04/14/2022 ISSUE 08

COVID cases way down

A6 A11 B6... as are vaccinations in county
Work on rail crossings Comedy on Wilde side

Seaway Drive closed till April 27 A.C.T.’s ‘Earnest’ endeavor

VOLUME 7, ISSUE 8 YOUR INDEPENDENT LOCAL COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 2022

Cheney Bros. cites labor shortage
as it scales back Tradition facility

BY GEORGE ANDREASSI | Staff Writer full-time employee.
george@stlucievoice.com Cheney Brothers anticipates

Cheney Brothers Inc. has scaled offering workers an average year-
back its plans for a food distribu- ly wage of $63,000, plus benefits,
tion center in Legacy Park in Port county records show. The com-
St. Lucie because the labor short- pany’s annual payroll is expected
age made it difficult to hire enough to reach $17.3 million within five
workers for a larger facility. years.

Cheney Brothers reduced the The company plans to invest
size of its proposed distribution $65 million in land and construc-
facility to 365,000 square feet from tion costs and another $7 million
427,000 square feet and decreased
the workforce to 275 employees CONTINUED ON PAGE A8
from 380 workers, St. Lucie County
SUBMERSIBLES EVOKE MEMORIES records show.
AS HARBOR BRANCH FETES 50TH
The reduction in hiring by 105
workers will cost Cheney Broth-
ers $244,125 in county job growth
incentive grants, county records
show. The new county job grant will
total $639,375, instead of $883,500.
The grant amounts to $2,325 per

Lennar downsizes plans for ‘Seagrove’

BY STEVEN M. THOMAS | Staff Writer could go down 3,000 feet into the ocean, to places BY GEORGE ANDREASSI | Staff Writer 655 houses on a 281-acre site
utterly unknown across the whole expanse of hu- george@stlucievoice.com owned by Coconut Cove REO
The Johnson-Sea-Link Program at Harbor man history until the 1970s, when they began to LLC of Boca Raton, one of doz-
Branch had it all – romance and tragedy, camarade- carry eager, young researchers into the deep. Lennar Homes LLC has revived ens of corporations led by Barry
rie and practical jokes, adventure on the high seas plans for a major residential de- M. Smith. Lennar Homes dra-
and extraordinary discoveries. At a lecture last month that was part of Harbor velopment between U.S. 1 and the matically scaled back the densi-
Branch’s 50th anniversary celebration, four of those Indian River Lagoon in northern ty of the previous plans for the
The Johnson-Sea-Link submersibles – JSLs for researchers, a little older now, recalled the scientific St. Lucie County, just south of the property, which called for 950
short – look like illustrations for a Jules Verne novel. Indian River County line.
CONTINUED ON PAGE A4 CONTINUED ON PAGE A3
Now retired, the 20-foot-long, 4-person craft Lennar Homes wants to build

Apartment, townhouse development booming in city

PHOTO: GEORGE ANDREASSI BY GEORGE ANDREASSI | Staff Writer center along U.S. 1 – with no end Port Saint Lucie Properties LLC
george@stlucievoice.com in sight. of West Palm Beach asked the City
Council to rezone the property to
Apartment and townhouse de- The latest large multi-family Planned Unit Development from
velopment is booming through- development proposed in the General Commercial.
out Port St. Lucie – from the city calls for the construction of
newest neighborhoods a 300-unit complex on a 22-acre The city Planning and Zon-
west of Interstate 95 parcel near Port St. Lucie and ing Board voted unanimously
to the city’s historic Darwin boulevards.
CONTINUED ON PAGE A10

IN THIS ISSUE Ten-sational! Outstanding
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HEALTH A13-A19 ARTS/PEOPLE B1-B17

ADVICE A20 GAMES B20-B22

REAL ESTATE A22-A36 SPORTS B23

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LENNAR HOMES Site of Lennar Homes’ proposed development. PHOTO: GEORGE ANDREASSI The secondary at-grade railroad cross-
ing will be kept for emergency vehicle ac-
CONTINUED FROM PAGE A1 The developer built the access bridge, FECR officials rejected a proposal to cess, county records show.
but it was never put into service, county relocate a secondary railroad crossing
residences, including 20 eight-story con- records show. Progress on Coconut Cove because of the impending improvement Lennar Homes’ new plan increases the
dominium buildings with a total of 640 came to a halt after the real estate market of the tracks for Brightline’s high-speed amount of open space in the new subdi-
units. “We’ve removed all of those con- crashed in 2008. passenger trains, county records show. vision to 176 acres, or nearly 63 percent,
dominium towers,” Tyler Woolsey, of the from 98 acres, or 35 percent, county re-
Urban Design Studio land planning firm, Coconut Cove REO LLC bought the Brightline anticipates operating 32 cords show.
Fort Lauderdale, told St. Lucie County property for $13,436,200 on May 14, 2018, trains per day between Orlando and
commissioners on March 1. from a subsidiary, Coconut Cove LLC, South Florida starting in 2023 with The new plan maintains all wetlands,
county property records show. Coconut speeds reaching 110 mph in St. Lucie including those in narrow strips between
Lennar Homes’ new plans call for the Cove LLC had purchased the land on Jan. County. FECR runs 15-to-20 freight trains Old Dixie Highway and the FECR right-of-
construction of 349 single-family houses 21, 2004 from Daryl M. Carter (Trustee). daily at 40-to-60 mph. way. The site has 73.64 acre of wetlands.
and 306 townhouses, plus the addition
of a variety of amenities, including dog The subdivision is expected to add
parks, playgrounds and a community 5,557 daily motor vehicle trips to the local
garden. road network, including 497 during the
evening rush hour, county records show.
County commissioners voted unan-
imously March 1 to approve the adjust- The additional trips will worsen traf-
ment to the final site plan for the Sea- fic backups at the intersection of Turn-
grove Planned Unit Development on. pike Feeder Road and U.S. 1, but still
have much less of an impact on conges-
“I think it’s a beautiful development,” tion than the previous plan.
said County Commission Chairman Sean
Mitchell. “I think it’s some place people Senior Planner Jodi Nentwick-Kugler
will want to come and live.” and the county’s Planning & Develop-
ment Services Department recommend-
The project had previously been ed reconstructing the intersection of
known as the Coconut Cove PUD and had Turnpike Feeder Road and U.S. 1 to han-
received commission approval on July dle the additional traffic.
12, 2005. The project became vested with
development entitlements upon pulling An average of 24,000 vehicles per day
a permit on May 30, 2007, for an access travel on U.S. 1 between Turnpike Feeder
bridge traversing Dixie Highway and the Road and the Indian River County line,
Florida East Coast Railway tracks, county St. Lucie County transportation records
records show. show. Another 1,350 vehicles per day
travel on Old Dixie Highway between In-
drio Road and the county line. 

4 April 14, 2022 ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | NEWS www.stlucievoice.com

SUBMERSIBLES Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute. ship and fabricated the Deep Diver, a Sea pounds that could be used to fight infec-
Link precursor that enabled divers to work tions and cancer.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE A1 the Science Channel and others. at greater depths for longer periods of time
“We were on the national and internation- than they could before. Research Professor Shirley Pomponi came
excitement and personal wonder they felt ex- to Harbor Branch at that time.
ploring new worlds during the four-decade al news frequently,” Reed told the audience In 1971, he teamed up with fellow vision-
Sea Link program, which was headquartered at the lecture. “Harbor Branch was known ary Seward Johnson, part of the Johnson & “I was recruited for the new drug dis-
on the shore of the Indian River Lagoon in worldwide because of our submersibles.” Johnson family, who shared Link’s fascina- covery program because of my expertise in
northern St. Lucie County. tion with the deep ocean, to found Harbor sponge biology,” Pomponi said. “It was De-
Besides helping discover the Oculina Reef, Branch Oceanographic Institute on the cember, and I was living in Pennsylvania. It
“Between 1971 and 2010 we made over Reed is known for his discovery and explo- largest privately-owned deep-water chan- had already snowed three times and when
9,400 dives around the world,” said John ration of hundreds of other reefs in or near nel in Florida. they invited me to go on a research expe-
Reed, a research professor and coral ex- Florida waters. dition to Bahamas, I said, ‘Send me a ticket
pert who came to Harbor Branch in 1976, That same year, backed by Johnson’s for- and I’m there!””
straight from graduate school, just in time “In 2001, we got a grant to do biomedical tune, Link and his team of engineers de-
to help discover the Oculina Reef, a vast research and we documented 300 deep-wa- signed, fabricated and assembled the first Sponges are rich sources of potent com-
marine treasure unique to the east coast of ter reefs off the straits of Florida that ranged Johnson-Sea-Link in a machine shop. pounds because they are stationary crea-
Florida that is home to more than 300 spe- from 50 to 500 feet tall,” said Reed, who was tures and have to use chemical “weapons”
cies of marine life. instrumental in getting a 23,000 square mile Two years later, the greatest mishap in the to defend themselves from other marine
area around the reefs protected from bot- program’s history occurred when Link’s son, creatures. Those same compounds can in
Paired with three research ships that could tom fishing that would destroy the delicate, Clayton Link, and another crew member some cases kill cancer cells and antibiotic
carry them to distant parts of the globe, put ecologically productive structures. He also were killed during the JSL’s 130th descent. resistant bacteria.
them in the water and retrieve them after helped gain federal protection for much of Diving near Key West, the submersible be-
dives, the JSLs were used for ground-break- the Oculina Reef. came entangled in the cables of sunken Pomponi, who vividly remembers her first
ing research from the Galapagos to the Great Navy destroyer and the two men died of JSL dive on Dec. 4, 1984, went on to make
Lakes, from the Gulf of Mexico to the Medi- But it all started with Edwin Link, an Elon carbon dioxide poisoning before they could more than 300 dives as a Harbor Branch sci-
terranean, from the Bahamas to West Africa. Musk-type character who held 27 U.S. pat- be rescued. entist. She said she loved the camaraderie
ents at the time of his death in 1981. among the scientists and crew, recalling how
On those far-flung dives, scientists came Despite the tragedy, Link and Johnson everyone would turn out on deck when a sub
nose-to-nose with a Greenland Shark – a Link invented the flight trainer – cobbling persevered, continuing to explore the deep came up to see what had been found and
creature that grows to 20 feet in length, can together parts from his family’s organ fac- ocean and commissioning a second sub- help sort the specimens.
weigh more than a ton, lives to be 500 years tory – that was used to train half a million mersible, the Johnson-Sea-Link 2, in 1975.
old and can dive to 7,000 feet. allied airman in the Second World War, a “We were away from our families for
major contribution to victory in Europe and By the mid-1980s, research had expand- weeks and months, out at sea, and we de-
They saw an 8-foot-high sunfish in a part the Pacific. ed to include a hunt for biomedical com- veloped close personal and professional re-
of the ocean where it wasn’t supposed to be, lationships with our colleagues, wonderful
and discovered “hundreds of previously un- After the war, his interests turned to ma- friendships,” Pomponi said. “There could be
known or undescribed species,” according to rine archeology and he equipped a research 10 people on the ship or as many as 40. We
a Johnson-Sea-Link exhibit at the Elliot Mu- hit the deck at 6 a.m. and weren’t done until
seum in Stuart. midnight sometimes, so we got to know each
other pretty well!”
“What was most amazing is that we got
to dive and see species that no one else on Camaraderie crossed over into romance
earth had seen,” Reed wrote in an email at some point, when Pomponi and chief
to this newspaper after the lecture. “There sub pilot, Don Liberatore, fell in love and
have been hundreds of publications result- got married. “It was a gift,” Pomponi said of
ing from dives by scientists using the John- her years as a Sea Link researcher. “I consid-
son-Sea-Link submersibles for biomedical er myself incredibly lucky to have met and
research, fisheries research, and discovery married Don and to have had the chance to
of new reefs that are now protected as ma- do research in the JSLs.
rine reserves.”
“There is a line in a Jimmy Buffet song
In just the final 10 years of the program, about the ocean – ‘in your belly you hold
between 2000 and 2010, Harbor Branch’s the treasures few have ever seen” – and I am
ships and submersibles were used by 3,560 one of those few. I got to see and do things I
scientists from 79 universities and 15 govern- never ever thought I would get to see or do.
ment agencies, according to Reed, with dra- It was a thrill.”
matic Sea Link dives featured in documenta-
ries filmed by Discovery Channel, National The ongoing Harbor Branch drug dis-
Geographic, BBC, IMAX, History Channel, covery program has so far catalogued and
stored for research more than 30,000 ma-
rine specimens with possible medical po-

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tential and isolated 400 unique chemical hand with careful scientific observation, shelf further down teeming with the kind of lecture series, conveyed a sense of the drive
compounds, several of which have been “We are in a fabulous place, just so fabu- fantastical life forms they were seeking. for discovery that characterized the program.
made into experimental drugs.
lous,” she says in the video, shot below 2,900 Longing can be heard in her voice when When he heard in the 1980s about a lit-
Amy Wright, an organic chemist and Har- feet in the Bahamas. “Look at that humon- she says, “Oh, there is a ledge down below us tle-known type of algae surfacing in the Gulf
bor Branch research professor who founded gous sponge over there!” that is so enticing – but just out of reach!” of Mexico, he did some quick library research
the drug discovery program, played a video and then flew to Texas where one of the
when it was her time to talk that captured the She and her sub mates were working along Research Scientist Dennis Hanisak, the dive ships was anchored, waiting for better
sense of giddy excitement that went hand in the edge of an undersea drop-off within a fourth speaker and the host of Harbor
few feet of their depth limit when she saw a Branch’s “Ocean Science for a Better World” CONTINUED ON PAGE A6

6 April 14, 2022 ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | NEWS www.stlucievoice.com

COVID-19 cases, vaccinations way down SUBMERSIBLES The university did not continue to fund
as pandemic eases for the moment here the JSL program at the level needed and in
CONTINUED FROM PAGE A5 2010 the research ships were sold, and the
BY GEORGE ANDREASSI | Staff Writer have been diagnosed with COVID-19 submersibles mothballed.
george@stlucievoice.com since March 2020, or about 23 per- weather to cross the Gulf back to Florida.
cent of the population of 322,154, state When the ship arrived after dark at the An article published in Nature that year
A total of 129 St. Lucie County Health Department records show. Near- called it “the end of era,” and the scientists
residents were vaccinated against ly 30 percent of county residents who place he wanted to dive, he was told – after who had used the submersibles weren’t
COVID-19 during the first week in April underwent COVID-19 tests were diag- enduring several days seasick and confined happy.
and 128 residents were diagnosed with nosed with the virus. to his bunk in continuing rough weather –
the virus as the pandemic seemed to that it would be too dangerous to descend “It’s definitely a loss to the world’s deep-
wane. The 129 county residents vaccinated under current conditions. sea research community, and to future
against the virus during the first week generations of scientists,” Chuck Fisher,
The 128 new cases during the week ending April 7 represented a 74 percent At the last minute, the weather shifted a marine biologist at Pennsylvania State
ending April 7 represented an 8 per- increase compared to the 74 county slightly, and the operations director turned University who made close to 100 dives in
cent increase compared to the week residents vaccinated during the week to him and said, “Are you sure what you think the subs, told Nature.
of March 24 when there were 118 new ending March 24, state Health Depart- is down there actually is here?”
cases, Florida Department of Health ment records show. Altogether, 214,186 Ocean exploration and research didn’t
records show. county residents, or about 70 percent “I said, yes – what else was I going to say,” stop though. FAU Harbor Branch scientists
of those age 5 and older, have received Hanisak told the lecture audience. “The OD immediately switched to ROVs – remotely
The recent low was 82 new cases COVID-19 vaccines. said, ‘Okay, let’s give it a try. We may have to operated vehicles – to probe the deep ocean
during the week ending Nov. 18 and the bring you up early.’ and keep gathering knowledge, an enterprise
recent high was 5,619 new cases during Two public school students and that continues today. “We actually have an
the week ending Jan. 13, records show. two employees tested positive for “Before I knew what was happening, we operation coming up next month funded by
COVID-19 in the past two weeks, did a quick predive check and I was whisked NOAA, May 2 through May 14, on the Flower
“We are cautiously optimistic the school district records show. One em- into the sphere of the Johnson Sea Link, Garden Banks,” said Wright.
virus will continue to trend low in our ployee tested positive on April 5 and heading down into the water.”
community, as it has over the past sev- another on April 1. Two students tested Flower Garden Banks National Marine
eral weeks,” said Port St. Lucie Emer- positive on March 30. It was his first dive. Don Liberatore was his Sanctuary is a 160-square-mile area in the
gency Management Administrator Bil- pilot. At 202 feet they found the hoped for al- Gulf of Mexico that contains 17 different liv-
ly Weinshank. Altogether, the school district report- gae bed he calls ‘my field of green.’ ing reefs. NOAA will post ROV video of the
ed 4,599 cases of COVID-19 since the underwater world on its website during the
But Weinshank said the virus is still school year started Aug. 24, involving “We were the first to see that habitat,” he mission for anyone who wants to see the
a public health concern and should be 3,647 students and 952 employees.  said. “That night was an incredible personal reefs and their inhabitants up-close and
monitored. and professional experience that opened my personal.
eyes to the possibilities of JSL dives.”
A total of 74,163 county residents The 2022 Ocean Science Lecture Series
There were a lot of incredible nights and concludes on April 20 with “Celebrating 50
days during the 39 years the program lasted, Years of Ocean Science for a Better World,” a
but Harbor Branch ran into financial diffi- panel discussion with five of Harbor Branch’s
culties after the death of Seward Johnson top scientists. 
and was acquired by Florida Atlantic Uni-
versity in 2007.



8 April 14, 2022 ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | NEWS www.stlucievoice.com

SMOOTHIE KING, BUFF CITY SOAP, LEARNING EXPRESS PLANNED IN SLW

BY GEORGE ANDREASSI | Staff Writer Plans call for a 1,377-square-foot required 10-foot-wide perimeter land- The Planning and Zoning Board also
george@stlucievoice.com Smoothie King restaurant with drive- scape buffer along Peacock Boulevard to approved a variance for plans for The
through service and outdoor seating, a 2.6 feet, reduce the required perimeter Learning Express of St. Lucie West that
Smoothie King, Buff City Soap and 2,743-square-foot Buff City Soap shop shade trees by five trees; and waive the would eliminate the required 5-foot
The Learning Express are the newest and a 1,601-square-foot retail space for requirement for an interior landscape landscape strip along the proposed day-
businesses that want to set up shop in a business to be determined, Port St. island with a shade tree, city records care facility’s front façade.
the bustling commercial district in St. Lucie records show. show.
Lucie West. Jeremiah Baron, Vincent Marcellino
The city Planning and Zoning Board St. Lucie West SK Cornerstone pur- and JBVM Ventures LLC of Stuart plan
St. Lucie West SK Cornerstone LLC of voted unanimously April 5 to recom- chased the lot for $775,000 on June 17, to build an 11,550-square-foot day care
Bradenton plans to build a 5,721-square- mend the City Council approve three 2021, from SDC St. Lucie Partners LLC, center with a play area on a .23-acre lot
foot retail center on a 1-acre lot at the variances for the proposed retail center. of Opa Locka, St. Lucie County property in a 5.1-acre tract on Fountainview Bou-
intersection of Northwest Courtyard records show. levard, city records show. 
Circle and Peacock Boulevard. The developer wants to reduce the

CHENEY BROS. The Cheney Brothers distribution center
is being built on a 53.66-acre site between In-
CONTINUED FROM PAGE A1 terstate 95 and SW Anthony F. Sansone Bou-
levard, north of the FedEx sortation facility.
for machinery and equipment. The FedEx sortation center
St. Lucie County commissioners voted was the first Cheney Broth- The Port St. Lucie City Council voted
ers facility to go under con- unanimously on Feb. 28 to update a similar
unanimously April 5 on an updated econom- struction in Legacy Park. incentive package with breaks on city prop-
ic incentive package for the Cheney Brothers erty taxes and impact fees.
facility. The package, which commissioners PHOTO: GEORGE ANDREASSI
originally approved June 1, 2021, includes “Due to the labor shortage, the company
county property tax breaks for 10 years, in- took a conservative approach with their ini-
cluding no taxes during the first five years in tial employment,” said city Economic Devel-
operation, county records show. opment Administrator Elijah Wooten.

Cheney Brothers will pay 90 percent of its “They definitely will ramp up,” Wooten
county property taxes in the sixth year, 80 told the City Council on Feb. 28. “The build-
percent in the seventh year, 60 percent in the ing in the second phase will grow to 522,000
eighth year, 40 percent in the ninth year and square feet.”
20 percent in the 10th year.
Cheney Brothers paid the city $4,674,900

CONTINUED ON PAGE A10

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DEVELOPMENT BOOMING rezoning,” said Lesha Salner, of Southwest er on Southwest College Park Road, said voted unanimously to approve the re-
College Park Road. city services are not keeping up with the zoning of a 42.33-acre tract to allow 67
CONTINUED FROM PAGE A1 growth in Port St. Lucie. townhouses, a clubhouse, a dog park and
“The reason why we moved to this area nature trails, instead of commercial de-
last Tuesday to recommend the council was to get away from the congested areas “We have had trash, yard waste, recy- velopment.
approve the rezoning with the condition and housing developments,” Salner said. cling piled up for weeks and you’re going
the developers meet with neighborhood “Have you seen the traffic at the time of the to add 300 units with at least 600 cars,” The rezoning would increase the land
homeowners to discuss their concerns. rush hour? What do you think is going to Hoagland said. “I’m not happy with this dedicated to townhouse development in
happen when 300 more people move into at all.” the St. Andrews Park Planned Unit De-
Two homeowners from nearby College this area with multiple cars? velopment to 32.52 acres from 20.5 acres,
Park Road expressed opposition to the re- But Autumn Sorrow, a land planner city records show.
zoning on the grounds it would dramati- “Although we have been living in that representing the developer, said 4.5 acres
cally increase the number of people and area for a little more than a year, we will along the east and north property lines of It would also reduce the land allocated
vehicles in the neighborhood. never forget the first time we saw this in- the 22-acre site have been set aside as a for office development to 1.25 acres from
credible view in the backyard of our cur- preserve area to address residents’ con- 5.66 and the land proposed for commer-
“My husband Mark and I and many rent home,” Salner said. “We moved to cerns. cial development to 2.35 acre from 8.4
others from the neighborhoods of Col- Port St. Lucie to enjoy the beautiful views, acres.
lege Park Road, Blound Court and Wat- the wildlife, the peace and the serenity.” Property owner Thomas Morrison and
son Court are here tonight to protest the Port Saint Lucie Properties have been try- In addition, the Planning and Zoning
Richard Hoagland, another homeown- ing to convince homeless people living in Board voted unanimously to delay until
the wooded tract to move out, Sorrow said. its May 3 meeting the review of a rezon-
NEED A RELIABLE ELECTRICIAN? ing that would allow 263 townhouses on
“We do have some issues with trespass- a 28.8-acre sit on the corner of Northwest
Family Owned & Operated ing on private property,” Sorrow said. “We East Torino Parkway and Northwest Blan-
know there are certain homeless people ton Boulevard.
Residential / Commercial / Service living there on the site and they’ve made it
FREE ESTIMATES their home for a number of years. Among the other apartment complexes
under construction in Port St. Lucie are
“High Quality & Prompt Service “We’re trying to be a good neighbor and a 252-unit project at U.S. 1 and Lyngate
is our Tradition” trying to keep people off without getting Drive owned by WP ToscanaPSL MF-FL-
the police involved,” Sorrow said. “We’ve Owner LLC, of Irving, Texas.
• SERVICE UPGRADES told them to get off politely, but it’s kind of
• NEW OUTLETS & CIRCUITS difficult to do.” The apartment complexes under con-
• ANNUAL HOME ELECTRICAL CHECKUP struction in Tradition include The Atlantic
• CEILING FANS/LIGHT FIXTURES The City Council has final say on the Palms at Tradition, The Lucie at Tradition,
• GENERATOR/HOME SURGE PROTECTION proposed rezoning, which likely faces re- The Boardwalk at Tradition, The Springs at
• LANDSCAPE LIGHTING view within the next two months. Tradition and Village at Tradition. 
• RENOVATIONS
The Planning and Zoning Board also sortation center.
Sansone Group is purchasing the land in
CHENEY BROS.
phases from Port St. Lucie, which acquired
CONTINUED FROM PAGE A8 the 1,200-acre Tradition Commerce Center
in June 2018 for free because Tradition Land
on March 14 for the 53.66-acre parcel, coun- Company tired of paying more than $5 mil-
ty property records show. lion in annual property taxes and special as-
sessments.
The City Council approved the site plan
on Jan. 24 for the first phase of construction, Companies awarded county property tax
including a fueling station, loading docks, a exemptions 2018-2021:
test kitchen, offices, and refrigeration and
freezer space. Construction is expected to  Builders First Source: $27,750 exemp-
take 14 months, company officials said. The tion, 137 new jobs.
facility will provide food products to restau-
rants, hotels, institutions and clubs.  City Electric/TAMCO: $549,138 exemp-
tion, 50 new jobs, 160 jobs retained.
The Cheney Brothers distribution facil-
ity is the second to go under construction  Expert Shutters: $24,437 exemption, 54
in Legacy Park, where the Sansone Group new jobs, 31 jobs retained.
of St. Louis plans to build 5.4 million
square feet of industrial space on 400 acres  Maverick Boats: $156,687 exemption,
in the next decade. The first was the FedEx 247 new jobs, 273 jobs retained.

 Pursuit Boats: $158,540 exemption, 310
new jobs, 324 jobs retained. 

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FREE
EDUCATIONAL

EVENT

PHOTO: LINDA KLOORFAIN

BRIGHTLINE WORK CLOSES SEAWAY DR.
RAILROAD CROSSING THROUGH APRIL 27

BY GEORGE ANDREASSI | Staff Writer 12 construction advisory. LEGACY PREPARATIONS
george@stlucievoice.com Brightline reopened the railroad cross- AYCOCK AT TRADITION

Brightline closed the Seaway Drive/ ing at Avenue D in downtown Fort Pierce WED, MAY 4TH 11-1 P.M.
State Road A1A railroad crossing near on April 5 after closing it for 10 days for re-
downtown Fort Pierce through April 27 for construction. RSVP REQUIRED BY
the construction of new tracks and safety APRIL 29TH (561) 537-0041
equipment as part of the $2.7 billion ex- Brightline is also building a second rail-
tension of high-speed passenger train ser- road bridge over Moore’s Creek in down- Come educate and prepare you & your family
vice from South Florida to Orlando. town Fort Pierce with a massive crane for your Legacy at AYCOCK AT TRADITION 12571
conducting pile driving operations. Tradition PKWY, PSL, 34987. Hors d’oeuvres will
Brightline fully closed the railroad be served along with the following “Presenters”
crossing April 8 for the installation of a In addition, Brightline periodically giving a quick presentation of their services. Feel
second set of tracks and the addition of closes the railroad crossings at Savan-
safety features the federal government re- nah Road in Fort Pierce and Walton Road free to schedule a consultation with each:
quires for trains traveling up to 110 mph. in Port St. Lucie for rail work with trucks
entering and exiting the railroad right-of- • Loutos Law, PLLC
Motorists were rerouted to Avenue H/ way.
Fisherman’s Wharf to the north and side • Shyrell’s Tax, LLC
streets in downtown Fort Pierce to the Brightline is upgrading the Florida East
south. Coast Railroad tracks from West Palm • Aycock Funeral Home
Beach to Cocoa and building new tracks
Brightline also plans to fully close North from Cocoa to Orlando in anticipation of • Treasure Coast Hospice
Causeway/State Road A1A from 6 p.m., extending high-speed passenger train ser-
Monday, May 2 until 6 a.m., Tuesday, May vice in 2023. • Elder Home Care Service
3 to upgrade the tracks and safety equip-
ment for high-speed passenger trains. Up to 32 Brightline passenger trains per • Northwestern Mutual Ins.
day will zip through St. Lucie County at
Brightline said it is working with emer- speeds of up to 110 mph, while approxi- • Golden Health Ins. Solutions
gency responders to provide access to mately a dozen FECR freight trains con-
North Hutchinson Island at all times. tinue to operate daily at 40-to-60 mph. Are ALL your Ducks in a row?
Or, is your family going to be scrambling
However, North Hutchinson Island res- Brightline resumed operations in South
idents still face delays from 6 a.m. Mon- Florida on Nov. 8 after halting service around like the last little duckling?
day (April 18) and through 6 p.m., Monday March 25, 2020, as the COVID-19 pan-
May 16 while the railroad crossing is being demic prompted governments and busi-
reconstructed, Brightline said in its April nesses to close. 

Erik L. Ugi

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12 April 14, 2022 ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | NEWS www.stlucievoice.com

HISTORIC JONES HOUSE IN VERO TO REOPEN TO PUBLIC IN LATE 2024

BY GEORGE ANDREASSI | Staff Writer ding, Powell said. the project and the county is chipping A combination of contractors,
george@stlucievoice.com “I’m just glad we have three compa- in nearly $20,000, Powell said. The county employees and volunteers
county can ask FEMA for more money installed approximately 10,000 na-
Indian River County plans to nies now that are interested in bidding, if the actual costs increase. tive plants throughout the 16-acre
elevate and renovate the centu- so it will be competitive,” Powell said. site, Zito said. A screw pump has
ry-old Jones House on Jungle Trail “I’m hoping it will go out in the next After Indian River County finds a been operating for six months to
and reopen the Florida Crack- week to 10 days. It will stay out for a contractor, it is expected to take three- acclimate the new plantings to the
er-style wood-frame structure in minimum of three weeks.” to-six months to elevate the Jones brackish water from the lagoon,
late 2024 or early 2025 as an inter- House and another year to complete Zito said.
pretive center. The cost estimate came in at $100,000 the interior renovations, said Assistant
to elevate and stabilize the historic res- County Administrator Michael Zito. County employees are working
However, officials are preparing idence and construct sidewalks and with students from Indian River
to give sneak peek tours of the en- walking paths, county bidding records “At this time, an opening date has State College and other schools
vironmental improvements on the show. But inflation is expected to in- not been set,” Zito said Friday (April and agencies to conduct baseline
surrounding 16-acre Jones Pier crease the actual costs for construction 8). “(It) largely depends on the current sampling in the wetlands, Zito
Conservation Area as construc- materials and fuel, Powell said. construction contract and the pend- said. The county is working with
tion winds down. “We would like ing bid for the elevation of the historic community groups to determine
to start the sneak peeks in the next The house is being placed on 8-foot Jones Home.” the feasibility of establishing a na-
30 days or less,” interim coun- tall concrete piers to prevent flooding tive plant nursery and community
ty Parks and Recreation Director in the future after being inundated The county expects to complete sev- garden in the conservation area.
Elizabeth Powell said Monday. with more than a foot of water during eral drainage facilities in the next two
Hurricane Matthew in 2016, Powell months to cleanse sediments from Artist Dawn Witerington – who
“It might be once a week for an said. stormwater flowing into a salt marsh specializes in accurate artistic de-
hour or an hour and a half, where wetland connected to the Indian River pictions of species, life histories
a limited amount of people can The Federal Emergency Management Lagoon, Zito said. and ecological relationships – has
sign up for a sneak peek and then Agency is providing nearly $60,000 for been hired to create educational
they’re guided throughout the renderings of the wetland and oth-
site,” Powell said. “They’re with a er amenities.
staff member the whole time.”
The county is also finalizing the
Currently, Powell said, “we design of the Interpretive Center, Zito
open the site to volunteers and guests and Powell said.
associated with specific programming.
It’s not open for general access.” “Current plans that are in design
right now will remove a wall to create
Indian River County may reopen the an open space for the general public
grounds at 7770 Jungle Trail for regular to come in,” Powell said. There will be
public use by the end of the year, Pow- educational videos and exhibits. A do-
ell said. The key is pouring 42 concrete cent volunteer and/or county employ-
piers and placing the Jones House on ee would operate the center.
top.
“Our goal is to tell not only the histo-
“Once the house is elevated, then we ry of the Jones Pier -- because that’s re-
can move to open the site and fence it ally important about the pioneer histo-
off until the Interpretive Center has ry and early citrus on the barrier island
been completed,” Powell said. – but we think this site is a great op-
portunity to talk about lagoon health,
The renovation of the 100-year-old the story of Florida Inland Navigation
house suffered a setback when no con- District and the Intracoastal Coastal
tractors submitted bids on the Jones Waterway,” Powell said.
House renovation project by the March
16 deadline, county records show. “We can talk about natural habitats,
we can talk about barrier island eco-
Since then, county officials found systems. All of that we think we can
three contractors who were unaware wrap into this small space.” 
of the project and indicated they would
participate in the second round of bid-

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Hip fix: Muscle-sparing anterior approach gains popularity

BY KERRY FIRTH | Correspondent Dr. William Stanton. Not everyone qualifies for the anterior years of high-impact traumas, caused by
approach, which is best suited for some- running, jumping and other common
“There are actually three ways to access PHOTO: KAILA JONES one who is thin and has a low body mass sports activities and daily life, the cartilage
the hip joint for a total hip arthroplasty,” index. And there are some types of arthrit- cushioning on the bones of the hip wears
said Dr. William Stanton, an orthopedic into the pelvic bone to replace the dam- ic hip damage that are less suited for the away. The bones then rub against each
surgeon with HCA Florida Lawnwood Hos- aged socket, and replaces the round ball anterior approach than others. other, causing hip pain and stiffness. In
pital in Fort Pierce. “The most common on the top of the femur with the prosthetic some cases, wear may be caused by subtle
method is the posterior approach from ball, which is attached to a stem that fits “In general, I look at your body mass irregularities in how the hip developed in
the back, followed by the lateral approach into the thighbone. index and if you are a good candidate for childhood.
from the side. Both of these approaches the anterior approach I’ll suggest it,” Dr.
require cutting a tendon and muscle. Techniques for hip replacement are Stanton said. “Not many people come in The first line of treatment is always
constantly evolving as surgeons develop asking for the anterior approach because conservative and can include medication,
“The third approach – muscle-sparing less invasive surgical techniques that less- they simply aren’t aware of it.” therapy, walking supports and injections
anterior – is becoming more popular be- en pain and reduce recovery time. for pain. If those treatments don’t relieve
cause it leaves key muscles and tendons Hip replacements are most commonly the pain, then you may be a candidate for
intact. Instead of cutting any tendon or “When I got out of residency in 1998, done in patients in their 70s but there’s hip replacement.
muscle, we go between the tendons and no one even spoke about an anterior ap- been a shift in the last five or six years to-
muscles so there is less damage going into proach,” Dr. Stanton said. “We simply ward patients requiring the procedure in The good news is that the success rate
the joints. Because we are not having to weren’t exposed to it. their 60s, possibly because of an increased for this surgery is high, with more than
cut and repair tendons and muscles, the level of activity that generation has en- 95 percent of patients experiencing relief
recovery time for patients is shorter and “The orthopedic surgeons who are do- joyed. from hip pain. The success rate of hip re-
less painful. ing residency now are all doing the anteri- placements 10 years after surgery is 90
or approach as part of their program. The Arthritis is the most common reason percent to 95 percent. At 20 years, 80 per-
“The same type of prosthetic is used in less invasive approach is becoming more to need a hip replacement. After 50 or 60 cent to 85 percent of patients still feel good
all three cases, it’s just a different way to mainstream and surgeons like myself are and have normal mobility.
deliver it,” Dr. Stanton continued. “The taking advanced training to master this ap-
short-term improvements that people proach. The technique is not new to gener- “You can’t really prevent a hip prob-
get with the anterior approach make it a al surgery but it’s new to my practice.” lem,” Dr. Stanton said. “It’s a natural part
worthwhile option.” of aging, like wear and tear on your car
or a pothole that starts out small and
Indeed, researchers at Mayo Clinic con- gets bigger and bigger until it needs to
cluded that patients who underwent direct be fixed. The best advice I can give is to
anterior approach hip surgery recovered keep in good shape, be careful about your
faster than patients who had mini-posteri- weight, make sure your medical prob-
or approach hip arthroplasty by these five lems are taken care of and get out and
measures: participate in a low-impact exercise like
swimming or walking.”
 Discontinuing the use of a walker (10
days after surgery versus 14.5 days) Dr. William Stanton is a graduate of the
United States Military Academy at West
 Discontinuing use of all gait aids Point and has treated veterans at Brooke
(17.3 versus 23.6 days) Army Medical Center in Texas. He is a
board-certified orthopedic surgeon who
 Discontinuing use of narcotics (9.1 practices in Fort Pierce at HCA Florida
versus 14 days) Lawnwood Hospital. He treats a variety of
orthopedic issues including fractures, ten-
 Ascending stairs with gait aid (5.4 don injuries, the hip and other joints. His
versus 10.3 days) office is located at 2402 Frist Blvd., Suite
200, Fort Pierce. Visit www.InstituteOrtho-
 Walking six blocks (20.5 versus 26 Innovations.com or call 772-409-6292 to
days) book an appointment. 

During the anterior procedure, the sur-
geon makes an incision over the front of
your hip and removes diseased and dam-
aged bone and cartilage, working through
and around muscle and tendon.

He then implants the prosthetic socket

14 April 14, 2022 ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | HEALTH www.stlucievoice.com

TASTY, NUTRITIOUS SNACKS HAVE BENEFITS FOR THOSE OVER 50

BY SALLY WADYKA | The Washington Post ‘snack’ can have negative connotations, but ics at St. Louis University’s Doisy College bites, approach snacking in a way that suits
that’s because people may confuse a snack of Health Sciences. “That will help you get your eating style.
Less than 20 percent of people 55 and with a treat,” says Lisa Sasson, a clinical a mix of healthy carbohydrates, fats, and
older snack every day, according to market professor of nutrition and food studies at protein.” If you routinely skip breakfast: Not
research firm Mintel. But the science sug- New York University. everyone is ready to eat the minute they
gests that snacking can be an integral part The right size for your snack depends on wake up, so it’s okay to replace a traditional
of a healthy diet, especially for older adults. Of course, nibbling on empty calories – how many total calories you need in a day breakfast with a midmorning mini-meal.
In particular, it can help compensate for sugary treats, refined carbohydrates and and how much you are eating at meals. If “Think of it more like a delayed breakfast,”
nutritional deficiencies that might result foods high in saturated fats – will do your you eat three squares a day, it’s best to keep Sasson says. “You’re still ‘breaking the fast’
from the dip in appetite that commonly oc- health more harm than good. But the right your snacks to 150 to 200 calories (unless of the night, so you need a mix of protein,
curs with age. foods, in the right combinations, can im- you need to gain weight). For those who eat carbs and fat to fuel your body.”
prove your diet and your health. lightly at meals, 300- to 400-calorie snacks
“Older adults often get fuller more quick- should be appropriate. Sasson suggests foods that include whole
ly, and they may have a dulling of their “Choose foods from at least two differ- grains (a good source of fiber) to help mod-
smell and taste sensation that leads them ent food groups – such as fruit and grains Just like there’s no one-size-fits-all ulate your blood sugar and prevent a spike,
to quit a meal sooner,” says Dana Hunnes, or vegetables and dairy – when putting to- diet plan, there is no one right way to then a drop, in energy. Try a slice of whole-
senior clinical dietitian at the Ronald Rea- gether a snack,” says Whitney Linsenmeyer, snack. grain toast with nut butter and banana slic-
gan UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles. assistant professor of nutrition and dietet- es, a hard-boiled egg with a piece of fruit,
Taking certain medications, getting less ex- To get the most out of your between-meal
ercise and having difficulties chewing can
also reduce your desire to eat at meals.

Not eating enough throughout the day
can leave you short on the calories you
need to stay energized, and you might take
in fewer nutrients than you need. Older
adults often don’t get enough protein, cal-
cium, potassium, magnesium and vitamin
B12, for example. Studies have found that
healthy snacking improves the quality of
older adults’ diets overall, and it may im-
prove physical function.

Misconceptions about snacking might
be responsible for the reluctance to grab
something small between meals. “The word

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whole-grain crackers with slices of cheese Many types of radiation therapy used to treat cancer
and apples or yogurt sprinkled with berries
and whole-grain cereal. Q. I have a friend who is undergoing radiation treat- Radiation therapy kills cancer cells by damaging their
ments for cancer. I was wondering how this works. Doesn’t the genetic material. This process prevents the cells from grow-
If you have an afternoon energy slump: radiation burn everything it touches? ing. Radiation attacks all cells in a targeted area, but most
“This may mean you’re dehydrated more healthy cells recover when treatment ends.
than hungry,” Hunnes says. Older adults THE HEALTHY SENIOR / Fred Cicetti
might not always drink enough during the When you are given radiation therapy – also called irra-
day to maintain hydration. “Thirst can be diation, radiotherapy or X-ray therapy – physicians attempt
blunted with age,” Sasson says. An ener- to protect the good cells by shielding them. They also limit
gy-boosting snack with a high water con- dosage and spread out the treatments.
tent could be just what you need to power
you through your afternoon. Try a smooth- About half of all cancer patients receive some type of ra-
ie packed with fruit (fresh or frozen) and diation therapy, which uses ionizing radiation to kill cancer
yogurt, a cup of low-sodium vegetable soup cells and shrink tumors. This therapy can be delivered from
plus a small bowl of popcorn sprinkled with machines outside your body or from radioactive material
Parmesan cheese and spices, or guacamo- inserted into your body.
le on whole-grain pita chips with a glass of
fruit-flavored seltzer. External radiation is the most common type used in this
therapy. Internal radiation uses sealed implants in or near
If your diet is low on protein: Older the tumor.
adults need more than younger adults
– about 70 to 80 grams for a 150-pound Systemic radiation therapy employs unsealed radioactive
person – and not getting enough of it can materials that circulate throughout the body. In some cases
speed muscle loss. Packing your snacks
with protein can help your overall intake. CONTINUED ON PAGE A16
If you find yourself eating less meat as you
get older (and your meals get smaller), to manage than three larger meals,” Lin- brown rice. “Look for packaged foods with snack in the evening,” Sasson says. “Denial
plant-protein snacks can be an easy way senmeyer says. If you don’t mind cooking the fewest ingredients to avoid unhealthy isn’t healthy, so pick something you enjoy
to increase your daily total. on occasion, she suggests doing it in bulk. additives,” Sasson says. Try a microwaved and can look forward to that isn’t excessive.”
Make a big pot of soup or chili and store it small sweet potato topped with broccoli A bedtime snack that satisfies your sweet
Try roasted chickpeas, steamed edama- in individual portions that you can heat up and shredded cheese, brown rice with black tooth while providing some end-of-day nu-
me, a handful of slivered almonds, whole- for mini-meals. beans and baby spinach or tuna on a bed of trients is a win-win. Try a biscotti with a glass
grain pita with hummus, or refried beans greens drizzled with olive oil. of warm milk, a small piece of dark choco-
with a sprinkling of cheese spread on a corn If that’s too much cooking, stock up on late with a cup of herbal tea, yogurt drizzled
or whole-wheat tortilla. staples you can throw together and micro- If you love a sweet treat before bed: with honey, or a few dried apricots, prunes
wave – such as canned beans, tuna, low-so- “When your overall diet is healthy, there’s or dates with almonds or walnuts. 
If you hate to cook (or eat) big meals: dium soup, frozen veggies and frozen nothing wrong with including a small, sweet
“For some, following an eating pattern of
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HEALTHY SENIOR that directs high-energy rays into the capsules or tubes that are implanted. In mouth or injection. Systemic radiation
tumor. Most external radiation is given some cases, patients may have to be ad- often requires a brief hospital stay.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE A15 over many weeks during outpatient vis- mitted to a hospital for this procedure.
its. Implants may be left in the patient tem- Radiation therapy may be used to
more than one type of radiation is pre- porarily or permanently. treat almost every type of solid tumor
scribed. Internal radiation (also called and cancers of the blood (leukemia) and
brachytherapy) uses radioactive metal Radioactive drugs are used in system- lymphatic system (lymphoma). The type
External radiation uses a machine pellets, seeds, ribbons, wires, needles, ic radiation. These drugs can be given by of radiation used depends upon many

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circumstances, such as the type of can- It doesn’t in most cases. However, if during treatment. Permanent implants have systemic radiation. With this type
cer and its location. you undergo internal radiation therapy, give off small doses of radiation over of therapy, radioactive materials can
your body may give off a small amount weeks. The radiation usually is confined get into your body fluids. In most cas-
Radiation therapy also can be used to of radiation briefly. to the treatment area; the risk of expo- es, safety precautions must be followed
reduce pain from cancer. This is called sure to others is small. only the first few days after treatment.
palliative radiation therapy. If the radiation is in a temporary im- Over time the radiation becomes weak-
plant, you will be asked to stay in the Sometimes doctors recommend that er, and your body gets rid of it. 
Some patients wonder if radiation hospital and may have to limit visitors you protect the people around you if you
therapy makes you radioactive.





20 April 14, 2022 ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | PETS www.stlucievoice.com

Bonzo makes a new bon amie: Ashley the Frenchie

“Bone-JURR, Monsieur Bonzo! sieur Bonzo, because I have a
I just could not help myself: the
Hi Dog Buddies! world smells so lovely and the petit issue I have not, as yet, been
grass is SO nice an green, neh
I just hadda fun, fascinating innerv- say pah?” able to overcome. Chewing. I am
iew with a charming French Bulldog:
Mademoiselle Ashley Fernandez. She’s Feeling like a Dog-of-the- a Chewer. Even at my young age,
gonna be 2 in October an already she’s an World, I suavely employed half
adorable example of her breed, both her of the French words I know. I have already chewed to bits
con-for-MAY-shun an her doganality.
“Bone-JURR, Mademoiselle many, many shoes, sox, grooming
Even before the Wag-an-Sniffs, I Ashley. A pleasure, indeed,” I
learned a bit about her. First, she’s no said. (The other two are “chien” brushes, paper, hair ties, basically
timid liddle blossom. An second, she an “croissant.”)
loves car rides. I know this because, the anything unfortunate enough to
instant her Mom opened the front door, “I am TRAY excited to tell you
this little black-an-gold blur shot outta my tail!” she exclaimed. “And fall to the ground.
the house and into the yard with her please do call me Ash. This is my
Mommy hot on her tail. As she roared by I Mommy, Irina. We are each oth- “There was one time in partic-
think I heard her say something like “Aah- er’s meilleure amie! I also have
lons juwee!” a human frere and soeur, Sebas- ular: I thought it was creative but,
tian, he’s 16 in human, an Mia,
After a few spins around the yard, she’s 13. They’re TRAY FUN!” alas, Mommy didn’t share my en-
Ashley’s Mom cleverly apprehended the
speedy liddle muffin by opening the car “So, Mlle Ash,” I inquired, “how thusiasm. It involved a fresh new
door an sayin’, “Let’s go, Ash!” where- did you find your Furever Famly?”
upon Mlle. Ashley jumped into the car, roll of papier hygiénique. Holding
her Mom scooped her up, an we all went “I was ackshully a suh-prise
inside. Noel present for Mommy, all one end gently between my teeth,
decorated and waiting in all my irre-
“Humpff!” she said, as the front door sistible-ness under the Arbre de Noel. I ran from room to room, zig-
closed securely. After bestowin’ welcom- So festive! I was an adorable petit chiot.
ing bounces and kisses on my assistant, Mommy had always wanted a French ging and zagging, decorating the
she trotted over for the Wag-an-Sniff. bulldog: We are, as you can see, Forever
Cute. We always look innocent so (an I entire house. A true work of art.
do not boast, it is simply true) we usually
I wish she’d at least got a snappy

for my scrapbook.”

I stifled a laugh behind my

Ashley. paw.

“I am, as you may have no-

ticed, quite smart and, when

receive Blanket Forgiveness for whatever I was only a wee chiot, I had already

we might do, now or in the future.” figured out that, when I grabbed some-

“I can totally see that!” I said. (Her thing an wished to hide it (there are So

large sailboat ears, button nose, bright Many Things to grab), I could simply zip

eyes and charmingly smushy face were way under the bed just far enough that

definitely off the Cuteness chart.) Mommy couldn’t reach me.

“I am fortunate that is the case, Mon- “Looking back, I think perhaps I was

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the only one who found that fun. She’s seeking a refund for products she never even ordered
“I also dig,” she continued. “In my
Wendy Schlessinger receives skincare prod- an appeal are limited. You can go to court, file
view, digging goes along with chewing. ucts from Rodan + Fields that she didn’t order. a complaint with law enforcement – or you can
Mommy put sandbags around the fence Should she dispute the charges on her charge contact a consumer advocate.
so I couldn’t dig out. However, I am card? Or is there a better way to get her money
TRAY ingenious an easily overcame that back? You chose door number three.
obstacle. I didn’t think Mommy would If you’d simply returned the merchandise
know who had done it, but my face totally Q: Rodan + Fields, a skincare company, re- without filing a dispute, you would probably
covered with sand betrayed me.” cently shipped me a product I did not order. I have your money by now. But Rodan + Fields
disputed the charge on my Discover card, and checked its records and found that you still had
“What else do you do for fun? I bet you I immediately received a credit for the order. the product and reported that to Discover. And
have lotsa pooch pals,” I inquired. But after investigating my claim, Discover re- Discover sided with Rodan + Fields.
instated the charge. Then, after you sent the product back, you
“OUI! beaucoup de bons amis! I love filed another dispute. That just confused the
playin’ with them at the beach and I returned the merchandise and have con- company further, and it fought the chargeback
the dog park. There’s Bosco, anoth- firmation of a return. I also requested a full and won.
er Frenchie, an Cooper, a Lhasa apso, refund. I didn’t receive one, so I filed another I would not dispute a credit card charge until
they’re boys; an my grrrlfrens Nera, a chargeback with Discover. Again, I received a you’ve given the company every opportunity to
Cane Corso, an Cupcake, a Labradoodle. credit which was later reversed. resolve the issue. A chargeback should be your
They’re my Posse. I also sometimes sneak last option, not your first response.
over into the Big Dog section and run I called Rodan + Fields, inquiring about the status of the re- One other tip: Rodan + Fields had your credit card number and
with the Big Boys – four German Shep- fund. I received a letter via email stating the company was pro- believed that you wanted its product. Be extra careful about sub-
herds. I can totally keep up with ’em. I cessing a return. It’s been six months since the initial shipment. scriptions you have with a company, because they might send you
run right under their tummies. Ack-shully I have still not received a refund. Can you help me get my $461 products that you don’t want.
I don’t think they even know I’m there. back? I contacted Rodan + Fields on your behalf and sent the evi-
But I Don’t Care. I love flyin’ across the dence that you had returned the product. The company issued
field, my ears flappin’ in the wind! It’s A: You should get a quick refund from Rodan + Fields, but a full refund.
TRAY exciting!” there’s a reason for the delay -- all those charge card disputes!
Get help with any consumer problem by contacting
“Have you ever met any other kind of You filed two separate disputes while you tried to return the Christopher Elliott at http://www.elliott.org/help. 
pet?” I wondered. product. I’ve always referred to credit card disputes as the “nu-
clear” option. Why? Because once you start one, your options for
“Oui. Once at the beach I met this big,
unusual animal. It walked Real Slow an ‘Toxic’ dad dumped the work of mom’s hospice onto others
it didn’t have any fur either. Just this big
round hard thing on top an a SIM-uh-ler Dear Carolyn: I took sort of a
thing on the bottom. With legs sticking break from my father after my mom
out in between. An it’s head kept poppin’ died because of the way he treated
out of it to look at stuff, an then popping
back in. I went up to say bone-JURR, an CAROLYN HAX
ask it some questions, but it zipped its
head AN feet in. I found out it’s called a me during her hospice. I live close Is there any reason to make a final decision about this?
TURR-dull. Strange. to them and was glad to help out,
since my father could do nothing for You can continue, as you have done, to decide as you go
“I also met a cat one time. I thought it my mom, saying he didn’t have it in
was just a petit dog. I went up to sniff it him. It was mainly on me, some- whether there’s room in your current moment for a relation-
an it bopped me on the nose. So I don’t times my aunt and the hospice nurs-
like cats that much so far. es. I asked my brother to visit and ship with your dad. The next call, you can decide whether you
help out, and he and his girlfriend
“But, Monsieur Bonzo,” she said ear- came and treated it like a vacation. feel like answering it. The next call you screen, you can decide
nestly, “I don’t always just run around. I They never stayed with my mom for
also love dressing up. When Mommy an more than a few minutes. When I’d whether to call back or text him or just not respond. The next
I attended the Bark in the Park, I wore asked him to do anything to help, like wash his own sheets, even
my beautiful TuTu. I also wore it, and he would ignore me and my dad would say it was his vacation text, you can decide whether to respond, ignore, delete, block.
a festive pink hat, for my first birthday and couldn’t I just do it.
party. Mommy made me a duh-LISH-us Etc.
peanut budder-and-banana cake. C’est My dad never thought about me, working full time, and
delicieux! spending every night at their house. My aunt was my only relief in For sure, this can be exhausting. It’s one tough decision after
those days. I hadn’t seen him much the year after that because of
“An when I’m all pooped from playin,’ the pandemic. We finally met at my aunt’s house. I tried talking another. But you can also treat this as temporary while you
Mommy carries me home. I snuggle up to him about how he treated me and at first he denied it, but
with her to go to sleep, an dream about when my aunt backed me up, he said he was grieving and had a wait for the “right,” bigger decision to come to you.
chewin’ stuff. I am a very happy grrrl!” good reason for doing that “if he really did.” He made me the bad
guy for even bringing it up. Since you’re asking, it sounds as if you’re close but not quite
Heading home, I was pick-shurin’ Mlle.
Ash’s sweet, squishy face, an fun-loving, I was crushed and haven’t spoken to him much since then. Is there. That’s OK, nothing wrong with not being sure, and it’s
adventure-seeking enthusiasm: a great there any reason not to cut my toxic father out of my life entirely?
big doganality in a tidy liddle package. OK not to force yourself to decide once and for all.
– Crushed
Till next time, Therapy might be helpful as you process this. Especially
Crushed: Since I can’t really answer that – only you know of
The Bonz any reasons, in the end, and the greater historical context – I’m since your brother’s behavior suggests there’s a family pattern
going to answer a different question … by asking you one. (I’m
DON’T BE SHY! also not trying to be cute about it, I’m sorry): here, of entitled men dumping on the women of the family
We are always looking for pets
with interesting stories. To set (you’re female, yes?), and you’ve spent a lifetime on the wrong

up an interview, email end of it.  –­ THE WASHINGTON POST
bonzothecolumnist@gmail.com.

22 April 14, 2022 ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | REAL ESTATE www.stlucievoice.com

MORTGAGE RATES KEEP CLIMBING,
SHOW NO SIGN OF SLOWING DOWN

BY KATHY ORTON | The Washington Post to pare the central bank’s balance sheet.
The Fed holds about $9 trillion in bonds,
It has been nearly three decades since of which $2.7 trillion are mortgage-backed
mortgage rates spiked this quickly. And securities.
there’s no indication they are going to slow
down anytime soon. The consensus, according to the min-
utes, was that the Fed would shed a max-
According to the latest data released imum of $60 billion in Treasurys and $35
last Thursday by Freddie Mac, the 30-year billion in mortgage-backed securities over
fixed-rate average rose for the fifth week three months probably starting in May.
in a row to 4.72 percent with an average That pace would be about twice as fast as
0.8 point. (A point is a fee paid to a lender the last time the Fed allowed its holdings to
equal to 1 percent of the loan amount. It is roll off from 2017 to 2019.
in addition to the interest rate.) It was 4.67
percent two weeks ago and 3.13 percent a The Fed doesn’t intend to sell bonds
year ago. Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief from its portfolio. Its plan is to allow the
economist, said the 1.5 percentage point bonds to mature without reinvesting the
increase over the past three months is the principal, which it did in 2017. However, be-
fastest three-month rise since May 1994. cause of rising mortgage rates, which have
diminished refinances, the demand for
Freddie Mac, the federally chartered mortgage-backed securities has softened,
mortgage investor, aggregates rates from and the Fed may be forced to sell its mort-
about 80 lenders across the country to come gage-backed securities’ holdings “after
up with weekly national averages. The sur- balance sheet runoff was well under way,”
vey is based on home purchase mortgages. according to the minutes. Officials have
Rates for refinances may be different. It indicated the central bank would prefer to
uses rates for high-quality borrowers with hold only Treasurys.
strong credit scores and large down pay-
ments. Because of the criteria, these rates Brainard said in a speech last week that
are not available to every borrower. bringing inflation down will require a com-
bination of steady interest rate hikes plus
The 15-year fixed-rate average climbed aggressive balance sheet reduction.
to 3.91 percent with an average 0.8 point.
It was 3.83 percent two weeks ago and 2.42 “Like Einstein’s theory of relativity, when
percent a year ago. The five-year adjust- the Fed wants rapid reductions in balance
able-rate average grew to 3.56 percent with sheet holdings, the market rate of interest
an average 0.3 point. It was 3.5 percent two to consumers will have an equal and oppo-
weeks ago and 2.92 percent a year ago. site reaction and rise just as rapidly,” said
Derek Egeberg, certified mortgage plan-
“The upward movement in mortgage ning specialist at Academy Mortgage.
rates got a turbo boost this week when Fed-
eral Reserve governor Lael Brainard indi- Rising rates are having an effect on the
cated that the central bank plans to quick- spring home-buying season. Fannie Mae,
ly raise interest rates to control inflation,” which conducts a monthly survey of sen-
said Holden Lewis, home and mortgage timent toward buying a home, found con-
expert at NerdWallet. “She noted that mort- sumers are pessimistic. Asked whether
gage rates have jumped a full percentage now was a good or bad time to buy a home,
point in just a few months and made it clear 73 percent said it is a bad time to buy, a sur-
that the Fed plans to continue raising inter- vey low.
est rates this year.”
“The sharp jump in mortgage rates over
The Federal Reserve released the min- the past quarter indicates a decisive turn-
utes from its March meeting last week, ing point,” George Ratiu, manager of eco-
which showed officials discussed ways nomic research at Realtor.com, said. 

Refurbished Reserve Creek home
impresses on many levels

7289 Reserve Creek Drive in Reserve Creek in PGA Village: 3-bedroom, 3-bathroom, 2,955-square-foot pool home
offered for $1,200,000 by Diane Gault, 772-342-7455 of Lang Realty

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24 April 14, 2022 ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | REAL ESTATE www.stlucievoice.com

Refurbished Reserve Creek home impresses on many levels

BY SHELLEY KOPPEL | Columnist king Professional six-burner gas cooktop, Adjacent to the kitchen is the family
stlvoicerealestate@gmail.com and the built-in refrigerator was replaced room, a spacious 18-by-15. Your friends
in 2017. There are endless cabinets that are and family will gather here to watch the big
The house at 7289 Reserve Creek Drive chocolate-stained cherry and the pantry is game, play board games or grab a snack be-
in PGA Village is a feast for the eyes. Start- truly worthy of this gourmet’s delight. fore going to the pool. There is a den (15-4-
ing with the Jerusalem stone walkway and by-10-6) that could easily be an additional
continuing to the entrance, with its glass in- bedroom or that home office we all seem
sert front doors, you see touches of elegance to have these days. There is a cabana bath
and attention to detail. nearby.

When you step into the foyer, you step The master suite begins with the bed-
onto the newly polished marble flooring, room, a simply spectacular 18-6-by-17-7.
and as you gaze upward, you see the 12-foot There are sliders out to the patio for an
ceilings in the living and dining areas. early morning cup of coffee before begin-
ning a busy day. The master bath, with its
The home is an entertainer’s delight, floor-to-ceiling marble, has custom, dual
and that starts in the heart of the home, vanities, multiple shower features includ-
the kitchen. The room is a generous 26- ing two shower heads, body jets, hand-held
by-12, and there is an island that will seat shower and a jetted tub to relax in and enjoy
nine comfortably. It is equipped with a Vi- the private outside garden. No matter how
hard you worked or played, this is a room
in which to exhale, relax and let everything that could be shared with the second guest
slip away. There are two additional bed- room.
rooms, each 12-by-13, that has one ensuite
Outside, there is a patio (40-by-26) with a
screened, in-ground pool. The patio has the
same Jerusalem stone found on the front
walk and a summer kitchen for entertaining

CONTINUED ON PAGE 28

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FEATURES FOR 7289 RESERVE CREEK DRIVE

Neighborhood: Reserve Creek in PGA Village
Year built: 1995 • Construction: CBS
Square footage: 2,955 sq. ft.
Total square footage: 5,683 sq. ft.
Bedrooms: 3 • Bathrooms: 3
Flooring: marble
Security: manned gate, security patrol

Additional features: golf views of the 17th fairway
of Legacy Golf and Tennis Club, lot size ½ to less than
1 acre, roof replaced 2018, all 8-foot interior doors,
sliders and entry, 12-foot ceilings in living and dining
areas, pool with auto-chlorinator, equipment includ-

ed, furniture negotiable
Community amenities: basketball, clubhouse, fitness

center, game room, golf course, library, pickleball,
picnic area, playground, putting green, tennis
Listing brokerage: Lang Realty

Listing broker/associate: Diane Gault, 772-342-7455
Listing price: $1,200,000

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26 April 14, 2022 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

An extraordinary fortnight of real estate sales in Tradition and St. Lucie West saw 73 transac-
tions of single-family residences and lots reported (some shown below).
The top recent sale was of the residence at 10120 Bay Tree Court. First listed in December for
$1,150,000, this 4-bedroom, 4-bathroom home fetched $1,200,009 on March 28.
Representing the seller in the transaction was agent Linda MacCormack of Lang Realty. Repre-
senting the buyer was agent Brooke Brooks of Berkshire Hathaway Florida Realty.

SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENCES AND LOTS SELLING
ORIGINAL PRICE

TOWN ADDRESS LISTED ASKING PRICE SOLD $1,200,009
$995,000
PORT SAINT LUCIE 10120 BAY TREE COURT 12/16/2021 $1,150,000 3/28/2022 $952,500
PORT SAINT LUCIE 547 NW HAZARD WAY 1/5/2022 $1,100,000 4/6/2022 $906,250
PORT SAINT LUCIE 9630 FAIRWOOD COURT 1/27/2022 $999,000 4/1/2022 $800,000
PORT SAINT LUCIE 1151 SW GREENBRIAR COVE 11/5/2021 $1,050,000 3/28/2022 $767,500
PORT SAINT LUCIE 15346 NAVION DRIVE 8/19/2021 $889,900 4/4/2022 $730,000
SAINT LUCIE WEST 7921 LINKS WAY 2/10/2022 $724,900 3/30/2022 $705,000
PORT SAINT LUCIE 7901 LINKS WAY 1/11/2022 $750,000 4/6/2022 $699,500
PORT SAINT LUCIE 8813 ONE PUTT PLACE 3/24/2022 $699,900 4/8/2022 $687,532
PORT SAINT LUCIE 11719 SW APPLE BLOSSOM TRAIL 1/31/2022 $699,500 3/31/2022 $680,000
PORT SAINT LUCIE 11959 SW VANO WAY 10/29/2021 $687,532 3/28/2022 $670,000
PORT SAINT LUCIE 11807 SW CORONADO SPRINGS DR 2/8/2022 $659,000 3/28/2022 $665,000
PORT SAINT LUCIE 12034 SW BAYBERRY AVENUE 1/14/2022 $679,500 3/28/2022
PORT SAINT LUCIE 11784 SW SAILFISH ISLES WAY 2/14/2022 $675,000 4/4/2022

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

547 NW Hazard Way, Port Saint Lucie 9630 Fairwood Court, Port Saint Lucie

Listing Date: 1/5/2022 Listing Date: 1/27/2022
Original Price: $1,100,000 Original Price: $999,000
Sold: 4/6/2022 Sold: 4/1/2022
Selling Price: $995,000 Selling Price: $952,500
Listing Agent: Doreen Judge Listing Agent: AnnMarie Napolitano

Selling Agent: Florida Living Realty Selling Agent: Keller Williams Realty

Doreen Judge Kay Rodriguez

Florida Living Realty Lang Realty

1151 SW Greenbriar Cove, Port Saint Lucie 15346 Navion Drive, Port Saint Lucie

Listing Date: 11/5/2021 Listing Date: 8/19/2021
Original Price: $1,050,000 Original Price: $889,900
Sold: 3/28/2022 Sold: 4/4/2022
Selling Price: $906,250 Selling Price: $800,000
Listing Agent: Susan Maxwell Listing Agent: Jennifer Wycoki

Selling Agent: RE/MAX of Stuart - Palm City Selling Agent: LoKation

Lisa Lowi Lawrence Caputo

Coldwell Banker Realty Home Advisors

28 April 14, 2022 ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | REAL ESTATE www.stlucievoice.com

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 25 finest of finishes and designed with enter- where friends and family will gather. That it
taining in mind, both indoors and out,” she looks out to the 17th fairway of the George
inside or out. The griller in the family will said. “From the gourmet kitchen, equipped Fazio-designed, members-only Legacy Golf
reign supreme as you eat al fresco, looking with a Viking Professional six-burner gas and Tennis Club, a short golf cart away,
out at golf views. cooktop, to a beautiful wet bar with its crys- makes it ideal. With the timeless finishes as
tal vessel sink, wine chiller and ice maker, to a perfect canvas, it would be an easy task to
For Diane Gault, broker/associate with the summer kitchen, with a Big Green Egg, create a home to suit your preferences and
Lang Realty, this property is casual elegance gas grill and side burners, this is a home make it your own.” 
at its best.

“This home has been refurbished with the

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30 April 14, 2022 ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | REAL ESTATE www.stlucievoice.com

DID YOUR HOUSE EARN MORE THAN YOU DID IN 2021?

BY MICHELE LERNER | The Washington Post outpace residential real estate appreci- Other markets where the median sal- City, Birmingham, Omaha, New Orleans,
ation. In the Washington, D.C., area, the ary was higher than the median home and Kansas City (Missouri and Kansas).
Soaring home values are thrilling for median home appreciation was $56,163, price appreciation include Chicago,
homeowners who can watch their wealth while the median wage was $75,000 in 2021, Houston, Philadelphia, Baltimore, De- The markets with the lowest home
increase without lifting a finger. A new $18,837 higher than the home value growth. troit, Minneapolis, St. Louis, Oklahoma price appreciation relative to median
study by Zillow found that home price salaries in 2021 were Detroit, St. Louis
appreciation in 25 metro areas last year and Baltimore. However, even in St. Lou-
exceeded the median salary in those lo- is, which had the smallest home value
cations. growth among the 38 markets analyzed,
the median home value grew by $27,000.
According to Zillow’s study, the me-
dian home value growth was more than For renters and home buyers, rent in-
$100,000 in 11 of the 38 major metro areas creases and rapid price appreciation are
analyzed by the researchers. The amount less than rosy news. Nationally, annual
of price appreciation was highest in high- rent payments grew by more than $3,000
cost housing markets, with San Jose top- between December 2020 and December
ping the list with a median growth of 2021, according to Zillow, and the median
$229,277 between December 2020 and down payment increased by more than
December 2021, according to Zillow. The $10,000.
median salary in San Jose was $93,000
in 2021. That means homes in San Jose Rents rose 16 percent across the United
earned $136,277 more than the average States in 2021 and in some markets such
worker there. as Miami, Phoenix and Las Vegas, rents
rose by more than 25 percent in one year.
Nationally, the median house appreci- The median rental rose $7,104 annually in
ation was $52,667 in 2021, which is $2,667 Miami, $4,644 in Phoenix and $4,380 in
more than the median salary of $50,000. Las Vegas. Rising rents make it more diffi-
cult to save for a down payment.
The 10 markets with the widest gap be-
tween home price appreciation and me- At the same time, since down payments
dian salaries include San Jose, San Fran- are typically a percentage of the purchase
cisco, San Diego, Honolulu, Los Angeles, price, the amount needed for a down pay-
Boise, Seattle, Salt Lake City, Phoenix and ment has increased along with home val-
Riverside, Calif. ues, putting homeownership further out
of reach for many renters. 
In some markets, wages continued to

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Due diligence before putting your name on your parents’ deed

BY ILYCE GLINK & SAMUEL J. TAMKIN | The Washington Post fails to pay what is due the lender. property will pass to you upon their death, co-owners with your parents. If you take
If you’re listed on the mortgage note, we avoiding probate. this route, you’ll have to talk to an accoun-
Q: I purchased a home for my parents and tant or estate planner to see whether taking
was named on the mortgage along with my suspect that you’re also on title and are an You could also add your names to the ti- title to the home at this time will be con-
parents’ names even though I was the one owner of the home. If that’s true, then you tle today (assuming you’re not on title) and sidered a gift from your parents to you or
making the payments. My husband and I re- and your husband co-own the property make sure you own the property as joint whether you paid for the home over time as
cently paid the home off but realized that we with your parents. tenants with rights of survivorship. That you paid down the mortgage.
aren’t on the deed because they are receiving way, when one of your parents dies, the
homestead exemption. You mentioned that your parents receive other owners would automatically receive It can be complicated to go into the in-
a homestead exemption. In most states, that person’s share of the home. But that tricacies here. Suffice to say that when you
I’m not sure if we should be added to homeowners can only receive a home- may set you up for a taxable event, which sell the home down the line, you could
the deed or if we should create a trust and stead exemption if they live in that home we’ll discuss shortly. have a real tax problem if you don’t do your
name beneficiaries. Do you have an opin- as their primary residence. That does not homework now.
ion as to how we can best protect our fi- mean that they must be the sole owner of You can also keep the arrangement as
nancial interest? the home, but that the taxing authority will it is, and make sure your parents write On the other hand, if you don’t own the
only give that tax benefit to a property that valid wills specifying that you and your property when your parents die, you will
A: We get variations of this question is occupied by an owner as their primary husband are to receive their interest in the inherit the home at its market value as
quite often. Often, the question comes af- residence. property. If, by chance, you’re not on title, of the day of their death. And if you then
ter a parent has quitclaimed the property keeping the status quo won’t prevent your move into the property as your prima-
to a child or if there is a second home. So, So, if you and your husband become the parents from selling the property before ry residence, and live there for two years,
we’re happy you asked about this before sole owners of the home, but you don’t live they die and doing something else with you would be eligible to sell and take up to
signing documents. there, the homestead exemption would no the cash. It also won’t prevent them from $500,000 in profits tax free (assuming cur-
longer be available. However, as long as taking out a home-equity loan or reverse rent tax law doesn’t change).
Here’s our first question: Can you verify you and your husband co-own the home mortgage.
whether you are actually listed on title or with your parents, and your parents occu- There may be other options for trans-
only on the mortgage? py the property as their primary residents, While these solutions seem simple, there ferring ownership of the property. To find
they can continue to get the homestead ex- may be a secondary issue relating to feder- out which is the best way to go, you and
It’s rare for a person to be listed on a emption. al and state income taxes. If you and your your husband should sit down with an
mortgage and not be included on the title husband aren’t already on title, adding your estate attorney. Go over the current own-
to the property. When a lender provides What are your options? That depends on names to title would set your financial inter- ership structure of the property as well as
financing, the lender must ensure that what the goal is. If you want to make sure est in the property as of the day you’re added. your plans for it now and in the future. You
all individuals listed on the mortgage are you receive ownership of your parents’ in- should also discuss how to protect your fi-
also on the deed. Absent the signature of terest when they die, you can put the prop- If neither you or your husband are on nancial interest in the event you are not
all the owners, the lender may be unable erty into a trust that names you and your the title to the home, you can add one or on title. 
to foreclose on the property if the owner husband as the beneficiaries. Then, the both of your names to the title and become



34 April 14, 2022 ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | REAL ESTATE www.stlucievoice.com

What home documents you should try to scan now

BY ILYCE GLINK & SAMUEL J. TAMKIN | The Washington Post title company gives you at the closing: Your insurance coverage. I am a Realtor. cold water, obviously not hot water.
mortgage documents, closing statement I always encourage buyers to add ILYCE AND SAM RESPOND: Thanks for
Q: With all of the recent climate-related and other paperwork you signed. If you’re a term to the contract requesting
catastrophes, we increasingly hear that we given warranties for a new home or appli- meeting minutes from at least the your comment. You are correct. We checked
should have copies of important documents ances, you can scan those in as well (or, at past six months. Super important. a local home improvement store’s website
just in case it all burns down or floats away. least the page that has the numbers on it). Also, I never knew about being able and found the following options: commer-
But we can’t copy everything! to insure against some special assess- cial water heaters, tank water heaters, elec-
Keeping these documents well-organized ments. Thanks for keeping readers tric tank water heaters, gas tank water heat-
What is the most important document to in the cloud will serve you well over time. You well-informed. ers, commercial tank water heaters, hybrid
have in hand/access to regarding one’s real can start a house file and keep these, plus water heaters, and more water heaters in
estate? I’m thinking about the title, deed, scanned copies of your tax return and other ILYCE AND SAM RESPOND: tankless varieties.
deed of trust, mortgage pay-off letter, proof important documents, safe. Just make sure There is a lot of innovation going on
of ownership. And does this change if there is you use an extremely strong password that in the real estate space, but some To your point, there were no hot water
a mortgage on that property? contains a lot of letters, numbers and symbols. things are constant: Always look at heaters for sale. 
condo or co-op financials (and at
I guess what I’m asking is this: Is there You should also have a scanned copy of least a year’s worth of meeting min-
such a thing as a real estate “go” bag? a recent mortgage statement so that you utes) before you buy the property.
have your current loan balance, lender You will find out a lot about what
A: Twenty years ago, we might have an- phone number and loan account number. priorities the building board has and
swered this question by suggesting that our It won’t hurt to have a copy of your home- how decisions are made. Glad you
correspondent copy all relevant documents owners insurance policy along with photo- found that helpful.
and put them into a lock box in a bank. The graphs or video of your home’s exterior and
idea being those documents would be safe photos and videos of the interior of your But remember that the special assess-
and secure there. home. Should your home be a total loss due ment insurance coverage is only for items
to a tornado, hurricane or flood, you’ll want covered under the terms of that policy,
Today, it’s a lot easier to simply scan your ample evidence of what your home looked and it won’t cover you for maintenance,
important papers (not to mention photo- like and all of the personal property you improvements and other common special
graphs) and create a cloud-based storage owned that was in the home. assessments. Only perils that were not cov-
system. You can duplicate those scanned ered under the association’s insurance cov-
documents and keep copies in other places Best of all, the cloud makes this informa- erage may be permitted. For more details
in the cloud as well, creating a backup sys- tion accessible wherever you are, from a va- read our recent column.
tem in case one cloud goes down or is oth- riety of devices.
erwise destroyed. COMMENT: A water heater is not
COMMENT: I very much appreciated called a hot water heater because it heats
What should you scan? Start with the exe- your article discussing special assessment
cuted copies of everything your attorney or

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fun, food SECTION
festivities
THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 2022 YOUR INDEPENDENT LOCAL COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER

Rollin’ with
the ‘River’!

Wayne Nelson, Bruce Wallace and the Little River Band perform
at the MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Event Center last Saturday
as part of the We Love Lucie Concert Series. Fans Keith and
Jennifer Davis, inset, came away from the show with their
album autographed by members of the veteran group.

PHOTOS: LINDA KLOORFAIN

Coming Up! Treasure Coast Youth Symphony in the spotlight at the Lyric

BY PAM HARBAUGH | Correspondent la, playing a select movement 7827 or visit LyricTheatre.com. 117 S. 2nd St., Fort Pierce. Tickets able food items to the booth run by
from Weiniawski’s Violin Con- start at $82.75. Call 772-461-4775 Keep Port St. Lucie Beautiful and
1 The Treasure Coast Youth certo. No. 2. Conductors will be 2 The rock band Kansas or visit SunriseTheatre.com. the Treasure Coast Foo Bank. This
Symphony performs its John Enyart, the organization’s comes to town with its con- is part of the KPSLB Appreciation
spring concert with works by founder, Thomas Servinsky, the cert, “Point of Know Return.” The 3 Get a free ticket to the base- Night festivities. Gates open 5:30
Ravel, Borodin and Saint-Saëns 7 managing conductor and Benja- iconic progressive rock band had ball game this evening, April p.m., the game begins 6:10 p.m. at
p.m. Monday, April 18 at the Lyric min Enyart. Tickets start at $20. the smash hit “Dust in the wind.” 14, when the St. Lucie Mets play the Clover Park, 31 Piazza Dr. Port St.
Theatre. Featured performer will The Lyric Theatre is at 29 SW The performance is 8 p.m. Fri- Clearwater Threshers. To get that Lucie. Call 772-873-5103.
be the Concerto Competition Flagler Ave., Stuart. Call 772-286- day, April 22 at Sunrise Theatre, free ticket, bring two nonperish-
winner, violinist Zahava Misshu- CONTINUED ON PAGE B16

2 April 14, 2022 ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | ARTS www.stlucievoice.com

TEN-SATIONAL! STUNNING PERFORMANCES AT
RISING STARS OPERA FESTIVAL

Shaina Martinez. Eleomar Cuello. Greer Lyle. Brittany Olivia Logan.

Arianna Rodriguez. Tim Murray. Jose Romero. Murella Parton.

BY SAMANTHA BAITA | Correspondent the operatic stage, according to Opera
News. Capozzo brought his ‘A’ game to
Ten of the most exciting young voices bear with the Prince’s Aria from Antonín
Dvořák’s “Rusalka.”
in opera thrilled a sophisticated audi-
With regal bearing, channeling a diva
ence recently at the Vero Beach High from the golden age of opera, California
native Brittany Olivia Logan took the
School Performing Arts Center as Vero stage and immediately owned it, bring-
ing her rich soprano to “Io son L’umile
OPERA Beach Opera’s herald- ancella” from Francesco Cilea’s “Adriana
ed Rising Stars 2022 Lecouvreur.”

REVIEW Competition culmi- Jongwon Han, from Seoul, South
nated in the Rising Korea, stunned with his powerful and
commanding bass as he delivered “Riez,
Stars Opera Festival Concert. Alez, Riez” from “Don Quichotte” by
Jules Massenet. A host of Bravos ensued.
When the lauded Vero Beach Opera
Georgia native Greer Lyle, noted by
began its Rising Stars competition in Voce di Meche for her “pure vowels and
fine vibrato,” brought a fine soprano and
2013, singers were chosen from applica- engaging acting range to “Dove sono i
bei momenti” from Mozart’s comedic
tions they submitted. Today, the com- “Le Nozze di Figaro.”

petition is solely by invitation. This year Eleomar Cuello, a native of Havana,
Cuba, brought a strong baritone and
10 young singers competed, each a 2021 extensive stage experience to the emo-
tional “Per me Guinto … O Carlo ascolta”
MET Opera audition winner at some Ryan Capozzo. Jongwon Han. from “Don Carlo” by Verdi, presenting a
fine dramatic range with great passion,
level, and each truly a Rising Star. national semifinalist in the Metropoli- as she dazzled with “Regnava del silen- and receiving appreciative bravos.
tan Opera National Council Auditions, zio” from Donizetti’s dark and dramatic
On the minimally adorned stage, returned to launch the evening. “Lucia di Lammermoor.” A powerful vocal presence (and a sar-

competition accompanist Jared Peroune The Cuban-American soprano has The first finalist to take the stage was
performed throughout the U.S., and soprano Murella Parton. Charming
sat at an elegant grand piano before a recently made her international debut as and animated, she displayed vocal and
the titular character in Vincenzo Bellini’s emotional range as Blanche, performing
backdrop of twinkling stars. Peroune, a “Norma,” with Musica Viva (Hong Kong). “I Want Magic” from André Previn’s “A
Streetcar Named Desire.”
Doctor of Musical Arts student in collab- Glowing in deep blue satin, Domin-
guez’s “gorgeous crystalline highs and Ryan Capozzo, a tenor from New York,
orative piano at Miami University, has powerful mid-range” were on full display has been “generating genuine drama” on

performed and collaborated extensively

throughout South Florida, Europe and

his hometown of Georgetown, Guyana.

Before the finalists took the stage,

soprano Meryl Dominguez, first place

winner of last year’s competition and a

To Advertise (772-633-1115) ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | ARTS April 14, 2022 3

torial standout with curly the MET Open Audition IKEBANA DEVOTEE FINDS BEAUTY,
SERENITY IN ZEN-LIKE FLORAL ART
dark hair and beard, Top Ten in the national

shiny gray tuxedo jacket, for 2021; the rest were

black ruffled shirt, black winners in MET U.S.

boutonniere) with con- regionals and districts.

siderable acting ability, The three jurists were

tenor Jose Romero, a more than up to the

native of Buenos Aires, daunting task, with years BY DEBBIE TIMMERMANN | Correspondent worked passionately ARTIST
on the various levels PROFILE
moved effortlessly about of rich experience among As Elaine Sigler’s husband tells it, of this spiritual floral
she met the other love of her life in
the stage as he sang “E la them: jury president, 2002, when she discovered Ikebana, the
ancient Japanese art of flower arranging,
Solita Storia del Pastore” VBO artistic advisor (and at an exhibit at the Japanese Embassy in art that dates to the
Ottawa, Canada.
from “L’Arlesiana” by First Place: Jongwon Han. operatic baritone) Roman seventh century, has its roots in Zen
Francesco Cilea. Ortega-Cowan; Gregory Splitting time between Canada and
Vero Beach, Sigler has since studied and Buddhism, and was originally practiced

Shaina Martinez im- Buchalter, Varna Interna- by Japanese warrior samurais.

pressively brought what the Washington tional and Metropolitan Opera conduc- Ikebana is a philosophical, Zen-like

Post described as a “piercing, muscular tor; and Randall Romig, chairman of way of arranging flowers, with the objec-

soprano” to one of opera’s most beloved, Metropolitan Opera Auditions Southeast tive to make flowers “come

longest and challenging arias, “Sem- Region. After two long, grueling days of alive” with materials that

pre Libera” from “La Traviata” by Verdi. competition, winners were announced at are living, but not perma-

Bravas followed. the conclusion of the concert. nent. As the flower opens,

Baritone Tim Murray exuded charm, The top three prizes from competi- each stage shows a different

acting chops and a fine baritone as he tion sponsor, the Kleinschmidt Family beauty.

performed “Kogna by zhizn domashnim Foundation: First Place, $10,000, Jong- Of more than 3,000

krugom” from Tchaikovsky’s “Eugene won Han; Second Place, $5,000, Brittany different schools of Ikebana

Onegin.” Olive Logan; and Third Place, $3,000, in the world (most in Japan),

Soprano Arianna Rodriguez gave Jose Romero. the two most popular in the

voice to the courtesan Magda in “Chi Other awards included the $3,000 West are the Ohara and Sgō et-

il bel sogno di Doretta,” from Puccini’s Sergio Franchi Music Foundation Spe- su schools.

“La Rondine,” doing justice to Puccini’s cial Award, to Dominguez, in continued Sigler says she gravitated

soaring phrases and floating top notes. support of her operatic career; Cuello to Sgō etsu, the most modern

From such an exceptionally gifted, received a $2,000 Encouragement Award of the disciplines.

experienced group the Vero Beach Opera from the Harold and Elma Johnson She explains that the ba-

jury faced the challenge of choosing the Foundation. sic design principles of Ike-

top three best of the best. bana must be understood

Of the 10 competitors, four – Han, For more information, visit Vero Ikebana artist Elaine Sigler. PHOTO: KAILA JONES CONTINUED ON PAGE B4

Logan, Parton and Murray – were in BeachOpera.org. 

4 April 14, 2022 ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | ARTS www.stlucievoice.com

IKEBANA ARTIST the artform, that weaves and interweaves begins. Akane Teshigahara, the current and art form, it took Sigler seven years to qualify
the numerous and strict curriculum and fourth lemoto (a title often inherited or a for a teacher. With eight levels of teaching
CONTINUED FROM PAGE B3 principles, and brings in a spiritual aspect to designated role within the founder’s fam- certification, she has attained the Teach-
the craft. ily), is the granddaughter of Sofu, and the er Diploma 2nd Grade Jonin Sanyo, and
before you can put together a successful daughter of Sofu’s son, Hiroshi, who was the recently submitted her credentials for 1st
arrangement. While different schools have In 1927, Sofu Teshigahara founded the third lemoto. The second lemoto was Sofu’s Grade Somu.
different ideas, there are some constant Sgō etsu School, becoming its first lemoto. He daughter.
principles throughout them all, the first felt that flowers become human in Ikebana, Sigler’s title of Sensi (teacher) and a
being the principle of nature. How the artist that the heart of a person who arranges in Akane Teshigahara adds that Sgō etsu Ike- Japanese name of Seiki was conferred on
views nature is how the arrangement comes Ikebana is reflected directly in that work, bana’s popularity draws out the freedom of her by the Sgō etsu School of Ikebana at their
about in reality. and Ikebana becomes that person. He also expression in each individual, always new, Foundation Headquarters, in Akasaka,
believed that from the moment you choose always beautiful, and never constrained by Minato-ku, Tokyo, where the basic skills are
After being swept away by the beauty to express something with a piece of flower preconception. taught, celebrated and exhibited.
of Ikebana, Sigler discovered that this art in your hand, a world of your own creation
form helped her to unwind after a busy day After studying the specific levels of this She says she is constantly learning new
running her own company as a communi- techniques and experimenting with differ-
cations consultant, where she worked with ent materials, finding that Vero’s sub-tropi-
not-for-profit and government clients. Now cal climate has introduced a wonderful new
retired, she continues to practice Ikebana set of challenges.
because of the joy and focus it provides.
Her work has been exhibited at both the
“At first I broke a lot of branches,” Sigler National Art Gallery and the Museum of
admits. But over time, with patience and a Nature in the U.S., at the Embassy of Japan
better understanding of the materials, she in Ottawa, Canada’s Museum of Nature, and
says her stress would melt away as she con- the National Gallery of Canada.
centrated on the creation at hand.
As a participant in the Art in Bloom
Ikebana’s three main elements – lines, exhibition at the Vero Beach Museum of Art
volume (used to add depth and weight to an since 2013, she won Best Use of Texture for
arrangement) and focal point – are consis- her interpretation of the Charles Burchfield
tent in all the various schools. In addition, painting this year, the Best Use of Texture
Ikebana makes use of positive and negative for her interpretation of a Judith Leiber bag
space, the relationship between the physical in 2019, and the Curator’s Choice Award
elements of the arrangement, and the emp- for an arrangement depicting a John Marin
ty space in the gaps of physical elements. painting in 2017.

To a novice, it is somewhat like flower “When you hear a symphony orchestra,
arranging on steroids – not in the size of see a dance or a painting, they evoke an
the arrangements, though they can be emotion,” says Sigler. Similarly, as in the Art
quite large if outdoors, but in the fabric of in Bloom interpretations, she says, “it makes
you see beyond the painting.”

To Advertise (772-633-1115) ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | ARTS April 14, 2022 5

The actual materials used in an arrange- ly to bamboo branches – often emphasizes it will fit into its surroundings.” plishment when her classes whet people’s
ment are generally just two or three plant the simplicity of the materials; a line of a Sigler, who teaches classes in Vero Beach appetites to explore the art form further.
varieties and can include live and dried branch, the color of a single flower, or a new
plant material, as well as non-traditional bud, and its contrast with the container. and Canada, continues to take classes her- And when she visits a friend for dinner,
objects such as ribbon, recycled water bot- self to expand her knowledge of this esoteric the requisite bottle of wine or box of choc-
tles, metal wires, cellophane, even the odd She adds that occasionally paint is used art form. She says there is a contingent of olates is usually left at home. Instead, she
hubcap. in an arrangement. Ikebanists in Melbourne, where she furthers brings an Ikebana arrangement.
her studies when in Florida.
The branch material – anything from hol- “It is really important to know where “It introduces beauty into your home,”
the arrangement will be placed and how Sigler says she feels a sense of accom- says Sigler. 

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6 April 14, 2022 ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | ARTS www.stlucievoice.com

‘The Importance of Being Earnest’: A.C.T. plays its comedic Wilde card

BY SHELLEY KOPPEL | Staff Writer PHOTO COURTESY OF A.C.T STUDIO THEATRE some point. There is accumulated wisdom
shelley@stlucievoice.com and you have to understand how intense
Shauna Stone as Gwendolen and Megan Pollak as Cecily rehearse for “The Importance of Being Earnest.” keeping up appearances can be. The other
“The Importance of Being Earnest” is thing I like is that she’s very proper, but a
Oscar Wilde’s best-loved play and it also not approving of their kids’ choices and kids ater for a woman of, well, mature years, Lady little mischievous and devious. She wants
served as Wilde’s Waterloo. The Marquess going against parents, and inheritances you Bracknell. the money, the best for her daughter and
of Queensberry was upset that Wilde was didn’t get and should have. There is mistak- the bottom of all mysteries. She’s a control
having an affair with his son and planned en and double identity.” “Lady Bracknell is a typical dowager freak. She wants to make sure her daugh-
to ruin the play’s opening night. Wilde got and it’s a wonderful role for an older lady ter, Gwendolen’s, suitor has money and she
wind of it and had Queensberry banned The play has one of the great roles in the- actor,” Condon said. “I’d love to play it at drills him on where he got it and who he
and then sued him for libel. In court, the is. You need to see the inquisition of Lady
news of Wilde’s homosexuality became Bracknell to Lord Jack.”
public and he was arrested, tried and con-
victed of gross indecency and sentenced to While the play does not have a lot of
two years of hard labor. The play, which had physical comedy, timing and innuendo are
been a success, closed. important.

Wilde’s revenge has been complete: The “Lady Bracknell has a few facial expres-
play has been revived many times since its sions that will let the audience know what
1895 opening and has been filmed three her thoughts are,” Condon said. “She always
times. A.C.T. Studio Theatre in Stuart will looks like she’s smelling something bad.”
present the comedy April 22-24, April 29-
30 and May 1, and director Heidi Condon Lady Bracknell is played by Clelia Patrizio
spoke recently about why she wanted to and Condon is pleased with her choice.
direct the work.
“She is a fantastic actress and we are
“It’s a very across-the-ages English com- lucky to have her,” Condon said.
edy,” she said. “It appeals to all age groups. I
love the English comedies with their sophis- Jack Worthing is played by David Tan-
ticated humor and cleverness. My mother ner, whom Condon noted had done many
was English and introduced me to English shows at A.C.T.
comedies and I appreciate them. I thought
this was clever and it definitely does cover “The spinster Miss Prism, played by
the battle of the generations, with parents Kristal Eckhardt, and the Rector, Dr.
Chasuble, played by Saul Bronstein, have
a tension-loaded, ongoing unrequited
love. They flirt with one another and the

To Advertise (772-633-1115) ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | PEOPLE April 14, 2022 7

sexual tension is funny.” has appeared in local theaters and spent Free
Rounding out the cast are Sean Birkett as 14 years as the assistant artistic director for Admission
the Florida Renaissance Festival, where she
Algernon Moncrieff, David Pierce in sever- also doubled as a wench. Now almost ex- Team Miranda Strong, Inc.
al roles, Shauna Stone as Gwendolen and clusively a director, she staged “Nunsense” Presents
Megan Pollak as Cecily. at the Treasure Coast Theatre in January
and writes, directs and produces the mAR- “Bee Well” Health & Wellness Expo
Costumes for a period piece can be a Ties awards show for the Arts Council of April 23, 2022 10am - 3pm
challenge and Condon says she has a few Martin County. This year, it will take place
things put away in her own collection. She is in November at the Lyric Theatre. Port St. Lucie Community Center
always on the lookout. 2195 SW Airoso Blvd
Next up for A.C.T. is “Anyone for Murder?”
“I have some costumes I got at Goodwill,” which will be presented in May. • Free healthy cooking demo by Florida
she said. “I found an embroidered bolero Health Department
jacket and a skirt that matched, although A.C.T. Studio Theatre, 2399 SE Ocean
they were not being sold together. We’ll call Blvd., Stuart, presents “The Importance of Be- • Educational Workshops including oral hygiene,
around to different theaters. The theater ing Earnest” April 22-24, April 29-30 and May nutrition, CPR demonstration, proper usage of
gods always make it work.” 1. Call 772-932-8880 or visit www.actstudio- inhalers/epi-pens, healthy meal choices & more.
theatre.com. 
Condon, who has lived on the Treasure • Story time & Character appearance for the kids!
Coast since 2004, had performed in dinner
theater and summer stock up north. She Asthma & Allergy Doctor Lecture

Victory’s in the bag for DDS4vets team!

Receive a free raffle ticket for every 3 healthy food donation items,
including free appetizer from Texas Roadhouse, to benefit
Treasure Coast Food Bank

PHOTOS: LINDA KLOORFAIN Clockwise from above left, Katelyn Dermody Pediatric
Cristaldi, 16, Angel Roberston and Dentistry & Orthodontics
Dale Marie Sarasin participate on
the DDS4Vets team in the Hope Berger, Toombs, Elam, Gaines & Frank
Lives Foundation 4th Annual
Cornhole Tournament last Saturday FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT
at the Trident Golf Club in Port St.
Lucie. The foundation supports and 772.201.3636
strengthens community organi-
zations that serve children and Team Miranda Strong Is A 501 (C) 3 Non Profit Agency. A Copy Of Our Official Registration And Financial Information
families on the Treasure Coast and May Be Obtained From The Division Of Consumer Services By Calling
in Okeechobee County. 
Toll-Free 1-800-Helpfla, Or Via The Internet At Www.floridaconsumerhelp.com.
Ch# 31954 Registration Does Not Imply Endorsement, Approval, Or Recommendation By The State.

8 April 14, 2022 ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | PEOPLE www.stlucievoice.com

EXPECT LOTS OF OOHS AND AWE AT ANNUAL ‘SAFETY FEST’

BY PATRICK McCALLISTER | Correspondent 31 Piazza Dr., St. Lucie West, from 9 a.m. to 2 zoom in at 12:30 p.m. FILE PHOTO
p.m. There will be demonstrations every half Or course, demon-
The eighth annual St. Lucie County Safety hour from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Other organizations that will be meeting
Festival will put the boom in the room, but strations aren’t all at- with folks and talking about what they do
that’s not why the kids will be running. Among them will be the Port St. Lucie Po- tendees will get. “We’ve will be the St. Lucie County Public Safety’s
lice Department’s K-9s, at 10 a.m., followed got static displays from Division of Emergency Management, SAFER
On Saturday, April 30, at about 10:30 a.m. by the Sheriff’s Office’s K-9s at 11 a.m. “The all the first responders,” St. Lucie, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Com-
the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office’s SWAT K-9s are a big feature,” Farrell said. “People remarked Farrell. And mission, Florida Department of Health, the
team will rescue hostages at Clover Park. love to see those animals come out. It’s amaz- the Safety Festival is Coast Guard Auxiliary, American Red Cross,
ing to me what these K-9 teams can do.” bringing back a favor- and others. “You can pick any department,
“It’s a big, big display with all the various ite. “We have Touch-a- any unit out there and be amazed at what
aspects of a hostage rescue going on,” said The police department’s SWAT team will Truck, so kids – and they have to keep us safe,” said Farrell.
Douglas Farrell, event organizer. “It’s pretty take the stage at 11:30 a.m. The Sheriff’s dads – can climb up,” Farrell said. “We’ve got
dramatic. They’re pretty impressive.” Office’s bomb disposal team will show how a free kids zone with five bounce houses, face And attendees will have a chance to help
they do their dangerous work at noon, then painters and a bunch of activities.” keep others safer.
The SWAT demonstration time is subject the police department’s motorcycle cops
to change between press time and event day. New this year is the Wharton-Smith Fun “OneBlood will also be on site if anybody
The Safety Festival will be at Clover Park, at Run. Sign-in starts at 7:30 a.m. The 2K run wants to donate blood,” Farrell said.
launches at 8 a.m. The walk-up registration
Keep Port St Lucie Beautiful is $25. “That’s a fundraiser for the Education The Safety Festival will give out 1,000 tick-
Foundation of St. Lucie County,” said Farrell. ets to St. Lucie Mets games. “There’ll be tons
Caring Community Cleanup Day “It is a color fun run. They’ll be splashing col- of give-aways out there and free information
ors on the kids.” from the vendors,” said Farrell.

The colors in fact will be washable, corn For more information, visit slcsafetyfest.
starch-based temporary paint. Still, runners com. 
might want to show up in older sportswear.

This will be a non-sanctioned run, but
there will be prizes. More on the Whar-
ton-Smith Fun Run is at education
foundationstlucie.org.

Also new this year will be an appearance
by the Florida Forest Service. “They’re go-
ing to be on location with a bunch of their
equipment,” said Farrell.

KPSLB@cityofpsl.com
772-871-5103

Saturday April 30, 2022
7:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

Check-in and meet and greet. Breakfast items will be provided by Walmart.
Please wear closed-toed shoes.
Lunch will be provided by Nature’s Keeper.
MIDFLORIDA Event Center, 9221 SE Event Center Place,
Port St. Lucie, FL 34952

www.C i t y o f P SL .C O M / Cl e a nu p

To Advertise (772-633-1115) ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | PEOPLE April 14, 2022 9

THE SCRAMBLE IS ON! HEY KIDS,
15,000 EGGS NEED TO BE FOUND

BY PATRICK McCALLISTER | Correspondent well,” said Schoen. Those include four
age-appropriate bicycles and Easter bas-
The Easter Bunny’s hoppin’ into Port kets. The winning eggs have certificates in
St. Lucie to leave more than 15,000 eggs at them. All others have candies and some
Whispering Pines Park this Saturday, and toys.
the City of Port St. Lucie will need a bunch
of kids to get out there and find them. When the children are done finding
eggs, the Easter Bunny will double back to
Yes, it’s time for the city’s annual Egg- spend some time with them. Parents can
stravaganza. get photos of their children with EB.

“It starts at 9 a.m. sharp,” said recre- “We do play some Easter music
ation supervisor David Schoen, who also throughout the event,” Schoen said. “Eas-
had a tip for families: “Please make sure ter Bunny-approved music. He always
you arrive by 9 a.m. We start sharply at 9 picks the ‘Bunny Hop.’”
a.m. Parking does get congested.”
Easter is a holiday that combines nu-
And, “please bring a basket or bag to merous cultural traditions reaching back
collect the eggs,” added Schoen. into antiquity. There’s general consensus
that Easter – which is on Sunday, April 17
The city doesn’t provide them. – is the largest day of church attendance.
The egg hunt is divided into four fields. Various churches give it different names,
One is for infants to toddlers. The others such as Resurrection Sunday. Of course,
are for ages 4 to 5, 6 to 7, and 8 to 10 – the for Christians Easter marks the annual
oldest age group allowed. celebration of Jesus’ resurrection after the
“It is fully accessible; all the (Ameri- crucifixion.
cans with Disabilities Act) things are in
place for anybody with disabilities,” said As Christianity spread, cultures that
Schoen. “Everything is accessible to ev- embraced it had spring traditions consis-
erybody.” tent with the themes of rebirth and new
Additionally, the city’s ready for chil- life. The bunny bearing eggs, according
dren with a wide range of conditions that to National Geographic, likely started in
make egg hunting difficult for them. “We the area of modern-day Germany where
always have extra eggs on hand,” he said. we find the Osterhase. But, there was a
The children, Schoen said, do a great lot of emigration and cultural exchange in
job every year. “It’s amazing,” he said. Europe going way back, so the Osterhase,
“(The eggs) won’t last but a minute or two the Easter Bunny, might have started else-
and they’re gone.” where.
Some of the children will head home
with more than even the most eager Eas- Whispering Pines Park is located at 800
ter enthusiast could reasonably hope for. SW Darwin Blvd., Port St. Lucie. 
“There are prizes available to win as

A spiritual place to call home, we invite you to come visit.
We are a welcoming group of believers, we embrace all people to

come experience Jesus with us.

JOIN US:
Maundy Thursday 4/14 6pm

Good Friday 4/15 6pm
Easter Sunday 4/17 9am & 11am- blended service Praise and Traditional

295 NW Prima Vista Blvd., Port St. Lucie • www.StAndrewPSL.org
772-878-0954

10 April 14, 2022 ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | PEOPLE www.stlucievoice.com

For some local authors, writing the book is just part of the story

BY LARRY DAVID ALLMAN da statewide – as possible. When

The Treasure Coast has many he shows up at a live event, he

resources to enjoy, including comes fully equipped: books for

plentiful sunshine, our oceans sale, one-sheets, display rack,

and beaches, our lakes and riv- large banner, and his most pow-

ers, and our parks and savan- erful resource – himself. Berri

nahs. But one resource often generates sales every month,

overlooked and definitely un- which produce cash flow, but

derappreciated is our local book how much more would a major

authors. publisher produce? Hard to say

Reading is a key factor in the definitively, but if the marketing

success of our society. Reading department were handling mar-

is endemic to learning; it is key keting, Berri could be busy writ-

to communicating, and plays an ing more award-winning books

integral role in providing relax- and going to live presentations

ation and enjoyment. instead of working tirelessly on

We have several book au- marketing and sales.

thors who live and work here on Ellen Gillette is a local book

the Treasure Coast. They write Fred Berri. Ellen Gillette. author who straddles the space
books which are interesting, between traditional publishers

timely, instructive, entertaining and self-publishing. Gillette cur-

and/or helpful. rently has seven books in print,

Some local authors’ books but none are self-published: one

are “self-published.” This term, children’s, one non-fiction, one

“to self-publish,” requires a inspirational and four wom-

newly revised definition due to en’s romance novels written

the global changes that have af- under her pen name of Emily

fected every industry and busi- Sharpe. Because her publishers

ness in the past 20-plus years. are on the smaller, more per-

It is mainly the Internet which sonal side, they do not market

has wrought those changes; just her books in the way a legacy

think of Amazon, where every- publisher would. Gillette began

thing is available with the click her career in the self-publishing

of a mouse – how big a change world, which opened the doors

is that to the business of retail to marketing and publishing;

sales? her publishers expect her to do

Currently, anybody can pub- the marketing of her books. She

lish their own book, online and/ has her own website (ellenand

or in print: to self-publish. But Janet Sierzant. Larry Allman. emily.com); she speaks fre-
what, exactly, is “self-publish- quently to groups and book

ing”? Here is what it is not: au- clubs; she recently appeared on

thors who attract the focus of and a contract various changes that an author might find lic, and it’s not much different than in real FM 101.7 “Treasure Coast Connector” pro-

with a recognized, major publishing com- unacceptable – freedom at a price! Another estate, retail or personal services: getting gram; and she taps into some of her other

pany (“legacy publisher”). Those publishing advantage is in respect to royalties. Self-pub- the potential buyer (and reader!) to see the marketable talents for extra exposure – she

companies generally pay the author an ad- lishers get more royalties (assuming they product in the best possible light. It’s easy recently had a lead role in the Barn Theater’s

vance payment for the privilege and license have sales). At Amazon, authors can get a when one has a full budget to do that; news- production of “The Bare Truth.”

to publish the book, often acquiring copy- royalty of up to 70 percent. A legacy publish- papers and magazines, television and radio, A Treasure Coast book author who exudes

right ownership, with some royalty structure er rarely pays above 10 percent, and those Internet and social media platforms all have creativity and persistence is Janet Sierzant, a

for sales. All of the other authors, who pay a legacy authors rarely even see royalties (ex- definite advantages – for a price. Legacy pub- multi-hyphenate who runs La Maison Pub-

publisher, or do the work themselves to get cept, of course, mega-authors such as John lishers make good use of all of those various lishing. When she started writing many years

their book published, are doing “self-pub- Grisham and James Patterson) because the platforms; self-publishers, not so much, and ago, and encountered the obstacles known as

lishing.” publisher is busy recouping the advance plus some not at all. And then there’s word of major publishers, she went the self-publish-

Non-legacy publishers who charge a fee whatever other costs of production and mar- mouth, one of the most effective arrows in ing route, and has never looked back. Sier-

to publish a book were formerly referred to keting were squeezed into the contract. the promotion quiver – where can we get a zant has written 12 books in several genres.

as “vanity publishers.” That term no longer With all the technology advancements, big helping of that stuff? Most of her time is spent helping her 75 cli-

applies, because it’s no longer about vanity and the advantages they bring, why is it such Without the power of the established ents at La Maison Publishing, where Sierzant

or ego, or just something printed to give to a difficult process for our local authors to get marketing department of a major publish- does editing, formatting, cover art, and han-

the family. Hiring a competent publisher to the attention, and mainly the sales of their er pushing their books, how do our local dles the “self-publishing” chores to get her

do all the work necessary to take a manu- books, which they deserve or desire? Sim- self-published book authors compete for and her clients’ books online, in print and

script to a finished, properly edited and for- ple: The easy part is the writing, preparing, sales? A good example is Fred Berri, who available to the world. Sierzant makes exten-

matted high-quality book, get it published editing and publishing of their book(s); the has become the dean of Treasure Coast au- sive use of Facebook and Twitter when she is

online and in print editions, can be good, hard part is the marketing and promotion, thors. His six novels and five children’s books wearing her marketing and promotional hat,

effective business. The job gets done, and i.e., selling their books. have won five prestigious literary awards, and often arranges and produces live author/

a high-quality product is created because It’s very difficult to sell a book when no- are available on all bookseller sites in dig- signing events for her clients … as well as for

high-level, technical skills are leveraged. body is aware of it. Today, it’s about views, ital, print and audio books, and in libraries herself. Ben Franklin would be proud of Sier-

One big plus for self-publishers is that and hits, and clicks, and visits, and … whew! around the world. He has an impressive web- zant: If you want it done right … !

self-published authors keep control of their There are many ways in which a book is site (fredberri.com); and he appears at as Yours truly, Larry David Allman, is a

product; major publishers often will require brought to the attention of the buying pub- many live events – Treasure Coast and Flori- proud Treasure Coast book author, although

To Advertise (772-633-1115) ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | PEOPLE April 14, 2022 11

a relative newbie compared to the aforemen- Children’s book illustrates songwriter’s softer side
tioned writers. I have three books on Ama-
zon (and on all other booksellers), two writ- BY SHELLEY KOPPEL | Staff Writer lustrations and let you choose the style you Barr said that the book’s characters are
ten and self-published in the past two years. shelley@stlucievoice.com liked. You’re in control of the process.” based on his family, including his wife and
Having been totally deflated by the “write two older sons.
a query letter/get an agent” game, I did re- Singer/songwriter Jimmie Barr of Tradi- The message about this unusual princess
search and found two publishing companies tion has been nominated three times for a is that she can be and do whatever she wants. “The boys got to personalize their drag-
to do all the work of publishing my books. Josie Music Award, an award given to inde- ons,” Barr said. “One is orange and curious
They each presented a potential menu of pendent artists. This year, he faced compe- “She has a horn that’s magic and all she and the other is green and protective. Mom-
services offered; I selected what I wanted tition from tens of thousands of other song- has to do is think about what she wants to my is purple, with a beauty mark on her
done; they each did excellent work; and I writers and he didn’t win. be.” Barr said. “You can be whatever you lip. Daddy is just sitting back and watching
am a published author. I am very pleased want to be and you are your own limitations. and letting mommy and the children bond.
with the final product each turned out: Page “I was hoping the third time would be a Inside every little girl, there’s a princess just I’m the protector. Daddy dragon’s light-
Publishing did “Yogic Wisdom,” and Book- charm,” he said. “There were almost 40,000 waiting to emerge.” ning-shaped diamond is supposed to mean
baby did “Downward Dog in Miami.” I have songs submitted. It’s a big deal and I don’t more of a protector of the family. It’s like a
no website, do not use Facebook, Instagram, take the accomplishment (of being nominat- There’s nothing to say that she can’t feel permanent badge for everyone to see. Car-
LinkedIn, or any other social media. I speak ed) lightly.” powerful and confident, and she doesn’t lee’s heart-shaped diamond is about pure,
to book clubs and make presentations of my have to kiss a lot of frogs, either. true love and kindness.
books whenever they can be arranged. And In fact, Barr’s attention has turned to an-
I have received royalty checks from both other form of artistic expression. He has Everyone can be forgiven for going,
publishers, although I admit I would be hard written a children’s book, “Carlee the Prin- “Awww.”
pressed to pay for a trip to Publix with one of cess Dragon,” about his little girl and it was
them. But most importantly, the final prod- recently released. Barr has some new songs written, but he
uct is exactly what I wrote, what I intended has taken a break to work on the book.
it to look like in the various formats, and it’s “I got an email on our 15th anniversary
all mine. that the book had dropped on amazon.com “Once I got into the process of the book,
and barnes&noble.com,” he said. “That was I’m almost more excited about it than the
Readers can support these local “self-pub- pretty special.” songs. You can hold it in your hands and read
lishing” authors by looking for their books, it to your daughter. There’s a spot in my heart
by buying their books, by reading their books, Jimmie wrote the book in a day after he I didn’t even know I had until Carlee was
by posting reviews of their books, and by ar- got the idea while he was at work. born. I’m the strongest I’ve ever been and the
ranging for individual author presentations weakest in the same second. She’s definitely
to their book club, community or other group. “I had no desire to be an author,” he said. got Daddy whipped.”
Many of these authors are also accomplished “The book is about a baby dragon who has
public speakers. Larry David Allman can be adventures on the very first day she is born. Jimmie Barr’s book, “Carlee the Princess
reached at allman.larry@gmail.com.  It’s a feel-good, magical story about a baby Dragon,” is available online at amazon.com
dragon. The idea to write a children’s book and barnesandnoble.com and at the Barnes
popped into my head at work. I finished it & Noble in Jensen Beach. 
that day. I went online and looked at differ-
ent publishers. Fulton Publishers offered il-

12 April 14, 2022 ST. LUCIE VOICE | ST. LUCIE WEST AND TRADITION | PEOPLE www.stlucievoice.com

‘Cause for Paws’ event should be un-fur-gettable!

BY PATRICK McCALLISTER | Correspondent endar. But cats are primarily spring and summer

The Cause for Paws Yard Sale & BBQ is coming breeders (also called long-day breeding).

up on Saturday, April 23. “We’re definitely seeing that already,” said

“It’s going to be [from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.] at the Glendinning. “Last week we had three boxes of

thrift store on Port St. Lucie Boulevard,” said kittens brought to our front door.”

Shannon Glendinning, director of marketing and Glendinning said finding kittens without

public relations. “We’re going to bring a lot of the a queen doesn’t mean she abandoned them.

items out from the store. Queens will hide nearby and watch their kittens

“(Visitors) be able to get a hot dog, chips and when they’re concerned about danger. She said

soda for $5,” Glendinning said. “If they spend $20 the best thing to do is leave, but monitor, seem-

at the store that day, they’ll get that combo for ingly abandoned kittens, and call animal control.

free.” The city has the Community Cat Program. HOT WHEELS BURN RUBBER AT
SPECIAL OLYMPICS ‘TORCH RIDE’
Plus, “we will have some music, and we may “They’re partnered with Operation Catsnip of

have an adoptable dog,” she added. “It’ll be our the Treasure Coast,” Glendinning explained.

longest resident.” The city and Operation

The pooch named Opie Catsnip do what’s called

has been at the Humane So- TNVR: trap, neuter, vacci-

ciety for nearly two years. “He nate and return. That is what

is a chow mix. He does great it sounds like. Cats are cap-

with other dogs. He’s actually tured, spayed and neutered,

so good with other dogs, our vaccinated, and returned to

trainer has used him to help where they were. This pre-

test other dogs’ reactivity. She vents areas from opening to

also takes him off site to com- breeding cats. The city’s Ani-

munity dog training. He’s one mal Control Division is at 772-

of our playgroup rock stars,” 871-5042.

Glendinning said. The Port St. Lucie Police

Glendinning said the Hu- Department is donating The Port St. Lucie Police Department’s Law Enforce-
ment and Antique Car Torch Ride was a big deal
mane Society is has about space for Petco Love and the involving classic wheels. The April 2 event,
which started at McCarty
175 cats and 95 dogs. Some of society to give 1,000 free DAP- Ranch and ended at the
MIDFLORIDA
the dogs are in foster homes. Pv canine and HCP feline Credit Union
Event Center,
The society is in need of more Opie has been awaiting adoption at the vaccinations on May 14, from benefited Spe-
foster homes and volunteers. Humane Society of St. Lucie County for about 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. – first come, cial Olympics Flor-
700 days. He may be on hand for the Cause first served – at 121 SW ida. Top photo, Nate
“What we’re seeing now, so for Paws Yard Sale & BBQ. Port St. Lucie and Karen Spera
many people did open their show off their
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE HUMANE SOCIETY OF ST. LUCIE COUNTY Dodge Little
Red Express
homes to animals during (the Blvd. Truck, while
Glen and
intense cycles of the COVID-19 pandemic),” said “We’re calling it Give Pets Their Kathleen
Lepore, left,
Glendinning. “The flip side is as people started Best Shot,” said Glendinning. Dogs must be on participate
via motorcy-
going back to work, they didn’t feel they could give leashes, and cats in carriers. Rabies vaccines will cle. 

their animals the time they needed. be available for $10. There is no registration. “They

“We did see an influx of animals as people start- will need to prove their St. Lucie County residen-

ed going back to the office.” cy,” Glendinning said. “Driver’s license is fine.”

Would-be volunteers and foster-home provid-

ers can find out more and register at hsslc.org. The Humane Society of St. Lucie County

“We’ll get them in here for orientation and get Thrift Store is located at 2632 SW Port St. Lucie

them volunteering as quick as possible, as early as Blvd. It’s open Tuesdays to Saturdays, 11 a.m.

they’d like,” Glendinning said. to 4 p.m. The Humane Society of St. Lucie

Another pressure on the Humane Society is County is located at 8890 Glades Cut-off Road,

lengthening days. Cats are polyestrous, and in Port St. Lucie. It’s open Tuesdays to Saturdays, 11 PHOTOS: LINDA KLOORFAIN

Florida can sometimes breed throughout the cal- a.m. to 5 p.m. 

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