10/31/2019 ISSUE 44

Environmental Learning Center
expansion underway. P12
Counties want aging
rail bridges replaced. P10

Vero Council candidates see
need for more beachside parking. P8

For breaking news visit

Palazzo Di Mare, aka Tracking Station
‘barcode lady’s house,’ park set to close
again up for auction for beach repair

BY STEVEN M. THOMAS Patient volume a focus; hospital CEO replaced BY NICOLE RODRIGUEZ
Staff Writer Staff Writer
BY MICHELLE GENZ his post as president effective and “valuable contributions to
One of the most well-known Staff Writer Nov. 19. our mission.” Tracking Station Beach
houses on the barrier island is Park will be closed Friday for
up for auction again, two and Only a year after taking Daniel Knell, president of Sanders’ exit comes at a the rest of the year as a major
a half years after it sold in an the helm of Sebastian River Steward’s central division, said pivotal time for the 154-bed beach replenishment project
earlier auction for $8.8 mil- Medical Center, Kyle Sanders in a statement he was sorry to for-profit hospital. It is wrap- gets underway, according to
lion. has announced he is leaving see Sanders go and expressed ping up a $65 million expan- county officials.
appreciation for his leadership
The massive oceanfront CONTINUED ON PAGE 6 The 3.1-mile project, which
home known variously as Pala- extends from north of the
zzo Di Mare and “the barcode Seawatch Condos in Indian
lady’s house” was purchased in River Shores south through
June 2017 by a limited liability Central Beach to the Riomar
company with a Vero Beach- Golf Course, will occur in
based managing partner for three phases.
$8.8 million.
Tracking Station Park, Jay-
After an 18-month renova- cee Park and Humiston Park
tion that dramatically trans- will be used as access points
formed the property, the own- where loads of sand will be
er listed it with Cindy O'Dare trucked onto Vero’s critically
and Richard Boga at Premier eroded beaches. Closure dates
Estate Properties for $17 mil- for the beaches at Jaycee Park
lion in March. When the prop- and Humiston have not been
erty had not sold by Septem- announced.
ber, the decision was made to
offer it at auction to achieve The $6 million renourish-
"a defined date of sale." ment project will infuse more
than 200,000 cubic yards of
The no-reserve online auc-
CONTINUED ON PAGE 7
CONTINUED ON PAGE 9

MY Vero High sets state football record, but can it win a title? Jones’ sentencing to take place amid
VERO new concern over Florida death penalty

BY RAY MCNULTY School football team had BY LISA ZAHNER troversy over Florida’s death
Staff Writer just set a state record with Staff Writer penalty.
its 61st consecutive regu-
As the expected celebra- lar-season victory, coach Convicted killer Michael Florida is set to execute its
tion erupted under the Lenny Jankowski was right David Jones’ sentencing next 100th death row inmate since
Friday night lights of Fort in the middle of it all. month will take place against capital punishment was rein-
Pierce’s Lawnwood Stadium, a backdrop of mounting legal, stated in 1976. The execution
where the Vero Beach High Riding on his players’ political and religious con- may be delayed until after

CONTINUED ON PAGE 4 CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

PHOTO OF COACH LENNY JANKOWSKI BY KAILA JONES

October 31, 2019 Volume 12, Issue 44 Newsstand Price $1.00 Parades and pride:
Vero’s ‘Centennial
News 1-12 Faith 39 Pets 40 TO ADVERTISE CALL Finale.’ Page 14
Arts 23-27 Games 41-43 Real Estate 61-72 772-559-4187
Books 38 Health 45-50 St. Ed’s 28
Dining 54 Insight 29-44 Style 51-53 FOR CIRCULATION
Editorial 34 People 13-22 Wine 55 CALL 772-226-7925

© 2019 Vero Beach 32963 Media LLC. All rights reserved.

2 Vero Beach 32963 / October 31, 2019 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

Jones and death penalty morbid milestone, James Dailey’s guilt cide whether Jones will join the more jurors would only bear the job of con-
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 is in question since another man for- than 300 men and women on Florida’s victing a killer, and then a judge would
mally confessed in 2017 to the crime death row, or serve a life sentence hand down the sentence.
Christmas, but it could go on as sched- Dailey was convicted of. without parole. In the meantime, ju-
uled Nov. 7 should Florida successfully rors are under strict orders from Judge Had they returned a second-degree
appeal a temporary stay ordered by a Dailey, 64, has been on death row Dan Vaughn not to discuss, read about murder conviction last week, jurors
federal court. for 32 years for the 1985 murder of a or research anything related to the would have been released from ser-
14-year-old Pinellas County girl. case. vice, tossing the sentencing of Jones
Executions are always a media cir- back in Vaughn’s lap. Instead, knowing
cus, with protests and candlelight As the Dailey case indicates, it takes The Jones jurors could have taken a they would have to come back for the
vigils outside the Starke, Florida peni- decades of waiting in prison to be exe- much less arduous path. sentencing, jurors returned a verdict
tentiary gates, plus passionate pleas cuted in Florida, so even if 36-year-old that will force them to endure another
to the governor for clemency. But this Jones is sentenced to death, it’s likely First-degree murder is the only week of what prosecutor Tom Bakke-
upcoming execution is newsworthy he would be in his 60s or even his 70s charge eligible for Florida’s death pen- dahl repeatedly referred to as “a job
for a couple reasons. when executed. alty, which under recent changes to nobody wants.”
the law can be imposed only if all 12
Besides the number 100 being a Jurors who unanimously found jurors vote for death after a special Six days before the jury is scheduled
Jones guilty of first-degree murder on sentencing proceeding. Previously, to return to their assigned seats in
Oct. 22 will return on Nov. 13 to de- Courtroom Four on the third floor of
the Indian River County Courthouse,
the Florida Department of Corrections
had been set to make Dailey its 100th
execution.

Dailey’s death warrant is the third
one signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis since
taking office in January. DeSantis, a
Roman Catholic, has weathered a po-
litical beating from pro-life groups,
from an innocence project represent-
ing Florida’s 29 exonerated former
death row inmates, and even from
Florida’s first lady.

Statewide media reported in August
that Casey DeSantis cancelled her ap-
pearance at a “Women for Trump” ral-
ly in Tampa which coincided with the
execution of Florida’s 99th death row
inmate, serial killer Gary Ray Bowles.
The Orlando Sentinel quoted a state-
ment from Casey DeSantis’ office say-
ing, “an execution day is a somber day
in Florida and neither the Governor
nor the First Lady will attend public
events that day.”

Florida’s eight Catholic bishops peti-
tioned DeSantis on Oct. 21, “While we
urge you to stop every execution and
end the use of the death penalty in Flor-
ida, this case of a veteran with evidence
of innocence is especially alarming.”

Last week a federal court granted a
temporary stay of Dailey’s execution
until at least Dec. 30 while his case is
considered by the Florida Commis-
sion on Offender Review. Dailey, a U.S.
Air Force veteran who served in Viet-
nam, has new federal lawyers from the
Capital Habeas Unit attempting to es-
tablish his innocence and save his life.

The state can appeal or oppose the
federal decision, or DeSantis could
let the review play out. So uncertainty
swirls around the issue. Headlines are
asking whether Dailey will become the
100th death row inmate to die or the
30th death row inmate to be exonerated.

“Alternative sentences, such as life
without parole, are severe punishments
through which society can be kept safe,”
the bishops wrote DeSantis. “These al-
ternatives do not degrade us by ending
yet another life – perpetuating, rather
than ending, a cycle of violence.”

Calling the governor’s power to

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / October 31, 2019 3

grant clemency “your difficult posi- due to advanced age, disability, or a The jury must decide unanimously pathetic light. A few of the mitigators
tion,” the bishops have scheduled 32 crime committed for financial gain, to as a group that the state has proven listed in the state statute are a lack of
prayer vigils around Florida, using the evade capture or in the commission one or more aggravators exist. If at significant criminal history, extreme
100th execution as a rallying cry. “We of another felony. Other aggravators least one proven aggravator is pres- duress, emotional disturbance or im-
are particularly concerned that, if car- involve the killing of a public official ent, jurors move on to the next phase. paired mental capacity at the time
ried out, this will be Florida’s 100th or law enforcement officer, or while of the crime, or “the existence of any
execution since the reinstatement of violating a protection order. If the de- The second task, which falls to other factors in the defendant’s back-
the death penalty in 1976. Our state is fendant was a gang member or desig- defense attorneys, is to present evi- ground that would mitigate against
a national outlier in our high numbers nated sexual predator that would also dence, including expert medical tes- the imposition of the death penalty.”
of death sentences, death row popu- be an aggravator. timony, that “mitigating factors” exist
lation, and executions. This use of the that might paint Jones in a more sym- CONTINUED ON PAGE 4
death penalty wounds our society by
allowing a devaluation and coarse-
ness of life in our community.”

During the three-week Jones jury
selection process, numerous people
in the 200-plus person jury pool com-
mented that they were against the
death penalty because they felt the
prospect of life in prison was worse
than execution. Other reasons given
for opposing the death penalty were
that it has not been shown to be an ef-
fective deterrent and that the exhaus-
tive appeals process afforded a man or
woman condemned to die is an undue
burden on Florida’s taxpayers.

Outside the courtroom, the Florida
Conference of Catholic Bishops has
created a firestorm for the governor,
opposing the death penalty on reli-
gious grounds. Others feel that as an
advanced society, our country and
state should have evolved beyond
“an eye for an eye” mentality. Still
others oppose the death penalty be-
cause they believe the possibility of
executing an innocent person is too
great risk.

All of this will comprise the back-
drop for the Jones jurors in less than
two weeks. In the meantime, prosecu-
tors have asked for Jones to undergo
two more routine mental health eval-
uations, which they say is the reason
for the three-week gap between ver-
dict and sentencing.

On Monday prosecutors and de-
fense attorneys were arguing about
the parameters of the questions Fort
Lauderdale-based forensic psycholo-
gist Dr. Michael Brannon could ask
Jones. Judge Vaughn was still weighing
what the doctor could and could not
ask at press time.

Florida law provides tools for jurors
to use to systematically consider the
results of Jones’ mental health exami-
nations and decide whether he and the
crime committed warrant a death sen-
tence. Three steps are required before
the jury can decide if Jones lives or dies.

The first step is for prosecutors to
prove one or more “aggravators” exist.
If no proof of aggravators is found, the
process stops and Jones would be sen-
tenced to life in prison.

Florida Statute 921.141 outlines
16 aggravating factors, ranging from
prior felony convictions to the cru-
elty of the crime, multiple victims, a
child victim, a vulnerable adult victim

4 Vero Beach 32963 / October 31, 2019 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

Jones and death penalty jury that affects his impulse control My Vero “But we’re giving ourselves chances.”
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3 and cognitive function. Since he took over the program in
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 2011, Jankowski’s Vero Beach teams
“Anything can be a mitigator and The jury will need to weigh these have compiled an impressive 91-11 re-
you must consider it,” Bakkedahl told things against everything else they shoulders, holding up a trophy spe- cord, winning seven district titles and
jurors repeatedly during jury selec- learned about Jones during the trial, cially made to commemorate the oc- reaching the playoffs in each of his
tion, offering up examples ranging including how co-workers raved that casion, Jankowski’s smile lit up an nine seasons, including this one.
from reasonable to downright silly to Jones was “brilliant,” that he had lots overcast night on which hundreds of His teams haven’t lost more than
emphasize his point. “What weight, if of friends and that he was “a rain- Fighting Indians fans made the trip one game in a season since finish-
any, you give to the mitigator after you maker” for his employer, PNC Wealth south to witness history. ing 10-2 in 2013, and they’ve never
consider it is up to you.” Management on Ocean Drive. lost more than two. On his watch, the
The festive scene provided a fitting Fighting Indians have played their
Defense attorneys were not per- The third and final step of the sen- kickoff to the Vero Beach Centennial way to one regional final, advanced to
mitted to reveal which mitigators tencing process requires jurors to Finale and rekindled fond memories five regional semifinals and become
would be presented in the Jones case, compare any aggravators to estab- of another special night. relevant again.
but poverty, childhood abuse, brain lished mitigators and decide which But Jankowski, whose teams here
damage, drug addiction and the abil- carries greater weight. While the Fighting Indians’ band have won only seven of 15 playoff
ity “to do well or to behave in prison” filled the air with the school’s fight games, has yet to take Vero Beach to
were mentioned over and over again If even one juror decides that life song, the images of yesteryear – of that the state’s Final Four.
by Assistant Public Defender Stanley in prison fits Jones’ crime of killing Rockwellian night at the Citrus Bowl, For those wondering: Livings posted
Glenn and his team, so those are the 26-year-old Diana Duve better than where legendary coach Billy Livings a 211-86 record in his 26 years at Vero
most likely mitigators to be argued. the death penalty, the sentence hand- led Vero Beach to its first state football Beach, guiding the Fighting Indians
ed down will be life in prison. Recent championship in 1981 – danced nos- to 20 playoff appearances, 15 district
Jones, in court discovery docu- changes in Florida law require the talgically through my mind. titles, seven state semifinals and the
ments, claims to have been raised in jury to vote unanimously to impose a program’s lone state championship.
rural Georgia in poverty. But poverty death sentence. And I began to wonder: Will Vero Those lofty accomplishments
is a relative term and jurors will bring Beach ever win another one? prompted Vero Beach to put Livings’
their own experiences and back- Two days before his sentencing name on the Citrus Bowl’s field in
grounds to bear. hearings are scheduled begin, Jones Or to be more precise: Is it still possi- September 2000, and he was inducted
will mark his 37th birthday on Nov. 11. ble for Vero Beach to win a state cham- into the Florida High School Athletic
The state will likely argue that It will be his sixth birthday behind bars pionship, given how much Florida has Association Hall of Fame in April 2012,
Jones did not grow up in the inner since his arrest on June 22, 2014. grown – especially its football-talent- six months after his stroke-related
city in a public housing project rid- rich metropolitan areas – in the 38 years death at age 75.
dled with gang violence and drugs, Jones was initially arrested for vio- since Livings worked his magic here? To be sure, all of the honors and ac-
that he graduated from college and lating probation when he fled the colades Livings received were well-de-
earned two law degrees, and that county after Duve’s death. That pro- It’s a fair question, one that I put to served, because he created and nur-
when arrested he was earning a six- bation had been imposed after he Jankowski on Friday night, after Vero tured the team-and-town marriage
figure income. How much a certain took a plea deal on an aggravated Beach’s record-setting, 28-3 triumph that spawned the program’s success
level of rural poverty damaged Jones, stalking charge in Broward County. over longtime rival Fort Pierce Central. and remains the envy of so many oth-
or pushed him to commit murder, ers around the state.
will be up to the jury. Three weeks after Duve’s body was “Sure, it’s different than it was in Livings, though, never won a sec-
found, prosecutors charged him with 1981, but I’d like to think we can still ond state championship, nor did he
The defense is expected to present second-degree murder – the most se- win it,” Jankowski said. “There are a get another shot at the title. The Fight-
evidence or testimony that Jones’ fa- vere crime that can be charged under lot of good teams out there every year, ing Indians’ last trip to the Final Four
ther was mean and abused him, that Florida law without a grand jury in- and it’s such a challenge, just getting was in 1998, 21 years ago.
Jones had a bad motocross wreck dictment. Then on Aug. 26, 2014, the to Friday night every week. Without question, the 1994 open-
resulting in a back injury and got grand jury convened and indicted
hooked on pain meds, and finally Jones on first-degree murder, pav- “It’s a long season, and there are
that Jones has some sort of brain in- ing the way for the State of Florida to so many things along the way that
have to work in your favor, so much
pursue the death penalty.  that’s outside your control,” he added.
“There are games where, for whatever
Nick Samuel contributed to this story. reason, you just come up short.

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / October 31, 2019 5

ing of Sebastian River High School had his own place in Vero Beach football During the past three years, the and American Heritage (7-3), Centen-
an impact on Vero’s football program, lore, let’s give him his due. team has had plenty of dominant per- nial (15-13) and Treasure Coast (31-30
which has been forced to share the formances as well as close calls, eking in overtime) this season.
county’s talent pool. Even for a coach The Fighting Indians haven’t lost a out victories against Virginia’s Oscar
of Livings’ stature, winning became regular-season game since 2013, de- Smith (28-21) in 2017; Pahokee (27- “There have been so many great
more difficult. spite Jankowski adding upper-tier op- 20), St. Lucie West Centennial (20-15) games – a few where we’ve had to
ponents to the schedule to help pre- and Treasure Coast (34-31) in 2018; make a play at the end to win – but our
Now that Jankowski has carved out pare his teams for the playoffs.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

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6 Vero Beach 32963 / October 31, 2019 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

My Vero be successful,” Jankowski said. “That’s closing its doors due to an insufficient quarter of 2019, the latest figures avail-
not my barometer for success. number of patients. able from the Agency for Healthcare
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5 Administration. By law, hospitals must
“Did you do everything possible to On an interim basis, the top job at report and certify patient volume to-
kids just keep finding a way,” Jankows- give yourself a chance to win? If so, Sebastian River will be filled by Ralph tals quarterly in three key categories:
ki said. “Our players and coaches have then, at the end of the day, win or lose, Taylor, currently chief operating of- acute inpatient discharges, emergency
continued to stay the course, main- you can look in the mirror and be sat- ficer as well as chief nursing officer. department visits, and ambulatory
tain their focus and grind it out, refus- isfied with what you see,” he added. Taylor held the latter post at another (outpatient) surgery visits.
ing to have a letdown and get caught “To me, that matters more than any Steward hospital in Youngstown, Ohio,
off-guard. that closed its doors a year ago. There Sanders called the declines in late 2018
accolades or notoriety.”  too, Steward blamed low patient vol- and early 2019 “a blip,” blaming them on
“We’ve created a culture where our umes for the shutdown. an “F” safety score assigned to Sebastian
guys come to practice every day with Sebastian River hospital River by the national ratings group Leap-
the goal of being 1-0 every week, and CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 St. Luke’s occupancy rate over the frog in April 2018.
that doesn’t happen by accident,” he past two years was consistently below
added. “Football practices aren’t al- sion that will open in February with 24 40 percent, the hospital’s president That score was raised to “C” six
ways a lot of fun, and it’s pretty ob- patient rooms – half the 48 originally Jim Flinn said in a statement about months later, and by this past spring, it
vious we coach these kids hard, but announced. the closure. He said emergency room was an “A.” That grade will be updated in
they know we love them and they love visits had declined 16 percent. about a week.
coming to practice. While on the way out the door,
Sanders provided 32963 with num- In the first quarter of 2019, using the Sanders further claimed the hospital
“There’s this feeling that we’re all in bers which – if accurate – suggest that latest acute inpatient figures filed with was“on track to see volumes increase by
it together, and I’m humbled to be a Sebastian River patient volumes may the state of Florida, and an acute in- 9 percent – an astonishing turnaround,”
part of it.” finally be recovering from what state patient bed total provided by Steward he told 32963 in August, disputing the
figures show has been a steady decline – 122 – Sebastian River’s occupancy paper’s reporting over the summer that
A state title remains on his radar, and since Steward Health Care took over rate was an estimated 44 percent. That volumes had been disappointing.
it should: He’s an outstanding coach at the hospital in mid-2017. is down from an estimated 64 percent
a school with a winning tradition and, from first quarter 2017, before Steward Pressed repeatedly for on-the-re-
year after year, his teams win enough The importance of patient volumes acquired the hospital from Communi- cord numbers, he finally provided
to stay in the championship chase. in the current healthcare environ- ty Health Systems (CHS). a batch in mid-October. While they
ment was illustrated anew by the an- showed the year-over-year decline
But he knows winning it all isn’t ev- nouncement this past week that a According to figures filed with the continued through the second quar-
erything. Steward-owned hospital in Phoenix, state, the quarterly year-over-year de- ter, in the third quarter of this year
Ariz., St. Luke’s Medical Center, was clines – some as great as 25 percent – July through September – Sand-
“I’m not saying that’s not the ulti- and 35 percent – continued almost ers’ numbers showed an upswing of
mate goal, but I’m not going to say we without interruption through the first around 10 percent.
need to win a state championship to

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / October 31, 2019 7

The figures could not be verified, percent drop – 356 fewer visits – from In the same two-year period, Se- 5 project was slated to consume about
nor could they be readily compared the previous year when CHS owned bastian River’s chief competitors 150,000 cubic yards of sand. The storm
to state figures because they include the hospital. have both shown growth. Palm Bay created a need for 50,000 more cubic
patients admitted under observation Hospital saw inpatient discharge yards and added $1.25 million to the
status, as well as those in the hospital’s In January to March of this year, am- numbers increase by 17 percent. project cost, according to County Ad-
transitional care unit. bulatory surgeries declined 35 percent Indian River Medical Center, now ministrator Jason Brown.
over the same period last year. owned by the Cleveland Clinic, in-
The state – which keeps score on the creased its patient discharge num- “The Sector 5 plans also include
basis of inpatient discharges rather As for inpatient discharge numbers, bers by 11.6 percent. planting of the newly constructed
than by counting admissions – ex- the quarterly year-over-year declines dune crests with various native dune
cludes both those categories. range from a 13.9 percent drop in the Ambulatory surgery visits climbed salt-tolerant plants, the most com-
third quarter of 2017, when Steward 19 percent for Indian River while Palm mon being sea oats, to secure the
Sanders also did not supply num- took over from CHS, to an 18.7 percent Bay’s remained the same. newly placed sand, help capture
bers on emergency department vis- drop in the first quarter of 2019. wind-blown sand to naturally grow
its or ambulatory surgeries, both of As for the first six months of 2019, the dunes over time and provide ad-
which have declined year over year for That latest figure represents a de- Cleveland Clinic Indian River has al- ditional sea turtle nesting habitat,”
all but two quarters under Steward, cline of nearly 24 percent from the ready announced another 10 percent county officials said in a statement.
according to state statistics provided same quarter two years earlier, when
through March 2019. the hospital was still run by CHS. increase in inpatient volume.  The project is expected to be com-
plete by April 30, 2020, prior to the
In some quarters, the declines were Steward’s two other Florida proper- Beach closing for repair start of sea turtle nesting season.
dramatic. In the first three months of ties acquired in the CHS deal, Rock- CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
this year, visits to Sebastian River’s ledge Regional Medical Center and Two more big sand projects on the
emergency department fell by nearly a Melbourne Regional Medical Center, sand along the stretch of beach known island are scheduled to start a year
quarter as compared to the same pe- also showed declines in inpatient and as Sector 5. That area, already im- from now, in November 2020.
riod last year. From January through ER volumes, though ambulatory sur- pacted by hurricanes Matthew and
March 2018, 5,020 people sought care geries increased. Comparing 2016, the Irma, lost an average of 5 to 8 feet Between them they will add rough-
at the Sebastian ER. In the same pe- last full year under CHS, to 2018, the of dune during Hurricane Dorian, ly 900,000 cubic yards of sand at a
riod in 2019, that number fell to 3,774. first full year under Steward, Rock- which spared the county a direct hit cost of $25.75 million along a 6.6-
ledge and Melbourne each showed but produced big, destructive surf for mile stretch of shoreline between the
Ambulatory surgery visits – outpa- drops in inpatient discharges of several days. north island community of Seaview
tient procedures that don’t require around 16 percent. Emergency room and Turtle Trail beach park near the
admission – declined in every quarter visits declined by 8 percent at Rock- Prior to the erosion caused by Carlton condominium, an area the
but one, beginning in the first months ledge and 7 percent at Melbourne, Dorian in early September, the Sector county calls Sector 3, and in Sector 7,
with Steward at the helm: the third while ambulatory surgeries rose by 8 a 2.2-mile stretch that extends from
quarter of 2017, when there was a 21 percent at each.
Seagrove to the Moorings. 

8 Vero Beach 32963 / October 31, 2019 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

Most Vero candidates see need for more beachside parking

BY NICOLE RODRIGUEZ the city at a cost of $71,000 to analyze a local attorney and island resident. “The city really needs to be a cata-
Staff Writer the parking problem and identify po- “Studying center street parking on lyst and facilitator to get it done prop-
tential fixes. They also have ideas of Cardinal Drive could capture us an- erly because if you just leave it to get
There’s a consensus among seven their own. other 40 spaces.” done on an ad hoc basis, it probably
candidates running for two open seats won’t get done,” said Cotugno, who
on the Vero Beach City Council that Kimley-Horn suggested a set of Candidates also like the idea of pub- worked in sales and marketing for
something needs to be done to relieve short-term fixes that will cost about lic/private lot-sharing partnerships various companies including Texas In-
parking congestion in the Central $500,000. They include creating an between the city and private lot own- struments before his retirement.
Beach business district. Only Brian additional 79 parking spaces by per- ers, and said the city should take the
Heady, a gadfly who runs in every elec- mitting parking in front of multifam- lead in creating the partnerships. Kimley-Horn found that the great
tion but won only once a decade ago, ily housing or commercial buildings majority of 3,108 beachside parking
doesn’t think there is a problem. on east-west streets near the prob- “I support city-led public-private spaces are privately owned, with only
lem area, a solution that would cost partnerships," said Jeff Nall, an ad- about 750 public spaces. During a
“If they want to spend money fixing around $400,000 for curbing, gutters junct professor who teaches philoso- period of peak demand on Thursday,
something, don’t you think it should and pavement. phy and humanities at Indian River March 14 at 2 p.m. when street park-
be broke if you’re going to fix it?” State College and the University of ing places were jam packed, there
Heady said. “It ain’t broke, don’t fix it. The consultant also proposed con- Central Florida. Candidates Rey Nev- were 655 empty parking spaces in
They had a consultant and the consul- sideration of center street parking on ille and John Cotugno, both island private lots.
tant said that even on the busiest days, Cardinal Drive to create additional residents, agree the city should assist
there’s excess parking.” spaces and using a $75,000 license- in partnership talks. Candidate Estelle Panagakos, a re-
plate reader to catch motorists – most- tired school teacher and probation
Despite Heady’s view, oceanside ly hotel and shop workers – who game “My order of preference is first to officer, believes the Farmers Market
shop and restaurant owners have long the system and add to congestion by develop a comprehensive plan to Oceanside, held Saturdays on Ocean
complained about losing customers moving their cars from space to space present to our neighbors who own Drive, should be relocated to Riv-
because of parking shortages near throughout the day to avoid receiving these lots to see if we can’t find a erside Park to free up spaces on at
their businesses. a fine for parking too long in a two- or strong cooperative working arrange- least one busy day of the week. She
three-hour slot. ment either between the businesses also said additional parking spaces
The seven candidates who acknowl- or with the city intervening in the beyond those outlined in the consul-
edge the problem generally like the “I like the idea of capturing the off- middle to make sure they’re not tant's report could be created closer
preliminary solutions suggested by street parking – 79 spaces that could harmed by frivolous lawsuits or trash to the problem area.
planning and design consultant Kim- be paved and curbed – that’s an easy in their parking lots,” said Neville, a
ley-Horn, which was hired this year by solution,” said candidate Joe Graves, retired Air Force colonel. “I could walk around there and

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / October 31, 2019 9

show you all the places they could Palazzo Di Mare up for auction "a good amount of interest," from cor – lots of heavy, ornate wood and
put extra spaces,” Panagakos said. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 qualified buyers. black floors – and very few ocean
“They’re wasting a lot of the area with views.
green spaces.” tion was announced on Oct. 3 and Completed in 1991, the 23,315-
bidding will begin at 4 p.m. on Nov. 5, square-foot house sits on a five-acre Now it resembles a classic Palm
Bob McCabe, an island resident continuing until 4 p.m. on Nov. 7. ocean-to-river lot with 205 feet of Beach oceanfront estate, updated
who unsuccessfully ran for a City ocean frontage and 198 feet of river and decorated in a light, bright but
Council seat last year and is trying Bidders have to put $100,000 in shoreline. There are seven bedrooms, still very luxurious style, a breezy
again this year, likes the proposed escrow in order to participate in the nine full baths and two half-baths, dream world with many sea views
short-term fixes, too, but is con- sale. Whoever has the high bid will be two elevators, stone and hardwood that is both restful and wonderfully
cerned long-term solutions are being required to increase their deposit to floors, a 14-car underground garage, alive with architectural and design
ignored. 10 percent of the sale price by 5 p.m. a beautifully-tiled swimming pool elements that range from Moorish to
the day after the auction and close by and extensive landscaped grounds, Art Deco.
“There are clearly longer-term is- Dec. 6. including a sweeping back lawn
sues that should be studied and eval- that would do a 5-star seaside resort In 2017, eight registered bidders,
uated,” McCabe said, adding public "The current owner has invested proud. including three from China, con-
hearings should be held directly by millions in reimagining this unique tended for the house. What happens
the council to hear recommendations, estate with an extensive designer-led The house was the creation of Sha- this time around remains to be seen.
instead of just by the consultant. renovation, and we look forward to ron Nicholson, the widow of William
identifying a new owner on auction Nicholson, co-founder of Retail Gro- Middleton says the seller has the
Enforcement and clear signage in- day," said Boga. cery Inventory Service, now called option of canceling the auction right
dicating where available spaces are RGIS, a leading inventory control up until it starts if too few serious bid-
located are key factors in fixing the Concierge Auctions, which han- company that utilizes barcode tech- ders have emerged and there is doubt
problem, according to candidate dled the 2017 sale, is conducting the nology. about getting a satisfactory price. Af-
Nick Thomas, a lawyer who unsuc- November sale as well, marketing ter the auction begins, the seller can-
cessfully ran for City Council and the property locally, nationally and She bought the 5-acre property not back out and whoever puts in the
a seat on the Indian River County internationally in conjunction with in 1994 and spent years building high bid will get the house.
Commission in 2012. O'Dare and Boga, who serve as local and decorating her ornate mansion,
listing agents. completing the house in 2001. Middleton expects opening bids in
“The city has over 100 public park- the $3.5 million-to-$7 million range.
ing spaces in the commercial zone Concierge Project Manager Jenni- The property has been listed and Based on the interest she has seen
that we haven’t even posted with signs fer Middleton has been holding daily offered at auction numerous times so far and the desire of the seller to
yet,” Thomas wrote on his website. open houses at the property at 2150 over the years, at prices ranging from move the property, she expects that
“I suggest we do that and then step South Highway A1A in the Estate $33.5 million to $17 million. an auction will take place.
up enforcement, likely with a license Section south of The Moorings. The
reading camera, which will resolve open houses will continue until the Prior to the renovation, the house "Very motivated seller on this one,"
the issue of people moving cars from auction. Middleton said she has seen had a heavy, Mediterranean look and she wrote in an email to Vero Beach
feel. It was dark and closed off inside 32963. "This will be a buying oppor-
space to space on a given day.”  with an almost medieval Spanish dé-
tunity." 

10 Vero Beach 32963 / October 31, 2019 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

Virgin Trains: More counties want aging bridges replaced

BY GEORGE ANDREASSI 2022 if Virgin Trains stays on sched- about 20 freight trains per day travel Florida airports on Virgin Airlines and
Staff Writer ule – 34 passenger trains will zip 40-to-60 mph on the FECR tracks. riding Virgin Trains to Virgin Hotels or
through Indian River County each day Virgin Voyages cruise ships.
Virgin Trains USA’s proposal to re- at speeds up to 110 mph. Currently, In the long term, Virgin Group envi-
place the historic St. Lucie River Rail- sions international tourists flying into Virgin Trains Vice President Rusty
road Bridge in Martin County with Roberts briefed dozens of elected of-
a $100 million high-rise lift bridge ficials about the passenger rail project
has prompted requests for new rail- and Virgin Group’s grand plans Friday
road bridges in St. Lucie and Broward during the Treasure Coast and South
counties. Florida regional planning councils’
annual joint meeting.
St. Lucie County Commissioner
Cathy Townsend Friday asked Virgin Roberts disclosed new details about
Trains to replace the outdated Taylor the high-rise lift bridge Virgin Trains
Creek Railroad Bridge, which current- wants to build across the St. Lucie Riv-
ly is set for rehabilitation. er that would replace an 81-year-old
drawbridge.
Broward County officials similarly
called upon Virgin Trains and Florida “We would double-track it,” Roberts
East Coast Railway to replace the New said of the proposed lift bridge. “Our
River Railroad Bridge to allow more engineers believe we can design a new
commuter, passenger and freight bridge so you have 18 feet of clearance
trains through Fort Lauderdale. under that bridge even if there’s a rail-
road operation underway.”
Virgin Trains has long planned to
replace the 93-year-old St. Sebastian If left in place, the existing steel
River Railroad Bridge, which links In- bridge would be a chokepoint for pas-
dian River and Brevard counties as senger and freight train traffic because
part of creating the infrastructure of it would be the only section of the route
its planned passenger rail service be- with a single set of railroad tracks.
tween Miami and Orlando.
The corroding 1,270-foot-long bridge
When service starts – in summer would likely also cause boat traf-
fic to back up in the St. Lucie River/

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / October 31, 2019 11

Okeechobee Waterway because it has a Port Miami and we already noticed a
clearance of just 6.6-feet when trains are lot of people riding our train into Mi-
rolling across, and more trains will use it ami Central [station] with luggage and
when the passenger service begins. going to the port to get on a cruise
ship,” Roberts said. “With Virgin Voy-
The 50-foot-wide navigation chan- ages, that’s going to be even more im-
nel under the new bridge would be portant to us in terms of cross-pollina-
widened to 180 feet so two boats could tion in terms of sales.
pass at the same time, Roberts said.
“We’re very excited to be part of the
Two examples of lift bridges are the Virgin Group ecosystem,” Roberts said.
Galveston Causeway Railroad Bridge “That’s very important to us because
in Texas and Burlington Northern the Virgin Group is a large ecosystem
Railroad Bridge in Portland, Oregon, with Virgin Atlantic Airways, Virgin
according to Roberts. Hotels, Virgin Tours, Virgin Hospitality,
and soon to be Virgin Voyages in Port
“There are many ways to build a ver- Miami.”
tical lift bridge,” Roberts said. “We’re
working on a financing package. I’m Operating under the Brightline
not saying this is a done deal. This is brand, Virgin Trains started service be-
a feasibility that we’re studying. We tween Miami and West Palm Beach in
hope we can make it happen.” 2018. The locomotives and passenger
cars are to get Virgin Trains branding
Virgin Trains asked Martin County wrappers next year.
and Stuart commissioners this month
to endorse requests for tens of millions Along with infrastructure chal-
of dollars in federal grants to help pay lenges, the company faces heightened
for the proposed two-track lift bridge. safety concerns after Virgin Trains
killed 22 people this year as of Sept. 30,
Townsend invited Roberts to St. Lu- according to federal records.
cie County to talk about replacing the
210-foot-long Taylor Creek Railroad State Sen. Debbie Mayfield (R-Mel-
Bridge just east of Old Dixie Highway. bourne) on Friday filed legislation
to strengthen regulations for higher-
“That would really help us in St. speed passenger rail like Virgin Trains
Lucie County if you would consider a and increase Florida Department of
vertical bridge on the Taylor Creek,” Transportation oversight.
Townsend said.
Indian River County commissioners
Roberts didn’t respond toTownsend’s have filed legal challenges against the
comment during the meeting. $3 billion project in state and federal
courts because of concerns about the
Earlier he described plans to reha- safety risks and costs to local govern-
bilitate the 585-foot-long Loxahatchee ments to maintain railroad crossings.
River Railroad Bridge in Jupiter.
Virgin Trains is a big part of Flori-
Virgin Trains is also considering es- da’s efforts to develop mass transit
tablishing local stations in Cocoa, Fort systems as the state’s highways grow
Pierce and Stuart, Roberts said. Other increasingly congested, several state
new stations are in the planning stage in and municipal officials said Friday.
Boca Raton, Aventura and Port Miami. About 1,000 people per day move to
the state.
The company hopes a mass tran-
sit terminal at Orlando International “This is the most significant mobil-
Airport will eventually serve as a hub ity improvement in the state of Florida
for Virgin Trains passenger rail service since the interstate system was built,”
extending to Tampa and Jacksonville, Roberts said. “The potential for suc-
records show. Spurs may also be built cess as we expand to Orlando is very
from the passenger rail network to promising and we’re very excited
major seaports and airports.
about that expansion.” 
“We’re looking at running special
port trains at certain times of the day
because 6 million people are going to

12 Vero Beach 32963 / October 31, 2019 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

Environmental Learning Center expansion underway

BY SAMANTHA ROHLFING BAITA made it possible to get those projects Beach engineering consulting firm, has ELC board member Tim Buhl is co-
Staff Writer underway. evaluated the existing pontoon dock’s ordinating both projects.
condition and will design the improve-
The Environmental Learning Cen- “We hope to complete both within ments, develop cost estimates and ob- During the past year, the county's
ter is finally moving forward with its 12-18 months,” Barr said. tain any needed permits, “all pro bono.” flagship environmental organization
multimillion-dollar expansion master underwent major administrative chang-
plan. According to Board Chairman The nonprofit’s board sent RFPs Dock improvements will include es in the shadow of the masterplan ef-
Don Barr, a $1 million donation for an for work on the education and event new railings, solar-powered lighting, fort. Executive Director Molly Steinwald
education and event pavilion earlier pavilion to five architectural firms, seating at the dock entrance, a kayak left abruptly, citing “differences in gover-
this year and a more recent $100,000 interviewed two and, last month, se- launch and a mechanism for moving nance and understanding of the imme-
donation for a pontoon dock have lected local architects Edlund-Driten- wheelchair occupants from the dock diate needs of the organization.”
bas-Binkley to design the pavilion. into and out of the pontoon boat.
Less than a month later, the orga-
According to Barr, CoastalTech, aVero nization lost another top exec – Chief
Operating Officer Margaret Kearney –
and a number of other staff members
resigned as well. At the time the ex-
ecutives departed, Barr cited disagree-
ments about ELC’s major reorganiza-
tion efforts, including a greater focus
on seeking philanthropic donations,
as the probable cause of leadership
turnover.

A second problematic issue related
to the master plan involved the Laura
Riding Jackson house, a historic struc-
ture that had stood on leased ground
on the ELC campus for 25 years. It had
been used for classes and community
literary events, but was not included
as part of the master plan.

Finding they would have to move
the 110-year-old house and its barn to
a new location, members of the Jack-
son House Foundation board went
through a period of anxiety and uncer-
tainty before community supporters
rallied and a new home was found on
the Vero Beach campus of Indian River
State College, where the structure now
stands.

The Environmental Learning Center
is located on a 64-acre island campus
at the western base of the Wabasso
Bridge on the Route 510 causeway.
Since its genesis in 1988, it has become
the epicenter of nature education, ex-
ploration and hands-on experiences
for adults, families and especially
school children in Indian River County
– so much so that, after three decades,
its programs and participants have
outgrown the existing facilities.

When complete, the revamped cam-
pus will include a 23,455-square-foot
interpretive center; a 4,750-square-foot
volunteer training and grounds stew-
ardship center; a 1,350-square-foot
“critter corner”; and a 641-square-foot
lagoon terrace, as well as the education
and event pavilion and upgraded dock.

At the ELC helm today as the mas-
ter plan expansion gets underway is
attorney and second-generation Vero
Beach native Barbara Schlitt Ford, a
livelong nature lover who took the ex-
ecutive director position in April after
being selected via what Barr calls “a

very extensive national search.” 

VERO’S ‘CENTENNIAL FINALE’:
PARADES, PASSION AND PRIDE!

14 Vero Beach 32963 / October 31, 2019 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

Vero’s ‘Centennial Finale’: Parades, passion and pride!

Alma Lee Loy, Grand Marshal of the Centennial Parade. PHOTOS CONTINUED ON PAGE 16
Miss Vero Centennial Anna Valencia Tillery.

Michael Santoyo and Karsyn Hamilton. Grayson Matthews. Dana, Preston and Presley DiFrancesco. Chris, TJ and Samantha Ring with Zoe and Winston.

BY MARY SCHENKEL & STEPHANIE LaBAFF his mighty hammer and Capt. Hook’s was comfortably seated under a tent WWII military presence and the Dodg-
Staff Writers Jolly Roger. A sister of bees buzzed to enjoy the rest of the procession. ers. In the center of the room a model
about, and another little one cooked train encircles storyboards with addi-
Seemingly all of Indian River up delicious delight as a giant meat- “It is fabulocious,” quipped Loy. tional historical details.
County turned out to join in on the ball atop a mound of spaghetti. “It’s so exciting to have this many
fun during the Vero Beach Centen- people be a part of this celebration “It’s kind of what it was like 35 years
nial Finale in historic downtown. “The spaghetti and meatball baby honoring our forefathers. This really ago when they opened it,” said Carolyn
And, while Mother Nature put a was the most adorable thing I’ve ever is exciting.” Bayless.
damper on outdoor activities later in seen,” said Maria Sparsis.
the day, with the exception of a brief “It’s neat to see everybody come “It’s great what they’ve done here.
sun shower, she didn’t rain on either Hot on their heels was the Centen- out for this. It just brings people to- The only problem is, there are too
of the two extensive parades. nial Parade with groups represent- gether,” said Teala Krapfl. “We see all many things I actually remember,” said
ing law enforcement, nonprofits, these businesses every day as we’re Penny Odiorne with a laugh. “There’s
Festivities kicked off with the City civic groups, churches, businesses, going about our lives and we’re all a 1929 Model A Ford out there; that’s
of Vero Beach Recreation Depart- schools and community members part of the community. It makes you what I learned how to drive on.”
ment’s 61st annual Halloween Pa- who wished to be a part of history. feel part of a small town.”
rade, with children and their families Post-parade crowds also poured into
gathering at the Freshman Learning “We have 105 different groups; it’s The Centennial Parade ended at the Heritage Center and Citrus Muse-
Center before making their way along going to be a monster parade,” said the Historic Old Vero Beach Railroad um, where even more historical, infor-
14th Avenue to the Community Cen- Rob Slezak, Recreation director. He Station, where in the parking lot, an mational and sponsor booths were set
ter. said there were upwards of 800 par- impressive assortment of antique up.
ents and children in the Halloween and vintage cars and even a Wells
Clever costumes ranged from Parade alone. “We’re really happy Fargo stagecoach drew an apprecia- “This has been great family fun,”
ghosts and goblins to pirates and and excited.” tive crowd. said Diana Stark. “I came to support
princesses, and branched out to su- all the rich history on display and
perheroes and classic film charac- Vero’s ‘First Lady’ Alma Lee Loy led Inside, new exhibits offer two his- wave at the wonderful people in the
ters in family-themed groups. Mary the way as the Grand Marshal with toric timelines. Circling the room are parade, making Vero Beach always
Poppins floated in with her umbrella her usual grace and panache; the Vero artifacts from the Ais Indians and number one in our hearts. My chil-
and carpetbag, alongside Thor and Beach High School Marching Band Spanish Treasure Fleet of 1715 to the dren grew up in this amazing town
setting a musical tone. Loy broke off early pineapple plantations, citrus with countless treasured memories
just before 21st Avenue, where she groves and pioneer families, to the and more to come.” 



16 Vero Beach 32963 / October 31, 2019 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

PHOTOS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 14 Jaxon Bellefleur.
Max, Isla, Lindsey, Tyde, Maverick and Adam Modert.

Cole and Isabella McCabe. Princeton McCloud and Rashard Rogers. Kinsey Rhodes with daughters Madison and Raelynn.

Quinn Allen, Maggie McNabb and Michala Callaghan.

Jan Williams. PHOTOS: STEPHANIE LABAFF & KAILA JONES

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / October 31, 2019 17

PEOPLE

Kennedy Gray, Anika Heuberger and Vicki Bayless. Carolyn Bayless, Penny Odiorne and Mary Ellen Replogle. Kathleen Sullivan in period costume at the Wells Fargo Stagecoach.

Michele and Tony Longo. Kelly Thompson and Susan Williams. City Councilman Tony Young and Geoff Newcombe and John Stefanacci.
Miss Vero Centennial Anna Valencia Tillery.

Kathy Colket, Patti Gibbons and Charlotte Linhart. PHOTOS: DENISE RITCHIE AND MARY SCHENKEL

Cheryl Highstreet with Alicia and Gregory Disandro.

18 Vero Beach 32963 / October 31, 2019 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

Duck Derby fills bill – and till – for Community Health

Brian Townsend with Colette Heid and Dennis Bartholomew. Brian Townsend and Zach Parker release the ducks. PHOTOS CONTINUED ON PAGE 16
Sheppard Phillips, Li Wilson and Jennifer Luna.

BY STEPHANIE LaBAFF benefit Treasure Coast Community
Staff Writer Health.

A yellow bloom – the good kind, this Amid a cacophony of quackery, the
time – filled the waterways near the SeaWind Duo entertained the crowd,
Capt. Hiram’s Sand Bar recently as who wandered about snapping up
5,000 rubber duckies were sent bob- 50/50 raffle tickets, biding on a collec-
bing toward the shoreline during the tion of adorable rubber duckies deco-
seventh annual Great Duck Derby to rated by corporate sponsors, and pur-
chasing assorted duck bling.

Keristan Johnson, Susan Shepherd, Patty Ambriz, Becky Garcia and Nichelle Rains.

Sporting their fine feathered gear, living at or below the federal poverty
attendees flocked to the river’s edge level, through its medical, dental and
to cheer on the ducks they had spon- behavioral healthcare programs.
sored, as the colorful waterfowl were
released. They currently operate out of
seven locations, the newest being
With little to no wind on the ho- the TCCH Gifford Health Center. In
rizon to help push the little fellows January, when the relocated United
to shore, volunteers lined the wa- Against Poverty facility opens, they
tery race route and offered up some will also provide services there.
momentum to get the ducks to turn
their tails eastward, where they “We’ve expanded enough; now
floated into a tube to cross the fin- we want to focus on the patients we
ish line. Prizes were given to the first have, our processes and increasing
three birds of a feather that made it our patient satisfaction. Currently,
across. 92 percent of our patients say that
they would refer us,” said CEO Vicki
The real winners are the residents Soulé.
who receive healthcare from TCCH
no matter their circumstances. “We’re very, very happy and proud
TCCH provides accessible, cost-ef- that more of the community is par-
fective, high-quality, comprehen- ticipating with us, because we’re
sive care to individuals regardless serving more of the community,” she
of their socio-economic circum- added. “These kinds of fundraisers
stances, with costs on a sliding scale are extremely important, because if
based on income. we don’t have the funds we can’t give
as deep a discount and then individ-
The nonprofit expects to serve uals find it more difficult to come in
more than 25,000 unduplicated and get the care that they need.”
adults and children this year, most
For information, visit tcchinc.org. 

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / October 31, 2019 19

PEOPLE

Wilfred Hart and Vicki Soule. PHOTOS: DENISE RITCHIE Alice Cochrane and Taylor Anderson. Christine and Michael Hyde.

Adam Line. Michelle and Mike Camacho.

20 Vero Beach 32963 / October 31, 2019 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

‘No Small Matter’ sheds big light on early learning

BY MARY SCHENKEL Susan Donovan, Wanda Lincoln, Michael Kint, Charles Dziuban, Patti Jo Church-Houle and Shannon Bowman. questions and answers from a legisla-
Staff Writer tive policy perspective and encour-
rectors, Danny Alpert, Greg Jacobs and wage scale. aged them to advocate changes with
As any teacher or educational advo- Jon Siskel, is “the most rational, no- The film begs the question, “How lawmakers.
cate can attest, the importance of early nonsense, high-return investment that
childhood development cannot be we can make.” The film stresses that much are we paying as a society be- A panel discussion followed the doc-
overemphasized. To highlight its sig- childcare is not babysitting; it’s brain cause we are NOT putting those in- umentary, with its co-director Danny
nificance, Childcare Resources hosted building. vestments in up front?” Alpert via Skype, and on the Leonhardt
a screening of the documentary “No stage, Patti Jo Church-Houle, Rosen
Small Matter” last Monday evening at And yet, high-quality early childcare “When early learning started, it was Preschool executive director; Charles
the Vero Beach Museum of Art. is unaffordable for an ever-growing really subsidized childcare to sup- Dziuban, director of the Research Ini-
number of working families, whose port the workforce, and it really wasn’t tiative for Teaching Effectiveness at
Research is now confirming that childcare decisions are typically driv- viewed as education,” said Rep. Erin UCF; and Michael Kint, United Way of
during the first five years of a child’s en by cost and location, as opposed to Grall, a former Childcare Resources IRC CEO; moderated by educational
life, the brain develops the social, emo- quality. Adding to the problem, pre- board member who spoke before the advocate and philanthropist Wanda
tional and academic skills that can ul- school teachers and childcare workers film. She added that not too long ago, Lincoln.
timately shape that individual’s entire are paid wages that fall into the bottom someone asked her, “Well isn’t that just
life. The filmmakers ask that we start 3 percent to 5 percent of the national diapers and drool?” Childcare Resources has been in-
recognizing early childhood for what it vesting in early childhood education
is: “A grown up issue. A game changer. Grall asked the educators to pose for 25 years, subsidizing the cost of
No small matter.” local children through its own school
and four privately-owned, NAEYC-ac-
New brain scanning technology is credited childcare centers. The non-
verifying that babies are born learning, profit also offers workshops to enable
and that “children learn more and ear- other educators to obtain credentials
lier than anyone ever expected. What’s as Florida Child Care professionals or
going on up there is rocket science. In directors.
fact, the first three years of life are like
a ‘big bang’ for the brain.” For more information, visit Child-
careResourcesIR.org or nosmallmatter.
Early learning, say the film’s co-di- com. 

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / October 31, 2019 21

PEOPLE

Sheryl Jones, Brian Baker and Kathy Marshall. Ray and Jean Oglethorpe. PHOTOS: KAILA JONES Laura Zorc, Susan Moxley and Katie Nall.

Judy Peschio and Nancy Richardson. Cathy Cronin, Wanda Lincoln and Eric Flowers. Dr. Nicholas Coppola and Melanie Coppola.

Lori Ross and Tracey Zudans. Helen Santorine and Ginny Glazer.

Stephanie Squires, Lynn Rummel and Jeni Steele.

22 Vero Beach 32963 / October 31, 2019 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

Costumed canines delight at Howl-O-Ween Pawrade

BY MARY SCHENKEL Rex the ‘Wookie-doodle,’ pranc-
Staff Writer ing alongside Helen Gaillard as
‘Princess Leia,’ needed only a car-
It began raining cats and dogs Earl Tindol with Arrow. PHOTOS: KAILA JONES Amanda Krieger with Frito. bine collar to complete his look; the
just as the recent Dogs for Life Kevin Rockwell with Honey. 9-month-old golden doodle already
Howl-O-Ween Pawrade was about Cassie Ford with Savannah. had a coat as curly as Chewbacca.
to start, but in true show-must-
go-on fashion, Shelly Ferger, DFL “You made a bad event better,”
founder/CEO, decided to hold the Ferger told the crowd. “I just want
whole event indoors. to thank everyone who came out in
spite of the weather to make this
Thanks to tropical storm Nestor, event successful.”
Ferger had already moved the in-
formational vendors and raffle DFL, certified by Assistance Dogs
items inside but now even the pa- International and recognized by
rade of adorably costumed pooches the U. S. Department of Veteran Af-
would be an indoor affair. Patient fairs, provides specialized training
pups stood nose to tail as the Next for service and hearing dogs.
Gen Color Guard led the way, before
making their way around the room There are currently 50 service
to the delight of the packed crowd. dogs being trained, half of those for
veterans.
Lion manes were the costumes of
choice for DFL-trained service dogs Board president Kathi Schumann
Coco and Arrow. Al Cabral said Coco said they actually support 100 dogs,
was trained for hearing and PTSD, because certifications need to be
and JoAnn Tindol said Arrow was renewed yearly, and they also pro-
trained to help husband Earl by open- vide medical insurance for all of
ing doors, picking up and retrieving the dogs to ensure they’re well
items and helping him to stand up. cared for.

For more information, visit dogs-
forlifevb.org. 

ANY PERCUSSION DISCUSSION
STARTS WITH BRANDON PUTZKE

24 Vero Beach 32963 / October 31, 2019 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

ARTS & THEATRE

Any percussion discussion starts with Brandon Putzke

BY STEPHANIE LABAFF Brandon Putzke conducts a music therapy session with
Staff Writer
residents of St. Francis Manor. PHOTOS BY KAILA JONES
Drums, tambourines and mara-
cas – oh my! Those are just a few of the
percussion instruments that Brandon
Putzke packs into his toolbox as the
founder and director of Treasure Coast
Percussion.

Despite their being the largest group
of instruments in a full orchestra, per-
cussions are oft overlooked, which is
surprising given that they are frequent-
ly the most fun to play. By definition, a
percussion instrument is any musical
instrument that makes a sound when
it is struck, shaken or scraped by hands
or beaters.

However, lest you think that in that
case anyone can play a percussion in-
strument – think again. At the profes-
sional level, it takes a great deal of skill
and practice.

“I like to say I’m pretty proficient at
thousands of percussion instruments.
I have a constant urge to learn new
things; to experiment,” says Putzke.
“With percussion, there’s always some-
thing new to try. There are literally

A.E. BACKUS MUSEUM & GALLERY
Final Weeks - Don’t Miss The Best!

Exhibition closes
November 15

OF THE BEST

AnnuAl Juried Art exhibition

October 4 — November 15, 2019

500 North Indian River Drive, Fort Pierce, FL 34950
772-465-0630 • BackusMuseum.org

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / October 31, 2019 25

ARTS & THEATRE

thousands of percussion instruments.” ocean drums, rain sticks and sound Liberty Magnet Elementary School. ing differences and behavioral issues.
Putzke is the only child of Jon and shapes. It’s just how and when you in- As a reward for good behavior during Florida Cancer Specialists & Re-
corporate them. My goal for a session is school, he introduced a special musi-
Marg Putzke, a dynamic duo involved to make everybody feel good.” cal jam session to students with learn- search Institute recently invited Putzke
with the Vero Beach Theatre Guild and to facilitate a drum circle for the staff,
the creative team behind Theatre-Go- He has conducted drum circles at artists and caregivers who participate
Round, Vero’s only professional dinner various locations around the county, in the Arts & Medicine program at their
theater. including during Museum Day at the Vero Beach office.
Vero Beach Museum of Art, at the
“My parents created an environment Brackett Library at Indian River State “We created a drum circle where all
that I felt comfortable experimenting College and, every third Sunday of the the infrastructure of the organization
in. They allowed me to be creative,” month, at the Kilted Mermaid in down- would be able to mingle and bond on
says Putzke, who was seemingly des- town Vero Beach. a different level,” explains Dr. Raul Sto-
tined to pursue a career in the arts. rey. “I had never been actively involved
New to his vast repertoire, Putzke in a drum circle but now I can see how
“I grew up literally sleeping on the- has begun facilitating HealthRhythms it changes the way people bond.”
ater chairs while my dad was in re- sessions – an enjoyable research-based
hearsals, and my mom was playing group drumming program founded by For more information, visit tcper-
piano on the side or making costumes.” drum manufacturer Remo, Inc. The cussion.com. 
program, practiced at healthcare and
Putzke says that while he officially wellness environs, has been shown to
began taking musical lessons in the help strengthen the immune system,
fourth grade, he recalls receiving his reduce stress and burnout rates, im-
very first drum set when he was about 7 prove mood states and promote cre-
or 8 years old. He admits that although ativity and socialization.
that was where his love of percussion
instruments took root, what he remem- Putzke is now facilitating the pro-
bers most about that early drum set was gram working with Alzheimer’s pa-
the cartoon paper it was wrapped in. tients, retirement communities and
therapy groups. He leads a monthly
As a student, Putzke played in the drum circle at Grace Rehabilitation
Vero Beach High School band and, after Center of Vero Beach, where residents
serving as percussion director at VBHS are offered a wide variety of programs
for 19 years, eventually became its as- to keep them moving and interacting
sociate band director. Although he re- with others. In addition to improv-
signed from the position this summer, ing self-expression, music therapy can
it is something he looks back on with help reduce anxiety and the physical
fondness. “It’s surreal. Looking back, I effects of stress. It has been shown to
can’t believe that I was the director of improve healing, and to reduce depres-
the band that I was in as a student and sion and the symptoms of psychologi-
then taught for so many years.” cal disorders.

After high school, Putzke went on to Shelly Garcia, Grace Rehab activity
obtain a bachelor’s in Music Education director, says they have seen very posi-
from the University of South Florida tive reactions to music therapy and to
and for the past 30 years has been mak- the drum circles from their residents.
ing an impression on hundreds of stu-
dents as a private instructor and class- “The movement is good for them.
room music teacher. As a performer, he It helps with dexterity. And no matter
has played around town as a member how much they can use their hands ev-
of the Old Barber Bridge Band and, eryone can participate,” says Garcia.
more recently, with SoulJam.
Garcia notes that what surprised her
Always one to march to the beat of was how drum circle participants re-
his own drum, Putzke next turned his acted even outside of the sessions, such
attention toward sharing his musical as over dinner, where they continue to
talents through Treasure Coast Per- discuss all of the various instruments
cussion, something he had laid the they have played.
groundwork for several years ago.
“They bond during these sessions,”
Putzke offers individual and group says Garcia. “It gives them something
lessons, teaches summer camp work- to talk about; something in common,
shops and masterclasses, and is on the something to look forward to.”
staff of the Primo School of Performing
Arts, which is on the campus of First “Music makes people feel good,”
Presbyterian Church of Vero Beach. says Putzke, who adds that he first
discovered the healing powers of mu-
Putzke has also jumped on the band- sic while working with students at
wagon with the resurgence of the com-
munity drum circles that were first
made popular in the late ’60s. Putzke
says that as an outlet for personal ex-
pression, drumming is a great way to
draw people out of their shell. It’s also
a great way to help employees avoid
corporate burnout – or anyone for that
matter – by drumming out their frus-
trations.

“The same instruments apply; it’s
how and when you use them,” Putzke
explains. “I’ve got a variety of shakers,

26 Vero Beach 32963 / October 31, 2019 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

ARTS & THEATRE

COMING UP! Power up for ‘Musicians are Superheroes’ concert

BY SAMANTHA ROHLFING BAITA
Staff Writer

1 A concert of epic proportions:
Superheroes don’t always

wield huge hammers or lightning

bolts and battle bad guys. Some-

times they wield – trumpets. And

violins. And flutes. This Sunday,

Nov. 3, at the Vero Beach High

School Performing Arts Center,

“Musicians are Superheroes” will 2 A weekend to harken back to
be presented by the Space Coast the area’s unique history on
Symphony Orchestra, and conduc-
tor Aaron Collins will be wielding the river: For an authentic, for-
… a baton. This is a don’t-miss-it
concert for the family, definitely the-whole family Old Florida ex-
including kids, who are invited to
come in superhero garb and meet perience focusing on life along the
fellow superheroes who will be
hanging out in the lobby and roam- storied Indian River (lagoon), you
ing the concert hall. Says the or-
chestra promo, the program will really can’t beat the (17th annual)
include a short, animated screen-
play, during which Collins and the Sebastian Clambake Lagoon Fes-
orchestra “will battle evil and bring
the incredible power of music to the tival. You should absolutely carve
world,” proving that – “Musicians
are Superheroes.” There will also yourself time for this very, very
be the cool, thrilling and heroic
themes from “Superman,” “The In- popular food- and music-centric
credibles,” “Spiderman,” “Batman,”
“How to Train Your Dragon,” “The event, which opens this coming
Avengers,” “Pirates of the Carib-
bean,” “Madagascar” and others, Friday, Nov. 8, for a three-day run.
some of which will be accompanied
by movie clips. So load the kids into Organizers put it this way: The
the Batmobile and share an after-
noon of super music. Times: 2 p.m. festival “celebrates our special
and 4:30 p.m. Admission: free tick-
ets can be reserved. 855-252-7276. way of life along the Indian River,

which has been the life-blood of

our community since the 1700s.”

The venue, too, is ideal: Riverview

Park is, indeed, right along the riv-

er, oak-shaded, its broad, winding

path lined with vendor and food

booths. Lots of food booths. Live

bands provide virtually non-stop

music throughout the weekend. So,

for the duration, the air is filled, in

equal parts, with lively music and

wonderful aromas. There’ll be beer,

too (regular and craft), and a spe-

cial Kid Zone, as well as historical

2 Nov. 8-10 at Riverview Park.

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / October 31, 2019 27

ARTS & THEATRE

3 Acoustic Alchemy at King Center this Friday. 4 Treasure Coast Chorale this cently come across a “new piece
Sunday at First Baptist Church. of music” – Mark Patterson’s 2016
“Grand Canyon Sunrise,” which,
from the Broadway musical “Annie he says, “perfectly suits the soaring
Get Your Gun”?) Praising his Cho- harmonic sounds created by our
rale members’ “highly experienced select Chorale.” This uplifting con-
voices,” Carter shares that he’s re- cert will be further enhanced by the
presence of a handful of talented
special guest performers you may
very well recognize: guitarist Dave
Mundy, drummer Richie Mola, and
everyone’s favorite Oldies trio, the
Dolls. Judy Carter accompanies on
piano. Time: 4 p.m. Doors open at 3
p.m. Admission: free. Donations al-
ways appreciated. 772-231-3498. 

reenactments. The Clambake sup-
ports local nonprofits and, over the
years, has donated $675,000. Times:
Friday, 2 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday, 10
a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. to
9 p.m. Admission: free. Purchase
food and bev tickets. sebastian-
clambake.com.

3 Mixing up a smooth brew of
smooth jazz: Working their

jazz magic at the King Center in

Melbourne this Friday, Nov. 1, it’s

a group the show promo calls “one

of the founding fathers of smooth

jazz” – Acoustic Alchemy. An Eng-

lish “new-agey fusion group” that,

says Wikipedia, “blends jazz and

pop with flamenco, reggae and

folk,” three decades of jazz fans

know them for such hits as “Mr.

Chow,” “Lazeez,” “Flamoco Loco,”

“Catalina Kiss” and “Jamaica

Heartbeat.” Their live shows are

said to be among the most exciting

in the biz, as they present a “daz-

zling array of genres,” while keep-

ing their signature acoustic guitar

up front. Time: 7:30 p.m. Tickets:

start at $70.50. 321-242-2219.

4 “Right now” is always a good
time to pause and remind our-

selves that there’s still much that’s

wonderful – and beautiful – about

our home planet. This Sunday, Nov.

3, the 50 men and women of the

Treasure Coast Chorale bring a mu-

sical program to help us accentuate

all the positives. Entitled “What A

Wonderful World: A Potpourri for

the Thanksgiving Season,” the con-

cert will take place at the First Bap-

tist Church of Vero Beach and will,

according to the Chorale’s promo,

“focus on the beauty of the world we

live in, its skies, seas, mountains and

canyons.” Under the baton of Dr. Mi-

chael Carter, the Chorale will raise

your spirits with such compositions

as “For the Beauty of the Earth” and

“All Things Bright and Beautiful,” as

well as Irving Berlin’s “Blue Skies”

and “I Got the Sun in the Morning.”

(Remember that so-singable tune

28 Vero Beach 32963 / October 31, 2019 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

ST. EDWARD’S

Numbers prove Pirates football is trending upward

BY RON HOLUB
Correspondent

St. Ed’s varsity football season ended Michael Mangieri. Connor Wolfe. Ty Redmon.
in the opening round of the SSAC play-
offs this past Friday night when the PHOTOS BY KAILA JONES Head coach Ian Horvit.
Pirates traveled to Fort Myers and fell Bill Motta.
to Canterbury, 40-26. It was the third lacked sometimes with a younger group. half of our plays featured a run-pass op-
straight year the trip across state ended All in all there was a bit of excitement 2-9 last year and 3-7 the year before. tion. That’s the in-vogue offense right
in defeat to the same SSAC team, the last with the number of new guys coming Further, Motta was discouraged to see now and we wanted a nice balance be-
two in the playoffs. out and trying football for the first time. his team drop two games he felt they tween the run and pass. Junior Ian Hor-
could have won. vit was the guy getting the ball out of
Nevertheless, several positives stood “The younger guys took some lumps backfield. He was very productive and
out for this Pirate squad from the outset last year, they were a year older and their “Mentally we just did not embrace we needed him to be a threat the other
of training camp in August. Of primary experience showed through. We elimi- the opportunities we had against Lega- team honored. Senior Ty Redmon also
importance was progress on an issue nated some mistakes, but we still made cy Charter and First Academy,” he said. got a lot of reps at the halfback spot and
dogging the football program in recent more than I like.” “They were unquestionably very good he was very good, too. He was primar-
years, one that at times seriously ques- teams and we needed to play well to win. ily our slot receiver, so he was able run
tioned its very sustainability. This all translated into a final 2019 re- But we made too many mistakes and some sweeps and get a lot of touches
cord of 6-4 (counting the preseason clas- those teams wanted it more than we did. and throws.”
“We were up in numbers this year, we sic with one playoff game remaining)
started the season with 29 players,” head and represented a nice comeback from “Then Berean Christian came in and Highlights on defense and special
coach Bill Motta explained.“We had four they were business as usual. Everyone teams may have occurred in an unlikely
guys go out with injuries and were basi- understood that home field advan- 3-0 victory in the regular-season finale
cally down to 25. That’s still a plus for us tage in the playoffs was at stake in that across the state against Four Corners
because we had been under 20 for the game. They were ferocious and knocked Charter School. Out of necessity, Motta
past few years. us around a little bit (48-26), but it’s al- needs two-way players and that hard-
ways nice to be playing for something fought triumph typified the approach he
“We had some athletes and first-year this time of year. We still had a chance to emphasizes continuously.
seniors come out. Even though they compete for a championship.”
didn’t have football experience, they “We address all three phases of the
provided the physical maturity that we Motta began with three quarterbacks, game: offense, defense and special
but lost junior Brennan Wolfe to injury. teams. This is the first year I haven’t done
He rotated senior Mike Mangieri and defense. I let Rich Schofield put his own
freshman Camren Perez as signal call- spin on things and saw the guys rally-
ers and essentially relied on a pair of ing to the ball. We had some pretty good
ball carriers in a spread formation. He players on defense and it was an encour-
brought in Rich Schofield as defensive aging thing to watch.
coordinator, with his son, Zeke, coach-
ing the secondary. The grand scheme “Zeke is unquestionable a guy with
was to see what worked, almost on a way more football experience than most
play-to-play basis. people, including me, and he can bring a
lot to the table. He has been given a plat-
“Mike Mangieri has been our starting form because of his ability and success
QB for three years,” Motta said. “He ran (Notre Dame and Atlanta Falcons).
the offense and knew where everybody
was supposed to be. He is a very good “He coached our safeties and corners.
leader, showed a lot of maturity, and was That’s his expertise although we do draw
our dominant QB getting all of the starts. upon his experience in all areas. He had
I gave him the opportunity to get into a great chemistry with the boys and they
rhythm to see how things were going. If really liked him. I’m proud of the way he
that didn’t work we tried to get the chem- embraced this.” 
istry going with our other QB, Camren
Perez. He possesses a nice skill set and
throws a really nice ball.

“We used a one-back system. About



30 Vero Beach 32963 / October 24, 2019 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

INSIGHT COVER STORY

DOHA, Qatar – It was 116 degrees atures rise more than 2 degrees Cel- even nature of climate change as well than Connecticut, juts out from Saudi
Fahrenheit in the shade outside the sius above preindustrial times. as the surge in construction that drives Arabia into the rapidly warming wa-
new Al Janoub soccer stadium, and local climate conditions around Doha, ters of the Persian Gulf.
the air felt to air-conditioning expert Over the past three decades, tem- the capital. The temperatures are also
Saud Ghani as if God had pointed “a perature increases in Qatar have been rising because Qatar, slightly smaller In a July 2010 heat wave, the tem-
giant hair dryer” at Qatar. accelerating. That’s because of the un- perature hit an all-time high.

Yet inside the open-air stadium, Small vents push cool air at ankle level inside the stadium. “Qatar is one of the fastest warming
a cool breeze was blowing. Beneath Al Janoub stadium is one of eight soccer stadiums for the World Cup. areas of the world, at least outside of
each of the 40,000 seats, small grates the Arctic,” said Zeke Hausfather, a cli-
adorned with Arabic-style patterns Engineering professor Saud Ghani mate data scientist at Berkeley Earth, a
were pushing out cool air at ankle lev- designed the open-air stadium’s nonprofit temperature analysis group.
el. And since cool air sinks, waves of it air-conditioning system. “Changes there can help give us a
rolled gently down to the grassy play- sense of what the rest of the world can
ing field. Vents the size of soccer balls expect if we do not take action to re-
fed more cold air onto the field. duce our greenhouse gas emissions.”

Ghani, an engineering professor at While climate change inflicts suffer-
Qatar University, designed the system ing in the world’s poorest places from
at Al Janoub, one of eight stadiums that Somalia to Syria, from Guatemala to
the tiny but fabulously rich Qatar must Bangladesh, in rich places such as
get in shape for the 2022 World Cup. the United States, Europe and Qatar
His breakthrough realization was that global warming poses an engineering
he had to cool only people, not the up- problem, not an existential one. And it
per reaches of the stadium – a graceful can be addressed, at least temporarily,
structure designed by the famed Zaha with gobs of money and a little tech-
Hadid Architects and inspired by tra- nology.
ditional boats known as dhows.
To survive the summer heat, Qatar
“I don’t need to cool the birds,” not only air-conditions its soccer sta-
Ghani said. diums, but also the outdoors – in mar-
kets, along sidewalks, even at outdoor
Qatar, the world’s leading exporter malls so people can window shop with
of liquefied natural gas, may be able a cool breeze. “If you turn off air condi-
to cool its stadiums, but it cannot tioners, it will be unbearable. You can-
cool the entire country. Fears that the not function effectively,” says Yousef
hundreds of thousands of soccer fans al-Horr, founder of the Gulf Organiza-
might wilt or even die while shuttling tion for Research and Development.
between stadiums and metros and
hotels in the unforgiving summer heat Yet outdoor air conditioning is part
prompted the decision to delay the of a vicious cycle. Carbon emissions
World Cup by five months. It is now create global warming, which creates
scheduled for November, during Qa- the desire for air conditioning, which
tar’s milder winter. creates the need for burning fuels that
emit more carbon dioxide. In Qatar,
The change in the World Cup date is total cooling capacity is expected to
a symptom of a larger problem – cli- nearly double from 2016 to 2030, ac-
mate change. cording to the International District
Cooling & Heating Conference.
Already one of the hottest places on
Earth, Qatar has seen average temper- And it’s going to get hotter.

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / October 24, 2019 31

INSIGHT COVER STORY

By the time average global warming Indian climate activist Neeshad Shafi This walkway uses The U.S. Air Force calls very hot days
hits 2 degrees Celsius, Qatar’s temper- has questioned whether Qatar will umbrellas and plants “black flag days” and limits exposure
atures would soar, said Mohammed be able to make the World Cup to create a more of troops stationed at al-Udeid Air
Ayoub, senior research director at the carbon neutral. tolerable atmosphere Base. Personnel conducting patrols
Qatar Environment and Energy Re- for pedestrians. or aircraft maintenance work for 20
search Institute. In rapidly growing ur- Cobblestone walkways at the Galeries Lafayette minutes, then rest for 40 minutes and
ban areas throughout the Middle East, outdoor mall are equipped with air conditioning Cooling units stored along a street at the out- drink two bottles of water an hour.
some predict cities could become un- vents to cool shoppers as they browse. door Souq Waqif market ease the stifling heat. People doing heavy work in the fire de-
inhabitable. partment or aircraft repair may work
Solar panels dot the The Msheireb is designed to take advantage of for only 10 minutes at a time, followed
“We’re talking about 4 to 6 degrees rooftops around a breezes and features sun-blocking canopies. by 50 minutes of rest, according to a
Celsius increase in an area that al- large air-conditioning spokesman for the 379th Air Expedi-
ready experiences high temperatures,” building in heart of tionary Wing.
Ayoub said. “So, what we’re looking at the Msheireb neigh-
more is a question of how does this borhood. In early July, Qatar’s Civil Defense
impact the health and productivity of Command warned against doing out-
the population.” Construction of the Lusail Stadium, which will host door work between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.
the first and last games during the World Cup.
The danger is acute in Qatar be- For now, managing climate change
cause of the Persian Gulf humidity. in a place like Qatar, whose slogan for
The human body cools off when its the World Cup is “Expect Amazing,” is
sweat evaporates. But when humid- primarily a matter of money.
ity is very high, evaporation slows or
stops. “If it’s hot and humid and the And Qatar has plenty. Its sovereign
relative humidity is close to 100 per- wealth fund is worth about $320 bil-
cent, you can die from the heat you lion. A few of its stakes include Har-
produce yourself,” said Jos Lelieveld, rods department store, London’s
an atmospheric chemist at the Max gigantic Canary Wharf, the Paris Saint-
Planck Institute for Chemistry in Ger- Germain soccer club, the CityCenter-
many who is an expert on Middle East DC office and residential development
climate. and a 10 percent stake in the Empire
State Building.
That became abundantly clear in
late September, as Doha hosted the Qatar has used its riches to great ef-
2019 World Athletics Championships. fect at home, where 11 winners of the
It moved the start time for the women’s prestigious Pritzker Architecture Prize
marathon to midnight Sept. 28. Water have built striking high-rises and sta-
stations handed out sponges dipped diums. The result is a strange combi-
in ice-cold water. First-aid respond- nation of avant-garde architecture, oil
ers outnumbered the contestants. But wealth, Islamic conservatism, shop-
temperatures hovered around 90 de- ping malls and climate change that
grees Fahrenheit and 28 of the 68 start- Qatari American artist Sophia al-Ma-
ers failed to finish, some taken off in ria has dubbed “Gulf Futurism.”
wheelchairs.
“With the coming global environ-
Workers are particularly at risk. A mental collapse, to live completely in-
German television report alleged hun- doors is like, the only way we’ll be able
dreds of deaths among foreign work- to survive. The Gulf’s a prophecy of
ers in Qatar in recent years, prompt- what’s to come,” she said in an inter-
ing new limits on outdoor work. A July view in Dazed Digital, an online maga-
article in the journal Cardiology said zine covering fashion and culture.
that 200 of 571 fatal cardiac problems
among Nepalese migrants So far, Qatar has maintained out-
working there were caused door life through a vast expansion of
by “severe heat stress” and outdoor air conditioning. In the re-
could have been avoided. stored Souq Waqif market, a maze of

CONTINUED ON PAGE 32

32 Vero Beach 32963 / October 31, 2019 INSIGHT COVER STORY Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 31 But it allows them to enjoy the out-
doors in the summer, she added. “We
shops, restaurants and small hotels, can sit outside in an air-conditioned,
three- to four-foot-high air-condition- controlled area, and we sit and mix
ing units blow cool air onto cafe cus- and mingle.”
tomers. At a cost of $80 to $250 each
depending on the quality, they are the In the Middle East, concerns are
only things that make outdoor dining rising that the combination of heat
possible in a place where overnight and humidity will one day exceed
low temperatures in summer rarely the capacity of humans to tolerate
dip below 90 degrees. the outdoors. In such conditions, air
conditioning would no longer be a
Recently, the luxury French depart- convenience; it would be essential to
ment store Galeries Lafayette opened survival.
in a shopping mall that features stylish
air-conditioning grates in the broad In August, Qatar’s Public Works
cobblestone walkways outside. Each Authority paved over a 200-meter
of the vents, about 1 by 6 feet, has a stretch of road near the souq with
decorative design. Many of them hug layers of bright blue material de-
the outside of buildings, cooling off signed by a Japanese company. Un-
window shoppers looking at expen- like asphalt, the material reflects
sive fashions. Though nearly deserted much of the sun’s radiation. Temper-
in the heat, by 5 p.m. some people be- ature readings dropped by as much
gin to emerge to sit outside places like as 12 degrees to a mere 136.4 degrees
Cafe Pouchkine. Fahrenheit.

One recent afternoon as the temper- A short walk away, the Qatar Foun-
ature eased to 110 degrees Fahrenheit, dation – a progressive organization set
Aida Adi Baziac, an interior designer, up by Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, the
was sharing iced lattes with a friend. current emir’s mother – is overseeing a
They had just finished work and were high-end bit of urban planning known
perched over a cooling grate at an out- as the Msheireb. The development’s
door table at Joe’s Cafe. walkways and streets point north to
take advantage of breezes that come
“I would say it’s wasteful,” Adi Ba- from that direction. Cylindrical pillars
ziac said. “I know how it impacts the
environment negatively.”

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / October 31, 2019 33

INSIGHT COVER STORY

will blow cool air in an open court- was trying to make sure that in the night. That is piped during the day outside. When the first game was
yard featuring water fountains and a meantime Qataris can take refuge in into the stadium, which extracts the played at 10:45 p.m. in May, the sys-
sun-blocking canopy can be closed on air-conditioned places, even if they cold through heat exchangers. There tem worked well.
windy days. are outside. are intake returns in the floor, so the
equipment is re-cooling air from in- Now, Ghani is designing a covered
As the sun began to set one after- The Al Janoub stadium is a point of side the already cooled stadium and open-air walkway so that spectators
noon outside the Khalifa International pride. He built a 92-by-92-foot build- isn’t sucking in sweltering air from don’t expire from heat on the way to
Stadium, Ghani, the cooling expert, ing next door to store cool water at and from the parking lot or metro. 

34 Vero Beach 32963 / October 31, 2019 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

INSIGHT OPINION

The inflation mystery: The new norm or just a fad?

The virtual elimination of inflation is one of the Phillips, who argued in the 1950s that, as unemploy- wage gains. Slack may include people who leave the
great uncovered stories of our time. ment fell, wage gains would rise. Firms would have work force when the economy is in recession and re-
to pay more to attract workers. Some wage gains turn when the recovery takes hold.
If you go back to the 1970s and the early 1980s – a would feed into higher prices, a.k.a. inflation.
period when, admittedly, many of today’s Americans (2) Monetary policy – the Fed’s influence on in-
weren’t alive – surging inflation seemed unsolvable. For many years, the logic worked as expected. terest rates and credit conditions – may have made
From 1975 to 1980, the consumer price index (CPI) Consider the 1961-1969 expansion. “Unemployment people more sensitive to rising prices. In the 1980s,
rose an average 9 percent a year. declined from 6.7% in 1961 to 3.6% in 1969,” Yellen the Fed raised interest rates sharply to curb double-
reported to the conference. Over the same period, digit inflation. Monthly unemployment exceeded 10
There was much pessimism that inflation could inflation rose from “just under 1% to roughly 5%.” In percent. Unemployment soared again in the 2007-09
ever be controlled. The idea that it would essential- the 1970s, the experience was similar. Great Recession. To protect themselves against a rep-
ly vanish from public debate was unthinkable. Yet, etition, companies and consumers may limit wage
that’s what has happened. Yellen offered some possible explanations for the and price increases. Low inflation may be self-fulfill-
collapse of the Phillips Curve. ing. If people think inflation will be low, they act to
From 2010 to 2018, the CPI has increased only make it low. Yellen noted that “inflation expectations
about 2 percent annually. In turn, the collapse of (1) We are misreading the labor force. Phillips . . . have been remarkably stable, in the vicinity of 2%.”
inflation has transformed political debate. We have originally compared unemployment rates and wage
gone from worrying about “stagflation” – the coexis- gains. But the unemployment rate may be sending (3) Globalization and new digital technologies
tence of high inflation and high unemployment – to the wrong signals about labor force “slack” – the create downward pressure on prices. The Internet
arguing about economic growth and inequality. On number of people willing to take a job – and, there- makes price comparisons easier than in the past.
the whole, this is a better place to be. by, underestimating the ability of firms to hold down The ability of companies to shift production to low-
cost foreign suppliers creates more slack, enabling
Recall the “misery index.” It combines the unem- firms either to hold down wages and prices at home
ployment rate and inflation. In 1980, the index was or threaten to do so.
19.6 percent (7.1 percent unemployment rate and
12.5 percent inflation). In 2018, it was 5.8 percent (3.9 The conference offered many views. One paper
percent unemployment and 1.9 percent inflation). argued that people form their views about inflation
based on grocery shopping. Because it’s the most
There won’t be much anti-inflation rhetoric in the common form of shopping, it casts a large psycholog-
2020 campaign. Indeed, low inflation is one reason ical shadow. Another paper minimized globalization’s
the current economic expansion is the longest in U.S. effect on wages, asserting that domestic economic
history. Despite the running feud between President conditions still exert the most powerful pressures.
Trump and the Federal Reserve, there has been no
sharp increase in interest rates to dampen the recovery. The central question is whether a low-inflation
and low-unemployment economy is a new norm –
But there is one gaping hole in this otherwise hap- something the Fed can protect – or just a fad.
py story: We don’t know what has caused inflation to
drop so low and to stay there. It’s a “puzzle,” as econo- If it is a new norm, the consequences could be huge.
mist Janet Yellen, former chair of the Fed, recently put A low-unemployment economy would almost cer-
it at a Brookings Institution conference on inflation. tainly give the poorest and least-skilled workers “a
The explanation matters. If we don’t fully understand chance to turn around their lives,” as Yellen said.
low inflation, we may misinterpret its consequences. Therein also lies a danger: The possibility is so ap-
pealing that it could cause the Fed to gamble on low
The inflation mystery poses a simple question: inflation. 
Why haven’t wage gains increased faster as the
economy has approached “full employment,” which This column by Robert J. Samuelson first appeared
is crudely put between 4 percent and 5 percent? Ex- in The Washington Post. It does not necessarily reflect
pressed technically, the question becomes: Why isn’t the views of Vero Beach 32963.
the Phillips Curve working? That’s economist A.W.

If your physician recommends surgery, a major pro- Hospitals affiliated with academic medical centers © 2019 VERO BEACH 32963 MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
cedure or treatment and it’s not a life-or-death situa- may also have doctors from their school of medicine
tion, it’s often wise to get a second opinion from an- participate remotely in their tumor board reviews
other expert to confirm the diagnosis and treatment using an online live video program similar to Skype.
plan are accurate and appropriate. Just be honest Hospitals that offer patient navigators may also be
and straightforward with your doctor. Most physi- able to help access and coordinate second opinions,
cians welcome a second opinion. locally and nationally.
Most health insurance plans will pay for a second
opinion, but be sure to contact your plan beforehand PREPARING FOR YOUR SECOND OPINION
to confirm coverage. Some plans require a second
opinion before a procedure is approved. For these If your case is not presented for a tumor board review
plans, you will pay a higher percentage of the cost if or a patient navigator is not assisting you, request your
you don’t get a second opinion. medical records from your doctor(s) and the hospital.
The goal is to get two opinions that say the same There is usually a fee to have copies made.
thing--a confirming opinion. If the first and second Once your second opinion appointment is set:
doctors don’t agree (and be aware that the second  Mail or ask your doctor to mail your medical
opinion is not necessarily the right opinion), many in- records to the doctor giving the second opinion.
surers, including Medicare, allow even a third opin-  Ask a friend or loved one to accompany you and
ion. You make the final decision. ask questions.
 Write down a list of questions to ask the doctor.
HOW TO ARRANGE FOR A SECOND OPINION  Tell the doctor what surgery/treatments you’re
considering and what tests you’ve already had.
Ask your doctor for the name of another expert, some-  Be prepared – you may or may not need to repeat
one with whom he or she is not closely connected. You tests you’ve already had.
can also contact your insurance company, a local medical Call before you go to make sure the doctor received
society or the nearest university hospital for assistance. your records.
To get a second opinion about cancer, an excel- If the second healthcare provider agrees with the
lent resource is hospitals that are accredited by the first, you can move forward with more confidence.
American College of Surgeons Commission on Can- If not, and you’re still not sure which treatment plan
cer. These hospitals offer what is called tumor board is best for you, ask for a third opinion. Participate
reviews at which your primary care physician or spe- in all decisions about your treatment and medical
cialist can present your case to oncology (cancer) care.
specialists. Radiologists, pathologists, surgeons, he- Ultimately, the choice is yours. 
matologists, medical oncologists, radiation oncolo- Your comments and suggestions for future topics are
gists and other healthcare professionals review test always welcome. Email us at [email protected].
results and make recommendations for care.

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38 Vero Beach 32963 / October 31, 2019 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

INSIGHT BOOKS

Early on in a new American century, there appeared to connect to the past, wall to wall with unheard-of and
a self-promoting blowhard of a man with an easily Barnum toured with unseen things. He bought a rev-
branded name and a poof of noticeably weird hair. Joice Heth, an enslaved olutionary-era museum belong-
He conjured fortunes and then lost them in spectacu- woman who claimed ing to the descendants of Charles
lar catastrophes. He would eventually catapult him- to be 161 years old and Willson Peale in Philadelphia and
self into political office as a Bible-hugging Christian, the former nursemaid rebranded it “PT Barnum’s Muse-
committed to reclaiming American virtue. His proper to George Washington. um of Living Wonders.” Theaters
name would become a common noun, a contempt- Assembled audiences
ible exclamation and novel profanity. Throughout it would listen to her as in those days were unholy places,
all, he found one way or another to seize the gaze of she reclined on a couch, suspected of being populated by
the media, often by slipping to the press short bits of singing ancient hymns pedophiles and whores. But his
provocative writing, then known as squibs. His name and chortling about the museums had venues for dramas
was Phineas T. Barnum. childhood antics of the and became family affairs with
founding father. discount tickets for the kiddies
For Robert Wilson’s smart new biography, “Bar- – doing for theater what Walt
num,” the author chose the plainest subtitle, “An When she died, there Disney would do for the carny
American Life,” perhaps because nearly every one of was a call to have an au-
the myriad connotations of that central word can be topsy in the hopes of un- amusement park.
traced to the work of our nation’s first and greatest im- derstanding her longev- He created acts so famous
presario of grift. Wilson could have gone with one of ity, and Barnum agreed.
those overheated subtitles that claim too much, like And then sold tickets. Fifty that people still know of them.
“How One Man Created America, Marketing, Show- cents a pop to see a human Tom Thumb, Chang and Eng,
manship, Humbug, and Laid the Groundwork for being dismembered. The even animal acts like Jumbo
Spam, Infomercials, Buzz, Influencers, and Maybe the arena held 1,500 people the elephant. These extrava-
Nigerian Prince Scam.” But that doesn’t come close and sold out. ganzas were an attempt to dis-
enough to describing the epic achievements of Bar- play the world to America, he said,
num’s showmanship as well as the forgotten contribu- Barnum’s grotesque work, especially early on, seems but just as much, America to itself.
tions to what his contemporary, Alexis de Tocqueville, extreme to us, but it seemed extreme then, too. Wrote He was a brilliant editor who of course wrote most
tried to describe as the American character. one reviewer: A “more indecent mode of raising money of his own press, seducing the media into publishing
than by the exhibition of an old woman – black or white it as news. And as Barnum ended nearly a century of
As a young kid growing up in small-town Connecti- – we can hardly imagine.” And we have to read Barnum trying to edit that sense of wonder into the mot juste,
cut in the 1820s, Phineas Taylor Barnum, or Tale, as he today for what is obviously there – issues of race and he finally nailed it at the end. Sure, the historians and
was known then, right away picked up a key quirk of misogyny, abuse and contempt. But the river that runs essayists wrote about America as a “nation conceived
marketplace capitalism. On the one hand there were through it is marketing. in liberty” or “a city on a hill.” But for this young coun-
simple transactions – selling a thing for a fair price – try, such stately branding was underselling the place.
and on the other, more impulse purchases, often hypo- When minstrel shows were the thing – white men in Barnum was on the road booking “Zazel, the Beautiful
critical because they came laced with unspoken hope blackface mimicking African dance moves – Barnum Human Cannon Ball” and a “$25,000 Hippopotamus
or morbid curiosity. He noticed that the very clergymen got into the business. He discovered the best dancer, from the river Nile,” and from town to town he was bus-
and churchgoers who condemned alcohol also found but there was a problem. The performer, according ily puffing ticket sales, arriving in hundreds of brightly
all kinds of excuses – at funerals, for instance – for why to a journalist of the time, “was a genuine negro, and painted train cars, spilling out into parades, selling out
they had to drink. And so teenage Tale created his first not a counterfeit one, and there was not an audience venues, and for well over a century after he died, his
truly profitable line of work, selling lottery tickets hyped in America that would not have resented, in a very en- spectacle would tour America with its wonders. Not a
by worthless prizes to congregations that otherwise ergetic fashion, the insult of being asked to look at the nation. “The Greatest Show on Earth.” 
thundered about the perils of gambling. dancing of a real negro.” So Barnum created a new kind
of blackface that made a black man look like a white BARNUM
Americans were curious about things that lay just man looking like a black man – and the show went on.
beyond the acceptable or the believable, and after AN AMERICAN LIFE
moving to New York, Tale became the Barnum we all When he took over his first New York museum, it was
vaguely know. In the 1830s, in a young nation eager a shabby joint whose owner paid an annual rent of “one BY ROBERT WILSON | SIMON & SCHUSTER. 341 PP. $28
peppercorn.” He expanded and stuffed his new place REVIEW BY JACK HITT, THE WASHINGTON POST

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Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / October 31, 2019 39

ON FAITH

Don’t obsess over your permanent record ... God doesn’t

demerits, took names and wrote fessed?”
down all your deficiencies on an
other-worldly Permanent Re- “Yes,” the
cord? If so, perhaps depicting
God as a sort of strict school woman replied.
principal served its pur-
pose in motivating you “And what did
to be a better behaved
child, but we’re not God say?” the
convinced the im-
age is a very help- pastor pressed.
ful one in teach-
ing anything The woman re-
very useful
about God. plied, “When I
And yet
the im- asked God to tell
age of
God me your last sin,
as a harsh
and exacting disci- God said, ‘Tell
plinarian is still prevalent.
your pastor: I
We love the story of a woman
who claimed to have conversations with don’t remem-
God. Friends and neighbors flocked to
her because it seemed she was often ber.’”
able to bring comforting messages or
BY REV. DRS. CASEY AND BOB BAGGOTT offer hope which she received through Now that’s an
her conversations with God. When her
Columnists pastor heard of this he scoffed. He had entirely different
spent his entire life studying and hon-
Do you remember being told as a oring God, and he had never received image for God,
child that you must never, ever get such revelations. Surely God would not
into trouble in school because all your grant such insight to an ordinary per- isn’t it? Not some-
misdeeds would be indelibly recorded son such as this woman.
on your permanent record? We be- one who maintains
lieved it. We wondered if graduation He decided to unmask this woman’s
from high school would be impos- pretensions by asking her to perform a a damning permanent
sible. Perhaps college was out of the test. He told her that the next time she
question. Maybe we would be denied was able to communicate with God she record or tallies demer-
gainful employment because of what should ask God what the last sin was
was recorded on that menacing per- which he had confessed. The wom- its or keeps score of our
manent record. Every lost library book an agreed to ask God about it and get
and failure to return from recess in a back to her pastor. A week passed and every failing – but One
timely manner was said to have been the woman asked her pastor to visit.
dutifully recorded on our permanent She had received a message from God. whose grace is almost too
records and would haunt our futures. The pastor hurried over and asked her
scornfully, “Did you do as I directed? vast to comprehend.
It wasn’t until several years after
college that we ran into an employee What’s on your perma-
of the county school board’s records
department and asked if we could get Did you ask God to tell you nent record? Maybe God
a copy of those permanent records. what the last sin was which I con-
Do you know what she said? She said can’t recall. 
there wasn’t any such thing. Imagine
that!

Thinking back on the permanent re-
cord ploy made us realize that there
were some similarities with the way
many of us were taught about God’s
oversight of the world and of us. Were
you taught that God kept score, tallied

40 Vero Beach 32963 / October 31, 2019 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PETS

Bonzo meets Sira, a seriously sweet ‘Schmutt’

Hi Dog Buddies! they picked me, I was 5 months we got to visit the kids in the hos-
piddle an play with ’em, or just
Sira Macomber has it Goin’ ON! Even old but, before they could hang out an snuggle, which helped
though she’s only 4, she’s done a lot, an ’em cheer up an not be so scared.
learned a lot. But she’s no Snobnose. ackshully adopt me, they hadda We even had our own trading cards
Actually, she’s a Schmutt! (More on that with our pick-shur, our name, breed,
later.) get Totally Checked Out an I when we joined, an our favrite treat.
(Mine’s tuna fish.) The kids loved the
Sira an her Mom answered our hadda get my PAYpers an shots cards. I’ll show you!”
knock. “Good morning,” I said. “You She zipped out an returned with
must be Miss Sira.” She was a perky an stuff. So I was 7 months old her card: it said “Doggie Brigade,” an
liddle pooch, with wavy silvery hair and had her pick-shur on it. Totally Cool
an engaging Schnauzer-y face. when I finally got to go with Kibbles.
“I’m hopin’ I can do stuff like that
With a few welcoming woofs, Sira ’em.” here,” she said. “You hafta have a love-
trotted over for the Wag-an-Sniff, “Yep, ly bath an brush your teeth before you
that’s ME. This is my Mommy Debora, “Did you get to ride inna visit, which I don’t mind a bit. Good
an my Daddy, Rob. Come in!” grooming an dental hi-jean are very
plane. Or a car?” important, doncha think? I also do that
“I hear you’ve done a lot in only 4 reading program with liddle kids; an
years,” I told her, opening my notebook, “Nope. See, what Petfinder visit older humans in nursing homes.
an turning to a page that wasn’t dog- Just seeing how happy they are when I
eared. does is get this Real Big Air- come to see ’em makes me happy, too,
you know?”
“You’re not Woofin.’ I hope you conditioned Truck, special Sira.PHOTO: KAILA JONES “Woof, Miss Sira, that is very im-
brought extra pen-sills.” made with cages for BIG Dogs portant work. You must be so proud. It
on the bottom, Middle Size takes a special pooch to do that.”
“Always! Ready when you are.” Well, thank you, Mr. Bonzo,” she
“Well, I was born in Arkansas. I think Dogs in the middle, an Liddle smiled.
my litter was un-ex-PECT-ud, cuz we Heading home, I was thinking about
were a mixture of Schnauzer an ‘a Dogs on the top. Then they all the lives Sira has already touched
pooch of unknown origin.’ (That’s why with her loving personality. I was also
Mommy calls me a ‘Schmutt,’ which go across the whole country, planning to check out the pantry in
I ackshully like.) Anyway, I went to a case there was an extra can of tuna fish.
foster home when I was just a liddle which is Real Far; pick UP dogs goin’ “Lotsa leash walks. An Mommy
pupster. The shelter in charge put my Till next time,
pickshur on Petfinder, an that’s where one way; and drop ’em OFF goin’ the teaches me TRICKS. Wanna see?”
Mommy an Daddy first saw me.” The Bonz
“What’s Petfinder?” other way.” “Sure!”
“Oh, Mr. Bonzo, Petfinder’s Totally Don’t Be Shy
Crispy Dog Biscuits! Shelters all over “No Woof!” Well, that liddle pooch was uh-MAZ-
the place put pickshurs an stuff about We are always looking for pets
their rescues on The Line, so humans “I KNOW! Mommy an Daddy lived in ing. When her Mom asked, she crossed with interesting stories.
can check out all us pooches (an other
pets). Well, Mommy an Daddy hadda Ohio at the time, so they hadda drive all her paws; covered her eyes; jumped To set up an interview, email
Springer Spaniel (like YOU are, right?) [email protected].
named Jagger, an they were lookin’ for the way to where the truck dropped 12 through her Mom’s arms; weaved back
a fren for him cuz his BFF hadda go to
Dog Heaven. They were thinkin’ about of us pooches off – inna Wal-Mart park- an forth between her Mom’s legs. When
a Schnauzer. Even though I’m a Sch-
mutt, an not a total Schnauzer, Mommy ing lot in Hagerstown, Maryland. So her Mom said “ACHOO!” Sira sneezed.
an Daddy KNEW I was The Dog. When
Mommy an Daddy (an Jagger) an all the She hopped around on three paws,

other humans were there waiting for twirled on her back feet; walked back-

their new pooches. I was Very Nervous wards; an pulled a liddle wagon around

cuz I didn’t know what was happenin’ by a string in her mouth. Extremely

an I was hopin’ it would be something Cool Dog Biscuits!

good. Which it WAS. My new famly was “I also love travelin,’” she continued.

Super Nice, but it took me about 3 weeks “As a snowbirddog, I’ve been to Florida

to figure stuff out, an I was real quiet till a lot already. Also Niagara Falls, which

I did. Mommy says I’m suh-REE-brull.” is more real loud water than you can

“What’s that?” even buh-LEEVE. Also Lake Erie, Penn-

“I dunno. I think maybe it means sylvania, West Virginia, an New York.

Queen of the House. I still miss Jagger. “PLUS, I’ve taken lotsa classes. I have

He was older so he couldn’t play as long certificates for jumpin’; trick dog; agil-

as me, but he was a great Big Brother. ity; Canine Good Citizen, of course;

He loved to swim (being a Spaniel an and a buncha others. But my most fa-

all) an he taught me. Now I love swim- vrite class was training for the Akron

min,’ too. He also innerduced me to Key Children’s Hos-biddle Doggie Brigade.

Lime, Mommy’s horse. Horses, I found THAT was the longest, AN the hardest.

out, are very, very tall, an mostly pretty We hadda get a perfect score on the fi-

nice. I loved hangin’ out at the barn.” nal test to qualify. (Not all the pooches

What do you do for fun?” I wondered. did.) If we passed, we were OFFICIAL:

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / October 31, 2019 41

INSIGHT BRIDGE

WHAT HAPPENS WITH TWO UNBID MAJORS? WEST NORTH EAST
A82 Q754 J 10 9
By Phillip Alder - Bridge Columnist 943 K J 10 7 862
A J 10 9 4 6 8753
Inspirational author Ivy Gilbert wrote, “Once you replace negative thoughts with positive 52 K 10 6 3 Q74
ones, you’ll start having positive results.” But in bridge, when you use a negative double, you
will have more positive results than you would have attained without its assistance. SOUTH
K63
So far, we have seen that when opener bids one of a suit and the next player overcalls in AQ5
another suit (perhaps with a single jump), a double promises length in the unbid major. KQ2
AJ98
Some claim that it shows length in the unbid major and the unbid minor, but that is not true.
However, you should have some idea of what you will do if partner rebids in that minor and Dealer: South; Vulnerable: Neither
you do not have support.
The Bidding:
But what happens when there are two unbid majors, as in today’s deal? I like to play that
the negative double shows exactly 4-4 in those majors. (With 5-4, you bid the five-card suit; SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST OPENING
with 5-5, you respond one spade.) 1 Clubs 1 Diamonds Dbl. Pass
3 NT Pass Pass Pass LEAD:
Following North’s double, South jumps to three no-trump. How does he plan the play after J Diamonds
taking West’s diamond-jack lead with his king?

Declarer has seven top tricks: four hearts, one diamond (trick one) and two clubs. Since
West seems marked with the diamond ace, East is the danger hand, the one who must be
kept off lead. So, declarer should cross to the club king and run the club 10. When this
holds, he takes his nine winners, then plays a spade to collect an overtrick. But even if the
club finesse loses, declarer is protected from a diamond attack and has time to establish his
ninth trick in spades.

A Moment’s Notice

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42 Vero Beach 32963 / October 31, 2019 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™
SOLUTIONS TO PREVIOUS ISSUE (OCTOBER 24) ON PAGE 60
INSIGHT GAMES

The Telegraph ACROSS DOWN
1 Rational (4) 2 Unfortunately (4)
4 High (4) 3 Hire (6)
8 Cakes (4) 4 Caring (6)
9 Contentment (9) 5 Inferior (6)
11 Felt (6) 6 Periphery (9)
13 Always (7) 7 Exploited (4)
15 Contestant (6) 10 Earnest (7)
16 Rebellion (6) 12 Hurried (4)
18 Fraud (6) 13 Beguile (9)
20 Humid (6) 14 Entourage (7)
22 Retribution (7) 17 Blokes (4)
23 Agree (6) 19 Dread (6)
25 Former (9) 20 Guard (6)
26 Potty (4) 21 Ignites (6)
27 Spree (4) 23 Stick (4)
28 Outhouse (4) 24 Hint (4)

How to do Sudoku:

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

The Telegraph

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / October 31, 2019 43

INSIGHT GAMES

ACROSS 99 Tuberous plant 37 Baryshnikov, by birth The Washington Post
100 Frigid finish 39 “___ longa ...”
1 Herbert Hoover’s home 101 “This ___ joke!” 41 Drink ending SEEING STARS 1 By Merl Reagle
5 Trim and chic 103 Interpretation 44 Dime-like
9 Decline 104 Work like a beaver 45 Courteney and Wally
12 ___ Gump Shrimp Co. 105 Groan cause 47 Emphasize
17 Epee alternative 106 Pugilists practice on it 48 Teacher’s deg.
18 Admit frankly 108 “___ us a child 50 Brakes
19 Future fry 52 Natural ability
20 Oval Office actions is born” 55 Promise to pony up
21 Divorce? 111 Radical ’60s grp. 57 “A pox!”
24 Where Houston is, 112 TV chihuahua 58 Bus. abbr.
113 Say things like, “Didja have a 60 I and II?
gazetteer-style 61 One way to make abstract
25 Cordelia’s dad bad day, good knight”?
26 Criticize a former TV host? 116 Sweet bestseller paintings?
28 Graph extension 118 For whatever the current 63 Ring stat
29 ___ tai 64 A good time
31 Pal of a Disney dragon price is, 65 ___ forth
33 Engine part to a stockbroker 67 Iroquoians of
34 On everyone’s short list 120 What Elmer Fudd does at
35 Picnic ruiners Halloween parties? New York
36 Airline to Israel 124 Marshy lowlands 68 Chocolate tree
38 Aleutian island 125 Soaring Sharapova shot 70 Valuable vessel
40 Bard’s villain 126 Nil, in Nice 71 Dispenser candy
42 I openers? 127 Foreclosure rel. 72 The Yellow River’s other
43 Chance to get even 128 Deputized bunch
46 Hardy, as opposed to 129 Self-help author LeShan name, ___ Ho
130 Just manages 75 S.S. Titanic sinks, ___ 15,
Laurel? (with “out”)
49 Some half-pints 131 Wish to God 1912
51 Was a careless fisherman? 79 At any time
53 Friend’s plight, proverbially DOWN 82 “___ My Party”
54 Eschewing euphemism 1 “Weather permitting” et al. 83 Most vital element
56 She’s a real fox 2 Time-traveling Alley 85 Norma Rae’s goal
57 No. 32, elected in ’32 3 A Buckley 87 “___ the whole thing”
58 Assent of a woman 4 Caught in ___ 88 Feeling guilty about
59 The stuff that creams are 5 California ballplayer 89 Cabinet dept.
6 Keats work, The ___ of St. 90 Mun. and Supreme
made of 91 Topples
60 Your, in hymns Mark 92 Oklahoma city
62 End in ___ 7 Played like Springsteen 93 Where lions sleep tonight
64 Ardent one 8 Lookalike 96 Magna cum ___
66 Exhaust 9 Ms. Jong 97 Sounds of relief
68 ___ Pet 10 Derisive slang for a geologist 102 Annoying one
69 Least popular drink at 11 Give a little 104 Comprehension
12 Track acts 105 A Pope’s name
Calamari’s Restaurant? 13 Salt Lake athlete 107 Limerick, structurally
73 Austrian river 14 “This Side Up,” for 109 Whistlestops
74 Insurance giant 110 Band of gold?
76 Astaire-Rogers studio example? 113 Artist Paul
77 Give for a while 15 Outrun Dracula? 114 Up to it
78 George of Cheers 16 Obstinate ones 115 Swiss river
80 Sleep on it 20 Let loose 117 Costner western role
81 Going-steady symbol 22 Cut in on a conversation, 119 Franken and Gore
83 Claiborne or Smith 121 Doo-dah intro
84 Like Cary Grant perhaps 122 Mileage-testing agcy.
86 Bourbon St. horn man 23 Smasheroo, 123 Versatile bean
88 Picnic ruiner
90 Online, in a way as ticket sales
94 Celebrating works 24 Faint
95 Slimy party? 27 Burns movie
98 King Arthur’s mom 29 Puzzling bird
30 Away from the wind
32 Resort full of bandits
35 ___ cry from

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44 Vero Beach 32963 / October 31, 2019 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

INSIGHT BACK PAGE

Siblings not on same page when it comes to mom’s care

BY CAROLYN HAX Any new financial arrangements should be in
Washington Post your brother’s favor, and the schedule for his post-
Mom moveout a generous and compassionate one.
Dear Carolyn: My siblings are
Again, this assumes your mom is well cared for.
arguing over my elderly mother’s These situations can be complicated and messy, to
put it mildly.
finances. My brother (60-plus) lives
The way “other families” manage is of little rele-
with Mom (80-plus) but does not vance, because some other families absolutely and
permanently shatter over this stuff as some mem-
pay rent. He pays for some grocer- bers dump all the work on everyone else and oth-
ers grab all the valuables. The stories would singe
ies and makes her meals. When she your eyebrows – and your sister’s behavior might
not rank among the worst, but she seems to be us-
is unable to move on her own due to surgery, he has ing all her runway to get there. Wheeling Mom out
of the way to polish up the condo for her estate
stepped up and assisted her. sale reveals an ambition to reach for the worst.

My sister controls Mom’s finances and meds, and The families who grow closer through their par-
ents’ care do so by communicating freely, shoul-
gives Mom a weekly allowance. She insists that my dering burdens ungrudgingly, finding other ways
to chip in when they can’t be present, and by ex-
brother pay rent, but he does not work, just gets Social pressing gratitude for those doing the toughest
work.
Security. She tried to get Mom into an assisted living
They also take the time to give themselves a
facility, but Mom did not want to go. freaking clue how this all works, and therefore
would recognize your brother’s caregiving as a
I think it is OK for him to live rent-free because oth- win-win-win scenario.

erwise we would need someone to ensure Mom gets So please tell your brother how grateful you are,
then show your sister some prices for assisted living
meals and check on her multiple times per day. My sis and in-home care to prove what a blessing he is.

is trying to update the condo and make sure my broth- Consider getting a geriatric social worker in-
volved: eldercare.acl.gov. 
er moves out as soon as Mom passes. Does she have any idea how draining it is to be a
caregiver? And how hard it is to find a good one, and
My sis is very controlling – she just went into Mom’s how expensive it is to pay one, and how nerve-rack-
ing it is at first to trust one? Presumably you would
bathroom and threw out a bunch of makeup and lo- have said something if your brother were doing a
bad job of caring for your mom. So, assuming his
tions without asking. love and competence, you and your sister are get-
ting care for your mother and copious amounts of
I live out of state, but visit 1 to 3 times per year. How peace of mind for next to nothing financially. Like,
the change you find in the couch cushions. Have
do other families manage aging parents? you looked at the price of elder care lately?

– Arguing

Arguing: omg.
Your brother deserves a medal, not this dismis-
sive abuse from your sister.

THIS LASER IS ‘PICOSECOND’ TO NONE
FOR TATTOO REMOVAL

46 Vero Beach 32963 / October 31, 2019 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

HEALTH

This laser is ‘picosecond’ to none for tattoo removal

BY TOM LLOYD are “a permanent reminder of a tem-
Staff Writer porary feeling.”

Think before you ink. Getting rid of Nobody knows that better than Dr.
a tattoo can be a tricky – and some- Hal Brown at Reflections Aesthet-
times risky – business. ic and Laser Solutions here in Vero
Beach. He specializes in using the lat-
Passions, emotional entanglements, est, high-powered laser technology to
religious or political fervors and a host remove now-unwanted tattoos.
of other reasons can make getting a
tattoo seem like a good idea, but, as Asked if there was such a thing as a
Jimmy Buffett has said, tattoos often “typical” tattoo-removal patient, the
soft-spoken Brown pauses briefly and

Dr. Hal Brown.

PHOTOS BY DENISE RITCHIE

says, “We have quite a spectrum here. We accept see-able or visible tattoos.
have young folks that either regret the “Many companies – including the
tattoo that they’d chosen, or they are en-
tering the workforce in a job that doesn’t hospital here – like tattoos to be cov-
ered when you’re at work and some-

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / October 31, 2019 47

HEALTH

‘I think that the this newer technology treats all skin a second and about 1,000 times faster rid of the tattoo,” Brown said.
types and all tattoo colors in a fast, ef- than those earlier nanosecond ma- Depending on the size and colors in
important thing is that ficient fashion so there are fewer treat- chines. It’s also FDA-approved for tat-
ments required and less tissue dam- too removal. the tattoo to be removed, it can take
this newer technology age occurs.” between four and eight sessions for
Asked if he’s had any experience with Brown to make those ‘permanent re-
treats all skin types and “It’s very important,” Brown elabo- patients who first tried a storefront minders of a temporary feeling’ disap-
rates, “to choose the right technol- nanosecond tattoo removal procedure, pear. That’s half or less than the num-
all tattoo colors in a fast, ogy and not go for the cheap upfront Brown sighs and quietly says, “Sure. In ber of visits most other tattoo removal
costs that are maybe performed by fact I had one in today. She had a par- procedures require.
efficient fashion ...’ non-physicians. There are all kinds of tially treated tattoo at a different center
lasers on the market and all different with a poor-quality laser and she wasn’t Dr. Hal Brown is with Reflections
– Dr. Hal Brown kinds of people are using those lasers.” getting the results she wanted so she Aesthetic & Laser Solutions at 1265 36th
came here for additional treatments. Street, Suite C in Vero Beach. The phone
times people have those tattoos on The laser Brown employs uses ex- number is 772-567-7196. Brown also is
their fingers and on their neck where tremely short, high-powered “picosec- “It happens quite a bit. Inferior chief of staff at Cleveland Clinic Indian
they can be seen, so those kinds of folks ond” pulses. technology doesn’t produce [good] River Hospital. 
often come in for a tattoo removal. results and it doesn’t completely get
A “picosecond” is one-trillionth of
“Airlines and the military,” Brown
continues, “don’t like visible tattoos.
We also get 40- and 50-year-olds who
regret what they did when they were
younger and we have some older
people that have just lived with it for
a long time and are just ready to get it
removed.”

The good news? Tattoo removal to-
day is safer and less painful than it was
in the past.

The oldest forms of tattoo removal
were incredibly painful, involving
non-surgical steel blades attempting
to cut and peel away individual layers
of living skin until the tattoo ink was
no longer visible.

That approach often failed and left
the patient with one or more debilitat-
ing – and sometimes lethal – infections.

More recently, nanolaser treatments
offered somewhat safer but still less-
than-ideal removal results. That’s in
large part, Brown says, because nano-
lasers are limited by the colors of ink
they can break down.

“They work OK with black ink, but
not with other colors,” Brown says.
And they often take more than 18 ses-
sions to remove a tattoo and that re-
sults in “more trauma to the skin” and
frequently leave very noticeable scars
where the tattoo once was.

The American Society for Dermato-
logic Surgery has one pointed piece of
advice for those seeking to remove a
tattoo: “Find the right doctor. Choose
someone qualified to perform tattoo
removal procedures who also has the
right laser equipment.”

Brown fills both those require-
ments.

In addition to being the medical di-
rector at Reflections Aesthetics & La-
ser Solutions, Brown is chief of staff at
Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospi-
tal as well as a longtime primary care
physician at Primary Care of the Trea-
sure Coast.

Still, he gives most of the credit for
his tattoo-removal prowess to his
equipment.

“I think the important thing is that

48 Vero Beach 32963 / October 31, 2019 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

HEALTH

Tru-D robot helps knock out
hospital-associated infections

BY TOM LLOYD tion and Health Promotion says “HAIs
Staff Writer are infections people get while they
are receiving healthcare for another
If you’re not at least a little concerned condition. HAIs can happen in any
whenever you check into a hospital or healthcare facility, including hospitals,
any other healthcare facility, maybe you ambulatory surgical centers, end-stage
don’t know enough about HAIs (Health- renal disease facilities and long-term
care Associated Infections). care facilities.”

Ralph Taylor, who is chief operating The main causes? Bacteria, spores
officer, chief nursing officer and inter- and viruses from sick patients and
im president at Steward Health Care’s the environment that tend to linger in
Sebastian River Medical Center cer- hospital settings, infecting additional
tainly does, and maybe that’s why he patients.
has turned to a Star Wars-like robotic
device for some extra help in control- “HAIs,” the Office of Disease Preven-
ling infections. tion continues, “are a significant cause of
illness and death. They can have devas-
The Tru-D Ultra-Violet-C device uses tating emotional, financial and medical
low-pressure mercury gas bulbs that consequences. At any given time, about
emit a strong, narrow band of the UV-C 1 in 25 in-patients have an infection re-
light spectrum that kills bacteria, spores lated to hospital care. These infections
and viruses. It is moved from room to lead to the loss of tens of thousands of
room to finalize the cleaning and disin- lives and cost the U.S. healthcare system
fection process after a patient leaves and billions of dollars each year.”
before a new patient comes in.
The National Institutes of Health
The U.S. Office of Disease Preven- is equally blunt when it says “HAIs

Some of the SRMC EVS team with the Tru-D Smart UVC Ultraviolet Disinfection robot.

PHOTOS BY DENISE RITCHIE

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / October 31, 2019 49

HEALTH

diff infection will die from it.” showed the “disinfection strategies”
Even worse, the folks at Mayo point utilized by the Tru-D unit reduced the
risk of acquisition and infection of four
out, “in recent years, C. diff infections major superbugs – including C. diff – by
have become more frequent, severe and 30 percent.
difficult to treat while recurrent C. diff
infections also are on the rise.” Maybe that’s not a grand slam but it’s
certainly a big step in the right direction.
Changing that trend is a lot to ask of
any new device – even one with a Star Taylor says he and his staff will con-
Wars nickname. stantly monitor HAI rates at SRMC now
that the Tru-D device is in daily use to
Taylor calls it “R2-D2, but taller. It’s as determine its effectiveness here.
tall as C-3PO but it’s as round as R2-D2.”
“It takes a while,” Taylor explains, “to
The big question is – whatever you see a trend. We’ve only had it for three
call this Tru-D device – will it work? weeks. So we’ll start to see [hard] evi-
dence of its efficiency probably in about
Taylor points to a recent study by the 90 to 100 days.” 
Duke Center for Antimicrobial Stew-
ardship and Infection Prevention that

are infections that patients contract robot is already in use at SRMC.
while in the hospital that were neither “The cleaning crew will go in and
present nor developing at the time of
admission,” and estimates are that as they’ll clean the room, depending on
many as 10 percent of adults with even which type of bacteria may be pres-
short-term hospitalizations will devel- ent from the patient history and/or
op an HAI. the active disease. After it’s completely
cleaned we’ll push the robot in and
“In a hospital setting,” Taylor says, “we that’s the final step before we make the
need to ensure that we’re the cleanest room back up for the next patient. We
place in the community. We have a very also do the ORs and endoscopy rooms
strong team of EVS, or Environmental every single night.”
Services personnel, that do a fantastic
job of cleaning. In fact they have one of That’s especially important insofar as
the hardest jobs in the hospital,” and the a particularly noxious bacterium called
Tru-D device will in no way replace the “Clostridioides difficile” (C. diff) is often
environmental services teams. found in an endoscopy setting as well as
in patient rooms.
Instead it will be a high-tech adjunct
that automatically measures the size C. diff can cause diarrhea and an
of the room (including patient rooms, inflammation of the colon known as
operating rooms or any other room in colitis and in this area’s demographic,
the hospital) and uses its ultraviolet it can be a killer.
light to disrupt the DNA of any unseen
pathogens that remain after the pri- As the Mayo Clinic explains, illness
mary cleaning process. from C. diff most commonly affects
older adults in hospitals or in long-
That DNA disruption prevents them term care facilities. Moreover, says
from reproducing and kills them. the Rochester, Minnesota, institu-
tion, “one in every 11 people over age
Taylor says this newly arrived Tru-D 65 with a healthcare-associated C.

50 Vero Beach 32963 / October 31, 2019 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

HEALTHY SENIOR

How to choose the right cane for your needs

BY FRED CICETTI
Columnist

Q. I had to have some minor surgery
on my foot and I want to get a cane.
What kind should I get?

This is a question that opens up the four legs have greater stability and are Choose a handle that feels good in If you begin to use a cane, here are
whole subject of mobility aids, the good for people with balance prob- your hand. Try different ones. They some tips to prevent injuries around
icons of aging. We’ll discuss canes in lems. In addition, there are canes that come in many materials and shapes. the house:
this column and save crutches, walk- come with folding seats. You might like a foam grip or one that’s
ers, wheelchairs and scooters for the molded to fit your hand. If you expe- • Keep the items you need handy
future. Decide upon a material. Wood canes rience any numbness or pain in your and everything else out of the way.
are light, resilient and inexpensive. hand, choose a different grip.
First, get a cane that fits. Let your Aluminum canes are durable, adjust- • Remove scatter rugs and tuck away
arm hang at your side. The top of your able and foldable. Graphite and fiber- Check the weight limit. Typical electrical cords.
cane should line up with your wrist. glass are very light and exceptionally canes can hold about 250 pounds.
You can get an adjustable cane that strong; they’re also comparatively ex- Some slimmer canes are limited to • Clear floors where you walk.
can be expanded from about 31 inch- pensive. about 175 pounds. And there are canes • In your bathroom, put down non-
es to 40 inches in 1-inch increments. made that will bear up to 500 pounds. slip bath mats and install grab bars.
With your cane in your hand, the bend • Wear rubber-soled, low-heeled
in your elbow should be about 30 de- When you walk with a cane, hold shoes.
grees. it in the hand opposite the side that • Always hold the handrails on stair-
needs support. ways.
There are many styles of canes. • Put night lights and light switches
The old reliable “Crook Cane” is still The cane and your “bad” leg should close to your bed.
very popular. Offset canes put your hit the ground at the same time. • Ensure that every room in your
weight more directly over the shaft home has a light switch near the en-
and are usually adjustable. There are To climb stairs, step up on your trance.
also folding canes that are easy to good leg first. Then step up on the in- • Use bright bulbs in your home.
store. Broad-base canes with three or jured leg with the cane supporting you • Keep your telephone near your
opposite the injured leg. To go down bed. During the day, keep a portable
stairs, put your cane on the step first, phone with you so you won’t have to
then your injured leg, and finally the walk to answer it.
good leg. • Use a shoulder bag, fanny pack, or
backpack to leave hands free.
The tip of your cane should have a • Check curb heights before step-
tread that gives you traction wherever ping down.
you go. You don’t want one with a tip • When entering rooms, look for dif-
(or tips) that is worn out. Walking with ferences in floor levels. 
a cane that doesn’t grip the road is like
driving a car with bald tires.