09/08/2022 ISSUE 36

Baird pleads ‘not guilty’ to
stalking charge. P8
No need this year

for Orchid election. P12
Court backlog leaves many
felony cases unresolved. P9

For breaking news visit

Covid cases here PHOTO BY JOSHUA KODIS Vero prepares to
down; new vaccine hit Shores with
available in Vero big utility hike

BY LISA ZAHNER BY LISA ZAHNER
Staff Writer Staff Writer

The weekly count of new MY Marina referendum threatens Three Corners future Utility consultants have rec-
COVID-19 infections was way VERO ommended that Vero Beach
down to start the month of press ahead next month with
September, as a new vaccine BY RAY MCNULTY judge rule on the Vero Beach Let’s assume, just for the steep utility rate hikes that
booster formula got federal Staff Writer City Council’s lawsuit seek- sake of discussion, the Vero will let Vero collect as much
approval ahead of an expect- ing to remove from the No- Beach Preservation Alli- as possible from Indian River
ed Omicron surge this fall or Here’s what locally may vember ballot a referendum ance’s so-called marina ref- Shores residents for sewer and
winter. be by far the most impor- that could derail – or at least erendum survives the legal reuse irrigation water before
tant question of 2022. significantly stall – the popu- challenge, and that voters the town’s franchise agree-
Cases reported to the Flori- lar Three Corners project? ment expires in 2027.
da Department of Health from How will an out-of-county CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
Aug. 26 through Sept. 2 were An early peek at the draft
down 52 percent from the pre- results of a water-sewer rate
vious week, with an average of study to be considered next
18 positive cases per day re- week shows Vero nearly dou-
ported, according to the Cen- bling sewer rates in six years,
ters for Disease Control and and doubling reuse irrigation
Prevention. That’s down from water rates in nine years.
the summer’s high of 65 cases
per day in June. After city officials announced
that proposed water-sewer rate
Hospitalization trends tend increases to pay for the city’s
to lag a few weeks behind ma- new sewer plant would be an-
jor changes in case numbers nounced just weeks before the
and last week the number of rate hikes were set to go into
COVID-positive people admit- effect, Vero Beach 32963 re-
ted to local hospitals was 15, quested copies of email corre-
up from 13 the previous week. spondence between city staff

Going into the Labor Day CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

Good news, buyers: Housing inventory increase Eight candidates, including two incumbents, seek Vero Council seats
bringing island real estate market into balance
BY RAY MCNULTY The third seat currently be- Vero Beach City Council are:
BY STEVEN M. THOMAS market moves into a new Staff Writer longs to Mayor Robbie Brack-  Linda Moore, Kilted Mer-
Staff Writer phase after an unprecedented ett, who last month won the
two-year boom. Incumbents Honey Minuse Republican primary to repre- maid co-owner who served as
Housing supply and de- and Bob McCabe are among sent District 34 in the Florida a member of the city’s Three
mand on the barrier island Single-family inventory on the eight candidates who have House of Representatives and Corners Steering Committee.
have bounced back into bet- the island hit a historic low in qualified to run in the Novem- is favored against Sebastian
ter balance as the real estate March when there was a mere ber election for three seats on Democrat Karen Greb.  Brooke Steinkamp, a
the Vero Beach City Council. beachside boutique owner
CONTINUED ON PAGE 6 The other candidates for who serves as chairman of the

CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

September 8, 2022 Volume 15, Issue 36 Newsstand Price $1.00 One ‘fur’ all helps
Humane Society
News 1-12 Editorial 26 People 13-20 TO ADVERTISE CALL clear shelters. P18
Arts 33-38 Games 29-31 Pets 54 772-559-4187
Books 28 Health 39-45 Real Estate 57-68
Dining 50-53 Insight 21-32 Style 46-49 FOR CIRCULATION
CALL 772-226-7925

© 2022 Vero Beach 32963 Media LLC. All rights reserved.

2 Vero Beach 32963 / September 8, 2022 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

NEWS

Covid cases down sharply partment sees that the demand for the boosters for this age group. The CDC My Vero
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 booster is greater than what the existing suggests males in the 12 to 39 age
vaccine providers are able to offer, the group wait longer than two months CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
weekend, the county’s largest hospital, department would ensure the vaccine to get the new booster, to minimize
Cleveland Clinic Indian River, said: “As was available in the community. This potential side effects, including myo- are asked to amend the city charter
of today, Cleveland Clinic Indian River would either be through the health de- carditis. to restrict future expansion and im-
Hospital has 15 COVID-19 patients in- partment or bringing in an additional provement of protected city proper-
house. None in critical care,” accord- contracted provider,” Brock said. In other virus news, Indian River ties.
ing to spokesperson Erin Miller. County posted its first confirmed Mon-
Guidance issued by the CDC last keypox case last week, a person be- What then?
Miller did not know as of Friday week allows people to “mix and match” tween the ages of 20 and 24 who claims The answer could well impact the
whether or when Cleveland Clinic In- vaccine brands when it comes to the not to know how or from whom he future of the Vero Beach community –
dian River Hospital would be distrib- new booster, as long as they complet- caught the virus. Roughly 10 percent of city and county, island and mainland
uting the new reformulated COVID ed their two-shot regimen or received the 2,050 people who have tested posi- – for the next 100 years.
booster vaccine shots. The Indian River their most recent booster at least two tive for Monkeypox in Florida since For that reason, city voters must
County Health Department has no im- months ago. So people who have re- mid-May have no travel history and make sure they understand exactly
mediate plans to offer the new boost- ceived two Moderna shots plus boost- say they do not know how they con- what this mischievous referendum
ers at its Vero clinic. ers can get the new Pfizer booster, and tracted the disease. would do, because, if approved, its
people who received two Pfizer shots consequences would be felt far beyond
“At this time, we have placed an order plus boosters can get the new Moderna Researchers say Monkeypox has an the Vero Beach Municipal Marina.
for the new COVID-19 booster vaccine booster. incubation period of three to 17 days Voters must take a hard look at how
with the state. The health department and is contagious from the time the a neighborhood effort to stop the
will transfer vaccine to providers in Over the weekend, Walgreens was first flu-like symptoms appear, long planned marina expansion – especial-
the community from this order as we offering appointments for the refor- before skin lesions develop, so it is ly the construction of a considerably
receive requests. There are minimum mulated Pfizer booster beginning this possible to catch Monkeypox through larger dry-storage facility – morphed
quantities to order for Pfizer (300) and past Wednesday at five Vero pharmacy skin-on-skin or other close contact into a referendum that would impact
Moderna (100) and smaller providers locations and two Sebastian locations. from someone without visible symp- more than two dozen city parks and
do not require such large quantities. Walgreens had appointments for the toms. Some infected people only get other waterfront properties.
The health department distributes vac- Moderna booster as well, but only in skin lesions in areas normally covered They also must question the mo-
cine to smaller providers as this pro- Sebastian and Fort Pierce. by clothes and do not develop them tives of those who expanded the reach
vides more opportunities for vaccina- on hands and arms. of the referendum, which could great-
tion,” said spokesperson Stacy Brock. People aged 12 to 17 who complet- ly impact the Three Corners parcels at
ed their two-dose regimen of either Though the most affected age group the west end of the 17th Street Bridge,
“We anticipate there will be a number Pfizer or Moderna at least two months in Florida is 30 to 39 years old, Brevard, particularly the 33 lagoon-front acres
of locations in the community where ago will need to get the Pfizer shot if Martin and Monroe counties have now occupied by the defunct munici-
the booster is available. If the health de- they want the new booster. The CDC documented cases in children young- pal power plant and still-operating
no longer recommends the original er than 5 years old, and Broward and wastewater-treatment facility.
Pinellas counties have seen people It’s on that mainland waterfront
age 80 and older with Monkeypox. property Vero Beach leaders want to
create a much-needed dining, retail,
The United States has nearly half social and recreational hub they hope
of the world’s Monkeypox cases, and will become a destination for residents
Florida has about 10 percent of the na- and visitors alike.
tion’s Monkeypox cases, with 35 to 50 The Nov. 8 ballot, in fact, also will
additional Floridians being diagnosed include a separate city-crafted refer-
each day across the state. endum asking voters to amend the
charter to allow commercial use on
Thirty-eight of Florida’s 67 counties the 17-acre, power-plant parcel north
are now affected, with the vast major- of the bridge, if officials can negotiate
ity of cases in Broward and Miami- a long-term lease with a cooperative
Dade counties. Of the state’s 2,050 developer.
cases, 67 people acquired the disease “The Three Corners project is very
outside the United States. Only New important to our community,” former
York and California have more cases Vero Beach mayor Tony Young said.
than Florida. One of his mayoral predecessors,
Harry Howle, went a step further, saying
Worldwide, Brazil, Spain, France, the Three Corners project would be the
Germany and the United Kingdom “best thing ever to happen to this city.”
have all reported thousands of cases Certainly, if done right, the develop-
of the virus, which is closely related ment would fill a gaping void in our
to the smallpox virus. Monkeypox has community, which, unlike Sebastian
even reached rather remote countries and Fort Pierce, lacks open-to-the-pub-
such as Greenland (2 cases) and Ice- lic waterfront dining and a riverwalk-
land (12 cases). type experience on the mainland.
As the county continues to grow, es-
Smallpox vaccines are being admin- pecially to the west, the Three Corners
istered to at-risk groups under an In- site also would ease the in-season traf-
vestigational New Drug approval from fic and congestion along Ocean Drive
the CDC, but since the U.S. stockpiles by providing a dining and socializing
of smallpox vaccine are limited and do alternative on the lagoon’s west bank.
not meet the current demand, medi- Apparently, though, the “Keep Vero
cal professionals have switched to Vero” crowd refuses to budge, even
injecting a smaller dose of the virus when there’s a can’t-miss opportuni-
in-between dermal layers instead of
the typical jab in the arm to conserve
the supply of vaccine. The CDC says
the smallpox vaccine ACAM2000 is 85
percent effective in preventing Mon-
keypox. 

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / September 8, 2022 3

NEWS

ty to make Vero better – as the Three Both Young and Howle agreed. right the first time,” Segal said. “As you the voters – and you can’t do anything
Corners project would do. So did local real estate attorney Bar- go along, you might look at your site without their approval.
ry Segal, who said developers also will plan and realize you need more park-
More than 1,150 city residents signed be reluctant to embark on what likely ing, additional docks, another sidewalk “Why would any developer want to
the petition cards the alliance needed would be a multi-phased project if they or gazebo. You’re going to have to go to get involved in this?”
to secure its referendum, and you can know their plans must survive multiple a referendum on all of them.
be sure many of them were thinking referendums for all but the smallest The alliance leaders, however,
about more than the marina. additions. “You can’t make a decision by your- deny that their referendum targets
“This will be a living, breathing proj- self, or even with the city manager or the Three Corners project, noting
“The real purpose of this referen- ect, and you might not get it completely City Council,” he added. “You essen- that the city’s referendum on the pro-
dum,” Howle said, “is to stop any de- tially have a new partner in the deal – posed development hasn’t yet been
velopment at the Three Corners.”
CONTINUED ON PAGE 4
As recently as May, the alliance’s
leaders had not mentioned any other
properties – not even during the stand-
ing-room-only, City Council workshop
that dragged on for four hours as near-
ly 40 local residents peppered city of-
ficials with questions and comments.

The group’s sole avowed mission, at
that point, was to stop the marina ex-
pansion. There was some buzz about a
possible referendum earlier this sum-
mer, but it wasn’t until last month that
we began hearing about the other char-
ter-protected properties.

Then the referendum’s wording was
made public, revealing to all of us that
stopping marina expansion wasn’t the
sole objective. The alliance now want-
ed to thwart the city’s efforts to notice-
ably expand, improve or develop any
of the charter properties by requiring
referendums.

The alliance’s two-pronged ballot
initiative asks Vero Beach voters to:

 Add the land containing the ma-
rina’s boat-storage facility to the char-
ter’s list of protected properties.

 Restrict “any future structures”
added to the charter’s protected prop-
erties to no more than 500 square feet
(slightly more than three parking spac-
es), and limit the expansion of existing
structures to no more than 20 percent
of their current footprint and volume,
unless approved by city voters in a ref-
erendum.

Under the city code, the term “struc-
tures” can apply to improvements that
include restrooms, pavilions, play-
ground equipment, parking lots, side-
walks and walls.

Currently, the installation or expan-
sion of such amenities may be ap-
proved by a majority vote of the City
Council. The alliance’s referendum
would shift that authority to the citi-
zenry when the improvements involve
charter-protected properties.

“This would be a disastrous piece of
legislation,” Vero Beach Mayor Rob-
bie Brackett said, explaining that the
delays and uncertainty created by the
alliance’s referendum likely would kill
the Three Corners project.

“No developer is going to want to
come in and spend hundreds of thou-
sands of dollars on a site plan, know-
ing it still needs to go to a referendum,
which could be months away,” Brack-
ett added. “They’re not going to make
that kind of investment unless they
know they’ve got a deal.”

4 Vero Beach 32963 / September 8, 2022 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

NEWS

My Vero additions or expansions that exceed Court complaint filed Aug. 30 by City printing and circulating printed ma-
the aforementioned size restrictions. Attorney John Turner, the city is chal- terials that claimed the purpose of the
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3 lenging the referendum’s wording – referendum was to stop the marina
As you’d expect, they were out- Florida statutes require the language expansion.
approved, nor has any site plan. raged when the City Council voted to be “clear and unambiguous” – and
They say the ballot initiative merely unanimously at an Aug. 25 special call the validity of the petitions used to se- “There is only a passing reference
meeting to contest the legality of the cure the referendum. to including all charter property in the
creates a pause to give citizens a voice alliance’s referendum. (Note: The al- referendum,” the complaint states.
in the future development of charter- liance’s leadership did not attend the The city alleges in its court filing
protected properties by requiring the session; the reasons are in dispute.) that the alliance engaged in a “delib- The city also questions the language
City Council to go to a referendum for erate attempt to deceive voters” by in the alliance’s ballot summary, alleg-
According to the 18-page Circuit ing that it is “misleading” and “omits

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Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / September 8, 2022 5

NEWS

the material fact that, if adopted, it to the city to “conduct municipal gov- ably one from St. Lucie County. What happens to that project if the
would have a detrimental and substan- ernment, perform municipal func- If a ruling isn’t issued before voters alliance’s referendum stays on the bal-
tial negative impact on development of tions and render municipal services.” lot and also gets approved? Turner said
the Three Corners project.” The com- begin casting their ballots – and if the that’s a question for the judge.
plaint states: “The problem lies not The city has requested an expedited city wins the case –Turner said the judge
with what the ballot summary says, hearing so a ruling could be made be- has the authority to void the result. Howle, though, didn’t hesitate.
but, rather, with what it does not say.” fore the election. “If both referendums pass,” he said,
Given the enthusiasm shown for the “we’re going to have the willingness of
The city also argues in its filing that However, Circuit Judge Janet Croom, Three Corners Master Concept Plan the people to allow development of the
the alliance’s referendum violates the who lives in theVero Beach area, recused during public presentations, it seems Three Corners property, but we won’t
statutory “home rule powers” granted herself last week, which means the case likely the Three Corners referendum have the ability.” 
will be assigned to another judge, prob- will be approved.

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deemed reliable but are not guaranteed and are subject to errors, omissions or changes without notice. All such information should be independently verified by any prospective purchaser or seller. Parties should perform their
own due diligence to verify such information prior to a sale or listing. Premier Estate Properties, Inc. expressly disclaims any warranty or representation regarding such information. Prices published are either list price, sold price,
and/or last asking price. Premier Estate Properties, Inc. participates in the Multiple Listing Service and IDX. The properties published as listed and sold are not necessarily exclusive to Premier Estate Properties, Inc. and may be listed or
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6 Vero Beach 32963 / September 8, 2022 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

NEWS

Utility rate hike When those rate increases are com- The Vero Beach Utilities Commis- leads the Reynolds Team at Compass.
pounded, by 2031, water rates will have sion will review the results of the rate “Six percent is usually considered a
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 increased about 40 percent. Sewer rates study on Monday morning, then the
will have increased 113 percent, and re- City Council will discuss the rate con- balanced market,” said Reynolds. “So
and the rate consultants. use irrigation rates by 103 percent. sultant’s recommended rate increases at 6.8 we are actually edging into a
The 34 digital files of public records on Tuesday morning. buyers advantage in some parts of the
According to the city emails, the market.”
show that on July 19, rate consultants new sewer plant is set to cost $80.7 City Clerk Tammy Bursick said: “From
sent Finance Director Cindy Lawson million plus interest, for a total of $158 what I understand they will go on the Other island brokers pull slightly
a schedule of three options for water, million, most of which will be funded Council meeting sometime in October different numbers from their data but
sewer and reuse water increases over by utility ratepayers. for first reading and a public hearing.” all those who spoke with Vero Beach
a 10-year period. 32963 agree there is now at least a
But the project is still in the design Indian River Shores Town Coun- 5-month supply of homes for sale on
All three options recommended phase, and no bids have been sought cilman Bob Auwaerter serves on the the island.
front-loading rate increases in fiscal or received for the construction of the city’s Utilities Commission represent-
years ending in 2023, 2024 and 2025 plant, so the actual cost could come in ing the Shores water-sewer customers. “Month’s supply represents the
while Town of Indian River Shores resi- much higher than $80.7 million. When After looking over the rate consultant’s burn rate,” said broker-associate Sal-
dents will still be Vero utility custom- asked when the city plans to go out for recommendations, Auwaerter said he ly Daley, leader of the Daley Team at
ers. So even if the Shores prevails in a bids on the new plant, Water-Sewer would have many questions for the Douglas Elliman. “It says how long it
federal antitrust lawsuit and is able to Utility Director Rob Bolton responded, city staff, and for the consultants on would take to sell all the existing list-
exit Vero’s utility system in 2027, the “No set schedule for bid at this mo- Monday. ings if no more came on the market.
town’s utility customers will fund a siz- ment.”
able share of the debt service on the “I think for anybody seeing these “There is a 5.9-month supply right
new sewer plant. The consultants project the Vero kinds of numbers, it’s a kick in the now, which means we are approach-
utility’s payments on the bonds will be stomach,” Auwaerter said of the dou- ing a balanced market,” Daley added.
Raftelis rate consultants recom- between $3.9 million and $4.7 million ble-digit rate increases recommended
mended the city go with Option Three, per year based upon that $158 million for 2023 through 2025. Of course, it is not quite that simple.
which would increase water rates 7 total – but that will rise if the price tag Daley, Reynolds and other island real
percent, sewer rates 23 percent and of the plant goes up, or if the city can- “On top of all the inflation this is estate professionals are quick to note
reuse rates 21 percent this fall. not get a favorable interest rate. tough,” Auwaerter said, referring to Ve- there are many pockets and strata in
ro’s many small businesses that will see the island market, and the buyer/sell-
Then, if the plan is adopted, rates The figure being used for construct- their water and sewer bills spike those er advantage seesaws from neighbor-
would go up the same amount in Oc- ing the new plant does not include de- first three years. hood to neighborhood and from one
tober 2023 and again in October 2024. commissioning the old plant, or any price level to another.
Beginning in 2025, annual rate in- environmental cleanup of the river- Indian River Shores has a franchise
creases would be 2 percent for water, front site. Bolton said there would be agreement wherein Vero Beach agreed “There is a lot of activity for houses
2 percent for sewer and 2 percent for a “separate bid and contract for de- to charge the Shores the same rates as priced $2 million and under, but the
reuse irrigation water. molition.” Indian River County Utilities custom- upper end of the market has gotten
ers pay through Sept. 30, 2027, but quiet,” said Reynolds.
Vero Beach City Manager Monte Falls
put the Shores on notice several times For instance, according to data from
that Vero would no longer charge rates market research firm Trendgraphix
that do not cover the city’s cost of pro- provided by Reynolds, the $1-million
viding the service. to $1.5-million segment on the island
is still a seller’s market. Demand for
“That’s why we’re spending the those homes is such that sellers can
money on the lawsuits,” Auwaerter command strong prices and get favor-
said of a pending federal antitrust law- able terms.
suit slated to go to trial in January, and
a state circuit court breach of contract But the $1.5-million to $2-million
lawsuit over reuse irrigation rates, price range is neutral – with power
which is now in the appeals process in balanced between buyer and seller –
the Fourth District Court of Appeals. and the $2-million to $3-million seg-
ment has become a buyer’s market
Customers in the unincorporated in which house-hunters can begin to
south barrier island communities south push for terms they want and bargain
of the Vero Beach city limits do not have for a lower price.
a valid franchise agreement to regulate
their water, sewer and reuse irrigation Daley said specific housing “types”
rates, as the city and county have been also can create their own market.
unable to agree on contract language.
“Look at riverfront,” she said. “There
The consultants are expected to is nothing on the market. There are
prepare a presentation showing how like four houses priced from $2 mil-
the proposed rate hikes will impact lion up to $7 million. That’s it.”
the typical 5,000 gallon per month
customer in dollars and cents, but That scarcity tends to create a sell-
customers can do a rough calculation er’s market for riverfront homes, re-
using their own utility bills.  gardless of price level. If buyers are
boaters and want to be on the river,
Real estate market they don’t have many choices, which
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 gives sellers leverage.

30-day supply of homes. Four months Conversely, having many homes
later, at the end of July, there was a in a housing category can push pow-
6.8-month supply of houses for sale in er back toward buyers. There are 20
32963, according to detailed informa- homes for sale in Central Beach, for
tion provided by Scott Reynolds who instance, according to Realtor.com.

All those houses – which are spread
out between Iris Lane and Live Oak
Road, mostly west of A1A – create
competition for sellers. And they give
buyers who want to live in that neigh-

CONTINUED ON PAGE 8



8 Vero Beach 32963 / September 8, 2022 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

NEWS

Real estate market But prices continue to register strong Vero,” which continues to gain cache prices again,” said O’Dare. “We have
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6 year-over-year gains and a number of as a real estate destination. settled at new benchmark. We were
top housing forecasters recently upped always undervalued and have now
borhood more options than they had their expectations for 2022, according Like O’Dare, Daley expects a good caught up with the big markets in
in March – and maybe some bargain- to a report provided by Daley. season and said she’s already seen signs South Florida, which has become a
ing power. that the market is picking up. major source of buyers for the O’Dare
Fannie Mae, which projected a Boga team. They love Vero. They can’t
At the same time, most homes in 7.6 percent increase in U.S. home “The market has changed sub- believe a place like this still exists.”
Central Beach are priced below $1.5 values in January, now forecasts a stantially in just the past two or three
million, which puts them in an over- 16 percent gain. The National Asso- weeks,” she said. “More inquires and Coming from an intense urban en-
lapping seller’s market! ciation of Realtors said 5.1 percent at action. I have five houses I am prep- vironment in Miami, Fort Lauderdale
the start of the year but now expects ping to list in September and that is or West Palm, buyers tell brokers they
Home condition and features also home prices to increase 11.5 percent just me, one agent. What is happening feel a tangible sense of relief when
create sub-markets. in 2022. now won’t show up in the numbers for they cross the bridge onto Vero’s low-
60 or 90 days.” rise island.
“If a house is in good condition and Island agents and brokers are
priced right and also has something mostly optimistic, seeing the summer Island developer Yane Zana said “This is a good time to buy and a
extra – an X-factor such as a beautiful slowdown as part of a natural real es- he has seen the same sudden uptick good time to list,” O’Dare said. “If you
guest house or swimming pool or great tate cycle. in calls from buyers interested in are thinking about selling, get your
location – those houses go immediate- oceanfront properties he is building home on the market in October and
ly with multiple offers,” Daley said. They point out that Vero’s magnetic on the island. “It happened suddenly get ready for a bang-up season. I think
pull on buyers has not diminished in the past couple of weeks,” he said. it is coming.” 
So it is a seller’s market for those homes. and generally expect a good season
But a similar house that needs work ahead for real estate. They do not ex- “We will never see pre-pandemic
probably is in a buyer’s market – even pect prices to significantly weaken.
if you can see it from a house that sold Former county administrator Joe Baird
in a day. “The last two summers during the pleads ‘not guilty’ to stalking charge
Overall, the increase in inventory is boom were anomalies,” said ONE
good news for buyers who now have Sotheby’s International Realty bro- BY RAY MCNULTY former county executive exhibiting
more choices and face fewer bidding ker-associate Michael Thorpe. “This any threatening behavior.
wars, but what does it indicate about summer slowdown was more like a Staff Writer
the market as a whole and what is typical pre-pandemic summer. The “There’s not one scintilla of a threat
coming next? acid test of what the market is going Former county administrator Joe presented to this court,” Meadows
No one knows for sure. to do will come in October and No- Baird has pled “not guilty” to stalking said at the hearing, adding, “I see a
As luxury buyers return from long- vember.” his former girlfriend earlier this year, relationship gone bad, but I don’t see
delayed overseas vacations and kids and his attorney is asking a judge to the malice or intent … There has to be
go back to school, the U.S. real estate “We had a good summer and based dismiss the misdemeanor case con- some kind of action besides being in
market and overall economy feel like on the inquires I’m getting, I think we tending the issues were already liti- the same town that she’s in.”
they are “on shifting sands,” according will have a fantastic season,” said Cin- gated in Circuit Court.
to Forbes. dy O’Dare, also a broker-associate at The judge said if he granted the
“On one hand, there are signs of a ONE Sotheby’s. “This kind of motion is very rare, so I restraining order, Baird would be ar-
weakening economy as the gross do- don’t know if it will be granted, but the rested “because there is no way he
mestic product (GDP) has declined for O’Dare said she has had recent in- state wants to re-litigate issues that can drive down the street in the same
two consecutive quarters, which some quires for ultra-luxury properties from already have been decided,” said Vero place that she lives – in that small area
economists say indicates a recession. South Florida, California, Chicago and Beach attorney Andy Metcalf, who is – without her saying he’s following
But on the other hand, the job mar- as far away as England. “These are peo- representing Baird. her.”
ket and consumer spending are still ple who know they want to be in Vero.”
strong.” “We already had a three-hour hear- Baird, 65, was arrested three weeks
Inflation, higher interest rates, a vol- “The sky is not falling,” said Daley. ing,” he added. “The alleged victim later, after returning to Vero Beach
atile stock market, domestic political “Even with the increase in inventory, was represented by her own lawyer. from a rented summer home in Rhode
turmoil, uneasy international situa- we still have only about 25 percent of Evidence was presented and witness- Island and turning himself in at the
tions and record-high home prices all the normal, pre-pandemic number es testified. And the judge ruled there County Jail, where he spent the night
have weighed on buyer demand. Here of homes for sale,” which provides was no stalking. before posting a $2,500 bond and be-
and around the country, the number strong price support. ing released the next morning.
of home sales is down and apprecia- “Now we’re back in court for a crim-
tion has slowed. “Demand took a bit of a pause over inal case with no new allegations, no In a probable-cause affidavit used
the summer but the drivers pushing new evidence, and the burden of proof to obtain an arrest warrant on June 24,
buyers to our market haven’t changed. is higher.” Vero Beach Police Detective Jennifer
Buyers still want low taxes and a great Brumley wrote that Baird “willfully,
quality of life, and with the ability to The case has been assigned to maliciously and repeatedly followed,
work from home they want to come to County Judge Robyn Stone. harassed and cyberstalked” his former
longtime girlfriend.
ALanPdscOapeL& DLesOign The earlier hearing was held on
June 7, when Circuit Judge Robert Metcalf, who also represented Baird
of the Treasure Coast Meadows presided over a hearing at the June hearing, disputed the al-
on the Vero Beach woman’s request legations and dismissed them as the
CUSTOM MASONRY WORK AND for a restraining order against Baird, remnants of a “messy breakup,” re-
COMPLETE LANDSCAPE DESIGN whom she claimed was stalking her. ferring to the couple’s romantic-but-
tumultuous, eight-year relationship
PAVER INSTALLS After listening to the testimony of that the woman claims to have ended
LOW VOLTAGE LIGHTING ASSISTANCE seven witnesses – including the wom- in February.
an, her parents, a private investiga-
IRRIGATION tor and a Vero Beach Police detective The couple had lived together on
DRAINAGE REPAIR AND INSTALL, – Meadows denied the request, cit- an on-and-off basis in Baird’s Indian
GRADING/SITEWORK AND MUCH MORE ing the close proximity of the island River Shores home since April 2019.
homes in which Baird and his ex-girl- The woman, who asked that her name
772-766-0993 friend reside and the absence of the
apollolandscaping.net

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / September 8, 2022 9

NEWS

be withheld under Florida’s victims’ Court backlog leaves major cases unresolved
rights law, has lived in the Vero Beach
area for 13 years, most of the time on BY LISA ZAHNER Still other defendants are circulat- the employ of elderly John’s Island
the barrier island. Staff Writer ing freely. For victims and their fami- couple Alfred and Michelina Mar-
lies, waiting on justice or financial res- tinelli in 2017 when police say she
Metcalf said he was “shocked” the Summer here typically brings at titution, it’s heartbreaking. stole nearly $200,000 fraudulently us-
police pursued the case after Mead- least one intriguing criminal trial, re- ing her clients’ credit card on luxury
ows had rejected the woman’s stalking solving a languishing case that barrier The trial we were expecting to occur items and trips, saw her sister and
claims in the earlier hearing, at which island residents have been following, that day, unsurprisingly, did not make co-defendant Chiquita Lashae McGee
he said the judge “gave them all day to and potentially bringing justice or clo- the cut and was canceled. It has yet to sentenced to 12 years in prison back
make their case, and they couldn’t do sure to victims’ families be rescheduled. in March. Shepherd, who goes by the
it.”
But not this year. Sophia Monae Shepherd, 34, a Cer- CONTINUED ON PAGE 10
The woman, however, said in July The felony case backlog, made worse tified Nursing Assistant who was in
that Meadows didn’t consider all of by COVID-19 court closures and pan-
the evidence – because, she claimed, demic restrictions, has yet to be resolved.
the judge refused to view visual evi- Several months ago, one case that
dence collected by a private investiga- Vero Beach 32963 had been follow-
tor she had hired. ing for four years was finally set for
trial. We contacted the prosecutor
She said the investigator, who on the case to get last-minute details
was allowed to testify at the hearing, – how many days the trial would be
wasn’t permitted to support his testi- expected to last, how many witnesses
mony with photographs and videos might be called – and the prosecutor
that showed Baird stalking her. cautioned there were upwards of 100

Metcalf is basing his motion to dis- cases set for trial that same day in
miss the stalking charge on the “doc- Judge Dan Vaughn’s courtroom.
trine of collateral estoppel,” which,
he wrote, “exists to enforce the final- Though it seems unbelievable that
ity of a court’s work and to discourage defense attorneys and prosecutors
re-litigation” by preventing “identical could be asked to be “ready for trial”
parties from re-litigating identical is- with more than 100 cases scheduled
sues that have been determined in a for the same day, that is indeed what
prior litigation.” is happening.

He said “each and every issue” cited Defendants are transported, wit-
in the arrest affidavit was addressed at nesses are put on notice to travel or
the June hearing, where the burden of take off work, and victims’ families
proof was by a preponderance of the are notified to ready themselves for an
evidence. emotional trial – potentially.

Charges in criminal cases must be What actually happens when all
proven beyond a reasonable doubt – a these parties gather in the courtroom is
significantly higher burden for pros- a review of the status of the oldest cases,
ecutors to meet. Also, prosecutors will resolution of a few by plea deals, and
be much more limited to what evi- one or two cases actually go to trial.
dence they can introduce.
The remaining cases are loaded
The State Attorney’s Office formally back on the ever-growing pile, and the
charged Baird on Aug. 29, when pros- whole process starts over again on a
ecutors alleged that Baird stalked the different day.
woman between May 1 and June 27.
Attorneys are understandably reluc-
“It’s obvious the state took a long tant to criticize the judges’ procedures
time to decide whether to file,” Met- on the record, but off-the-record, they
calf said, “probably because it realizes are frustrated and extremely stressed-
it doesn’t have a good case.” out over this repeated fire-drill ap-
proach, requiring them to have witness-
Stone has scheduled a status hear- es, evidence and arguments ready for
ing for 8:30 a.m. Friday. potentially dozens of trials on the same
day, knowing that none of their cases is
Metcalf said both Baird and his ex- likely to proceed to jury selection.
girlfriend have been living in separate
summer homes in Newport, Rhode It’s exhausting for everyone involved
Island. in the case, with some defendants – ei-
ther due to financial constraints or the
“Joe is upset,” Metcalf said of the severity of their charged crimes – unable
criminal charge. “He’s embarrassed to get out on bail while awaiting trial,
that his private life has again become and others under “community control”
public. But he completely rejects the at home with an ankle bracelet.
claims she’s making.”

While Baird was Indian River Coun-
ty Administrator in May 2009, he was
charged with driving under the in-
fluence after being stopped by Vero
Beach Police on his way home from a
charity fundraiser. Baird refused the
breathalyzer test, and Baird’s defense
attorney argued that Baird suffered
from vertigo. At the trial, which was
heavily covered by the media, Baird
was acquitted of the DUI charge. 

10 Vero Beach 32963 / September 8, 2022 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

NEWS

Court backlog Pierce has been charged with second-
degree felony vehicular homicide for the
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9 Memorial Day 2021 death of South Bar-
rier Island resident Michael Gianfran-
alias Sophia Brown, changed defense cesco, who was walking his dog along
attorneys in February and her case has A1A when struck by Williams’ vehicle,
been continued four times since then. which police estimate had been travel-
ing in excess of 100 miles per hour.
Shepherd (aka Brown) has been free
on bail since her arrest in 2018. Victim Williams was on probation for fel-
Alfred Martinelli is deceased and Mi- ony charges at the time of the crash.
chelina Martinelli is now 90 years old Nevertheless, he was released by po-
and living in a skilled-nursing facility. lice that night at the crash scene. He
was arrested about a month later,
Asbury Lee Perkins, 64, has been however, and charged with violation
awaiting trial since 2015 on first-degree of probation in St. Lucie County, where
murder for the shooting death of his he is now in custody at the county jail
business partner and estranged wife pending trial on that charge.
Cynthia Betts in their South Barrier Is-
land home. Perkins has fired several at- The vehicular homicide charge was
torneys and is handling his own defense filed in Indian River County two and a
from the Indian River County jail. half months later after the Florida High-
way Patrol concluded its investigation.
On March 10, Assistant State Attor-
ney Bill Long asked Judge Vaughn for John Joseph Rampp, 50, was cleared
a scheduling order putting the case on of any wrongdoing as the driver of
a timeline with a trial date certain and the vehicle in a deadly crash on A1A
last week Vaughn finally set the case which struck and killed John’s Island
for trial on Oct. 10. resident Carl Cutler, who was rid-
ing his bicycle on the Memorial Day
As of Monday, 38 other felony cases weekend in 2021.
were set for trial at the same time, 8:45
a.m. on October 10. It seems the trial But Rampp was arrested in March on
date may simply be a placeholder, or an two felony counts of aggravated assault
effort to temporarily appease the pros- with a firearm for threatening his ex-
ecutor. If Perkins presents some valid girlfriend and another person. Rampp,
reason to delay, with this being a poten- a Brevard County resident, posted
tial death-penalty case and the defen- $12,000 bond and was released from
dant representing himself and working the Indian River County Jail on April 12
with multiple forensic experts, the trial while he awaits trial.
might not even happen until 2023.
Rampp seemed to be without an
Last month Vaughn signed an or- attorney at press time, as two defense
der on a May 27 motion authorizing attorneys recently withdrew from his
Perkins to spend funds on ballistics, case, one citing “irreconcilable differ-
digital crime-scene, DNA, computer ences” with his client, and the newest
forensic and bloodstain pattern ex- attorney being removed for not filing
perts to prepare for trial. Perkins has a notice of appearance. Rampp has
been working on hiring these experts been trying to get the court to declare
for two years, and has unsuccessfully him indigent so he can be repre-
appealed to the Fourth District Court sented by Public Defender Diamond
of Appeals to have Vaughn removed Litty’s office, but in August the court
from his case for what Perkins claims evaluated Rampp’s finances and said
is a failure to issue timely orders. he did not meet the financial need
criteria. 
Jamie Jarvontae Williams, 29, of Fort

Vero Beach City Council Council from 2006 to 2008, and fiercely
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 opposed the city’s decision to sell its
electric utility to Florida Power & Light.
city’s recreation commission.
 Taylor Dingle, a John’s Island golf McCabe, a General Motors executive
for more than 30 years and a city rep-
pro who co-founded the Vero Beach resentative on the county’s economic
Young Republicans Club. development council and Treasure
Coast Council of Local Governments,
 Tracey Zudans, who was an elect- was elected two years ago after unsuc-
ed trustee on the Indian River County cessful runs in 2018 and 2019.
Hospital District and serves on the
board of the Veteran’s Council of In- He previously served on the city’s
dian River County. She is the wife of Utilities Commission.
former Vero Mayor Val Zudans.
Minuse, who served on the city’s
 John Carroll Jr., a certified gener- Planning & Zoning Board for 10 years
al contractor and structural engineer and became locally famous for leader-
who has served as chairman of the ship in the Indian River Neighborhood
city’s code enforcement and planning Association, also was elected in 2020
& zoning boards. in her first City Council campaign.

 Ken Daige, who served on the City Conspicuous by his absence from

CONTINUED ON PAGE 8

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12 Vero Beach 32963 / September 8, 2022 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

NEWS

Vero Beach City Council Orchid has no need for Town Council election
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10
BY SAMANTHA ROHLFING BAITA will be council newcomers James PaineWebber, and has continued to
the ballot is former City Council member Staff Writer Raphalian and John Heanue, as well dedicate much of his time and exper-
Brian Heady, who said he has attempted as returning incumbent Bob Gib- tise to several charitable causes. He
to run every year since 1992 – except in With just three candidates qualify- bons, who just completed a term as retired to Orchid from New Jersey in
2010, after his election in 2009. ing for three open seats on the Orchid mayor. 2013.
Town Council, the northernmost of
“I’m not going to participate in the county’s barrier island municipali- After earning an MBA in finance "I think the best way to serve a small
rigged elections,” Heady said. “It’s hap- ties will not require an election this from Penn State, Raphalian, 76, community like ours is define and en-
pening at every level – national, state November. worked with major firms in the indus- force the policies of our town. It is key
and local – and I’m tired of it. I’m tired try for more than three decades, in- to understand our culture and to help
of the BS.” Filling the vacant four-year seats cluding Schwab Capital Markets and in the future direction of that in these
changing times," Raphalian said on
Asked if he’ll ever run again, Heady Monday.
replied, “I’m not good at predicting
the future.”  Heanue, 77, earned a degree in fi-
nance from the University of Colorado
and worked in the banking and invest-
ment business for 35 years, the last 25
as a managing director with Goldman
Sachs.

Heanue has also volunteered many
hours to cancer support efforts, in-
cluding driving patients to their treat-
ments.

He has been as resident of Or-
chid since retiring to Florida from
Larchmont, N.Y., three years ago,
and considers serving on the town
council a way to “give back” to the
community.

Gibbons, a 1969 graduate of Ford-
ham Law School, practiced for 42
years, most as a partner at Debevoise
and Plimpton LLP, a major interna-
tional law firm headquartered in New
York City.

Gibbons represented corpora-
tions, investment banks and gov-
ernment institutions, foreign and
domestic, in developing and financ-
ing industrial facilities and public
infrastructure (such as the munici-
pal electric utilities of Jacksonville
and Orlando).

Following the November election,
the three will be sworn in, and the new
town council will be seated.

The five-member Orchid Town
Council then will choose who among
them will serve as the mayor and vice
mayor.

In addition to Gibbons, continuing
on the board will be Paul Knapp and
Mary Jane Benedetto, both of whose
current terms on the Town Council
end in 2024.

Council members since 2018, Sims
Browning’s and Patti Oertle-Pha-
neuf’s terms will end in November,
and both chose not to seek re-elec-
tion.

The incoming council faces no
known big issues, budget challenges
or staffing problems.

The Town of Orchid, most of which
consists of the Orchid Island Golf
and Beach Club, has a population of
approximately 415. 

Anna Valencia-Tillery.

SANGARITA CHALLENGE

ALL THE INGREDIENTS
FOR A TASTY FUNDRAISER

14 Vero Beach 32963 / September 8, 2022 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

Sangarita Challenge: All the ingredients for a tasty fundraiser

Victoria and Brendon Kerkela. Ken and Diana Walker. PHOTOS: JOSHUA KODIS & STEPHANIE LABAFF Corey Kerkela and Joaquin Collings.

Jesse and T.J. Wakefield, Becky Patterson with Kris and Paul Horvath. Sheila and David Ciccone with Alyssa Plante and Jada Plante.

BY STEPHANIE LaBAFF title of Best Margarita for their Man- make the community a better place ent aides, who then go into the homes
Staff Writer go Habanero Margarita, made with to live through Exchange Club pillars where abuse has been reported or
a house-infused tequila. Chive was – preventing child abuse, community where families are at-risk for abuse.
A Sangria and Margarita drink- informed by the crowd that it had service, Americanism and youth.
ing flamingo, wearing a sombrero of poured the Best Sangria, a White San- The program helps parents learn
course, flamboyantly celebrated an gria with granny smith apples and In addition to local service proj- how to cope with daily stresses and
inaugural Sangarita Challenge at the grapes. ects, such as packing and distributing how to create a positive environment
Heritage Center that was hosted re- bags of hygiene products to the home- to raise their children, all in hopes of
cently by the Exchange Club of Vero Armani’s Cucina took home awards less, Haynes said, “We give between breaking the cycle of abuse.
Beach. for the Best Small Plate, a Pear and $30,000 and $35,000 in scholarships to
Gorgonzola Fiocchi served in a local students each year.” Since its inception, more than
Throughout the evening, six local creamy white sauce drizzled with 545,000 families and 1.3 million chil-
restaurants – Armani’s Cucina, Blue truffle oil, and Best Overall for their He explained that the student dren have been assisted through the
Agave, Chive, Cobalt, Polo Grill and double offering of an amaretto-based scholarship applications are reviewed Exchange Club’s Child Abuse Preven-
Southern Social – vied for bragging Italian Margarita, and their house- and awarded by the nonprofit’s schol- tion Center network.
rights as to who could serve up the made Sangria. arship committee, and that several
best Sangria, Margarita and small scholarships are given to students at- For its next fundraising opportu-
plate appetizer. The idea for the event was inspired tending technical schools. nity, the Exchange Club of Vero Beach
by a sangria event held by an Ex- will once again partner with the Vero
Attendees enjoyed sipping and change Club on the West Coast, said As part of the National Exchange Beach High School Band to sell Christ-
sampling their way, embracing the Dustin Haynes, president. Club’s work to prevent child abuse, the mas trees near the Cleveland Clinic
difficult task of voting for their fa- nonprofit distributes public aware- Indian River Hospital.
vorite spirits and nibbles, as they pe- “To widen the audience, we added ness materials about child abuse pre-
rused a wide array of silent-auction the Margaritas, so there were options vention. Meetings are held from noon to
items, with proceeds supporting the for everyone.” 1 p.m. Tuesdays at the First Baptist
Exchange Club of Vero Beach Scholar- Haynes added that Youth Guidance Church, in their Family Life Center on
ship Foundation. The Vero Beach Club has been serv- of Indian River County will become 15th Avenue.
ing the community for more than 60 a Child Abuse Prevention Center.
In the end, Blue Agave earned the years and is one of five Exchange Clubs Through a parent aide program, CAP For more information, visit National
in Indian River County. Each works to centers serve as a conduit to train par- ExchangeClub.org. 

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / September 8, 2022 15

PEOPLE

Rod and Ines Rodriguez with Mark Sternberg and Francine Figliolo. PHOTOS CONTINUED ON PAGE 16
Sue Dempsey, Brenda Jakubowski, Karen Fraser, Maribeth Cullen and Laurie Cassidy.

Michelle and Ken Dale.

Megan and Hugo Raasveldt.

Brian Leonard and Candy Caldwell.
Edmund and Cathi Nalzaro.

16 Vero Beach 32963 / September 8, 2022 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

PHOTOS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 14 Jo Baxter, Sandy Berwick and Dru DeJesus.
Beth and Larry Beach.

Dustin Haynes and Judy Landgrave. Samantha Lavery and Jessi Dickerson. Carol DeFazio and Stu Gisburne.

Susan and Rick Hahn. Marybeth Castraberti and Tanja McGuire.

Haley Whitfield, Nadia Aguilar and Karen Blum.

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / September 8, 2022 17

PEOPLE

Dawn Carboni and Jennifer Frederick. Nate Reeves and Keegan Killian.

Jeff Knowles and Josephine Baxter. Clarence and Stacy King. Dave Guisto and Heather Stapleton.

Lyn Smith, Deb Peirce and Nancy Madsen.

Justin and Justine Hutson with Jaiden and Ariya. Robyn and Rick Berry.

18 Vero Beach 32963 / September 8, 2022 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

One ‘fur’ all at Humane Society’s ‘Clear the Shelters Day’

Alexis Adamo. PHOTOS: JOSHUA KODIS PHOTOS CONTINUED ON PAGE 20
Cassandra, Shaylee and Charles Mergott with their new puppy Delaney.

BY MARY SCHENKEL National Clear the Shelters Day. were brought to those rooms, and if
Staff Writer By the end of the day, 80 animals had any of the purring felines melted their
hearts, volunteers processed the pa-
A long line of people waited pa- found their fur-ever home: 38 dogs, perwork on the spot.
tiently outside of the Humane Soci- 40 cats and two pigs. Those numbers
ety of Vero Beach and Indian Coun- brought the total number of adoptions Many of those pursuing canines had
ty, hoping to find and take home a during the period from Aug. 1 to Aug. already viewed the available puppies
new furry family member during 28 to 236 – 101 dogs, 127 cats and eight and dogs online and, once checked in,
other animals, including those oinkers. were escorted back to meet their future
companions. Others, who wanted to
Edgar Cendejas. browse, were taken back with handlers
to meet the dogs. Once paperwork was
“This is the best day ever. Look at processed, there was an area for family
that crowd. We’ve had four adoptions photographs.
right off the bat,” said Kate Meghji, HS-
VBIRC CEO, at the start of the event. Among the most sought-after were
some 10 adorable puppies, all of which
“This is a national event that was found homes.
started by NBC and Telemundo in 2015
as an endeavor to help shelters clear One of those lucky pups was
out in the summer when they’re most 3-month-old mixed breed Delaney,
overcrowded. And it has turned into who went home with Cassandra and
this spectacular success. It’s a celebra- Charles Mergott and their daughter
tion.” Shaylee, 18 months old, who was com-
pletely enamored of the new family
Although shelters, unfortunately, member.
always have a never-ending supply of
animals available for adoption, Meghji Totally adorable, it was anyone’s
says there is something about the col- guess as to the puppy’s heritage, but
lective response when shelters say, ‘We Charles said they were told the mother
need help.’ was a shepherd and that a husky and
boxer were likely part of the mix.
“It prompts people who are maybe
thinking about adopting, to say, ‘We “We saw them online and we decid-
are ready and want to support this ed we wanted to come look at the pup-
awesome initiative on this amazing pies,” said Cassandra, noting that they
day,’” said Meghji. “I mean, look at this, had been among the first people there.
you can feel the energy.”
Pointing to her husband, she added,
Numerous staff and volunteers, “His old dog’s name was Delaney, so it
wearing T-shirts that said, ‘Saving ani- was just kind of fate because her name
mals is kind of my thing,’ efficiently is Delaney.”
managed the orderly crowd, which had
been separated into dog lines and cat Over in the kitten room, 4-year-
lines. old Isabella was hoping to convince
her parents Brittaney and Alexander
Those seeking kittens or older cats Colon-Figueroa to adopt a sweet lit-
tle black and white ‘tuxedo cat,’ who
sported white on the tip of his nose
and paws and some impressive white
whiskers.

The kitten was clearly looking to
make an impression as he lovingly

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / September 8, 2022 19

PEOPLE

licked Isabella’s hand. we thought we’d come today.” The HSVBIRC had waived adoption er County and to assisting owners to
“This is her first time around cats, To anyone unable to adopt that day, fees for the day and, as with all animals keep pets in their homes.” In addition
they adopt out, they had been spayed to adoptions the HSVBIRC operates a
but she loves cats,” said Brittaney, Meghji advised, “There will be more or neutered, were up to date with vac- wellness clinic and has thrift stores in
noting that her mother in Michigan animals tomorrow, next week and cines, and were microchipped. The Vero Beach and Sebastian.
has one that Isabella sees when they the week after that. So the problem nonprofit is “dedicated to helping and
Facetime. “Bella sees the cat all the is there. We’ll have dogs and cats 365 protecting the animals of Indian Riv- For more information, visit hsvb.org
time and she’s been begging us, so days a year.” or call 772-388-3331. 

20 Vero Beach 32963 / September 8, 2022 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

PEOPLE

PHOTOS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 18 Ashley Willer with Corban and Bill Arant, and Hazel. Ivy Pajak-Torode and Debbie Schoonover.
Monica and Addy Mosley.

Jason and Maegan Bailey with their new puppy.

Tracey Kinsley.

Kelsey Lecza and Isaiah Smith play with Lucy.
Isabella Colon-Figueroa.



The Great Ocean Road in Australia.

The goal is now to make
holiday memories that last.

Did we all take travel for granted? Who bers are seeing an increase in people specialist Abercrombie & Kent, “Our Rachel O’Reilly. “Over the past couple
could have predicted, when 2020 ar- wanting to book that once-in-a-life- clients are wanting to make their next of weeks we’ve booked tours of South
rived in all its innocence and naivety, time trip. Multi-generational holidays holiday really count, increasing their America and Japan, family-friendly
that holidays – mind-opening; life-af- are also on the rise as families make up budgets, and treating themselves to Africa safaris, and honeymoons in Sri
firming; the red-letter day in our calen- for lost time. Travelers are choosing to an extra bit of indulgence.” Big ticket Lanka and the Maldives. There are
dars that makes the weekly slog bear- spend more on their holidays, and up- experiences like safaris, gorilla trek- some high value bookings coming in
able – would be off the cards (even, for grading where they can, as they – in the king in Uganda, and Nile cruises, are – people are pushing the boat out this
a time, illegal) for the best part of two realization that life is too short – look to proving particularly popular. year to do something extra special.”
years? tick items off their bucket list.”
“Many people will have gone for The awful human cost of the the
Now, after months and months teth- The goal is now to make holiday two years or more without an over- war in Ukraine is another reminder – if
ered to our homes, we’re making up for memories that last. According to Kerry seas holiday, so there’ll be a lot of hope Covid had not already underlined this
lost time. The end of all Covid restric- Golds, managing director of luxury pinned on 2022,” confirmed Kuoni’s point – that life is fragile, and for living.
tions in most parts of the world has In many ways, now is the time to seize
seen bookings hit pre-pandemic lev- the day. Or, in the words of CS Lewis:
els, while tour operators reported that “Human life has always been lived on
we’re spending more than ever on our the edge of a precipice. If men had
hard-earned breaks and snapping up postponed the search for knowledge
big “bucket list” adventures. and beauty until they were secure, the
search would never have begun.”
Julia Lo Bue-Said, CEO of Advantage
Travel Partnership, which represents To that end, we asked 10 of our most
scores of travel agents, said: “Our mem- widely travelled experts to reveal their
ultimate adventure – the one trip they
would recommend to a friend who has
been stuck at home harboring a seri-
ous case of wanderlust.

We will publish five of their offerings
this week, and five more next. 

Everybody has their favorite beach, and gargantuan boulders that create wind- Choosing the ultimate safari is a tough to set up a high-end safari camp in
our choices are usually influenced by ing passages, natural arches and tun- call. How I love Kaingo, surrounded by 2014. Since then, due to its off-grid
personal memories as much as the soft- nels to a seemingly endless selection the leopards and carmine bee-eaters location a good hour’s drive from any
ness of the sand or the clarity of the sea. of private slips of sand, each kissed by of Zambia’s magnificent Luangwa Val- other camps, you can enjoy the rare
clear, warm waters. ley, and there is hardly a day when I do privilege of spending all day in big
For powdery grains and transparent not pine for the Masai Mara – Kenya’s cat country with no other vehicles
water, it’s hard to beat Maundays Bay Hire a bicycle to explore the sandy incomparable carnivore stronghold – around.
in Anguilla, Plage de Gouverneur in St lanes of La Digue, stopping at Veuve the place where I first fell under the
Barths, or Pampelonne, close to St Tro- Nature Reserve, where it is surprisingly spell of Africa half a century ago. Surrounded by glades of flat-roofed
pez. Yet I’d always head to the Indian easy to spot the critically endangered acacias, the camp itself, with its 10 en-
Ocean for my ultimate beach holiday. Seychelles paradise flycatcher, as well as If you would rather spend time with suite guest tents, is an oasis of comfort.
mighty three-dimensional cobwebs of elephants, you should go to Botswa- It even comes with a swimming pool
Even the alluring name of the Sey- red-legged golden orb-weaver spiders. na’s dreamy Okavango Delta, or Sam- – a rare treat in the Serengeti – but its
chelles seems suggestive of coconut buru game reserve in Northern Kenya. greatest luxury is the professionalism
trees, pillow-soft sand, coral reefs and The go-slow island of Praslin is home But for me, given one last chance to of its guides, whose knowledge and
gently lapping surf – and, yes, this ar- to the forests of the Vallée de Mai, with enthusiasm are second to none.
chipelago of 115 islands delivers all of endemic palms such as the coco de live like a lion in the sun and the wind,
that in spades. mer, which grows up to 30 meters tall it would have to be Namiri Plains in If you want to catch the great Seren-
and bears seeds weighing 40kg. Here is the Serengeti. geti migration, then November is the
But there is more. Here lies an Eden- another beach I love, Anse Georgette, month to choose. This is the season
ic landscape of primeval forest, gigan- where I snorkeled with reef sharks, When it comes to boundless space of the grass rains – warm days of sun-
tic palms encumbered with the world’s stingrays, parrotfish, powder blue tang, and endless horizons combined with shine and showers that bring the sa-
heaviest seeds, delicate wild vanilla or- and lined surgeonfish, before hauling Africa’s wildlife in all its staggering vannah back to life – when upwards
chids, endemic endangered birds like myself onto a rock to dry in the sun. abundance and diversity, this remote of a million wildebeest, together with
the black parrot, and fruit bats soaring This time of year is perfect for spot- corner of Tanzania ticks all the boxes. thousands of zebras, gazelles, and oth-
against vibrant blue skies. This pro- ting turtle hatchlings making their way Added to which, at 5,000 feet the light er plains game, are passing through
fuse wildlife and abundant vegetation down the sand towards the surf. is dazzling, and the climate is the best on their way back from the Mara to
makes the Seychelles stand apart from in the world. their calving grounds in the south of
other paradises. The main island of Mahé offers a the park. No wonder it is known as the
more dynamic kind of paradise and my For 20 years it was off limits to visi- greatest wildlife show on earth.
Back on the seafront, the geology is favorite beach, Beau Vallon, is one of tors; a cheetah hotspot exclusively
astounding. Massive, smooth, shapely the Seychelles’ longest, allowing for lan- set aside for scientific research until But apart from the long rains of
boulders litter the beaches, creating a guorous strolls at sunrise and sunset, Asilia Africa was granted permission April and May, any time can be just as
truly unique landscape. Hard granite with stops for drinks from beach bars, rewarding. The migrating herds may
doesn’t usually belong in the middle of takeaways from food trucks, or fresh have moved on, but the cheetahs are
the ocean, but these islands were cre- mangoes and papaya from market ven- still there, and they are not the only at-
ated from a rogue underwater rock for- dors. Here, you can watch fishermen traction.
mation called the Mascarene Plateau – hauling in their nets, locals foraging
and are all the more beautiful for it. for shellfish at the shoreline, or playing Leopards lurk in the fever tree for-
football and throwing frisbees.  ests, and the kopjes – those enigmatic
From the main island of Mahé, hop granite outcrops that rise like islands
on the ferry to Praslin, and then to tiny from the seas of grass – are home to
La Digue. Pre-pandemic, the boats large prides of the famous Serengeti
coming here carried hundreds of visi- lions. And when at last you find them,
tors a day, but when I came last year having driven out at first light with a
there were fewer than a dozen tour- picnic breakfast on board, thanks to
ists at the island’s most beloved beach. Namiri’s exclusive location you can
Anse Source d’Argent is smattered with have them all to yourself. 

CONTINUED ON PAGE 24

24 Vero Beach 32963 / September 8, 2022 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 23 INSIGHT COVER STORY

A hush overtakes our party as our zo- and mingle with the penguins. Where Few forces could challenge the power Indigenous wildlife can be en-
diac driver cuts the engine. I gawp conditions allow, you can even slip into of an angry ocean. In a battle between countered at any point, but for
at the wonderland around us: the a kayak and paddle past snoozing seals. land and water, fierce waves have (near) guaranteed sightings head to
improbable ice sculptures – anvils, conquered Australia’s south-eastern the newly opened Wildlife Wonders
pagodas, elephants – that crowd the These new ‘discovery yachts’ have coastline, lashing against millennia- eco-tourism attraction at Apollo Bay
bay; the huge tabular bergs along the other toys at your disposal. A heli- old cliffs to create a scenic stretch of (wildlifewonders.org.au). A one-hour
horizon and fissured glaciers beneath copter flight reveals the full scale of sculpted archways, limestone stacks walk led by a conservation guide
the towering peaks of the peninsula. this jaw-dropping landscape from the and hidden bays. winds through protected bushland
It’s hard to process the immensity. Be- air, while a descent in a small guest habitat for kangaroos, potoroos and
hind us, Scenic Eclipse awaits our re- submarine takes you to the seabed – Dramatic and awe-inspiring, it’s a bandicoots.
turn, her sleek lines perfectly framed where ice-fish and krill appear outside fitting location for the world’s larg-
through an ice Arc de Triomphe. your picture windows in a spot no hu- est war memorial – a thrilling coastal The biggest highlight of the drive,
man being will ever have seen before. road built by more than 3,000 soldiers however, is the Twelve Apostles – a
Wildlife brings focus. Crab-eater between 1919 and 1932 in memory collection of limestone stacks iso-
seals yawn and wave languorous flip- The Antarctic Peninsula, via Ushuaia, of 60,000 comrades killed in the First lated by erosion and gobbled by the
pers while Chaplinesque adelie pen- is the classic Antarctic cruise. But there World War. waves. Seven of the marine mono-
guins break off preening to scrutinize are other options. You could sail via liths remain offshore from Port
our approach. As I raise my camera, an the Falkland Islands and South Geor- Running for 151 miles through Campbell National Park, all visible
abrupt exhalation, like the hiss of hy- gia. You could head south to the Wed- Victoria, from surf capital Torquay from clifftop trails or even helicopter
draulic brakes, wrests our attention to dell Sea, where Shackleton’s wreck was to small town Allansford, The Great sightseeing tours.
the stern where the gleaming back of discovered earlier this year, in search Ocean Road is a wild, windswept
a humpback whale rises through the of emperor penguins. Or east, via the driving route, which – at times – feels More natural sculptures are scat-
floating brash ice not 10 meters away. Ross Ice Shelf and the huts of the first like it could be leading to the end of tered along the coastline. Nearby, gi-
explorers, ending in New Zealand. The the earth. Thread along ochre cliffs ant towers Gog and Magog can be seen
Antarctica is the greatest wilderness longest expeditions are 33-day epics, soaring above sparkling beaches and from sea level by descending a natural
on Earth, and the ultimate destination though you’ll be more comfortable tunnel through ancient forests where staircase of 86 steps carved into the
for cruisers and adventurers alike. No- than the likes of Scott and Shackleton. even the sound of tumbling water- rock, tracing a path once used by the
where else will you feel quite such a falls fails to rock sleepy koalas from indigenous Kirrae Whurrong people.
sense of puny irrelevance. Be warned: Cruises run during the Antarctic their treetop cribs. The Grotto, The Arch and Loch Ard
getting there means two days crossing Summer (November–March), when Gorge – a steep-sided, sparkling bay
the notorious Drake Passage from Ar- the days are long, ice-free seas al- Stop at an inexhaustible selection laced with walking trails – are all ad-
gentina’s Ushuaia. But Scenic Eclipse, low access, and wildlife gathers in its of unique viewpoints to appreciate ditional highlights.
or the new Silver Seas Endeavor, take breeding colonies. On these ships, all the strength of the Southern Ocean,
these lively seas in their stride. And your needs are catered for. You needn’t watching waves roll thousands of Longer days and less rain make the
when you venture up on deck, tear- bring much, except a mind prepared miles from the ice shelves of Antarc- summer months between Decem-
ing yourself away from the fine dining to be blown.  tica across some of the most treacher- ber and February an obvious time to
and excellent lectures, there are alba- ous waters to navigate. Then continue visit. But this period coincides with
tross outriders in your wake. to swimmable, sheltered bays where Australian school holidays – so ex-
the surf trickles lazily to shore. pect crowds. Alternatively, the shoul-
Every voyage is a new one. In Antarc- der seasons are also pleasant, much
tica, the weather and ice dictate the itin- Among the route’s essential stops is quieter and cheaper: expect mild in
erary. Working your way down the pen- Erskine Falls, six miles from Lorne in autumn (March to May) and carpets
insula, you glide through picture-book the Great Otway National Park. Fresh of wildflowers in spring (September
panoramas without another vessel in water cascades down a vertical stair- to November). If you can brace the
sight. And at every opportunity, you case of rocks carpeted in lime-green cold, winter can be dramatic. Watch
disembark by zodiac – either to cruise mosses and ticked by the fronds of mighty waves charge from stormy
the ice edge in search of wildlife or to enormous ferns. A strenuous hike to horizons; listen to the rush of water-
tramp the white continent underfoot the second lookout point offers the falls swollen with rainfall; and spot
best views. whales making their journey to the
icy south. 

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / September 8, 2022 25

INSIGHT COVER STORY

Pick a tower – the campanile in St Testiere, a gourmet’s delight you’ll too put off: a fish-eye view of the city’s lines circumnavigate the city center,
Mark’s Square will do, or the one on need to book well ahead: the secret is crumbling palazzi along quieter wa- passing along the wide Giudecca ca-
the island of San Giorgio Maggiore – out. Or go for Michelin-starred Local, terways is memorable. nal and out into the northern lagoon,
and make your way to the top. To the where Venetian classics blend with where the dramatic cemetery island of
east, thin strips of land protect the subtle exotic touches. Not convinced? There are alterna- San Michele rises into view.
fragile lagoon from the waters of the tives. Venice’s vaporetti waterbuses
Adriatic; to the north, the peaks of the You’ve been aloft, you’ve pounded are a means of getting from A to B, Line 12 plies across the wide la-
Dolomites – snow-capped in winter, pavements, all that remains is to take certainly, but they can also be an at- goon to the smaller islands of Murano,
fading into heat haze in summer – to the water. A gondola ride comes traction in themselves, especially if Burano, and impossibly atmospheric
heave into view. And at your feet, the with a hefty price tag and, for some you climb aboard at quieter moments Torcello, with its few fascinating re-
world’s most improbable city is laid tastes, is a trifle cheesy, but don’t be and grab an outside seat. The 4 and 5 minders of a once thriving communi-
out, glimmering. ty. A three-day vaporetto pass makes it
easy to hop on and off the boat wher-
Venice has always been the stuff of ever you spot something too fascinat-
dreams. For holiday-starved visitors, ing to miss.
hungry for difference, it’s a mesmer-
izing place in which to rediscover the There are eating options, too, at the
delights of travel. end of a watery ride. La Palanca, by
the vaporetto stop of the same name
Having reveled in La Serenissima on Giudecca island, is a local bar with
from a great height, it’s time to savor excellent food (lunch only) and the
her at ground level. You’ll want to (re) best city-encompassing view from its
visit the famous landmarks of course. quayside tables. For greater sophisti-
St Mark’s Basilica might seem rather cation, Venissa, on the island of Maz-
too obvious a destination, but think zorbo, offers Michelin-starred treats
again: those acres of glistening golden in a sprawling walled garden. 
mosaics are heart-stoppingly splen-
did. If you find yourself wondering
how many works by grand masters
you can stomach the moment you
spread your travelling wings again,
visit the Accademia Gallery; you might
find that the answer is a whole mar-
velous, dazzling gallery full.

Between one peerless sight and an-
other, be aware that one of Venice’s
greatest joys is simply walking. The
colors, the reflections, the echoes, the
churches along the way in which any
shadowy side-altar could harbor an
exquisite masterpiece – these are the
things that make this watery wonder
simultaneously the simplest and the
most sophisticated of city breaks.

As you proceed, you could make a
restaurant your goal. Famous for its
uninspiring tourist traps, Venice also
harbors some real gems. Splash out
on the ever-changing fishy fare at Alle

26 Vero Beach 32963 / September 8, 2022 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

INSIGHT EDITORIAL

A month ago, I joined about 2,000 other enthusi- one-woman shop,” said Lauren Elliott, of Reston, Va. The ever-mounting presence of digital technology
asts at the Washington, D.C., Fountain Pen Super- “I’m the CEO and the marketing manager and the in daily life has turned some toward the hobby, said
show, billed as the world’s largest pen show. shipping department.” Bryant Del Toro, a software engineer who creates
content as ThatJournalingGuy. Digitally expressing
Display areas at the Marriott Fairview Park in Falls She named her company Lucky Star Pens because creativity can be a challenge, he said. That’s where
Church, Va., teemed as pen devotees made their she loves the night sky, and at the show, she wore a analog instruments and particularly fountain pens
ways along aisles, testing nibs with calligraphical black shirt covered with white stars. On her table, come in: “You pick up the pen, you’re more inten-
flourishes and holding the barrels of pens carefully she displayed Celestial Moon pens, on which she’d tional with your thoughts, and it adds a whole bunch
in their hands. collaborated with other artisans. They were gleam- of personality.”
ing and galactic-themed with a swirling purple-and-
T-shirts at the show read, “My fountain pen scoffs black design and a lunar white round barrel finial. “If I sit down with a pen and an ink, I’ll try to pair a
at your subpar writing instrument,” and “Don’t pen with a specific color ink,” said Fragassi, a chem-
touch my nibs.” Companies had names such as Pen- A mechanical, not unpleasant buzz ran under- ist and novelist who also maintains an Instagram
demonium and Penquisition. neath the constant talk of vermilion ink and vin- page with pen and stationery content. “I love brain-
tage Watermans. The sound came from grinding, storming pen to paper because I can jot stuff down
The DC Metro Pen Crew, an approximately 575-mem- as craftspeople shaped fountain pen nibs for cus- and draw different conclusions and get all that in-
ber group that organizes pen buys, meetings and other tomers. formation out of my head onto the page.”
events, hosted a table to give away new and used pens
and accessories. There were pen kimonos and pen pil- Individuality and customization matter to pen At the show, an ink-testing station took up long
lows. Walking through such a space scrawling in a aficionados, said nibmeister JC Ament of Arling- tables. Racks holding ink and containers of cotton
notebook with a felt-tip earned glances full of pity. ton, Va., whose company is called Nib Tailor. “A swabs sat near rectangular sheets of white paper
fountain pen is obsolete technology,” he said. swatched with rows of inks, donated by sellers, with
Vintage-pen collectors are a mainstay of pen shows. “It’s not a necessity. You want it to be a very tactile names including Blue-Ringed Octopus Blue and Gib-
Some of these people are more interested in pens as thing. It’s a talisman.” son Les Paul Guitar Series Desert Burst. Showgoers
“a work of art rather than a writing instrument,” Ed could use the swabs to sample different colors.
Fingerman, a former president of Pen Collectors of
America and the director of operations for Fountain By early afternoon on the day I attended, vendors
Pen Hospital, in New York, told me earlier. seated back-to-back turned to talk with each other.
At a seminar, held away from the rush of the ball-
They might collect art nouveau pens, or celluloid room and hallways, Geoffrey Parker, great-grandson
pens like Pelletier’s, which became popular in the of the founder of Parker, gave a talk on the company’s
1920s. Not all are prohibitively expensive; some can archives. The trading and selling floors kept churn-
be had for less than $200. ing. A high level of pen-loving conversation carried
on, the lively sound of an interactive community.
Vintage pens have meaning, said self-described
“pen nerd” Yarelis Guzman, who was attending the “What I write is pleasant to actually experience,
show. When Guzman’s mother was growing up in and I think that there are a lot of people like me,”
Puerto Rico, she earned a Parker fountain pen as a Pelletier had told me earlier. The crowded, bustling
member of an honors class. event bore this out. “You go to a pen show,” said Fra-
gassi, “and suddenly you’re surrounded by people
She lost it on her way home, and although she and and everyone’s enthusiastic about fountain pens.
her father looked, they couldn’t find it. A generation You’ve found your people.” 
later, Guzman continued the search at pen shows,
and eventually located and bought the same style of A version of this column by Eliza McGraw first ap-
Parker. She gave it to her mother for Christmas last peared in The Washington Post.
year. “She was so happy,” she told me.

Pen shows also host new pen creators. “I am a

During the coronavirus crisis, our Pelican Plaza office is closed to visitors. We appreciate your understanding.

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / September 8, 2022 27

INSIGHT OP-ED

This rental was uninhabitable! I want my Marriott Bonvoy points back

When Chris Skaggs checked into his of mold and mildew, and the furniture You shouldn't have to stay in a place discussions with Marriott or the vaca-
vacation rental, he found it uninhab- was threadbare and filthy. I had diffi- like that. tion rental agency. You did, however,
itable. But can he get a refund of his culty breathing. show them photos of the threadbare
Marriott Bonvoy points, which he used Your rights to a refund aren't gov- furni-ture.
to make the reservation? I left shortly after arriving and had erned by Marriott's terms of service but
to go to a hotel for the night. I tried to by the rental agree-ment you signed When you find yourself in a situa-
QUESTION: contact the vacation rental company with that third party. Under most rental tion like this – and I hope you never do
numerous times, both before I left and contracts, you can get a refund if there's again – you have to document every-
I recently rented a condo in Florida after I checked out. I also asked Marri- a problem with the health or safety of thing. Keep your contracts and emails,
through Homes & Villas by Marriott. ott for help but I never heard back from the unit. Mold and construction defi- and take lots of photos – not just of the
I used my Marriott Bonvoy points to the vacation rental company. nitely qualify, but you need to work that threadbare furniture, but of any mold
make the reservation. out with the rental company. or dangerous conditions that would
I would like my points refunded. But prove your rental is un-inhabitable.
When I arrived, I discovered the unit Marriott is deferring to another com- You gave the rental company and
was uninhabitable. The condo smelled pany that manages its va-cation rent- Homes & Villas by Marriott a chance Ultimately, I think Marriott bears
als and will not give me my points. Can to resolve this, but it looks like they some of the responsibility. After all, it
you help? didn't. I think Marriott was correct to put its name on your rent-al and al-
refer you back to the rental company lowed you to use your points. The least
ANSWER: – except when it comes to the refund. it could do is give you a straight answer
Only Marriott can return your Bon- before referring you back to the rental
Marriott's vacation rental site prom- voy points. company. I list the names, numbers
ises its homes are "professionally and emails of Marriott's exec-utives on
cleaned and inspected," but it looks like I reviewed your paper trail.You didn't my consumer advocacy site. I think a
they missed a few spots in your condo. mention your rental contract in your brief, polite email might have helped
resolve this.

I contacted Marriott on your behalf.
It refunded your points without offer-
ing any further explana-tion. 

Get help with any consumer prob-
lem by contacting Christopher Elliott at
http://www.elliott.org/help

28 Vero Beach 32963 / September 8, 2022 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

INSIGHT BOOKS

The field of biographies about a long acquain- tors, including psychoana-
Sigmund Freud, founder of psy- tance with the lysts, could no longer par-
choanalysis, is a crowded one. physician, and ticipate in private or public
Notable works from the past Nagorski skill- health insurance programs,
few years include Adam Phillips’ fully weaves effectively preventing them
“Becoming Freud: The Making of their reasons from making a living.”
a Psychoanalyst” and Frederick for helping him
Crews’ “Freud: The Making of an into the narra- Freud continued to be-
Illusion.” While Phillips portrayed tive. Ernest Jones, a Welsh physician and early fan lieve that Austria would
the father of psychoanalysis as a of psychoanalysis, first met Freud in 1908 and helped maintain its independence
“visionary pragmatist,” Crews re- spread his ideas in North America and England. Al- from Germany, right up un-
duced Freud’s work to “detective though Jones was embroiled in numerous contro- til March 1938, when Hitler
fiction,” accusing him of plagiariz- versies involving the abuse of his authority in sexual made his final push into Vi-
ing some of his major ideas while relationships with patients, Freud remained loyal to enna, cheered on by a mob
also being a misanthrope who had him, chalking up the incidents as “further confirma- of rabid supporters. Gangs
little interest in actually helping tion of his concept of ‘transference,’ whereby a pa- ransacked Jewish business-
his patients. By contrast, Andrew tient redirects her feelings for someone else toward es, including the psychoana-
Nagorski’s new biography, “Saving her therapist.” Jones and Freud’s lengthy and warm lytic publishing house man-
Freud: The Rescuers Who Brought association contrasted sharply with other profes- aged by Freud’s son Martin,
Him to Freedom,” is unconcerned sional relationships that ended badly, such as Freud’s while brownshirts paid a visit to the Freud household
with assessing the impact of Freud famous break with his onetime ally Carl Jung, which and had to be bribed the equivalent of $840 to leave
or taking down his legacy. Nagorski Nagorski also describes. them alone. Yet Freud continued to refuse his col-
pursues a different approach, detail- While Nagorski provides biographical details of leagues’ entreaties to leave. Suffering from cancer of
ing how Freud and 15 members of Freud’s entire life, he concentrates on the years leading the jaw, acquired from a habit of smoking 20 cigars a
his entourage managed to flee Aus- up to World War II. By the 1930s, all signs indicated that day, he was already in his 80s and knew he did not have
tria for Britain in 1938, just as Nazi the world as Freud knew it was crumbling around him, much time left. When asked later why he had delayed
persecution of Jews was reaching a yet he was unsure whether to take the Nazis seriously. his departure so long, his daughter Anna Freud blamed
fever pitch. Nagorski tells a riveting new story, one “A nation that produced Goethe could not possibly go his illness as well as his inability to “imagine any ‘new
that shows just how narrow Freud’s escape from the to the bad,” he once told Bullitt. Yet Nagorski shows that life’ elsewhere. What he knew was that there were only
Nazi genocide was. it was clear the Nazis intended to take aim at the psy- a few grains of sand left in the clock – and that would be
choanalytic field, with its “heavily Jewish practitioners.” that.” But once Anna was arrested and interrogated by
A former Newsweek correspondent who has writ- By 1933, antisemitism had become “official policy, with the Gestapo, Freud realized that to ensure her future, he
ten previous books about World War II, Nagorski the medical profession an early target. Non-Aryan doc- would have to leave Austria.
focuses on Freud as well as the supporters who en- Readers looking for an in-depth exploration of the te-
abled his escape, a list of VIPs whose influence prob- nets of psychoanalysis will not find that here, but “Saving
ably kept the Nazis from making Freud an immedi- Freud” contains just enough about the central themes
ate target. Among others, his saviors included two of Freud’s professional life to give a sense of his impact
former patients and loyal devotees: the American on the discipline he is largely credited with inventing.
ambassador to France, William Bullitt, and Napoleon Unlike other, more critical biographies, the Freud that
Bonaparte’s great-grandniece and princess of Greece emerges from these pages is warm, avuncular and exces-
and Denmark, Marie Bonaparte. Well-placed in gov- sively fond of Anna, whom he knew would carry on his
ernment and in Europe’s high society, Freud’s rescu- legacy. The narrative pace and Nagorski’s fluid writing
ers had the influence to obtain the necessary visas for give this book the character of an adventure story. It is an
a move to England as well as the immense sums of engrossing but sobering read that reminds us how many
money the Nazis demanded before issuing exit visas. others without the resources of the Freud family had no
Bullitt, for example, negotiated diplomatic arrange- similar options to make an exodus. 
ments and protection to help Freud leave the coun-
try, while Bonaparte financially supported the Freud SAVING FREUD
family and visited them frequently, conscious that the
Nazis would be unlikely to persecute the family while THE RESCUERS WHO BROUGHT HIM TO FREEDOM
important people were present.
BY ANDREW NAGORSKI | SIMON & SCHUSTER. 336 PP. $28.99
Many other members of Freud’s rescue team had REVIEW BY RACHEL NEWCOMB, THE WASHINGTON POST

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / September 8, 2022 29

INSIGHT BRIDGE

THE BID MADE MINUTES EARLIER WEST NORTH EAST
Q J 10 8 6 A72 K943
By Phillip Alder - Bridge Columnist K52 J 10 4 3 A86
K84 75 10 9 3
Occasionally, I get strong feelings about doing something abnormal at the bridge table. K6 AQ53 J92
The strangest occurred when I was in college. I was standing on a Euston underground
station platform in London. I knew I would be playing North, starting with Board 1 and SOUTH
being the dealer. I decided that if I did not have a normal opening, I would bid one 5
spade regardless! That is what I did, and it worked well; we were off and running. Q97
AQJ62
It happened again on this deal. My wife and I were playing at Bridge Base Online 10 8 7 4
against two robots (computer-controlled hands). She had a telephone call, and while
she was talking, I decided that if it went two passes to me, I would ... do what? Dealer: North; Vulnerable: Neither

Although I would have opened her hand, lo and behold, there were two passes, so I The Bidding:
bid three diamonds! (Two diamonds is not a weak two-bid in our system, but I had that
premonition to open three.) It was passed out. SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST OPENING
?? Pass Pass
West led the club king. I won with dummy’s ace and took a losing trump finesse. West LEAD:
shifted to the heart king, under which I dropped the queen. West now led his second K Clubs
club. I won on the board, drew trumps and drove out the heart ace. I lost two hearts,
one diamond and one club.

Strangely(!), no one else opened my hand. Then West began with one spade. Often
North-South stayed out of the auction and West played in two spades, which went
down one. Over two spades by East, South might have made a takeout double. Here,
that might have resulted in a contract of three hearts, which could have been made.
However, East might have pushed on to three spades because of the nine-card fit.

Established 18 Years in Indian River County

(772) 562-2288 | www.kitchensvero.com
3920 US Hwy 1, Vero Beach FL 32960

30 Vero Beach 32963 / September 8, 2022 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

INSIGHT GAMES

SOLUTIONS TO PREVIOUS ISSUE (AUGUST 25) ON PAGE 56

ACROSS DOWN
1 Court panel (4) 1 Diary (7)
3 Friendly states (6) 2 Speeds (5)
8 Vulgar, unrefined (7) 3 Appalled (6)
9 Near; muggy (5) 4 Fortuitous (5)
10 Olfactory organs (5) 5 Any strong feeling (7)
11 Elegant, fashionable (7) 6 Dons (4,2)
12 Mislaying (6) 7 Netting; engage (4)
14 Stink (6) 13 Various (7)
18 French-Italian coastal area (7) 15 Hypothesis (6)
20 Looking at (5) 16 Gaunt (7)
22 Deserve (5) 17 Bargain (over) (6)
23 Large primate (7) 18 Posterior (4)
24 Dive (6) 19 Consumed (5)
25 Dry, parched (4) 21 Lazy type (5)

The Telegraph

How to do Sudoku:

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

The Telegraph

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / September 8, 2022 31

INSIGHT GAMES

ACROSS 124 Dangerous date 78 Be suspendedThe Washington Post
1 Do summer stock 125 Gin fruit 80 ___ me tangere
4 Fictional elephant 126 That burning sensation 81 Take by force
9 Post-bottle sound 127 A warning sign of success? 82 Kin of “me neither”
13 Form of cotton? 83 Poet’s a.m. time
17 Head-banger with bangs DOWN 84 Neck area
18 Piña ___ 1 It’s loaded 85 Related on the mother’s
19 See * note above 2 Brilliant stroke
22 See * note above 3 Pass-fail item side
25 The ___ nerve 4 Startling remark 92 Govt. check issuer
26 Silent Movie first name 5 Astringent stuff 93 “Never ___!”
27 Letters on a ship 6 Flour shop? 95 Private eye
28 Played under a roof 7 Truffaut’s 97 Poet’s concern
29 11th century date 98 Fit to be tied
31 Get back, in a way The Story of ___ 99 Cicero, for one
33 What caballos drink 8 Actress Charlotte 100 Body of beliefs about a
35 See * note above 9 Produce-section holders
43 The Amu Darya used to 10 Applications group
11 U.S. 1, e.g. 104 Insistent assent, to Ignacio
flow into it 12 A degree of success? 105 Dull sound
44 “No kidding!” 13 Ring 106 Stack up
45 Part of EMT: abbr. 14 Mythical ship 107 1965 Sonny & Cher album,
47 “___ talking to you?” 15 Oscar night arrival
48 Town NE of Tampa 16 Salon guru Jose Look ___
51 Bite the dust 18 Washing machine features 108 He sang about Alice
52 Verdi work 20 Troy’s other name 109 Chex alternative
54 Mild, yellow cheese 21 Historic peninsula 111 Spanish surrealist
55 See * note above 23 Deadline 113 Résumé abbrs.
58 Nosh-eterias 24 Insect stages 114 Godzilla star, 1956
60 One of the Pleiades 30 That is, in Latin 115 Kevin Kline in A Fish Called
61 Grounded bird 32 Like some workouts
62 Wind dir. 33 Connected, as wheels Wanda
63 See * note above 34 Ellen’s quote on a 1997 117 CIA precursor
118 ___ canto
(continues at 79 Across) Time magazine cover, 119 Joan Lunden’s longtime
70 Type of sale that occurs “Yep, I’m ___”
35 Muslim decree show: abbr.
around the 30th or 31st: 36 ___ spray 120 Bill’s sponsor: abbr.
abbr. 37 Euler’s skill
73 TV alien 38 Rectangular groove WHAT’S UP, DOC? By Merl Reagle
74 Ignoble 39 Italian director Petri
75 Hide 40 ___-do-well
79 See 63 Across 41 Playwright Williams
86 Cinder ender 42 Purple Noon star
87 Designs over again 43 Thunderstruck
88 Aussie animal, 46 Dissolute one
for short 49 Gimlet juice
89 The Seduction 50 Actor Morales
of Joe ___ 52 Classic tune,
90 Frustrating thing “All ___”
91 Spoken 53 Excursions
92 Saws, to Caesar 56 Put aside
94 Not playing 57 Part: abbr.
96 See * note above 59 Sunless spot
101 Part of QED 64 Auto pioneer
102 Give it ___ 65 Giants’ home, on baggage
103 Enjoy the special 66 No. 1 in sprinting
104 Layers 67 Classic TV adventure
108 Bhutto who once led series
Pakistan 68 Rommel’s refusal
110 Green machine? 69 Increases the pace
112 Jumbo introducer 70 From a continent
116 See * note above 71 Louise or Norma
(continues at 121 Across) 72 Palindromic woman
121 See * note above 76 See 42 Down
122 Dudley and Roger 77 Arm support
123 Museum offering

The Telegraph

32 Vero Beach 32963 / September 8, 2022 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

Child loses respect for dad who refuses to care for himself

BY CAROLYN HAX (Shuts things right down for me, at least.)
Washington Post The second issue is your diminishing respect for

Dear Carolyn: Dad is not taking him. Yes, it is a “jerky way to think about your own
dad,” or anyone. Judging is the mental equivalent of
care of himself. He drinks too much, picking scabs: gross, wrong, so satisfying. But … there
is a but.You are allowed to have an opinion of your dad
sleeps all day, watches TV all night, as a person, just as you are allowed to have an opinion
of anyone else. And that opinion can include updates
and he’s been so inactive for so long to the mental list of things you do and don’t love and
respect about him, based on this new information.
he can’t even manage a trip to the Our opinions can be complex.

grocery store. So you can love him but not like him, enjoy him but
not respect him, this but not that. Whatever. You can
He’s been screened for depression and all possible feel angry. Sad. Forgiving. The more comfortable you
get with knotty feelings about people, the less weird
health issues – negative. His doc is aware and has ad- and frustrating the world will start to seem. If ever so
slightly less. Recall as needed: You drive your people
vised him to make lifestyle changes. The (adult) kids nuts, too, sometimes.

have talked to him – we want him around for as long Third thing: You don’t need you to be swatting your-
self down for having complicated feelings specifically
as possible. He’s just not interested in making changes. about “your own dad.”

He’s married to and lives with Mom, who lives an in- I may be misreading you, and if so, my apologies –
but I’m picking up a hint of, “He is my dad and there-
credibly active and healthy lifestyle but insists Dad’s fine fore I am supposed to love and admire and heed him.”
If this is accurate, then the most freeing move might
and doing the best he can. The kids have tried healthy/ be to dispense with any residual mythic-parent “sup-
posed to” notions, consciously and for good. You are
fun/tasty alternatives – he says no thanks. an adult. He is a regular human being. As human as
your neighbor, your colleague, the guy behind you on
None of this is new, but the effects are really adding up the bus. Bring no expectations, except maybe to learn
from this. See if that lifts some of the weight. 
and taking a noticeable toll. It’s so very painful to watch.

How do I wrap my head around the fact that he’s an the obvious issue. Of course you’re upset about that,
watching as he refuses even basic health maintenance.
adult, he makes his own choices, and so freaking out You have the right idea, though, in redirecting your at-
tention to the companionship he offers as he can offer
over those choices is just frittering away the time I have it. The persistent wanting of something different is the
single greatest obstacle to appreciating what we have.
left with him? His decisions are whittling away my re-
There’s also the futility of wanting this partic-
spect for him, and that is a crummy and jerky way to ular different outcome. You’ve all clearly tried.
So when the impulse to keep cajoling him over-
think about your own dad. Any ideas? takes you, recall how you like it when someone
eyes your plate and says, “You’re eating that?!”
– Unmovable

Unmovable Dad: There are three issues here, actu-
ally, not just one.

Your dad’s self-destructive personal habits are

‘I LOVE CHALLENGES’

WATERCOLORIST DIVES INTO

CREATIVE ENDEAVORS





36 Vero Beach 32963 / September 8,2022 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

ARTS & THEATRE

‘I love challenges’: Watercolorist dives into creative endeavors

BY DEBBIE TIMMERMANN | CORRESPONDENT

“I come from a family that somehow Witha Lacuesta. a certain piece,” says Lacuesta. “Sound Bolero, which had big sweeping move-
always practiced art,” says artist Witha affects me in the way I want to paint ments, very slow and very exciting, but
Lacuesta, whose first name is pro- PHOTOS BY JOSHUA KODIS something. I am very much influenced very repetitious also, was in the Festi-
nounced “Vita.” by music. A painting based on the music val of the Masters at Disney (a nation-

“My grandfather was a carriage de- painting, they could buy
signer and a carriage builder. Others in it, but I wasn’t focused on it as a profes-
my ancestry were merchants, and on sion then.”
their travels, they also purchased paint-
ings for their collection. My grandmoth- Working mostly in watercolor, she has
er was a fashion designer in Paris as a also dabbled in oils, acrylic and caustic,
young woman [1890]. Her brother was as well as collages and linotype, and has
a sculptor, and her father painted both realistic and abstract, de-
painted from a young boy pending on the piece. Some are combi-
on,” says Lacuesta, who nations of mediums, such as watercolor
still has his paintings. and gold leaf.

“My mother, father and A prolific painter, much of her work
sister were all artistic. So I is in series, such as landscapes, historic
painted always. As a child buildings, birds, animals, flowers and
we went to museums on a street scenes. Another series is based
regular basis all over Eu- on music and dance, whether modern
rope. We visited historic or classical.
sites; the architecture in-
troduced me to art and “Sometimes it’s the instrument in a
proportions and specific piece of music that inspires me to create
directions.”

Born in Germany,
Lacuesta first came to
the United States in 1967,
landing in California.

“I loved California. That was when I
started to live. I painted like crazy when
I didn’t have to work.”

After going back to Germany to be
near aging parents, she returned to the
U.S. to live in Boston, where marriage, a
job in cartology, and children occupied
her time. Twenty-four years later, they
moved to Florida.

“I am extremely happy here, but I do
miss the culture of other places. In Ger-
many, Paris was only four hours away. I
love to travel.”

Lacuesta has painted professionally
some 15 years, though she sold some
works as far back as 30 years ago, ex-
plaining, “If someone saw and liked a

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / September 8, 2022 37

ARTS & THEATRE

gas station (since demolished) that was doors or in an air-conditioned space.
recognized by the children of the for- “I had extreme difficulty painting
mer owners.
2,000 feet up in the mountains, until
Lacuesta has mastered watercol- somebody said I had to use a different
ors; whether detailed or loose, it all paper. The paper I was using was taking
comes together, and she achieves a up everything right away, and the other
balance. While many watercolorists paper had another level of how it would
tend toward smaller paintings, as the react to the paint. This is what you have
paint is quick drying and less forgiving to learn if you really want to do water-
than acrylic or oils, Lacuesta says she color,” she explains.
doesn’t find that a problem.
“The love of watercolor is in the flow
“It’s all in the way you handle it. I can of the pigment, what it can do, how
paint any size watercolor,” she says, not- different watercolor manufacturers
ing that as paper comes in rolls that are change the pigment, and how it flows
6 feet by 20 feet long, she isn’t limited, on different papers. You need to learn
although it can be challenging to find a and use what the different properties
surface large enough to lay it flat. are,” says Lacuesta, who has learned
from experimentation as well as in
Another issue with large watercol- classes and workshops.
ors, she says, is deciding how to dis-
play them. Watercolors are generally “It just takes a lot of energy, and pa-
framed under glass and the weight can tience with yourself.” Preferring to look
get prohibitive. on the positive side of life, she says, “I
can’t stop bad things from happening,
“The only way to preserve some- but I can try to exude pleasantness and
thing larger is to coat it and preserve happiness, and try to assist others. That
it that way. It’s now admissible in art is what is really important.”
shows to do that. The traditional way
was that you could not put any coat- Lacuesta exhibits at the Vero Beach
ing on it. We have new products to seal Art Club Gallery Annex, and at Mel-
it, as the paper is always sensitive to bourne’s Fifth Avenue Art Gallery in Eau
moisture,” says Lacuesta. Gallie. She has also worked in sculpture,
jewelry, stage painting, linotype and
Additionally, the way paper reacts monotype, and has written and illus-
varies depending on the manufacture trated a children’s story.
and, she adds, paint behaves differ-
ently whether she is painting out- “I love challenges.” 

ally recognized art festival featuring 300 “The bird population in Florida is a
award-winning artists).” story in itself. I observe the animals in
nature. One time I observed a turtle
Disney chose to purchase the painting laying eggs and burying them. I also
for their collection. saw two Caracara birds watching from
‘upstairs.’ I drove around and I spot-
“People often tell me they are not re- ted the two birds; they had dug up
ally into abstracts,” says Lacuesta. “But the eggs. It was the young bird being
then they look at it, and they are af- taught by the adult how to find food.
fected by it. People say they feel a sense That is the story behind my paintings;
of happiness and lifting when they see observation, observation, observa-
the music series.” tion,” says Lacuesta.

Another painting was inspired by a She explains that she takes photos as a
Mexican folk dance. reference but interprets rather than cop-
ies the background, adding, “The color
“It has a certain elegance to it, and composition, balance, cool/warm tem-
when you see it danced, the ladies are in perature, I always pay attention to that.”
high heels, the man has a hat on, with a
fan they use, and it is a very controlled Additionally, she carefully notes the
step, very ceremonious.” inherent position of each animal doing
its specific task.
That painting was in a show, and
the woman who purchased it said she “Young birds are very interesting
owned eight dance studios. because they are often awkward. To
observe the story of what’s behind the
Lacuesta often doesn’t reveal the ti- bird at that moment of observation,”
tles of her paintings, wanting people to she explains.
form their own ideas without a title in-
fluencing their perception. In that case, “In the Blue Heron painting, it shows
the woman had responded to the dance nest building. He is the one to choose
movements, even though they were ab- the nesting materials and brings it to her.
stract. It spoke to her. She either graciously accepts it or throws
it overboard.”
Many of her dog paintings are of spe-
cific animals, their personalities shining Scenes of Old Florida, which are fast
off the paper long after they have passed disappearing, are immortalized in her
on to doggy heaven. Lacuesta is also well paintings, including a painting of an old
known for her bird paintings, many of
which have won awards.

38 Vero Beach 32963 / September 8,2022 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

ARTS & THEATRE

COMING UP! Symphony offers ‘Remembering 9/11’ tribute concert

BY PAM HARBAUGH St. $30 general. Call 855-252-7276.
Correspondent
The Vero Beach Theatre Guild
2 opens both classic and out of the

1 The Space Coast Symphony Or- ordinary Tennessee Williams plays
chestra presents “Remember-
this week. As part of its “10 X Tenn”

ing 9/11,” a tribute to the victims, the month-long theater festival, it opens

survivors and their families and the “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” 7:30 p.m. Fri-

first responders to this horrible na- day, Sept. 9 and it runs weekends

tional tragedy. Led by conductor Aar- through September. Tickets are $35.

on Collins, the program begins with While “Cat” is an often-done drama,

there are also two other one-act plays

which you may never have seen: “This

Property is Condemned” and the

comedy “The Case of the Crushed Pe-

tunias.” The one-acts open 7:30 p.m.

Thursdays, Sept. 8 and run Thursdays

throughout September in the 35-seat

Studio Theatre. Tickets are $30. The

Samuel Barber’s “Adagio for Strings.” Vero Beach Theatre Guild is at 2020 Monday, Sept. 12 at the monthly meet- they’d be interested in auditioning for
It also includes Kenneth Fuchs’ “Fall- ing of the Indian River Bromeliad Soci- “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Jr.,”
ing Man,” which comprises arias and San Juan Ave. Call 772-562-8300 or vis- ety at the Garden Club of Indian River which will be a fully staged production
interludes featuring baritone Thomas County, 2526 17th Ave., Vero Beach. scheduled to run Dec. 2-3. If that’s the
Potter. The concert closes with Bar- it VeroBeachTheatreGuild.com. There will be raffles and plant sales as case, then you’d better hop to, because
ber’s “Symphony No. 1.” There will well. Admission is free. Call 772-713- you need to submit their video audi-
also be works by Aaron Copland and 3 Dennis Cathcart will lend his 6007 or visit IRBromeliadSociety.org. tion no later than Sept. 16. The audi-
John Williams. The program begins 3 expertise to the Indian River tion video needs 32 measures of a fun,
p.m. Sunday, Sept. 11, at the Commu- up-tempo tune, sung a capella. Select
nity Church of Vero Beach, 1901 23rd Bromeliad Society Monday evening. a song from musical theater or a jolly
holiday song. Tuition to the program
A world-renowned bromeliad expert, is $300 and there is tuition assistance
available. Rehearsals are 4 p.m. to 6
he will speak on “Bromeliad Hunting 4 Riverside Theatre is all set to en- p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fri-
tertain both adults and children days starting Oct. 10. More of your
in Cuba.” The program begins 7 p.m. child’s time is required for “tech week,”
which runs 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Nov. 28
this month. Let’s start with the fun to Dec. 1. For more information, visit
the Riverside Theatre for Kids page at
stuff for the young ones. The Riverside RiversideTheatre.com.

Theatre for Kids program is kicking off

its new series, “Playtime in the Park.”

Designed for children 2 to 5 years

old, this program has two parts to it

5 Adults get their time too. Maybe
not on stage, but at least in the

audience laughing it up. Riverside

Theatre’s Comedy Zone returns this

weekend with headliner Peter Fogel,

feature act Vinnie Coppola and em-

cee Jim Harping on Friday, and P-Mac

on Saturday. Fogel is known for his

– theater and dance. In both, leaders clean comedy act and has done a slew
and student performers will present
programs that invite young audience of commercials. Coppola went to Fla-
members to come join them in all the
fun. It starts at 11 a.m. on the second gler College for a couple years before
and third Saturdays of most months
in the theater’s outdoor Loop Stage, he discovered the appeal of stand-
which is just to the north of the box of-
fice. The Playtime in the Park Theatre up comedy. He’s appeared on HBO’s
takes place on the second Saturdays
of most months and features student “Entourage” and is a regular guest on
performers presenting interactive fairy
tale plays. The Playtime in the Park syndicated morning shows like John
Dance takes place on the third Sat-
urday of most months and is done in Boy and Billy. Harping has quite the
concert with Ballet Vero Beach. These
are free programs. If you have children background. A Vero Beach resident,
who are 6 years and older and have a
drama streak in them, then perhaps he’s been a trial attorney, a law en-

forcement officer, a bass player in a

rock group and more. P-Mac is a stand-

up comic who performs regularly on

cruise ships. The shows are 7 p.m.

and 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 9 and Satur-

day, Sept. 10. Tickets are $23. Riverside

Theatre is at 3250 Riverside Park Dr.,

Vero Beach. Call 772-231-6990 or visit

RiversideTheatre.com. 

PEDIATRIC SURGEONS

EXTENSIVELY TRAINED
IN ARRAY OF AREAS

40 Vero Beach 32963 / September 8, 2022 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

HEALTH

Pediatric surgeons get extensive training in array of areas

BY KERRY FIRTH Dr. Colin Knight. geon with HCA Florida Lawnwood
Correspondent Hospital, said. “In communities
PHOTOS: JOSHUA KODIS that don’t have a pediatric surgeon,
When your child needs surgery it basic operations on children often
can be overwhelming and frighten- are done by general surgeons.
ing. After all, children are not sim-
ply small adults, and they cannot “It takes about 29 years of educa-
always say what is bothering them. tion and training to become a pe-
They can’t always answer medi- diatric surgeon,” said Dr. Knight.
cal questions and sometimes won’t “That’s counting grades K-12, four
even sit still for a medical exam. years of college, four years of med
school, five years of adult general
Fortunately, pediatric surgeons surgery training, two additional
are trained to operate on children years of fellowship training in pe-
from birth through late adoles- diatrics, and one to five years of re-
cence and they know how to ex- search and clinical training. Most
amine and treat children in a way pediatric surgeons are in their early
that makes them feel relaxed and 30s before they complete their edu-
safe. They have special equipment cation and training and get certi-
and facilities specifically designed fied by the American Board of Sur-
for the needs of children and they gery in both General and Pediatric
are specially trained to treat the Su rger y.”
unique and sometimes rare illness-
es that affect children. Even though many child surgeries
are done by general surgeons, certain
Unfortunately, finding a pediat- cases require the advanced training
ric surgeon is not always easy, as and expertise of a pediatric surgeon
there just aren’t very many around. because surgical problems seen by
pediatric general surgeons are often
“There are more NFL football quite different from those commonly
players than pediatric surgeons,” seen by adult general surgeons.
Dr. Colin Knight, a pediatric sur-

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / September 8, 2022 41

HEALTH

A pediatric surgeon is a true gen- specialized children’s hospitals. Lawnwood Hospital, but Dr. Knight ship, Dr. Knight served four years as
eralist who has the skill and knowl- According to Dr. Knight, the three may be called in for a consult with a primary care doctor in the United
edge to operate on every part of a the parents to provide them with States Air Force while serving in
child’s body. They will operate on most common fetal surgery inter- knowledge ahead of time. multiple deployments. He trained
the chest, the neck, the belly, the ventions are for myelomeningocele, in Pediatric Surgery at the Nicklaus
back – literally wherever the prob- which is an extreme form of spinal “Working with children and hav- Children’s Hospital in Miami and
lem is located. They also treat a va- bifida; diaphragmatic hernia sur- ing the opportunity to improve obtained his General Surgery and
riety of age groups which present gery to repair a hole in the child’s their quality of life is very gratify- Pediatric Surgery certifications in
their own set of challenges because diaphragm, which pushes the in- ing,” Dr. Knight proclaimed. “My 2006 and 2008, respectively.
the disease of a premature baby is testines up into the chest and pre- patients have their whole life ahead
different from the disease of a new- vents the lungs from full develop- of them and I want to make sure it’s Although most of his patients are
born, which is different, in turn, ing; and a procedure for twin-twin the best it can be.” referred to him by their pediatricians
than those of a toddler or adoles- transfusion syndrome that repairs or other pediatric specialists, he can
cent. abnormal blood vessel connections Dr. Knight has a BS in Molecular be reached at his office at HCA Flor-
from the placenta to allow blood to Biophysics and Biochemistry from ida Lawnwood Hospital, 2402 Frist
Pediatric surgeons also have flow evenly between twins. Yale University and an MD from the Blvd., Suite 204. Fort Pierce, 772-
unique instruments designed and University of Virginia. After gradu- 462-3939. 
scaled specifically for use in small These specialized prenatal sur- ating from the University of Virgin-
patients as well as very specialized geries are not performed at HCA ia and finishing a surgical intern-
tools that are only used for certain
pediatric operations.

Some of the more common sur-
geries performed by a pediatric sur-
geon are appendectomies; surgical
repair of birth defects including
esophagus, lungs, intestinal tract
and abdomen wall defects; sur-
gery for abnormalities of the groin
in childhood and adolescence like
undescended testes, hernias and
hydroceles; removal of cancerous
tumors; and trauma wounds.

“Our bread-and-butter surgeries
are skin and soft tissue surgeries,”
Dr. Knight continued.

“We get a lot of lumps and bumps.
When a child has a skin lesion and
the dermatologist needs a biopsy
but the patient is too young to have
it done in the office, they might be
sent to us. A really common soft tis-
sue operation in the United States
is a circumcision. Umbilical and
groin hernias are also very com-
mon.”

Fixing birth defects is another
specialty of pediatric surgeons. De-
pending on what the anomaly is, a
birth defect can be addressed im-
mediately after delivery or it may
be something that is monitored to
see if it goes away naturally.

“If a child is born without an
anus, we will operate immediately
or within the first few days of life,”
Dr. Knight explained. “But other
congenital defects we might just
watch and see if it goes away on its
own. One example of a congenital
defect that often resolves itself is a
little girl born with an ovarian cyst.
This usually happens because she
is exposed to the high estrogen en-
vironment of her mother and after
she is delivered that estrogen goes
away and over the course of months
that cyst might disappear on its
own and never require an opera-
tion.”

There are pediatric surgeons in
the country who will even do sur-
gery within the uterus, but these
operations generally are done in

42 Vero Beach 32963 / September 8, 2022 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

HEALTH

ANSWERS TO 4 COMMON QUESTIONS ON ORGANIC FOOD

BY JANET LEE added hormones in “living areas that mon questions. 343 studies, published in the British
The Washington Post encourage the health and natural Is it healthier? Journal of Nutrition, found that or-
behaviors of animals,” says a Depart- That depends. “In general, the pro- ganic produce contained higher lev-
Organic can be a loaded term. ment of Agriculture fact sheet. But it els of disease-fighting antioxidants
“There’s a lot of confusion about what can be tough to tell what’s fact and tein, fat and carbohydrates are the than conventional produce did. Oth-
it means,” says Kathryn MacLean, a what’s myth when it comes to the same as those in conventional foods,” er studies have found no significant
dietitian with UC Davis Health Food benefits you may have heard about. MacLean says. “The vitamin and differences.
and Nutrition Services in California. mineral content changes are pretty
Here’s the lowdown on four com- negligible as well.” A 2014 analysis of Bringing produce, whether con-
In a nationally representative Con- ventional or organic, from a distance
sumer Reports survey of 2,224 U.S. can have a bad effect on nutrients,
adults in April, 42 percent said they says Mary Ellen Camire, a professor
thought organic food was more nu- of food science and human nutrition
tritious, and 66 percent thought it at the University of Maine in Orono.
was better at limiting their exposure And the United States imports or-
to pesticides or fertilizers. ganic food from many countries – al-
most 100 in 2021, says Reana Koval-
What’s true? The rules for using cik, director of public affairs at the
the “USDA Organic” seal on food in- Organic Trade Association.
clude no use of most synthetic pes-
ticides and fertilizers. Those that are Does it have fewer pesticides?
allowed are tightly regulated, are Yes. A small study published in
permitted only when other methods Environmental Research in 2019 re-
have failed and must be shown to be vealed that people who switched
safe for people. Organic food is also from a conventional diet to an or-
grown without genetically modified ganic one had lower levels of pesti-
organisms or the ionizing irradiation cide metabolites in their urine. And
sometimes used for pest control. while what we know about the harm
of synthetic pesticides is limited, the
For meat, poultry, dairy or eggs, Environmental Protection Agency
animals are given only organic feed says agricultural pesticide exposure
and raised without antibiotics or

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / September 8, 2022 43

HEALTH

has been associated with asthma, These days, however, some con-
bronchitis, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, ventional farmers are turning to
Parkinson’s disease and certain can- methods that spare the environment.
cers. For instance, some are switching to
organic-friendly fertilizer, says Matt
In addition, a study published in Ryan, an associate professor in the
JAMA Internal Medicine in 2020 re- School of Integrative Plant Science at
ported a higher risk of dying from Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y.
any cause as well as from cardio-
vascular disease in people with the When it comes to farm animals,
highest levels of pyrethroid pesticide organic rules call for them to have
metabolites in their urine. Some re- year-round outdoor access and to be
search also suggests that children raised on organic land, and for graz-
with greater exposure to certain ing animals like cattle to have ac-
pesticides are more likely to be diag- cess to organic pastures at least 120
nosed with attention-deficit/hyper- days a year. Space to exercise is re-
activity disorder and that synthetic quired, but animals don’t have to get
pesticides may disrupt our endocrine a certain amount of space or never be
systems, which are responsible for caged, and overall, animal welfare
hormone regulation. requirements for “USDA Organic”
certification are minimal.
Is it bad for the environment?
Yes. Synthetic pesticides and fer- Do animals get antibiotics?
tilizers can damage soil and pollute Generally, no, with the exception
water. “Many of the pesticides and of chickens and turkeys still in the
synthetic forms of fertilizer, if not egg and on their first day of life. But
managed and fine-tuned, often end routine antibiotics are still widely
up in our water and even in our fish,” used in conventional beef and poul-
says Garry Stephenson, a professor of try, which can lead to antibiotic-re-
crop and soil science at Oregon State sistant infections.
University in Corvallis. Nitrogen- “That means infections [in animals
based fertilizer, often used in con- and people] that used to be easily
ventional agriculture, is a major con- cured may have the potential to be-
tributor to air and water pollution, come serious, even life-threatening,”
according to the Natural Resources says James E. Rogers, director of food
Defense Council. safety research and testing at CR. 

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44 Vero Beach 32963 / September 8, 2022 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

HEALTH

AT LAST, AN EASIER WAY TO PREPARE FOR A COLONOSCOPY

BY MARLENE CIMONS day before a colonoscopy. The colon- interior, remains perhaps the biggest ologist. “Everyone hears the stories
The Washington Post cleansing drink, called GoLYTELY, impediment to screening. So the ap- about how horrible the preparation is.
tastes nasty but “turned 3½ days of proval last year of a far less sickening The prep is what everyone remembers,
Decades ago, to prepare for a colo- torture into 3½ hours of torture,” says prep option for patients was welcome and it represents a disincentive to get-
noscopy, patients first had to clean gastroenterologist Jack Di Palma, a news. ting a colonoscopy.”
out their colons using laxatives such professor of internal medicine at the
as castor oil or magnesium citrate, University of South Alabama College Cleansing the colon beforehand is But last year – in what experts believe
sometimes over several days. It wasn’t of Medicine. critical to identifying and removing could end the dread that keeps many
pleasant. polyps, often a precursor to cancer, people from this important screening
The prep for a colonoscopy, a pro- during the procedure. Over the years, – the Food and Drug Administration
Things improved in 1984 with the cedure in which a physician snakes several newer-generation prep solu- approved a regimen of pills, Sutab,
introduction of a powder-based so- a flexible tube through the colon to tions have become available, each with that studies show works just as well as
lution that patients could drink the get a camera’s-eye look at the organ’s advantages and disadvantages, and the liquid solutions – without the vile
others – including those in the form of flavor. It’s a 24-tablet regimen: 12 pills
flavored shakes and food bars – have the day before and 12 the next day, sev-
been tested but not yet approved. eral hours before the procedure.

The solutions that most patients Patients still must drink lots of wa-
drink clean out the colon, but patients ter, a total of 48 ounces the first day
have to ingest copious amounts – four and another 48 ounces the next day.
liters, or a little more than a gallon – But at least plain water is tasteless.
and the taste is still pretty terrible.
“The thing that is great about Sutab
Physicians now recommend that is that it takes the issue of the taste
patients split the dose in two, half tak- away,” says Douglas K. Rex, distin-
en the day before and the rest several guished professor emeritus of medi-
hours before the procedure. cine at the Indiana University School
of Medicine. “You’re still going to have
“We tell people to chill it, sip it to sit on the toilet, but not having to
through a straw, hold their nose, chew drink something that tastes awful is a
gum in between or suck hard candies,” big advantage.”
says Louis Korman, a semiretired
Washington, D.C.-area gastroenter- Oncologist Arif Kamal, an associate

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / September 8, 2022 45

HEALTH

professor of medicine at Duke Univer- dergo screening. This is a change from nia at San Diego School of Medicine. Gowan suggests checking sutab.com/
sity, agrees. “This is a good option for previous guidelines that recommend- “That’s ridiculous. It shouldn’t be that savings on his company’s website for
those for whom taste is an issue,” says ed screening for only those 50 and old- expensive. It’s just salt [sodium sulfate, ways to save. Also, the company pro-
Kamal, who is also chief patient officer er at normal risk. magnesium sulfate, potassium chlo- vides free samples and discount cou-
at the American Cancer Society. He ride], not something fancy like mono- pons to physicians for patients who
also points out simpler alternatives to Excluding skin cancers, colorectal clonal antibodies.” cannot afford the pills, he says.
full-blown colonoscopies for patients cancer is the third-most commonly
who are at average colon cancer risk, occurring cancer in the United States, Experts say the most likely reason for He acknowledges that the cost can be
including at-home screening tests for according to the American Cancer the insurance denials is that the pills a barrier for some patients. Neverthe-
blood and altered DNA that suggest Society, which projects an estimated are new and aren’t yet proved to be an less, “in the event that a patient cannot
the presence of cancer. 106,180 new cases of colon cancer this advance over less expensive alterna- properly complete the liquid prepara-
year and 44,850 cases of rectal cancer. tives. “An insurance company will say: tion, a colonoscopy must be repeated,
“The pros: It’s more convenient to About 7 in 10 U.S. adults ages 50 to 75 ‘Well, if it’s equivalent, we’ll just cover in which case, the additional upfront,
do it at home,” Kamal says. “The cons: are up to date on colonoscopy screen- the cheaper one,’” Kamal says. out-of-pocket costs for Sutab would be
You still have to sample your own ing, according to the Centers for Dis- worth it,” he says.
stool. Also, the frequency is more often ease Control and Prevention. Experts Many gastroenterologists coping
– every two to three years,” compared believe prep avoidance probably is one with patient prep reluctance regard The newest pills should not be con-
with a seven-to-10-year interval for of the major reasons the remainder are this as backward thinking. “The insur- fused with earlier tablets, made mostly
colonoscopies. Most insurance plans, not. ance companies try very hard to force of sodium phosphate, which the FDA
including Medicare, cover these. people into using the generic products, found in 2006 caused serious kidney
The new pills could change that, but which are not tolerated very well,” Rex damage in some patients. While still on
“Virtual” colonoscopies also are they have a downside. says. “When it comes to prep, efficacy the market, the old pills are rarely used
available, although patients still must is not the issue. From the patient’s per- today, experts say.
do the prep, and certain “flat” polyps Many insurance drug plans won’t spective, it’s tolerability. That is really
are more easily seen in conventional cover them, and their out-of-pocket important to patients.” “The newer ones have sodium sul-
colonoscopies, experts say. Virtual price can be $120 or more. (It cost a fate, and are safe,” Rex says, stressing
colonoscopies are not at-home pro- friend of mine in Florida $150 after Several major insurance plans cover that patients still must drink the rec-
cedures, as they involve imaging the her insurance plan denial and – after the pills, including some in Medicare ommended amounts of water to avoid
colon, and insurance coverage is mine also refused – I paid $60 using a Part D, says John McGowan, head of dehydration. “You don’t want to drink
spotty. They are covered only under discount coupon my doctor obtained research and development for gastro- the bad tasting stuff, but you have to
special circumstances, such as when from Sebela Pharmaceuticals.) enterology at Sebela Pharmaceuticals. drink something,” he says.
a conventional colonoscopy cannot be
completed for some reason. “For people who won’t get a colonos- Because others do not, however, it Di Palma, who conducted the Sutab
copy because of the nasty tasting prep, probably is a good idea to check with study, says he has tried all the preps and
The American Cancer Society now it could be a game changer – if they your own individual plan to determine used them for his own colonoscopies.
recommends that people 45 and older can afford it,” says gastroenterologist whether the pills are covered.
at average risk for colon cancer un- Clement Boland, retired professor of “I’ve had five colonoscopies, and
medicine at the University of Califor- For those who lack insurance or Sutab was the easiest one yet,” he
whose plans won’t cover the pills, Mc- says. 

46 Vero Beach 32963 / September 8, 2022 Style Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

Venice Film Fest 2022: All the best dressed stars (so far)

From glamorous gowns to elabo- anticipated as the films themselves.
rate floral jumpsuits, the stars enjoyed Old Hollywood glamour, stunning
making the scene and being seen at
the 79th annual Venice Film Festival, jewels and show-stopping gowns were
the world’s longest running film fest, seen from Jodie Turner-Smith, Cate
where celebrities’ style choices were as Blanchett and Tessa Thomspon – and
many more. 

Tessa Thompson Cate Blanchett Jodie Turner-Smith Julianne Moore

Isabelle Huppert Tessa Thompson Julianne Moore Greta Gerwig Alessadra Ambrosio

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Style Vero Beach 32963 / September 8, 2022 47

Sydney Sweeney Chloë Sevigny Rocío Muñoz Morales Taylor Russell Jodie Turner-Smith

Maude Apatow Simone Ashley

48 Vero Beach 32963 / September 8, 2022 Style Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

Edward Sexton on tailoring suits for supermodels

BY EDWARD SEXTON
The Telegraph

Back in the ’60s and ’70s, we made tailoring in Paris, for Stella McCart- events or weddings. A bespoke suit construction. A suit can also liber-
suits for women at Nutters of Savile ney. Stella trained in my tailoring fitting is a fascinating process, and ate a woman, because she can go
Row [which Sexton founded alongside workrooms while studying; Paul Mc- there’s a real pleasure in it – choosing hands-free – I can create internal
Tommy Nutter], in small quantities. Cartney – who I’ve dressed for decades the fabrics, the structure, the internal pockets for phones, credit cards et-
Mick Jagger was fitted for a suit, and – thought it might help her to learn workings, seeing different points of its cetera that you’d never know existed.
his then wife Bianca decided she liked about construction. That’s part of the fun of having it made,
the look of the tailoring and ordered and I love when people really enjoy
one herself. We made women’s suits More women should discover what
for Cilla Black and Linda McCartney, tailoring can do for their frame; it re- their fittings and are curious.
too, and Joan Collins. Joan liked them ally can change it. Today, I have a lot There are creative tricks I
to look powerful, as you’d imagine. of female clients who come to me for
Nipped-in waist, big shoulders, tight use to change the frame – I can
on the torso, quite a sexy silhouette. The suit maketh the woman give hips, a bust. A woman’s
So women’s suits have always been body is different, and I find
something I’ve done, but this shoot they prefer suits to be tighter,
was the first time Naomi Campbell whereas men prefer ease. I al-
had been introduced to my tailoring ways tell my female clients to
[Sexton set up his own brand in 1990]. wear the heels they will wear
with the suit to the fitting, be-
It was for a shoot with Duran Du- cause it changes your posture
ran, for Harper’s Bazaar magazine in and your spine. Part of my job
2011, starring a cast of supermodels, is quite scientific and ana-
including Cindy Crawford, Yasmin tomical. And when she finally
Le Bon and, of course, Naomi. I sent steps into the finished suit
a batch of tailored suits to the and sees the effect it can have,
Savoy, where it was happening, the reaction to that first look
and soon afterwards Naomi in the mirror is what keeps my
got in touch. It turned out she job interesting all these years
liked the red velvet tuxedo so after I started. 
much that she wanted to have
one made properly for herself
– she really responded to my
clothes. Since then, I’ve made
her masses of things – black
tuxedos, velvet suits, long
winter coats – I think she likes
the way they hug her frame in
the right places. She appreci-
ates the design process and
gets involved. She knows how
important fit is; she would, be-
ing a supermodel.

I actually realized we first
met when I worked on Chloé’s

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Style Vero Beach 32963 / September 8, 2022 49

Au revoir, summer – time for a September style update

BY LISA ARMSTRONG – good with all those The good pieces haven’t sold out it’s not what I expected. Far from be-
The Telegraph high-waisters. As for yet and temperature-wise September ing a gentle, almost creamy shade of
shoes – platforms is often a month of big fluctuations, lemon, it’s an all-guns-blazing zinger
The first murmurings of are having a major which focus the mind on items that that has all the bite of a Canary cock-
fall offer a chance to bring moment. Good if work across seasons. tail. This slim but not clingy dress
some much-needed fresh- you’re short. And drapes beautifully – good with bare
ness to your wardrobe. And if you’re 6 feet, Color is a major invigorator. As the legs, lovely with knee boots later on.
pumpkin spice everything! there are lots of light changes it feels quite instinctive And it works with so many wintery
lovely flat loaf- to tweak your palette, especially after neutrals, especially navy and auber-
Will we ever shake off ers and bal- a summer suffused with pinks. I’ve gine. The patent berry-colored bag is
that new term, new start, let pumps finally found a yellow that works with by Belgian label Kaai, which special-
September feeling? I hope around. izes in work bags designed to fit all
not. Anticipation of a my olive com- your necessities, be it a tablet or lap-
shiny, pristine pencil case plexion and top. I suppose it’s the adult version of
is one of life’s more reli- that new pencil case. 
able sweeteners, and September
has always seemed better timing
than January, when all you want
to do is hibernate.

Pencils aren’t in the demand
they once were, so an energiz-
ing, new (school) year/new me
outfit has to do duty instead.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not
advocating buying something
new for the sake of it. If you
can get a buzz from your exist-
ing wardrobe, fine. Or perhaps a
lipstick is all it will take – in which
case, know this: matt trumps gloss
this season and browny berries are
back. Meanwhile, if you’ve been
doing minimalist eye make-up
through summer, a smudgy eye-
liner will subtly pep up your
eyes.

September is an excel-
lent time for some judicious
clothes updates. Most of
the new stock is now in the
shops so you can get a solid
feel for new silhouettes
and lengths. Trends hang
around far, far longer
than they used to five
years ago. Maxis, mid-
is, flares, boot cuts and
straight cuts are all still cur-
rent. Knitwear? When does a well-cut
crew-neck or V-neck without crazily
time-specific features ever date?

But there are some fresh details
to look out for: In skirts, A-lines and
wraps are back. In dresses, over-
sized is making way for something
slightly more fitted and belted.
Trousers are high-waisted, and
look crisp and tempting
with contrast stitch-
ing or striking
buttons. Blazers
will never go out
of style either, but
cropped, tweedy,
Chanel-esque shapes
are increasingly popular again

50 Vero Beach 32963 / September 8, 2022 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

WINE COLUMN

Move on from pinot grigio with alternative Italian whites

BY SUSY ATKINS ally shaped bottle. It’s an easy-going
The Telegraph white, dry but not too tart, and will
make a fine late-summer aperitif.
One of the more surprising vinous Grape geeks might note there’s 15 per
success stories over the past 20 years cent malvasia in with the verdicchio
has been the huge rise in popularity which helps round it out a little.
of Italian pinot grigio.
Maree d’Ione Organic Fiano 2021
There are some fine examples, Puglia, Italy
generally made in the cool north-
east regions of Friuli, Trentino and Very attractive offer on a fiano
Alto Adige, and as pinot gris, the va- from Italy’s ‘heel,’ made from organi-
riety impresses from other parts of cally grown grapes and bursting with
the world. But the vast bulk of cheap ripe tangerines, with a hint of spice,
pinot grigio flowing out of the wider like a clove-spiked orange. There’s
Veneto region is generally very bland. a fresh, slightly salty finish. Clearly
one for seafood, especially pan-fried
This is a grape that, when heavily white fish.

cropped and mass produced, hasn’t Gavi di Gavi 2021 Piedmont, Italy
got enough natural acidity to provide This is an elegant, refined Gavi,
a refreshing glassful. Its low price made from 100 per cent cortese from
point is the major appeal. vineyards with an average age of 35
years. I like the slightly pithy citrus
So I urge you to look for other here – grapefruit is the stand-out fruit
more interesting, light Italian whites. flavor, and it’s almost bone dry. Chill
There’s a treasure trove of local white it for delicate white fish and/or sea-
grapes in every region and many are food or a classic tomato, mozzarella
made into the dry, light, unoaked and basil salad.
style that pinot grigio lovers will like.
Just with a bit more character. Ribolla Gialla 2021 Friuli, Italy
A white made from a little-known,
I could point to many examples that ancient grape variety that’s indig-
should make you swerve the ranks enous to the north-east of Italy and
of cheap pinot grigio on our shop the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region in
shelves, but have narrowed it down to particular. The relatively cool cli-
the five below – the current best buys mate has helped create a bright,
for someone looking to move on. Note brisk white, lemony and with a dash
they are all youthful wines from 2021 of white pepper.
– light Italian whites are for drinking
soon after being bottled. Domini Veneti Soave Classico 2021
Veneto, Italy
And yes, some of my choices are a
little more pricey than basic pinot Ripe pear and lime aromas spring
grigio (though not all are); perhaps a out of the glass, with crunchy green
case of quality over quantity as you apples on the palate. It’s a juicy, lin-
tour the more exciting whites of Italy. gering wine, with a bit of texture, so
it could take on creamy pasta sauces
Verdicchio dei Castelli de Jesi 2021 or vegetarian risottos. Sophisticated
Marche, Italy looking bottle too. 

A true bargain – a refreshing, lime-
streaked verdicchio in a tradition-