06/20/2024 ISSUE 25

Now that the parent company of Sebastian River Medical Center has managed to secure the first $75 million installment of a $225 million loan it needed keep operating while in bankruptcy, attorneys over the next two months must sort out exactly what bidders for the local hospital and 30 others will be buying. An influx of cash was approved by Federal Bankruptcy Judge Christopher Lopez the afternoon of June 13, enabling the nurses and other employees at the Sebastian hospital to be paid on time last week. Steward attorneys had told Lopez the company would be out of money on June 14 without that cash. “I can confirm that there are no payroll issues anywhere News 1-12 Arts 39-42 Books 32 Dining 52-54 Editorial 30 Games 33-37 Health 43-49 Insight 25-38 People 13-24 Pets 55 Real Estate 57-68 Style 50-51 June 20, 2024 Volume 17, Issue 25 Newsstand Price $2.00 TO ADVERTISE CALL 772-559-4187 FOR CIRCULATION CALL 772-226-7925 Photojournalist Grier’s focus always on Gifford. P40 ‘Up’-side at Hibiscus fashion show. P14 Why acting like children can be healthy for adults. P44 ‘Greatest’ night of patriotic music. Page 22 © 2024 Vero Beach 32963 Media LLC. All rights reserved. For breaking news visit A businessman who has moved here from Miami with a background in packaging rental properties for purchase by private investors has come up with a bright idea to help homeowners. Fabrizio Santoro’s venture, called 360Butler, is operating in beta mode now, and is set Motorists already weary from seemingly years-long construction projects along State Road A1A, the island’s main artery, now have yet another obstacle to deal with as the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) installs a new pedestrian crosswalk at Pelican Plaza. The work for the new enhanced crosswalk to benefit beachgoers in the area is being carried out by FDOT’s contractor, Treasure Coast Push Button. It was scheduled to start Monday and is supposed to be concluded by the end of the month. “There will be intermittent temporary lane closures during the installation of pavement markings,” said Kris Kehres, the operations engineer for FDOT’s Treasure Coast Operations, who is based in Fort Pierce, in answer to a resident’s question. Buyers wonder what actually is up for sale at Sebastian River New project adds to frustration of A1A motorists BY LISA ZAHNER Staff Writer BY PIETER VANBENNEKOM Staff Writer Emeritus BY STEVEN M. THOMAS Staff Writer There’s a powerful, nostalgia-driven argument to be made for wanting to recapture the quaint, seaside charm of Old Vero by rebuilding the storm-damaged Humiston Beach boardwalk. Then there’s the case for replacing the historic boardwalk, which was severely compromised by Hurricane Nicole in 2022, with a sidewalk on the western edge of the dunes. The sidewalk costs less. A lot less. That matters in Vero Beach, BY RAY MCNULTY Staff Writer CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 CONTINUED ON PAGE 8 CONTINUED ON PAGE 3 Longtime Vero Beach City Clerk Tammy Bursick plans to retire next week, but she’s not leaving City Hall. Not until December, anyway. Despite spending 39 years as a city employee – the past 34 in her current position – Bursick still has one more task to accomplish before she calls it a career. She wants to make sure her heir-apparent, Deputy Clerk Sherri Philo, enjoys a smooth Tammy Bursick, steady hand on tiller at City Hall, will retire CONTINUED ON PAGE 6 Entrepreneur’s ‘360Butler’ venture offers homeowners concierge service BY RAY MCNULTY Staff Writer CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 PHOTO BY JOSHUA KODIS

2 Vero Beach 32963 / June 20, 2024 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ where the municipal government operates within the confines of a $32 million budget that is often stressed to provide the infrastructure, services and amenities to its 17,000 citizens, as well as to accommodate the daily influx of residents of a steadily growing county with a population more than 10 times the city’s size. Spending an unbudgeted $2 million to build a boardwalk, even one with a history that dates back to the 1930s, isn’t a no-brainer. That’s the price tag for rebuilding Humiston’s concrete boardwalk, which was demolished early last year after city engineers deemed it unsafe and unsalvageable. The cost to build a raised, 12-footwide sidewalk was just over $700,000, plus an additional $40,000 for two pavilions. So after a few minutes of discussion on the dais in a nearly empty chamber, the Vero Beach City Council voted unanimously last week to move forward with the sidewalk option, adding a new lifeguard station equipped with a storage area. Only one city resident – former Vero Beach mayor Tony Young, who spoke of the wonderful times he spent on boardwalk during his childhood years – went to the podium to voice support for the concrete-boardwalk plan. He said the Humiston boardwalk was “part of the fabric of Vero Beach” and “part of who we are.” Reached by phone afterward, Young questioned the city staff’s rendering of the sidewalk option, saying he believed it wouldn’t offer the same shoreline views and ambiance of a boardwalk. “A sidewalk is fine along the street in a business district, but when you come to the beach, you expect to see a boardwalk,” he added. “That’s what should be here.” Many longtime local residents, particularly those who see so much of what they remember about Vero Beach going away, probably agree. But much of the blame for this decision goes to the county, which has steadfastly refused to directly share any tourist-tax revenues with its municipalities including Vero Beach, which city officials say generates more than half of that money each year. The county does cover the costs of beach renourishment projects, but with funding assistance from the federal and state governments. Even so, Vero Beach should be entitled to some percentage of the tourist-tax revenues generated in the city. At the very least, the county should be willing to work with the city through some type of inter-local agreement to help fund projects that are mutually beneficial, as the county continues to grow and additional revenues from new residential development beyond the Vero Beach limits pour into its coffers. The Humiston boardwalk – which is not only an oceanfront amenity enjoyed by both city and county residents; it’s also a tourist attraction – should be one of those joint projects. But not the only one. The list of amenities the city makes available to county residents sounds like the title of a Jimmy Buffet anthology: Beaches, Boardwalks, Boat Ramps and Breweries. And let there be no doubt: More county residents use these amenities, as well as the city’s parks, than their Vero Beach counterparts. Rebuilding the Humiston boardwalk, then, should be the project that finally forces our County Commission to engage the City Council in a public conversation to discuss sharing, to some degree, tax revenues generated in Vero Beach. But that’s up to you. For years, Vero Beach officials have broached the subject with their county counterparts, only to get nowhere NEWS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 My Vero PHOTO BY JOSHUA KODIS

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / June 20, 2024 3 like appliances, window treatments or chandeliers convey with the house, Steward and MPT appear to have no document detailing what assets inside the hospital were sold to MPT, and what assets were retained by Steward as part of the day-to-day operation of the hospital. Medical Properties Trust holds what Steward’s attorneys call a “global lease” on Sebastian River Medical Center and the other 30 hospitals. So now that Steward is trying to negotiate a sale price for each of its hospitals, which are scheduled to be auctioned off over the next two months, buyers are having trouble coming up with offers when they don’t know exactly what they’re buying, and what they would be leasing from MPT. Steward’s attorneys say the bidding “cannot go forward” until they can provide those details. As a result, over the next week or so, Steward, MPT, Steward’s creditors and major lenders will be fleshing out that detail for all the hospitals, with the help of another federal bankruptcy judge serving as mediator. When the this process is complete NEWS CONTINUED ON PAGE 4 as commissioners have steadfastly rejected the city’s claim to any of those revenues. There’s virtually no chance the commissioners will change their position any time soon – unless, perhaps, their constituents demand it. Remember: This is an election year, and three commission seats are on the ballot, with the incumbents all being challenged. If you won’t act now, don’t complain about the sidewalk, which, by the way, appears to be a considerably better option than critics want you to believe it is. “Have you actually seen the plan we selected?” asked Mayor John Cotugno, responding to critics of the council’s action. “Not only does it better-protect the dune, provide a similar ocean view, add two new pavilions, put benches on the walk-overs, and include a new-and-improved lifeguard tower, but it’s more than a million dollars less expensive.” A sidewalk might not offer the nostalgia of a boardwalk that reminded many of us of the simpler, slowerpaced, small-town Vero Beach of yesteryear. But the City Council appears to see it as a palatable alternative. And again, it costs less. Would a boardwalk be better? Maybe, but if that’s what you want, someone’s got to pay for it. You want something different? Call your county commissioners and tell them to write a check. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Sebastian hospital in the system,” said Alex Macfarlane, Steward’s Vice President, Public Affairs, “and that includes Sebastian.” All operations appeared to be continuing normally at Sebastian River Medical Center this past week. Patients and visitors went in and out for procedures or visits, and vendors picked up and dropped off specimens on normal schedules. Now that the cash-flow crisis has been temporarily solved, Judge Lopez has sent Steward into mediation with its landlord, Medical Properties Trust, to determine which assets are part of the real property owned by MPT, and which fixtures, equipment and improvements convey with the business of operating each hospital. Soon after Sebastian River Medical Center was purchased by Steward in 2017, Steward sold the land and physical plant of the hospital to Medical Properties Trust, then immediately leased that real property back, with MPT as the landlord. But unlike the sale of a home, where the contract identifies which items

4 Vero Beach 32963 / June 20, 2024 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ and bidders interested in Sebastian River Medical Center put their proposals together, one thing is certain – the new owner will hope to turn a profit operating the North County hospital. Sebastian River Medical Center is licensed for 145 beds, compared to Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital’s 332-bed capacity. It’s relatively easy for patients and visitors to find their way around the Sebastian hospital, even with the 90,000 square-foot expansion which opened in 2020. The “tower,” houses six state-of-the-art operating rooms, with space to ramp up to eight in the future, and 48 private patient rooms, and it’s billed as being constructed to withstand a Category 5 hurricane. The facility opened during the Summer of COVID, and became a popular site for elective surgeries. During the height of the pandemic, SRMC reportedly transferred the bulk of its COVID patients to its sister Steward hospital in Melbourne to maintain staffing and capacity for these inpatient and outpatient surgeries. In 2021 when other hospitals were struggling financially, Sebastian would have turned a profit had it not been for nearly $500,000 in payments on taxes that Steward Health corporate had deferred from 2020 when that was permitted due to the emergency orders in place. This was despite the fact that the NEWS Explore More Of Our Exceptional Vero Beach Collection PremierEstateProperties.com Sunday Open House 1-3 109 Estuary Drive $3.1 Million Info: V278586.com Sallie Brooke 772.231.1679 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3 Sebastian hospital

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / June 20, 2024 5 overwhelming majority of Sebastian River Medical Center’s patients are Medicare and Medicaid recipients – those government programs known as being slow payers, and skimpy on the reimbursements when compared to private insurance. Could the new owner of Sebastian River Medical Center capitalize on the smaller size of the hospital, the notyet four-year old tower with its ample operating theatres and its cozy private rooms, by transforming SRMC into a boutique hospital, catering to upscale clientele who either have platinum insurance or pay cash? Boutique hospitals are quite popular in the Miami area, and they get around the walk-in and ambulance trade (i.e. indigent, Medicare and Medicaid clients) by not having an Emergency Department. All admissions are pre-arranged through physicians and surgeons. Indian River County has a growing number of primary care doctors and surgeons who have cut ties with Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital, and who have established concierge practices. Those doctors might be enticed to refer their patients to a local boutique hospital for outpatient procedures, elective surgeries and planned non-elective surgeries. Florida hospitals also benefit from a good amount of medical tourism, where wealthy patients from outside the United States fly in for a surgery or treatment they can’t get in their home NEWS CONTINUED ON PAGE 6 DISCLAIMER: Information published or otherwise provided by Premier Estate Properties, Inc. and its representatives including but not limited to prices, measurements, square footages, lot sizes, calculations and statistics are deemed reliable but are not guaranteed and are subject to errors, omissions or changes without notice. All such information should be independently verified by any prospective purchaser or seller. Parties should perform their own due diligence to verify such information prior to a sale or listing. Premier Estate Properties, Inc. expressly disclaims any warranty or representation regarding such information. Prices published are either list price, sold price, and/or last asking price. Premier Estate Properties, Inc. participates in the Multiple Listing Service and IDX. The properties published as listed and sold are not necessarily exclusive to Premier Estate Properties, Inc. and may be listed or have sold with other members of the Multiple Listing Service. Transactions where Premier Estate Properties, Inc. represented both buyers and sellers are calculated as two sales. Cooperating Brokers are advised that in the event of a Buyer default, no commission will be paid to a cooperating Broker on the Deposits retained by the Seller. No commissions are paid to any cooperating broker until title passes or upon actual commencement of a lease. Some affiliations may not be applicable to certain geographic areas. If your property is currently listed with another broker, please disregard any solicitation for services. Copyright 2023 Premier Estate Properties, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Your Trusted Advisor for Vero Beach Luxury Real Estate 772.234.5555 675 Beachland Boulevard OUR INCOMPARABLE GLOBAL NETWORK OCEAN RIDGE CIRCLE $1.1 Million Info: www.V271500.com Lucy Hendricks 772.559.8812 8830 S SEA OAKS WAY, UNIT #202 $1.025 Million Info: www.V274825.com Lucy Hendricks 772.559.8812 9261 ORCHID COVE CIRCLE $1.045 Million Info: V278490.com Lange Sykes 772.473.7983 1510 OCEAN DRIVE, UNIT #2 $1.395 Million Info: V274890.com Melissa Talley 772.633.0407 3160 NE 233RD TRAIL $15.495 Million Info: V270584.com Lange Sykes 772.473.7983 386 LIVE OAK DRIVE $1.1 Million Info: www.V271703.com Melissa Talley 772.633.0407 NEW TO MARKET PINE CREEK SPORTING CLUB

6 Vero Beach 32963 / June 20, 2024 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ country, or for access to American medical and surgical talent. Could this area become the next medical tourism destination? Former Indian River Shores mayor and former School Board member Brian Barefoot has been a huge backer of Cleveland Clinic since the famed hospital company entered the bidding process to take over Indian River Medical Center. Barefoot has served on the Indian River Hospital Foundation board and has remained stalwartly bullish on Cleveland Clinic despite the challenges the corporation has faced in its ill-timed transition on the eve of the COVID pandemic. When asked if he thought a re-tooled Sebastian River Medical Center aimed at attracting a high-end clientele from Vero Beach and elsewhere might give Cleveland Clinic some serious competition, Barefoot said on Sunday, “Perhaps in a specialty, but not in cardiac or cancer where it would be very difficult to compete.” Cleveland Clinic’s claim to fame is its cardiac care, though the Vero hospital has lost some rock-star cardiothoracic surgeons in the takeover. And the hospital’s Scully-Walsh Cancer Center has an excellent reputation. But that leaves a lot of room for other specialties, as Barefoot mentioned. While the current deadline for potential buyers to bid on Steward’s eight Florida hospitals is in early August, with a hearing for Judge Lopez to approve the buyers on Aug. 22, the infusion of cash last week may have paved the way for further slippage in these dates. Ralph de la Torre, Steward CEO, said the new loans allow Steward to extend the marketing process if it maximizes value, meaning that the company now won’t be forced into a shotgun early sale at any price, but can negotiate for better offers for its hospitals and physician practices. “Securing this additional financing from a group of our secured lenders not only speaks to our asset value but more importantly provides Steward with a long runway to continue to stabilize our operations,” de la Torre said in a statement distributed on BusinessWire. Pieter VanBennekom contributed to this story. work you want done, consulting with you about projects, getting and reviewing bids, and making recommendations about who to hire. “There is no cost to the homeowner. We make money by taking a referral fee from vendors, who love the program because it makes their lives simpler, too. We thoroughly vet vendors and are able to get wholesale prices because of the scope of the business and because we know what a fair cost is for any service.” Island realtors like the concept. “I think it is a great idea,” says ONE Sotheby’s agent Janice Jolly. “I am sure there will be customers I will recommend it to.” “It’s a brilliant concept,” says Premier Estate Properties estate agent Lange Sykes. “So much so, you ask yourself why something like this doesn’t already exist on a large scale. “Saving homeowners all the time and hassle of dealing with the trades is very valuable. To my knowledge, there isn’t anything else out there like this, and I think the idea has huge potential and real legs to be a major disruptor in the industry.” “We and the investors we’re networked with think that no one will be calling vendors directly 10 years from now,” says Santoro. “I don’t know if it will be my company that makes that happen. There may have been 10 Ubers before Uber that we never heard of, and I might be one of those. But we believe it will happen.” “I love the service. It has been the best thing ever for me,” says Tareek Beasley, a longtime agent at Keller Williams island office who is participating in the beta phase of the business. “I was Fabrizio’s agent on a couple of deals after he moved here, and he told me about his idea back then. It is great to see it come to fruition. “It has relieved me of all the big headaches I’ve had as a homeowner over the years. I am the one who tends to procrastinate when something needs to be done around the house, partly because I don’t want to be taken advantage of by contractors, and those headaches are gone. “I’ve had eight or 10 things taken care of through 360Butler at my old house and at my new house I bought four months ago, everything from a loose gutter to installing an outdoor kitchen, and I couldn’t be happier.” Santoro was born in Montreal and moved to Miami with his family when he was 10 years old, growing up there before it became a high-velocity world city. “Believe it or not, 40 years ago, Miami was a lot like Vero Beach is now,” he says. Santoro got his start in real estate in that earlier Miami, flipping rental properties as part of his business. Operating as Alto Investments, which included both a real estate brokerage and a general contracting firm, he transitioned after the housing crash into amalgamating groups of fixed-up rental properties for sale to big investors such as FiveTen Capital, FirstKey Homes and Blackstone. “We typically sold them 100 to 300 homes at a time,” Santoro says. Over a short period of time, a major part of the business shifted to maintaining the sprawling echelons of rental homes owned by private equity firms and other investors. “As quickly as hedge funds got into the business of buying up distressed properties and renting them out, they hit a big bump in the road. They couldn’t control maintenance costs the same way they could in an apartment complex with an employee driving around on a golf cart or going up and down an elevator,” Santoro continues. “They were at the mercy of contractors they didn’t know coming in and scrawling something on a piece of paper and putting a number at the bottom, and the uncontrolled maintenance costs were hurting their cap rate. “That’s when they came to us and asked us to handle that part of the business for them. We were maintaining 3,000 single-family homes. We had a to go county-wide next month serving homeowners on the island and in mainland Vero and Sebastian. “We won’t be going to Fort Pierce or Melbourne,” he says. “I want to keep the geographical area small and make sure we can handle the workload before expanding.” 360Butler aims to provide homeowners with the equivalent of an estate manager who takes over all the hassles – research, phone calls, appointments, evaluating bids, waiting for contractors to show up – for the full spectrum of home maintenance, repair and remodeling. Oh, and the service is free. “When you become a client, you are assigned a personal butler who comes out to your home and introduces himself,” says Santoro, who sold his South Florida business and moved here three years ago to extricate his family from escalating urban intensity in Miami Beach. “There is no switching around. You keep the same butler as long as you have the service, and they manage any NEWS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Homeowner concierge service CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5 Sebastian hospital CONTINUED ON PAGE 8

8 Vero Beach 32963 / June 20, 2024 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ NEWS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6 Homeowner concierge service reliable pool of vendors who did the work under our supervision as general contractors. We provided investors with the paperwork to show what was done when and why and they paid us to maintain and repair the properties. That was the genesis of 360Butler concept.” Business was good for the Miami Beach resident, but crime, overcrowding and traffic were on the rise during the pandemic migration, and in 2021 Santoro and his Lorena Santoro decided they wanted to raise their four young children in a less urban environment. “My wife and I are avid campers and we had camped at Sebastian Inlet, so we knew the area, and I like buying and selling waterfront properties, so we decided to move here and ended up buying a home in Sebastian. “We have a small portfolio of rental homes we’ve purchased here but I found there was too much competition for the waterfront properties that looked like profitable flips, so I decided to focus my efforts on the butler idea, which my wife and I have been talking about since 2016.” The Santoros’ business model leverages technology and expertise in dealing with tradesmen and other vendors to create efficiencies and economies of scale that carve out space for a profit margin while making life simpler for both homeowners and vendors. “People may not realize it, but there is a right price for every part and service in home maintenance and repair,” Santoro says. “Of course, vendors need to markup parts and labor, but not in an excessive way. “When a vendor wants to sign up with us, we ask them what they charge for emergency service or whatever and if it’s too much, we tell them they can’t charge that and work with us. They have to charge a fair prevailing rate. “They are happy to do it because we take care of their marketing and collections and create a steady stream of work.” Santoro has proprietary software to facilitate every aspect of each transaction via phone app – including estimates, invoices and payments – whether it’s repairing a screen door in Johns Island or building a home addition on the mainland. “I love the way it works,” says Vanessa Rizio, president of IRC Leak Detection and Plumbing, whose family has been in the plumbing business since the 1970s. “All the information you need is right there in the app and the butler meets you at the site. They send a work order and I reply to it and then we send an invoice and get paid. Everything operates efficiently and we get paid quickly.” According to Santoro, tradesmen take a photo of the home address when they arrive and when they leave to show their time on the job and take pictures of each old part they remove and new part they install to further document the job. Estimates, work orders, invoices and payments all flow through the app and are recorded there. “If you wanted to sell your home at some point, you would be able to download the entire list of everything you’ve done to the home in the past five or 10 years, with costs, to show buyers, which might get you a slight premium on your price, similar to a certified vehicle,” says Santoro. “This is a service for everyone – the person who has a $300,000 house in Sebastian and the person who has a $30 million estate on the ocean,” Santoro adds. “People are consumed with their own lives, with work and family and recreation, and often don’t have the time or the expertise to manage home projects. “I recently got three estimates for electrical work on the dock at my home and they came in at $5,000, $7,800 and $11,000 for the exact same scope of work,” Santoro says. “That kind of delta between bids is confusing and frustrating for the average homeowner. Who has the time to research and figure out which contractor to hire? “Everything we are doing now is self-funded, but we have had lots of discussions with private equity investors we know or have worked with in the past who are very excited about the concept. “As soon as this kicks, if it is the success we expect, they are ready put in the funds to take it national.” Santoro says a private equity play could be in the form of an acquisition or an investment partnership, with company-owned or independent franchises. “Right now, my goal is, when you call, we want to make sure we can take care of you,” Santoro says. “Longer term, I have a larger vision. “Our clients, especially people moving to town, are always asking for referrals and good tradespeople and this is an obvious thing to offer them,” says Sykes. “I think it’s a winning formula,” says Santoro. “I know it sounds almost too good to be true, but it works. It’s simple for homeowners and doesn’t cost them anything.” CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 A1A construction Gullermo Canedo, FDOT’s District 4 Information Officer at district headquarters in Fort Lauderdale, added that the pedestrian improvement project, at the intersection of A1A and Bahia Mar,

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / June 20, 2024 9 is being undertaken for the sake of pedestrian safety. Even though a traffic light already exists at the intersection, the pedestrian crossing at the light is not clearly marked on the roadway at present, and residents of the nearby Bethel Isle neighborhood are often seen scurrying across the road en route to or from the beach carrying surfboards and other gear, especially during the busy traffic season that just ended. No serious accidents between pedestrians and motor vehicles have been reported in recent times, but residents are said to be pleased to see the safety improvements. The crosswalk construction includes the addition of curb ramps, pavement markings and pedestrian trackers with warning lights to motorists that pedestrians are in the process of crossing the busy road. Signs warning motorists that new construction was about to start on Monday went up along SR A1A about 100 yards south and north of the site NEWS CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

10 Vero Beach 32963 / June 20, 2024 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ the budget and the election, so the council asked me if I could stay and help Sherri,” she added. “Of course, I said I would.” Bursick said she doesn’t expect to put in more than 25 hours most weeks, and she probably can work from home some days. She said Philo, who worked for the city for 28 years – all in the clerk’s office, starting as a secretary and moving up to deputy clerk 17 years ago – has informed the council that she wants the clerk’s job on a permanent basis. “Sherri has been a here a long time and she knows how this office runs,” Bursick said. “Things can change quickly, and you’ve got to keep up with new laws being passed and repealed. As long as she does that, she’ll do a great job.” Philo said she already has learned much from Bursick and respects the way she has managed the clerk’s office, adding that they have become more than co-workers. “She’s like family to me,” Philo said. That’s the same affection with which Bursick has embraced Philo and her team since 1990, when she replaced clerk Phyllis Neuberger, who became ill and died from cancer. In fact, Bursick said that while she has seen many City Hall workers retire and be replaced by new faces, she has been “blessed with a staff” that has, for the most part, remained intact for years. “I used to know everybody around here, but even with a lot of new people getting hired, it doesn’t take long to become a part of the family,” she said. “That will be the toughest part about walking out of the building for the last time – saying that final good-bye to everyone. “I’ll take a lot of memories with me.” And to think: It all started with an ad in a local newspaper, where Bursick, who previously worked at a bank, noticed a job opening for a switchboard operator at City Hall. Bursick applied and was hired, but, after only one day, applied for a better job as a secretary in the clerk’s office, then got hired again. She would later replace the city’s departing deputy clerk. Under Neuberger’s tutelage, Bursick launched a career that would become a labor of love and take her to the end of her working life. She admits, however, the job has become more demanding through the years. “In some ways, all the new technology has made it easier, because so much information is at your fingertips,” Bursick said. “But in other ways, it has made the job more difficult, because you have to account for so much new equipment. “We just had to replace all the equipment in the City Council chamber, because meetings are televised, live-streamed and video-recorded,” she added. “We also have Zoom now. So, if you include all the advisory commissions and those meetings, there’s a lot to keep track of.” Especially now. In recent years, Vero Beach has launched several major projects, including the much-anticipated development of the Three Corners site, relocation of the city’s wastewater treatment plant, expansion of the municipal marina and revitalization of the downtown area. “There’s a lot to this job,” Bursick said, “and with so much going on these days, you really need to keep track of what’s coming up next.” Misinformation masquerading as facts and distributed daily on socialmedia platforms only complicates matters, prompting many residents to respond with questions delivered via email to council members – and that correspondence is often funneled through the clerk’s office. “There’s so much out there that isn’t true,” Bursick said. Then there’s the ongoing surge of public records requests, which are usually addressed to the clerk’s office, which distributes them to council members, city staffers and other departments. Unlike years ago, the local news CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9 A1A construction NEWS about two weeks ago, leaving some motorists along the route, as well as nearby residents and business managers, wondering what it was about, since no other information was made available. Canedo explained that the pedestrian crosswalk addition, which is expected cost only about $25,000, was too small a project to be added to the list of ongoing construction projects in the area on the FDOT website. That absence of information left an owner of one nearby business worrying that the construction project might be bigger in scale. “I just hope they finish whatever they’re doing by the end of the summer and before our new season starts,” said the businessman. It appears that for now, he’ll get his wish, although more A1A construction might still be hanging over everyone’s head. The present crosswalk installation at Pelican Plaza is separate from another possible new pedestrian crosswalk that had been requested by the Town of Indian River Shores at the CVS and the 7-Eleven convenience store less than a CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Vero City Clerk to retire mile further north, also to improve pedestrian safety. Approval of that project is awaiting the results of a third FDOT traffic study to measure vehicle volume in the area in different seasons. Previous studies had not indicated sufficient traffic volume to warrant such an addition, but some of the traffic counts were taken out of season and the town urged FDOT to ignore those results and test again. transition, especially with a three-seat City Council election in November. So Bursick is staying on through the end of the year, albeit in a parttime role to assist Philo, who will take over the clerk’s duties on an interim basis on July 1. “I’m definitely ready to retire,” Bursick said. “I’ve been working for the city since 1985, and it’s time. I’m looking forward to having free time to spend with family and travel and do some of the things I haven’t had a chance to do. “But there’s so much going on right now, with all these major projects and

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / June 20, 2024 11 media aren’t alone in seeking such information. Private citizens, advocacy groups and pseudo-journalists with websites and social-media outlets now flood City Hall with requests for records. “The numbers keep growing, and we do the best we can to abide by the law and respond with honesty and integrity,” Bursick said. “I have a records clerk who pretty much does nothing else.” Despite the demands, though, the job also has offered Bursick the opportunity to be a part of the city’s successes – none she cherishes more than having helped organize Vero Beach’s yearlong centennial celebration in 2019. Having previously being involved with the city’s observances of its 75th and 90th anniversaries, she called her participation in the preparations for the centennial “one of the best years of my life,” recalling how wonderful it was to “see the community come together.” That celebration, however, took place after Bursick survived an attempt by then-City Councilman Val Zudans to have her fired in what has CONTINUED ON PAGE 12 NEWS

12 Vero Beach 32963 / June 20, 2024 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ NEWS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11 Vero City Clerk to retire been the lone hiccup in the clerk’s otherwise-unblemished career. Relying on legal counsel from the city’s attorneys, Bursick disqualified candidates Linda Hillman and Brian Heady from the 2018 City Council election because signatures allegedly were missing from their filing documents. The September controversy resulted in Hillman slapping the city with a lawsuit that ultimately produced a settlement, one that included voiding the results of the November election and holding a special election the following February. Zudans blamed Bursick for causing the dispute, which cost the city $25,000 to conduct the special election. But she retained the community’s trust – and her job. “It was a growing experience, something I definitely learned from,” Bursick said. “I was trying to do the right thing, but I probably should’ve let the candidates’ opponents make the complaint instead of the city doing it. “We’ve since made changes that should’ve been made years earlier.” The episode hasn’t diminished her lofty standing at City Hall, where she has earned the respect and admiration from department heads, staffers and council members. City Manager Monte Falls said he fondly recalls the 33 years they’ve both worked at City Hall. “Tammy has been the constant force for the city throughout the time I’ve been here,” Falls said. “For as long as I’ve known here, she shows up for work with cheerful attitude and cando approach, and she’s the consummate professional. “Even with so much happening at City Hall, she makes sure everything is always in impeccable order,” he added. “She keeps us all on target, in line and on schedule. Her shoes are going to be very hard to fill. “Every time I see her, I tell her: ‘You know you don’t have to leave, right?’” Mayor John Cotugno also heaped praise on Bursick, saying her many years on the job provides her with valuable institutional knowledge. “She’s not only a great reference; she’s also a team player and a genuinely good person,” he said. “She was always there with guidance when I was new to the City Council, and she has been very helpful to my efforts as mayor. “I very much appreciate the fact that she’s going to be around for a few more months,” the mayor added, “because we’ll miss her when she’s gone.” Bursick said she didn’t know how many mayors and council members she has worked under the past threeplus decades, but she does plan to count them before she leaves. “With two-year terms,” she said, “there have been a lot of them.” Perhaps she’ll tally them in September, when she plans to take off for a couple of weeks so she and husband, Jim, who has been retired for 10 years, can spend some time at their other home in Michigan. But she’ll be back in plenty of time to get her loyal deputy through the election this fall. “I welcome her help,” Philo said. Soon afterward, Bursick will move on the next chapter, which she said probably will include some temporary clerk’s work. Bursick is a longtime member and former president of the Florida Association of City Clerks, for whom she created a program to assist cities that have a vacancy and are in need an interim clerk. She plans to remain active in that program. “I still want to help out when I can,” said Bursick, who was the association’s 2007 City Clerk of the Year. “It’s a good way to keep my hand in something I’ve been involved in for more than 30 years.” She’s retiring next week, but she’s not leaving. PHOTO BY JOSHUA KODIS

‘GREATEST’ NIGHT Patriotic music warms hearts at WWII Tribute P. 22 Bethany and Dr. Michael Fortunato.

14 Vero Beach 32963 / June 20, 2024 PEOPLE Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ The 25th Annual Blue Ribbon Luncheon and Fashion Show took flight with an enchanting Up, Up & Awaythemed event at the Oak Harbor Club to benefit the Hibiscus Children’s Center. Organized by co-chairs Cathy Cronin, Pam Larrick and Susie Kintner and members of the Hibiscus Guild, the event soared to new heights to raise funds so that at-risk children removed from their homes due to abuse, abandonment or neglect receive the care, guidance and opportunities they need to thrive. For more than 30 years, Hibiscus has ensured that these children are provided with a safe haven, mental health, preventative care, and life skills training. After a champagne reception where guests mulled over silentauction items, they sat down for lunch amidst a sea of blue balloons representing child abuse prevention month. Linda Teetz, Indian River County Guild president, said that the loving and caring staff at the Hibiscus Village in Vero Beach involves the children in a variety of programs to help them heal. And they are set up for success through programs such as the Career Pathways to Independence program, where they learn graphic design and culinary skills. “When they participate in these programs, their school attendance increases. Last year, 98 percent of the children at the Village moved up a grade level, and some were on the honor roll,” said Teetz. “Hibiscus has to raise $3 million every year to sustain business. Hibiscus does get funding from the state and federal government, but it’s not enough to cover everything we do for the kids,” said Matt Markley, HCC CEO, adding that the annual luncheon has raised over $2.2 million since its inception 25 years ago. He noted that every single day, Hibiscus gets referrals for children who have been removed from their homes and need a place to live. “One of Hibiscus’ greatest strengths is we help kids imagine what a better life can be,” added Markley before introducing the guest speaker, Dave Miller, who had been a Hibiscus resident about 35 years ago. At age 5, Miller and his two younger siblings were found in a hotel room in Okeechobee, one week after their mother had abandoned them with only a tiny bag of Oreo cookies to share. What happened to him as a child impacted who he is today, said Miller, who today is a successful chef and restaurateur in Chicago, where he lives with his wife and two children. “Core memories are integral to who we become as a person. I remember being so hungry,” said MillAll ‘Up’-side at Hibiscus’ Blue Ribbon Fashion Show BY STEPHANIE LaBAFF Staff Writer Linda Teetz, Helen Robertson and Barbara Ruddy. Liz Kusch and Raquel Tilton. Cathy Cronin, Pam Larrick and Susie Kintner. PHOTOS: JOSHUA KODIS Joyce Churney, Roni Fuster and Henriette Churney. PHOTOS CONTINUED ON PAGE 16

PEOPLE Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / June 20, 2024 15 er, attributing that memory to his career choice. He said other memories that stand out, once he finally made it to the safety of Hibiscus, include that it was the first time he had felt clean, that he celebrated a birthday, and that he was hugged and comforted. The annual Fashion Show, produced by Sobol Fashion Productions, featured Miami-based models showcasing the latest in spring and summer women’s fashion trends from local island shops: Belle Cose, Cooper & Co., Frances Brewster, Island Cashmere, J. McLaughlin, Johnny Was and Sassy Boutique, plus a selection of men’s wear from Vernon Scott. The afternoon was a testament to the commitment of Hibiscus Guild members and other supporters of the Hibiscus Children’s Center that every child has the opportunity to soar “Up, Up & Away” toward a brighter tomorrow. For more information, visit HibiscusChildrensCenter.org.

16 Vero Beach 32963 / June 20, 2024 PEOPLE Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Kay Harvey, Cheryl Burge and Evelyn McGlone. Ann Franzese, Mary Beth McDonald, Marta Schneider and Cathy Curley. Catherine Cooke, Judy Peschio and Heidi Rooney. Joan Aldridge, Seneida Holden and Miriam Grabow. Donna Persson and Eleanor Caldecott. Commissioner Laura Moss and Sue Sharpe. Robin Korkus, Sue Post and June Bercaw. PHOTOS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 14

PEOPLE Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / June 20, 2024 17 Margie Goebel and Janet Andes. Page Franzel and Diane Langevin. Kathleen Joachim and Diane Wilhelm. Gerri Smith and Cathy Cronin. Deb Feldman and Susie Kintner.

18 Vero Beach 32963 / June 20, 2024 PEOPLE Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Members of the John’s Island Community Service League know how to throw a great party, and this year’s On the Boardwalk-themed Gala at the John’s Island Beach Club was no exception. While Mother Nature could have been a bit kinder, instead bringing rain that curtailed some of the planned outdoor activities, the highly creative committee, chaired by Lisa Logan, and the ever-competent JI staff, led by David Colclough, general manager, took it all in stride. The festivities included considerably more than just peanuts and Cracker Jacks. Executive Chef Anthony Cole and his staff provided bountiful food and drink options at various stations throughout the club, including “Under the Boardwalk.” Guests also enjoyed bidding on a Leigh Jewelers raffle and Penny Arcade raffle, playing carnival games of chance and dancing to the Hit Factory Band. The annual event is renowned for its entertaining aspects, but all who attend do so with the understanding that they are helping to improve the lives of others in the community. It is one of the major fundraisers for the JICSL, which this year increased contributions by 17 percent over last year’s already impressive numbers. In its 2022-23 season, the JICSL awarded a total of $1,508,000, providing grants to 44 agencies and scholarships to John’s Island employees and their dependents. For the 2023-24 season, the numbers rose to a whopping $1,759,192 in grants and scholarships. This is the sixth year that the JICSL has been able to award more than $1 million to support programs in the community focused on health, education and human service issues. Sponsorships play a huge role in the amount of funding raised through the gala, starting with John’s Island Real Estate Company as the grand sponsor, along with a whole host of other corporate sponsors and nearly 200 contributions from individual donors. For more information, visit JICSL. org. ‘Boardwalk’ bash befits nonpareil Community Service League BY MARY SCHENKEL Staff Writer Ben and Tauna Donaldson, and Cathryn Donaldson with “lifeguards” Lauren Pfeiffer and Anton Loef. Sallyan Pelletier, Ellen Kendall and Lisa Logan. PHOTOS: JOSHUA KODIS Jean and Jim Ueltschi.

PEOPLE Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / June 20, 2024 19 Betsy Smith and Amanda Smith. Kathleen Smith, Cindy Nicolaides, Rhonda Sherwood and Linda Fox. Wheatie and Bob Gibb. PHOTOS CONTINUED ON PAGE 20 Anne Linville and Peter Kendall with Kate and Dylan Green. Andy and Tina Nickle with Emily and Ned Sherwood.

20 Vero Beach 32963 / June 20, 2024 PEOPLE Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Sara Beth Roberts and Liz Ullian. Jay McLaughlin, Hope Woodhouse and Joan McLaughlin. Joan Marra, Nancy Axilrod and Susie Veysey. Rennie Gibb, Gali Dupay and Amanda Robinson. Theresa and Jim Kilman. Ginger and Steve Kent with Michael Moriarty and Leslie Hodges. PHOTOS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19

PEOPLE Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / June 20, 2024 21 Jennifer and Charles Croom with Vanessa Heins and Keith Baker. Kathy and John Harris. Bill and Susie MacDonald. Louise and Joseph Huber. Sandy and Randy Rolf. Nancy and Bob Puff. Barb and Sherm Hotchkiss.

22 Vero Beach 32963 / June 20, 2024 PEOPLE Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ The Grand Harbor Golf and Beach Club overflowed with patriotic pride as guests paid tribute to the Greatest Generation during Music for This Night, a fundraiser hosted by the Military Officers Association of America, Indian River Chapter. Proceeds from the evening will help to close the gap on monies needed to complete the World War II Tribute currently under construction on Veterans Memorial Island Sanctuary at Riverside Park. The Tribute, and the event, symbolize the community’s unwavering commitment to honoring and preserving the memory of those who selflessly served their country. Grammy Award-winning soprano Lisa Eden took center stage alongside pianist Jacob Craig with a performance that captivated the audience through a musical soirée dedicated to the valiant heroes of World War II. Eden’s repertoire was heartwarmingly curated to pay homage to the spirit of resilience and unity that defined that era. Each song selected and note sung reverberated with tales of patriotism, camaraderie, and the unwavering resolve, courage and sacrifice of those who served. The primary focus of the evening was raising funds for the WWII Tribute, a parade stand designed as a permanent testament to the enduring gratitude of a nation indebted to its heroes. Event emcee Bethany Fortunato explained that the parade stand will be the site where all future military and memorial ceremonies will be held on the sanctuary, calling it the “crown jewel of the island.” Fortunato said that the back of the platform will acknowledge WWII veterans’ service with replicas of the Defense of America medal, American Theater medal, Pacific medal and European Campaign medal. Insignias from the Vero Beach Naval Air Station, World War II Victory Medal and Honorable Service pin will be featured ‘Greatest’ night of music warms hearts at WWII Tribute BY STEPHANIE LaBAFF Staff Writer Jennifer and Jeff Palleschi with Carolyn Lange. PHOTOS: JOSHUA KODIS Judge Paul and Carol Kanarek. Maryann Prezzano and Trudie Rainone. Robin and Brenda Lloyd. PHOTOS CONTINUED ON PAGE 24 Cynthia and Robert Ryan.

PEOPLE Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / June 20, 2024 23 on smaller columns at the front. Local artists Glenda Taylor and Sharon Sexton have handcrafted tiles for the rear of the tribute that correspond to the service ribbon color for each of the medals. The Indian River County Historical Society is providing a kiosk with a QR code to learn more about local World War II living veterans as well as the 42 Indian River County military personnel who were lost during WWII and are represented with cenotaphs on Memorial Island. Quoting Col. Tony Young, Fortunato said, “The World War II Tribute dedication in the months ahead will be a generational milestone. The centerpiece is a gift to the community, providing an overdue recognition of the World War II generation of citizen-soldiers and all who stood in the breach.” MOAA IR meets on the third Friday of the month at the Vero Beach Yacht Club. For more information, visit moaafl.org. To donate toward the completion of the WWII Tribute, visit cultural-council.org.

24 Vero Beach 32963 / June 20, 2024 PEOPLE Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Sharon and Tony Young with Jeremy and Ashley Rebman. Kathleen and Philip Canal with Susie Childs, Barbara Ruddy, Alan Thompson, George and Elke Fetterolf and Robin Lloyd. Gordon Sulcer and Dennis and Patty Makielski. Joan and Roman Ortega-Cowan. PHOTOS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 22 Jacob Craig and Lisa Eden. Carla and John Michael Matthews.

26 Vero Beach 32963 / June 20, 2024 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ INSIGHT COVER STORY By Zainab Fattah | Bloomberg Barely a year after Las Vegas casino operator Wynn Resorts Ltd. announced plans for a $4 billion resort in the United Arab Emirates, the area is crawling with construction workers erecting five-star resorts, shops and $7 million villas in what developers expect will become a major tourist hotspot. Before that deal, the artificial Marjan islands off the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah, or RAK, had spent most of the past decade as a lost opportunity, a 1 square mile white elephant largely unused after a $1 billion soccer-themed resort was scrapped for the site. These days, every lot is sold and cranes are rising faster than the morning desert heat. Hoardings around construction sites are plastered with signs advertising the coming homes. At least 20 developers have projects in various stages of design and construction on the islands, said Abdulla Al Abdouli, chief executive officer of the state entity that developed them. He expects most projects to be completed within just six years. The new construction will cost billions of dollars, he says. Even he’s not sure exactly how many. Anticipating the rush of new visitors, the emirate’s small international airport is planning to build a new terminal to boost capacity to 2 million passengers a year by 2027, almost triple the some 700,000 travelers anticipated this year. About one-third of the world’s population lives within a four-hour flight. Ras Al Khaimah, which means the head of the tent in Arabic, has a 40 mile coastline on the Persian Gulf and until now has largely catered to Russian tourists looking for a cheaper alternative to Dubai. The Marjan islands, roughly half the size of Dubai’s famous Palm Jumeirah, were completed in 2013. On the island where Wynn is building its planned casino and resort, activity is going full speed. A dozen cranes hover over what’s to be among the company’s largest developments, at 1,500 rooms. Access to the island is restricted only to workers until the site opens to the public in 2027. The planned casino will help attract gamblers but also offer families a slice of luxury. The islands currently host six hotels with 3,052 rooms along with 3,000 apartments.

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / June 20, 2024 27 INSIGHT COVER STORY “The Wynn casino and resort has been a game changer for Marjan,” said Khalid Bin Kalban, the CEO of Dubai Investments PJSC, which is building a hotel and a residential community there. “Everyone is there in anticipation that RAK’s tourism will grow rapidly with the casino. It’s about the gaming, the shows, the hotels. You’re essentially bringing a mini-Vegas to Ras Al Khaimah.” The introduction of casinos would be a step change for the UAE, where gambling is prohibited under Islam and is illegal in the country: Offenders can be fined or sentenced to two years in prison – or both. No casinos exist in the six Gulf Cooperation Council countries, although they can be found in Lebanon and Egypt. The UAE has created an authority to provide a framework for legalized gaming, although no laws legalizing it have been passed so far. It took decades to make Las Vegas what it is today, but officials here are thinking more ambitiously. Marjan, the owner of the islands, is looking to build about 9,000 hotel rooms and a similar number of homes to add to the existing properties. The islands currently host six hotels with a total of 3,052 rooms along with around 3,000 apartments, many of which are serviced, including JW Marriott and Rixos. Las Vegas has almost 155,000 hotel rooms; some 10% of that total will exist here within a generation. But for the emirate, which welcomed 1.2 million visitors last year, the existing supply sharply lags demand, said Al Abdouli, the CEO of Marjan. With about 8,000 rooms, the opportunity for developers is there to grow the market and attract new visitors, he added. “Marjan Island is different from the daily hustle and bustle of being in downtown Dubai or Abu Dhabi,” said Al Abdouli. “It’s a getaway. Many of the visitors come from other parts of the UAE for staycations. There are mountainous areas for hiking, biking, triathlons and beaches. But the Wynn resort will be a catalyst like no other in the UAE.” Prices have exploded, and for the lucky few who bought early the returns have been spectacular. Bin Kalban said prices per square foot not long ago were 300 dirhams ($82), but now you can’t find anything below 800 dirhams. At the moment Ras Al Khaimah has 12 hotels in the planning stage along with seven in construction, according to CoStar, a Londonbased provider of real estate data and analytics. The broader emirate of Ras Al Khaimah today has an old Arabia vibe, mainly a vast expanse of red sand dunes with sparse vegetation. It’s a far cry from Dubai’s skyscrapers and traffic jams some 70 miles down the road. In the race to develop tourism CONTINUED ON PAGE 28 Top: A beach on one of the Marjan Islands off Ras Al Khaimah, where prices have exploded and returns for some have been spectacular. Center: Danah Bay villas under construction. Bottom: At least 20 developers have projects in various stages of design and construction on the Marjan islands off the coast of the Ras Al Khaimah. Renderings of Wynn’s proposed resort on the Marjan islands.

28 Vero Beach 32963 / June 20, 2024 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 27 INSIGHT COVER STORY to look at big picture. Where do you want to be and where do you have the infrastructure? It’s great to get into a destination that is developing because it allows you to get a foothold. But you’ve got to be cognizant of the development” of facilities and supporting infrastructure, he added. There are no public transport options, for example, to visit the Marjan islands from Dubai. “Las Vegas, contrary to what most people think, is not about gambling, it’s about conventions,” he said. “The Sphere, this new concert arena that they’ve opened, drives traffic into that city because they bring big names in with big impact on the economy. It’s not just about the people coming in for the concert, it’s the hotels, it’s the restaurants, it’s the retail. When you’re looking destinations, Ras Al Khaimah has an advantage over Saudi Arabia. Alcohol is legal, and scores of Russian and Chinese tourists already visit the emirate, despite the limited number of hotels. The casino will help attract the gamblers but will also lure families looking for a slice of Vegas in the desert – without the trans-Atlantic flight. Still, for Ras Al Khaimah to become a sustainable destination, more investment is needed in the area’s infrastructure, along with restaurants and retail, to support a steady stream of visitors. “There’s a plethora of different things that are required,” said Philip Barnes, chief executive officer of Abu Dhabi-based Rotana Hotels & Resorts. “That’s why I think when people are looking at tourism or hotels, you’ve got A model of the project, which developers expect will become a major tourist destination. U.S.-based Wow Resorts signed an agreement with JW Marriott to develop the JW Marriott Al Marjan Island Resort & JW Marriott Residences Al Marjan Island in Ras Al Khaimah. It's expected to be complete in 2026, with an estimated value of $1.3 billion.

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / June 20, 2024 29 INSIGHT COVER STORY at tourism as a whole you have to understand the whole picture.” Even without that, developers are racing to complete property as soon as they can. A typical four-bed villa on the island costs 6 million dirhams ($1.6 million), while top-end luxury houses here can reach 40 million. Emaar Properties PJSC, developer of the world’s tallest tower in Dubai, is building luxury apartments and townhouses, with its marketing touting its site near the upcoming casino. The Address Residences, starting at 1.8 million dirhams, will include apartments ranging from one to four bedrooms and the community will include gyms, pools and restaurants on the island’s sandy white beaches. Abu Dhabi’s largest developer tied up with international luxury beach club, Nikki Beach, to develop three branded residential buildings, and the first batch of 570 homes was sold within hours amid strong demand from overseas and expatriate residents. Another development, Rosso Bay Residences, has also been sold in an emirate that’s trying to lure the wealthy with various plans. Abu Dhabi National Hotels last year started building a 1,000- room luxury resort on 1 million square feet of land that’s set to be completed next year. A US-based private developer, WOW Properties, has broken ground on 474 homes to be serviced by JW Marriott, along with a 264-room hotel at a total cost of 4.8 billion dirhams. And Britain’s Aston Martin has partnered with Saudi Arabian developer Dar Global to design the interiors of luxury homes that are part of a $250 million beachfront residential community to be completed by 2028. The momentum of so many developers building at once is going to “create more and more synergies,” Bhupender Patel, coCEO of WOW Resorts, said in an interview. “The whole market’s about to take off like you’ve never seen a market take off in this part of the world.” Movenpick’s beachfront development. Aston Martin's planned beachfront residential community. Al Marjan Island in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE. Address Residences Al Marjan Island is a high-end development by Emaar Properties on View Island.

30 Vero Beach 32963 / June 20, 2024 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ INSIGHT EDITORIAL By Jim Geraghty Based on history, the only way any additional Israeli hostages are getting freed is by rescue operations like the one the Israel Defense Forces mounted two weeks ago. It would be nice if Hamas could be cajoled, pressured or bribed into releasing the remaining hostages. But there’s little sign that will work. Yes, there was a series of deals in November that led to the release of 105 Israeli captives. But talks have gone in circles since then. CIA Director William J. Burns has essentially taken on a second full-time job as lead U.S. negotiator, trying to get the American hostages released, to persuade U.S. allies in the region to pressure Hamas – and to get Hamas to see reason. U.S. efforts are going nowhere but not for lack of trying. The problem is not an insufficient number of Israeli concessions. The problem is that there is little sign Hamas is willing to give up its best remaining bargaining chips. Israeli intelligence contends that Hamas leaders such as Yehiya Sinwar are using some of the surviving hostages as human shields. Hamas won’t even say how many of the hostages are still alive. The best clues come when Hamas releases propaganda videos, such as the one released in late April that showed Israeli American hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin with his left arm, which had been severely injured during Hamas’s Oct. 7 attack, amputated below the elbow. In April, when a potential pause in fighting and an exchange of Palestinian prisoners in Israel for 40 women or sick or elderly men being held hostage was being negotiated, Hamas said it didn’t have 40 hostages who matched that description, a revelation that created an additional obstacle to already difficult negotiations. Also that month, Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged the government of Qatar to expel Hamas representatives if the group continues to reject a cease-fire with Israel. But Hamas’s political chief, Ismail Haniyeh, is still living comfortably in the in Qatari capital of Doha and is meeting with foreign ministers. Nor is there reason to think that if Hamas agreed to a cease-fire, presumably for an exchange of hostages for prisoners, it would last very long. Hamas broke cease-fires with Israel in 2003, in 2007 and in 2008. Hamas broke at least nine short-lived truces in 2014; one of them fell apart in less than two hours. Then, this past November, while Israel and Hamas were negotiating an extension of a week-long ceasefire that included a trade of captured prisoners for hostages, Hamas claimed responsibility for a deadly gun attack at a busy bus stop in west Jerusalem that killed three Israelis. Are you starting to see the pattern here? Now, lest there be any confusion, the rules of a cease-fire are right there in the name. The firing of the guns is supposed to cease. If you don’t cease firing, the other guys are not obligated to stop, either. Two weeks ago, national security adviser Jake Sullivan on CBS’s “Face the Nation” argued, with a straight face, that the successful hostage-rescue operation was just more evidence that Israel and Hamas should both sign on to the administration’s ambitious regional peace proposal. “By far the most effective, certain and right way to get all of the hostages out is to get a comprehensive cease-fire and hostage deal that President Biden described in public a few days ago, that Israel has accepted, and now that we are awaiting Hamas to respond to," Sullivan said. "If Hamas would say yes to that deal, there would be a cease-fire in place, hostages would be coming home, more humanitarian aid would be surging in, and a better day for the Palestinian people would … begin to unfold.” Yes, but Hamas has not said yes to that deal, nor to any other deal put on the table by the Israelis. The Biden administration, and much of the world, are sitting and waiting for Hamas – a U.S.-designated terrorist organization – to suddenly have a change of heart and become much more reasonable negotiators. These are the same guys who still regularly promise to “bring annihilation upon the Jews.” How many different times and ways does Hamas have to say it? It’s not interested in a peace deal, it’s not interested in a cease-fire, and if it has any interest in releasing any hostages, it’s hiding it exceptionally well. Even if you still believe that Hamas can be talked into releasing hostages, rescue operations such as the one two weeks ago are necessary and a useful tactic to remind the leaders of Hamas that there are deadly consequences to their intransigence. Those hostages are coming home one way or another. You can send them back in exchange for some concessions at the negotiating table, or you can have the IDF kick down your door and come in shooting. Choose carefully. A version of this column first appeared in The Washington Post. It does not necessarily reflect the views of Vero Beach 32963. At present, our Pelican Plaza office is closed to visitors without appointments. We appreciate your understanding. Hamas isn’t interested in releasing hostages. Cue the next rescue.

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / June 20, 2024 31 INSIGHT OP-ED Airbnb bans River Roberts after he accidentally spilled food on his host's sofa. Will he ever be able to book another rental on Airbnb? QUESTION: I stayed at an Airbnb recently. While I was there, I spilled food on the sofa. I talked to the host and he said he would file a claim through Airbnb's insurance. I subsequently heard back from Airbnb and it said that after a review of the available information on my Airbnb account and reservation, it had determined that I should be removed from the Airbnb platform. The reason? "You haven't followed our ground rules for guests." I have 10 years of positive reviews. I am also an Airbnb host, so this affects my ability to earn money. Can you help me get Airbnb to reverse its ban? ANSWER: Banning you for an accidental spill on a host's sofa seems like an overreaction. I reviewed the correspondence between you and Airbnb, and it looks like your communications with the host were cordial. You'd spilled food on a sofa and it needed to be professionally cleaned. It looks like your host had never filed a claim with Airbnb before your mishap and didn't fully understand how seriously a claim would be taken. I didn't know, either. But filing an insurance claim (part of the company's AirCover for Hosts program) apparently is taken quite seriously. One of the possible outcomes, as you now know, is you can get removed from the platform. BY CHRISTOPHER ELLIOTT I spilled food on an Airbnb sofa. But I didn’t deserve the punishment. Did you violate Airbnb's ground rules for guests? Technically, yes. But you did follow Airbnb's guidance. Airbnb requires that if there's damage to the home, you inform the host as soon as possible and work to find "a reasonable solution." So what happened? I suspect Airbnb used some kind of artificial intelligence to review the complaint and decide how to handle it. A person would have never banned you from the platform. You reached out to the host and had a conversation with him, host to host. You explained that Airbnb had banned you and disabled your hosting account. The host was surprised and agreed with you that banning you was an overreaction. He decided to write to Airbnb on your behalf. I contacted Airbnb separately. The company reviewed your request and sent you some good news: "After careful review . . . we’ve decided not to charge you for the damage that occurred during your stay. I have also reactivated your Airbnb account, you should have access to it immediately," a representative wrote. (This time, it definitely came from a real person.) Christopher Elliott is the founder of Elliott Advocacy (https://elliottadvocacy.org), a nonprofit organization that helps consumers solve their problems. Email him at [email protected] or get help by contacting him at https://elliottadvocacy.org/help/

32 Vero Beach 32963 / June 20, 2024 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ INSIGHT BOOKS Griffin Dunne’s new book, “The Friday Afternoon Club,” opens with a terrifying scene: Dunne’s mother, Ellen (Lenny), is awakened at 3 a.m. by a Los Angeles detective and informed that her 22-year-old daughter, Dominique, has been strangled and is on life support. Lenny immediately phones her ex-husband, Dominick Dunne, in New York to relay the news. “Nick, I need you,” she tells him. Griffin Dunne knows how to tell a story. He’s an autodidact and raconteur who from an early age regaled family and friends – Carrie Fisher among them – with gossip and worldly takes on culture. Here he uses his authorial gifts – a filmmaker’s eye, photographic memory and way with a quip – to great effect, exploring how the seemingly charmed lives of the Dunnes unraveled. Lenny was a charismatic heiress from Arizona by way of Miss Porter’s School for girls in Connecticut. She was drawn to Dominick’s sophistication, a departure from the men she encountered in Nogales, where her father ran a cattle ranch. In Manhattan, where Dominick worked as a stage manager for television, the couple hobnobbed with the entertainment elite. After an introduction from Frank Sinatra, Humphrey Bogart invited Dominick to L.A. to discuss a job opportunity. Upon his arrival, Dominick attended a party where he met Jimmy Stewart, Grace Kelly and Ava Gardner, and watched Sinatra sing a duet with Judy Garland. Dominick was enamored and accepted Bogie’s offer. The Dunnes moved to California with their sons, Griffin and Alex. A few years later, Dominique was born. In 1960s and ’70s Beverly Hills, the Dunnes mingled with Tinseltown’s Alist. Griffin recalls getting fished out of the family pool by his idol, Sean Connery, who’d noticed the 8-yearold struggling in the deep end. “I saw the reflections of people smoking and drinking from below … oblivious to my efforts to reach the surface,” he writes. Suddenly “a hand lifted me by the butt and placed me at the pool’s edge.” The real-life James Bond admonished: “A wee bit early for the deep end, sonny.” The outward glitter, though, disguised darker undercurrents. Dominick was desperate to impress and competitive with his brother, John Gregory Dunne. John and his wife, Joan Didion, were newly minted literary superstars. The tension between the siblings thickened over time. To onlookers, Lenny and Dominick seemed devoted to one another, but Dominick’s heavy drinking and affairs with men eroded their bond. By Griffin’s account, he was a precocious prankster who early found that “if you dare to be sneaky enough, you will get away with anything.” Still, his boyish misdeeds landed him in enough trouble to get him kicked out of two boarding schools; he never graduated from high school. Griffin confesses to wishing, as a young boy, that his father was more like his more macho uncle. He writes, “My fragile identity at that time was tied to a father who couldn’t throw to third and gave me two French poodles named after famous homosexuals.” He recounts a father-son baseball game Dominick volunteered for, to his son’s chagrin. On game day, Dominick was assigned right field, where it was thought he would do the least harm. But in the midst of play, Natalie Wood walked over “to keep him company.” The two bantered, unaware that Jack Palance was at bat. Palance smashed the ball; all watched as it sailed over Dominick’s head. When Dominick finally reached it after several boggled attempts, he threw it in Wood’s direction. On the page – and one imagines, in life – Griffin skillfully deploys humor to soften life’s blows. And there were many blows to deflect. In the mid-1960s, when Griffin was 11, his parents divorced. In 1973, Lenny was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, which eventually confined her to a wheelchair. Griffin’s brother, Alex, experienced crippling mental illness, which resulted in a suicide attempt and periodic institutionalization. Dominick’s successful run as a TV executive came to a crashing halt when, in a drunken rant, he publicly insulted the legendary talent agent Sue Mengers and was subsequently blackballed. And then, in 1982, just after Griffin finally landed a dream role as the star of “An American Werewolf in London,” his beloved sister, Dominique, herself on the cusp of fame, was killed. At that point, Dominick was sober and determined to reinvent himself as a writer. At work on what would become the best-selling novel “The Two Mrs. Grenvilles,” he befriended editor Tina Brown, who pressed him to cover his daughter’s murder trial for Vanity Fair. Griffin was ambivalent about his father’s assignment, writing that “I was happy for my father. He had touched bottom and I wanted him to come back as the person he felt he truly was. … But his enthusiasm and excitement also unnerved me. He seemed all too ready and willing to use Dominique’s trial as a springboard for his own midlife metamorphosis.” The Dunne family’s exploits and tragedies often split them apart, but after the murder trial, they were more closely bonded than ever, which Griffin recounts wistfully, still contemplating the fairy-tale aspects of his childhood amid the fraught. Griffin, the accomplished actor, producer and director, does occasionally take center stage. But in this account, aptly subtitled “A Family Memoir,” Griffin mainly occupies the role of son and brother – a bit player in his own story – allowing his larger-than-life parents and the life they constructed to take the lead. Now 69, a husband and father with a long string of professional achievements to his credit, Griffin can afford to let the light shine on his storied family. His sister’s memory still haunts and comforts him. “The Friday Afternoon Club” ends with the birth of Griffin’s daughter, Hannah, in 1990. As he sat with his newborn in a hospital room, he writes, “a presence had joined us, and I knew at once it was Dominique. … ‘Oh, Dominique,’ I whispered, ‘look Penguin Press. 400 pp. $30 | Review by Leigh Haber | Washington Post what I have. Isn’t she beautiful?’”

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / June 20, 2024 33 After technique comes flexibility By Phillip Alder - Bridge Columnist Gian Vincenzo Gravina, a jurist and writer who died in 1718, claimed that “a bore is a man who deprives you of solitude without providing you with company.” If all bridge deals featured textbook plays, we would become bored quickly. However, there are many contracts that require an abnormal approach. For example, in today’s deal, West leads the heart king against South’s contract of three no-trump. What should declarer do? North’s negative double showed exactly four spades. South has eight top tricks: four spades, one heart, two diamonds and one club. He can get his ninth winner from the club suit, except that he will be taking the finesse into West, the defender with all of the hearts to cash. As the finesse is surely losing, given West’s overcall, South should engineer an endplay. He wins the second round of hearts, noting that East followed both times. Then South cashes his spade and diamond winners. This brings West down to five cards. Probably, he will discard one club and three diamonds, retaining three hearts and two clubs. If so, declarer leads a heart. West takes his three heart tricks but is then forced to lead away from the club king at trick 12. That might seem straightforward, but a clever West will force South to guess. He will discard two clubs and two diamonds, preferably in that order. Then declarer must cash the club ace to drop West’s now-singleton king. If he gets it right, he will have a story with which to bore everyone for a week. If he gets it wrong, West will bore everyone. Dealer: South; Vulnerable: Both NORTH A Q J 5 8 5 3 K 7 10 9 7 3 WEST 8 3 K Q J 9 4 Q J 4 K 6 2 SOUTH K 7 2 A 10 2 A 5 3 2 A Q J EAST 10 9 6 4 7 6 10 9 8 6 8 5 4 The Bidding: OPENING LEAD: K Hearts SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST 1 Diamonds 1 Hearts Dbl. Pass 2 NT Pass 3 NT All Pass INSIGHT BRIDGE

36 Vero Beach 32963 / June 20, 2024 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ The Telegraph 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 SOLUTIONS TO PREVIOUS ISSUE (JUNE 13th) ON PAGE 56 ACROSS 1 Dramatic work (4) 3 Legal expert (6) 8 Set right (7) 9 Small crustacean (5) 10 Heading (5) 11 Fluster (7) 12 Fighting (6) 14 Open-toed shoe (6) 17 Interconnected system (7) 19 Nasal tone (5) 21 Trainee soldier, e.g. (5) 22 Ground (7) 23 Soak (6) 24 Garden party (4) DOWN 1 Fireworks display (12) 2 Racecourse (5) 3 Delighted (6) 4 Mature (5) 5 Disfigured (7) 6 Picture house (6) 7 Knowledge (12) 13 Bullfighter (7) 15 Clothing (6) 16 Drawing (6) 18 Frequently (5) 20 Subside (5) INSIGHT GAMES Creative Floors Carpet One Floor & Home in Vero Beach, FL celebrating 50 Years serving our community with three generations. 772.569.0240 1137 Old Dixie Hwy • Vero Beach creativefloorscarpet1verobeach.com Home Flooring such as Wood, LVP, Carpet and Tile Kitchen Cabinets and Design

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / June 20, 2024 37 NOTE: Some famous people have alliterative names that sound more made-up than real, as if they were invented by an ad person for the sake of a slogan. Forthwith, a sampling. ACROSS 1 Crater, for one 5 The Minuteman III, e.g. 9 Brag 14 Pitch hitter? 17 Open 18 Break time 19 ___ sez: “It’s never too soon to prune!” 22 ___ sez: “Ain’t cheese grate?” 24 ___ sez: “I’m in jail, under lock and key; stay out of trouble, don’t be like me!” 25 Chopper 26 Org. in Kosovo in the 1990s 27 Actor Lorenzo 28 Distressed 29 Chorus member 30 Loafer 31 Barrier-bustin’ craft 33 Hitch, e.g. 34 ___ sez: “My business is growing!” 39 Got an A in 41 Straightens 42 Emeril’s word 43 She gave us Heartburn 46 It’s shelf-contained? 49 Lass 50 Dinero of a sort 51 Actor Delon 52 Unadulterated 53 “That’s how it is, eh?” 54 ___ sez: “What could be keener than a ballpark wiener?” 57 Diamonds, e.g. 59 “___ expert but ...” 60 Oscar category 61 Atticus Finch’s boy 64 ___ sez: “Photo fans! Preserve the past, make it last, with plastic!” 70 Salary 71 Make up (for) 73 Roof overhang 74 They pick up whistles 76 ___ sez: “A puzzle a day keeps the blues away” 82 Sask., e.g. 86 Hold 87 Squid’s home 88 Lampreys 89 Paper amount 90 Crafty 91 Transportation category that includes the biggest railroad companies, like CSX and Union Pacific 92 Meadow 93 Stovetop feature 94 Type of sch. 95 ___ sez: “It’s never out of style to wear a smile!” 98 Like E. Fudd 100 Emulate Diaz 103 Hosp. areas 104 The Paleozoic et al. 105 Raised in Paris? 107 “I just had a thought ...” 109 Many Little League coaches 110 Zero 113 ___ sez: “Take a chance on romance!” 115 ___ sez: “Broadway — it’s not the same old song and dance!” 117 ___ sez: “Come to where the syrup is — and pour it on!” 118 Thought 119 Lodge folks 120 Sean Lennon’s mom 121 Mailing courtesies: abbr. 122 Tall crop 123 Parlor particles DOWN 1 Zhivago’s love 2 Trojan War hero 3 Mitty portrayer 4 Go astray 5 Pen denizens 6 The ___ many colors 7 Singer-turned-pol 8 Letters once seen with 6 on your dial 9 Wizard’s creator 10 SeaWorld critters 11 Bottomless pit 12 The Gal in a 1942 flick 13 Ambush 14 Good, to Garcia 15 Plus 16 10 x 10 x 10: abbr. 19 Point fingers at 20 Come to 21 Alley or trust preceder 23 In a chat room, e.g. 27 Oaf 29 Ins and outs 30 Corleone thug 32 Iraq negotiator Aziz 34 Teo of racing 35 Pub orders 36 Cleopatra may have barged in on it 37 Genesis victim 38 Fortifies anew 40 Big meeting: abbr. 44 Hide (evidence on) 45 Vietnamese capital 46 Funny person 47 Basketball hall 48 Dweebish 50 Ty’s outhitter 52 NFLer, e.g. 54 In shape 55 More upscale 56 Bear country, once: abbr. 58 Applications 61 Car lifters 62 A Barrymore 63 Mr. Amsterdam 65 Le Moko et al. 66 Bits of laughter 67 Assuming that 68 Not as much 69 ___ Cruces, NM 72 Bit of whisky 75 Rejects 77 Route rate 78 Florida city 79 Salad crunchy 80 Clarinet needs 81 Brother of Snoopy 83 Peel 84 City on the Oka 85 Quite 89 Nauseated 91 ___ cropper (fails) 93 Robert Stroud’s nickname 94 Like some wars 96 Leonine objections 97 Pipe cleaner 98 Take out ___ (borrow money) 99 Surgeon intro 101 Free “tix” 102 Oar pin 105 “Tickle Me” doll 106 Shade trees 108 Takes to court 109 A bird no more 110 Bantu speaker 111 Printer’s buys 112 Nuisance 114 Tow-truck letters 115 1/3 of a game 116 Sam on Cheers The Telegraph The Washington Post ...Real folks with commercial potential Cartoon Spokespeople By Merl Reagle INSIGHT GAMES

38 Vero Beach 32963 / June 20, 2024 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ INSIGHT BACK PAGE Dear Carolyn: I stopped working when I had kids. This was a decision I didn’t take lightly. I have family money of my own that I knew would allow me to support myself if anything ever happened between me and my husband. If that weren’t the case, I would have made different choices. My kids are 9 and 6 now and have a slew of questions/observations/beliefs about the fact that Dad works and Mom stays home and takes care of them. How and when do I introduce the financial calculus that went into that? The last thing I would want is for them to draw gendered, simple conclusions – which would be very easy for them to do since there are a lot of stay-at-home moms in our community. – Stay-at-Home Parent Stay-at-Home Parent: As you know, explaining things to kids, especially while they’re young, is a process of a thousand conversations, observations, explanations. One reason is they’re not always ready for a whole history or analysis of something – you feed them only the pieces they can handle. Another reason: They bring their own observations to whatever you say – like those other families, and of course they’re also observing you up close, so their understanding is an unpredictable work in progress. Another reason is that life is dynamic and the thing you’re narrating, and they’re processing, will change. So you take all of that as the answer to “When do I …” When something is important to you, refer to it, and be repetitive. “Yes, your dad works outside the home and I focus on taking care of you. We could have switched that around, but this made more sense for us.” Or, “Yes, I know you see mostly moms doing this – but dads can, too. It’s up to every family to make these decisions.” Where you slip in the enduring legacy of centuries of patriarchy is mama’s choice. This approach stakes out your position for future conversation. If they’re ready for it now, then they’ll probably follow up with, “Why?” Then you go ahead, say that choosing not to work means not having money coming in for now or for retirement, and that was okay for you because you have enough money saved. If your situation were different and involved a financial risk, then you could say that, too – that you and their dad decided one of you would stay home anyway, and you did X, Y and Z to protect yourself and the family. Kids’ eyes glaze over pretty fast if your info is over their heads, so if it is, then let it go for a while and wait for next opportunities. The fun part of this is that your kids are guaranteed to take their partial – and partially conjured – understanding to the playground and share loudly with everyone on Earth. So there’s that. But that’s inevitable, so, whatever. (Ask any firstor second-grade teacher to share things the kids blurt out.) Just build their understanding of your values with all those little daily pieces. One thing to keep in mind: You don’t want to build judging into that structure. We used a “some people do X, others Y, and we chose Z” construction for so many things, to establish there wasn’t just One Way to live. That plants the seeds for their agency, too, and can even get them thinking of people who make different choices. If they can’t find any in their orbit, then, well, there’s your next social-emotional-educational conversation prompt. BY CAROLYN HAX Washington Post Stay-at-home mom worries about example she’s setting for kids

SNAPSHOTS OF HISTORY Photojournalist Grier keeps focus on Gifford’s heritage

ARTS & THEATRE 40 Vero Beach 32963 / June 20, 2024 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ BY NICK SAMUEL Staff Writer Ernie Grier’s lifelong passion for photography began as a young boy, when he was so intrigued by his aunt’s Kodak camera that he gently took it apart to discover how it worked. By age 15, he knew that he would turn photography into a career, telling his mother that he was going to work as a photojournalist. “My mom told me I always had big ideas,” says Grier. Grier kept that vision and in 1980, at age 25, after serving in the Army’s Military Police Corps, he made good on his promise, working for 22 years as a press operator and photojournalist with the daily paper. Grier’s family moved to Gifford in 1958, when lush orange groves ringed an area booming with Black-owned businesses and where working-class neighbors would relax under shaded trees. His father worked for the Dodgers and would often take Grier and his brother to see the teams play at Dodgertown, now the Jackie Robinson Training Complex. “(My dad) drove the Black baseball players to places in Gifford because they couldn’t hang out in Vero,” Grier recalls, referencing the “sundown” law that required Black people to leave town at nightfall. “The Greenleaf Bar was the place to go to in Gifford at that time.” He was inspired by such renowned community leaders as J. Ralph Lundy, who had a weekly column and was Grier’s boss at the newspaper. Lundy, known as “Gifford’s spokesman,” also founded the Our Father’s Table Soup Kitchen. During his time at the paper, the ever-inquisitive Grier would often be the first journalist on the scene of the county’s breaking news incidents, including the 1986 shooting death of Cpl. Richard R. Raczkoski, the first deputy to be slain in Indian River County, and the subsequent hunt for his killer. But to many Gifford residents, it was his determined advocacy to uphold the heritage of his hometown by pushing to get the town’s name emblazoned on the Gifford Water Tower that is Grier’s foremost legacy. Water towers are symbols that give people a sense of place, according to County Commissioner Laura Moss. “They’re unique. You look up, see the name and you feel proud of your community,” says Moss. “Ernie was very determined in a caring way. It never would’ve happened without him.” That determination had actually begun some 50 years earlier, when he watched as the 154-foot-tall tower was built in the heart of the unincorporated town during the late 1970s. It was the first water tower for Indian River County Utilities and is one of three owned and operated by the county. In his early 20s at the time, Grier wrote a letter to the editor where he addressed the county commissioners asking why the Gifford name could not be put on the tower. “I always felt that Gifford was slighted.” After decades of persistence, his personal campaign finally succeeded. In 2021, the Gifford name was added onto the southwest quadrant of the tower at the minimal cost of $6,950, according to county officials, who say the landmark now operates as a cellphone tower. “It looks majestic,” Grier says. “The name finally got put on the water Photojournalist Grier keeps focus on Gifford’s heritage Ernie Grier. PHOTOS BY JOSHUA KODIS

ARTS & THEATRE Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / June 20, 2024 41 tower. I’m satisfied with that.” The Board of Indian River County Commissioners honored Grier earlier this year for his photography, activism and community impact. Although a self-described introvert who prefers to be behind the camera lens, Grier became the center of attraction during the Martin Luther King Jr. Banquet at the Gifford Youth Achievement Center when Commissioner Joe Flescher presented him with a proclamation honoring his efforts. The proclamation was presented again during the County Commission’s regularly scheduled meeting. “Ernie James Grier exemplifies the true spirit of this honor through his service to our nation, county, and our citizens. As a photographer/photographic journalist, Ernie documented and preserved history for the community,” Flescher told Vero Beach 32963. “Through his lens today, he continues to record life in Gifford, Indian River County in a unique perspective. Future generations will know this community because Ernie cared to take the time to photograph,” Flescher added. “I’m proud of my community. I’m proud of Indian River County. I’m glad I was born here. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else,” Grier told the commissioners that day. It was one of many in a long line of battles by civic leaders to get attention for the town’s concerns. One of the most critical was obtaining clean water. Before Gifford was connected to the county water system, the filthy yellow and brown water that poured from residents’ faucets was a health hazard that plagued the predominantly Black town, even garnering national attention in 1977 on CBS Evening News. “I stopped drinking water back then,” Grier said. “I just started drinking water again a few years ago.” Local leaders from the Progressive Civic League, including Lundy and former NAACP President Victor Hart Sr., began advocating for Gifford to have clean water; like Grier, fighting for residents’ recognition, change and respect. Shortly after their plight went national, the county finally hooked the town into its water and sewer system. Other productive community advocacy resulted in paved streets, streetlights and stop signs. The soft-spoken photographer says he doesn’t plan to put his Canon camera down anytime soon. He still enjoys looking out for the perfect moment and the right angle to freeze time in a photograph. “My camera goes with me everywhere I go,” Grier says. “I’m not responsible for my beginning, not sure when my end will be. But what I do in the middle to make the world a better place is what will define me.”

ARTS & THEATRE 42 Vero Beach 32963 / June 20, 2024 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ As the summer heat settles in, the Riverside Theatre emerges as a beacon of laughter and entertainment. This weekend, the Comedy Zone takes center stage with an evening of uproarious comedy. Headlining this comedic extravaganza are two distinct voices in the world of standup. Paul Farahvar, with his self-deprecating dry humor, offers a glimpse into the complexities of being the single son of “disappointed” Middle Eastern parents. Sharing the spotlight is Paul Ollinger, a nationally acclaimed comedian and host of the thought-provoking podcast “Crazy Money.” Emcee Steve Kalisik’s wit sets the perfect tone for an unforgettable evening. Comedy Zone shows begin at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Friday, June 21, and Saturday, June 22. All seats are $25. Food and drink are available for purchase. Riverside Theatre is at 3250 Riverside Park Dr., Vero Beach. Call 772-231-6990 or visit RiversideTheatre.com. But laughter is not the only melody in the air at Riverside Theatre this weekend. Its free Live in the Loop concerts beckon music enthusiasts to revel in the cool jazz rhythms of the Fort Pierce Jazz & Blues Society from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, June 20. The next evening, enjoy timeless classics performed by Chips on a Limb at 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, June 21. Then, the electrifying energy of Home Brewed classic rock and blues cover band performs from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, June 22. Be sure to bring a chair for these outdoor concerts. Available for rent are canopies. Available for purchase are food and drinks. Call 772-231-6990 or visit RiversideTheatre.com. For those with a flair for the dramatic, the Vero Beach Theatre Guild opens its doors to aspiring actors of all ages. Auditions for Shakespeare’s timeless tale “Romeo & Juliet” present an opportunity to breathe life into the iconic characters under the guidance of director Megan Taylor Callahan, assistant director Meghan Foxley and fight choreographer Michael Naffziger. Aspiring thespians are invited to audition live or via video auditions. In person auditions begin 6 p.m. Saturday, June 22, 2 p.m. Sunday, June 23, and 6 p.m. Wednesday, June 26. Video auditions need to be emailed by 6 p.m. June 22 to ProductionStageManagerVBTG@ gmail.com. Youth actors ages 10 and older will be considered for speaking and non-speaking roles. The performances are scheduled for Sept. 6 to Sept. 22. Auditioners should prepare between 12 to 18 lines of Shakespearean verse from any of the Bard’s plays. Don’t be afraid to audition for a Shakespeare play. VBTG directors urge those auditioners to understand the literal meaning of the words and what the character is saying and to pay attention to what the character wants from the person to whom they are speaking. Another helpful guide is to “use your body and playing area to physicalize the text.” You don’t have to memorize the lines, but it does help. For more helpful guidelines to prepare for your audition, visit VeroBeachTheatreGuild. com/auditions. The Vero Beach Theatre Guild is at 2020 San Juan Ave., Vero Beach, Fla. Call 772-562-8300 or visit VeroBeachTheatreGuild.com. Coming: Get up for some levity at Riverside’s Comedy Zone BY PAM HARBAUGH Correspondent Coming Up! 3 1 2

GET IN ON THE FUN! Acting like a toddler (on occasion) can be healthy for adults

HEALTH 44 Vero Beach 32963 / June 20, 2024 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ If there’s anyone who knows how to put some childlike fun in their life, it’s Gwen Zorc. Not only is she an LMHC (Licensed Mental Health Counselor) with her a practice in Vero Beach, but as the mom of 11, she had children aged between 1 to 5 for 22 years! “Toddlers are allowed to be whimsical,” says Zorc. “We need to share that with them. For 22 years, when I played with my children, I was nurtured by participating in the fun we shared.” Dr. Hasan Merali, associate professor of pediatrics at McMaster University and author of “Sleep Well, Take Risks, Squish the Peas: Secrets from the Science of Toddlers for a Happier, More Successful Way of Life,” hates the terms “terrible twos” and “three-ager.” He admits tantrums are a fact of life at that age, but says they’re brief in duration and the rest of the time these children are finding joy in everyday things. Dr. Merali offers some suggestions on what you can do to enjoy life like a toddler. Try positive self-talk. Young children tend to coach themselves out loud. Research suggests that for adults, positive self-talk can help with problem-solving, learning, confidence and managing your emotions. Don’t be embarrassed to encourage yourself. Take any opportunity to move. Two-year-olds move joyfully and instinctively. Adults can look for ways to move more, even if it’s just for a minute. Take a quick walk around the block. If you’re home alone, sing and move to your favorite song. Brief bursts of activity have been shown to increase longevity if they add up to 10 minutes per day. Ask questions. Young kids are not afraid to pose questions – one study found that they asked an average of 107 questions an hour. Adults have been socialized to hold back our questions because we’re often worried about what other people think, but asking questions not only helps us to gain information, it’s also an important way to build relationships. Fix your sleep schedule. Toddlers thrive on routine, and having a schedule with consistent sleep and waking times will help you, too. If your schedule permits, napping has a host of benefits, including sharper thinking and reaction times and improved memory. Look for opportunities to laugh. Toddlers “see the world as a comedy club,” Dr. Merali writes. One study found that young children laugh six times as much as adults. But we can seek ways to build playfulness and humor into our day. Listen to a comedy podcast or trade silly texts with someone. Research shows you laugh more when you are with friends, so make time for them, he said. In our hectic, modern lives, many of us focus so heavily on work and family commitments that we never seem to have time for pure fun, according to HelpGuide.org, an independent nonprofit mental health website. Fun fact: Acting like a kid (on occasion) can be healthy for adults BY JACKIE HOLFELDER Correspondent

HEALTH Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / June 20, 2024 45 Somewhere between childhood and adulthood, we stopped playing. When we carve out some leisure time, we’re more likely to zone out in front of the TV or computer than engage in fun, rejuvenating play like we did as children. But play is not just essential for kids; it can be an important source of relaxation and stimulation for adults as well. Playing with your romantic partner, friends, co-workers, pets and children is a fun way to fuel your imagination, creativity, problem-solving abilities, and emotional well-being. Adult play is a time to forget about work and commitments, and to be social in an unstructured, creative way. Play could be simply goofing off with friends, sharing jokes with a coworker, throwing a frisbee on the beach, dressing up on Halloween with your kids, building a snowman in the yard, playing fetch with a dog, acting out charades at a party, or going for a bike ride with your spouse with no destination in mind. There doesn’t need to be any point to the activity beyond having fun and enjoying yourself. By giving yourself permission to play with the joyful abandon of childhood, you can reap oodles of health benefits throughout life. Zorc says that generational changes in parenting have allowed children to show their joy more openly. “For a long time, children were seen and not heard,” she says. “But now parents want their children to feel important and heard, so they are able to show their feelings more readily.” She uses patients’ happy childhood memories in her counseling sessions to encourage healthy self-care and positive steps to wellbeing. “I tell my patients to think back to what they loved doing when they were children. That’s your homework for this week.” The Early Childhood Development Association (ECDA) discusses the value of silliness for both kids and adults, stating that while we all can use a good laugh every now and then, no one appreciates silliness more than children. But as parents, we might find it useful to follow children’s lead in the potent pursuit of silliness. Collaborative play that features contingency, power reversal, and role reversal can be fun not only for the little ones, but also for the adults. Gwen Zorc, M.Ed., LMHC, is a Vero Beach native. She received her master’s degree in Counselor Education from Florida Atlantic University. Her practice, Splash Counseling, is located at 2770 Indian River Blvd., Suite 402K, Vero Beach. She is accepting new patients. Call 772 879- 5585 or visit splashcounseling.com. Gwen Zorc, M.Ed., LMHC. PHOTOS BY JOSHUA KODIS

HEALTH 46 Vero Beach 32963 / June 20, 2024 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ While certain medications like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) used to treat depression or stabilize moods have been proven to help many people reduce suicidal thoughts and behaviors, they can sometimes double suicide ideation in others, particularly children and adolescents, according to the FDA. “These widely prescribed antidepressants come with black box warnings for individuals up to age 24,” said Philip Cromer, Ph.D., chief executive officer with the Mental Health Association of Indian River County. “There’s been a lot of discussion about it, and it remains very controversial when their increased risk of suicide is due to the medication, like a paradoxical effect of depression itself. For example, antidepressants might enable those who are severely depressed who would normally be paralyzed by their depression to be more alert and act out on suicidal urges.” The potentially tragic paradox of these medications has been debated by doctors and scientists for years but takes on new significance now in a time of increased mental illness among young people and society at large. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported a 33 percent increase in suicide rates from 1999-2019. The upward accelerated from 2020 on, with 2022 data showing that suicide was among the top 10 leading causes of death in the United States, resulting in one death every 11 minutes. Shockingly, suicide was the second leading cause of death among individuals between the ages of 10 and 34. It was the fourth leading cause of death for people 35 to 54 and the eighth leading cause of among people 55 to 64. There were nearly two times as many suicides (48,100) in the United States as there were homicides (26,031) in 2022. “Suicide rates are the highest they’ve been since 1941, after the stock market crash followed by the Great Depression,” said Dr. Cromer. “Obviously, we didn’t have the Great Depression, but we did have the pandemic. People are wanting to get over the pandemic but the height of the pandemic, particularly trauma and crisis, doesn’t happen when the pandemic is occurring. It happens after the pandemic, which is why Link between antidepressants and suicide causes new concern BY KERRY FIRTH Correspondent

HEALTH Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / June 20, 2024 47 we have the highest rates right now. “It’s not business as usual after such a traumatic incident,” Dr. Cromer continued. “It really isolated a lot of people, and it continues to do that. Everything changed. But some things that haven’t changed are the groups that tend to have higher suicide rates than others. The highest rates are among American Indians, Alaska Natives and non-Hispanic white populations. Other Americans with higher-than-average rates of suicide are veterans, people who live in rural areas and workers in dangerous occupations like mining and construction.” According to FLHealthCharts, nationally there are about 14.3 deaths by suicide per 100,000 each year. Florida’s suicide rate is slightly lower with 14.1 deaths per 100,000. Surprisingly, Indian River County has a higher suicide rate with 18.4 deaths per 100,000. “To put it in perspective, places like Wyoming and Montana have extremely high rates, into the 20s,” Dr. Comer explained. “That’s due to a couple of factors. First of all, isolation, their [lack of] access to mental health care and their culture. They are a gun culture and when we talk about how people are dying from suicides, more than half die from firearms and 90 percent of attempts with a gun result in death. So, when get to a state where you’re isolated, you have a lot of guns around and issues like alcoholism and mental illness have a high prevalence, it’s just a bad mix. Statistics show that states with stricter gun control laws have fewer suicides. “I would say Indian River County’s high rate is due to older demographics. The highest rates of suicide are among those 85 years and older. They have chronic pain and illnesses. They feel isolated. They may have financial stresses. And they have increased access to opioids. While men tend to choose more violent means of suicide, women choose poisoning or asphyxiation. They just can’t stand the pain anymore and want to end it. “I’m a psychologist so I’m trained in traditional talk therapy. I want to see what we can do without medications first. I have met some kids that have really benefited from certain medications. But I encourage parents to try other methods first. Antidepressants are the most commonly prescribed drug in this country, but they come with risks. They actually change the chemistry of the brain. Healthcare providers need to monitor their patients very closely because these medications affect everyone differently and come with many side effects. “When going to see a therapist or psychologist, one of the most important questions you can ask is – is your treatment empirically supported,” Dr. Cromer advised. “Therapy shouldn’t just be a loose association of ideas and interventions. It has to be grounded in science. “Cognitive behavioral therapy is highly effective to treat a variety of depressive and anxiety disorders on any severity level. When coupled with a medication, if needed, it could be the best intervention you can get. We use a multidisciplinary approach at the Mental Health Association. Each week our therapists meet with me and our psychiatric provider to discuss difficult cases and formulate a treatment plan. We try therapy first and move on to medications if needed.” The Mental Health Association CONTINUED ON PAGE 49 Philip Cromer, Ph.D. PHOTOS BY JOSHUA KODIS

HEALTH 48 Vero Beach 32963 / June 20, 2024 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Q. My mother-in-law was recently diagnosed with cancer. What steps should patients like her take to make sure they get the best care? A. When my mom called to tell me about her lung cancer diagnosis in 2017, my brain struggled to keep up with what my ears were hearing. Phrases came in isolated fragments: “shadow on a chest X-ray,” “doctor says I need a biopsy” and “malignant.” Suddenly, I was cast in the cancer drama, playing an unfamiliar role: Rather than oncologist calmly providing information, contextualizing a diagnosis and developing a treatment plan, I was the son of a patient, trying to get answers. Over the next few days, after the shock had passed, I helped my mom devise a plan. Here’s what we came up with and what I advise my own patients to do, including getting a second opinion from a pathologist, who examines the body’s tissues to distinguish normal from abnormal. Many patients skip this step, but mistakes happen. In a study my colleagues and I conducted through the National Institutes of Health, which involved more than 900 patients with suspected myelodysplastic syndromes, a bone marrow cancer, pathologists with expertise in this condition disagreed with the diagnosis given by pathologists who weren’t experts in the diagnosis 20 How oncologist advised his mom after her cancer diagnosis BY MIKKAEL A. SEKERES, MD The Washington Post It is just as important to seek a second opinion from a pathologist, to confirm the diagnosis, as it is from an oncologist to verify the best treatment plan.

HEALTH Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / June 20, 2024 49 (MHA) of Indian River County has numerous programs to help patients with crisis intervention, depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts. The no-cost walk-in center is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Just walk in and you’ll be seen by a mental health professional quickly. If you’re concerned about a family member you can walk in for a consultation. They also offer free support groups and both in-person and online mental health screenings. MHA has programs to fund both insured and uninsured individuals with no barriers to access services. Remember, it’s OK to get help! Philip Cromer, Ph.D., received his master’s in counseling and a doctorate in counseling psychology from West Virginia University in Morgantown, West Virginia. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 47 percent of the time. Even more troubling, 7 percent of patients who received the wrong diagnosis also received the wrong treatment for their cancer. That is why it is just as important to seek a second opinion from a pathologist, to confirm the diagnosis, as it is from an oncologist to verify the best treatment plan. 1. Get a formal diagnosis Most people learn of a possible cancer diagnosis from someone who doesn’t specialize in cancer. Perhaps a primary care physician raised alarm over a breast lump, or a blood test showed an elevated prostate-specific antigen, or PSA. In my mom’s case, a chest X-ray to evaluate a cough revealed a mass. But we can’t say for sure that an abnormality is cancer until a biopsy confirms that cancerous cells are present. Try to stay calm until you get a formal diagnosis through additional testing. It’s possible that lump is not cancer: In one study, patients with swollen lymph nodes and suspected cancer were referred by their primary care providers to surgeons for a biopsy. Only 17 percent were diagnosed with cancer. 2. Find out how urgent it is What if the biopsy does show cancer? It is normal to experience a range of emotions, such as fear, anxiety, sadness, anger or even guilt. I sure did when I learned of my mom’s diagnosis. But before assuming the worst, seek advice from an expert about the seriousness of the cancer. Expect to undergo additional testing, such as radiologic scans or even another biopsy, to determine the cancer’s “stage,” or how much it has spread. I specialize in caring for people with leukemia and have some patients whom I rush to the hospital to start therapy: A study I conducted with several colleagues showed that the quicker we treat that type of acute leukemia, particularly in younger adults, the longer people live. On the flip side, I have followed other patients with cancer diagnoses, such as some slow-growing, chronic leukemias, for over a decade without any treatment. In my mom’s case, the biopsy did show lung cancer. 3. Choose online sources carefully It is OK to do some online research before meeting with an oncologist but try not to go down too many rabbit holes. The internet is prone to erroneous health information, with one study finding some sites had very low accuracy for information about pancreatic cancer, and another concluding that only 67 percent of cancer information shared on social media was accurate. Nonprofit (such as established patient advocacy groups), government and academic websites tended to be the most reliable sources. 4. Take notes at your appointment When meeting with an oncologist, come with a list of questions to keep the conversation focused on what’s important to you. Bring a family member or friend along to take notes and help you recollect what was said. It can be a lot to remember: When recall for information about treatment and side effects was assessed in 69 older adults with cancer, respondents were correct in only 23 percent of open-ended questions, such as when to contact a doctor or nurse, or recommendations about eating and drinking. I accompanied my mom, who was 74, to her oncologist appointment and took notes on my computer. Many of my patients and their children use their phones. 5. Consult another oncologist Time may be of the essence, and appointments may be difficult to get quickly. So try to be flexible about whom you’re willing to see for a second opinion, where you can see them (some cancer centers like mine have multiple sites), and what time you are willing to see them. For example, my 8 a.m. new patient slot is often more available than my 1 p.m. slot. In general, larger cancer centers, and particularly academic centers, are more likely to have specialists in your specific cancer and be the most up to date on the latest diagnostic and treatment standards. Some even support telehealth visits, so you can potentially see a world expert from the comfort of your own living room. 6. Get a second opinion from a pathologist When scheduling a second opinion with an oncologist, insist that the biopsy of the cancer also be reviewed by the cancer center’s pathology team, who also tend to be specialists. Often, you will have to sign a release for one medical center to send the biopsy specimen to another, or even pick up the specimen and carry it there yourself. When my mom went for a second opinion, the oncologist she saw at the cancer center where I worked disagreed with her initial diagnosis, which had determined her cancer had spread to nearby lymph nodes and was Stage 3. They found her lung cancer had not spread to her lymph nodes and was only Stage 1. Instead of requiring chemotherapy, radiation therapy and surgery, luckily for her, she just needed the surgery. After the surgery, she was cancer free, and thankfully is alive and well today.

50 Vero Beach 32963 / June 20, 2024 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Style The design juggernaut held the top job at Chanel for 36 years, but also collaborated with the high street to democratize fashion. There is perhaps no other person who has held so much sway over how we dress in the past half a century than the late designer Karl Lagerfeld. He is best remembered today as the creative director who steered Chanel to become a fashion juggernaut, during 36 years at the house, from 1983 until his death in 2019. He was notoriously prolific, simultaneously holding positions at the top of Fendi also, and his own eponymous label. “Anything in your wardrobe from a house that has been resurrected is down to him,” says William Middleton, author of last year’s biography, “Paradise Now: The Extraordinary Life of Karl Lagerfeld.” Before Chanel came Chloé, where Lagerfeld overhauled the design foundations set by founder Gaby Aghion and gave them new life – a period of his life which is explored in a new mini-series starring Daniel Brühl, “Becoming Karl Lagerfeld,” which is on Disney+ now. “No one had ever done that before he did it at Chanel,” adds Middleton. “Other people had taken over a house after a designer had died, such as Yves Saint Laurent at Christian Dior, when a house was still going, but in the case of Chanel in 1983, the house was nowhere and was practically bankrupt. It was only hanging on because of Chanel No5.” Indeed Lagerfeld’s era-defining Chanel tenure has been back in the news again this week following the departure of his successor, Virginie Viard, who was always seen as an interim caretaker after his death. Lagerfeld’s major talent – and one that Chanel’s next creative director will have to possess, too – was perhaps that despite having an encyclopedic knowledge of fashion history, he was obsessed with newness. “He was completely focused on today,” says Middleton. “It’s why he hated retrospectives of his own work. He thought there was something funereal about that. He was always aware of what was going on in the world and wanted to make something unique and modern.” One of the most famous examples of this modernity is, of course, his championing of the high-low designer collaboration, of which he was a pioneer with H&M in 2004. Despite working for the most famous – and expensive – fashion houses in the world, he wanted to democratize fashion and make it for everyone. This extended to his interest in sales, always keen to know how his work was being received, rather than sitting in an ivory tower. “It was important for him to know that his collections were reaching people. He really had respect for the customer,” continues Middleton. “He was very clear that fashion was applied art, it was something that was made to be sold. He was really pragmatic.” His longevity, too, is of course important when considering how influential he has been, but he wasn’t a one-trick pony by any means. “He worked for so long, for 65 years and for so many different houses, but there’s no singular Karl Lagerfeld style,” concludes Middleton. “There are some designers that have one design or one contribution, but that wasn’t Lagerfeld’s thing.” This is how Lagerfeld’s legacy still influences our wardrobes today: The two-tone ballet flat Coco Chanel invented the two-tone slingback in 1957 (reportedly to help create the illusion of smaller feet), but THE FIVE ITEMS IN YOUR CLOSET YOU HAVE KARL LAGERFELD TO THANK FOR BY JESSICA SALTER The Telegraph 1