | Staff Writer From the foyer, a carpeted staircase as-
[email protected] cends to the second level.
With elegant roof lines, a broad pavered The dining room is defined by an octag-
drive and lovely tropical landscaping, the onal, dropped ceiling feature centered with
2-story residence at 5569 57th Way has a graceful chandelier. Past the dining room,
great curb appeal, along with a spacious, a hallway opens into the rest of the first lev-
flexible interior, brilliantly designed to ac- el and you begin to see how truly spacious
commodate a large or even multi-gener- and flexible this welcoming residence is.
ational family, with sufficient privacy and
separation for all. The Spanish-inspired The hallway, which houses a powder
house is one of Verolago’s original, es- room, two closets and the door to the at-
tate-sized homes. tached, 2-bay garage, opens into a second
living/family room, offering – through a
From the columned, covered entry pair of 10-foot, double glass French doors
porch, step through the front door into the to the north and a window to the east – a
living room/dining room. Abundant light beautiful view of the covered, columned
flows in through windows on the south patio, the wide swath of green lawn dotted
and east sides, and the pale ceramic-tiled with foxtail palms and maple trees, and
floor, cream-colored walls and lofty ceiling the long, tidy green hedge beyond.
enhance the feeling of bright, open space.
The family room flows into a sunny cor-
ner dining space big enough to accommo- You can step out through those doors
date a good-sized table adjacent to a long onto the wide, columned patio in the
breakfast bar peninsula and the hand- morning, and ease yourself into the day
some, well-conceived kitchen. with coffee; or unwind with an evening
cocktail, as you take in the peaceful back
The black, polished granite countertops lawn view as twilight falls.
and splash are an elegant contrast to the
rich cherry wood cabinetry, and there are You’ll love the spacious master bath,
several conveniently placed countertop with its gray/neutral ceramic tile and gen-
workspaces, in addition to the island, as tle dove gray walls. The dual vanities and
well as under-cabinet lighting. A graceful, countertops echo the kitchen – polished
three-light pendant above the island sup- black granite over rich cherry wood. One
plements the recessed lighting; and there includes a dressing table space. A large,
are no fewer than 12 electrical outlets stra- delicious corner soaking tub beckons from
tegically placed along the counter spaces beneath a big, square glass block window;
and island. there is also a large, corner glass shower
and a discreet water closet.
From the family room, you enter the
master suite, a truly private ground-floor The home’s remaining four bedrooms
sanctuary on the home’s west side. The are on the second floor, which also boasts
carpeted master bedroom features a lofty tall doorways and lofty ceilings, uncom-
ceiling with fan, and crown molding, and mon in most second levels. At the top of
receives an abundance of natural light the stairs, you’ll find a large (third!) living
from north, east and west exposures via room – a comfortable, wonderfully flexible
tall windows, and a double glass French space, which receives pleasant ambient
door to the patio. light from a row of high, rectangular win-
Serving mainland Indian River County VeroNews/Sebastian River News | REAL ESTAT E November 19, 2020 17
dows along the front wall. digs; parties large and small for kids and/ most misses the “outstanding neighbor- Route 60, and just minutes from Vero’s
Doorways on either side of this airy or grown-ups. hood and the wonderful neighbors.” beautiful beaches and charming Village by
the Sea with its shops, pubs, resorts and
room lead to the east and west bedroom Of all the aspects of Verolago life the Verolago is close to mainland shopping restaurants.
wings. One side offers a connecting “Jack- current owner has enjoyed, he says he and restaurants, downtown and along
and-Jill” bathroom with double sink gran-
ite-top, cherry wood vanity and tub; the
other features a shared bathroom, the
same vanity, and a glass door shower. All
the bedrooms are carpeted and have clos-
ets and ceiling fans.
The second floor also houses the laun-
dry room, including washer and dryer.
The 2-bay garage has a sturdy, hurri-
cane door, two large storage units along
one wall and high cabinet storage on the
other, a hanging ceiling storage unit, and a
second, side-by-side fridge. The large yard,
roomy patio and conveniently adjacent
family room and kitchen provide plenty
of space for indoor/outdoor entertaining
– summer BBQs and games; family shin-
5569 57TH WAY
Neighborhood: Verolago
Year built: 2006
Construction: CBS
Home size: 3,313 square feet
Lot size: 0.25-acre
Bedrooms: 5
Bathrooms: 3.5
Additional features:
Freshly painted; crown
molding; granite counters;
eat-in kitchen; double-door,
2-freezer-drawer fridge; first-
floor master; family room
hard-wired for a sound sys-
tem; dual a/c zones replaced
within the past five years;
covered patio; attached ga-
rage; barrel tile roof; plenty
of room to add a pool; HOA
includes community pool,
fitness center, clubhouse,
tennis, lawn care, trash, pest
control
Listing agency:
Alex MacWilliam Inc., Real Estate
Listing agent:
Denise Russo, 772-299-8493
Listing price: $379,700
18 November 19, 2020 VeroNews/Sebastian River News | REAL ESTATE www.veronews.com
MAINLAND REAL ESTATE SALES: NOV. 9 THROUGH NOV. 13
TOP SALES OF THE WEEK
Another week of brisk real estate sales on the mainland saw 41 transactions of single-family resi-
dences and lots reported.
The top sale of the week was in Vero Beach, where the 3-bedroom, 6-bathroom residence at
2344 Grand Harbor Reserve Square – first listed in March 2019 for $919,000 – sold for $1,200,000
on Nov. 13.
Representing the seller in the transaction was agent Mike Thorpe of ONE Sotheby’s International
Realty. Representing the buyer was agent Josh Stalls of Indian River Real Estate LLC.
SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENCES AND LOTS
ORIGINAL SELLING
PRICE
TOWN ADDRESS LISTED ASKING PRICE SOLD
$1,200,000
VERO BEACH 2344 GRAND HARBOR RESERVE SQ 3/15/2019 $919,000 11/13/2020 $595,000
SEBASTIAN 881 ROBIN LN 9/21/2020 $599,000 11/9/2020 $590,000
VERO BEACH 410 12TH PL SE 9/24/2020 $600,000 11/10/2020 $580,000
VERO BEACH 5885 TURNBERRY LN 1/15/2019 $619,000 11/10/2020 $565,000
VERO BEACH 8285 HALBERT LN 9/3/2020 $589,500 11/10/2020 $560,000
VERO BEACH 445 JACQUELINE WAY SW 8/28/2020 $568,565 11/12/2020 $495,000
VERO BEACH 425 WINGATE TER SW 8/24/2020 $535,000 11/13/2020 $400,000
VERO BEACH 4230 CHARDONNAY PL SW 8/17/2020 $445,000 11/10/2020 $381,700
VERO BEACH 5989 BUTTONWOOD SQ 8/30/2020 $379,900 11/9/2020 $375,000
VERO BEACH 4850 13TH PL 5/1/2019 $400,000 11/10/2020 $365,000
SEBASTIAN 164 PORT ROYAL CT 9/25/2020 $365,000 11/10/2020 $355,000
VERO BEACH 350 E TEMPLE CT SW 9/16/2020 $359,900 11/12/2020 $350,000
SEBASTIAN 605 GOSSAMER WING WAY 9/14/2020 $364,900 11/10/2020 $332,000
VERO BEACH 1687 VICTORIA CIR 3/6/2020 $365,000 11/10/2020 $300,000
VERO BEACH 365 34TH CT SW 9/3/2020 $345,000 11/13/2020 $283,000
SEBASTIAN 302 CITRUS AVE 9/14/2020 $290,000 11/13/2020 $281,350
SEBASTIAN 718 DOCTOR AVE 3/20/2020 $272,350 11/12/2020 $265,000
VERO BEACH 3246 SUSSEX WAY 9/19/2020 $279,900 11/12/2020 $262,346
SEBASTIAN 340 SANDCREST CIR 9/4/2020 $265,346 11/11/2020 $251,500
VERO BEACH 4842 51ST CT 9/29/2020 $249,900 11/11/2020 $251,000
SEBASTIAN 205 BARBOSSA DR 10/5/2020 $259,900 11/13/2020 $250,560
VERO BEACH 2732 HANOVER ST 7/10/2020 $255,560 11/9/2020 $249,076
SEBASTIAN 474 COPLY TER 9/2/2020 $249,036 11/12/2020 $245,000
SEBASTIAN 172 MABRY ST 12/5/2019 $249,900 11/9/2020 $235,000
SEBASTIAN 685 ERVIN ST 9/9/2020 $238,000 11/12/2020 $224,900
VERO BEACH 562 10TH PL 8/24/2020 $249,900 11/12/2020 $214,000
SEBASTIAN 732 HALL AVE 9/17/2020 $219,900 11/13/2020 $211,000
VERO BEACH 2340 84TH CT 9/8/2020 $210,000 11/12/2020 $206,000
SEBASTIAN 425 BYWOOD AVE 9/10/2020 $212,900 11/13/2020
Serving mainland Indian River County VeroNews/Sebastian River News | REAL ESTAT E November 19, 2020 19
HERE ARE SOME OF THE TOP RECENT INDIAN RIVER COUNTY REAL ESTATE SALES.
881 Robin Ln, Sebastian 410 12th Pl SE, Vero Beach
Listing Date: 9/21/2020 Listing Date: 9/24/2020
Original Price: $599,000 Original Price: $600,000
Sold: 11/9/2020 Sold: 11/10/2020
Selling Price: $595,000 Selling Price: $590,000
Listing Agent: John King Listing Agent: David Decker
Selling Agent: RE/MAX Crown Realty Selling Agent: Dale Sorensen Real Estate Inc.
Troy Westover Not Provided
Dale Sorensen Real Estate Inc. Not Provided
5885 Turnberry Ln, Vero Beach 8285 Halbert Ln, Vero Beach
Listing Date: 1/15/2019 Listing Date: 9/3/2020
Original Price: $619,000 Original Price: $589,500
Sold: 11/10/2020 Sold: 11/10/2020
Selling Price: $580,000 Selling Price: $565,000
Listing Agent: Shane Reynolds Listing Agent: T.P. Kennedy
Selling Agent: Keller Williams Realty Selling Agent: Proctor Kennedy Properties LLC
Patrick Grall Vincent Beneduce
Grall Realty Group LLC Preferred Properties Intl Rlty
Serving mainland Indian River County VeroNews/Sebastian River News | YOUR HEALTH November 19, 2020 B1
KINDNESS THE THEME AT B8 THYROID CANCER 7 PATRIOTISM PERVADES B6
DRIVE-IN MOVIE NIGHT VERY TREATABLE MOVINGVETERANS DAY
Coming Up MARKER’S MAGIC: EXPLORING ART’S
LIMITLESS POSSIBILITIES
LOOKING FORWARD TO
‘VERO BEACH REVERSE PAGE B2
CHRISTMAS PARADE’
By Pam Harbaugh | Correspondent
1 It may not feel very much
like the holidays are com-
ing, but they are. One of the
most fun events associated with
this time of year are the fes-
tive Christmas parades. But the
question begs: “How do you stay
virus-safe at a parade?” Well, the
Sunrise Rotary Vero Beach Club
has come up with an ingenious
solution – the 2020 Vero Beach
Reverse Christmas Parade. The
idea is that the “floats” will in-
stead be installed in a stationary
spot while parade watchers drive
by them. This sounds like great
fun. Moreover, just imagine how
CONTINUED ON PAGE B5
B2 November 19, 2020 VeroNews/Sebastian River News | ARTS & THEATRE www.veronews.com
MARKER’S MAGIC: EXPLORING ART’S
LIMITLESS POSSIBILITIES
Paula Marker.
PHOTOS: KAILA JONES
BY PAM HARBAUGH | CORRESPONDENT nonprofit Keeping the Arts Alive.
The rows of cheery, well kept city dwell-
Honesty and bold joy are at the heart of
the works by artist Paula Marker. You can ings in her “Boston Brownstone” impart a
see that in the two works she currently has sense of place and belonging.
on view in the “Out of the Box” exhibition
running through Nov. 29 at Raw Space Gal- The buildings nestle, shoulder to shoul-
lery in downtown Vero Beach, hosted by the der, in a verdant area. Warm, welcoming
lights emanate through the minutely il-
lustrated windows, and friendly rooftop
Serving mainland Indian River County VeroNews/Sebastian River News | ARTS & THEATRE November 19, 2020 B3
gardens stand ready for visitors. ment, she enjoyed the freedom of growing
Quite different is her explosive “Dragon up in a small Midwest town. She and her
brother and sister could explore the woods,
Lady II,” a multi-media creation comprising play in forts, and walk to the store.
an acrylic, mannequin torso and glue. On
the torso, she has painted a fierce dragon’s “We had the freedom to be kids,” she says.
face, ready to roar fire. “Halloween was great. We could go trick-
or-treating all by ourselves. I remember the
Those two are just a touch of Marker’s art- popcorn balls.”
work. Her eclectic works include vibrant ab-
stracts, landscapes and florals, realistic and But her mother’s psychological illness
humorous animal depictions, figuratives, also meant burdens and growing up too fast.
photography and sculpture. Most recently,
she has started writing and illustrating a “My mom was a bipolar manic-depres-
children’s book for her grandchildren. sive,” she says. “I needed to be close to help
and be part of her life.
“My art … I’m not sure I can describe
how important it is to me. It is good for my “It was difficult at best. I don’t remember
soul,” Marker says. “If I try to think of a how many times she tried to commit sui-
world without art, it just seems very bare cide. After she and my dad divorced, they
and blank and colorless.” were married for 25 years, I was the one left.
Marker’s works in “Out of the Box” fit CONTINUED ON PAGE B4
perfectly with the theme of the exhibition,
says Camy De Mario, co-founder of the ex- Born in El Paso, Marker’s family moved to
hibition organizer. Topeka, Kan., where she grew up. Although
she has plenty of memories of tornado
“She’s a great person, very honest and very warnings and spending nights in a base-
kind,” De Mario says. “I was very pleased she
signed up. (‘Dragon Lady II’) really struck
me. The day she dropped it off, and I saw the
3-D effect, I was really impressed.”
Marker’s uninhibited creative expres-
sion and vivid use of color should feed into a
“great career,” De Mario adds.
That should come as no surprise because
the artist herself is a study in openness. Ask
her age and she quickly shares, “I’m 68. Get-
ting old, but not there yet.”
She’s also refreshingly open and honest
about how art became a salvation to a child-
hood that was both innocent and turbulent.
B4 November 19, 2020 VeroNews/Sebastian River News | ARTS & THEATRE www.veronews.com
CONTINUED FROM PAGE B3 wanted to be near family, so they moved
back to Kansas and lived in the college
She wanted my brother. But that’s OK. It town of Lawrence.
makes us who we are.”
She took a job as an instructor at a paint ’n
Marker turned to art to escape. Grow- sip gallery, but that didn’t work out.
ing up, she always had a pad of paper and
a pencil with her. She says she would draw “You had to follow a very strict set of rules
whatever would hold still long enough for for the paintings,” she says. “I couldn’t do it.”
her to study.
After a few more Kansas winters, she and
Eventually, though, Marker had no Chip returned to Florida.
time for her art. As a young woman of 20,
she married then had two children, a son “We decided to try this coast,” she says.
and a daughter, and worked for 25 years “My husband had a Navy friend from Vero
as director of telecommunications for a Beach, so we checked it out. We liked it and
Topeka medical center. She was also tak- here we are. Vero Beach has a very Midwest
ing care of her mother, who eventually feel to it as far as the tempo and lifestyle, yet
became quite ill with emphysema and ul- it has great weather and beaches. The people
timately succumbed to it. are friendly and with all the craziness that’s
been going on, it just feels comfortable.”
About two months after her mother’s
death, her husband, a registered nurse, got She says that her artwork has continued
a call from a headhunter offering him a job to grow more and more free.
in Naples, Fla. They jumped at the chance.
“A lot of it has to do with a confidence lev-
“I could pretty much leave if I wanted to,” el,” she explains. “I wasn’t afraid to experi-
Marker says. “It was like the world had been ment with different media.”
taken off my shoulders. I know that sounds
dramatic, but that’s what it felt like.” Especially bold is her mannequin series,
of which “Dragon Lady II” is a part. She came
The move to Florida reinvigorated her up with the idea for that series when a friend
love of art. That’s where she discovered in Lawrence closed his clothing store and
color, she says. She has had no formal had a large collection of torso mannequins.
training and, in fact, when she tries to fol-
low an instructor on YouTube tutorials, “I’m like, oooh, I have to have those,”
says she ends up with works that look like she recalls.
a five-year old did them.
“I’m not sure if my art has ever really tem-
“I have my own way of doing things, my pered back. You should see my house. It’s
own style,” she explains. like a gallery. There is nothing in my house
that isn’t my artwork. Even now, if I’m not
After seven years in Naples, the couple working on something my husband says,
‘you need to find a project.’”
Serving mainland Indian River County VeroNews/Sebastian River News | ARTS & THEATRE November 19, 2020 B5
CONTINUED FROM PAGE B1 “We just want everyone to come and 3
enjoy it,” she said. “At first, ticket sales
more detailed the “floats” can become were a little slow. Now that it’s stopped
if they don’t have to hook them up to a raining, all of a sudden we’ve doubled
vehicle and haul them down the street. our sales.” Three family friendly mov-
To make this all happen, Sunrise Rotary ies will be shown on three evenings this
is setting the reverse parade at the Vero weekend: the classic “The Wizard of Oz”
Beach Airport, in the fields south of the
terminal. Of course, since it is a finite
space, there will need to be no more
than 80 entries. That means apply now,
because it’s first-come, first-served. All
floats need to be one-sided and not of
a political nature, and no Santas. (San-
ta Claus has already agreed to appear
at the end of the parade and, after all,
there is only one Santa, right?) The en-
try fee is $25. There will be a mandato-
ry Zoom meeting 6 p.m. Nov. 30. The
Reverse Parade takes place 6 p.m. to
8:15 p.m. Dec. 5, the first Saturday of
December. For more information, call
772-770-3700 or 772-559-6001, email
[email protected].
2 The Space Coast Symphony Or-
chestra presents another of its
popular “Drive-In” concerts this week- with Judy Garland at 7 p.m. Thursday,
end. It’s “Diva! Opera’s Greatest Hits” Nov. 19; the updated “Jumanji” starring
and it begins 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 20, at Dwayne Johnson and Jack Black, 7 p.m.
the Pathway Church parking lot. The ap- Friday, Nov. 20; and “Dolittle” starring
proach here is that you remain in or next Robert Downey Jr., 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov.
to your own car. Bring folding chairs if 21. Patrons will park their cars in a reg-
you like and listen to the concert outside ular parking lot, then get out personal
your car. Or stay inside your car and lis- lawn chairs or blankets and head over to
ten via your car radio. Musicians also the lot where they will settle into specif-
keep their distance via physical barri- ic movie “boxes.” The boxes are socially
ers. The concert features sopranos Mary distanced from each other and can ac-
Anne Kruger and Amy Cofield perform- commodate up to six people. The event
ing some arias from some of the world’s will also serve up sandwich-style meals,
greatest operas, such as Puccini’s “To- which cost $5 to $7. Those have to be or-
sca” and “Madama Butterfly,” and Ver- dered ahead of time. You can also head
di’s “Otello” and “Don Carlos.” Tickets to the concession stand and pick up pop-
are $10 per person or $25 per carload. corn, cotton candy, the church’s famous
Free to children 18 years and younger. homemade donuts and its famous corn
The orchestra strives to limit physical on the cob. Concessions start at $2. There
interaction, so they request that you will also be raffles, with a $1,000 prize go-
purchase tickets online by calling 855- ing to one winner each night and $10,000
252-7276 or visiting spacecoastsympho- going to the grand-prize winner. Masks
ny.org. Pathway Church is at 1105 58th are required. The cost is $50 for the mov-
Avenue, Vero Beach. ie box. St. Helen Catholic Church is at
2085 Tallahassee Ave., Vero Beach. For
3 Although its annual Harvest Festi- more information, call 772-567-5129 or
val had to be canceled this year, St. visit StHelenVero.org.
Helen Catholic Church of Vero Beach has
come up with a substitution – “St. Hel- 4 The Vero Beach Art Club presents
en’s Outdoor Movie Nights.” Organizer its 40th Annual Art in the Park Fine
Jen Moscrip said when the church had Arts & Crafts Show from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
to cancel its “very, very popular” festi- Sunday, Nov. 22 at Humiston Park Ocean
val, people began thinking of what to do. Side, 3000 Ocean Dr., Vero Beach. Over
They noticed other organizations pre- two dozen artists are participating. For
senting drive in theater events and got more information, visit VeroBeachArt-
the idea to present a movie box approach. Club.org.
B6 November 19, 2020 VeroNews/Sebastian River News | SEEN & SCENE www.veronews.com
Patriotism pervades a moving Veterans Day Ceremony
By Stephanie LaBaff | Staff Writer Emilia Moyer.
[email protected]
Staff Sgt. Pete Peterson places the memorial wreath. PHOTOS: KAILA JONES Charles Cindric and Sawyer Novak.
Veterans and current members serving
in the United States Armed Forces were
honored during the Veterans Day Cere-
mony last Wednesday on Veterans Memo-
rial Island Sanctuary, hosted by the Veter-
ans Council of Indian River County.
Flags waved in the breeze as the Vero
Beach High School Band played a medley
of patriotic songs, interspersed with vocal
performances before the program.
The audience was visibly moved as vet-
erans from World War II to current con-
flicts were acknowledged with full mili-
tary honors that included a Parade of the
Colors, rifle salute, and the placing of the
wreath in the Gold Star Family Grove near
the cenotaph field to honor the fallen.
The keynote speaker was Lt. Col. Cur-
tis Holden, USA (Ret.), a 25-year military
veteran, retired police officer and current
Veterans Council vice chairman.
“I stand in front of you as a veteran who
feels fortunate to be able to serve in the
finest military the world has ever known,”
said Holden, before addressing veterans
and current military members.
“You remind us of our fundamental
truth. It’s not the powerful weapons that
make the military the strongest in the
Shelley Colontrelle with children Luca, Cami and Dylan.
world. It’s not the sophisticated weapons assist homeless veterans to find jobs and
that make us the most advanced. The true housing.
strength of our military lies in the spirit
and skills of our people in uniform.” “From the greatest generation to the lat-
est generation, let us never forget the debt
Noting that less than 1 percent of the they [veterans] are owed. No government
more than 300 million people living in commission or single dollar amount can
America serve as soldiers, sailors, airmen, adequately repay what has been given to
marines and guardsmen today, he said all of us throughout our nation’s histo-
“never in American history have so few ry. By simply doing their duties, veterans
protected so many.” were willing to step forward in harm’s way
so that others can share the same gifts of
Holden challenged the crowd to “do liberty and prosperity that we enjoy,” said
better” for veterans, commenting that Holden. “Remember, freedom is not free.
homelessness is an issue that affects vet- God bless our veterans and God bless
erans disproportionately. One aspect of America.”
the Veterans Council, which is comprised
of local veteran organizations, civic as- For more information, visit veter-
sociations and community partners, is to anscouncilirc.club.
Serving mainland Indian River County VeroNews/Sebastian River News | SEEN & SCENE November 19, 2020 B7
Earl Tindol and Arrow. Rose and Bill Migliore.
Josh Frasier and Peyton Frasier. Dave and Monica Collins with their children Cameron and Rivers. Col. Martin Zickert, USAF (Ret.), Spc. Telly Antona, USA
and Lt. Col. Curtis Holden, USA (Ret.).
B8 November 19, 2020 VeroNews/Sebastian River News | SEEN & SCENE www.veronews.com
Drive-in Movie Night: Kindness theme gets top billing
By Mary Schenkel | Staff Writer LiMary Lorenzo with daughters Libertad, Abrinna and Narela. PHOTOS: BRENDA AHEARN thought, that’s it!” said Nelson.
[email protected] “The stars all aligned,” agreed Angelia
The Gifford Youth Achievement Center Perry, GYAC executive director, noting
joined one of this year’s hottest trends by that they limited the capacity to a max-
hosting a Drive-in Movie Night at River- imum of 100 vehicles and quickly sold
side Park last Friday evening. The Ber- out.
nard Egan Foundation was the present-
ing partner. No good drive-in is without food, so
they reached out to The Source, a non-
Stephanie Nelson, GYAC marketing profit that provides hope and support
coordinator, said she got the idea after to the homeless, and they brought their
reading an article about the city of Eu- Dignity Food Truck to the event.
stis in Florida, which is constructing
what they’re billing as the world’s largest GYAC provides year-round education-
drive-in movie theater. al programs for vulnerable students in
the Gifford community and surround-
“It said the trend was changing be- ing areas.
cause of COVID. That with people not
able to gather inside, the demand was in- “We are doing well; we have not had
creasing exponentially for opportunities any outbreaks or students that have test-
for people to be entertained in nontradi- ed positive,” said Perry. “We have lim-
tional settings,” said Nelson. ited our enrollment to allow for social
distancing in the classrooms. In spite
Like many nonprofits, GYAC has had to of COVID we’re still here and providing
cancel awareness and fundraising events services to our students, their families
and was looking for an alternative for- and the community.”
mat.
GYAC has continued its longtime
“We’re losing opportunities to gath- partnership with the Treasure Coast
er as a community and share our story,” Food Bank, twice-monthly providing
said Nelson. items donated by TCFB to food insecure
residents throughout the county.
Nelson said the choice of movie was
serendipitous. “We are able to continue to provide
that service to folks who could use a lit-
After learning that Riverside was only tle help right now; who could use a little
available on Nov. 13, she checked to see
Barbara Taylor and daughter Holly Taylor holding Sammi.
if there was any significance to the date. kindness right now,” said Perry.
“And when I looked it up, it happens to GYAC volunteers and staff have set
be World Kindness Day,” said Nelson. “I up a mobile pantry, packing up box-
just thought, well that’s pretty cool, be- es and putting them into the trunks of
cause for an organization that does ev- an ever-growing line of cars. They are
erything that they can to help the com- currently serving between 200 and 300
munity, it was very fitting that that was households each month.
the date that was available.”
“We want to thank the community
While looking over the movie options for coming out and supporting us,” said
available, she noticed “A Beautiful Day Perry. “We all could use a little kindness
in the Neighborhood,” starring Tom and who better to emulate than Mr. Rog-
Hanks as Mr. Rogers. ers. We think the movie is appropriate
for World Kindness Day and we just wish
“In the trailer, there’s a quote from everyone lots of kindness in their life.”
him that says, ‘It only takes one person
to inspire a world of kindness.’ And I For more information, visit gyac.net.
Serving mainland Indian River County VeroNews/Sebastian River News | SEEN & SCENE November 19, 2020 B9
Nina Carpenter, Spencer Carpenter, Spencer Carpenter, Millicent Carpenter and John Carpenter. Kai Ballinger. Dan Ahlfeld and Rosalie Hakker.
Susan Britton and Kellan Harp. Elaine, Olivia, Landon and David Ragley. Eloise Nelson, Stephanie Nelson and Brad Nelson.
B10 November 19, 2020 VeroNews/Sebastian River News | WINE www.veronews.com
The right wine to pair with this year’s Thanksgiving meal
By Dave McIntyre
The Washington Post
For wine geeks, Thanksgiving may be
one of the most dreaded meals of the year.
Not because of the dry turkey, or the cousin
who always brings up politics. It’s because
the cacophony of the traditional Thanks-
giving feast, with all those flavors on our
plates at the same time, is supposedly
anathema to wine pairing.
To which my riposte has always been,
“open one of everything.” Almost any wine
will go well with something on the table. A
sampling of different bottles will also satis-
fy divergent palates, and can even become
an experiment in wine-and-food pairing
when the conversation runs off the rails.
That advice doesn’t seem appropriate
this year. Many of us will be having a quiet-
er, more intimate Thanksgiving because of
the pandemic and soaring positivity rates.
Some have felt the economic pain, as busi-
nesses were shut to help curtail the virus’s
spread. All too many families will have an
empty chair at the table.
Thanksgiving this year may be more re-
flective than festive. We may even wonder
why we should feel thankful at all.
Wine is good for that type of reflection.
A fine wine is itself a reflection of a vintage,
a place and the vintner who made it. It can
lift our spirits, if only temporarily, and give
us a glimpse of a better world. It has, in the
words of the British writer Hugh Johnson,
“the power to banish care.”
So this Thanksgiving may be a good
occasion to splurge on a special wine, if
your finances permit. But this isn’t really
about price. Your wine needn’t be expen-
sive to be special. Your wine is special
because of what you bring to it, not what
you spend on it.
In past years, I’ve recommended various
strategies for Thanksgiving. There are the
a modern diner with fresh local ingredients food-friendly grapes – pinot noir, barbera, strated so clearly that the future cannot be
riesling. There’s the all-American theme for taken for granted? Pop that cork.
Complimentary bottle of House Wine with order of 2 entrees between 5-6pm! the all-American holiday. Thanksgiving is
a harvest celebration, so why not drink the Or maybe there’s a wine that reminds
A Roger Lord and Chuck Arnold Restaurant wine of the recent harvest – beaujolais nou- you of a loved one who will not be with you
veau, which conveniently goes on sale each this year. Opening that bottle can reestab-
The Best Food In South County! year on the Thursday before Thanksgiving. lish the connection, at least for a little while.
2950 9th St. S.W. #105 Vero Beach Open Tues- Sat. 5pm - 8:30pm You could choose a wine from the Try to reserve a sip, or three, to savor af-
On the NW corner of Oslo & 27th Ave country of your heritage, or an American ter the Zoom chats with absent friends and
772.794.7587 bottle made by a winemaker who shares family, after the pies and the football and
A few doors east of Winn Dixie your heritage. And, of course, bubbles the cleanup. Let the wine remind you of
limited reservations • take-out still available go with everything – foods, as well as when you first tasted it, where you were and
moods, at the table. Bubbles to share whom you were with.
with those in your bubble.
Correction:
All this still holds, but this year I en-
courage you to make your Thanksgiv- At Alimentary Gourmet
ing wine choice more personal. Maybe a Market, the correct price
memory – a bottle from your favorite win- of the Thanksgiving dinner
ery visit years ago.
to go is $20.
Almost everyone has at least one wine
they’re saving for a special occasion that
never seems to come. Perhaps this is it. Why
defer the pleasure, when 2020 has demon-
Serving mainland Indian River County VeroNews/Sebastian River News | DINING November 19, 2020 B11
Zagat Rated We would like to thank our loyal clientele for
2013 - 2020 all of your support during the summer as we
Wine Spectator Award
2002 – 2020 offered lunch and the mercantile.
As the season approaches we are pleased to
announce our return to regular business hours
serving dinner every night starting in October at 5 PM.
Online ordering and the Tides-to-go
are available for your convenience.
The Tides staff are COVID-19 certified and
all social distancing measures remain in effect.
Proud recipient of 2020 Trip Advisor
Traveler’s Choice Award placing us in the
“TOP 10% OF RESTAURANTS WORLD-WIDE”
Go to www.TidesofVero.com for
our specials and online ordering.
(772) 234-3966
3103 Cardinal Drive, Vero Beach, FL
tidesofvero.com
Enjoy Thanksgiving in the comfort of your SPCWCHOIOATDHNNE E
own home prepared family style by The
Wave's Executive Chef, Armando Galeas.
Pick-up on Tuesday or Wednesday and
reheat on Turkey Day or pick-up on
Thanksgiving hot and ready to serve!
FAMILY STYLE
THANKSGIVING DINNER
4 - 6 PEOPLE | $150
10 - 12 PEOPLE | $265
COSTADESTE.COM/THANKSGIVING2GO
ORDERS MUST BE PLACED AT LEAST 48-HOURS IN ADVANCE
TO VIEW MENUS AND PLACE ORDERS VISIT
COSTADESTE.COM/THANKSGIVING2GO
B12 November 19, 2020 VeroNews/Sebastian River News | DINING www.veronews.com
Serving Dinner FeaturingInvDeeSnlpitceiivcoeiuaIsltta&ielisan
Tues - Sat from 5pm
(772) 226-7870
PrimeSteaS&keFsar,feCoshohodps Di5nENin-ai5ggrl:hMy3t0lypemnu Down wn
Vero Bea
2023 14th Avenue
www.VeroPrime.com
DECEMBER 31ST, 2020
happy holidays RING IN
COME CHRISTMAS THE
CELEBRATE BRUNCH
YNeeawr
CHRISTMAS 4 course pre fixe menu WITH DINNER
EVE
10:30am-3pm, $75pp AT COBALT
CHRISTMAS
DINNER
5 course pre fixe menu
5-8:30pm, $110pp
COBALTRESTAURANT COBALTRESTAURANT.COM
Serving mainland Indian River County VeroNews/Sebastian River News | DINING November 19, 2020 B13
LARGE OUTDOOR
SEATING AVAILABLE
BeOanTchhe side
Now Offering Gluten Free Cauliflower Crust Pizza
“The Best Authentic Cannelloni in Vero Beach”
772.231.9311
Check out our menu online
& follow us on Facebook
NINOSRESTAURANTS.COM
1006 Easter Lily Lane, Vero Beach
Hours: Sun-Thurs:11am-9 pm
Fri-Sat:11am-10 pm
DELIVERY AVAILABLE FOR DINNER
Established in 1981 Where the Locals Go for Pizza
Where Vero goes Chef
for a little piece Chet Perrotti
of Ireland!
OPEN THANKSGIVING DAY (12–11 PM * DINNER 12–7 PM)
PRE-FIXE MENU (ADULTS $26 - CHILDREN $14)
(Choice of soup or salad, entrée & dessert)
Caesar Salad Or Roasted Portabella Soup
Whiskey Glazed Turkey & Gravy
Crab Stuffed Lemon Sole
Prime N.Y. Roast
Dessert
2019 14th Ave OPEN Tues-Sun 11:30 AM to Close
(772) 217-2183 NFL Package
seanryanpub.com
Daily Dinner Specials
B14 November 19, 2020 VeroNews/Sebastian River News | DINING www.veronews.com
DINING ROOM OPEN THE ENTIRE MENU IS
AVAILABLE FOR TAKEOUT
OR DELIVERY
AVAILABLE THROUGH
GRUBHUB
ONLINE ORDERING WITH
TOASTTAKEOUT.COM
PIZZA SPECIALS
TAKEOUT ONLY
TUESDAY NIGHT
2 DINNERS FOR $30.00
WINEY WEDNESDAY
WINE SPECIALS
NOW SERVING LUNCH FROM 11:30 ON TUESDAYS & FRIDAYS I DINE IN 4-8 PM
56 Royal Palm Pointe 772-567-4160 Follow us on Facebook & Instagram
TUESDAY NIGHT “IT’S HUGE”
ALL YOU CAN VOTED
EAT FISH FRY
BEST BURGERS
HAPPY HOUR 4-6
TUES.- SAT. IN VERO
OPEN FOR LUNCH Buffalo Burger
WEDNESDAY-SATURDAY SOUTH VERO SQUARE 710 SOUTH US1 VERO BEACH
SEE FACEBOOK.COM/AMERICANGRILLVB FOR DAILY SPECIALS 772-410-8100
OPEN TUES 4-8, WED - SAT NOON-8
PATIO DINING - DINE IN - TAKE OUT
CLOSED SUNDAY AND MONDAY
1931 Old Dixie • 772.770.0977 Follow Us
fishackverobeach.com • Like us on Facebook!
Gift Certificates & Private Parties Available
Serving mainland Indian River County VeroNews/Sebastian River News | GAMES November 19, 2020 B15
ANOTHER BOUNTIFUL PENALTY ON OFFER WEST NORTH EAST
KJ65 A 10 7 3 Q4
By Phillip Alder - Bridge Columnist KQ 10 8 6 3 A954
AQ862 95 J 10 4
Nancy Astor, who was born in Virginia but became an English member of parliament 96 AK5 Q J 10 2
for nearly 26 years, said, “The penalty for success is to be bored by the people who
used to snub you.” SOUTH
982
If you gain a sizable penalty at the bridge table, you may bore others by telling them J72
about it — but then permit them to bore you with the details of one of their good K73
boards. 8743
In this week’s deal, look only at the West hand. After two passes, West opens one Dealer: East; Vulnerable: North-South
diamond, North doubles, East redoubles, and South advances with two clubs. What
should West do now? The Bidding:
East’s redouble shows 10 points or more and denies a large number of diamonds. SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST OPENING
At this point, either the opening side buys the contract or the intervening pair plays Dbl. Pass
in something doubled for penalty. So, pass by opener is forcing. Also, if the opener Pass 1 Diamonds Redbl. LEAD:
bids immediately, it shows minimum or subminimum values. Here, West should pass. 2 Clubs ?? ??
After North passes, East doubles for penalty, promising at least four trumps, and West
should pass again.
What should West lead against two clubs doubled?
I think South should pass over the redouble with such a flat hand and be “happy” with
a 4-3 fit at the one-level, which here goes down “only” three.
Two clubs doubled was a different story. West made the textbook lead: the club
nine. South won in the dummy and ducked a heart. West led a second trump. When
declarer lost another heart trick, West shifted to a spade. A moment later, East got in,
drew trumps and shifted to diamonds. South took only one spade and two clubs for
down five, minus 1,400!
Sturgis
Lumber
Hardware Store & Lumber Yard
PAINT SUPPLIES, PLUMBING, ELECTRICAL, POWER & HAND
TOOLS, NAILS & STAINLESS SCREWS, DECKING, HARDWOOD,
LARGE INVENTORY OF PRESSURE TREATED LUMBER....
63 years Family Owned & Operated
4645 US-1 • (772) 562-4171 • SturgisLumber.com
WITH LARRY MAZZADinner, Entertainment, Insight Into His Life & Book Signing
AUTHOR I EX MOBSTER I CONSULTANT TO THE MOVIE THE IRISHMAN
DECEMBER 4, 2020 I 5 PM TO 10 PM
DINNER AT 6 PM
Seating is limited Featuring
make your Carlos Carr
and the
reservation today Music of
Frank Sinatra
$15
Per Person
Non-Members Welcome
ITALIAN AMERICAN CIVIC ASSOCIATION
1600 25th St. Vero Beach, FL 32960 I (772) 778-1522
Open Wednesday - Saturday 3 P.M. - 9 P.M. I italianclubverobeach.com
IACAVEROBEACH
B16 November 19, 2020 VeroNews/Sebastian River News | GAMES www.veronews.com
SOLUTIONS TO PREVIOUS ISSUE (NOVEMBER 12) ON PAGE B18
ACROSS DOWN
1 Sound of audience’s 1 Constructed (5)
2 Following orders (7)
disapproval (3) 3 Wagers (4)
3 Honey-making insect (3) 4 Finish (6)
5 Enquires impertinently into (5) 5 Place (8)
8 Bungling (5) 6 Picture (5)
9 Illness (7) 7 Slim (7)
10 Work hard (4) 12 Holds (8)
11 Towed Ken (anag.) (8) 13 Directions for making
13 Area (6)
14 Employee (6) food(7)
17 Artistic (8) 15 Slaughtering (7)
19 Sad (4) 16 Incidents (6)
22 Ardent love (7) 18 Artist’s frame (5)
23 Damp, humid (5) 20 Consumed (5)
24 Flogs (5) 21 Leave out (4)
25 Ready (3)
The Telegraph 26 Shooter (3)
How to do Sudoku:
Fill in the grid so the
numbers one through
nine appear just once
in every column, row
and three-by-three
square.
The Telegraph
Serving mainland Indian River County VeroNews/Sebastian River News | GAMES November 19, 2020 B17
ACROSS 103 Dislike Casper? 52 Saving method, familiarly The Washington Post
105 32-card game 55 Call him unreliable
1 Star Wars, e.g. 107 Too, to Toulouse 56 Do paper work ONE-CAR GARAGE By Merl Reagle
5 Tire pressure abbr. 108 Really ineffectual way to stop 58 “A chicken in ___”
8 Cars for Booker T. 60 Mai follower
11 Dents and all a Plymouth? 61 Back
15 In the style of 112 Outburst from a solver of this 62 Harsh quality
18 Blackboard Jungle author 63 Unser Jr. and Sr.
puzzle? 64 Gum tools
Hunter 114 Eye-teasing artist 66 Hit a wet spot
19 Meal preceder? 117 Language ending 69 Love in a gondola
20 “Rules ___ rules” 118 With 38 Down, a 1960s hot 71 Orel’s river
21 Car nut Jay 72 Secret org.
22 Start of many California cities spot 73 Orlando attraction
23 Costume collection 119 Writer Rand 74 Women in uniform
25 Where Buicks are made? 120 Tarzan creator’s inits. 75 Ton of simoleons
28 Fetch a Ford? 121 Vegas game 76 ___ pro nobis
30 Ye ___ Pie Shoppe 122 Russian state letters, once
31 Train depot transports 123 Part of an ultimatum (pray for us)
32 Victory 124 Literary Scot who died in 77 Twin-___
33 Travel dir.
34 Ringling ding-a-ling Samoa: inits. (car feature)
35 Jungle film regular 125 Platte R. state 80 400 septillion-watt “bulb”
37 “Yikes!” 126 Hook’s helper 82 Old Brit. coin
39 Help for a Nissan buyer? 84 Rouen roll call response
41 Sheet music abbr. DOWN 85 March 5, 1770, incident, the
42 Aleutian island
43 With 12 Down, a wet monster 1 Linger with a Singer Boston ___
45 Landing guesses, briefly 2 Clark’s Mogambo co-star 86 Joe Friday in Dragnet
46 An FDR act 3 John Irving’s 87 Does a chess maneuver
47 Cadillac option? 88 Field or Foster, e.g.
51 Greek letter “Terribly Sad” guy 89 Main marble
53 Big bang cause, briefly 4 Frost poem, Fire ___ 91 Long, hooded cloaks
54 Breathe through here 5 “___ ways” 92 Howl
57 Before, ca. 1600 97 Prime time slot for many
59 In a dead heat (crossing advice)
60 A trend toward 6 Overhead protection? dramas
7 Set foot 98 Brightly hued fish
Toyotas? 8 Sound-busting speed 99 Homer’s cry
65 Stephen of The Crying Game 9 It means “go” 100 Weekday losers and gainers
66 Suez port 10 Heaven-___ 103 A real gem
67 Afflicts 11 School reunion attendees 104 Star of the 1936 Olympics
68 Time with a name 12 See 43 Across 106 Requests from a doctor
70 Overheated Chryslers? 13 Death Valley county 108 Colorado resort
77 Study all night 14 Bribe 109 Back of the car
78 Enjoy 108 Down 15 Crazy ___ 110 Sign
79 Abandon all hope 16 Clash involving 111 “I believe I was here first ...”
80 Approval
81 Lexus layouts, e.g. tanks, e.g. 113 “___ run out of excuses”
83 One who tries to start a dead 17 Car need, if there’s a radio 115 Propyl add-on
24 VCR maker 116 Tiny eggs
Plymouth? 26 Fumigation enclosure
87 Example, in French 27 Be lazy
90 “Drama” prefix 29 Sports car capacity, often
93 Sugar denoter 34 They’re nuts
94 Misery man 35 Gets the red-carpet treatment
95 Placer trove 36 Sonics, Yanks, et al.
96 Oldsmobile dealership? 38 See 118 Across
99 ___ brakes 39 Literature Nobelist Nelly
100 They’re full of cars: 40 Hit with lightning
41 Young Yokum
abbr. 42 Gone by
101 Endured 43 Move a muscle
102 Little nipper 44 Leitrim’s land
48 Java server
49 Pouch
50 Drops for a 10-count
The Telegraph Established 18 Years in Indian River County
(772) 562-2288 | www.kitchensvero.com
3920 US Hwy 1, Vero Beach FL 32960
B18 November 19, 2020 VeroNews/Sebastian River News | CALENDAR www.veronews.com
ONGOING First Friday Gallery Strolls in Downtown Vero pace, 5:30 p.m. at Trattoria Dario, with fash- 20|21 Comedy Zone at Riverside
Beach Arts District, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. the first Fri- ion show and happy hour until 7 p.m. Please Theatre, 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.
Check with organizations directly for day of each month. bring a new, unwrapped toy or nonperishable with comedians Carl Guerra and Jim Moran. $14
COVID-19 updates/cancelations. food item. - $18. Live in the Loop concerts 5:30 to 9:15 p.m.
Art in the Park Fine Arts & Crafts Shows, 10 Free but tickets required. 772-231-6990
Vero Beach Museum of Art: Avery to Warhol a.m. to 4 p.m. at Humiston Park, Nov. 22, Dec. 19-21 St. Helen’s Harvest Movie
exhibition thru Jan. 3 and Chul Hyun Ahn: New 13, Jan. 10 and 31, Feb. 14 and 28, March 28 Nights, with outdoor mov- 20 to January 3 - Insight, exhibition of
Light thru April 30. Vbmuseum.org and April 11. Verobeachartclub.org ies (The Wizard of Oz, Jumanji and Doolittle works by photojournalist Jon Kral at A.
under the stars, with socially distanced ‘movie E. Backus Museum and Gallery. 772-465-0630
Vero Beach Theatre Guild: Apron Series pro- Holiday Happenings at Vero Beach Outlets, with boxes’ where families can set up lawn chairs
duction, Things You Shouldn’t Say Past Mid- Riverside Theatre Holiday Windows (space C120), and blankets on the St. Helen’s Field (parking 21|22 Vero Beach Arts & Crafts
night, 7:30 p.m. Fridays; 2 p.m. Saturdays and and complimentary Horse & Carriage Rides, 1:30 lot). Gates open at 5:30 p.m. $50 donation per Expo, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at
Sundays thru Nov. 22. 772-562-8300 to 3:30 Saturdays from Nov. 28 thru Dec. 19. movie box; limited availability. 772-567-5129 Indian River County Fairgrounds. Free.
Keeping the Arts Alive Art Show at Raw Space Vero Beach High School Band’s Virtual Run/ 20 Space Coast Symphony Orchestra 21|22 Treasure Coast Bacon Fest,
Gallery, with a portion of sales benefiting Little Birth- Walk/Bike 5K registration through Nov. 22. $35. presents Diva! Opera’s Greatest Hits, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Sat.,
day Angels, thru Nov. 29. Keepingtheartsalive.com 772-559-4944 7 p.m. drive-in concert at Pathway Church to 4 p.m. Sun. at Riverside Park, with live en-
parking lot, featuring sopranos Mary Anne tertainment and bacon-centric food. Treasure-
Sean Kenney’s Nature Connects LEGO Bricks NOVEMBER Kruger and Amy Cofield performing some of coastbaconfest.com
exhibition at McKee Botanical Garden, thru opera’s greatest arias accompanied by SCSO.
April 25. Mckeegarden.org 19 Blondie’s Fashion & Frills annual $10 pp or $25 per car of 3+ adults; under 18 21 to December 19 - Meet & Greet tours of
Toy & Food Drive to benefit SafeS- free. 855-252-7276 Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge,
11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays at the trailhead kiosk.
Solutions from Games Pages ACROSS DOWN
in November 12, 2020 Edition 1 REAPER 1 REMUNERATE 22 8th annual Capt. Hiram’s River Chal-
4 RUBBLE 2 AUTONOMOUS lenge Triathlon, 7:30 a.m. from the
7 MATTRESS 3 EUROSTAR Capt. Hiram’s Resort Sandbar, a sprint triathlon
9 TERRIER 4 ROSE with 1/4-mile swim, 12-mile bike ride and 3.1-
12 NONOS 5 BLUR mile run, followed by after-party, with proceeds
13 TUBER 6 LODE benefiting Coastal Conservation Assn., Environ-
15 RUMBA 8 STAB mental Learning Center and Ocean Research and
16 ELITE 10 INVINCIBLE Conservation Assn. hirams.com/triathlon
17 RABID 11 RELENTLESS
19 ASCOT 14 REDALERT 22 Outdoor Thank-You Concert by local
20 ECSTASY 18 BUYS professional musicians and student so-
24 ASSEMBLE 21 CAMP loists, 5 p.m. outside the Center for Christian Life
25 SPHERE 22 TAKE at First Presbyterian Church. BYO picnics, lawn
26 STRESS 23 SAFE chairs or blankets. $10 donation appreciated.
772-562-9088
Sudoku Page B13 Sudoku Page B14 Crossword Page B13 Crossword Page B14 (How Do You Spell Potatoe?)
BUSINESS DIRECTORY - ADVERTISING INDIAN RIVER COUNTY BUSINESSES
Our directory gives small business people eager to provide services to the community an opportunity to make themselves known to our readers at an affordable cost.
This is the only business directory mailed each week during season. If you would like your business to appear in our directory, please call 772-633-0753.
ARE you turning 65 or new to Medicare? PAUL’S GUNS
ARE you looking to review Medicare Choices for 2021. WE BUY GUNS
$$$$ OR TRADE
I can help you with over 10+years of
experience, the dedication and honesty of a GET YOUR CONCEALED
CARRY PERMIT
LOCAL INDEPENDENT agent that
specializes in Medicare choices. $50.00 6PM THURSDAYS
MAKE IT YOUR CHOICE! CALL AHEAD TO RSVP
772-766-1558 772-581-0640 9090 N. US HWY 1 Sebastian, FL
Rose Mary M - F 10am-6pm • Sat. 10am-2pm • Closed Sun.
McIlvain
A+ Insurance
Solutions and
Treasure Coast
Insurance Sources
Serving mainland Indian River County VeroNews/Sebastian River News | PETS November 19, 2020 B19
Bonz meets 3 kitties, and all is feline and dandy!
Hi Dog Buddies! “Is that why your ears are PHOTOS: KAILA JONES house. Luna’s a rescue, too. Real pretty.
so funny?” Sunni asked, bop- Fluffy. Part Siamese. At first, Mama hadda
Woof, did I have a fun week: I felt like I pin’ one again. were a liddle sad, even The Very Kind Lady, keep us separated. Luna insists we remem-
was relivin’ my puppyhood, innerview- but she promised it was gonna be Totally ber she’s Queen of the Queendom. An we
ing three huh-LARRY-us, bouncy liddle “Yep.” OK. So, when we got our shots an made ap- totally do.”
sprouts: Bob, AJ an Sunni Rose. An guess “An why you’re so HUGE?” pointments for the No Kittens Procedure,
what, they’re – wait for it – KITTENS! I’ve queried Bob, scootin’ under we found our Forever Famlies: Yvie an Jinx “For SURE,” added Sunnie. “Luna’s
innerviewed several grown-up cats an my tummy to the other side. went to another Very Nice Lady. The Very bigger than all of us together. I’m only
learned a lot about promoting better in- “Yep.” Nice Lady’s daw-der took our Kitten Mama 2.8 pounds. She hangs out on the screen
ter-species relations (we’re more alike than “Cool Catnip,” exclaimed to college. She has TWO comfy chairs by porch, an she says we Must Never Knock
different under the fur). But this was my AJ. “A DOG. We’re learnin’ a the window, with PILLOWS! An her own the Plants Over. She also said she nev-
first Kitten Experience. lotta intrestin’ stuff.” Potty Box!” er played before. Didn’t know how. So we
“I’d love to hear how you taught her, an now she ackshully plays
As you might expect, I prepared to be as found your Forever Mom,” I “An,” piped up Bob, “WE got to come with us. Isn’t that Cool Catnip?”
soft-spoken, gentle and puh-lite as I possi- said. “Who wants to start?” HERE. We love it!”
bly could, expectin’ they would find me Big “Me. I’m biggest, so I’m In Charge,” AJ “Totally!” I agreed.
an Scary. Maybe they’d be hidin’ under the said. “There’s So Much Room to zoom “I jus remembered,” blurted Bob. “We’re
couch. But it didn’t work out that way. Bob an Sunni instantly pounced on their around!” added Sunnie. They demonstrat- gonna meet a Dog at Thanksgiving. Our
brother, laughin.’ “You WISH!” said Bob. ed, zooming in big circles on the tile floor, human brother Daniel’s bringin’ his dog
The lady who answered the door said “Girls ROOL!” said Sunni. slippin’ an slidin’ an skiddin’ to a stop by Kimbo. I wonder if he’ll look like you, Mr.
the kittens had been nappin,’ an went AJ shook his head. “Shush, let me tell Mr. the table. “SEE?” said Bob, breathlessly. Bonzo.”
to get them. Pretty soon, the liddle fluff- Bonzo our story.” “Probly, in some ways.”
balls came zoomin’ out. They ran over to The kittens plopped into a fluffy heap Their Mama produced a Mouse-Onna- “Ooo, an Mr. Bonzo,” Sunnie innerupt-
my assistant, poked their noses into The on the floor. I opened my notebook. AJ Stick with a bell. Sunnie an Bob instantly ed. “We have our very own bowls. We get
Satchel, then ran over to me. They were all began: “Our Mama, Miss Peppah, was all began boppin’ it, tumblin’ over and laugh- kibbles an wet, squishy food, too. An, we
tiger cats, with short fluffy fur. Two darker alone in the world. Not much more than a in’, while AJ sat beside a pair of sneakers, get to all sleep with Mama, jus like we use
blackish/gray, one lighter gray with some kitten herself. A stray. Skinny, scared, sick, casually groomin’. “My sisters can be So to with the Very Kind Lady!”
gold places. hungry an almost ready to have us. There Goofy,” he observed. “That’s excellent!” I exclaimed.
were five of us. Just when she figured she’d Heading home, I was thinkin’ how un-
They looked at me with Curiosity but used up the last of her 9 lives, this Very “I’ll tell Bonzo about Luna,” said Bob. afraid the kittens were of me. I decided, prob-
Absolutely No Fear. Kind Lady found her an took her in. When “Luna?” I said. ly, animals, like humans, might naturally all
she ree-lized Mama was gonna have us, “We didn’t know right away, get along if they didn’t learn to be scared of
“Good afternoon,” I said in my Least the Very Kind Lady took Mama to the doc- but there was another cat in the each other. An wishin’ I had as much energy
Growly Voice. “I’m Bonzo. I’m very happy tor. She made a soft, fluffy, comfy place for those three liddle fluff-muffins.
to make your acquaintance.” Mama an us an, when The Time Came, she DON’T BE SHY
helped Mama, gave her lotsa pats an talk- The Bonz
The biggest of the three padded over. ed real soft an gentle an, when we started We are always looking for pets
“Hi! I’m AJ, these are my sisters Sunni an appearin’, gave us little pats, too. (Our oth- with interesting stories.
Bob, an our Forever Mom, Dee. Our hu- er two sisters are Jinx an Yvie.) We already
man sister Katherine’s at work. You’re the knew how to sqwunch up inna row for To set up an interview, email
biggest cat we’ve ever seen. But we haven’t our Mama Milk. When our eyes opened, [email protected].
been around that long. Are you a JY-unt? we started playin’ an ’splorin’. We learned
Your nose is Really Looong, an your ears about The Potty Box, and the Scratchin’
are funny.” Post. At night, Mama an us’d all pile up on
top of Very Kind Lady an go to sleep. It was
Sunni an Bob joined AJ, who was stand- WUNNER-ful!”
ing right under my chin. They stood on “Yes, it WAS!” Bob an Sunni agreed.
their back legs an began boppin’ my ears, “When we graduated from Mama Milk
laughing meowy liddle laughs. It tickled, so to regular food, Mama said it was time for
I started laughin’, too. us to find our own Forever Famlies. We
“Ackshully, my liddle frens, I’m not a cat.
I’m a different kinda animal: a DOG.”