12/17/2020 ISSUE 51

Vero Beach anxiously awaits
vaccine’s arrival. P7
Lawnwood plans
major expansion. P14

Vero Municipal Marina
renovation moves ahead. P14

MY VERO For breaking news visit

BY RAY MCNULTY No Thanksgiving
spike seen here in
Even at double the size, COVID-19 cases
Vero will feel like Vero
BY LISA ZAHNER
A few months back, while Staff Writer
he was serving out the last
months of his final term as PHOTO BY BRENDA AHEARN Guests at Trattoria Dario The feared post-Thanksgiv-
the island’s county commis- enjoy the outdoor dining ing spike in new COVID-19 in-
sioner, I asked Bob Solari how area on Sunday evening. fections has not shown itself in
much our seaside communi- Indian River County as num-
ty could grow and still retain Vero Beach fine dining restaurants defy the odds bers stayed nearly the same as
its small-town charm. the previous week, and after
BY STEPHANIE LABAFF pandemic in March, accord- Since the March shut- two high-count weeks for is-
He responded by saying Staff Writer ing to the National Restaurant down, Vero has lost only one land cases, the 32963 ZIP code
he believed the county’s cur- Association. But Vero Beach of its fine dining establish- posted a 30 percent decrease.
rent population of approxi- More than 110,000 restau- restaurants seem to have a se- ments: Savor, which in its
mately 160,000 could more rants have closed perma- cret ingredient that’s helped first year did not really have Countywide, 285 positive
than double – to a whopping nently across the nation since them survive if not thrive time to develop a following. coronavirus test results were
350,000 – and Vero would still the start of the COVID-19 during this challenging time. reported in the seven days lead-
feel like Vero. CONTINUED ON PAGE 58 ing up to Monday press time,
versus 276 cases the previous
I thought about that con- week, pushing the daily case
versation last week, when the average up just slightly from
County Commission unani- 39 to 40 cases per day. By com-
mously approved the rezon- parison, Indian River County’s
ing of 78 acres on 41st Street, peak this summer topped out
between Indian River Bou- at 55 cases per day, or 375 cases
levard and U.S. 1, to allow a in our worst week.
planned, 624-unit develop-
ment that will include single- Twenty-two people were
family homes and duplexes. hospitalized for complications
of COVID-19 over the past
To no one’s surprise, the week – the same number as in
meeting prompted objec-
tions from residents of near- CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

CONTINUED ON PAGE 6 Financing is challenge for riverfront project

Indigo Vero Beach: BY LISA ZAHNER and sewer plant sites – unless
Luxury development Staff Writer the city holds the note on the
coming to oceanfront project itself.
Developers have told Vero
BY STEVEN M. THOMAS Beach it might take three to Residential multifamily de-
Staff Writer five years for the retail and velopments are what the mar-
hospitality market to rebound ket wants now, they say. But
A major new oceanfront de- enough to secure financing on that’s not the vision city lead-
velopment is coming to the a major hotel, dining, shop- ers have for the prime river-
barrier island in 2021. It sits ping and entertainment com- front property. Instead, they
on a spectacular and historic plex on the city’s power plant envision it as a hub of com-

CONTINUED ON PAGE 3 CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

December 17, 2020 Volume 13, Issue 51 Newsstand Price $1.00 ‘Toys for Tots’
team shines
News 1-14 Editorial 34 People 15-28 TO ADVERTISE CALL brightest. P26
Arts 43-47 Games 37-39 Pets 48 772-559-4187
Books 36 Health 49-53 Real Estate 67-80
Dining 58-63 Insight 29-42 Style 54-57 FOR CIRCULATION
CALL 772-226-7925

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

2 Vero Beach 32963 / December 17, 2020 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

NEWS

Riverfront project the Vero Beach Municipal Marina. Other goals include, “Create an restaurants on the waterfront,” and
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 With that information on hand and unique destination that complements to “Enhance the existing harbor and
the City’s existing commercial centers shoreline to accommodate a variety of
mercial and recreational activity, a an April deadline to finalize the river- with a sense of place with a diverse and leisure and recreation watercraft.”
gathering place for locals and visitors front master plan city residents will complementary mix of park, cultural,
alike, and even a destination of histor- vote on next November, Vero’s Three commercial, and possibly residential The last three goals put a priority on
ic significance that gives Vero Beach Corners Steering Committee has set land uses,” and to “Ensure public ac- “sustainable development” practices
the thriving riverfront district it now some concrete goals for its progress cess to the waterfront that is inclusive and environmentally friendly land-
lacks. and is in search of developers who can to the entire Vero Beach community scaping, respecting the community’s
bring money to the table and make the with dedicated public spaces, walk- character, and educating visitors about
Marina projects are also doable right plan a reality sooner rather than latter. able pedestrian promenades, and the Indian River Lagoon and Vero’s his-
now, developers said. The city was connectivity to existing multi-modal tory.
planning to only provide day docks at The steering committee’s eight goals transportation system.”
the Big Blue site, however, in part be- for a development with something to Former mayor Harry Howle, who
cause a $20 million marina revamp is suit everyone’s tastes and interests The fourth and fifth goals focus on serves on the steering committee,
already in process across the river at start off with “Pursue the best and the development being pedestrian ori- said the group needs to keep the goals
highest use of the public property that ented “with complementary retail and handy and read them out loud at the
is financially sustainable for the City.” beginning of each committee meet-
ing to make sure they stay on task. “We
only have one opportunity to do this
right,” Howle said.

Planning and Development Direc-
tor Jason Jeffries and City Manager
Monte Falls met with a representative
of Kessler Collection real estate group
in September, Jeffries said.

Kessler developed the $375 mil-
lion mixed-use project called The
Plant Riverside in Savannah, Geor-
gia, which turned an old power plant
into a JW Marriott hotel that anchors
a 675,000-square-foot entertainment
district with shops, galleries, restau-
rants and clubs. “We also met with
Kearney Group, Conkling & Lewis,
Audubon Group, Duke Hospitality,
and Frank Bodami,“ Jeffries said.

“I would characterize the meetings
as informative. The developers gave
us a development perspective on the
feasibility of development at Three
Corners. We discussed the master
concept plans prepared by the City’s
Consultant, DPZ CoDesign, and their
thoughts on the feasibility of different
aspects or concepts presented in the
plans,” Jeffries said.

With the city looking at the pos-
sibility of a multiyear time lag before
ground is broken on a hotel, shops or
restaurants, Councilwoman Honey
Minuse, Steering Committee Member
Dr. Richard Baker and members of the
public have urged the city council to
open up the old power plant site to the
public now so locals can enjoy the un-
developed riverfront greenspace while
the planning process plugs along.

A drawback to this idea, from the
viewpoint of those advocating robust
commercial development at the site,
is that – should it take the expected
“three to five years” to successfully de-
velop the property – the community
might grow accustomed to using the
open area as a “park” and want to keep
it as park land.

City staff reported to the committee
that Vero already has an abundance of
park land, much more than the State
of Florida’s minimum requirement,
and that city taxpayers spend upwards
of $2 million annually to maintain and
staff recreation facilities.

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / December 17, 2020 3

NEWS

Falls has strongly expressed his de- Realtors are excited about the pros- ing villas at that price point are the more than 500 linear feet of ocean front-
sire for whatever is built on the site to pect of new oceanfront inventory. right product at the right time for this age, and the location is another strong
be “revenue neutral,” meaning that market. I think the developer will en- positive according to realtors. Indigo is
commercial lease payments or other “Demand for new homes on the is- joy tremendous success.” only a mile and half from Vero’s seaside
income would, worst case, cover the land has never been higher in the 11 shopping and dining district and even
city’s cost for maintenance of the sur- years I have been here,” said Premier “There is certainly an appetite for lux- closer to the Village Shops in Indian
rounding green space. Dedicating the Estate Properties broker associate ury oceanfront condos and villas here River Shores.
site to a park would be a recurring cost Richard Boga, who with his partner in Vero and new construction is high
to Vero taxpayers with little to no as- Cindy O’Dare sells many of the multi- on the list for many of my buyers,” said The 4-acre upland parcel has some
sociated income. million-dollar homes that change Chris Butler, Villa Realty broker/owner. history behind it.
hands on the island. “The freestand-
The fate of Vero’s defunct Big Blue The project site is exceptional, with CONTINUED ON PAGE 4
power plant is still the biggest ques-
tion mark – will the building be saved
and transformed into an iconic hotel?
Or will it be dismantled and salvaged
for scrap metal? That largely depends
upon whether a willing and able de-
veloper emerges very soon.

Nearly all the switching equipment
has been removed from the plant,
and Florida Power & Light is finishing
the decommissioning of the adjacent
substation, which FPL replaced with a
modern, storm-hardened substation
on the west side of Indian River Bou-
levard.

If the steering committee can rec-
ommend a master plan to the Vero
Beach City Council by April, the city
could formalize a referendum to send
to Supervisor of Elections Leslie Swan
by the August deadline to appear on
the November municipal election bal-

lot. 

Indigo Vero Beach
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

piece of land just inside the northern
boundary of Vero Beach, and is twice
as large as Surf Club, the most recent
oceanfront home project completed
in the city.

Indigo Vero Beach, located on four
acres behind the 7-Eleven, will bring
to market 15 detached villas and 6 ul-
tra-luxe modernist condos with a total
listing value of about $60 million, ac-
cording to Yane Zana, managing part-
ner of the development company.

“We have been working on these
plans for a while,” Zana told Vero
Beach 32963. “We should be get-
ting our approved site plan from the
city within a month or so and plan to
break ground in about four months.”

“We are anticipating an excellent
project,” said Vero Beach Planning a
Development Director Jason Jeffries,
who has reviewed preliminary plans.
“[Zana] has done good work in the city
in the past.”

Pre-construction prices at Indigo
will range from $2 million for ocean-
view villas to $3.2 million for larger
oceanfront villas. Condos will be
priced from $2.5 million to $3 million,
according to Zana. Condos will be
3,500 square feet while villas will weigh
in at either 3,000 or 3,500 square feet.

4 Vero Beach 32963 / December 17, 2020 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

NEWS

Indigo Vero Beach East End and Surf Club, along with a
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3 dozen magnificent oceanfront es-
tates, so I decided to bring him in as
Originally part of a navel tracking my co-general contractor for Indigo,”
station established to watch for Ger- said Zana, who is still in the middle of
man submarines in WWII, it later serv- developing Blue at 8050 Ocean, a 21-
ing as an Air Force radar site. In 1980, unit luxury, oceanfront condo project
the Air Force decommissioned the several miles north of Indigo.
property and leased it to Florida Insti-
tute of Technology, which established East End and Surf Club are town-
an internationally known marine re- house developments in Vero Beach
search center on the site. that share many construction char-
acteristics and challenges with the
When its 30-year lease expired in planned villas at Indigo.
2010, FIT bought the property and
soon announced plans for a new $10 “It is a great project, and I am excited
million building and expanded re- about the opportunity to collaborate
search facilities. with Yane,” Lombardi said. “Detached
oceanfront at this price point doesn’t
But the lab’s supervising professor exist. It is something we have not seen
died and the university’s efforts to at- before in this market.”
tract support for the expansion from
island donors fizzled. There are three unit-types at Indi-
go, according to Zana’s just unveiled
The lab went dark in 2016, and in plan.
2017 the county offered FIT $1.5 mil-
lion for the property, with the idea of The centerpiece of the develop-
expanding its adjacent Tracking Sta- ment is a row of 10 detached ocean-
tion beach park. The deal, however, front villas, with about 7 feet between
did not go through. units.

In 2019, FIT successfully petitioned Zana says the 3,500-square-foot vil-
the city of Vero Beach to annex the un- las, which are offered for $3.2 million,
incorporated property, adding to the “will remain in the Anglo Caribbean
value of the land. tradition but with a modern flare.
They’ll have four bedrooms and five
Zana put the property under con- and a half baths, along with amazing
tract in September 2019 and closed on infinity-edge oceanfront pools and la-
the deal in April 2020, paying $6 mil- nais.”
lion for the tract.
Running back from the south end
Almost immediately, other devel- of the oceanfront row will be five
opers swooped in seeking to buy the 3,000-square-foot villas “with gorgeous
property, offering to pay as much as courtyards with swimming pools,” ac-
$14 million, according to Zana. cording to Zana. “These villas overlook
the Vero pier and beaches to the south
The city zoned the parcel C1-A, and benefit from a lot of sunlight given
which allows a wide range of uses. the southern exposure.” They start at
Zana says one developer proposed a $1,995,000.
140-room hotel while others wanted
to max the site out with luxury apart- The final element in the project
ments or condos. design is a single six-unit, modernist
condo building north of the ocean-
In the end, despite the lure of a front villas.
quick and dramatic profit, Zana and
his silent partner decided to develop “All the units will be corner residenc-
the property themselves, though they es with 50-plus feet of ocean frontage,
did bring in a Dallas-based real estate which is phenomenal for a condo-
investment group as a financial par- minium,” Zana said. “They’ll have 10-
ticipant. foot floor-to-ceiling glass, sweeping
oceanfront terraces, two- or three-car
“They have a network of U.S. and garages and superlative interior ap-
European investors and they told me pointments. These will start around
they oversubscribed the project in two $2.5 million and top out at just over $3
hours when they put it up on their million with 3,500 square feet of air-
portal,” Zana said. “They said it was conditioned space for the largest resi-
the fastest an offering has ever sold dences.
out.”
“All residences at Indigo will enjoy
Indigo Vero Beach LLC, the devel- a gated entry, beautiful grounds and
opment entity formed for the project, lush privacy landscaping in addition
demolished the old FIT buildings and to a swimming pool, spa and lounge
cleared the site in June with plans to decks along with a covered summer
break ground in April or May. kitchen and entertainment area.”

Zana’s Coastmark Construction is Zana says there is great synergy in
teaming up with Vic Lombardi, owner developing Indigo Vero Beach and
of Water’s Edge Estates, to build the Blue at 8050 Ocean at the same time,
high-luxe development. and that is one reason he and his part-
ner in both projects decided to forgo
“Vic is a brilliant builder who has the sweet profit of selling out to an-
constructed and developed a number other developer.
of quality oceanfront projects such as

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / December 17, 2020 5

NEWS

The two projects offer different penthouse, while Indigo offers two “Right now, we pretty much control and around 3,500 square feet, because
options and advantages. Blue has types of villas and a third condo op- new oceanfront in Vero,” Zana said. many buyers are looking for second
more amenities while Indigo is clos- tion in the $2 million to $3.2 million “One reason we didn’t sell Indigo is we homes where they can have multiple
er “to town.” Prices at Blue start at range. didn’t like the idea of creating a com- generations visit.
$1,645,000 for a 3,300-square-foot petitor.”
corner condo and go up over $4 mil- When an oceanfront buyer turns up “This community should do well in
lion for a 6,600-square-foot, full-floor A1A to take a look, Zana has a diverse Butler says she likes the size of the those price ranges. I look forward to
portfolio to show. homes at Indigo, “with four bedrooms
seeing the project get started.” 

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

NEWS

My Vero is probably going to be developed,
eventually, but that’s why we have a
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Comprehensive Plan.”

by Lily’s Cay, where homeowners are The intent of that comprehensive
concerned a neighboring develop- land-use plan is to prevent the urban
ment of that size would create a surge sprawl seen in so many other coastal
in traffic and impact their quality of Florida communities and protect our
life. quality of life, even as the county con-
tinues to grow, Matson said. He add-
Such opposition has become, in ed that the plan has undergone only
recent years, almost automatic when- minor changes to the urban services
ever anyone wants to build a large area in the years since it was adopted
residential community east of U.S. 1, in 1985.
especially along Indian River Boule-
vard and its connecting roadways. The urban services area – where
the county provides water, sewer, and
“Really, it depends on where you other services – lies mainly east of
are east of U.S. 1,” said Phil Matson, I-95. In addition, it is a bit of a patch-
the county’s director of community work east of the interstate.
development.
South of State Road 60, the bound-
“If you go up into the streets num- ary runs mostly along 58th Avenue.
bered in the 60s – say, The Antilles North of State Road 60, it runs along
area – it doesn’t draw much attention, 66th Avenue until 49th Street, where it
but that’s because it’s not in the urban jogs east to one-half mile west of 58th
core. It’s not as visible.” Avenue and continues to Sebastian.

As an example, Matson noted the There’s also a mile-wide corridor
lack of opposition to the County Com- that runs along State Road 60 to just
mission’s approval in January 2019 of west of I-95 and includes Vero Outlets.
a rezoning of 413 acres, north of 53rd
Street, for a new eco-friendly subdivi- In addition to preventing sprawl,
sion of nearly 900 single-family and the Comprehensive Plan also desig-
multi-family homes at Grand Harbor. nates one-third of the county’s land
as “environmentally protected or in
He compared that response to what a conservation district,” Matson said,
he described as a “full-blown pan- adding that the grid-system of our
ic” when the commission approved roadways enhances traffic flow and
plans for The Palms of Vero Beach 35-foot building-height restriction re-
apartment complex, which opened in duces crowding in the beaches areas.
2004 at the intersection of 12th Street
and Indian River Boulevard. “All of these things have coalesced
and regulated growth in a way that al-
“The farther you are from the urban lows us to maintain our quality of life,”
core, the less people seem to care,” he said. “As much as we’ve seen this
Matson said, referring to the stretch of community grow, we haven’t seen the
land that runs from 4th Street to 53rd degradation you find in other com-
Street, “and that’s because there’s less munities in Florida. That’s because we
visibility.” have a balanced plan.”

Clearly, the same theory applies to Which brings me back to my con-
the western parts of the county’s ur- versation with Solari about the coun-
ban services area – particularly along ty’s ability to grow wisely, even grace-
the 58th Avenue corridor, where a fully. Where did that 350,000 number
string of residential developments are come from?
under construction and new single-
family homes are selling at a rate not Turns out, that’s what the county’s
seen in 15 years. population would be if all of the exist-
ing vacant land within the urban ser-
I’m familiar with these develop- vices area was developed to the limits
ments because I just moved into one allowed under the current Compre-
of them. My mid-county community hensive Plan.
is so new, in fact, that delivery people
and cable-television technicians can’t Matson, however, doesn’t believe
find it on their GPS devices. we’ll get there – not in the next 25
years, anyway. Instead, he leans to-
And, based on what I’m hearing ward the projection published by the
from the county’s Building Division, Bureau of Economic and Business Re-
more of these developments are com- search at the University of Florida.
ing.
According to the bureau’s fore-
“Everybody who moves in has con- cast, the county’s population will hit
cerns about the pace of growth, be- 180,000 in 2030 and surpass 200,000
cause most of them moved here for by 2045.
the lower population density and
small-town feel,” Matson said. “It’s “In 1993, BEBR projected the coun-
nice to think all that land that’s vacant ty’s population to be 157,000 by 2020,”
right now will remain that way, but Matson said. “We’re at about 160,000,
that’s probably not going to happen. so that’s pretty darn close.”

“The property designated for de- There’s no way to know how fast
velopment in the urban services area or how much this county will grow,
of course, because external factors

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / December 17, 2020 7

NEWS

– such as economic recessions, hur- locally totaling 147 as of Monday’s Vero Beach anxiously awaits arrival
ricanes, politics and even pandem- reporting, 74 of those deaths be- of first doses of coronavirus vaccine
ics – can impact the county’s rate of ing long-term care facility residents.
growth. Of Florida’s deaths, 38 percent have BY LISA ZAHNER ery “twenty-thousand doses of hope.”
been nursing home and assisted-liv- Staff Writer DeSantis expressed the hope the
So, it was fitting that Matson, when ing community residents.
giving a presentation to our county The first doses of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine will be a “game changer” for
commissioners in November, chose Florida surpassed 20,000 total report- coronavirus vaccine were injected into keeping infections and hospitaliza-
to borrow some wisdom from the late, ed dead due to the virus on Monday, as thousands of arms of frontline health- tions under control in Florida. He
great American philosopher, Yogi Ber- the United States topped 300,000. care workers in Tampa, Gainesville and said he expects the first 365,000 doses
ra, telling them: Jacksonville this week. But as this is- of the Moderna vaccine to arrive in
This week’s launch of the new Pfizer- sue went to press, Indian River County Florida next Monday if that vaccine
 “The future ain’t what it used to BioNTech vaccine will hopefully slow officials had not been told how many gets Food and Drug Administration
that rising death toll. doses they would be receiving, or when emergency approval Friday after a key
be.” to expect a shipment of vaccine. meeting on Thursday, Dec. 17.
The age group that makes up the larg-
 “If you don’t know where you’re est percentage of Indian River County AdventHealth Central Florida in Or- Residents of nursing homes and as-
hospitalizations is the 75 to 84 age lando was set to get its first shipment sisted-living facilities are scheduled to
going, you’ll end up someplace else.” group, but with advances in therapeu- of the ultra-cold vaccine on Tuesday, start getting their first of two doses of
tics and greater knowledge about CO- with Cleveland Clinic Indian River on vaccine next Monday from Walgreens
 “Nobody goes there anymore. It’s VID-19 disease, that group’s outcomes stand-by to get Vero’s share of vaccine and CVS employees coordinating di-
are far better than the 85-plus group. for hospital staffers the most at risk. rectly with the Florida Department of
too crowded.” Health and the Florida Department of
You can’t argue with No. 1 and 2, and People age 34 and younger account- Gov. Ron DeSantis was on-hand in Emergency Management.
ed for 43 percent of the total new infec- Tampa to sign for the first 20,000 doses
we’ll eventually find out about No. 3 – tions on Monday, higher than the 30 as they rolled off a Federal Express truck. To ensure the pharmacies had their
percent of cases for age 34 and younger About an hour later, he watched as one logistics system running seamlessly,
but probably not anytime soon.  one week ago, and the 38 percent of to- of the first shots was given to a nurse CVS and Walgreens in four undisclosed
tal cases overall for younger people. from Tampa General’s COVID unit. states received vaccines this past Mon-
No COVID-19 spike day, with waves of shipments set to ar-
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 It’s too soon to tell if this will become Tampa General Hospital President rive nationwide throughout the week.
a significant trend as the Christmas and CEO John Couris called the deliv-
the previous week – and 19 people were school holidays approach next week CONTINUED ON PAGE 8
currently hospitalized at Monday press and families weigh the risks of travel-
time. One third of the county’s 30 staffed ing and getting together for large, mul-
intensive-care beds are available. tigenerational celebrations, with the
desire to maintain family traditions
Five people succumbed to CO- and visit loved ones balanced against
VID-19 in the past week, this grim
statistic also tracking the same as increased risk of infection. 
the previous week, with the cumula-
tive number of people who have died

8 Vero Beach 32963 / December 17, 2020 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

NEWS

Coronavirus vaccine front-line personnel could get the shot. ceiving,” spokesperson Stacy Brock said. here, but Jason Brown is trying to find out.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7 “We anticipate it will be within the County Commissioner Joe Earman “We might know tomorrow or it

If all the scheduled shipments of the next three weeks for the first shot,” confirmed that, as of Monday after- might be later in the week,” Earman
Pfizer and Moderna vaccines go out Stone said. “At this time, we do not noon, “the official word is that we said, adding that after a couple of
on time, DeSantis said, Florida could have a timeline or the amount of vac- don’t know how many doses of the vac- days, county residents will demand to
have nearly 1 million doses of vac- cine we will receive.” cine we’re getting or when they will get
cine in distribution by year’s end. That know this information. 
means all front-line healthcare work- When asked if Vero Beach 32963
ers, nursing home and assisted-living could photograph the leadership of the COVID-19 quarantine time is cut for
residents will have largely been vac- county’s emergency operations center Indian River public school students
cinated and at-risk senior residents or County Administrator Jason Brown
could start getting the vaccine. getting the vaccine this week, Stone BY GEORGE ANDREASSI During School Board meetings and
said “the leadership and administra- private interviews, several parents, stu-
Pfizer has indicated it might be a lit- tive staff are not in the first run of the Staff Writer dents and board members have ques-
tle slower rolling out next week’s ship- vaccinations.” tioned the justification for some quar-
ments, though, due to supply-chain Quarantine periods can be cut to antines, with many saying quarantined
issues. If Pfizer shipments are delayed, Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hos- as little as seven days for Indian River students frequently fall behind in their
Florida might only get 750,000 doses pital also had no answers as to when County public school students and studies.
by New Year’s Eve. the first doses of vaccine would arrive. staff members who test negative for
COVID-19 and present no symptoms. The revised CDC guidelines could
Locally on Monday, public health “We do not have any details to pro- reduce quarantine periods by as much
officials, county officials and even the vide at this point,” said hospital spokes- The school district reduced quaran- as half, Moore noted.
hospital were all in stand-by mode man Scott Samples. tine periods to 7-to-10 days from 14
waiting to find out when the first dos- days pursuant to revised guidelines “A typical quarantine prior to this
es of vaccine will arrive in Vero Beach He would not say if the hospital had issued by the Centers for Disease Con- new [CDC] release was a 14-day quar-
and how many doses will be allocated already received kits full of syringes and trol, said Schools Superintendent Da- antine from [the time of] exposure,”
to Indian River County. other supplies needed to administer the vid Moore. Moore said. “This is going to reduce
vaccine. Federal officials had said those from 10-14 days being out of school, to
Indian River Shores Public Safety kits would be pre-positioned through- The rapid return process calls for a 6-10 days being out of school.
Chief Rich Rosell said he’d gotten out the country at hospitals and other quarantined student or staff member
no word as of Monday afternoon on sites where shots would be given. to take a Polymerase Chain Reaction “This is an opportunity ... that will
when his paramedics could be vacci- (PCR) test for COVID-19 on the sixth allow us to significantly reduce the
nated. Indian River County Emergen- The County Health Department as day after exposure and go back to amount of time students are out of
cy Services Director Tad Stone said he of Monday also seemed to lack even school on the seventh day, if the test school as it relates to quarantine,”
only had a general idea of when his the most basic information needed to results turn out negative, Moore said. Moore said.
plan for vaccine distribution in Vero
Beach. “At this time, we are waiting for Otherwise, students and staff mem- The basic quarantine period remains
additional guidance as to how much bers can return to school after the 10th 14 days from the time of exposure to a
vaccine each of the counties will be re- day of quarantine without taking a test, person diagnosed with COVID-19, but
if they’ve experienced no symptoms, the CDC provided options on Dec. 2 to
A Personal Lines Insurance Agency Moore said. shorten quarantine.

Call us today at 772.213.3845 “We are currently working with stu- The CDC acknowledged any quaran-
Email us at [email protected] dents that are under the umbrella of tine shorter than 14 days slightly increas-
2801 Ocean Drive Ste 101 Vero Beach, FL 32963 quarantine right now to get them the es the chances of the virus spreading.
information they need so if there’s an
opportunity for them to return early, The post-quarantine transmission
then let’s get them back to school,” risk is 5-to-12 percent after the 7-day
Moore told the School Board. quarantine with PCR testing, the CDC
said. The transmission risk is 1-to-10
A total of 58 students in 10 schools percent after the 10-day quarantine.
have been directed to quarantine
since the CDC revised the guidelines While the school district scaled back
Dec. 2, records show. That includes 14 the quarantine period, its mandatory
students at Indian River Academy, 12 mask policy will remain in effect until the
at Liberty Magnet School and 11 at Se- COVID-19 pandemic abates, Moore said.
bastian River High School.
State health officials, local pediatri-
The quarantined students had come cians, parents and school officials in
in close contact with a total of seven nearby districts are being consulted
students and six staff members who routinely as part of the facemask de-
tested positive for COVID-19 between liberations, Moore said.
Dec. 7 and Dec. 13, records show.
“The feedback I have received is: We
Overall, a total of 111 students and are in the midst of an aggressive spike,”
36 staff members have been diagnosed Moore said.
with the virus since the school year
started on Aug. 24. “When it comes to a health and safety
measure, or face covering requirement,
A total of 1,187 students and 29 staff or walking away from it, we once again
members have been directed to quar- will be in the position of leading that
antine since schools reopened. particular work.”

The quarantining process executed The School Board opted against
by the state Health Department’s Indi- discussing a plan for phasing out the
an River County office and the school mandatory facemask requirement on
district has been criticized by parents, Dec. 8 because of a recent lawsuit chal-
students and School Board members. lenging the policy, said School Board

member Teri Barenborg. 



10 Vero Beach 32963 / December 17, 2020 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

NEWS

Report: Indian River County has best lagoon water quality

BY SUE COCKING provement in water quality since last the council's executive director. "Sea ments are awarded a score of between
Staff Writer year's annual check-up, according to grasses are continuing to decline." 0 (terrible) and 100 (excellent), with a
the Council, which crunched some 25 score of at least 80 needed to meet the
Water quality in the lagoon in Indian years of monitoring data collected by Water quality scores for each of the state's target.
River County is better than anywhere the state to reach its conclusions. 156-mile-long lagoon's 10 regions,
else along the 156-mile waterway, ac- which stretch from New Smyrna Beach "We don't have any hundreds in the
cording to the third annual lagoon The bad news is the estuary's habi- south to Jupiter, are calculated by lagoon," Souto said.
health report card issued by the Palm tat quality – as measured by sea grass amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus
Bay-based Marine Resources Council. cover – continues to deteriorate.. (nutrients that feed algae blooms); tur- Habitat scores for each region are
bidity (a measure of the water's cloudi- based on sea grass cover, the founda-
And there is more good news. The "We found that the water quality trend ness); and the amount of chlorophyll-A tion of all marine life in the estuary.
lagoon as whole has seen a slight im- is steady or improving, but not meeting (algae) in the water. Those measure- Sea grass provides food and shelter
regulatory targets," said Dr. Leesa Souto, for everything from tiny invertebrates
to manatees, slows bottom erosion,
and filters the water. Not one of the
regions achieved a habitat score of 80
or above.

Indian River County, located in the
central-south zone, scored the high-
est in the lagoon in water quality at 85,
followed closely by the northernmost
portion of the Mosquito Lagoon and
the region from St. Lucie Inlet to Hobe
Sound, tied at 84.

Our county – from the Sebastian Inlet
to the St. Lucie County line – improved
nine points from last year, when wa-
ter quality here scored a 76. But water
quality in the St. Sebastian River, which
empties into the lagoon, was "worse
than the lagoon, suggesting it is a con-
tinuing source of pollution," according
to the report card.

Indian River County's overall sea
grass score of 61 – poor – was about
the same as the previous two years'
report cards, despite documented im-
provements in grass meadow cover-
age adjacent to Sebastian Inlet.

The worst scores in the entire lagoon
came in Brevard County's Banana Riv-
er, which has earned a zero two years
in a row for sea grass. Its water quality
score of 39 was higher than last year's
even more dismal 17, but still amounts
to "a disaster,” according to Souto.

That stagnant estuary, plagued by
repeated algae blooms, is part of a
pilot study being conducted by scien-
tists from Florida Institute of Technol-
ogy who are exploring ways of flush-
ing it with ocean water.

Despite some grim news, Souto said
there still are reasons for hope in the
effort to clean up the lagoon.

"I think we have not reached a point
of no return, but we've got to stop do-
ing what we've been doing," she said.
"Stop polluting!"

Souto recommends residents re-
duce or stop using fertilizer to green
their lawns; dispose of pet waste prop-
erly; encourage local governments to
employ mechanical weed control and
discontinue aerial spraying of pesti-
cides and herbicides; and advocate for
low-impact development.

"Disconnect your lawn from chemi-

CONTINUED ON PAGE 12

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12 Vero Beach 32963 / December 17, 2020 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

NEWS

County appeals again in industrial property rights saga

BY GEORGE ANDREASSI The county also asked the 4th DCA The jury and judge in the first trial “The intent is not to value Ocean
Staff Writer to certify the key question in the appeal in November 2015 ruled against Maib Concrete’s damages spent on develop-
as “an issue of great public importance” and Ocean Concrete, but he won in ing a concrete batch plant or their lost
Indian River County appears poised for review by the state Supreme Court. the appellate and supreme courts. profits, but to determine if the value of
to appeal a marathon property rights the dirt changed by removal of all 6 of
case involving a controversial indus- “Are damages under the Bert J. Har- It was the second trial, which conclud- the uses from the 92 allowed,” motion
trial project all the way to the Florida ris Act determined by using the gener- ed in September 2019, that resulted in says. “The focus should not be on the
Supreme Court for a second time. ally accepted analysis of ‘fair market the $3.3 million final judgment for Maib reasonable investment-backed expec-
value,’ or does the language of the and Ocean Concrete. The 4th DCA up- tation but the real property. The dirt.”
The outcome of the case will influ- statute modify that analysis to require held that judgment on Nov. 25, 2020.
ence how Florida’s 67 counties and focus on the value of a specific ‘rea- The attorney representing Maib and
400-plus municipalities handle prop- sonable investment-backed expecta- Indian River County’s appeal argues the Ocean Concrete could not be reached
erty rights claims in the future, the tion’ instead of the actual ‘highest and second trial judge should have allowed Monday for comment on the county's
county argued in a legal motion filed best use’ of the real property?” the county to present expert witnesses
in the 4th District Court of Appeals. to testify the change in zoning rules did legal motion. 
The dispute arose in 2006 after Maib not reduce the “fair market value” of the
The motion filed last Thursday seeks to proposed to build a concrete batch plant property because a concrete batch plant Lagoon water quality
overturn a 4th DCA ruling issued in No- on a 8.5-acre light industrial tract at 11085 was not the “best and highest use.” CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10
vember that upheld a $3.3 million final Old Dixie Highway, south of Sebastian,
judgment in favor Ocean Concrete Inc. an allowed use under zoning regulations. The county’s appeal also argues the cals," she said. "I challenge everybody
and the company’s owner, George Maib. second trial judge should have excluded to stop fertilizing their lawns for a year
Nearby residents and Sebastian City Maib’s testimony placing the value of a and see if there's an improvement in
The case is important statewide be- Council came out against the project high-tech concrete batch plant on the water quality."
cause“there is no other reported decision and Indian River County commission- site at nearly $10 million as his “reason-
on the calculation of damages” under the ers changed the zoning rules for light able investment-backed expectation.” The Marine Resources Council plans
Bert J. Harris Private Property Rights industrial properties in July 2007, re- to prepare a fourth health report card
Protection Act of 1995, the motion says. moving 6 of the 92 allowed uses, in- “In this case, to require valuation in 2021, hoping to incorporate addi-
cluding concrete batch plants. of the property as if a concrete batch tional water quality data such as dis-
The county requested a rehearing plant was the highest and best use of solved oxygen levels, bacteria counts,
before the three-judge panel that ruled Maib and Ocean Concrete filed suit the property, disregards the statute’s in-
for Ocean Concrete, or a rehearing be- in November 2007 claiming the county tent,” wrote County Attorney Dylan Re- salinity, and herbicide/toxin levels. 
fore the full 12-judge appeals court in changed the zoning rules to block his ingold and Paul Berg, a private attorney
West Palm Beach. project, which devalued the property. assisting with the appeal.



14 Vero Beach 32963 / December 17, 2020 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

NEWS

Vero Beach Municipal Marina renovation moves ahead

BY SAMANTHA ROHLFING BAITA PHOTO BY BRENDA AHEARN south of the Vero Beach Yacht Club income, under normal circumstances,
that the marina borrowed $4.7 million should be sufficient for its needs.
Staff Writer na in 2019 when the city council voted to build and it became a financial al-
4-1 to use $2.9 million from the sale of batross. Servicing the debt to the tune But if the facility runs short as reno-
Vero’s $20 million master plan to ren- Vero Beach Electric to pay off the re- of $338,000 a year kept the facility vation takes place, “we could certainly
ovate and modernize its municipal ma- minder of a $4.7 million loan the ma- starved for cash that was needed for talk about a credit line between us and
rina moved forward last week when the rina took on in 2007 and go with “the maintenance and repairs. them, using surplus funds through our
city received design and permit docu- most dramatic of several possible ren- capital account that they would pay
ments from project engineers Coastal ovations for the dilapidated facility.” Set up as an enterprise fund, the ma- back over time,” Brackett said.
Tech – a major step in the process. rina is expected to operate on its own
The impressive plan includes new income but when it paid off the mari- Last year, Brackett said it could take
A recently released $350,750 Florida docks along the southern shoreline; na’s debt, the city showed its willingness 10 to 20 years to complete the entire, ex-
Inland Navigation District grant is in new parking, including a one-way to help a facility that creates a first im- tremely ambitious redevelopment proj-
hand to help pay for the design and drive and angled parking on the south pression of Vero Beach for nautical visi- ect and noted that, during that time, fu-
permitting work, which is a $648,000 side, near the dog park; tearing down tors, reasoning that a modern, attractive ture city councils could tweak portions of
line item in the marina’s 2020-2021 the “lagoon dock” and adding slips; marina would add to the city’s allure as it to meet changing needs and budgets.
budget, according to Marina Director repairing or replacing the floating a tourist and retirement destination.
Sean Collins. dock; dredging near the docks to ac- Collins said he fervently hopes it won’t
commodate mooring larger boats; ex- And Mayor Bob Brackett says the take 20 years to complete the revamp.
The progress has been a long time panding the mooring field; building a city would likely help again if needed. “My end-all-be-all is the mid-2030s,”
coming. pedestrian bridge between the marina He told Vero Beach 32963 on Monday he said. “I mean, a lot of it would be 100
and Riverside Park; and repairing or that the marina, as an enterprise fund, years old by that time.”
Parts of the marina infrastructure are replacing the dry storage building. is expected to sustain itself, and that its
more than 80 years old, and for many The current permitting process is
years a series of city councils dithered It was this structure on 1.19 acres likely to drag on for months. Once per-
while the facility fell into increasing mits are in hand, the city will seek bids
disrepair – to the point that a dock col- for various parts of the overall project.
lapsed underneath a marina resident Each task will have its own timeframe,
when she was walking her dog in 2017, though some projects could be done
injuring her and dousing the dog. concurrently to save time, Collins said.

Instead of the gleaming, shipshape As the redevelopment moves ahead,
nautical facility one would hope for in project scheduling will depend on where
a place like Vero Beach, incoming boat- the most pressing needs arise and the
ers were greeted by shabby and poorly amount of available funds, but improv-
maintained buildings with rotting ing or replacing that old dry storage
wood and patchworked repairs, out- building stands firmly at the top of Col-
of-commission restrooms, random lins’ priority list.
piles of lumber and rusting bicycles.
He says the existing dry storage racks
Conditions got bad enough that Col- were built to handle up to 22-foot boats,
lins, who was hired in 2019, said he’d which, today, are only about 20 percent
like to demolish the whole place and of the market.
start from scratch, if that was feasible.
But he’s pragmatic. “We are against a “So, we’re competing with other facilities
wall. And I don’t want to shut the ma- who handle 30-to-35-foot boats average.
rina down [for renovation].” We are missing our market share. We can’t
compete with marinas to the north and
The tide began to turn for the mari-
south,whichputsusbehindthe8-ball.” 

Lawnwood Regional Medical Center plans $100 million expansion

BY GEORGE ANDREASSI ing HCA’s proposed rezoning and the built out in Phase 2 and an emergen- Lawnwood opened the first free-
Staff Writer site plan for the 22.36-acre hospital cy room will be constructed on the standing emergency room in Indian
campus at 1700 S. 23rd St. north side of the hospital complex. River County on U.S. 1 near Oslo
Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hos- Road.
pital’s large for-profit competitor to The final public hearing was set for Phases 3 through 5 will add two
the south, Lawnwood Regional Med- next Monday after city commission- more floors to the medical tower and The Fort Pierce hospital worked
ical Center in Fort Pierce, is embark- ers voted unanimously on Dec. 7 to include construction of a parking out a deal with Indian River County
ing on a major modernization. approve the project during the first structure. emergency management officials
hearing. whereby anyone living south of 8th
Hospital giant HCA Inc., of Nash- Lawnwood Regional Medical Cen- Street who called 911 for a lower-level
ville, plans to start work in early 2021 Permit applications have been ter currently is 305,187 square feet, medical emergency would automati-
on a 92,500-square-foot expansion submitted to the city Building De- records show. The hospital was origi- cally be taken to the Lawnwood ER.
of Lawnwood including the addition partment for the project’s first phase, nally built in 1977 and underwent
of a new emergency department, in- records show. It will add 32 beds to multimillion additions and/or reno- Indian River County Hospital Dis-
creasing the size of the hospital by the hospital. vations in 1998, 2001, 2005, 2010 and trict officials bristled at that and con-
about 30 percent. 2017. vinced the county to undo the deal,
Phase 1 entails the construction of leaving it up to patients to decide if
The start date is contingent on the a three-story medical tower, includ- Competition between Lawnwood they want to go to the new ER or to the
Fort Pierce City Commission approv- ing build-out of the first two floors. and Cleveland Clinic Indian River
The third floor of the tower will be Hospital flared up a year ago when ER at Cleveland Clinic’s hospital. 

Meg Sweetland, Lisa Todd,
Susan Hanner, Cynthia Falardeau
and Tammy Bursick.

RUNWAY IS FITTING VENUE FOR
CHAMBER’S ‘AFTER 5K’ RACE P. 20

16 Vero Beach 32963 / December 17, 2020 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

Cheery hellos and good buys at ‘Christmas Tree Lane’

Nancy Allerman speaks with Maggie Fleming. Alice McKenna and Susan Scott Lembeck. Heidi Morse, Fran Mirti and Judy Myers. PHOTOS: BRENDA AHEARN

Det. Jennifer Brumley with Jan Mooney and Lynn Miller. Julie Milliman and Libby Miller. Beverly Dillon with Robert and Wendy McDaniel.

BY MARY SCHENKEL from their ministers and board, after whether it would be feasible to hold the skills and an eye for detail. She’s retired
Staff Writer having presented ideas on how they event became a resounding yes, came now from a very large interior decorat-
planned to keep everyone safe. the safety precautions. ing company in Key West, and the way
Neither the current pandemic nor she sets it up and the way she orga-
damage from prior hurricanes could “Everybody is working so hard; This year, the large McAfee Hall was nizes it, she’s just an amazing person.
deter the stalwart Presbyterian Women they really take pride in what they’re dedicated to the Unique Boutique, She has grown that part of it from just a
from hosting their enduringly popular doing,” said Irvine, adding that even with its wonderful selections of “new yard sale type thing to this really, very
Christmas Tree Lane at First Presbyte- her “cookie people” made matching and gently used items at bargain pric- special kind of event, so it’s become
rian Church of Vero Beach, the area’s aprons, augmented with matching es,” where long tables were set up with very, very popular.”
oldest holiday bazaar. masks this year. “People are rising to greatly spaced-out, one-way aisles.
it. It’s the beginning of the Christmas The lobby was dedicated to hand-sewn Proceeds from the event benefit the
“It’s very festive,” said Joan Irvine, season, which is a joyous time in the items, including exquisite quilts. Presbyterian Women’s mission pro-
event co-chair with Maggie Fleming. Christian year.” grams. The board votes each year to
“At this time, when things have been so The ladies took advantage of the determine which entities will receive
gloomy over the past few months, I’m The 66-year tradition got its start outdoor pathways throughout the at- funding. Last year’s proceeds enabled
finding people to be very, very excited in 1954 as a Kitchen Korner fundrais- tractive campus, using them for an scholarships and donations to affiliat-
about it.” er, held in what is today the Heritage Artisan’s Gallery of handcrafted items, ed ministries, assisted several women
Center. Once the church building was and the dozens and dozens of delicious financially impacted by COVID-19, and
A long line of people began gathering finalized in 1958, the ladies changed homemade Christmas cookies (pre- provided donations to local agencies
at 8 a.m., eagerly awaiting the 9 a.m. the name to Christmas Tree Lane and, packaged this year for safety), pies and including United Against Poverty, Lit-
opening, and over the ensuing hours while there have been a number of baked goods. eracy Services of IRC, Treasure Coast
a steady stream of shoppers continued variations throughout the years, the Homeless Services (for Naomi House),
to arrive. spirit of the event has endured. “The chairman of the Unique Bou- Gifford Youth Achievement Center and
tique is Susan Groom Horner, and she Shining Light Garden. 
Irvine said it wasn’t until September The pandemic presented a unique is a professional in every way,” said
that they were given the green light set of challenges. Once the question of Irvine. “She’s got all those wonderful



18 Vero Beach 32963 / December 17, 2020 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

Christmassy feel ‘present’ at Sebastian’s Light Up Night

BY STEPHANIE LaBAFF Jim Belanger and Katie Keltner with Kathy Hainey and Phoebe Camp. Ily Nyman, Coral Hall, Taj Hall, Harper Hall, Audriana Guthrie and Emma Guthrie.
Staff Writer

The streets of Sebastian took on the
feeling of Christmases past during the
32nd annual Light Up Night hosted by
the Sebastian River Area Chamber of
Commerce, as local businesses spilled
out into the streets with holiday cheer.

The annual community-wide open
house is a festive night of food and fun,
designed to encourage the support of
local businesses. This year, most busi-
nesses set up their holiday cheer out-
side, with masked and gloved helpers
offering goodies and treats.

Families made the rounds to more
than 20 locations, partaking of spe-
cial sales, discounts, door prizes, ac-
tivities and holiday-themed food, and
refreshments. Embracing the spirit
of the evening, patrons adorned in
shades of red and green and draped
with twinkling lights snacked their
way from shop to shop, nibbling on
cookies, hot cocoa, eggnog bars, chili
and even a specially brewed winter
ale.

Santa was busy preparing for his big

Sara Dessureau, Colette Ellsworth and Teddy Hulse. PHOTOS: KAILA JONES

night out in a few weeks, but gener- very different, said Cheryl Thibault,
ously loaned his sleigh to Rudolph and the chamber’s operations director.
Teddy so folks could grab a selfie in “We’re still trying to support our local
the jolly old fellow’s sleigh. Had Santa businesses,” she said.
been on hand to hear the wishes of
boys and girls, young and old, the No. If the bustling sidewalks were any
1 item would surely be for a COVID- indication, people were anxious to
free 2021. get out of the house. As music rang
throughout the cool, evening air,
As with everything else in this tu- things were definitely “beginning to
multuous year, Light Up Night was feel a lot like Christmas.” 

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / December 17, 2020 19

PEOPLE

Emma Guthrie, Harper Hall and Jesse Guthrie. Chris, Aris and Kacie Jones. Britney Melchiori, Nichole Rea and Cara Irwin.

Nick Lunny with Bridgette and Chris. Pete and Lynn Anderson. Sue Skirvin and Pamela Parris.

Ashley Guthrie, Riley Guthrie and Glenell Neu. Jodie Love and Karen Mechling.

Shirlee Taskowitz, Pat and John Cernek, Kim and Steve Borden, and Drew Anderson.

20 Vero Beach 32963 / December 17, 2020 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

RUNWAY IS FITTING VENUE FOR
CHAMBER’S ‘AFTER 5K’ RACE

Giovanni and Maria Russo. PHOTOS: KAILA JONES Jill and Jessie Liddell.

Chris See and Travis Stephens. Cary Allen, Josh Housel and Jeyland Valentin.

BY STEPHANIE LaBAFF ty to do something they would nor-
mally never get to do. It’s incredible
Staff Writer that everyone came together to close
the runway for an hour for this event
More than 150 runners were to raise money.”
cleared for takeoff at the Vero Beach
Regional Airport last Wednesday Brisk winter temperatures helped
evening during an inaugural After the runners rev their internal en-
5K IRC Chamber Corporate Run, gines. In the end, Jake Kramer took
hosted by the Indian River County first place overall with a time of 17:32
Chamber of Commerce and present- and Stephanie Zugrave was the first-
ed by Piper Aircraft. place female runner to cross the fin-
ish line, with a time of 21:34.
“The chamber is a great organiza-
tion, and it does a lot of good things in Race proceeds benefit the IRC
this community,” said Simon Calde- Chamber and the Alma Lee Loy
cott, Piper president and CEO. “The Leadership Scholarship fund.
leadership program is a big benefit
personally as well as to this commu- “Alma Lee knew the Leadership
nity.” Indian River program is a great
way to allow adults throughout our
Air horn in hand before officially community to learn more about the
starting the race, Caldecott spoke county and to promote leadership
from experience as he noted that activities,” explained Dori Stone,
businesses benefit from the pro- IRCCC president.
gram, in that it helps to develop em-
ployees’ leadership skills. “The late Loy funded the grant
since the program’s inception. In her
Advertised as the “best outdoor honor we want to continue to fund
office party on the Treasure Coast,” the grant. She was one of the most
chamber members ran indepen- effective and dedicated leaders in
dently and as teams from various the community and a true patron of
local businesses. Volunteer aircraft the Chamber of Commerce.”
marshallers used neon glow sticks to
direct the runners down the runway, Leadership Indian River is a seven-
which served as the 5K racecourse. session training program focused on
the local community, studying its
“This is a really unique 5K in the “infrastructure, natural resources
sense that it’s the first time in the and current political issues of Indi-
history of Vero Beach Airport that an River County and an understand-
there has been a sanctioned race ing of what constitutes leadership.”
to run on the runway,” said Phillip
Keeling, race director. For more information, visit indian-
riverchamber.com. 
“It’s giving runners an opportuni-



22 Vero Beach 32963 / December 17, 2020 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

Wintergreen Night Lights: S’more holiday fun at ELC

Elyse Cute and Allyson Allen. PHOTOS: KAILA JONES Barbara Schlitt Ford, Linda Hoffman and Sara Piotter. Nancy Leach, Colton Mitchell and Larry Leach.

BY MARY SCHENKEL warming up by a roaring bonfire. Redner, ELC donor and marketing “With reservations, they don’t have
Staff Writer To limit participation during the manager, referencing the nature pho- to wait, they can distance, and people
tography exhibits by Lou Lower and mask when they’re out there or indoors
The Environmental Learning Cen- pandemic, reservations and a $10 con- Scott Kelly, and paintings from Tony or within 6 feet. I think everyone feels
ter, a magical place at any time, is tribution for the 20-minute rides are Rosa’s American Pickers series. And a really safe being outdoors, and the
especially enchanting during the an- required. Optional $5 s’mores packets scavenger hunt had little ones excited- mangrove tunnel tours are just always
nual Wintergreen Night Lights Cele- in reusable silicone bags are available, ly discovering twinkling fairy houses such a magical experience,” said Schlitt
bration, when visitors can take advan- but otherwise, the event is free and of- hidden amongst the bushes. Ford. “It’s just very calm and peaceful; I
tage of incredibly special canoe trips fers plenty of activities for all ages. love it here. I love our campus at night,
through mangrove tunnels lit with “It’s just a terrific place,” said Don and the stars are amazing.”
thousands of twinkling lights, before “We have our Touch Tank and Dis- Barr, ELC board chairman. “It’s a way
covery Station open, and we also have to get in touch with the outdoors and Last Thursday was also the start of
two different art galleries,” said Kat nature. We have a lot of programs go- Hanukkah, the Jewish faith’s Festival
ing on and things that we haven’t done of Lights. Before lighting a commemo-
in the past. We’re hoping for a lot of rative menorah, Rabbi Michael Birn-
families because we’re trying to attract holz of Temple Beth Shalom explained
adults as well as children.” that the tradition celebrates the end of
a war and rededication of a sacred tem-
“It was a great holiday experience ple 2,000 years ago.
and a fun way to see the mangroves
and get a little bit of Florida,” said An- Birnholz noted that the menorah in-
drea Merritt, a recent New Jersey trans- creases the light during winter’s dark-
plant, after a canoe ride with her hus- est days, adding: “It reminds us in the
band and friends. “It really puts you darkest time to find ways of bringing
in the spirit. The weather was perfect, light into the world.”
and the lights are beautiful.”
Wintergreen Nights continues Dec.
Barbara Schlitt Ford, ELC executive 17, 18 and 19 and, although the ELC
director, said that they limited the ca- isn’t generally open at night, a few ca-
noe trips this year to keep everyone noe-trip-only nights might be added.
safely distanced, noting that there Private group trips are also available.
used to be long lines of visitors waiting
their turn. For more information, visit discov-
erelc.org. 

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

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& READY
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to Serve All Your 4445 Highway A1A, Suite 135
Nail & Haircare Needs! Vero Beach, FL 32963
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Open Monday thru Saturday • 10am - 5pm 772-234-1964 • www.sklimited.com

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / December 17, 2020 23

PEOPLE

Donna Vocelle and Ginger Kreigh. Kat, Adam, Sophia and Eileen Faust. Donna Smith and Sue Sculley.

Mike and Stephanie Saraceni with Liam and Cam.
Linda Johnson.

24 Vero Beach 32963 / December 17, 2020 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

At Chanukah at the Park, a little light goes a long way

BY STEPHANIE LaBAFF
Staff Writer

Chabad of Vero Beach shed some
light on a centuries-old, commemo-
rative festival during Chanukah at
the Park, held at the gazebo in Riv-
erside Park last Thursday evening.
The event marked the first night
of the eight-day Jewish Festival of
Lights celebration and offered a lit-
tle bit of hope as the world navigates
the current coronavirus pandemic.

Rabbi Motty Rosenfeld opened
the evening’s festivities with the
story behind the Chanukah celebra-
tion, explaining that when the Mac-
cabees overcame the Syrian Greek
army and retook their temple, they
found they had just enough oil for
one night. The miracle of Chanukah
is that the oil lasted for eight days,
through the grace of God.

Rosenfeld said that, like the Mac-
cabees, “we’re coming out of a dark
time, but a little bit of good and a
little bit of light pushes away a lot
of darkness. The menorah serves as

Al and Gail Manasse and Jan and Craig Pastore. PHOTOS: BRENDA AHEARN

a symbol of hope. When we light the little candle will dispel so much dark-
menorah, we can take that little bit of ness,” said Rabbi Zvi Konikov, direc-
light and shine.” tor of Chabad of Space and Treasure
Coast.
After the lighting of the Grand Me-
norah, guests listened to the tradi- The very definition of Chabad – an
tional music of Chanukah, enjoyed acronym from three Hebrew words
sufganiots, a deep-fried jelly donut meaning “Wisdom, Understanding
traditionally eaten during the eight- and Knowledge” – conveys the es-
day celebration, and were entertained sence of the principles that Chabad
by a Crazy Indy Street performance. of Vero Beach was founded upon, to
provide a place for all Jews “to develop
Chabad of Vero Beach has hosted a sense of community, to enhance the
the celebration at the Indian Riv- experience of being Jewish, to learn
er Mall for the past few years but and to have fun.”
changed to the outdoor venue due to
COVID-related health concerns. For information, visit jewishvero.
com. 
“It’s our job to spread the light. That

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / December 17, 2020 25

PEOPLE

Aleya Hinebaugh and Loretta Marshall. Yael and Paul Kennedy. Nina Greenwald with John and Sondra Zambri.

Elana Rose and Jeff Beber with Leilah. Ted Abstender and Mary Jo Przygod. Jerry Blum and Jerry Baggish.

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26 Vero Beach 32963 / December 17, 2020 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

In trying times, ‘Toys for Tots’ team shines brightest

Star Knudson and Allison McGraw. PHOTOS: KAILA JONES Dep. Cliff Labbe, Butch Teske, Anthony Mcghee, Phil McDougall, Andrew Coull, Miriam Mcghee and Rachel Muschweck.

STORY & PHOTOS CONTINUED ON PAGE 28

BY SAMANTHA ROHLFING BAITA with cheerful, holiday aplomb and
Staff Writer a whole lot of love.

The intrepid volunteers of the McGraw and Knudson – also vol-
Marine Corps Toys for Tots Indian unteers, as T4T has zero paid staff
River County 2020 Campaign have – have high praise for fellow volun-
been busier than usual this holiday teers and the “amazing, generous
season, nomadically moving their community.” They expressed how
entire “warehouse/office/distribu- “awesome” everyone has been, list-
tion center” within a tight, hectic ing Olivia’s Restaurant and the In-
timeframe, and this year also ad- dian River County Sheriff’s Office,
justing for COVID. among others, for their steadfast
support.
But you’d never know it as, under
the direction of Toys for Tots coor- Christmas 2020, says Knudson,
dinators Allison McGraw and Star marks the 20th year the local Toys
Knudson, they efficiently receive, for Tots has been “helping give the
process and distribute donations joy of Christmas to less-fortunate
children in Indian River County.”



28 Vero Beach 32963 / December 17, 2020 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

STORY & PHOTOS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 26
Anthony Mcghee.

According to their website, last year they have never had a permanent
they distributed 36,592 toys and home. Through the generosity of
supported 5,538 children. businesses such as the Indian River
Mall, Glendale Properties, Indian
This year everyone (even Santa, River County and others, Toys for
for goodness sake) has had to make Tots has been able to set up a tem-
numerous adjustments because of porary headquarters with a make-
the pandemic. Volunteers all wear shift office and space to stash extra
masks, and instead of families donations, supplies and a small re-
signing their children up at one of frigerator.
several merry and bright locations
throughout the community, appli- Their own Christmas letter will
cations needed to be made online. read something like: “Dear Santa,
we (desperately) need our own per-
Additionally, rather than have manent home, preferably air-con-
volunteers get their reindeer groove ditioned, about 5,000 square feet,
on to distribute the goodies, par- with office space, phone hook-up,
ents will be assigned specific pick- room to store and distribute toys.
up dates and locations. As a result, PS: We’ve been good. PSS: Don’t
volunteers are going above and be- worry about that chimney thing.”
yond to keep the Toys for Tots motto
in their minds and hearts: “Every Local T4T donations and distribu-
child deserves a Christmas.” tions are currently underway. Do-
nations of new, unwrapped toys (no
The original nonprofit organiza- toy weapons, food, candy or cloth-
tion began in 1947, the brainchild ing) can be dropped off at their cur-
of Marine Corps Reserve Maj. Bill rent location in the Indian River
Hendricks, whose wife Diane had Mall or at various marked locations
a few handcrafted dolls she wanted around town.
him to deliver to an agency sup-
porting children in need. For more information, call 772-
882-6185 or visit vero-beach-fl.toys-
So why the nomadic annual fortots.org. 
move? Knudson explained that



An iceberg larger than the state of The iceberg’s precise movements in soon. And the first seal pups have “When you’re talking about pen-
Rhode Island that broke off an Ant- coming days and weeks are uncertain, been born in the last fortnight,” he guins and seals during the period
arctic ice shelf in 2017 is closing in on since it’s being steered by ocean cur- said. “Christmas is normally the peak that’s really crucial to them – during
South Georgia Island, a British terri- rents and storms can affect it as well. of breeding activity.” pup and chick-rearing – the actual dis-
tory in the south Atlantic Ocean. However, it’s so close to the island that tance they have to travel to find food
a collision appears more likely than Geraint Tarling, an ecologist at [fish and krill] really matters,” Tarling
The iceberg, designated A68a by the not, and much more likely than just the British Antarctic Survey, said last said. “If they have to do a big detour,
National Ice Center, is being steered a month ago, when the iceberg began month that the iceberg could have it means they’re not going to get back
by ocean currents to a position closer drawing closer to the island. “massive implications” for local spe- to their young in time to prevent them
to the island, which is home to large cies, especially if it becomes stuck starving to death in the interim.”
colonies of penguins, seals and other “It is so large that the local wildlife there for a long time.
unique wildlife. The Royal Air Force conducted an
Satellite image of Iceberg A68a, overflight of the iceberg last week to
The iceberg is less than 31 miles off bottom, as it nears South Georgia get a better idea of its size, stability and
the coast of South Georgia Island, and Island, top. motion.
a shallow shelf area extending from
the island means that a collision could “The imagery stills, video footage and
occur this month if ocean currents
push the iceberg northward. CONTINUED ON PAGE 32

The iceberg is more than 650 feet will struggle to get to food sourc-
thick, with about nine-tenths of it un- es, and we may see a population
derwater, according to David Long, di- crash.”
rector of the center for remote sensing
at Brigham Young University who has Mark Belchier, director of
been tracking the iceberg. Above the fisheries and environment for
water, the iceberg features steep cliffs the government of South Geor-
along its edges. gia and the South Sandwich
Islands, told BBC News that
“If it does hit the island, it will hit wildlife on the island are
the undersea shelf and ground off- at a particularly sensitive
shore,” Long said via email. “Note that point in their life cycle,
the island and iceberg are about the as it’s a critical time of
same size!” year for breeding.

Should the iceberg, which is about “The nests have
93 miles long and 30 miles wide, be- been built for gen-
come grounded just off the coast, it too penguins, and
could become difficult for the millions eggs will be laid
of king and macaroni penguins, and
seabirds, to find food, such as fish, Unique wildlife could be threatened by an
forcing them to travel long distances. iceberg larger than the state of Rhode Island

Tens of thousands of elephant, leop- that broke off Antarctica in 2017
ard, andWedell seals squeeze along the
shoreline and are now in the middle
of their mating season. Both the seals
and penguins rely on the beachfront as
mating and breeding grounds,

In addition, blue whales feed just off
the coast of the island, and this could
complicate their access to krill.

Long had previously thought the
iceberg would be at risk of getting
stuck on South Georgia Island’s east-
ern side, but it has defied those expec-
tations so far.

“I originally thought that A68a
would pass south of South Georgia Is-
land, then be swept back to ground on
the east side of the island like previous
similarly large icebergs,” he said.

The side of Iceberg A68a as pictured
by a Royal Air Force photographer
in December.

32 Vero Beach 32963 / December 17, 2020 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 31 INSIGHT COVER STORY

A birdseye view of Iceberg A68A

visual observations will all assist in pre- iceberg is now smaller, about the size
dicting the iceberg’s future behaviour of Rhode Island.
and ascertaining the scale of the threat
to the local area,” the British Forces The Antarctic Peninsula, where the
South Atlantic Islands stated. Larsen C Ice Shelf is located, is one
of the fastest-warming areas in the
There is no permanent human pop- world. In February, a temperature of
ulation on South Georgia. But up to nearly 70 degrees was recorded on
25 British Antarctic Survey personnel Seymour Island in the Antarctic Pen-
staff 2 research stations. insula, which may be the continent’s
highest temperature on record.
When A68a broke away from the
Larsen C ice shelf in Antarctica in July As ice shelves like Larsen C melt,
2017, it measured nearly 2,300 square they free up inland ice to move into
miles — about the size of Delaware. Af- the ocean, raising sea levels. Many
ter shedding ice at its edges and break- other parts of the Antarctic Ice Sheet
ing off chunks as it traveled through are also showing signs of instability.
the rough waters of “Iceberg Alley,” the
For example, the Pine Island Gla-

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / December 17, 2020 33

INSIGHT COVER STORY

cier is melting, shedding icebergs as it cause the West Antarctic Ice Sheet to approximately 183 miles long and 23 across the Southern Ocean for some 18
does. An international scientific effort slide into the sea, raising global aver- miles wide – larger than the whole is- years, eventually breaking apart near
is underway to better understand the age sea levels by about 10 feet. land of Jamaica. the equator.
fate of Pine Island and Thwaites gla-
ciers, which already constitute about 5 The largest iceberg by area ever re- Over the next two decades, B15 broke Giant icebergs like A68A, the size
percent of global sea level rise. corded by satellite photography was into several smaller icebergs. In 2018, a of states or cities, are still compara-
B15, which calved from the Ross Ice large piece of the original iceberg sailed tively rare – usually calving once per
Should Thwaites be lost, it could Shelf in March 2000 and measured past South Georgia after meandering decade. 

34 Vero Beach 32963 / December 17, 2020 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

INSIGHT OPINION

For too long, the entertainment in- products) weren’t likely to feel the con- ences’ habits, which long shutdowns television productions to ramp back
dustry has tolerated stars who used sequences of these attitudes: What’s a have only accelerated. up, getting people across the industry
their platforms to stoke vaccine skep- measles outbreak when you have ac- back to work, ending costly shutdowns
ticism, even as declining childhood cess to a concierge doctor and a pala- According to a report earlier this year and concluding awkward debates over
vaccination rates contributed to a re- tial vacation home to quarantine in? from the Deloitte Center for Technol- whether the movie industry counts as
surgence of measles and tetanus. That ogy, Media & Telecommunications, 22 “essential."
complacency should have ended years But, suddenly, anti-science attitudes percent of American consumers have
ago; now, it must end immediately. aren’t so good for Tinseltown’s business. paid to watch a new movie at home It shouldn’t take a global pandemic
during the pandemic, and 90 percent and an existential threat to its core
Vaccines are the quickest way to end Movie-going, imperiled before the of them said they would do so again. business model to convince a sup-
the coronavirus pandemic – and, with pandemic by the rise of streaming vid- posedly liberal industry such as Hol-
it, the existential danger COVID-19 eo, has been forced into hibernation Some 42 percent of survey respon- lywood to stamp out – or at least step
poses to the movie business as well as by public health measures. Last year, dents in a subsequent Deloitte report up to – the pernicious falsehoods that
the rest of us. Hollywood should go big Americans spent $11.3 billion on movie said that even after the pandemic animate anti-vaccine sentiments.
on a COVID -19 vaccination campaign, tickets. Through Friday, this year’s box- ends, they would definitely or prob-
both in its own self-interest and be- office take at U.S. theaters is just over $2 ably prefer to see new movies at home To be sure, some stars, such as Ice T,
cause it’s the right thing to do. billion, with most of that spent in Janu- if offered a choice between streaming are doing their part to recruit partici-
ary and February. a movie or seeing it in a theater at the pants to clinical trials.
Before the global pandemic, Holly- same price on the same weekend. Just
wood seemed to tolerate anti-scientific With the release of “Dune” resched- 35 percent said they would definitely It’s astonishing, though, that the in-
attitudes as an unpleasant eccentricity uled to 2021 and“WonderWoman 1984” or probably prefer going to a theater. dustry hasn’t mobilized a pro-vaccine
rather than as the serious threat to public and “Soul” going straight to streaming, campaign. There’s a model for this,
health they are. See comedian Jenny Mc- no dramatic, last-minute turnaround is As the pandemic drags on, movie including the role Elvis Presley played
Carthy and legendary actor Robert De in the offing. lovers may get hooked on their new in polio vaccination efforts. It’s also a
Niro pushing nonexistent links between streaming subscriptions or get used to lot easier to record public service an-
vaccination and childhood autism. Even more challenging than COV- paying $20 or $30 fees for new releases nouncements from people’s living
ID-driven theater closures and occu- that, while expensive, are not as costly as rooms than it is to stand up and staff
Or, more recently, “Black Panther” pancy limits are the changes in audi- buying movie theater tickets for a family an operation such as the Hollywood
and “Small Axe” star Letitia Wright shar- of four. The Deloitte researchers’ assess- Canteen, the social club for service-
ing a video from an anti-LGBTQ chan- ment is grim:“After the pandemic is over, members that the industry operated
nel featuring British commentator Tomi it is unclear what role movie theaters will during World War II as both a public
Arayomi spouting conspiracy theories play in consumer entertainment.” service and public relations tool.
about COVID-19 vaccines because, she
said in a tweet she later deleted, the clip If Hollywood and theater owners Complacency toward vaccine skep-
“raised my concerns with what the vac- want the big-screen experience to re- ticism should have ended years ago.
cine contains and what we are putting main enticing, they need to remind The industry owes it to the public,
in our bodies.” audiences that there are communal and to everyone who creates movies,
and artistic pleasures to movie-going to make up for lost time by telling the
Even stars who haven’t charged into that they can’t get from the comfort of truth about vaccines as loudly and as
battle against scientific evidence and their couches. And the quickest way often as possible. 
traditional medicine (or those lifestyle to get theaters open again – and to get
entrepreneurs such as Gwyneth Pal- audiences confident enough to return A version of this column by Alyssa
trow who peddle dubious and some- to them – is prompt mass vaccination. Rosenberg first appeared in The Wash-
times potentially harmful “wellness” ington Post. It does not necessarily rep-
Vaccinations would allow film and resent the views of Vero Beach 32963.

During the coronavirus crisis, our Pelican Plaza office is closed to visitors. We appreciate your understanding.

© 2020 Vero Beach 32963 Media, all rights reserved Mitral Valve Regurgitation,PartIII testing to confirm and determine the location, type and extent
of your valve disease.
A healthy mitral valve keeps blood flowing through the heart In addition to a chest X-ray and EKG (electrocardiogram), the
in the right direction during a heartbeat. However, if the valve cardiologist may order one or more of the following:
doesn’t close and seal completely, blood leaks backward in the  Echocardiogram (aka “echo”) – a type of ultrasound
heart, a condition called mitral valve regurgitation. High-frequency sound waves are sent through a transducer
This can be caused by problems with the mitral valve itself (“pri- placed on your chest to produce pictures of the heart’s
mary” regurgitation) or from diseases of the left ventricle, one valves, chambers and pumping action
of the four chambers of the heart (“secondary” or functional  Specialized echos
regurgitation). o Exercise stress echocardiogram
Performed as you exercise to see how your heart
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS works when you are active
o Transesophageal echo (TEE)
Some people first learn they might have mitral regurgitation A special tube called an endoscope is passed into the
during a routine physical when the doctor listens to their heart mouth and down the esophagus to let the doctor get a
through a stethoscope and hears a murmur – a whooshing closer view of the heart
sound – that may indicate blood is leaking backward through o Myocardial strain imaging
their mitral valve. For others, symptoms may develop over time Checks for changes in heart function
or appear suddenly. o 3D echo
Symptoms of mitral regurgitation may include: Displays parts of the heart in three dimensions
 A fast heartbeat or feeling your heartbeat flutter  Cardiac computerized tomography (CT, “CAT scan”)
 Chest pain or discomfort Produces a cross-sectional view of the heart (with or without
 Cough, especially when you lie down IV contrast dye) which can help determine if you would be a
 Shortness of breath that gets worse during activity or when good candidate for robotic mitral valve repair
you lie on your back  Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
 Swollen feet or ankles Creates moving images of the heart’s valves and chambers;
 Weakness, dizziness or fatigue detects abnormal blood flow
Acute mitral regurgitation usually occurs after a heart attack, in-  Cardiac catheterization (aka cardiac cath or coronary angiogram)
jury or infection of the heart (infective endocarditis), which can An invasive procedure that threads a thin tube (catheter)
rupture the valve or surrounding structure, leaving an opening through a blood vessel in your arm or groin into an artery of
for blood to move backward. Symptoms appear immediately. your heart with dye; can detect a narrowed or insufficient
They require diagnosis, treatment and, if the leakage is severe, valve
emergency surgery. Your cardiologist may repeat tests to see if and how your valve dis-
ease is progressing to help make treatment decisions, if needed.
MAKING THE DIAGNOSIS Your comments and suggestions for future topics are always wel-
come. Email us at [email protected].
If your primary care physician discovers you may have mitral re-
gurgitation, he or she will likely refer you to a cardiologist for

36 Vero Beach 32963 / December 17, 2020 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

INSIGHT BOOKS

When Becky Cooper was a the threads of the benign stumble over a few words,
junior at Harvard, her friend’s cold case to larger may contribute to a sense of the un-
boyfriend told her a story cultural issues, winding of the plot, but it does little
about the murder of a gradu- including the per- to contribute to our understanding
ate student in the university’s ceptual biases of the long-ago murder or the cli-
archaeology department. This of archaeology, mate in which it was perpetrated.
was in the 1960s, he said. The sexism in pre-
victim had been having an af- It is hard not to think, reading a
fair with one of her professors mier academic section detailing the sexism that
– a romance that began while institutions and other women at Harvard faced,
they were on a dig together in the narratives about the women who attended
Iran. When he tried to end the we project onto less-prestigious institutions or who
relationship, she wouldn’t let murdered wom- never got to attend college at all. Or
it go. So he murdered her, then en. Cooper has made a welcome entry into the an- about why some unsolved murders
hid her body under his coat and nals of true crime – a genre glutted with amateur get lengthy investigations and oth-
carried her to his office. There, investigators, most of them not very good, inserting ers hardly receive any attention. But
he adorned her naked body in themselves into unsolved mysteries. Cooper chose to write about this
the necklaces they’d unearthed Cooper’s tale features some of that as well, some- woman, Jane Britton, and she does so with remark-
on the dig. He covered her in times to great effect. It’s hard not to feel a shiver of able sensitivity and grace. Britton comes off like a
red ocher – a powdered pigment apprehension for her as she walks, alone, down a real person: witty, morbid, fierce, frenetic, intriguing,
found in ancient burial sites. Har- long country road to knock on the door of a man complicated and ultimately unknowable in the way
vard covered it up, and the killer who’s been avoiding her interview requests for that all strangers are.
went free. years. At other times, though, Cooper’s attempts to In 2018, the district attorney for Middlesex County
draw parallels between her own life and Jane’s can announced that investigators had solved Britton’s
By the time Cooper heard that feel overwrought, straining the limits of the story. murder using DNA samples taken from the crime
story, the case was 40 years cold. “We had come a long way from the pre-Feminine scene – spurred on, in part, by Cooper’s relent-
It had become an apocryphal tale Mystique days, but the model I’d inherited of be- less push for more information about the case. The
of sex, violence and the culture of ing a strong, independent woman left no space for abrupt resolution upends the investigation on which
impunity at elite institutions. In needing to be loved,” she writes at one point. “And she had spent nearly a decade. As she struggles to
reality, hardly any of those details as I tried to own this power, I discovered, as perhaps make sense of new information, her writing becomes
were true. The case was real: On Jan. 7, 1969, three Jane did, that this trailblazing did nothing to sup- more fragmented and impressionistic. It is an un-
graduate students discovered the body of a fellow plant the need for companionship. … In Jane’s du- usual but fascinating inversion of the genre – the
student, 23-year-old Jane Britton, bludgeoned to ality, I felt like my version of femininity finally had moment a crime is solved is when, traditionally, the
death in her apartment. It made newspapers across room to breathe.” story comes together – but Cooper uses it as an op-
the country – “College Girl Axed to Death In Blood- There are moments, too, when her recounting of portunity to turn to even bigger questions. “People
Covered Apartment,” one headline read. But despite her reporting weighs the book down. Re-creating a are more than symbols. Not everything has thematic
public interest and a lengthy investigation, police bit of small talk among students before an archae- heft,” she writes. “The tools of storytelling can blind
couldn’t find the killer. ology class, or attaching significance to a subject’s us from the truth. How then do you tell a responsible
story about the past after all?”
One key detail of the original story was true: Red It’s an essential question, one every true-crime
ocher was found on Britton’s body. It was the kind writer should be asking. The first version of the story
of insider’s clue that strongly suggested to the stu- Cooper heard was little more than a rumor. But in the
dents and faculty of the archaeology department book, she carefully investigates every lead, reports
that the killer was one of their own. That fact, and every fact and contextualizes for the reader the cul-
the inability of the police to solve the crime, kicked ture that gave rise to the original story. If it is possible
off decades of speculation and a litany of suspects to write responsibly about the past, then surely she’s
— none of whom escape Cooper’s investigative eye done it. 
in her exhaustive and extraordinary new book, “We
Keep the Dead Close: A Murder at Harvard and a WE KEEP THE DEAD CLOSE
Half Century of Silence.”
A MURDER AT HARVARD AND
The most noteworthy element of Cooper’s book
might be its reportorial ambition. Over 400 pages, A HALF CENTURY OF SILENCE
she doggedly tracks down primary sources and
digs for decades-old documents. It is a testament BY BECKY COOPER | GRAND CENTRAL PUBLISHING 512 PP. $29
to her skills as a writer that she is able to connect REVIEW BY MARIN COGAN, THE WASHINGTON POST

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / December 17, 2020 37

INSIGHT BRIDGE

COUNTING POINTS IS TOP PRIORITY WEST NORTH EAST
643 52 KQJ87
By Phillip Alder - Bridge Columnist 10 9 5 3 2 874 J6
6 Q J 10 9 K732
“‘It’s the oldest rule in the book,’ said the King. 9852 A Q J 10 K4

“‘Then it ought to be Number One,’ said Alice.” SOUTH
A 10 9
Lewis Carroll wrote that in “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland,” and it ought to be at the AKQ
beginning of all bridge books. The more counting you do, the better you will play. If you A854
can count only one thing on any given deal, make it high-card points. In a suit contract, it 763
would be great to track trumps too, but points are often more important.
Dealer: East; Vulnerable: Both
Here is a textbook example. How should South plan the play in three no-trump after
West leads a low spade in answer to his partner’s opening bid? The Bidding:

South was not wild about overcalling one no-trump without two solid spade stoppers, SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST OPENING
but it gave the best description of his hand. A good partner would have held the spade 1 NT Pass 3 NT 1 Spades
jack. All Pass LEAD:
3 Spades
When you lead partner’s suit and you did not raise, lead low from length, high from
shortness (unless you have the ace, when you lead that card; or you have touching
honors, when you start with the top toucher).

South has six top tricks: one spade, three hearts, one diamond and one club. He can
get the extra tricks by taking a winning finesse in one of the minors — but which one?

Declarer can see 10 points on the board and 17 in his hand. That leaves only 13 for the
opponents, but East had enough to open the bidding. The club finesse must have no
chance of working, but the diamond finesse is a certainty.

After taking a trick with his spade ace, South should play a club to the ace, then take
the diamond finesse three times to make his contract.

Established 18 Years in Indian River County

(772) 562-2288 | www.kitchensvero.com
3920 US Hwy 1, Vero Beach FL 32960

38 Vero Beach 32963 / December 17, 2020 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

INSIGHT GAMES

SOLUTIONS TO PREVIOUS ISSUE (DECEMBER 10) ON PAGE 64

ACROSS DOWN
1 Wait in line (5) 1 Like Her Majesty? (7)
4 Stiff paper (4) 2 Inns here (anag.) (8)
7 Poultry (4) 3 Avoid; slip one’s mind (5)
8 Fearless (8) 4 Caution; keeping (4)
9 Lively (9) 5 Elevate (5)
10 Wager (3) 6 Not as hard (6)
12 Young swan (6) 11 Board game (8)
14 Scam (6) 13 Bicycle for two (6)
16 Lion, e.g. (3) 15 Precious stone (7)
18 Not embarrassed (9) 17 Die down (5)
21 Type of pepper (8) 19 Small carnivore (5)
22 Male pig (4) 20 Enticement (4)
23 Amount owed (4)
24 Part of a tyre (5)

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

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / December 17, 2020 39

INSIGHT GAMES

ACROSS 79 Embassy sights 27 Smell and then some The Washington Post
81 Transcend ending 30 Out of one’s slumber
1 Provoke 82 Finch or Hawke 31 Filled out a questionnaire FIRST CROSSWORD ON THE MOON By Merl Reagle
5 Random House founder 84 Meditation technique 36 Devon diapers
9 Mister Roberts extra 85 Word said twice in a 38 Honor-card combo, in bridge THE Art & Science
12 Madrid museum 40 Persuade
17 Bulwer-Lytton heroine Mamet title 44 Oklahoma athlete of Cosmetic Surgery
18 Capital of South Australia 86 “That’s ___ know” 45 Former Spanish coin
20 On ___ (fleeing) 88 Famed stick wielder 46 Canine classic SPECIALTIES INCLUDE:
21 Deal with a defamer 89 Moon vehicle acronym 48 Org. with wealthy • Minimal Incision Lift for the
23 Fighting unit 91 Sum again
24 Ishtar’s other name 92 Mistake of a sort ministers Face, Body, Neck & Brow
25 Holiday quaff 95 Farrow and Hamm 49 Newspaper publisher’s article • Breast Augmentations
26 It may go cold 98 ___ Arbor
28 Big inits. in paperback 99 After 6, in ads approval & Reductions
101 Tennis star who won 51 Chicago cable station • Post Cancer Reconstructions
publishing 54 Belief that “things • Chemical Peels • Botox
29 Wellington dweller the 1988 U.S. Open • Laser Surgery • Tummy Tucks
32 Homorist Bombeck 104 Racine of Body Heat or represent ideas” • Obagi Products • Liposculpture
33 Trivial Pursuit game 55 Theater need: abbr. • Skin Cancer Treatments
Ravine of Fatal Instinct 57 ___ of absence
piece 105 Vaquero’s rope
34 Percolate 107 Cow or horse home? 58 Call Me Madam madam
35 Corn syrup, e.g. 108 Free sample sign 60 Country Music
109 Trousers feature
37 Controversial boonies blast, 111 Laborious learning Hall of Famer Whisperin’ ___
briefly 114 Libeled Lady star Jean 61 Noble House author
115 “Drove my Chevy 64 Ransacked
39 Old covert org. to ___ ...” 66 Schnozz or Motor follower
41 Singer Jarreau and others 116 Dress designer Wang 67 Acronym on a police jacket
42 H.H. Munro’s pseudonym 117 Daily Planet reporter 70 Noggin scan, briefly
43 Micro___abrasion 118 “Aw, keep ___ 73 Hero of sorts
44 It offers a healing feeling 77 Nail alternative
47 Return of the Jedi shirt on” 80 “___ Fort Knox”
119 Declares 82 Gallery events
creatures 120 Irish island group 83 1984’s The Bounty, for
49 Extremely softly,
in mus. DOWN example
50 Winner of four gold 85 Nonspecialized
1 Galileo was one
medals in 1936 2 Crowd pleaser 87 Final
52 Hefty ref. 3 Knockout combo 88 Involving bones
4 Laverne’s TV last name
53 Do the same as 5 Magna ___ 90 Athena’s Roman
54 Set pieces? 6 Fords that failed counterpart
56 Cracker’s name? 7 Fam. member
8 Winter warmers 91 Hacienda’s cousin
59 Honey lover, to 9 Sandra Dee or Sally Field title 93 Causing less sweat
Hernandez
role 94 “Town Without Pity”
60 “See ya” 10 Poetic paean singer
61 Treatment center
62 Ms. Kidman 11 Ernie’s Muppet pal 96 Swooning fan,
63 Actress Pola 12 Unfaithful, in a way for example
13 Normally: abbr.
65 Certain strainers 14 Chutzpah author 97 Lady of Spain
68 Less experienced 15 Arp’s art movement 100 Opinion
69 French star 16 Scramble alternative 102 Does dock work
19 Some terminals 103 Aired again
71 Steamed-milk orders 20 Tonsorial touch-up 106 14 Down, for ex.
72 Halloween buy 22 Menacing words 110 Maugham’s Cakes and ___
74 Intro to the Walrus 23 Latino quarter? 112 Baseball stats
75 Old-fashioned fundraiser 113 Gardner in The Killers, 1946
76 Steer clear of
77 On the down side?
78 Dam proj.

The Telegraph Proudly caring for patients over 28 years.

3790 7th Terrace, Suite 101, Vero Beach, Florida

772.562.5859

www.rosatoplasticsurgery.com

Ralph M. Rosato
MD, FACS





42 Vero Beach 32963 / December 17, 2020 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

INSIGHT BACK PAGE

Walking over eggshells to talk to a depressed spouse

BY CAROLYN HAX few times, with little change. It feels like she thinks she
Washington Post
can do this with impunity.

Resentment is building up, and my mind is scream-

Dear Carolyn: My husband has ing, “Walk away.” Advice?

depression. I want to ask how he – Stay or Go?

is doing, but how do I do that? It

doesn’t seem as simple as, “Hi, Hon- Stay or Go?: On the “stay or go?” question, my ad-
vice is what you and everyone reading this already
ey – how are you feeling?” I know knows: The “walk away” point was when you realized
the 58-day gap in your sex drives wasn’t closing.
this is a huge deal and I don’t want
I put you in the column anyway, though, to ad-
to underplay it, but I don’t want to overplay it, either. dress that little nugget of perpetual misery, the word
“should.” Though in your letter, it’s shouldn’t. Pesky
– Wondering details.

Wondering: Or add to his already heavy emotional two months, and mine is there every other day. “But our desire to take care of the other person …
workload, yes. Or hover, or vanish. It’s an excellent There have been at least a dozen incidents where she shouldn’t be that far apart.”
question.
has, last-minute, changed her mind during foreplay. What you’re saying is, because your expectation
So pick a good time and run it by him, generally: The mind-changing itself doesn’t bother me – her body, seems so reasonable, it’s also reasonable to expect her
“Does it help when I ask how you’re feeling? Is it an- her decision. to meet it – and wait around, miserably, till she com-
noying?” If annoying: “Is there a useful way for me to plies.
check in?” Try workshopping it together – but only if The frequency bothers me a little.
he’s game. Make it clear he’s not obligated to think for She hasn’t once come to me afterward and told me So my real advice is to treat every aspect of a rela-
both of you. why. She hasn’t cared enough to take care of me, even tionship – from sex drive to listening ability to gen-
though I’m visibly upset to the point of wanting to erosity of spirit to management of worst impulses to
Just walk the line firmly – vs. tiptoeing along it, leave. This bothers me a lot. ability to recognize the difference between the ham-
which, among the incredibly diverse population of I get that our needs for physical intimacy are dif- per and the floor 2 feet away from the hamper – as in-
people who struggle with depression, seems to be the ferent. But our desire to take care of the other person trinsic to a person’s being. Stop deciding certain traits
one thing that manages to annoy everybody. shouldn’t be that far apart.We have talked about this a are bendable to your preference.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness’ helpline is Talk out your differences, absolutely. Then watch
an excellent resource: 800-950-NAMI. for change. And when changes don’t come, accept
they aren’t coming.
Dear Carolyn: I have been in a relationship for a
year. I’m a touchy-feely-kissy person, and she’s not. Then decide whether you fit. 
Her need for physical intimacy wakes up once every

REEL DEAL: INSIDE BALLET VERO’S
FILMING OF ‘NUTCRACKER’

44 Vero Beach 32963 / December 17, 2020 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

ARTS & THEATRE

Reel deal: Inside Ballet Vero’s filming of ‘Nutcracker’

PHOTOS BY KAILA JONES

BY MARY SCHENKEL | STAFF WRITER Beach found a way to not just think original holiday production, “Nut- they were already on a trajectory to
outside the box, but outside the the- cracker on the Indian River.” do more of the same.
When the coronavirus put a halt ater – filming and offering free view-
to in-person productions, Ballet Vero ings of a condensed version of their A local take on the famed Nutcrack- His next call was to Ken Grudens,
er, this ballet takes place in 1919. It fol- executive director of the Indian River
lows young Marie Stahlbaum on a trip Land Trust, which has been a partner
to Vero Beach to spend the holidays since the conceptualization of Nut-
with her Uncle Drosselmeyer and is re- cracker on the Indian River.
plete with the flora and fauna
of the Indian River Lagoon. “We always wanted to high-
light the fragility of the lagoon;
Adam Schnell, artistic that’s where it takes place,”
director/CEO of says Schnell. He recalls say-
ing to Ken, “This is going to
sound crazy, but I want to

Ballet Vero Beach, Katherine Eppink and Anders
says the filming Southerland as the Sugar Plum
concept began
forming when the Fairy and her Cavalier.
impossibility of
large assemblag- do it as a film outside,
es of dancers and and I want to offer it to
audiences became
clear. the whole commu-
nity for free.
Schnell says Are you in?”
he spoke to his Without
filmmaker, Lance missing a beat,
Glenn, who has
filmed numerous Grudens replied,
BVB rehearsal footages “Absolutely.”
and shots, saying, “Let’s fig- After explaining that they
ure it out.” would a need property with
a large enough clearing to set
“He’s been around up a dance floor and space for
dance so long that even their camera crew, Grudens
though he’s not a danc- and his staff determined that
er, he has such an eye for the newly acquired Hoffmann
bringing out what chore- property would fit the bill.
ographers want and how “He took me out there
dancers want to be filmed,” and what I love about that
says Schnell. He adds that in property is we could shoot
April, when they released from all sides. So, then the
their season finale on film, wheels started turning,” says

Your Vero Beach NewsweDeaknliyel ™White. Vero Beach 32963 / December 17, 2020 45

ARTS & THEATRE

Naughty Manatee
Eva Guerra.

Schnell. Grudens suggested the Oyster Left: Dancers from Dimensions Dance Theatre of Miami. Right: Claudia Lezcano as a Land Crab. ed it to be,” says Schnell.
Bar Marsh Conservation Area and the The film is a half-hour condensed
Toni Robinson Waterfront Trail as op-
tions for additional scenes. version of the production, which PBS
recommended. It includes a small
“So that all came together very
quickly with Ken. They were incred- CONTINUED ON PAGE 46
ibly generous and basically split the
cost of improving the Hoffmann He approached the Cornelia T. Bai- Adorn yourself with our inspired
property – mowing and leveling and ley Foundation, which had provided collection of fine art jewelry.
all that sort of stuff – because they a grant toward their student matinee
saw the potential to be able to pro- program, and they made a connec- 2910 CARDINAL DRIVE, VERO BEACH • 772-234-6711 • THELAUGHINGDOGGALLERY.COM
mote what the Land Trust is doing.” tion with South Florida PBS, who said
they were interested.
After discussions with Linda
Downey, BVB board chair, and Kelly “This had to have been late July,
Ward, a founding board member, early August, and I wasn’t planning
about a place to represent Marie’s on filming until November, because
home, Ward contacted the Indian that’s when it gets cool and stops
River County Historical Society about raining around here in a typical year,”
using the Hallstrom House, the ma- Schnell recalls.
jestic home built in 1909 by Swedish
immigrant Axel Hallstrom. When PBS said they needed the fi-
nal cut by mid-October, everything
“I thought with the pandemic, was thrown into high gear.
there is no way they’re going to let us
in there. Just every step of the way I “It just exploded with this goal of
thought, it’s a dream but this is not possibly getting on PBS,” says Schnell,
going to happen.” still amazed that despite a few hic-
cups they were able to get it done so
That part of the dream came true quickly.
when Historical Society board mem-
ber Al Smith said yes. Emily Luongo, assistant technical
director at Riverside Theatre, con-
“So, we had our locations and then re- structed a 40-foot-square sprung
ally, from there, I knew I wanted it to be floor for the dancers, which he says
free. I just thought that it could be one was made by made by making ply-
of the very few bright spots in this pan- wood pallets with a hardboard cover
demic,” says Schnell. “I said, our com- that was painted to blend in with the
munity needs this. We need to be able to surroundings.
celebrate how amazing our community
is, how resilient we are, how beautiful it Luongo built and placed the floor
is – and I want it to be for free.” on the Hoffmann property Thursday
and Friday, anticipating the start of
After some internal numbers filming on Monday.
crunching, they set a modest goal and
instituted a Nutcracker Partners Cam- “She went out there and she’s send-
paign, asking donors to give $1,000 to ing me pics and it looks great,” Schnell
be credited in the film, and to help en- recalls. His excitement turned to
sure Ballet Vero Beach would not only dread when torrential rains Saturday
survive the pandemic but thrive. turned the entire area beneath the
floor into a lake.
“People got it, people understood
that they were basically giving us “I mean, if you had told me it was
$1,000 to make magic and to be able to the great flood, I would have believed
offer that magic for free,” said Schnell. it. It wasn’t floating, because of the
The campaign more than doubled way we placed it, but the water had
their goal. gone under the tarp and sucked into
the hardboard cover and completely
TV 30, a local fledgling broadcast warped it,” says Schnell. “She and I
station, donated three showings, and spent all Sunday, between the rain-
they knew they could air the produc- storms, pulling off the hardboard cov-
tion on the BVB website, but Schnell er and trying to paint the plywood, so
wanted to “think bigger.” at least it looked like something.”

“PBS has always been a childhood Fortunately, Monday was sunny,
dream of mine; it used to be the only and they were able to film everything
place to see the arts on television,” in two and a half days.
says Schnell. “I grew up thinking that
it was the be all and end all.” “The clouds parted and by the end
of that week, we had a rough cut. It
was everything we thought we want-

46 Vero Beach 32963 / December 17, 2020 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

ARTS & THEATRE

Adam Schnell looking over the
dancers at Hoffmann property.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 45 Gina Marie Saxton as Marie and
Camilo A. Rodriguez as Uncle Drosselmeyer.
portion of the first act to
set things up, and all the
second act dances except
the Waltz of the Flowers (too
many dancers to keep every-
one safe). They even made a
version, with writing on
props in Spanish.

Miranda Montes de Oca.

The cast included 16 pro-
fessional dancers: Camilo Ro-
driguez, BVB ballet master,
resident professionals Anders
Southerland and Katherine
Eppink, and 13 from their
sister company, Dimensions

Dance Theater of Miami. Gina Marie finish,” says Schnell. “I don’t know if
Saxton returned as a guest artist to it’s the pessimist in me or if it’s the
play Marie, and Eva Guerra, daughter world as we currently know it, but it
of the artistic director at Dimensions, was this little idea in the middle of
returned as the ‘naughty manatee.’ the summer, and now all of a sudden
it’s happening.”
The other 12 children, fewer than
normal for safety and the time frame, He is particularly pleased that the
included eight from the Riverside film has the broadcast potential to
Theatre dance education program, reach viewers from Key West to Indi-
and, in keeping with their communi- an River County. “That’s crazy to me!
ty engagement initiatives, four from They have an audience of over 6 mil-
the Homeless Children’s Foundation lion people.”
of IRC.
Nutcracker on the Indian River will
“Really, thank goodness for the be available for viewing from Dec. 22
Historical Society and the Land through Jan. 6. Visit balletverobeach.
Trust. It looks spectacular. It is ex- org for a complete schedule of free
actly what I wanted it to be. It’s just broadcasts and streaming options. 
been an amazing experience start to

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / December 17, 2020 47

ARTS & THEATRE

COMING UP! Giddy-up to ‘Holiday Happenings’ at the Outlets

BY PAM HARBAUGH 562-9088 or 772-538-1181 or visit First-
Correspondent PresVero.org.

1 Get on board for the horse and 5 Get ready for all those holiday
carriage rides at the Holiday cookies by participating in the

Happenings at Vero Beach Outlets. “Run Run Santa 1 Mile” race for both

The rides are free and run 1:30 p.m. to runners and walkers. It begins 7:30

3:30 p.m. this Saturday, Dec. 19, weath- a.m. Sunday, Dec. 20 in Pocahontas

er permitting. They are sponsored by Park. Upon registering, you will receive

Belgian Acres. The line for the horse a Florida style Santa Suit – a pullover

and carriage rides starts near the Wil- top, shorts, beard, hat and belt. Reg-

liam Sonoma outlet store. You can also istration costs $40, which will benefit

enjoy some Holiday Windows: ‘The the Indian River County Healthy Start

Nutcracker,” “A Charlie Brown Christ- Babies and Beyond program. Santa

mas,” “Moana” and “Legally Blonde suits must be worn. Each participant

Jr.,” which were created by a couple of receives a finisher medal, which will

great area arts providers – Riverside be in the shape of a glittery snowflake.

Theatre and Ballet Vero Beach. Those Moreover, participants will receive a

windows are near the Coach outlet Santa To-Go treat after finishing the

store. And as long as you’re there, and from the parking lot to the 5-acre farm Jacob Craig, saxophonist Gavin Mar- race. Raffle prizes will be announced
estate. Admission is a $1 donation at telloti, percussionist Joshua Evers, gui-
probably picking up a few last-minute the gate. Please wear a mask and prac- tarist Ryan Dillahay and a group of area through a raffle board. If you break
tice social distancing. Call 772-633- gifted music students. The program
goodies, be sure to stop by the Guest 0813 or visit LaPorteFarms.com. begins 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19 at the the record (5:01 for men and 5:46 for
First Presbyterian Church, 520 Royal
Services Center and enjoy a compli- Palm Blvd., Vero Beach. Admission is women), you’ll get a $100 prize. Poca-
a suggested donation of $10. Call 772-
mentary hot beverage. Guest Services hontas Park is at 2140 14th Ave., Vero

Center is next to the Michael Kors out- Beach. Race day registration starts 6:30

let store. The Vero Beach Outlets is at 3 Of course, the holidays also bring a.m. For more information, visit Run
some great music. The problem,
1824 94th Drive, Vero Beach (west of RunSanta.com or call 321-412-1830. 

I-95). Hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., but traditionally, has been that you may

many stores have different hours due want to sing along with the music, loud

to the pandemic. Call 772-770-6097. and proud. Too often, all that enthu-

siasm is met with the “stink eye” from

2 It’s a “Cowboy Christmas” this other audience members. Well, this
Saturday, Dec. 19 at LaPorte
year, thanks to the pandemic, you get

Farms. Visitors can enjoy pony rides, the chance to let loose with those im-

visiting reindeer, hayrides, face paint- pulses when a couple of holiday con-

ing, food and more. Be sure to visit certs go “virtual.” First up is a virtual

LaPorte’s “Winter Wonderland” with concert featuring the Senior Resource

more than 80,000 sparkling lights. You Association’s Silver Tones. Called “Let

can do some last-minute shopping. There Be Peace,” the virtual holiday

The big event, though, will be the ar- concert includes uplifting holiday

rival of Santa Claus, songs, such as “O Come, All

who will ride in on Ye Faithful,” “Have Yourself

horseback at 5 p.m. a Merry Little Christmas,” “A

“Cowboy Christmas” Merry Christmas Wish” and

runs 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. at “Let There Be Peace on Earth.”

LaPorte Farms, 7700 So print out the music and sing

129th Street, along with them. Directed by

Sebastian. Dr. Jacob Craig, it begins 7 p.m.

There will be Thursday, Dec. 17 at Senior-

a shuttle ResourceAssociation.org.

bus to Another virtual concert

take you is First Baptist Church of

Vero Beach’s 51st annual

presentation of “Handel’s

Messiah.” That one is di-

rected by Dr. Michael Carter and

accompanied on organ by Dr. Ray

Adams. It begins 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec.

20 at FBCVero.org. For more informa-

tion, call 772-567-4341.

4 For a live in-person holiday treat,
head to “A Jazzin’ Christmas”

at First Presbyterian Church of Vero

Beach. This lively concert stars pianist

48 Vero Beach 32963 / December 17, 2020 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PETS

Bonz is thankful Teddy and Luna have a loving home

Hi Dog Buddies! PHOTOS: KAILA JONES Luna know what being happy was till I got
here. Now I’m ackshully learning how
This week’s innerview was one of Teddy fosters for the Humane Society, which to PLAY an be a puppy, which I never
those times when I realize just how got to do. I never even barked before I
FORT-chun-nut I am. I mean, my is how she heard about poor liddle came here. I was too scared. I’m glad I
entire life I’ve been safe an happy an don’t remember a lot from back then.
loved. Not to mention the snacks. just a month before me. She’s a sweet Luna, who was uh-BAN-dunned on the But one day I was playin’ an alluva sud-
den there was this Noise. It startled
This week, I was honored to innerv- pupster, still learnin’ how to trust and side of the road by some Very, Very Bad me. Then I ree-lized – it was ME. I had
iew Teddy an Luna Montegut, rescue BARKED! Grandma an Mama Jess were
pooches from the Humane Society. understand this is her Forever Home Humans an rescued by Animal Control, cryin cuz they were so happy I’d found
Luna’s story made me wanna go snug- my voice. Mama Jess sometimes calls
gle with Grandma an Grandpa an let an we are her sometimes-rowdy-but- thank Lassie. She was in terrible shape, me Tigger cuz I like to bounce.”
’em know how much I ’pree-she-ate
’em, an that I NEVER take my evening always-loving Forever Famly.” totally terrified, injured real bad, almost “You have such a wonderful story,” I told
dish of yoghurt for granite. Luna sincerely. “So, what’s yours, Teddy?”
He turned to Luna, whose eyes were bought the doghouse. She was rushed
Me an my assistant were greeted “I got adopted cuz Jess wanted a fren
by a frenly, bouncy cluster of canines, big as saucers. She looked ready to to the vet an hadda have emergency for Luna. See, I have this terrible Sep-
all different shapes, sizes an mixtures, uh-RAY-shun Anxiety: I freak out when
mostly black coats, with some other col- FLEA. “It’s totally OK, kiddo,” Teddy said surgery. She got all sewed up an went to I get left alone, which narrows my field
ors mixed in. The largest of the group, a of puh-ten-shull Forever Famlies con-
Lab-mixture, followed by the rest of the kindly. “Bonzo’s one of the Good Guys.” live at the Humane Society. Finally, she siderably. See, when I’m left alone I,
troupe, came up for Wag-an-Sniffs. well, I tend to HOWL. Majorly. So this
Luna took a couple of hesitant steps was ready to find a Forever Famly.” famly is perfect for me. I NEVER haff
“Well, come right on in, Bonz. I’m to be alone. An everybody gets along. I
Teddy Montegut. This is our Mom Erin toward me an spoke softly. “I never had As Teddy told the tail, Luna ventured was already pretty well-mannered. An
an our human sis Jess. These two silly smart. An, here’s the Cool Kibbles part.
pooches are my sisters Pixie, a Labra- any pooches or humans be nice to me. from behind the couch to timidly check I totally love Humans an I’m very good-
doodle, an Harley, a Dach-waa-waa.” natured and easy-going. So I’m learning
This is so wonderful, sometimes I think out me an my assistant, an get reassur- to be a Comfort Dog. Mom’s in charge
In the midst of the bouncy wagfest, of an assisted living place for humans,
I noticed a tiny gray tabby kitten had I’m dreamin’.” ing words an pats from Jess. an I go to work with her an visit the hu-
joined us, jumpin’ an playin’ like she mans who live there. They talk to me an
had no idea how liddle she was an how “But you’re not,” I told her gently. Teddy continued. “The Humane give me liddle pats. An they smile. Mom
big everybody else was. It appeared she says they love me, an I totally love them
considered herself just one of the pooch- “You’re gonna be warm an safe an loved Society asked Jess if she’d foster Luna back. I am one lucky pooch.”
es. As rowdy as they were, she was right
in there with ’em. I could see the dogs for the entire rest of your life, Luna.” I while waiting for a Forever Famly, and “You an me both, Teddy,” I said, as I
were inconspicuously takin’ care not to headed home.
accidently smush her. Teddy noticed me turned to Teddy, wiping my eyes a lid- Jess agreed to. HOWEVER, when Jess
lookin’ at the kitten in amazement. The Bonz
dle. “Great famly!” I exclaimed. “May I got a call that a permanent home had
“That liddle furball is Enola. Nobody Don’t Be Shy
can convince her she’s a cat. We don’t assume you’re the Spokespooch?” been found for Luna, she was like, ‘Wait!
even try anymore. And, over there …” We are always looking for pets with
Teddy pointed to a small, sturdy, very “Absolutely! Get that notebook ready. What?’ She totally didn’t wanna lose interesting stories.
pretty, silver/gray-an-white pit bulldog
peeping timidly out from the far side of It’ll mostly be about Luna. An some Luna. THEN, buh-leeve it or not, just a To set up an interview, email
the couch, eyeing me with equal parts [email protected].
curiosity an anxiety. about me, of course. She has a Very week before Adoption Day, Luna got bit

“That’s Luna. She got here in August, Druh-MAA-tick tail.” by a BEE and went into SHOCK, cuzza

Everybody except Enola settled bein’ allergic. Jess took care of her till

down, an Teddy began. she was All Better an ree-lized there was

“My Mom and Jess really buh-leeve in No Way she was sayin’ goodbye to Luna.

helpin’ Pets Less Fortunate. Jess fosters So, that’s how Luna became a Foster

frequently. I think she knows Almost Ev- Failure and got her Forever Famly.”

erything about us pets. I mean, it’s uh- “I can’t imagine a better one,” I declared.

MAY-zing. Anyway, she volunteers AN Luna spoke up again. “I didn’t even

TREATING HORMONAL ISSUES SO
KIDS CAN HAVE ‘NORMAL CHILDHOOD’

50 Vero Beach 32963 / December 17, 2020 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

HEALTH

Treating hormonal issues so kids can have ‘normal childhood’

BY KERRY FIRTH of early puberty and how confusing Dr. Miladys Palau-Collazo. diatric endocrinology so I could help
Correspondent it would be for them to understand these children and their parents un-
what is happening and why they are PHOTOS: BRENDA AHEARN derstand that with the right medica-
Dr. Miladys Palau-Collazo is the different from their peers. Where tion and diet, they can have a normal
only pediatric endocrinologist be- does a parent turn to get answers? life without worrying about such cata-
tween the Palm Beaches and Mel- The first stop would be to see your strophic things.”
bourne. She opened her practice in
Port St. Lucie in July 2020 after having child’s pediatrician, who would in A native of Puerto Rico, Palau-Col-
worked at a hospital in Palm Beach turn refer you to a pediatric endocri- lazo completed her pediatric residen-
Gardens for seven years. “I treated a lot nologist specializing in treating chil- cy at New York Presbyterian Hospital
of patients from the Port St. Lucie area dren with endocrine and metabolic and Weill Cornell Medical Center in
while I was in Palm Beach Gardens conditions from birth through adoles- New York City and her fellowship in
and realized that there was no doctor cence – someone like Dr. Palau-Col- pediatric endocrinology at Yale-New
on the Treasure Coast specializing in lazo. Haven Hospital/Yale School of Medi-
hormonal imbalances in children, so I cine in Connecticut.
wanted to fill that void,” explained Dr. As a medical student at the Univer-
Palau-Collazo. “Children dealing with sity of Puerto Rico/Medical Science, About 25 percent of Dr. Palau-Col-
thyroid issues, puberty disorders, Dr. Palau-Collazo attended a diabetes lazo’s patients come in with diabetes
obesity, diabetes and genetic disor- summer camp where she quickly be- issues, a chronic health condition that
ders feel so isolated and confused that came aware of the obstacles a diabetic affects how the body turns food into
it affects their social life. My goal is to child faces. energy. It occurs when blood sugar
diagnose and control the problem so is too high and the body either does
they can have a normal childhood.” “I naively thought that they could not make enough insulin or cannot
take a shot and live a normal life” use the insulin it makes as well as it
As children grow, hormonal imbal- she said. “But instead, I heard camp- should to turn the blood glucose into
ances can affect their growth and sex- ers taking bets on when they thought energy.
ual development, which in turn has they’d lose a leg or go blind. I real-
dramatic effects on their physical and ized that they had a very small view Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune
emotional well-being. Imagine hav- of what their future would look like. condition where the body attacks it-
ing your 6-year-old child show signs That’s when I decided to go into pe- self by mistake and stops making in-
sulin – a hormone that regulates the
movement of sugar into your cells.

Generally, there is no family his-
tory for this type of diabetes. Warning
signs are excessive drinking, urina-
tion, abdominal pain and vomiting.
Type 1 diabetes cannot be prevented
or cured, and the patient will have
to monitor their blood sugar often,
count their carbohydrates and give
insulin accordingly via an injection or
through an insulin pump.

“I’ve had patients as young as 10 give
themselves their own injections but
most of the time the parent needs to
be involved in the process,” Dr. Palau-
Collazo said. “My own opinion is that
if they aren’t old enough to drive, they
aren’t old enough to be responsible for
administering their own medication.”

Type 2 diabetes is a condition where

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