Vero Beach Magazine January 2023

‘Laughing Out Loud’ with author

Carl Hiaasen

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On the Cover:

The Laura (Riding) Jackson Foundation will host the “Laughing Out Loud” event featuring Carl Hiassen See the story on page 138

Photograph by Nick Mele

By Judy Alexandra DiEdwardo

By Amy Robinson

By Ann Taylor

By Mary Beth McGregor

By Evelyn Wilde Mayerson

By Renáe Tesauro

Here’s to Your Health!

In this fun new job of mine, I’ve been extremely lucky to meet lots of very sweet, welcoming, and generous people. I was graciously invited to two gatherings in recent weeks that brought tears to my eyes, both involved bringing attention to mental and physical health issues and how our community steps up to the plate and helps. Really helps. So, we’ve devoted the January issue of Vero Beach Magazine to just that, taking care of our health.

We start off the issue with a good belly laugh, and who couldn’t use one to boost their spirits? We were invited in to meet Carl Hiaasen at his Vero Beach home to talk about the health of our state, what’s in his future, and how writing is sometimes therapeutic for him. He’ll be bringing his LOL style of Florida humor to the thirtieth anniversary celebration of the Laura (Riding) Jackson Foundation January 19. I hope to see you there!

Moorings “resident artist” Marcy Von Kohorn shows us that as we age, it’s important to keep our minds and bodies healthy so we can continue to do the things we love. This nonagenarian uses nature as the inspiration for her paintings, and just a few years ago, she published a book about her life, titled Fate’s Palette. She also keeps her spirit healthy by being grateful for everything she’s been given.

We can’t forget about the health of our homes! As the holiday decorations come down, it’s a great time to take a good look at the place we spend most of our time. We’ll give you tips—small and large—on how to make your home a healthier place when it comes to high-touch surfaces, air quality, and even kitchen decor. It’s always a good time to give a boost to your home’s immunity.

At the end of the day, home is a place where we’re supposed to feel safe, comfortable, and protected. We look into the roadblocks that make affordable workforce housing such a challenge to find, especially for those neighbors and friends who serve our community in many vital ways. We also talk to people who are beginning to build some solutions. Everyone deserves a safe place to call home.

The staff at Vero Beach Magazine wishes you all a healthy and happy new year.

Kelly Rogers editor@verobeachmagazine.com

Hello, 2023

Welcome, 2023! I wonder what kind of year you will be. As we leave 2022 behind us, I think to myself, how can 2023 be better?

As I look through the pages of our January issue, I see that the new year is off to a good start, with lots of thought-provoking topics to explore.

As we close the door on 2022 and open it on 2023, most of you will probably start off with a New Year’s resolution to eat healthier, start a new exercise routine, or maybe even quit a bad habit. Renaé Tesauro offers some excellent food for thought in this month’s “Living Well” section beginning on page 108, so how about a resolution to work on keeping your brain healthy? That’s an undertaking that will allow you to improve your quality of life and, in many cases, have fun doing it. I mean, who doesn’t love puzzles, word games, and board games? I certainly do! In fact, I start every morning off with Wordle, Quordle, and a cup of coffee. Won’t you Wordle with me?

As you walk through the door of this new year, maybe you have decided to conquer cooking in 2023. If so, why not start with one of the recipes Chef Jonathan Preece divulged to Chris Fasolino for our “Local Flavor” section on page 132? Who doesn’t love a warm, yummy bowl of clam chowder this time of year? And don’t forget the crackers!

Whatever this new year might hold in store for us, I am sure it will be an exciting journey. Are you ready for an adventure this year, Vero Beach?

Teri Amey-Arnold, Publisher publisher@verobeachmagazine.com

KELLY ROGERS

HEATHER BOTTO Creative Director

RENÁE

TERESA LEE RUSHWORTH Senior Editor

JANINE FISHER Senior Graphic Designer

ANN TAYLOR Senior Writer

EVELYN

AMY

PATRICK

REN

About Us

Vero Beach Magazine is the first magazine to be dedicated exclusively to Vero Beach and remains the only local magazine with verified circulation. A minimum of 10,000 magazines are distributed monthly, to at least 30,000 readers in almost every state, including Alaska and Hawaii.

Vero Beach Magazine’s staff is committed to using print media to make Indian River County a better place for all residents, mindful of environmental and historic preservation, while underscoring the best aspects of life in this charming oceanfront community.

Winner of numerous awards since its inception, starting with the Florida Magazine Association’s Best New Magazine Award in 1998, Vero Beach Magazine has made its greatest impact by providing meaningful information to readers about the needs of local nonprofit organizations in Indian River County, inspiring philanthropy and prompting nonprofit coverage by many other media companies.

Our office is located at 3375 20th Street, Suite 100, on the corner of 34th Avenue and State Road 60, in Vero Beach. Visitors are welcome by appointment from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, for subscription, article, and advertising questions. ` SINCE 1997

3375 20th Street, Suite 100, Vero Beach, FL 32960 772-234-8871

hello@verobeachmagazine.com

KELLY ROGERS

A Rich History

BUILT BY A BREAKFAST CEREAL HEIRESS IN THE 1920S, PALM BEACH’S MAR-A-LAGO IS A NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK

BY EVELYN WILDE MAYERSON

Apastiche of Moorish, Venetian, and Spanish architecture, Mara-Lago, an 18-acre estate spanning southern Palm Beach from the Atlantic to Lake Worth, an exotic amalgam of private club and personal residence to a former president, has recently found itself in the middle of an imbroglio, its recesses the repository for documents that reportedly shouldn’t have been there

in the first place. Like an elderly, sheltered dowager, Mar-a-Lago may be no less discomfited and embarrassed to step outside its porticoes and colonnades and find itself the subject of controversy, akin to someone stepping outside his front door to find that a prankster had “flocked” his lawn with a raft of plastic pink flamingos. Especially in Palm Beach.

For more than a century, Palm Beach has

retained its rarefied allure, although, prior to 1900, the uninhabitable adjunct of Lake Worth scarcely existed. One of the earliest accounts of the region was recorded in the diary of Quaker merchant Jonathan Dickinson, shipwrecked off present-day Jupiter Island in 1696, on his way with his wife, 6-month-old son, and 10 slaves from Jamaica to Philadelphia.

After their scramble to shore, Dickinson and

The history of Mar-a-Lago begins with breakfast cereal heiress Marjorie Merriweather Post, who had the 62,500-square-foot Palm Beach mansion completed in 1927. The architectural spectacle was originally built with 115 rooms and 33 bathrooms.

his party were captured by indigenous Jobe Indians. Mistreated for several days, the castaways were finally released to make a torturous way along a tangled coast to the nearest habitation, Spanish Florida’s St. Augustine, 200 miles north.

It would be more than another 150 years before the arrival of settlers, lured by the new state of Florida’s Homestead Act offering 160 acres free to anyone over the age of 21 willing to cultivate the tangle of holly and palmetto, build a dwelling, and live on the land for five years, surrounded by mosquitoes that hung from your eyelashes, snakes that hung from the rafters, and alligators in every puddle.

Drawn to a fresh start,

they came, despite the fact that only a few decades earlier, U.S. Congressman from Virginia John Randolph had strongly opposed Florida’s statehood, calling the territory “a land of swamps, of quagmires, of frogs and alligators and mosquitoes,” where no one would want to immigrate. Randolph’s words were mirrored by the U.S. Department of Surveyors, which described the region as “an impenetrable morass.”

The earliest homesteaders to the area, which was then known by the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey as the Lake Worth settlement, were tomato and pineapple farmers. Transportation was difficult. Jupiter Inlet was the end of the line for Indian

River steamers. To get to the poor, sandy soil that was to be theirs, they had to take an overland stage—a three-seater wagon with three springs, drawn by two mules—for a fare of $2 plus a dollar for each trunk. Passengers were let off on the west side of the lake, named by Indians “Hypoluxo,” roughly translated “water all around, no get out,” then ferried across.

They laid planks across the mangroves to the barrier island, where they fished and searched for salvage, while hammocks behind them were inhabited not only with panthers but with bears that came out at night to eat turtles, turtle eggs, and, on occasion, the freshly planted pineapple slips that cost growers 10 cents apiece. Crops were hauled

to market in boxes piled onto wagons that were driven 7 miles to Jupiter, where the boxes were loaded onto boats. It would be several weeks before a farmer learned if his crop had sold or if the shipment had become rotten along the way.

An 1878 shipwreck of a boat loaded with 20,000 coconuts that salvagers sold for 2 1/2 cents a piece was responsible for the seeding of thousands of palm trees that led to the barrier island’s eventual name. Land was cheap. The E.E. Geer family bought 40 acres for $50. Ten years later they sold it for $10,000 to R.R. McCormick for a winter home. Seven years after that, McCormick sold it to Henry Flagler for $75,000 as a site for the Royal Poinciana Hotel. Flagler changed

Jonathan Dickinson, as portrayed by artist Edward Ludlow Mooney

The Royal Poinciana Hotel in Palm Beach was built by Henry Flagler in the 1890s.

everything. The 1890s brought his Florida East Coast railroad to Palm Beach, providing a faster mode of shipment to farmers. The 1890s also brought his hotels, such as The Breakers and the 1,100-room Royal Poinciana, billed as the largest wooden structure in the world and dubbed “the Newport of the South.” The hammer of a railroad tie turned the once desolate, hardscrabble area into a posh tourist destination, a winter playground for the nation’s most privileged.

The season was short: two months, from January to February. Women in bathing costumes with black stockings waded in the surf while couples danced the “Cakewalk” at The Breakers, the men’s attire including dinner jackets and straw hats as they led their partners to syncopated tunes like “Waiting for the Robert E. Lee.” The New York Times of the day reported the popular midday attraction of the Florida Alligator Farm, a mile from the Royal Poinciana on the west end of today’s Worth Avenue, where spectators arrived to watch attraction owner Warren Frazier, with a flowing mustache and a pistol in his belt, wrestle a 12-foot saltwater

crocodile.

Those who survived the scrutiny of a rigid selection could engage in illegal gambling in Col. E.R. Bradley’s Beach Club, a white wooden house with a 30-man security detail. Otherwise, they dined in the Royal Palm’s Great Hall on bluepoint oysters, a choice of three soups, a fish course, a meat entrée from a selection of 10, 19 desserts, and a late-night stand-up supper of roast quail, Florida lobster, and ice cream.

For the 400 who followed Flagler, a winter home in Palm Beach soon became as fashionable as a summer residence in Bar Harbor. On the scene at the right time was Addison Mizner, a flamboyant bon vivant, an unschooled architect quickly known for the style he called Mediterranean Revival, with loggias, fountains, red tile roofs, and colonnades. Mizner’s design of El Mirasol for financier Edward T. Stotesbury, an estate with a 40-car garage and a private zoo, was the first grandscale mansion that would distinguish Palm Beach. Until Mizner, the affluent centered their fun around Flagler’s lavish hotels, but now America’s nobility, the Wanamakers, the Phippses, the Vanderbilts,

Marjorie Merriweather Post spent $7 million to build Mar-a-Lago.

Prior to embarking on the Mar-a-Lago project, Post had hired architect Marion Sims Wyeth to design her villa Hogarcito.

and the Munns, wanted stucco-walled mansions with colonnades and vaulted ceilings designed by Mizner.

All except Marjorie Merriweather Post,

who had other ideas.

The heiress to the Post cereal fortune, who as a girl had glued labels onto Postum boxes, had already built Hogarcito, a 16,000-square-foot,

eight-bedroom, Spanishstyle villa designed by celebrated architect Marion Sims Wyeth. Now she looked for a building site with limestone shelving to provide a more substantial bedrock for something beyond a starter house. She chose scrub between the Atlantic and Lake Worth and reenlisted Wyeth to design a 62,500-squarefoot mansion that cost $7 million, in today’s currency about $100 million.

Believing Wyeth’s renderings too conservative, Post engaged Joseph Urban, the internationally famous set designer of the Metropolitan Opera and Ziegfeld Follies, to complete Mar-a-Lago’s interiors. The result was a lush architectural spectacle of 115 rooms linked by cloisters and loggias and embellished with two shipments of Dorian stone from

Genoa; antique floor blocks from Cuba; carved stonework of rams, gargoyles, and figures from Egyptian mythology by Viennese sculptor Franz Barwig; frescoes on the patio walls by Hungarian artist Louis Jámbor; tapestries from Venetian palaces; a great cypress door garlanded with golden cherubim; and 33 bathrooms with fixtures plated in gold, which Post believed was easier for the servants to clean. In 1927, just a few months before Charles Lindbergh’s historic crossing of the Atlantic, Mar-a-Lago, “Seato-Lake,” was complete.

Less than 20 years later, Post decided to close her dream project and, in 1944, turned it over to the federal government to use for returning convalescing soldiers. She offered the estate to Florida, but Governor C. Farris Bryant declined. Despite a $3 million endowment for operating expenses, so did two federal administrations that followed. Placed in the hands of Sothebys, Mar-aLago was purchased in 1985 by Donald J. Trump, who planned to use the property as a private residence. Designated a National Historic Landmark in 1995, Post’s stamp is still on it, as is the stamp of America’s Gilded Age. More is more. `

Post brought in famous set designer Joseph Urban to complete the interiors of Mar-a-Lago.

Viennese sculptor Franz Barwig carved gargoyles and other mythical figures for the ornate living room.

Jubilant January

THE NEW YEAR OPENS WITH PLENTY OF FRESH PRODUCTS AND OPPORTUNITIES

FRESH YEAR FITNESS

JANUARY 14: NEW FITNESS LAB OPEN

Kristie Wallace, owner and visionary of The Well Lab, believes a healthier human is a happier human. With over 18 years of experience in the physical therapy and personal training realm, Wallace has a long history of making bodies sweat and helping people regain ease doing functional activities. The Well Lab is a space where the busy professional can work on getting fit in less than half the time of traditional fitness programs. This space also offers ways to recover and reduce stress with a genuine empathetic focus on the committed clients’ needs, using the most efficient and effective means, minus the grueling workouts several days a week. Visit during The Well Lab’s grand opening January 14 from 4 to 8 p.m. to discuss intentions for the new year wellness plan.

THE WELL LAB 1961 Old Dixie Hwy. 772-299-8994 thewellvero.com

ART WITH HEART

JANUARY 19: ARTWORK SALE AT QUAIL VALLEY

Elise Geary will be selling her artwork at a Quail Valley Charities event Thursday, January 19, from 3 to 6 p.m. at Quail Valley River Club. This event is open to the general public, and many other artists will also be on hand, so there will be artwork in abundance to browse.

OCEAN DRIVE GALLERY 3349 Ocean Drive, Suite 8 Second floor Elevator located in alcove behind Lyra Home 772-579-7667 oceandrivegalleryverobeach.com

Magenta Flow by Elise Geary, oil on canvas, 15 x 22 inches

TIME TO SHOP

JANUARY 19–21: TRUNK SHOWS AT COOPER & CO. Cooper & Co. invites you to stop in and shop its annual spring trunk show featuring two classic brand favorites: Maison Common and Barbara Lohmann. Mark your calendar so you don’t miss out on these fabulous luxury lines, which will be available to shop.

COOPER & CO. 3435 Ocean Drive 772-231-9889

POP BY THE POP-UP

JANUARY 26–FEBRUARY 1: FIRST 2023 ART SHOW AT M. MAISON

M. Maison announces the artist to be featured during its first pop-up art show of 2023. Carol Caputo, who works in a variety of media, creates intense, personal moments “by means of rules and omissions, acceptance and refusal, luring the viewer round and round in circles.” Her artworks establish a link between the landscapes’ reality and abstract impressionism. For more than 40 years, her illustrations and designs have appeared in magazines and theater productions, on posters, and on television. Her paintings, drawings, sculptures, and films have been exhibited at the Art Directors Club, the Society of Illustrators, Lever House, and numerous galleries. Come to the beach January 26 from 2 to 5 p.m. and meet the artist while enjoying beautiful art work and sipping Prosecco.

M. MAISON 3403 Ocean Drive 772-231-4300 mmaisonvero.com

DESIGNED WELL

JANUARY 24: WELLNESS AND DESIGN EVENT

Cassy West of Wellness by Dezign invites you to a free presentation focusing on holistic interior design strategies and methods of living in a safer, healthier, toxin-free home environment. From “green” products to biophilic design, everything in a home should enhance health and well-being. Participants will learn how to achieve this goal. The event begins at 5 p.m. and will be held at CoLab, which is located at 1150 19th Street. Preregistration is required, so please contact Cassy by phone to RSVP.

WELLNESS BY DEZIGN 772-643-4460 wellnessbydezign.com

Night Away by Carol Caputo, acrylic on paper, 20 x 28 inches

ALL IN A DAY’S JOURNEY

JANUARY 28: SELF-DISCOVERY WORKSHOP Margo Montgomery is hosting a one-day self-discovery workshop. Attendees will explore understanding themselves and individual purpose at a deeper level. The event will take place between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., and capacity is limited to eight participants, so contact immediately if you wish to attend.

MARGO MONTGOMERY 847-380-7887 margomontgomerycoaching.com

TRAIL MIX

FEBRUARY 4–5: VBAC ART TRAIL

After three years of COVID-induced cancellations, the Vero Beach Art Club’s popular Art Trail event is back and better than ever! Instead of a one-day ticketed event, the Art Trail is now a free two-day bash. In this open-house-style event, local artists open their studios to the public, allowing visitors to experience each creative environment and engage with the artists. Participating artists will also have works available for purchase. The trail will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday. Maps can be downloaded online or picked up at the Art Club’s Gallery & Marketplace downtown.

VERO BEACH ART CLUB 1903 14th Ave. 772-217-3345 verobeachartclub.org

LITTLE LUXURIES

LEIGH JEWELERS

PRESENTS NEW COLLECTION

The Little Luxuries by Judith Ripka collection is at Leigh Jewelers. With a wide range of styles in both sterling silver and yellow gold, each of these jewels celebrates an occasion and creates memories with personal expressions to wear every day. View the collection today at Leigh.

LEIGH JEWELERS 3401 Ocean Drive 772-234-8522 leighjewelers.com

CHAISE AFTER STYLE

DISTINCT CHAIR CHOICES AT FANTASTIC FINDS

Among many distinctive items available at Fantastic Finds is this mahogany chaise lounge, made in Bali. There are two of these beautiful pieces of furniture available, so visit Fantastic Finds to secure yours.

FANTASTIC FINDS 4300 U.S. Hwy. 1 772-794-7574 fantastic-finds.com

NEW YEAR, NEW BLOOMS

FRESH FLOWERS AT TRIMMINGS

Trimmings Home Garden and Gifts now offers hand-tied bouquets from Heirloom Blooms, a nearby flower farm located on the St. Lucie River. Many of the flowers are grown from seed, and no pesticides or chemicals are used. Each week a batch of seasonal bouquets will be available at the shop, making great gifts for others or for yourself. Call to reserve yours or just stop by.

TRIMMINGS HOME GARDEN AND GIFTS 3201 Cardinal Drive 772-213-8069 shoptrimmingsvb.com

GET A GRIP

NEW HARDWARE COLLECTION AVAILABLE

European Kitchen & Bath presents the City Lights cabinet hardware collection. Additional knob styles are now offered in polished rose gold, including the cylinder glass knob, the concave glass knob, and the flat disc glass knob. Pop in to make your selection from these elegant and stylish options.

EUROPEAN KITCHEN & BATH 4003 U.S. Hwy. 1 772-494-2694 europeansink.com

LUNCHTIME LIPO

NEW TREATMENT AT OCEAN DRIVE PLASTIC SURGERY

Exciting news: “Lunchtime Lipo” is now available at ODPS with Dr. Jimmy Chim. This service provides a plan to treat stubborn areas without the need for anesthesia. The treatment may also allow for less downtime and can be more affordable. To book your consultation with Dr. Chim, please contact the office.

OCEAN DRIVE PLASTIC SURGERY

5070 Hwy. A1A, Suite A–E 772-234-3700 oceandriveplasticsurgery.com

TO PROTECT & SERVE

IRSC

TO

HOST SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER TRAINING

The National Association of School Resource Officers has selected Indian River State College’s Treasure Coast Public Safety Training Complex to be a permanent official training site. This partnership expands NASRO’s ability to hold in-person classes in the Southeastern United States. School resource officers are involved in the protection of students, faculty, and staff members.

INDIAN RIVER STATE COLLEGE

Massey Campus 3209 Virginia Ave., Fort Pierce 772-462-4772 irsc.edu

THE ISLAND DOCTOR IS IN

PRACTICE ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS

Families looking for a more streamlined, personalized approach to health care with no wait time, longer visits, and less reliance on pharmaceuticals can now join Island Health Concierge Medicine. Dr. Latia Ilyadis, who has been practicing medicine for more than 10 years, opened the practice after years working in a broken health care environment.

“The problem I quickly encountered was that our healthcare system is not set up to offer individual treatment where I could spend the time necessary with patients,” Ilyadis says. “Instead of truly getting to know my patients, their backgrounds, family histories, and their concerns, I was forced to carry an overwhelming patient load.” Vero Beach residents of all ages who feel they may have been misdiagnosed, or who are looking for a proactive, comprehensive, and preventive approach can now schedule a consultation. Dr. Ilyadis is dual board certified in pediatrics and internal medicine, and she is licensed in 49 states.

ISLAND HEALTH CONCIERGE MEDICINE 9301 Hwy. A1A, Suite 202 772-205-6361 islandhealthverobeach.com

EXPRESS YOURSELF

INTRODUCING EXPRESS DELIVERY

One of Hazel House’s top custom upholstery lines is offering select frames in best-selling performance fabrics that can be in your home in as little as two weeks. Rowe/Robin Bruce has streamlined the process to get the most popular styles into customers’ homes more quickly than ever.

HAZEL HOUSE 1882 Old Dixie Hwy. 772-213-3024 hazelhousevero.com

ANNUAL APPRECIATION

COASTAL VAN LINES PARTICIPATES IN WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA

For another year, Coastal Van Lines took part in the Wreaths Across America project, in which wreaths are placed on headstones of American veterans. The CVL team extends its utmost gratitude to all involved in this event.

COASTAL VAN LINES 1622 91st Court 772-569-6683 (MOVE) coastalvanlines.com

ISLAND INSPO

BARBARA

KRUPP TAKES ANNUAL TRIP

For two weeks in January, Barbara Krupp goes on a trip to be inspired for future paintings. From January 8 to 22, a collector is letting her use his home for this purpose, so she will be headed to the island of Eleuthera in the Bahamas. Krupp has been there before, and many paintings have come from the experience. Call to make an appointment to view her new works upon her return January 24–25.

BARBARA KRUPP FINE ART STUDIO/GALLERY

4315 U.S. Hwy. 1 440-574-4662 barbarakrupp.com

In a Special Corner by Barbara Krupp, acrylic on canvas, 40 x 40 inches

SEA BAGS OF MAINE

JOHNNY WAS

CITRON BISTRO

BELLE COSE

J. MCLAUGHLIN

EAR FOR THE JEWELS

UNIQUE PAIR OF EARRINGS AT RPJ

Royal Palm Jewel presents a one-of-a-kind pair of earrings. The rare and exotic bicolor Tanzanite Paisley, which are set in 18-karat white gold and diamonds, are sure to have everyone turning their heads to catch a glimpse. Please visit the shop to request the price.

ROYAL PALM JEWEL

53 Royal Palm Pointe 772-766-3165 royalpalmjewel.com

TRAVEL INTO 2023

COMPANY BOOKING EXCLUSIVE TRIP

Join SLL Perigord Travel for a 10-day, small-group tour of one of the most extraordinary regions of France, organized and conducted by a Franco-American family with roots in Perigord since the 1700s. Discover medieval villages and fairy-tale castles overlooking the Dordogne valley, rich cuisine adored by the world’s gourmands (foie gras and confit de canard, locally sourced truffles, and fine local wines) and historic sites, including some of the world’s finest prehistoric cave art. Each trip has a maximum of 10 guests and can be privatized.

SLL PERIGORD TRAVEL 1552 Murcia Ave., Coral Gables 786-659-6901 sllperigordtravel.com

SPECIAL DELIVERY

CATHY CURLEY DELIVERS PINK POINSETTIAS

Cathy Curley was seen out and about hand delivering pink presents to her clients this holiday season. This is a tradition Curley enjoys and looks forward to each year. She purchases the pink poinsettias through her sons’ school, Saint Edward’s, to benefit the Military Moms Prayer Group.

CATHY CURLEY 772-559-1359 cathycurleyrealestate.com

ALL SMILES

DENTISTS JOIN DIGNITY SMILES PROGRAM

Over the past year and a half, The Source’s Dignity Smiles program has enlisted a growing roster of dentists who are offering their services to those in need. The team includes Drs. Sadesh Kumar of Wickham Dental Care in Melbourne, Claudia Pryszlak of Viera Smile Studio in Viera, Ramon Hernandez of Endodontic Associates of Brevard in Viera, Adam Jones and Giuliana Diaz Jones of Premier Dental in Vero Beach, and Denise Pieczynski of Vero Beach. The services provided have included dentures, dental hygiene care, and treatment for abscessed teeth.

THE SOURCE 1015 Commerce Ave. 772-564-0202 iamthesource.org

Dr. Denise Pieczynski Drs. Adam Jones and Giuliana Diaz Jones

Drs. Tom Balshi and Sadesh Kumar with Joanne Balshi

LET’S HEAR IT FOR THE LEADERS

UWIRC HOSTS COMMUNITY LEADERS BREAKFAST United Way of Indian River County welcomed 150 community leaders and friendly faces at its annual Community Leaders Breakfast. The event was sponsored by Florida Power & Light Company with guest speaker David Hall, GRI, AHWD, board member of the Florida Housing Finance Corporation. The annual Richardson Spirit of Indian River County Awards honoring companies, agencies, and volunteers who give their time, talent, and resources to improve the community were presented to Children’s Home Society (Agency Excellence Award), Nicholas LoPresti, LoPresti Productions (Special Recognition), and Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital (Workplace Partner). The prestigious Ralph T. King Award was presented to Margo Lind, former UWIRC board treasurer.

UNITED WAY OF INDIAN RIVER COUNTY 1836 14th Ave. 772-569-8900 unitedwayirc.org

Meredith Egan, Margo Lind, and Jeff Petersen

A DAY AT THE BEACH

RECENTLY ACQUIRED HAMBOURG WORKS HANG AT FINDLAY

Findlay Galleries is pleased to present recently acquired paintings by twentieth-century French artist André Hambourg. Unlike many artists, Hambourg attained international acclaim within his lifetime, and today his works hang in more than 50 museums worldwide. He is known for his plein air paintings capturing natural moments of beachgoers enjoying the French seaside.

FINDLAY GALLERIES

165 Worth Ave., Palm Beach 561-655-2090 findlaygalleries.com

Sur la plage a maree basse, Trouville by André Hambourg, oil on canvas, 7.5 x 9.44 inches

FRIENDS WHO LEND

FINANCIAL COMPANY ACCEPTING CLIENTS

Cardinal Financial (NMLS 66247) is a customer- and-employee-centric, progressive, and professional organization that focuses on designing solutions for its borrowers, partners, and team members to deliver the very best experience related to mortgage lending. The local team of passionate and dedicated loan specialists are available to make the dream of homeownership a reality for your family. Cardinal Financial provides a variety of mortgage lending options and resources in a seamless and streamlined process. Contact Jessica Kurutz (NMLS 584540) to begin your lending process.

CARDINAL FINANCIAL

1401 Hwy. A1A, Suite 206 772-501-0074 jessicakurutz.com

OPENING DOORS

VBMA JOINS MUSEUMS FOR ALL

Vero Beach Museum of Art has become one of more than 850 institutions participating in Museums for All, a nationwide initiative of the Institute of Museums and Library Services to increase access for low-income families. Through Museums for All, families receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits receive free or discounted admission to participating museums, zoos, science centers, and botanical gardens. VBMA is doing its part by offering free admission to those presenting a SNAP electronic benefits transfer (EBT) card.

VERO BEACH MUSEUM OF ART 3001 Riverside Park Drive 772-231-0707 vbmuseum.org

KELLY ROGERS

Gregory Allan Ness Principal Designer

Crystal Crosby

INSIGHTFUL IDEA

NEW CUSTOMIZABLE VISION OPTIONS AVAILABLE

Drs. Stephen Tate and Scott Piette of New Vision Eye Center are thrilled to once again provide patients undergoing cataract surgery with the most advanced technology and options available. Designed by a Nobel Prize-winning scientist, the light adjustable lens by RxSight is the first and only lens that can be customized after cataract surgery. This means the patient’s visual result can be “tweaked” after the procedure. Vision is optimized during follow-up visits through a series of office-based light treatment procedures that take only a few minutes each. Call the office to schedule an appointment if this procedure may be beneficial for you.

NEW VISION EYE CENTER 1055 37th Place 772-257-8700 newvisioneyecenter.com

Drs. Scott Piette and Stephen Tate

IN STYLE, NATURALLY

NEW ACCESSORIES COLLECTION AT SASSY

Sassy Boutique presents Apaya, a brand started in Colombia by three sisters who left the country at a young age and returned to fall in love with the culture they had left behind as children. Apaya produces accessories that put a modern twist on traditional native products. The sisters work in partnership with local artisans to design and produce accessories made from sustainable natural fibers and fabrics found in the Andean region of South America. The new collection is inspired by the eternal spring theme—a concept rooted in the city of Medellin and its annual flower festival. The new designs are marked by an array of colors such as yellows, purples, and pinks as well as shapes that reflect the richness, beauty, and diversity of the contemporary woman.

SASSY BOUTIQUE

3365 Ocean Drive 772-234-3998

PIECES OF HISTORY

NEW WORK AT LAUGHING DOG GALLERY

The Laughing Dog Gallery presents new work in the form of Memory Blocks by Sid Dickens. These super-cool little chunks of historical and architectural imagery are hand finished, sculpted, glazed, and gilded. Each measures approximately 6 by 8 by 1.5 inches and is available in a variety of limited-edition images.

THE LAUGHING DOG GALLERY

2910 Cardinal Drive 772-234-6711 thelaughingdoggallery.com

LOOK OUT ABOVE

REVIVED LIGHTING DESIGN IS BACK

Recessed lighting has made a comeback in a big way with this interior decor trend enhancing homes and offices across the country. Recessed lighting is a light fixture installed into an opening in the ceiling. The light focuses downward, and sometimes these lights are adjustable and dimmable. The advantages of recessed lighting are numerous: LED bulbs are five-times more energy efficient than traditional lighting; it may improve property value; and it helps each room appear larger. Recessed lighting is an affordable upgrade that delivers dramatic results, perfect for any area of the home or business.

LED CAPSTONE LIGHTING & FAN SHOWROOM 4005 U.S. Hwy. 1 772-205-2529 ledcapstone.com

PICTURE THIS

NEW TREATMENT AT ICONIC DERMATOLOGY

Iconic is excited to offer a nonsurgical option at its Sebastian and Vero Beach offices. Image-guided superficial radiation therapy is a treatment that uses low levels of X-ray energy to kill cancer cells and allow normal tissue to grow back in its place. For many people dealing with skin cancer, image-guided SRT can be a highly effective treatment option without the downtime, side effects, and cosmetic issues sometimes associated with surgery. Image-guided SRT uses ultrasound to track progress during treatment, an important advantage when compared to traditional radiation therapy.

ICONIC DERMATOLOGY

4800 20th St. 772-758-1310 iconicderm.com

IN TOUCH WITH ART

Vacancy (detail) by Joe Karlovec, jacquard woven textile

JANUARY EXHIBITION TO INCLUDE TEXTILE ART

The textile art of Joe Karlovec will be on display as part of the latest group exhibition at Big Art Now. Prior to focusing on his art, Karlovec studied landscape architecture, and he has been drawing on that experience to create his recent collages. His woven jacquard textile works are composed of hand-cut digital collages. They are very tactile pieces that are hung on the wall like tapestries. Karlovec is an Ohio native who now lives in South Florida.

BIG ART NOW GALLERY 1791 Old Dixie Hwy. 561-440-4260 bigartnow.co/

POWERFUL PROSPECTS

LINUS INTRODUCES SIERRA EV DENALI EDITION 1

GMC is reinventing its iconic truck and unveiling the first all-electric Sierra EV Denali Edition 1 (available in early 2024), the third all-electric truck in GMC’s lineup of electric vehicles. The Sierra EV Denali Edition 1 is built to tower above everything you thought an electric truck could be, combining next-generation EV power, purposeful versatility, modern luxury, and innovative technology. The GMC Sierra EV Denali is powered by the revolutionary Ultium platform, a next-generation propulsion system that delivers range, power, and capability. Call or visit Linus Cadillac Buick GMC for more information and to reserve your truck today.

LINUS CADILLAC BUICK GMC 1401 U.S. Hwy. 1 772-562-1700 linusautomotive.com linuscadillac.com

DEEP-ROOTED SUCCESS

NEW LOGO FOR TREASURE COAST COMMUNITY HEALTH Treasure Coast Community Health has unveiled a new logo that encompasses its 30-year story of continued focus and commitment to Indian River County. What began as a small medical office serving the Fellsmere migrant and citrus-employed population has been cultivated into eight modern health centers. The network grew with the needs of the community, and TCCH added dental, mental/ behavioral health, and vision services, providing more than 100,000 appointments annually. TCCH has transformed into a powerhouse of health care, employment, and economic impact. The new logo reflects this incredible growth and the commitment to health care for all. The brown tree represents a solid, reliable, enduring organization for people of all ages. The orange is a nod to its history within the citrus industry, representing affordability, cheerfulness, and creativity. The green leaves represent its continued growth, in addition to healing, well-being, safety, and honesty.

TREASURE COAST COMMUNITY HEALTH 772-257-8224 tcchinc.org

WOVEN WITH REPURPOSE

NEW STUDIO OPENS

Pop into The Fiber Art Studio for weaving, basket coiling, and sculptures. The studio uses eclectic finds, repurposed fabrics, and a plethora of yarns. It also provides lessons and workshops.

THE FIBER ART STUDIO

57 Royal Palm Pointe 440-552-8578

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Welcome

Alexander Greenwood has been appointed new chief operating officer for Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital . He comes from Lee Health in Fort Myers, where he served in various leadership roles during his 16-year tenure. In his most recent appointment as vice president of Lee Health Coconut Point and Orthopaedics Service Line, Greenwood was responsible for opening a state-of-the-art health and wellness facility serving Southwest Florida. His successful efforts to engage with the community and collaborate with local leaders on the project led to Greenwood being honored as one of Estero, Florida’s 2021 “Top 25 Most Influential Leaders.” Greenwood completed his undergraduate and graduate studies at National Louis University in Illinois, where he received a master of business administration. “We are very pleased to have Alexander Greenwood join our team,” says Dr. Greg Rosencrance, president of CCIRH. “He has proven himself to be a results-focused, service-oriented health care executive who has demonstrated the ability to develop and engage diverse teams with the goal of achieving operational excellence.”

AMAC | Alex MacWilliam Real Estate

welcomes new agent Nicole Morello . She was born in Boston and lived in Plymouth until she was 8 years old, when her family moved to Stuart, Florida. She attended South Fork and Martin County High Schools and has her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Florida Atlantic University. Morello previously worked as an after-school counselor in the Martin County School District and a third-grade teacher in Port St Lucie. She bought her first home in Port St Lucie and loved the process of buying and selling it and then buying her new home in Vero Beach so much that she decided to do it professionally and help others achieve their dream of coming home. When not working, she enjoys off-roading, boating, going to the beach or pool, working with The Buggy Bunch, and hanging out with family, which includes her husband, James, daughter, Theresa, and several pets.

Dr. Jamil Syed earned his medical degree at the University of Florida College of Medicine and completed the Urology Residency Program at Yale New Haven Hospital. During his education, he coauthored more than 40 research publications. Dr. Syed provides care for the complete range of urology conditions, with a focus in cancer care.

Dr. Lubka Ilieva earned her medical degree at Ohio University, Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, and completed the Internal Medicine Residency Program at the Swedish Covenant Hospital in Chicago. She went on to complete the General Cardiology Fellowship Program at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center in Chicago. Dr. Ilieva is board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine; National Board of Adult Echocardiography; and Certification Board of Nuclear Cardiology.

Dr. Allan Welter-Frost specializes in the full spectrum of clinical cardiac electrophysiology disease processes. Upon earning his medical degree at the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, he completed the Internal Medicine Residency Program at the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics. He went on to complete the Cardiovascular Sciences Fellowship Program and Cardiac Electrophysiology Fellowship Program at the University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine.

Dr. Jean-Pierre Obeid earned his medical degree at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and completed the Radiation Oncology Residency Program at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California. Dr. Obeid holds professional memberships in the American Society for Radiation Oncology, American Society for Cancer Research, The Radiosurgery Society, and the American College of Radiology.

Allan Welter-Frost, MD Jean-Pierre Obeid, MD

Jamil Syed, MD Lubka Ilieva, DO

Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital is proud to welcome four new physicians to its staff: urologist Jamil Syed, MD ; cardiologist Lubka Ilieva, DO ; electrophysiologist Allan Welter-Frost, MD ; and radiation oncologist Jean-Pierre Obeid, MD

Tara Layne has joined the Charlotte Terry Group . Layne has lived in Vero Beach for over 38 years, ever since her family moved here from Illinois, and she has watched the transformation and growth in Indian River County. Layne earned a degree in paralegal studies and criminal justice. She finds that her paralegal studies inform her work as a Realtor and set her apart from others in her field. Layne is married with three children and two adorable cavachons, Max and Ruby. Her husband, Scott, is the design partner in the architectural firm of Moulton Layne, PL. In their spare time they enjoy getaways to their home in Woodstock, Vermont.

Reilly Construction is delighted to introduce two more members of its hardworking team. Valerie Treschitta is the energetic and friendly receptionist. With experience providing administrative support and customer service to clients and internal staff, Treschitta brings organization to another level. Evelyn Almanza is a project administrator. Working closely with Reilly’s project managers, Almanza manages contracts and other administrative aspects of each construction project. She obtains municipal permits and collects and organizes necessary documentation in order to successfully complete a project. Both ladies bring organization, excitement, and different perspectives to all Reilly Construction projects.

Congratulations

Pelican Island Audubon Society has received the 2022 Best Chapter Conservation Project award from the Florida Audubon Society. The winning project was the installation of a native plant garden at the entrance to Building A at the County Administration Complex. The Indian River County Board of County Commissioners approved the garden, which includes 271 native plants and is intended to educate the public and demonstrate the potential for native gardens to be both attractive and beneficial to our county.

Mary Eichert, RN, MSN, FNP-C of Align Medical Aesthetics was recently voted into the Top 100 Best Aesthetic Injectors in America, as determined by peer nominations and patient votes. Honorees in various positions, such as RNs, NPs, PAs, and MDs, are from all over the country and contribute “innovation, commitment, and excellence to the medical aesthetics community.”

the opening of their fifteenth season at a reception November 4. The gallery, which has been instrumental in building the arts district on 14th Avenue, continues to offer beautiful and thought-provoking shows for the community and beyond. Featuring a mixture of contemporary and traditional art in varying mediums, Gallery 14 has exhibited the work of its artist-owners, hosted many guest artists in solo and group shows, and initiated fundraising exhibits and juried invitationals. The gallery also represents eight distinguished artists: Walford Campbell, Joan Earnhart, Terry Green, Viola Pace Knudsen, Mia Lindberg, Francis Mesaros, Michael Robinson, and

Gallery 14 artist-owners Edgardo Abello , Lila Blakeslee , Dorothy Napp Schindel , Deborah Morrell Polackwich , George Pillorgé , Barbara Landry, Barbara du Pont , and Mary Ann Hall celebrated

Carol Staub, and features work by sales associate-artist Jo Zaza.

Berkshire Hathaway Florida Realty is proud to recognize Peggy Hewett for being named Top Producer for the month of October. Hewett has been with the company since 2008. `

Have a Ball!

2023 IS OFF TO AN ENERGETIC START WITH EVENTS FOR EVERYONE

KATHLEEN MADIGAN

JANUARY 12

Sunrise Theatre welcomes veteran comedian Kathleen Madigan with a performance titled “Boxed Wine & Tiny Banjos.” In addition to keeping a rigorous touring schedule in which she sells out major venues around the country, she has appeared on many talk shows and comedy specials. Recently, she joined Jerry Seinfeld on his Netflix show Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee

SUNRISE THEATRE

117 S. 2nd St., Fort Pierce 7:30 p.m., $34.75–$59.75 772-461-4775 sunrisetheatre.com

BARK IN THE PARK

JANUARY 7

The Humane Society of Vero Beach & Indian River County invites friendly dogs and their humans to Bark in the Park, an annual day of fun for the whole family. The DiscConnected K9s will be on hand, along with the dock-diving Ultimate Air Dogs, the comedic Puppy Pals, and the K-9 deputies of the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office. Participating pooches will also enjoy a lure course, parade, and costume contest. Food trucks and a Kids Zone with bounce houses will help make it a great day for everyone.

HUMANE SOCIETY OF VERO BEACH & IRC at Riverside Park

3280 Riverside Park Drive 10 a.m.–5 p.m., free admission 772-388-3331 barkintheparkvero.org

LVIV PHILHARMONIC

JANUARY 13

The Indian River Symphonic Association is proud to welcome the Lviv National Philharmonic Orchestra of Ukraine, under the direction of Theodore Kuchar. Pianist Stanislav Khristenko will be the featured soloist. Two pieces by Johannes Brahms, Tragic Overture, Op. 81 and Piano Concerto No. 1 in D Minor, Op. 15 , will be performed, along with Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 43 by Jean Sibelius.

INDIAN RIVER SYMPHONIC ASSOCIATION at Community Church of Vero Beach

1901 23rd St. 7:30 p.m., $80 772-778-1070 irsymphonic.org

PAUL ANKA

JANUARY 13

Prolific singer-songwriter Paul Anka will appear at the Sunrise Theatre for a concert of his greatest hits, which include “Put Your Head on My Shoulder,” “Lonely Boy,” and “Diana.” He has sold over 100 million albums, and he holds the distinction of being the only artist in history to have at least one song on the Billboard charts in seven consecutive decades.

SUNRISE THEATRE

117 S. 2nd St., Fort Pierce 8 p.m., $69.50–$115 772-461-4775 sunrisetheatre.com

Stanislav Khristenko

‘TASTEMAKERS’

JANUARY 13–15

Ballet Vero Beach, which is celebrating its tenth anniversary season, presents “Tastemakers,” honoring two choreographers who have had a profound influence on the organization. Ariel Grossman’s “serene yet passionate” Ori will be joined by the main stage debut of her new work Rust , which was commissioned for BVB. Yves de Bouteiller’s allegorical West Side Story Suite will round out the program.

BALLET VERO BEACH at VBHS Performing Arts Center 1707 16th St.

Main stage series Friday 7:30 p.m., Saturday 2 and 7:30 p.m., $10–$75; Accessible/Family Friendly series Sunday 2 p.m., $10 772-905-2651 balletverobeach.org

POMPEO LECTURE

JANUARY 16

Riverside Theatre’s Distinguished Lecturer Series kicks off its twentyfourth season with Mike Pompeo, who served as the seventieth U.S. secretary of state. His résumé also includes a stint as director of the CIA and four terms as a congressman from Kansas. Prior to his political pursuits, he was a successful businessman and attorney, having graduated from Harvard Law School. He also served from 1986 to 1991 in the U.S. Army, after graduating first in his class at the United States Military Academy at West Point. He completed active duty with the rank of captain.

RIVERSIDE THEATRE 3250 Riverside Park Drive 4 and 6 p.m.; Stark Theatre Main Stage seating $400 series subscription, $125 single event (if seats are available); Waxlax Theatre simulcast $200 series subscription, $85 single event 772-231-6990 riversidetheatre.com

MAGICAL SCHUBERT

JANUARY 17

Community Church of Vero Beach welcomes the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center for a performance of three pieces composed by Franz Schubert: Fantasy in F Minor, Fantasy in C Major, and Trio No. 1 in B-Flat Major. Featured musicians are pianists Alessio Bax and Gloria Chan, violinist Benjamin Beilman, and cellist David Requiro.

COMMUNITY CHURCH OF VERO BEACH 1901 23rd St. 7 p.m., $35 772-778-1070 ccovb.org

JOE SEMKOW

Alessio Bax Gloria Chan

Benjamin Beilman

David Requiro

MARDY FISH GOLF FUNDRAISER

JANUARY 16

The Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation, which supports healthy and positive youth development programs, will hold its annual fundraising golf tournament at Windsor’s beautiful championship course, designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. The 18-hole format will include a special fourteenth hole played with Mardy himself. Sign-in, breakfast, and warm-up begin at 7:30 a.m., with shotgun start at 8:30 and luncheon following play.

MARDY FISH CHILDREN’S FOUNDATION at Windsor Club

3125 Windsor Blvd. 7:30 a.m., $500 866-633-4070 mardyfishchildrensfoundation.org

LOL WITH CARL HIAASEN

JANUARY 19

The Laura (Riding) Jackson Foundation is delighted to celebrate its thirtieth anniversary of literary pursuits by bringing some laughs to the community with bestselling author and Vero Beach resident Carl Hiaasen. The LOL (Laughing Out Loud) event will help fund LRJF’s teen and adult writing workshops as well as the preservation of Jackson’s historic home.

LAURA (RIDING) JACKSON FOUNDATION at Community Church of Vero Beach 1901 23rd St. 6:30–9 p.m., $50–$100 772-569-6718 lauraridingjackson.org

JUDY COLLINS CONCERT

JANUARY 19 MusicWorks will come full circle as it celebrates its tenth anniversary with singer Judy Collins, who performed the series’ first concert 10 years ago. She will be accompanied by a 30-piece orchestra from the Space Coast Symphony as she performs songs from her landmark 1967 album Wildflowers .

MUSICWORKS at The Emerson Center 1590 27th Ave. 7 p.m., $55–$160 800-595-4849 musicworksconcerts.com

‘GARDEN OF GLASS’

JANUARY 20–APRIL 30 McKee Botanical Garden is delighted to present “Garden of Glass” by master glass sculptor and blower Jason Gamrath. This collection of 10 larger-than-life plant sculptures is Gamrath’s first outdoor garden exhibition in Florida. Guests will marvel as they view the intricate details of the colorful glass orchids, waterlilies, and other plants, which will be on display throughout the garden.

MCKEE BOTANICAL GARDEN 350 U.S. Hwy. 1 Tuesday–Saturday 10 a.m.–5 p.m.; $10–$15, free admission for members and children under 2 772-794-0601 mckeegarden.org

5-foot Venus fly trap by Jason Gamrath

SANCTITY OF HUMAN LIFE EVENT

JANUARY 20

For its fourth annual Sanctity of Human Life event, Care Net will present the video recording of the talk that former White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany delivered at the organization’s Fall Fundraiser. Dessert will be served. The event celebrates National Sanctity of Human Life Day, which was declared by President Ronald Reagan in 1984.

CARE NET at Oceans Unite Christian Centre Indian River Mall

6200 20th St., Suite 248 7 p.m.; free, donations accepted 772-569-7939 carenetchampions.org

OAK RIDGE BOYS

JANUARY 21

Sunrise Theatre welcomes the Oak Ridge Boys for a concert titled “Front Porch Singin.’” The quartet will draw on its extensive catalog of songs, many decades in the making, for an evening of gospel, country, and patriotic music. Known for their rich four-part harmonies, the Oak Ridge Boys have many No. 1 and top-10 singles as well as gold and platinum albums to their credit. They were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2015.

SUNRISE THEATRE

117 S. 2nd St., Fort Pierce 8 p.m., $49.50–$69.50 772-461-4775 sunrisetheatre.com

Oceans Unite will host the event.

BREVARD SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

JANUARY 22

The Indian River Symphonic Association presents Christopher Confessore and the Brevard Symphony Orchestra, along with soprano Kyaunnee Richardson. Featured selections will include the Aria from Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5 by Heitor Villa-Lobos; Gustav Mahler’s arrangement of J.S. Bach’s Suites from BWV 1067 and 1068; and Mahler’s Symphony No. 4 in G Major

INDIAN RIVER SYMPHONIC ASSOCIATION at Community Church of Vero Beach 1901 23rd St. 7:30 p.m., $60 772-778-1070 irsymphonic.org

Kyaunnee Richardson

A NIGHT TO REMEMBER

JANUARY 25

The Gifford Youth Achievement Center and the Bernard Egan Foundation present A Night to Remember, celebrating GYAC’s twenty-fifth anniversary. Guests will enjoy dinner, drinks, and a silent disco, in which participants wear headphones that display color-coded lights indicating each dancer’s choice of music channel. Thus, those listening to the same selections can find one another and groove the night away!

GIFFORD YOUTH ACHIEVEMENT CENTER at Oak Harbor Clubhouse

4755 S. Harbor Drive 5 p.m., $200 772-794-1005 gyac.net

Jay and Calesti Lundy enjoy last year’s event.

DAVE MASON

JANUARY 26

Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Dave Mason will perform the second concert of MusicWorks’ Live! From Vero Beach 2023 season. The singer, songwriter, and guitarist has played with many of the top figures in rock music over the past five decades. He is also known for his work with the band Traffic as well as his solo career. He is responsible for such hits as “We Just Disagree” and “Feelin’ Alright.”

MUSICWORKS at The Emerson Center 1590 27th Ave. 7 p.m., $45–$115 800-595-4849 musicworksconcerts.com

VBMA GALA

JANUARY 27

Vero Beach Museum of Art will hold its annual gala; this year’s theme is “Art in Motion,” in keeping with the much-anticipated “Rolling Sculpture” exhibition, which opens the following day. Guests will don cocktail attire and enjoy drinks, dinner, and a preview of the exhibit, which celebrates the aesthetic value of Art Deco automobiles and motorcycles.

VERO BEACH MUSEUM OF ART

3001 Riverside Park Drive 6 p.m., $750 772-231-0707 vbmuseum.org

JOHNNY MATHIS

JANUARY 28 “Chances Are” and “Misty” singer Johnny Mathis is slated to appear at the Sunrise Theatre as part of his “Voice of Romance” tour. The 87-yearold crooner, renowned for his silky-smooth voice, has recorded more than 80 albums, including six Christmas collections. He holds a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.

SUNRISE THEATRE

117 S. 2nd St., Fort Pierce 8 p.m., $95–$115 772-461-4775 sunrisetheatre.com

BAKERSFIELD MIST

JANUARY 31–FEBRUARY 19

Riverside Theatre presents Stephen Sachs’ comedy Bakersfield Mist , the story of Maude, an unemployed bartender in her 50s, who becomes convinced that the painting she purchased for a few dollars at a thrift store is actually a lost Jackson Pollock masterpiece. Her foil arrives in the form of art expert Lionel Percy, who flies out from New York and visits her trailer home in order to authenticate the painting.

RIVERSIDE THEATRE 3250 Riverside Park Drive Times vary, $65 772-231-6990 riversidetheatre.com

RUMOURS

FEBRUARY 2

MusicWorks Live! From Vero Beach presents Classic Albums Live with a performance of Fleetwood Mac’s unforgettable 1977 album Rumours CAL re-creates classic albums cut for cut and note for note, giving audience members the opportunity to relive magical musical moments from days gone by. Rumours was named Album of the Year at the 1977 Grammy Awards. It included the hits “Go Your Own Way,” “Dreams,” “Don’t Stop,” and “You Make Loving Fun.”

MUSICWORKS at The Emerson Center 1590 27th Ave. 7 p.m., $35–$85 800-595-4849 musicworksconcerts.com

‘PHANTOM GOES TO THE OPERA’

FEBRUARY 4

Vero Beach Opera presents “Phantom Goes to the Opera,” a program that features the best of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Broadway showstoppers along with VBO’s own opera favorites. Tenor Mathew White, soprano Alexandra Razskazoff, mezzo-soprano Pascale Spinney, and baritone Eleomar Cuello will be accompanied by pianist Anna Fateeva. Rumor has it that the Phantom himself may even make an appearance!

VERO BEACH OPERA at VBHS Performing Arts Center 1707 16th St. 7 p.m., $15–$50 772-564-5537 verobeachopera.org

John’s Island

Endless Summer. Everlasting Memories.

Welcome to this cherished haven enjoyed by generations who have discovered the undeniable allure of life by the sea. Over 1,650 private pristine acres, miles of sandy beach, three championship golf courses, 17 Har-tru tennis courts, singles and doubles squash, pickleball, croquet, a legendary oceanfront Beach Club and more. Discover personal bliss by the shores of John’s Island.

JohnsIslandRealEstate.com

Matthew White

GARDENFEST!

FEBRUARY 4–5

For the twenty-first year, the Garden Club of Indian River County presents its signature event, Gardenfest! As always, dozens of vendors will be on hand with their wares, including plants of all kinds as well as garden decor. A variety of food trucks will help make sure you can browse all day without getting hungry, and lectures, demonstrations, raffles, and children’s crafts will keep the event fun and informative. Don’t forget to bring your wagon!

GARDEN CLUB OF IRC at Riverside Park 3280 Riverside Park Drive Saturday 9 a.m.–5 p.m., Sunday 9 a.m.–4 p.m. 772-567-4602 gardenclubofirc.org

GEN. JAMES MATTIS

FEBRUARY 6

Riverside Theatre’s Distinguished Lecturer Series presents retired Gen. James Mattis, a career Marine who served as the United States’ twentysixth secretary of defense. Mattis, a native of the state of Washington, graduated from Central Washington State College. He subsequently studied at the National War College of National Defense University in Washington, D.C. He served more than four decades in the U.S. Marines, retiring in 2013 as a four-star general.

RIVERSIDE THEATRE 3250 Riverside Park Drive 4 and 6 p.m., $85 772-231-6990 riversidetheatre.com

‘COMEDY TONIGHT’

FEBRUARY 5

The Indian River Symphonic Association presents a pops concert featuring the Brevard Symphony Orchestra. “Comedy Tonight” will include music from The Pink Panther; The Producers; Monty Python’s Flying Circus; Curb Your Enthusiasm ; classic cartoons; and Sneaky Pete and the Wolf, Peter Schickele’s hilarious retelling of Sergei Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf

INDIAN RIVER SYMPHONIC ASSOCIATION at Community Church of Vero Beach 1901 23rd St. 7:30 p.m.. $65 772-778-1070 irsymphonic.org

Brevard Symphony Orchestra

‘THE ROCKET MAN SHOW’

FEBRUARY 9

Rus Anderson will once again bring his tribute to Elton John, “The Rocket Man Show,” to Vero Beach. Anderson re-creates the powerful stage presence of the longtime hitmaker, even wearing some of John’s original costumes. Audience members will be transported back decades with such hits as “Daniel,” “Bennie and the Jets,” “Tiny Dancer,” and “Candle in the Wind.”

MUSICWORKS

at The Emerson Center 1590 27th Ave. 7 p.m., $40–$95 800-595-4849 musicworksconcerts.com

‘TRYING TO REASON WITH HURRICANE SEASON’

FEBRUARY 9

The Indian River State College Foundation’s Fielden Institute for Lifelong Learning continues its Distinguished Lecture Series on Current Issues with William Craig Fugate. His talk, “Trying to Reason with Hurricane Season,” will draw on his background as FEMA administrator and as Florida’s emergency management director. Currently, he works as a consultant in the field of emergency management.

MCALPIN FINE ARTS CENTER IRSC Massey Campus 3209 Virginia Ave., Fort Pierce 10 a.m.–noon, $35 772-462-7880 irsc.edu

William Craig Fugate

QUILT SHOW

FEBRUARY 10–11

More than 100 locally made quilts will be on display at the Vero Beach Quilt Show, a two-day event presented by the Vero Beach Quilt Guild. Grouped in 15 categories, the quilts will be judged on color, craftsmanship, “sewmanship,” and beauty. The event will also include the “Quilts of Valor” presentation, quilt appraisals, treasure baskets, a “Floral Challenge” for quilters, and a variety of vendors. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Shining Light Garden Foundation, a nonprofit vegetable and flower garden that provides fresh produce to veterans, food pantries, and less fortunate residents around the Treasure Coast. For more information, email verobeachquiltshow@outlook.com.

VERO BEACH QUILT GUILD

at Indian River County Fairgrounds

7955 58th Ave.

Friday and Saturday 10 a.m.–4 p.m., $10

WINE & DINE

FEBRUARY 11

Hibiscus Children’s Center invites you to enjoy a sampling of international wine and cuisine at the Wine & Dine Around the World fundraiser benefiting the young people living at Hibiscus Village. The evening will also include a silent auction and a raffle.

HIBISCUS CHILDREN’S CENTER at Grand Harbor Club

4985 Club Terrace

6:30 p.m., $125 772-299-6011, ext. 313 hibiscuschildrenscenter.org `

MOTOR CAR EXHIBITION

FEBRUARY 11

It’s time once again for McKee Botanical Garden’s annual Motor Car Exhibition; this year’s theme is “Car Collectors’ Favorites.” Forty fascinating vehicles, from antique to modern, will be on display throughout the garden, and guests will have the opportunity to speak with the collectors themselves. A display of motorcycles will also be part of the show.

MCKEE BOTANICAL GARDEN

350 U.S. Hwy. 1

10 a.m.–3 p.m., regular admission rates apply 772-794-0601 mckeegarden.org

Event co-chairs Jan Harrell and Carole Casey

1913 Ford Model T Speedster

Yearning to Breathe Free

IMMIGRANTS ARE WILLING TO FACE GREAT ADVERSITY IN SEEKING A BETTER LIFE

The beach was uncharacteristically empty on the morning of September 8, 2016 as I walked toward the cove at South Beach. The sunrise cast a brilliant golden hue across the cerulean sea and onto the sand, illuminating an unusually large shape in the distance.

At first, I did not believe my eyes, but as I approached, the distinct outline of a boat’s stern

and gunwales came into focus. When I reached the marooned vessel, I found a 14-foot open-bow sloop made entirely from Styrofoam, duct tape, and blue paint. A wooden mast and rudder lay in the bottom of the hull along with empty soda cans and sardine tins inscribed in Spanish and Russian respectively.

I wondered about the brave souls who made the roughly 300-nautical-mile

voyage from Cuba to Vero Beach. How desperate must their lives have been to risk such a perilous journey in a homemade boat? What were they hoping to achieve here in the United States? Wherever they were, I knew they were a long way from home and likely in search of a place of refuge—not unlike the thousands of immigrants and refugees who have arrived on Florida’s shores for centuries.

BY JEFFREY R. PICKERING

The Community Foundation presents a donation to the Samaritan Center, which offers transitional housing and life-skills development to homeless families in Indian River County.

When Indian River Community Foundation published the findings of its most recent community needs assessment in 2020, a trend of a more racially and ethnically diverse county population was reported. Hispanics represented the fastest-growing minority group in Indian River County, many having immigrated from Latin America and the Caribbean. Creole-speaking Haitian immigrants were also represented in the study. While most enter the United States lawfully, either by meeting family, employment, refugee, or asylum requirements, approximately 3 percent of Indian

River County’s population are undocumented immigrants and 2 percent are lawful permanent residents who have yet to complete the naturalization process. When compared to the overall U.S. population, with 14 percent being foreign born, Florida stands out with 21 percent of its population born in other countries. Cuba, Haiti, Colombia, Mexico, and Jamaica account collectively for about half of Florida’s immigrants, and increasing numbers are also coming from Venezuela. Some of the more remote points of departure include Iraq, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Sudan. While

most settle in Dade County, a growing number of immigrants and refugees have made their way to Indian River County in search of economic opportunity and a chance at greater health and prosperity.

As they have done for decades, these immigrants fill the most challenging jobs in agriculture, construction, housekeeping, and related service industries. With limited affordable housing, they often pool resources to find a place to live or settle for substandard options. Language barriers and associated literacy challenges present other difficulties. Still, they persevere.

Immigrants and refugees who settle in Indian River County are provided with a range of services by a handful of local charitable organizations with missions focused on serving the needs of various vulnerable populations. Many are provided by faith-based organizations, such as Catholic Charities, that focus on meeting basic human needs. Others, like RCMA, have a long history of providing immigrant families with affordable, high-quality childcare. Together, these programs and services add up to hundreds of thousands of dollars spent and hundreds of volunteer hours donated to help immigrants

A makeshift vessel, made with Styrofoam and held together with duct tape, floated ashore at South Beach in 2016.

How desperate must their lives have been to risk such a perilous journey in a homemade boat?

and refugees who have made Indian River County, Florida their home.

One organization whose staff and volunteers dedicate time and resources to immigrants learning English as a second language is Literacy Services. With regular help from tutors, adult students, many of whom are parents with children attending schools within the School District of Indian River County, can become more proficient reading, writing, and speaking English. In many cases, this enables them to gain better employment and participate more fully in their children’s education. It also prepares many to pursue the goal of obtaining U.S. citizenship.

In Indian River County, there are approximately 3,000 lawful permanent residents (aka “green-card holders”) who are foreign born and authorized to live in the United States. Almost all of these members of the community fall into what the United Way of Indian River County calls the ALICE population, which stands for “asset limited income constrained employed.” Beyond processing times for naturalization applications, which can take more than one year,

the two biggest barriers for immigrants who are eligible to naturalize are access to competent legal counsel and the associated expenses.

At an average cost of $2,500 per case, outright payment of what amounts

for many of these lawful permanent residents to one month’s salary or more is not a workable solution. As a result, the decision to pursue full citizenship is delayed or put off indefinitely. As a result, these

members of our community cannot vote, hold certain public offices, or hold certain civic service positions. They also face the risk of detention or possible deportation for certain offenses. When this happens,

Approximately 3 percent of Indian River County’s population are undocumented immigrants.

Shelves filled with books for all ages are available for students at the Literacy Services office to help them gain skills in reading, writing, and speaking English.

communities are affected, families are separated, and business is disrupted—all for a lack of a relatively modest amount of money that could be donated by any number of the kind and generous people who call Indian River County home.

In September in the Florida Straits between Cuba and the United States’ southernmost point, the seas can be rough, and the waters are always shark infested. I can think of many ways I would rather pursue a better life than from the bow of a Styrofoam boat held together by duct tape and paint. What must go through the minds of the person making such a journey? Perhaps it is something like this:

Whatever the cost, I know that life in the United States is filled with opportunity and many caring people who will empathize with my desire for a better life for myself and my family. I am willing to work, I will obey your laws, I will honor your customs and traditions, and I will share my own. I will pledge my allegiance to your flag, fulfilling the promise of the greatest country on earth. Treat me with dignity and respect and I will show you the best of what my country of origin has to offer while doing my part to contribute to the greater good in my new home. America, the beautiful. With liberty and justice for all. ❀

Elizabeth, a student at Literacy Services, takes advantage of the organization’s life-changing programs.

BY RENÁE TESAURO

You walk or even run. You ride your bicycle. You play pickleball and golf. You have a healthy diet. You’re in tip-top physical condition. Right? Well ... that depends on whether you’re also exercising your brain. The old saying “If you don’t use it, you’ll lose it” applies to many things, including your cognitive function.

“If you don’t have a good brain, it doesn’t matter whether you have a good heart,” remarks Dr. Roberta

Rose, a board-certified neurologist and a member of the board of trustees of the Alzheimer & Parkinson Association of Indian River County. “As much as we like to think of them separately, your brain is important to the health of your other organ systems.”

“As we age, there’s a normal amount of tissue loss,” explains Rose. “After 50, for example, we lose 10 percent of muscle mass every decade. Muscle strength is important to

minimize fall risk; that’s why strength training or weight-bearing exercise is so important.” The same holds true for our brains.

According to Dr. Jagdeep Kohli, a neurologist with Cleveland Clinic

Indian River Hospital, our brains become smaller after about age 40 because of gradual tissue loss and cell death. “Synapses—the structures facilitating the transmission of nerve impulses from one neuron to the next—deteriorate,

Puzzles such as sudoku help keep the brain on its toes.

and certain chemicals important for chemical synapse transmission decrease with age,” he explains. “Patients with Alzheimer’s, for example, tend to have low levels of the chemical acetylcholine, while those with Parkinson’s disease have low levels of dopamine.”

Both neurologists note that certain medical conditions can also impact brain health. High blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, and diabetes can damage small blood vessels in the brain. So can smoking. Fortunately, these factors can be controlled through diet, exercise, and lifestyle changes. “Physical exercise increases your heart rate, which improves blood

flow throughout the body, including the brain,” notes Rose. “Exercise improves sleep, which is also important to brain health.”

It is well documented that exercise improves the production of neurotransmitters such as dopamine, noradrenaline, and serotonin. It also stimulates the production of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a protein that has been described as “fertilizer for the brain” because of its role in preventing the death of existing brain cells and inducing the growth of new neurons and synapses.

Exercise isn’t the only way to increase BDNF. Recent studies show that year-round exposure to sunlight; healthy body

weight; social activity; certain supplements, such as curcumin, omega-3 fatty acids, and green tea; and a diet that is low in refined sugar and saturated fat keep concentrations of BDNF high.

Research has shown that food plays an important role in cognitive function. A 2018 report from the Global Council on Brain Health noted that foods and diets that are beneficial for heart health, such as the Mediterranean and DASH (dietary approaches to stop hypertension) diets, are also good for brain health. This information dovetails with the advice of Rose and Kohli, who advocate a diet low in saturated fat and rich in low-fat proteins, omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, fruits, nutrient-dense vegetables, whole grains,

and dietary fiber. For the consumer, that means including items such as avocados, salmon, flaxseed, spinach, olive oil, walnuts, asparagus, oranges, blueberries, peppermint, green tea, and, yes, dark chocolate on our grocery lists.

The good news is that despite changes to our aging brains, we can preserve and build new synaptic connections by staying mentally active and learning new things, says Rose. “It might be something as simple as trying to write with your nondominant hand. That’s something everyone can try. If you’re a reader, don’t just read the book. Discuss the book with your spouse or friend; or join a book group.”

“Fortunately,” she adds, “we’re blessed with many resources in our community

Jim Cohoe is an avid potter whose clay work provides both mental and physical exercise.

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Neurologist Dr. Jagdeep Kohli advocates regular use of brainstimulating activities.

for people of all ages to engage their brains.”

Nancy Mace, a family nurse practitioner and retired naval reservist, enjoys ballroom and line dancing at the Vero Beach Community Center. “Learning the various dance steps and then using them in a certain sequence stimulates your brain to remember.”

“My mom and grandmother both had Alzheimer’s disease, and I saw how it impacted them,” says the 73-year-old Vero Beach resident. Mace reads a novel at least every two weeks, preferring mysteries that engage her brain to determine “who did it.” She started playing pickleball

several years ago, which not only incorporates physical activity, but also the strategy of hitting the ball where your opponent cannot return it. She swims, walks, takes Zumba classes, and enjoys traveling with her husband, Paul. “One of our favorite ways to travel is on a cruise ship, where there are many activities to sharpen your brain.” In her downtime, which is rare, Mace does sudoku. “It makes you think and enhances your math skills. Different levels challenge your brain to think harder.”

During their retirement and subsequent move to Vero Beach, 82-year-old Jim Cohoe and his wife, Jeany,

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have a daily routine that checks off all the boxes. After playing pickleball or walking every morning with Jeany, Jim heads to Indian River Clay, a pottery studio, while Jeany enjoys an afternoon of mental and social stimulation through competitive bridge at the Vero Beach Bridge Center.

“Working with clay is creative, competitive, collaborative, and physical,” says Cohoe, who has entered and won several competitive juried shows. “It takes energy to lift and

work with the material and fire it in the kiln. But, best of all, it allows me to express who I am.”

Sixty-five-year-old Ileana Jardines supplements pickleball and walking with reading, trivia nights, and bingo. “I’ve started playing bingo with my aunt and a friend at a nearby development. You really have to focus so you don’t miss a number, and those seniors are fearless. They didn’t even let a tornado warning interfere with their bingo game!”

“In this season of my life as in several earlier seasons, I concentrate on three aspects of life that have been very useful in maintaining a very healthy mind: God, family, and pickleball,” observes 77-year-old Al Ressa. “I think constantly about

truth, values, and purpose to live a healthy and somewhat purpose-driven life. My wife and I are constantly engaged in conversation pertaining to family matters, and we play pickleball three to four times per week. Afterwards, we have numerous

thought sessions pertaining to our good play as well as the bad play to improve our game.”

“There are many activities that help re-engage the synapses in our brains that start to weaken over time,” concludes Dr. Kohli. Games, crossword and jigsaw

puzzles, Wordle, sudoku, painting, reading, playing a musical instrument, and learning a new language are just a few. “The important thing is to do these on a regular basis. Retirement shouldn’t be just golf. You need to use your brain in other ways.” ❀

Pickleball, dance classes, and mystery novels are just a few of the tools Nancy Mace uses to keep her body and brain healthy.

“Retirement shouldn’t be just golf. You need to use your brain in other ways.”

– DR. JAGDEEP KOHLI

Barking isn’t the only way your dog communicates with you. Whining, panting, and snorting are all ways he lets you know what he wants.

Sounding Off

BY AMY ROBINSON

Sunny wants something. I am adding a softboiled egg to her kibble breakfast, so I know what she desires. This takes time, of course, and Sunny is not a patient pup. She urges me to hurry not by whining or barking, but simply by panting. These are no ordinary pants; she is not hot or thirsty, but

the speed, volume, and intensity of her panting all tell a story. Careful observation reveals that louder, slower panting indicates her belief that the meal is near completion and she will soon be satisfied.

Faster, louder panting means “Keep working.” If I step away from the stove for a moment, the panting ramps up along with her

concern that my focus is fading. When I pick up the bowl to serve it, she huffs just once, executes a single twirl, and races into her crate.

While Sunny’s panting is an unusual way to communicate, it makes sense for her, because she never whines and very rarely barks. If she does, one big bark startles everyone,

including her. The way our dogs use sound to talk to us differs among breeds and individuals within each breed. Some will use their breed tendencies and physical makeup to emit a repertoire of noises to express all manner of emotions.

Dogs with short noses, such as French bulldogs and pugs, employ a variety of noisy snorts and dramatic inhales, a reverse snort of sorts, to convey their wishes. An opinionated Brussels griffon named Elaine uses a long, drawnout inhale that sounds like a tiny chain saw to beg for a snack or to indicate boredom. If I don’t initiate play, she will change the long snort to a half-bark accompanied by a “harumph” as she backs up and gives me a sideways look. This tells me shrill barking is coming if a

toy and a meaningful game of tug are not in her immediate future.

Barking is the least subtle way of getting our attention. Tone, pitch, frequency, and volume all convey the dog’s state of mind at the time. Sometimes the dog expresses frustration as we scroll through our phones, sit in front of the computer, or binge-watch TV. An excited, higher-pitched bark accompanied by a playful position is a clear invitation that, if ignored, may be intensified.

If the need is due more to the call of nature, the same dog may change the tone to a grumble and add a reproachful look for good measure. If not heeded, both situations call for a louder, more insistent type of bark.

A Hungarian study published in Applied Animal

A fixed stare and a playful position are both signs your pup wants attention.

Ask Amy

amy@verobeachmagazine.com

I took my dog in for his yearly checkup, and the vet suggested strongly that Chester is a bit overweight. Naturally, I added a pound or two over the holidays and would like us to work out together. What is the best approach?

Fortunately, you have an in-home personal trainer at your beck and call. Your dog can help you work off calories, gain aerobic benefits, and get your endorphins pumping. Dog owners enjoy a 24 percent risk reduction in cardiovascular mortality compared to non–dog owners. Now that our enviable Florida winter is here, getting out and moving is a pleasure. Rather than hitting the sidewalk twice a day, take a short car ride to the nearest park or walking trail. The walk will seem less of a trudge and more of a pleasant outing amid nature, which is more fun for both of you. At home, look at any area inside or out that has stairs. Introduce obedience skills by asking Chester to “stay” at the top of the stairs, and after you go down, call him to follow you. Do this on the way up, leaving Chester at the bottom while you show him the way. Watching Chester’s enthusiastic participation will affect your attitude toward exercise as well.

I acquired a new puppy for Christmas, and I want to make sure he is polite around the house. I have researched how to begin training and am pretty comfortable with that, but is there a better time of day for it? Should I set up a daily schedule?

– Penny in Winter Beach

Your preplanning is commendable and the pup should respond. The little guy does not tell time, though, so keep an eye on his habits instead of watching the clock. Does he get rowdy after breakfast? Take a big nap midday? These would probably not be the best times to ask him to focus. Pick moments when he is alert and interested in what you are doing, and use that to your advantage. Training is less about work and more about having quality interactions. Be on the lookout for these opportunities, because they can happen anytime the two of you are together.

– Carl in Vero Beach

Behavior Science showed that people were able to discern different emotional states in dogs they did not know based on recordings of barks. Participants were asked to rate the barks as aggressive, fearful, despairing, playful, or happy. Tonality, pitch, and time intervals between barks affected how participants ranked the barks. Most were able to classify these vocalizations correctly. A follow-up study determined the same was true for growling; participants correctly identified playful growls, as in a game of tug, more than 80 percent of the time, and more than half distinguished correctly between food-guarding growls and threatening growls.

Still, we have much work to do when it comes to actively listening to our dogs’ vocal communications. “Dogs can bark due to excitement, play, attention seeking,

or whenever dogs want to raise awareness of a change in the environment,” says board-certified veterinary behaviorist Dr. Lisa Radosta. “Usually, lower pitched growls and barks are emitted when the dog is responding to a threat, such as territorial barking. In contrast, higher-pitched barks are usually emitted during play or when the dog is distressed.”

While a few generalizations can be made, each dog is an individual and will have his own methods of getting his message out. These vocal expressions are accompanied by body language particular to the dog’s emotional state. “Domestication by humans, as in every other aspect of the lives of dogs, has influenced the tone and purpose of certain dog vocalizations,” adds Radosta. “We can make generalizations about what certain tones or length of barking means; however, it’s best for pet

parents to get to know their dog. A whine may seem impatient to a pet parent, but if they don’t understand the dog’s body language, they will make an incorrect interpretation.”

There is no set formula for pairing body language with vocalizations. Take

sneezing, for example. Many dogs will sneeze when happy or excited, and during play with a human or a friendly dog. Sneezing in this context may include curving the body into a comma shape so the wagging tail and facial expression can be shown

together. These sneezes are shallower than a sneeze to expel nasal irritants, and they usually come in groups of two or three.

Whining is another emission that can take on different meanings when the body language is observed. Think of your

dog whining while looking out the window. His body is erect and ears are forward, indicating some agitation, possibly at a delivery vehicle or a jogger. Whining while he stamps his feet and wags his tail with enthusiasm can be from his observing a favorite dog pal being walked past the house.

We can reinforce the behaviors our dogs offer up, whether we intend to or not. Dogs are so adaptable and such good observers that if we react to their vocal gymnastics, the dog files that information away for further use. “Let’s say that a high-pitched bark is able to wake a sleeping human being,” says Rodosta. “If the human gets up and feeds the dog and that act is reinforcing to the dog, then that behavior will be expressed more frequently. Even the dogs living with that dog may learn by observation and reinforcement of that behavior.” This means if your spaniel barks at squirrels and you react to that, your retriever may take up the cause.

Each dog has a repertoire of noises to express all manner of emotions, designed to bridge the language gap between human and canine. Some of us talk to our dogs all day, so it should not be surprising that, in their own way, they talk back. If we listen and observe, we can gain a view into their inner lives. ❀

Watching and listening to our dogs can give some insight as to what they’re thinking.

A Rare Bird

RICKY RAY HOLDS NOTHING BACK IN HIS VOLUNTEER WORK FOR THE PELICAN ISLAND AUDUBON SOCIETY

BY TERESA LEE RUSHWORTH

Retired electrical lineman

Ricky Ray grew up in Miami Springs and moved to Vero Beach just five years ago. Almost immediately upon arriving, the lifelong bird lover stopped by the local Audubon House on Oslo Road, just to check it out.

“Dr. Baker came up and asked, ‘Can I help you?” Ray recalls. “He asked if I had a few minutes, and the next thing I knew, I was folding Peligrams!”

Retired entomologist and passionate conservationist Richard Baker, who has a PhD in zoology, is the longtime director of the Pelican Island Audubon Society, and the Peligram is its monthly newsletter.

Ever since his encounter with Baker, Ray has been a tireless PIAS volunteer; in fact, he has become what PIAS executive director Donna Halleran calls the “backbone of the volunteer corps at Pelican Island Audubon House.”

It is only fitting; Ray has been known as “Bird Man” since the fifth grade.

He has always enjoyed being out in nature. When he was growing up in South Florida, his father used to take him fishing in the Everglades, and he remembers being fascinated by all the birds he saw on the mudflats. He fed birds in the yard “just to see what kinds of birds would come by.”

In the 1970s, Ray took the “online” Cornell birding course, which at the time was done via mail correspondence. He goes birding at least once a week and enjoys trying new locations.

When asked if, as a lineman, he ever found himself engaging in some impromptu bird-spotting

while at the top of a pole, he doesn’t hesitate: “All the time!”

Ray spends at least two days per week volunteering with PIAS—more if needed. “He is not afraid of hard work,” says Halleran. “He volunteers to help any way he can—he leads bird walks, helps with our kayaking student trips … he stands

Ricky Ray applies his love of nature by leading informative hikes and birding expeditions.

in any place he is asked to help. He often changes his schedule to be supportive.”

Ray takes groups of Harbor Branch high school-age junior scientists out birding every Monday. He also enjoys leading nature hikes, especially “when people get a big rise out of seeing a bird that’s not supposed to be in the area or that they haven’t seen in a while.”

He gets a kick out of taking fifth-graders out on conservation-focused kayaking excursions as part of the Audubon Advocates after-school program. “Many of the kids have never been kayaking before, and I get to teach them,” he says, chuckling as he describes the need to corral the wayward kayaks of students who have not yet quite mastered the art of steering with a paddle.

All of the volunteer work is not fun and games, however; some of it is downright backbreaking.

Ray pitches in to mow trails, pull invasive plants, and tend to some 1,200 Southern live oak saplings grown from acorns and made available to the public at no charge.

But, according to Halleran, “Ricky always has a smile and usually sings a tune as he helps.” `

Maintenance of trails and the Audubon House property is one of Ray’s duties as a dedicated volunteer.

‘Car’nucopia

There’s a traffic jam in Indian River County, and it’s not along A1A. Several thousand collectible cars are sitting in gravel driveways, multicar garages, well-lit showrooms, and specially designed storage facilities in and around Vero Beach. These pampered pieces of automobile history can sometimes be spotted out on the roads, although many are too valuable to mix it up with the usual riffraff that roams the pavement. The most visible sign of their presence is at the

frequent car shows in the area, where many of them congregate to preen.

McKee Botanical Garden’s biggest one-day event of the year is its car show. The theme of its thirteenth event, taking place February 11, will be “Car Collectors’ Favorites.”

The largest and oldest car show in Vero Beach is the Antique Automobile Show in Riverside Park, where 325+ cars come to hang out under the oaks. The forty-fourth annual installment will be held March 18. Another not-tobe-missed event is the annual Wheels

WRITTEN AND PHOTOGRAPHED BY PATRICK MERRELL

The Antique Automobile Show, held annually in Vero Beach’s Riverside Park, features a wide variety of vehicles, such as this rusty, crusty 1937 Plymouth “Rat Rod”—complete with a barbwire grille and rattail crank.

& Keels car and boat show, which will be held April 15 at The Moorings.

The Indian River Region of the Antique Automobile Club of America, which runs the Riverside Park show, is also involved in other car shows and monthly meet-ups (indianriver.aaca.

com). Lastly, Summer Crush Winery

has several car shows throughout the year, complete with live music, food trucks, and of course, wine.

From January 30 to April 30, the Vero Beach Museum of Art will offer a rare opportunity to see an astounding collection of cars in its galleries. The show, called “Rolling Sculpture,” is an

exhibition of rare Art Deco cars and motorcycles, which I’ll talk about in further detail next month.

For something completely different, the Viesta ranch at 825 83rd Drive will be the site of the second Florida Gas Bash February 3–5. Dozens of vendors will be selling gas, oil, and

This 2017 Lamborghini Huracan Spyder in Arancio Borealis paint was part of McKee Botanical Garden’s annual Motor Car Exhibition in 2022.

Bespoke Auto Lofts is scheduled to open this fall. This artist’s rendering shows a typical unit with a pied-à-terre overlooking the car collection area.

automotive memorabilia, including metal and neon signs and gas pumps. The ranch alone is worth the visit, with large, permanent signs from gas stations and roadside restaurants installed around the property. There’s also a barn packed with some of Alex and John Viesta’s collection.

One perennial problem for Vero Beach car collectors is finding a place to store all of their valuable vehicles. You’d be surprised how many innocuous-looking warehouses and storage facilities have valuable cars tucked away behind their doors. And yet there’s always a need for more.

In 2018, Vero Beach AutoHaus opened, offering units to house highend collections. A sister facility, Indian River MotorHaus, followed soon after, and MotorHaus 2.0 will be ready this spring. While all of those units can be customized, Bespoke Auto Lofts, a competitor, is taking things a step further. Its 16 luxury condominiums, due to be completed this fall, can be finished to have a stylish pied-à-terre loft overlooking one’s collection.

The Viesta family ranch west of Vero Beach hosts the yearly Florida Gas Bash, where vendors sell automotive, gas, and oil memorabilia.

Motorhaus units can be customized to include kitchenettes, TVs, bathrooms, mezzanines, and more.

To help grow a car collection, Vero Beach has four high-end dealers. Motor City Classic Cars and Delray Motorcars both offer curated selections of rare and restored classic and exotic vehicles. Rosner Motorsports carries a wide range of pre-owned luxury and exotic models, while Wire Wheel Classic Sports Cars specializes in British sports and racing cars.

In 2020, there was talk of converting the old Press Journal building on U.S. 1 into a car museum, housing the collection of local resident Wayne Gould. Unfortunately, that plan fell through in 2022. The Elliott Museum in Stuart has a car collection on permanent display. There’s also the huge auto museum at Dezerland in Orlando and the Dauer Museum of Classic Cars in Sunrise. The American Muscle Car Museum in Melbourne is open only for special events and school tours.

If all this still leaves you wanting more, I suggest stopping by Mrs. Mac’s Fillin’ Station for breakfast or lunch. You’ll find the walls and several display cases filled with automobilia. `

Michael Klaben’s 1970 Camaro—with a 1,200-horsepower, 540-cubic-inch big block Chevy engine—and a rare 1955 Packard Clipper Constellation, among the last of the true Packards, were two of the approximately 325 cars on display at the annual Antique Automobile Show in Riverside Park.

Above: Motor City Classic Cars; Below: Delray Motorcars (left) and Rosner Motorsports (right)

“Hope smiles from the threshold of the year to come, whispering, ‘It will be happier.’”

– ALFRED, LORD TENNYSON

Surrey to Sebastian

CHEF JONATHAN PREECE GIVES TREASURE COAST RESIDENTS

A TASTE OF GREAT BRITAIN

BY CHRIS FASOLINO PHOTOGRAPHY BY KIM BOTTALICO

From learning the ropes at one of London’s greatest restaurants to serving guests as distinguished as the Royal Family and Sean Connery, the career of Chef Jonathan Preece reflects both his culinary accomplishments and his British heritage.

Having exchanged the foggy clime of England for the sunshine of Florida, Preece now runs Portside Pub & Grille in Sebastian. Seated in one of the pub’s cozy booths for an interview, he looks back on his career with a twinkle in his eyes.

Preece was born in 1943 in the county of Surrey. As a young man, he worked at Simpson’s in the Strand, a renowned London restaurant. Simpson’s is mentioned in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s stories as a favorite of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson; in the twentieth century, it was frequented by Sir Winston Churchill, for whom a table was reserved by the fireplace.

The atmosphere of Simpson’s is one of comfortable elegance, but Preece jokes that he called the kitchen where he worked “the dungeon” because it was underground. “I did cooking in the kitchen—that was my training—and I would transport the food from the kitchen to the restaurant.” Roasts of beef and lamb are the establishment’s specialties, and as Preece brought them to the restaurant area, they would be placed in the signature silver trolleys to be served to guests.

Preece learned well at Simpson’s, and he quickly began receiving accolades of his own. At 18 years of age, he was a member of the Guild of Sommeliers—“I was the youngest member,” he recalls with a smile. He also earned a gold medal from the prestigious Escoffier Society.

At the Royal Ascot races, Preece served drinks to Queen Elizabeth II and other members of the Royal Family. Their beverage choices included Bristol cream sherry. Preece had to learn how to hold out a tray while bowing at the same time. “The idea was not to spill the drinks.”

At one of Preece’s restaurants, Sean Connery was a customer, coming in with some friends. “I served them the biggest lobsters I could get,” he says. There was just one problem, though: It was a formal restaurant, and Connery was wearing a golf shirt. Preece provided him with a sports jacket and a tie that were kept for such occasions. Later, he was amused when he saw that Connery was wearing the tie down the back of his jacket. “There’s a story for you!” laughs the chef.

Chef Jonathan Preece has many stories to share about where he learned his craft in England and whom he’s served along the way.

Captain Bill’s New England Clam Chowder

SERVES 6–10

“Captain Bill Bowers was the greatest New England chef in Florida, ever,” says Preece, who enjoyed working with him on a previous restaurant job. Preece remembers everyone calling Bill “the Captain.” And he remembers this special clam chowder recipe.

6 1/2-oz. cans chopped clams

1 cup chicken stock, fish stock, or water

1/2 lb. diced cooked potatoes

1 quart half-and-half or light cream

1/2 stick unsalted butter or margarine

1 cup corn starch, whisked in water until smooth

1/2 cup finely chopped onions

1/2 cup finely chopped celery

2 tbsp. Old Bay seasoning

1 tbsp. thyme

1 tbsp. Italian seasoning

2 tbsp. chopped parsley

Juice of one lemon

Salt and pepper to taste

Dry sherry (optional)

In a 4-quart pot, sauté onion and celery in a little butter until soft; add clams, stock, half and half, and the rest of the butter and bring to a boil.

Whisk in the corn starch slurry until the chowder is of your preferred thickness. Add diced potatoes (you may heat these in a microwave if you wish).

To season, stir in all spices and herbs. Then taste and add more Old Bay, salt, pepper, or thyme as needed. For a special touch, add a dash of dry sherry to each serving.

Chef Jonathan’s Salmon Galleon

SERVES 4

This is an original creation by Chef Jonathan that reflects his creative flair—and his love of good seafood.

4 fresh salmon fillets, 1/2 lb. each (frozen vacuumpacked will work if the salmon is No. 1 quality)

1 lb. jumbo shrimp (12 to 16 shrimp), peeled and deveined, tails on 2 cups water

Old Bay seasoning to taste

Juice of 1/2 lemon

Garlic-Herb Sauce

Parmesan cheese to taste

Garlic-Herb Sauce:

2 cloves garlic

Butter or olive oil for sautéing

To taste:

Basil leaves

Old Bay seasoning

Parsley Dry sherry

Finely chop the garlic and sauté in butter or olive oil until soft. Season with basil, Old Bay, parsley, and dry sherry.

Cook the salmon until done; it may be baked, grilled, blackened, or sautéed—your choice! Set aside, ready to top with cooked shrimp.

To cook the shrimp, bring the water (mixed with lemon juice and Old Bay) to a boil. Add the shrimp and bring back to near boil. Let cook about 3 minutes or until done. Strain and put shrimp to one side.

Place hot, cooked salmon on an oven dish. Line each salmon steak with three or four shrimp standing on toothpicks.

Pour Garlic-Herb Sauce over salmon portions and over shrimp. Sprinkle with grated Parmesan. Heat in oven for about 3 minutes or until desired serving temperature. Serve and enjoy!

Mum’s Bread & Butter Pudding

Slice and lightly butter the bread; set aside. Beat the eggs and half-and-half together and set aside.

Grease a large (10 x 5 x 2-inch) 4-quart pan or oven dish with butter or oven spray. Pour a little coating of the half-and-half-egg mixture into the pan. Place a layer of bread in the pan and wet with the mixture. Sprinkle sugar and sultanas over this layer.

Repeat this process two more times, resulting in a three-layer soggy concoction; dust with sugar. Use any extra half-and-half-egg mixture on top to settle through the pudding.

Bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes and check; add more time if needed. Continue to bake until it “sets” and is lightly browned. Enjoy! `

“The ability to be in the present moment is a major component of mental wellness.” – ABRAHAM MASLOW

As licensed Trichologists, we know how to treat hair loss and create cuts and styles that enhance the appearance of fuller, thicker hair for a more youthful look. Often, hair loss can be resolved with simple, natural, and non-surgical solutions. With advanced technology we are treating hair loss at the root of the problem.

LOL with Carl Hiaasen

THE BEST-SELLING VERO BEACH AUTHOR HEADLINES THE LAURA (RIDING) JACKSON FOUNDATION’S ‘LAUGHING OUT LOUD’ EVENT

BY JUDY ALEXANDRA DIEDWARDO PHOTOGRAPHY BY NICK MELE

Carl Hiaasen is bringing his Florida-centric humor to the Laura (Riding) Jackson Foundation’s thirtieth anniversary celebration this month.

Who better than Carl Hiaasen to usher in 2023 with his humorous view of the world’s ills? The Laura (Riding) Jackson Foundation has themed its thirtieth anniversary celebration “LOL” (Laughing Out Loud), and Hiaasen promises just that as keynote speaker for the January 19 event honoring the visionary writer who lived and worked in Florida for 48 years, until her death in 1991 at age 90.

“When I do these events around the country, the object is to make people laugh. But, in times like these, it gets harder and harder,” admits Hiaasen, who carved his niche at the venerable Miami Herald, bringing razor-sharp humor to disturbing, Florida-centric dysfunction, from environmental destruction and wildlife exploitation to gross political corruption and greed—recurring plot points for nearly everything he writes.

“Writing has always been a combination of venting and therapy for me,” says Hiaasen. “After all, almost every major national news story has some sort of slime trail to Florida.

“But I also think there’s an enhanced appetite to laugh at the absurdity of the world. It’s the only way to stay sane and rational. Otherwise, we’d all be standing on a ledge somewhere!”

The proud Florida native never had to look far for material. After graduating at age 23 from the University of Florida, he joined the Miami Herald as a city-desk reporter and later joined its prize-winning investigations team. From 1985 to 2021, he wrote a regular opinion column, which allowed him a platform to voice his views and outrage over the widespread political corruption and senseless destruction of the environment happening in his beloved home state.

Author

“How could anyone who grew up in South Florida in the era that I did not be perpetually pissed off about what’s happened—the amount of greed-fueled destruction of wetlands that we should have protected but didn’t?” he rails.

“When I was born, the population of Florida was about five-and-a-half million. Now, it’s over 22 million. I don’t know of any nation or sovereign country that could survive that kind of rapid growth without some sort of social convulsion.”

Hiaasen used his column to great effect, proudly citing that he so enraged a Miami city commissioner that the official responded by introducing a resolution formally denouncing him.

“If you have a newspaper column in a dynamic and combustible place like Florida, and you’re writing about the first day of spring and what popped up in your garden, you need to have your job taken away from you and given to somebody who’s got something to say, because this is important stuff that not only affects what’s happening in Florida, but it’s always sort of been on the bizarre side of the cutting edge of what’s about to happen in America.”

Hiaasen remains bemused by the influx of people to South Florida, once lured by the fictional lifestyle depicted in the popular 1980s television show Miami Vice “I did a column every year on how many people were killed in just one episode, which was almost higher than the annual murder rate in Miami.” It was all violent, drug-related corruption, and still it became one of the most popular shows in Europe.

“I could only conclude that it was the fashion,” laughs Hiaasen. “I never met a cop wearing Armani, but they made it look so nice despite having to step over dead bodies.”

Hiaasen’s well-deserved platform expanded in the late 1980s when he began writing Florida-based crime thrillers with a cast of eccentric characters who brought to life issues personal to him: to date, 16 New York Times Best Seller list novels for adults and six for young readers, translated into 34 languages.

“One of the great things about writing novels is you can deal with people as they should be dealt with and create a world in which you can maneuver the facts and outcomes,” smiles Hiaasen. “Now, that’s therapeutic.”

In 2006 Hiaasen settled in Vero Beach, which was “reminiscent of Fort Lauderdale in the days before there were high-rises.” Prior to that move, he had been

KELLY ROGERS

“We wanted to bring the community a writer they would enjoy because, after all, this is a party. Especially after the pandemic, we wanted to gather in a happy frame of mind, and Carl is much appreciated here. He’s taught many of our teen writers at our workshops.”

– MARIE STIEFEL, LRJF PRESIDENT

ABOUT THE LAURA (RIDING) JACKSON FOUNDATION

Established shortly after the 1991 death of its namesake, the foundation holds teen and adult writing workshops and an annual spring poetry and barbecue event. It also preserves the historic “cracker” house purchased by the writer and her husband, Time magazine poetry critic Schuyler Jackson, in 1943. The small frame home was originally located on 11 acres in Wabasso but now stands on Indian River State College’s Mueller Campus west of Vero Beach.

Born Laura Reichenthal in New York City in 1901, Jackson studied at Cornell University and became an influential poet, critic, novelist, and linguistic visionary who lived and worked in Florida for 48 years. Her groundbreaking 1927 collaboration with British poet and novelist Robert Graves, A Survey of Modernist Poetry, sparked a critical movement called “New Criticism,” which influenced the way poetry would be written and read for generations.

“She was an analyst and philosopher at heart and deeply committed to wanting people to understand and value language, which she demonstrated through her own writing,” says LRJF president Marie Stiefel.

Historic House: IRSC Mueller Campus 6155 College Lane

LRJF Writing Center & Mailing Address: 1914 14th Ave. 772-569-6718

lauraridingjackson.org

Vero Beach resident Carl Hiaasen writes every day; he considers it a “therapeutic necessity.”

LOL (LAUGHING OUT LOUD) WITH CARL HIAASEN

will kick off a yearlong celebration with guest speakers, workshops, and area events benefiting the foundation.

living in the Florida Keys, having become fatigued by the daily I-95 commute to the Herald’s office and preferring a quieter place to write his column.

“It was a tough decision to leave,” says Hiaasen, recounting childhood fishing trips to the Keys with his father in the late ’50s and early ’60s. “You could fish off the bridges at night in your bare feet without seeing a car in either direction for an hour. Today, you couldn’t go 30 seconds without being flattened by one!”

Fan mail from appreciative readers brings Hiaasen a welcome boost, especially when his work has inspired a love of reading or brought relief through difficult times.

“What keeps you going is mail from readers saying you brought a little joy to their life,” he says of a few special letters tacked to the cork board above his desk.

“It’s happened more than once where I learn that someone’s father, sick with late-stage cancer, had his daughter read him my novels because it was the one thing that put a smile on his face.

“You read that and it keeps you going. It’s so humbling.”

Letters from young readers are equally poignant. “I try to never overlook a letter from a young reader because, when I was a kid, I never had the nerve to write a letter to a writer I liked. So, I know what it means to get something back— even if they never read another one of my books. As long as they’ve got a book open on their lap, especially in this day and age, I’m happy.”

Hiaasen’s 2002 book Hoot marked his foray into writing for young readers, prompted in part by his own children: Scott, from his marriage to Connie Lyford, and Quinn and stepson Ryan from his marriage to Fenia Clizer. In 2020 he married Kaitlyn Fox.

Recipient of the coveted Newberry Medal, Hoot was inspired by an experience he had growing up in a rural suburb of Fort Lauderdale. The ecological thriller centers on a middle-school–age hero who makes it his mission to save a colony of miniature Florida owls.

“I remember writing a science paper on them in sixth or seventh grade,” says Hiaasen, referring to a native species of pint-size owls that nest in the open fields where he and his friends rode their bicycles.

“Then, one day, a sign goes up and they’re going to build this giant development called ‘Hawaiian Village.’ In Florida? Really?”

Hiaasen and his friends watched in disbelief as survey crews and bulldozers appeared. “They were going to build this giant thing and bury these animals alive.”

Hiaasen and his friends retaliated, removing survey stakes after crews left each day. “It definitely slowed them down, but, in the end, it was going to get built,” he recounts. “Some got away, but a lot of them died. But, in my book, it was going to be different. That’s the great thing about fiction. I get to write a better ending.”

In a bittersweet triumph, a small colony of these burrowing owls survived and remain in a fenced-off area for visitors to observe. “It’s one of the few last traces of that particular species of Florida’s burrowing owls, which seemed like the logical place to start my first book for kids,” says Hiaasen, who encourages young writers to tap into subjects that are personally meaningful. “The best writing you’ll ever do is when it’s something you care about. If you don’t care, it shows, whether you’re writing fiction or poetry—even journalism.”

Two of Hiaasen’s novels have been made into feature films: Strip Tease (1996), starring Demi Moore and Burt Reynolds, and Hoot (2002), starring Luke Wilson and Brie Larson. A third, Bad Monkey (2013), was recently adapted for an Apple TV series starring Vince Vaughn. Executive produced by Ted Lasso creator Bill Lawrence, it is slated to air later this year.

Hiaasen began writing his newest novel for young readers during the pandemic. Wrecker is slated for release in September. Based in Key West, it centers on a middle-schoolage hero from a long line of shipwreck salvagers, whose work represented the primary industry in the Florida Keys from the mid-1800s to the turn of the century.

“Key West has been a favorite place for smugglers for 200 years,” says Hiaasen, who took inspiration from source material for a 1979 Miami Herald investigative series on the marijuana-smuggling trade. “I’ve always loved Key West. It’s changed a lot, of course, but there’s still a little outlaw blood there that makes it interesting.”

Writing during the pandemic wasn’t a stretch for Hiaasen. “Writers self-isolate all the time. I go into a room by myself every day and write.”

Hiaasen has also been working on his seventeenth adult novel, which he says is more of a therapeutic necessity than workaholism.

“My method has always been to be totally immersed in something so I don’t get obsessed with how a new book is received,” he says, referring to his upcoming youth release.

“But either way, at the end of the day, I still have to go over to my office and write, and hope it’s good,” he laughs. “I don’t know what else I would be qualified to do.” `

Designing a home these days gives new meaning to a “clean” look. Lighting, appliances, and surfaces are all important considerations in creating a healthy home.

Clean Living

WITH MODERN RESEARCH AND ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY, IT’S EASIER THAN EVER TO KEEP A HEALTHY HOME

BY AMY ROBINSON

Do you know where germs are hiding?

Home is where the heart is and, increasingly, where work, play, and multigenerational gatherings come together. All of this nesting comes at a price: germs. Think of all those surfaces that are touched by multiple hands many times throughout the day: countertops, faucets, light switches, cabinet hardware, and the highest-touch surface of all—the refrigerator. These are places where germs feel right at home, but we can take steps to minimize these tiny invaders.

Stone countertops are popular for a reason; they are beautiful and durable. Not all stone surfaces are created equal, however, when it comes to collecting germs. Engineered quartz, such as a Caesarstone or Silestone product, is the least porous, as it is made from natural quartz combined with polymers and resins. These poured surfaces have either no seams or minimal seaming. Cleanup of engineered stone is easy with diluted dish soap and hot water.

When remodeling, consider ditching the tile backsplash with its germ-friendly grout. Instead, take the stone up from the counter to the base of cabinets for a clean and stylish look.

Granite needs to be cleaned regularly and sealed periodically to maintain the beauty and keep it from harboring germs. Marble is the question mark when it comes to antimicrobial properties, since it is softer and a bit more porous than other natural stones. Regular sealing helps to repel stains and germs, but some experts suggest using marble on an island that is not subjected to daily food prep or pots and pans, or in bathrooms, where it won’t have the same exposure to potential scratching.

One kitchen counter option that is gaining in popularity is the seamless porcelain slab. The pressure and heat from the molding process make for a very durable and antimicrobial surface that is 80 percent less likely to harbor bacteria than other surfaces. Porcelain

slabs can be made to look like marble or quartz in a variety of colors and finishes, and they are easily cleaned with common household cleansers.

We may think of sinks as inherently clean, but bacteria love to reside there. Any unwashed utensil or plate that goes in will welcome germs like old friends. One sink material is emerging as a bacteria killer: copper. Not only is copper attractive, the

Environmental Protection Agency has confirmed through rigorous testing that it starts to kill germs on contact and takes care of 99.9 percent of dangerous bacteria within two hours. Cleanup is a smart idea after each use, since acidic foods and drinks can strip the patina. Mild soap and warm water will suffice, and a copper cleaner should be used regularly.

The sink is hardly the worst

Engineered quartz from Caesarstone is a poured surface that has minimal or no seaming. Cleaning engineered stone is simple with soap and hot water.

Copper is becoming increasingly popular as a sink material due to its attractiveness and its antimicrobial properties.

offender for germ collection. Dish towels harbor bacteria, especially when damp. Avoid drying hands on the same towel that wipes up counters soiled with food residue. Experts suggest having separate towels for each use and making sure they get completely dry before using again. Kitchen sponges are even more hospitable to germs. Those little wells that make the sponge so absorbent harbor up to 80 different E. coli strains, according to a 2022 study from Duke University’s Pratt School of Engineering.

One solution is the Swedish Dishcloth (the brand is styled “SWEDEdishcloths”). Engineered in 1947, these cotton-and-cellulose cloths are about the size of a pot holder but are much

thinner and don’t have the little catchall holes for bacteria to take root. They absorb 20-times their weight, dry quickly, are easily cleaned in the dishwasher, and can be sanitized when damp by one minute in the microwave. Cleanup around the kitchen helps eliminate the small food particles on countertops, refrigerator handles, faucet handles, and cabinet hardware. Not all surfaces can take the harsh chemicals found in typical kitchen cleaning supplies, such as those with abrasive qualities or with bleach added. “If you clean your stainless steel appliances with any traditional household cleaner, you can take the finish right off,” says Jason White, builder sales representative at Jetson

TV & Appliance. “We ran into that during the pandemic, when people would use bleach or scrubbing cleaners to disinfect the surface, but that pulls out the oils that are present in the manufacturing process.”

Stainless steel starts life as a molten mixture of iron, chromium, and other additives. “Almost all the stainless steel we see now has nickel as an additive,” White says. When combined, these metals form a very strong alloy that resists corrosion, unless that finish is compromised. “Harsh cleaners can take oils out of the metal, which opens up the pores and lets moisture in,” he explains. “Then, rust spots can show up.” White recommends using only a cleaner formulated specifically

The VoiceIQ system from Delta allows faucets to dispense specific amounts of water in response to verbal commands.

One of the most frequently touched surfaces in the kitchen is the refrigerator. Learning to clean appliances properly is important to maintaining their look and keeping them germ free.

– FLO HOWE

for stainless steel to maintain a perfect showroom finish. “The cleaners made for stainless steel all have natural oils in them, such as mineral oil.”

We all know that washing our hands is mandatory for keeping germ transfer to a minimum. High-tech faucets can help in that regard—handsfree operation in which water flows with just the touch of a forearm on the neck of the faucet, or even motion detection activation that requires just the passing of a hand underneath.

The new VoiceIQ system from Delta takes touchless to the next level: There is no need to come into contact with the handle or the faucet neck, because your voice controls the amount of water dispensed in units of ounces, cups, pints, quarts, gallons, liters, or milliliters. A home connectivity device like Alexa or Google Assistant is required, along with home Wi-Fi.

The future is in automation. As of this year, more than 63 million homes in the United States have “smart” appliances, automated lights, shades, heating and cooling, and much more. The less we need to push buttons and throw switches, the more we inhibit germ transfer.

“The desire for automation in lighting has been evident for decades and has reached a new level of importance with the recent worldwide health event,” says Flo Howe of LED Capstone Lighting & Fan Showroom in Vero Beach. Switches with active occupancy sensors reduce the need for contact, turning on when they sense the room is occupied, and off after it is vacated.

“Remote/receiver lighting systems

Lighting for your home can be operated with remote switches and occupancy sensors that turn lights on or off when someone enters or leaves a room.

“The desire for automation in lighting has been evident for decades and has reached a new level of importance with the recent worldwide health event.”

Home lighting can now be controlled via an app on a smartphone or tablet, which eliminates the need for touching switches and buttons each time a room is entered or vacated.

may also be employed to take your lighting to a new level of control,” adds Howe. “With a remote switch, lighting can be managed from anywhere in a room or can be used to control lighting outside the house.” These devices work off a radio frequency, meaning the remote controller does not need a clear line of sight to the receiver, such as a television would. Working lights from an app centralizes command. Howe controls the entire showroom at LED Capstone with her tablet. “We utilize the Lutron Caseta application on a smartphone or tablet, so that multiple zones can be preset to be illuminated at different times of the day for complete customization of lighting.”

Striving for a cleaner home environment should include the air we breathe. Volatile organic compounds originating from pesticides are a health hazard, as are radon gas, mold, emissions from new building materi-

als, and off-gassing from brand-new furniture. Old ductwork transfers these indoor pollutants throughout the home, but new ducts can help in the fight against indoor air hazards.

“All new ductwork, according to code, is antimicrobial,” says Eric Bates, sales manager for Barker Air Conditioning and Heating. “It happens in the manufacturing process, where it is adhered to the duct material itself. If the duct work is not being replaced, we recommend air scrubbers, which are installed into the supply duct, coupled with a UV system built in. We have had a lot of success with those, especially in cases of mold remediation.”

Upgrading intake filters will also promote better indoor air quality. “We like pleated filters with a minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV) rating between 8 and 11. Going much over that limits the air flow,” says Bates. The MERV rating grades the

filter’s effectiveness on coarse particles such as pollen and pet dander, along with fine particles like mold spores and bacteria. “Charcoal air filters work very well, too, and have been shown to greatly reduce allergens and odors from tobacco smoke.”

A cleaner home starts with a good look around. Where are the hightouch surfaces? Which areas collect food particles? What is the best cleaning method for each surface? When in doubt, ask the manufacturer how to clean refrigerator handles, wood cabinets, countertops, and sinks. Items made of materials we don’t always consider to be germ collectors, such as light switches and doorknobs, can be efficient transfer stations for bacteria and viruses. Consider keeping a schedule so these areas get regular attention. A few changes in routine can keep us all breathing a little easier. `

The Art of Aging Gracefully

NONAGENARIAN MARCY VON KOHORN SAYS THAT PAINTING IS IN HER SOUL

BY ANN TAYLOR PHOTOGRAPHY BY KELLY ROGERS

Marcy Von Kohorn celebrates the start of every day with a smile on her face and a paintbrush in her hand, eager to spend time in her light-filled studio capturing images of flowers and gardens with meandering pathways. Nature is and always has been her inspiration.

If ever there were a poster child for the saying “Attitude predicts altitude,” Von Kohorn is it. At age 96, she’s a shining example of what others half her age aspire to.

Early in 2022, Von Kohorn had a one-woman art show at which she was greeted and feted by appreciative admirers. Her paintings can be seen brightening walls throughout the condominium building she and her late husband, Henry, decided to call home 20 years ago. It’s only natural that one of those paintings welcomes those who arrive at her front door.

“Everyone here calls me the resident artist,” Von Kohorn says, eyes sparkling. “I don’t always know what I’m going to paint; it just happens. Sometimes I become inspired by something like a flower or something I see. Sometimes I just feel the need to paint because of the joy it gives me. Painting is in my soul.”

While the majority of Von Kohorn’s paintings are replete with blossoms, one of her latest features a row of birch trees in a misty forest. “I did one tree a day; they were hard to do,” she admits, adding cheerfully, “I’m really happy the way it turned out.”

The optimist nonagenarian credits her art teacher for sparking her inner creativity. “Her name was Miss Kan. She was a tiny Chinese woman who would always begin each class by writing calligraphy on

Marcy Von Kohorn's painting studio is a bright spot on the screened in porch of her home in The Moorings.

a large piece of rice paper. Then she would paint a beautiful flower. We were to practice what she did, and although we copied her work, she always encouraged us to develop our own style.”

Von Kohorn’s style evolved while she and Henry were living in Greenwich, Connecticut. Her first “studio” was the laundry room. “I started painting on the washing machine and dryer before moving to the guest bedroom,” she muses. “I stand when I paint on a flat surface that is about waist high. I painted whenever I had time, and Henry encouraged me.”

This is where Von Kohorn goes back in time and reminisces about how she and her second husband met. “Henry was a blind date. I was to meet his plane, and he didn’t know what I looked like, so I told him I’d be wearing a yellow ribbon. It was love at first sight. I had two sons, Henry had three, and together we had number six, Craig, who is a Realtor with Alex MacWilliam Real Estate. Those were busy years.”

They were made even busier when, in 1979, Chase Manhattan Bank invited Henry to teach a class on international business to its employees in Cairo. His company, Von Kohorn International, had built a textile plant in the Egyptian capital, and he had formed many friendships there. It was through one of those friends that Von Kohorn exhibited her

Von Kohorn completed Trees in 12 days by painting one tree per day.

Diana Kan, Von Kohorn’s art teacher, started off each class with calligraphy and painting beautiful flowers.

Magic Mountain is a scene that Von Kohorn says “painted itself” in about 30 minutes; she describes the experience as “amazing.”

paintings at a joint show with a well-known Egyptian artist. After returning to Greenwich, she continued exhibiting in shows throughout the state.

Vero Beach came into the picture thanks to Kan, who received an invitation from the director of the Elliott Museum in Stuart to exhibit her students’ artwork. A newspaper reporter covering the event singled out Von Kohorn’s painting Sunny Forsythias with a glowing review that led to her being invited to have a one-woman show at the museum.

As luck would have it, a friend who was renting a condominium at The Moorings had seen the show and invited the Von Kohorns to come for a visit. Henry, a nationally ranked tennis player who never went anywhere without his racket, played in a round-robin tournament. He had the time of his life and told his wife they were going to move to Vero Beach.

That was 1987, and the artist has never looked back. She

Flying South is one of hundreds of paintings Von Kohorn has created.

“Sometimes I just feel the need to paint because of the joy it gives me.”

– MARCY VON KOHORN

became involved in the local art community, painting prolifically and exhibiting her work on the Treasure Coast and in Palm Beach.

When the Mental Health Association in Indian River County launched Turtle Trax, a hugely successful fundraising campaign, in 2005, Von Kohorn signed on to paint one of the 6-foot-tall fiberglass molds. Setting up a studio in a nearby garage, she got to work.

“I used Chinese brushwork to create hibiscus flowers and surfboards, and I called her Florida Flo. She’s at the VNA Hospice House, where I volunteered for seven years before the pandemic, welcoming visitors and showing them around. It’s such a special place and I am so happy Flo is there spreading happiness every day.”

After her husband passed away in 2006, Von Kohorn determined to keep going, continuing to paint and exhibit her art at local galleries.

Three years ago, she added to her list of accomplishments by publishing Fate’s Palette, a collection of treasured memories. Dedicated to Henry, it’s a tale of love, art, and a life well lived.

Fate’s Palette , published in 2019, is Von Kohorn’s autobiography of her art and love for her family.

Von Kohorn created the small painting Roses in midsummer.

VERO

Von Kohorn is a designer of one of the Mental Health Association’s 2005 Turtle Trax sculptures. Florida Flo greets visitors to VNA Hospice House in Vero Beach.

“I have a habit of keeping some kind of a diary, of writing down something that happens in my life. It’s like telling a friend because you feel the need to talk about it. So I gathered all those old diaries, sat down at the computer one day, and decided to write my story.”

Just like that, keyboard keys clicked, words danced along the pages, and an entertaining autobiography was born and published.

On the back cover, Von Kohorn wrote these words: “My journey has been a long and winding road with many hills and valleys and also many bumps along the way. Through it all, it has been fueled by the energy of my love and marriage and the joy of my six sons—those born from my body and those born in my heart. It’s a family history. It’s a love story. I have so much to be happy for.”

When asked if she has advice, some inspiration to share, Von Kohorn doesn’t hesitate. With a smile she says, “Accept your life as it is in every way, and be grateful. I think happiness is inside you; it doesn’t matter what your life was, accept what it is now. I believe that we do not choose our journey in life, but each of us travels an unknown path, even to the end. If there is one legacy I have left, it is one of love— to give and to receive. There is no greater gift.” `

Orchids is one of Von Kohorn’s favorite paintings.

Von Kohorn finds joy in family and in her painting.

Quest for the Key

LEADERS SEEK SOLUTIONS TO THE HOUSING DILEMMA FACED

BY LOCAL WORKFORCE

BY MARY BETH MCGREGOR PHOTOGRAPHY BY STEVEN MARTINE

Many families seeking the American dream of homeownership, even with two working parents, have a problem in Indian River County.

The down payment and credit considerations are the first issues to be faced. Add the price of a small house, which has soared as a result of COVID and its aftermath, and homeownership may be out of reach. The cost of renting, driven up by the same economic forces, is proving to be unaffordable for working residents with low to moderate incomes.

Just ask Christine Smith, a server at a local restaurant. The single mother and her son are living with a friend because buying a home or renting an apartment is impossible. Most rentals she finds range from $2,100 to $2,500 a month. “That’s just too much on one person’s salary,” she says. And if you find a more affordable apartment, there is a year waiting list.”

Then there are the scams, she adds. “I went online and found a few houses to rent in the $1,000 to $1,500 a month range, and they have turned out to be scams. This has happened

to me twice.”

The standard rule for affordable housing is that a household pay no more than 30 percent of its gross income toward housing. When salaries do not keep up with rising rents or home prices, a problem results. And it touches everyone, because we rely on a vibrant workforce to provide vital functions, such as teaching our children and protecting us and our property, as well as performing necessary services in the retail, tourism, landscaping, home-repair, and medical support sectors.

“We are in a crisis now in the state of Florida, and it’s the free market that’s dictating prices,” says Indian River County Commissioner Joe Earman. “Between 2019 and 2021, COVID brought more people to Florida and Indian River County to escape states that were more restrictive. They ended up liking it here and buying homes and property, many as cash deals, and the values went sky high.”

County Commissioner Susan Adams, the liaison to the county’s Affordable Housing Advisory Committee (AHAC), also weighs in on the

problem: “We are not just talking about the homeless and the very poor, but about middle-class workers, too— people who have jobs and are able to pay their rent and their bills but are just one medical or mechanical emergency away from being in a very tight spot. We also have the stable middle-class workers who can’t find affordable housing.”

She adds, “The need for more affordable housing affects all of us. If you run a business, whether it’s a hospital, or a restaurant, or an insurance company, and the people that you need to work for you can’t afford to live in the community in which they are working, then you start having an employee problem.”

While the critical need for more affordable housing in Indian River County is clear, it is equally clear that there are no simple, easy, or immediate fixes. Ameliorating the problem, which most agree can be done, takes a combination of federal and state funds, incentives created at the local level, cooperation from the private sector, and a community understanding of the scope of the need.

Restaurant server Christine Smith is struggling to find affordable housing in Indian River County for herself and her 12-year-old son, Mylz.

SUSAN ADAMS, INDIAN RIVER COUNTY COMMISSIONER

One suggestion that would allow for development of affordable housing entails moving the urban service boundary (USB) to provide water and sewer services and annexing land currently zoned as agricultural. Indeed, Indian River County is home to large parcels of land that once flourished with lush citrus groves. The challenges of the modern citrus industry have pressured grove owners to seek alternatives for the land.

There are pros and cons to annexation, says Phil Matson, director of Indian River County Community Development, and the county must weigh a number of environmental, ecological, traffic, and other considerations. “What does more development potentially mean in terms of more pollutants for the lagoon? Will it potentially usurp our scarce water resources, and are there conservation areas out west amidst the farms that we should protect?”

On the other hand, it creates unique circumstances, he continues. “When we provide a concession for development, like extending the USB, there is an opportunity for us to get something in return, such as setting aside some percentage of the development that working middle-class residents, those above the minimum wage level, could afford.

“Then you have to have a mechanism for granting that affordable housing to worthy, qualified people and ensuring that it stays affordable. So, yes, it’s a great idea, but a few marching orders come with it, and it’s not an immediate solution.”

A less complicated approach, Matson acknowledges, is developing agriculture-zoned land that is already within the USB and is surrounded by existing subdivisions. These are smaller parcels, including some south of the Indian River State College Mueller Campus, on which performing any meaningful agricultural business is difficult.

Once land is zoned appropriately for development, there is the matter of attracting and negotiating with a developer to set aside at least a portion of a new subdivision for affordable homes or apartments. To this end, the AHAC reviewed and updated recommendations on affordable housing incentives in 2021, and they were approved by the county commission. These incentives include allowances for flexibility in densities; expedited approvals; fee waivers; reduction in parking and setback requirements; and other concessions.

Matson points to a recent success that will add some workforce housing in an apartment complex on vacant land near Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital. “We have a developer who proposed very nice studio and one-bedroom apartments potentially targeting people who work at the hospital and the area nursing homes who don’t make a lot of money but need affordable housing. We allowed it under the limits of our existing regulations and it went through, but not without a fight.” Residents from nearby subdivisions protested the development, claiming it would decrease the value of their homes.

“The need for more affordable housing affects all of us.”

–

IRC Commissioner Susan Adams

IRC Commissioner Joe Earman

Proposed Marian Estates Subdivision Fellsmere

Site Area: 78.77 ac.

Proposed Use: Mixed-use

Existing Use: Vacant

Non-Residential Flex Space: 96,000sf

Non-Residential Site Area: 7.75 ac.

Residential 331 units Residential Site Area 71.02 ac.

Single Family 153 units 60' x 120'

Townhomes _____________________________160 units 25' x 90'

Lake Area 12.94 ac.

Lake Area Dedication 5.00 ac.

Recreation Area

TH Clubhouse/Pool .50 ac.

SF Clubhouse/Pool .58 ac.

Of course, it is incumbent upon the developer to make the project as attractive as possible to help satisfy neighbors. Matson agrees, saying, “No county in the state of Florida has better development standards than Indian River County. Our landscaping, tree preservation, open space, drainage,

and other standards are top notch, and my evidence would be that we are always being asked to waive these requirements and we never do.”

In addition to incentives to encourage affordable housing, the county has created several new grant programs using authorized COVID-relief funds

from the American Rescue Plan (ARP). John Stoll, the county’s chief of Long Range Planning, explains the grant programs, nicknamed SHARP, CENO, and RENO.

“SHARP is for down payment assistance. We already have the State Housing Initiative Partnership (SHIP)

for down payment assistance, but that is a maximum forgivable loan of $20,000. Admittedly, that isn’t enough in this market. So we added ARP funds to SHIP and created SHARP, which allows us to double what we can give a qualified buyer for purchase assistance.”

These buyers range from very lowto moderate-income individuals, or those earning at or below 120 percent

the county’s median income. “Dozens of individuals have tapped into this grant program to purchase an affordable home in the past months,” Stoll says.

Jevon Cummings, who has worked as a custodian with the School District of Indian River County for 19 years, is a recent SHARP grant recipient. Having just bought his first home at age 42, he says of SHARP, “It’s a really

good program, and the down payment from the county helped big time. The majority of banks are going to ask for 20 percent down, and because of my down payment I was able to get financing for the rest of the home price.”

Other grant recipients include Thomas and Cheryl Placanica, who used a SHIP loan to purchase a home in Vero Beach in 2010. With additional ARP funds that can also be used for

Jevon Cummings, a custodian with the School District of Indian River County, stands in front of the home he purchased in January 2022 with funding from a SHARP grant.

rehabilitating a house, they were able to repair the roof and replace the air-conditioning system. “The process was difficult,” Thomas Placanica says, “and for good reason, to make sure we were qualified and that we deserved the money.”

CENO and RENO are grant programs that assist nonprofit agencies and facilities serving low-income residents. RENO provides rehabilitation

funds, and CENO funds go toward new construction. “Most recently,” Stoll says, “we replaced a roof on a Treasure Coast Homeless Services home through the RENO program. And CENO funds were used to construct a Treasure Coast Homeless Services triplex, which will house three families, and to St. Francis Manor to expand its facility.” St. Francis Manor of Vero Beach is home to low-income seniors.

The final newly created county affordable housing program, labeled LARP, is a hybrid approach using low-income housing tax credits and a grant from the county’s ARP funds. Matson breaks it down this way: “This program is for mega-developers of large-scale apartment complexes for low-income housing individuals. Let’s say you have an income from a going business. You can build an apartment and offset the losses you take for that low-income apartment against your profitable businesses. This is a very viable national program using affordable housing tax credits. We are sweetening the pot with our ARP money to try to attract low-income tax credit developers, and we have a project that is currently in development.”

In Gifford, the county is reviewing a bid from a developer of more than 20 home sites on land where the 1960s-era Gifford Gardens apartment complex was demolished. The affordable housing project will provide a much-needed homeownership opportunity for Gifford residents.

Because unincorporated Indian River County comprises only 65 percent of the population, the other municipalities in the county also have a role in addressing the housing issue.

According to Jason Jeffries, City of Vero Beach Planning and Development director, he will soon be reviewing and updating the city’s affordable housing policies and incentives with the planning board. At this time, no affordable housing projects are slated for Vero Beach. However, both Sebastian and Fellsmere are in talks for develop-

ments that sound promising.

Lisa Frazier, Sebastian Community Development director, says the city is updating its comprehensive land use plan to include a new zoning category for a development with smaller units and more density and offering incentives to developers.

“If there is a way to change our codes so that we can encourage a mix of housing so that we have units that may be smaller or more compact in a little higher density, it will be more affordable,” she says. “We have put in a new zoning code, which is multifamily 10 units per acre, and in it we are basically stating that if a developer has 600-square-foot units or less in a multifamily structure, we will count it as half a density. And in this zoning category we have also reduced the amount of parking that is required and other incentives because we understand that the cost of the materials, the cost of the development, the cost of the land, of course, then gets passed on to the consumer.” The city is currently eyeing two such projects.

In Fellsmere, the city is in talks with a developer for a new subdivision on vacant land that will have a workforce housing component for the lower-middle-income market. City Planner Robert Loring explains, “It is a mix of single-family and multifamily housing with some commercial development. According to preliminary drawings, it will have a total of 331 units, of which 153 will be single family homes and the remainder will be townhomes. It will have a retention area, a pool, and a clubhouse.”

These proposed projects and the affordable housing that already exists can help but will not solve the crisis in Indian River County. Yet county and municipal elective and administrative officials show acute awareness of and a desire to address the problem.

Commissioner Earman stresses, “It has been a frustrating issue and it will take a lot of work, and all of us working together. But we have to try.” `

DOWNTOWN DISTRICT

“Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body.”

– JOSEPH ADDISON

Family Ties

SKY GRAHAM & FRANK JOHN STAWARA II

Sky Graham and Frank John Stawara II were wed June 25, 2022 at the Kimpton Vero Beach Hotel & Spa.

The bride moved to Vero Beach in 1990 and became a member of the first graduating class of Sebastian River High School before going on to Flagler College in St. Augustine.

The groom, a Vero Beach native, is an alumnus of Vero Beach High School and Florida State University.

After college, both Sky and Frank returned to their shared hometown, where they eventually met and “began their ‘happily ever after’ together.”

The wedding was an intimate occasion with close family by the couple’s side: Sky’s daughters Ellie, 15, and Maddie, 12, and the couple’s daughter, Sadie, 5; the groom’s father, Frank Stawara; the bride’s mother, Barbara “Bella” Sanchez; and the couple’s grandparents, all of whom are in their nineties.

It was a heartfelt ceremony, prepared by the couple, highlighting their journey together. Frank’s uncle, Mike Jacobs, officiated. The location had special significance to the couple, as the celebration of life for Sky’s late father had been held there four years earlier. The day of the wedding would have been his seventieth birthday.

The newlyweds continue to reside in Vero Beach, where Sky is a pre-K teacher at Community Preschool and Frank is a district business partner with AT&T. Their family has grown to include Lucky, a creamy-white Labrador puppy. `

PHOTOS BY HOLLY VANVLAANDEREN

Mr. and Mrs. Frank Stawara II

An intimate gathering of family and friends enjoy the oceanside ceremony at Kimpton Vero Beach Hotel & Spa.

The Stawaras share their special day with “daughters of honor” Maddie, Sadie, and Ellie.

“And now we welcome the new year. Full of things that have never been.”

– RANIER MARIA RILKE

Helping Hands

OUR COMMUNITY COMES TOGETHER FOR CELEBRATION AND SERVICE

FUNDRAISING GOLF TOURNAMENT

WOMEN’S REFUGE

Bent Pine was the site of Women’s Refuge of Vero Beach’s twenty-third annual fundraising golf tournament. Chick-fil-A provided lunch for the 100 golfers, who had a great day on the championship course. The tournament wrapped up with appetizers, raffles, a silent auction, award presentations, and video testimonials from some of the women served by the refuge.

LOCAL SPONSORS:

Busy Bee Lawn & Garden Center; Darling Construction; LevCo Technologies; Scott’s Metal Framing & Drywall

Darling Construction’s “Foursome of Fun”

Bill Marine, Bill Ludwig, and Tim Bishop

Event co-chairs Anne and Chuck Erickson

Jennifer Jackson, Rozanne Levin, Mary Lou Johnson, and Sara Barretta

DEMENTIA EXPERIENCE

ALZHEIMER & PARKINSON ASSOCIATION

The Alzheimer & Parkinson Association of Indian River County recently presented its “Dementia Experience,” usually held in the organization’s educational RV, in a classroom setting at the Indian River County Chamber of Commerce. This powerful program, offered at no cost, approximates some of the challenges faced by people with dementia, giving participants an opportunity to discover firsthand how difficult simple tasks can become when our senses and thought processes are not cooperating with us.

The Dementia Experience is geared toward increasing community awareness of and sensitivity to the needs of those who are struggling with dementia, and chamber members found it very enlightening.

Brian Langworthy, Elizabeth Thomason, Micky Decker, and Dori Stone begin the simulation.

Brian Langworthy, Elizabeth Thomason, Micky Decker, Courtney Sanchez, and Dori Stone

Dori Stone gets a taste of using a phone while impaired.

Courtney Sanchez reviews the experience with participants.

Brian Langworthy, Elizabeth Thomason, and Dori Stone learn that the difficulty of everyday tasks is magnified for those with dementia.

With simulated challenges, Micky Decker struggles to unbutton a shirt.

HUNT FOR HOPE

IBC NETWORK FOUNDATION

In October, which is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the IBC Network Foundation held the tenth annual Hunt for Hope Florida, a scavenger hunt through the Sebastian and Vero Beach area. All of the funds raised go toward research grants, particularly in the areas of inflammatory and triple-negative breast cancers, both of which are particularly aggressive forms of the disease. Six teams participated in the fun event, which required them to find items, snap photos, and perform particular tasks at various locations.

SPONSORS:

Lasting Impression; J.J. Manning’s Irish Pub; Kneady by Nature; Capt. Hiram’s; Treasure Coast CrossFit; Riverside Family Dental; Lulich & Attorneys; Vargas Mexican Food; Origami by James; Vero Strength + Conditioning; Pareidolia Brewing Co.; The Italian Cousin; Riverview Coffee, Tea & Books; Wemmer Orthodontics; The Body Shop at Home/Christine Crowley; PNC Bank Sebastian Boulevard; Mel Fisher Museum; ORC Services; Dr. Steve Sedaros; Marc Gingras Realtor; Rotary Club of Sebastian; Riverside Theatre; A Better Solution; Dale Sorensen Real Estate; Orchid Island Chiropractic

Teams and volunteers gather at Riverview Park in Sebastian.

Team Rincon

Members of Team A New Hope and Team Sunshine Girls

Rommel Agustin with Team Sally’s Scavengers

Team Sally’s Scavengers

Team A New Hope with Sebastian River High School football team members

Jen Carter vs. James Hamilton in a rock, paper, scissors dual for the Team Face-Off Challenge

Team Sally’s Scavengers vs. Team A New Hope in the Team Face-Off Challenge

Kelly Beuth and Erika Rincon in a thumb war

TROPICAL NIGHT LUAU

YOUTH GUIDANCE

For the forty-fifth year, Youth Guidance Mentoring Academy hosted its fundraising Tropical Night Luau. More than 150 guests arrived at Boulevard Tennis Club and were welcomed by YG students, who adorned them with traditional Hawaiian leis. The students also treated the guests to demonstrations of the skills they practice at YG programs, such as bicycle repair and sewing. An exquisite tropical buffet was served, and Hiti Mahana Polynesia wowed the assembly with a dance performance that included a finale of fire knife spinning known as siva afi.

MAJOR SPONSORS:

Trudie Rainone; Elke and George Fetterolf; Exchange Club of Sebastian; Mrs. Herman F. Becker; Dyer Chevrolet; PNC Bank; Perfect Stix LLC; Exchange Club of the Treasure Coast; Exchange Club of Vero Beach; Rosato Plastic Surgery Center; F.V. Casano Electrical Contractor

Hiti Mahana Polynesia with guests

Drew Edgecomb, Dmitri, Autumn, and Jenna Manfredi

Hiti Mahana Polynesia

Tracy and John Carroll

Brenda and Robin Lloyd

Ana Valencia Tillery and Laurie Collings

PHOTOS BY KERRY FIRTH

DAY OF CARING

UNITED WAY

In October, nearly a thousand volunteers were mobilized by United Way of Indian River County for its twenty-seventh annual Day of Caring, sponsored by Publix. After gathering at Vero Beach High School’s Billy Livings Field and enjoying breakfast (donated by local McDonald’s owners Joe and MaryAnn Conrado and Jeremy Odom; Natalie’s Orchid Island Juice; and Thelma Jean’s Bakery) and some warm-up activities, the teams fanned out around town and completed 57 projects, including painting, yard work, and clerical tasks for a variety of nonprofit organizations serving the community. Gould Cooksey Fennell law firm supplied water for the thirsty troops. `

United Way of IRC’s Meredith Egan

Sharon Doris, Jesse Silva, Sabrina Silva, Sally Bross, Dean Phillips, and Mario Massano

Lenny Zanca and Donna Williford

Michelle Dion and Richard Pickert

IRSC president

Timothy Moore

Brad Newman and Victoria Miller

Danica David, Adalynn, Alice Mortenson, Patty Maroon, Ryan, Wes Rogers, Mary Brook, and Monique Richmond

The TBLB Fitness team

Beauty Bubbles Over

YOU’RE IN LUCK IF YOUR NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION IS TO ENJOY MORE ART!

GROUP SHOW

JANUARY 5–28

Big Art Now gallery presents a group exhibition featuring selected works by represented artists, including the newly represented Nuné Asatryan. This imaginative painter, influenced by Surrealism, has exhibited to widespread acclaim in Armenia, Russia, Europe, and the United States. Her works challenge assumptions about objective reality and provoke new ideas. A reception will be held during the January 6 First Friday Gallery Stroll from 5 to 8 p.m.

BIG ART NOW GALLERY

1791 Old Dixie Hwy. 561-440-4260 bigartnow.co/

Gift 2 by Nuné Asatryan, acrylic with crystal on canvas, 18 x 18 inches

Gift 1 by Nuné Asatryan, acrylic with crystal on canvas, 18 x 18 inches

‘VEIL ON THE INFINITE’

JANUARY 6–MARCH 3

Findlay Galleries presents an exhibition of works by Robert Natkin (1930–2010), widely regarded as one of the most important abstract painters of his generation. His oeuvre makes it clear that he achieved his stated goal of creating “paintings that are more interesting tomorrow than they are today.” His works are characterized by a meditative quality as well as a fine balance of form and texture. Findlay Galleries is proud to present the largest exhibition of Natkin’s paintings at its Palm Beach gallery in decades.

FINDLAY GALLERIES

165 Worth Ave., Palm Beach 561-655-2090 findlaygalleries.com

Hitchcock Series by Robert Natkin, acrylic on paper, 22.75 x 29.38 inches

‘POETRY OF THE COLORISTS’

JANUARY 12–FEBRUARY 11

J.M. Stringer Gallery presents “Poetry of the Colorists,” an exhibition that will introduce the recent works of Deborah Cotrone, Leonard Mizerek, and Jim Rodgers. Cotrone is inspired by the New England countryside, a landscape she translates into vibrant impressionist images. Mizerek, likewise inspired by nature, is fascinated by the role of light in setting a mood and evoking emotion. Rodgers draws on extensive study and travels to create a variety of images, including richly colored landscapes. The exhibition opening will take place January 12–14: Thursday 4–8 p.m. and both Friday and Saturday 11 a.m.–6 p.m.

J.M. STRINGER GALLERY OF FINE ART 3465 Ocean Drive 772-231-3900 jmstringergallery.com

‘ROLLING

Fishing the Juniata by

oil on panel, 24 x 30 inches

Beached

Ongoing Events

SCULPTURE’

JANUARY 28–APRIL 30

Vero Beach Museum of Art is delighted to present “Rolling Sculpture: Streamlined Art Deco Automobiles and Motorcycles,” an exhibition that will fill all of its galleries. VBMA and guest curator Ken Gross, former executive director of the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, have selected 22 rare vehicles that demonstrate the sleek, streamlined look introduced in the 1930s with the advent of the popularity of aerodynamic efficiency. These pieces of “rolling sculpture” are the result of automotive designers’ ability to create the impression of motion even as a vehicle is at rest.

VERO BEACH MUSEUM OF ART 3001 Riverside Park Drive 772-231-0707 vbmuseum.org

THROUGH JANUARY 5

‘ALL MIXED UP’

Art at the Emerson presents “All Mixed Up,” an exhibition of mixed-media art.

ART AT THE EMERSON GALLERY

The Emerson Center 1590 27th Ave. 772-778-5880 artattheemerson.com

THROUGH JANUARY 8

‘PICASSO, MATISSE, & FRIENDS’

The Stark Gallery at Vero Beach Museum of Art is currently home to “Picasso, Matisse, & Friends: Drawings from a Private Collection.”

VERO BEACH MUSEUM OF ART

3001 Riverside Park Drive 772-231-0707 vbmuseum.org

16 x 20 inches

THROUGH JANUARY 27

‘START TO FINISH’ Gallery 14 continues “Start to Finish: The Works of Frank Spino & Carol Staub.” A reception will take place during the January 6 First Friday Gallery Stroll.

GALLERY 14 1911 14th Ave. 772-562-5525 gallery14verobeach.com

‘INSPIRED WORKS’

The Vero Beach Art Club continues its latest exhibition of creations by its members, titled “Inspired Works.” Artworks are available for purchase.

VERO BEACH ART CLUB 1903 14th Ave. 772-217-3345 verobeachartclub.org

THROUGH JANUARY 30

‘PRIMITIVE WORLDS’

Findlay Galleries presents “Primitive Worlds,” with paintings by modern primitive and naïf artists Camille Bombois, Orville Bulman, Henri Maïk, Ljubomir Milinkov, Gustavo Novoa, and Annette Ollivary.

FINDLAY GALLERIES 165 Worth Ave., Palm Beach 561-655-2090 findlaygalleries.com

1938 Talbot-Lago from the collection of J. Willard Marriott Jr.

Big Skies of the Treasure Coast by Deborah Cotrone, oil on linen, 36 x 48 inches

Jim Rodgers,

Boats by Leonard Mizerek, oil on linen panel,

ART AT THE EMERSON

The Emerson Center’s art gallery features the work of local artists in six themed twomonth exhibitions per year.

1590 27th Ave. 772-778-5880 artattheemerson.com

ARTISTS GUILD GALLERY

Celebrating 30-plus years of sharing art with Vero Beach, this cooperative fine-art gallery features the work of artist-owners Sue Dinenno, Barbara Glover, Chuck Haaland, Sherry Haaland, Judy Mercer, Dawn Mill, Patricia Padoll, Judy Rixom, Fran San Miguel, and Rita Ziegler. In addition to paintings in various media, the gallery’s 12 rooms present works of sculpture, pottery, jewelry, ceramics, and glass. Art classes, commissioned works, and private showings are also offered.

1974 14th Ave. 772-299-1234 artistsguildgalleryofvero beach.com

ART WORKS

Art Works is a fine art gallery and art school founded by educators Betsy Nelson and Mary Partow. The gallery features works by artists from various parts of the United States, particularly the East Coast, representing a range of styles. Classes for all ages and skill levels, as well as art parties, team-building events, and children’s art clubs and camps are available.

2036 14th Ave., Suite 106 Theatre Plaza 772-559-5230 artworksofvero.com

BARBARA KRUPP FINE

ART STUDIO/GALLERY

The gallery and studio presents the work of international artist Barbara Krupp, whose several collections feature abstract paintings in acrylic. Visitors are welcome by appointment.

4315 U.S. Hwy. 1 440-574-4662 barbarakrupp.com

BIG ART NOW

This gallery offers large contemporary paintings by more than a dozen Florida-based artists. Featured genres include abstraction, Expressionism, Impressionism, and naive painting.

1791 Old Dixie Hwy. 561-440-4260 bigartnow.co/

ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING CENTER

The ELC’s Lagoon Room and Tidal Room are dedicated spaces for the exhibition of nature-related art in the form of paintings, photography, sculpture, and more.

255 Live Oak Drive 772-589-5050 discoverelc.org

FINDLAY GALLERIES

Findlay Galleries is celebrating 152 years in the art business. Renowned globally for its distinguished roster of exciting contemporary and abstract artists, the gallery continues to specialize in nineteenthand twentieth-century Impressionism, European Modernism, l’Ecole de Rouen, l’Ecole de Paris and twentiethcentury American art. Visit the galleries’ biweekly changing exhibitions on two spacious floors encompassing three centuries of art under one roof on Worth Avenue.

165 Worth Ave., Palm Beach 561-655-2090 findlaygalleries.com

THE GALLERIES AT FIRST PRES

The campus of First Presbyterian Church is home to The Galleries at First Pres, a venue displaying the work of local artists in various media. Installments are rotated on a quarterly basis, with three artists featured each season.

Indian River County artists are invited to apply to be part of the galleries’ ever-changing lineup.

First Presbyterian Church 520 Royal Palm Blvd. 772-562-9088 firstpresvero.org

GALLERY 14

The gallery features a diverse array of works in oil, acrylic, watercolor, mixed media, collage, sculpture, ceramic, jewelry, pastel, and photography by Gallery 14 owner-artists Edgardo Abello, Lila Blakeslee, Barbara du Pont, Mary Ann Hall, Barbara Landry, George Pillorgé, Deborah Morrell Polackwich, and Dorothy Napp Schindel. Other artists include Walford Campbell, Joan Earnhart, Terry Green, Viola Pace Knudsen, Mia Lindberg, Francis Mesaros, Michael Robinson, Carol Staub, and sales associate-artist Jo Zaza along with monthly rotation exhibits by guests.

1911 14th Ave. 772-562-5525 gallery14verobeach.com

THE GALLERY AT WINDSOR

Founded in 2002, The Gallery at Windsor is an independent art space at the heart of the Windsor community. The gallery annually invites curators to respond to the space with museum-quality shows of contemporary art. The gallery has exhibited works by leading contemporary artists including Christo and Jeanne-Claude, Ed Ruscha, Bruce Weber, Peter Doig, Alex Katz, Per Kirkeby, Christopher Le Brun, Beatriz Milhazes, Gert and Uwe Tobias, Jasper Johns, Grayson Perry, Sir Michael Craig-Martin, and Rose Wylie. 3125 Windsor Blvd. 772-388-4071 windsorflorida.com/the-gallery

J.M. STRINGER GALLERY OF FINE ART

The gallery offers worldwide collections of original paintings, objets d’art, sculptures, and select antique furnishings. 3465 Ocean Drive 772-231-3900 jmstringergallery.com

THE LAUGHING DOG GALLERY

The gallery features a sophisticated collection from more than 350 contemporary American craftsmen. The Treasure Coast’s largest collection of art glass, along with ceramics, sculpture, furniture, and an extensive collection of fine art jewelry is represented in its friendly, 4,000-square-foot showroom. The collection is also viewable on the website. 2910 Cardinal Drive 772-234-6711 thelaughingdoggallery.com

MAIN STREET VERO BEACH STUDIOS AND GALLERY

The studios and gallery showcase the handcrafted jewelry of Clair Brunetti, who creates custom, one-of-a-kind necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and more in a variety of themes, such as nature, sea life, golf, and spirituality. She also repairs and updates older jewelry. 2036 14th Ave. 772-643-6782 mainstreetverobeach.org

Golden glass boat on three-tier pedestal by Nicholas Stelter, 30 inches long, at The Laughing Dog Gallery

MEGHAN CANDLER GALLERY

The gallery has a beautifully curated collection of paintings by select local, national, and international artists and represents more than 40 contemporary emerging and established artists working in abstract, impressionist, and realistic styles. The gallery presents an uplifting, friendly, and sophisticated environment that currently features new paintings from the studios of its New York, California, Atlanta, and Cape Cod artists. Works are also viewable on the gallery’s website.

6160 Hwy. A1A Village Shops 772-234-8811 meghancandlergallery.com

OCEAN DRIVE GALLERY

This studio and gallery features contemporary abstracts by Elise Geary, acrylic animal paintings by Andrea Lazar, and acrylic seascapes by Gail Fayerweather.

3349 Ocean Drive, Suite 8, second floor Elevator located in alcove behind Lyra Home 772-579-7667 eliseartist.com oceandrivegalleryverobeach. com

PALM HOUSE STUDIO & GALLERY

The studio and gallery features original artwork by awardwinning artists Wendy Douglas, Dede Gilbert, Rick Kelly,

Kathy Kemp, Madeline Long, Suzy Mellott, Jack Staley, and Emily Tremml. Their work includes landscapes, marine scenes, contemporary realism, portraiture, and narrative imagery. Commissions are welcomed. See the gallery’s website, Facebook, and Twitter to view current available artwork, works in progress, teaching videos, and biographies of the artists. Open by chance or appointment.

3227 Ocean Drive, 2nd floor 772-231-6816 palmhousegallery.com

RAW SPACE

A vibrant, innovative, and alternative cultural venue located in the heart of downtown Vero Beach, Raw Space provides a platform that promotes a spectrum of artistic disciplines and events with a distinct focus on community engagement. Its program includes exhibits from local and international artists, workshops, lectures, black box theater, film screenings, music, dance, and anything that promotes “out of the box” ideas.

1795 Old Dixie Hwy. 305-213-9411 artconceptalternative.org

THE ROWE GALLERY

The Rowe Gallery features the work of artist Lori Rowe; it also serves as her studio. Rowe is a self-taught artist who experiments with various methods of applying paint to canvas, such as brushwork,

palette knife, and finger painting. Using bold strokes and vivid colors, she explores many facets of the human experience.

46 Royal Palm Pointe 302-521-4175 therowegallery.com

SEBASTIAN RIVER ART CLUB

The club offers art, web design, and photography classes, demonstrations, workshops, and art shows inside the clubhouse and at Riverview Park. The club’s exhibit space features works in an array of media: pottery, sculpture, woodworking, jewelry, mixed media, photography, and glass. 1245 Main St., Sebastian 772-321-9333 sebastianriverartclub.com

VERO BEACH ART CLUB

The Art Club is an independent nonprofit organization serving 450 members and the art community through education, exhibitions, social events, and monthly meetings with special programs and guest artists. In addition to its presence at the Vero Beach Museum of Art, the Art Club holds activities at its Annex, which also houses the Jeanette Beach Gallery, named in honor of the club’s founder.

3001 Riverside Park Drive 772-231-0303

1903 14th Ave. 772-217-3345 verobeachartclub.org

VERO BEACH MUSEUM OF ART

The museum is the largest accredited art facility on Florida’s Treasure Coast, presenting changing international exhibitions from lenders and its permanent collection of more than 950 objects of American and international art. It features sculpture parks, five galleries, docent tours, art classes, public programs from lectures to film studies, jazz concerts, an annual children’s art festival, Museum Stories and Studios, Museum Babies, the interactive children’s Art Zone, and a museum store. Admission fees apply. Admission is free on the last Saturday of each month.

3001 Riverside Park Drive 772-231-0707 vbmuseum.org

THE VINER SERIES FOR THE VISUAL ARTS AT COMMUNITY CHURCH

The Viner Series was established in 2020 to showcase the work of area artists, with a new artist featured every three months in the sanctuary narthex. The series is named for Teryl Townsend Viner, who served Community Church as a deacon and as a member of the church’s board of music and fine arts.

Community Church of Vero Beach 1901 23rd St. 772-469-2320 ccovb.org ❀

Vero Beach Morning II by Isaac White, oil on canvas, 24 x 60 inches, at Meghan Candler Gallery

Jump into January

HERE’S TO A NEW YEAR AND A FRESH LINEUP OF GREAT EVENTS

JANUARY 3 Tuesday

MAN OF LA MANCHA

Riverside Theatre presents Man of La Mancha, with music by Mitch Leigh, lyrics by Joe Darion, and book by Dale Wasserman. January 3–22, times vary, $40 and up

RIVERSIDE THEATRE 3250 Riverside Park Drive 772-231-6990 riversidetheatre.com

JANUARY 6 Friday

‘VEIL ON THE INFINITE’

Findlay Galleries launches an exhibition of works by abstract painter Robert Natkin. January 6–March 3

FINDLAY GALLERIES

165 Worth Ave., Palm Beach 561-655-2090 findlaygalleries.com

OPENING RECEPTION

Big Art Now gallery invites you to a reception opening its latest exhibition, which will feature selected works of represented artists. 5–8 p.m.

BIG ART NOW 1791 Old Dixie Hwy. 561-440-4260 bigartnow.co/

JANUARY 8 Sunday

L’ELISIR D’AMORE

Vero Beach Opera presents its original production of L’Elisir d’Amore, an opera buffa in two acts. English supertitles will be provided. 3 p.m., $15–$100

VERO BEACH OPERA at VBHS Performing Arts Center 1707 16th St. 772-564-5537 verobeachopera.org

JANUARY 11 Wednesday

Roessler to its Distinguished Lecture Series. Her talk is titled “Reconnecting to Your Passion and Purpose—Practical Tools to Craft Your Vibrant Life.” 10 a.m.–noon, $35

MCALPIN FINE ARTS CENTER IRSC Massey Campus 3209 Virginia Ave., Fort Pierce 772-462-7880 irsc.edu

JANUARY

7 Saturday

BARK IN THE PARK

The Humane Society of Vero Beach & Indian River County invites friendly dogs and their humans to Bark in the Park, an annual day of fun for the whole family. 10 a.m.–5 p.m., free admission

HUMANE SOCIETY

OF VERO BEACH & IRC at Riverside Park 3280 Riverside Park Drive 772-388-3331 barkintheparkvero.org

SKIN CLASS

Mary Eichert of Align Medical Aesthetics will host a class on how to achieve radiant skin. 4 p.m., free

ALIGN MEDICAL AESTHETICS 2101 Indian River Blvd., Suite 108 858-264-8539 alignmedicalaesthetics.com

JANUARY 12 Thursday

JANET ROESSLER

Indian River State College’s Fielden Institute for Lifelong Learning welcomes Janet

KATHLEEN MADIGAN

Sunrise Theatre welcomes veteran comedian Kathleen Madigan with a performance titled “Boxed Wine & Tiny Banjos.” 7:30 p.m., $34.75–$59.75

SUNRISE THEATRE 117 S. 2nd St., Fort Pierce 772-461-4775 sunrisetheatre.com

THE FAN

The Indian River State College Performing Arts department presents the comedy The Fan by Carlo Goldoni, adapted by Alexander Nathan Kanter.

January 12–15; Thursday–Friday 7 p.m., Saturday 2 and 7 p.m., Sunday 2 p.m.; $15

MCALPIN FINE ARTS CENTER

IRSC Massey Campus 3209 Virginia Ave., Fort Pierce 772-462-4750 irsc.edu

JANUARY 13 Friday

LVIV PHILHARMONIC

The Indian River Symphonic Association welcomes the Lviv National Philharmonic Orchestra of Ukraine, under the direction of Theodore Kuchar. Pianist Stanislav Khristenko will be the featured soloist. 7:30 p.m., $80

INDIAN RIVER SYMPHONIC ASSOCIATION at Community Church of Vero Beach 1901 23rd St. 772-778-1070 irsymphonic.org

13–15; Main stage series Friday 7:30 p.m., Saturday 2 and 7:30 p.m., $10–$75; Accessible/ Family Friendly series Sunday 2 p.m., $10

BALLET VERO BEACH at VBHS Performing Arts Center 1707 16th St. 772-905-2651 balletverobeach.org

VISITING MR. GREEN

The Vero Beach Theatre Guild presents Visiting Mr. Green by Jeff Baron, a 1996 play that has been performed in many languages on stages around the world. January 13–29; Fridays 7:30 p.m., Saturdays 2 and 7:30 p.m., Sundays 2 p.m.; $17.50–$35

VERO BEACH THEATRE GUILD 2020 San Juan Ave. 772-562-8300 verobeachtheatreguild.com

JANUARY 16 Monday

‘LOL WITH CARL HIAASEN’

The Laura (Riding) Jackson Foundation celebrates its thirtieth anniversary with bestselling author and Vero Beach resident Carl Hiaasen. 6:30–9 p.m., $50–$100

MARDY FISH GOLF FUNDRAISER

The Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation will hold its annual fundraising golf tournament. The 18-hole format will include a special fourteenth hole played with Mardy himself. Sign-in, breakfast, and warm-up begin at 7:30 a.m., with shotgun start at 8:30 and luncheon following play. 7:30 a.m., $500

LAURA (RIDING) JACKSON FOUNDATION at Community Church of Vero Beach 1901 23rd St. 772-569-6718 lauraridingjackson.org

JUDY COLLINS CONCERT

MusicWorks welcomes Judy Collins, who will be accompanied by a 30-piece orchestra from the Space Coast Symphony as she performs songs from her landmark 1967 album Wildflowers. 7 p.m., $55–$160

PAUL ANKA

Prolific singer-songwriter Paul Anka will appear at the Sunrise Theatre for a concert of his greatest hits, which include “Put Your Head on My Shoulder,” “Lonely Boy,” and “Diana.” 8 p.m., $69.50–$115

SUNRISE THEATRE 117 S. 2nd St., Fort Pierce 772-461-4775 sunrisetheatre.com

‘TASTEMAKERS’

Ballet Vero Beach presents “Tastemakers,” honoring two choreographers who have had a profound influence on the organization: Ariel Grossman and Yves de Bouteiller. January

JANUARY

14 Saturday

SALUTE TO DUKE ELLINGTON

The Treasure Coast Jazz Society kicks off its 2023 concert series with a salute to Duke Ellington by Mark Green’s Band. Tickets, which must be purchased online, include lunch. 11:30 a.m., $50–$65

TREASURE COAST JAZZ SOCIETY at Oak Harbor Club 4755 S. Harbor Drive 772-234-4600 tcjazz.bravesites.com

JANUARY 15 Sunday

‘AUSTRIAN MASTERPIECES’

Vero Beach Museum of Art and the Atlantic Classical Orchestra begin their joint chamber music season with “Austrian Masterpieces,” featuring Haydn’s Piano Trio No. 39 in G Major and Schubert’s Piano Quintet in A Major. 3 p.m., $5–$50

VERO BEACH MUSEUM OF ART 3001 Riverside Park Drive 772-460-0851 vbmuseum.org

MARDY FISH CHILDREN’S FOUNDATION at Windsor Club 3125 Windsor Blvd. 866-633-4070 mardyfishchildrensfoundation.org

POMPEO LECTURE

Riverside Theatre’s Distinguished Lecturer Series kicks off its twenty-fourth season with Mike Pompeo, who served as the seventieth U.S. secretary of state. 4 and 6 p.m.; Stark Theatre Main Stage seating $400 series subscription, $125 single event (if seats are available); Waxlax Theatre simulcast $200 series subscription, $85 single event

RIVERSIDE THEATRE 3250 Riverside Park Drive 772-231-6990 riversidetheatre.com

JANUARY 19 Thursday

ART SALE

Elise Geary of Ocean Drive Gallery will join many other artists selling their artwork at a Quail Valley Charities event that is open to the public. 3–6 p.m.

ELISE GEARY

at Quail Valley River Club 2345 Hwy. A1A 772-579-7667 eliseartist.com

MUSICWORKS at The Emerson Center 1590 27th Ave. 800-595-4849 musicworksconcerts.com

TRUNK SHOW

Cooper & Co. invites you to a trunk show featuring the latest looks from Maison Common and Barbara Lohmann. January 19–21

COOPER & CO. 3435 Ocean Drive 772-231-9889

JANUARY 20 Friday

SANCTITY OF HUMAN LIFE EVENT

For its fourth annual Sanctity of Human Life event, Care Net will present the video recording of the talk that former White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany delivered at the organization’s Fall Fundraiser. Dessert will be served. 7 p.m.; free, donations accepted

CARE NET at Oceans Unite Christian Centre Indian River Mall 6200 20th St., Suite 248 772-569-7939 carenetchampions.org

ART BY THE SEA

VBMA’s Holmes Great Hall will be the scene of the Vero Beach Art Club’s thirty-fourth annual Art by the Sea show and sale. January 20–22; Friday 4–8 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m.–4 p.m.

VERO BEACH ART CLUB at Vero Beach Museum of Art 3001 Riverside Park Drive 772-231-0303 verobeachartclub.org

‘GARDEN OF GLASS’

McKee Botanical Garden presents “Garden of Glass” by master glass sculptor and blower Jason Gamrath. January 20–April 30; Tuesday–Saturday 10 a.m.–5 p.m.; $10–$15, free admission for members and children under 2

MCKEE BOTANICAL GARDEN 350 U.S. Hwy. 1 772-794-0601 mckeegarden.org

JANUARY 21 Saturday

PIAS CONFERENCE

The Pelican Island Audubon Society will hold its fourth annual Transforming Landscapes for a Sustainable Future Conference, which will include several informative talks and a box lunch and native-plant sale. 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m., $25

PELICAN ISLAND AUDUBON SOCIETY at The Emerson Center 1590 27th Ave. 772-567-3520 pelicanislandaudubon.org

OAK RIDGE BOYS

Sunrise Theatre welcomes the Oak Ridge Boys for a concert titled “Front Porch Singin.’” 8 p.m., $49.50–$69.50

SUNRISE THEATRE

117 S. 2nd St., Fort Pierce 772-461-4775 sunrisetheatre.com

JANUARY 22 Sunday

BSO PERFORMANCE

The Indian River Symphonic Association presents the Brevard Symphony Orchestra, along with soprano Kyaunnee Richardson. 7:30 p.m., $60

INDIAN RIVER SYMPHONIC ASSOCIATION at Community Church of Vero Beach 1901 23rd St. 772-778-1070 irsymphonic.org

JANUARY 24 Tuesday

HOLISTIC HOME CLASS

Cassy West of Wellness by Dezign will present a talk on holistic interior design and the creation of a toxin-free home. 5–8 p.m., free

WELLNESS BY DEZIGN at COLAB 1150 19th St. 772-643-4460 wellnessbydezign.com

JANUARY 25 Wednesday

Recurring Events

EVERY SATURDAY

FARMERS MARKET

Browse the produce, culinary delights, and other wares of more than two dozen vendors at Vero Beach Farmers Market, at the corner of Ocean Drive and Dahlia Lane, across from Humiston Park. 8 a.m.–noon

BUSINESS INSPIRING KINDNESS 2901 Ocean Drive verobeachfarmersmarket.com

EVERY FIRST FRIDAY

FIRST FRIDAY GALLERY STROLL

Enjoy an evening walk in downtown Vero Beach, pop into some galleries, and perhaps grab a beverage or a bite at a café. January 6 and February 3, 5–8 p.m.

MAIN STREET VERO BEACH Downtown along 14th Avenue 772-643-6782 mainstreetverobeach.org

EVERY THIRD WEDNESDAY

WINE & DESIGN

Vero Beach Art Club invites people of all skill levels to a fun evening of sipping a favorite beverage while being guided step by step through the creation of a piece of art. January 19, 6–8:30 p.m., $45 members, $55 nonmembers

VERO BEACH ART CLUB 1903 14th Ave. 772-217-3345 verobeachartclub.org

VARIOUS SUNDAYS

ART IN THE PARK

The members of Vero Beach Art Club gather on periodic Sundays to display their works. All are invited to browse. January 15 and 29; 10 a.m.–4 p.m.

A NIGHT TO REMEMBER

The Gifford Youth Achievement Center and the Bernard Egan Foundation present A Night to Remember, celebrating GYAC’s twenty-fifth anniversary. 5 p.m., $200

GIFFORD YOUTH ACHIEVEMENT CENTER at Oak Harbor Clubhouse 4755 S. Harbor Drive 772-794-1005 gyac.net

EVERY LAST FRIDAY

DOWNTOWN FRIDAY

Main Street Vero Beach holds a community street party with live music, street vendors, and food trucks. January 27, 6–9 p.m., free

MAIN STREET VERO BEACH Downtown along 14th Avenue 772-643-6782 mainstreetverobeach.org

VERO BEACH ART CLUB at Humiston Park 3000 Ocean Drive 772-231-0303 verobeachartclub.org

JANUARY 26 Thursday

JANUARY 28

Saturday

SELF-DISCOVERY WORKSHOP

Life coach Margo Montgomery will offer a self-discovery and personal growth workshop titled “A Day’s Journey.” 10 a.m.–4 p.m., $350

MARGO MONTGOMERY 847-226-5540 margomontgomerycoaching.com

JANUARY 31 Tuesday

BAKERSFIELD MIST

Riverside Theatre presents Stephen Sachs’ comedy Bakersfield Mist. January 31–February 19, Times vary, $65

RIVERSIDE THEATRE 3250 Riverside Park Drive 772-231-6990 riversidetheatre.com

FEBRUARY 4 Saturday

‘PHANTOM GOES TO THE OPERA’

Vero Beach Opera presents “Phantom Goes to the Opera,” a program that features the best of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Broadway showstoppers, along with VBO’s own opera favorites. 7 p.m., $15–$50

DAVE MASON

Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Dave Mason will perform the second concert of MusicWorks’ Live!

From Vero Beach 2023 season. 7 p.m., $45–$115

MUSICWORKS at The Emerson Center 1590 27th Ave. 800-595-4849 musicworksconcerts.com

‘MASTERWORKS I’

The Atlantic Classical Orchestra presents its first ‘Masterworks’ concert of the 2023 season, featuring Three Dance Episodes from Bernstein’s On the Town , Korngold’s Violin Concerto, and Dvorak’s Symphony No. 9, “From the New World.” Leonid Sigal will be featured on violin. 7:30 p.m., $30–$65

ATLANTIC CLASSICAL ORCHESTRA at Community Church of Vero Beach 1901 23rd St. 772-460-0851 atlanticclassicalorchestra.com

JANUARY 27

Friday

VBMA

GALA

Vero Beach Museum of Art will hold its annual gala; the theme is “Art in Motion,” in keeping with the “Rolling Sculpture” exhibition, which opens the following day. 6 p.m., $750

VERO BEACH MUSEUM OF ART 3001 Riverside Park Drive 772-231-0707 vbmuseum.org

JOHNNY MATHIS

“Chances Are” and “Misty” singer Johnny Mathis is slated to appear at the Sunrise Theatre as part of his “Voice of Romance” tour. 8 p.m., $95–$115

SUNRISE THEATRE 117 S. 2nd St., Fort Pierce 772-461-4775 sunrisetheatre.com

‘I REMEMBER IT WELL’

Indian River State College’s master instructor of theatre will perform “I Remember It Well: Favorite Broadway Duets with Alexander Nathan Kanter and Friends.” January 28–29, Saturday and Sunday 2 p.m., $15

MCALPIN FINE ARTS CENTER

IRSC Massey Campus 3209 Virginia Ave., Fort Pierce 772-462-4750 irsc.edu

‘ROLLING SCULPTURE’

Vero Beach Museum of Art is launching the much-anticipated exhibition “Rolling Sculpture: Streamlined Art Deco Automobiles and Motorcycles.” January 28–April 30

VERO BEACH MUSEUM OF ART 3001 Riverside Park Drive 772-231-0707 vbmuseum.org

FEBRUARY

2 Thursday

RUMOURS

MusicWorks Live! From Vero Beach presents Classic Albums Live with a performance of Fleetwood Mac’s unforgettable 1977 album Rumours. 7 p.m., $35–$85

MUSICWORKS

at The Emerson Center 1590 27th Ave. 800-595-4849 musicworksconcerts.com

‘BIG, BOLD, & BEAUTIFUL’

The Vero Beach Art Club launches its latest exhibition, “Big, Bold, and Beautiful,” at its Gallery & Marketplace downtown. February 2–March 17

VERO BEACH ART CLUB 1903 14th Ave. 772-217-3345 verobeachartclub.org

FEBRUARY 3 Friday

‘PIECE OF MIND’

Gallery 14 celebrates the return of collage artist Derek Gores with a reception. His latest solo exhibition, “Piece of Mind,” will run through February 24. 5–8 p.m.

GALLERY 14 1911 14th Ave. 772-562-5525 gallery14verobeach.com

VERO BEACH OPERA at VBHS Performing Arts Center 1707 16th St. 772-564-5537 verobeachopera.org

ART TRAIL

The Vero Beach Art Club’s Art Trail is back! February 4–5; Saturday–Sunday 10 a.m.–4 p.m., free

VERO BEACH ART CLUB 1903 14th Ave. 772-217-3345 verobeachartclub.org

GARDENFEST!

For the twenty-first year, the Garden Club of Indian River County presents its signature event, Gardenfest! Don’t forget to bring your wagon! February 4–5; Saturday 9 a.m.–5 p.m., Sunday 9 a.m.–4 p.m.

GARDEN CLUB OF IRC at Riverside Park 3280 Riverside Park Drive 772-567-4602 gardenclubofirc.org

FEBRUARY 5 Sunday

‘COMEDY TONIGHT’

The Indian River Symphonic Association presents a pops concert featuring the Brevard Symphony Orchestra. 7:30 p.m.. $65

INDIAN RIVER SYMPHONIC ASSOCIATION at Community Church of Vero Beach 1901 23rd St. 772-778-1070 irsymphonic.org

FEBRUARY 6 Monday

GEN. JAMES MATTIS

Riverside Theatre’s Distinguished Lecturer Series presents retired Gen. James Mattis, a career Marine who served as the United States’ twenty-sixth secretary of defense. 4 and 6 p.m., $85

RIVERSIDE THEATRE 3250 Riverside Park Drive 772-231-6990 riversidetheatre.com

FEBRUARY 9 Thursday

‘TRYING TO REASON WITH HURRICANE SEASON’

The Indian River State College Foundation’s Fielden Institute for Lifelong Learning continues its Distinguished Lecture Series on Current Issues with former FEMA administrator William Craig Fugate and his talk “Trying to Reason with Hurricane Season.” 10 a.m.–noon, $35

MCALPIN FINE ARTS CENTER

IRSC Massey Campus 3209 Virginia Ave., Fort Pierce 772-462-7880 irsc.edu

LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS

Indian River Charter High School presents the musical Little Shop of Horrors, with performances, set-building, lighting, sound programming, and live music all carried out by students. February 9–12, 7 p.m., $10

IRCHS BLACK BOX THEATRE 6055 College Lane 772-567-6600 irchs.org

‘THE ROCKET MAN SHOW’

Rus Anderson will once again bring his tribute to Elton John, “The Rocket Man Show,” to Vero Beach. 7 p.m., $40–$95

MUSICWORKS at The Emerson Center 1590 27th Ave. 800-595-4849 musicworksconcerts.com

FEBRUARY 10

Friday

QUILT SHOW

More than 100 locally made quilts will be on display at the Vero Beach Quilt Show, a two-day event presented by the Vero Beach Quilt Guild. For more information, email verobeachquiltshow@outlook. com. February 10–11, Friday and Saturday 10 a.m.–4 p.m., $10

VERO BEACH QUILT GUILD at Indian River County Fairgrounds 7955 58th Ave.

THE LIFESPAN OF A FACT

The Vero Beach Theatre Guild presents a stage reading of The Lifespan of a Fact, a play by Jeremy Karekan, David Murrel, and Gordon Farrell. It is based on the nonfiction book by John D’Agata and Jim Fingal.

February 10–19; Fridays 7:30 p.m., Saturdays 2 and 7:30 p.m., Sundays 2 p.m.; $20

VERO BEACH THEATRE GUILD 2020 San Juan Ave. 772-562-8300 verobeachtheatreguild.com

FEBRUARY 11

Saturday

MOTOR CAR EXHIBITION

The theme of McKee Botanical Garden’s annual Motor Car Exhibition is “Car Collectors’ Favorites.” 10 a.m.–3 p.m., regular admission rates apply

MCKEE BOTANICAL GARDEN 350 U.S. Hwy. 1 772-794-0601 mckeegarden.org

WINE & DINE

Hibiscus Children’s Center invites you to enjoy a sampling of international wine and cuisine at the Wine & Dine Around the World fundraiser benefiting the young people living at Hibiscus Village. 6:30 p.m., $125

HIBISCUS CHILDREN’S CENTER at Grand Harbor Club 4985 Club Terrace 772-299-6011, ext. 313 hibiscuschildrenscenter.org ❀

The Directory

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES

ARCHITECTS

MOULTON LAYNE PL 772-234-0445 moultonlayne.com 21

ART GALLERIES & FINE ART

ARTISTS GUILD GALLERY 772-299-1234 artistsguildgalleryofverobeach.com 167

BARBARA KRUPP FINE ART STUDIO/GALLERY 440-574-4662 barbarakrupp.com ................... 12 9

BIG ART NOW GALLERY 561-440-4260 bigartnow.co/ 86

THE FIBER ART STUDIO 440-552-8578 1 21

FINDLAY GALLERIES 561-655-2090 findlaygalleries.com 9

GALLERY 14 772-562-5525 gallery14verobeach.com 16 6

J.M. STRINGER GALLERY OF FINE ART 772-231-3900 jmstringergallery.com 18

THE LAUGHING DOG GALLERY 772-234-6711 thelaughingdoggallery.com 16

MEGHAN CANDLER GALLERY 772-234-8811 meghancandlergallery.com 13 7

OCEAN DRIVE GALLERY 772-579-7667 oceandrivegalleryverobeach.com 1 82

VERO BEACH MUSEUM OF ART 772-231-0707 vbmuseum.org 5 6, 85

ATTORNEYS

GOULD COOKSEY FENNELL 772-231-1100 gouldcooksey.com 8 7

ROSSWAY SWAN 772-231-4440 rosswayswan.com 9 7

AUTOMOTIVE SALES & SERVICES

LINUS CADILLAC BUICK GMC 772-562-1700 linuscadillac.com 17 5

AVIATION SERVICES

CORPORATE AIR 772-562-1199 corporate-air.com 94

BANKING, INVESTMENTS, & FINANCIAL PLANNING

CARDINAL FINANCIAL COMPANY 772-501-0074 jessicakurutz.com 9 7

WILMINGTON TRUST 772-234-1700 wilmingtontrust.com 45

BEAUTY, HAIR, & SPA SERVICES

SALON DEL MAR 772-234-1499 13 7

BOATING & MARINE SERVICES

DECKMASTERS LLC 772-559-8629 deckmastersmarine.com 170

VERO MARINE CENTER 772-562-7922 veromarine.com 91

BRIDAL & GIFT REGISTRIES

6TH AVENUE JEWELERS 772-217-8985 6thavenuejewelers.com 1 89

BELLE COSE 772-231-1554 bellecose.com 2 0

LEIGH JEWELERS 772-234-8522 leighjewelers.com 1 3, 29, 183

M. MAISON 772-231-4300 mmaisonvero.com 73

ROYAL PALM JEWEL 772-766-3165 royalpalmjewel.com 17 9 VERANDA 772-234-3404 verandajewelry.com 1

CATERING & GOURMET MARKETS

ALIMENTARI GOURMET MARKET 772-999-5483 alimentarigm.com 137

ELIZABETH D. KENNEDY & COMPANY INC. 772-563-0646 elizabethkennedycatering.com 1 89

VILLAGE BEACH MARKET 772-231-2338 villagebeachmarket.com 63

COMPUTERS & AUDIOVISUAL CONSULTING

AUTOBAHN COMMUNICATIONS INC. 772-234-1555 autobahnco.com 17 9

CONSTRUCTION & BUILDING SERVICES

AR HOMES/BEACHLAND HOMES CORP. 772-492-4018 arhomes.com .......................... 42

CROOM CONSTRUCTION COMPANY 772-562-7474 croomconstruction.com ................ 5

DECKMASTERS LLC 772-559-8629 deckmastersmarine.com ............. 170

DESIGNER’S TOUCH FLOORING 772-978-9111 designerstouchflooring.com 59

HBS GLASS 772-567-7461 hbsglass.com 171

THE HILL GROUP 772-567-9154 thehillgroup.biz 46

HURYN CONSTRUCTION 772-234-4130 hurynconstruction.com 57

RCL DEVELOPMENT 772-234-0140 rcldev.com 31

REILLY CONSTRUCTION 772-794-9799 building2last.com .......................19

VERO BEACH ROOFING INC. 772-770-3782 verobeachroofing.com ................17 2

VERO GLASS 772-567-3123 veroglass.com ......................... 68

VERO MILLWORK INC. 772-569-7155 veromillwork.com 54

COUNTY SERVICES

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL DISTRICT 772-226-3212 ircrecycles.com 193

EDUCATION & CHILD DEVELOPMENT

SAINT EDWARD’S SCHOOL 772-231-5192 steds.org 92

FASHION & ACCESSORIES BELLE COSE 772-231-1554 bellecose.com ......................... 2 0 COOPER & CO. 772-231-9889 6 5

DEEP SIX DIVE & WATERSPORTS 772-562-2883, 772-288-3999 deepsix.com 50

G. MATHEOS VERO BEACH 772-492-6400 13 6

KEMP’S SHOE SALON AND BOUTIQUE 772-231-2771 kempsshoesalon.com 1 82

M. MAISON 772-231-4300 mmaisonvero.com 73

PALM BEACH SANDALS 772-226-5998 palmbeachsandals.com 18 3

KELLY ROGERS

PREPPY PALMS 772-492-3770 shoppreppypalms.com 85

SASSY BOUTIQUE 772-234-3998 75

VERNON SCOTT MENSWEAR 772-231-3733 vernonscott32963.com 18 3

VERO BEACH OUTLETS 772-770-6097 verobeachoutlets.com 37

VILLAGE SHOPS 772-231-1066 villageshopsverobeach.com .......... 49

FLOORING

DESIGNER’S TOUCH FLOORING 772-978-9111 designerstouchflooring.com 59

FLORIDA FLOOR FASHIONS 772-589-4994 floridafloorfashions.com 4

TILE MARKET & DESIGN CENTER OF VERO BEACH 772-978-1212 tilemarketverobeach.com 61

FURNITURE & ACCESSORIES

BAER’S FURNITURE 321-872-2377 baers.com 2 , 3

COASTAL COMFORTS 772-226-7808 coastal-comforts.com 13 6

CONSIGNMENT GALLERY 772-778-8919 consignmentgalleryverobeach.com 189

DECOR ENVY 772-492-6518 shopdecorenvy.com 167

EUROPEAN KITCHEN & BATH 772-770-9970 europeansink.com 13 0

FALASIRI ORIENTAL RUGS 772-562-0150 falasiriorientalrugs.com 1 31

FANTASTIC FINDS 772-794-7574 fantastic-finds.com 13 0

HAZEL HOUSE 772-213-3024 hazelhousevero.com 55

ISLAND INTERIORS AT OCEAN REEF 772-770-6007 islandinteriors.net 6 9

THE LAUGHING DOG GALLERY 772-234-6711 thelaughingdoggallery.com ............16

LED CAPSTONE LIGHTING & FAN SHOWROOM 772-205-2529 ledcapstone.com 67

LYRA HOME 772-257-4777 lyrahome.com 58

M. MAISON 772-231-4300 mmaisonvero.com 73

PAGE 2 DESIGN 772-492-9220 page2design.net 25

THE PALM BEACH SHOW palmbeachshow.com 22

SUNSHINE FURNITURE 772-569-0460 sunshinefurniturecasual.com 17

VB HOME 772-492-9348 vbhome.us 15

VINTAGE VERO 772-501-2369 16 6

GIFTS, STATIONERY, & KEEPSAKES

COASTAL COMFORTS 772-226-7808 coastal-comforts.com 13 6

HAZEL HOUSE 772-213-3024 hazelhousevero.com 57

THE LAUGHING DOG GALLERY 772-234-6711 thelaughingdoggallery.com 16

M. MAISON 772-231-4300 mmaisonvero.com 73

NOTEWORTHY BY DESIGN 772-231-0085 ........................... 13 7

TRIMMINGS HOME GARDEN & GIFTS 772-213-8069 shoptrimmingsvb.com 17 9

VERANDA 772-234-3404 verandajewelry.com 1

GRIDLEY + GRAVES

VILLAGE SHOPS 772-231-1066 villageshopsverobeach.com 49

HEALTH & WELLNESS

M&M LIFE COACHING mmontgomery425@gmail.com 1 21

HOME PRODUCTS & SERVICES

BARKER AIR CONDITIONING & HEATING 772-562-2103 barkerac.com 170

BERNER PAVERS LLC 772-258-6227 bernerpavers.com 17 1

CALIFORNIA CLOSETS 772-562-7303 californiaclosets.com 51

CERAMIC MATRIX 772-778-7784 ceramicmatrix.com 70

DAN’S FAN CITY 772-569-8917 dansfancity.com 17 1

DECKMASTERS LLC 772-559-8629 deckmastersmarine.com 170

EUROPEAN KITCHEN & BATH 772-770-9970 europeansink.com 13 0

FLORIDA SHUTTERS 772-569-2200 floridashuttersinc.com 17 2

HBS GLASS 772-567-7461 hbsglass.com 171

THE HOUSE OF LIGHTS & HOME ACCENTS 800-541-3048 thehouseoflights.com 93

LED CAPSTONE LIGHTING & FAN SHOWROOM 772-205-2529 ledcapstone.com 67

MEEKS PLUMBING 772-569-2285 meeksplumbing.com 19 3

NEW ENGLAND GRANITE & TILE 772-217-2721 newenglandgranite.net 12 9

VERO BEACH ROOFING INC. 772-770-3782 verobeachroofing.com 17 2

VERO GLASS 772-567-3123 veroglass.com ......................... 68

VERO MILLWORK INC. 772-569-7155 veromillwork.com ...................... 54

INTERIOR DESIGN SERVICES

BAER’S FURNITURE 321-872-2377 baers.com 2 , 3

CERAMIC MATRIX 772-778-7784 ceramicmatrix.com 70

COASTAL COMFORTS 772-226-7808 coastal-comforts.com 13 6

COASTAL INTERIORS 772-492-6881 coastal.net 64

DECOR ENVY 772-492-6518 shopdecorenvy.com 167

ISLAND INTERIORS AT OCEAN REEF 772-770-6007 islandinteriors.net 6 9

JENNIFER ELMORE INTERIOR DESIGN 772-569-5522 elmoreinteriors.com 36

LEAH MULLER INTERIORS 772-234-6411 leahmullerinteriors.com 7 5

L.K. DEFRANCES & ASSOCIATES INTERIOR DESIGN 772-234-0078 lkdefrancesandassociates.com 1 31

PAGE 2 DESIGN 772-492-9220 page2design.net 25

SANDRA MORGAN INTERIORS INC. 772-234-2910 sandramorganinteriors.com 47

SPECTRUM INTERIOR DESIGN 772-234-4427 spectrumvero.com 43

TILE MARKET & DESIGN CENTER OF VERO BEACH 772-978-1212 tilemarketverobeach.com 61

VB HOME 772-492-9348 vbhome.us 15

WELLNESS BY DEZIGN 772-643-4460 wellnessbydezign.com 66

JEWELRY

6TH AVENUE JEWELERS 772-217-8985 6thavenuejewelers.com 1 89

BELLE COSE 772-231-1554 bellecose.com 2 0

THE LAUGHING DOG GALLERY 772-234-6711 thelaughingdoggallery.com 16

LEIGH JEWELERS 772-234-8522 leighjewelers.com 1 3, 29, 183

M. MAISON 772-231-4300 mmaisonvero.com 73

THE PALM BEACH SHOW palmbeachshow.com 22

PROVIDENT JEWELRY 561-833-7755 providentjewelry.com 33

ROYAL PALM JEWEL 772-766-3165 royalpalmjewel.com 17 9

VERANDA 772-234-3404 verandajewelry.com 1

LANDSCAPING & NURSERIES

ROCK CITY GARDENS 772-589-5835 rockcitygardens.com 44

MEDICAL SERVICES: DENTISTRY

DELLA PORTA COSMETIC & RECONSTRUCTIVE DENTISTRY 772-567-1025 drdellaporta.com 1 09

VERO ELITE DENTISTRY 772-569-9700 veroelitedentistry.com 71

MEDICAL SERVICES: DERMATOLOGY

ICONIC DERMATOLOGY AND COSMETIC SURGERY 772-758-1310 iconicderm.com 11 2

SELECT SKIN MD 772-567-1164 selectskinmd.com 111

MEDICAL SERVICES: EYE CARE

NEW VISION EYE CENTER 772-257-8700 newvisioneyecenter.com 8 3

MEDICAL SERVICES: HOSPITALS

CLEVELAND CLINIC INDIAN RIVER HOSPITAL 772-567-4311 ccirh.org 11 3

MEDICAL SERVICES: MEDICAL SPA

ALIGN MEDICAL AESTHETICS 858-264-8539 alignmedicalaesthetics.com 9 7

MEDICAL SERVICES: MENTAL HEALTH

LINUS ABRAMS MD, PLLC 203-861-2654 114

MEDICAL SERVICES: SURGERY

OCEAN DRIVE PLASTIC SURGERY 772-234-3700 oceandriveplasticsurgery.com 8 9

ROSATO PLASTIC SURGERY CENTER 772-562-5859 rosatoplasticsurgery.com 11 9

MEDICAL SERVICES: WHOLE HEALTH CARE

ISLAND HEALTH CONCIERGE MEDICINE 772-205-6361 islandhealthverobeach.com 1 00

RAYMOND DUONG, MD 772-770-3859 verobeachbodysculpting.com 114

TREASURE COAST COMMUNITY HEALTH 772-257-3154 tcchinc.org 1 03

WHOLE FAMILY HEALTH CENTER 877-345-9342 wholefamilyhealthcenter.org 80

MOVING, STORAGE, & SHIPPING

COASTAL VAN LINES 772-569-6683 coastalvanlines.com 170

WHITE GLOVE MOVING, STORAGE & DELIVERY 772-778-4750 whitegloveusa.com 121

NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS

CAMP HAVEN 772-999-3625 camphaven.net 1 00

GARDEN CLUB OF INDIAN RIVER COUNTY 772-567-4602 gardenclubofirc.org 53

GIFFORD YOUTH ACHIEVEMENT CENTER 772-794-1005 mygyac.org 79

HUMANE SOCIETY OF VERO BEACH & INDIAN RIVER COUNTY 772-388-3331 hsvb.org 117

INDIAN RIVER LAND TRUST 772-794-0701 irlt.org ................................. 60

LAURA (RIDING) JACKSON FOUNDATION 772-569-6718 lauraridingjackson.org 91

MCKEE BOTANICAL GARDEN 772-794-0601 mckeegarden.org 81

RIVERSIDE THEATRE 772-231-6990 riversidetheatre.com 88

TREASURE COAST COMMUNITY HEALTH 772-257-3154 tcchinc.org 1 03

TREASURE COAST FOOD BANK 772-489-3034 stophunger.org 1 03

UNITED WAY FOUNDATION OF INDIAN RIVER COUNTY 772-567-8900 unitedwayirc.org 1 05

VERO BEACH ART CLUB 772-231-0303 verobeachartclub.org 62 , 179

VERO BEACH MUSEUM OF ART 772-231-0707 vbmuseum.org 5 6, 85

VISITING NURSE ASSOCIATION & HOSPICE FOUNDATION 772-202-8570 vnatc.com 98

WHOLE FAMILY HEALTH CENTER 877-345-9342 wholefamilyhealthcenter.org 80

PERFORMANCE ARTS, ENTERTAINMENT, & MEDIA

RIVERSIDE THEATRE 772-231-6990 riversidetheatre.com 88

PHARMACY

COREY’S PHARMACY 772-231-6931 1 82

REAL ESTATE

ALEX MACWILLIAM REAL ESTATE 772-231-6509 alexmacwilliam.com 3 5

BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY HOMESERVICES FLORIDA REALTY 772-231-1270 bhhsfloridarealty.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Inside front cover

BETHANY BURT 772-766-4926 MELINDA PAMPALLONA 772-696-0819 AT BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY HOMESERVICES FLORIDA REALTY bhhsfloridarealty.com 12 9

CATHY CURLEY AT DALE SORENSEN REAL ESTATE 772-559-1359 cathycurleyrealestate.com 38

CHARLOTTE TERRY GROUP OF ALEX MACWILLIAM REAL ESTATE 772-234-8500 charlotteterry.com 7 3, back cover

CHRISTINE R. MCLAUGHLIN AT SHAMROCK REAL ESTATE 772-538-0683 propertyinvero.com 18 3

JOHN’S ISLAND REAL ESTATE COMPANY 772-231-0900 johnsislandrealestate.com 7, 95

THE MOORINGS REALTY SALES CO. 772-231-5131 themoorings.com i nside back cover

ONE SOTHEBY’S INTERNATIONAL REALTY 772-222-5215 onesothebysrealty.com 11

SHERRY BROWN AT ONE SOTHEBY’S INTERNATIONAL REALTY 772-633-1472 verobeachislandrealtor.com .......... 48

WINDSOR 772-388-8400 windsorflorida.com 27

RETIREMENT COMMUNITIES

REGENCY PARK 772-742-2475 regencyparkverobeach.com 1 01

SHUTTERS & AWNINGS

FLORIDA SHUTTERS INC. 772-569-2200 floridashuttersinc.com 17 2

SPORTS , ACTIVITIES, & FITNESS

VERO BEACH CLAY SHOOTING SPORTS 772-978-0935 verobeachclayshooting.com .......... 99

THE WELL LAB 772-299-8994 thewellvero.com 41

TILE & STONE

CERAMIC MATRIX 772-778-7784 ceramicmatrix.com 70

MACATA STONE 772-778-3210 macatastone.com 1 31

NEW ENGLAND GRANITE & TILE 772-217-2721 newenglandgranite.net 12 9

TILE MARKET & DESIGN CENTER OF VERO BEACH 772-978-1212 tilemarketverobeach.com 61

TRAVEL SERVICES

SLL PERIGORD TRAVEL 786-659-6901 sllperigordtravel.com 39

WINE & SPIRITS

ALIMENTARI GOURMET MARKET 772-999-5483 alimentarigm.com 137

VILLAGE BEACH MARKET 772-231-2338 villagebeachmarket.com 6 3 ❀

Contributing Advertising Agencies

THE AD AGENCY E. Fred Augenstein 772-538-3923, augy@comcast.net Ad design and production, all media, full service

ADAMS MEDIA GROUP Carrie Adams 772-492-6570, adamsmediagroup.com Marketing, public relations and website design

NICOLACE MARKETING Maureen Nicolace 772-299-4889, maureen@nicolacemarketing.com Public relations, marketing plans, media placement, graphic design, marketing and staff development

SQUARED STUDIOS

Amanda Robinson 772-713-6884, squared-studios.com Marketing, advertising and graphic design from concept through production

VERO MARKETING Lindsay Candler 772-473-0654, veromarketing.com Creative graphic design, print marketing and website design

Vero Beach Magazine (ISSN 1097-2013) is published monthly by Palm Beach Media Group, 3375 20th Street, Suite 100, Vero Beach, Florida 32960; 772-234-8871. Entire contents copyright © 2023 by Palm Beach Media Group. All rights reserved. No part of this periodical may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher. The publisher is not liable for errors or omissions. Periodical postage is paid in Vero Beach, Florida, and additional mailing offices. SUBSCRIPTIONS: One year $28; two years $45; three years $54. Subscribe online at verobeachmagazine.com or call 772-234-8871 weekdays from 8 a.m.–4 p.m. American Express, Discover, MasterCard and Visa are accepted. Our subscription information is not shared, rented or sold. POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to Vero Beach Magazine, 3375 20th Street, Suite 100, Vero Beach, FL 32960. SUBMISSIONS: Publisher assumes no liability for the care and return of unsolicited materials, including manuscripts and photographs. Postal authorization #018722. Copyright © 2023 Palm Beach Media Group.

Test your powers of perception

TEN THINGS ARE DIFFERENT IN THESE PHOTOGRAPHS – CAN YOU FIND THEM ALL?

BY HEATHER BOTTO

10. lacedP a purse on the floor by the table

9 ddedA a painting to the wall

8 hangedC the color of the lid of the dog food jar

7 emovedR the puzzle pieces in front of the clock

6 lacedP a hat on top of the clothes

5 ddedA a measuring tape on the table

2 Removed light switch from wall 3 hangedC red playing cards to blue 4 hangedC the time on the clock

1 Removed logo from headphones

IRC Chamber of Commerce members complete the Alzheimer & Parkinson Association’s Dementia Experience. See page 174.