05/13/2021 ISSUE 19

Diana Duve murder subject of
TV documentary. P12
Vaccinations
down sharply. P10

Researchers on lookout for
rare sawfish in the lagoon. P12

Vero considering For breaking news visit
use of Big Blue for
temp boat storage Stormwater tax
revenue won’t be
spent on drainage

BY LISA ZAHNER BY LISA ZAHNER
Staff Writer Staff Writer

A shortage of space to store PHOTO BY KAILA JONES Advocates for the Indian
boats after a pandemic boat- River Lagoon may be thrilled
buying boom has the City of MY St. Ed’s honors ‘ kid with the heart of a champion’ that Vero Beach is finally on
Vero Beach considering an VERO the verge of charging a storm-
unorthodox way to repurpose water tax to tackle unfunded
an unused asset – by renting BY RAY MCNULTY ies. “It’s about how hard you ida High School Athletic As- drainage projects, but they
out storage space inside the Staff Writer can get hit and keep moving sociation state championship likely won’t be thrilled to find
Big Blue power plant building. forward.” last week. out that the first year’s tax rev-
“It ain’t about how hard you enue of more than $350,000
The National Association of hit,” Rocky Balboa said to his That could have been the Two Fridays ago – on the will fund zero work on storm-
Marine Manufacturers report- son in the last of Sylvester Stal- motto of the St. Edward’s boys afternoon of the team’s sched- water projects.
ed a 13-year record year for lone’s six “Rocky”-titled mov- lacrosse team as the Pirates uled Class 1A regional final at
boat sales in 2020, with year- chased the program’s first Flor- The stormwater tax was tout-
over-year increases of around CONTINUED ON PAGE 4 ed as a way to complete unfund-
40 percent and 320,000 boats ed stormwater projects the city
sold nationwide. can’t afford with the $875,000 it
spends annually for such out of
After a slump at the start the general fund budget.
of the pandemic last spring,
boat sales soared in the fall Now that the new stormwa-
and winter and don’t seem ter tax is nearly a reality, Vero
to be slowing down much. officials are prioritizing which
NAMM reported in March projects will be tackled with
that February sales were up 21 the first year’s added revenue,
percent over the same month right?
last year. Sales of recreational
vehicles also skyrocketed, and No, that would actually make
sense.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 3
CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

Orchid Island Golf & Beach Club buys land Hospital may permit more vaginal birth after cesarean deliveries
to prevent future commercial development
In his 40 years as an ob-
BY RAY MCNULTY Turns out, you won’t see a BY MICHELLE GENZ stetrician, Presley estimates
Staff Writer supermarket, or any other com- Staff Writer he has delivered as many as
mercial development, built 200 babies in the practice
Remember that 7.27-acre there. Dr. James Presley’s Army known VBAC – vaginal birth
parcel of vacant land, a half- training included an im- after cesarean.
mile east of the Wabasso That’s because the Orchid portant skill – how to guide
Causeway bridge, that Vero Island Golf & Beach Club a woman through having a But the last deliveries by
Beach businessman Ken Put- purchased the property for baby vaginally after a prior VBAC at the former Indian
tick wanted to sell to Publix? $2.3 million in December, 18 cesarean section.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 6
CONTINUED ON PAGE 8
PHOTO BY BRENDA AHEARN

May 13, 2021 Volume 14, Issue 19 Newsstand Price $1.00 Orchid Island 5K
runs ‘UP’ an $18K
News 1-12 Games 35-37 Pets 34 TO ADVERTISE CALL score. Page 20
Arts 41-46 Health 47-53 Real Estate 65-76 772-559-4187
Books 32 Insight 25-40 St. Ed’s 33
Dining 58-62 People 13-24 Style 54-57 FOR CIRCULATION
Editorial 30 CALL 772-226-7925

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

2 Vero Beach 32963 / May 13, 2021 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

NEWS

Stormwater tax than the current city staff – if a plan is
even needed.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
The four people named above would
At the April 27 council workshop end up doing most of the work that
on stormwater, after nearly a year of the consultants would get paid hand-
discussion about a new stormwater somely for, by providing all the data,
tax, Vice Mayor Rey Neville suddenly maps, budget and local background.
pushed for a stormwater master plan Then the consultant would re-package
that would be developed by hired con- the information they got from the city
sultants and got some support from staff, create a PowerPoint presentation
other council members. with some whiz-bang graphics and sell
it back to the city for a quarter-million
The fact that city officials would dollars ... or more!
even consider spending upwards of
a quarter-million dollars on consul- Falls said the $252,000 consultant
tants – on top of the $110,000 the city fee in the latest proposed stormwa-
ter budget is “just a placeholder,”
already spent on consultants to study and Lawson made it clear to the
and set up the stormwater utility – in- council that the study would likely
stead of completing some of the $2 cost exponentially more. The City
million in unfunded projects is a ridic- of Sebastian recently commissioned
ulous waste of taxpayer money. a stormwater study that will report-
edly cost around $700,000 when all is
Mayor Robbie Brackett said “I agree said and done.
100 percent” that a stormwater mas-
ter plan is a boondoggle. Brackett also Vero has more than $2.5 million
agreed that no team of consultants in planned stormwater projects and
could match the expertise Vero al- vehicle purchases over the next four
ready has in-house. years in its capital plan, identified in
detail with locations, a description
Vero City Manager Monte Falls, of what needs to be done and the es-
a licensed engineer since 1985, has timated cost, along with projected or
worked for the city for 30 years, most actual completion dates and project
of that time as public works director. status.
It’s no exaggeration to say that Falls
knows every inch of the city, and ev- The city also reports to Florida De-
ery street and swale that floods when partment of Environmental Protec-
it rains. tion annually on how completing
those projects will reduce nutrient
When Falls was promoted to the city runoff into the lagoon and meet state
manager post, his protégé Matthew mandates.
Mitts, a licensed civil engineer since
2012, moved up into the public works Can the city afford to take a year off
director spot after learning about the from progress on those projects to pay
city’s public works from Falls. for a master plan? Falls said the major-
ity of the unfunded items are needed
Utilities Director Rob Bolton, an- maintenance. Maintaining the city’s
other long-time city employee and swales, baffle boxes and storm drains
a licensed engineer with 26 years of is too important to skip a whole year
experience, has won accolades for his to pay for a master plan.
work to protect the lagoon by install-
ing thousands of Septic Tank Effluent Worst case, the city could use the
Pump (STEP) systems all over the city, quarter-million dollars to purchase
reducing harmful drainfield nutrients a second street sweeper, a piece of
that get washed into the lagoon by equipment which Brackett has begged
stormwater and helping the city meet for, and which Public Works Direc-
its year 2025 environmental goals four tor Mitts described in a memo as “the
years early. most cost-effective way to remove nu-
trients” from stormwater runoff.
Finance Manager Cindy Lawson has
decades of experience navigating gov- But Falls said the city has no one to
ernment budgets and complex capital drive a second street sweeper so an
and utility projects. Since being hired additional position would need to be
in 2013, Lawson has completely re- funded.
vamped the way Vero Beach accounts
for taxpayer money. After decades of Once Vero works through the un-
the financial statements being unin- funded stormwater projects in the
telligible, Lawson makes the informa- capital plan, that might be the prop-
tion clear and understandable, even to er time to go outside for innovative
the layman. ideas.

It seems impossible to find a team Fortunately, the council can still
of out-of-town consultants who could reject commissioning a master plan,
come up with a better stormwater plan and instead devote the funding to
completing the unfunded projects.
Falls said the staff has not issued a re-
quest for proposals for the stormwater
master plan yet, so the city is not com-
mitted.

Stay tuned. 

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / May 13, 2021 3

NEWS

Storing boats in Big Blue “We don’t have a lot of turnover; we boat to figure out where they will store Dez Properties storage facility with
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 have repeat customers every summer. it before making the purchase, but her husband, said she’s experienced
They can’t keep their boats on lifts Coleman said that’s not the case. the same thing – frantic calls from new
boats compete with RVs for storage when they go away because of hurri- boat owners who incorrectly assume
space, compounding the problem – canes,” she said. “It’s like a new car. You get on the that boat storage space is plentiful un-
especially for people who own large lot and you get that fever that you just til they try to find a spot.
boats. For seasonal residents needing a have to have it,” she said. “They don’t
safe harbor on land for the summer think about the fact that they live in a “I get calls for people who have al-
The Big Blue solution is still only a hurricane season, Big Blue could offer deed-restricted community and they ready picked up their boat and are on
concept – suggested by former Vero that kind of storage. It would seem to can’t have it there.” the way home and they didn’t realize
councilman Brian Heady – as the mat- make sense for someone purchasing a
ter just came up at last week’s Vero Karen Ekonomou, who owns Dixie CONTINUED ON PAGE 4
Beach City Council meeting, and there’s
a bit of red tape in the way.

The building belongs to Vero taxpay-
ers, but city officials can’t just open the
doors and let people drive their boats
in. Security shouldn’t be an issue as the
larger power plant area is fenced and
off-limits, but someone would need to
manage the facility.

“Jason Jeffries is looking into
whether the power plant site is prop-
erly zoned for storing boats,” said Vero
City Manager Monte Falls on Friday.
Liability is also a question, which city
staff will investigate and report on to
the City Council.

Best-case scenario, storing boats in
Big Blue would be a temporary fix un-
til a new, expanded dry storage facility
is completed at the city marina, where
a major facility overhaul is underway.
Falls said it will be roughly a year un-
til the boat storage building is ready
for customers, six months of design,
permitting and grant writing and six
months of construction.

The city’s current dry storage facil-
ity is full and the waiting list for spots
is mounting. Even if a spot opens up,
Falls said the city can only accommo-
date boats up to 24 feet, which leaves
owners of larger boats up a proverbial
creek.

Boat owners have been begging to
reserve their spot in the planned ma-
rina dry storage building, and the idea
is that those waiting for a spot could
safely store their boats in Big Blue and
then transfer the boats to the new
building once completed.

Plans for the riverfront develop-
ment still need to go to a referen-
dum in November, so nothing would
be built on the site in a year’s time.
Big Blue would not be an option for
people who need to pull their boats in
and out frequently, and there’s no boat
ramp on the site so boats would need
to be hauled off-site to launch.

Vero Beach 32963 called a half-doz-
en boat storage businesses in the Vero
Beach area and none had space to of-
fer, but a few had interesting insights.

Storage space is more plentiful during
the winter as boats are on lifts at docks
or in the water, said Peggy Coleman,
office manager at Complete Marine,
which sees many barrier island clients.
All of their spots are full, and Coleman
said she doesn’t see that changing.

4 Vero Beach 32963 / May 13, 2021 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

NEWS

Storing boats in Big Blue Security is very important, too, she ently don’t mind paying in an era of new in how fast it happened,” Chan-
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3 said, as boat storage lots are prime extremely high demand. dler said. “So many boats have been
targets for outboard motor thefts. Di- sold in the past year that the storage
that their homeowners’ association xie Dez recently installed more than Vero Marine has experienced the has not caught up.”
won’t allow them to park it at their $30,000 in security upgrades and explosion in boat ownership in a big
house,” she said. “checks every boat every day,” Ekono- way. They have no available space in Vero Marine has nowhere to expand
mou said. their storage facility and haven’t for on its current footprint. “The only way
Dixie Dez off U.S. 1 and Oslo Road is several months, said Todd Chandler, we could expand is to buy more land
completely full and Ekonomou said all Indoor dry storage with controlled who manages the ship’s store. Having somewhere,” said Chandler, who thinks
the storage businesses she typically re- access solves the security issues, but the storage area brimming with boats boats will continue to be very popular
fers her overflow to also are full. “It start- that space comes with a hefty rent – a – and boats flying off the sales lot – as people move to the area and adopt
ed last year, almost coinciding with the price barrier island residents appar- goes beyond business as usual. “It’s the Florida coastal lifestyle, and new
pandemic and it’s not just boats. Sales people discover or re-discover boating.
of RVs went crazy too, and people need
places to store their RVS. I have had ten- “It’s been about 50-50, about 50 per-
ants wait six months for a new RV the cent of the sales have been to new boat
demand was so high,” she said. owners,” Chandler said. “It’s something
you can do and get away from every-
So why can’t someone who owns body, and in the pandemic people
a vacant parcel capitalize on the hot haven’t been spending money on elabo-
boat and RV market and open a stor- rate vacations so they can afford a boat.”
age yard? The Ekonomous converted
vacant land to storage five years ago, Even if sales eventually drop off as
but Karen Ekonomou said it’s not as international travel opens up, or if lo-
simple as it sounds. cals sell their pandemic boats in a few
years, that won’t reduce the demand
“You have to have property that is for storage because the buyers of
zoned heavy industrial and there’s those used boats will still need a place
very limited industrial property left. to keep them, Chandler said.
You have to rock or pave the whole
place. You have to secure it, and there’s Coleman of Complete Marine agreed
also the maintenance. You have to that the surge in boat ownership is more
have the proper permitting and have a than a blip in the market. “I doubt the
water retention area,” she said. new boat barn [at the marina] will be
big enough to handle the demand,” she

said. 

My Vero The following Monday’s classes were It didn’t matter that Termidor, who more passionate, urging the Pirates to
canceled and the lacrosse team’s play- transferred from Vero Beach High keep fighting.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 off game that night was postponed. School after his sophomore year,
didn’t play lacrosse. “These players had a ‘Band of Broth-
Lake Highland Prep in Orlando – St. If Lake Highland Prep hadn’t agreed ers’ mentality all year long, all of them
Edward’s got hit hard by the tragic to forgo a forfeit and reschedule the “BT was a great kid, a great classmate working toward the same goal,” Bailey
death of a classmate. game, St. Edward’s season would’ve and anyone who saw him play basket- said. “They play hard for each other.
ended one victory shy of the state ball knew he was a great competitor They weren’t going to back down.”
Bidensky “BT” Termidor, a popular semifinals, instead of with a puncher’s with the heart of a champion,” Bailey
18-year-old senior and two-sport ath- chance in the championship bout. said. “He loved St. Edward’s, and St. Ed- And they didn’t.
lete who was headed to the Univer- ward’s loved him. They got knocked down ... and, ulti-
sity of North Florida on an academic “There was some doubt early,” Pi- mately, knocked out.
scholarship, joined his 53 classmates rates coach Doug Bailey said, “but our “Our players wanted to honor him With the game up for grabs with
in a traditional, celebratory leap into players wanted to play.” by carrying his heart and soul into this less than 9 minutes remaining, St. An-
the Indian River Lagoon from an on- tournament.” drew’s showed its championship met-
campus dock. So did Lake Highland Prep. tle, scoring six of the game’s final seven
“I can’t say enough about the LHP The triumph over Lake Highland Prep goals to claim its fifth state title.
And drowned. administration and the FHSAA, and sent the Pirates to the FHSAA’s Final As the final seconds ticked off the
No one seems to know what hap- the lengths they went to accommodate Four at the Austin-Tindall Sports Com- scoreboard clock, the Pirates were
pened after Termidor hit the water us at a very difficult time,” said St. Ed- plex in Kissimmee, where they promptly left to console each other with hugs,
shortly before 3 p.m., but, according ward’s Athletic Director Jeff Lamscha. knocked off Jacksonville’s Bolles School, thanks and even congratulations for
to police and witness reports, four to “We met with the players and coach- 15-13, in Friday’s first semifinal. putting together the best lacrosse sea-
10 minutes passed before anyone real- es the next day, and once they made son in school history.
ized he was missing and began search- the decision to play, we called LHP and Their reward was a state champion- “You guys had a hell of a season,”
ing for him. the FHSAA and told them we’d play ship showdown against undefeated Bailey told his players after a 13-5 de-
Termidor’s body was submerged in Monday if we had to, but that Tuesday St. Andrew’s – the top-ranked team in feat that, as their lives move forward,
6 to 10 feet of water for 20 minutes or would be better,” he added. “They said, Florida, regardless of classification – won’t be nearly as meaningful as the
so before it was discovered and lifted ‘You pick the day.’ on Saturday afternoon. effort they put forth to reach the cham-
onto the deck, where efforts to revive “They were very gracious and showed pionship game. “You learned a heck of
him failed. A county Fire Rescue crew a lot of class.” In that game, St. Edward’s got hit again. a lot about yourselves this year. I’m
arrived quickly and transported him The game was played the following St. Andrew’s sprinted to leads of 4-0 very proud of you guys.”
to Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hos- Tuesday, May 4, and St. Edward’s re- in the first half and 7-2 in the second All of Vero Beach should be.
pital, where doctors later pronounced sponded with a thrilling, 12-11 victory half. Both times, though, the Pirates This gritty group of Pirates gave
him dead. in overtime. shook off those blows and stubbornly us a lesson in perseverance by their
“I lost my best friend,” lacrosse de- “We did it for BT,” Pirates junior kept moving forward, responding with commitment to accepting challeng-
fenseman Ryan Barnett said. “BT was goalie Liam Murphy said afterward. flurries of their own to cut the Scots’ es, overcoming adversity and finding
everyone’s best friend.” The Pirates had decided before leads to 4-2 at halftime and 7-4 in the ways to win under the most trying of
Termidor’s unexpected death rocked the game to dedicate the remainder opening minutes of the fourth quarter. circumstances.
the St. Edward’s community, especial- of their playoff run to Termidor and Sensing something special was “Our boys, through their determi-
ly the Upper School’s 260 students. donned “BT” decals on their helmets about to happen, an already-emotion- nation and heart, provided a balm for
for each of their last three contests. al St. Edward’s crowd – which included
parents, students and Head of School
Stuart Hirstein – grew louder and

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / May 13, 2021 5

NEWS

a community that is deeply mourn- strong, believing that’s what Termidor nett said after Saturday’s game. “Not ev- end of May 22-23 at the Community
ing,” Hirstein said. “Their brotherhood would’ve wanted them to do. erything has sunken in yet. But we had a Church of Vero Beach, where a sizable
will carry them through not just ath- great season and we’re happy to be here. St. Edward’s turnout is expected.
letic competitions, but life.” They were unable to produce a Hol- And if BT is looking down on us, I think
lywood ending and take home a cham- he’s pretty happy with us, too.” “What happened to BT impacted us
As shaken as they were on that Fri- pionship, but that didn’t diminish what a lot,” Barnett said.
day afternoon, the St. Edward’s players they accomplished. Visitation and a funeral service for
were determined to finish the season Termidor is scheduled for the week- And as the philosopher Balboa warned:
“The past week has been a blur,” Bar-
Nobody hits harder than life. 

6 Vero Beach 32963 / May 13, 2021 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

NEWS

School district abandons idea of Chief Equity and Diversity Officer

BY GEORGE ANDREASSI how to address systemic racism in The school district has agreed to im- dollars,” Susan Mehiel, a political activ-
Staff Writer public schools. It also shows how the prove the academic performance of ist, told the School Board on April 13.
terms “equity” and “diversity” have be- African-American students and hire
Public opposition convinced School come political fighting words. more African-American educators, “Students of every color and race
Superintendent David Moore to scrap among other goals, under a 1967 fed- come from disadvantaged back-
the idea of hiring a high-priced equity Instead of hiring an administrator at eral desegregation order. grounds,” Mehiel said. “If you really care
and diversity expert to navigate a reso- $100,000 per year to lead the school dis- for the kids, you’ll give Dr. Long the re-
lution to a 54-year-old federal deseg- trict’s equity and diversity efforts, Moore The school district posted its search sources she needs, and you’ll start tack-
regation order. said he decided to spread the duties on Feb. 24 for a Chief Equity and Diver- ling all the problems you have here.”
among several district administrators. sity Officer to “lead the district’s efforts
Parents and political activists criti- to build a culture of equity, diversity, Melissa Burdick, a former teacher
cized the job posting for a Chief Equity That includes Deborah Taylor-Long, and inclusion for all students, families, and parent of three students, portrayed
and Diversity Officer during School who has worked on the desegrega- employees, and school community." equity and diversity lessons as reverse
Board meetings on March 9, April 13 tion efforts as Coordinator of Equity & racism that victimizes white students.
and April 27, as well as the April 14 Community Engagement. The posting says a certificate in Di-
county Taxpayers’ Association meeting. versity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) is Researching complaints about eq-
“I think in our current structures, preferred and the job requires the “abil- uity and diversity programs in other
Some called it a waste of money and there’s opportunities to shift and mod- ity to challenge and influence peers to districts helped him understand the
others labeled it an attempt to force a ify current assignments in order to get approach all work with an equity lens.” parents’ fears, Moore said. That’s why
liberal political agenda on relatively the same result without the need of he decided to scrap the idea of hiring a
conservative and Republican Indian additional positions,” Moore said. The pushback started at the March Chief Equity and Diversity Officer.
River County. 9 School Board meeting when a parent
While several parents and political ac- and a political activist spoke out against “I think the response is a validation
“I will not have a position with that tivists spoke out passionately against the the proposed position. Since then, 12 that this work needs to be done and it
particular name,” Moore told Vero position during recent public meetings, more parents and political activists needs to be done in a way our county
Beach 32963 Friday about the pro- no one got up to speak in its defense. called upon the School Board to reject understands and embraces,” Moore
posed Chief Equity and Diversity Of- the idea of hiring an equity and diversity said. “Our intent to ensure every kid
ficer job. “I don’t want one position “I can listen to the community, un- chief, with some claiming it will lead to feels accepted and embraced in our
or one individual to have that burden derstand why they have that concern a curriculum that teaches racism is em- school system.”
placed upon them.” when you look at the national narra- bedded in American institutions.
tive,” Moore said. “But I can tell you the “So, redistributing responsibilities
The local debate over the position School District of Indian River County “I still believe this is an expensive sym- and defining those responsibilities for
reflects the national controversy about is not going to let any political agenda bolic gesture, which is a total waste of tax what we want to do for Indian River
get beyond the schoolhouse doors.”
County is the way to go,” Moore said. 

Birth chairman of the department. “I applaud Until now, Cleveland Clinic Indian “I knew I wasn’t going to get any-
it. I’m glad they’re finally changing it.” River Hospital has seemed OK with where with the old staff at the hospital,
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 turning away pregnant women who but when Cleveland Clinic came in,
Only a week ago, a Cleveland Clinic have had C-sections but want to de- with a new administration, I thought
River Medical Center – apart from a physician told an OB patient – who liver vaginally, even though groups hopefully we’ll get some traction on
very few deemed medically necessary – happens to be a doctor – that there like the American College of Obstetri- this,” said Presley.
took place in 2007, state records show. were no VBACs at Indian River. cians and Gynecologists have urged
physicians to spell out to women their That traction got off to a slow start.
Now, Presley’s wish to deliver anoth- “There are no VBACs, zero,” Presley choices in methods of birth. He spoke a year and a half ago with
er baby by VBAC before his retirement said in an interview last Friday. Cleveland Clinic Indian River’s chief
next year may come true. Conversations about VBACs have medical officer, David Peter, as well as
Though hospital officials refused to been swirling since April, when Cleve- the head of anesthesiology about rein-
Monday evening, Cleveland Clin- acknowledge it, the subject of allowing land Clinic Indian River’s president stating VBACs. They listened, Presley
ic Indian River issued a statement VBACs was on the agenda of an April was quoted in a Vero Beach 32963 said, but his proposal “just died.”
that appears to lift the virtual ban on meeting that included Presley and article saying he supported VBACs
VBACs. “Cleveland Clinic Indian River obstetricians employed by the hospi- when possible, and that patients were Today, the receptive attitude Presley
Hospital, Martin North Hospital and tal. Presley came away optimistic that evaluated for them “on a case-by-case says he has encountered may be due to
Tradition Hospital have the resources change might be in the offing. basis.” their recent successful effort to reduce
to perform VBACs for patients if it is low-risk C-section rates.
clinically appropriate, if the patient As officials parse policy, pregnant If so, the hospital has turned all of
meets criteria, and it is agreed to by women with prior C-sections wanting them turned them all down – case by Those rates, in first-time mothers
the physician and patient.” a more natural delivery with their new case – at least through 2019, according with the baby in the right position to
baby are forced to contemplate a drive to records kept by the state’s Agency for deliver, dropped by 10 percent in 2020,
A policy statement from earlier in of nearly an hour to Holmes Regional Health Care Administration, or AHCA. though the rate appears to have risen
the day read that the hospital “cur- Medical Center in Melbourne, or to They show the last VBACs in Vero in since then, according to provisional
rently does not provide VBACs unless Lawnwood Regional Medical Center 2007, though hospital officials say data.
clinically necessary for the safety of in Fort Pierce, a half-hour away. there was one in 2020.
the patient and baby.” Hospitals faced new pressure to
Presley has an arrangement with Presley has spoken with leadership lower C-section rates when the Joint
Asked if the difference in terminol- Lawnwood that allows him to see his in the mother-baby wing – Megan Mc- Commission, the national hospital ac-
ogy – “clinically appropriate” instead patients right up until delivery, when Fall, director of women’s health, and creditation organization, in 2019 said
of “clinically necessary” – reflected they go through labor and delivery Mary Volsky, nurse manager. Both, he it would start flagging hospitals on its
a change in policy, spokesman Scott with whoever is on call at Lawnwood. said, have signaled support for allow- public-facing website if their low-risk
Samples said no, that the evening Presley sends their records in advance. ing VBACs. C-section rates were over 30 percent.
statement was an attempt to “clarify” Indian River’s was 31 percent. With ef-
the hospital’s position. It is hardly an optimal situation. When Presley spoke to his depart- fort and training, McFall and her team
“You’ve got an unmonitored baby” ment in April on the matter of resum- brought that number down to 21 per-
“It is definitely a chance in policy,” on those drives north or south, said ing VBACs at Indian River, the response cent.
said Presley, adding that he would rec- Presley. There are risks to the labor- was generally positive, he said.
ognize a change if anyone would, as vice ing mother as well, in the rare event CONTINUED ON PAGE 8
the prior C-section scar tears.



8 Vero Beach 32963 / May 13, 2021 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

NEWS

Birth ing, a doula service that recently opened
in downtown Vero. “We have to remind
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6 everybody: ‘I’m the boss of my birth.’”

The overall C-section rate remains “We’ve had a lot of women coming
high, though. While VBACs are only a to our space that have had C-sections
small percentage of that, they could and they’re pregnant with their second
chip away at the hospital’s 35.8-per- or third children and their providers
cent overall C-section rate so far in are saying they cannot have a vaginal
2021. birth,” said Arsenault. “They’re saying,
‘Is there any way around this?’ It’s like
Presley says he and his fellow ob- they’re ping-ponging between these
stetricians at the hospital still need options, then they get pigeonholed with
to review and possibly revise the old a C-section.”
protocols that he says have not been
updated since VBACs were last per- Becky Carraway, aVero certified nurs-
formed. ing assistant, had her third child by a
VBA2C, shorthand for vaginal birth af-
It would then be up to administra- ter two C-sections. She gave birth at
tors to arrange for adequate coverage Holmes in Melbourne, in what she de-
by anesthesiologists, he said. Ameri- scribed as a “quick and uncomplicated
can College of Obstetricians and Gy- labor.”
necologists guidelines say facilities
must be able to provide an emergency “My doctor was absolutely amazing,”
C-section “within an appropriate pe- she said. “She sat in my room doing her
riod of time, given the increased risk paperwork so she wouldn’t miss my
of uterine rupture in this setting.” birth.”

Uterine rupture is a life-threatening It was a very different experience
complication to mother and baby, but from the birth of her second child at In-
it is rare, occurring once in 200 VBACs dian River.
on average.
After less than an hour of labor, Car-
Presley has never had a patient ex- raway pulled into the hospital parking
perience uterine rupture, and says he lot already fully dilated. The baby’s head
knows of none at the hospital since he was down in the birth canal, where it
started delivering babies here in the needed to be for delivery. But because
mid-1990s. Carraway had had a C-section with her
first baby, hospital protocol required
A VBAC – if the mother qualifies – her to have another C-section.
typically carries lower risk than a sched-
uled C-section, and has a raft of bene- “The nurse/midwife was so mad at
fits, including shorter recovery time, as the situation,” Carraway recalled. “She
well as lower risk of blood loss, infection said, ‘If I would have known you were
and postpartum depression. going to stroll in here at 10 centimeters,
I would have told you to lean the seats
For the baby, a vaginal delivery can back and I would have delivered him in
prepare the lungs to switch from being your car.”
filled with fluid to filling with air. It can
also impart added immunity by pass- Andrea Berry, CEO of the county’s
ing on beneficial bacteria present in the Healthy Start Collaborative, refused to
mother’s birth canal. have her own options limited in her sec-
ond pregnancy in 2013. She had a home
All those benefits are listed on Cleve- birth after a futile search for a hospital
land Clinic’s main website in an article willing to let her have a trial of labor af-
by Dr. Rebecca Starck, an OB-Gyn who ter a traumatic C-section with her first
is president of one of the system’s Ohio baby.
hospitals.
She is hoping that Cleveland Clinic
“We encourage most women to con- not only allows VBACs here but uses
sider and try a vaginal birth after a ce- its renowned expertise to help guide
sarean section,” wrote Starck. women through the complicated de-
cision process.
Better yet, birth coaches like doulas
are helping to bring down C-section “It would be really great if Cleve-
rates, studies have shown. land Clinic has a way to walk women
through the risks and how to decide to
“My passion is making sure their first do this, instead of losing women to dif-
birth is an educated one, and that a C- ferent hospitals, different providers, or
section results only from a true need,”
said Erica Arsenault, owner of The Ris- birth at home,” said Berry. 

Orchid property said. “No decision has been made as to
what, exactly, we’ll do with the property.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
“Our board of governors has been dis-
months after Puttick’s death in May 2019. cussing our options the past few months,
“The membership determined that it but we’re still early in the planning pro-
cess,” he added. “There’s no rush to do
was in the club’s best interests to buy it, anything. We’ll take our time and make
so we could expand our facilities,” Or- the best decision for everyone.”
chid Island General Manager Rob Tench
Tench said no decision is expected

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / May 13, 2021 9

NEWS

before the fall, when board members “The town made the wrong decision, boring communities began expressing Beach 32963, adding that he had more
return from their summer homes. but they did it in a legal manner,” Put- fierce opposition. than $6 million invested in the proper-
tick said. “I still don’t know how they ty – an amount that included the pur-
Among the options being consid- could say an assisted-living facility isn’t Then, after Publix representatives chase price; costs of engineers, archi-
ered are building additional pickleball a commercial venture.” made an updated presentation to Or- tects and attorneys; and money paid in
courts, installing croquet lawns or cre- chid residents, the Orchid Island Com- interest, taxes and for insurance.
ating a park. Even when a plan is ap- In 2018, Publix signed a contract munity Association conducted a digi-
proved, the club probably won’t devel- to buy Puttick’s parcel – a purchase tal survey that revealed 87 percent of He was 71 when he succumbed to
op the entire parcel. contingent on the company get- the town’s homeowners opposed the multiple illnesses.
ting the town’s approval to build a company’s plan.
“There’s no reason to use all of it 31,000-square-foot supermarket and Tench said the Publix proposal con-
now,” Tench said. “We can leave some 6,000-square-foot, five-store retail Faced with overwhelming opposi- tributed to the members’ decision to
of the land for future boards that building. tion, Publix canceled the contract and initiate negotiations with Puttick’s heirs
might want to do something there.” Puttick openly declared the town’s to buy the property.
The proposal, though, never had a building code too restrictive for any
The property, which runs along the chance: Shortly after Publix representa- commercial venture to be viable. “People realized it made sense to ac-
north side of State Road 510, is bor- tives made their initial presentation to quire property contiguous to the club,”
dered by Jungle Trail on the east, the the Town Council, residents in neigh- “No business can survive with how he said, “especially property zoned for
club’s tennis complex on the west and the code is written,” Puttick told Vero
the 14th hole of the Orchid Island golf commercial use.” 
course on the north. There are homes
abutting the parcel’s northwest corner.

The land is zoned for commercial
use. Tench didn’t know if the club would
seek a rezoning from the Town Council.

After purchasing the parcel for $3.5
million in May 2006, Puttick proceed-
ed to propose four projects over a pe-
riod of 15 years – one residential, one
commercial and two that best could
be described as a combination of both
– all of which town officials rejected.

In 2007, Puttick submitted a plan
to build golf cottages on the north-
ern half of the property and use the
southern half for commercial devel-
opment, a proposal he claimed was in
accordance with the mixed-use plan
town residents favored when Windsor
owned the land.

“I didn’t request a zoning change
before I bought it, because my plan
was an exact duplicate of Windsor’s
plan,” he would say later. “I didn’t think
there’d be any problem. Then, when I
went through the approval process,
they turned me down. I was mystified.”

Puttick tried again in 2011, proposing
a development of 40 two-story, court-
yard townhomes with two-car garages,
but the town refused his request to re-
zone the property from commercial to
residential.

“They told me they wanted commer-
cial development on that property,” he
said.

Four years later, Puttick returned with
a proposal to build an upscale, 120-bed,
assisted-living facility that would em-
ploy 60 people. He argued the plan met
the town’s requirements for commercial
zoning, which includes a “Medical Ser-
vices” category, and Orchid’s Local Plan-
ning Agency voted 4-1 to approve it.

However, the town manager told Put-
tick the code didn’t specifically list adult
assisted-living facilities as a permitted
– or even conditional – use in the com-
mercial zoning district and the Town
Council rejected his proposal, ruling
that such a facility was primarily resi-
dential.

That third refusal prompted Puttick
to file an unsuccessful lawsuit against
the town.

10 Vero Beach 32963 / May 13, 2021 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

NEWS

Islanders eager to travel after year of pandemic lockdown

BY STEPHANIE LABAFF says. “Before COVID, I was in Denmark, year due to the pandemic. They’ve now Some locals who had plans for Alaska
France, Switzerland, England, California rebooked to different locations in 2022 cruises that were stymied because ports
Staff Writer – all over the place – and I miss traveling.” and 2023. aren’t open between the U.S. and Can-
ada have found a workaround, accord-
Many island residents have their Gruber had never visited the Baha- “We want to be on the safe side,” says ing to Frosch Indian River Travel agent
suitcases packed and travel brochures mas and was thrilled to hop on a plane Jane Weick. “I’m very confident things Doris Kwek. She says clients chomp-
in hand. They are ready to travel again to attend a friend’s wedding. “The Ba- will be safe by then. We are on Norwe- ing at the bit to head north are driving
– someplace, anyplace – booking trips hamas, they were so fantastic about gian-based products. If they do what across the border and making their way
within the country and around the COVID protocols,” he says, recounting they say they are going to do, I can’t to Alaska despite the ship ban.
world for this summer and fall, and the the requirement of a negative COVID imagine there will be a terrible problem.”
coming year. test before entering the country, sub- Kwek says she’s had a notable in-
sequent rapid test upon his arrival and The bumper sticker on Trudie Rain- crease in travel inquiries this spring
Local travel agents say they have a $5,000 fine if you removed your mask. one’s car says, “My other car is a cruise with most clients booking for the fall
seen a significant increase in sales as ship.” Anyone who knows her, even in and into 2022, sometimes signing up
people seek to satisfy their wanderlust “Traveling there was a complete and passing, can attest to the fact that she’d for three or four trips at a time to en-
after more than a year of pandemic-re- total joy, and I can’t wait to travel to other rather be cruising. sure they don’t miss out.
lated lockdowns and travel restrictions. places,” says Gruber, noting plans to visit
Maine and California in the near future. She returned from Dubai and South “People are booking all kinds of
This summer’s national park excur- He’ll head to England as soon as interna- Africa only weeks before the global cruises and international trips for this
sions, U.S. rail trips and river cruises are tional travel restrictions ease further. lockdown last year and has booked a fall,” Kwek says, adding that her clients
almost fully booked, according to Carol New Zealand and Australia cruise for feel most of the wrinkles with vaccine
Matulonis, a luxury travel specialist who Ivy Tjok, president of Prestige Travel early 2022 and a New England Coast requirements, quarantines, curfews,
owns a Cruise Planners franchise Agency, says extensive international cruise to Quebec in the fall of 2022. and border crossings will have been
travel plans may be a bit premature. ironed out by fall, and hotels, restau-
“This year, we have become great ex- “Most clients going now are looking for “I’m supposed to be on a cruise right rants, and tourist destinations will be
perts on the national parks and doing U.S. travel because travel outside of the now – a trans-Atlantic and Rhine River open for business.
stuff in the United States,” Matulonis U.S. is still very limited,” Tjok says. “Ev- cruise – but that was all canceled and
says. Grand Canyon, Acadia, Badlands, erybody needs a vacation, but I think postponed until next year,” she says. Tjok warns that with the ever-chang-
Glacier, and Yellowstone national parks this year, it’s still very much a challenge ing COVID rules and regulations, it
are popular destinations. [to travel abroad].” Rainone is ready to sail again, right is more important than ever to book
now, but has another trip to make first. travel through travel agents so they can
“United States travel has been re- Despite that cautionary note, the “I haven’t seen my grandkids [for a help you navigate new requirements.
ally big. We predict that 2022 will be Centers for Disease Control and Pre- long time and] I’d rather see my them Travelers who previously booked for
sold out. If someone wants to travel vention recently announced the No Sail first.” She’s headed to the Northeast themselves are likely to find outdated
in 2022, they need to be making those Order in effect at U.S. ports could be this week to do just that. information on the Internet.
reservations now,” says Matulonis, lifted by midsummer, and islanders are
adding that some of her clients are eagerly booking international cruises, Elke and George Fetterolf canceled a “We have special programs that we
trying new forms of domestic travel, sometimes several trips at once. trip to Dubai and a cruise to Antarcti- use to get this reliable information so
chartering private jets for U.S. vaca- ca last year. They have since rebooked that when the client is booking a trip,
tions with small groups of friends and Cruise ships are already setting sail the Antarctica cruise for January 2022, we can guide them and give them the
family in lieu of their usual European from some foreign ports and if you but have stuck to U.S. travel since the correct information,” says Tjok.
travel and worldwide cruising. are adventurous and can’t wait to hit pandemic hit.
the high seas, you can fly to Greece, She adds that travelers should have
At the same time, a brave handful of Iceland, the Bahamas or elsewhere to The couple has taken several road travel insurance, COVID medical in-
Vero travelers have begun to venture embark on a cruise this summer. trips during the pandemic, motoring surance coverage in case you test
abroad, as countries around the world to southern destinations within driv- positive while out of the country and
slowly reopen to foreign visitors. That said, most island residents ing distance and taking advantage trip cancellation insurance in case you
planning cruises are booking for 2022. of the auto train. “We stayed in our get sick prior to travel or the company
Case in point is local artist Xaque Gru- timeshare and visited with family and
ber, who recently returned from a trip to Jane and Jerry Weick were forced to friends,” says Elke Fetterolf, noting the cancels the trip. 
the Bahamas. “I am a traveler,” Gruber cancel three back-to-back cruises last trips were “a welcome change of pace.”

Vaccinations here down sharply last week; infections remain low

BY LISA ZAHNER ing the vaccine effort to walk-in vac- positive for COVID-19 per day, and a Administration’s real-time reporting.
Staff Writer cinations at the Health Department total of eight barrier island residents As school children prepare for end-
office on May 5. testing positive all week. The case
Statewide, 13 percent fewer Florid- positivity rate ranged from 2.59 per- of-term exams, graduations and sum-
ians got vaccinated between May 3 As of press time Monday, county cent to 6.32 percent in the seven days mer vacation in coming weeks, the
and May 9 compared to the previous officials could not say if there was a leading up to press time Monday. Food and Drug Administration has ex-
seven days, but in Indian River County glitch in the data or a reporting error That rate has exceeded 5 percent just panded its Emergency Use Authoriza-
the one-week decline in vaccinations in regard to the number of vaccina- three times in the past 14 days. tion of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19
was even more dramatic as 47 percent tions. Each vaccination site, hospital, vaccine to children ages 12 to 15.
fewer local residents were vaccinated, clinic and pharmacy reports its own Hospitalizations of people with
according to state reports. numbers, so the only source for the COVID-19 illness remained low this The Centers for Disease Control ad-
compiled countywide vaccination week, with only six people hospital- visory panel on vaccines is expected to
The drop coincides with the clos- data is the daily state report. ized at press time Monday, but only meet soon to consider updating CDC
ing of the Indian River County Health 28 percent of intensive-care beds guidance to include these pre-teens
Department’s vaccination site at the The number of new infections lo- countywide were available, according and teens. Clinical trials on younger
county fairgrounds on April 30, shift- cally remained low like last week, to the Florida Agency for Healthcare children are ongoing, with the data ex-
with an average of 17 people testing
pected sometime this fall. 



12 Vero Beach 32963 / May 13, 2021 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

NEWS

Diana Duve murder subject of television documentary

BY LISA ZAHNER time as detectives in the summer of itive during the process and that he’s Duve and Jones, and of the moment
Staff Writer 2014 like it was yesterday, recalling the open to working with them again. Jones was found hiding out in a Fort
details of the case to True Conviction Pierce hotel room.
The tragic homicide of Moorings host Anna Sigga-Nicolazzi, a former “When we were first approached,
resident and Sebastian River Medical Brooklyn prosecutor. I explained how we wanted the epi- Filled with surveillance images and
Center nurse Diana Duve has been a sode to be about remembering Diana documents from the case file, the show
story of intense local interest for near- They described how a mother’s while sharing the investigation with features a few details collected by in-
ly seven years, and now is the subject pleas to find her missing daughter the viewing public. First and fore- vestigators but not entered as evidence
of a Discovery Channel documentary evolved over the course of a weekend most, I met with Diana’s parents, Bill against Jones during the lengthy trial,
available online this week. into a three-county hunt for her killer. and Lena Andrews, for their approval so even people who followed the case
and to explain how the episode would closely might learn something new.
True Conviction’s Season Three, Epi- Vero Police Chief David Currey be depicted,” Currey said. “We would
sode Seven entitled, “Heinous, Atro- praised the show, which drills down have never moved forward without Discovery Plus members can access
cious and Cruel” features two of the hard on the perils of domestic violence their approval.” the show via the app, and Amazon
Vero Beach police detectives who and reveals how anyone – even an edu- Prime members can find the show in
searched for Duve and tracked down cated, employed, successful, beautiful, To illustrate the events, actors por- Prime Video to rent or buy as the epi-
her killer Michael David Jones – who single young woman with a loving fam- tray scenes from the turbulent lives of
was convicted of first-degree murder ily and everything going for her – can sode went live this Tuesday. 
in 2019 and is serving a life sentence in become a victim.
prison. RESEARCHERS ON THE LOOKOUT
“We are very happy with the True FOR RARE SAWFISH IN LAGOON
State Attorney Tom Bakkedahl, who Conviction episode. Lt. Matt Harrelson,
successfully prosecuted the case, also and now Corporal Brad Kmetz did an BY SUE COCKING venile habitat, scientists say it could
figures prominently in the 43-minute excellent job representing themselves take decades for the species to recover
show, as do Duve’s mother, Lena An- and VBPD!” Currey said. Staff Writer enough to avoid extinction.
drews and Duve’s best friend, both of
whom testified at the murder trial. The show was scheduled to air soon- There are some really odd-looking But sawfish do seem to be mak-
er, and on the A&E channel instead of creatures swimming in the Indian ing a comeback. Recently, scientists
Lt. Matt Harrelson and Cpl. Brad Discovery, Currey said, but the project River Lagoon that most boaters, swim- from Harbor Branch Oceanographic
Kmetz have long since rotated duty was delayed due to the pandemic. Cur- mers and anglers have never seen in Institute caught and implanted track-
assignments out of the Investigations rey said the New York production com- the wild before – sawfish. ing tags on three of the animals in the
division, but they remember their pany Weinberger Media and Associate St. Lucie River. Three other large ones
Producer Rachel Rowan were very pos- If you are lucky enough to spot one, were spotted in the lagoon near Mel-
a team of marine scientists in Florida bourne Beach.
and elsewhere would really like to
know about it. Tonya Wiley, one of the researchers
on the National Marine Fisheries Ser-
Don’t worry – you’ll know it when vice's sawfish recovery team, said sci-
you see the smalltooth sawfish. It entists need help from area residents.
looks like a triangular shark with a
long, narrow, tooth-lined bill called a “If you see one, let us know,” Wiley
rostrum sticking out from its head that told a webinar conducted by the Palm
it uses to whack and trap smaller fish. Bay-based Marine Resources Coun-
The babies are about 2 feet long; a full- cil. “We expect the population to start
grown adult can reach 16 feet. spreading out, particularly in the Indian
River Lagoon where they used to live.”
A common sight in Atlantic and Gulf
waters from Texas to North Carolina in Wiley said more reports of sightings
the first half of the 20th century, the are needed to help scientists fill in
smalltooth sawfish – which actually critical knowledge gaps about sawfish
is a type of ray and not a fish – now is movements and life history – especial-
a critically endangered species in the ly the adults – such as how many in-
United States. dividuals there are; how long they live;
where they feed and mate; and where
The creature was added to the en- they migrate.
dangered species list in 2003 after
decades of decimation by fishermen Juvenile sawfish, she said, are typi-
whose nets it tangled; trophy fisher- cally observed in estuaries in waters less
men who collected its distinctive bill; than three feet deep near mangroves
harvesters for the international shark that provide cover from predators.
fin soup trade and aquarium industry;
and development that destroyed its “We’re starting to get some reports,”
inshore mangrove habitat. Wiley said, “but we don’t have enough
reports to come up with a pattern yet.
These days, the population size is If we find a nursery area in the Indian
unknown, but mostly concentrated River Lagoon or find where they mate,
along the state’s southwestern tip in then we would definitely want to pro-
Everglades National Park and the Ten tect that habitat.”
Thousand Islands. Even with no fish-
ing allowed and a federal designation Sawfish sightings can be reported
of some mangrove areas as critical ju- by calling 1-844-4SAWFISH or logging

on to www.sawfishrecovery.org. 

John Huffstatler with Micah.

ARF THEY GO
AT HALO ‘CHASE YOUR TAIL

5K AND 1-MILE’ RUN

14 Vero Beach 32963 / May 13, 2021 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

Arf they go at HALO ‘Chase Your Tail 5K and 1-Mile’ run

Cheryl Cavaliere and Heather Cavaliere with Nike. Chris Hackford and Lisa Staples. PHOTOS: BRENDA AHEARN Susie and Roger Orren and Joanne Grady.

BY STEPHANIE LaBAFF Allyson Bootes, Jacque Petrone were high and medical issues were
Staff Writer and Jan Howington. high, they were leaving as soon as we
had them ready to go. Now it’s harder
Pups and their people had a paw- Sara Dipardo and Cathy Morrison. to find fosters and adopters because
some time recently as more than 250 people are going back to work. We’ve
people – and a good many four-legged had an increase in surrenders. While
friends – turned up at the Sebastian people did commit to taking an ani-
Community Center for the fourth an- mal now, they’re moving or working
nual Chase Your Tail 5K and 1-Mile full-time and don’t have the time for
fundraiser to benefit the HALO No-Kill the animals,” said Petrone.
Rescue.
She said the collaborative spirit fos-
HALO (Help Animals Live and Over- tered among the local animal non-
come) strives to save homeless pets profits has been helpful, adding: “This
and protect them from abuse and ne- cooperation means there are better re-
glect by offering community resourc- sources for the community.”
es, education and programming.
To keep in touch during the pan-
Since opening almost 15 years ago, demic, they began publishing HALO’s
the nonprofit has saved more than Heartbeat, a resource for pet people
14,000 animals; some 1,500 last year that has been so well received that they
alone. According to Jacque Petrone, plan to increase publication to four is-
HALO founder and executive direc- sues in 2022.
tor, the pandemic brought a whole new
set of challenges, with increases in the At HALO, no dog is left behind, so
number of surrenders and medical they added a fastest dog award this
procedures. year. HALO adoptee Chance took
home a well-deserved basket of pet
“Just last year, we spent $100,000 paraphernalia for crossing the finish
more on medical than we’ve ever had line ahead of the dog pack with a time
to do,” said Petrone. “It’s very expen- of 28:25 alongside his human, Sherri
sive to have a pet. There’s always going Glaab. Brandon Rinchack took first
to be that population in society that, place overall with a time of 18:24, and
no matter how much they love their Deborah Szatko finished first in the
animals, they can’t afford to care for women’s division with a time of 24:31.
them.”
After the race, humans and canines
Her goal is to establish a discounted alike gathered for an awards ceremo-
vet clinic so that HALO can provide ny and breakfast bar, and visited with
low-cost services, including spaying vendors offering pet products. Adding
and neutering. Now, as every year, an to the fun, Downtown Hound set up
influx of kittens highlights the impor- a lure course for the dogs to show off
tance of spaying and neutering pets. their chasing skills.

“We took in over 300 kittens in April Coming up, HALO is hosting Pups,
last year. We have kittens coming at us Pints & Pin-Ups from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
in barrels every day. We can always use May 23, at Mash Monkey Brewing
help with fosters during puppy and kit- Company, and on July 11, HALO will
ten season,” said Petrone. celebrate its 15th anniversary with a
party.
“We did really good during COVID
with fosters and adopters because peo- For more information, visit halores-
ple were home. So, while surrenders cuefl.org. 

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / May 13, 2021 15

PEOPLE

Lance and Sherri Glaab with Grady and Chance. Sue Kranenburg and Gail Wiemann with Epic. Logan Schaffner, Regina Pemberton and Virginia Taylor with Luna.

Philip Askins and Dani.

Valerie Bourassa with Cyndie and Ron Bourassa.

Kelly MacCrum and Sara Wise.

16 Vero Beach 32963 / May 13, 2021 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

Nurturing nature at Earth Day
and Arbor Day Celebration

Anna Hutson and Tim Harrison. Paisley Boone and Sue Flak. PHOTOS: BRENDA AHEARN

BY STEPHANIE LaBAFF our carbon footprints, or helping to re-
pair and rebuild natural habitats.
Staff Writer
The Indian Riverkeeper was on hand
Mother Earth basked in love and ap- to remind folks just how precious the
preciation during the recent Earth Day Indian River Lagoon is. It has been rec-
and Arbor Day Celebration at River- ognized as one of the most diverse es-
view Park, hosted by the City of Sebas- tuaries in North America, but that envi-
tian’s Natural Resource Board and held ronmental significance is in danger as
between the two globally recognized pollution and overcrowding continue
environmental holidays. to deplete this unique natural resource.

Earth Day is a call to action to change The Marine Resources Council
human behavior on a global level and brought the importance of improved
enact policy changes regarding envi- water quality to the forefront, advocat-
ronmental protections, while Arbor ing for the protection and restoration
Day celebrates nature by encouraging of fish and wildlife resources in the la-
humans to give back to the earth by goon as well as coastal waters, inshore
planting trees. Both highlight the im- reefs and the watershed, by basing our
portance of caring for our world. actions on sound science and on edu-
cating the public before it is too late.
Against a backdrop of live music, a
plethora of nonprofits with eco-centric Environmental activities included
missions offered environmental infor- seagrass and native plantings, creating
mation, displays, hands-on activities miniature biodomes with seedlings,
and demonstrations to people of all dragonfly art, leaf rubbings, mangrove
ages regarding local environmental is- adoptions, a virtual scavenger hunt, pa-
sues. per shredding and electronic recycling.

Among them, the Environmental People could also get their feet wet
Learning Center highlighted ways peo- participating in a Living Dock Instal-
ple can immerse themselves in nature; lation, lending a hand to help improve
Keep Indian River Beautiful empha- water quality in the Indian River La-
sized the importance of responsible goon by attaching oyster mats to pil-
environmental use and stewardship; ings on the city docks alongside River-
and groups such as the Pelican Island view Park.
Audubon Society stressed the need to
preserve and protect native flora and The Sebastian River Art Club’s La-
fauna. goon Art Show and Sale displayed
works depicting the beauty of the lo-
No matter the mission, one cen- cal natural environs, reminding peo-
tral theme prevailed – that our health ple through art of all that we have to
and livelihood are dependent upon a lose unless we do a better job of pro-
healthy world. All showed that we can tecting planet Earth.
do more to make sure to protect our part
of the planet, whether by participating Sebastian’s Natural Resources
in river and ocean cleanups, reducing Board introduced its community-
wide Sustainable Sebastian initiative,

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / May 13, 2021 17

PEOPLE

Sandy and Glenn Scott. Chantoya Johnson and Byron Lawrence. Jenine Cotton and Dave Fuchs.

Jim and Diane Goshorn. Sue Holbert and Carol Di Guilio with Jack and Lucy. Thomas and Tonya Crowe.

Doreen and Don Kaiser with Roxy and Presley. Brandi Dean with Buckshot.

with activities focused on achieving Ryan Brushwood with Gigi Bushey and Liberty Bushey.
sustainability goals: using fewer sin-
gle-use plastics, increasing nature-
friendly landscapes; providing guid-
ance on environmental codes and
policies; reducing the city’s operation-
al carbon footprint; protecting and re-
storing water quality; and promoting
the city’s overall livability.

Sebastian City Council members
designed the initiative to create a
more environmentally friendly com-
munity by nurturing the relationship
between inhabitants and the environ-
ment.

For more information, visit cityofse-
bastian.org. 

18 Vero Beach 32963 / May 13, 2021 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

Kiwanis crew gives Youth Guidance building a facelift

Lenzie Thompson and Rebecca Rzeszotko. PHOTOS: KAILA JONES Jeff Meyer and Richard Schlitt. Michael Carlson, Emily MacWilliam, Mariah Ryan and Maria Diaz.

BY MARY SCHENKEL “You know, I drove by this build- the fun part for the kids, because Barnes explained that the build-
Staff Writer ing many times and thought, man, they get to paint,” said Schlitt. “The ing, which Youth Guidance pur-
they must not have any money kids are learning about service at chased at the end of 2017, is being
“This is what it’s like to come togeth- there,” said Schlitt, adding that a young age; it’s good to see them repaired from the top down, with a
er and get things done,” said Richard he approached Phil Barnes, Youth all outside. This is a beautiful spot grant from the John’s Island Foun-
Schlitt, who recently led a crew of 70 Guidance executive director, who with all these trees. It’s going to be a dation that was matched by John’s
Vero Beach Youth in Action teens and was more than happy for the assis- very enjoyable place.” Island residents Jeff and Shari
25 adult members of the Kiwanis Club tance. Wampler, providing enough funds
of Vero-Treasure Coast as they paint- He noted that Schlitt Broth- to replace the roof, which they hope
ed the outside of the Youth Guidance “A few weeks ago we got a lot of ers Painting already had a history to do before hurricane season.
Mentoring Academy building. the prep work done, pressure clean- with the building, recalling that as
ing and sealing, and now this is a young boy, he had worked along- “We’ve had some problems with
side his father, Frank Schlitt, when leaks, and we’ve had to patch things.
he painted what in 1962 was a newly It’s almost more expensive to keep
constructed building to house the doing that than to replace the roof,”
Indian River County Library. said Barnes.

The ever-expanding library had, “Our goal is to launch into a full-
since 1916, been located in the Vero scale capital campaign within six
Beach Woman’s Club, and in 1991 to eight months. We’d love to have
moved once more into its current a commercial kitchen, shop space
facility. with a garage door and a multipur-
pose room, where the kids can learn
Schlitt explained that the Kiwan- trades and vocational skills and
is Youth in Action group generally also life skills.”
works to fix up the homes of people
who need assistance with projects Those programs, too, recently re-
such as painting, repairs, handi- ceived a boost, as their skills train-
cap ramps and fencing, but that ing initiative was chosen to receive
the pandemic had caused them to one of this year’s $100,000 grants
direct their talents elsewhere for a from Indian River Impact 100.
while.
Pointing to the northeast corner
“But we felt this was a big enough of the building, he said “what’s cool
building where we could separate is this used to be a garage bay. We
the kids pretty well and be safe have pictures in the archives of the
about it,” he added. bookmobile, which used to drive in
here. And so, we want to repurpose
The Kiwanis Youth in Action this to make it a bay again so that the
group was joined in the morning’s kids can work on cars, small boats,
work by Youth Guidance enrollees, that kind of thing. We envision this
staff and board members. as being sort of the mechanic wing
of the building.”
“This building hadn’t been paint-
ed since who knows when. You could As a reward for all their hard work,
actually touch the building and it everyone gathered in the shade of
would rub off; it was very chalky. So decades-old trees and were treated
we’re giving it a little facelift,” said to a lunch of pizza, grilled hotdogs
Barnes. and hamburgers, cookies and Nata-
lie’s Orchid Island juices.
“It’s really awesome; I just think
it’s amazing how many kids came For more information, visit vero
out here to support it. It’s really kiwanis.com or youthguidance
helping us because this is beautify- program.org. 
ing the building and it’s helping us
launch into our building remodel.”

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20 Vero Beach 32963 / May 13, 2021 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

Orchid Island 5K runs ‘UP’ an $18K score for nonprofit

Executive Director of United Against Poverty Matt Tanner, Bill Kennedy and

Orchid Island Golf and Beach Club General Manager Rob Tench. PHOTOS: BRENDA AHEARN Tiffany Long and Denise Duda.

BY MARY SCHENKEL Against Poverty of Indian River County Denise Duda, fitness, wellness & spa rector, were both on hand to provide
Staff Writer to be the recipient of the proceeds this director, and Tiffany Long, tennis & fit- an overview on how the funds would
year. ness pro shop manager, tracking their be utilized.
In April, members of the Orchid Is- miles in the week leading up to the ac-
land Golf & Beach Club participated in Participants included more than 50 tual 5K. “Orchid Island is thrilled to support
a hybrid version of their 19th annual 5K members and guests who took part in United Against Poverty, an organiza-
Walk/Run, with the club’s fitness and the in-person race, and 66 members United Against Poverty representa- tion that gives so much to the commu-
wellness committee selecting United sponsored the event. Another 18 opted tives Matt Tanner, executive director, nity. Their work in these difficult times
to walk or run in a virtual version, with and George Cooper, development di- has made a difference to many. It is an

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PEOPLE

honor to be associated with them,” said welcome given the increase of people nity, and have the agility and resources ther expand our impact.”
Bill Kennedy, tennis & fitness commit- requiring UP services. to rise to meet the greatest needs of our Club members Bill Badia and Elke
tee chair. neighbors,” said Tanner. “Our hand up
“Thanks to the support that the Or- vs. a handout model has impacted the Higgins took top honors as the fastest
At a presentation a few weeks later, chid Island community has shown in lives of thousands of residents across male and female finishers, and a vir-
Tanner was presented with a check for our mission, the team at United Against our great county, and with the gener- tual mileage thermometer showed that
$18,000, the largest amount raised by Poverty is positioned to continue to in- osity of Orchid Island, we will only fur- Phil Gully logged the most miles in the
the 5K to date, which was especially novate, build coalitions in our commu- week-long virtual run. 

22 Vero Beach 32963 / May 13, 2021 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

Take-home kits big hit at Museum’s Children’s Art Fest

BY MARY SCHENKEL
Staff Writer

A steady stream of children, par- Kaniya Williams, Sofia Diaz, Maritza Rivera and Stephen Love. PHOTOS CONTINUED ON PAGE 24
ents and grandparents recently
made their way to the Vero Beach phones. a runaway hit. We’re approaching PHOTOS: KAILA JONES
Museum of Art for the 40th annual As they entered the Schumann 4,000 art kits that we’ve delivered in
Children’s Art Festival. the past half-year. These are really which Sherrier described as “sort of
Gallery, young and old alike were popular, and I think we will contin- an impressionist piece that shows
It was a toned-down, half-day taken aback by Marc Sijan’s ultra- ue to use them,” he added. NASA and a reflection of the sky.”
version this year, minus the abun- realistic sculpture, Gallery Guard Third prize went to Mish McLendon,
dance of hands-on activities and Seated 11. Roberts was referencing the Con- a senior, for “The Guardian.” Sherri-
day-long performances by student gressional High School Art Compe- er said his style is along the lines of
musicians, choruses, dancers and Other budding young artists were tition, which had its award ceremo- his father and grandfather, who are
theatrical groups, but attendance found quietly sitting in front of the ny earlier that day. The competition famed Highwaymen artists.
by thousands of visitors, as in past Poetry of Nature: Hudson River drew entries from Brevard and Indi-
years, would currently be unthink- School paintings, as they created an River counties and was judged by The Children’s Art Festival pre-
able. their own masterpieces. artists Cathy Ferrell of Vero Beach dates the physical museum build-
and Phyllis Shipley of Rockledge. ing. The inaugural “art in a tent”
Instead of the usual beehive of art “It’s just really great to have peo- event took place in 1981, hosted by
activities in the Education Wing, ple back at the museum. And with Eliza Sherrier, art teacher at St. the Alliance for the Arts to elicit in-
the museum offered Take-Home Art the Congressional Art Competition Edward’s Upper School, was par- terest in the creation of a communi-
Kits, distributed by staff and volun- we have lots of families from all over ticularly pleased with the results ty museum. Its 40-year success has
teers outdoors, in the shade of the the region coming in, so it’s a nice of this year’s U.S. Space Program- reinforced that the way to develop
portico. return to normal,” said Brady Rob- themed competition. new audiences is to invite families
erts, VBMA CEO. in to celebrate art together.
“Each bag has two art projects, Kiran Arain, a junior, won Best
coloring pages designed by Kathleen “It’s been a really great audience in of Show for her piece “Space Sky,” For more information, visit
Kennedy, a notebook and colored today. And these art kits have been vbmuseum.org. 
pencils,” explained Denise Granni-
no, public programs manager.

Also included, self-guided tour in-
formation about the current exhib-
its tasked youngsters with locating
various works of art. And more than
a few adults looked on in envy at the
art projects – a flowerpot to deco-
rate along with wildflower seeds,
and cute little birdhouses with art
supplies to paint them.

The New Light exhibition by Ko-
rean artist Chul Hyun Ahn was a
huge hit, with children especially
mesmerized by the optical illusions.

“As hard as you try, you can’t catch
it with a camera. It’s how light enters
the brain and changes,” said long-
time docent Toni Hamner, explain-
ing the process as people tried to
photograph the illusions with their

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Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / May 13, 2021 23

PEOPLE

Zola Roberts, Kris Euress and Seigbeh Roberts.
Alyssa Zink and Rylie Zink.

24 Vero Beach 32963 / May 13, 2021 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

PHOTOS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 22 Corbin, Reagan, Cataleya and Carson.
Eliza Sherrier and Cathy Ferrell.

Sara Klein, Brady Roberts and Cynthia Callander. Noah Clauch and Jackie Vitek.

Noah, Sky and Lucy. Jon, Wynnie, Walter and Katherine Cook.



26 Vero Beach 32963 / May 13, 2021 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

INSIGHT COVER STORY

A PANDEMIC SUMMER ROAD TRIP

The last thing I expected to find at the ries of some of the community’s most frescoing is a delicate process that en- of sorts, driving on twisty mountain
Haywood Street mission in Asheville, vulnerable people assisted by the ser- tails crushing pigments and painting byways in the rugged, village-dotted
N.C., when my husband, David, and I vice organization. them into wet plaster before it dries. Blue Ridge countryside north of Ashe-
visited last year was a Renaissance-style While I had seen frescoes throughout ville, seeking some of the world’s most
fresco glowing on the wall behind the I couldn’t take my eyes off it. Italy and France, I had never heard of masterful frescoes along the Benjamin
chapel altar – with modern-day models. “There’s a fresco trail in the Blue any in the United States. F. Long IV Fresco Trail.
Ridge right outside of Asheville,” Brook
Painted by Christopher Holt, the van der Linde, Haywood Street’s chief Yes, I was interested. The good news is the sites are open
masterpiece portrays the life-giving sto- storyteller, told me, gauging my interest. And that’s how, just before the world again, observing state public health
The medium made famous by Mi- shut down in March 2020, David and mandates including social distancing
chelangelo, da Vinci and Fra Angelico, I found ourselves on a treasure hunt and wearing masks indoors.

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / May 13, 2021 27

INSIGHT COVER STORY

Our first stop: Morganton, dubbed Viewing chairs on a slowly rotating “That’s Ben Long,” said Mike Mu- “After studying at the Art Students
a mini-Asheville with its wineries, platform allow a comfortable, neck- sick, CoMMA’s director. He explained League of New York and two Vietnam
brewpubs and restaurants. Here, the relaxed perusal. Sitting back, I studied how the artist uses local models — in- tours as combat artist, I moved to Flor-
City of Morganton Municipal Audito- how a gold-leaf ribbon weaves togeth- cluding himself — in all his works. ence to apprentice under foremost
rium (CoMMA) showcases the “Sacred er the composition, drawing the eye Renaissance-style fresco artist Pietro
Dance and the Muses,” portraying the from one muse to the next, to clouds, I was blown away by the immensity Annigoni.”
nine Greek muses, in the building’s to drama masks, to a classical temple of this work, and wondered, how does
lobby. I looked expectantly at the walls cradling several different people (and anyone become an Italianesque fresco And then he wanted to bring the an-
before realizing it was up on the ceil- a cat). On one side, an older man painter these days? cient art to his native North Carolina.
ing, a la Sistine Chapel. crouches, paintbrushes in hand.
“I always wanted to be an artist,” “But no one knew what I was talk-
Long told me by phone the next week.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 28

28 Vero Beach 32963 / May 13, 2021 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 27 INSIGHT COVER STORY

ing about,” he said. “It was two or three the Haywood Street mission fresco, is
years before I managed to get someone Long’s student.)
to agree to have one.”
Our next stop awaited about 45 miles
And that was only because he of- west via Interstate 40 in bucolic Mon-
fered it free. Today, there are 30 Long treat, near Black Mountain. Here, the
frescoes in the United States, some car- “Return of The Prodigal” radiates over
rying price tags of more than $500,000. the altar of the Chapel of the Prodigal, a
Fourteen, in 11 locations, are found on mountain-Gothic building at Montreat
the Benjamin F. Long IV Fresco Trail in College.
the Statesville-Charlotte region – nine
of which David and I visited in this It’s a lively scene, with the father and
275-mile ramble. (Holt, who painted wayward son embracing as the older
brother stews, the mother looks on

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INSIGHT COVER STORY

and a village woman dances beneath the Passover Seder meal. Even Ben “St. Paul’s Conversion” and “Paul in the diners in “The Last Supper” – he
a portico. Even a dog takes part in the Long sits, to the far right, in the guise Prison.” leaves to the viewer’s interpretation.
action, seemingly anxious or perhaps of Doubting Thomas.
confused. “Ben researched deeply to figure That said, he did share one secret
“It was rumored that Ben was paint- out a way to portray St. Paul with his to his creative process in our phone
We drove about 50 miles over rolling ing a nude Last Supper,” Deacon Shir- own personal touch,” said Bill Hurd, conversation: “You try to think about
hills dotted with Christmas tree farms ley said. “The community stayed away the church docent. “Was Paul alone things, and other images creep in,” he
en route to our next stop, passing the until they realized that wasn’t happen- on the road to Damascus? Given Paul’s told me. “Somehow you’re influenced.”
Blue Ridge Parkway entrance with the ing. They then started pitching in, pro- authority, he was given soldiers, ar-
option to take the slower, more scenic viding meals. It became a community mor and a big horse. He wouldn’t have Well, that doesn’t really help much
route. But we didn’t – we were eager to event.” been alone.” if you’re not a creative genius. But
see our next fresco. one thing I learned: Each fresco has a
We found our last frescoes about Long never revealed his take on it. story – many stories – to tell, merging
It was inside historic Sloop Chapel 20 miles south at St. Paul’s, on Wilkes- Indeed, the symbolism he embeds history with present day, making me
at the Crossnore School in Crossnore: boro’s highest hill. The 1848 chapel throughout his frescoes – two hidden ponder, providing inspiration, creat-
“Suffer the Little Children,” painted in was expanded in the 1990s, and with crosses in the “Return of the Prodigal,” ing awe.
2006. Crossnore’s longtime mission it came two frescoes adorning its cen- a cup on the cross in the “Mystery of
supports at-risk children, and the tral common area, completed in 2002: Faith,” a floating “napkin” high above And that made me appreciate these
fresco is filled with kids sitting with frescoes even more. 
Jesus – some modeled on Long’s sons.

“The night Ben did the face of Jesus,
he painted ’til 5 a.m.,” said the docent,
who has been with Crossnore 45-plus
years. “He wanted it private.”

We spent the night in Blowing Rock,
snuggled among mountain peaks.
Galleries, shops and restaurants filled
the cutesy Main Street, and we dined
at the Speckled Trout Restaurant and
Bottle Shop, where the almond-herb
N.C. mountain trout was just one of
the many ways the today-fresh fish
was prepared.

Next morning, our quest took us
into outdoorsy hinterlands, past ski
resorts and a tree-fringed lake. The
Blue Ridge Parkway flirted with us,
though again we didn’t hop on. After
about an hour we found St. Mary’s, a
tiny mountain church in West Jeffer-
son, dating from 1892, with three fres-
coes.

“The fresco on the left was Ben’s
first, 1974,” said historian Don Long
(unrelated to the artist). “Mary Great
With Child.”

At a time when churches were reluc-
tant to have a young, hippie-looking
artist paint their walls, even for free,
St. Mary’s accepted – and what a gift
it received.

“When these were made, hordes of
people came to see them,” said Dea-
con Shirley Long (also unrelated). To-
day, thousands of people visit the fres-
coes every year.

“John the Baptist,” to the altar’s right,
was his second fresco, from 1976.

In the middle behind the altar ris-
es the third, “The Mystery of Faith,”
a powerful portrayal of Jesus on the
cross painted in 1977, with a lustrous
Jesus rising almost ghostlike behind.

“The frescoes are part of the church’s
ministry,” Don Long said.“People leave
the service with tears in their eyes.”

The next stop was Holy Trinity Epis-
copal Church just 10 miles away in
Glendale Springs, another bitty cha-
pel with my favorite fresco – “The Last
Supper,” painted in 1980. Unlike da
Vinci’s neat row of people sitting at
the table, this one depicts the same
apostles sitting about casually after

30 Vero Beach 32963 / May 13, 2021 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

INSIGHT OPINION

BY DAVID IGNATIUS Meanwhile, the Pentagon is deliberating how to problem. Beijing doesn’t want to talk about curbing
replace its 50-year-old Minuteman missiles technol- its nuclear forces until it reaches parity with the Unit-
Nuclear weapons are probably the last thing the ogy, one leg of the “triad” of U.S. strategic forces. Sen. ed States and Russia.
Biden administration wants to worry about right Angus King (I-Maine), who chairs the Senate sub-
now. But given aggressive Chinese and Russian ef- committee that oversees strategic forces, told me he “The Chinese are modernizing their nuclear deter-
forts to build new systems, and America’s aging stra- came away from a visit to a missile silo in North Da- rent, and ours is aging. That’s the big story,” argues
tegic force, the wizards of Armageddon may be back. kota last weekend wondering, “How would you feel if David Finkelstein in an interview. He directs China
your survival depended on a car you bought in 1970?” and Indo-Pacific security studies at CNA, an inde-
Chinese and Russian advances were highlighted in pendent research institute in Arlington.
last month’s annual “Threat Assessment” by the U.S. The Pentagon’s tentative answer is a new silo-
intelligence community. It said China was planning based missile known as the Ground Based Strategic Why is China moving so quickly to jettison its old
to double its arsenal of nuclear weapons over the Deterrent. “I would say I’m convinced but not fully doctrine of a “limited deterrent” and double its nuclear
next decade in “the most rapid expansion … in its convinced” that this new ICBM is the answer, King forces? U.S. analysts aren’t sure, but some judge that the
history.” And it warned that Russia remains America’s told journalists after the visit. Chinese may want to make any U.S. effort to defend
closest strategic rival as it “expands and modernizes Taiwan militarily exceptionally costly. Beijing wants a
its nuclear weapons capabilities.” Some other analysts argue that the United States low-cost walkover in Taipei, not a bloody assault.
should instead emulate the Chinese with a mobile
Unpack this bland language and you see some ICBM system of our own, though it’s doubtful any “The last thing on China’s mind is a D-Day style
genuinely scary new threats. China is deploying a state would welcome this nuclear caravan now any invasion” of Taiwan, contends Christopher Johnson
truck-based mobile intercontinental ballistic missile, more than when it was first proposed in the 1980s. in an interview. He’s a former top CIA China analyst
called the Dongfeng-41, that could strike targets in who’s now the chief executive of China Strategies
the United States. The Biden administration’s main interest in nucle- Group, a political risk consulting firm. He notes that
ar weapons so far has been limiting them. After just China has halved its number of short-range missiles
China also has an intermediate-range mobile six days in office, Biden agreed to extend for another opposite Taiwan but boosted deployments of mis-
missile, the Dongfeng-26, that’s “capable of rapidly five years the New START treaty with Russia, which siles for striking U.S. bases in Guam and Japan.
swapping conventional and nuclear warheads,” ac- limits each country’s warheads.
cording to Austin Long, a Pentagon strategic planner, China’s accelerating nuclear program vexes Ameri-
in a recent article in War on the Rocks. But the treaty doesn’t cover China, and that’s the can analysts. During the Cold War, the United States
and Russia developed a language for thinking about
What this means for U.S. commanders is that in a nuclear weapons and deterrence. Leaders of both
crisis, China would have hundreds of hard-to-detect countries understood the horrors of nuclear war and
trucks roaming its highways, some carrying nukes sought predictability and stability in nuclear policy.
and some not – and if the missiles were fired, the China lacks such a vocabulary for thinking about the
United States probably wouldn’t know which were unthinkable.
which. That, as the Cold War strategists used to say,
would be “destabilizing.” Russia and America have some severe problems
these days, but they know how to talk about arms
Russia is tweaking the nightmare scenarios, too. control. Even as the Biden administration thinks
President Vladimir Putin boasted in his April 21 ad- about building a new generation of doomsday weap-
dress to the federal assembly that Russia now has a ons, it needs to sit down and begin a conversation
new Avangard hypersonic ICBM, a Tsirkon hyper- with China about strategic forces that’s becoming
sonic anti-ship missile and a Poseidon nuclear tor- more urgent every day. 
pedo capable of devastating coastal cities. All these
weapons have very short delivery times to defeat U.S. A version of this column first appeared in TheWash-
missile defenses. They, too, would destabilize the bal- ington Post. It does not necessarily reflect the views of
ance of terror. Vero Beach 32963.

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Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / May 13, 2021 31

INSIGHT WORLD NEWS AND OPINION

Erica Goode's boots, ordered from Saks customer service and suggested pon. Four days later, I called again. A the boots and be done with it. Saks
Saks Fifth Avenue online, don't fit. She the package might be lost and request- representative said a supervisor would should have refunded you quickly.
sends the footwear back, but the pack- ed a refund. A representative said Saks call me back within two hours. Nada. I
age is lost. Is she out of luck? would open an investigation. would like a refund for $153, the price But that would be too simple. Some-
of the boots. one has to answer for the late pack-
QUESTION: A week later, I got an email saying age, and even though you used Saks'
that they had not approved my re- ANSWER: prepaid label and followed all of its in-
I recently bought a pair of Ugg rain quest. I called customer service again structions, that someone was you.
boots online from Saks Fifth Avenue. and a rep told me that the package What a mess! I don't understand
They did not fit. I returned them the next had reached the warehouse but that why companies make it your respon- I see companies doing this all the
day using the company’s prepaid label. the staff investigating did not have sibility to ensure the post office or time. Just today, I dealt with a product
that information and he would start a FedEx works. If you sent the package return at Apple Computer, which was
Three weeks later, the tracking infor- new investigation. back to Saks in good faith, and a cer- just as bureaucratic.
mation showed that the package was tain amount of time has elapsed, they
still at a facility in New Jersey. I called But the next time I called, a repre- should just file an insurance claim for When will companies understand
sentative told me that there was no that their excuses don't matter? Prob-
way the first customer service rep ably never. But I can hope that some-
could know whether the package had one higher up at Saks (or Apple) will
reached the warehouse. He promised read this and decide to put an end to
to open a new investigation. the corporate excuses.

Two days later, a supervisor left In the meantime, we have corporate
me a voicemail message saying Saks contacts that can help. I list the names,
could not refund my money because numbers and email addresses of the
the package was still in transit. I called Saks Fifth Avenue executives on my
FedEx, and they said the package had consumer advocacy site, Elliott.org. You
been turned over to the post office but sent a polite email to Andrea Robins, the
was most likely lost. After a few more company's director of customer service.
calls, I reached a nice woman at Saks, She wrote back immediately and sent
who said she would open another in- you a refund and a $50 gift certificate. 
vestigation. She apologized for the
trouble and offered me a $10 off cou- Get help with any consumer prob-
lem by contacting Christopher Elliott
at http://www.elliott.org/help

32 Vero Beach 32963 / May 13, 2021 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

INSIGHT BOOKS

If you’ve ever been at a dull party and then met corvid’s social nature to their encounters
a person who suddenly brightened the vibe with
energetic conversation about his abundant enthu- with others.
siasms, you know a little of what it’s like to come
upon Jonathan Meiburg and his first book during In his efforts to answer big questions,
a pandemic. Dedicated to unraveling mysteries
around the striated caracara, a bird of prey that such as how the striated caracara be-
lives primarily in the Falkland Islands off South
America, “A Most Remarkable Creature” sparks al- came separated from its cousins, Mei-
most as much curiosity about its author as it does
about its feathered subject. burg journeys into the history of shift-

Meiburg professes to focus on “the hidden life ing land masses, the effects on species
and epic journey of the word’s smartest birds of
prey,” as his subtitle tells us. But he also takes us on distribution and migration, and the
a series of peregrinations, intellectual, imaginative
and actual wanderings loosely wrapped around asteroid strike responsible for mass ex-
his ambition to know the striated caracara, a de-
lightful oddball of a raptor. tinctions. Though the tales are well-told

The story begins with Meiburg’s first encounter and connected to the book’s mission to
with the species during a visit to Sea Lion Island
in the Falklands, its coasts teeming with seals and understand why different species ended
penguins, when he unexpectedly finds himself in
the company of two caracaras. True to their so- up where they did, these explorations go
ciable, curious nature, they approach rather than
fly off. “One took a few steps in my direction and on a little longer and delve a little deeper
cocked its head like a dog,” he writes – and the in-
teraction becomes more interesting from there. than I’d have liked. I craved more bird

It does not, however, become a human-bird re- encounters.
lationship story. Unlike Helen Macdonald in her
exquisite and highly personal memoir, “H Is for Meiburg dedicates several chapters to
Hawk,” Meiburg gives us the striated caracara as
a way to explore natural history and to consider a lengthy guided journey into the tropi-
the work of Charles Darwin and William Henry
Hudson. The latter was a Victorian-era novelist cal forests and waterways of Guyana on
and naturalist who, like Darwin, explored South
America and was fascinated by animals. Hudson a quest to find relatives of the Johnny
sustained an intense interest in caracaras and won-
dered about them in a way that seems to speak to rooks and to experience the setting of
Meiburg’s soul. Hudson’s companionable presence,
and some of his delightful prose, enrich this book. Hudson’s novel “Green Mansions: A Ro-

But back to the birds. mance of the Tropical Forest.” He and
In general, caracaras (10 species scattered across
South and Central America, with a smattering in the his traveling companions power through
southern United States) are the very definition of
“mash-up.” As Meiburg writes, “If you try to imag- damp landscapes, meeting every imag-
ine ten separate attempts to build a crow on a fal-
con chassis, with results falling somewhere between inable thing that crawls, swims, slithers,
elegant, menacing, and whimsical, you wouldn’t be
far off.” slides or flies. Arachnophobes, beware:
While caracaras are members of the falcon fam-
ily, they’re a good bit slower than peregrines, which There’s a fleeting description of shar-
are celebrated for their ability to reach 200 miles
per hour in a hunting dive. Caracaras are frequently ing space with hundreds of wolf spiders,

some the size of a fist, that is as chilling

as it mystical.

Like travel itself, “A Most Remarkable

Creature” is more journey than destina-

tion. While Meiburg seems disinclined to-

A MOST REMARKABLE CREATURE ward environmental preaching, he does

want to ignite our curiosity. The book el-

THE HIDDEN LIFE AND EPIC JOURNEY OF egantly reminds us that we cheat ourselves

THE WORLD’S SMARTEST BIRDS OF PREY when we underestimate creatures we have

BY JONATHAN MEIBURG | KNOPF. 366 PP. $30 deemed low, annoying or common.
REVIEW BY KAREN SANDSTROM, THE WASHINGTON POST For most of human history, birds were

commonly assumed to lack emotions or

ground-dwellers, clacking around on the rocks and intelligence. Only relatively recently has science

scavenging smaller birds, eggs, insects and carrion. upended these notions, giving us a more complex

When the opportunity arises, they’ll dig into scraps perspective. “We now know that some birds are ca-

humans have left behind, too. pable of nearly all – if not all – the attributes of con-

Meiburg explores several species of caracaras, in- sciousness we once reserved for ourselves,” Meiburg

cluding the Mexican eagle, or crested caracara, and writes, “including the ability to plan for the future,

the red-throated, which dines on wasp larvae. But abstract notions of time and self, and the need to

striated caracaras – colloquially known as Johnny process daily experiences through dreams.”

rooks — are special by dint of their rarity and their We may never visit the Falklands or meet a caracara

far-flung homeland. Only a few thousand of them of any kind. But crows, hawks, vultures, songbirds and

exist in nature. They might be expected to shun pigeons are in plentiful supply. The lens of wonder al-

company, in typical raptor fashion, yet they bring a lows us to see that, they, too, are remarkable. 

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / May 13, 2021 33

ST. EDWARD’S

Sternberg’s St. Ed’s sports experience was second to none

BY RON HOLUB Drew Sternberg during
Correspondent the Finals game.

PHOTOS BY KAILA JONES

In an action-packed five-day stretch, Coach Doug Bailey along with Reed, Jon, Drew and Michele Sternberg.
St. Edward’s varsity lacrosse team
claimed a regional title with a 12-11 over- football, soccer and lacrosse. cent fo- 2020-21 Class 2A
time victory over Lake Highland Prep. “I started playing football for the cused on Soccer Player of
The Pirates then advanced to the Class grinding it the Year.
1A Final Four and defeated Bolles, 15-13, middle school team,” he said. “Coach out and get- Hardware leg-
in a semifinal to set up a match against (Bill) Motta was somebody I looked up ting better. acy rightfully be-
undefeated Saint Andrew’s for the state to since I was a kid. I knew back then We managed longs in a trophy case or
championship. that I was going to play (varsity) foot- to have fun even on a mantel. The person-to-
ball for that man. He always found a doing that. It was person side with coaches
The magical run ended on Saturday way to motivate you and make you the most memo- and teammates passes along in
by a score of 13-5. want to push yourself harder. rable season I’ve folklore through laughter, reflec-
ever had.” tion and memories, especially
Thus, a strange school year more “This year we had a personnel change when shared with family.
unique than any other turned out to be a with Coach (Mark) Gowin, and it was Lacrosse must “Playing sports with my
very productive and memorable one for great. We had an undefeated regular have come close. brothers was one of my fa-
St. Ed’s senior Drew Sternberg. season, but then it took an unfortunate By digging a lit- vorite parts of high school,”
turn. We went into a new division for the tle deeper into this Sternberg told us. “We were
“I’m a lifer so I’ve been here since day playoffs and lost to the eventual state season, you realize that theteam so hard on each other and
one,” Sternberg said, reflecting on the champs -- so it wasn’t that horrible. played with house money in the play- pushed one another to the
sports culture at the school. “It’s been offs. Although it was likely never said absolute limit. Then to see
really weird growing up on the smaller “This soccer season was the best sea- aloud, getting to the championship it all pay off when we
fields and always looking up to the old- son of any sport that I ever played in my game was once considered a long shot. played together was
er kids. Now that I’m a senior, looking entire life (the Pirates lost in the state extremely rewarding.
back on it, the whole process, it’s been semifinals), and I’ve played soccer since “If you told some of the kids on the “I got to play sports
something. Playing sports here must I was able to walk. team that we were going to beat Ben- with (my older brother) Will for most
be completely different than playing jamin in the district finals, they might of my life, but never really with my lit-
sports at any other school. “Our coach (Esteban Rosano) came have been shocked and said you were tle brother (freshman) Reed. Playing
in and in his first year he was able to crazy,” Drew revealed. “I have to ad- with him this year in all three sports
“We are a small school and sometimes bring us all together. Chemistry was mit that I was a little surprised too. has been one of the best things ever.
it’s like pulling teeth to get kids out to the reason our team went that far. We “Making it this far in lacrosse means
play on teams. But when you join a team would have the most ridiculous banter “But we were fighters and hustlers, so much to me and everyone on the
here, you form tight bonds and become during practice, but we stayed 100 per- starting with Coach (Doug) Bailey. He is team, but also my mom (lacrosse
such a close group. That’s probably one such a funny and goodhearted guy. He Hall of Famer and St. Ed’s Academic
of the biggest things that I’ve enjoyed in loves the sport and loves the kids who Dean/Director of College Counseling
high school. play it. He makes every day fun, except Michele Sternberg). She is absolutely
for the running.” ecstatic because this is exactly what
“I’ve seen kids here that wouldn’t she had in mind coming to Florida
necessarily be friends with each oth- The accolades and statistics compiled and growing the lacrosse community
er, but being out here every day on a by this young man in all three sports down here. She went to UVA and was a
sports team, it’s crazy how that can would fill volumes too numerous to starter since her freshman year. Unfor-
change people.” detail here. One noteworthy mention tunately, she tore her ACL and couldn’t
is Florida Athletic Coaches Association play again.”
Craziness also had a role in how Drew, a straight A student consider-
events unfolded this past year. The ing a career in data science, will join
shutdown last spring spoiled the Will at UVA. 
lacrosse season and led to a guess-
ing game for what school life would
look like in the fall. Sternberg was a
three-sport athlete senior year with

34 Vero Beach 32963 / May 13, 2021 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PETS

Bonz says jubilant Joey is all work and still playful

Hi Dog Buddies! dled in bed ‘just of ’em. Stuffies are my favorites: the
gray elephant and a coupla ice cream
I usually meet my innerview-ees at for a liddle while.’ cones, an my squirrel (I sorta munched
their home, but Joey Shahamat said he the legs an ears offa that one). I think
preferred his workplace cuz he spends Dad wasn’t all that they all once had squeakers but, well,
much more time there. Before me an you know. Here, I always have a liddle
my assistant got all the way up to the thrilled but I was blanket, or towel, which, as you no-
big double glass doors, we could see ticed, I carry around pretty much all
Joey right inside, sitting up straight, tail Very Persistent (an day. Keeps me focused an chill.”
wagging, big welcoming smile.
apparently irre- “How about foodstuffs: Any pref-
Joey is a hansome Golden Doodle, rences?”
light gold coat in a curly summer cut, sistible) an now it’s
feathery tail, good poss-chur. Anna big, “I usta be Wa-ay Picky when I was a
frenly dogga-nality. Joey.PHOTO:KAILA JONES the three of us. SO pupper. Mommy’d hafta cook for me.
cozy.” Then, for some reason, after I got the
He didn’t come boundin’ out, though, NoPuppies Pro-cee-jur, I wasn’t picky
just waited for us to enter, then grabbed “Smooth!” I com- anymore. Human food’s still my fav –
a liddle blue blanket an presented it to steak and grilled chiggen – but I don’t
my assistant by way of greeting. “WEL- mented. get as much of that as I wish. I enjoy
COME!! We can sit right over HERE!” apples, coconut, the occasional car-
He led us to a nearby couch. “This is “Indeed,” Joey re- rot. An I had a bit of banana yesterday
my Mommy Agata. My Dad Al’s around which was – interesting.”
somewhere. We’re all biz-ness part- plied.
ners.” “How’d you get your name?”
“So when did you “Ryan named me. My original name
“Great to meet you, Joey!” I said. was Derek, if you can buy-leave it. It to-
“Woof! This is some place you’ve got!” start workin’ here?” tally didn’t fit me.”
It was a great big room with a whole “Joey’s perfect for you,” I told him.
bunch of super-shiny cars in lotsa col- “Right away, ever Headin’ home, I was thinkin’ how
ors, and the biggest, shiny-est floor I many of you pooches have careers,
ever saw, sorta like ice, I thought, an my since I got here as a workin’ with your humans in all sorts
toenails were kinda slippy on it. Obvi- of biz-nesses, from doctors to law en-
ously, Joey was used to it. perfect. She found a breeder, silly liddle pupper. I forcement to real estate or fancy lady’s
saw pick-shurs of my litter, an picked a shops or places with shiny cars like
I opened my notebook. “I’m eager to puppy. (Not me.) She was gonna pick it grew up here. Been workin’ all my Joey’s. I was also planning to ask my
hear your story,” I told him. “It looks like up when it was 8 weeks old, but the day Grandma if she could perhaps bring
you found the perfect Forever Famly, an before, it got sold, I guess cuz she didn’t life. An I gotta say, I LOVE my job. I love me a bag of Perks next time she goes to
the perfect career path.” put it on layaway or somethin’. By then the store. I’d love to give ’em a try.
only me an my brother were left, so humans an pooches an they always Till next time,
“You got THAT right!” He agreed. Mommy went to see us in the fur. Soon
Even though he wasn’t what you’d call as she picked me up an cuddled me, we are real happy to see me. The humans The Bonz
lap dog-sized, he happily sat in his KNEW I was The One!”
Mom’s lap for much of the innerview. offen bring me treats, which humans Don’t Be Shy
“I LOVE when that happens!” I ex-
All settled in, Joey began his tail. “It claimed. call PERKS! Have you ever had a perk?? We are always looking for pets
all started when my brother Ryan (who’s with interesting stories.
gonna by 9 in 2 weeks) told our Mommy “I know! Right? Me an Ryan hit it off They’re duh-li-shus, an they’re all dif-
an Dad he really, really, really wanted a right away. I sat in his lap in the back To set up an interview, email
dog. He was like, ‘Pleeze, pleeze, puh- seat all the way home. We play an ruff- ferent flavors!” [email protected].
LEEZE!’ Trouble was, he’s VERY uh- house around a lot, which I don’t do
LER-gic to pets of the fluffy variety. So with Mommy an Dad cuz they’re, you “Don’t buh-leeve I have. Do you have
Mommy decided a Doodle would be know, grown-ups.
lotsa pooch pals?” I queried.
“Mommy had one of those nice big
crates all ready for me when I first ar- “Sure! Us neighborhood pooches
rived, like you’re s’pose to do with
puppies, cuz it’s cozy an safe an stuff. love playin’ on the beach. Always
WELL, I was like, ‘No Way! I’m NOT a
crate kinda pooch!’ I hid under the bed well-mannered, of course. When I go
in Mommy an Dad’s room. So I slept on
the floor till guess what happened?” to Paw Prints Day Spa there’re always

“What?” fun pooches to play with. Also, I have
“Well, Mommy an Dad went on a trip,
an I couldn’t go with ’em. They missed some pooch frens who come here with
me So Much that, when they got back,
Mommy scooped me up an we cud- our clients. There’s Jet, she’s black as

night; an Tucker, he’s a Golden like

me. We run all over this place, see

who can slide farthest without fallin’

on our caboose. I have some girlfrens,

too. I guess you could say I’m kinda a

Dog-About-Town. There’s Lola, she’s a

Golden mix. An then there’s Saman-

tha. She’s Somethin’ Else.” (He sighed.

I understood.) “She’s just not that into

me, tho.”

“I hear ya,” I replied. “Any special

toys?”

“Oh, yeah. At home I have a ton

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / May 13, 2021 35

INSIGHT BRIDGE

IF YOU WIN SIX, YOU SCORE POINTS WEST NORTH EAST
52 Q87 643
By Phillip Alder - Bridge Columnist AKQ4 J 10 9 8 72
Q 10 7 6 KJ 98532
David Letterman quipped, “Fall is my favorite season in Los Angeles, watching the K63 J 10 9 8 A72
birds change color and fall from the trees.”
SOUTH
This is my favorite defense deal that I use in classes. South ends in two spades, A K J 10 9
leaving East-West needing six tricks to defeat the contract. How can they do it? 653
A4
In the auction, West would have done well to double again on the second round Q54
because East-West can make three diamonds with the trumps splitting 2-2. But that
is far from clear-cut, especially at the prevailing unfavorable vulnerability — and would Dealer: South; Vulnerable: East-West
have ruined a good story.
The Bidding:
West leads the heart ace. (Some pairs lead the queen from a suit headed by the
ace-king-queen, so that the leader’s partner knows that an ace-lead is from only the SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST OPENING
ace-king.) 1 Spades Dbl. 2 Spades All Pass
LEAD:
Under the heart ace, East must play the seven, starting a high-low with a doubleton. A Hearts

Now West, who is watching closely, cashes the heart queen and continues with the
heart king. What should East discard?

East would like a club shift, and it is much better (also, here, necessary) to pitch an
encouraging club seven than a discouraging diamond two.

West shifts to the club three, his lowest card in the suit guaranteeing at least one
honor there. East takes the trick and returns the club two. South falsecards with the
queen, but West should know to take the trick and give partner a club ruff, because if
East had begun with the A-7-5-2 of clubs, he would have returned the club five, high
from a remaining doubleton.

Isn’t good defense fun?

36 Vero Beach 32963 / May 13, 2021 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

INSIGHT GAMES

SOLUTIONS TO PREVIOUS ISSUE (MAY 6) ON PAGE 60

ACROSS DOWN
1 Ascend (5) 1 Capture (5)
4 Alliance of powers (4) 2 Chilled drink (3-5,4)
8 Support for climbing 3 Amount left over (7)
4 Passage between seats (5)
plants(7) 5 Offspring (5)
9 Guide; bovine animal (5) 6 Miser (5-7)
10 Wading bird (5) 7 Metal framework (6)
11 Everlasting (7) 12 Gratuity (3)
13 Bordeaux wine (6) 13 Opportunity (6)
15 Inflamed spot (6) 14 Rocky peak (3)
17 Strict in manner (7) 16 To cut a long story
20 Extra payment (5)
22 Alcoholic drink (5) short(2,5)
23 (World War I) England (7) 18 Planet (5)
24 Demonstrate (4) 19 Arm joint (5)
25 Gorse (5) 21 Manner (5)

The Telegraph

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 / May 13, 2021 37

INSIGHT GAMES

ACROSS 89 Very light rains 37 Problem for Santa, The Washington Post
1 Big mouth 91 Letters after Chuck nowadays?
4 Brought forth froth SANTA’S HEADACHES By Merl Reagle
10 Vipers Schumer’s name 38 Watt’s power
14 Lucy’s friend 92 Unburden 42 Landing abbr.
19 Mont. neighbor 94 One and only 44 Problem for Santa,
20 Away from the bay 95 Irish lad
21 Jai ___ 96 Not that hot nowadays?
22 Came up 98 Concerning 46 Bill of Scrooged
23 “Fella” 99 Tokyo, before 47 Turkey or ham
24 Problem for Santa, 100 ___ as (to the degree that) 48 Problem for Santa,
102 Problem for Santa,
nowadays? nowadays?
27 Flowing colors nowadays? 50 ___ Paulo
29 950 on a cornerstone 108 Strong thread 51 Playtex bottle
30 Chaney who played the 109 From ___ Z 52 Language from which
110 Western Hemisphere org.
Wolfman 111 Act like one of the geysers “Saskatoon” comes
31 Words after skip or pound 112 Problem for Santa, ho ho 54 A long weight?
32 Problem for Santa, 56 Opposed (to)
ho? 57 Poe chamber
nowadays? 118 Mouth, in biology 60 Night, in Nîmes
36 Cuts into again 119 ___ à clef 62 Like a movie ark
39 A hostel environment 120 They get rolled 64 Like Helen Morgan’s songs
40 They pick up carolers? 121 “Days of Christmas” total 67 Puzzling bird
41 Dry run 122 A perfect square, 69 Helper on the diamond
43 Record ruiner 70 In the manner of
44 The Mennonites, e.g. to Caesar 72 Summertime,
45 Scoring abbr. 123 Quite a gamble
46 Trysted 124 U.S. in Nice
47 Doubter’s words 125 Was wide of 74 Hardy heroine
48 Unsettling 126 Dough for noodles? 76 Sailor’s date
49 Problem for Santa, 77 Never ___ chance
DOWN 78 Movie deer
nowadays? 1 Make fun of 79 Bliss, to some
53 Ismaili title, ___ Khan 2 Literary bell town 81 Fraught with fixations
54 Pampering, briefly 3 Loony 85 Psychoanalysis concepts
55 Sandy spots hugging a 4 Christmas tree 86 Florence’s river
5 Cheap stamp 88 Muddy marches
green 6 Out on ___ 90 Not at all strong enough
58 Inoculation location 7 Muy macho 93 Topples, as tyrants
59 Fission fuel 8 Conclude 96 Caroled
61 Minute egg? 9 Pres. who started NASA 97 Maker of Tater Tots
63 Babes in Toyland operettist 10 He outdueled Alexander 98 Revered one
11 Dweeb, geezer, or nudnik, 101 Like fish or 1950s car styles
Herbert 103 Complete
65 Second visit for example 104 18-wheeler jobs
66 Sleuth Wolfe 12 Campaign fund-raising grp. 105 An adhesive
67 Agreeing words 13 Indian instruments 106 Raw courage
68 Humiliate 14 Roof features 107 Roughing It author
71 Land in the ocean? 15 Words before fire 112 “Don’t try it,”
73 Your mom’s daughter
75 Spy spoof, or jury dog-style
16 Problem for Santa, 113 Versailles VIP, once
Casino ___ 114 Goal
77 Mar. celeb nowadays? 115 Bank mach.
78 Uses the little knife 17 Superlative finish 116 Red Baron’s conflict, briefly
79 Quite cold 18 French article 117 Mr. Danson
80 Psychic’s cards 25 Yalies
82 Amazed feeling 26 Doubter’s words
83 “___ questions?” 28 Alpine athlete
84 Problem for Santa, 33 Provoke
34 Maker of Oreos
nowadays? 35 Cheshire Cat’s remains
87 Some pears

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40 Vero Beach 32963 / May 13, 2021 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

Hard worker’s bent out of shape by family’s biases

BY CAROLYN HAX To inoculate yourself against irritation when they
Washington Post say stuff like this?

Dear Carolyn: I waited tables dur- To stand up for yourself?
To burst snob balloons?
ing and after college and for most It’s only a “good way” to respond if it serves your
purpose – which means you need to settle on what
of my working history. I worked in that purpose is.
The purpose also needs to be reasonable enough to
upscale restaurants and waited on be worth serving. For example, you can’t make them
change their language; you can only ask. And I’m not
people who appreciated getting the sure anything you do to earn the respect of people you
don’t respect is ever going to be worth it.
best food and service. I worked hard I suggest you start at your baseline: who you are,
where you are and why you chose as you did. What I
and made great money and friends. Now for the past de- see are careers to be proud of, a business to run, prag-
matic use of your talents and values, and the entirety
cade, my husband and I have a custom cabinetry busi- of the moral high ground.
To me that translates to zero need to trifle with any
ness where we are once again working for people who of this.
But if it just bothers you to leave your family’s bi-
understand quality and service. ases unchallenged, then I suggest approaching it in
the form of a question: “Are you suggesting our work
My family, who only value education, higher degrees is only physical, not mental?” – or, softer, “Meaning
what, exactly?” Better to start a conversation than a
and unending ambition and accomplishment, have war – and surely they of all people can find thought-
ful ways to expand on their views beyond a reflexive
only ever said,“You must like working with your hands.” cliche.
Maybe all they’ll get from this is the experience of
Even recently, meeting extended family members for the being on the defensive for once. Ideally, though, all
parties will take the chance to put some old role-play-
first time, they said of my husband, “Well he must like ing to rest. 

working with his hands.”

I’d like to scream at this and say,“As opposed to work-

ing with his brain, like you, sons and daughters of edu- the error you’re trying to correct. Just because these
“smart people” think only certain kinds of work are ac-
cation?” They do not know the amount of science and ceptable doesn’t mean all smart people think that.

math and skill that goes into a perfect build. I find this In fact, people who“only value education” aren’t nec-
essarily smart, so let’s put all the broad brushes away.
saying extremely offensive and demeaning, and it di-
Instead, focus on what you specifically hope to
minishes our skill and experience. accomplish.

Where did it happen that smart people think only Which is … to gain the respect of your myopic fam-
ily?
certain types of work are acceptable? Is there a good way
To purge “working with your hands” from their
to reply to this without sounding defensive/offensive? lexicon?

– Build It, and They Will Offend

Build It, andTheyWill Offend:Wait now. Don’t repeat

FORESIGHT HELPED CURATOR
NAVIGATE HER POST-FUNK FUTURE

42 Vero Beach 32963 / May 13, 2021 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

FORESIGHT HELPEDARTS&THEATRE CURATOR
NAVIGATE HER FPOUSTT-UFURNEK

BY ELLEN FISCHER | COLUMNIST was assistant director and
curator at the Ruth Funk
Said Louis Pasteur, “In the fields of Center for Textile Arts in
observation, chance favors only the Melbourne, located on

prepared mind.” As a scientist, Pas- the campus of Florida

teur was most likely thinking of his Institute of Technology.

own breakthroughs in the fields of The Ruth Funk Center

fermentation, germ theory, immu- was named after the tex- triotic and warlike themes into the

nology and vaccination. His famous tile artist who not only garments of men and boys in an era

quote, which is often shortened to gave the school money when Japan sought to gain advantage

the more elegant “Chance favors the to build a textile mu- over foes in countries to the east, and

prepared mind,” does not discount seum, but also donated later in the west. Daniels Navaroli

the element of luck. objects and books from wrote the digital catalog for the show,

However, a mind that has been her personal collection. and coordinated with FIT’s digital

trained to expect unlooked-for re- scholarships lab to design a virtual

sults and is prepared to pursue tour of the exhibition.

them in the interest of science Whether curated by her or engaged

or, in Keidra Daniels Navaroli’s as a traveling loan, the exhibitions Dan-

field of observation, art, can iels Navaroli worked on included edu-

make discoveries that improve cational aspects that engaged FIT stu-

people’s lives. dents and art-loving gallery goers alike.

Before its permanent clos- For the loaned exhibition, “Tradi-

ing in 2020, Daniels Navaroli tional Arts of the Bedouin,” Middle

Eastern students from FIT’s inter-

national student body were invited

to erect a Bedouin-style tent in one

corner of the gallery, to give visitors a

taste of nomadic life.

Bedouin style robes and

headwear that visitors could try

on were also part of the educa-

tional aspect of the show, every part

of which augmented the 58 cultural

art objects on display, without dis-

tracting from the objects’ primacy of

place in the exhibition experience.

While Daniels Navaroli gives well-

deserved credit to the “team” of mu-

seum staff members and docents

who helped install and present the

Keidra Daniels Navaroli. show, hers was the prepared mind
that could envision a seamlessly uni-
PHOTOS BY KAILA JONES fied mix of art objects and art educa-

tion in the same gallery.

The Center opened to the public in Almost a year after she left the

August 2009; Daniels Navaroli, who museum, Daniels Navaroli says “I

received a Master of Arts from Florida still mourn for our community, but

State University in art history and art I stopped mourning for myself rela-

criticism, was employed there soon tively quickly. Being able to use my

thereafter, in February 2010. voice is something that I really valued

The exhibitions Daniels Navaroli more than I realized. The layoff for

brought to the Funk galleries pre- me was not an ending, it was a spring-

sented materials from around the board.”

world, focusing on the use of textiles Daniels Navaroli credits finding

in clothing, ritual, industry and art in her unique voice to the Getty Lead-

modern times as well as past eras. ership Institute (now called the Mu-

The final show she curated there seum Leadership Institute), whose

was titled “Designed to Mobilize: program, Executive Education for the

Propaganda Kimono 1920-1945.” Next Generation of Museum Leaders,

The exhibition featured the ways in she attended on scholarship in 2018.

which the Japanese incorporated pa- Offered by Claremont Graduate

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / May 13, 2021 43

ARTS & THEATRE

University, the month-long program about the ways he pioneered civil
began with online class sessions, fol- rights,” she said.
lowed by a two-week residence on the
university’s campus in Claremont, That was back in the 1950s, when
California. white businessmen refused to shake
John Daniels Jr.’s hand.
Daniels Navaroli says that she met
young curators from across the coun- Says Daniels Navaroli, “This is
try through the program. home. To be honest, and don’t get me
wrong, there are days when yes, I look
“Everyone there was hungry for at these amazing opportunities for
how to invest in change, make change Black and Brown curators in New York,
and really sustain change. We all but I think that Florida is the place
wanted to be more dynamic; not just where I want to make history. I feel like
efficient, but effective in what we the South is in need of dialogue con-
were doing for our museums.” cerning African Americans. Our his-
tory is here. We are really invested in
While she did not know at the time this area, in the community.” 
that her position at the Funk was
nearing its end, Daniels Navaroli the T&T program. The Summer Men-
had an inkling that she and the Funk toring Fellowship she received means
might not grow old together. that she starts school this May, in-
stead of in the fall.
“Even before the layoff, I was taking
a wait-and-see perspective. I made “I received a dean’s graduate fel-
sure I had a professional network, so lowship from the department; it be-
if I ever found myself in a situation gins this fall. Then the big award was
such as the Funk closing, I would be the receipt of the McKnight Doctoral
ready for what happens next.” Fellowship. That was a competitive
fellowship; to my knowledge only
Providentially, the same day that 50 awards went out for the state. My
she sent out an email to let her con- family is thrilled, my department is
tacts know she was no longer em- thrilled, my dad is mailing copies of
ployed with the Funk Center, she was my statement of purpose to his old
offered a contract to serve as a guest professors.”
editor for the Surface Design Jour-
nal of the Surface Design Association She laughs joyfully. “So, everyone is
(SDA), an international organization really, really excited.”
that promotes the appreciation of con-
temporary textile art through publica- Daniels Navaroli stresses that she
tions, exhibitions and conferences. would not have considered going
back to school without the support of
Daniels Navaroli says, “The SDA her family, which includes husband,
spokesperson wrote, ‘I hope this isn’t a Darrell Navaroli (“My rock,” she calls
bad time, but would you be interested?’” him), and their two young children;
a daughter who has just finished sec-
With a smile she says: “It happened ond grade, and a 5-year-old son.
at the right moment, when I had col-
leagues call me from across the na- “My ambition cannot outweigh my
tion, just to see if I was OK. And that obligations as a wife and mother. I
meant so much to me. To have that talked about it at length with my kids
humungous show of support was and tried to give them an understand-
overwhelming, and it really was em- ing of what I am doing.”
powering for me in that moment.”
One day she found her little girl
The pursuit of a PhD has been Dan- adding numbers on a piece of paper.
iels Navaroli’s dream; her new freedom When asked what she was doing, the
to pursue that goal led her to apply for child replied, “I’m trying to do the
the University of Central Florida’s Text math. I’m trying to figure out how old
and Technology doctoral program. Ac- I’m going to be when you come back
cording to the program’s website, the from school!”
areas of study and research students
may choose include Digital Humani- Daniels Navaroli immediately reas-
ties’ Digital Media; Editing, Publish- sured her that she was not going away
ing and Interdisciplinary Curating; to go to school; not like her daughter
Public History; Rhetoric and Compo- would when she became college aged.
sition; and Scientific and Technical
Communication. “I will be here,” she says.
And she intends to stay here, in
“The program was designed to be Florida. Born in Orlando and raised
completed in four years. I will gradu- in Sanford, she is a native daughter of
ate around 2025; that includes writ- the state where her paternal grandfa-
ing my dissertation,” says Daniels Na- ther, a Florida A&M University gradu-
varoli, who notes that the faster she ate, was an entrepreneur and busi-
completes the program, the faster she ness owner.
will get back to the life of a museum “He was active in Goldsboro, San-
professional. ford’s historically Black community.
He served on many boards, includ-
Her experience makes Daniels ing the Sanford Airport and Semi-
Navaroli a dream catch for any doc- nole Community College (now Semi-
toral program. She applied for, and nole State College). I grew up hearing
received, three fellowships to attend

44 Vero Beach 32963 / May 13, 2021 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

ARTS & THEATRE

COMING UP! Catch some family fun at ‘Take a Kid Fishing’

BY PAM HARBAUGH supply tackle, bait, prizes and even donates bait for the event.
Correspondent lunch. Chris Woodruff, owner of The event organizers are
Vero Tackle and Water Sports, helps well prepared with a trailer, rods
1 Take the whole family out into with the event every year. He said and guides to help families get
the great weather at Saturday’s people are eager to do this and that started. The most common fish
it’s fun for everyone. “I’m surprised to be caught are mangrove snap-
“Take a Kid Fishing” event hosted by how many people show up,” Wood- per and sheepshead. The fish
ruff said. “They almost completely are just big enough to give the
the Kiwanis Club of Vero-Treasure cover the pier here. It’s fantastic to kids a good fight, Woodruff said.
see.” Woodruff’s business usually “They do really well,”
Coast. The two-hour event begins Woodruff said. “A
lot of times, it’s a
9 a.m. on the pier from the Barber kid’s first fish.” So,
yes, make sure you
Bridge fishing catwalk. Organizers bring your camera
along as well. Mak-
ing this even more ap- 3 The Vero Beach Theatre Guild
pealing, the event is free. will be busy as can be this week-
The location is ideal with benches
and some shade. It gets everybody end with a round of auditions and the
involved. “Take a Kid Fishing” regis-
tration begins 8:15 a.m. Entry is free, presentation of its new show, “Moon-
but limited to the first 100 families
signing up. Prizes are awarded for light and Magnolias.” This is the first
each age bracket and a special prize
is awarded for the ugliest fish. The time the Theatre Guild has held “uni-
free lunch will be served 11 a.m. to
noon. This is designed for children 5 fied auditions,” which allows actors to
to 12 years of age. Adult supervision
required. Masks are also required. audition at one time for the upcoming
Call 772-234-9585 or verokiwanis.
com. Vero Tackle and Water Sports is season. All seven directors and cho-
at 3321 Bridge Plaza Dr., Vero Beach.
reographers will be in attendance.

Directors can select the cast directly

from these unified auditions or sched-

ule later auditions. Actors, prepare a

60- to 90-second monologue of your

choice, either read or memorized. You

2 The Space Coast Symphony will not be asked to do any cold read-
Orchestra has its season an-
ings. Bring resumes and headshots if

nouncement party Wednesday eve- you have them. Social distancing will

ning at the Emerson Center. The be observed. The Unified Auditions

event gives patrons an opportunity begin 7 p.m. Sunday, May 16, Monday,

to meet and greet musicians and May 17 and Tuesday, May 18 in the

conductor/music director Aaron second floor at the Theatre Guild. The

Collins. “It’s always a good event for shows being auditioned are “Dracula,”

the musicians, myself and the board “Sleuth,” “I Do! I Do!” “See How They

members to mingle with donors and Run” and “Native Gardens.” If you want

season subscribers,” Collins said. to audition for the musical, prepare to

“It’s a fun time.” Guests can also pur- sing a song. For more information,

chase season tickets for the upcom- visit VeroBeachTheatreGuild.com and

ing season, which is packed with click onto the “auditions” tab. If you’re

programming and begins in June. more of an audience member than an

The announcement party includes actor, and you need a good laugh, then

complimentary drinks, both of the consider the comedy “Moonlight and

fermented and non-alcoholic variet- Magnolias” (directed by Yours Truly).

ies. Appetizers and desserts round The comedy is set in 1939 in the of-

out the goodies. Attendees can al- fice of Hollywood producer David O.

ways win some prizes, which include Selznick, who locks witty screenwriter

season passes and merchandise such Ben Hecht and formidable director Vic-

as CDs from previous seasons. There tor Fleming in his office for five days,

will also be some big-name artists in where he feeds them only bananas

attendance. The annual event is like and peanuts as they pound out a new

a mini-fundraiser for the concert. It screenplay for “Gone with the Wind.”

begins 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, May This is a fast-paced farce with wit and

19 at the Emerson Center, 1590 27th slapstick galore. Tickets are $15 to $30.

Ave., Vero Beach. Free admission, but The show performs May 12-23 at the

capacity is limited so be sure to get Vero Beach Theatre Guild, 2020 San

your tickets soon by visiting Space- Juan Ave. Call 772-562-8300 or visit

CoastSymphony.org. VeroBeachTheatreGuild.com. 





PIERONE IN FOREFRONT OF LOCAL
COVID-19 RESEARCH, TREATMENT P. 48

48 Vero Beach 32963 / May 13, 2021 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

HEALTH

Pierone in forefront of local COVID-19 research, treatment

BY KERRY FIRTH Chief Executive Officer Marie Andress, “Once the monoclonal antibodies
Correspondent Dr. Gerald Pierone and received authorization for high-risk
people with COVID, we converted
When the coronavirus came Vice President Jamie Merritt. the COVID research center into a
knocking on Vero’s door, Dr. Ger- Monoclonal Antibody Infusion cen-
ald Pierone, chief medical officer of PHOTOS: KAILA JONES ter. We couldn’t put someone into a
Whole Family Health Center, was placebo trial when we knew we had
ready to jump into action. A board- GUM SURGERY lifesaving therapy, so anyone who
certified internist and infectious WALK-INS WELCOME qualified for monoclonal antibod-
disease specialist, Dr. Pierone was FINANCING AVAILABLE ies (those over 65 or 55-to-65 with
no stranger to deadly viruses, hav- comorbidity) were given the treat-
ing been deeply involved in AIDS ment.
studies and treatment for decades.
COVID-19 was a new challenge and “Back in January we were doing
call to action that he was ready to an- two a day, now we’re down to one
swer. Since his practice was already every other day. Since most of the
a part of an organization called ACT people in our county over 65 have
(Aids Clinical Trials), it took only a been vaccinated, we are not seeing
few changes to the infrastructure to the sicker people with COVID who
begin tackling COVID-19. are potentially at risk over hospital-
ization or death.”
“We set up a separate office where
our patients came through the front Clinical trials are still being done
door, our staff came through the at Whole Family Health Center for
back where we put on protective those patients who don’t qualify for
gear and we met in the middle exam monoclonal antibodies. “These are
rooms where we administered in- mostly younger people who are sick
fusions and research studies for but normally would not get any ther-
people who got COVID,” said Dr. apy,” Dr. Pierone continued. “When
Pierone. they go into the study, they either
get an active drug or a placebo – an
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Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / May 13, 2021 49

HEALTH

oral anti-viral drug or a placebo, an and treating infectious diseases at nation was ignited by the potential to teach and train other providers.
inhaled interferon or a placebo, or Whole Family Health Center, Dr. to produce transformational results Dr. Gerald Pierone received his
an intravenous monoclonal cocktail Pierone also provides aesthetic ser- for my patients.”
or placebo. That way we can find vices at his cosmetic practice, Fa- medical degree from the University
better therapies for COVID.” cial Rejuvenation. He developed his Dr. Pierone opened Facial Reju- of Florida and completed his internal
unique skillset utilizing facial fillers venation 16 years ago and treated medicine residency training at the
Right now, treatment for a younger to combat facial lipoatrophy or fa- AIDS patients exclusively for the University of Medicine and Dentistry
person with COVID is mostly watch- cial wasting in AIDS patients. first three years. Soon he started in New Jersey. He trained in infectious
ful waiting. If someone under 40 is getting requests from friends and diseases at the Mount Sinai School of
sick and they don’t meet the criteria “Even though we were saving family of patients asking if he could Medicine in New York. He is board
for monoclonal antibodies, they are HIV patients’ lives, their facial dis- help them look better. certified in Internal Medicine and
given an oxygen monitor and told figuration from the disease and the Infectious Diseases and a member
to check their levels. If their oxygen medication was devastating. Their About 13 years ago he transi- of the Infectious Diseases Society of
level falls below 93 percent, they are faces were skeletal with sunken eyes tioned Facial Rejuvenation into a America. He can be reached at Whole
advised to go the emergency room. and cheeks. I started treating them full-service aesthetic cosmetic prac- Family Health in Vero Beach at 772-
with facial fillers to enhance their tice offering a plethora of face and 257-5785 or in Fort Pierce at 772-468-
“We’ve also given about 20,000 appearance and boost their confi- body enhancements. To date he’s 9900, or at Facial Rejuvenation in
vaccines out of both of our offices dence. My passion for facial rejuve- performed more than 20,000 filler Vero Beach at 772-978-0484. 
since the pandemic started,” Dr. treatments and is often called upon
Pierone said. “We’ve been doing vac-
cines since the beginning. As soon
as they were deployed, we set up
massive Saturday and Sunday clin-
ics at both our Vero and Fort Pierce
locations in addition to adminis-
tering vaccines during our normal
clinic business hours. As more vac-
cines became available and phar-
macies and grocery stores started
doing it, we stopped our weekend
clinics.”

COVID-19 cases in Indian River
County have been dropping steadily
and new cases that are occurring
are disproportionately younger peo-
ple who are not as sick. Even with
more communicable virus variants
in the mix this spring, cases are not
going up, which Dr. Pierone believes
is directly related to vaccine deploy-
ment.

Dr. Pierone founded Whole Fam-
ily Health Center three decades
ago as the Aids Research and Treat-
ment Center of the Treasure Coast
(ARTCTC). The HIV clinic transi-
tioned to a multi-specialty health-
care practice that provides primary
care, pediatrics, behavioral health,
pharmacy and chronic care man-
agement about 10 years ago. The
practice’s two Treasure Coast clin-
ics operate as a 501(c)3 nonprofit
corporation and Federally Qualified
Health Center Look Alike (FQHC-
LAL), which gives the organization
additional resources to care for
medically underserved populations
in the community.

“We take care of everyone regard-
less of their ability to pay,” said Dr.
Pierone. “That being said, we see
patients from all walks of life, rang-
ing from beachside residents to
homeless people. There are so many
people moving to Florida and such
a need for primary care that we
are struggling to keep up with the
growth of our patient base. We now
have over 100 healthcare profes-
sionals meeting the needs of nearly
10,000 patients throughout Indian
River and St. Lucie counties.”

In addition to doing research

50 Vero Beach 32963 / May 13, 2021 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

HEALTH

Carrot juice hasn’t been shown to reduce cataracts

BY FRED CICETTI ing: Don’t take any over-the-counter beta-carotene, are used together they tene orally has been reported to have
Columnist supplements such as beta-carotene might have harmful effects in patients no effect on the overall incidence of
without consulting your physician.) after angioplasty. Additional research stroke in male smokers. There is some
Question: Does drinking carrot juice is needed to determine the effect of evidence that beta-carotene increases
help with cataracts? Harvard University researchers ex- beta-carotene specifically. the risk of intracerebral hemorrhage by
amined whether taking beta-carotene 62 percent in patients who also drink
A cataract is a clouding of the lens, supplements protects against age- Cancer: Diets high in beta-carotene alcohol.
the clear part of the eye that helps fo- related cataracts. There were 22,071 have been shown to potentially reduce
cus images like the lens in a camera. volunteers in a large, ongoing health the incidence of certain cancers. Sunscreen: A combination of an-
Cataracts can blur images and discolor study. After 12 years, about 2,000 cata- tioxidants may help protect the skin
them. Most cataracts are related to ag- racts and almost 1,200 cataract surger- Cardiovascular disease: The Ameri- against irradiation. Long-term supple-
ing. More than half of Americans over ies were reported. In most cases, beta can Heart Association states that the mentation with beta-carotene appears
age 65 have a cataract. carotene did not appear to lower the evidence does not justify the use of to modestly reduce the risk of sunburn
risk of getting cataracts. antioxidants such as beta-carotene for in individuals who are sensitive to sun
I suspect this reader’s question was reducing the risk of cardiovascular dis- exposure. However, beta-carotene is
inspired by the common belief that Beta-carotene is an antioxidant. ease. unlikely to have much effect on sun-
carrots are good for your eyes. And car- Antioxidants are substances that may burn risk in most people.
rots are good for your eyes. protect your cells against damage. An- Chronic obstructive pulmonary
tioxidants are found in many foods disease (COPD): Beta-carotene supple- Ulcers: Infection with Helicobacter
Carrots contain beta-carotene, an including fruits and vegetables, nuts, ments have not been proven to benefit pylori bacteria in the gut can lead to
orange pigment that is also found in grains and some meats, poultry and COPD and may increase cancer rates in gastric ulcers. Dietary supplementa-
spinach, sweet potatoes, green leaf let- fish. Beta-carotene has been studied smokers. tion with beta-carotene has not been
tuce, winter squash, cantaloupe and to determine its effect upon a variety of found to be effective for treating this
broccoli. The body converts beta-caro- disorders, not just cataracts. Here are Cognitive performance: Long-term, condition.
tene into vitamin A, which is necessary some of the results: but not short-term, beta-carotene sup-
for normal vision. A lack of vitamin A plementation appears to benefit cogni- The American Heart Association rec-
may cause problems seeing in the dark. Alzheimer’s disease: Intake of di- tion. ommends obtaining antioxidants, in-
etary or supplemental beta-carotene cluding beta-carotene, from a diet high
The results of studies of beta-carotene has been shown not to have any effect Osteoarthritis: Beta-carotene sup- in fruits, vegetables and whole grains
supplementation for cataract prevention on Alzheimer’s disease risk. plementation does not appear to pre- rather than through supplements, un-
are not clear. More study is needed be- vent osteoarthritis, but it might slow til more information is available from
fore a conclusion can be drawn. (Warn- Angioplasty: There is some concern progression of the disease. More study randomized clinical trials. 
that when antioxidants, including is needed.

Stroke: Taking synthetic beta-caro-