01/21/2021 ISSUE 02

A4Brightline start delayed Mystery and intrigue B4 B7A Lasorda appreciation
Legend’s death ends glorious era
High-speed trains put off till ’23 Local novelists pen thrillers

VOLUME 6, ISSUE 2 YOUR INDEPENDENT LOCAL COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2021

BEVY OF NEW PROJECTS COVID-19 PANDEMIC
IN PLANS OR IN MOTION
ALL ACROSS TRADITION County cases
up 25 percent
BY GEORGE ANDREASSI | Staff Writer so far in 2021
[email protected]
AHS Residential apartment project BY GEORGE ANDREASSI | Staff Writer
A Miami residential developer recently started work The Shoppes at Discovery Place [email protected]
on a 372-unit apartment complex on Village Parkway Parcel marketed by Tambone Companies
in the northern end of Tradition Commerce Center. COVID-19 cases spiked in St.
PHOTOS: LINDA KLOORFAIN Lucie County in the New Year as
Just north on Village Parkway, at the intersection of 3,549 residents – more than 1 per-
Discovery Way, a Palm City commercial developer has cent of the county’s population –
nearly completed the concrete block superstructure of tested positive for the virus.
a 10,476-square-foot shopping center.
Deaths and hospitalizations also
So far, those are the only two projects that have got- rose in St. Lucie since Jan. 1, but at
ten under construction on land in the Tradition jobs less alarming rates.
corridor purchased from the city of Port St. Lucie.
“Our COVID numbers are the
AHS Residential paid the city $4.81 million on highest we’ve seen since the pan-
March 5 for a 16.2-acre tract bounded by Village Park- demic started,” Clint Sperber, state
way, Trade Center Drive and Tom Mackie Boulevard. Health Department administrator
for St. Lucie County, said.
The city sold two lots amounting to 3 acres on the
northeast corner ofVillage Parkway and DiscoveryWay The virus has caused the death
for $450,000 on Feb. 26. The land was quickly flipped of 49 people in St. Lucie thus far in
to another developer who is building The Shoppes at 2021, state records show. That’s a 12
Discovery Plaza and an 82-room Hilton hotel. percent increase compared to the
405 people who died last year from
The city also sold an 8-acre parcel on Discovery Way COVID-19.
and Tom Mackie Boulevard to Oculus Surgical Inc.,
but drainage and fill issues have held up the construc- Another 117 people have been
tion of a high-tech eye equipment factory. hospitalized in the county this year
for the virus. That’s an 11 percent
The city acquired 1,200 acres west of Interstate 95 increase compared to last year,
in June 2018 after Tradition Land Company decided when 1,040 people were admitted
that it could no longer afford $5 million per year in
CONTINUED ON PAGE A2
CONTINUED ON PAGE A5

Med marijuana dispensaries growing like a weed in St. Lucie FORT PIERCE’S ANIMAL SHELTER
MAY SOON HAVE NEW OPERATOR
BY GEORGE ANDREASSI | Staff Writer It’s the only dispensary in St. Lucie County so far
[email protected] with drive-through service for products such as dried BY KEONA GARDNER | Correspondent sion on Jan. 4 asked staff to start
marijuana flower, THC vapor inhalation cartridges, negotiations with Sterilization
Medical marijuana dispensaries are proliferating St. Lucie County and Fort Pierce Outreach Services, Inc, also known
in St. Lucie County as statewide providers expand THC and CBD drops, and THC-laced gummy can- could have a new animal shelter as Operation SOS, to provide ani-
their networks throughout Florida despite the dies. “Based on the store’s opening day, operator as soon as Feb. 1 if con- mal-sheltering services to the uni-
COVID-19 pandemic. we believe this location will be a strong tract negotiations between the two fied shelter at 100 Savannah Road.
performer,” said Robert Beasley, chief ex- governments and a Hobe Sound-
Fluent joined the fray Dec. 18, opening a ecutive officer of Fluent’s owner, Can- based provider are successful. The two local governments have
dispensary at 2620 S. U.S. 1, Fort Pierce, a sortium Inc., of Miami, in a Dec. 21
former bank building at the corner of Gar- The Fort Pierce City Commis- CONTINUED ON PAGE A6
denia Avenue. CONTINUED ON PAGE A4

IN THIS ISSUE For Fort Pierce abstract
artist, creative process
LOCAL NEWS A1-A6 ARTS/PEOPLE B1-B9 ‘Stokes’ her fire: P. B2

OBITUARIES A7 PETS B10

HEALTH A8 GAMES B12-B14

REAL ESTATE A10-A24 SPORTS B15

© 2021 Vero Beach 32963 Media LLC. All rights reserved.

2 January 21, 2021 ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | NEWS www.stlucievoice.com

SPIKE IN COVID-19 CASES records show. The county is averaging 192 2020, 1,157 have been hospitalized and 454 COVID-19 cases have also spiked by nearly
new cases per day. died, state records show. That means more 36 percent in St. Lucie County public schools
CONTINUED FROM PAGE A1 than 5 percent of the county’s 330,000 resi- in the New Year, district records show. There
But County Administrator Howard Tipton dents have been diagnosed with COVID-19. were 103 COVID-19 cases from Jan. 1 through
to the hospital for COVID-19. said the pandemic has not gotten so bad that Jan. 15, 49 students and 54 staff members.
COVID-19 cases rose by 25 percent in St. he is considering closing county offices, or In addition, more than 15 percent of the That compares to 287 cases – 153 students
modifying operations. county residents who tested for COVID-19 and 134 staff members – from the start of the
Lucie in 2021, compared to last year, when in the past two weeks came up positive, of- school year through Dec. 31.
14,199 people were diagnosed with the virus, Altogether, 17,748 people in the county ficials said.
have tested positive for the virus since March

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Altogether, 202 students and 188 employ- King’s Landing project increases in price and scope
ees have been diagnosed with COVID-19
since the school year started. Treasure Coast BY KEONA GARDNER | Correspondent ed a national search for a hotel developer. The project has 23 of the 60 condos re-
High School had the most cases with 23, To land Mainsail, Matteson had to agree maining and only two townhomes out of
while St. Lucie West Centennial High had 22 The cost of the mixed-use King’s Land- to give them ownership of a 1.2-acre site the 12 left to be sold, Matteson said.
cases. ing project in downtown Fort Pierce has where the hotel would sit and to increase
increased to $110 million and a Tam- the number of hotel rooms from 120 to Main Street Fort Pierce Executive Direc-
Meanwhile, vaccinations had been admin- pa-based hotelier has now signed on to 140. “Anybody who is looking for a hotel tor Doris Tillman supports the project. “I
istered to 13,479 people in St. Lucie County the project. opportunity now is serious,” Matteson think this hotel project will be tremendous
as of Monday, mainly to seniors age 65 and said. “There are no tire kickers out there for the city,” Tillman said.
up, healthcare workers treating COVID-19 Mainsail Lodging and Development thinking maybe we’ll do something.”
patients, first responders and the seriously ill. signed a letter of intent with Audubon “This would give us the opportunity
Development to build a $45 million, 140- The proposed hotel would be five or six to attract conferences to the area and in-
If they’re all residents, that’s about 4 per- room hotel connected with Marriott Trib- stories and would be the centerpiece of the crease tourism.”
cent of the county’s 330,000 population. ute brand of hotels, developer Dale Mat- project, aimed at making downtown more
teson told the Fort Pierce Redevelopment of a gathering place and addressing the The Tribute brand of the Marriott label
Vaccines were administered to 11,210 peo- Agency at its Jan. 13 meeting. need for hotel rooms in a major tourism contains about 50 independent boutique
ple in St. Lucie County between Jan. 1 and spot in the city. hotels that each have their own character
Jan. 17. At that rate of 654 vaccines per day, Mainsail is known for developing the and style based on the atmosphere of the
it would take about four months to vaccinate Epicurean Hotel in Tampa and the Lumi- In addition to the hotel, the project community they are located.
the county’s approximately 80,000 seniors 65 nary Hotel in Fort Myers. would include $65 million to build 60
years and older. condominiums, 12 single-family homes The hotels take advantage of Marriott’s
In June 2019, the city selected Audubon and about 60,000 square feet of retail and branding and reservation system, allowing
“We know we don’t have 80,000 doses as of Development over Virgin Trains to develop restaurant space. members of Marriott’s loyalty program to
right now,” Sperber said last Thursday. “We the nearly 8-acre site on Second Street be- leverage their rewards points at the hotel.
know that supplies are short right now. It will tween Indian River Drive and A.E. Backus “It’s not just a place to stay but a place to
take a lot longer than any of us want because Avenue into an $85 million residential/ re- congregate,” Matteson said. Construction Other Tribute brand hotels are the Royal
vaccine supplies do not come in as quickly as tail project to revitalize downtown. is scheduled to start in January 2022 and Palm in Miami, the Dalman in Fort Lau-
we can get them out.” last for two years, Matteson said. derdale, the Karol in St. Petersburg, the
A prior hotel partner dropped out of Celeste in Orlando, the Westshore Grand
The Health Department has been distrib- the project and then Matteson conduct- in Tampa and the Modern in Sarasota. 
uting shipments of Moderna and Pfizer vac-
cines to Cleveland Clinic Tradition Hospital, the public when there are additional vaccine Tipton advised county residents to have that will get you to ahead of the line.
and to Lawnwood Regional and St. Lucie mass clinics throughout the county,” Sperber patience in their quest for a vaccination. “You “As we get the vaccine in, we’ll continue to
Medical centers, which are owned by Hospi- said. will get your vaccine as we can work through
tal Corporation of America (HCA). the community,” he said. get it out,” Tipton said.
Tens of thousands of county residents “That’s our commitment to everybody.
The Health Department oversaw the vac- have signed up for notifications via the Alert “There are no shortcuts to this. There
cination of more than 6,500 people during a St. Lucie system. are no secret supplies someone can get you There’s no point to holding it back and that’s
series of events starting Jan. 9 at the St. Lucie not our plan at all.” 
County Fairgrounds, Sperber said.

“We will continue to do our best to notify

4 January 21, 2021 ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | NEWS www.stlucievoice.com

YOU WON’T BE SEEING THIS RACING
THROUGH OUR COUNTY BEFORE ’23

BY GEORGE ANDREASSI | Staff Writer high-speed tracks between Orlando and 25, 2020, when it suspended service amid tive Train Control technology along the 70-
[email protected] West Palm Beach, railroad spokeswoman the COVID-19 pandemic, FRA records show. mile route, as required by FRA regulations.
Katie Mitzner said Friday (Jan. 15).
St. Lucie County residents won’t face An analysis by the Associated Press pub- “Our service has been suspended be-
the danger and inconvenience posed by “We are looking to complete the tracks in lished Dec. 2, 2019 found Brightline was the cause of COVID, but we’re working at get-
Brightline’s high-speed passenger trains the last quarter of 2022,” Mitzner told the deadliest railroad per mile in the U.S. ting it back up and running,” Mitzner said.
until at least 2023. Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council. “In the meantime, we are actively working
“We will then begin the Federal Railroad Meanwhile, four people have been killed on Positive Train Control (PCT) imple-
Brightline pushed back the start-date for Administration (FRA) testing and expect to by freight trains on the Florida East Coast mentation from West Palm Beach down to
Orlando to South Florida passenger service have regular service starting in 2023.” Railway in St. Lucie County since Jan. 1, Miami.
from late 2022, which is now when Bright- 2018, one in 2020 and three in 2019, FRA
line expects to complete construction and Brightline trains killed 43 people while records show. Positive Train Control is a computer-
start test runs. Brightline has completed operating between Miami and West Palm ized system designed to automatically
nearly half the work on 170 miles of new Beach from January 2018 through March Restarting Brightline service in South stop trains to prevent collisions with oth-
Florida hinges on the completion of Posi-

DISPENSARIES Trulieve’s medical marijuana dispensary on Gatlin Boulevard in Port St. Lucie. PHOTO: LINDA KLOORFAIN of the expected opening of the recreational
market,” Rivers said.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE A1 Another big player in the medical mari- panding and ensuring direct, reliable patient
juana industry in Florida is Trulieve, which access to medical cannabis throughout the Based in Quincy, Florida, Trulieve has 71
statement. Fluent – which has 24 dispensa- opened two dispensaries in St. Lucie County state,” a company statement says. dispensaries in the state.
ries from North Miami to Panama City – is the in July.
latest of seven medical marijuana dispensary Trulieve is looking to capitalize on the le- MÜV Medical Cannabis Dispensary set
companies to set up shop in St. Lucie County Trulieve opened its 51st dispensary in Fort galization of marijuana for recreational pur- up shop last Aug. 21 in St. Lucie West in the
in the past three years. Pierce, 1495 South U.S. 1, on July 2 and its poses in Florida, said CEO Kim Rivers in a Chamber Court Professional Center, 120 SW
52nd dispensary in Port St. Lucie, 1288 SW 2020 shareholder letter. Chamber Court.
The first was Liberty Health Sciences, Gatlin Blvd., on July 18.
10941 U.S. 1, Port St. Lucie, just north of the “We continue to open stores in strategic “The new Port St. Lucie MÜV Dispensary
Martin County line, which opened its doors “Located near the center of Port St. Lucie, locations where we can minimize a high rate stands out because it’s designed as a pre-
June 1, 2018. the dispensary supports Trulieve’s goal of ex- of deliveries … or solidify locations ahead mium experience – think Apple Store, with
a modern open-concept design and expert
Voters approved a referendum legalizing staff with extensive training,” the company
medical marijuana in Florida in 2016 and the said.
state and local governments set up the legal
framework for the dispensaries in 2017. MÜV operates 29 dispensaries in Florida
and plans to open 11 more. It is owned by
Medical marijuana has been a growth in- Alternative Medical Enterprises LLC, of Sara-
dustry ever since with dispensaries taking sota.
several prime commercial locations on the
Treasure Coast. Curaleaf opened the second dispensary
in St. Lucie County on Oct. 30, 2018 at 3218
Liberty Health Sciences plans to open an- South U.S. 1, Fort Pierce. Based in Wakefield,
other dispensary “soon” in a former TD Bank Mass., the company operates 36 dispensaries
branch, 5053 Turnpike Feeder Road, Fort in Florida.
Pierce, the company says. It will be the Lib-
erty Health Sciences’ 30th dispensary state- Surterra Wellness of Tampa runs a dispen-
wide. sary at 7061 S. U.S. 1, Port St. Lucie, near Rio
Mar Drive. It’s one of the company’s 39 dis-
Liberty Health Sciences anticipates open- pensaries in Florida.
ing 12 more dispensaries in Florida this year,
depending on approval from the state Depart- Lesser-known dispensaries have also lo-
ment of Health. It cultivates and processes all cated in St. Lucie County. OnePlant estab-
its products at a 387-acre facility in Gainesville. lished one of its seven dispensaries at 7510 S.
Federal Highway, Port St. Lucie. The compa-
ny plans five more dispensaries in Florida. 

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er trains, derailments caused by speeding, If that schedule is put in place for the Or- TRADITION PROJECTS agreement to sell Brightworks Acquisitions 6
incursions into work zones and move- lando extension, the dual tracks Brightline acres on the southeast corner of Village Park-
ments through misaligned switches, FRA is building in the Florida East Coast Rail- CONTINUED FROM PAGE A1 way and Discovery Way for $1.6 million, but
records show. way right-of-way through St. Lucie County the deal remains under negotiation.
could carry 32 passenger trains at up to 110 property taxes and assessments.
A computer in the locomotive receives mph and 20 freight trains at up to 60 mph The land in the Tradition Center for Inno- The council has also approved an agree-
and analyzes data about track conditions, each day. ment to sell Accel International 40 acres be-
giving the engineer time to reduce speed vation and the Tradition Commerce Center, tween I-95 and Tom Mackie Boulevard for
or stop the train in case of an emergency There are 22 railroad crossings on the a 4-mile stretch along I-95, was dubbed the $1,742,400, but that deal also remains under
on the tracks ahead. If the engineer fails to FECR tracks in St. Lucie County, most in “jobs corridor” in the early 2000s when the negotiation, city records show.
take corrective action, PTC automatically Fort Pierce and St. Lucie Village. project got underway. The city has long en-
applies the train brakes and brings the train visioned creating an industrial and commer- In addition, the council has agreed to sell
to a controlled stop. Brightline plans to develop stations on cial center between I-95 and Village Parkway Sansone Group approximately 300 acres
the Treasure and Space Coasts within five from Becker Road to Tradition Parkway. between I-95 and Village Parkway, north of
PCT does not prevent vehicle-train ac- years after starting the Orlando to South Becker Road, for a 3 million-square-foot in-
cidents at railroad crossings, or stop trains Florida service, but hasn’t picked the lo- Tambone Companies of Palm Beach Gar- dustrial project in several phases, but none of
when people are walking on the tracks. cations, Mitzner said. “Nothing has been dens has a two-year marketing and develop- the sales has closed yet. The Sansone Group’s
decided in terms of specific locations, but ing option with the city for 84 acres on the first proposed purchase is 22 acres, overlook-
Brightline operated 32 trains per day in those are the two areas we had committed northern end of Tradition Commerce Center. ing I-95 near Becker Road, for $1.75 million
South Florida at its peak in early March to,” Mitzner said.  for a FedEx regional distribution facility. 
2020, 16 northbound and 16 southbound. So far, the City Council has approved an

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6 January 21, 2021 ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | NEWS www.stlucievoice.com

Staffing issues among factors delaying Copas opening ANIMAL SHELTER

CONTINUED FROM PAGE A1

BY PATRICK McCALLISTER | Correspondent veterans nursing home project in Orlando PHOTO COURTESY OF THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF VETERAN AFFAIRS been searching for a new animal shelter pro-
as it worked to get Copas built. The two vider since a split with the previous provider
The deputy and acting director of the will open about the same time. taining SARS-CoV-2. He added the state – the Humane Society of St. Lucie County –
state veterans department – James S. veterans department is mindful that suc- over animal welfare and costs.
“Hammer” Hartsell – told the Florida Sen- Harrell asked Hartsell about staffing cess can change to crisis fast.
ate that the Ardie R. Copas State Veterans’ both. “Given the COVID situation and tre- Sterilization Outreach Services, a three-
Nursing home in Tradition could be get- mendous lack of nurses that we have in “Right now, we have one veteran out of year-old company, has a spay and neutering
ting residents in time for Easter. the state of Florida, can you speak to the all our veterans in nursing homes (who) contract with Port St. Lucie, Okeechobee
issue of staffing of these two new nursing has COVID-19,” Hartsell said. “One. We’re and St. Lucie counties, and Fort Pierce un-
“I would love to see it opened in March,” homes that we hope to have online within ahead. COVID is still coming. I still have der each entity’s feline trap-neuter-vacci-
he said. “I really would.” this next six months?” staff members who are catching COVID, nate-release program.
but we’re keeping it away from our veter-
Easter this year comes on Sunday, April 4. Hartsell was blunt. ans.” According to the proposal, SOS would
Hartsell, who retired from the Marine “I have to admit, who wants to work in have a five-year lease with Fort Pierce, which
Corps as a major general, was speaking a nursing home right now when you talk Murray said the health department owns the shelter, and a separate three-year
Jan. 12 at the first meeting of the Florida about COVID and all the negative energy and pharmacy companies quickly got to animal sheltering contract with Fort Pierce
Senate Committee on Military and Veter- that has been built about nursing homes? the state veterans nursing homes with and the county. The county would pay the
ans Affairs, Space and Domestic Security. So we’re also wrestling with that, I’ll just be COVID-19 vaccines when they became new company $20,000 monthly and Fort
State Sen. Gayle Harrell, who represents St. honest about that,” he said. available in December. Pierce would pay $11,250 for animal shelter-
Lucie County, is the committee’s new vice While Florida avoided catastrophic out- ing services, city officials said.
chair. breaks of COVID-19 in its veterans nursing “All seven homes have received their
“We are most anxious to get that up and homes that other states experienced early first rounds of vaccines,” he said. “Three of The proposal is “slightly unconventional”
running,” Harrell said at the committee in the pandemic, it has had, to date, 86 vet- the homes have already received their sec- as the company submitting the bid would
meeting. “We thought it was going to be erans die due to COVID-related complica- ond round of vaccines.” not be the company ultimately responsi-
up last year and it was very disappointing tions. Steve Murray, the communications ble for providing services, Fort Pierce Code
not to have it.” director at the FDVA, said in a previous More than 90 percent of residents re- Compliance Manager Peggy Arraiz said at
The Florida Department of Veteran interview the average age of the COVID quested vaccinations. the Jan. 4 meeting.
Affairs previously projected to have the victims was 93.
home open by last November. The home The state has about 870 beds among its “More than 50 percent of our staff mem- SOS would have two years to create the
has experienced numerous starts and de- six veterans nursing homes and one as- bers are taking the vaccine,” said Murray. nonprofit Sunrise Humane Society, which
lays since the site selection committee sisted living facility. They usually stay at “That is a success story in all our homes. would be responsible for operating the
picked Tradition for the state’s seventh capacity, so there were about 850 veterans We’ve gotten the vaccines in.” shelter. SOS would also loan the Sunrise
veterans nursing home in the fall of 2014. in the homes at the start of the pandem- Humane Society $20,000 to help with initial
The state figured construction would start ic in Florida. The Florida Department of In addition to the pandemic apparently start-up expenses, such as payroll, insur-
by the end of 2015 for an opening by early Health announced the first known case in keeping some medical workers away from ance, utilities and supplies. The Sunrise Hu-
2018. Construction started in the summer the state on March 2 last year. The FDVA applying for nursing homes, it has also mane Society would have a board of direc-
of 2018. closed homes to visitors and new admis- slowed hiring from the employers’ side, tors and staff separate from SOS, which has
The Florida Department of Veteran Af- sions on March 9 and adopted vigorous Hartsell said. offered Fort Pierce and the county the right
fairs is separate from the similarly named testing regimens for residents and staff. to each select representatives for the board.
federal Department of Veteran Affairs and Some families opted to remove residents “Hiring staff for this nursing home has
is known by the moniker FDVA. The feder- during the pandemic. The state now has been affected by COVID-19,” he said. Once the contract has been negotiated,
al VA is paying for 65 percent of building about 560 veterans in its facilities. At the “How you sit and talk to someone, inter- both the Fort Pierce City Commission and
costs for the Copas home, but the state will time when the committee met, Hartsell view, background checks, all the things the St. Lucie County Commission would
staff and run it. That’s part of the current said the FDVA could report success at con- that need to be done in that environment – need to approve it.
delay – staffing. The FDVA started a second screening and hiring have been affected.”
The current shelter’s eight part-time em-
When the Copas home opens, the ployees would become employees of the
121,000-square-foot facility will have 120 new operator. In early January, shelter staff
beds and need about 175 workers. The counted 56 dogs and 10 cats at the shelter.
state will open the home with a few veter- The new shelter’s operating hours would be
ans to care for and add staff and new resi- 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Tuesday through Sun-
dents over several months.  day. “They are an important humane asset
to our community’s needs in addressing our
animal population and all its challenges,”
Susan Parry of United for Animals said in a
letter supporting the SOS bid.

The new shelter would open to the public
only after a safety plan has been approved
and all staff had been trained in safety pro-
cedures. There will also be an accountability
plan to include a semi-annual written report
on the condition of the facility and its main-
tenance needs, and a bimonthly report on
animal care.

Fort Pierce and the county severed ties
with the Humane Society of St. Lucie County
in October 2019, five months after the maul-
ing death of volunteer Christine Liquori. Her
death uncovered animal welfare concerns
and a lack of financial accountability.

Port St. Lucie last January reestablished ties
with the Humane Society under a “fresh start”
contract that included the city giving the shel-
ter money in exchange for financial oversight
and improved care for the animals. 

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IN LOVING MEMORY and his fiancé, Courtney Warsh of Deerfield West Palm Beach. Opal loved bowing, cook-
Beach; daughter, Jennifer A. Chadwick and ing and camping.
JAMES B. KAMMERAAD, 56 Passante; granddaughter, Riley; three aunts, boyfriend, Alan Wilson of Pompano Beach.
Port St. Lucie Marge Woolsey, Shirley Heaton and Rose Survivors include her loving husband,
Heaton; nieces, Rene Hogue (husband, Pat- JOYCE E. REALINI-KRZAN, 64 Harvey Schwier of Port St. Lucie; sons,
James “Jim” B. Kammeraad, 56, of Port St. rick) and Kelly Rubio (husband, Joe); neph- Port St. Lucie Mark (Kathy) Schwier of Okeechobee and
Lucie passed away at his home on Dec. 18 ews, Frank Passante (wife, Kellee) and Peter Tim (Cheryl) Schwier of Columbiana, Ohio;
from complications of heart disease. Jim was Ashcroft (wife, Shannon); grandnieces, Anna Joyce E. Realini-Krzan (Kerr), 64, of Port St. daughter, Brenda Cordé of Port St. Lucie;
born in Paw Paw, Mich., and moved to Port and Layla Hogue, and Ellie, Sarah and Kate Lucie passed away peacefully on Jan. 11 after son, Doug (Kim) Schwier of Titusville; 14
St. Lucie in 1975 from Dowagiac, Mich. Ashcroft; grandnephew, Daniel Passante; a long illness. She was predeceased by her grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren;
and many cousins and friends. husband Thomas Krzan. brother, J.C. Lewis; sister, Lois Craft; brother,
Prior to his illness, Jim was an HVAC tech- Frank Lewis; sister, Wanda Hebel; as well as
nician for Perfect Temp Air Conditioning. JOYCE E. CHADWICK, 59 Joyce was born in Natick, Mass., to Don- numerous nieces and nephews.
Port St. Lucie ald F. and Anne E. Kerr. She worked at Valpey
He was an excellent cook, skilled at grill- Fisher Company in Hopkinton, Mass., and DENISE A. BENNY, 66
ing, golfing and fishing. Jim’s favorite holiday Joyce E. Chadwick, 59, of Port St. Lucie Waters Corporation in Milford, Mass. She Port St. Lucie
was Christmas. He was also a member of the passed away in the comfort of her own home later lived in Rhode Island and in Florida,
Loyal Order of Moose Lodge 513. Jan. 13 with her family at her side. where Ming, her loyal dog, provided her with Denise A. Benny (nee Restauri), 66, of Port
much companionship and comfort during St. Lucie passed away Dec. 16.
Jim is survived by his father, Keith Kam- Joyce was born on Aug. 30, 1961 in Queens, her illness.
meraad Sr. (wife, Donna); his brother, Timo- N.Y., to Raymond and Joan Daw. Joyce mar- She loved the beaches, especially Key
thy (wife, Maria); his sister, Milissa Murray; ried William Chadwick in Deer Park, Long She is survived by her brother Tom and West, where she and her late husband, Jay
nieces and nephews, Joshua, Keith III, Jenna, Island, on Feb. 14, 1986. She worked as a tax wife Karen Kerr of Upton, Mass.; her sister Benny, visited often. She was born in Al-
Sean, Katherine and Angel; and many more exemption specialist for the Office Depot Nancy Bassett and husband Bob Reed of Up- toona, Pa., and moved to Port St. Lucie from
relatives and friends. Corporate Office. ton; and her sister Catherine Kerr and hus- West Virginia 16 years ago.
band Ted Hatch of Winthrop, Maine.
TAMMI E. KRUSEN, 57 Joyce was a devoted parishioner of St. Ber- Denise worked for Rosenthal, Levy, Simon
Port St. Lucie nadette’s Catholic Church in Port St. Lucie. OPAL SHWIER, 81 & Sosa for 14 years and will be missed dearly
She spent 10 years working for the Dioceses Port St. Lucie by all who knew her. Every Thanksgiving for
Tammi E. Krusen, 57, of Port St. Lucie of Palm Beach. She was devoted to her family years she cooked the turkey dinner for her
passed away on Dec. 18. She was the daugh- and enjoyed cooking, decorating her home, Opal Schwier, 81, of Port St. Lucie passed staff, and she would say how thankful she
ter of George Woolsey and Gloria Heaton. and gardening. She will be missed dearly and away Dec. 31. was for having her work-family around her,
forever. her health and her family.
Tammi left behind her husband, John Opal was born on March 24, 1939 in Dear-
Krusen III, of New York; three sons whom Survivors include her devoted husband born County, Ind., to Samuel and Minta Lew- Survivors include her daughters, Victoria
she adored, John Krusen IV, Anthony Kru- of 34 years, William “Bill” Chadwick of Port is. She married Harvey Schwier on Nov. 13, Pickard, Stephanie McGraw and Rebecca
sen (wife, Erica) and Keith Bronson; sisters, St. Lucie; son, William “Billy” Chadwick II 1954 in Dearborn County. McGraw; siblings, James Restauri, Daniel
Wendy Ashcroft (husband, Peter) and Lynn Restauri, Matthew Restauri and Tina Restau-
As part of the Treasure Coast Community, ri; and many grandchildre, nephews and
she was a member of the Elks Lodge #1352 in nieces, aunts, uncles and cousins.

8 January 21, 2021 ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | HEALTH www.stlucievoice.com

‘ROCK STEADY BOXING’ LETS PARKINSON’S PATIENTS FIGHT BACK

BY KERRY FIRTH | Correspondent Dr. S. James Shafer. to area patients. The program was founded
in 2006 by a young patient who wanted to
Dr. S. James Shafer, founder of Vero PHOTOS: KAILA JONES challenge his disease through exercise and
Beach Neurology and Research Institute hired a boxing trainer to develop a personal
in Vero Beach, doesn’t believe in just man- training regimen designed to gain strength
aging a neurological disease, but instead and agility. He noticed drastic improve-
is a proactive advocate. In some cases, he ment and formed a nonprofit to help bring
advises patients to literally fight back for the program to others. Today there are
their quality of life. more than 600 affiliates worldwide, serving
3,600 patients.
Such is the case with many of his pa-
tients suffering from the debilitating ef- “Locally, we currently have about 50 pa-
fects of Parkinson’s disease, which brutally tients who train at the gym, although we’ve
attacks one’s motor skills, balance, speech had several hundred participants over the
and sensory functions. Interestingly, these past few years,” explained Dr. Shafer. “The
are the same motor skills that boxers train exercises combine physical activity and the
to perfect. That’s exactly why Dr. Shafer learning of new skills, requiring the brain to
recommends that Parkinson’s patients box adapt to new challenges. Rock Steady Box-
to improve their motor skills. ing is designed for Parkinson’s patients but
is open to anyone suffering from a move-
“While most people rightfully equate ment disorder. We have participants from all
boxing with a cause of Parkinson’s and over who are referred to us from numerous
not a treatment, studies have shown that practices. Many seasonal residents make
non-contact boxing dramatically improves signing up for the program one of their first
hand-eye coordination, agility and daily priorities. Not only is it fun and socially en-
functioning for patients,” said Dr. Shafer. gaging, but it also increases independence
“For someone who knows they are never and self-confidence as well as the physical
to get better, putting on boxing gloves and improvements.”
punching a bag gives them the opportuni-
ty to fight back.” Parkinson’s is a brain disorder that leads
to shaking, stiffness and difficulty with walk-
Dr. Shafer teamed up with Gus and Macy ing, balance and coordination. According to
Curren, owners of House of Champions the Parkinson’s Foundation, nearly 1 million
Gym in Vero Beach, about four years ago
to offer the Rock Steady Boxing Program

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To Advertise (772-633-1115) ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | HEALTH January 21, 2021 9

people were living with Parkinson’s disease Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, fol- Fall Special Includes Exam,
in the United States in 2020, more than the lowed by an Internal Medicine internship at
combined number of people diagnosed Jackson Memorial Hospital. $69 Xray, Cleaning SLV
with multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy
and Lou Gehrig’s disease (Amyotrophic Lat- He completed his residency in Adult Neu- NEW PATIENTS SC (0150)
eral Sclerosis). rology in 1997 at the University of Florida at (0272) (1110)
Shands Teaching Hospital. He is affiliated
Symptoms generally develop slowly over with Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital, Expires 01/31/21
years and differ from one person to another. where he serves as department chairman of Insurance Accepted
Some patients will notice a slight shaking or Neurology and Psychiatry and medical di-
tremor in a finger, hand or chin while rest- rector of the IRMC Stroke program. He is the New Patient Special
ing, loss of smell, one side of the body mov- founder and medical director of the Mul- 985$BEST
ing slower than the oth- .00
er and loss of balance. tiple Sclerosis Center PRICE ON SLV
Others will have diffi- of Vero Beach that has CROWNS
culty moving or walking cared for thousands of SC (2950) (2750) • Expires 01/31/21 • Insurance Accepted
due to a stiffness in the MS patients worldwide.
body, arms and legs, NEW PATIENTS
causing them to shuffle He and his team of
their feet. As the disease investigators and study
progresses, cognitive coordinators at Vero
functions including for- Beach Neurology & Re-
getfulness and trouble search Institute conduct
with concentration may clinical trials in thera-
arise. An estimated 50 peutic areas including
percent to 80 percent of MS and Parkinson’s dis-
those with the disease ease from their offices
may experience de- in Vero Beach.
mentia.
“We’re always looking
“Unfortunately, there for a better treatment or
is no cure for Parkin- ultimate cure for Par-
son’s disease,” said Dr. Shafer. kinson’s disease,” said
Dr. Shafer. “I’m con-
“Symptoms can be managed with dopa- vinced that there is no pill or surgery than
mine-based medications and physical ther- can replicate the benefits for Parkinson’s pa-
apy. The biggest change in treatment within tients that are received from participation in
the past decade is in the advancement of the Rock Steady Boxing program.
deep brain stimulation (DBS) procedures “The workouts basically wake up the
that enable surgeons to go into the brain, brain and I’ve seen patients who couldn’t
map its circuitry live and then zap little ar- walk when they came in, become mobile
eas to stimulate and ablate parts of the brain again. There’s no doubt medical treatment
that control the movement.” is always necessary, but this is one way for
them to fight back.”
During DBS surgery, the surgeon plac-
es thin metal wires in the brain and those Dr. Shafer and House of Champions Gym
wires send electrical pulses to the brain to are co-sponsoring an online seminar on
help control motor symptoms. The electri- Parkinson’s disease on Feb 16. The event is
cal signals interrupt the abnormal signaling open to all and features Michael S. Okum,
patterns in the brain that cause the motor MD chair of neurology, professor and exec-
control issues. While it’s not a cure for Par- utive director of the Norman Fixel Institute
kinson’s and does not stop the progression for Neurological diseases at the University
of the disease, many patients experience a of Florida Health Collage of Medicine. Infor-
significant reduction in their symptoms. mation and registration can be found at the
Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Support Group
Shafer, a Vero Beach High School grad- website: www.alzpark.org. Dr. Shafer can be
uate, graduated summa cum laude at the reached at Vero Beach Neurology Research
University of Florida and received his med- Institute, 772-492-7051. 
ical degree from the University of Miami at

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of Physicians to Women. He will remain in
practice at the same location and will maintain NEW PATIENTS WELCOME!
the same phone number. All the medical records
originated under Women’s Healthcare of Port The patient and any other person responsible for payment have the right to refuse to pay, cancel,
Saint Lucie, LLC will be at Physicians to Women or be reimbursed for payment for any other service, examination or treatment which is performed
effective that January 1, 2021 and will remain at as a result of and within 72 hours of responding to this advertisement for the free or reduced fee
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These records may be requested if needed via appropriate Call Now for 772-344-3300
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above), email ([email protected]) or via fax at 772-288-2999 Suite 126 • St Lucie West
(next to Tropical Smoothie)

10 January 21, 2021 ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | REAL ESTATE www.stlucievoice.com

MORTGAGE RATES One week after falling to all-time lows, and are in addition to the interest rate.) It ers with strong credit scores and large down
SHOOT UP TO THEIR mortgage rates rebounded sharply to their was 2.65 percent two weeks ago and 3.65 payments. These rates are not available to
HIGHEST LEVELS IN highest levels since mid-November. percent a year ago. every borrower.
NEARLY 2 MONTHS
According to the latest data released last Freddie Mac, the federally chartered Because the survey is based on home pur-
Thursday by Freddie Mac, the 30-year fixed- mortgage investor, aggregates rates from chase mortgages, rates for refinances may
rate average climbed to 2.79 percent with an about 80 lenders nationwide to come up be different. This is especially true because
average 0.7 point. (Points are fees paid to a with weekly national average mortgage the price adjustment for refinance transac-
lender equal to 1 percent of the loan amount rates. It uses rates for high-quality borrow- tions took effect in December. The adjust-

To Advertise (772-633-1115) ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | REAL ESTATE January 21, 2021 11

ment is 0.5 percent of the loan amount (e.g., an average 0.4 point. It was 2.75 percent two a long-awaited deviation from the glacial, long-term bond yields higher. By last Tues-
it is $1,500 on a $300,000 loan) and applies to weeks ago and 3.39 percent a year ago. downward trend that rates have followed
all Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac refinances. for the past few months. Rates have risen in day, the yield had reached 1.15 percent, the
“Mortgage rates headed higher (last) the past week at their fastest pace since the
The 15-year fixed-rate average also moved week, continuing the strong upward trend spring.” highest it has been since March. But then
higher, to 2.23 percent with an average 0.7 that followed last week’s election results”
point. It was 2.16 percent two weeks ago and in the Georgia Senate race, said Matthew Until it fell back last Wednesday, the 10- it retreated to 1.1 percent last Wednesday
3.09 percent a year ago. The five-year adjust- Speakman, a Zillow economist. “The upward year Treasury yield had been on a steady
able rate average grew to 3.12 percent with movements over the past couple weeks were climb as fears of rising inflation pushed on weakened inflation concerns. Mort-

gage rates typically follow the same path as

the 10-year Treasury yield but have done

so less lately.  ­– THE WASHINGTON POST





TOM AND MELINDA CANN TOP PRODUCING AGENTS

SELLING PROPERTIES, NOT PROMISES!

Tom Cann (772) 485-1222 Melinda Cann (772) 215-8178
BROKER, PGA LIFE MEMBER [email protected] [email protected]
BROKER, CO-OWNER

ON GOLF COURSE! 9535 Avenel Lane 10310 SW VISCONTI WAY
PGA VILLAGE PGA VERANO
ENJOY STUNNING SUNSETS
ALL NEW FLOORS & NEW OVER THE LAKE WHILE
RELAXING BY THE POOL
EXTERIOR PAINT This home is within walking distance to the pools,
clubhouse, fitness center and tennis courts. Also seconds
Wonderfully priced 3 bedroom 2 away from the golf cart path into the three championship
bath home in The Pines on the 4th PGA golf court. Owners will enjoy the upgraded kitchen
hole of the Legacy golf course. with built in wall oven and undermount cabinet lighting.
Owners have recently changed Beautiful custom window treatments and mirrored wall have
all the flooring and most window been added in the great room. The great room also has a
treatments. The home has just been built in wine bar and there is molding in the formal dining
professionally painted outside. In room. Interior of home has just been painted for a fresh
the kitchen you’ll find stainless clean look. This Bellacerra model offers 3 large bedrooms, a
steel appliances and granite den and 3 and one half baths. Offered at $579,000
countertops. The water heater is
newer and the garage floor has 10879 SW Visconti Way
been epoxied. Offered at $304,000 PGA VERANO
ALESSA FLOOR PLAN WITH
PENDING 17060 SW Ambrose Way PENDING WHITE KITCHEN
PGA VERANO 3 BR, Den, 2.5 BA home with all impact glass
3 CAR GARAGE HOME WITH doors and windows. Wonderful lighted built
LAKESIDE VIEWS in wine bar with bottle storage & stylist
All impact glass home in the resort backsplash makes a dramatic focal point in the
community of PGA Verano with coveted great room. You will love the white kitchen with
Ambrose Way location. This 3 bedroom, subway tile backsplash, quartz counter tops
2.5 bath home has a great floor plan. and under cabinet lights. Cabinets have top
You’ll enjoy the privacy of having no and bottom moldings and upgraded cabinet
homes across the street and the close hardware. The back patio has a private garden
location to the social club, indoor pool, view and an extended patio with screened lanai.
outdoor pool, tennis and fitness center. Well finished garage includes hanging storage,
This owner has added lovely features epoxied floors and plantation shutters. Call us
like crown molding, plantation shutter, today for a viewing. Offered at $407,000
luxury vinyl floors in bedrooms and tile
on the diagonal. Offered at $429,000 9253 SHORT CHIP CIRCLE
PGA VILLAGE
PENDING 9417 SW NUOVA WAY PENDING RENOVATED POOL HOME
PENDING PGA VERANO WITH PARTIAL IMPACT GLASS
AND FOREVER LAKE VIEWS
EXPANDED ALESSA WITH
This model allows you to push the pocketing slider
CUSTOM FLOOR PLAN doors all the way open revealing a spectacular
panoramic view of the pool & lake. One guest bedroom
Special model with unique modifications. Best expansive has an ensuite bath. This recently painted home features
lakeview with no homes across lake. Expanded with clever new porcelain wood look floors throughout, current
design changes. Guest bath door has been changed so you light fixtures and plantation shutters. The pool pump
don’t see the opening from the hallway. Instead there is an was replaced in 2020 along with a newer pool heater
ensuite bath in the guest bedroom. Additional bedroom has in 2018. Cooks will enjoy the double wall ovens along
been opened to the great room and can be used for formal with all the other 2018 newer kitchen appliances (not
dining, den or guest room. Half bath has been expanded into cooktop). The A/C and water heater were also replaced
a roomy guest bathroom with a large sink cabinet. Kitchen approximately 3 years ago. Offered at $469,000
has upgraded cabinets, beverage cooler stainless chicklet
backsplash and butler pantry. Home has crown molding fans 8186 Mulligan Circle
with lights and high quality vinyl flooring. Beautiful lot with PGA VILLAGE
lush landscaping all on a quiet street. Offered at $415,000 LARGE VILLA WITH
2 CAR GARAGE
1548 Mockingbird Circle PENDING A fabulous home in a great community.
PGA Village is close to everything. 5
COUNTY CLUB ESTATES minutes to the PGA Golf Club and 8
Minutes to Mets Stadium. Very good
LAKEFRONT CUSTOM investment opportunities or a nice place
to call home. Clean unit used mostly in
BUILT HOME the winter months and rented very little.
Enjoy the wildlife with beautiful lakefront This community has a lovely heated pool
views from most rooms. This well-built home and is close to the 3 PGA golf course.
has a spacious floor plan on a quiet and You are also able to use the larger social
private lot. The kitchen has upgraded cabinets, club, pool, tennis and community pickle
granite countertops and lots of space! You will ball courts. Offered at $219,990
enjoy entertaining and grilling outside in the
large covered patio which can accommodate
a large table and sitting area. County Club
Estates is on the campus of the Saint Lucie
Trails Public golf club. Private and pay to
playmembership are available but not required
to live there. Offered at $349,300

CANN REALTY IS SELLING HOMES • RECENTLY SOLD

10506 SW VISCONTI WAY 10339 SW VISCONTI WAY 9020 SW PEPOLI WAY
10199 SW VISCONTI WAY 8954 SW PEPOLI WAY 8972 SW PEPOLI WAY
11093 SW AMBROSE WAY 17004 SW SAPRI WAY 5425 NW PINE TRAIL
10319 SW AMBROSE

Information is believed to be correct but not warranted. Personally verify all information before relying on said information.

Exciting residence available
in sought-after Greenbrier

7609 Greenbrier Circle in Greenbrier in PGA Village: 2-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom, 2,233-square-foot pool home
offered for $439,000 by Kay Rodriguez, 772-486-2126 of Lang Realty

NOW SEEKING TOP Real Estate. Redefined
PRODUCING AGENTS
TREASURE COAST FEATURED PROPERTIES
To join our team
The Real Estate Leader
Call John Falkenhagen:
772.467.1299

Serving The Treasure Coast
Call the leading sales specialists at Lang Realty. (772) 467-1299

800-682-5551 | LangRealty.com

16 January 21, 2021 ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | REAL ESTATE www.stlucievoice.com

Exciting residence available in sought-after Greenbrier

BY SHELLEY KOPPEL | Columnist or just relax with some knitting or a book. tive surround, and dual vanities, hers with
[email protected] While it’s a perfect space for entertaining, a stool already supplied. Two walk-in clos-
it’s also a great place to just chill. A den (12- ets make the master suite ideal. There is a
The house at 7609 Greenbrier Circle, in by-12) with wood floors is an additional re- second bedroom (12-by-12-6) with ensuite
the Greenbrier section of PGA Village, is a treat, but I’d use it as an office. I now official- bath and a powder room.
pleasure for the eyes, both inside and out. ly have office envy.
Inside, the attention to detail – with arch- Outside, you have an extended cov-
ways, woodwork trim, crown molding and The master suite begins with the master ered and screened lanai that houses an in-
Silhouette shades – adds designer touches bedroom, a generous 14-by-16-6. It opens ground pool. The view is sublime, looking
that announce that this house is something to a master bath with a large shower, sep- out, as it does, to the greenbelt and lake.
special. Outdoors, the expanded screened arate Roman tub complete with a decora- What a great spot for a luncheon or book
and covered lanai overlooks the pool, the club meeting, or a pool party with the kids
greenbelt and the lake beyond. or grandkids. It’s a wonderful place to sit
with morning coffee and a terrific place to
When you step inside, there are entry- relax and wind down at the end of the day.
way tiles on the diagonal with a delightful
custom inlay. There is a formal living room Of course, this is PGA Village, so you have
(16 feet, 6 inches by 23 feet, 6 inches) and
a formal dining room (12 feet, 8 inches by
11 feet), with a built-in wet bar. This is an
entertainer’s delight and you can easily
see family special events and dinners with
friends taking place in these elegant rooms.
The kitchen is, of course, the heart of the
home, and at 12-6-by-10-6, there is plenty of
room to whip up some gourmet treats. The
kitchen has granite countertops, woodwork
trim, warm wood cabinets, a decorative tile
backsplash and breakfast bar. It overlooks
the adjacent family room and looks out to
the lanai and pool. The family room, a spa-
cious 14-by-18, is where you will entertain,
watch the big game with friends and family,

This Week’s

FEATURED NEW LISTING

PGA VILLAGE

8301 Belfry Place

GREAT HOME ON PRIVATE CORNER LOT

This 2-bedrooms PLUS a den, 2.5-baths, 2-car garage home has a great
open and bright floor plan and is situated on a landscaped, private corner

lot, overlooking a peaceful pond. The home features a formal dining
room, spacious master bedroom with his/hers walk-in closets, en-suite
guest bedroom. 12’ ceilings in the living room with 10’ ceilings throughout

the remaining interior rooms. 22’ X 14’ covered and screened porch
overlooking the peaceful pond. Don’t miss out ... this one will go fast!

RX-10683833 $349,900

Diane Gault, Your Full Time
Full Service
BROKER ASSOCIATE Realtor

Diane Gault 772-342-7455

[email protected]

To Advertise (772-633-1115) ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | REAL ESTATE January 21, 2021 17

all the amenities the community has to of- shopping and dining to be found there. bedrooms with ensuite baths and a den with
fer, inside the clubhouse and out. You can Kay Rodriguez, agent for Lang Realty, wood floors. The house has lovely woodwork
find basketball, billiards, a fitness center, trim, tile on the diagonal with designer inlays,
game room, library, pickleball, picnic area, said that this house offers attention to de- crown molding and Silhouettes.”
playground, pool, tennis and golf, and you tail, inside and out.
are close to St. Lucie West and all of the This is a house with the kind of attention
“This Wentworth floor plan offers privacy, to detail discriminating buyers want and the
FEATURES FOR 7609 GREENBRIER CIRCLE with split bedrooms, a large living room, formal kind of view you can’t install. That makes it a
dining room with built-in wet bar and family special home, indeed. 
Neighborhood: Greenbrier in PGA Village room that is open to the kitchen.There are two
Year built: 2003 • Construction: CBS
Square footage: 2,233 sq. ft. PUT TEAM
Total square footage: 4,199 sq. ft.
NAPOLITANO
Bedrooms: 2 • Bathrooms: 2.5 • Flooring: carpet, tile
Security: manned gate, security patrol YOUR COMMUNITY REALTORS TO WORK FOR YOU AnnMarie
WITH RESULTS Napolitano
Additional features: lake views, in-ground pool, panel shutters,
furniture negotiable, crown molding, Silhouette shades 3 OUTSTANDING HOMES IN PGA VILLAGE!
CALL FOR A PRIVATE SHOWING!
Community amenities: basketball, billiards, clubhouse, fitness
center, game room, library, pickleball, picnic area, playground, 7728 Wexford Way

pool, tennis (PGA, RESERVE PLANTATION)
Listing brokerage: Lang Realty
Listing agent: Kay Rodriguez, 772-486-2126 Features .86 Acre Private
Estate, 4 BRs, 5 BAs,
Listing price: $439,000 Office, 3 CG & Pool
$799,000

7428 Laurels Place

(PGA, THE LAURELS)

Features .65 Acres, 4 BRs,
4.5 BAs, Office, Den, 4.5
CG & Courtyard Pool w/

lake & golf view.
$870,000

7221 Mystic Way

(PGA, MYSTIC PINES)

Features 3 BRs, 3 BAs &
2 CG w/Courtyard Pool

w/ Lake View
$489,000

KELLER WILLIAMS Call AnnMarie Today!

R E A LT Y 954-675-2804 (Cell)

PORT ST. LUCIE 772-236-5700 (office)

[email protected] • www.annmarienapolitano.kw.com
9700 Reserve Blvd. St. Lucie West
Each office independently owned and operated

18 January 21, 2021 ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | REAL ESTATE www.stlucievoice.com

TRADITION AND ST. LUCIE WEST REAL ESTATE SALES

TOP SALES OF THE WEEK

A robust fortnight of real estate sales in the Tradition and St. Lucie West markets saw 43
transactions of single-family residences and lots reported in the past two weeks (some shown
below).
The top recent sale was of the residence at 8036 Plantation Lakes Drive. First listed in Novem-
ber for $899,900, this 5-bedroom, 5-bathroom home fetched $870,000 on Jan. 11.
Representing the seller in the transaction was agent Moira Feely-Rekus of Keller Williams Real-
ty. Representing the buyer was agent Sackia Austin of Waterstone Realty LLC.

SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENCES AND LOTS SELLING
ORIGINAL PRICE

TOWN ADDRESS LISTED ASKING PRICE SOLD $870,000
$439,900
PORT SAINT LUCIE 8036 PLANTATION LAKES DRIVE 11/4/2020 $899,900 1/11/2021 $438,500
PORT SAINT LUCIE 1318 SW COTTONWOOD COVE 12/8/2020 $439,900 1/15/2021 $420,000
PORT SAINT LUCIE 9961 SW CORAL TREE CIRCLE 9/9/2020 $445,000 1/7/2021 $420,000
PORT SAINT LUCIE 7729 WEXFORD WAY 10/29/2020 $509,900 1/8/2021 $409,460
PORT SAINT LUCIE 9232 SHORT CHIP CIRCLE 11/12/2020 $437,000 1/12/2021 $395,000
PORT SAINT LUCIE 8798 SW MONTOVA WAY 10/16/2020 $409,460 1/14/2021 $395,000
PORT SAINT LUCIE 6130 NW GINGER LANE 11/26/2020 $399,000 1/7/2021 $370,000
PORT SAINT LUCIE 7218 MYSTIC WAY 12/16/2020 $409,000 1/12/2021 $367,500
PORT SAINT LUCIE 11245 SW STOCKTON PLACE 12/4/2020 $365,000 1/13/2021 $360,000
PORT SAINT LUCIE 18012 SW COSENZA WAY 9/4/2020 $389,900 1/11/2021 $357,500
PORT SAINT LUCIE 11354 SW ROCKINGHAM DRIVE 10/1/2020 $369,900 1/12/2021 $349,500
PORT SAINT LUCIE 8438 BELFRY PLACE 11/20/2020 $369,000 1/8/2021
PORT SAINT LUCIE 6020 NW FLAIR COURT 11/22/2020 $349,500 1/15/2021

To Advertise (772-633-1115) ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | REAL ESTATE January 21, 2021 19

HERE ARE SOME OF THE TOP RECENT TRADITION AND ST. LUCIE WEST REAL ESTATE SALES

1318 SW Cottonwood Cove, Port Saint Lucie 9961 SW Coral Tree Circle, Port Saint Lucie

Listing Date: 12/8/2020 Listing Date: 9/9/2020
Original Price: $439,900 Original Price: $445,000
Sold: 1/15/2021 Sold: 1/7/2021
Selling Price: $439,900 Selling Price: $438,500
Listing Agent: Judith Finnan Listing Agent: Millie Gil

Selling Agent: L.M. Butch Post Real Estate Selling Agent: Bold Real Estate Group, Inc

Judith Finnan Rachel Rockwell

L.M. Butch Post Real Estate Keller Williams Realty

7729 Wexford Way, Port Saint Lucie 9232 Short Chip Circle, Port Saint Lucie

Listing Date: 10/29/2020 Listing Date: 11/12/2020
Original Price: $509,900 Original Price: $437,000
Sold: 1/8/2021 Sold: 1/12/2021
Selling Price: $420,000 Selling Price: $420,000
Listing Agent: Zully Hunter Listing Agent: AnnMarie Napolitano

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Port St. Lucie Office | 8305 Holley Tree Trail, Port St. Lucie, FL. 34986 | 772.467.1299

fun, food SECTION
festivities
THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2021 YOUR INDEPENDENT LOCAL COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER

CREATIVE
PROCESS
‘STOKES’
HER FIRE

Fort Pierce artist just
‘loves to paint’ Page B2

Leslie Stokes.

PHOTO: KAILA JONES

Coming Up! Sunrise entertains with Edwards Twins, Ron Feingold

BY PAM HARBAUGH | Correspondent gas superstars in a variety show of fun. The show begins 7:30 p.m. comic with rapid-fire delivery. He percent for both shows. Audienc-
format. They perform their cel- Thursday, Jan. 21. Tickets are $53. also creates some riotous send- es must wear masks. Sunrise The-
There’s so much fun on the calen- ebrated impersonations of Son- Then, this Saturday, Sunrise pres- ups of song parodies, including atre is at 1175 S. 2nd Street, Fort
dar this weekend, you’ll feel like a ny & Cher, Billy Joel, Elton John, ents a very funny stand-up co- “The Home Depot Song” and “Ko- Pierce. Call 772-461-4775 or visit
wound-up rubber band finally let- Lady Gaga, Bette Midler, Barbra median, Ron Feingold. Based in sher Ham.” You can see his funny SunriseTheatre.com.
ting loose. Streisand, Tom Jones and many Orlando, Feingold has that classic Kermit the Frog send-up on You-
more performing their big num- comedian touch and gets audi- Tube. His show is 7:30 p.m. Sat- 2 Winterlakes Park will have
1 Sunrise Theatre is the place bers. By the way, Eddie Edwards ences doubling over in laughter. urday, Jan. 23. There will also be its grand opening celebra-
for two entertainment-filled did his Barbra impersonation on He’s performed on cruise ships, comedian warm-up acts hosted tion 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. this Sat-
events. First is “Evening with the the Netflix show “The Kominsky in casinos and opened up for rock by Casey N’Spaz. Tickets are $20 urday. This is open to all, but es-
Stars,” with the Edwards Twins in Method.” This is bound to be a lot groups. Feingold is quick-witted and $25. Seating is reduced by 50
their impersonations of Las Ve- CONTINUED ON PAGE B8

2 January 21, 2021 ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | ARTS www.stlucievoice.com

CREATIVE PROCESS ‘STOKES’ HER FIRE: ‘I JUST LOVE TO PAINT’

BY ELLEN FISCHER | Columnist

The abstract paintings of Fort Pierce

resident Leslie Stokes are on display in Vero

Beach now through Jan. 29 at the Center

for Spiritual Care. Leslie Stokes: An Abstract

View is an exhibition that includes large

acrylic and oil paintings on canvas, as well

as intimately sized mixed-media paintings

on canvas, wood and paper.

“We live in a world where we are just

bombarded with everything, all kinds of

ARTIST ideas,” says Stokes.
“You can try all

PROFILE day to come up with
something original, but

for me, I just love to paint. I think it’s the

satisfaction of making something, doing

something with the paint and the surface –

it’s really about the surface.”

The varied ways in which this painter

applies pigment to surfaces are visually

luscious, comprised of subtle variations

of color combined with meaty, textural

passages of brushwork. For the eye attuned

to expressive abstractions, these painting “I couldn’t make the painting work. I and manipulated with clay-sculpting tools. tion left something to be desired: benefits.
It and “Pressure,” composed of oil stick, Early on, she “loved” working at a small
are beautiful in their balance of disparate got very frustrated with it. I was painting oil paint and cold wax medium, evoke museum in Lexington; but when the mu-
atmospheric clouds of gas or liquid. The seum ran into financial trouble a year into
campaigns of application and media. In outside. I flipped it over, located a can of composition of “Convergence” suggests a her tenure, it cut staff health insurance.
blue fog gently drifting across a dimly seen That’s when Stokes realized she needed a
fact, the more rough and raw they get, the furniture stain, and went from there.” landscape. “Pressure” features a mist of red back-up plan.
that appears to be rising from the bottom of
better admirers of Stokes’ practice seem to Against the beige of the raw canvas, the composition to the top. Take heart, artists! Stokes says that
banking is an industry that can be learned
like them. Stokes applied crudely truncated swathes In viewing these accomplished paintings, without a degree. If you work hard and learn
it might not occur to you that Stokes also everything you can, you too can have a
Stokes relates that when she and Warren of the black dye, soaking it deeply into holds a day job. In addition
to her being an artist, she is steady job – with benefits – as a
Obluck, the Center’s arts coordinator, were the material in some places, and in others the regional retail banking bank department director.
director for Marine Bank and
viewing her work, he asked of one painting brushing it on in delicate wisps. She finished Trust. Best of all, says Stokes, “it’s a
people business. That is why I
in particular, “Would it bother you if I said the piece with charcoal that she applied in a Stokes finds that making continued and that’s what keeps
art and banking have some me in banking. It’s the people.”
this painting is beautiful?” dark cloud at the right edge of the canvas. important commonalities.
She credits her people and
She replied that it didn’t bother her a bit. “It’s pretty rogue. It’s rustic and yet pow- “A lot of banking is about communicating skills, as well
observation, learning infor- as her artistic talent and can-do
For Stokes, questions of beauty, or anything erful, because it’s really, really black, and the mation and being able to drive, to her mother.
communicate,” she says.
having to do with an emotional response to surface is really imperfect with drips and “I grew up with a paintbrush in
“I’ve done both for all these years.” my hand. It was just something I
her work, are of no importance. She says, “I scribbles,” she says. That is, Stokes has been both a fine artist always did because my mother is an artist.
and a banker for some 30-odd years, ever She goes by the name Maggie Wise.”
know how I feel about it. I can’t make you “Everything else in the show is nicely since she took her first job as a teller. During her daughter’s childhood and
Stokes went to college at the University young adulthood, Wise was a studio artist
feel how you are going to feel about it.” stretched and framed, but that is the beast of Kentucky, where she received a B.A. in Art and a high school art teacher. While her
History; she minored in studio painting. She daughter was a young teen, Wise attended
In this regard, the larger paintings in the in the room.” got into banking on the advice of her father, night classes at Eastern Kentucky University
who worked for the U.S. Secret Service as an to earn her MFA. It was a courageous move
show are perhaps the most nourishing to Stokes’ painting “Gris,” at 72 inches high agent for the Department of the Treasury. for a married mother of two and established
According to his daughter, Lester Wise was career woman. And an excellent example
the soul. One of them is a work that Stokes by 60 inches wide, was created from her a conservative, business-oriented and very for her daughter, who accompanied Wise to
serious man. class. No wonder Leslie Stokes decided to
had to use her talent for problem-solving to desire to use up a jar of acrylic paint Says Stokes: “The whole time I was in have it all.
school, my father said, ‘If you are going to And she stands ready to refute the sneer-
accomplish. whose light, purplish-blue hue be an artist, you should work part time in a ing claim that an art degree has no “real life”
bank, because you can pick up some busi- use. It does, she says. “Absolutely.”
Titled “Part of a Whole,” the she found unappealing. ness skills that you are not getting in your
school curriculum.’” The Center for Spiritual Care, 1550
painting is displayed as an un- She mixed it with other While Stokes fought her dad’s recom- 24th St. in Vero Beach, is open by ap-
mendation “all the way through school,” pointment only. Phone 772-567-1233
stretched canvas that hangs colors to achieve a palette her employment experiences after gradua- for an appointment to see Leslie Stokes:
An Abstract View. 
loose from its top edge, which composed of grays and

is fastened to a strip of wood brown, and again used

nailed to the gallery wall. compressed charcoal

The painting was exe- for this painting’s

cuted on the unprimed velvety blackness.

back of a painting on Two of the bright-

canvas that Stokes had er paintings in the

abandoned. room are 16-inch-

She explains that at square works on birch

“about 60 inch- panels. “Convergence”

es tall and 56 is composed of

inches wide,” the charcoal, marble

proportions of dust, oil paint

the canvas are and cold wax

a little short medium,

of square. applied not

That posed a with a brush

compositional but with a

problem for Leslie Stokes. printmak-
ing brayer,
her. PHOTOS: KAILA JONES



4 January 21, 2021 ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | ARTS www.stlucievoice.com

FOR ‘REALISTIC FICTION’ AUTHOR, INTRIGUE’S INESCAPABLE

BY SHELLEY KOPPEL | Staff Writer Author Uri Norwich with his wife Alexandra. PHOTO COURTESY OF URI NORWICH teractions with a lot of them through financial business.
[email protected] People will recognize places as well as characters.”
Norwich’s first book, “Russian Jews Don’t Cry,” is
Writer Uri Norwich moved to the United States from the based on his life story, but several people combine to Norwich delves into Russian meddling in the United
Soviet Union in the mid-1970s. He was 19 and he went to make the protagonist. States, which he says has been going on for a long time, and
the University of Connecticut, where he studied electrical assassinations, which he says make people a lot of money.
engineering. He worked for several years for defense con- “People ask why I don’t say it’s autobiographical, but
tractors and as a consultant, and in 1981 he became a citi- it’s really not,” he said. “It’s autobiographical fiction. “There were traders and bets on assassinations,” he
zen in a ceremony that had a very special guest. ‘Russian Jews Don’t Cry’ is the most autobiographical. ‘A said. “The John Kennedy assassination and the poisoning
Sometimes Strange Story’ is a twist on the first, a way of of Senator (Joseph) McCarthy was where the idea came
“It was the Fourth of July on Liberty Island,” he said. presenting the same story from a different angle, if the from. Killing or incapacitating famous people will set off
“Each state sent to New York a few people and somehow protagonist took this road instead of that road. Some of the financial markets. It’s in fiction form and people can
Connecticut got hold of me and some other people. George the facts are common knowledge.” say it’s b.s. or could have happened or, ‘Yes, that’s what I
Bush was supposed to come, but Ronald Reagan had to thought.’” (Writer’s note: While there have been conspir-
come to New York. He came by helicopter and handed us Norwich’s two other books, “American Deluge” and acy theories about the deaths of both John Kennedy and
papers. Neil Diamond performed ‘Coming to America.’” “American Dossier,” are books about espionage, set in Joseph McCarthy, the accepted explanation is that Ken-
the world of finance. nedy was killed by Lee Harvey Oswald and McCarthy died
In the early 1990s, Norwich switched gears and returned of hepatitis from alcoholism.)
to school for an MBA. He went into the financial industry “It’s all verifiable if you follow Wall Street,” Norwich said.
and worked for large investment companies on Wall Street. “The names are fictional. I met some of them and had in- Norwich also contends that Russians began meddling
in the American higher education system decades ago,
“I met a lot of people with interesting stories,” he said. particularly at Columbia University, which, in the interest
“Many years later, people said, ‘Why don’t you put it in a of full disclosure, happens to be my alma mater. He said
book?’ I didn’t have time. I was busy with work and had that a lot of money went into trying to influence how peo-
my own business. In 2012, I finally started to see the light ple thought about the Soviet Union and trying to affect
at the end of the tunnel. I was working from home and U.S. foreign policy.
had time for writing short stories and suddenly it was
much more than that. My kids would hear the stories “I put it into fictional form, but it’s all based on facts,”
and my wife would say to take it with a grain of salt that he said. “It started in the 1950s. What we have learned in
some may be exaggerated. You have to be skeptical.” the past 12 years is the tip of the iceberg and is the cul-
mination of the previous 40 years.”
A year ago, Norwich and his wife, Alexandra, moved
to PGA Verano from Long Island, where they had lived It’s important to stress, as Norwich does, that all of his
for many years. He is the author of four books, two more books are works of fiction, even though actual events
autobiographical and two in the world of finance, spies within them may have occurred. Read the works and
and cybercrime. come to your own conclusions. That’s what Uri Norwich
hopes you’ll do.
“All of my novels are in the realistic fiction genre,” he
said. “I always put forth the notion that every story is Uri Norwich’s works are available at Amazon.com and
based on fact. It’s all verifiable. I would add something other booksellers. 
that could have or would have happened.”

As always with prolific mystery writer Berri, there’s plots going on

BY SHELLEY KOPPEL | Staff Writer ‘You have a new character, up to a point, but you have
[email protected]
Lester (Les) Caine.” to be organized enough not
Writer Fred Berri has chronicled the ad-
ventures of his grandson, Carmelo, in a se- This book is “Murder on to write them on little slips
ries of children’s books that address young
fears: going to the dentist, learning to swim, Palm Beach,” but Berri is of paper that you never can
and getting glasses. When I saw that the lat-
est story was about going to the hospital, working in another book si- find.
I was concerned, but it turns out that visit
was two years ago and Carmelo is a healthy multaneously (I told you he Several of his books are out
6-year-old with an eye for sports.
is prolific). on Audible, the audio book
Fred Berri is a prolific writer, and he has
also come out with a new murder mystery, “It’s a sequel to my first format of his work, and he is
“Sabre Blue Society,” featuring his detective,
Johnny Vero. The Sabre Blue Society is a fic- novel, ‘Cousin’s Bad Blood,’” working on getting them all
titious arm of the NYPD, a specialized elite
unit that goes beyond the department’s he said. “A judge is mur- out there. He has discovered
undercover and internal affairs divisions to
address everything from international orga- dered. He started out as a de- that publishing is at least as
nized crime to arms control. While Johnny
Vero has returned, Berri said that this might fense attorney and became much about the marketing as
be his final outing. “This might be the last,
although I left an opening, just in case,” he an attorney for mob figures. the writing. “What happens
said. “They are looking for a journal, be-
cause it has the names of officials in it and Who murdered the judge? is that it turns into a busi-
the Madam (who kept it) has been mur-
dered. They’ve caught the criminals, but Was it his wife? One of the ness,” he said. “It takes you

family members of a person away from writing. You have

victimized (by a client)? We Fredi Berri, author of the new to do e-blasts and get on Go-
don’t know. It’s called ‘The murder mystery “Sabre Blue odreads. Publishing yourself
Takeover.’ I haven’t finished Society,” with grandson Carmelo. becomes a lot of work.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF FRED BERRI

it yet. I’m also working on It’s a lot of work, indeed,

another Carmelo, with sports: soccer, T-ball but for Fred Berri, it’s the opportunity to

they haven’t found the journal.” and jujitsu.” reach two very different kinds of audiences.
Berri has created a new character, a pri-
I asked Berri if he doesn’t get confused, He’s also made his grandson Carmelo very
vate eye whose name comes from the knee
surgeries Berri has had. “When I was in ther- working on so many projects at one time. He proud and you can’t put a price on that.
apy, the therapist said, ‘Fred, heel to toe. Less
cane.’ I told my wife Louisa, and she said, seemed surprised at the question and said

that copious notes take care of that. I know For a complete list of Fred Berri’s books, vis-

from personal experience that that helps, it www.fredberri.com. 



6 January 21, 2021 ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | ARTS www.stlucievoice.com

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Lasorda’s passing brings coda to Vero Beach’s glorious Dodgers era

Two weeks ago Friday night, hours playing all your favorite old songs.”
Even after Lasorda retired from
after news of Tommy Lasorda’s death
managing in 1996 – he suffered a heart
began making headlines around the attack 77 games into the season – he
remained a spring-training fixture at
baseball world, I sat at the bar at Dodgertown, riding around in a golf
cart, chatting with fans and serving as
Bobby’s Restaurant & Lounge on Vero the Dodgers’ ambassador to the world.

RAY Beach’s barrier island, In fact, Lasorda briefly came out of
hoping to hear stories retirement in March 2008 to manage the
McNULTY about the former Dodgers in their last eight Grapefruit
MY TAKE Los Angeles Dodgers League games, including their memora-
manager’s annual ble Dodgertown finale, while then-man-
ager Joe Torre took most of the team’s
spring-training stays in our community. starters to play an exhibition series in
China.
“This,” said Bobby McCarthy, the
It was a lousy way for the Dodgers to
Ocean Drive establishment’s owner, go out, cutting short their final spring
in Vero Beach, but Lasorda’s presence
“was Tommy’s place in Vero.” made a tough time more palatable. He
received a standing ovation from the
From the restaurant’s opening in heartbroken-but-appreciative crowd at
the final game.
1981 until the Dodgers’ deserted Vero
“Tommy was a once-in-a-lifetime
and the Treasure Coast nearly 13 years manager,” O’Malley said of Lasorda,
who won eight National League West ti-
ago, Lasorda could be found some- tles, four National League pennants and
two World Series championships before
where around the Bobby’s bar several being inducted into the Baseball Hall of
Fame in 1997, then adding an Olympic
nights each week, February through gold medal in 2000.

March, socializing with friends and en- “He had so many friends in the sports
and entertainment worlds, and they’d
tertaining everyone with what felt like a come to Dodgertown to see him,” he
added. “Ted Williams, Perry Como, Dan-
lounge act. ny Kaye … It’s a long list.”

Dodgers players, coaches and other “Everybody remembers Tommy as
being fiery, funny, never dull, the life of
members of the team’s staff would fre- the party – and he was all those things,”
Callan said. “But the people who really
quent the place, too, along with umpires knew him and who saw him when the
show was over and the camera lights
and sports writers – a regular gathering were off, we saw another side.

that also attracted fans thrilled to have “Tommy was a very thoughtful and
caring person who had a good heart,”
the opportunity to mingle with our he added. “He did a lot of good things
for people, including people here. He
small, town’s annual big-league guests. loved Vero Beach and had a special con-
nection to this place.”
“This place became the Dodgers’
This place, however, isn’t the same,
hangout,” McCarthy said, “but Tommy which probably explains why the flags
at City Hall, Memorial Island and Sexton
was always on center stage.” Plaza were flying at full staff, too.

That stage, however, went dark on St. Tommy Lasorda was Thousands of new neighbors have
a beloved figure at Vero’s moved into the community in the 13
Patrick’s Day 2008, when the Dodgers Dodgertown for decades. years since the Dodgers moved out. And
many of those who remembered Dodg-
moved their spring-training operations jarring realization hit me – not one flag ertown’s heyday – including fans whose
was flying at half-staff. Dodgers roots went back to Brooklyn –
to Arizona, ending what was a mostly are no longer with us.
Not the flag waving in the breeze
wonderful, 61-year marriage between behind the center-field wall at Holman communicator he developed a connec- “Really, it hasn’t been the same since
Stadium, where some type of baseball tion with them. He enjoyed the interac- the O’Malleys sold the team in ‘98,”
team and town. game was being played. Not even the tion with the community, and it became McCarthy said.
flag hanging from a pole along Tommy a two-way street.
Lasorda, who died of heart failure at Lasorda Lane. Surely, the man affec- “The mystique disappeared. There
tionately dubbed the “Mayor of Dodger- “Tommy used to tell me Dodgertown was a different feel. Then, after the team
age 93 at his home in Fullerton, Calif., town” deserved better. was his favorite place on Earth, and I moved to Arizona, that was it. Nobody
really believe it was.” talks about the Dodgers anymore.” 
hadn’t been back since – not to Bobby’s, Lasorda’s connection to Vero Beach
dated back to 1949, when he was a By the time Lasorda replaced Walt
not to Vero Beach – and not many folks 21-year-old, minor-league pitcher for Alston as the Dodgers’ manager late in
the then-Brooklyn Dodgers. He would the 1976 season, Vero Beach already had
here, it seems, missed him. spend 59 of the next 60 baseball springs earned recognition as America’s quint-
– as a player, coach and manager – at essential spring-training town.
Not once during my visit to Bobby’s Dodgertown.
But Lasorda’s 21-year reign took the
did I hear anyone mention Lasorda’s “Tommy started out there as a player, relationship to another level.
four to a room in the old barracks,
name, even as reports of his passing where there were no toilets, telephones “That was such a special, feel-good
or television sets in the room,” former time,” said Craig Callan, who spent
scrolled along the bottom of the TV Dodgers owner Peter O’Malley said, most of his 40-year career at Dodg-
referring to the Naval Air Station that ertown as its general manager. “You
screens around the crowded bar. became the team’s spring-training base had a great owner in Peter O’Malley, a
in 1948. legendary broadcaster in Vin Scully and
There were no nostalgia-filled stories, a one-of-a-kind manager in Tommy
“So, he understood Dodgertown from Lasorda.
no heartwarming toasts, nothing. Day 1, and he saw everything develop,”
O’Malley added. “He also saw how the “The Dodgers looked forward to com-
The only evidence that Lasorda had people in Vero Beach embraced the ing to Vero Beach for spring training,
Dodgers, and being an extraordinary and Vero Beach looked forward to them
ever spent time at Bobby’s were pho- coming back every year,” he added. “It
was like Camelot, and Tommy played a
tographs of the Dodgers’ Hall-of-Fame leading role.

manager hanging on the walls. “When I think about it now, it’s like
turning on a radio and the station is
“The Dodgers aren’t front-page news

around here anymore,” McCarthy said

in a matter-of-fact tone. “They’ve been

gone a long time.”

That became obvious a couple days

later, when I drove out to the Major

League Baseball-run Jackie Robinson

Training Complex, which occupies the

once-hallowed grounds that longtime

Vero Beach residents still refer to as

Dodgertown.

As I cruised through the campus, a

8 January 21, 2021 ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | PEOPLE www.stlucievoice.com

TREE’S COMPANY COMING UP The event offers food, carnival rides, en-
FOR ‘ARBOR DAY’ tertainment and vendors. The food part of
CONTINUED FROM PAGE B1 this includes frog legs, gator tail (do they
BY KERRY FIRTH | Correspondent PHOTO: KERRY FIRTH really taste like chicken?), plus a host of
pecially for those in the new park’s locale, typical festival fare. Buy tickets for $1.25
The Friends of the Port St. Lucie Botan- added to the garden. The exotic palm tree the Torino neighborhood. The 28-acre each or $20 for a bundle of 18. Then trade
ical Gardens members and guests gath- boasts a bright red leaflet that emerges park is non-lighted and has an “airnasi- in those tickets for food or rides. Rides
ered in the sanctuary’s Palm Garden last among dark green feathery fronds. City um” with a basketball court, restrooms, will cost three to four tickets; food will
Friday to celebrate Arbor Day for the 11th officials ceremoniously dug a hole with playground, dog park, picnic area with cost four to 10 tickets. If you love the rides,
year. Opening statements by Brad Keen, gold plated shovels amid cheers from the tables and grills, open practice fields, ten- you’ll be interested in the $20-$25 for all-
assistant director of Parks and Recreation, crowd. nis courts, pickleball courts and 10 fitness you-can-ride armbands. Games are cash
reflected on the 11-year journey to cre- stations along the paved trail. Plans are for only. Music entertainment includes “Hair-
ate a 20-acre refuge in the center of Port Friends and family members were me- a Phase II, which includes a fishing pier, peace” 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday; “Cobble-
St. Lucie where people could come to re- morialized in a special reading of names. volleyball courts, bike racks, gazebo and stone Road” 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday; “Gold-
lax and unwind in the serenity of nature. Donations to the garden were made in more picnic pavilions. It will probably be en Ukes” 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and
From its humble beginnings as overgrown their memory by those who loved them. about a year before construction
scrub land, the gardens have blossomed on Phase II begins. Winterlakes
into one of the most beautiful botanical Arbor Day has origins dating back to Park is at 5241 NW Jannebo St. in
gardens in Florida. the 1870s when a journalist named Ju- Port St. Lucie. For more informa-
lius Sterling Morton moved to Nebraska tion, visit CityOfPSL.com.
The Port St. Lucie Botanical Gardens and planted a variety of trees and shrubs
opened in March 2010 and has contin- on 160 acres of desolate plain. On Jan. 3 A big One-Stop-Shop Ga- “Justin Mason & Blue Knight” 4 p.m. to 7
ued to grow and flourish, cultivated by a 7, 1872, he proposed a day that would rage Sale takes place 10 a.m. p.m. Saturday; and “Blue Cypress Blue-
dedicated team of volunteers. Meander- encourage all Nebraskans to plant trees to 1:30 p.m. this Sunday, Jan. 24, grass” 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. Admission
ing paths lead visitors through gardens in their community, and Arbor Day was at the MIDFLORIDA Credit Union to the festival is free, and parking is free.
of native plants, succulents, bromeliad, born. It wasn’t until 1970, however, that Event Center. This is the event All guests are asked to wear face coverings
bamboo, bonsai and more. Picnic tables, President Richard Nixon invoked a num- bringing together a slew of ven- and to practice social distancing. Orga-
park benches and shaded pavilions are ber of environmentally friendly actions dors of all types, including those nizers are also encouraging those who
scattered throughout the gardens for re- and recognized Arbor Day nationally. The who sell crafts, wares and food. are more vulnerable to COVID-19 to stay
laxation and contemplation. Guest are in- national observance falls on the last Fri- Plans are for this to become a home. There are also drive-through/take-
vited to catch and release fish in the tran- day in April, but some states celebrate it monthly event, taking place ev- out options for the dinners. The Fellsmere
quil lake at the entrance to the garden. It’s at different times of year to ensure that ery fourth Sunday through April. Frog Leg Festival will be held at 22 South
a place to escape the trials of everyday life the trees have the best environment to Free admission. The event center Orange St., Fellsmere. Call 772-571-3022 or
and get lost in the beauty of nature. survive. In Florida, it is celebrated on the is at 9221 SE Event Center Place, visit FrogLegFestival.com. 
third Friday of January. Port St. Lucie. The garage sale
It’s also a coveted venue for special will be in the parking lot just west
events like weddings, receptions, holiday The gardens, located at 2410 SE West- of the six-story garage. Vendors include
parties and family gatherings, providing moreland Blvd., Port St. Lucie, are open to those in resale, consignment, merchants,
breathtaking backdrops for photos. There the public daily from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. food, handmade items, vintage items and
are special-event alcoves throughout the The Pavilion, office and gift shop are open more. Spaces available are 8 feet by 10
gardens for intimate gatherings, and a Thursday through Saturday from 10 a.m. feet ($12.50), and eight-foot tables for $10
large pavilion that can accommodate up to 1 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 3 p.m. each. For more information, visit CityOf-
to 100 guests. A $5 donation is accepted. Call 772-337- PSL.com or call 772-807-4499.
1959 for more information. 
Each year on Arbor Day, a special tree 4 The 30th Annual Fellsmere Frog Leg
is planted. This year a beautiful Flame Festival opens today, Jan. 21, and
Thrower Palm (see photo), scientifically runs through Sunday, Jan. 24. Last year,
named Chambeyronia macrocarpa, was the Southeast Tourism Society designat-
ed this festival as one of its top 20 events.

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Major Leaguers step up to plate! with any purchase, fries not included.

Major League Baseball player Mychal Givens, below, gives a bonus baseball bat to Valid for 3 free tenders with any purchase. One time use
A.J. Manning during the Players Alliance’s car-line food drive. The event started on only. Not redeemable for cash. Cannot be combined with any
Jan. 4 at the Percy Peek Teen Center in Fort Pierce and provided food to over 2,000 other offer. Not valid for online ordering or delivery. Not valid
families. Givens was joined by fellow major leaguers Michael Brantley and Devon at PDQ Test Kitchen, airport, arena or stadium locations.
Travis, seen above visiting with teens from Boys & Girls Clubs of St. Lucie County. EXP: 02/03/21 CODE: 587879333
The players also donated sports equipment to the clubs. 

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10 January 21, 2021 ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | PETS www.stlucievoice.com

Bonz loves sweet Sydney’s winning personality

We did. I opened my note- tor, which took up more space,
book an Sydney nosed around
Hi Dog Buddies! in my assistant’s satchel, which you know? They hadda figure it
usually contains Treats.
I just innerviewed only my second out. It was a duh-llama.
Newfoundland, a bee-OOOTIE-full “Well, Miss Sydney, how
grrrl named Sydney Remington, who just ’bout you start by telling me “Dad’s a retired pie-lutt, so him
turned 1 at Christmas and is still adorably how you an your Mom an Dad
puppyish. She’s got a super soft, thick found each other?” an Mom did a buncha research
black coat with white bib; white sox with
black polka dots; an the same kind brown “Well, my Mom had always to figure out how to get me back
eyes as my other Newfoundland pooch had Labradors, but Mom an
pal Togi Dunks. Dad had been Dog Free for a without TRAH-muh or breaking
while. It was around Christ-
Sydney was right at the door, all happy mas a year ago an Mom was any ROOLS. Since I barely made
an waggy. “Oh, boy, it’s you, Mr. Bonzo! like, ‘WE NEED A DOG!’ At a
I’m so excited you’re gonna write about Christmas party, they met a the weight limit, Thank Lassie,
ME.” She bounced against my assistant Newfoundland puppy named
a few times an jumped up once, too, like Tolstoy (aka Tollie) who buh- they stuffed me in the carrier,
any other puppy would, but about six longed to my Mom’s son’s
times bigger. stepsister, who lives right near which wasn’t that bad, ackshully,
us. Tollie was irresistible; Mom
“Oops! ’Scuse me. I keep forgetting. I’m was captivated; Dad was more an scooched it under their seats.
not s’pose to Jump Up. Also, I’m s’pose to like ‘meh’.”
do something else. But I forgot what.” But, guess what? The plane was
“Then what happened?”
“Probly the Wag-an-Sniff,” I prompted. “Tollie’s Mom told my Mom there was almost empty (an I was a Very
“Oh, RIGHT!” She trotted over. Then, only one puppy left in his litter: his sister.
“There was something else, also. Oh poo!” She showed her a baby pickshur. It was Quiet, Puh-lite Pupper), so a
“Possibly intro-DUCK-shuns?” I sug- ME!”
gested. “Shut the doghouse door!” nice human who I think was In
“YES! That’s IT! Thanks, Mr. Bonzo! This “Well, the second Mom saw the pick-
is my Mom, Liz, an my Dad, Peter. Now shur, that was IT!” Charge said I could come out an
let’s go sit down.” Sydney showed me the pickshur. Sure
sit in the seat between Mom an

Sydney. PHOTO: KAILA JONES Dad, which I did for the whole

way down. It was my first ad-

VEN-chure!”

enuff, she was the kind of fluffy, big-eyed “Crispy Biscuits! What was it like arriv-

pupper that humans totally can’t resist. ing at your Forever Home?”

“It was only then,” Sydney continued, “I took to MY House right away. Mom

“that they found out I was in Phil-uh- an Dad had everything all ready for me. I

DELL-fee-uh. They hadda fly up to get me, LOVED it.”

then fly me back. But I wasn’t the usual “What about exercise? Foodstuffs?

liddle puppy that fits in one of those un- Toys? Pooch Pals?”

der-the-seat carriers. I was only 10 weeks “Me an Mom have a Morning Roo-

old but already weighed 20 pounds, which TEEN: She gets comfy in her Happy Place

is the LIMIT. Plus, there was the Fluff Fac- Chair and I sit beside her. She has her

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To Advertise (772-633-1115) ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | COMMUNITY January 21, 2021 11

coffee an reads, then we go for a walk on Recognition for ‘Communities Connected for Kids’ and its staffers
the beach. Since my ancestors worked
draggin’ fishermen’s nets outta the Super The Kathryn A. Basile Foster a cellence in serving children and
Cold Water, I have A Strong Urge to drag
stuff outta the water, also. However, on Dream Foundation contributed families in Okeechobee and the
our beach, there isn’t that much stuff to
drag out, except sometimes liddle kids, $10,000 to Communities Con- Treasure Coast.
which would be a Very Bad Idea. So Mom
throws coconuts into the water and I drag nected for Kids late last year in The duo won the award in
THEM out.”
the foundation’s ongoing effort categories recognizing excel-
I nodded. “Very Wise.”
“Me an Mom also play Reverse Fetch. to keep youth in foster care on lence in both case management
I hide my ball wa-ay under the sofa or
bookshelf. Then Mom fetches it. She hasta an academic path to success. Wisecup. Degginger. Beland. Kaiser. and administration for the pe-
scooch WAY down. I hafta admit, I kinda
murder most of my toys. An, full disclo- The foundation – established riod spanning October through
sure: Toilet Paper!”
“Um, toilet paper?” I replied. in 2010 to help meet the unfunded needs Quality Parenting Initiative: That every December. Both worked together closely
“I don’t know why, but I have this thing
– Toilet Paper Must Be Destroyed!! So, of youth aging out of foster care – made child deserves quality parenting and that to ensure Christmas gifts got to children
well, I destroy it. It’s like My Sworn Duty.”
“Humm. Intresting,” I commented. the award in November to help youth child-welfare professionals, caregivers during the 2020 holiday season and de-
“’Cept my favrite stuffy, my Giant
Lamb.” pay for high-school graduation expenses, and families must work together to re- spite pandemic restrictions.
She dragged it over. It was indeed huge.
Obviously munched on but not ripped to college campus visits and other costs as- verse the trauma of abuse and neglect. Beland, a case-manager supervisor
smithereens.
“I LOVE goin’ out to The Barn,” Syd- sociated with making the transition into Wisecup, a caregiver support specialist, in St. Lucie County, received the award
ney continued. “I get to run all over the
place. An hang out with my step-sister independence. “The foundation helps and Degginger, a dependency case-man- in the Emerald Division, which covers
Keiki. She’s a Horse. PLUS, when she gets
a special peppermint treat, I get one, too. these young people meet graduation and ager supervisor, are among the first eight case-management staff. She was nomi-
Honestly, Mr. Bonzo, I really love all hu-
mans and fellow animals. Me an Mom an school expenses that ordinarily would be to receive national recognition. nated by County Director Lorrene Egan
Dad sit on the Red Couch an watch TV in
the evening. I love watchin’ TV, specially handled by family. That helps normalize Degginger attended college at Florida and Kaiser, who said Beland and her team
that one they call ‘Yellowstone.’ But, when
somethin’ bad happens to a human or the foster-care experience,” said Christina State University, where she studied psy- of support specialists were responsible
animal on TV, I get upset. It just seems so
real, you know?” Kaiser, community relations director for chology and social work. for distributing more than a 1,000 gifts to
“I do. I bet you have lotsa frens?”
“Oh, yes! There’s Rocky, he’s LARGE. Communities Connected for Kids. Wisecup studied family life science and children in care and doing it safely during
He’s a Burmese Mountain Dog. My human
sibs Logan, Gaby, Tori an Mason; my neff- leadership at the University of Florida. She the pandemic. Kaiser was nominated by
yous Knox, he’s Gaby’s dog, an Duncan,
he’s Tori’s dog, an Io, a Husky, he’s Mason’s Jerra Wisecup and Chyna Degginger, has won numerous local and state awards Denise Natalizio for her part in the Christ-
pooch.”
“Any favrite foodstuffs? both CCKids staff members, were two for her care and skill and has a special af- mas project, a 20-year-old drive that coor-
“My favirte snacks are carrots an kale,”
she replied. of only eight child-welfare professionals finity for crafting, coordinating events and dinates the efforts of more than 40 busi-
“Kale? Woof! You’re the only pooch I
know who likes kale. Or even knows what recognized nationally last month for their brainstorming new ideas. nesses and community groups.
it is.”
Another innerview had gone by so fast. unwavering service to children and fami-
Heading home, I was thinking about bee-
OOOTIE-full Sydney and her heartwarm- lies during the pandemic. Communities Connected for Kids also To learn more about Communities Con-
ing love of all creatures great an small. I
also realized I don’t ackshully know what The recognition is part of an interstate, congratulates Linda Beland and Christina nected for Kids, visit www.cckids.net or go
kale is either, an planned to Google before
bedtime. ongoing celebration of support workers Kaiser for winning the most recent Going to www.fosteradreamfoundation.org. 

Till next time, who embrace the tenants of the nation’s the Extra Mile – or GEM – Award for ex- ­– CONTRIBUTED

The Bonz Solutions from Games Pages ACROSS DOWN
in January 7, 2021 Edition 1 CAULS 1 COMBAT
DON’T BE SHY! 4 ENTERS 2 UNDER
We are always looking for pets 9 MODICUM 3 SACK
with interesting stories. To set 10 CHOIR 5 NICOTINE
11 AURA 6 EGOTISM
up an interview, email 12 CUTTING 7 SHRUGS
[email protected]. 13 YAK 8 SMOCK
14 WAGE 13 YEARBOOK
16 NAME 15 AUDITOR
18 WOE 17 HERMES
20 ENDORSE 18 WEARY
21 PAIR 19 BRONZE
24 MOTTO 22 ACORN
25 RACCOON 23 ACID
26 STROKE
27 DANTE

Sudoku Page B13 Sudoku Page B14 Crossword Page B13 Crossword Page B14 (JUKEBOX LOGIC)

SERVICE DIRECTORY: ADVERTISING ST. LUCIE AND TRADITION SERVICES

Our directory gives small business people Michael R. Repoli, CPA, EA
eager to provide services to the community
an opportunity to make themselves known to In trouble with
our readers at an affordable cost. This is the the IRS?
only service directory mailed each week. If
you would like your service to appear in our Owe money or need to
file past taxes?
directory, please call 772-633-1115.
Need an affordable
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www.repolicpa.com
WWW.COMPUTERWORKS.ME

Tradition, Port St. Lucie, FL 34983

12 January 21, 2021 ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | GAMES www.stlucievoice.com

SOLUTIONS TPOREPVRIEOVUIOSUESDITSISOUNE’S(JSAONLUUATRIYON14S),OSNEEPPAAGGEEBB1211

ACROSS DOWN
1 Young whale (4) 2 Knockout drugs (12)
4 Husky (6) 3 Sudden desires (7)
7 Hoppy drink (3) 4 Hair dye (5)
9 Admonish (4) 5 Performed (5)
10 Rent unit (anag.) (8) 6 Move (5)
11 Swindle (3) 8 Bit policeman (anag.) (12)
12 Italian white wine (4) 14 Unlace (5)
13 Try for role (8) 15 Fury (3)
16 Muscle treatment etc. (13) 17 Irritate (3)
19 Disciplinarian (8) 18 Use again (7)
23 Quote (4) 20 Fool (5)
24 Freezing cold (3) 21 Enormous (5)
25 Purchased (8) 22 Crest (5)
26 Young wolves (4)
The Telegraph 27 Mousse (hair) (3)
28 Globe; field (6)
29 Regular (4)

How to do Sudoku:

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

The Telegraph

To Advertise (772-633-1115) ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | GAMES January 21, 2021 13

ACROSS 100 Bobbie Gentry’s first hit, e.g. 57 One-time Queens stadium The Washington Post
101 See 64 Across 58 Spanish blanket
1 Pinnacle 102 Sung syllable 60 Peg that elevates a cello
5 Bean town? 103 Cleopatra’s last pet 61 Most minuscule
9 Scaler’s spike 104 Hake or haddock, e.g. 62 “... in ___ form
14 Maryland college 107 Bonn-born: abbr.
108 Crime writer Rule a more perfect union ...”
footballer 109 Like hotel pools 66 Cinema computer
18 Cubs’ home 112 Milton Berle sponsor, once 67 Someone to
19 Cheese that’s made 114 Advice to Mr. Grey
at 1 a.m.? cheer for
backwards? 117 Editorial? 69 WWII prison camp
20 Muse of love poetry 119 Musical work 70 Very earnest
21 Sikorsky and Stravinsky 120 Fred Mertz’s wife 73 Temple University player
23 Key to Palmer’s swing? 121 Picnic playwright 74 Sun Maid product
25 Ate some paste? 122 Persia before ’35 75 Pickle juice
27 Ford’s first bestseller 123 London art gallery 76 Chief Pontiac’s people for
28 George M.’s family 124 Peruses
30 Taiwan ending 125 Bivalve in your sauce whom a city is named
31 Sculptor’s degree: abbr. 126 Results of acid dissociation 81 Dendrite counterpart
32 Dictionary abbr. 82 Literary tentmaker
33 Marine slogan word DOWN 84 Yale player
35 Org. for the Andrews 87 1960s group that sang “Wild
1 Hertz rival
Sisters 2 Chocolate cousin Thing” (with “the”)
36 Make, as lace 3 Behaves 88 Leave with a posse
37 Match 4 Cleveland’s lake 89 Laws of Motion notion
38 Detective writer who 5 Flatt of Flatt and Scruggs 91 Spoken
6 President McKinley’s wife 92 Slaves
tends to write in chunks? 7 Mr. Antony 94 Heist job
44 Muckraker Sinclair 8 BBs, e.g. 96 Cloud’s number
47 Citizen X star Stephen 9 Flying horse 97 Goose’s mate
48 Packaging safeguard 10 Adirondacks resource 98 “Shovel it in”
49 Was on TV 11 Keep ___ on (monitor) 99 High regard
50 Sulk 12 NYC betting sign 104 Where Aïda premiered
51 SeaWorld whale 13 Mrs. Sprat’s rule 105 The Indian, for one
53 Drop out 14 Current event? 106 Churchill ___
56 Condition caused by 15 It’s a chick thing 108 Busy as ___
16 “Is there ___ 109 Joke response
eating too much cheese and 110 The Aeneid, for one
chocolate? one more?” (latecomers’s line) 111 Frontiersman Boone, to pals
58 Car style 17 Biography 113 The next-to-last Louis
59 Herr von Bismarck 22 Practiced one’s lutzes 115 Baseball’s Mel
63 Asian holiday 24 Like leprechauns 116 Summer, on the Somme
64 Alien co-star 26 Part of “how are you,” in 118 Tour grp.?
65 Expo for dentists?
68 Come up Spanish Y NOT? By Merl Reagle
70 Hang-glides 29 “What?”
71 Locate anew 34 Pop art’s pop
72 Try out a car’s horn? 36 City of Spain
75 Swine with tusks 38 They don’t know
77 Be evasive
78 Sicilian city, or a queen their limit
backwards 39 Kingdom
79 Danish poet Johannes 40 ___-shanter
80 What even the rarest 41 West Pointers
breed of dog is? 42 Old King Cole?
83 Nielsen of Airplane! 43 Perish one by one
85 Goes out 44 Albany, to a Manhattanite
86 Fog 45 First button to push, often
87 Victim’s second ordeal 46 Money for college
90 Plant ailment 51 Candle holders
93 Soap ___ rope 52 Incalculable
94 Division of a long poem 54 Philosopher ___-tzu
95 What a cyborg might feel after 55 Catches illegally
a hearing-organ transplant?

The Telegraph

14 January 21, 2021 ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | GAMES/BOOKS www.stlucievoice.com

FIND ONE CARD TO UNCOVER ANOTHER WEST NORTH EAST
3 K 10 8 5 2 96
By Phillip Alder - Bridge Columnist QJ865 94 A K 10 3
Q743 A 10 8 652
Alexander Graham Bell said, “Great discoveries and improvements invariably involve 852 Q J 10 A743
the cooperation of many minds.”
SOUTH
Maybe “invariably” is a slight overbid, but when someone has a good idea, it will often AQJ74
be honed by others. That definitely applies in bridge. Even something as classic as 72
Blackwood has appeared in several versions. KJ9
K96
In this deal, though, there is a different discovery that is important. South is in four
spades. West leads the heart queen, top of touching honors. East takes the second Dealer: East; Vulnerable: Both
trick with his heart ace (a harmless falsecard) and exits with a trump. How should
declarer continue? The Bidding:

Advocates of the Losing Trick Count would insist on game with the North hand. It has SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST OPENING
only seven losers (one spade, because you deduct one loser for a 10-card or better Pass
fit, two hearts, two diamonds and two clubs), which is the game-force number. 1 Spades Pass 3 Spades Pass LEAD:
4 Spades Pass Pass Pass Q Hearts
South has three top losers (two hearts and one club), so must find the diamond queen
to make his contract. However, rather than just guess, declarer should first go on a
voyage of discovery. After drawing trumps, he should find out who holds the club ace.
When it proves to be East, West must have the diamond queen. Why?

East has already turned up with 11 points (heart ace-king and club ace), but did not
open the bidding as dealer. He cannot also have a queen.

If you want to be one of the top players in your circle, count high-card points on all
deals. You will be amazed how often “guesses” become certainties.

The Irish actor Gabriel Byrne has changed, the memories remain vivid. tioning the highest authority and breaking the rules,
We are taken on a cinematic journey of including smoking in the graveyard, Byrne is kicked out
had a rich and varied career. He’s made his boyhood dreams and wanderings of the seminary. He recalls the sheer exhilaration of the
and love of simple things like the “reeds train to the ferry for home, and arriving at a seaside alive
more than 70 films and shared the by a river flamed by an evening sun, with playful children digging in the sand and a “dog
or the first stars of evening; the bleat mad with sea joy.” That passage is one of many that show
screen with the likes of Richard Burton of a lamb in a distant field or the small the mark of a real writer, a born storyteller with a poet’s
spitter of rain on a windowpane.” ear. “Walking with Ghosts” – Byrne’s second memoir,
and Vanessa Redgrave. He’s won a following “Pictures in My Head” (1994) – dazzles with
We are introduced to the long-de- unflinching honesty, as it celebrates the exuberance of
Golden Globe (for his role in HBO’s “In parted neighbors, the farm down the being alive to the world despite living through pain. His
lane, the chemist’s shop, the butch- portrait of an artist as a young boy is steeped in nostal-
Treatment”), been nominated for three er’s, the local motion picture house gia of the best sort, re-creating the pull of home.
where Byrne took refuge, sometimes
Tony Awards and has played unforgetta- watching “ten films a week in a fog of After his expulsion from the seminary, Byrne drifts
cigarette smoke and disinfectant.” for a while, trying to find a path, first as a plumber and
BOOK ble characters in such The streets are filled with dramatic personae: then as a petty thief, before stumbling back into the the-
movies as “Miller’s the man famous for his outrageous tall tales, an old ater that he had enjoyed as a boy. In the second strand
woman who told him tales from Irish mythology and of the book, he explores his life as an actor, and here the
REVIEW Crossing,” “The Usual remembrances of the Black and Tans during the Irish focus is not on rehashing his many achievements, but
Suspects” and “Into Civil War of the 1920s, and the parish priest who gazes rather on the dubious nature of fame and on self-doubt.
into a mirror, talking to himself, before each Mass. Even Byrne wins a battle with alcoholism, ponders the surreal
the West.” Married for a spell to Ellen the poet Brendan Behan makes a cameo, drunk and full notion of being a sex symbol and considers the costs
of song on the back seat of the wrong bus. Particularly to his authentic self of a lifetime of wearing the actor’s
Barkin, he’s made a few appearances in vivid is young Gabriel’s raucous family, his father, a mask. “We all act all the time,” he writes. “Life makes us
cooper for the Guinness brewery; his mother, sharp and necessary deceivers. Except maybe when we are alone.”
the tabloids, too. funny and devout, who has charge over Gabriel and his
five younger siblings. In the end, the ghosts return. He carries his sister, lost
Given all this, you might expect Byrne’s Like many Catholic boys of the era, Byrne was enticed to mental illness, whose ending will break your heart.
into thinking that he had a calling to the priesthood, He carries an Ireland that is no longer there, for good
memoir “Walking with Ghosts” to recount the triumphs and at age 11, he travels to a seminary in Birmingham, and ill. And in the final pages of the book, he carries the
England. One evening Byrne is called to the private ghosts of his parents, stuck in time, not fully appreciated
and travails of a successful actor, to deliver the inside rooms of a favorite priest, who sexually molests him, an until it was too late. 
event he buries. “I’ve been picking at it with a pin since,”
scoop on fame and good fortune – to be, in other words, he writes, “afraid to use a jackhammer.” (It’s a subject he WALKING WITH GHOSTS: A Memoir
has spoken about publicly in recent years.) For ques-
another celebrity biography filled with gossip and saucy BY GABRIEL BYRNE; GROVE. 198 PP. $26.
REVIEW BY KEVIN DONOHUE, THE WASHINGTON POST
stories. You would be disappointed.

“Walking with Ghosts” is much better than that.

Sure, Byrne shares a few Hollywood tidbits – lying about

knowing how to ride a horse to land a part in John Boor-

man’s “Excalibur,” getting scolded by Laurence Olivier

for merely asking him for the time (“you should buy

yourself a watch”). But Byrne, who turned 70 last year,

has written something more introspective and literary:

an elegiac memoir that explores the interior life of a

Dublin boy who finds himself almost accidentally – and

incidentally – famous. It’s a story about Ireland and exile

and carrying the ghosts of family and home through

time.

The book begins on a hill above his neighborhood, a

favorite place from childhood, and though the place has

To Advertise (772-633-1115) ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | SPORTS January 21, 2021 15

CHIPPING IN WITH SHORT-GAME TIPS KEVIN’S
KURES

As you most of you know, the short game plays a vital role of shaft and to ensure a flat left wrist and
in lowering your scores. Generally, the short game area falls a slightly bent-back right wrist.
into four categories: putting, chipping, pitching and green-
side bunker play. This week I would like to give you some Chipping Club Selection
“Kures” regarding how to set up properly when chipping.
Let’s dig in and get into some of the details: The more time I spend helping peo-

1. Take your putting grip, more in the palms than the reg- ple with their chipping, the more it is
ular grip; your wrists should be arched more upright than on
a regular shot. apparent that most of my students don’t By Kevin Perkins

2. Narrow stance, slightly open; stand as close to the ball have a system for selecting the optimal
as you would for a putt.
club when chipping. The first principle to understand is,
3. Weight should be 70 percent on left leg. Flexing the
knees slightly down and diagonally forward accomplishes generally you maximize your control by keeping the ball
this.
low, as opposed to choosing a higher flight. That is why
4. Hands are forward with ball position in the middle of
the stance. we have coined the phrase minimum airtime, maximum

5. The swing is a putting motion with a slight shift forward ground time. Again, a lower-flighted chip will be easier to
with your body. The swing shape is a slight V-shaped motion
(upright back, low through). control. This will maximize control. However, don’t ex-

6. Swing your arms forward to maintain the forward lean pect to see this method being practiced on the PGA Tour.

The art of chipping is dead on the tour. The players on the

tour hit their pitches and chips much too high – a method

I would not recommend! Next week, I will expand on this

‘BRIDGE topic and give you a very thorough and logical system for
BUSTER’
SUPREME club selection when chipping. 

PHOTO: LINDA KLOORFAIN Two ‘ones’ are done!

Justin Cannata, 15, came in first place in the 38th Two more holes-in-one spiced things up at
Annual Bridge Buster 5K in downtown Fort Pierce PGA Golf Club recently. Wanda Custer made
on Jan. 9 (with a time of 17:37:7). The race, spon- an ace on the Dye course’s third hole on Jan.
sored by the Fort Pierce Sunrise Kiwanis Club, is 10, knocking in a 7-wood from 115 yards.
the oldest footrace in St. Lucie County.  Club member Steve Parker made his hole-
in-one on the Ryder course on Jan. 16, using
a 7-iron from 168 yards out on the 16th
hole. Congrats Wanda and Steve! 