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Published by Vero Beach 32963 Media, 2017-01-12 15:53:21

01/12/2017 ISSUE 02

MB32951_ISSUE02_011217_OPT

MELBOURNE BEACH Runners caught having fun at
Cops & Robbers 5K. P8
Brevard's South Barrier Island Newsweekly Bicyclists pumped
www.melbournebeach32951.com for charity ride. P10

Lots of potter-ing around
at Foosaner Family Fun Day. P9

MY TAKE PHOTO BY JULIAN LEEK Greyhound park
pulling for slots
BY WILLIAM SOKOLIC 2 helicopter rescues in Melbourne Beach in 7 days in Brevard soon

Polar plungers display BY CHRIS BONANNO the other located when lost. called in a medevac helicop- BY WILLIAM SOKOLIC
a high degree of pluck Staff Writer On Dec. 29, the power of the ter. The helicopter landed in Staff Writer
the parking lot at Immaculate
I spent New Year’s Day Two people were rescued ocean caught up with a swim- Conception Catholic Church Lillian Shaffer and Linda
on the beach at Indialantic. by helicopters in Melbourne mer who was slammed by the near Driftwood Plaza where Bieniewicz poured over stats
Blue skies and temperatures Beach during a seven-day pe- surf at Coconut Point Park. The the injured woman was taken on the dogs racing at Mel-
in the upper 70s greeted the riod beginning Dec. 29, one woman suffered a traumatic onboard and transported to bourne Greyhound Park Fri-
throngs of people celebrating evacuated to a hospital, and injury and Brevard County day before placing their bets.
2017 on the sand. It reminded Fire Rescue first responders CONTINUED ON PAGE 5 The two women were among
me of summer on the beach some two dozen track en-
in Ventnor or Brigantine, N.J. thusiasts in the mostly
Even the annoying seagulls empty 2,200-seat clubhouse
bore a resemblance to the at the start of a four-month
Jersey Shore. racing meet.

I half-expected to see the The cavernous clubhouse
ice cream man, wheeling a
cart or lugging a heavy bag, CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
a ubiquitous presence on
New Jersey beaches. But with Trucked-in sand is
Cold Stone Creamery right by repairing the dunes
the beach, who needs the ice mauled by Matthew
cream man, I say.
BY GEORGE WHITE
What I didn’t do was go Staff Writer
into the water unlike other
hearty souls young and old. Dump trucks are rolling
The temperature in the At- on the A1A bridge over the
lantic Ocean hovered around Sebastian inlet, transporting
70, give or take a few degrees. sand stored on the Brevard
I don’t set foot in the ocean side to beaches at the north-
ern tip of Indian River Coun-
CONTINUED ON PAGE 4 ty that were gouged by Hur-
ricane Matthew’s high wind
Want to be a lifeguard? Now’s your chance and pounding water.

BY WILLIAM SOKOLIC two open tryouts for coveted spots The $275,000, month-long
Staff Writer on the 2017 Brevard County Ocean project started Jan. 3 by the
Rescue team. A second tryout will Sebastian Inlet District will
Beaches are Brevard County’s big- be held March 4, as the lifeguard truck 30,000 cubic yards of
gest asset and keeping them safe is a service seeks to fill 25 positions for sand from a storage facil-
high priority. It’s also not a bad job if the March to October busy season, ity located on the northwest
you are a strong swimmer and enjoy offering starting pay around $10
spending hours by the water. per hour. CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

On Jan. 14, more than 50 hopefuls The tryouts will be held at Rock-
are expected to compete in the first of
CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

January 12, 2017 Volume 2, Issue 2 Newsstand Price $1.00 Another reef will
be installed off
News 1-6 Editorial 22 People 7-10 TO ADVERTISE CALL Canaveral. Page 5
Arts 11-14 Faith 24 Pets 33 772-559-4187
Books 23 Games 25-27 Real Estate 35-40
Calendar 34 Health 15-18 Style 29-30 FOR CIRCULATION
Dining 31 Insight 19-21 CALL 772-226-7925

© 2016 Vero Beach 32963 Media LLC. All rights reserved.

2 Melbourne Beach 32951 | January 12, 2017 Brevard’s South Beach Newsweekly ™

NEWS

Slot machines hassee nine times in the next three Broward could vote yes and get slots, promise. “Seminole Tribe of Florida
months. Plus, we have a good lobbyist.” other counties should be allowed to representatives have met with Gov.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 do the same – and without another Rick Scott as part of their ongoing
His optimism is not without some constitutional amendment. The own- effort and continuing desire to final-
was empty for good reason. The track foundation. Voters in Brevard said yes ers of the greyhound track in Gads- ize a new gaming compact with the
fails to entice bettors who long for to slots in a 2012 referendum, with 57 den County sued the state to overturn state,” spokesman Gary Bitner said
gambling that offers more instant percent of the votes in favor. Despite the ban. That case is now before the in a statement. “As further evidence
gratification. those and other results – voters in Florida Supreme Court. Oral argu- of its positive approach, the Tribe is
seven other counties have passed slot ments were held in June and the case continuing to make monthly com-
They long for slots. machine referendums – the state leg- remains pending. pact payments to the state that will
“They have my permission to have islature has failed to approve slots in total $306 million over the 2016-2017
slots,” said Shaffer, of Sebastian, who those counties. The Seminole Tribe “The constitution spells out that fiscal year. The Seminole Tribe is
keeps writing her legislators to make pays a lot of money to the state as part nothing can happen until at least four open to discussions and negotiations
it happen. of an agreement that keeps slots out justices agree on a result,” said Craig to finalize a new gaming compact
“We want it,” said Bieniewicz, of of counties other than Miami-Dade Waters, a spokesman for the Supreme with Florida.”
Montauk, Long Island, who winters and Broward, the two South Florida Court. “Generally that takes an aver-
in Indialantic. counties that approved slots following age of about six months, but can be Several calls to several legislators
So does Jim O’Brien. As president a constitutional amendment in 2004. longer in complex cases.” for comment were not returned.
and CEO of Melbourne Greyhound
Park, he is hopeful the legislature will “It’s been contentious,” O’Brien said While a favorable Supreme Court O’Brien is also hoping the new bill
approve slot machines for parks like of the struggle. “But we think logi- ruling would help out Gadsden will allow decoupling – an end to the
his this year – despite reticent law- cal minds will prevail when we show County and open the door for slots in required dog track meets. “We lose
makers and the powerful Seminole them why our way is more prudent.” Brevard, O’Brien is betting the legis- $190,000 a year on the dogs,” he said.
Tribe, which has a gambling compact lature will act on its own. But that is “And we have one of the best main-
with the state. Opponents say a constitutional where the Seminole Tribe can get in tained tracks in the state. We still
A new gaming bill is expected to be amendment is needed, not just a the way. A 2010 compact between the work hard at it . . . [but] it’s a fact the
introduced this month. If approved, county-by-county referendum. Seminoles and the state said approval dog track industry nationwide sees a
it could lead to more than 350 year- of slots in counties other than Miami- declining number of people coming
round jobs as well as provide another “If other counties want to offer Dade and Broward would forfeit hun- to watch.”
tourism amenity in Brevard County. slot machines, our position is, have dreds of millions of dollars the Tribe
“I am optimistic this time around,” another state constitutional amend- pays Florida in exchange for the ex- Simulcasting horse races generates 35
O’Brien said. “I expect to visit Talla- ment to overturn the general prohibi- clusivity. percent of the revenues at the park while
tion,” said Paul Seago of No Casinos, a the poker room produces 65 percent.
Florida advocacy group. The Tribe has not ruled out a com-
If slots are approved, the grey-
Supporters say if Miami-Dade and

Lifeguards

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

ledge High School, 220 Raider Road, Rockledge, Grady Broughton and AJ Nicholson warn Avery Sherard (white shorts), Natalie
where candidates should arrive at the school swim- Rhodes and Caleb Rhodes of the dangerous shore break. PHOTO BY RYAN CLAPPER
ming pool no later than 7 a.m.
Not everyone who makes it to the academy com- per academy but we do encourage them to come
The number of participants trying out fluctuates pletes the course. back at a later date,” he said.
from year to year, said Ocean Rescue Chief Eisen
Witcher. “Back in 2008, we had close to 110 try out.” “Training is a rigorous process and some don’t More information on the tryouts and Brevard
come in for the right reasons or are not up to the County Ocean Rescue can be found at www.brevard-
While no lifeguarding experience is necessary, challenge. We have an average of three to five drops fl.gov/FireRescue/OceanServices 
applicants must be over the age of 16 on the day of
the tryout and be excellent swimmers. All contend-
ers must bring a valid driver’s license, Social Secu-
rity card, appropriate swim attire, a towel and run-
ning shoes. Aspirants will be required to swim 500
meters in less than 10 minutes, complete a 1-mile
run on a track in less than 10 minutes and perform
a physical agility test that includes push-ups.

“There is no advance sign-up but we do encourage
people to gather information to better prepare them-
selves either by calling or from our website,” Witcher
said. “It is good idea to practice in a pool and get your
pacing and stroke down. We get a 30 to 35 percent fail
rate because candidates swim too fast and get tired
or swim too slowly and do not make the times.”

Candidates selected in the first round must also
pass a background test and successfully complete
Ocean Rescue’s paid training academy.

“Aside from the swim, run and physical require-
ments, we conduct a short interview to make sure
we acquire well-rounded individuals who not only
have physicality but can interact with beach pa-
trons and tourists,” Witcher said.

Brevard Ocean Rescue operates 25 towers, typi-
cally with two guards per tower. “Sometimes con-
ditions require more attention and we will up the
staff,” Witcher added.

Brevard’s South Beach Newsweekly ™ Melbourne Beach 32951 | January 12, 2017 3

NEWS

hound park owners expect to spend play rooms for families, and a hotel construction jobs and 350-plus to the city of Melbourne,” O’Brien
$50 million to $75 million to upgrade developed by a major chain. O’Brien year-round jobs, the slots, if ap- said. “This will be a positive boost
the facilities over a 12- to 18-month hopes to be able to keep the poker proved, will increase property tax all around.”
time frame. room and simulcast open during con- revenue from the upgraded facility.
struction, even if in temporary quar- In addition, “The park will pay 1.5 These percentages would be on top
Initial plans include an amphithe- ters. percent of its revenues to Brevard of the 35 percent cut of new and ex-
ater, business conference center, re- County and another half percent isting gaming revenues that go to the
tail shops, a miniature golf course, In addition to an anticipated 125 state. 

4 Melbourne Beach 32951 | January 12, 2017 Brevard’s South Beach Newsweekly ™

NEWS

Sebastian Inlet sand
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

side of the inlet near the tidal pool to have made its way down the beach.” sand stockpiled, we would probably ened to increase capacity and is now
an access point 1.5 miles south, said The sand trap, which can cap- have had to say, ‘sorry, it’s going to be only about half full, Smithson said.
District Administrator Marty Smith- two more years before we’ll put any- “It will be another two years before
son. ture 200,000 cubic yards of material, thing out there,’’’ he said. it’s ready to dredge.”
is dredged periodically with large
“Matthew really cut out a big chunk amounts of sand placed on Indian The sand trap is normally dredged As it is, “the homeowners are hap-
of the dunes and created a deep es- River County beaches. every four years. In 2014 it was deep- py,” Smithson said. 
carpment down there. That’s what
the property owners are worried Some of the sand is stockpiled My Take More polar bear plunges will take
about because it jeopardizes their for emergencies and routine beach place in the coming winter months in
properties,” Smithson said. “This maintenance in a permanent storage CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 New Jersey, but such winter dips are
project will add back in the protec- area in the park. not confined to the northern climes.
tion that the dune affords.” until it hits the 80 degree mark, which Florida has its winter plunges, too,
The sand storage facility gives “us usually happens up north in August. though calling them polar may push
Sand migrates with the current tremendous flexibility in how we the point.
from north to south along the coast manage projects. We can do these However, more than 1,000 miles
of Brevard and Indian River counties, smaller repairs in between the big to the north on the same day, some New Year’s Day attracted plungers
but the inlet interrupts that flow. The dredge events,’’ Smithson said. 300 crazies ran headlong into 42-de- to the water in South Walton to raise
jetties, channel and a sand trap blast- gree ocean water in Atlantic City. The money for the South Walton Fire Dis-
ed in bedrock several years ago cap- “The 30,000 cubic yards being used chilled men, women, boys and girls trict.
ture sand that would otherwise have now was left over as a stockpile to do participated in a timeless tradition
washed onto southward beaches. small repairs. If we did not have that known as the Polar Bear Plunge. The so-called Orlando Polar Plunge
occurs Feb. 11 – I know what you’re
For that reason, a state mandate “I tell them they have to go under
requires the District to place sand but most folks go in and go right out. thinking. Orlando has no ocean at its
taken from the trap on beaches south Some go in a couple of times,” said front door, but the wave pool at Sea-
of the inlet, Smithson said. Michael Kahlenberg, the 75-year- world’s water park Aquatica is chilled
old who has headed the Atlantic down to 59 degrees.
“The sand trap is just a deeper area City Polar Bear Club for a quarter
in the middle of the inlet – 18 feet cent u r y. Plungers in Panama City hit the
deep – where the sand settles out,” he surf Feb. 25. And March 11 brings
said. “It’s sand that naturally occurs The participating plungers – some the Jacksonville Beach Polar Plunge.
in the down drift and settles out, so in just bikinis and swim trunks – do All plungers must raise at least $100
it’s good sand that otherwise would it because they can, or better yet, for Special Olympics to participate in
because it’s there. They also do it to any of these three.
raise money for charity. The Atlantic
City plunge netted more than $4,000 Panama City is new this year, but
for the Multiple Sclerosis Association the other two attracted 900 plung-
of America this year. ers last year and raised more than
$195,000 for Special Olympics Florida.
Kahlenberg doesn’t see jumping
into water that cold as the mark of a To plunge in the coming months,
madman or woman. “It’s just a dif- contact specialolympicsflorida.org/
ferent way to celebrate the New Year, get-involved/fundraise/polar-plunge/,
and donate to charity at the same email [email protected] or call 352-243-
time. This is on a lot of bucket lists.” 9536 

The same frigid frolicking occurred
in Asbury Park, Ocean City and Brig-
antine in New Jersey on New Year’s
Day. The Asbury Park plunge raised
funds for Stephy’s Place, a grief sup-
port center, and Shore House, a sup-
port program for those with mental
illness. The Brigantine plungers col-
lected money for Fisher House, which
provides housing and transportation
for wounded military members and
their families. The Ocean City one
benefitted the John R. Elliott HERO
Campaign to prevent drunk driving.







8 Melbourne Beach 32951 | January 12, 2017 Brevard’s South Barrier Island Newsweekly

PEOPLE

Runners caught having fun at Cops & Robbers 5K

Derik Middendorf and Ed Ferguson. PHOTOS: RYAN CLAPPER The robbers started the race 1 minute early. Joshua Williams took the lead from start to finish for the cops.

Audra and Johnny Gass. Jessica Frank and Chuck Mathews. Nicole and Cheyenne Dooley. George Oswald and Melbourne Police Chief Steve Mimbs.

Bryan Price, Beth Liby and Nicole Colbert. Debra Foley served breakfast after the race. Dalton Hongell and Davis Marrs held funny signs throughout the race.
#907 Gabe Montague took the lead from start to finish.
There were no arrests in last Saturday’s
version of Cops and Robbers; instead
Melbourne Police Chief Steve Mimbs
handed out medals to the winners in
the lighthearted event. The creative
5K had participants sign up as either
a cop or a robber, with robbers get-
ting the proverbial head start; the cops
chasing close on their heels. But it was
all in good fun and all for a good cause
– the Melbourne Police Foundation to
support the Melbourne Police Depart-
ment’s Specialty Teams – K-9, Dive,
SWAT and Crisis Negotiation. “We can
get the kids involved in the walk/run. It
can be family thing,” said Guy. 

Brevard’s South Barrier Island Newsweekly Melbourne Beach 32951 | January 12, 2017 9

PEOPLE

Lots of potter-ing around at Foosaner Family Fun Day

Elaine Rowgo and Julianna Martinez. PHOTOS: RYAN CLAPPER

Nancy Trezza well done teaching Jay Quarless. Gavin Tarallo.

Averie Thompson embroidering.

Little ones have no inhibitions
when it comes to tapping into their
inner artists, and they did just that
at last Saturday’s Family Fun Day
at the Renee Foosaner Education
Center and Foosaner Art Museum
on the final day of the Radiant Mes-
senger: Drawings by China Marks
exhibit. Especially popular – be-
cause what child, or adult for that
matter, doesn’t like to get their
hands a little dirty? – was the op-
portunity to make clay come to life
on the potters wheels. The event
was sponsored by PNC Bank. 

Embroidery teacher Denise Liberi.

10 Melbourne Beach 32951 | January 12, 2017 Brevard’s South Barrier Island Newsweekly

PEOPLE

Bicyclists pumped up for Gran Fondo charity ride

BY CHRIS BONANNO
Staff Writer

This Sunday bicyclists will traverse
105 miles, with most of the travel in
Brevard, for a good cause – the sixth
annual Gran Fondo Brevard. All pro-
ceeds from the event will be donated
to the Promise Community Fitness
Center, a local organization that

Organizers are hopeful that hundreds will participate in one of three different Gran Fondo Brevard bicycle rides.

helps individuals with special needs. Indian River County before taking
“It’s amazing to be able to work them back up toward Indialantic on
U.S. 1.
with this charity in particular, be-
cause they are working hand-in- A third route, the Piccolo Fondo,
hand with us,” said Paul Gamble, which begins at 8 a.m., is a 31-mile
Gran Fondo ride director. “I’ve al- jaunt that takes riders down High-
ways been involved in the commu- way A1A before having them turn
nity and this is one where you are di- around just north of the Brevard/
rectly connected with the folks that Indian River County line and head
you are helping.” back to Indialantic.

Throughout its six-year history, Additionally, a new 5K Run/Walk
the event has always been about giv- will be held for the first time this
ing back to charity, according to Curt year, beginning at 8:30 a.m.
Guy, co-founder of the ride. He said
the concept was spawned after he “We can get the kids involved in
helped friend Marshall Reeves, who the walk/run. It can be family thing,”
was participating in a “Race Across said Guy, who was hopeful 50-75
America” bicycle run. people would participate in that as-
pect of the event. 
Guy said that gave him the idea
that he could do more, adding, “(I Those interested in registering
thought) Hey, you know we could ac- can still do so by visiting Gran
tually put on an event to help a char- Fondo Brevard’s page on
ity in town.” raceroster.com or by registering
on-site Sunday prior to the event.
Cyclists will begin the race at 7:30
a.m. at 1220 Highway A1A in Indi- Advance entry costs are $85
alantic and proceed on a route that for Gran Fondo, $60 for Medio
will take them south into beachside Fondo and $45 for the Piccolo
Indian River County before heading Fondo, with an additional $5 for
west to Fellsmere. From there, the registrations on the day of the
route will wind back and forth on race.
different sides of Interstate 95 before The cost of the run/walk is $30
it crosses back over to the barrier is- both before the event and the day
land, concluding where it began in of for those 12 and up. Children
Indialantic. under 12 can participate and get
a T-shirt for $25, or $20 to just
“The toughest part of the route, participate.
there’s a couple climbs over the Se-
bastian Inlet Bridge and then back
over the Eau Gallie at the end,” said
Gamble. “They’re not all that steep
but if you don’t do any climbing they
might be a bit daunting.”

Those who participate aren’t just
local, either.

“We have riders from all the way
down in Homestead up to Jackson-
ville and we’ve even got some regis-
tered from out of state,” Gamble said.

There are two shorter legs that
some participants are opting for.
The Medio Fondo, which begins at
7:45 a.m., is a 64-mile trek that fea-
tures a more straightforward route,
taking riders south into beachside

RIVERSIDE’S ‘CHICAGO’:
SINFULLY DELICIOUS!

12 Melbourne Beach 32951 | January 12, 2017 Brevard’s South Beach Newsweekly ™

ARTS & THEATRE

Riverside’s ‘Chicago’: Sinfully delicious entertainment

BY MICHELLE GENZ
Staff Writer

It’s easy to start taking Riverside The-

atre for granted after a steady diet, sea-

son after season, of perfectly prepared

musical theater. So when I took my seat

for opening night of “Chicago” last week,

I expected it to be good. I didn’t expect

to be in thrall, start to spectacular finish.

Turns out, with all the times I’d seen

the show (and film) I hadn’t seen it

enough. Riverside’s was “Chicago” de-

fined: a glittering, explosively energetic

satire of how show business creates an

appetite for crime.

With direction and choreography by

director Richard Stafford, the cast is as

good as it gets.

Stiletto sharp, drenched with bitter- Cast of Chicago the Musical, 2017. P HOTOS BY HOLLY PORCH Meghan Colleen Moroney. P HOTOS BY HOLLY PORCH

ness and dripping with irony, “Chicago” Meghan Colleen Moroney. P HOTOS BY HOLLY PORCH

exposes both the charade of show busi- cus is pinned to a theatrical style Fosse
thought a perfect pairing: vaudeville,
ness and the gullibility of its audience Kaitlyn Davidson and Heather Parcells . P HOTOS BY HOLLY PORCH which Fosse long disdained for its ex-
ploitative ways.
– and ultimately that includes us. “Chi-
Kaitlyn Davidson’s Roxie Hart and
cago” tells the story of a couple of danc- Heather Parcells’ Velma Kelley are both
distinctive and finely polished, the ac-
ing, singing, outrageously sexy man- tresses veterans of Broadway and mul-
tiple national tours. The impeccable
slayers charming their way out of the dancing skills of each led to roles in “A
Chorus Line”; Davidson asVal on the na-
noose. With enough heat to make those tional tour and Parcells as Judy Turner in
the original revival. Parcells also played
Viagra warnings feel like a foot mas- Velma in the national tour of “Chicago,”
a proud testament to the Florida State
sage, the Bertolt Brechtian recklessness University musical theater department
from which she earned a degree.
of the theme follows one skinny elastic
Dane Agostinis, who plays Roxie’s
of a plot line, snapping its way through sad-sack husband Amos, is a graduate
of the Tisch School of the Arts at NYU
scene after seductive scene of vaudevil- and is originally from Tampa. Meghan
Colleen Moroney, an Orlando actress
lian tableaux. who got her start in Vero at Jon Putzke’s
Encore Alley dinner theater, makes her
Girls! Girls! Girls! And all of them gone Riverside debut as Matron Mama Mor-
ton. Both have stand-out solos: Agosti-
bad. Just what the crowds go wild for –

with a little push from above-the-fold

headlines and the photos of omnipres-

ent paparazzi. Exoneration by popular

demand was an actual jazz-era phe-

nomenon that had its roots in the any-
thing-goes ethos of the day: real-world, agents protecting the world in “Home- offing a two-timing boyfriend pale by
break-the-mold women criminals land”; the meth lab entrepreneur in comparison, just as today’s music vid-
(imagine!) perversely turned celebrities “Breaking Bad”; the endearing, good eos make the numbers in “Chicago” look
guy-slaughtering Soviet agents embed- like pajama parties – well, OK, pajama
by their sensational trials.
The conceit still works. Today, TV ded in the D.C. suburbs in “The Ameri- parties at the Mustang Ranch.
binge-watchers find themselves suck- cans” (my current addiction).
In its day, though, the show was shock-
ered by other criminals: the amoral CIA The violence in those shows makes ing, its dismissiveness of the criminal

code disturbing to say the least. Even a

quarter-century later, in the 2002 film,

the characters Roxie andVelma as played

by Renée Zellweger and Catherine Zeta-

Jones retain a dark core that borders on

January 14th & 15th macabre. It’s hard to say much of that
Sat: 10-5
remains in Riverside’s production, but
Sun: 10-3 that’s more a statement of inured society
than a shortfall of the show. When Velma

appears at the start of the second act

with a hearty “Hello, suckers!” it takes a

-37 display tables moment to realize she means us.
The genius of 1975’s “Chicago” was

ANACS on site to submit coins for grading in setting such horror to such irrepress-

ibly snazzy song and dance. Bob Fosse

Bring this ad for a free coin or co-wrote the book with Fred Ebb; Ebb
Treasure Coast Coin Membership wrote the lyrics to John Kader’s mu-
sic. Throughout, the trashiness of the
treasurecoastcoinclub.org jailhouse, courthouse and media cir-

Brevard’s South Beach Newsweekly ™ Melbourne Beach 32951 | January 12, 2017 13

ARTS & THEATRE

Cast of Chicago the Musical, 2017. P HOTOS BY HOLLY PORCH Coming Up: Talented trio
in tune at Florida Tech

BY MICHELLE GENZ Brass-Hoppers will take the stage at
Staff Writer Florida Tech’s Gleason Performing
Arts Center.
1 Once again, the relatively young
music program at Florida Tech The free concert of both classical
music and jazz-inspired arrange-
is providing a huge gift to music fans ments of standards and pop songs
features Mary Elizabeth Bowden on
of Melbourne. Tuesday, an astonish-
CONTINUED ON PAGE 14
ing trio of trumpet, trombone and

piano virtuosos performing as the

nis’ “Mister Cellophane” and Moroney’s acquitted by all-male juries, and Mau- SHOW STOPPERS
“When You’re Good to Mama.” reen Dallas Watkins’ coverage turned
the women into national celebrities. Our elegant stoppered bottles with
Stafford, who directed Riverside’s “Sis- Watkins later turned her trial notes into 24K gold details take center stage
ter Act” last year and “Memphis” the a play, which ended up on Broadway
year before that, nails it this time, leav- before being turned into a silent movie, in any setting. Bravo!
ing his audience with pangs of guilt for directed by Cecile B. DeMille, then the
being so entertained. comedy “Roxie Hart” starring Ginger SEE THESE AND OTHER FINE THINGS AT VERO’S FINEST
Rogers, Phil Silvers and George Mont- COLLECTION OF AMERICAN-MADE ART AND JEWELRY
The feathers, the flesh, the fringe gomery in 1942. That version, though,
skittering over legs to Pluto – all are was tampered with by the Hollywood THEL AUGHINGDOGGALLERY.COM 2910 CARDINAL DR.
mitigated by enough sarcasm to stir a morality police. Roxie was not only in- VERO BEACH, FL
feminist’s soul. “He tried to walk out nocent but took the rap for her husband. 7 72 . 2 3 4 . 6711
on me,” whines Roxie the showgirl as Now there’s a lady for you.
the cops cuff her for the capital crime
of murder, after her attempt fails to pin Enter actress Gwen Verdon, who
the murder on Amos, the only moral in the 1960s read the play and urged
person in the show. her husband Bob Fosse to turn it into
a musical. Only one problem: Wat-
Roxie, with her Shirley Temple curls, kins the reporter/playwright had had
is the softie, as least as compared with a change of heart; now a born-again
Velma. Strong as the steel bars she’d held Christian, she thought the show was
behind, Velma has hatched a plan with too pro-sin. When the Lord took her to
lawyer Billy Flynn (the charismatic Kev- heaven in 1969, the estate sold Verdon
in Pariseau, who in his solo “Razzle Daz- and Fosse the rights anyway.
zle” gives one note a life sentence). They
plan to sway the public with her cocka- Scott Miller, artistic director of New
mamie story. When Roxie shows up on Line Theatre of St. Louis, Mo., which
the cellblock and starts stealing Velma’s prides itself in staging thought-provok-
gory-story glory, Velma hatches her own ing, socially relevant works of musi-
plan: a sister act with Roxie, which she cal theater, wrote an extensive analysis
lays out in head-spinning triple-time in of “Chicago” on the theater’s website
“I Can’t Do It Alone.” which I highly recommend to anyone
seeing the Riverside production.
That vaudeville trope, delivered in
soon-removed matching white robes, is The theater staged “Chicago” the
the glamorous finale, “Nowadays.” Of all same year the movie came out – 2002.
the tropes – each number is its own – my Miller wraps up his essay musing over
favorite is the dummy act, where Roxie the changes that came over America
is manipulated on the lap of Flynn, as post-Sept. 11. He asks whether the col-
they sing her alibi, “We Both Reached for lective bloodlust of the American audi-
the Gun.” The courthouse crowd includ- ence is part of our nature, or whether
ing the nobly operatic reporter-in-drag viewing violence – be it as news cover-
Mary Sunshine (played by G. Kidwell) age or entertainment – propels us to rise
buy it hook, line and sinker. Davidson’s above it?
and Pariseau’s synchronization is mas-
terful, to hilarious effect. “You know, a lot of people have lost
faith in America,” says Velma at the
“Chicago” was originally a play based show’s close, after she and Roxie have
loosely on truth. In the 1920s, Chicago been found innocent. “But we are liv-
was a hotbed of killer dames and much ing examples of what a wonderful
was made of two suspects in particular: country this is.” Miller, citing this line,
Beulah Annan and Belva Gaertner. The adds, “Ouch.”
Chicago Tribune assigned a woman
crime reporter when both Gaertner and “Chicago” runs at Riverside Theatre
Annan had their day in court. Both were through Jan. 22. 

14 Melbourne Beach 32951 | January 12, 2017 Brevard’s South Beach Newsweekly ™

ARTS & THEATRE

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13 sian composer Alexander Scriabin. Atlantic Music Center is the sponsor 5 “It Shoulda Been You,” a Broad-
The concert starts at 7:30 p.m. of the International Jazz Pianist Com- way musical, makes its Florida
Brass Hoppers.
petition coming up at the Hen- debuts Friday at the Henegar Center
trumpet, Milana Strezeva on piano egar Center Feb. 3 and 4. The
and Donna Parkes on trombone. high point of that weekend: in Melbourne. With music by Barbara
Bowden has degrees from Curtis In- the Friday night concert of Bill
stitute of Music and Yale; Strezeva, Mays, who has accompanied Anselmi and lyrics and book by Brian
who is Moldovan-American, studied the likes of Al Jarreau, Frank
at Juilliard and is a founding member Sinatra and Sarah Vaughn. A Hargrove, the conceit is not a new
of the Manhattan Piano Trio; and the bandleader, composer and
Australian-born Parkes is principal arranger, Mays has played on one: A Jewish bride marries a Catho-
trombone with the Louisville Sym- hundreds of recordings and
phony. She has played with many ma- has released two dozen al- lic groom, the mothers-in-law mis-
jor orchestras including the London bums under his own name.
Symphony and the Los Angeles Phil- behave and an old boyfriend shows
harmonic.
up uninvited. What wedding couldn’t
That same day, the trio will give a
presentation at Melbourne Senior be a Broadway musical? “It Shoulda
High School. Then, at 3:30 Tuesday
afternoon, the students will take part Been You” runs through Jan. 29.
in a master class that is open to the
public at the Gleason Center. That 4 In Vero Beach, Riverside
community outreach is thanks to the Theatre is packing hous-
generosity of Scott Apelgren, owner
of The Horn Section music store and es with its all-professional
president of the board of the Mel-
bourne Chamber Music Society. production of the Bob Fosse

musical “Chicago.” And pack

the houses they should. It’s a ‘Rock of Ages.’

sparkling, stylish, expertly ex-

ecuted show with top talent,

all with Broadway experience,

in the leads: Kaitlyn Davidson 6 The same night, Friday, the mu-
sical “Rock of Ages” opens at the
as Roxie Hart and Heather Par-

cell as Velma Kelley are as good Titusville Playhouse. A jukebox musi-

Fei Fei Dong. as it gets. Kevin Pariseau plays cal of the 1980s, the plotline follows

the publicity-hungry lawyer a seedy night club in Hollywood’s

Billy Flynn; and Orlando’s own Sunset Strip in the 1980s that’s been

3 At the Atlantic Music Center, pia- Meghan Colleen Moroney plays the targeted by German developers who
nist Fei Fei Dong gives a concert
prison matron Mama Morton. Mo- see a strip mall in its stead. That runs

Saturday night at 7:30. The young Chi- roney says she got her start in Vero’s through Feb. 5.

Theatre Guild and the old dinner the- And one more curtain rising Friday

ater Encore Alley. You may have seen night, this one in Cocoa Beach: The

the show a half-dozen times but if you Surfside Players stage “The Rainmak-

ever saw it done this well, you’d be er,” Richard Nash’s comedy about a

happy to see it again. Act fast: They’ve young woman in a dusty boring town

already added two shows and there’s who gets charmed by the promises of a

no time in the schedule for more. man passing through. This is the com-

“Chicago” runs through Jan. 22. munity theatre group’s 58th season. 

Lysander Piano Trio.

Then, next Friday, Jan. 20, the ‘Chicago.’
Lysander Piano Trio plays at St.
2 nese pianist gave her debut concert
in 2000 at the age of 10; she made her
Mark’s Church in Indialantic, yet an- orchestra concert debut three years
later with the Macau Youth Orches-
other stellar concert brought here by tra playing the notoriously difficult
Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No.
the Melbourne Chamber Music Soci- 3. Now with a master’s in music from
Juilliard, this is the second time the
ety. Lysander Piano Trio is made up Van Cliburn finalist has performed at
the center. And it’s the ninth year the
of violinist Itamar Zorman, Liza Ste- center has staged the concert series.
The private concert venue is within
panova on piano and Michael Katz on a top-drawer piano store. Tickets are
$28.
cello. This group has won top honors

at numerous competitions and made

its Carnegie Hall debut in 2014. It’s

known for playing new music as well

as the classics. This concert, along

with works by Faure and Shubert, will

include an early nocturne of the Rus-



16 Melbourne Beach 32951 | January 12, 2017 Brevard’s South Barrier Island Newsweekly

HEALTH

Why outpatient knee surgery may be ‘the next big thing’

BY TOM LLOYD and I came to see him because he
Staff Writer did such a good job on her. I didn't
just come to him – I made sure he
“Outpatient” and “arthroplasty" knew what he was doing first!”

are two terms rarely used in the DiLella says the kneecap replace-
ment surgery “involves making an
same sentence – unless you happen incision on the front of the knee, not
unlike what a total knee [replace-
to be speaking with Dr. Carl DiLella ment] incision would look like, but
smaller, gaining access to just that
of the Orthopedic Center of Vero kneecap joint in the front of the
knee. The back side of the kneecap
Beach and one of DiLella’s patients is basically removed with a saw and
then a new plastic back side of the
like electrical contractor Ed Franks. kneecap – or button, as we call it – is
placed there and cemented in posi-
While the Johns Hopkins medi- tion.”

cal library defines any arthroplasty A metal piece with a specially de-
signed groove is then placed on the
as “a surgical procedure to restore thigh bone or the femur bone side
that the kneecap button slides into.
the function of a joint,” the term is
This procedure is not for every-
most often associated with total hip one, however. If, for example, ar-
thritis has spread throughout the
or knee replacements which usually entire knee joint, the Joint Pres-
ervation Institute says, “it may be
require patients to spend between a better option to consider a total
knee replacement.”
two to five days in the hospital after
DiLella concurs and then adds
su rger y. that this particular procedure “may
not necessarily be appropriate for
Franks, however, went home the the patient that’s had quadruple
bypass surgery, is diabetic, or is us-
very same day DiLella performed ing a list of medications a page long.
They are certainly at a little higher
a patellofemoral arthroplasty – or Dr. Carl DiLella examines the post-surgical knee of patient Edward Franks. PHOTOS: DENISE RITCHIE risk for having issues with the an-
esthesia around the surgery and
kneecap replacement – on his left perhaps blood pressure issues and
blood sugar issues.”
knee. is a leading cause of disability in the “he had selective arthritis in only
For Franks, however, DiLella’s
The culprit for Franks’ pre-opera- United States,” but DiLella didn’t one of the three compartments of procedure has yielded impressive
results. Just three weeks after sur-
tive knee problem was arthritis. The see disability in Franks’ future. He the knee. There are basically three gery, “the knee actually feels 100
percent better and stronger,” says
American Academy of Orthopedic saw an opportunity. compartments in the knee; the this electrical contractor. “I can
even put my weight on it in the
Surgeons says “arthritis of the knee “In Ed's instance,” DiLella recalls, kneecap joint, the medial or the in- shower and wash my other foot
now.”
side portion of the knee, and the lat-
Franks is not alone in being
CM eral or the outside.” pleased with the results. The Joint
“Looking at Ed's X-rays,” DiLella Preservation Institute reports the
procedure has provided “very good”
continues, “the inside and outside results in about 90 percent of pa-
compartments of his knee were re- tients over the past 10 years.
ally quite pristine and I think either
just from genetics or sports or what DiLella puts it even more simply.
his occupation demanded of his He predicts “outpatient procedures
knee, he’d worn away the cartilage for replacement surgeries are really
[only] on the back side of the knee- going to be the next big thing.”
cap.”
Shorter – or no hospital stays at
When medications – including all – will also dramatically reduce
costs to both patients and their in-
cortisone injections – and physi- surers.

COLLINS & MONTZ DENTISTRY cal therapy failed to relieve Franks’ Dr. Carl DiLella is with the Ortho-
pain or increase his knee function, pedic Center of Vero Beach at 1285
36th Street, Suite 100. The phone
cosmetic dentistry  preventive dentistry says DiLella, “I felt he was a good number is 772-778-2009. 
restorative dentistry  dental implants candidate for this type of surgery

– selective patellofemoral arthro-
plasty.”

Patellofemoral arthritis affects

Experience the fusion of traditional the kneecap or patella bone. It
values and modern dentistry. causes pain in the front of the knee,
making it difficult and painful to

kneel, climb stairs and do other ac-

tivities – including, in Frank’s case,

flying a small plane with foot-oper-

ated controls.

“I needed to fix this thing,” says

Franks. “My knee would buckle on

me. I couldn't kneel down without

helping myself up. I couldn't lift

Dr. J. Hunter Collins Dr. Roger Montz myself up from a squat and because
I also fly for a hobby, it was kind of

524 Ocean Avenue, Melbourne Beach, FL 32951 hard getting in and out of the plane
and working the rudders and what-
(321) 725-6565 not. The knee was just failing me.”

melbournebeachdentistry.com Then Franks jokingly adds, “My

wife came to see Dr. DiLella first

Brevard’s South Barrier Island Newsweekly Melbourne Beach 32951 | January 12, 2017 17

HEALTH

Fighting back: U.S. cancer death rate continues to fall

BY LAURIE MCGINLEY tobacco- and HPV-related cancers, as Cancer risks can be reduced by focusing on
well as how to reduce deaths from other risk factors such as weight, diet, physical
The Washington Post cancers … through the detection and fitness and exposure to ultraviolet radiation.
management of pre-cancers and early
The cancer death rate in the United stage disease.”
States has dropped by 25 percent since
its 1991 peak, resulting in 2 million He added that the United States has
fewer cancer deaths than if the rate had a “tremendous opportunity” to fur-
stayed the same, the American Cancer ther reduce cancer risks by focusing
Society said in a new report. on risk factors such as weight, diet,
physical fitness and exposure to ultra-
The group attributed the decrease violet radiation. 
largely to reductions in smoking and
improvements in the early detection
and treatment of cancer. But a signifi-
cant gender gap remains: The cancer
death rate is 40 percent higher for men
than women, and the incidence of can-
cer is 20 percent higher in men.

That gender disparity reflects differ-
ences in the kind of cancers that men
and women develop. For example, liver
cancer, which is often lethal, is three
times more common in men, largely
because of their higher rates of hepati-
tis C infection, smoking and excess al-
cohol consumption. The largest gender
disparities are for cancers of the esoph-
agus, larynx and bladder; incidence
and death rates are four times higher in
men, the report said.

For 2017, the report estimated, there
will be nearly 1.7 million new cancer di-
agnoses and more than 600,000 deaths.
The most common causes are lung,
colorectal and prostate malignancies
in men, and lung, breast and colorec-
tal cancers in women. These types
account for almost half of all cancer
deaths.

The report found that racial dispari-
ties in cancer death rates continue to
decrease, although the cancer death
rate remains 15 percent higher in blacks
than in whites.

“The continuing drops in the cancer
death rate are a powerful sign of the
potential we have to reduce cancer's
deadly toll,” Otis Brawley, the cancer
society's chief medical officer, said in
a statement. “Continuing that success
will require more clinical and basic
research to improve early detection
and treatment, as well as creative new
strategies to increase healthy behaviors
nationwide.”

The figures are part of the group's
annual report on the disease's inci-
dence, mortality and survival, called
Cancer Statistics 2017. The latest figures
are from 2014.

Ernest Hawk, vice president and
head of the division of cancer preven-
tion and population science at MD
Anderson Cancer Center, said that
stepped-up prevention efforts could
deliver further gains because “we al-
ready know how to prevent the bulk of

18 Melbourne Beach 32951 | January 12, 2017 Brevard’s South Barrier Island Newsweekly

HEALTH

Lighten up! Non-surgical weight-loss options available

BY TOM LLOYD Dr. Patrick Domkowski. PHOTO: MITCH KLOORFAIN kowski explains, “but when used
in combination with other agents,
Staff Writer and a third is Contrave.” valve and pulmonary hypertension they have an appetite suppressant
That decade-long dearth of new problems. and metabolic-enhancing activity”
When does “getting bigger” help which helps medically supervised
people with weight problems? anti-obesity drugs can be blamed in This new generation of medica- patients safely lose weight.
part on the infamous “Fen-Phen” or tion, according to Domkowski, has
That’s not a trick question, and Fenfluramine-Phentermine weight- been proven in clinical trials to be Safety is the top priority, says
the answer, according to Dr. Patrick loss drug. Introduced in the 1970s, much safer. Domkowski, who also wants to be
Domkowski, is “right now,” as he it was later pulled from the market sure his patients get the biggest
and his partner Dr. Jason Radecke amid much negative publicity when “They’re actually medications possible bang for their buck.
expand their weight-loss surgery it was shown to cause serious heart- that have been used to treat mi-
center to include non-surgical op- graines and depression,” Dom- Marjetdata Enterprises, a re-
tions for getting rid of unwanted search firm specializing in con-
and unhealthy pounds. The Centers for Disease Control says “weight- sumer spending habits, says Ameri-
and obesity-related conditions include heart cans shell out more than $60 billion
“We are happy to announce the disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and certain types a year trying to lose weight. Sadly,
start of our medical weight-loss of cancer,” which are among the leading causes most of those dollars are lost while
program,” beams the affable Dom- of death nationwide. – in the majority of cases – weight
kowski. “We want to be a center that is not.
isn’t exclusively surgery.”
There are also thousands of diets
In other words, Domkowski’s and a whole host of TV-advertised
practice is getting bigger so his pa- weight-loss plans, but as Dom-
tients can get smaller. kowski points out those are “purely
calorie-based food-restriction diets
“We want to be able to offer peo- which, while you’re on them, work
ple other options,” says the George- just fine [but] when you come off, it
town University Medical School doesn’t work. You don’t incorporate
graduate. Options which, frankly, a lot of other changes into your life.”
are sorely needed.
Medically supervised weight loss
The National Institute of Diabetes seeks to change lifestyles and be-
and Digestive and Kidney Diseases havior as well as the numbers on
at NIH reports that in this coun- the bathroom scale.
try “more than two in every three
adults are considered to be over- But perhaps the most appealing
weight or obese, and one-third of element of Domkowski’s weight-loss
children between six and 19 share program is what he says next: “I’m
the same problem.” not asking you to restrict calories.
You can eat what you want. We may
The Centers for Disease Control ask you to monitor your calories and
adds “weight- and obesity-related your protein intake, but we don’t put
conditions include heart disease, you on a restricted diet. That’s the
stroke, type 2 diabetes and certain beauty of it. We still want you to eat
types of cancer,” which are among pretty much what you want.”
the leading causes of death nation-
wide. There is one fly in the ointment
for people who enjoy alcohol: “One
And while Domkowski and his martini,” says Domkowski with a
partner, Dr. Jason Radecke, have knowing smile, “is fine. Four are
built an impressive track record not.”
performing over 1,200 minimally
invasive or “laparoscopic” gastric While olive growers and bartend-
bypass and gastric sleeve proce- ers might cringe at that statement,
dures with what Domkowski calls patients’ wallets won’t be left high
“excellent patient outcomes,” they or dry. According to Domkowski,
are also aware that some people “the cost of the drugs is between
will do just about anything to avoid $175 and $200 a month,” and insur-
any kind of surgery. ance usually picks up the tab.

Just saying the word “surgery,” To help accommodate this expan-
says Domkowski with a smile, sion of their Riverside Surgical and
“makes them want to run to the Weight Loss Center in Sebastian,
door.” Domkowski and Radecke are beef-
ing up their staff with new special-
Fortunately, there are several new ists and even considering a possible
non-invasive weight-loss options expansion into the Melbourne area.
available, including some relatively
new FDA-approved drugs. Dr. Patrick Domkowski is at River-
side Surgical & Weight Loss Center. He
“Prior to a couple of years ago,” is also the surgical chief at the Sebas-
Domkowski explains, “there hadn’t tian River Medical Center. His offices
been a new FDA-approved weight- are at 14430 U.S. Hwy. 1 in Sebastian.
loss medication in over a decade. The phone number is 772-581-8003. 
Now there are several new ones.
One is Osymia, another is Belviq





Brevard’s South Barrier Island Newsweekly Melbourne Beach 32951 | January 12, 2017 21

INSIGHT COVER STORY

Ideas Week. “I wanted to get five of the top architects ciative crowd at the Chicago Ideas Week conference. Lucas kept a low public profile, leaving Emanuel,
and have a contest and pick the best one.” He’d been spending a lot of time talking to architects, who declined several interview requests, as the mu-
engineers, and politicians about his endeavor. “It’s a seum’s primary champion. In a runoff election in
Bechtle liked the idea of a cultural center on the very big, expensive museum,” Lucas said. 2015 he was savaged by his opponent, who assailed
site. But she and the Presidio Trust board wanted Emanuel for promoting “a monument to Darth Va-
something that would blend in and preserve views “Who’s going to pay for this thing?” he was asked. der” on the waterfront, when other areas of the city
of the bridge. They also wanted to conduct an open “I’m paying for the whole thing, and the endow- were more in need of development.
competition for the site – it couldn’t just be Lucas’s ment, and everything,” Lucas responded.
for the taking. “OK,” his interlocuter said. “You can afford a mu- After Emanuel won reelection, he still had to con-
seum?” tend with Friends of the Parks, a citizens’ group
“If it’s your land, you can do pretty much what you “Yeah, I can.” that wanted to halt the museum’s construction. Its
want,” Bechtle says. “But with public land, there is executive director, Juanita Irizarry, argued that the
just a higher level of scrutiny.” The trust developed Treasure Island rendering San Francisco. city had no right to turn lakefront land over to Lucas.
design guidelines for the site. The building could be “Our lakefront is our jewel,” she says. “If we say yes
no higher than 45 feet; as for looks, the trust didn’t Presidio rendering San Francisco. to this, who says Oprah doesn’t come back to town
want a building that replicated an old-fashioned ar- and want to put a museum on the lakefront?”
chitectural style. Rendering of the museum in Chicago.
In October 2015, the city and the Lucas museum
In March 2013 the trust announced it had received Los Angeles stadium rendering. signed a 99-year lease in exchange for $10.
16 submissions – including Lucas’s proposal for a “Oh … my … God,” was the amazed response, as
Lucas Cultural Arts Museum chronicling the evolu- the crowd applauded. Nevertheless, a lawsuit filed by Friends of the
tion of visual storytelling from primitive art to Re- Lucas changed the name of his project to the Lu- Parks progressed, and Lucas again got restless. He
naissance painting to Rockwell to Star Wars. Bechtle cas Museum of Narrative Art. The museum’s web- started to flirt with other mayors. “We immediately
thought it sounded rather nice. But Lucas’s proposal site took on a more scholarly tone, and in November got into contact,” says Los Angeles’s Eric Garcetti.
topped out at 69 feet. 2014, Lucas unveiled a design for the museum by ar- Lucas was also approached by other cities.
chitect Ma Yansong.
“It was a big, hulking building,” Bechtle says. It Some thought it looked like a giant amoeba. Blair Last June, Lucas announced he was abandoning
also had a Beaux Arts design – not exactly contem- Kamin, the Chicago Tribune’s Pulitzer Prize-winning Chicago and taking his project back to California.
porary. John King, the San Francisco Chronicle’s ur- architecture critic, called it an unappetizing example
ban design critic, didn’t think much of the design. “It of “blob architecture” and warned that it was too mas- The Lucas museum continues to evolve. In Au-
just looked like a generic Spanish-themed shopping sive for the setting. “This is the Temple of George,” Ka- gust the Chronicle published a lengthy piece by its
center,” he says. min wrote, “a monument to its patron rather than a art critic, Charlie Desmarais, who’d been given what
modest addition to a democratic public space.” the newspaper called “an exclusive first look” at the
Rather than compromise, Lucas embarked on a filmmaker’s collection at his estate in Marin County.
PR campaign. In an interview with the Chronicle,
he said he belonged to an esteemed line of creators. It seemed like a tactical shift for Lucas — an indi-
“As a popular artist, I hit the same chord with people cation that he could see that the elites needed to be
that Rockwell hit, that Michelangelo hit, that the stroked rather than scorned.
people who painted on caves in France hit,” he said.
“I relate to art more as an emotional experience than As expected, much of Lucas’s trove was decid-
as an intellectual experience.” edly prosaic; along with Star Wars items, Desmarais
found illustrations from Winnie the Pooh books,
Lucas made the cut when the trust narrowed the R. Crumb comic book art, Betty Boop drawings,
contestants down to three finalists, and it looked Doonesbury strips, and a Rockwell assortment that
like the competition was his to lose if only he would now encompassed 147 works. The thread binding it
bend. Nevertheless, in September 2013 his impa- all together might be hard for some to see, but Des-
tience boiled over in an interview with the New York marais was impressed. “In fact, it may just be the
Times. He accused the trust of purposely stalling in core of a great museum,” he wrote.
hopes of killing his museum.
Meanwhile, Lucas was talking with the mayors of
“They hate us,” he said, singling out Bechtle for California’s two largest cities. Los Angeles’s Garcetti
making an issue of his Beaux Arts design. Lucas, concedes his town is the underdog, but he insists
who’d recently married Mellody Hobson, a glamor- L.A. can offer a site downtown, in Exposition Park,
ous Chicago mutual fund manager, said he was con- with no delays. “We told George we have all the stars
sidering taking his museum to his wife’s city, where lined up to get this done and get it done quickly,”
Mayor Rahm Emanuel was eager to have it. he says.

Bechtle and the board didn’t want to lose the cul- However, Lucas’s preference is probably San Fran-
tural center. They offered Lucas a site with a lesser cisco, where he’s looking at a site on Treasure Island,
view of the bridge. His board members informed a former U.S. Navy base on a man-made island with
Bechtle that Lucas thought the site wasn’t important a magnificent view of the city skyline. The island
enough. “He’s bitter and he’s angry,” Bechtle wrote isn’t easy to get to, but the city rather than the federal
her colleagues. In February 2014 the trust canceled government controls Treasure Island, which means
the competition. a smoother approval process than at the Presidio.

In Chicago, Emanuel was doing all he could to woo “George Lucas’s problem is that he keeps going af-
Lucas. He convened a site selection committee that ter these premier urban sites,” says Mitchell Moss,
in May 2014 chose a 17-acre plot occupied by two an urban studies professor at New York University.
parking lots just south of Soldier Field, home to the “He needs to trade down. Treasure Island could be
Chicago Bears. It was close to other museums, and to perfect for him. There’s not much there now. This
hear the committee tell it, the Lucas building would would give people a reason to go.”
have views comparable to those in the Presidio.
The island seems to have inspired a better design
Lucas happily accepted. The same day, Emanuel by Lucas’s architect, Ma. The Chronicle’s King didn’t
held a hastily convened news conference in Chicago like Lucas’s blueprint for the Presidio, and he dis-
City Hall. “I just got off the phone with George Lucas missed the Chicago building as a “big lumpy moun-
and Mellody Hobson to thank them for choosing Chi- tain.” But he says the proposal for Treasure Island
cago, the most American of American cities,” he said. A has a certain snazziness that defies description.
reporter asked what the mayor was going to do about
the Bears fans who used the parking area to tailgate. “Is it a sports car?” he says. “Is it a stingray jump-
ing out of the water? Is it a skull? If we’re all going
In October 2014 a triumphant Lucas strode onstage to have to start looking at iconic, metaphorical ar-
in his usual jeans and plaid shirt to speak to an appre- chitecture, this is a lot more interesting than a big
lump.” 









26 Melbourne Beach 32951 | January 12, 2017 Brevard’s South Beach Newsweekly ™

INSIGHT GAMES & CO.

SOLUSOTLIOUNTISONTSOTPORPERVEIVOIOUUSSISISSSUUEE ((JJaAnNuaUrAy 5R)YO5N)POANGEP3A4GE 68

ACROSS DOWN
7 A season (6) 1 Facetoface (8)
8 Wax pencil (6) 2 Puzzle (6)
9 Brash (4) 3 Rock type (7)
10 Move abroad (8) 4 Bitter (5)
11 Respite (7) 5 Watch over (6)
12 Spotless (5) 6 Opposite of starboard (4)
15 Stretch out (5) 13 Investigation (8)
17 Male diver (7) 14 Genius (7)
20 Normal (8) 16 Lope (6)
22 Sunbeams (4) 18 Gaudy (6)
23 Devise (6) 19 Belief (5)
24 Tittletattle (6) 21 Microscopic (4)

The Telegraph

LoVE & Loss: O2p0e1r7a How to do Sudoku:

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

February 4 • 7 pm Tickets:
564-5537
Photo by JPR Images VeroBeachopera.org

Viva La Zarzuela! Programs subject to change

Spanish Operetta in Concert VBHS Performing
Arts Center

1707 16th Street
Vero Beach

Passion Season Sponsor
&

Romance

March 25 • 7 pm Sponsored in part by the State The Telegraph
of Florida, Department of State,
Division of Cultural Affairs and
the Florida Council on Arts and
Culture.

Brevard’s South Beach Newsweekly ™ Melbourne Beach 32951 | January 12, 2017 27

INSIGHT GAMES & CO.

ACROSS 89 Variety listing for 32 Orlando bunch 98 Munched
grouches? 33 Leoncavallo forte 99 Part of 76 Down
1 Letters from 34 Bribable
Greece 97 From San 102 “Gay” city
Francisco to 35 Getaway spot, 103 Swords
6 Missile Crisis Kansas to Brigitte 104 Lake Geneva’s
figure 36 Poet’s contraction
100 Golf clubs 38 Syr. neighbor river
12 Mean jerk, briefly 101 Disney World 39 Death Valley 105 Pains
15 Newspaper 106 Amorous
comic? county county
19 African antelope 102 Coin-op parlor for 41 Murder, She appointment
107 Shed skin
20 Given temporarily grouches? Wrote doctor 110 Land unit
21 Sine ___ non 105 Goer 44 Turn ___ (go the 113 Persuade, as
107 Sugar sources
22 A conceptual 108 Stable staple way of Lot’s wife) voters
prefix 109 “___ bleu!” 45 ___-frutti 115 Entebbe
111 Nabisco mouthful 46 Double occ. items
23 Grouchy film of 112 Chess-game embarrassee
1980? 48 African antelope 116 La preceder
quorum 49 Psychologist Carl
25 Designer pot 114 Grouch’s favorite 50 Charade 117 “A revelation!”
26 Vnlvcky nvmber 54 Dragnets 118 U2 incident pres.
soup? 119 Wood cutter
27 Half of scissors? 121 Dregs 55 Valiant 120 Pyramid topper
28 Upsilon follower 122 Huge span 58 Merry Widow
30 Fetching group? 123 Thinks the world on a $1 bill
32 Place of “action!” composer
37 What grouches do of 59 Of your peepers The Washington Post
124 Early Gershwin
in 60 German saint SHEESH, WHAT A GROUCH By Merl Reagle
pool halls? musical whose feast day
40 Kong, as a kid 125 Question fest Your #1 fan
41 Assault 126 Larry slapper is July 4
42 Dudley Do-Right’s 61 Moral element in Your local independent
love 127 Most pickable drama agent is your neighbor
43 Grouchy TV 128 Lerner’s partner 62 Not streetwise – someone you can
producer? trust and someone
47 Vu preceder DOWN 63 Mini-map who’s here for you
51 124 Across lyricist 1 Feeding-time 64 Time zone of when it matters most!
52 At lunch, e.g.
53 Powdery flyer place Minn. and Miss.
56 Director Godard, 2 Be off 66 Apple utensil
in part 3 Unmusical,
57 Workout for 69 Element
grouches? as an ear combining form
65 Unsay 4 Ford Theatre
67 Fanfare 70 Plates for
68 Surfer shades patron company
69 Island wrap 5 Robin Hood’s title
70 With 77 Across, 6 Thicket 71 Dallas sch.
grouchy lyric from 72 The devil’s
The Association? 7 ___ of vipers
73 Hairy-faced critic 8 Gin fruit playground
74 Sit somewhere 73 The Sting co-star
else 9 Lob action 76 Cybill network
75 Sitcom mom 10 “Too-ra-loo-ra- 77 Bill featuring Ben
76 Mitterrand
successor loo-___” 78 Work
77 See 70 Across 11 Short, as a writing 79 “___ that hard
82 A roll-on
83 With stat, a assignment to believe”
regulator 12 Stunt man’s 80 Swollen spot
85 Skinny writer? 81 Chaser of Bugs
86 “Dole” addition explosive 84 Jazzy James
87 Thieves’ take 13 Group pronoun 88 “Scram!”
90 Newsroom unit
14 Bracelet 91 The ___ Hotel
15 Half a dozen
(slangy jail)
times 92 Marlon’s
16 Farewell
17 Will group Waterfront bro
18 Clark’s pal 93 Like mall
24 Say ___ (accept)
29 Actress Martha shopping
31 Jett Rink’s strike 94 Marginalia
95 Sr.’s test
96 Bladed blower

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28 Melbourne Beach 32951 | January 12, 2017 Brevard’s South Beach Newsweekly ™

INSIGHT BACKPAGE

New parents’ plea on baby pictures: Look, don’t post

BY CAROLYN HAX your child – and of the number of fronts on which semble their original intent; the goal is to be flexible in
Washington Post your relatives and friends push back against your setting priorities and focused in living by them.
preferences – to force adjustments on the fly. Some
Hi, Carolyn: My husband and I parents end up adopting strategies that don’t even re- So. Facebook. Mention to anyone taking the baby’s
are expecting, and we would re- picture that you don’t want the photos online until
ally like to keep our baby off so- s/he is old enough to consent to it. For those who
cial media. We obviously won’t don’t hear this and post an image, ask kindly for them
post pictures ourselves, and our to take it down or change their privacy settings (as-
parents agree with our prefer- suming that’s OK with you, that a just-family, closed
ence. However, I’m not sure how group has access). And, like I said, stay loose on the
we deal with other relatives and less meaningful stuff.
friends who might post pictures.
If it’s only one or two here and there, I don’t want Re: Baby: When we sent an email announcing our
to make a big deal about it, but I also don’t want to baby’s birth, we said that baby was feeling a little shy
set a precedent of being OK with it. Is there a way you and didn’t want to be seen or mentioned for the time
suggest telling people our wishes without sounding being. People have respected the request.
controlling? I’m sure people will try to be respectful,
but it’s the first baby in the family so everyone is also – Anonymous
excited.
Re: Baby:What we said was, “We are not posting pic-
– Expecting tures of the baby on Facebook, but we can invite you to
see pictures on (fill in the blank).” This can be a drop-
Expecting: The best way not to sound control- box, a blog, a password-protected site … we found a
ling is to figure out what you most want and need service that is specifically designed for that. This will let
to control, and to let everything else go – because if people know you don’t want pictures posted while also
you’re announcing expectations on Facebook expo- allowing them to see your little one, which is what they
sure, sugary foods, preferred colors, acceptable toys, really care about. Of course, my mother-in-law posted
screen time, music volume and shoes in the house pictures on Facebook anyway, and we had to ask her to
(and you don’t have special health circumstances to take them down. Some people will truly not care what
justify it all), then, well, you get what you get. you feel about it, and you just have to roll with it.

Pregnancy is a good time to form general pri- – Anonymous 2
orities, because you have time to think while you
await your baby’s birth, but expect the reality of Anonymous 2: The alternate means of sharing is
an elegant solution, thanks. 

Brevard’s South Barrier Island Newsweekly Style Melbourne Beach 32951 | January 12, 2017 29

Listen up, ladies: How to make 2017 your best dressed year

BY VICTORIA MOSS a round-up of the most prevalent watch out for very doable homages on
The Telegraph themes for spring style. a high street near you soon.

First rule: Back away from the sale THE 11 ITEMS YOU’LL WANT TO The souped-up slide
racks. Anything under $5, I guaran- WEAR IN 2017
tee you don’t really need or actually I know what you’re thinking. These
want. There may still be a bargain Cartland Pink are a little silly. But what real joy have
or two to be had, but equally, in the a pair of plain black court shoes ever
coming weeks the influx of the new, The color pink has been knocking bought you? These shoes are frivolous,
shiny, fantastic things bearing that around for a few years. It started its fun and just what 2017 should be all
elusive promise of solving all long- comeback in icy, chilled hues. This about. They’ll turn your oldest, most
held dressing dilemmas, will start to wasn’t the stuff of sugar and spice, this raggy jeans into a fashion statement.
turn your head. So why not wait, and was grown-up, ironic pink. Thankful- Also: They’re seductively comfort-
use this interim-season time to work ly, we can all stop being so pretentious. able. Sarah Rutson, Net-a-porter’s vice
out and plan what treats will serve The new pinks have no sense of irony. president of global buying, is predict-
you best this year. They are pure, unapologetically bub- ing that “pool slides will be the go-to
blegum, tangy and full-fat sugar laden. flats this year, they’ll replace trainers
If we can all agree on anything, it’s in everyone’s wardrobe.” We’ll tell you
that last year was less than satisfac- We’re not going to read too much this for nothing, that woman is rarely
tory. Which is perhaps why fashion into the sudden proliferation of girl- wrong. Get on board.
right now is having somewhat of a ish frocks on the horizon, though.
“Let’s bling it up while Rome burns” Because for us, they look best when Shirting with attitude
sort of a moment. I can’t promise 2017 played down a bit; so pair with chunky
will bring anything more thrilling, flats or boots, rather than with dainty CONTINUED ON PAGE 30
but that doesn’t mean your wardrobe pieces. (As a rule, think, “How would
should reflect global instability. In- Melania Trump wear this?” and do the
deed, one might think that this is the opposite). Marks and Spencer have a
perfect time to say, hang on, “pass the fabulously shouting dress with flared
fluoro, hand me my crystal encrusted elbow-length sleeves and tie-neck back
stilettos, let me find my brocade suit dropping in June, which means you
of armor, and chuck on my azure- have plenty of time to get your head
blue silk cape.” (Or, you know, you around wearing something this bright.
can stick to biscuit-y muted tones,
and add in some stealth accessories The bottomless bag
in a more restrained but no less joy- This season even the fussiest Goldi-
ful approach to getting dressed.) locks will find a handbag to suit, but
for anyone who has struggled getting
Thankfully the days of stringent their heads, or indeed worldly posses-
trend demands are long gone. sions, into the explosion of mini-bags
be cheered by the influx of super-sized
Are you minimalist or maximalist? sacks coming your way. Matchesfash-
What if you’re sold on navy sweaters, ion.com has coined these Mary Pop-
but certainly not averse to a jazzy pins-worthy trunks bottomless bags,
hued shoe? Do it. When there are which we are very much on board
no rules, there is no holding back. with. The ultimate versions are by
Wear what you like, how you like, is a Balenciaga, Céline and Valentino, but
strong general rule of thumb.

However, If you are daunted by the
options, then make sure to always
have your checklist ready – you need
to be armed with what shapes and
colors suit you. The best way to fig-
ure this out is to have a thorough and
honest wardrobe detox.

Bring in a friend whose taste you
admire if you need back up opinion.
Try on everything. But pay the closest
attention to the pieces you wear the
most often – why do you like them
so much? Because of the style, or be-
cause you look your best in them?
Hopefully a combination of both.
Pinpoint what works: skirts lengths,
trouser widths, style of top – this
will help you find your basic silhou-
ette combination – which ideally you
should stick to at all points.

Once you have this cracked, you’re
ready to cast your discerning eye
over the new season goodies. Here’s

30 Melbourne Beach 32951 | January 12, 2017 Style Brevard’s South Barrier Island Newsweekly

If you’ve always had white shirts ing overrun by fakes. Designers Up your earring game The easy outfit
down as the stuff of bankers and have met the counterfeiters head Giant hoops, dazzling chande- Suiting went a bit haywire last
school boys, then it’s time to re-think. on by releasing their own versions liers, sculptural constructions, year. I’m not sure how many of you
The London based duo palmer//hard- of “fake”T-shirts. Oh irony, you cad. kitsch color, giant pearls, reams bought into all those primary hued
ing have again worked with John Lew- Gucci and Dolce & Gabbana are both of pearls: Whatever your take, if velvet options? I didn’t. But I’m very
is’s excellent Modern Rarity collection going in strong on the T-shirt market you do one thing to dip a toe into tempted by the lure of a pared back,
for its second season (even better than – wear with a glam skirt for full hi- fashion this year, make it a pair of easy to wear trouser-blazer duo.
the first), and produced more of their low style points. In her first collec- knock-out earrings. An instant out- The blazer – look for slightly over-
extremely covetable out-sized, flow- tion for Dior, Maria Grazia Chiuri in- fit and mood lifter. My only note of sized versions with strong shoulder
ing, quirky shirts. Wear for now lay- serted sweet ticker-tape touches on caution would be for those of you – is key, and works with everything.
ered under sloping knits, and later on dress straps, shoes and bags. with long hair – avoid more flimsy Trousers meanwhile are staying
its own with your favorite trousers. designs, they’ll drive you mad. wide and slightly cropped – all the
While over at Saint Laurent, Antho- better for showing off your good
Striped out ny Vaccarello, the new creative direc- Pleated skirts rule shoes. And rather flattering too
tor incumbent, brought back the clas-
sic YSL in shoe heels and earrings. In
this current age of maximalism, don’t
be coy in declaring your allegiance to
a designer label.

The kitten heel (and other sen-
sible shoe stories)

For anyone who thinks fashion There is, I should warn you, some- If you haven’t fallen for the pleat- The new trench coat
trends are for the mad and visually what of a movement to a razor sharp ed skirt then you need to get on Trenches are a classic for a reason.
impaired, may we present one of the high stiletto heel. It’s something for board. Just flirty enough, but looks But if you’re in the market for an up-
most prevalent tropes on the spring every woman to contemplate for just as good with sneakers as boots date, look for details to elevate the
summer catwalks: stripes. Every herself, but I’m ignoring it. Because and heels. simple belted coat into something
which way, in every which color. Who in less bunion-related news, the kit- more special – extra wide lapels (also,
doesn’t like stripes? But this is more ten heel is also staking its claim on Make it whatever you need it to quite flattering), jaunty sleeves, wide
than a simple Breton: Think bold wide 2017, alongside a keen dose of (low) be. I love them, and I’m not alone, belts and luxe fabrics will all propel
leg trousers, shirts (again) and knitted block heeled beauties. the pleated skirt – generally hit- that coat into 2017 territory. Some-
and cotton dresses and skirts. Balance ting below the knee – has become thing to look out for. 
out with some complementary block a modern classic. This season there
color and you have a straightforward was a resurgence of them, which is
ticket to no-brainer chic. very happy news for anyone already
sold on the theme. I’m unasham-
Logo mania (it’s back) edly obsessed with this Céline look.
It’s not just the news that is be- Technically, it’s a dress.

But it also pretty much sums up
the spring summer 2017 season in
one: the skirt, the shirt, the earrings,
the giant bag – and all played down
with a pair of sneakers. Spot on.

Brevard’s South Barrier Island Newsweekly Melbourne Beach 32951 | January 12, 2017 31

& Casual Dining

Polo Grill: A more classic look for your private club

BY TINA RONDEAU Polo Club Meatloaf. delicious as always, and the crab cakes
Columnist had very large chunks of lump crab
PHOTOS BY DENISE RITCHIE in a light seasoning and served with a
Restaurateur John Marx knows what creamy pesto lemon aioli.
his regulars want. So during the off-
season, he redecorated the Polo Grill – For dessert, we were offered a compli-
which many Vero beachside residents mentary scoop of mango sorbet or mo-
view as their dining “club” – to make it cha chip ice cream. Our votes were split
feel even more “clubby.” between the two Haagen-Dazs flavors.

The walls of the main dining room Polo is not inexpensive. Prices seem
– with its dark paneling, leather chairs to keep creeping up, and dinner for two
and booths – have now been painted a with appetizers and a modest bottle of
rich shade of green. Not quite British wine should run about $130 before tax-
racing green, but you get the idea. New es and tip.
crystal chandeliers and new valances
have given the room an even more But I would be remiss were I to fail
classic look. to mention the Polo Grill’s “Dinner at
Five,” where those willing to come at 5
The feeling of being a “member” p.m. or 5:15 p.m. can order from a menu
rather than a “guest” is enhanced by that includes 7 entrees for $18.95 and 4
the veteran servers, who go out of their entrees for $21.95. These extremely pop-
way to greet regulars by name and are ular dinners also include the choice of
extremely knowledgeable and atten- the Caesar or bleu wedge salad, and ice
tive. As a group, the servers may be the cream for dessert.
best in town.
It’s always great to visit a restaurant
Unlike many Vero Beach restaurants, where you can feel confident you are
Polo is a place where table conversa- going to have a fine evening. With excel-
tion doesn’t require shouting. And for lent servers, John Marx has proven he
many diners, the comfort level extends has a good feel for what many beachside
to the food – where bistro favorites like diners want, and this comfortable res-
meatloaf and calves liver with bacon are taurant is certainly one you can rely on.
available as well as very good (and high-
priced) seafood and veal chops. I welcome your comments, and en-
courage you to send feedback to me at
Last week, four of us stopped by for [email protected].
dinner. Even though the season is not
fully underway, Polo – located in Por- The reviewer dines anonymously at
tales de Vero, at the south end of Ocean restaurants at the expense of Vero Beach
Drive – was close to full when we arrived 32963. 
at 7:15. Proprietor Marx welcomed us
Polo Lump
Polo Club Pompano. Crabcakes.

warmly and ushered us to a nice booth mesan cheese – one of our companions crab cakes ($33.95), and the other de- Polo Grill
in the main dining room. We quickly or- opted for a Caesar salad, and my hus- cided to try the meatloaf ($26.95).
dered a bottle of chardonnay. band and our other companion opted Hours: Monday through
for wedge salads. My grouper was broiled in a lemon Saturday, 5 pm to close
On this particular evening, we decid- butter sauce and topped with chevre
ed to forgo appetizers and go straight to For entrees on this visit, I ordered cheese, sundried tomatoes and black Beverages: Full bar
salads, which are included with entrees. the Polo grouper ($39.95), my husband olives. A very successful dish. My hus-
I chose a Caesar salad – crispy romaine chose the pompano ($39.95), one of our band’s fresh pompano was also broiled Address:
hearts, garlic croutons and shaved par- companions opted for the Polo lump in a lemon butter sauce. Even though 2855 Ocean Drive,
the pompano had been seared on both
sides, it was still moist inside – not the Vero Beach
easiest thing to accomplish.
Phone: 772-231-4090
The Polo Club meatloaf, certified
black angus beef with a burgundy mush-
room sauce and fried onions on top, was

32 Melbourne Beach 32951 | January 12, 2017 Brevard’s South Barrier Island Newsweekly

& Casual Dining

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Brevard’s South Barrier Island Newsweekly Melbourne Beach 32951 | January 12, 2017 33

PETS

Bonz has ‘art’-felt affection for Coco and Joey

Hi Dog Buddies! learnin’ stuff. Like all the dif- Joey and Coco. PHOTO BY DENISE RITCHIE
ferent ways colors can go
This week was a first for me; I visited an together. Sometimes you “Works for me” Joey said. “But, dise. It’s great!”
ack-shull ART gallery to interview Coco know right away what a guess what? Much as I love the visual arts, The front bell rang and they jumped
and Joey Stringer, who own and operate the picture is, like a flower or a I also love classical music. And I can sing.
gallery with their Dads. Coco and Joey are ball or one of those birds, Our Dads called me their Child Star. Daddy down and zoomed back to work.
brother and sister Mini-Yorkies who work and sometimes you don’t Caesar helps me. Listen! I’ll do a little some- Heading home, I was thinking about fine
as Official Greeters and sometimes models. know WHAT it is, but it still thing from ‘Rigoletto.’”
makes you feel happy, or art, and wondering if that picture of those
Soon as we walked in, the nice reception- sad or something. We also After some encouraging woofs from dogs playing cards counted. You know the
ist said we were Expected. Sure enough, learned to NEVER put our Daddy Caesar, Joey began to sing. Not just one I mean, right?
pretty soon we heard teeny little toes rac- noses in paint.” a buncha barks, either. It was really Cool
ing across the carpet, then two pooches ap- Kibbles, and he had great range. Till next time,
peared, in blue and pink, and pranced right “We meet artists from
up for the (perfectly executed, almost bal- all over the world, and they “Totally Pawsome, Joey! Whaddya do af- The Bonz
letic) Wag-and-Sniffs. I was impressed. just LOVE us,” said Coco. ter work?”
“We’re even the subject of Don’t Be Shy
They were SO mini! I mean, Yorkies are several paintings. And one “We love the beach, and the dog park.
little anyway, but these two coulda fit in of our artists, Cathy Fer- And we have a million toys,” said Coco. We are always looking for pets
my kibbles dish. No Woof! But their per- rell, did a sculpture of us!” “Our Dads say the house look like F.A O. with interesting stories.
sonalities and joie de vivre (that’s French. I Schwartz. We also visit people in an assisted
Googled) were not mini whatsoever. Daddy John brought living place. We sit on their laps. It makes To set up an interview, email
in a little bronze sculp- ’em happy, and us, too!” [email protected].
“On behalf of the entire gallery family, ture on a disc of green
welcome! I’m Joey. This is my sister, Coco. marble, a small edi- “Bottom line,” said Joey, “We love our
And these are our Dads, John and Caesar.” tion of the original, life. We’re doing what we love – in para-
Coco explained. It was
“I’m delighted to make your acquain- aMAZing.
tances. This place is lovely.”
“Woof! That is Paw-
“Thank you! We enjoy it,” said Coco. some Dog Biscuits!”
“Come, let’s sit down.”
“Totes!” said Joey.
They led us to a comfy seating area, with “Greeting’s our official
really pretty pictures all around. Coco and job, but I found out
Joey hopped onto a big, round footstool. I I have, like, a gift for
got my notebook out. “I’m eager to learn knowing what sorta
how you became fine art aficionados.” painting a person will
like. One day, a lady
“We’ve been learning about art since we came in looking for
were puppies, back in 2013,” Coco began. a special painting.
“It’d been years since our Dads had a dog. She seemed sorta
Work was real hectic: They were always go- stressed. You know
ing back and forth from here to their gallery how us pooches can
Up North. When they finally settled here year sense that stuff.”
round, they decided it was time to look for a
Small Polite Dog. After a lotta searching, they “Yes I do.”
found a breeder in Melbourne Beach. They “We greeted her
found a picture of ME on the website and as usual, and she
saw right away that I was Fabulous! So they asked if she could
drove up to meet me In The Fur.” pick me up. Daddy
John said sure. So she scooped me up and
“Oooo, lemme tell this part,” interrupted snuggled me while she looked around. I
Joey. “Anyway, so our Dads came up to see was happy an relaxed, an pretty soon, she
Coco. Even as an itsy puppy (1.7 pounds), was, too. I’d give her lotsa little (not slurpy)
she was really somethin’, Show Quality, the Puppy Kisses when we looked at paintings
humans said; a total pooch supermodel, in my favorite style, French Impressionism.
polite but not very snuggly. Kinda a diva. She was trying to decide among three paint-
(No offense, sis.) ings, and I kept giving her Puppy Kisses, cuz
I liked ’em all. She finally decided to take
“Me, on the other paw, I’m just naturally ’em all. Daddy John said, ‘Whaddya want
cuddly. Even though I was the runt of the for dinner tonight, Joey?’”
litter (1.2 pounds, which isn’t very many), I “What didja have?” I asked.
came right up to our future Dads and did all “I believe it was Kibbles a L’orange with
my Puppy Moves. My in-stinks told me they Jasmine Rice. ’Cept for the kibbles, our Dads
were gonna be the Best Family EVER. prepare our food special. We eat natural
stuff only. Daddy John says if he can’t pro-
“Well, our Dads just couldn’t decide be- nounce it, we don’t eat it. We’re real healthy.”
tween us. Finally, they figured, ‘Hey, we “Joey was a clumsy puppy but I helped
could get BOTH!’ Daddy John says it was the him blossom,” Coco said. “I toughened him
best decision they ever made!” up, ya know, like a Big Sister should.”

“Your life must be so exciting!” I com-
mented. “Bein’ around all this art and get-
ting’ to meet ack-shull AR-tists!”

“Oh, it IS!” said Joey. “We’re always





36 Melbourne Beach 32951 | January 12, 2017 Brevard’s South Beach Newsweekly ™

REAL ESTATE

Breezy Beach Woods condo offers riverfront value

BY GEORGE WHITE hangs a collection of several spectac- rounding the living room, which has the south beaches for an economical
Correspondent ular sunsets captured from the bal- an interesting angled wall allowing price, Wiener said.
cony on film by seller John Wiener. for the multi-room views.
Bright and breezy, with a view of He and his wife Margaret like Beach “It actually fit perfectly. We were
the Indian River from nearly every Woods so much that, when they de- “Without a doubt, we used the looking for a three-bedroom and we
room, this condo in Beach Woods of- cided to sell their condo, they moved balcony as part of the home. During wanted an end unit so we would have
fers great riverfront value. to another home in the complex. the day, the back balcony that faces more windows. We thought the lay-
the river is in the sun so it’s nice and out this unit was absolutely perfect,’’
The 1,875-square-foot home is lo- “Every sunset that goes down is warm even during the winter. And he said.
cated on the southwest corner of the a different one,” says John Weiner. if it’s too hot in the back, you can sit
six-story high-rise built in 1985 at “There’s something different about on the front balcony, which is in the Other keys to its convenience are
3220 River Villa Way, one of several every single one of them.” shade in the afternoon,’’ he said. storage areas off of the back and front
types of housing in the Beach Woods balconies.
development. In fact, the balconies play a key role When the Wieners bought the con-
to the livability of the unit, with the do in 2008, it was the end to the fam- “It has plenty of storage and the
Along the wall in the entry still back, wrap-around balconies sur- ily’s search for a special place along unit has very large closets through-
out, including a large closet at the

Brevard’s South Beach Newsweekly ™ Melbourne Beach 32951 | January 12, 2017 37

REAL ESTATE

front door,’’ Wiener said. tric central heat and air. children’s play area. It also has a bike “Other than the physical aspects
Home features include a custom Community amenities include a trail, jogging trail and sauna. of it, one thing people don’t see when
they come to view it is how nice the
wet bar, new stainless steel kitchen clubhouse, two swimming pools (one The condo has been a lovely home, neighbors are. The building is full of
appliances, storm shutters, a one- heated), riverfront pier, boat ramp, but it is the other residents in the re- really, really nice people. We’re mov-
car under-building garage and an fitness center, tennis courts, basket- sort-style community that made the ing but we’re staying in the communi-
assigned RV/boat space. It has elec- ball and racquetball courts, and a living special, Wiener said.

38 Melbourne Beach 32951 | January 12, 2017 Brevard’s South Beach Newsweekly ™

REAL ESTATE

Real Estate Sales on South Brevard island: Dec. 30 to Jan. 5

The week of New Year’s was a relatively quiet one in the South Brevard island ZIP codes 32951 and 32903,
with 1 property sold in Melbourne Beach and 6 in Indialantic.

The featured sale of the week in 32951 was of a unit in Riverside Condos at Beach Woods. The condo at
3220 River Villa Way was placed on the market June 4 with an asking price of $280,000. The price was
subsequently raised to $299,900. The transaction closed Dec. 30 for $266,250.

The seller in the transaction was represented by Theresa Daukshus of Melbourne Beach Properties. The
purchaser was represented by David Settgast of Treasure Coast Sotheby’s.

SALES FOR 32951

SUBDIVISION ADDRESS LISTED ORIGINAL MOST RECENT SOLD SELLING
ASKING PRICE ASKING PRICE PRICE

$280,000 $266,250
RIVERSIDE CONDOS AT BEACH WOODS 3220 RIVER VILLA WAY 6/3/2016 $299,900 12/29/2016

SALES FOR 32903

INDIALANTIC BY SEA 414 EIGHTH AVE 11/9/2016 $439,000 $439,000 12/29/2016 $432,000
INDIALANTIC BY SEA 116 12TH AVE 10/27/2016 $349,900 $349,900 12/29/2016 $349,900
SANCTUARY PHASE 3 T 681 NIGHTINGALE DR 9/13/2016 $500,000 $487,900 12/29/2016 $440,000
OCEAN SHORES SUBD OF 1244 BEACHSIDE LN 9/15/2016 $239,900 $239,900 12/29/2016 $222,500
INDIALANTIC BY SEA 401 WAYNE AVE 5/1/2015 $309,000 $259,000 12/29/2016 $255,000
OCEAN SANDS SOUTH CO 2725 N HIGHWAY A1A 504 11/16/2016 $399,000 $399,000 1/2/2017 $378,000

ty and we plan on staying friends with condos that are better on the river in the river or a bird flying by,” she said. gated, deed-restricted community
everyone in this building,’’ he said. this price range. There’s activity all Beach Woods spans the 32951 bar- consisting of 393 units including con-
the time and you get the beautiful dos, townhomes, villas, quads and
The layout and location on the river sunsets. There’s always a dolphin in rier island, from the Indian River single family residences.
– there is ocean access, too – and the Lagoon to the Atlantic Ocean. It is a
variety of outdoor living opportuni- Realtor Claudine Sloms, a sales as-
ties on the balconies are some of the VITAL STATISTICS sociate with Treasure Coast Sotheby’s
main selling points for the condo, 3220 RIVER VILLA WAY, UNIT 120 International Realty, is offering this
said listing agent Claudine Sloms. spacious, beautifully located condo-
minium home for $379,000. 
“It’s definitely the wonderful views
that hit you first. You won’t find any

Year built: 1985
Construction: Concrete block • Home size: 1,875 square feet

Bedrooms: 3 • Bathrooms: 2
Additional features: balconies in front and back, additional storage,

river views from nearly every room.
Listing Agency: Treasure Coast Sotheby's International Realty.

Listing Agent: Claudine Sloms, 321-446-9222
Listing price: $379,000

Brevard’s South Beach Newsweekly ™ Melbourne Beach 32951 | January 12, 2017 39

REAL ESTATE

How Team Trump can continue housing progress

BY MARK ZANDI that are three times the size of the given the dearth of new construc- among the largest too-big-to-fail in-
loan. tion. Consider that no more than 1.25 stitutions in the world. They failed
Washington Post million new housing units will be during the financial crisis, and have
Small non-bank lenders are work- put up this year. That is double the been in conservatorship under tax-
While housing has come a long way ing hard to fill the void left by the amount of construction at the low payer control ever since.
since the financial crisis, it has yet to banks, but they aren’t up to the task. point of the crisis, but nowhere near
fully recover. They don’t have the needed capital. the 1.7 million units needed in a typi- This arrangement is not sustainable.
This is constraining FHA lending and cal year to house the nation’s growing In many ways, it has served the nation
First-time home buyers are still increasing risks to taxpayers because population. It is no surprise that rent admirably by providing access to cred-
having difficulty getting mortgages, the less-well-capitalized non-bank increases are becoming a serious fi- it for a broad range of borrowers and a
a housing shortage is quickly devel- lenders surely will struggle more in nancial burden, especially for lower- level playing field for lenders of all siz-
oping in many parts of the country, the next housing downturn. income households in urban centers. es. But it makes no sense for taxpayers
and taxpayers remain on the hook to take on much of the risk when pri-
for the risk being taken by the two SOLUTION 1: Ease up on penalties SOLUTION 2: Tax credits that Pres- vate financial institutions and inves-
mortgage behemoths, Fannie Mae against banks for making small lend- ident-elect Trump’s economic advis- tors are willing to shoulder the burden.
and Freddie Mac. ing mistakes. The penalties disin- ers have suggested to help finance
centivize them to make loans. Small new infrastructure should be used To be sure, taxpayers need to con-
The incoming Trump administra- mistakes should receive small pen- for development of affordable hous- tinue to backstop the mortgage fi-
tion has much work to do if it is to suc- alties, and the FCA cudgel should be nance system against calamities
ceed in solving these problems. ing to make building easier and less like the financial collapse. With this
used only for the significant mistakes costly. The low-income-housing tax backstop, mortgage rates will be far
Since growth in home values re- that actually deserve it. Banks would credit and the new market tax credit lower, allowing for more homeown-
sumed five years ago, prices have ris- have an incentive to get back to mak- are popular and successful at incen- ership. The popular 30-year fixed-
en by about one-third and are finally ing FHA loans to first-time and un- tivizing more affordable rental hous- rate mortgage can also remain widely
higher than at their peak in the hous- derserved home buyers, while also ing in underserved communities, and available. However, taxpayers should
ing bubble a decade ago. improving their lending so as not to should be expanded. be compensated by mortgage bor-
make the particularly bad mistakes rowers for providing this service.
Unlike during the bubble, when that result in heavy penalties. Excessive land-use or zoning regu-
housing-market speculation and lations and a significant increase in Getting Fannie and Freddie out of
fraud were rampant, home prices to- FHA lending would also be more impact fees since the crisis also fetter conservatorship is critical, but it must
day are built on a solid foundation. attractive if the agency revamped its home building. Municipalities, hit by be done judiciously.
The typical U.S. household can read- antiquated rules for servicing default- the loss of property tax revenue when
ily afford the typically priced home at ed loans. Servicers must maintain house prices declined, significantly The Trump administration should
current mortgage rates. foreclosed properties for long, un- increased fees on builders to help move toward a future system in
certain periods before they transfer make up the difference and to pay for which private markets take the risks
Getting a mortgage remains es- title to the FHA. This became uneco- everything from schools and roads to in mortgage lending, not taxpayers,
pecially tough for first-timers. Since nomical for lenders during the crisis utilities and environmental mitiga- and the basic infrastructure of the
the bust, an estimated 6 million or so as foreclosures mounted; it pushed tion. These fees now amount to about system is in a government utility, and
fewer loans have been made because them away from doing FHA business, 10 percent of the price of a typical not a too-big-to-fail duopoly.
of lenders’ extraordinary reticence which hurt underserved borrowers. American home, almost double the
to extend credit. This has not been a percentage a decade ago. This can be done by empower-
matter of restoring sound underwrit- The Trump administration will ing the current effort by Fannie and
ing. Instead, it is a response to the rise also have to deal with a shortage of While setting land use regula- Freddie’s regulator, the Federal Hous-
in the regulatory and legal risks asso- affordable rental and lower-priced tions and impact fees is in the hands ing Finance Agency (FHFA), to trans-
ciated with originating and servicing single-family homes. Builders have of state and local governments, the fer the risk on mortgages backed by
loans that fail. increased housing construction since Trump administration should work Fannie and Freddie to private insti-
the crisis, particularly for high-end to provide the information, incen- tutions and investors. To their credit,
Creditworthy families of color are apartment units in larger urban areas tives and expanded access to credit the two firms are increasingly inno-
being particularly poorly served, and pricey single-family homes. But that can increase pressure to reform vative in how and with whom they
with the homeownership rate they’ve been reticent to build hous- the most pernicious of these costs. risk-transfer. Still, they need to com-
among Hispanics at 45 percent and ing that caters to lower-income rent- mit fully. They need a firm timeline to
among African Americans at 43 per- ers and first-time buyers. SOLUTION 3: The fate of Fannie offload most of their risk, eventually
cent, compared with 72 percent for Mae and Freddie Mac should also providing private players only a back-
whites. Those numbers are particu- The shortage is evident in steadily be at the center of Trump’s housing stop against calamity.
larly disconcerting given that fami- falling vacancy rates, which are at 30- policy agenda. Together, Fannie and
lies of color are gradually becom- year lows in all corners of the coun- Freddie back about half of all the The FHFA is also pushing Fannie
ing the majority of new households try from Massachusetts to Texas to nation’s mortgages, making them and Freddie to combine their sys-
formed in this country. California and sure to fall further tems for turning mortgages into se-
curities. Each firm has its own way
Fixing this problem should be at of doing this, which adds to the costs
the top of the new Trump adminis- and makes it difficult for others to
tration’s housing policy agenda. The compete with them. They are con-
Federal Housing Administration, a structing a common securitization
government agency that is part of the platform that they and other finan-
Department of Housing and Urban cial institutions can use. A common
Development and is the nation’s larg- platform eventually will also allow
est lender to first-time buyers, needs Fannie and Freddie to issue the same
to make it easier for banks to make mortgage security.
FHA loans.
By ensuring that these steps get
Many banks are unwilling to make taken in a timely way, the Trump
FHA loans because of the risk of be- administration would accomplish
ing sued by the Department of Justice a graceful change of the housing fi-
if they make a mistake, even a small nance system. 
one, under the False Claims Act. FCA
violations force lenders to pay fines


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