11/10/2022 ISSUE 45

November 10, 2022 | Volume 9, Issue 45 | Newsstand Price: $1.00 | For breaking news visit VeroNews.com

YOUR LOCAL NEWS SOURCE FOR INDIAN RIVER COUNTY

MY TAKE Hospitalizations
for covid up, but
BY RAY MCNULTY new cases down

O’Bryan: From chair to
interim administrator?

Was retiring County Commis- Breeze encouraged by advance sales for Vero flights By Lisa Zahner | Staff Writer
sioner Peter O’Bryan using his [email protected]
position as chairman to lobby By Ray McNulty | Staff Writer selling really well,” said Gareth Edmondson-Jones,
from the dais for the job as inter- [email protected] Breeze’s head of corporate communications. “We The number of new covid in-
im county administrator? started getting calls as soon as we announced. It’s fections reported to the Florida
Breeze Airways executives are “thrilled” with the obvious Vero Beach is a very popular destination. Department of Health declined
Or was he merely being a de- early response to the airline’s recent announce- slightly in Indian River County
voted public servant who, after ment that it will launch commercial jet service “Our thought is: If the demand is there, we’ll last week, though hospitaliza-
16 years on the commission, of- to and from Vero Beach in February, a company add flights and even routes,” he added. “Right tions rose 60 percent.
fered to postpone his retirement spokesman said last week. now, there’s reason to be excited.”
and use his experience to oversee Only 89 people reported test-
the county’s operations during “The early indications are that the flights are CONTINUED ON PAGE 5 ing positive for COVID-19 during
the search for Jason Brown’s suc- the week ending Nov. 3 – down
cessor? from 102 the previous week – but
six more people ended up in the
“I took it as the latter,” said hospital being treated for COVID
Commissioner Susan Adams, illness than the week before.
who, 2 ½ hours into last week’s
meeting, unknowingly present- “We have 16 patients with
ed O’Bryan with an opening to COVID in-house this morn-
make his pitch for the job. ing. None in Critical Care,” said
Cleveland Clinic Indian River
After the commissioners vot- Hospital spokesperson Arlene Al-
ed to conduct a national search len-Mitchell on Friday.
for a new administrator, then
discussed the attributes they’ll That’s up from 10 the previous
seek from applicants for the job, week, and single-digit hospital-
O’Bryan brought up the need to izations in mid-October.
hire someone in the interim.
Statewide, the number of COVID
He asked whether the conver- infections rose 14 percent last
sation should be conducted at week. Still, all of the state except
that meeting or at a later date. the greater Tampa area remains in
the Low COVID Community Level
That’s when Adams quipped:
“Well, you’re retiring …” CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

Little did she expect O’Bryan LUXURY DEVELOPERS LOOK TO SOUTH (HUTCHINSON ISLAND)
to announce that he not only had
considered the interim adminis- Diamond Shores development. By Steven M. Thomas | Staff Writer luxury units to market are hitting in-
trator’s position, but that he al- [email protected] flection points this month down on
ready had discussed it with his ARTIST’S RENDERING “South Hutch,” with a groundbreaking
wife and the county’s human re- As waterfront land on Vero’s barri- at one and a land purchase closing at
sources director, Suzanne Boyll. er island gets harder to find, high-end the other.
brokers, builders and developers are
“I think everyone was sur- turning some of their attention to near- The projects are similar in several
prised that Peter was so prepared by South Hutchinson Island, which ex- ways – both have strong Vero connec-
to talk about it,” Adams said. “He tends from the Fort Pierce Inlet to Jen- tions and offer beautifully-designed
certainly has done his home- sen Beach. and built oceanfront homes. Both will
work.” be worth about $150 million at sellout
Two big new projects worth a com-
O’Bryan seized the opportu- bined $300 million that will bring 102 CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

INSIDE NEW DOC OFFERS VERO ARTIST FINDS
‘HEALTHCARE FOR JOY IN DESIGNING
NEWS 1-7 ARTS B1 ENTIRE FAMILY’
JEWELRY PIECES
HEALTH 8 GAMES B13 Your Health, Page 8
In Scene & Seen, P. B2
PETS B12 CALENDAR B16

REAL ESTATE 15

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2 November 10, 2022 VeroNews/Sebastian River News | LOCAL NEWS www.veronews.com

SOUTH HUTCHINSON ISLAND whose team at Compass is in charge of mar- one up north, or even full-time residents. “We were always aware of the property,”
keting and sales at Diamond Shores, a sin- There will be a small clubhouse for he said. “I called the owners a couple of
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 gle-family, direct oceanfront development years ago and found out it was available.”
located 23.5 miles south of Sexton Plaza. meetings and Reynolds said a day dock
at the current asking prices. and jet-ski launch are planned, so resi- Heaton bought the property for
Both also were designed by the same Plated for 43 beachfront homes with dents will have access to the river as well as $10,750,000 in June 2021, according to St.
pre-construction prices of $3.45 million, the ocean. But the project isn’t being built Lucie County records, and began meeting
architect, Randell Sofft, who’s well known Diamond Shores is being developed by or billed as a resort. Instead it is a place for with architects and land planners to figure
here for designing the Vero Beach Hotel Joe Rauenhorst, who was the primary de- quiet, luxurious oceanfront living midway out the best project for the site.
and Spa, the homes in Old Oak Lane, and veloper of the Strand beach cottages in between the attractions of Fort Pierce and
Indigo, one of the luxury developments Indian River Shores, and built by Phoenix Jensen Beach/Stuart. He decided on luxury residential with a
currently being built on Vero’s oceanfront Construction, which built the Strand and strong resort and rental component.
by Yane Zana and Coastmark Construction. Tarpon Flats. “Management costs and HOA fees will
be low,” said Reynolds. “There isn’t really anything like it on the
At the same time, the two projects are The three-story, 5,785-square-foot, Florida coast,” said Heaton. “We will have
distinctly different, with different devel- coastal contemporary residences, which Meanwhile, six miles south on A1A, all the water activities on the river and
opment, construction and sales teams and come with four bedrooms, five and half Ouanalao, where a gala groundbreak- ocean, with jet skis, paddle boards, eco-
different target demographics. baths and three-car garages, are intended ing took place last week, is all about re- tours, sea turtle nesting tours and horse-
for traditional snowbirds, who split their sort-style living. back riding on the beach. There will be a
“There isn’t much direct competition be- time between a residence in Florida and catamaran to take people out to a nearby
tween us for buyers,” said Scott Reynolds, Developed by The Heaton Companies, island with box lunches and for daily sun-
builders of Vero Beach Hotel and Spa, Old set cruises.
Oak Lane and Tarpon Flats, and sold by
Douglas Elliman, the project will include “There is a kids club and an event lawn
25 large, luxed-out oceanfront homes where we will show free movies every night.”
starting at $4.2 million and 34 cottages of-
fered for $1.5 million, preconstruction. The $1.5 million beach cottages will
have 1,332 square feet of air-conditioned
Renderings show a fabulous beach living space with two bedrooms, and two
club on the oceanfront with a glass back and a half bathrooms. The three-story
wall, spa, swimming pool, fine-dining beach houses will have 4,239 square feet of
restaurant, bar and beach food service, air-conditioned living space with another
and a second clubhouse with another re- 1,800 square feet of outdoor living space.
sort-style pool, restaurant, bar and 26-slip They come with private swimming pools,
dock on the slightly more casual river side elevators, media rooms, five bedrooms,
of the 15-acre property. and five and a half baths.

“The check at the river restaurant will Cottages and houses are sold fully fur-
be about half what it is at the oceanfront,” nished with a long list of high-end finish-
said project developer Lee Heaton, who es and fittings. They will be built by Kast
told Vero News that he had been eying the Construction, a Florida company that has
project site for years. built hundreds of major projects spanning

Serving mainland Indian River County VeroNews/Sebastian River News | LOCAL NEWS November 10, 2022 3

the spectrum of commercial real estate, not reservation deposits,” here no latter than Dec. 1, start construc-
including dozens of multifamily and hos- tion in January and deliver new homes 12
pitality developments. Heaton said. to 18 months after that,” said Sven Frisell,
the Reynolds team member in charge of
Heaton said his buyers will be purchas- The sales team is led sales at Diamond Shores. “We are seeing
ing “a second, third or fourth home.” interest from all over, especially Miami
by agents out of Elliman’s and the Northeast. So far, we have sold to
Whether they spend a few weeks or people from Chicago, Tampa and a local
many months in residence each year, Palm Beach office but El- from Hutchinson Island.”
owners will have access to a full suite of
luxury hotel amenities, with daily linen liman agents from Vero That timeframe puts Diamond Shores in
and housekeeping services upon request, sync with Ouanalao, where Heaton hopes
in-home, chef-prepared meals for parties, were prominent at the to complete his resort project by the end of
and in-home spa services. the first quarter in 2024.
party and the company’s
“You can have as little or as much of that “We have a lot to do,” he said, adding
as you want,” Heaton said. entire Florida operation that he is “confident of the market,” de-
spite widespread uncertainty about what
Buyers will automatically be signed up will be focused on the will happen with real estate between now
for the rental program, which will be run and completion.
by Mainsail, a management and develop- property.
ment company with close ties to Marriott. “Cash buyers are less affected by inter-
Sales opened at Dia- est rates, and so far all our buyers are cash,
“Mainsail has a strong focus on food at least on paper,” added Parker.
and beverage, which we wanted, and they mond Shores in August
bring a direct link to Marriott’s Bonvoy loy- Reynolds, too, likes his sales prospects,
alty rewards program, which has 150 mil- and Reynolds’ team has noting the ongoing lack of new-home in-
lion members,” Heaton said. ventory, Phoenix Construction’s reputa-
sold four homes so far, tion for building excellent homes, and an
More than 160 people attended the impressive array of standard high-end fea-
groundbreaking last Thursday, including Ouanalao development. without a model or pres- tures at Diamond Shores, including eleva-
more than two dozen agents and brokers ence at the site, in what tors, 12-foot ceilings, heated, ocean-view
from Vero Beach who hope to bring cli- ARTIST’S RENDERING has been a slow market. pools, white oak flooring, Sub-Zero and
ents to the closing table at Ouanalao (pro- Wolf appliances, quartz countertops and
nounced O-wana-loo). “We are very excited to be working with Reynolds plans to ramp up sales in owners’ suites with floor-to-ceiling ocean-
view windows.
“Ouanalao was the original name of St. the incredible development team at the coming weeks after final entitlements are
Barts, one of the most extraordinary is- Both developments are offering com-
lands in the hemisphere,” Jay Parker, CEO Heaton Companies and with Mainsail in place. missions to outside agents who bring buy-
of Douglas Elliman Florida, said at the ers. “We will pay a 3 percent commission,”
catered event at the project site in Jensen – which creates a great opportunity for The 23-acre Diamond Shores property Heaton said. 
Beach. “We will create that same lifestyle
and luxury here. buyers to generate income when they ar- was purchased for $7.5 million by WBC

en’t here in a way that is very unusual for a Collections LP in 2017.

product of this caliber. At some point Rauenhorst made a deal

“I’ve been to quite a number of ground- with WBC to prep and entitle the land for

breakings,” Parker added. “And they didn’t his residential development prior to clos-

feel like this, look like this, or sound like ing on the sale.

this one. I think it is pretty clear this proj- “We are just a couple of weeks away

ect is going to be something very special.” from closing and don’t see anything that

Ouanalao opened for sales in June and would interfere,” Reynolds said. “WBC has

was more than 20 percent sold out prior to the land prepared and pad ready, with util-

groundbreaking, according to the site plan ities stubbed in, so it will go fairly quickly

at Ouanalaoresort.com, with nine houses once we begin construction. We are just

and three cottages spoken for. waiting for the final entitlements.”

“We have hard contracts on all of those, “We plan to have a sales trailer open

4 November 10, 2022 VeroNews/Sebastian River News | LOCAL NEWS www.veronews.com

MY TAKE doesn’t fully understand what makes this
county special.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
The commissioners, though, created
nity to make his case for the job, citing quite a wish list of attributes, ranging from
the experience he gained during his four leadership, people skills, and tempera-
terms as commissioner, his institutional ment to experience in finance, budgeting,
knowledge of the county and its opera- managing community growth, technolo-
tions, and his relationships with depart- gy, engineering and infrastructure.
ment heads and their staffs.
That might be too much to ask for, es-
He also argued that having an interim pecially for an annual salary just north of
manager “who has no interest in the job $200,000 a year. Professionals with such
on a long-term basis” would enhance the vast expertise are most likely working
county’s search for a new administrator in the private sector for five times that
– because applicants would know they’re amount, or more.
not be competing against someone al-
ready doing the job and that the position So, either the commissioners lower
is truly open. their expectations or they extend the time
frame for their search.
O’Bryan closed by saying he would be
“honored” to be chosen for the interim Not that they should settle.
position. But they need to be realistic.
A national search is likely to produce
The other four commissioners seemed applicants who are on the way up – young-
to embrace the idea, with Laura Moss say- er professionals who will stay for five years
ing, “I love the surprise ending. It’s sur- and use the experience they gain here to
prising but not unwelcome.” move on to a better job – as well as old-
er candidates who are on the back nine of
Adams, who admitted she was “half- their careers and are looking for a place to
way joking” when she mentioned O’Bry- eventually retire.
an’s imminent retirement, said his offer Preferably, we’ll get something in be-
“sounds very enticing to me.” tween.
In the meantime, though, someone
In a phone conversation after the meet- needs to fill the void created by Brown’s
ing, Adams said she’d rather not give the departure to the Clerk of Court’s finance
interim job to a department head or staff office.
member because doing double-duty Baird might’ve been a possibility, but
could be overwhelming. he’s busy defending himself against a
criminal charge that he stalked his former
“They’d have to do their work as well girlfriend. Also, there are certainly depart-
as the administrator’s job, which is very ment heads working at the county offices
demanding, so I do have concerns about who could step in for a few months.
going in that direction,” Adams said. “Our Could O’Bryan do the job?
staff is already really busy with everything He believes he can.
we have going on. Adding extra duties Why does he want the job?
might not be the best way to go.” “My wife asked me the exact same
question,” O’Bryan said. “And my answer
O’Bryan, 65, did not seek a fifth term – is: I don’t really want to do it. But there’s a
former three-term sheriff Deryl Loar was need for me to do it – for someone to keep
elected to replace him on the commission the county going and still be able to attract
– and will preside over his last commis- great applicants.
sion meeting Tuesday. He is scheduled to “I think I’d do a good job.”
retire on Nov. 21, but he said he could re- As for O’Bryan applying for the job from
scind the date. the dais, County Attorney Dylan Reingold
said the commissioner did nothing illegal
Once out of office, O’Bryan said, he or in violation of county policy, nor would
would be legally eligible to take the ad- it be illegal for him to take the job after he
ministrator’s job, as long as he doesn’t leaves office.
withdraw any pension money from the And for those wondering: O’Bryan, who
Florida Retirement System. said serving as interim county admin-
istrator would not increase his pension,
Brown, 48, announced last month that claimed it would have been “negligent”
he planned to resign from his $211,000- for the commission chairman to not ask
plus position, effective Dec. 31. He has for a discussion about the position.
worked for the county for 25 years, mostly The commissioners were scheduled to
in the Office of Management and Budget. address the topic again Tuesday.
He has served as county administrator “I guess I opened a can of worms,” Ad-
since 2016, when he was promoted from ams said.
budget director to replace Joe Baird, who “As far as I knew, Peter was retiring, get-
retired. ting in an RV and heading to state parks
unknown. I was surprised to hear that he
The commission voted 4-1 earlier in the had already begun looking into it.
meeting to spend up to $35,000 to hire an “He brought up the interim position,
executive recruiting firm to mount a na- but, honestly, any one of us could’ve done
tional search for Brown’s successor. it,” she added.
“There’s no conspiracy.” 
Commissioner Joe Flescher, elected
this year to a fifth term, cast the lone op-
posing vote. He urged the commission to
interview and evaluate any in-house ap-
plicants before embarking on a national
search that could take up to six months
and produce an administrator who

Serving mainland Indian River County VeroNews/Sebastian River News | LOCAL NEWS November 10, 2022 5

BREEZE AIRWAYS said. “When I talk to him, his response is al- citement on their part,” he added. they don’t stack their flights on top of each
ways, ‘Everything is in place. We’re ready to Still, though, Scher said the airport contin- other,” Scher said. “We’ve never been in that
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 restart,’ and then nothing happens. So we’re situation before, but we’ll work with both
not sure where we stand with them. We’re liv- ues to get more phone calls from residents carriers.
Breeze announced last month that it will ing in the land of what if.” asking about Elite’s status.
offer daily non-stop flights to and from Hart- “We don’t know what Elite is going to do,”
ford, Conn.; and Thursday, Saturday and As for Pearsall’s planned announcement, “That’s probably because Breeze has been he added, “but our preparations for Breeze
Sunday non-stop service to and from West- Scher said, “We hear it’s going to happen, more transparent,” he said. “People don’t are on track for a February start.”
chester County. too, but we’ve been waiting for a while now.” know what’s happening with Elite.”
Breeze’s recent decision to temporarily
The airline also will provide one-stop In the meantime, Scher said, he and his If Elite does resume service here, Scher suspend service to some destinations next
Thursday, Saturday and Sunday service to staff are continuing with their preparations said that the airport staff and terminal can month –because of crew availability – will
Norfolk, Va., but passengers will not need to for Breeze’s arrival. The airline is scheduled handle both airlines, as long as the two carri- not impact the carrier’s plans for Vero Beach,
change aircraft. to begin service here on Feb. 15. ers don’t schedule flights too closely together. Edmondson-Jones said.

The airline is offering one-way fares as low Scher said he continues to talk to Breeze The airport’s single-lane Transportation He said news of the December flight can-
as $79 on flights to Westchester and Hartford. executives on a weekly basis to discuss the Security Administration checkpoint like- cellations was “blown out of proportion by
The lowest one-way ticket to Norfolk is $89. city’s preparations, especially security, as ly would get backed up if two flights were the media,” adding, “You never want to can-
well as marketing and signage. “Based on my scheduled to depart at anywhere near the cel flights, but it happens. It has no effect on
Edmondson-Jones said company policy conversations with them, there’s a lot of ex- same time. Vero.” 
prohibited him from providing actual tick-
et-sale numbers, which competitors could “We can do it, but we need to make sure
use to their benefit, but he claimed both the
Westchester and Hartford flights “appear to
be doing very well.”

Currently, Breeze’s lone competitor in the
Vero Beach market is Elite Airways, which
began offering non-stop jet service to New-
ark, N.J., in December 2015 and later added
flights intermittently to Portland, Me.; Ashe-
ville, N.C.; and Westchester.

Elite, however, hasn’t flown since June 30,
and Vero Beach Airport Director Todd Scher
said he doesn’t know when or if the boutique
airline will resume service – here or any-
where.

Scher said his most recent communi-
cations with Elite was prompted by the
“demand letter” he emailed to the airline’s
president, John Pearsall, requesting that the
company remove the inactive carrier’s com-
puter equipment from the terminal.

“He called me last week and left a voice
message,” Scher said.

“Apparently, he misinterpreted the de-
mand letter to mean we were done with
them and they couldn’t come back. So I sent
him an email and corrected him, explaining
that we want to do some modifications to
the building and don’t want to risk damaging
their property.”

Scher said he also “reiterated” to Pearsall
the steps Elite needed to take if the carrier
wants to resume service in Vero Beach.

The city has barred Elite from using the
airport’s passenger facilities until it pays
more than $6,600 in overdue fees and pro-
vides proof of insurance. Scher said the city
was notified in August that the carrier’s in-
surance had expired.

In addition, Scher said he has requested
from Pearsall “written notification on com-
pany letterhead” that Elite intends to return
to Vero Beach. As last week ended, Pearsall
hadn’t responded.

Reached by phone Friday afternoon,
Pearsall, who more than two months ago
said he would make a “major announcement
soon,” told Vero News he was not yet pre-
pared to provide an update on Elite’s status.

“We’re really close; within days,” Pearsall
said. “As soon as I have one, I’ll let you know.”

In a text exchange last month, Pearsall
wrote that he welcomed the competition
from Breeze.

“It’s certainly an odd situation,” Scher

6 November 10, 2022 VeroNews/Sebastian River News | LOCAL NEWS www.veronews.com

COUNTY AVOIDING SEVERE TEACHER SHORTAGE SEEN ELSEWHERE

By Samantha Rohlfing Baita | Staff Writer dents per class was set at 18 for the primary extended leave during the school year. nificantly higher than most other parts of
[email protected] grades of prekindergarten through grade “We’ve had more people resign in the last Florida?” he said.
three, 22 for grades four through eight and
While the narrative of a serious teacher 25 students for grades nine through 12. year and a half than in the previous seven,” Ironically, the School District of Indian
shortage captured headlines this fall na- one principal said. River County offers a salary schedule that is
tionally and in some parts of Florida, the The district’s 2022-23 budget documents one of the highest of the state’s 67 counties –
numbers suggest there is no critical lack of show the teacher-to-student ratio as 18.5 for With 14 years’ experience in the dis- $54,036.21 for the average teacher.
teachers in the public schools of Indian Riv- kindergarten to third grade, 22.5 for grades trict, another principal said the shortage
er County. four through eight, and 25.5 for grades nine of teachers in other parts of the country But Florida has long hovered near the
through 12. affords teachers greater choices, including bottom for teacher pay, trailed only by West
According to the Florida Department schools in states where average salaries ex- Virginia, South Dakota and Mississippi.
of Education, schools statewide had more While the district’s teacher-to-student ceed those of Florida.
than 5,000 unfilled teacher openings on the school averages technically fall near the As of press time, the district had 35 teach-
first day of school in August. edge of what’s acceptable to the state, Locally, fewer teachers are applying: ing and teacher assistant positions posted
teachers and principals in the trenches may “The pool is smaller and the candidates are on its employment website, plus numerous
But in Indian River County, the School still face individual classrooms that exceed (often) less qualified and less experienced. specialist, academic coaching and coun-
District’s Beth Crisafulli said “we had 16 the maximum number of students. Some come in brand new,” the other prin- seling positions open in the instructional
instructional vacancies, in no particular cipal said. category.
grade level or area of study,” at the start of Vero Beach High School social studies
fall classes. “This number is down from pre- teacher Ren Robb, a union representative, What can be done to improve the situ- Since Crisafulli’s position was created
COVID. We have made a concerted effort said “I hear from colleagues almost daily ation? Of Robb’s six listed suggestions, the three years ago, the district has ramped up
with our recruiting strategies to decrease lament their inability to serve all of their first three are the same: better pay, better its teacher recruitment strategies, and Cri-
vacancies,” said Crisafulli, a former Oslo students effectively. pay, better pay. safulli attends as many recruitment events
Middle School principal who is the School as she can. “With our benefits package,
District’s director of advocacy, school man- “Class size limit laws are being ignored, “The main reason (for a teacher short- SDIRC Wellness Center, Certification Reim-
agement and leadership. particularly for core classes,” Robb said. age) is Florida’s blatant disregard for teach- bursement Program, and Relocation Assis-
ers. Florida’s unwillingness to adequately tance Program, the WE PROMISE Recruit-
But despite the numbers, many local ed- Two current local principals, both speak- pay teachers a reasonable living wage/sala- ment Program has proven to assist us in the
ucators do see what they consider a teacher ing with Vero Beach 32963 on the condition ry means that teachers are unable to afford hiring of teachers,” she said.
shortage causing classroom overcrowding. of anonymity, said the problem is more a living commensurate with their education
complicated than the numbers would in- and professional status,” Robb said. Benefits include relocation assistance,
Florida voters in 2010 approved an dicate. support in reaching full certification, a
amendment to the Florida Constitution “Many teachers can’t feed their fami- certification reimbursement program, and
setting limits on the number of students Teachers must handle unexpected lies or afford safe housing. So, why would support in achieving ongoing classroom
in classes. The maximum number of stu- additions to their classes when a fellow anyone want to teach in Florida, or Indian success. 
teacher resigns, moves away or goes on River County where the cost of living is sig-

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Serving mainland Indian River County VeroNews/Sebastian River News | LOCAL NEWS November 10, 2022 7

County firefighters, paramedics to get 4 percent pay hike and up to 5 more days off

By Lisa Zahner | Staff Writer In fact, O’Connor thanked the commis- said the increase in “Kelly days” – additional mer firefighter and union president who re-
[email protected] sioners for addressing the union’s concerns. days off as part of firefighters’ shifts – were tired six years ago, said it was odd being on
among the union’s priorities. the management side of the table, but he
The county’s Fire Rescue Division em- “We’ve had multiple discussions over the was pleased with the outcome of the nego-
ployees will receive a 4 percent pay raise in years about retention issues,” O’Connor He said fire-rescue workers in the coun- tiations.
January and up to five additional days off said, “and I think this contract reflects that ties to the south get one Kelly day every three
annually as part of a new, three-year collec- and will provide a foundation for us to build weeks. Prior to the new agreement, firefight- “The bottom line is: We needed to take
tive bargaining agreement unanimously ap- as we grow as an organization.” ers here received only three Kelly days per care of our firefighters, take care of the re-
proved by the County Commission last week. year. They’ll now receive one Kelly day every tention issue and be competitive in the wage
County Emergency Services Director Da- six weeks. “It’s not what they’re getting in St. market, no matter what,” Earman said. “And
The contract, ratified by members of the vid Johnson, who replaced the now-retired Lucie, Martin, Palm Beach, Broward and Mi- we did that.”
Indian River County Firefighters/Paramed- Tad Stone in July, described the process as ami-Dade,” Brown said, “but it starts a tran-
ics Association last month, also revamped “one of the smoothest negotiations I’ve even sition to get us closer.” According to Brown, the total three-year
financial incentives to make them more uni- seen.” cost of the new agreement is estimated at
form for paramedics and created an addi- County Commissioner Joe Earman, a for- $11.3 million. 
tional rescue sergeant’s position. In addition to the wage increase, Brown

County Administrator Jason Brown said
the agreement should help the county “re-
cruit and retain” the best people to provide
fire rescue services.

“This is a good agreement for everyone in-
volved, a positive step forward for the county
and its firefighters and paramedics,” Brown
said. “We’ve made a big swing towards mak-
ing sure we’re competitive in the job market
and making this county a place where people
want to work and build their careers.”

The two sides tentatively agreed to terms
on Sept. 21 and finalized the contract’s lan-
guage on Oct. 1. The new agreement runs
through Sept. 30, 2025.

Both county officials and the fire-rescue
workers’ local union president, John O’Con-
nor, praised the way the negotiations were
conducted and expressed optimism about
future labor talks.

They said there was none of the acrimony
that so often marred previous negotiations.

NEW COVID CASES DOWN

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

category. Demand for COVID-19 vaccines re-
mains low, with only 63,000 people statewide
out of more than 21.78 million people opting
to get the jab last week – 56,546 of the shots
given being boosters.

Pfizer-BioNTech released some hopeful
data for older Americans Friday on its newly
formulated booster shot, based upon a study
of 900 healthy volunteers who had all re-
ceived their two-dose vaccine regimen plus
one booster.

Pfizer said the study showed its boost-
er designed to protect against the Omicron
sub-variants produced four times the anti-
body response in study subjects age 55 and
older than the original Pfizer COVID-19 vac-
cine. Pfizer submitted the data to the U.S.
Food and Drug Administration and said
it would continue to monitor how the up-
dated, Omicron-targeted booster performs
against multiple new strains of the virus now
circulating, which are still expected to con-
tribute to a winter surge in cases.

Right now the BQ.1 subvariant, which has
shown to be quite resistant to protective an-
tibodies, accounts for about 16.5 percent of
cases between Oct. 30 and Nov. 5. 

8 November 10, 2022 VeroNews/Sebastian River News | YOUR HEALTH www.veronews.com

New Vero doctor offers ‘healthcare for the entire family’

By Kerry Firth | Correspondent Dr. Andrea Kaupas.

Dr. Andrea Kaupas, owner of Coast 2 PHOTOS: JOSHUA KODIS
Coast Healthcare on Vero’s barrier island,
aspires to offer the kind of care many is-
land residents grew up with.

If you are over a certain age, you’ll most
likely remember the days when your fam-
ily doctor treated everyone in the family
and even made house calls when neces-
sary. Then we entered a time awash in a
sea of specialists when it became a chal-
lenge to figure out what doctor to see for
what ailment. But now there seems to be
a resurgence of old school doctors practic-
ing modern medicine for the whole family.

“My goal is to deliver better quality
healthcare for the entire family,” said Dr.
Kaupas, a board-certified family physician
who opened her island office on Beachland
Blvd this summer. “It seems that practicing
medicine has become so specialized that
there is very little time for the doctor and pa-
tient to establish a long-term relationship. I
pledge to spend more quality time with each
patient, addressing all the patient’s concerns
with every visit. As a board-certified family
practice physician with over 10 years’ expe-
rience, I’m very excited to offer primary care
to all ages. I focus on preventative, acute and

CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

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The patient and any other person responsible for payment has a right to refuse to pay, cancel payment, or be reimbursed for
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to the advertisement for the free, discounted fee, or reduced fee service, examination, or treatment.

1225 US HWY 1, VERO BEACH, FL 32960 JULIE A. CROMER, DDS



10 November 10, 2022 VeroNews/Sebastian River News | YOUR HEALTH www.veronews.com

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8 the physician is accountable to To keep medical costs as affordable as
possible, Dr. Kaupas offers discounts for
chronic care.” “The bulk of my practice the patient and not the insur- lab work and medication. She has negoti-
Coast 2 Coast Healthcare op- ance company. ated cash pricing with local labs and will
focuses on preventive “I found that being able to order medications at her cost and pass on
erates as a direct primary care practice medicine the way I the cost savings to her patients.
medical provider which im-
proves healthcare access with a care because the wanted to was not compati- While Coast 2 Coast Healthcare doesn’t
simple, affordable membership healthier you are the less ble with a corporate environ- have its own lab, it does have the technol-
fee that is based mainly on age, medical expense you’ll ment and I want to get back to ogy to do like urinalysis, rapid strep, RSV
with younger people paying a one-on-one relationships with and acute care testing. Swab cultures and
lower fee. incur in the long run.” my patients,” Dr. Kaupas ex- biopsies are collected at the office and sent
plained. “I also want to be able to an outside lab for diagnostics. When the
Under the arrangement, there to treat the whole family and results come back, Dr. Kaupas discusses
are no fee-for-service payments not just focus on the geriatric or the findings with her patient.
and no third-party billing. All of- pediatric population. And I try
fice visits are covered under the “The bulk of my practice focuses on pre-
membership fee. This model of – Dr. Andrea Kaupas to do everything I can to make ventive care because the healthier you are,
medical practice allows patients it affordable for everyone.” the less medical expense you’ll incur in
to have access to their physician the long run,” Dr. Kaupas elaborated. “Of
24 hours a day, 7 days a week and Dr. Kaupas has developed course, I see my share of unforeseen inju-
ries, such as a child who falls and cuts his
a sliding scale fee structure head. I can stitch him up right here in the
office without having to subject his family
based on age. For children to the inconvenience and expense of visit-
ing the emergency room.”
newborn to 18, the fee is $50 per month;
If an injury or ailment is severe enough
for 19-to 39-year-olds, it’s $125 per month; to land you in the hospital, Dr. Kaupas can
consult with and specialists and help co-
for ages 40-64, it’s $175 per month; and ordinate your care. Helping her patients
navigate the ins and outs of hospital care
for those over 65, it’s $250 per month. She is paramount to her. “As their primary
care doctor, I know my patient better than
also offers discounts for families of four or their attending specialists. Sometimes it’s
confusing for the patient to understand
more and limits her membership so she the procedures or medications being pre-
scribed and just trusting me to help them
can spend as much time as necessary with comprehend is comforting to them.”

each patient. Sports, school and even DOT physicals
are included in the membership plan, but
“Generally speaking, a geriatric patient Coast 2 Coast will provide those services
for a small flat fee to nonmembers as well.
will require more attention than a child,
Dr. Kaupas completed her medical edu-
so I wanted to structure the fee to reflect cation at Kansas City of Medicine and Bio-
sciences and her internship and residency
the amount of time I will be devoting to with Pontiac Osteopathic Hospital. She
joined a family practice group in Traverse
that patient,” Dr. Kaupas said. “I try to do City, Michigan, where she was a partner in
the practice for 10 years. She and her family
as much in the office as possible to avoid moved to Florida to open her own practice
– Coast 2 Coast Healthcare. She is now ac-
having to go to a specialist. cepting new members at her office located at
660 Beachland Blvd., Suite 202, Vero Beach.
“Having worked in urgent care I am pro- Call 772-268-9800 for a free consultation to
see if her plan is right for you. 
ficient at laceration repair, minor dermato-

logic procedures like skin lesion excision/

biopsy, cryotherapy, abscess drainage, cyst

excisions, EKGs, casting and splinting, ear

wax removal, colposcopy, joint aspiration

and injections and more. Those are done

for my members at no extra costs.”

Coast 2 Coast Healthcare offers yearly

skin mapping with computer technology

for members as well. This advanced tech-

nology is highly effective for skin cancer

detection as it takes a yearly photo cover-

ing 90 percent of the body and documents

where the moles and suspicious spots are

found. Then the following year a compar-

ison can be made utilizing the comput-

er-generated photo in addition to a visual

exam, allowing the doctor to see changes

in size, shape and color of the moles.

Serving mainland Indian River County VeroNews/Sebastian River News | YOUR HEALTH November 10, 2022 11

Haven’t seen your doctor in a while? You might be dropped

By Michelle Andrews
The Washington Post

When Claudia Siegel got a stomach bug ence is, no one can say. But specialists also many primary care doctors have a wait- “Most primary care practices are in-
this year, she contacted her primary care do this. ing list of prospective patients, removing credibly busy, in part due to pent-up de-
physician to get something to relieve her those they rarely see opens up patient slots mand due to covid,” said Russell Phillips,
diarrhea. The Philadelphia resident was The argument for dropping the occa- and improves access for others.
surprised when she received an online sional patient makes some sense. Since CONTINUED ON PAGE 12
message informing her that because she
hadn’t visited her physician in more than
three years, she was no longer a patient.

And since he wasn’t accepting new pa-
tients, she would have to find a new prima-
ry care physician.

“I think it’s unconscionable,” Siegel
said, noting that many patients may have
stayed away from the doctor’s office the
past few years because of the pandemic.
“There was no notification to patients that
they’re on the verge of losing their doctor.”

As the open enrollment period – when
people can sign up for health insurance –
begins, people should check whether they
are still patients of their physicians, ex-
perts say.

It is dismaying to learn you’ve been
dropped from a physician’s practice be-
cause a few years have passed since your
last visit, but the approach isn’t uncom-
mon. Exactly how widespread the experi-

12 November 10, 2022 VeroNews/Sebastian River News | YOUR HEALTH www.veronews.com

Old Fashioned Medical Care CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11 taining a panel of patients, said AMA
spokesman Robert Mills.
on the Treasure Coast the director of Harvard Medical School’s
Center for Primary Care and a general in- The American Academy of Family Phy-
DPeirrescotnPalriizmedarTyoCucahre ternist at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical sicians, which represents and advocates
Center. for family physicians, declined to com-
Helping Patients and Families Achieve ment for this story.
Optimal Health and Wellness “Even though continuity of care is im-
portant, if the patient hasn’t been in and A primary care physician’s panel of pa-
Bruce Murray, M.D. Sandy Potter, R.N. we don’t know if they’re going to come in, tients typically includes those who have
Board Certified With 45 Years it’s hard to leave space for them,” he said. been seen in the past two years, said Phil-
of Caring lips, of Harvard. Physicians may have 2,000
“Country Doctor at Heart” Patients often move away or find a dif- or more patients, studies show. Maintain-
ferent physician when their insurance ing a workable number of patients is cru-
We Still Have Space Available. changes, without notifying the practice, cial, both for effective patient care and for
Call us to schedule a visit! experts say. In addition, physicians may the physicians.
We would love to meet you. seek to classify people they haven’t seen
in a long time as new patients since their Demand for physician services is ex-
The Doctor is Always in! medical, family, and social history may pected to continue to outstrip supply in
require a time-consuming update after the coming decades, as people age and
772-226-6461 MurrayMedicine.com a lengthy break. Patient status is one ele- need more care at the same time the
Murray Concierge Medicine ment that determines how much physi- number of retiring physicians is on the
920 37th Place, Suite 103 cians are paid. upswing. According to projections from
Vero Beach, FL 32960 the Association of American Medical Col-
Still, the transition can be trying for pa- leges, by 2034, there will be a shortage of
tients. up to 48,000 primary care physicians.

“I can completely understand the pa- Maintaining a regular relationship with
tient’s perspective,” said Courtney Jones, a primary care provider can help people
a senior director of case management at manage chronic conditions and prompt-
the Patient Advocate Foundation. “You be- ly identify new issues. Regularly checking
lieve you have a medical team that you’ve in also helps ensure people receive im-
trusted previously to help you make deci- portant routine services such as immu-
sions, and now you have to find another nizations and blood pressure checks, said
trusted team.” David Blumenthal, a former primary care
physician who is the president of the Com-
Siegel said she rarely went to the doctor, monwealth Fund, a research and policy
adhering to her physician father’s counsel organization.
that people shouldn’t go unless they’re
sick. She hadn’t been to her doctor’s of- Healthcare organizations increasing-
fice in person recently, but Siegel said she ly focus on requiring physicians to meet
had corresponded with the practice staff, certain quality metrics such as managing
including keeping them up to date on her patients’ high blood pressure or providing
coronavirus vaccination status. comprehensive diabetes care. In this envi-
ronment, “it could be problematic for phy-
After receiving the online dismissal sicians to be accountable for the health of
through the patient portal for the Jeffer- patients who do not see them,” Blumen-
son Health system, Siegel called the fami- thal said.
ly medicine practice’s patient line directly.
They told her that three years was the pro- Money also figures into it. Steady visits
tocol and that they had to follow it. are good for a practice’s bottom line.

“I asked, ‘What about the patient?’” Siegel In general, doctors are not obligated
said. “They didn’t have an answer for that.” to continue seeing particular patients. A
doctor might dismiss patients because
It was a month before Siegel, who has they aren’t following clinical recommen-
coverage under Medicare’s traditional fee- dations or routinely cancel or miss ap-
for-service program, could see a physician pointments. Belligerent or abusive behav-
who was accepting new patients. By that ior is also grounds for dropping a patient.
time, her stomach virus symptoms had
resolved. In certain instances, physicians may be
legally liable for “patient abandonment,”
Jefferson Health does not have a policy a form of medical malpractice. State rules
that patients lose their physician if they’re vary, but there are common elements.
not seen regularly, according to a state- Those rules apply when a doctor harms
ment from spokesman Damien Woods. a patient by dropping them abruptly at a
critical stage of treatment. It would gener-
He said, however, “patients not seen by ally not apply if a patient has not seen the
their provider for three years or more are physician for several years.
classified in the electronic medical re-
cords as new patients (rather than estab- Even though quietly dropping a sel-
lished patients), per Center for Medicare dom-seen patient might not have an im-
and Medicaid Services (CMS) guidance. mediate medical consequence, patients
Whenever possible, Jefferson works with ought to be informed, experts said.
these patients to keep them with their pri-
mary care provider and offers options for “It’s really good customer service to ex-
new providers in certain circumstances.” plain the situation,” said Rick Gundling,
a senior vice president at the Healthcare
American Medical Association ethics Financial Management Association, an
guidelines recommend that physicians organization for finance professionals. As
notify patients in advance when they’re for Siegel, he said, “this woman should not
withdrawing from their cases so the pa- be left hanging. If you’re the patient, the
tients have time to find other physicians. physician should be proactive.” 

But the organization, which represents
physicians, has no guidance about main-

Serving mainland Indian River County VeroNews/Sebastian River News | YOUR HEALTH November 10, 2022 13

Research suggests 1 in 10 older adults in U.S. has dementia

By Erin Blakemore to dementia.
The Washington Post Although the rates were about even for

One in 10 U.S. adults over 65 has demen- men and women, they skewed higher with
tia, a study suggests, while 1 in 5 has cog- age; while 3 percent of people in their 60s
nitive difficulties. had dementia, that figure rose to 35 per-
cent for people in their 90s.
Published Oct. 24 in JAMA Neurology,
the research updates 20-year-old estimates The dementia rate was higher for old-
of the number of older Americans with de- er adults who identify as Black or African
mentia and mild cognitive impairment. American than for their counterparts.
While 15 percent of older Black people
The research relied on data from the have dementia, only 11 percent of older
Health and Retirement Study, which studies White adults and 10 percent of older His-
aging in a nationally representative group of panic people do. Older Hispanic adults
older adults. Between 2001 and 2003, a small were more likely to have mild cognitive
subset of that group had neuropsychiatric impairment than their counterparts.
testing, but the national estimates that re-
sulted haven’t been updated since. Dementia varied by education level, too:
13 percent of people with no high school
For the current study, researchers looked diploma had dementia, dropping to 9 per-
at 2016-2017 test results from 3,500 study cent for those who finished high school or
participants 65 and older. The battery of attended college.
tests measured their memory, attention,
comprehension and such factors as wheth- Marginalized groups are underrepre-
er they were able to live independently and sented in studies of cognitive impairment,
how their abilities had changed over the lead author Jennifer J. Manly, a professor
previous decade. of neuropsychology and neurology at Co-
lumbia University, says in a news release.
The results suggest that 10 percent of Older adults who don’t identify as White
U.S. adults 65 and older have dementia, “have been historically excluded from de-
while 22 percent have mild cognitive im- mentia research but are at higher risk of
pairment, in which memory and other developing cognitive impairment because
functions deteriorate. The latter condition of income inequality.” 
is thought to occur during the transition

14 November 10, 2022 VeroNews/Sebastian River News | HEALTHY SENIOR

Tips to better communicate with hard-of-hearing spouse

By Fred Cicetti by changes in the inner ear, auditory nerve, wife. It’s important to explain that a hear-
middle ear, or outer ear. Some of its causes ing aid will not restore normal hearing.
Q. My wife just turned 70 and her hear- are the aging process, loud noise, heredity, With practice, however, a hearing aid will
ing isn’t what it used to be. Do you have any head injury, infection, illness, certain pre- increase awareness of sounds and what
suggestions to improve my communication scription drugs, and circulation problems made them.
with her? such as high blood pressure.
A hearing aid magnifies sound vibra-
A. About one in three Americans over Tinnitus, also common in older people, tions. Larger vibrations are converted into
60 suffers from loss of hearing, which can is the ringing, hissing, or roaring sound in signals that are sent to the brain.
range from the inability to hear certain the ears frequently caused by exposure to
voices to deafness. loud noise or certain medicines. Tinnitus There are limits to the amplification a
is a symptom that can come with any type hearing aid can provide. In addition, if the
Presbycusis, one form of hearing loss, of hearing loss. inner ear is too damaged, even large vibra-
occurs with age. Presbycusis can be caused tions will not be converted into signals.
Most likely, hearing aids can help your
If your wife’s hearing is a problem, she

should get it checked by her personal phy-
sician. If her hearing is diminished, the
doctor will probably refer her to an otolar-
yngologist or audiologist.

An otolaryngologist is a physician who
specializes in treating the ear, nose, and
throat. An audiologist is a health profes-
sional who conducts hearing tests to de-
fine your loss. Many otolaryngologists
have audiologist associates in their offices.

Meanwhile, here are some tips that can
help you get your words across to your
wife:

• Be patient.
• Avoid background noise when con-
versing with your wife.
• Enunciate well without distorting your
speech.
• Make sure she can see your face before
speaking.
• Be expressive. Hand gestures and fa-
cial expressions are clues to what you’re
saying.
• When talking, try to position yourself
four to 6 feet from her.
• Ask your wife to repeat what you’ve
said to make sure you’re communicating
accurately.
• Speak at a normal tempo. Not too fast;
not too slowly.
• Speak more loudly, but don’t shout.
Shouting distorts your words.
• Don’t mumble.
• Make sure you don’t drop the volume
of your voice at the end of a sentence.
• If you are misunderstood, try rephras-
ing what you said.
• Avoid chewing or covering your
mouth. 

Miraflores home opens door
to gracious suburban living

366 33rd Ave. SW in Miraflores: 4-bedroom, 3-bath, 3,170-square-foot home offered for $895,000 by AMAC Alex MacWilliam agent Rick Wykoff: 772-321-6462

16 November 10, 2022 VeroNews/Sebastian River News | REAL ESTATE www.veronews.com

Miraflores home opens door to gracious suburban living

By Samantha Rohlfing Baita | Staff Writer
[email protected]

You rarely find a home on the market
in Miraflores, an enchanting, wooded
neighborhood where roads wind through
gnarled oaks, and beautifully maintained
homes sit upon spacious, well-tended lots.

The classic suburban home at 366 33rd
Ave., set in the midst of its sprawling lawn
near the end of an oak-canopied street,
is available for purchase now, but likely
won’t last long.

Built in 1979, during the golden age of
big upscale ranch houses, extensively re-

modeled in 2006, this meticulously main- fenced and has shaded areas for sitting. type of architecture, lending both solidity dining room, and contains a wine cooler,
tained, one-owner dwelling is a true gem, On the living room side of the foyer wall and romance to the street view of the house. a wealth of drawer storage and plenty of
with gorgeous oak flooring, sleek and styl- room for lunch bar, work area and grand
ish appointments, white crown molding is the room’s cozy focal point, a wood/gas Left from the living room is an informal buffet set-up. It is easy to imagine making
and years of TLC infused into its ambiance. burning black-framed fireplace, with raised dining area that is open to the spacious Christmas cookies on the broad granite
hearth, and lovely white wood mantel and kitchen. This casual space receives natural countertop.
The entrance drive leads to the three- surround, featuring elegant crown molding. light via wide, east-facing windows.
car garage and in-law suite behind the The dark oak flooring presents a perfect
house. A paved walkway curves from the The rectangular chimney that rises The kitchen is a cook’s dream, beckon- contrast to the white custom cabinetry,
driveway to the covered west-facing entry through the metal-clad roof is one of the ing the PBJ-inclined to culinary adven- which includes open and glass-front dis-
porch, recessed between the symmetrical characteristic architectural features of this ture. A long island separates kitchen from play shelving, undercounter lighting and
north and south wings. You enter through lots more storage.
a white front door flanked by sidelights,
both with elegant, leaded glass panels. KitchenAid appliances are dishwasher,
side-by-side water dispenser fridge, large
The beautiful oak flooring starts in the built-in double oven, built-in microwave
foyer and flows throughout the home’s pub- and six-burner gas cooktop. And check
lic spaces, into the living room, dining room out this clever feature – above the cooktop
and kitchen. At the far end of the living are a pair of cabinet “doors” which, when
room is a glass slider wall that faces east and raised, expose the exhaust vent and light.
opens to the expansive pool patio, which is You’ll also find two sinks, the second one
in a counter next to the fridge, with cabi-
netry and open shelving above and below,
making it suitable to serve as a wet bar.

Off the kitchen is the pantry/laundry
room, with washer, dryer, deep sink and,
on the opposite wall, lots of pantry shelv-
ing. There’s also a pulldown ironing board!

Left from the foyer, a large space in the
front northwest corner contains the for-
mal living room and dining room, the lat-
ter space with kitchen access. Windows to
the west and north provide ample ambient
light and a charming, wooded, neighbor-
hood view.

Further down, the hallway opens into a

Serving mainland Indian River County VeroNews/Sebastian River News | REAL ESTAT E November 10, 2022 17

narrow “mud room” space where there is and three ceiling fans. wheelchair accessible and has two large close to downtown Vero Beach’s dining
a door to the pool and patio. Here there’s With sliders open to the lanai, and the storage closets as well as wall space for ad- and art gallery scene and only a short drive
also a handicap-accessible in-law suite – a ditional storage. There is also a sub-panel away from the Indian River Lagoon and
large, pleasant room with space for bed- wonderful open interior spaces, you’ll wired for a portable generator. Vero’s charming seaside village, with its
room and living area, containing three have endless party and family gathering famous beaches, boutiques, fine restau-
windows, two ceiling fans, and two roomy, options: inside, outside, good weather or Miraflores is located within minutes rants, pubs, resorts, live theater, museum,
double bi-fold closets. not so, year-round. of shopping, entertainment, restaurants, park, marina and dog park. 
pubs, medical offices and schools. It is
The primary suite and additional two The three-door, three-bay garage is
guest bedrooms occupy the home’s south
side. The wonderfully spacious, planta-
tion-shuttered primary can easily accom-
modate a king-sized bed. There is a great
first-thing-in-the-morning view of your
pool, the old Chicago brick-paved lanai
and woodsy neighborhood, as well as lanai
access through wide sliders. There’s plenty
of room for a bureau, dresser and an un-
crowded seating.

The side-by-side guest bedrooms,
which share a bathroom with tub/shower,
offer ceiling fans, large double-bifold clos-
ets and plantation shutters.

The white-columned lanai extends
north/south along the length of the home,
then west/east along the garage, embrac-
ing the freeform pool and smooth white
deck. Here there is a beautiful built-in BBQ

366 33RD AVE. SW

Neighborhood: Miraflores
Year built: 1979
Construction: CBS

Lot size: 1 acre; 144’ X 303’
Home size: 3,170 square feet

Bedrooms: 4
Bathrooms: 3
Additional features: Central
heat/air, 3-car garage; metal
roof; rain gutters; gas stove;
French doors; sliders; attic
with pull-down stairs; crown
molding throughout; island
kitchen; pantry; walk-in clos-
ets; fireplace; oak flooring;
split bedroom plan; shed;
electric heated pool; built-in
BBQ; irrigation sprinkler; cov-
ered porch; patio; no HOA;
septic tank; public water
Listing agency: AMAC
Alex MacWilliam Real Estate
Listing agent: Rick Wykoff,
772-321-6462
Listing price: $895,000

18 November 10, 2022 VeroNews/Sebastian River News | REAL ESTATE www.veronews.com

MAINLAND REAL ESTATE SALES: OCT. 31 THROUGH NOV. 1

TOP SALES OF THE WEEK

A solid but unspectacular week for mainland real estate sales saw 37 transactions of single-family
residences and lots reported (some shown below).
The top sale of the week was in Vero Beach, where the 3-bedroom, 3-bathroom home at 5545 E
Harbor Village Dr. – listed in September for $1,050,000 – sold for $1,250,000 on Oct. 31.
Representing the seller in the transaction was agent Diane Marie De Francisci of Alex MacWilliam,
Inc. Representing the buyer was agent Martin Carder of Alex MacWilliam, Inc.

SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENCES AND LOTS

ORIGINAL SELLING
PRICE
TOWN ADDRESS LISTED ASKING PRICE SOLD
$1,250,000
VERO BEACH 5545 E HARBOR VILLAGE DR 9/27/2022 $1,050,000 10/31/2022 $599,900
VERO BEACH 6176 COVERTY PL 5/24/2022 $605,000 10/31/2022 $580,000
VERO BEACH 6254 ARCADIA SQ 8/1/2022 $575,000 10/31/2022 $559,000
VERO BEACH 3104 ASHFORD SQ 9/9/2022 $559,900 10/31/2022 $488,000
VERO BEACH 4348 BEAUTY LEAF CIR 8/30/2022 $510,000 10/31/2022 $475,000
SEBASTIAN 1623 INDIAN RIVER DRIVE UNIT #304 6/30/2022 $499,000 10/31/2022 $471,500
VERO BEACH 901 22ND PL 10/3/2022 $479,000 11/1/2022 $455,000
VERO BEACH 1738 BERKSHIRE CIR SW 9/23/2022 $465,000 10/31/2022 $450,000
VERO BEACH 6045 SEQUOIA CIR 7/21/2022 $525,000 11/1/2022 $435,000
VERO BEACH 818 41ST CT 10/3/2022 $495,000 11/1/2022 $430,000
VERO BEACH 9335 104TH AVE 9/29/2022 $450,000 11/3/2022 $428,000
VERO BEACH 4136 56TH LN 9/11/2022 $439,900 10/31/2022 $408,000
SEBASTIAN 558 BELFAST TER 9/1/2022 $425,000 11/2/2022 $390,000
VERO BEACH 739 24TH SQ 6/17/2022 $450,000 11/1/2022 $390,000
VERO BEACH 4103 KEESON CIR 8/9/2022 $459,990 10/31/2022 $385,000
SEBASTIAN 402 PONOKA ST 9/24/2022 $398,000 10/31/2022 $384,000
VERO BEACH 3340 ROCKPORT ST SW 6/1/2022 $424,900 11/3/2022 $380,000
SEBASTIAN 1351 LACONIA ST 6/11/2022 $394,150 11/4/2022 $375,000
VERO BEACH 2340 WATER OAK CT SW UNIT #221 8/8/2022 $415,000 10/31/2022 $344,000
VERO BEACH 3159 ANTHEM WAY 9/7/2022 $350,000 11/1/2022 $317,900
SEBASTIAN 1021 BARBER ST 2/26/2022 $334,900 10/31/2022 $310,000
VERO BEACH 3678 2ND PL SW 4/19/2022 $359,900 11/3/2022 $307,000
VERO BEACH 470 9TH PL 8/23/2022 $315,000 10/31/2022 $300,000
VERO BEACH 2616 15TH ST 9/21/2022 $339,000 11/3/2022 $290,000
VERO BEACH 215 22ND AVE 8/1/2022 $319,000 11/4/2022 $284,900
VERO BEACH 335 HAWTHORNE LN 8/23/2022 $309,900 11/4/2022 $282,500
VERO BEACH 5040 HARMONY CIR UNIT #202 7/6/2022 $325,000 10/31/2022 $275,000
VERO BEACH 3752 20TH PL 10/7/2022 $275,000 10/31/2022

Serving mainland Indian River County VeroNews/Sebastian River News | REAL ESTAT E November 10, 2022 19

HERE ARE SOME OF THE TOP RECENT INDIAN RIVER COUNTY REAL ESTATE SALES.

6176 Coverty Pl, Vero Beach 6254 Arcadia Sq, Vero Beach

Listing Date: 5/24/2022 Listing Date: 8/1/2022
Original Price: $605,000 Original Price: $575,000
Sold: 10/31/2022 Sold: 10/31/2022
Selling Price: $599,900 Selling Price: $580,000
Listing Agent: Monette Lesme Listing Agent: Jim Fisher

Selling Agent: ML Executive Realty Inc Selling Agent: Keller Williams Realty

NOT PROVIDED Megan Raasveldt

NOT PROVIDED Dale Sorensen Real Estate Inc.

3104 Ashford Sq, Vero Beach 4348 Beauty Leaf Cir, Vero Beach

Listing Date: 9/9/2022 Listing Date: 8/30/2022
Original Price: $559,900 Original Price: $510,000
Sold: 10/31/2022 Sold: 10/31/2022
Selling Price: $559,000 Selling Price: $488,000
Listing Agent: Rebecca Durando Listing Agent: Nelva Sperry

Selling Agent: RE/MAX Crown Realty Selling Agent: Florida Homes Realty & Mort

Ken Bradley Craig Parham

Florida HomeTown Realty Inc. Berkshire Hathaway Florida

20 November 10, 2022 VeroNews/Sebastian River News | REAL ESTATE www.veronews.com

Amid housing market woes, Opendoor vows ‘second act’

By Patrick Clark | Bloomberg the properties after making light repairs in what the company has characterized door Exclusives, has been in the works
– charging customers for simplifying a as an investment in brand reputation. It for years, and is well-suited to a period of
Opendoor Technologies Inc., the notoriously complex process. doesn’t include service fees, revenue from economic uncertainty.
next-generation home flipper that got ancillary services or selling costs.
stung earlier this year when prices fell, is The model worked well for much of the The company will still buy homes di-
turning to a new business model to speed pandemic, with record-high price appre- Opendoor has said it expects to report rectly from consumers. But in its new
growth and limit risk in a choppy U.S. ciation boosting the company to its first as much as $175 million in adjusted loss- marketplace, it will also give customers
property market. profitable quarter early this year. When es before interest, taxes, depreciation the option of listing their properties on
soaring mortgage rates froze demand for and amortization for the three months Opendoor’s website. The idea is to help
The company is launching an online homes, Opendoor was caught holding through September. The company is like- owners maximize proceeds by letting
platform to connect buyers and sellers properties that were worth less than the ly to acquire homes at a slower pace in the them choose between offers from Open-
outside traditional listing services, a move company paid to acquire them. months to come as its takes a more cau- door as well as from regular shoppers and
intended to improve the house-buying tious approach to valuing properties. institutional landlords, who may be will-
experience and let the company generate Roughly 44 percent of Opendoor’s re- ing to pay higher prices.
fees without putting its own capital at risk. sales in the third quarter were for less “More consumers are going to say, ‘I’m
than the company’s purchase price, ac- not selling to you, it’s a bad deal,’” said Sellers pay Opendoor a fee regard-
Opendoor announced the service in a cording to a Bloomberg analysis of public Jason Helfstein, an analyst at Oppen- less of which offer they choose, and Wu
blog post last Thursday, a day after it said it’s records compiled by Attom Data Solu- heimer. “It’s going to go into the next pe- is aiming for the new service to account
laying off 18 percent of its staff and ahead tions. That figure is partly the result of a riod with less demand.” for more than 30 percent of transactions
of reporting third-quarter results that are decision to follow through on contracts by the end of next year. To get there,
expected to show losses. The shares closed Wu said the new service, called Open- Opendoor will have to convince buyers
at $2.29 last Wednesday, down 85 percent to show up. Wu is betting that shoppers
from the beginning of the year. will come for access to listings they can’t
see anywhere else, and the promise of an
“When the market changes, we need to “e-commerce-like” experience that’s free
adapt our product to best service our cus- from bidding wars.
tomers,” Opendoor Chief Executive Offi-
cer Eric Wu said in an interview. “This is It won’t be easy. For more than 100
our second act, and we can be really am- years, U.S. home sales have been orga-
bitious and bold with it.” nized around the multiple listing service,
a system that benefits sellers by casting a
The 9-year-old company pioneered a wide net for buyers and forcing them to
business known as iBuying, using its data bid against each other. 
chops and financial muscle to buy homes
directly from their owners, then resell

Serving mainland Indian River County VeroNews/Sebastian River News | YOUR HEALTH November 10, 2022 B1

HEALTHCARE FOR 8 B6 B12SPARKLING SUPPORT:
THE ENTIRE FAMILY ‘PINK IN PARADISE’
KIKO & LILLY BELLE :
TWO ADOPTEES

Coming Up ‘PIECES’ AND LOVE

AS HOLIDAY SEASON VERO ARTIST FINDS JOY IN DESIGNING JEWELRY PAGE B2
NEARS, TIME TO HOP
(AND SHOP) TO IT!

By Pam Harbaugh | Correspondent

You may not be ready for this, but
the holidays are quickly approach-
ing. So get your happy hat on and
start your shopping.

1 You can find some great
deals at the Garden Club
of Indian River County, which
has its big yard sale 7:30 a.m. to 2
p.m. Saturday, Nov. 12. “It is jam-
packed with tables and stuff,”
said the club’s treasurer, Karen
Vatland. “They’re beating down
the doors at 7:30. It’s crowded.”
Vatland said people love scoring
great deals on plants, holiday dec-
orations, household goods, purses,
jewelry, books, children’s toys and
games, almost everything except
“the kitchen sink, and clothes. We
don’t accept clothing.” The items
come from the members, some of
whom are getting ready to move or
to simplify their households. They
are all gardeners so there’s usually
quite a bit of plant and pots. “It’s
the yearly cleansing of our cup-
boards,” Vatland said. Club mem-
bers try to have everything priced
ahead of time, but sometimes the
cashiers have to offer up a price,
so even if you are hunting for that
bargain, lighten up, have fun and
go with the flow. Most of the Yard
Sale takes place inside the club
quarters. The plants, though, will
be on the club’s patio. After the
yard sale, members pack every-
thing up and donate it to chari-
ties. “When you come to a yard
sale, what do you want?” Vatland
said. “Great bargains. And all the
stuff is at a great bargain because
we want to sell it. But we don’t
sell coffee. Bring your own if you
need it.” The Garden Club of IRC

CONTINUED ON PAGE B5

B2 November 10, 2022 VeroNews/Sebastian River News | ARTS & THEATRE www.veronews.com

‘Pieces’ and love: Vero artist finds joy in designing jewelry

BY DEBBIE TIMMERMANN | CORRESPONDENT Deborah Polackwich. art, and later studied at Bennington Col-
lege in Vermont, and at the Arrowmont
For the past 20 years, Deborah Morrell PHOTOS: JOSHUA KODIS School of Arts and Crafts in Tennessee,
Polackwich has been creating one of the a national center of contemporary arts
world’s oldest art forms, one that is said and crafts.
to predate even cave paintings – jewelry.
Polackwich makes her jewelry using
Originally from Maine, Polackwich a vast array of items, including beads
moved to Vero Beach 43 years ago with from all over the world that come in var-
husband Alan, an attorney, and their ious shapes, colors and sizes. Her pieces
children after he accepted a position are often highlighted with an especial-
here and, she says, “we wanted to get ly striking pendant, that she fashions
away from the cold.” into the strands with bead embroidery,
sometimes backing them with hand-
In Vero, Polackwich divides her time sewn suede.
between her home-based studio and
Gallery 14; she is a founding co-owner of The pendants are one-of-a-kind ob-
the gallery, which opened 15 years ago. jects, such as natural stones, unusual
The couple still has a house on a small is- beads and even a fossilized oyster, that
land in Maine that has been in the fami- she picks up here and there. She holds
ly for generations, and which they are in them aside until inspiration pulls them
the process of renovating. from the drawer, and a unique and ex-
quisite necklace takes shape in her ex-
Polackwich says her interest in bead pert hands.
and jewelry work started when she
worked on crafts with her children, and The pendants are often flat-bottomed,
she eventually began taking classes in opaque gemstones, called cabochons,
jewelry making. that have been shaped and polished, as
opposed to faceted. The resulting form
Polackwich graduated from Colby is typically a convex obverse (dome
College in Maine, where she majored in

Serving mainland Indian River County VeroNews/Sebastian River News | ARTS & THEATRE November 10, 2022 B3

shaped) with a flat reverse. Some of the anywhere from one to eight. with new ideas and techniques. presence, Polackwich says she prefers
shells she employs are clear, which can Each piece of jewelry is as differ- “I find most of the beads in West Palm buying in person, striving to choose the
give the interesting effect of space with- best colors and varieties. She says that
in the necklace. ent as the beads themselves, which Beach or in Maine, but I used to get them the cords, threads, silver, stones and
can be made of anything from glass in Milwaukee,” says Polackwich, not- beads can all add up, as can the tools
Polackwich explains that rather than or ceramics to natural stones. And, ing that her favorite West Palm store is needed to create the intricate pieces.
plan what to create
with the materi- to the delight of her cli- Beads Gone Wild, and in Maine “The expense in this craft is in the
als at hand, “it just ents, she is always it’s Caravan. tools,” she says. “I do this be-
evolves.” experimenting While both have cause I love it, not to make
an online money.”
As a sea- Indeed, given the qual-
soned de- ity of workmanship
signer with a and unique
creative mind, designs each
Polackwich piece offers, her
works her way prices are quite
through the design reasonable.
process, deter- “It takes at least
mining how best to 10 to 20 hours to
determine the layout make a piece, de-
of the piece based pending on how
on the shape of small the beads are
the beads, the and how intricate
color she wants it the pattern is, and
to be, and the num- whether the chain is
ber of strands she made out of beads,
plans to weave together, sterling, leather or rib-
bons,” she explains.
Polackwich often
employs Kumihimo, a
traditional Japanese art-
form of making braids and
cords, in her work. Kumihimo,
which literally means “gath-

CONTINUED ON PAGE B4

B4 November 10, 2022 VeroNews/Sebastian River News | ARTS & THEATRE www.veronews.com

CONTINUED FROM PAGE B3 25 times [with PMC], and then put it in a was on the steering committee
kiln. The leaf burns away from the heat, that initiated a mentoring pro-
ered threads,” incorporates a variety of and what is left is 99.7 percent pure sil- gram there. She was an active
stringing material and is often combined ver; sterling is only 92.7 percent silver. mentor for 20 years, and still
with beads to make exceptional jewelry. It’s really hard to work with, just a little keeps in touch with her first
piece at a time, because it dries out re- mentee, now an adult, and a
Symbolically, it represents stylishness ally quickly.” productive and active member
and sophistication, largely employing of the Vero community.
multiple strands for the most dramat- Although she says she has never been
ic effect. Polackwich explains that she interested in taking up artistic painting, “The mentoring program
might also combine that technique she did volunteer to paint benches at a gives values and guidance in
with others, such as embroidering with school during the recent United Way of normalcy, not tutoring really,
beads, to put her own spin on the design. Indian River County’s Day of Caring. but someone to hang out with,”
says Polackwich, who calls it a
Polackwich has also worked with Pre- “My husband and I are very involved privilege to have worked with
cious Metal Clay, a soft clay consisting of with United Way,” she says, adding that each and every one of those
microscopic particles of pure silver. in addition to raising their “two wonder- young people.
Unsurprisingly, Polackwich has won
“I might take a real leaf, paint it about numerous awards for her jewelry, in-
cluding blue ribbons at the Vero Beach
ful children,” community service has al- Art Club’s annual Art by the Sea Fine Arts
ways been of special interest to her. The & Crafts Exhibition at the Vero Beach
couple twice served as co-chairs of the Museum of Art. Her work is on display
United Way’s annual fundraising cam- at Gallery 14, and at other VBAC exhibi-
paign, and she also donates many of her tions, including Under the Oaks. 
creations to nonprofits for their charita-
ble fundraising auctions.

When her children were at Beach-
land Elementary School, Polackwich

Serving mainland Indian River County VeroNews/Sebastian River News | ARTS & THEATRE November 10, 2022 B5

CONTINUED FROM PAGE B1 $5. There will also be IRBromeliadSociety.org. grounds, 7955 58th Ave., Vero Beach. Ad-
a raffle with $1 tickets. mission and parking are free.
is at 2526 17th Ave., Vero Beach. Call 772- The free auction event in- 3 Another great spot to pick up some
567-5602 or visit GardenClubOfIRC.org. cludes light snacks and bottled wa- holiday gifts this weekend is at the 4 The popular show “Stomp” will per-
ter, all at no charge. The auction will be held Indian River County Fairgrounds, where form 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 10, at
2 You can also get good deals on gifts at the Garden Club of Indian River County the Vero Beach Arts & Crafts Expo serves the King Center for the Performing Arts
via auctions. The Indian River Bro- is at 2526 17th Ave., Vero Beach. You need to up its Holiday Edition. Visit with an as- in Melbourne. Presented by the American
meliad Society will hold an auction Mon- get there by 6:30 in order to register and get sortment of vendors to find the right gift. Theatre Guild, “Stomp” is the award-win-
day evening, Nov. 14, where you can pick up a bidding paddle. The auction begins 7 p.m. There will also be food and beverage for ning, wild, fun, percussive bit of theater
for reasonable costs some most forgiving and goes for a couple hours. Funds raised purchase. The Vero Beach Arts and Crafts that brings performers into contact with
blooming plants. “This is an opportunity help support the Bromeliad Society, which is Expo Holiday edition runs 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. metal garbage cans, wooden poles, radia-
for the community to procure unusu- a nonprofit. Cash or checks only. No credit Saturday, Nov. 12 and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. tor hoses, hub caps, brooms and just about
al exotic plants you don’t find at cards accepted. Call 772-713-6007 or visit Sunday, Nov. 13 at the Indian River Fair-
garden centers or nurs- another than makes a noise when banged
eries near here,” said on. This is an idiosyncratic band of per-
Society president and formers who bangs out rhythmic expres-
founder Sally Gawl- sion frequently imbued with an abstract
er. “It’s a really fun narrative, complete with urban charac-
event. It’s exclu- ters communicating through dance and
sively bromeliads, percussion. Tickets start at $39. The King
very unique, varied Center is at 3865 N. Wickham Rd. Call 321-
in color, shape, tex- 242-2219 or visit KingCenter.com. 
ture, size. You can
have some 1 ½ inch
tall, some 6 feet tall. You
can have them indoors,
outdoors. They are literally the
‘no brainer’ plant.” Gawler says once
you understand how easy it takes to grow
and maintain bromeliads, you’ll become
a fan of the plant. “It’s a perfect special gift
for people who think they don’t have a green
thumb,” she says. “They’re so exotic looking
but so easy … They don’t need a lot of care.”
The evening begins 6:30 p.m. Typically, the
bids are affordable, frequently beginning at

B6 November 10, 2022 VeroNews/Sebastian River News | SEEN & SCENE www.veronews.com

‘Pink in Paradise’ sparkles with support for cancer survivors

Diana Tremesani, Renata Di Virgilio, Jorge Brache and Nancy Marquez. Angela Bischoff, Tanja McGuire, Tara McGowan and Dana Baker. Jayson Oneschuk and Jessa Valentine.

James and Carolyn Nelson with Michelle Moss and Janice and Scott Reynolds. Jamie Koch and Dr. Alita Sikora. Lorenda Altman and Christie Tanner.

By Stephanie LaBaff | Staff Writer ery’s second floor, written by some of talk to someone else going through a Beach Rowing; and Aquatic Friends for
the women who have participated in the similar situation; things that they may water exercising.
A blush of pink filled the American myriad services and programs offered not ever voice to their family members
Icon Brewery during an inaugural Pink through the organization. Each story re- or friends. It is really important to be “People don’t realize that in order to
in Paradise Charity Gala hosted by vealed the struggles these women have able to have that community available remain a cancer survivor and not have
Friends After Diagnosis and the Reyn- had during their battles against cancer; to the ladies who have been diagnosed recurrences, you have to be physical-
olds Team of Compass Realty, the pre- some overcoming them and others still with cancer,” said Carolyn Nelson, ly fit. You have to maintain your health
mier sponsor. waging their own private wars. Friends executive director, noting that and get exercise,” shared Michelle Moss,
support groups are offered in-person a cancer survivor.
Bedecked and bejeweled in formal at- Event proceeds will go toward the and via Zoom.
tire, survivors and supporters gathered support groups, wellness programs, “If you’re just coming out of it, the
to support the mission of the nonprofit and direct and personal services, pro- Friends also offers Ride Beyond Di- whole idea of going to a gym is over-
“to enhance the lives of women diag- vided by Friends After Diagnosis, align- agnosis, an equine-assisted therapeutic whelming. To be able to exercise with
nosed with cancer.” ing with the evening’s goal of “battling program; Friends in Motion, for those other people who are in the same situa-
breast cancer at a local level.” who enjoy dance; Row Beyond Diag- tion as you is very beneficial.”
As guests dined on small plates and a nosis, a crew rowing program, at Vero
variety of tempting sweets, they could “The support meetings are a place to Their direct and personal services
read from stories that lined the brew- programs include breast prostheses,

Living Lord
Lutheran Church

“A Church Of The ELCA”
Est. 1986

Join us Sunday mornings at 10 am
as we gather around Word and

Sacrament to hear God’s message
of grace and love for all!

www.livinglordlutheran.com

(772) 778-1500

2725 58TH AVENUE  VERO BEACH, FLORIDA 32966-2070
[email protected]

Serving mainland Indian River County VeroNews/Sebastian River News | SEEN & SCENE November 10, 2022 B7

Stephanie and Dave Wierzbicki. PHOTOS: JOSHUA KODIS Leni Taube and Nicole Paradiso. Suzy Stoeckel and Junius Penn.

Nina and Scott Curtis. Victoria Earlywine and Matt Morgenstern.

James and Nicole Morello with Johana Robles and Freddy Martinez.

mastectomy bras, and wigs; concierge quires not just the medications and the
services ranging from shopping to surgeries,” said Nelson.
companion visits; chemo kits that con-
tain items cancer patients find helpful According to Nelson, the group will roll
during their treatments; and financial out a quarterly Caregiver Symposium in
services which provide financial assis- March 2023 that will create a network of
tance for travel during treatment. local and national resources that cancer
patients can access.
“We want to help heal their mind,
body and spirit. Cancer recovery is more For more information, visit friend-
than medicine. It’s comprehensive. It re- safterdiagnosis.com. 

B8 November 10, 2022 VeroNews/Sebastian River News | DINING www.veronews.com

Serving mainland Indian River County VeroNews/Sebastian River News | DINING November 10, 2022 B9

AWARD-WINNING, OCEANFRONT DINING

CITRUS

LUNCH & DINNER
Monday - Saturday 11:30am to 1:45pm / 5pm to 9pm

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2002 – 2021 Open 7 Days a Week Starting at 5 PM
3103 Cardinal Drive, Vero Beach, FL

Reservations Highly Recommended • Proper Attire Appreciated

B10 November 10, 2022 VeroNews/Sebastian River News | DINING www.veronews.com

Cooking for You

Thanksgiving To Go. Pick up available
day before or day of from 12 to 2:30.
$29.95 Per Person

TRADITIONAL THANKSGIVING DINNER

Organic Roasted Turkey and Gravy OR
Whole Smoked Ham with Pineapple Turkey Gravy

Roasted Garlic Whipped Potatoes
Sweet Potato Gratin w/ Baby Marshmallow
Sage and Thyme Stuffing • Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Slice of Pumpkin Pie

VEGAN THANKSGIVING MENU

Turkey Pot Pie
Roasted Garlic Whipped Potatoes
Sweet Potato Gratin • Sage and Thyme Stuffing
Roasted Brussels Sprouts • Fresh Cranberry Relish

Slice of Pumpkin Pie

@ THE BOULEVARD HOURS OF OPERATION

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC Monday-Saturday: 11-2

1620 BOULEVARD VILLAGE LANE Dinner, Mon.-Thurs.: 5-8:30
VERO BEACH, FL 32967
(772) 778-4200 Friday: 4:30-8:30

info @blvdtennisclub.com Saturday: 11:30-2:30

Serving mainland Indian River County VeroNews/Sebastian River News | DINING November 10, 2022 B11

Where Vero goes Let the Pours Begin! TUESDAY NIGHT
for a Lil bit Our Private Label, ALL YOU CAN
of Ireland! EAT FISH FRY
Aged Barrel
Chef “Fighting 69th” HAPPY HOUR 4-6
Chet Perrotti Irish Whiskey TUES.- SAT.

Accepting FRESH FISH PLUS
Thanksgiving BURGERS, CHICKEN
Reservations
SANDWICHES,
Tuesday Trivia Thurs, Fri & Sat Live SALADS & MORE
Wednesday - Bingo, Local Music
Brews & Burgers ($7) TUES OPEN FOR DINNER AT 4
Tropical Thursday - $5 We carry ALL College
& NFL games WED-SAT OPEN FOR LUNCH & DINNER
Deep Eddys & CLOSED SUNDAYS & MONDAYS
75¢ Wings Happy Hour ALL DAY
Sunday w/ 75¢ Wings 1931 Old Dixie • 772.770.0977 Follow Us

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56 Royal Palm Pointe  772-567-4160  Follow us on Facebook & Instagram

B12 November 10, 2022 VeroNews/Sebastian River News | PETS www.veronews.com

Kiko and Lilly Belle thriving after surviving by a whisker

Hi Dog Buddies! something big an scary ran right into me. Kiko. cuits, doncha think?
I don’t remember much after that, until “So,” Lilly Belle continued, “when
This week’s innerview-ees reminded Future Mom found me in her guh-rage, PHOTO: JOSHUA KODIS
me, again, of how FOR-chuh-nut me an Thank Garfield. me an Kiko first met, I’m afraid I went a
a lotta you fellow pets are to have safe, ree-lized it was ME. She screeched to a tad Fuh-ROW-shus Lioness. I do sorta
loving Furever Famlies right off the bat, “Oh, Woof, Miss Kiko!” I exclaimed. stop, made the other big muh-chines stop, have Watch Cat In-stinks. But Kiko wasn’t
an how im-POR-tunt it is for so many hu- “So, Future Mom picked me up, washed jumped out and scooped me up. A man in scared a bit. She’d just say, ‘Good morn-
mans to adopt Pets-Less-FOR-chuh-nut. me off with a liddle rag, carefully put me a Very Big Truck slowed down, looked at ing, Miss Lilly Belle!’ She was so silly an
into a carrier and took me to the Vet. Turns me, waved, an said ‘Awwwwww.’ sweet, I began feelin’ like she was my lid-
Kiko an Lilly Belle Elliott are liddle out I had what the Vet called Head Traw- dle sister. I’d groom her, carefully cuzza
lady cats rescued from Dire Straits Just in muh anna frack-chured jaw. He fixed me “Right then an there, I knew I was safe that tube she had for a while. Now I just
Time. As their Mom welcomed me an my up an showed my Future Mom (by then, an hadda Furever Home. I haff to admit, grab her an groom her so she’s always
assistant in, I glanced to the right in time she was my Furever Mom) how to pruh- I have a liddle Separation Anxiety about neat an tidy.”
to see a liddle gray tabby flyin’ off into an- pare my speshull foodstuffs an medicine Mom. I mean, she probly saved all nine
other room. and give ’em to me through a liddle tube of my lifes. I always jump on her shoul- Heading home, as previously mentioned,
for 10 days. Since Mom works atta Senior der when she comes home from work, an I fondly thought about my new cat frens an
As we were gettin’ settled on the couch, Living Community an hadda go to work, STAY THERE. all the kind humans like Miss Susan who
a pretty Sia-MEESE-looking cat, cream she’d take me an all my stuff with her. All rescue so many Pets-Less-FOR-chuh-nut.
with those nice dark ear tips, strolled up. the residents would stop by Mom’s office “Mom took me to the VET, who fig- P.S.: Miss Lilly Belle was too shy to come out
to say hello an give me liddle pats. They ured out how old I probly was, an found from under the chair for a phodo.
“Good afternoon,” I said puhlitely. “I’m all loved me. I’d purr an make biscuits. I out me an Mom have the Same Birthday.
Bonzo an this is my assistant. “Thank you was So Happy. Still am. Soon as I got All WAY Cool Catnip! Mom also told the Vet Till next time,
for agreeing to an innerview, Miss, umm …” Better, I had the No-Kittens -pruh-SEED- she thought I’d maybe been hit by (I found
jur, an Mom says I’m the happiest cat she out they’re called CARS) because my front The Bonz
After a brief-Sniff-an-Size-Up on her Ever Met!!” paws seemed extra wide, like they’d been
part, the liddle cat smiled. “Good after- “Great tail, Miss Kiko! Do you think Lil- mushed. So the vet checked. Then she Don’t Be Shy
noon, Mr. Bonzo. I am Kumiko Cerina El- ly Belle would maybe tell her tail as well?” smiled at Mom an said, ‘Nope, no injury.
liott. You may call me Kiko. The fluffball “Yes. I would,” came a small voice from THIS is a Hemingway Cat!’” We are always looking for pets
who fled upon your arrival is my big sister under the table. with interesting stories.
Lilly Belle. This is my Mom Susan. Dad’s I could see very wide gray front paws an Because I’d ackshully met a Heming-
restin’. (Lilly Belle calls him Pops.) So I’ll a pretty liddle Tabby face peepin’ out. “As way cat when I was in Key West to in- To set up an interview, email
tell my tail first, OK? Then we’ll find Lily long as you feel comf-tubble, Miss Lilly nerview a Cool Kibbles pooch named Pie, [email protected].
Belle (she’s super shy).” Belle.” I knew they were cats with six-toe front
“I will do my best, Mr. Bonzo. I am paws, who lived inna big house with a hu-
“That’s purr-fect, Miss Kiko,” I said, exceedingly shy. An you’re very, well, man called Hemingway, who wrote stuff.
opening my notebook. “I know you’ve LARGE, no offense. But you do seem kind. An the relatives of his six-toe cats have
both experienced some pretty scary stuff OK, here I go. traveled all over since then. Crispy Bis-
so just talk about whatever you feel com- “Ackshully, I got rescued by Mom buh-
ftubble with concerning how you found fore Kiko did. It was May 6, 2021, an like
your Furever Home.” Kiko, I was a tiny kitten, dazed an con-
fused in the middle of this Really Big Street
Kiko curled up on a liddle box, wrapped which Mom says is called Royale Pomm
her tail around her, an began. Bully-vard, I think. I was so scared cuzza
all the big, loud muh-chines everywhere.
“It was this past May, I was a tiny stray I couldn’t even move. Mom was drivin’
kitten, hangin’ around this very neigh- an saw what she thought was a Wal-Mart
borhood, not sure what to, you know, DO. bag cuzza the gray color but then, Thank
My Future Furever Mom used to say hello Garfield, saw two ears stickin’ up an
(she called me Baby) an pat me a liddle, an
wonder where my home was. I’m not sure
I even had one, ackshully. But, THEN, I
was walkin’ across that hard street tryin’
to get back on the soft grass when, BLAM,

Serving mainland Indian River County VeroNews/Sebastian River News | GAMES November 10, 2022 B13

NORTH

IT LOOKS TOTALLY OBVIOUS, BUT ... KQ964

By Phillip Alder - Bridge Columnist 752

Arthur Koestler, a novelist and journalist, was born in Budapest but moved to London 853
just before World War II. He claimed, “The more original a discovery, the more obvious it
seems afterwards.” WEST A4
2 EAST
The right play in some bridge deals looks so obvious that almost everyone follows the A K 10 9
same line. Then, when they go down and realize that a different, unusual, approach 97640 3
would have worked, perhaps they have learned to think first, hunt for alternatives second 10 8 5 3
and play third. 8643

In today’s deal, how should South try to make four spades? West starts with three Q J 10
rounds of hearts.
K9762
North adds one point for his doubleton and makes a game-invitational limit raise. If, like
me, you prefer to employ the Losing Trick Count, the North hand has only seven losers SOUTH
because you deduct one loser for a 10-card fit. That suggests forcing to game, but
perhaps it is better to pull in your belt one notch. A J 10 8 7 5

Declarer has three unavoidable red-suit losers, so it seems as though he needs the club QJ
finesse to succeed. He ruffs the third heart, draws trumps and runs the club queen. But
it loses, and South is an unhappy down one. AK2

However, perhaps North will notice that his partner had two chances to get home. After QJ
pulling the trumps, South should have played three rounds of diamonds. Lo and behold,
East would have had to win the third round and been endplayed either to lead away Dealer: South; Vulnerable: Neither
from the club king or to concede a ruff-and-sluff.
The Bidding:
Finally, yes, if West shifts to a club at trick three, he defeats the contract. East
should signal first with the heart three (discouraging), then the heart four (suit- SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST OPENING
preference for clubs). 1 Spades Pass 3 Spades Pass
4 Spades Pass Pass Pass LEAD:
A Hearts

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B14 November 10, 2022 VeroNews/Sebastian River News | GAMES www.veronews.com

SOLUTIONS TO PREVIOUS ISSUE (NOVEMBER 3) ON PAGE B16

ACROSS DOWN
1 Ironic, droll (3) 1 Affluent (4-6)
3 Neckwear (3) 2 Longed (7)
5 Expensive (4) 3 Hike (4)
7 Rent (5) 4 Accompany (6)
8 Promise, pledge (6) 5 Family row (8)
10 Clue (4) 6 Foreign (5)
11 Captive (8) 9 Affinity, rapport(10)
13 Last, survive (6) 12 Precedence (8)
14 Intense, ferocious(6) 15 Fixes, mends (7)
17 Instalments (8) 16 Rue (6)
19 Raced (4) 18 Perfection (5)
21 Higher in rank (6) 20 A bargain (4)
22 Whinny (5)
The Telegraph 23 Cunning tactic (4)
24 Faucet (3)
25 Tree juice (3)

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

Serving mainland Indian River County VeroNews/Sebastian River News | GAMES November 10, 2022 B15

ACROSS 105 Meal preceder 57 Missing The Washington Post
1 Bees 106 Syn. opp. 61 Must
7 It’s often after you 107 ___ thumb 64 See 67 Down COOKBOOKS I’D LIKE TO SEE By Merl Reagle
10 Corporate-jet rider 108 Limb from limb 66 Dimelike
14 Gaslight? 112 The fat-free cop-snack 67 “Stop!”
18 Owner of the A’s in their
cookbook? (with 64 Down)
glory days, Charlie ___ 116 From Buns of Steel, the 68 Xylophone’s orch. section
19 O.H. who pitched 69 Court promise
___ Cookbook? 70 Schedule
in OH 118 Potato eyes 74 The Vanna White quintet
20 Grandson of Methuselah 119 LAX info 75 ___ Romana
21 Mgr.’s unit, often 120 A direction, to Fernando 76 That open-mouthed
22 Uncle Ben’s cookbook? 121 “___ reason why not”
24 The Spanish omelet 122 Zeno’s town feeling
123 Hitchcock film 77 Seaman’s concern
cookbook? 124 Abbr. on Salt Lake City 79 Michael of tennis
26 Twig broom 80 Saturday wakeup call
27 Like Rochester’s wife buses 82 Leaning degree
29 RE/MAX rival in the home- 125 Ford press secretary Ron 84 Smell awful
86 Cigarette brand
sales biz DOWN 87 Dunderheaded move
30 La-la lead-in 1 Tell ___ (prevaricate) 89 Old English country dance
31 The deep-dish cookbook? 2 Long-snouted fish 92 Very short time
36 The Trojans’ sch. 3 Rural hotels 94 Unexciting
39 “___ matter” 4 Throw for ___ (astonish) 95 As a whole
40 Cries 5 Showroom arrival 96 Finally
41 “Slippery” tree 6 Pathetic start? 97 Simone Signoret film, ___
42 Flower parts 7 Up
44 Ancient character 8 Filled by another actor Letter to My Love
45 Four, on old clocks 9 Justice Kagan 98 TV innovator Arledge
48 Mogadishu resident 10 Day of Doom 100 “___ with you always”
49 The little Little Caesar 11 Tic-tac-toe line 101 WWII figure Wallenberg
12 Stands on three legs 102 Secret
cookbook? 13 With 16 Down, a rhyming 103 Boiled French dish, pot-
55 Long-barreled gun of
Saturday Night Live star ___
southern Africa 14 “Camptown Races” horse 104 WWI battle site 109 Home
56 Stephen King thriller 15 Typify
58 Cut 16 See 13 Down of Iowa State
59 Paramedic: abbr. 17 Beezer-related 110 Actress Russo
60 Way 19 Birds of a region 111 Video-game movie of
62 Actor-singer Theodore 23 “Holy moly!”
63 Leitrim’s land 25 Contributed 1982
65 The slow-cooker 28 Follow 113 U.S. maintenance agcy.
32 Gin partner 114 Send a message in Morse
cookbook? 33 Spanish ladies
71 Arthur of tennis 34 Portly plus Code, e.g.
72 Be untrue 35 Queen of Eng. 115 Compass pt.
73 Ms. Korbut 36 Leonid’s land 117 Sea-creature feature
75 Comrade 37 Bent-forward posture
78 Color slightly 38 Attacked
81 Rich cakes 43 Who’s Afraid of Virginia
83 Sly look
85 The Chinese seafood Woolf? wife
44 Voted in again
cookbook? 46 Reddy’s “___ Woman”
88 Kazan of Lust in the Dust 47 Special ending
90 The foreigner phobia 49 Cold, in Quito
91 “And giving ___ up the 50 Exasperates
51 From Saigon, in headlines
chimney he rose” 52 She played Weena in The
92 Ms. X
93 Sailor Time Machine
95 ___ instant 53 Gilpin of Frasier
96 On TV 54 Eye-part prefix
99 Diving bird
100 Roberta Flack’s

cookbook?

The Telegraph

B16 November 10, 2022 VeroNews/Sebastian River News | CALENDAR www.veronews.com

ONGOING NOVEMBER 12 Schacht Groves and Market Fall Farm ment, 5:30 p.m. at Pointe West Golf Club. $60.
Fest, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., with animals, 772-234-1512
Check with organizations directly for up- 11 Veterans Day Commemoration, 8:30 children’s activities and food trucks. Free; ac-
dates/cancellations. a.m. at Veterans Memorial Island cepting nonperishable donations for TC Food 12 Shell’ebration to benefit Coastal Connec-
Sanctuary hosted by Veterans Council of IRC. Bank. 772-562-5858 tions, with drinks, appetizers and awards
Vero Beach Museum of Art: Changing Nature: A ceremony, 5:30 p.m. at a Moorings beachside resi-
New Vision, Photographs by James Balog through Dec. 12 Tactical 10K and 2 Mile, 7 a.m. at South 12 Gospel Concert to benefit Feed the dence. $150. Coastal-Connections.org
31 and Picasso, Matisse & Friends: Drawings from a Beach Park to benefit the Vero Beach Lambs, 12 Noon at First Presbyteri-
Private Collection through Jan. 8. 772-231-0707 Police Department Foundation. RunSignUp.com an Church, featuring Cynthia Poitier, Sister Kay 12|13 Vero Beach Arts & Crafts
Wright, Pastor Maya Miller and the JC7 Music Expo, Holiday Edition, 10
Riverside Theatre: “Butterflies are Free” on 12 Walk to Remember, 7:30 a.m. regis- Group. $25. 772-404-9955 a.m. to 4 p.m. at IRC Fairgrounds. Free admission.
the Stark Stage through Nov. 13. Weekly Friday tration opens for 9 a.m. walk at River-
and Saturday Comedy Zone and Live on the Loop side Park to benefit the Alzheimer & Parkinson 12 Blessing of the Fleet, hosted by Vero 14 Nourishing Our Souls with Ashley
concerts. 772-231-6990 or RiversideTheatre.com Assoc. of Indian River County. AlzPark.org or Beach Yacht Club, with boats lining Campbell on her father Glen’s journey
772-563-0505 up north of the Barber Bridge and proceeding with dementia, Noon at Quail Valley River Club
Vero Beach Theatre Guild: “Musical Chairs” at 2:45 to the dock for the blessing by clergy of to benefit Senior Resource Association. 772-
through Nov. 27. VeroBeachTheatreGuild.com 12 Yard Sale, 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the various denominations. 772-231-2211 569-0760 x 119
or 772-562-8300 Garden Club of IRC, with plants, home
goods and other items. 772-567-4602 12 An Evening at the Boulevard hosted 14 Bromeliad Auction to benefit Indian Riv-
A.E. Backus Museum and Gallery: Best of the by Counter Culture to benefit St. Fran- er Bromeliad Society, 7 p.m. at the Gar-
Best Fine Art Exhibition through Nov. 18. Back- 12 We Golf Fore Habitat, 11 a.m. at Big- cis Manor, 5 p.m. at Tennis Club, with heavy den Club of IRC. Free admission. 772-713-6007
usMuseum.org Shots Golf to benefit IR Habitat for hors d’oeuvres, beer, wine, tennis exhibition
Humanity Scholarship Program, with golf, raf- and music. $100. 772-562-8575 15 National Philanthropy Day Awards
First Friday Gallery Strolls in Downtown Vero fles, prizes and buffet lunch. $75. 772-562-9860 Luncheon recognizing 15 Honored
Beach Arts District, monthly from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. ext. 220 or IRCHabitat.org. 12 US Marine Corps 247th Birthday Ball Leaders, 11:30 a.m. at Vero Beach Theatre Guild
presented by Indian River Detach- hosted by Assoc. of Fundraising Professionals,
IR Chapter. $75.

Solutions from Games Pages ACROSS DOWN 15 SRIRC Career and Technical Education
in November 3, 2022 Edition 1 SURE 1 SHEEPISH Showcase & Entrepreneur Event, 6
3 TONS 2 RATIONAL p.m. to 8 p.m. at Storm Grove Middle School.
9 WHEAT 4 ORATED IndianRiverSchools.org
10 EXTRICATE 5 SWEETEN
11 ELBOW 6 KERB 16 Impact 100 of Indian River County
12 PROVIDENT 7 STEW 15th Anniversary Kickoff Brunch, 10
15 STARVE 8 KIWI a.m. at Oak Harbor Club, featuring a panel of
17 SNAPPY 13 SPOILAGE charter/founding members. Impact100IR.com
19 HAMSTRING 14 EYEGLASS
21 KHAKI 16 VEHICLE 17 Riverside Theatre Friends’ Fall Lun-
23 CHIPOLATA 18 EMPIRE cheon, 11:30 a.m., with luncheon in
24 EQUAL 20 THOR Orchid Lobby followed by Encores, a 50th Anni-
25 EWER 21 KNEW versary musical retrospective, on the Stark Stage.
26 BETS 22 ABUT $300. 772-231-6990 or RiversideTheatre.com

Sudoku Page B14 Sudoku Page B15 Crossword Page B14 Crossword Page B15 (ANDY ROONEY ANSWERS THE MUSICAL QUESTION)

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