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Jason Brown: Vero Fish Foundation
boy set to take on hoping tourney
county’s top job will raise $50K

BY LISA ZAHNER BY RAY MCNULTY
Staff Writer Staff Writer

The best news for incoming Mardy Fish Children’s Foun-
Indian River County Adminis- dation chairman Tom Fish
trator Jason Brown is that his said he hopes to raise at least
longtime boss and mentor $50,000 during the USTA Pro
Joe Baird plans to leave the Circuit’s men’s tennis tourna-
country shortly after stepping ment this spring inVero Beach.
down on June 30.
“This is our first year run-
Not for good, mind you. But ning it, so we don’t know ex-
for long enough to let Brown actly how much we’ll take in,”
establish himself as his own said Fish, the Windsor ten-
man in the big corner office. nis director who oversees the
foundation created by his son,
Public defender Diamond Litty and State Attorney Bruce Colton in the courtroom. PHOTO BY DENISE RITCHIE Mardy, a now-retired former
top-10 player. “But based on
MY Unlikely friends: The prosecutor and the public defender the success of the tournament
VERO in the past, we think that’s a re-
alistic goal.”
BY RAY MCNULTY Ness and Al Capone being together nearly 35 years ago.
Staff Writer best buds. "I hired them both" for The foundation, which
funds programs that provide
At first blush, it seems But Bruce Colton, the re- the State Attorney’s office, after-school exercise, nutri-
strange. Almost like Wile E. gion’s chief prosecutor, and longtime Vero Beach attor- tional education and instruc-
Coyote and the Road Run- Diamond Litty, the region’s ney and one-time 19th Ju- tion in healthy living for more
ner being pals. Or Eliot public defender, have been dicial Circuit State Attorney than 2,100 elementary- and
friends since they worked middle-school children in In-
CONTINUED ON PAGE 4
CONTINUED ON PAGE 6
Jason Brown PHOTO BY DENISE RITCHIE

“I’ve got 22 places on my Metal shards, hidden again by the sand,
bucket list and I’m going to remain hazard at Tracking Station beach
travel,” Baird said last week.
Visiting his mother and sister BY LISA ZAHNER / STEVEN M. THOMAS are still a potential menace Workers dig up buried PVC pipe structure at Tracking Station beach.
in Scotland is at the top, plus Staff Writers after being blanketed again –
he’s got family strewn around at least for the moment – by
the globe, with lots of catch- Shards of sharp, rusted met- wave-washed sand.
ing up to do. al protruding at low tide from
Tracking Station beach behind The beach hazards came
Baird has been a hands-on Florida Institute of Technol- to light two weeks ago when
administrator since he rose ogy’s Vero Marine Laboratory a reader alerted Vero Beach
out of the Office of Manage-
ment and Budget to take the CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

March 3, 2016 Volume 9, Issue 9 Newsstand Price $1.00 Crowd turns out to
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Editorial 58 People 11-34
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2 Vero Beach 32963 / March 3, 2016 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

NEWS

Jason Brown Brown comes into the job with a and on county ballfields. He spent table from a union representative,
very different set of life experiences summers on county beaches, and many times he’s face-to-face with
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 from Baird, who was born in Africa he saw his parents make a living as a man or woman he went to grade
and lived all over the world, landing small business owners, dealing with school or high school with. “I think
post in 2004 – there’s very little that in Vero only after graduating from the ebb and flow of the economy and it’s better because I know the com-
goes on in the county that he doesn’t Florida Atlantic University. with taxes, permits, government fees munity and I have a commitment to
know about. and regulations. the community.
Brown was born in the “old hos-
He groomed Brown for nearly two pital” building that is now the old Now 41 years old with 18 years of “I plan to stay here, this is my
decades to follow in his footsteps. school board building. He attend- service to the county, Brown is mar- home,” Brown said. “The county
That’s why, as his 59th birthday ap- ed the county’s public schools and ried – his wife teaches art at Rose- administrator job is not a stepping
proaches and adventure beckons, he graduated with the Vero Beach High wood Magnet School – and he’s rais- stone to something bigger for me so it
is more than comfortable jetting off School Fighting Indians Class of 1992 ing his 10-year-old son and 6-year-old gives me that long-term perspective.
and leaving the store in Brown’s hands. before earning dual bachelor’s de- daughter in the same community Expedient decisions may not be the
“Jason will do a great job,” Baird said grees in finance and insurance as a where he grew up. best long-term decisions.”
with a kind of paternal pride. “He’ll be University of Florida Gator.
better than me.” When he meets with county em- Running an organization with an
As a kid, he played in county parks ployees or sits across the negotiating $86 million general fund budget and
meeting the Board of County Com-
missioners’ expectations in terms
of holding the line on spending tax-
payer dollars is a challenge Brown
says he looks forward to – and one
his years as budget director prepared
him for.

“Joe’s legacy is his fiscal conserva-
tism, which is a philosophy I share
and our community overall shares.
We like our low tax rates,” Brown said,
adding that among the seven neigh-
boring counties, Indian River ranks
second lowest in county general fund
tax burden.

As the economy improves and
housing continues to rebound
throughout the county, Brown said
prioritizing spending will become
even more important. In the lean
years, the county had to pick and
choose which capital construction
and maintenance projects were ab-
solutely necessary, and many big jobs
got put off. Vehicles grew tired. Build-
ings sagged and leaked. Now, depart-
ments countywide are playing catch-
up.

“So it’s almost like there’s a pent-up
demand for capital replacement, roll-
ing stock and deferred maintenance,”
Brown said. Having the discipline to
keep department heads and even the
Board of County Commissioners fo-
cused on taking care of all of those
backlogged needs before embarking
upon any costly new projects will be
a challenge. “We want to be careful
about new, recurring expenses,” he
said.

Even when analyzing potential
changes to county employees’ health
benefits as he’s currently doing,
Brown said he keeps not only the ros-
ter of employees and their families,
but the whole county demographic
in mind including his self-employed
parents and retirees on fixed in-
comes. “We always have to keep in
mind that small business owner who
might not have health insurance cov-
erage that’s as good as what county
employees have.”

Budget hawk is the part of the job
Brown is most accustomed to as he
analyzes revenue estimates and de-

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / March 3, 2016 3

NEWS

partmental spending requests this The local knowledge vacuum be- with talented individuals, wherever Lawson, who works with Brown as
spring for his final budget as the ing created by those departures may Brown can find them. her counterpart at the county.
county’s chief financial officer. Some have been the lynchpin that nailed
other parts of the job, he says, are a the top job for Brown, as boards often There are hopes, too, that new “We at the city look at this as a good
welcome opportunity for growth. prefer to bring fresh leaders in from county leadership may help heal the thing and at an opportune time. My
He’s about to be thrust into the pro- outside. Instead, the five commis- long-term rift with the City of Vero conversations with Jason have been
verbial hot seat where he’ll be tugged sioners opted for what they hope will Beach that often has thwarted city/ very good,” O’Connor said. “There
a dozen directions at once. From the be a seamless and successful transi- county cooperation. Vero City Man- are a lot of issues we have to work on
halls of Tallahassee to the aisles of the tion from Baird to Brown, filling in ager Jim O’Connor said he’s heard together and I think Jason will be a
grocery store, Brown will have people those pivotal mid-management roles very positive things about Brown pair of fresh eyes on these policy de-
telling him how to do his job. from his Finance Director Cindy cisions.” 

“My profile has risen and I go to Exclusively John’s Island
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Local residents are accustomed
to the back-slapping, jovial style of three championship golf courses : 17 har-tru courts : beach club : squash
Baird working a banquet hall or a health & fitness center : pickleball : croquet : vertical equity membership
restaurant or holding court at a local
watering hole. “I’m not naturally as 772.231.0900 : Vero Beach, FL : JohnsIslandRealEstate.com
gregarious as Joe but I’ve been speak-
ing in public a lot. It’s good to get out
of your comfort zone,” Brown said. “I
hope I’m easy to talk to and I’m very
interested in hearing what people
think about county policy.”

Brown ventured to the state’s capi-
tal twice this session to experience
the legislative process firsthand –
once with the Indian River County
Chamber of Commerce’s legislative
delegation and once with his col-
leagues from the Florida Association
of Counties.

He said he’s a staunch believer in
home rule and local government be-
ing the best-equipped to serve the
local community, but realistically he
knows that a lot of choices are made
top-down and he must find the best
local solution for implementing and
funding those changes, policies or
programs.

Looking ahead at what his two big-
gest challenges will be – apart from
the budget – Brown said the ongoing
battle against All Aboard Florida is
something that has united the com-
munity in a struggle to maintain
the superior quality of life residents
expect in Indian River County, and
he’ll take his spot on the team with
County Attorney Dylan Reingold and
the commissioners on the front line
of that effort.

The other task on the horizon will
be filling some important, high-
profile positions as longtime depart-
ment heads and key staffers reach
retirement age and move on.

But first, Brown needs to find and
train his own replacement, who he
hopes to have on board by late April
or May so he can begin his transition
to county administrator in June.

“With that turnover (of longtime
employees), we’re losing a lot of in-
stitutional knowledge,” Brown said.

4 Vero Beach 32963 / March 3, 2016 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

NEWS

My Vero Public Defender to get along," he add- with Colton and targeted what they It is there, if anywhere, that the friend-
ed. "Our relationship is on a different termed her "cozy" relationships with ship between the State Attorney and
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 level, and it's enabled us to work to- sheriffs. The accusations, though, Public Defender might contribute to
gether to help the system." didn't stick and she is likely to be elect- both sides arriving at what Litty called a
Bob Stone said. "I brought Bruce over ed to her seventh term in November. "better, fairer deal."
from the Public Defender's Office in The spirit of cooperation between
1974, and I hired Diamond right out of their offices has, in fact, made possible Litty acknowledged there has been "It probably does help that I'm not
law school in late '81 or early '82. the implementation of local diversion "criticism," but she said she shrugs it constantly bad-mouthing the Public
programs, such as Drug Court, Mental off knowing her personal relationships Defender," Colton said. "But, honestly,
"They didn't work together long, Health Court and Veterans Court, as – especially her friendship with Colton even if we didn't have a social relation-
because Diamond left after about five well as the innovative Re-Entry Program – have "greatly enhanced" the local ju- ship, we'd have gotten along."
years to go into private practice, but established by Litty's office in 2003. dicial system.
they always seemed to get along well." So just how close are Colton, who
Working in collaboration with law "It's important to know that, despite lives in Vero, and Litty, a resident of
They get along even better now. enforcement agencies throughout the the friendship between us and the co- Port St. Lucie? How often do they so-
Not only has their friendship re- circuit's four counties – Indian River, operation we've enjoyed between our cialize? How did they become more
mained intact, but it also continued St. Lucie, Martin and Okeechobee – offices, my clients' rights have never than professional colleagues?
to deepen through the years, even as Litty's office created the Re-Entry Pro- been compromised," Litty said. "Our
Colton replaced Stone as our State At- gram to assist eligible inmates in the attorneys oppose each other fiercely They're friends – good friends who like
torney in 1985 and Litty was elected county jails to develop some of the in the courtroom. He prosecutes to the each other, respect each other and care
Public Defender in 1992. basic skills needed to effectively re- fullest extent of the law. I defend to the about each other. It was their spouses,
Both still hold those offices. Both integrate as productive, law-abiding fullest extent of the law. however, who brought them closer.
have announced they're seeking re- members of the community.
election. And despite being on oppo- "That doesn't mean we have to be It was while working together in the
site sides of the courtroom for the past Colton said he supports the pro- enemies and hate each other." State Attorney's Office that Litty met
23 years, both say their friendship has gram, which has been so successful her now-husband, Tom Walsh, who
enhanced – not compromised – the that Public Defender's offices in other Several members of the local criminal went on to serve as a St. Lucie County
legal process, and allowed for great- circuits have begun to adopt it. justice system backed her claim, echo- judge for more than 25 years before re-
er cooperation throughout the local ing Loar's remarks and saying Litty and tiring in May.
criminal justice system. Indian River County Sheriff Der- Colton possess too much integrity to al-
"From an administrative perspective yl Loar also endorsed the program, low their friendship to compromise their Walsh joined the State Attorney's
and what we've been able to accomplish which he said "reduces recidivism" ethical and statutory responsibilities. Office in 1980 and he soon became
through our cooperation, it's definitely and helps "prevent the perpetuation friends with Colton.
had a very positive impact," Colton said. of the cycle" of criminal behavior. "Diamond has done her job and
"But it doesn't spill over into the court- Bruce has done his," Stone said. "I was closer to Tom and, back then,
room, to the lawyers in the trenches. "But if you don't have both sides "When it comes to cases handled by really didn't have a lot of contact with Di-
"I don't think any of my attorneys buying in," he added, "it's not going to their offices, the fact that they're long- amond, especially after she left the office
would tell you they feel any pressure to happen." time friends has no impact at all. They to go into private practice," Colton said.
do something they wouldn't normally both represent their clients, and they "After Tom and Diamond started dating
do because of my friendship with the Loar, among others, sees no problem do so vigorously and ethically." and got married, I introduced her to my
Public Defender," he continued. "A lot with Colton and Litty being friends be- wife and they became good friends."
of the younger people probably don't yond the office. He said he has worked Actually, neither Litty nor Colton
even know we're friends. And, believe with them for more than 20 years, en- spends much time in the courtroom Litty said Colton's wife, Becky, was
me, we've had some pitched battles joys a good relationship with both and these days. They're too busy being "one of my very best friends," and that
between the lawyers in our offices. can't recall a situation where their per- administrators while the lawyers who they spent a lot of time together.
"To me, though, it's a good thing, sonal friendship caused a professional work for them handle most, if not all,
even if you don't have a social rela- conflict of interest. of the cases – few of which go to trial. "We started running together and
tionship, for the State Attorney and ended up running nine marathons,"
"They may be friends," Loar said, Litty said more than 90 percent of Litty said. "We'd train eight months
"but their professionalism and focus cases involving the Public Defender's of the year, running 15 to 18 miles at a
on the job supercedes that." Office are resolved through plea nego- clip, so you can imagine the friendship
tiations, "so you better get along with you forge spending that much time to-
Past political challengers have tried the person across the table." gether."
to make an issue of Litty's friendship
In addition to traveling to mara-

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / March 3, 2016 5

NEWS

thons around the country – New York, Then, six years ago, Colton's wife much as they did before his wife died. together – when they can – to improve
Chicago and Washington, D.C., were was diagnosed with breast cancer. A "We'll always be great friends," Litty the local criminal justice system.
among the stops – the couples would year later, she was gone.
occasionally get together for dinners, said. They'll also continue to work with
cookouts and other social gatherings. Colton still occasionally gets to- And as long as they're serving as our local law enforcement, the judiciary
They also took trips to the Bahamas. gether socially with Litty and Walsh, and the counties they serve.
but they don't see each other nearly as Public Defender and State Attorney,
Litty and Colton will continue to work CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

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6 Vero Beach 32963 / March 3, 2016 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

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My Vero Fish tennis tourney cations executive who lives part-time Fish said the foundation did not pay
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 at The Moorings. Rahaley for the rights to the tournament.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5
dian River County, announced Feb. Then they went to the USTA, which “You can’t buy it,” Fish said of the
"I've been an attorney here for 22 that it was taking over the tourna- needed to approve the transaction – tournament. “The date belongs to the
52 years and, right now, the overall ment’s management from longtime something that was more than a mere USTA. Mike ran the tournament, but
climate between law enforcement, local tennis pro Mike Rahaley, who formality, despite the success the tour- he didn’t own the date.”
prosecutors, defense attorneys and founded the event 24 years ago. nament had enjoyed here.
the judiciary is better than it's ever So why did Rahaley decide last sum-
been," Stone said. "The reason is that The $10,000 Futures tournament, “There’s always competition when mer that 23 years of chasing sponsors, en-
we have ethical people who take their which Rahaley said is among the dates open up on our calendar, so it listing volunteers, preparing courts and
roles seriously, people of good charac- longest-running and best-attended wasn’t a shoo-in,” said Danielle Good- coordinating with the USTA was enough?
ter who are more concerned with do- events on the USTA circuit, has been ing, the USTA Pro Circuit’s senior
ing a good job than making a name for renamed the Mardy Fish Children’s manager. “If somebody was ready to Rahaley, 73, said it wasn’t easy to
themselves. Foundation Tennis Championships. go with the right funding and in the let go of the tournament, which he
right location, it was possible Vero founded in 1993 at Grand Harbor and
"Bruce and Diamond are a big part of All proceeds from the tournament, Beach could’ve lost the tournament. nurtured into one of the most popular
that," he added. "They've set the tone." which this year will be held from April sports events in town.
22 through May 1 at The Boulevard “Fortunately, we know Randy, and
Both Colton and Litty said they see Tennis Club on Indian River Boule- the Fishes have been part of our fab- “It was a tough decision,” said Ra-
the difference when they attend meet- vard, will benefit the foundation. ric for a long time,” she added. “Those haley, who served as the tournament
ings with their peers around the state, relationships are important, and we director every year. “It’s like raising
where, in some circuits, the State At- “Mike has done a tremendous job in had long conversations with Tom and your kid, then sending him off to col-
torney and Public Defender despise making this tournament the best tour- Randy, but it wasn’t automatic.” lege. I’m sure there are things I’ll miss.
each other. nament at its level in the world, and But it was time.
we want to build on that” Fish said. “We had to kind of beg for it,” Fish
"Nowhere in the state is there more “We’re excited to keep the tournament said. “We wrote a long email explain- “Last year, the cancer got in the way,
cooperation – not just between Bruce in Vero Beach.” ing what the foundation does and our and I found myself feeling more pressure
and I, but among all the players," Litty plans for the tournament, then we got and putting in more time,” he added.
said. "We've had disagreements, but Rahaley, who overcame a bout with Mardy to give them a call. It wasn’t a “There’s a lot more to running a tourna-
that's the exception, not the rule. prostate cancer before last year’s tour- matter of just stepping in for Mike.” ment than what you see those two weeks,
nament, said he approached Fish last and I just don’t need that, anymore.
"The spirit of cooperation here is un- fall about the possibility of the foun- After reviewing the foundation’s ap-
usual, extraordinary and, really, quite dation taking over the event. Together, plication, the USTA was impressed “I’ll be hanging around and avail-
unique," she added. "And it starts at they brought in Randy Walker, a for- enough to keep the date in Vero Beach, able to help out if they need some-
the top." mer USTA marketing and communi- notifying Walker and Fish – they will thing, but I’m passing it on.”
serve as the tournament’s co-directors
Between friends.  – shortly before Christmas. He also passed on some of the equip-
ment needed for the tournament: Fish
said Rahaley has donated to the foun-

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / March 3, 2016 7

NEWS

dation cabanas, chairs, line-sweepers, young Americans on the tour.” As for the tournament here, Fish a tennis tournament,” Rahaley said.
screens and signage. The younger Fish said he’ll work said he will team with Walker to do “It’s a big job, and I did it for a long
most of the hands-on work required time. I think we did pretty well, too,
Walker said Dale Sorensen Real Es- on a part-time basis with young U.S. to manage the event. looking at how far we’ve come.
tate, the event’s title sponsor the past players in the top 100 in the world
three years, will continue to support rankings. “There are a lot of moving parts to “Now, it’s someone else’s turn.” 
the tournament, which Fish said has
an economic impact of $500,000 an- Hidden beach hazard extensive excavation to find and re- once used to draw sea water into tanks
nually on the local community. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 move the remaining hazards. at the marine station.

The list of players who’ve competed 32963 that dangerous metal spikes and The letter indicates FIT has been But with a long history of different
in the Vero Beach event on their way pipes were sticking up out of the sand aware of the hazards for months, and uses of the facility, the piping may well
to the ATP World Tour includes Andy near the shore, in a perfect position to says they have not been removed be- pre-date the college taking over the
Roddick, Thomas Johansson, Mag- cause serious injury if a swimmer or fore now because “ideal conditions site. Only digging the metal up will re-
nus Norman, Tim Henman and Milos surfer stepped or stumbled on them (for removal) did not present them- veal the true nature of what is under
Roanic – and, of course, Fish’s son, while they were hidden beneath the selves to us during the season of No- there.
who played in the tournament twice. waves. The spikes are long enough to vember 1 to Feb 28/29.”
go completely through a person’s foot. According to Ghiotto, FIT’s plan is
The younger Fish, who retired at Now, removal is complicated by the to hand dig around the buried struc-
last year’s U.S. Open, said he is “hon- The metal structures were not put in onset of turtle nesting season, which tures and build a plywood cofferdam
ored” to have his name on the local place by FIT, but County Coastal Engi- imposes a wide range of restrictions to keep back sand and water, de-water
tournament, adding, “Vero Beach is neer James Gray says the university is on beach activities. the area with a sump pump, and cut
one of the most enthusiastic and so- responsible for removing them. off and cap the metal hazards six inch-
phisticated tennis communities in the In his letter to FDEP, Rob Ghiotto, es below the water table “if and when
country, and we’re looking forward to After being contacted by this paper FIT’s associate director of facilities low sand, daylight hours, low tide and
seeing this event continue to grow in and Gray, FIT sent a crew out to remove operations, requests “permission to calm seas occur simultaneously.”
the years to come.” the hazards last week. Men with shov- continue our approach (to attempt-
els dug a deep pit on the beach and ing removal of the hazards) into turtle In the meantime, the spikes and
However, Fish said his son, who removed a PVC pipe structure near the nesting season, especially in regard pipes seem likely to continue to ap-
lives in Los Angeles, will not attend metal hazards but were unable to lo- to the rusted projections seen in the pear and disappear near the shore-
this year’s tournament. cate the metal spikes and pipes. photos.” line, sometimes exposed to view,
sometimes hidden beneath the waves.
“He’d love to be here, but it’s so far The university has now applied to Greg Tsark, Florida Tech’s vice presi- Beachgoers walking or swimming
for him to come and he already has Florida Department of Environmental dent in charge of facilities, said the fa- near the area behind the Vero Beach
commitments for that week,” Fish Protection for permission to do more cilities crew is operating under the as- Marine Lab should take care not to
said. “He’s helping out as a coach for sumption that the rusted metal is part step on the jagged metal. 
the USTA now, and he’ll be in Cali- of a network of intake pipes that were
fornia working with some of the top

8 Vero Beach 32963 / March 3, 2016 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

NEWS

Vero athlete plans to complete 21 triathlons in 21 days

BY RAY MCNULTY Triathlete Jeff Fairbanks PHOTO BY PHIL SUNKEL stops in 11 states before concluding
Staff Writer the trek Aug. 16 in Vero Beach. He said
out there – for just one leg or all three selves in their lives and, if possible, he will select 21 cities from a list of 30.
Barring an unexpected setback, Jeff in each location – but there's a com- create more triathletes," he added.
Fairbanks will spend most of June on munity component to all this, too," he "It's going to be brutal, but I wanted Cities under consideration include:
the road – and in the water. continued. "I want to hear their sto- to do something so off-kilter that it Miami, Atlanta, Charlotte, Charleston,
ries. I want to know why they do this catches people's attention." South Carolina; Williamsburg, Vir-
The 37-year-old Central Beach resi- and how it has changed their lives. ginia; Philadelphia, Atlantic City, New
dent is finalizing plans to complete Fairbanks plans to embark on his Jersey; Lake Placid, New York; Nar-
21 half-Ironman courses in 21 days, "I also want to promote healthy liv- journey, which he has titled, "The Tri- ragansett, Rhode Island; Middlebury,
traveling the east coast from Florida to ing, inspire others to challenge them- umph Project," on June 9 and make Connecticut; Gilford, New Hampshire;
Maine to film a documentary he hopes and Old Orchard Beach, Maine.
will engage the triathlon community,
explain why people subject themselves To complete a half-Ironman course,
to the three-pronged challenge and in- Fairbanks must swim 1.2 miles, bike 56
spire others to embrace the sport. miles and run 13.1 miles for a combined
total of 70.3 miles, a distance he plans to
In addition to testing his own endur- cover every day for three weeks.
ance limits, he said he wants to gather
personal stories about what brought Though he will not be competing in
other triathletes to a demanding sport scheduled races, he said he will try to
that consists of long-distance swim- use courses on which previous Iron-
ming, bicycling and running. man events have been held.

"I want to be the bridge that con- "I'm not entering races," Fairbanks
nects all these people and show oth- said. "I'm doing this on my own. I hope
ers why we do this," said Fairbanks, a other triathletes come out and join me –
surfer who dabbled in mixed martial that's why I'm looking for publicity – but
arts and motocross before attempting these aren't going to be Ironman events.
his first triathlon 2 1/2 years ago.
"I'm going to have the courses
"Not only am I hoping to use media mapped out in advance, then try to get
coverage to invite others to join me the word out," he added. "I don't like
doing it alone."

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / March 3, 2016 9

NEWS

Fairbanks, who works in the com- Tim Zorc has plan to clean up canal water
pliance department for Seattle-based
Group Health Cooperative, said he BY SAMANTHA ROHLFING BAITA day. The North and South Canals have cent of the phosphorous and nitrogen,
has stockpiled vacation time and that turf algae scrubbers processing part of it would no longer be adding to the
his wife, Talia, and their two young Staff Writer the flow and removing small quantities problem, and would cost less.”
children will travel with him in a rent- of nutrients that damage the lagoon.
ed motor home. County Commissioner Tim Zorc (Each came with a $12 million price Details about AquaFiber’s technol-
thinks he has found an innovative way tag.) The North Canal's scrubber has ogy and success at Lake Jesup will be
He is self-funding the trip, which he to cost-effectively clean up the water been operating for about five years, the presented at the Second Annual Indian
called his "dream," and hopes to recov- in the main relief canal before it emp- South Canal's for only a few months, River Lagoon Symposium on March 29.
er some of the costs through showing ties into the Indian River Lagoon, and but there is nothing on the Main Canal.
a "Why We Tri" documentary at small he plans to showcase the technology The event is free and open to everyone,
theaters, film festivals and through digi- at a lagoon symposium this month. “If we can clean that Main Canal Zorc says. Registration opens at 8:30
tal platforms. water with the Lake Jesup technology,” a.m. at the County Administration
If his plan is successful, it has the says Zorc, “getting rid of about 70 per- Complex, Building A, 1801 27th Street.
He said he hopes to have the film potential to remove huge amounts The program is from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. 
ready for release by Oct. 1 and will use of lagoon-killing chemicals from the
social media to promote its availability. murky canal water and help give the
estuary a fighting chance to recover
"I'm not nervous about physically from recent ecological disasters.
being able to do it," said Fairbanks,
who, along with his wife, has owned Developed by AquaFiber Technolo-
a home in Vero Beach since 2006, left gies Corporation, the purification pro-
in 2009 and returned four months ago cess has been extensively tested over
to be closer to his in-laws on South the past five years at Lake Jesup in
Beach. "The hardest part is going to Seminole County.
be running 13 miles a day for 21 days."
AquaFiber’s innovative technol-
Unlike most triathletes, Fairbanks ogy – the company has 26 U.S. and
wasn't a swimmer, or a bicyclist, or a International patents, with eight more
runner. He entered his first event – the pending – employs a process called dis-
Seattle-area's Clear Lake Triathlon in solved air flotation that clarifies water
July 2013 – on a whim. He had tried run- by removing suspended oils and solids.
ning a marathon, but found it boring. As an added benefit, Zorc says, the pro-
cess yields a biomass by-product that
His first triathlon, however, was can be turned into useful products.
only a "sprint" that consisted of a
one-third-of-a-mile swim, followed A just-issued government report on
by a 14.8-mile bike ride, then a 4-mile the Lake Jesup pilot project calls the
run. And because the distances were technology “an important water qual-
significantly shorter than the Ironman ity management option that is effec-
events seen on TV, Fairbanks didn't do tive, efficient, environmentally safe
much in the way of training. and cost-competitive,” and that yields
“post-treatment water . . . (that) often
He swam no laps in the pool, and met or exceeded drinking water clarity.”
used an ill-fitted borrowed bike.
The report concluded that AquaFi-
"I don't remember exactly where I ber’s “treatment technologies coupled
finished," Fairbanks said. "I was just with other water treatment applica-
happy to make it across the line." tions can remove total phosphorous,
total nitrogen, total suspended solids
But he found what he was seeking. and water pollutants effectively, effi-
"Surfing is a very solitary sport," ciently and safely.”
Fairbanks said. "The triathlon is such
a crowd thing. People are constantly Zorc says at least 100 million gal-
yelling, 'Good job!" and cheering for lons of water pour out of Indian River
you. People clap as much for the per- County's three main relief canals each
son who finishes last as they do for the
person who finishes first.
"It was very cool to see," he added,
"and it really motivated me." 

Seeking An Executive Director

Youth Sailing Foundation of Indian River County, Inc., a 501(c)
(3) non-profit located in Vero Beach, is searching for our
first Executive Director to control daily operations and share
our passion for sailing as we provide free sailing lessons to
elementary through high school children in Indian River
County. With the support of our Board, he/she will direct our
volunteers and staff toward executing our vision. We prefer
a strong, retired manager who will enjoy flexibility in both
schedule and hours. The salary will be commensurate with

experience and level of involvement.

Submit resumes and questions
by email to [email protected].

Youth Sailing Foundation • 772-925-2521
P.O. Box 612, Vero Beach, FL 32961

10 Vero Beach 32963 / March 3, 2016 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

NEWS

The fate of Vero electric issues now rests with courts

BY LISA ZAHNER a bill introduced by Rep. Debbie May- recommendation, that avenue did Florida Power & Light electric service
Staff Writer field to regulate the Florida Municipal not appear particularly promising and when the 30-year agreements end, to
Power Agency has been derailed by any ruling that came out of Tuesday’s take advantage of rates that are ap-
The Florida Legislature has again the electric industry’s lobbying jugger- hearing seemed unlikely to resolve proximately 30 percent lower than
failed to act to protect consumers naut. This leaves a pending ruling of disagreements Indian River Shores Vero Electric’s.
against the unregulated price monop- the Florida Supreme Court and an on- and the County are having with Vero
olies that are Florida’s municipal elec- going Circuit Court breach of contract Beach regarding what will happen But Vero is determined to keep them
tric utilities and the statewide electric case on the table as possible sources of when their 30-year franchise agree- as cash cow customers whose utility
co-op, leaving the task to local and relief for ratepayers, as well as a hear- ments end in November and next payments help support the city’s gen-
state courts to decide. ing before the Florida Public Service March, respectively. eral fund. So far, no authority – not the
Commission. PSC, not the courts, not the legislature
With less than two weeks remaining The Shores and the County both be- – has given any useful guidance about
in the 2016 regular legislative session, Based upon a published PSC staff lieve they should be able to switch to whether the Shores and the County
can break free from Vero’s monopoly,
or even which authority has the power
to make the decision.

Mayfield’s House Bill 579 and its
companion Senate Bill 840 would
have required increased fiscal ac-
countability and forced the FMPA to
give member cities a fair-market value
of their proportional assets and liabili-
ties – a move seen as a step toward de-
vising an equitable exit price for cities
like Vero Beach that want to get out of
the co-op’s perennial commitments.

County Attorney Dylan Reingold
briefed the Board of County Commis-
sioners on the development, saying,
“Although we were successful in get-
ting SB 840 out of its first committee
yesterday we were unable to get the
bill re-referred and we were unable to
make the agenda for Monday's Senate
General Government Appropriations
committee meeting. Thus, the legisla-
tion is unfortunately dead.”

The county hired a lobbying firm
two years ago, first resulting in a
$100,000 appropriation to pay for a
full operational audit of the FMPA,
and setting off a probe of those audit
findings by the Joint Legislative Au-
dit Committee, of which Mayfield is
a member. The JLAC committee re-
quired follow-up reports from FMPA
officials and several JLAC members
helped get the proposed bills through
three committees before the legisla-
tion died.

County officials and utility activists
are hopeful that the will to make the
FMPA more accountable may re-sur-
face next legislative session.

“I am disappointed, but it was the
first time that a bill concerning the
FMPA was able to get out of commit-
tee. As you know we were able to actu-
ally get out of three committees. Such
progress combined with the support
from new allies in Senator Simpson
and Green Cove Springs shows that
the issue has momentum,” Reingold
told commissioners.

Green Cove Springs, like Vero, has
also been actively trying to exit the
FMPA for several years but has been
unable to do so. 



12 Vero Beach 32963 / March 3, 2016 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

IRSC chef Schneider named 2016 Vero’s Top Chef

2

4

TOP CHEF CAPTIONS

1.IRS chefsPeterStubblefieldandDavidSchneider.

2. Deb Murphy and Kim Stewart. 3. Riverside

Café Chefs Ted Faulkner and Patrick Hughes.

4. Joey’s Seafood Shack chefs Kim Coveny and

1 3 Joe Fenyak. PHOTOS: LEAH DUBOIS

BY CHRISTINA TASCON future chefs will soon be part of the of Clue as the courses were presented Specialist, and chef/owner Michael
Staff Writer culinary circuit under his superb guid- and they tried to discern which chef Lander of Garage Woodfired Pizza –
ance. The delicious fare they brought had prepared them. brought their vast experience to the
The Hope for Families Center to the competition – scrumptious pan- task of choosing the best of the best.
thrilled gourmands once again at the seared beef tenderloin paired with “You don’t know who the chef is for
2016 Vero’s Top Chef Challenge Fi- a seafood strudel of lobster, shrimp each course but I do try to guess and “We judge on five things – taste, pre-
nale, held at The Club at Pointe West and scallop – won over the palates of write down who I think did each one,” sentation, portion size, plating and
last Monday evening and sponsored the professional judges as well as the said guest Liz Mayo. “We are so lucky creativity,” said Cordner, who with
by Gordon Food Service. Four of the guests, who also chose it for the Peo- to have IRSC in our backyard; not only Lander are members of the world’s old-
county’s best chefs competed, having ple’s Choice Award. to partner with HFC on advancing our est gastronomical society, La Chaîne
each won spots in the Top Chef Quali- resident’s education but to have a culi- des Rôtisseurs.
fier the month before, and in the end “This has been a blast,” Schneider nary program that produces an award-
chef David Schneider emerged victori- said happily. “It really is such a great winning dish like this. Not only did the The other competitors were chefs
ous. cause and charity. It has been a plea- plate look beautiful but each compo- Joey Fenyak and Kim Coveny of Joey’s
sure to work with these great chefs and nent was cooked perfectly.” Seafood Shack, who prepared Maine
Schneider and his Indian River State Chef Faria. It is such an honor for the lobster and eggplant parmesan; chef
College Culinary School crew may not college.” Professional judges – Dr. Harold Tyler Colby from Bent Pine Golf Club
have a local restaurant open to the Cordner, former president of Space with his Kurabuto pork and tanger-
public, but it’s a sure bet the program’s Each dish had been presented blind- Coast La Chaîne, chef Adam Walker, ine shrimp; and chef Patrick Hughes
ly and guests played a culinary game Gordon Food Service Center of Plate
CONTINUED ON PAGE 14



14 Vero Beach 32963 / March 3, 2016 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™
6
PEOPLE 7

5

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12 The organization also used the oc-
casion to roll out an important new
of Riverside Café who presented a "21 Room Club" fundraising initia-
unique phyllo-wrapped ox tail with tive to support HFC families.
oxen demi-glace.
“It is a pledged sponsorship of the
The event finished on a sweet note Hope for Families Center to commit
with a four-part sample plate offered to $25,000 per year for three years,”
by 2016 Top Chef Dessert Champion, said development director Kimberly
Lisa Damiano of Counter Culture, Stewart.
featuring pear and goat cheese frit-
ters, sticky toffee date and chocolate “Essentially it helps support one
pudding, key lime raspberry mousse family per room and it assures that
tart and chocolate peanut butter ice- the electricity is paid and over 200
cream bar. Event chair Deb Murphy families have food. Grants and events
said they were grateful to each of the only cover about a quarter of the ex-
chefs who generously donated their penses required to keep providing the
talents as well as a gift for the silent services and programs we provide. To
auction; Gordon Food Service, which support these people and help make
underwrote all of the food; and Land- them self-sufficient we need to have
er, who assisted with the wine pair- the funds to keep us self-supporting
ings for each course. as well.” 

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ PEOPLE Vero Beach 32963 / March 3, 2016 15
8
9 TOP CHEF CAPTIONS

5. Cathie and Tim Frisosky with chef
Adam Walk and Kirk Zell. 6. Bent Pine
chefs Tyler Colby, Sarah Wills and
Rachel Bourdon. 7. Counter Culture
chefs Lisa, Marc and Anthony Damiano.
8. Mary Ellen Maguire and chef Joe Faria.
9. Gary Bowers with Robi Robinson.
10. Katherine Kirby, Timothy Brooks and
Gloria Pappalardo. 11. Sally Fusco and
Nicki Maslin with Joe and Sharon Young.
12. John Costello and Matt Harweger.
13. Troy and Jo Ellen Hafner.

13

10

11

12

16 Vero Beach 32963 / March 3, 2016 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

‘Opera on the River’ benefits child abuse prevention

BY MARY SCHENKEL 1 2
3 4
Staff Writer

Palacio del Rio, the aptly titled Saint
Andrews Island riverfront home of
Kurt and Marilyn Wallach, added an
extra dimension of elegance to an eve-
ning filled with music Saturday eve-
ning, at another exceptional Opera on
the River fundraiser, this time to ben-
efit CASTLE Child Abuse Prevention
programs.

Dressed for a night at the opera,
guests wandered throughout the ex-
pansive home, sipping on wine and
champagne, and enjoying a substan-
tial hors d’oeuvres buffet before the
performances. The evening’s featured
divas were Shirley Wang and Janet
Rabe-Meyer, accompanied by pianist
Donna Topp, who enthralled the audi-
ence with a diverse selection of arias
from well-known operas and operettas
that delighted opera newcomers and
seasoned connoisseurs alike.

Shirley Wang a versatile Chinese-
American soprano, pianist and choral
director, has performed with numer-
ous opera companies and orchestras

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / March 3, 2016 17

PEOPLE

5 67

OPERA CAPTIONS

1. Abbie Ripley with James, Destiny

and Vincent Wallach, and Lianne

and Mark Wallach. 2. Dr. Robert

Reinauer, Dr. Julie Vargo and Dr. David

O’Brien. 3. Kurt and Marilyn Wallach.

4. Diana Stark and Page Franzel.

5. Nancy Marx-Erickson and Stanford

Erickson. 6. Sam Robbins, Rodger

Schlage, Bobbie Holt and Patti Rooney.

7. Ray and Gerry Heins with Francesca

and Dr. John Sootin. 8. Paula Eppinger,

Shira McVean and Laurie Billowitz.

9. Donna Topp, Shirley Wang and Janet

Rabe-Meyer. PHOTOS: DENISE RITCHIE

8 9

throughout the United States, includ- er of CASTLE so we always try to sup-
ing as a featured soloist at Carnegie port it. We were the pilot program for
Hall opposite one of Vero’s favorite op- the first one and now it’s all over the
eratic tenors, Marcello Giordani. country,” said Marilyn Wallach of Safe
Families, the program which started it
Mezzo-soprano, songwriter and all in 1981.
vocal teacher Janet Rabe-Meyer ap-
prenticed with the Sarasota Opera “I remember that when I had my
and Natchez Opera Festival and was son, I looked down at him and thought
a Lockheed Martin Studio Artist with – how lucky you are. You have parents
Orlando Opera. She has performed that love you, who care for you and can
with orchestras and opera companies support you and who will never abuse
in Florida, New York and the Czech Re- you. And we want that for other chil-
public. dren so that they can have the same
benefits. It breaks my heart knowing
The Wallachs have hosted a number that children are going to bed hungry
of events at their lovely home, and this or afraid.”
time coordinated everything them-
selves. Last year, 145 children died in Flori-
da as a result of child abuse or neglect;
“It’s been wonderful. The Wallachs tragedies CASTLE strives to prevent by
put this whole thing together. They empowering parents through educa-
said you don’t have the time to do it, so tion and awareness. Local programs in-
we’ll do it for you,” said Katie Kowanic, clude in-home parent education, sup-
CASTLE community relations special- port groups for children experiencing
ist. divorce or loss, supervised visitation
for parents and children experiencing
“We really enjoy using our home to domestic violence, low-intensity edu-
make life better for others, but it’s hard cation and support workshops, and
to find an organization able to do all it family-strengthening programs for at-
takes to put these things together,” ex- risk families.
plained Marilyn Wallach. “Sometimes
the venues cost so much it takes away The most visible aspect of need for
from the charity. And we love the op- their programs is the annual “Memory
era, so it’s a win-win.” Field,” which displays a flag honoring
every young child who has died from
The couple have been members of child abuse in Florida over the prior
the Exchange Club of Vero Beach for 25 year. This year’s Memory Field begged
years, each serving on the board at dif- the question: “If one child is too many
ferent times, including a term as presi- … what about 145?” 
dent for Marilyn Wallach.

“This Exchange Club was the found-

18 Vero Beach 32963 / March 3, 2016 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

‘Experiences with Art’ benefits Cultural Council

1 23

456

789

BY MARY SCHENKEL Champagne Caviar event to benefit executive director and chair of the The donated art experiences in-
Staff Writer the Cultural Council of Indian River event. cluded a guided Wildlife Photography
County. Safari at Busch Wildlife Sanctuary; a
The spectacular Sandy Lane Estate Guests wandered about the ex- Hot Air Balloon Ride from either Mel-
listed with Cindy O’Dare and Clark “We’re in this absolutely magnifi- quisite oceanfront home, sipping on bourne or West Palm Beach with a
French of Premier Estate Properties cent home and we’re celebrating the wine and champagne, nibbling on gourmet picnic lunch from Counter
was the stylish setting last Wednes- arts with an auction of seven items passed hors d’oeuvres from Chelsea’s Culture upon landing; a QLOCKTWO
day evening for this year’s Arts that are experiences with art,” said Market Catering and enjoying the Artfully Designed Clock where a ty-
Barbara Hoffman, Cultural Council honeyed sounds of harpist Gretchen pographic display shows the time in
Cover and classical guitarist Miguel words; from John Stringer’s private
Bonachea. Several of the spacious collection, “River’s Bend,” a charming
downstairs rooms had signage about oil painting by Leonard Mizerek, Art-
the seven “Experiences with Art” ist in Residence at the Museum Yvonne
items which were auctioned later in Jean-Haffen in France; a Chocolate
the evening. Immersion Dinner for eight by chefs
Anthony and Lisa Damiano of Counter
John Stringer again volunteered Culture similar to that which he cre-
his talents as master of ceremonies ated as executive chef at Mar-A-Lago in
and auctioneer and, although the Palm Beach; and a week-long vacation
crowd was a small one, he did a su- for up to six people at the Bordoli Fam-
perb job keeping everyone interested ily Villa on the shores of Lake Como in
and elicited some active bidding. Sala Comacina, Italy.

“We found a home for every item “Hopefully next year we’ll get more
and I got multiples on a couple, so people and we’ll build on it. It’s a work in
that was nice,” said Stringer. “We had progress,” Stringer added. “It’s a lovely
hoped for more people but the peo- event and raises money for the Cultural
ple who were there were quite enthu- Council, so we’re happy about that.” 
siastic. Everyone who came said they
really enjoyed themselves.”

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

10

11

12
CULTURAL COUNCIL CAPTIONS

1. Allyson Bootes, Page Franzel and Diana Stark. 2.
John Stringer, Cathy Ferrell and Caesar Mistretta.
3. Deborah and Michael Held. 4. Patrick Farrah,
Alicia Quinn and Karen Deigl. 5. Joann and Mark
Goldstein with Lois Work. 6. Marcia Loewinger
with Horace and Donna Lindsay. 7. Sandy and
Ted Bowers. 8. Miguel Bonachea and Gretchen
Cover. 9. Sherri Perlstein and Mike Kissner. 10.
Jeannette and John Corbett. 11. Brian and Liz
Mayo. 12. Lu and Clark French with Cindy O’Dare.

PHOTOS: PHIL SUNKEL

20 Vero Beach 32963 / March 3, 2016 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

Carlene Igras, Shannon Maitland, Marlynn Scully and Margaret Clark. Hope Woodhouse, Kerry Bartlett and Shannon Bowman. Dr. Lillian Torres-Martinez and Leslie Swan. PHOTOS: DENISE RITCHIE

Crowd turns out to sign up children for kindergarten

BY MARY SCHENKEL liver a wide range of information on the Children’s Services Advisory, Kin- munity Service League last year and
Staff Writer healthcare, pre-schools, after-school dergarten Readiness Collaborative the county has picked up some of
and summer activities, and a host of and John’s Island Community Ser- it. It’s a six-week program to make
The Indian River Mall was awash in services offered by various nonprofit vice League boards. She explained sure the kids are ready for school in
a sea of eager young faces, as families agencies. There were also free vision that parents were registering their the fall. It’s taught by school district
streamed in for an inaugural Pre-K and dental screenings, plenty of chil- children with the School District of teachers, so they’re college-educat-
Party and Kindergarten Round-Up dren’s activity tables and free give- Indian River County for kindergar- ed teachers; it’s high quality,” said
last Saturday, hosted by the Moon- aways. Every child who registered ten, pre-school and the Voluntary Woodhouse. “The Kindergarten Col-
shot Moment Kindergarten Readi- for kindergarten was also given a T- Pre-K Summer Transition Enrich- laborative is all about getting kids
ness Collaborative. shirt identifying them as the "Class of ment (VPK STEP) Program for VPK ready for kindergarten. About 100
2029." children entering kindergarten at kids each year aren’t even registered
Roughly 50 community partners Title 1 schools. when their parents drop them off at
participated in the four-hour event, “They were lined up and waiting at school the first day.”
setting up booths from Macy’s all the door at 9 o’clock this morning,” “The summer extension program
the way down to Zales Jewelers to de- said Hope Woodhouse, who serves on was funded by the John’s Island Com- The Kindergarten Readiness Col-

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / March 3, 2016 21

PEOPLE

Miley Walker and Alexia Spivey with Lisa Sellers.

Robert Gonzalez, Mary Silva and Joe Azevedo.

laborative was largely funded its is the first time we’ve planned this
first year by John’s Island resident event, and they were lined up before
Marlynn Scully. “She’s the Godmoth- we even opened.”
er of the program,” said Woodhouse.
A lot of groups came together to put
“She’s the Fairy Godmother, be- this on,” said Nate Bruckner, director
cause it’s magical!” added Marie of impact at the United Way, which is
O’Brien, community outreach direc- providing "incubation space" to KRC
tor for The Learning Alliance. staff. “This is way beyond our expec-
tations."
“This is so exciting. We had no idea
that this would work,” said Scully. Having children kindergarten
“The most important thing is that ready is all part of the Moonshot Mo-
it will help the school district. Now ment goal of reaching 90 percent lit-
at least they’ll know what to expect eracy by third grade. More than 40
in September. This was so success- social service organizations, founda-
ful that somebody has already asked tions, funders and child care provid-
what time they need to show up next ers are involved in the Kindergarten
year!” Readiness Collaborative, which sup-
ports a family-centered, high quality
“We have several pre-schools do- early childhood development system
ing different performances. Aren’t so that all Indian River County chil-
they super cute?” said KRC Coordi- dren arrive to kindergarten “prepared
nator Shannon Maitland, watching across the five critical domains: so-
as adorable youngsters sang for the cial/emotional, physical health and
considerably larger than expected well-being, cognitive, communica-
crowd. “We were only expecting be- tion and adaptive learning.” 
tween 400 and 500 people total. This

22 Vero Beach 32963 / March 3, 2016 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

Hiaasen highlights fundraiser for Childcare Resources

BY CHRISTINA TASCON sunny brightness and quality of the the teachers know your child.” keep students on the right track to
Staff Writer classrooms,” said Hiaasen. “These Board member Susan Blaxill-Deal, graduate high school, go on to college
types of facilities didn’t exist when we and stay out of the jail system,” said
Award-winning author and colum- went to school.” who currently serves as general coun- executive director Shannon Bowman.
nist Carl Hiaasen was the featured sel for the Maverick Boat Company, an “The families who come here are look-
speaker last Thursday evening at the “If I was leaving one of my children event sponsor, once worked with the ing for that help to make their kids’
Catch Carl fundraiser to benefit Child- here I would feel completely at ease,” 19th Judicial Circuit as an assistant lives better.”
care Resources of Indian River at the said an equally impressed Fenia Hi- state attorney and saw juvenile offend-
organization’s new facility in the OMNI aasen. “Any time you drop your chil- ers come through the court system The nurturing quality of the CCR
Building off Indian River Boulevard. dren off there is a detachment and you multiple times. school environment often introduces
get a knot in your stomach. But here children to a standard of living that
The occasion also gave supporters a there is definitely an environment that “Lots of kids come in the first time might not be available to them at home.
chance to tour the cheery classrooms is safe and the class ratios are small so and it is usually some mistake they
and administration areas while learn- made. But I never saw a child come in “I think that the environment iter-
ing about the invaluable programs a second time that I wasn’t able to look ates the perspective of the culture.
CCR provides to children in their early at their circumstances and know why What I see here is a great reverence
development years. Programs are of- they were there – poor education, bad for children. They are being told by its
fered to preschoolers from 6 weeks to 5 socioeconomic circumstances or no spaciousness that they are very impor-
years old whose parents earn too much guidance by the parents. I saw 7- and tant,” said author Nancy Wydra, whose
to qualify for educational assistance 8-year-olds that I knew were already books on American Feng Shui express
yet not enough to afford the high cost lost. To save kids they need early inter- how our physical environment affects
of private childcare or preschool. Eli- vention before they enter the system,” our behavior.
gible parents pay 15 percent to 30 per- stressed Blaxill-Deal.
cent of the tuition depending on their Childcare Resources receives some
circumstances. There are currently 58 children at the grant money from the United Way, the
new facility, where they hope to even- Children’s Services Advisory Council
Roughly 200 guests enjoyed hors tually accommodate 118 with funding and the Indian Community Founda-
d’oeuvres by Elizabeth Kennedy Cater- from their Better Beginnings Bright tion, but funding assistance from the
ing and mingled before the presenta- Futures Capital Campaign. There are community is critical to continue pro-
tion with Hiaasen and wife Fenia. already 250 children on a wait list. viding access to high-quality, afford-
able childcare for children of working
“I am extremely impressed by the “There are a lot of studies that show families in Indian River County. 
that high quality early education will

The Salvation Army Of Indian River County presents their annual

SOUP, SOAP AND SALVATION BENEFIT DINNER
Saturday April 9th 2016 ▪ 5:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Oak Harbor Country Club, Vero Beach FL

Keynote Speaker and
Musical Entertainment

JIMMY WAYNE

former foster kid turned country music
singer/songwriting sensation, who
received his first guitar from the salvation
army, and author of his best
selling autobiography “Walk to Beautiful”

An opportunity to double your gift. An anonymous donor has committed a $10,000
matching gift At the end of the dinner there will be a call for support to donate to the
event. Great Silent Auction Items for bidding.

No tickets are sold: RSVP only, donation requested after the show.
Sponsor a Table of 10 people for $1200 Donation to include an autograph copy of
the book “Walk to Beautiful” each member of your sponsored table.

Surf and Turf Dinner/Cash Bar ▪ RSVP: 772-978-0265 Ext. 104
or email [email protected]

Mail a matching contribution to: The Salvation Army of IRC
PO Box 2864 Vero Beach Fl 32961

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / March 3, 2016 23

PEOPLE

Marianne and Lee Hudgins with Steve Healy and Kathryn Block Faires.

Carl and Fenia Hiaasen. PHOTOS: LEAH DUBOIS CATCH CARL PHOTOS CONTINUED ON PAGE 24
Dawn Michael, Trudie Rainone and Karol Lynch.

24 Vero Beach 32963 / March 3, 2016 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

CATCH CARL PHOTOS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 23 Sharon Richards, Sandy Robinson and Jean Cravens.
Karla Spooner, Madeline Long, Terry Necarsulmer and Diane Archer.

Carol Buhl, Susan Donovan and Shannon McGuire Bowman. Susie Hunter, Doug Watson and Terry Lynch.

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / March 3, 2016 25

PEOPLE

Doug Sherman, Scott Deal and Susan Blaxill-Deal. Kevin Staten, Hala Laviolette and Andy Williams.

Richard Giessert, Shelley Adelle and Michele Faus. Meredith Egan, Elizabeth Swann and Kay Campione.

26 Vero Beach 32963 / March 3, 2016 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

St. Baldrick’s supporters fund powerful message

1 23

BY CHRISTINA TASCON
Staff Writer

Before some of them get their locks 4
shorn at the St. Baldrick’s Signature
Head Shaving Event on March 19, sup- head for Hailey and we found out
porters let their hair down for an en- about this organization,” said Hannah
tertaining evening of cocktails, dining Wintermeyer. “The next year she did
and dancing at the second annual St. it again and then I decided to do it the
Baldrick’s Gala and Silent Auction at next year. Ever since then my friends
the Oak Harbor Club House last Sat- and family have all been involved.”
urday evening. The mission of the St.
Baldrick’s Foundation is to fund child- “It makes me feel amazing to have
hood cancer research and "Conquer them do this,” said Kennedy, now age
Childhood Cancers." 15. “It shows people that bald is beau-
tiful. There are other kids like me who
Arriving guests sipped from tall do not have the choice, but my friends
flutes of sparkling champagne while chose to lose their hair and helped me
perusing silent auction tables set up feel that I am not alone.”
around the perimeter of the reception
area and an anteroom. Auction sheets Silent auction items were donated by
were quickly filled with bidding at local individuals and businesses, but
higher than valued prices as people did Mannino pointed out one item which
their part to contribute to this year’s stood out among the many others.
Indian River County goal of $200,000 to Rose McCloy had created two beautiful
benefit the nationwide organization. quilts made from St. Baldrick’s T-shirts
worn by volunteers at the Signature
“Last year we brought in almost Head Shaving events, which began
$164,000 but we added a golf tourna- four years ago. Both quilts garnered
ment in November and tonight’s gala bids well above their stated value.
with 200 guests,” said Frank “Cookie”
Mannino, co-chair of the gala with During dinner Debbie Lovell talked
Missy Elward. about the loss of her teenage daughter,
Chelsea, to cancer and the importance
Elward’s 10-year-old daughter Pay- of the St. Baldrick’s events.
ton is one of several young ladies
eliciting donations from family and “Children get so little funding and
friends in advance of having their support. I wanted to support them be-
heads shaved at the March event at cause St. Baldrick’s is really there for all
Capt. Hiram’s. the children,” said Lovell. “And if you
have never been to a shaving event, it is
A delicate little girl with a braid an amazing thing to be there; so mov-
wrapped a few times around in a bun, ing and empowering.”
Payton has been involved with St. Bal-
drick’s for the past six years and decid- Laura Saputo had her head shaved
ed to get shorn this year. two years ago in support of her son and
now attends to relay a positive message
“She is excited to shave her head to parents of children with cancer.
and raise money and she is also going
to donate her hair to Wigs for Kids af- “My son Vincent is eight years can-
terwards,” said her proud mom. “Her cer free and no longer the face of can-
teacher sent out the information to all cer anymore,” she said. “I would like
her schoolmates and they are going to these families to be able to see us as a
come out to watch and support her.” sign of hope.” 

One tableful of young teens said they
first got involved when their friend
Hailey Kennedy was diagnosed with
leukemia at just 13 years old.

“My sister PJ wanted to shave her

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / March 3, 2016 27

PEOPLE

5 67
8
ST. BALDRICKS CAPTIONS

1. Debbie Lovell, Karen Mingain and Autumn

Martin. 2. Abi Harbin and Erin Rains. 3. Piper

Wild, Abigail Lafferty and Hailey Kennedy.

4. Alexander Cortes, Laura Saputo, Nic

Peterson and Trevor Kashey. 5. Dan,

Payton and Missy Elward with Marianne

and Frank Mannino. 6. Lee Tempesta and

Nina Pettit. 7. Fred and Dolores Failla.

8. Jim Maggiacomo, Corinne and Ken

Macauley and Paulette Maggiacomo.

9. Mark Koopman, Holly Hewitt and

Susan McCarthy. PHOTOS: LEAH DUBOIS

9

28 Vero Beach 32963 / March 3, 2016 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

Land Trust honors donors at cocktail reception

Laura and Bill Buck. PHOTOS: LEAH DUBOIS Hildergard Borgers and Marlen Higgs.

BY CHRISTINA TASCON reception at Quail Valley River Club members and staff. As guests rel- Control years ago and are restoring
Staff Writer last Wednesday evening hosted by ished the gorgeous sunset over the them to help water quality in the la-
Laura and Bill Buck and Sally and Indian River Lagoon, it brought to goon.”
Loyal supporters of the Indian Dick Brickman. The annual event is a mind the mission of the IRLT to keep
River Land Trust enjoyed a cocktail thank-you to top donors from board the area pristine and beautiful for fu- At the reception it was the Oyster
ture generations. Bar Marsh Trail which generated the
most buzz, with members gathered
“When we go down south all you around the overhead map to view
see are high rises. We love seeing and discuss the future of this pub-
Vero Beach much more family ori- licly accessible project.
ented and kept as it is. So that is why
we support the Land Trust,” said Located just south of the Moor-
Laura Buck. ings and north of Round Island State
Park, the Oyster Bar Marsh plans
“We are trying to preserve and call for trail access for hiking, the
protect these areas from develop- addition of a two-mile coastal trail,
ment to keep the wildlife and nature an over-the-water pavilion where
safe,” agreed Bill Buck. “The Land visitors will enjoy amazing Lagoon
Trust projects are a great asset to the views, and a boardwalk through a
community because people come mangrove forest along the shore.
here specifically because they want
to see the birds and they want to The property will eventually at-
fish. Keeping that preserved is very tract and be enjoyed by the public
important to keeping Indian River for years to come, similar to neigh-
thriving.” boring Round Island, which is well-
known as a great place to walk the
Every year IRLT increases its con- trail, watch manatees and water
servancy of acreage to protect it from birds or launch a kayak into the river.
development or to replenish delicate
wetlands harmed by encroaching de- “The Marsh Trail gets people ex-
velopment. Last Wednesday the IRLT cited by the idea of walking out on
laid out its current and future plans this beautiful wilderness-like trail
for donors to see; specifically focus- right here in Vero Beach. It’s hard for
ing on two recent projects. Maps people to believe when they get out
outlined both the 111-acre Bee Gum there how pristine it is and they are
Point restoration as well as the con- going to have access to it,” said IRLT
struction of the Oyster Bar Marsh executive director Ken Grudens.
Trail on that 156-acre coastal wetland
property. “The property is theirs, and I think
that is another attractive aspect of it
“We are almost at the 1,000-acre as well. It is right here and local,”
mark right now,” said David Heuber- added Board chair Kathleen Schulke.
ger, IRLT director of land protection. “I am excited about it. These people
“This year we are focusing on stew- are so giving. There is something
ardship and restoration. We have about this community that has ev-
purchased a lot of coastal wetlands eryone willing to help to preserve all
which were impounded by Mosquito of this, whether they are year-round
or only winter residents.” 

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / March 3, 2016 29

PEOPLE

Helen and John Higgs with George Higgs and Dace and King Stubbs. Barbara Butts and Trude See with Mary and Chris Ryan.

Emilie and John Brady with Phil and Jean Corso. Tom Lowe, Kathleen Schulke and Ken Grudens.

Roz Allen, Barbara McKenna and Linda Johnson.

Ann and Carter Taylor with Sheila and George Marshall.

30 Vero Beach 32963 / March 3, 2016 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

First-ever ShrimpFest succeeds on huge scale

BY SAMANTHA ROHLFING BAITA – brought a happy, hungry crowd Home Depot had a special area just were the shrimp, all of which were
Staff Writer to Fellsmere's historic old school for kids and Keep Indian River Beau- born and raised at Florida Organic
grounds last weekend. tiful provided recycling contain- Aquaculture. ShrimpFest committee
The brand new, first-ever Shrimp- ers. From the big stage over in the member Sandy Gehrke explained
Fest shot out of the gate and im- “Epcot had less people than this!” ballfield early Saturday afternoon, that Pat Rivizzio, a behind-the-
mediately established itself as a laughed one attendee. hundreds stood toe-tapping, and in scenes kind of guy, had not only de-
smashing success. The youngest some cases dancing, to the kick-butt signed the user-friendly event lay-
member of what is now a triumvi- The weather was Chamber of country sounds of the Cheyenne out, but had also come up with the
rate of wildly popular food festivals Commerce perfection. Dozens of Band. Other popular groups kept the brilliant idea of how best to show-
that call North County home – first tents housed vendors, nonprofits, music rolling all weekend. case the sought-after crustaceans.
frogs, then clams and now shrimp churches, businesses and service
clubs, all offering info, freebees and Of course, the stars of the weekend Six top area restaurants partici-
all sorts of alluring items for sale. pated in a competition to see which
shrimp dish was tops with the crowd.
Samples were $1 each, and festival-
goers received a ticket to vote for
their favorite. The lines were long all
day, but no one was complaining.

All six restaurants brought their
"A" game: Osceola Bistro, Shrimp
and Grits; Marsh Landing, Shrimp
Creole; Old Fish House, Fried Shrimp
Cocktail; the Tiki Bar and Grill, Gar-
lic Shrimp; Capt. Hiram's, Shrimp
and Grit Arepas and Shrimp Cakes;
and Squid Lips, Fried Shrimp with
Seasoned Batter. To wash it all down
in style, there was plenty of craft
beer and wine.

The two-day celebration of Amer-
ica's most beloved seafood, which
will now be an annual event, was or-
ganized through a partnership be-
tween the Rotary Club of Sebastian,
the Exchange Club of Fellsmere and
Florida Organic Aquaculture's Flor-
ida Aquaculture Foundation. How it
all came about was purely serendipi-
tous.

ShrimpFest committee mem-
ber Sandy Gehrke explained that
the Sebastian Rotary Club and the
Fellsmere Exchange Club had co-
incidentally scheduled visits to the
Florida Organic Aquaculture facil-
ity on the same day. During the tour,
both groups simultaneously had an
“aha!” moment; “Hey, we should do
a Shrimp Festival!” The community-
spirited FOA chief, Cliff Morris, im-
mediately got on board and – faster
than you can say "pass the cocktail
sauce" – the project was off and run-
ning.

The comment most frequently
voiced by the delighted event orga-
nizers was: “This is beyond our wild-
est expectations!”

Proceeds from ShrimpFest will
support North County youth sports
organizations. This year's recipients
are: Boys and Girls Clubs of Sebas-
tian and Fellsmere; Sebastian Soc-
cer League; Sebastian River Crew;
Treasure Coast Pirates Rugby Club;
Sebastian Sharks Youth Football and
Cheerleading Association; and boys
and girls lacrosse. 

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / March 3, 2016 31

PEOPLE

Mike and Maxine Meyer with Leigh Pickard and Chuck Albert. PHOTOS: PHIL SUNKEL Al and Doris Berni, Vera and Barry Stokes with Lil and Don Wycoff.

Bill and Barbara Knight with Susan Perry and Ed Kowalchuk. Cindy and Will Goff with Ruth Speece.

Jaydin Olp, Titan Sanchez, Tammy Olp and Luis Sanchez. Julie Heatherwick, Dean Edwards and TC Hoffman with their fury friends from HALO, Rex and Dixie.

Gary and Nancy Munoz. Yvonne and Rod Wilson.

32 Vero Beach 32963 / March 3, 2016 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

Fish foundation tees it up for children’s programs

BY MARY SCHENKEL levard Tennis Club the day before, it
Staff Writer was announced that the Mardy Fish
Children’s Foundation has taken
There was an air of excitement at over management and will be the
the Mardy Fish Children’s Founda- beneficiary of proceeds from the
tion Charity Golf Tournament last Vero Beach USTA Futures Tennis
Tuesday that extended even beyond Tournament, previously managed
the exhilaration of playing a round by Vero Beach tennis professional
of golf at the challenging Windsor Mike Rahaley.
golf course.
“I’m excited and honored that we
At a press conference at The Bou- could have a tournament of this level

Tom and Sally Fish with Mardy Fish. PHOTOS: DENISE RITCHIE

Lee Fentress, Clarke Bailey and Brad Leu.

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / March 3, 2016 33

PEOPLE

Erin Reicher, Joe Pappalardo and Kate Antle. MARDY FISH PHOTOS CONTINUED ON PAGE 34
Bob Barrows and Peter Gilson.

going to the foundation,” said Mardy tary schools, six middle schools and and friends. I feel really honored to vesting in all of our futures; not just
Fish, a former top 10 tennis star and through several nonprofit agencies to be part of the foundation and to be the children’s,” said Tom Fish, thank-
2004 Olympic silver medalist. help children understand the impor- able to give back to the community.” ing golf tournament participants,
tance of health and fitness in their sponsors and board members. 
“I remember going to it when I lives. “By helping our children you’re in-
was young and then I played in it in
about 2000 or 2001. It’s always been “There is a wonderful energy at Hope Resale Boutique
a great event. Every player has to go events like these. It goes back nine
through the futures level to get to years when the Fish family deter- Thanks Our Donors For Their Support!
the top.” mined that children had a need, and
they are fulfilling that need,” said Hope Resale Boutique gives $40,000!
Although he resides in California Windsor resident and MFCF board
with wife Stacey and 2-year-old son member Joe Pappalardo. $10,000 Childcare
Beckett, he maintains his involve- Resources
ment as president of the foundation “Through the funds we are work-
through his parents, Tom and Sally ing to raise, direct help will be giv- of Indian River
Fish, adding, “My dad has taken it on en to kids to bring health, fitness
as his baby; he’s the head honcho. and nutrition programs to all kids $10,000
But they always keep me apprised of throughout our community, but es-
everything they’re doing.” pecially those at highest risk.” Indian River County

“We’re working hard at helping Commenting that children need $10,000 $10,000
more kids in the community with at least 60 minutes of exercise every
their fitness and health programs,” day, Pappalardo noted there is an We Are Off To A Great Start!
said MFCF chairman Tom Fish. ever widening gap in physical educa-
“Now when you come to the tourna- tion at the school level due to a lack Call for Free Pickup! (772) 918-4640
ment you’re going to be supporting of resources. They hope to grow their
the children of Indian River County.” partnership with the Indian River (Tax Deductible 501 (c) 3 Charity Hope Foundation of Indian River County)
County School District and have met
“The thing we’re excited about with School Superintendent Mark Your donations are always needed
is that there will be so much more Rendell to explore additional ways (don’t forget furniture)!
awareness through the name of the to deliver programs to the growing
tournament,” said Randy Walker, population of children in need. 8860 N US Hwy 1 (just past Hwy 510)
who will be co-tournament direc-
tor with Tom Fish for the Mardy “I love that they’re serving all
Fish Children’s Foundation Tennis youth in Indian River County.
Championship which runs April 22 They’re channeling the six healthy
to May 1. “As a philanthropic endeav- habits through the discipline of
or, everybody will know that they’re tennis,” said Windsor resident and
giving back to the community when board member Erin Reicher, refer-
they support the tournament.” encing Mardy’s Six Healthy Habits:
Get sleep, drink water, exercise dai-
Founded in 2007, the Mardy ly, eat healthy, brush and floss, and
Fish Children’s Foundation offers make friends.
after-school exercise, nutritional
and enrichment programs to more “It’s a lifetime sport and some-
than 2,100 children in 15 elemen- thing they can do with their family

34 Vero Beach 32963 / March 3, 2016 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

MARDY FISH PHOTOS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 33 Peter Dee, Jonas DeWitte, Tom Flaherty and Tom Fish.
Zac Courtenay, Becky Rigaud, Matthew Challenor, Courtney Dietrich and Jeff Steele.

David Stork, Kevin Bespolka, Nicholas Bespolka and Fahad Ahmad. Butch Gerard, Pat Rodgers and Jarrod Owen.

Bob Grammen, Kevin Hawkins and Randy Walker.

Gil Keegan, Tom Cutone and Sherm Hotchkiss.



36 Vero Beach 32963 / March 3, 2016 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

ARTS & THEATRE

Dynamic lawyer launching Vero wine and film festival

BY MICHELLE GENZ dian River Medical Center.
Staff Writer There, despite her protests, the staff

It could be a script from a documen- George Taber and Jerusha Stewart. PHOTOS BY DENISE RITCHIE refused to let her leave. “I had my lap-
tary: Jerusha Stewart, founder of the top open, I’m making calls trying to
Vero Beach Wine and Film Festival and rearrange my schedule, and the doc-
a Stanford-educated attorney, woke up tor walks in and says, ‘You’re not going
gasping for breath. anywhere.’ ”

“I have vivid dreams,” she says. “I What followed was a string of near
thought that’s all it was.” misses – a pulmonary embolism, a tu-
mor pressing on the vena cava, three
It was a busy morning, as usual: a surgeries. When it was all over, she
marketing meeting, a doctor’s appoint- knew one thing.
ment and a client meeting in Jackson-
ville. She figured she’d ask the doctor “I don’t want to die doing Legal
when she got there. But the doctor was Shield,” she says with a laugh.
late. She couldn’t wait – she had to get
to Jacksonville for a big meeting, her Today, she is the sole salaried em-
first national client with her new job. ployee of the film festival, an LLC.
Along with a job, she has created what
Stewart had just discovered Vero six she hopes is a legacy here, when if all
months earlier. She signed on with Le- goes well on June 9 -12, 3,000 people
gal Shield, the pre-paid legal services will materialize for a weekend of films,
firm, as a way to stay here and ocean wine tasting and parties in various ven-
kayak to her heart’s content. ues around Vero Beach.

As it turned out, her heart was any- Net profits will go to a cause she
thing but content. already supported: Suncoast Men-
tal Health Centers. Stewart sits on its
Pulling out of the doctor’s office board.
parking lot, she had 15 minutes before
she had to be on I-95. Impulsively she As soon as her vision took shape,
pulled into the emergency room at In- Stewart landed a major Vero player: Mi-
chael Thorpe of Treasure Coast Sothe-

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / March 3, 2016 37

Stacey Logan

ARTS & THEATRE

Clockwise from right: Oscar Sales, Jon Moses, Jerusha Stewart and George Taber. then never left. She decided to do the seum, then you see there’s something
same here. “I thought, what’s the worst cool playing at Project Space 1785, or
by’s International Realty, who signed on home, she and festival co-founder Gail that could happen?” there’s something at the Heritage Cen-
as a partner offering promotional and Shepherd made a trip to Port St. Lucie ter and you say, Oh, let me go there.”
financial support. to try to get the Mets involved. “Oh, my gosh, you never know who
you’re going to meet or where they Stewart has a team of 14 key players,
“It didn’t take a lot of convincing,” Also on the schedule is a screening came from,” she says. “Everybody’s had including a number of young entre-
Thorpe says. “Who wouldn’t want to of the movie “Bottle Shock” for the 40th more than one career, they speak more preneurs who have recently settled in
be part of something like this? It’s such anniversary of the Judgment of Paris, than one language and they’re interest- Vero. With so many dots to connect, she
a good idea. We live here. We want the the 1976 blind tasting in Paris that pit- ed in the world.” has compiled what she calls the Festi-
community to thrive. We want different ted French wines against American val Bible. And though she is in perfect
events to bring people to town.” wines. That historic event was reported What Vero lacked, she discovered, health, she always CC’s two people in
on by Vero’s own George Taber, a former was a film festival. her emails.
“It’s such a ground-breaking and Time magazine reporter who wrote a
wonderful concept and to be invited book about the event. “You guys have some powerhouse “People are always asking me, why
to participate on the ground floor of people here who want this to happen,” do I need to know this? I just tell them if
something like this is truly remarkable,” “The audience will do a blind tast- she says. I drop dead tomorrow, this festival has
says Thorpe. ing reenacting the event,” says Stewart. to happen.” 
Chateau Montelena, a participant in “The true fun of film festivals is the
That was six months ago. Since then, the Judgment of Paris, is sending one of hunt. You go and see a movie at the mu-
Stewart has enlisted Riverside Theatre, its chardonnays to the Vero event.
Vero Beach Museum of Art and the
Heritage Center as screening venues. “Things are happening so fast, it’s
Costa d’Este and Citrus Grillhouse are hard to keep up,” she says.
hosting the festival’s two winemaker’s
dinners. Blue Star Wine Bar, Orchid Is- And it’s hard to keep up with Stewart,
land Brewery and Osceola Bistro are who came ashore in Vero like a water
holding other parties. spout, touching down and carrying off
everyone she meets.
Developer Keith Kite’s two hotels,
Spring Hill Suites and Hampton Inn, Raised in the small town of Wahiawa
are partners, and son Kelly Kite is on on Oahu (her friends say it resembles
the board. Also on the board: Christian Vero), Stewart was the eldest of five
Garcia and Mark Edmonds of Patisserie children. Her father retired from the
Vero Beach, and Dr. Ray Adams of In- military and became a school teacher,
dian River Charter High’s School for the the same career as Stewart’s late moth-
Visual and Performing Arts. er.

Guest speakers include New Zealand Together they showered their chil-
vintner Beth Ann Dahan, now a lecturer dren with confidence, Stewart says.
at Boston University’s School of Hospi-
tality; Brahm Callahan, a young master “People always wondered, what did
sommelier from Boston; and Edie Wid- they feed them?” she jokes. “Talk about
der, ocean researcher who first filmed a five egos – we each grew up thinking
giant squid. we were the greatest thing since sliced
bread.”
A panel of judges is already taking
shape, with Warren Obluck, director of They were also taught to value happi-
film studies at the Vero Beach Museum ness. “The one thing our parents gifted
of Art, topping the list. us with was that you could have work
you loved. They loved what they did,
Stewart says they’ve narrowed a list and it really permeated the family.”
to 40 from more than 250 entries from
as far away as China (a documentary After decades in the Bay Area in Cali-
about organ harvesting of political pris- fornia, Stewart was working with a le-
oners) and as near as a U.S. 1 vet’s office gal client in Vero three winters ago and
(Dr. John Stein’s short film “Ludwig,” found herself at the beach on Christ-
with a cast of folding chairs.) mas day – “just what I would have been
doing if I was home in Hawaii.”
And then there’s “Ron Taylor: Doctor
Baseball,” the story of a World Series- Walking down the shoreline, she saw
winning pitcher for the Cardinals and a family with a half-dozen ocean kay-
the Mets who quit to go to med school. aks and asked who was renting them.
The film is produced and directed by “They’re ours,” they told her. “Would
his sons. you like to take one out?”

”I saw it at the Napa Valley Film Fes- “I thought, these people are as nice
tival,” Stewart says. When she came as people are in Hawaii,” she says.

In Hawaii, she was always meeting
people who had come on vacation and

38 Vero Beach 32963 / March 3, 2016 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

ARTS & THEATRE

Heade our advice: View this Museum of Art exhibit

BY ELLEN FISCHER nuts, all of the aspects of his painting
Staff Writer career can be seen in this show.”

The current Holmes Gallery show at Heade, says Quinn, was a versatile,
the Vero Beach Museum of Art features self-taught artist. The earliest work in the
the work of a 19th century American exhibition is a portrait from the 1840s,
whose work packs a velvet punch. “Na- when Heade worked as an itinerant
ture Illuminated: Landscapes and Still portrait painter in New England. In the
Lifes by Heade and his Contemporaries” 1850s he began to make a specialty of
allows the quiet light of Martin Johnson landscape, in particular the salt marshes
Heade’s work to shine in the company of Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Con-
of paintings by his predecessors, includ- necticut and New Jersey. Heade made
ing Washington Allston and Thomas three trips to Latin America between
Doughty, as well as Heade’s contempo- 1863 and 1870 where he sketched tropi-
raries John Frederick Kensett, Fitz Henry cal landscapes, flowers and humming-
Lane and Frederick Edwin Church. birds, from which he developed finished
paintings for his unrealized book, Gems
Organized by the Museum of Fine of Brazil.
Arts, Boston, the exhibition was curated
by Karen E. Quinn, formerly a curator in Late in his career Heade moved to
its Art of the Americas department. Florida, where he became known for
his paintings of blossoming branches
Quinn’s 27 years at the MFA were de- of magnolia resting on velvet-covered
voted in large part to the study and in- surfaces.
terpretation of its Martin Johnson Heade
collection, one of the largest holdings of The current exhibition has examples
works by that artist in the country. As a of all of these.
research fellow, Quinn worked with for-
mer Curator of American paintings The- Asked if there are pictures that visi-
odore Stebbins, one of the nation’s lead- tors should pay special attention to,
ing art scholars, and other colleagues to Quinn admits to having some favorites.

organize a Heade retrospective at the “When you live with a dead artist for
MFA in 1999. She was a key contributor as long as I have, you do develop rela-
to the expanded catalogue raisonné of tionships with certain works.”
Heade’s work that was published by the
museum in the following year. Purposefully striding across the gal-
lery in Vero last week, Quinn comes to
Quinn drew the current exhibition a stop before “Salt Marshes, Newbury-
solely from the MFA’s collection. port, Massachusetts.”

“It was a big deal to have this exhi- “One of my favorites is this painting
bition travel. They had to rehang the here,” she says of the verdant landscape
galleries at the MFA,” she says, noting dotted with haystacks. Here and there
that many of the paintings had been on the ground is brilliantly lit by rays that
public display. pierce the gray clouds over the scene.

The inconvenience was worth it, she Through the study of the hills and
adds. rock formations in the painting, Quinn
and her colleagues have determined the
“It allowed this material to be seen location of the scene.
not as a big, huge, retrospective, but as a
gemlike focus on the work. And because “Today it is pretty much the way it
we have Heade at the MFA from soup to is in the painting, because it’s part of a
nature preserve near the town of New-
bury,” she says.

Heade was not always faithful to

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / March 3, 2016 39

ARTS & THEATRE

One of these is “Passion Flowers and sistance might be his“Magnolia Grandi-
Hummingbirds,” painted at some point flora” (about 1885-1895) from the series
between 1870 and 1883. Of Heade’s of flowers on velvet that he painted after
hummingbird and flower paintings, this moving to St. Augustine. This magnolia
is one of curator Quinn’s favorites. branch is couched on red velvet. He did
a number of similar compositions on
“He only did about a dozen with pas- blue, green, and brown velvet.
sion flowers,” she says. “He did far more
with orchids.” But you don’t need to know those de-
tails to appreciate the range and beauty
This one, Quinn notes, is particularly of Heade’s paintings, advises Quinn.
evocative for the composition’s use of
complementary red and green colors, “Just allow yourself to sink into them,”
and the way the blossoming passion she says.
flower vine snakes across the picture
plane. “There’s something for everyone
here.”
“It just brings you right in,” she says.
For many visitors, Heade’s pièce de ré- The exhibition is in Vero through
June 5. 

the topography of the places he paint- current exhibition, Quinn says she “am-
ed, she warns. Such is the case with
a picture she “loves even more” than plified” the artist’s genius by placing his
the Newbury scene, “Sunset on Long
Beach.” Dating from around 1867, it’s paintings alongside comparable works
believed to be a painting of a marsh on
Long Island. by artists who preceded him, as well as

Calling attention to the delicacy of the those by his contemporaries.
paint handing in the work, Quinn notes
Heade’s use of thin layers of translucent For example, Heade’s “Approaching
paint to depict the sinking sun and the
radiant bellies of the serene clouds that Storm: Beach at Newport,” from around
float above it.
1861, can be experienced in proximity to
Not only is the painting’s subject ex-
quisite; the canvas itself is in pristine Washington Allston’s “Rising of a Thun-
condition.
derstorm at Sea,” a work from 1814. The
“That’s one of the issues with Heade,”
Quinn says. subject of Allston’s picture (worthy of a

She explains that many Heade paint- Turner or even a Rembrandt) is an an-
ings that have come on the market in
recent times have been over cleaned gry sea on whose billows a handful of
–“really scrubbed,” as she puts it.
men strives to keep their tiny sailboat
“So to have one in such beautiful
condition shows you really how Heade from foundering. The sky in the picture
worked.”
is diagonally divided between a storm
Of course all of the paintings on dis-
play in the exhibition are in beautiful front of dark clouds to the left, and a
condition. Many of them came to the
MFA in the late 1940s through the gen- calm blue sky to the right.
erosity of one collector, Maxim Karolik,
who was intent on buying the work of Compared to Allston’s heroic man-
what he considered an underappreciat-
ed period in American art: 1815 to 1865. against-nature-approach, Heade’s

While Heade’s work is the core of the painting of a black sky above a slate-

dark sea presents the calm before

the storm. Quietly breaking onto the

foreground shore, the sea presents a

smooth surface to the distant sailboats

that float upon it. The danger here is not

immediate, but ominously disturbing

nevertheless.

It might be argued, however, that noth-

ing in Heade’s oeuvre is as portentous as

his flower pieces. In this exhibition are

four notable examples of Heade’s talent

for portraying nature’s delicate balance

of fragile beauty and vitality.

40 Vero Beach 32963 / March 3, 2016 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

ARTS & THEATRE

Coming Up: New Art Walk artists and 4 musicals

BY MICHELLE GENZ Pieces by Carol Staub and Ray Book on display at Gallery 14. see David Handel, a two-time Fulbright
Staff Writer scholar who is currently principal guest
conductor with the Moscow City Sym-
1 If you’ve missed downtown Vero’s phony/Russian Philharmonic.
monthly gallery strolls for a while,

there are new artists and new galleries 3 Familiar shows, familiar faces
– even a familiar children’s book:
to tour Friday night.

At the south end of the arts district, at You’re bound to recognize somebody

1795 Old Dixie, Neli Santamarina’s new or something in the range of theater of-

gallery, called Raw Space@Edgewood, ferings this week.

features acclaimed Cuban-American There’s a huge cast of locals in “The

artist Nereida Garcia Ferraz. Havana- King and I” at the Vero Beach Theatre

born and a graduate of the Art Institute Guild. Directed by Clara McCarthy, the

of Chicago, she has won fellowships this year, has the works of pastel artist mance at the Eastman School of Music Rodgers and Hammerstein classic stars
Dawn E. Miller this month, with the in Rochester, N.Y. She went on to earn
from the Ford Foundation and the Na- opening reception during the hours of a doctorate at the University of South- Sara Gordon as the widowed British
the stroll. Miller’s painterly landscapes ern California. Prior to taking the job in
tional Endowment for the Arts. and interiors have long made her a Vero Utah, she guest conducted with major schoolteacher and Derrick Paul as the
favorite. orchestras around the world, including
And on the north end, on 14th Av- the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, the imperious King of Siam. You’ll also get a
Las Vegas Philharmonic and in Florida,
enue, Buzz TV’s studios have added the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra, chance to see Micah Nalzaro again, and
which was once the home of ACO’s new
Daniel Coonfield to last month’s Peru- CEO, Alan Hopper. he’s growing up fast – two years ago, he

vian pastel painter and sculptor Patri- The program includes Mozart’s Sym- played Jerome in Riverside Theatre’s
phony No. 32; Beethoven’s Piano Con-
cia Edelman. Coonfield, a third-gen- 2 The Atlantic Classical Orchestra is certo No. 4 in G with Jon Nakamatsu as “South Pacific.”
in the throes of a delightful dilem- soloist; and Shostakovich’s Symphony
eration young artist from Oklahoma, No. 9. Hotoda will be conducting in Meanwhile, at Riverside, the theater
Palm Beach Gardens, Stuart and Vero,
does some hard-edged oil portraits and ma, auditioning prospective artistic di- where the concert takes place Thursday across the bridge, Allen Cornell is bank-
at 7:30 at St. Edward’s School. She’ll be
Western-influenced still lifes. He too rectors by having them guest conduct. giving a free pre-concert lecture at 6:40 ing on making a match with Vero and
p.m.
studied at the Art Institute of Chicago, Next week, musicians and concert- its Main Stage main show this season:
February’s concert with conductor
though his BFA is from Chicago’s Amer- goers will experience the third of four David Loebel was excellent; he’s as- “Hello, Dolly!” opening Tuesday and
sociate conductor with the St. Louis
ican Academy of Art. Coonfield is on candidates and so far they’ve been re- Symphony. January’s concert was con- running through March 27.
ducted by David Amado, conductor of
the faculty of the Very Beach Museum markable. the Delaware Symphony. In April, we’ll To the south, Kravis Center in West

of Art. Rei Hotoda, the only woman in the Palm hosts the touring production of

Gallery 14 is showing the work of se- group of four, is taking a break from her Broadway’s “Matilda: The Musical” this

riously talented sculptor Ray Book, a first season as the associate conductor weekend, based on the book by Roald

Baltimore native who came to Vero a of the Utah Symphony Orchestra. She Dahl.

few years ago and lives at the marina arrives in Florida after a week of con- And a bit to our north in Melbourne,

aboard his 47-foot ketch. Book does ducting three educational concerts in a Florida premiere of the Gershwin mu-

elegant minimalist works in curved Salt Lake City. sical “Nice Work If You Can Get It” at the

wood, many with allusions to boat Born in Tokyo, she started playing pi- Henegar Center Friday. Vero’s Ben Ear-

parts (and human parts). ano at 3 and it remains her instrument man has been hired to direct the musi-

Just northeast of the district, the Cen- – she sometimes plays as she conducts. cal, and it stars former Riverside direc-

ter for Spiritual Care, which began host- Raised in Chicago from the age of 7, tor Hank Rion, now head of Henegar.

ing top local artists in its main room she earned her degree in piano perfor- The show runs through March 20. 



42 Vero Beach 32963 / March 3, 2016 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

HEALTH

'Old' news: Study eyes link between lifestyle, aging

BY MARIA CANFIELD Dr Deepti Sadhwani with patient, Joanne. PHOTOS: DENISE RITCHIE the researchers was to find easy-to-
measure markers of aging. The team
Correspondent through, and will be a roadmap for The research is published in the examined blood samples from the
future studies. It’s not surprising that online edition of the scientific jour- participants, which allowed them to
It may seem hard to believe, but the researchers found that the way nal Nature Communications. The see what was going on in the genes.
the underlying causes of human ag- we live our lives affects our genes; study was the largest of its kind ever
ing are still largely unknown. What is that’s something I’ve believed for a conducted, involving 15,000 people Their process led to a new method
known is that growing old increases long time.” from across the world. The goal of for determining a person’s “biologi-
the risk of diseases, including cancer, cal” age, and showed that people
heart disease and stroke – three of with a biological age older than their
the leading causes of death. actual age were more likely to have
conditions, such as high blood pres-
An international group of research- sure or high cholesterol, which can
ers has now discovered 1,450 genes lead to more serious disease. Dr. Sad-
that are linked to aging. This is dra- hwani says it’s “totally correct” that
matic, since prior to this study there there’s a difference between biologi-
were fewer than 50 such genes iden- cal and chronological age; she says,
tified. Many of the newly-identified “We see a lot of much older people in
genes work together to keep cells full the Vero area still biking and kayak-
of energy (mitochondrial function) ing; they have a lifestyle that results
and to facilitate metabolism. The in a lower biological age.”
researchers also uncovered a link
between these genes and lifestyle This large number of newly identi-
factors, such as diet, smoking and ex- fied genes will help scientists better
ercise. understand molecular changes dur-
ing aging. Dr. Luke Pilling, associate
Dr. Deepti Sadhwani, of the Qual- research fellow in genomic epide-
ity Health Care & Wellness Institute miology at the University of Exeter
in Wabasso, is board-certified in in- and part of the research team says,
ternal and bariatric medicine; she "This study has discovered many
says, “The discovery of additional genes that change in their patterns
genes linked to aging is a break-

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / March 3, 2016 43

HEALTH

of expression with age. This study terial stiffening. Physical activity also
has not only given insights into aging increases blood flow to your whole
mechanisms – such as mitochondrial body, including your brain; this may
function – but these techniques have help keep your memory sharp.
potential use in prediction and treat-
ment." ▪ Eat a healthy diet. Choose veg-

Dr. Sadhwani says that what Ex- etables, fruits, whole grains, high-
eter’s Dr. Pilling is referring to is fiber foods and lean sources of pro-
called “gene expression.” She says, tein, such as fish (especially fish high
“We affect our genes, either posi- in Omega-3 fatty acids). Limit foods
tively or negatively, with every choice high in saturated fat and sodium.
we make – what we eat, how much we Drink plenty of water and other flu-
exercise, whether or not we smoke or ids. Dr. Sadhwani adds that including
drink alcohol.” Dr. Sadhwani points probiotics in our diets is important,
to the life expectancy in Japan, as it helps the “good” bacteria in our
which, at 83.7 years, is the longest in digestive tract. Sources of probiotics
the world. (The life expectancy in the include yogurt (look for “live or active
U.S. is 78.8, which ranks No. 37 in the cultures” on the label), sauerkraut,
world.) miso soup, fermented cheeses (like
Gouda), and even sourdough bread.
Says Dr. Sadhwani, “The Japa- The common feature of all these
nese live longer because they have a foods is fermentation, a process that
healthy diet – very low in carbs, lots of produces probiotics.
food with Omega-3 fatty acids, which
are a natural anti-inflammatory. It ▪ Don't smoke. Smoking contrib-
can’t be emphasized enough that
inflammation is the mother of every utes to the hardening of your arter-
disease in mankind.” Foods high in ies and increases your blood pres-
Omega-3 fatty acid include salmon, sure and heart rate. If you smoke or
bluefish, herring, mackerel, tuna, an- use other tobacco products, ask your
chovies and sardines. doctor to help you quit.

While the underlying causes of ▪ Manage stress. Stress can take
aging may be unknown, it is known
what happens during the normal ag- a toll on your heart. Take steps to
ing process. Here’s some informa- reduce stress, or learn to deal with
tion, courtesy of the Mayo Clinic: stress in healthy ways.

• Cardiovascular system. Your ▪ Get enough sleep. Quality sleep
heart rate becomes slightly slower,
and your heart might become bigger. plays an important role in healing
Your blood vessels and your arteries and repair of your heart and blood
become stiffer, causing your heart to vessels. People's needs vary, but gen-
work harder to pump blood. This can erally aim for seven to eight hours a
lead to high blood pressure and other night.
cardiovascular problems.
▪ Get adequate amounts of calci-
• Bones, joints and muscles. Bones
tend to shrink in size and density, um. The recommendation for older
weakening them and making them adults is 1,200 mg each day. Dietary
more susceptible to fracture. Muscles sources of calcium include dairy
generally lose strength and flexibil- products, almonds, broccoli, kale,
ity, and you might become less coor- canned salmon with bones, sardines,
dinated or have trouble balancing. and soy products (such as tofu).

▪ Digestive system. Constipation is ▪ Get adequate amounts of vita-

more common as we age. A low-fiber min D. For adults ages under 70, the
diet, not drinking enough fluids, and Institute of Medicine recommends
lack of exercise can all contribute to 600 international units (IU) of vita-
constipation, as can certain medica- min D a day. The recommendation
tions (for example diuretics and iron increases to 800 IU a day for adults
supplements) and certain medical age 71 and older. Sunlight is source
conditions (such as diabetes and ir- of Vitamin D, as is oily fish (for ex-
ritable bowel syndrome). ample tuna and sardines), egg yolks,
fortified milk and vitamin D supple-
▪ Memory. Memory may become ments.

less efficient with age. It might take ▪ Stay mentally active. Mentally
longer to learn new things or remem-
ber familiar words or names. stimulating activities help keep your
brain in shape and might ward off
The Mayo Clinic offers this general memory loss. This can include mak-
guidance; many of these tips have ing time for social interactions. Dr.
benefits for multiple aging issues: Sadhwani adds that it’s important to
focus on the positive aspects of our
▪ Include physical activity in your lives, as negative thoughts can have
a detrimental effect on our biological
daily routine. Regular moderate age.
physical activity can help you main-
tain a healthy weight, lower blood The Quality Health Care & Well-
pressure and lessen the extent of ar- ness Institute is located at 8701 US
Highway 1. The phone number is
772-228-8480; the website is https://
www.quality-health-care.com. 

44 Vero Beach 32963 / March 3, 2016 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

HEALTH

IRMC docs team up to tackle heart disease, cancer

BY TOM LLOYD Dr. Stowe, the cardiovascular sur-
Staff Writer gery director for Vero Beach's heart
valve center, is ranked in the top 1
Every year, says the Centers for percent of all cardiovascular sur-
Disease Control, more than 1 mil- geons in the nation by U.S. News &
lion Americans die from heart dis- World Report. His equally accom-
ease and cancer. plished partner, Dr. Malias, is a con-
sulting surgical associate for the
At the Indian River Medical Cen- Duke University Medical Center.
ter, thoracic surgeons Cary Stowe
and Mark Malias are taking on both Together they've turned their
those killers. skillful hands to battling cancer as

Dr. Mark Malias. PHOTOS: LEAH DUBOIS

well as heart disease. joined him and together they have
In a late 2015 report, the CDC cited performed close to 10,000 heart pro-
cedures and 500-plus cancer surger-
611,105 deaths from heart disease ies.
and 584,881 cancer deaths. Togeth-
er that's nearly half of all deaths in “Lung cancers,” according to Ma-
the United States each year, which lias, “make up the vast majority of
makes fighting both diseases a top the cancer operations.”
national priority.
Despite the recent completion of
Malias and Stowe have heard the the adjacent Scully-Welsh cancer
call. center, Malias points out that, “all
of the major operations are done at
Stowe came to IRMC from Orlan- IRMC. Most of the outpatient cancer
do in 2006 to start the Heart Center treatments are delivered at Scully
here. Malias, a Princeton, Louisville Welsh, but the in-patient procedures
and University of Florida product,

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / March 3, 2016 45

HEALTH

are done at the hospital.” “I'm a glorified plumber,” Malias do the entire operation in about 30 cancer is going to be in the genetic
That's not surprising given the deadpans, “so micro-valve (heart) minutes, which we believe will dras- markers and the genetic manipula-
repair is my favorite operation. It's tically minimize the inflammation tion of tumors.”
cost and sheer bulk of the da Vinci what I have spent my life training to and trauma that the patient has to go
robotic surgical equipment Malias do.” through and recover from.” That, Malias admits, “is truly out-
favors. side the surgical realm,” but that's just
Malias' already high-energy en- In the fields of both heart and can- fine with this self-professed “glorified
(The da Vinci system consists of thusiasm kicks into overdrive when cer surgery Malias sees more big plumber” who, along with Stowe, is
three separate units: a surgeon's IRMC's upcoming TAVR or “trans- changes and even more impressive proud of the double duty they've tak-
control console; an image process- catheter aortic valve replacement” results just ahead. en on helping fight both cancer and
ing console; and the surgical section heart program is mentioned. heart disease in Vero Beach.
with four long and carefully cali- “We are on the horizon of great
brated mechanical arms.) “We are really excited to kick off changes in medicine. It's an exciting Both Dr. Mark Malias and Dr. Cary
our TAVR program and that will be time. I see a lot of promise coming Stowe are with Cardiovascular Surgi-
There are, according to Malias, sometime this summer. I have been down the road for heart surgery. The cal Services at 1040 37th Place, Suite
similarities and differences between very excited about that. same for lung surgery,” Malias says. 101 in Vero Beach. The phone number
heart and cancer procedures. “The big area of advancements in lung is 772-563-4580. 
“Dr. Stowe and I will (be able to)
“What is the same,” Malias ex-
plains, “is it is still a person. It is
someone's loved one and you are en-
trusted to take care of them as if they
were your own family member.”

“What is different is the type of
procedure we are doing. Lung sur-
gery is very different than heart sur-
gery. Heart surgery is operating on
a beating heart and we have to sup-
port (the patient) while we stop the
heart to work on it.

“In lung surgery, we deflate the
lung that we are operating on and
rely on the opposite side lung to
keep the patient alive. It is a little
different. We are not dependent
upon an extracorporeal machine
(a blood pump), to keep the patient
alive while we operate so there is a
little less pressure on us from a time
standpoint.”

Asked if there are different quali-
fications and certifications required
to perform heart and cancer surger-
ies, the affable Malias is quick to re-
spond.

“Sure,” he says, “There are differ-
ent qualifications but certification is
another issue. Certification is really
rendered from the American College
of Surgeons or the American Board
of Thoracic Surgery. Once you are
a board-certified thoracic surgeon,
you have proved your competency,”
for both.

Malias pauses and then adds,
“During my training you had to be-
come a board certified general sur-
geon before you were allowed to go
into cardiac surgery.”

Still wearing a surgical cap and
scrubs from a just-completed proce-
dure, Malias continues: “Hospitals
provide privileges for doing different
types of operations and you have to
get those privileges. There is differ-
ent training required, but no (addi-
tional) certifications.”

Malias, who boasts a perfect five-
star patient satisfaction rating on
ucomparehealthcare.com, vitals.
com and healthgrades.com, talks en-
thusiastically about his work in lung
cancer but, if pressed, will admit to
having an ever-so-slight preference
for heart procedures.

46 Vero Beach 32963 / March 3, 2016 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

HEALTH

New IRMC doctor focuses efforts on healthy aging

BY TOM LLOYD of 1989” put an end to more than 40
Staff Writer years of Communist rule in Apoltan's
native country.
In 1989, Dr. Ana Maria Apoltan was
out in the streets. Literally. In Roma- The same dogged determination
nia. that helped take down a dictator led
Apoltan to complete her degree at
Apoltan was an active partici- the School of Medicine in Bucharest,
pant in the popular uprising which, move to this country and complete
against all odds, managed to topple residencies at Yale University's New
Romania's Soviet-backed dictator, Haven Hospital and Columbia Uni-
Nicolae Ceausescu. The “Revolution versity's St. Vincent Medical Center.

Dr. Apoltan. PHOTOS: LEAH DUBOIS

After an appointment to an assis- when it can’t do either.”
tant clinical professorship and con- “Asking people who can’t benefit
sulting physician's role at Yale, Apol-
tan spent the next decade providing from a cancer screening test to have
treatment to patients in her private one is a waste of their time and mon-
practice in Connecticut before mov- ey,” the Harvard report continues,
ing to Vero Beach and joining the In- “not to mention a waste of taxpayer
dian River Medical Center staff. money since these tests are usually
covered by Medicare. Screening tests
Apoltan, who still speaks with a bit can also cause physical and mental
of an accent, appears laser-focused harm. A colonoscopy (for example)
on her mission as a primary care phy- can tear the lining of the colon po-
sician and says she is delighted with tentially causing a serious infection.”
what she's found so far.
Since there's is no consensus on a
“I'm rather new to this area,” Apol- one-size-fits-all formula for testing,
tan admits, “but I've been very fortu- that's where primary care physicians
nate to see quite a few patients in that like Apoltan provide invaluable as-
time frame and I admire the educa- sistance. They know each individual
tion they have.” patient's health status and history.

Most Vero seniors, says Apoltan, Since most people spend much
are far more involved in their own more time with their primary care
care than their counterparts of a doctor than any specialist they may
few years ago. “I see their thirst for be seeing, Apoltan says, that helps
knowledge. Most of them do research create “a bond of trust.” She also
on their own and want to spend time points out that, “You choose your pri-
with their physician to decide on the mary care physician,” while special-
best treatments.” ists are usually found through refer-
rals.
Choosing the right tests and treat-
ments is increasingly complicated. If anyone is in a position to rec-
ommend or discourage a particular
The National Institutes of Health's screening test, it's probably the pa-
Senior Health division, for example, tient's primary care doctor.
calls for certain regular screening
tests to aid in “healthy aging” in- One key to a healthier aging pro-
cluding tests for breast and cervical cess that Apoltan is adamant about is
cancers, osteoporosis, diabetes, high keeping accurate and constantly up-
blood pressure, prostate cancer, high dated lists of all a patient's medica-
cholesterol and colorectal cancer, tions. As she puts it, “That connects
but a recent Harvard Medical School the dots to make sure the nephrolo-
study takes exception to the thought gist knows what the cardiologist
that every senior needs every test. wants and that the endocrinologist is
also onboard.”
“Screening makes sense when
finding and treating a hidden con- Since we live in an age when mul-
dition will prevent premature death tiple specialists may be treating a pa-
or burdensome symptoms,” Harvard tient at the same time, the primary
claims, “but it doesn’t make sense care doctor acts as the linchpin of

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / March 3, 2016 47

HEALTH

the system. Solid communication be- vertising campaigns for vitamin sup- Research is something Apoltan patients. Still, it's also obvious she en-
tween specialists and primary care plements aimed at seniors. knows well from her days at Yale and joys the research almost as much as she
doctors, according to Apoltan, “is ab- she freely admits that keeping pace does her time with her patients.
solutely essential.” “I have researched this exten- with the newest medical develop-
sively,” Apoltan states flatly, “and for ments, papers and studies consumes Dr. Ana Maria Apoltan's offices are at
If Apoltan has a pet peeve, it's prob- most people, it's absolutely not nec- “all my time” that isn't spent with 1155 35th Lane, Suite 201 in Vero Beach.
ably the swelling marketing and ad- essary.” The phone number is 772-794-3364. 





She relaxed in the recliner, her eyes closed, her “There are two camps: the for every one of our thoughts, emotions and actions.
hands resting lightly in her lap. The psychiatrist’s as- very biologically oriented Asif’s tools enable him to more precisely diagnose his
sistant made small talk while pushing the woman’s and the patient-oriented.” patients’ problems and, ultimately, to treat them.
hair this way and that, dabbing her head with spots of
paste before attaching the 19 electrodes to her scalp. Moira Rynn, director of child and adolescent Neuroscience’s inroads have emboldened a small
psychiatry at the New York State Psychiatric but growing number of clinicians and researchers to
As the test started, her anxiety ticked up. And that’s Institute. reject diagnostic protocols on which mental health
when it began: the sensation of being locked in a vise. practitioners have relied for years – the cataloguing
First, she couldn’t move. Then she was shrinking, col- at what just happened. This was the area of your brain of symptoms such as sadness, fatigue, loss of appe-
lapsing in on herself like some human black hole. that started firing. . . . It’s right there on the screen.” tite – and instead focus on finding biological clues
associated with these symptoms in a blood test, a
It was a classic panic attack – captured in vivid col- For the 51-year-old psychiatrist, the episode last brain image or a saliva sample.
or on the computer screen that psychiatrist Hasan year in his Bronxville, N.Y., practice was yet another
Asif was watching. piece of evidence that he was on the right track, bur- These are the biomarkers, the concrete measure-
rowing past his patient’s symptoms to probe the struc- ments of mental illness, that many think will move
“It’s going to be okay,” he said, his voice quiet and tures in her brain that produced them. Individually, the mental health profession into the 21st century.
soothing. “Just stay with it.” all the tools he employs have been used before, but For Asif, some of the tools being used in the search
rarely, if ever, together. It’s an approach that parallels are already yielding practical results, such as sending
The images playing out in front of him were en- some of the most cutting-edge research in the field. a patient’s cheek swab for DNA analysis to help de-
tirely unexpected; this clearly wasn’t a resting state termine which psychotropic medication will be most
for his patient. With each surge of anxiety, a splotch Scientists have long known that the most forward effective and best tolerated.
of red bloomed on the computer screen. Excessive part of the brain is the seat of higher cognition. But
activity of high-energy brain waves near the top of only in recent years have they been able to link cer- This new, if controversial, approach to mental illness
her head indicated hyper-arousal and stress. De- tain mental disorders with specific brain circuits, the got a boost in 2013 when the director of the National
creased activity in the front of her brain, where emo- connections between neurons that are responsible Institute of Mental Health announced that the govern-
tions are managed, showed she couldn’t summon ment, the largest funder of mental health research in
the resources to keep calm. the world, would drastically shift its priorities.

“This was your brain as you were sitting there try- Research based solely on the Diagnostic and Statisti-
ing to relax,” Asif explained afterward, rerunning the cal Manual of Mental Disorders, the chief tool of mental
sequence for the woman, who for many of her 37 years health professionals, would no longer be funded. The
had struggled against crushing waves of dread. “Look