Vero Beach Magazine April 2023

A Southwinds condo renovation is Bright & Airy

Very Vero Very Veranda

SPECIAL EVENT

April 6 & 7 10:00am to 5:30pm

3325 Ocean Drive, Vero Beach, FL | 772.234.3404

BERMUDA BAY

Island lifestyle at its best. One of Vero’s premier 24 hour guarded communities close to town in IRS, deeded beach access with parking, tennis, clubhouse and pool. This stately home sits on .5 acres, CBS, 2018 roof, formal living room & dining room, plus den. Family room opens to chef’s kitchen with 2 islands, 3,500+ SF, high ceilings, heated pool with lush landscaping. | $2,075,000 | Debbie Bell 772.473.7255

THE SHORES

Fabulous lakefront beauty with water on 3 sides and views from almost every room! Coffered ceilings, spacious rooms, fireplace, gourmet kitchen, large office, 8 ft wood doors, inviting pool on 0.6 acre lot. Guarded community in Indian River Shores.

Debbie Bell 772.473.7255 | $1,700,000 | MLS# 264571

GRAND HARBOR

Gorgeous move-in ready 3BR/3BA, 2 car garage condo. Lives like a house.

Becky Rossway 772.633.4190

$1,200,000 | MLS# 264063

ISLAND CLUB

Private oasis, lakefront courtyard home. 3BR/3BA.

Debbie Bell 772.473.7255

$988,000 | MLS# 266454

INDIAN TRAILS

2016 heated pool home. 2,916 SF. 3BR, 3BA, 3CAR. Impact glass and metal roof. Chip Landers 772.473.7888

$2,495,000 | MLS# 260780

RIVERWIND

Newly renovated lakefront 3BR home near beaches, golf and shopping.

Cheryl Burge 772-538-0063

$915,000 | MLS#266316

VILLAGE SPIRES

Life is great at The Village Spires! Vero’s only 13 story condos located in the heart of town. Only 4 units per floor. All with floor to ceiling impact sliders and 84 Ft. wrap-around balcony. Private beach access and heated oceanside pool. Walk to shops & restaurants. Beth Livers 772.559.6958

CENTRAL BEACH

Mid-century modern in Central Beach. 3BR/2.5BA, 3CG on lush .64 acre lot. Michelle Clarke 772-263-0386

$1,780,000 | MLS# 266014

SEASONS

WOW! Exceptional cook’s kitchen, white cabinets, Carrera marble, Thermador appliances. This coastal gem has extensive molding, wainscoting, wood ceiling, wood floors, southern exposure. Casita for guests, heated saltwater pool & spa. Walking distance to beach.

Debbie Bell 772.473.7255 | $1,049,000 | MLS# 265866

VICTORIA

Fabulous 2BR/2BA, 2car garage. 2050 SF. East of A1A. Ocean view, Updated kitchen & baths!

Peggy Hewett 772.321.4282

$849,000 | MLS#265456

SANDS ON THE OCEAN

Panoramic Ocean to River views. 1600+ SF, Move in ready.

Cheryl Burge 772-538-0063

$650,000 | MLS# 264243

MOORINGS

Beach living at this lowest priced, East of A1A condo! 3BR/2.5BA.

Debbie Bell 772.473.7255

$569,000 | MLS# 266087

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BY THE WOOD FLOOR SPECIALISTS

Kim Black, Floor Specialist

Features

122 In Cahoots for Conservation

The productive partnerships fostered by the Indian River Land Trust mirror the symbiosis of nature

By Chris Fasolino

130

Phantom Feline

The elusive Jaguarundi roams the forests and shrublands of Central and South America, but its Florida connection is an enduring mystery

By Chris Fasolino

136

Bright & Airy

On the Cover:

Natural elements tie a redesigned beachside condo in with its environment

See the story on page 136

Photograph by Jessica Glynn

150 Frame of Mind

A Southwinds condo renovation creates a coastal comfort zone for a retired Michigander and longtime Vero vacationer

By Valerie Cruice

144

History & Habitat

County conservation projects enhance the quality of life for humans and wildlife alike

By Chris Fasolino

Bob Joy’s favorite moments in nature occur when things just ‘click’

By Kelly Rogers

Life on John’s Island. A private, member-owned club located north of Vero Beach, this gem plays host to miles of unspoilt beaches, nature-filled river access, elegant residences, and watercolor sunsets. These serene offerings each combine luxury with traditional appeal and each enjoys close proximity to water. Replete with gorgeous architectural details, spacious living areas and lush grounds - all of our homes take advantage of prime location with access to an incredible array of amenities. We invite you to indulge in a life of bliss in John’s Island.

22

Wilde Side

Florida’s early history unfolded in a world context of conquistadores, explorers, and playwrights

By Evelyn Wilde Mayerson

34

New & Noteworthy

You’ll find egg-zactly what you’re looking for!

60

Previews

April is hopping with nonprofit activities

76

Indian River Insights

Helping homeless children and families is complicated, until it’s not

By Jeffrey R. Pickering

88

Living Well

Lots of ‘sober-curious’ folks are finding the benefits of becoming part-time or even fulltime teetotalers

By Renáe Tesauro

98

True Tails

Your larcenous Lab, pickpocket poodle, or bandit beagle may need an intervention

By Amy Robinson

106

Vero’s Heroes

Sidney Payne and her band of seamstresses derive joy from crafting dresses for girls in Africa

By Teresa Lee Rushworth

Local

Defining Color

Green is my favorite color. It reflects my Irish heritage, it’s the color I wear most Saturdays during college football season, and it’s reflected in our lush, tropical surroundings here in Vero Beach. Green is representative of many things: harmony, growth, nature, and renewal, to name a few.

We’re embracing the meaning behind this peaceful color in our April issue!

Harmony — The Indian River Land Trust is working together with fellow environmentally minded organizations and individuals in the community to “protect the land that protects the Indian River Lagoon.” The connections they make in the Vero Beach area help make the lagoon and our environment healthier.

Growth — Indian River County is on a mission to make our county greener, and after celebrating the passage of a $50 million referendum in November to purchase sensitive lands, leaders are forging a healthy ecological path forward for all of us. The newly developed Jones Pier Conservation Area on Jungle Trail is the latest county project set to open, with a living shoreline, museum, and space for environmental education.

Nature — Grand Harbor resident and outdoor photographer Bob Joy advises that patience, light, and planning all have a place in nature photography. I spent some time with him recently, discussing why he loves getting outside during his retirement and photographing beauty in the natural settings all around us.

Renewal — When Aleyn Airey acquired her family’s Moorings vacation property a few years ago, she kept the memories intact but gave the oceanfront condominium a renewed, rejuvenated, and brighter feel. Look inside her beautiful home, pictured on our cover, which she calls a place of serenity and peace.

I’m heading into April with a renewed sense of purpose, one with intention and an eye toward the outdoors and exploring our beautiful county.

Join me!

Kelly Rogers editor@verobeachmagazine.com

Treats & Traditions

Everyone has special traditions for Easter: egg hunts, baskets full of goodies, and a smorgasbord of delicatessen selections for brunch. Every year, my father and his wife produce this extravaganza for our family. Or should I say for the children. This year we were asked if the Easter egg hunt should happen, and I piped up with an emphatic “Yes!”

My enthusiasm waned slightly when the response I received implied that the hunt might be limited to the grandchildren—which in our case would restrict it to the 35-and-under crowd. But don’t we all want to find that golden egg?

Well, at least if I can’t participate in our family hunt, I can still enjoy the Easter egg hunt at Trimmings April 8.

There are plenty more events to get excited about in Vero during April.

The “song and dance extravaganza” 42nd Street opens April 11 at Riverside Theatre and runs for the rest of the month. Also, Wheels & Keels is gearing up for its big charity fundraiser weekend, including a wonderful cocktail reception and dinner, followed the next day by the Antique & Exotic Car & Boat Show.

April also brings the Laura (Riding) Jackson Foundation’s popular Poetry & BBQ event. This year, we get to find out what happens when two poets marry. And Ballet Vero Beach is closing out another fabulous season with its Ballet Under the Stars celebration.

If you enjoy watching some great tennis during our lovely spring weather, you won’t want to miss the Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation Tennis Championships.

In addition to the wonderful holiday of Easter, this month is definitely filled with some terrific treats. We think this issue is as well, and we hope you enjoy every one of them.

To all who, like me, are searching for that golden egg, I hope you find it!

Hoppy Easter!

Teri Amey-Arnold, Publisher publisher@verobeachmagazine.com

Baron is ready for Easter!

KELLY ROGERS

Editor in Chief

HEATHER BOTTO

Creative Director

RENÁE TESAURO Editor at Large

TERESA LEE RUSHWORTH

Senior Editor

JANINE FISHER

Senior Graphic Designer

ANN TAYLOR

Senior Writer

EVELYN WILDE MAYERSON Wilde Side

AMY ROBINSON True Tails

PATRICK MERRELL Classic Cars

REN Á E TESAURO Living Well

CHRIS FASOLINO Local Flavor

JEFFREY R. PICKERING Indian River Insights

VALERIE CRUICE, CHRIS FASOLINO, KELLY ROGERS

Contributing Writers

KIM BOTTALICO, ELI MEYER STUDIO, MATT FULCHER, JESSICA GLYNN, BOB JOY, PATRICK MERRELL, SAM WOLFE

Contributing Photographers

J. M. Stringer Gallery of Fine Art

TERI AMEY-ARNOLD Publisher teri@verobeachmagazine.com

MEGAN HYDE ROBERTS Client Marketing Specialist megan@palmbeachmedia.com

KEELY ROSE DUDAL Account Manager kdudal@verobeachmagazine.com

CATHY HART Executive Office Manager & Subscription Manager cathy@verobeachmagazine.com 772-234-8871

Founder Elizabeth Moulton

Group Publisher Terry Duffy

Sales Director Deidre Wade

Chief Operating Officer Todd Schmidt

Editorial Director Daphne Nikolopoulos

HOUR MEDIA, LLC

CEO Stefan Wanczyk

President John Balardo

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DANA BRONFMAN

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. `

Florida & the Globe

OUR STATE’S EARLY HISTORY UNFOLDED IN A DYNAMIC WORLD CONTEXT THAT INCLUDED CONQUISTADORES, EXPLORERS, AND EVEN PLAYWRIGHTS

In the age before the telescope, English sailors found it hard to detect the low elevations of the Florida peninsula on the horizon, even from the top of the ship’s mast. They knew its shallow coastal waters were treacherous and that if they got close enough they would encounter land that was flat, swampy, and heavily forested.

peninsula—the Cantino Planisphere, smuggled out of Portugal in 1502; Martin Waldseemüller’s map of 1507, the chart that gave the name “America” to the new world; and Peter Martyr’s 1511 map—a land north of Cuba was common knowledge among English navigators of the time.

Soto came ashore with his forces in 1539 somewhere near Tampa, although he seemed to have lost his way, possibly misdirected by the Indians, and wound up on the banks of the Mississippi.

BY EVELYN WILDE MAYERSON

Although they might not have access to three early maps that indicated the existence of the

England may not have been initially interested in Florida, but Spain was, beginning with Ponce de Leon’s 1513 expedition.

Looking for gold, conquistador Hernando de

Later, Pedro Menéndez de Avilés, the first to put down a foothold, became Florida’s first governor, established at least eight military outposts throughout the peninsula, and founded St. Augustine in 1565—decades before Jamestown and the

The Cantino Planisphere, a Portuguese world map dating back to 1502, shows what would become known as Florida at the upper left. It is not yet well defined because at that time it had only recently appeared on the Europeans’ radar.

Plymouth Colony. The region of “La Florida” took on critical importance when the Spaniards developed a convoy system to transport Central American silver back to Spain. Taking advantage of the prevailing Atlantic wind, Spanish fleets sailing north followed the Gulf Stream that passed along Florida’s coast and veered to the east.

Menéndez was zealous in his protection of the territory. Using St. Augustine as his base, he set out to rid Florida of the colony of French Huguenots who had established an outpost at Fort Caroline near present-day Jacksonville; the intruders, who counted among their number artist Jacques le Moyne, had even erected a stone pillar engraved with the French king’s coat of arms.

The French base posed a threat not only to Spanish territorial claims but also to the Spanish treasure fleet. Menéndez didn’t have to do much. A hurricane did it for him, sinking the French fleet and stranding survivors, whom Menéndez quickly dispatched, ensuring for a while that St. Augustine would remain a key center for Spanish power in Florida.

The key center would soon prove to be a powerful attraction to other

national interests. In 1586, five years after heading the first English circumnavigation of the world, Sir Francis Drake, operating as a privateer under Queen Elizabeth I, raided Spanish-held St. Augustine with 23 ships and more than a thousand men. The marauders burned the settlement to the ground, but not before stripping 250 houses of their locks, along with other hardware such as pots and pans to bring to the English colony of Roanoke.

Drake’s plunder of St. Augustine, following as it did upon raids against other Spanish settlements including Santo Domingo and Cartagena, was a devastating loss for Spain. If it

had not been for St. Augustine’s strategic location near the Gulf Stream route of Spain’s treasure fleet, “La Florida” might well have been abandoned.

After a sea journey north to the Roanoke Colony in what is now North Carolina, where he took on board unsuccessful settlers who could not make a go of it, Drake returned to England in time to become second-in-command at the naval battle that defeated the Spanish Armada.

The London he returned to was dirty and crowded, its narrow streets filled with pigs, sheep, pickpockets, beggars, and animal waste. Manners were rough, humor bawdy, both men and women

outspoken. Diseases kept ahead of cures, markets sold shoddy goods, and bribery was universal. Brick had replaced stone, but modest houses were still fashioned of wood and mud. Men wore their hats to the table to keep their hair from getting in the food. Beer and ale were national drinks, bear and bull baiting a national pastime, and Drake’s returning seamen and other British tars sang in the taverns derisively of Florida as “Sordida, the Land of Muck.”

Drake could not help but notice the rise of London’s theater as a form of entertainment, perhaps comparable to television in our own time, which

William Linton’s 1876 engraving The Lost Colony , designed by Virginia artist William Ludwell Sheppard, depicts the cryptic message left by the vanished Roanoke Island settlers. Sir Francis Drake had helped evacuate some failed settlers from the same island not long before.

acquired a frightening popularity within a few decades. The suddenness of the new pastime and the heresy it was capable of offering raised the alarm of the learned and the pious, who denounced public theater from the pulpit. One of its novelties was that theaters like the Globe, the Rose, and the Swan were egalitarian, attracting Londoners of both sexes and all classes who were free, providing they had twopence in their pockets, to occupy seats that were not dictated by their rank.

At the time of Drake’s return, someone else arrived in London, an

unknown poet, playwright, and actor named William Shakespeare, the son of a prominent alderman from Stratford. Nearly 30, he possessed a love of the stage and a grammar school education that included rhetoric, Latin, and Greek. One of an estimated 50 playwrights plying their trade, Shakespeare set to work on his craft at the time of the defeat of the Spanish Armada: 132 massive galleons, squarerigged floating fortresses that could sail only with the wind at their backs. While a humiliated Spain was faced with diminished coffers,

Sir Francis Drake represents a link between Elizabethan England and Florida, though he was not here to bring poetry but to plunder Spanish holdings.

Shakespeare was composing his sonnets, the first among the eventual 154 addressed to an anonymous “fair youth.” Shakespeare was also writing his first play, Henry VI, the history of English politics leading to the 15th-century War of the Roses, supposedly in collaboration with playwright Christopher Marlowe, the first poet to write in unrhymed verse, considered at the time the foremost dramatist in London.

The play was among the first of Shakespeare’s 38, all of his works deliberately avoiding controversy, all set in other times and

places, and some, including A Midsummer Night’s Dream and The Tempest in settings that were imaginary. With a desire to fill seats and write good parts for his actors, Shakespeare was especially mindful to stay out of the sight of Francis Walsingham, chief of Queen Elizabeth’s secret service. Since Drake’s raid, St. Augustine, subsequently ravaged by fire and flood, had begun to rebuild, a process that including the construction of the first of several wooden forts. Spanish interests in Florida, especially after the diminution of Spain’s royal coffers, continued less

Engraver Theodor de Bry, shown here in a self-portrait, created images of Florida’s native flora based on paintings by Jacques le Moyne, who had seen it firsthand.

with an eye to colonization than to the establishment of scores of missions, first Jesuit, then Franciscan, built along Florida’s east coast and up the St. Johns River. The goal of the missions was control of the region and the prevention of colonization by other countries, in particular England and France, in addition to the conversion of the indigenous Timucuans, Tocobagas, and Apalachee. An unexpected

consequence of the presence of mission personnel was their introduction of European diseases against which Florida’s native tribes had no immunity and which led to their ultimate decimation.

Around 1600, after Shakespeare and his company built the Globe Theatre, copperplate engravings by Theodor de Bry were published and circulated in England. Based on the watercolors of artist

Jacques le Moyne, who had accompanied the ill-fated 1564 French Huguenots’ attempt to establish a colony in Florida, the engravings depicted the region’s native flora. They also portrayed the native Timucuans as taller and more well-developed than Europeans, possibly inspiring Shakespeare to write The Tempest, an allegory of European colonization of foreign lands. The depictions of the larger

indigenous people might even have been the source for the monstrous character of Caliban.

At the time of Shakespeare’s death on April 23, 1616, the English colony of Jamestown had been established in Virginia, and passengers were assembling in Plymouth, England to sail to the New World on the Mayflower, while Spain, no longer a major power, continued to treat Florida as an outpost. `

This anonymous painting depicts a 1588 battle between the Royal Navy of Great Britain and the Spanish Armada.

CREATE THE LIFESTYLE YOU CRAVE.

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WE PARTNER WITH THE FINEST MANUFACTURERS WE KNOW SO YOUR HOME CAN REFLECT THE BEST IN STYLE

Announcing April

FIND EGG-XACTLY WHAT YOU’RE LOOKING FOR THIS MONTH

ALLURING ABSTRACTS

THROUGH APRIL 8: ELISE GEARY ART EXHIBIT AT M. MAISON

Local artist Elise Geary will be presenting her latest works in an exhibition at M. Maison. Geary grew up in Michigan, where she took classes at Cranbrook Academy of Art prior to attending Bennington College in Vermont. Her initial focus on a career in art changed to science, leading to medical school and a dermatology residency. She opened a private practice in Durham, North Carolina in 1982. In 1993, Geary renewed her interest in art and began showing and selling her watercolors in various galleries in North Carolina until retiring from her full-time medical practice to move to Vero Beach in 2010. After launching with a March 31 reception, the show runs through Saturday, April 8.

M. MAISON

3403 Ocean Drive 772-231-4300

mmaisonvero.com

SPRING IN STYLE

THROUGH APRIL 8: ANNUAL SALE AT LEIGH JEWELERS

Leigh Jewelers invites you to rejuvenate your jewelry box during its spring sale. Through April 8, customers may save 10 to 50 percent on a huge selection of designer pieces, classic favorites, and one-of-a-kind pieces.

LEIGH JEWELERS

3401 Ocean Drive 772-234-8522

leighjewelers.com

Beyond by Elise Geary, oil on canvas, 36 x 36 inches

Top

2022 AWARD WINNERS

Top

Top

Top

Debbie Bell #1 Individual Statewide

Steve Borenz

Mary Frances Driscoll

Mark Seeberg

Sherry Goff

CHAIRMAN’S CIRCLE - GOLD - Top 2% of the Network

LEADING EDGE SOCIETY

10% of the Network

Beth Livers

Maria Caldarone #5 Team Statewide

Katrina Yarick-Stawara

HONOR SOCIETY

16% of the Network

Cheryl Burge

CHAIRMAN’S CIRCLE DIAMOND

1/2 of 1% of the Network

PRESIDENT’S CIRCLE

6% of the Network

Michelle Clarke #21 Individual Statewide

Peggy Hewett

Chip Landers #8 Individual Statewide

Heather Delamarter #10 Individual Statewide

Bob Faller

Gretchen Hanson Maria Fulchini Amanda Martin

EGG-CELLENT CELEBRATION

APRIL 8: EASTER EGG HUNT

Trimmings Home Garden and Gifts is a holiday headquarters. Celebrate Easter weekend with the shop’s annual egg hunt. Colorful eggs will be filled with prizes and discounts, so stop by, find an egg, and reap some savings.

TRIMMINGS HOME GARDEN AND GIFTS

3201 Cardinal Drive 772-213-8069 shoptrimmingsvb.com

LOCKED IN

APRIL 6–7: FAVORED COLLECTION AVAILABLE AT VERANDA

Veranda Jewelry will be showcasing the designs of Elizabeth Locke, whose accessories include antique jewelry with luminescent stones using century-old goldsmith techniques. Each of the hand-picked stones are placed in a non-classical 19-karat gold setting. View this sought-after designer’s jewelry April 6–7 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

VERANDA

3325 Ocean Drive 772-234-3404 verandajewelry.com

By Ted Swindley

Music by Harry Warren | Lyrics by Al Dubin | Book by Michael Stewart and Mark Bramble

�aze

furniture kitchen + bath interiors I staqinq

A CEILING FAN DESTINATION

MESH WITH YOUR BEAUTY

NEW TECHNIQUE AT ODPS

Ocean Drive Plastic Surgery presents the mesh face-lift technique, which was designed and created by the practice’s founder, Dr. Alan Durkin, a world-renowned plastic surgeon. Biologic mesh combines the latest and most effective techniques in “traditional” face-lift surgery with an exciting new mesh technology to achieve reliable and unparalleled results. It is ideal for patients with significant neck descent, or for patients who are undergoing a secondary face-lift or revision of a previous face-lift that did not achieve the desired results.

OCEAN DRIVE PLASTIC SURGERY

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

DOGGONE CUTE

NEW ‘EMPLOYEE’ AT VERNON SCOTT

Vernon Scott Resort Wear would like to introduce its newest team member: Meet Kirby, a long-haired miniature dachshund. Kirby brings natural charm and an adorable ability to help you select your best looks.

VERNON SCOTT

RESORT WEAR  818 Beachland Blvd. 772-231-3733 vernonscott32963.com

Fine Cabinetry

IMPRESS AND REPEAT

NEW ARTIST EXHIBIT AT MEGHAN CANDLER GALLERY

Renowned Vero Beach artist Isabelle Beuttell Dayton’s highly anticipated exhibit is open to the public and runs through the entire month of April, featuring a dozen new paintings by this celebrated artist. She is an Impressionist with an exquisite color sense, and her palette knife paintings capture the beauty of her European travels. Please contact the gallery for more information and visit its website for a virtual walk-through tour of the exhibit.

MEGHAN CANDLER GALLERY

6160 Hwy. A1A

Village Shops

772-234-8811

meghancandlergallery.com

SPRINGTIME SIPPING

NEW DRINKWARE AVAILABLE

Noteworthy by Design has some new and pretty drinkware available. The collection was designed through a beautiful collaboration between two Florida-based companies, Rifle Paper Co. and Corkcicle. Whether you select the ice bucket to accompany stemless flutes or a fabulous tumbler, Noteworthy by Design has an amazing selection to choose from that will have you sipping in style.

NOTEWORTHY BY DESIGN

6100 Hwy. A1A

Village Shops

772-231-0085

DON’T SHOE AWAY STYLE

NEW FOOTWEAR COLLECTION AT SASSY

Sassy Boutique is thrilled to announce a comfortable and chic new shoe line that will be arriving this spring: Hoff. Since its inception, the company has traveled far and wide, seeking inspiration and diversity, bringing unique designs with a soul of their own. Fashion should be unexpectedly beautiful, and Hoff sneakers will bring just that to your life’s runway.

SASSY BOUTIQUE

3365 Ocean Drive

772-234-3998

HOME IS WHERE YOUR BED IS

NEW FURNITURE COLLECTION

If you’re looking for tropical or coastal-looking bedroom furniture, look no further than Fantastic Finds, which has new furniture from the Palm Island Collection by Pelican Reef in stock. King and queen beds, twin headboards, dressers, chests, nightstands, and mirrors are currently available so visit and pick the pieces that say “I’m home” to you.

FANTASTIC FINDS

4300 U.S. Hwy. 1

772-794-7574

fantastic-finds.com

Morning Still by Isabelle Beuttell Dayton, oil on canvas, 36 x 36 inches

LAMP OF APPROVAL

VB HOME ANNOUNCES COLLABORATION

VB Home introduces its collaboration with Zafferano, offering designer shades for the lighting company’s Poldina cordless lamp collection. The first style, which fits the Poldina Pro Mini lamp, is a handwoven seagrass shade with signature Maison Maison scallops along the bottom. Visit VB Home for yours.

VB HOME

615 Beachland Blvd. 772-492-9348

vbhome.us

ARTISTIC ALTITUDE

KRUPP TO EXHIBIT AT COLORADO FESTIVAL

Cherry Creek Arts Festival has invited Barbara Krupp to be one of the exhibitors at its 2023 event. This world-class and award-winning celebration of the visual arts takes place in Denver, Colorado. It is recognized as a leading arts festival and is a beloved annual community tradition that has been a part of the cultural fabric of Denver for three decades. The goal is to provide its selected exhibitors and the 150,000 visitors an experience of unparalleled quality. Krupp will be taking this opportunity to do extra traveling around the Midwest and the mountain area. She will have exciting stories to tell in the fall when she returns to Vero Beach.

BARBARA KRUPP FINE ART STUDIO/GALLERY

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

Room for All by Barbara Krupp, acrylic on canvas, 36 x 60 inches

CENTRAL BEACH

4 Bed / 2.5 Bath | $1,185,000 | #265436

Cheryl Gerstner 772-539-2100

Kit Fields 770-312-5165

SEAQUAY CONDO

3 Bed / 3 Bath | $1,420,000 | #265514

Alex “AMAC” MacWilliam, IV 772-473-6972

COUNTRY CLUB POINTE | VBCC

4 Bed / 4F & 2H Bath | $1,825,000 | #253687

Phil Sunkel 772-538-2339

LAKES AT SANDRIDGE

5 Bed / 2.5 Bath | $598,000 | #254591

Charlotte Terry 772-538-2388

Patty Valdes 772-473-8810

POINTE WEST East Village

4 Bed / 2.5 Bath | $625,000 | #265286

Tina Carone 772-538-2118

CENTRAL BEACH

3 Bed / 2 Bath | $950,000 | #265855

Candace Kennedy 626-399-2826

Alex “AMAC” MacWilliam, IV 772-473-6972

HARBOUR ISLE N Hutchinson Island

2 Bed / 2 Bath | $549,000 | #257143

Cheryl Gerstner 772-539-2100

CITRUS SPRINGS

4 Bed / 3 Bath | $550,000 | #265564

Karl Dietrich 772-538-3453

OCEAN VILLAGE Seascape II

2 Bed / 2 Bath | $559,000 | #265779

Kimberly Keithahn 772-321-4656

FRESH NEWS

NEW FLORAL STUDIO AT ROCK CITY

Stop by Rock City Gardens to see its new silks and fresh-cut florals studio. The designers will make floral arrangements for any special occasion you would like to make even more memorable.

ROCK CITY GARDENS

9080 U.S. Hwy. 1, Sebastian 772-589-5835

rockcitygardens.com

CARING FOR THE COMMUNITY

AFFORDABLE MEDICINE PROGRAM THROUGH TCCH

Treasure Coast Community Health participates in the 340B program of the Public Health Service Act, which allows the purchase of medications at lower prices. TCCH passes these savings on to all patients. Healthy people create a healthy, well-educated community. Regular medical care and accessible, affordable medication reduce the risk of disease and days off work, while benefiting overall mental health. TCCH offers three on-site pharmacies at the Gifford, Fellsmere, and Oslo locations; free local delivery and mail-order services to anywhere in the continental United States; price matching; and insulin as low as $35 a month. Any money generated from the 340B program goes straight back into funding programs and services, expanding access, and improving health outcomes.

TREASURE COAST COMMUNITY HEALTH

772-257-8224

tcchinc.org

JEWELS FOR YOU, JEWELS FOR ME

SALE EVENT AT OCEAN DRIVE JEWELERS

Don’t miss out on a fabulous sale opportunity. With savings of 30 to 50 percent, visit Ocean Drive Jewelers and pick out some pretties that you’ve had your eyes—or ears—on.

OCEAN DRIVE JEWELERS

3225 Ocean Drive

772-234-1225

ALL IN GOOD MARITIME

FINDLAY’S MOST RECENT ACQUISITIONS

Findlay Galleries is proud to present its recent acquisitions of miniature maritime paintings by George Nemethy. Each highly detailed yet enigmatic scene of solitude is prepared in a custom gold frame inspired by the gilded Persian miniatures from his father’s antique collections he found so alluring in his youth. For more information about this painting and Findlay’s collection of Nemethy’s works, please contact gallery manager Juan Pretel.

FINDLAY GALLERIES

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

findlaygalleries.com

CLOSINGS, COUNCILS, & CELEBRATIONS, OH MY!

CURLEY RECOGNIZED FOR 2022

Cathy Curley has been awarded 2022 Top Producer for Dale Sorensen Real Estate and named to the prestigious Chairman’s Council. Curley closed 2022 with over $50 million sold and under contract.

CATHY CURLEY

772-559-1359

cathycurleyrealestate.com

HANDS OFF

GM EXPANDS ACCESS TO HANDS-FREE DRIVING

Linus is excited to share news from GM. In its continued commitment to expand access to advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), GM introduces true hands-free Super Cruise technology. A key piece of Super Cruise’s accessibility is its road network, which features compatible mapped highways that allow customers to engage the hands-free system. The Super Cruise road network will double to more than 400,000 miles, with Super Cruise coming to 22 vehicles globally by the end of 2023. Contact Linus to see which option drives your interest the most.

LINUS CADILLAC BUICK GMC

1401 U.S. Hwy. 1

772-562-1700

linusautomotive.com

linuscadillac.com

R. Anderson by George Nemethy, oil on canvas, 8 1/2 x 13 1/2 inches

HANDLE IT

FRESH HARDWARE COLLECTION AVAILABLE

Spring into a new design style with the Ice Collection. Offered at European Kitchen and Bath, this line creates a unique and artsy look using cabinet hardware that will amplify your home or elsewhere. Visit the showroom to pull your look together.

EUROPEAN KITCHEN & BATH

4003 U.S. Hwy. 1 772-494-2694

europeansink.com

ART OF THE HOME

REFRESH WITH NEW ART FROM HAZEL HOUSE

Hazel House is excited to announce its new curated collection of art in various mediums. From abstract paintings to photography to mixed media, Hazel House is sure to have what you are looking for. Stop in and update your collection.

HAZEL HOUSE

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

RANGE OF RUGS

SPECIALTY COLLECTION UPDATED

Falasiri Oriental Rugs presents new selections from its “Sand and Sea” Florida Collection, with sizes ranging from room to throw, plus custom sizes to order. Colors include deep sea sapphire, soft blues, ivories, and sand.

FALASIRI ORIENTAL RUGS

2370 U.S. Hwy. 1 772-562-0282

falasiriorientalrugs.com

GROWING FAST

COMPANY EXPANDS SERVICES

Motor City Classic Cars is pleased to announce the opening of Motor City Classic Cars Service. Ulf, Jan, and Erik Andersson, formerly from Ulf’s Classic Auto Repair, have joined the team to help with all servicing needs. With the latest in automotive equipment, Motor City Classic Cars Service is ready to assist you with all your classic and exotic automotive service needs.

MOTOR CITY CLASSIC CARS SERVICE

4900 42nd Place 772-252-3590

motorcityclassiccars.com

Ulf, Erik, and Jan Andersson

DIP INTO THE DESERT

NEW ARTIST’S WORK AT GALLERY

The Laughing Dog Gallery now carries the work of Wisconsin glass artist Nicholas Stelter. His award-winning boats and vessels, created in color-themed collections, are unmistakable for their organic lines and hand-polished, reflective finishes. His latest coloration, Desert Mirage, is on display at the gallery, so stop in to reflect on it.

THE LAUGHING DOG GALLERY

2910 Cardinal Drive

772-234-6711

thelaughingdoggallery.com

BACK IN THE SWING

BENT PINE TO PARTICIPATE IN INVITATIONAL

Bent Pine Golf Club will rejoin the Rota (the rotation of courses for hosting an open championship) for the United States Seniors’ Golf Association’s Indian River Invitational April 24–27. “I am absolutely thrilled to have Bent Pine back as part of the tournament,” says tournament coordinator Malcolm MacColl. “I think it’s one of the best private courses in Vero Beach, and our members love playing it.” The USSGA holds member tournaments throughout the year at some of the country’s most exclusive private clubs, and there were 120 requests for the 64 spots available in this year’s Indian River tournament.

BENT PINE GOLF CLUB

6001 Clubhouse Drive

772-567-6838

bentpinegolf.com

Tara Layne 772.321.4303 tara@charlotteterry.com

Enjoy the sunrise and sunset from your direct riverfront lanai while watching the dolphins and

swim by.

9025 SOMERSET BAY LANE, #401 $1,499,000 3 BR/3 BA

Penthouse with 3-car garage, beautiful gourmet kitchen, and gas available on balcony. Enjoy the river view and pleasant walking on the historic Jungle Trail.

1890 TARPON LANE, UNIT #203 $825,000 3 BR/2 BA

manatees

2806 LAUREL DRIVE $1,495,000 3 BR/2.5 BA

One of a kind custom-built home with views of the 18th hole of the Vero Beach Country Club. Double lot with mature oaks.

92 CACHE CAY DRIVE $950,000 3BR/2 BA

Beautiful corner lot home, lakefront with a screenedin pool in Cache Cay, centrally located and walking distance to beach and Village Beach Market.

Desert Mirage Boat by Nicholas Stelter, glass, 30 inches long

Gregory Allan Ness Principal Designer

Crystal Crosby Senior Designer

BRUSH UP

DROP-IN CLASS AVAILABLE WITH LEIGH BENNETT

The Fiber Art Studio invites you to enhance your artistic skill set. Studio owner Leigh Bennett is offering a drop-in class for anyone interested in fiber art. It will take place Thursdays from 2:30 to 4 p.m. Call Leigh to reserve your space and bring what you are working on.

THE FIBER ART STUDIO

57 Royal Palm Pointe 440-552-8578 verofiberartstudio.com

BUILDING BEAUTY

AR HOMES CONSTRUCTING IN NEW COMMUNITY

AR Homes is now building in the exclusive community of Equus Estates, which is just minutes away from world-renowned equestrian venues and the Quail Valley Golf Club. This gated enclave of 12 homes features lots ranging from 4 to 6 acres and provides unsurpassed grandeur for those seeking elegance and beauty.

AR HOMES | BEACHLAND HOMES

772-492-4018 arhomesverobeach.com

· Now taking reservations for our new 40,000 sq. ft. hangar expansion

· Largest ramp space on the Treasure Coast!

· Lowest jet fuel prices in Vero Beach - GUARANTEED!

· Over 35 years of offering exceptional customer service

PROMOTE & PREVENT

LOCAL DOCTOR OFFERS PREVENTION

Dr. Latia Ilyadis is a board-certified internist and pediatrician who takes a distinctive approach to disease prevention. She encourages health independence by recommending a whole-food, plant-based diet and increasing physical activity to promote longevity and prevent debilitating disease. She works with her patients to incorporate a realistic plan to eat better and move more in ways that fit within their lifestyle. Dr. Ilyadis is certified in plant-based nutrition by Cornell’s T. Colin Campbell Center of Center for Nutrition Studies.

ISLAND HEALTH CONCIERGE MEDICINE

9301 Hwy. A1A, Suite 202 772-205-6361 islandhealthverobeach.com

UP, UP, AND DISPLAY

ANNUAL FAN SALE AT HOL

Plan a visit to The House of Lights to shop its annual ceiling fan sale. With hundreds of designs, sizes, and finishes to choose from, clients will work with one of the many talented American Lighting Association–certified lighting specialists to assist you in your design specification, selection, and installation. HOL offers exceptional service and a tremendous value—100 percent price match guarantee.

THE HOUSE OF LIGHTS

1034 S. Harbor City Blvd., Melbourne 800-541-3048

thehouseoflights.com

Dr. Latia Ilyadis

Bent Pine. Club life as it ought to be.

Play “No Tee Times” golf on our meticulously maintained course.

Experience golf instruction at its best.

Gather with friends after a rewarding round of golf.

Dine on our patio with dramatic lake and course views.

Enjoy diverse social activities, such as Wine Dinners, Themed Events, Speaker Forums, Bridge, Mah Jongg and more.

MIX IT UP

NEW COLLECTION AVAILABLE

LED Capstone Lighting & Fan Design Center Showroom presents the Chrysalis Collection by Hubbardton Forge. Chrysalis was imagined as “a rough piece of coal becoming a precious diamond.” A thick, clear blown glass is encased in an outer layer of colored (black or white) glass. According to designer Paul Marr-Hilliard, “Hand-polished like a gemstone, the lower part of the outer colored layer of glass is removed to reveal the inner crystal clear, faceted glass.” The mixed crystals come in large and small sizes as well as a variety of configurations, such as single, multiport, and linear pendants; sconces; and more. Hubbardton Forge fixtures are handcrafted here in the United States by skilled craftsman. Learn more by visiting the LED Capstone Lighting & Fan Design Center Showroom.

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

IT TAKES A COMMUNITY

NEW VOLUNTEER RESOURCE AVAILABLE

United Way of Indian River County now offers a free and accessible platform for volunteers to browse and sign up for local opportunities. This digital portal is a meeting place for volunteers and organizations to connect. “Our nonprofits depend on the giving nature of volunteers, but sometimes finding those resources is more difficult than we’d like,” says UWIRC CEO Meredith Egan. “With the launch of volunteerindianrivercounty.org , we’re hoping to build a central location where anyone in the community can find an opportunity that best suits them, their talents, and time.” Check back often for updates.

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

• Licensed REALTOR® for over 15 years

• DSRE Top Producer 2019-2022

• DSRE President’s Board, 2021, 2022

• Specializes in million dollar+ properties on the Barrier Island

• Extensive network in the Northeast including New York, New Jersey and Connecticut

• BSBA in Marketing and Sales

• DSRE Social Media Superstar Award 2018

• Winner “Best of Vero” in the Vero Beach Easter Parade 2018

• DSRE Most Innovative Marketing Award, 2017

• Lives on the Barrier Island

• Actively involved at Holy Cross Church

• 2 sons who attend Saint Edward’s School

Chad Morrison at the Boys & Girls Club

Looking for something fresh and exciting for your home?

Come see our beautiful showroom full of inspiring and elegant products, designed to suit any style, any budget, any schedule. We’ve been making some changes to liven the place up that you’re sure to love. From a kitchen backsplash to a complete home remodel, allow our design support team to walk you through each step of the tile selection process. You deserve to love where you live, see you at the showroom!

Welcome

AMAC | Alex MacWilliam

Real Estate is excited to welcome Kaitlyn Daley as a new agent. Born and raised in Vero Beach, Daley is a true homegrown Florida girl. A Sebastian River High School graduate, she began working right out of high school. She has served in the key role of operations manager for Ocean Drive Plastic Surgery and has also enjoyed a successful career in orthodontic sales as an orthodontic treatment coordinator. Daley’s insightful local knowledge and connections in the community, coupled with her vast experience in customer service and sales, are the ideal foundation for connecting with clients. With her in-depth knowledge of the local real estate market, Daley offers her clients personalized, professional real estate experience, whether buying or selling their homes.

Iconic Dermatology is thrilled to welcome its newest member to the family! A Vero Beach native, Christine David brings 12 years of aesthetic experience to the table while offering microneedling, peels, facials, waxing treatments, and more. She prides herself on quality service and patient care. Call to get onto her schedule today.

Ocean Drive Gallery welcomes Jill Kerwick , an award-winning artist with a master of fine arts degree from NYU, to its gallery group. She has had many solo exhibitions across the United States, including a solo show at the Center for Spiritual Care in Vero Beach. Kerwick is interested in an open-ended narrative, humor, and mystery. She is a painter who also makes photo collages inspired by her farm animals and the beaches of Costa Rica. She lives in Florida, New Jersey, and Costa Rica.

Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital welcomes cardiologist Mary Leslie Oberst, MD, family medicine physician Hemali Patel, DO, and pathologist Richard Whisnant, MD

Upon earning her medical degree at the University of Louisville School of Medicine in Kentucky, Dr. Oberst completed her internal medicine residency at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. She went on to complete the cardiology fellowship program at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston and an additional year of training in cardiovascular MRI at Texas Heart in Houston. Dr. Oberst is also highly trained in cardiac CT and advanced imaging.

Dr. Patel earned her medical degree from Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in Pennsylvania and completed her family medicine residency at Inspira Health Network in New Jersey. Board certified in family medicine, Dr. Patel has clinical interest in obesity medicine, diabetes management, and women’s health.

Drs. Oberst and Patel are accepting new patients at Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital’s Health and Wellness Center.

Dr. Whisnant earned his medical degree at University of Texas Southwestern Medical School at Dallas and completed his anatomic and clinical pathology residency at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. He went on to complete the cytopathology fellowship at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. Dr. Whisnant is board certified by the American Board of Pathology in anatomic and clinical pathology and cytopathology. He will serve as pathology chair.

Hemali Patel, DOMary Leslie Oberst, MD

Richard Whisnant, MD

AMAC | Alex MacWilliam Real Estate would like to congratulate its overall January Top Producer: Jessica Massagee A Vero Beach native, Massagee married her Vero Beach High School sweetheart, Joseph, who was also born and raised in Vero. A stay-at-home mom for the last 11 years, she has been raising their three children in addition to serving as PTA president, room mom, and member of the Student Advisory Council. Massagee and her family enjoy glamping and boating and visiting their RV site at River Ranch on the west bank of the Kissimmee River.

Congratulations to Suzi Davis for becoming a partner at what will now be called Hoos Davis Architecture . Next month, Davis will reach 10 years of working with Tom Hoos. After completing her studies at the University of Florida with a bachelor of design degree and a master’s in architecture, she accepted the opportunity to move to Vero Beach and begin her professional career. She completed her licensure in 2018. Now that she is a partner at the firm, Davis is eager for the fun to continue into the next era.

The Source has promoted Jade Alexander to director of operations at its main campus on Commerce Avenue. She previously served for about two years as the nonprofit’s employment specialist, a position that familiarized her with all of the programs and services that take place at The Source each day. Now she will oversee those activities and also maintain and expand The Source’s policies and procedures. “She has become the ‘go-to’ person on campus, and everyone holds her in great esteem,” says executive director Anthony Zorbaugh. `

Across

April Is Hopping

LOCAL NONPROFITS SHOWER US WITH ACTIVITIES THIS MONTH

SPRING POTTERY SALE

APRIL 1

Indian River Clay will hold its annual Spring Fling Pottery Show & Sale at the nearby gallery Raw Space. This pop-up exhibit will feature the work of Indian River Clay members as well as outside artists and will serve as a fundraiser for the nonprofit ceramic studio’s capital campaign.

INDIAN RIVER CLAY at Raw Space

1795 Old Dixie Hwy.

10 a.m.–3 p.m. 772-202-8598

indianriverclay.org

‘YOURS, MINE, AND OURS’

APRIL 7–30

Indian River Clay is introducing a new concept that is sure to produce some intriguing works of art. For the exhibition “Yours, Mine, and Ours,” artists will work in pairs, one being a potter and the other— maybe, maybe not! Each team will submit three pieces: two individual efforts and one collaboration. Indian River Clay members may even pair up with multiple other artists. The public will be able to view and purchase the artwork at Raw Space gallery.

INDIAN RIVER CLAY at Raw Space

1795 Old Dixie Hwy. 772-202-8598

indianriverclay.org

Potters Mallory Wixson-O’Malley and Jim Cohoe collaborate.

42ND STREET

APRIL 11–30

Riverside Theatre presents the long-running, Tony-winning Broadway musical 42nd Street , with music by Harry Warren, lyrics by Al Dubin, and book by Michael Stewart and Mark Bramble. The story centers around a young actress, Peggy Sawyer, who has relocated from Pennsylvania to New York City in the hope of making it on Broadway. The show features lavish costumes and entertaining music and dance routines.

RIVERSIDE THEATRE

3250 Riverside Park Drive Times vary, $40 and up 772-231-6990 riversidetheatre.com

COLLABORATION

We build creative and comprehensive solutions by collaborating with your entire advisory team—from attorneys and CPAs to key family members. For over 100 years*, our formula for success has been backed by these relationships that extend throughout our local community and nationally.

Let’s discuss how we can help build a better solution for you.

Kate Freeman, Senior Wealth Advisor Managing Director, Vero Beach

772.925.3221

kfreeman2@wilmingtontrust.com

wilmingtontrust.com

WEALTH MANAGEMENT FOR YOUR FUTURE—LOCALLY

*Wilmington Trust traces its roots to the founding of Wilmington Trust Company in 1903. This material is for informational purposes only and is not intended as an offer or solicitation for the sale of any financial product or service. Investing involves risks and you may incur a profit or a loss. There is no assurance that any investment, financial or estate planning strategy will be successful. Wilmington Trust is a registered service mark used in connection with services offered by certain subsidiaries of M&T Bank Corporation. ©2023 M&T Bank and its affiliates and subsidiaries. All rights reserved. AMP 4146 230221 VF

builds better solutions for you.

BRIDGE TOURNAMENT

APRIL 14

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Indian River County will hold the alwayspopular Duplicate and Party Bridge Tournament for the ninth year. Participants will enjoy a continental breakfast, an exciting morning of bridge, lunch, awards, and a special presentation by the students of BGCIRC. Funds raised by this event support programming for the youngsters of BGCIRC’s Vero Beach, Fellsmere, and Sebastian clubs.

BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF IRC

at Quail Valley River Club

2345 Hwy. A1A

8:30 a.m., $80 772-299-7449 bgcirc.org

CHARITY FUNDRAISER WEEKEND

APRIL 14–15

The Wheels & Keels Foundation of Vero Beach, which supports seven local nonprofits, will hold its annual fundraiser weekend, with a dinner and auction on Friday evening and the concours-style Antique & Exotic Car & Boat Show on Saturday. Friday’s guests, who are asked to wear club attire with jackets, will enjoy a cocktail reception, elegant dinner, and live and silent auctions. On Saturday, it’s out to the golf course and docks to take in all the impressive vehicles and visit some food trucks.

WHEELS & KEELS FOUNDATION

at The Moorings Yacht & Country Club

100 Harbour Drive

Friday 5:30 p.m., $250; Saturday 10 a.m.–2:30 p.m., free to attend 772-559-9758 wkvero.com

Louann Yates, Martha Hunter, and Paula Hallam-Brockelman attend last year’s event.

‘CHOREOGRAPHER’S NOTEBOOK’

APRIL 14–15

Ballet Vero Beach will conclude its 10th anniversary season with “Choreographer’s Notebook: Samuel Kurkjian,” featuring Debussy Suite, German Dances, and Chopin Variations . Kurkjian, who was associated with the Boston Ballet before establishing his own company, the Boston Repertory Ballet, died in 2013. BVB’s artistic director and CEO, Adam Schnell, considers Kurkjian to be the greatest influence upon his life in dance.

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

Friday 7:30 p.m., Saturday 2 and 7:30 p.m.; $10–$75 772-905-2651 balletverobeach.org

WILL BRENNER

ED CROCKER CONSTRUCTION YEARS

ED CROCKER CONSTRUCTION WISHES TO THANK THE PEOPLE WHO MADE THIS HOME RUN HAPPEN

MR. & MRS. PITCHER

ABBATE TILE & MARBLE

ABCO GARAGE DOOR CO.

ADAMS CUSTOM TRIM

AIELLO LANDSCAPING

ALL SUNCOAST ELECTRIC

BOB GAMBLE

BREVARD GROUTING SERVICE

BRIAN STANT CONSTRUCTION

CRYSTAL POOLS

CURLEY HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING

FINAL TOUCH CABINETS

FISHER & SONS

GALE INSULATION

GATOR BUILDING SUPPLY

GREG ANDERSON

HEARNDON CONCRETE & MASONRY

INTERCOASTAL ROOFING SOLUTIONS

ISLAND AV

JETSON TV & APPLIANCE

KSM

LA TILE

LEED INSULATION

M.L. ENGINEERING

MCCORMICK DRYWALL

ORC SERVICES

REARDON’S FAB SHOP

RENZO PAINT CONTRACTING

SECURE GAS & MAINTENANCE

SELECT FLOORS

SHORELINE SHUTTERS

SURFACES

SURFSIDE PAVERS

URIEL WILSON

VERO GLASS & MIRROR

VERO MILLWORK

SECURE PAPER SHREDDING

APRIL 15

Since shredded paper cannot be placed in regular curbside recycling carts, the Indian River County Solid Waste Disposal District periodically offers free secure shredding events for residential papers, in cooperation with Southeast Secure Shredding. Indian River County residents may bring up to three boxes or bags weighing up to 35 pounds each, or up to three bags of pre-shredded paper. This service will be limited to the first 800 vehicles.

IRC SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL DISTRICT

at Southeast Secure Shredding

3910 U.S. Hwy. 1 8 a.m.–noon, free 772-226-3212 indianriver.gov

BREVARD SYMPHONY

APRIL 16

Christopher Confessore will conduct the Brevard Symphony Orchestra in the Indian River Symphonic Association’s final concert of the 2023 season, with Mark Kosower as featured cellist. The musicians will perform four selections: Aaron Copland’s Fanfare for the Common Man ; Antonín Dvorák’s Cello Concerto in B Minor, Op. 104, B. 191 ; Jennifer Higdon’s blue cathedral ; and Howard Hanson’s Symphony No. 2 in D-Flat Major, Op. 30, W45 , “Romantic.”

INDIAN RIVER SYMPHONIC ASSOCIATION

at Community Church of Vero Beach

1901 23rd St. 7:30 p.m., $60 772-778-1070 irsymphonic.org

Mark Kosower

Steve Verrett of Southeast Secure Shredding and Sue Flak of IRCSWDD

WALTER ISAACSON

APRIL 17

Riverside Theatre’s Distinguished Lecturer Series wraps up its 24th season with journalist, history professor, and bestselling author Walter Isaacson. He has held a number of prominent positions and has written several notable nonfiction books, including biographies of Leonardo da Vinci, Benjamin Franklin, and Steve Jobs. His most recent book is The Code Breaker: Jennifer Doudna, Gene Editing, and the Future of the Human Race

RIVERSIDE THEATRE

3250 Riverside Park Drive

4 and 6 p.m.;

$125 main stage, $85 Waxlax simulcast

772-231-6990

riversidetheatre.com

KIMBERLIE MASSNICK

APRIL 20

Indian River State College’s Fielden Institute for Lifelong Learning presents the final speaker of this year’s Distinguished Lecture Series, IRSC criminal justice professor Kimberlie Massnick. Her topic will be “Cold Cases, College Students, and Community Service.” Massnick holds a PhD in criminal justice from Nova Southeastern University and is a criminologist specializing in crime victims, sexual offenders, and serial killers. Her teaching style places a heavy emphasis on real-life situations.

FIELDEN INSTITUTE FOR LIFELONG LEARNING at McAlpin Fine Arts Center

IRSC Massey Campus

3209 Virginia Ave., Fort Pierce 10 a.m., $35 772-462-7880 irsc.edu

Exhibition organized by VBMA and Guest Curator, Ken Gross

1939 Graham Combination Coupe, Collection of Charles Mallory, Image © Peter Harholdt

POETRY & BBQ

APRIL 22

The Laura (Riding) Jackson Foundation will welcome two poetic pairs for its 12th annual Poetry and BBQ event, “Tying the Knot: When Poets Marry.” Barbara Hamby and David Kirby both teach at Florida State University and have each published numerous books of poetry. Chelsea Rathburn and Jim May live in Georgia, where she serves as the state’s poet laureate and he directs the creative writing program at Mercer University. Local poets will be featured at 2:30 p.m. and guests poets at 4 p.m. A Southern-style barbecue dinner will be served at 5:30 p.m. See the Calendar section for related events taking place April 20 and 21.

LAURA (RIDING) JACKSON FOUNDATION

IRSC Mueller Campus

6155 College Lane

1:30–7:30 p.m., $35

772-569-6718

lauraridingjackson.org

Chelsea Rathburn and Jim May

Barbara Hamby and David Kirby

ELEVATE YOUR LIVING

Retire in style. Whether it’s fine dining and luxury spa experiences or endless events and personalized care you’re seeking, Regency Park has you covered. Discover how luxury senior living allows you to thrive in an engaging and vibrant community. This is HarborChase. Come celebrate with us.

MARDY FISH TENNIS TOURNAMENT

APRIL 24–30

The Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation Tennis Championships will be held at a new venue this year—Vero Beach Tennis & Fitness Club at Timber Ridge. This $15,000 USTA/ITF Pro Circuit event serves as a fundraiser for the foundation, which supports healthy after-school and summer activities for local children. The presenting sponsor is PNC Bank. With about 3,000 fans attending this weeklong tournament each year, it is an economic boon for the Vero Beach area. Grounds Pass admission for children 18 and under is free all week, for all sessions.

MARDY FISH CHILDREN’S FOUNDATION at Vero Beach Tennis & Fitness Club

702 Timber Ridge Trail SW Times vary; $30–$400

866-633-4070

mffkids.org

Leah Muller_APR23.indd

BALLET UNDER THE STARS

APRIL 28

Ballet Vero Beach is celebrating the end of another successful season, its 10th, with Ballet Under the Stars, an event that is in its second year. Adrienne Drew Catering will be on hand with sumptuous international bites, a light seafood-themed buffet, and an open bar, and the Dave Capp Project will provide the music. The evening will also include an exclusive ballet performance, and guests will enjoy a deluxe live auction and even a chance to hit the dance floor with the pros of BVB. Proceeds fund BVB’s education and engagement initiatives.

BALLET VERO BEACH

at Tree House

8010 43rd Ave.

6 p.m., $150 772-905-2651 balletverobeach.org

SPRING CONCERT

APRIL 30

A full jazz combo will accompany the Vero Beach Choral Society in a performance of jazz favorites, including works by George Gershwin, Will Todd, and Frank Wess. Under the direction of Jacob Craig, the Vero Beach Choral Society seeks to enrich the local community by performing choral music and providing scholarships to student musicians.

VERO BEACH CHORAL SOCIETY at First Presbyterian Church

520 Royal Palm Blvd.

4 p.m., $10 suggested donation verobeachchoralsociety.org

‘LULLABIES OF BROADWAY’

MAY 7

Cleveland Clinic Indian River Foundation presents the 32nd May Pops concert, always a highly anticipated event. Christopher Confessore and the Brevard Symphony Orchestra will be joined by guest vocalists Sarah Uriarte Berry and Sal Viviano for “Lullabies of Broadway.” VIP tickets are available for $500. All proceeds from this enjoyable outdoor performance benefit Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital. `

CLEVELAND CLINIC INDIAN RIVER FOUNDATION at Windsor Polo Grounds 3125 Windsor Blvd. 5:30 p.m., $30 772-226-4960 clevelandclinicirfoundation.org

Ben Davis and Dee Roscioli perform at last year’s May Pops event.

KIM BOTTALICO

Close to Home

The waiting list to get into the Hope for Families Center is a mile long, or so it must seem to each of the homeless parents seeking the safe shelter the center provides. The charitable organization is one of just two facilities in Indian River County that provide homeless families with temporary shelter and supportive services in what must be one of the worst

possible scenarios for a mother or father to face.

The Hope for Families Center and the Samaritan Center both have long histories of helping some of our community’s most vulnerable residents. In these times, however, the limited family shelter capacity is not enough to meet the growing demand in our county.

Each year, as part of a process to secure federal funding from the Depart-

ment of Housing and Urban Development to meet local needs, the Treasure Coast Homeless Services Council and dozens of human services organizations participate in a national exercise called the Point in Time Homeless Count (PIT). The result is a snapshot of the number of sheltered and unsheltered homeless persons on a single night in January. On January 31, 2022, the total number of

BY JEFFREY R. PICKERING

The Hope for Families Center is one of two facilities in Indian River County that can provide temporary housing to parents and their children.

homeless individuals who were counted in Indian River County numbered 290, with 225 adults and 65 children. In addition, another 244 households were sharing housing that was not their own, otherwise known as “couch surfing.”

I checked in with Rayme Nuckles, TCHSC’s new executive director, on the eve of the 2023 PIT to get a sense of what this year might have in store. Based on our conversation and other economic conditions such as low wages and higher housing costs, the homeless crisis in our community appears to

be getting worse, especially for families with children.

On a recent visit to the Hope for Families Center, executive director Marty Mercado led a tour of the family shelter in conjunction with a funding request.

(Together with our clients, the Community Foundation has awarded more than $750,000 in support of the center’s proven programs and manages the organization’s permanent endowment.) Mercado asked my colleagues and me to keep our voices low, as the newest resident was getting some desperately needed sleep after spending

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Jalecia struggled for years, feeling that a situation was, “all her fault.” She felt stuck within that timeframe, unable to move forward. Jalecia’s TCCH licensed mental health counselor opened her mind and gave her a different perspective. She realized, “It was not my fault. I could finally let it go and I could finally grieve about it.”

“ My children also see TCCH counselors. Alexander is 10 and was diagnosed at age five with ADHD. He makes sure to take his medicine so he, ‘can have good days.’ Ayden is 11 and recently started counseling. I look forward to seeing his growth as well.”

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“I could finally let go.”

- Jalecia

the previous two nights in her car along with her three school-age children.

“It was so hot and humid, she had to keep the windows cracked,” Mercado recounted. “She was up all night swatting mosquitoes from her children’s faces as they slept. Her children are at school, so thankfully she’s getting some rest.”

Amazingly, her children are at school.

I thought of my three children and the nightly routine that has taken place on school nights in our home for as long as I can remember. Homework, check. Dinner, check. Bath or shower, check. Teeth brushing, check. Bedtime story or meditation, check. A restful slumber, check.

While rare, disruptions

do occasionally occur. A late afternoon or evening activity. A visit from a relative. An unexpected illness. A drink of water. A “bump” in the night. All manageable, yet still sometimes disruptive enough to result in a missed alarm, a missed bus, or an otherwise delayed start to a school day.

How does a mother spend two hot, humid, and mosquito-infested nights with her three children in a car and still manage to get them to school on time before taking care of her own need for sleep? Apparently, she is not the only homeless parent to accomplish this seemingly impossible feat.

Last year, according to the Florida Department of Education, a total of 423

The Hope for Families Center’s facility includes a room for homework and studying.

homeless students attended at least one day of classes in the School District of Indian River County. While 68 percent of these students lived in shared housing that was not their own, the remainder lived in motels, shelters, cars, or outdoors.

Children sleeping outside, exposed to the elements, subject to violent crime or other dangers: These are descriptions that, at a glance, might seem to apply to refugees fleeing war zones. Instead, these are some of the faces of homelessness in our community. They stand in stark contrast to some of the more convenient myths that Indian River County’s homeless population is exclusively made up of people who are

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Childcare Resources has been providing help to local families and children for more than 25 years.

The Homeless Children’s Foundation provides camp opportunities each summer for families who are unable to afford care for their children.

Over time, however, the trauma caused by the myriad conditions associated with homelessness among children requires a systemsbased approach that can be sustained only with adequate public funding, including the tax dollars collected by the county and distributed through the school district, the Children’s Services Advisory Council, and the Indian River Hospital District, to

name a few public sources.

Charles “Chuck” Cunningham, president of the Hope for Families Center’s board of directors, tells me that plans are underway for expanding the organization’s capacity to serve more homeless children and families. The ideas being discussed include more rooms for children and their parents, plus the addition of several independent on-campus housing units to

support successful families as they transition to longerterm, more permanent housing. This expansion will certainly help alleviate some of the problems, but it will not solve everything. A comprehensive solution is complicated.

My 9-year-old son, Grant, has a unique and unvarnished way of reminding me that my adult answer of “it’s complicated” is not satisfactory when he

asks about how we can help homeless children like the one he has befriended at his elementary school.

“He lives with his mom, dad, and two siblings in a motel, Dad,” Grant tells me.

“You run the Community Foundation. Your job is to make money and help people.”

Make money. Help people.

It’s really not that complicated ❀

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To Your Health!

LOTS OF ‘SOBER-CURIOUS’ FOLKS ARE FINDING THE BENEFITS OF BECOMING PART-TIME OR EVEN FULL-TIME TEETOTALERS

BY RENÁE TESAURO

Just as we often reassess our exercise routines and our diets, it can also be a good idea to reexamine the role of alcohol in our lives. Do we look forward to a glass of wine at the end of a long day or enjoy a few drinks with friends on the weekend? How much is too much? Do we feel obliged to have a cocktail in our hand

at social and philanthropic events? How does alcohol affect our health, especially as we age? Perhaps you are among the growing number of people, termed “sober curious,” who are becoming more mindful about drinking habits as part of their overall health care.

Whether you opted for a dry or damp January, the annual monthlong chal-

lenge of abstaining from alcohol may have prompted you to reflect on your relationship with drinking. Now, as April marks National Alcohol Awareness Month, it seems worth continuing the conversation.

Those who decide to go booze-free—even for a month—show significant improvements in their health. A 2018 British

Cocktails or mocktails? It’s a question being asked by a growing number of people.

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study followed a group of moderate drinkers who went sober for a month and compared them to a control group that continued to drink 2.5 standard drinks each day. The most noticeable benefits for the nondrinkers included better sleep and weight loss. They also experienced significant reductions in insulin resistance (a marker for diabetes), blood pressure, and cancer-related growth factors.

The idiom “Old habits die hard” is especially true when it comes to alcohol. Sometimes drinking patterns are so ingrained that they are hard to change. Even in the absence of an addiction issue, alcohol consumption is sometimes just automatic, and the sober curious trend is questioning this paradigm.

The medical reasons to do so are compelling. According to the 2021 Community Health Needs Assessment conducted by Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital, Indian River County saw more hospitalizations related to drug- and alcohol-induced mental disorders, a higher proportion of adults who practice binge drinking, and a significantly higher rate of deaths due to alcoholic liver disease than the Florida averages in these categories.

Let’s start by taking a closer look at the definition

THE BENEFITS OF BEING BOOZE-FREE

IMPROVED MENTAL HEALTH

Teetotalers often report reduced depression, memory problems, anxiety, and irritability.

INCREASED ENERGY

Many people who experiment with abstaining from alcohol experience a boost in stamina.

BETTER SLEEP

Although alcohol can cause drowsiness, it prevents us from reaching the deep restorative stages of REM sleep, which are essential for optimal health.

BETTER COMPLEXION

Excessive drinking impairs the skin’s antioxidant defense system and contributes to wrinkles, so cutting back can turn back the clock!

SHRINKING WAISTLINE

The average beer contains 153 calories, and a glass of white wine about 120. If you’re trying to lose weight, eliminating these potential “empty calories,” just as we may do with junk food, may be a good option. Also keep in mind that when you’re not drinking, you’re probably making better food choices.

IMPROVED HYDRATION

Alcohol tends to cause dehydration, which can trigger headaches, anxiety, and other problems. If you do drink, consuming plenty of water helps mitigate these effects.

STRONGER IMMUNITY

Since even relatively small amounts of alcohol undermine the immune system, abstaining can reinforce our resistance to colds, flu, and germs in general.

LIVELIER LIVER

As the liver is tasked with metabolizing alcohol and other toxins, avoiding alcohol can lower risk levels for cirrhosis, fatty liver, and other hepatic conditions.

LESS RISK OF PHARMACEUTICAL INTERACTIONS

Mixing prescription drugs or common over-the-counter medications with alcohol can be dangerous. If you take opioids, anti-anxiety medications, or sleeping pills, doctors advise avoiding alcohol completely. Even combining aspirin, acetaminophen, or cold and allergy medications with alcohol can be problematic.

BUDGETARY BENEFITS

If you’ve never calculated how much you spend on alcoholic beverages, the number may surprise you.

of a standard drink and the recognized guidelines for daily consumption.

According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), part of the National Institutes of Health, a standard drink is defined as one can or 12 fluid ounces of beer (5 percent alcohol), one glass or 5 fluid ounces of wine (12 percent alcohol), or one shot or 1.5 fluid ounces of distilled spirits (40 percent alcohol). By comparison, an average bottle of wine contains five drinks.

For adults of legal drinking age who choose to drink in moderation, U.S. guidelines suggest that men limit their alcohol consumption to two drinks a day or less and that women limit their intake to one drink a day or less. Moderation is important for health, and the NIAAA even goes so far as to recommend that if you do not drink already, you might as well not start.

Total abstention from alcohol is recommended particularly for pregnant women, people taking medications that might interact with alcohol, patients with medical conditions adversely affected by alcohol, those who are recovering from alcohol use disorder or are unable to control their drinking, and anyone planning to operate a vehicle or machinery.

Whether someone tends to overindulge on occasion or over time, there is no

Abloom Cocktail

RECIPE AND COPY BY JULES ARON

PHOTOGRAPHY BY SHANNA MORGAINE

Many mixologists and drinkers are saying goodbye to sugar-laden mocktails and instead welcoming the sophisticated and ever-evolving nonalcoholic beverage category. Zero-proof cocktails are here to stay and are part of a greater mindful movement that embraces better ingredients, sustainable alternatives, and transparency as a whole.

Abloom Ingredients

3/4 oz. freshly squeezed lemon juice

3/4 oz. pomegranate blueberry lavender syrup (recipe on right)

1 oz. grapefruit juice

2 oz. chilled jasmine tea

Add all ingredients into a shaker with ice and shake until well chilled. Strain into a highball glass with fresh ice, rimmed with an array of botanicals.

Pomegranate Blueberry Lavender

Syrup Ingredients

1/2 cup blueberries

1/2 cup pomegranate juice

1 cup agave

1 cup water

1/2 cup culinary-grade lavender (organic, if available)

Combine all ingredients in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir until the agave has fully dissolved. Remove from the heat and let steep for 15 minutes. Pour through a fine-mesh strainer, pressing the blueberries to get all their juices. Transfer to a clean jar, cover, and keep refrigerated for up to 2 weeks.

disputing the benefits of cutting back, especially as we age. For example, alcohol can have both shortand long-term impacts on the brain and nervous system and has been linked with certain cancers. Over time, excessive drinking can exacerbate health conditions such as osteoporosis, memory/mood disorders, and more.

When it comes to the heart, some studies do suggest that the antioxidants in red wine can reduce the risk of heart disease; but

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Many Americans are opting to let the good times roll with alcohol-free gatherings in which delicious mocktails are served.

Raymond A. Della Porta, DMD

Raymond A. Della Porta II, DMD Scott Elliott, DMD

the American Heart Association cautions against using wine or any form of alcohol to improve health. It is important to balance these studies with those linking alcohol consumption to an increased risk of certain deleterious effects on the heart. Besides, we can get plenty of healthful antioxidants from red grapes, grape juice, and blueberries. Judging from the plethora of alcohol ads we see on TV every day, it may seem as if we are a nation of party animals. In reality, though, America’s relationship with

drinking could be on the rocks thanks in part to increased consumption of nonalcoholic adult beverages. A 2021 Gallup poll showed that American alcohol consumption reached the lowest average weekly level since 2001, hovering at 3.6 drinks per week.

The human body is an amazing machine that responds well to proper care. Re-evaluating our consumption of alcohol can be just one of an array of items in our tool kit for building longer, healthier lives. ❀

America’s relationship with drinking could be on the rocks thanks in part to increased consumption of nonalcoholic adult beverages.

Grape juice and red grapes are filled with healthy antioxidants. Ralph M. Rosato MD, FACS

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Engage in alcohol-free activities such as hiking, biking, fitness and art classes, or a movie.

Connect with like-minded friends.

Be prepared to say “no thanks” to alcohol at parties. No explanation is needed.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS TOPIC, VISIT NIAAA.NIH.GOV.

Stop, Thief!

YOUR LARCENOUS LAB, PICKPOCKET POODLE, OR BANDIT BEAGLE MAY NEED AN INTERVENTION

Iwalked into the garage for no more than 20 seconds,

leaving my dog, Mac, and his playdate, Maggie, in the kitchen. When I returned, Mac was aghast as he cut a nervous glance toward Maggie, who was licking her lips with great satisfaction.

BY AMY ROBINSON

I noticed that one half of my sandwich had been

snatched from the counter and instantly knew which dog had committed the crime. Was it just that opportunity knocked and Maggie answered? Both dogs had obedience training on their résumés, but something triggered Maggie to make that split-second decision.

When it comes to food

items, especially something forbidden like a grilled cheese sandwich, it seems obvious why they steal those tasty tidbits: It’s worth the risk. They see us prepare the food and then inexplicably walk away, seemingly uninterested in the snack. Many dogs can leave this alone, but others are compelled to grab when

Due to the wild heritage of our domestic dogs, instinct can cause them to grab available food when we’re not looking.

the grabbing is good. Yes, they may get a reprimand or a bit more, but in the moment instinct takes over.

Food hoarding may come from our dogs’ ancestral behavior when they anticipated lean times and sought to fill their tummies whenever possible. Wild canines hunt live game but are not too proud to scavenge for berries, carrion, and trash discarded by humans, often consuming nonfood items in the process.

All dogs are opportunists, some more so than others. While stealing food may be annoying, dogs that hoard and consume other items such as socks, baby toys, entire boxes of tissues, and more are putting their lives at risk. “Dietary indiscretion is very different from stealing food,” says Lori Emerson, hospital manager at the Animal

Emergency and Referral Center in Fort Pierce. “It usually starts in puppies and is more common in retrievers, which are bred to find, hold, and carry items.”

Time is of the essence in cases in which a dog has been seen or suspected of eating something he can’t digest. “It is so important to get the dog to a veteri narian right away instead of assuming the item will just pass. Just last week, we had a dog suspected of ingesting a battery from a television remote,” Emerson explains. “The remote was found broken on the floor and was missing one of the two batteries. The owners acted fast because they were worried that their dog’s stomach acid would break down the exterior of the battery or that the battery casing had been punctured. Diagnostics can help locate

Electronics are dangerous for our pets to play with; ingesting batteries can be deadly.

the foreign object and allow us to determine an appropriate course of action.”

In many cases, the cause is behavioral, but just because your dog is gnawing on the edges of your best rug doesn’t mean he has an obsession. “Chewing is a natural animal behavior,” says Dr. Patricia Shockency of Divine Animal Hospital in Vero Beach. “Dogs and puppies need to pursue normal chewing behavior in a safe way.”

Just as human babies want to put things into their mouths, so do puppies, but pica, the intense

craving and consumption of nonfood items, can endanger the health of the pet. “The objects eaten may include rocks, socks, jewelry, leather, metal collars, ink pens, straight pins, electric cords, credit cards, phones, phone cords, golf balls, drywall, dirt, batteries, hair ties, and toys with or without their squeakers,” says Shockency. Veterinarians can investigate whether a physical cause is to blame for this eating disorder.

“Metabolic diseases like those seen in the liver or pancreas, nutritional imbalances, and intestinal worms

all can be diagnosed and treated and then the behavior may resolve,” she notes.

To understand what may be irresistible to your dog, take a look around from his eye level. Rooms appear very different from the dog’s point of view. Doorstops, baseboards, flipflops left in the hall, and dish towels hanging from the oven door handle are tempting to a dog with an insatiable desire to steal, chew, and potentially eat things that don’t belong to him. Anxiety can be to blame, especially if this behavior occurs while own-

ers are away, but often it is boredom and a desire to get your attention.

Picture this: You are on the sofa after dinner, watching your favorite show, which coincides with the precise time that your dog wants to play. If your pup pesters you without success, he may seek to do something that he knows will get you up and moving, such as stealing your shoe or dragging some laundry out of the basket to shred. He knows this is a choice that will get your attention, even if that attention involves shouts of “No!”

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Ask Amy

I know everyone likes for their dog to be devoted to them, but mine is obsessed. Jake is a 2-year-old terrier that will wake up out of a sound sleep just to follow me from my home office to another room, and then stare at me until I sit down again. He doesn’t whine or act upset. Is he just nosy? What does he want from me?

Your last question is at the heart of our understanding the relationship we have with our dogs. We provide food, water, shelter, and occasional attention, but what causes the dog to follow us everywhere, even if it isn’t mealtime? To be clear, he is not sleeping soundly when you move and he pops up to follow you. Dogs, like most animals, are polyphasic, meaning they drift off multiple times a day but are alert to any changes happening around them, like you getting up from your desk to stretch your legs. We have only ourselves to blame for this unflagging attention, since humans have selectively bred dogs that are interested in us. Try to schedule some playtime during your day at regular intervals and teach a reliable “Stay” command, in which you ask Jake to remain briefly in the room while you step into the hallway and return immediately. Slowly increase the distance once he is comfortable with the exercise. Praise and a treat should always happen in the office, so his reward is for staying put. He’ll soon realize that a little distance can be a good thing.

I live in a condo with my puppy, Charlie, and some new neighbors just moved in. Our old neighbors liked Charlie and didn’t mind a little barking. When we play ball inside, he will bring it back and then bark once or twice before I toss it, and I’m worried the new people might complain to the board. A friend suggested a bark collar. Is that an option?

It is wonderful that you and Charlie have a playtime ritual, and that he gets excited enough to bark, but heading straight for an electric collar to stop his barking is like going from zero to 100 when the traffic light turns green: Just because you can do so doesn’t mean it is required. Let’s not assume your new neighbors will insist on living in a silent bubble, but even the most laid-back neighbor should not be subjected to full-throated barking on and off throughout the day. Change Charlie’s mind about what is expected of him during your game. Throw the ball, but when he brings it back, have an identical ball in your hand that you can throw immediately. He won’t have time to bark and should instead concentrate on where that new ball is going. Another approach is to incorporate more training. Play as a reward for doing some easy tasks provides good motivation. Encourage eye contact by bringing the ball up to your face, or try asking for his paw. Praise his efforts, and when he is successful, throw the ball. You will want to control when the game ends so he doesn’t bark for more. To call it quits, just say, “Let’s get a treat!”

– Pierce in Vero Beach

– Pam in Vero Beach

and “Leave it!” A robust chase, which your dog thinks is great fun, may ensue.

There are steps that can be taken to drastically lessen this dangerous behavior. Close closet doors and pick up any shoes left inside the front door. Anything on a low table may be at risk, so put away remote controls and other devices. Prevent access to the laundry room, and remove any clothing left on the floor. Look for accent pieces that may invite consumption, too, like a pillow with tassels, placed artfully on

Sometimes your canine friends will steal laundry out of boredom or to get your attention. It’s best to have appropriate toys at the ready for them to play with.

a sofa, or a sugar cookie–scented candle. Rethink area rugs, especially those made of natural grasses like sisal, or rugs with fringe at the edges.

Aside from your preventive steps, consider your dog’s individual traits. Is he very active? Loves to be outside? Schedule longer walks and more interactive playtime to help satisfy his needs so he will rest once back indoors. Anxious or needy dogs can be helped in the same way, since exercise and fresh air will help relax a worried pup. Soothing music and dog-appeasing pheromone sprays can add

an extra sense of peace. Nothing replaces close supervision, so be on the lookout at all times and teach a “Drop it” command that results in a very good reward that, in the dog’s mind, is more valuable than the soggy sock he covets. Try not to grab at the item in the dog’s mouth. If he won’t let go even for treats, try leaving the room and picking up your car keys. You might see him drop the item and come running for a ride in the car. This is a great excuse for a trip to the pet store for a proper chew toy he can really sink his teeth into. ❀

Dog owners are encouraged to keep closet doors closed and store shoes away from their pooches.

WENDY SWINDELL, “History

Reaping What They Sew

SIDNEY PAYNE AND HER BAND OF SEAMSTRESSES DERIVE GREAT JOY FROM CRAFTING DRESSES FOR GIRLS IN AFRICA

BY TERESA LEE RUSHWORTH

After the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, a missionary spoke at Sidney Payne’s sewing group about making dresses for little girls in dire circumstances.

Payne, a special-education teacher, and her husband, a U.S. Marine, lived in Tennessee at the time. On that occasion, the dresses would travel directly with the missionary; but Payne also learned about Little Dresses for Africa, a Christian nonprofit organization founded in 2008.

What began as an effort to make 1,000 dresses for a village in Malawi has now distributed 10 million dresses in 97 countries.

Payne, who had been sewing since childhood, got on board and has never looked back. She has longsince lost count of how many dresses she’s made. “I don’t even use the pattern anymore!” she smiles.

The pattern is a simple one that has existed since

the pioneer days, when poor women made girls’ dresses from potato sacks; today it is based on a pillowcase.

Payne and her husband landed in Vero Beach five years ago, settling two years ago in Harmony Reserve, where she has established a group of seamstresses, numbering 25 in season, who meet twice a month for threehour sessions of “sewing for a cause.” “My seasoned sewers make about three dresses at each meeting,” Payne says. And, like her, many members sew at home and bring completed dresses with them.

The dresses come in three sizes, with a kingsize pillowcase making a large dress, suitable for a 10-to-12-year-old girl.

“I’ve really gotten a lot of joy out of it,” says Karen Alexander, who notes that she enjoys adding small accents such as a fancy row of stitching or a bit of

fringe. In fact, most of the ladies delight in playing with the infinite combinations of colors and prints, mixing and matching shoulder straps and pockets, imagining how excited a little girl on the other side of the world will be to receive her new dress.

“It’s a good creative outlet,” says Payne. “Each

one is a designer dress because no two are alike.”

The bright, pretty dresses are meant to help instill a sense of worthiness in girls who often lead very difficult lives. For some little girls, these dresses might be their first proper clothing and thus may represent their first opportunity to attend

Sidney Payne has made so many pillowcase dresses that she doesn’t even use the pattern anymore.

school. For the older girls, feminine hygiene products can be the difference between going to school and staying home. Thus, LDFA launched its Dignity program especially for these young ladies.

In Payne’s group, the few women who are not ace seamstresses focus on making washable, reusable sanitary napkins—perhaps less glamorous than the beautiful sundresses, but a godsend to young girls living in poor villages. “Every time I make a sanitary pad, I think, ‘Somewhere in the world a little girl will be able to go to school,’” Payne says.

“Britches for Boys” have also been added to the repertoire—elastic-waisted shorts crafted from the more masculine-patterned pillowcases.

In just six months, the Harmony Reserve group has shipped 18 boxes to Michigan, LDFA’s home base, containing 282 dresses, 325 sanitary napkins, and 50 pairs of britches.

The ladies tote their own sewing machines to the clubhouse for each session. Some joined the group with the ability to sew but no machine—not an obstacle for Payne, who supplies machines when needed.

The sound of the machines is scarcely audible beneath the conversations and laughter that accompany the work.

“I love the energy in the room,” says seamstress Judy Stang.

In addition to the meetings, Payne and a few others teach sewing classes at A Caring Center for Women. Payne wrote the curriculum and purchased the machines. Each time a young lady completes the course, she goes home

with a donated used sewing machine and 64 squares of fabric with lively prints to make an “I Spy” quilt that will help keep her little one warm and entertained for years to come.

Sidney Payne is a dynamo. In addition to her altruistic sewing exploits, she volunteers at the Veterans Council’s Victory Center Military Store in the Indian River Mall. She also belongs to the Marine Corps League, and, when that organization helped

furnish new affordable housing units for local veterans, Payne equipped six kitchens at her own expense. A holder of a doctorate in developmental education, she is also a member of the AAUW. We didn’t think to ask her what she does in her spare time. `

Sidney Payne is happy to lead in-services for groups wanting to join in the dressmaking. She can be reached at sidnwill@gmail.com.

Bridget Lueck, Karen Alexander, Dinah Gabany, Sidney Payne, and Diane Pinelle show some of the pillowcase dresses they have created.

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The Car of Tomorrow

FROM THE ‘ROLLING SCULPTURE’ EXHIBITION AT THE VERO BEACH MUSEUM OF ART:

THE 1938 PHANTOM CORSAIR, COLLECTION OF THE NATIONAL AUTOMOBILE MUSEUM

In 1937, when the Phantom Corsair first appeared, the world had never seen anything like it. Sleek and dramatically proportioned, the car looked like something sent back from the future. Eighty-six years later, it still does.

From now through the end of April, the Phantom Corsair can be seen at the Vero Beach Museum of Art, one of 22 rare Art Deco vehicles in an exhibition titled “Rolling Sculpture.”

The car was the brainchild of Rust Heinz, grandson of the founder of the H.J. Heinz Company (Rust was his mother’s maiden name). Not keen on spending a life overseeing pickle and ketchup production, Heinz enrolled at Yale to study naval architecture. On the side, he began designing and racing speedboats, but he yearned to build automobiles. He left Yale one year short of graduation in 1934, moved in with his favorite aunt in Pasadena,

Careful not to apply pressure directly on the aluminum body, trained staff roll the Phantom Corsair through the museum to its display space.

California, and opened an industrial design studio.

Although his parents disapproved of his decision to quit school, he was soon working on a project for the

family business: a teardrop-shaped van named the Comet. It had a bulbous front, a pointy back, and a lit-up neon Heinz “57” on each side. It’s uncertain how many were built, perhaps just one or two, but none have survived.

In 1936, Heinz began making sketches of his dream car: the Phantom Corsair. When his parents balked at financing the venture, his aunt agreed to fund it. In today’s dollars, it ended up costing more than $500,000.

As luck would have it, the famed coachbuilders Bohman & Schwartz were located in Pasadena. The team worked with Heinz to refine his sketches, build scale models, and then direct construction of the prototype. Heinz’s own 1936 Cord 810 provided the front subframe, engine, gearbox, and gauges. The Lycoming 4.7-liter V-8 was upped from 125 to 190 horsepower, producing an “estimated” top speed of 115 mph.

The one-of-a-kind Phantom Corsair is such a popular exhibit at the National Automobile Museum in Reno, Nevada, that a red banner was placed atop the museum’s website in January to alert visitors that the car is away for several months.

Rust Heinz’s Comet, a rolling advertisement

The result was a car that elicited immediate and visceral reactions; it was startling, extravagant, imposing. It was also fairly impractical for purposes other than turning heads or committing supervillain crimes.

“It’s the true dream car—the stuff of dreams, not the stuff of practicality,” says Mike Lamm, a noted automobile journalist who rode in the car in 1973. Alas, he recalls several

functional issues that hadn’t been fully resolved.

“The car was hell to see out of,” he says. The rear windows were tiny, side visibility was limited, and the split windshield was heightchallenged. Compounding the problem, the car had no mirrors, which weren’t required at the time.

Lamm adds, “It felt like what it was: a very heavy car. Steering was

heavy, the controls were heavy. It was not a pleasant car to drive.”

The Phantom Corsair was loaded with innovative features. Cork and rubber were used inside to protect passengers and elsewhere to reduce vibration. Doors and synchronized, hinged roof panels swung open with the push of a button. A dashboard button raised or lowered the hood by activating electro-hydraulic rams.

Chrome was used sparingly, most prominently in the triple-blade, shock-absorbing bumpers. The car sat low, with a body that extended out and over the wheels. That extra width allowed for four front-seat passengers, one to the left of the driver. The dark, cramped back seat area included two “luxury compartments,” each housing a metal Thermos and tumblers.

To promote the groundbreaking vehicle, a slick brochure was produced and a full-page ad was taken out in Esquire (opposite one for Heinz tomato

The 4.7-liter V-8 has never been restored. With limited airflow into the engine, overheating was a problem. Two radiators compensated somewhat.

A business card from the film The Young in Heart

“All this can be yours for $12,500,” proclaimed one ad, four times the cost of a Cord 812.

juice). Media coverage, including a segment in a Popular Science movie short, followed. The car even landed a prominent role in the 1938 movie The Young in Heart. Renamed the Flying Wombat, the car can be seen dashing through the countryside, honking a horn that plays a snippet from Wagner’s “Ride of the Valkyries.”

Tragically, the last time Rust Heinz stood next to the car was at the 1939 World’s Fair, where it was part of the Electric Utilities exhibit. He died, as a car passenger, in a crash soon after. With the driving force behind the Phantom Corsair gone, and not one order placed, the car would forever remain a one-off masterpiece. `

At 19 feet 9 inches long, it is longer than any production coupe or sedan ever made. Hinged roof panels were replaced in 1951 with slide-in ones.

An array of 13 gauges includes a complicated dial in the center that displays pulling power, tractive and wind resistance, brake power efficiency, and more.

The car has been likened to a killer whale, a submarine, and from the front, a half-submerged hippo.

Spirit of Exploration

AT THE HELM OF QUAIL VALLEY’S CULINARY VENTURES, CHEF JOE FARIA DRAWS ON HIS PORTUGUESE HERITAGE

BY CHRIS FASOLINO PHOTOGRAPHY BY KIM BOTTALICO

During the Age of Exploration, Portuguese ships sailed the Seven Seas and journeyed to new horizons. Exotic spices were often the precious cargo they brought home. As a Portuguese chef who hails from the Azores, Jose “Joe” Faria feels very connected to that history. For him, culinary arts represent his way to be an explorer.

Recalling his childhood, Faria says, “Mom was a great cook, as most moms are.” Because food is often associated with nostalgia and cultural traditions, “chefs always bring you back home.” The family enjoyed seafood—naturally, since the Azores are an archipelago—and had their own farm. “I would go to the chicken coop, collect the eggs, bring them in, and watch Mom do her magic.”

Eventually, the family emigrated to Boston, where they felt comfortable in the large Portuguese community there. However, Faria’s first job in a professional kitchen was with a Japanese restaurant. It turned out to be another formative experience. “I kind of merge my Portuguese taste to the Japanese flair.” He notes that when the Portuguese explorers were sailing the world in search of spices, “Japan was one of their stops.” Faria’s own traditions dovetail with international cuisine.

As executive chef and food-and-beverage director for Quail Valley, Faria is very much at home in Vero Beach. He proudly serves on the advisory board for Indian River State College, supporting its culinary program and mentoring students in the Culinary Olympics. In 2016, the group traveled to Germany for the finals, winning a silver medal and two bronze medals—and that was in the chefs’ category, not just the students’ category. “They put a lot of hard work and a lot of dedication into that,” he says.

Faria loves his work at Quail Valley, in part because of the variety of it. At the Golf Club, The Pointe, the River Club, and the club’s market, menus offer a total of more than 300 items per day. People ask how he does it all, but Faria

Chef Joe Faria encourages budding chefs to draw on their backgrounds to help create dishes that reflect their heritage.

explains: “I put the creativity back into the staff. My sous chefs and all the culinarians have a say.”

And when they are in need of inspiration, Faria encourages them to look back to their own childhoods and their cultural traditions. “Give me something that comes from you, and you will be proud and happy.”

Whisk together mustard, truffle oil, chives, shallot, and vinegar until combined. Slowly stream in olive oil while continuously whisking. Season with salt and pepper. Pour into mason jar, top with greens.

*On a metal tray, place tomatoes and blister them with a kitchen torch. If you do not have a kitchen torch, you can place them in the oven under a broil setting until golden brown.

Burrata & Truffle Vinaigrette Salad

SERVES 2

This is a creative salad that allows Faria to show his flair with presentation.

For Salad:

1 burrata, cut in half

2 handfuls finger-length greens

1 box assorted mini–heirloom tomatoes, fire-roasted*

For Dressing:

1 tbsp. Dijon mustard

1 1/2 tsp. truffle oil

1/4 tsp. chives, finely chopped

1/4 tsp. shallot, finely chopped

1 tbsp. sherry vinegar

2 tbsp. olive oil

Salt and pepper to taste

Portuguese Seafood Cataplana

SERVES 2

This traditional dish is prepared and served in a special copper pot called a cataplana. A Dutch oven can be used as a substitute. In either case, Faria recommends serving it with steamed white rice and crusty garlic bread. He has made cataplana a distinctive and popular specialty at Quail Valley.

3 tbsp. virgin olive oil

4 oz. chorizo or linguiça, thinly sliced

1 small yellow onion, thinly sliced

4 large garlic cloves, thinly sliced

2 large tomatoes, cut in 8 pieces

2 bay leaves

1/2 tsp. paprika

2 oz. clam juice

1 oz. white wine

12 small clams

12 small mussels

12 shrimp—raw, peeled, and tail on 1 1/4 pound New England lobster, cooked and cut in half

4 oz. grouper, cut in quarters

In a large pan, heat oil over medium heat. Add chorizo or linguiça and sauté, stirring often, approximately 3 minutes. Add onion, garlic, tomato, bay leaves, and paprika and continue stirring 5–6 more minutes. Add cooked mixture to cataplana pan or Dutch oven, then proceed to add remaining ingredients.

Cover the pan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to low and simmer 15 minutes or until the clams open up. My personal favorite is to serve it with steamed white rice and crusty garlic bread.

Portuguese Citrus Flan Cake

SERVES 8–10

This combination of cake and flan, vibrant with citrus, began as a collaboration between Faria and a pastry chef who worked at Quail Valley. “This is definitely ours.”

For Caramel Bottom:

1 cup granulated sugar

1/4 cup water

In a saucepot, combine water and sugar.

Caramelize mixture to the color of maple syrup; pour into an 8-inch cake pan.

For Custard:

1 cup heavy cream

1/2 cup milk

3/4 cup sweetened condensed milk

1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

1/4 cup granulated sugar

2 egg yolks

2 eggs

1/8 tsp. salt

Bring heavy cream, milk, vanilla, and sweetened condensed milk to a boil.

In a separate bowl, whisk together eggs, yolks, salt, and sugar. Stream in boiled milk to egg mixture while whisking. Run the custard through a fine mesh strainer and add to cake pan.

Bake in a water bath, unwrapped, for 15 minutes or until a skin is formed.

For Cake:

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

1 cup granulated sugar

1 tsp. baking powder

2 eggs

1/2 cup oil

2/3 cup orange juice

1 tsp. vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Whisk together eggs, oil, juice, and vanilla. Add in flour, sugar, and baking powder; mix until combined.

Gently pour cake mixture onto flan base. Return to oven in water bath and bake for another 45–50 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Refrigerate overnight. Before serving, run a knife around the edge of the pan. Flip the pan over onto a platter. Cut to desired size and use the remaining caramel as a sauce. ❀

Piette,

In Cahoots for Conservation

THE PRODUCTIVE PARTNERSHIPS FOSTERED BY THE INDIAN RIVER

LAND TRUST MIRROR THE SYMBIOSIS OF NATURE

BY CHRIS FASOLINO

Indian River Land Trust recently opened Oyster Bar Marsh along the west side of Highway A1A just north of Round Island Park. The property is a result of a years-long collaboration with Indian River County.

On the savannas of Africa, zebras and ostriches sometimes work together to keep watch; the excellent hearing of the zebras is complemented by the keen eyesight of the ostriches. It’s just one of a multitude of examples of symbiosis in nature.

Fittingly, symbiosis is also important among groups working to preserve nature. That model is evident in the work of the Indian River Land Trust, which uses collaboration with many other organizations to enhance its efforts. And since these partnerships are mutually beneficial, they can well be described as symbiosis. “This is not competition,” says Dave Fuss, director of land stewardship for the Land Trust. After all, the organizations involved are trying to promote complementary goals. Land Trust executive director Ken Grudens concurs: “I never imagined we would have the array of partnerships we have today. It’s just amazing.”

The Junior Scientist Program is one example. For this program, the Land Trust works with both Florida Atlantic University’s Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute and the School District of Indian River County. The junior scientists are local students who get the opportunity to work with Harbor Branch scientists on research at Coastal Oaks, a Land Trust property that features a notably diverse range of habitats. The excitement of it is that this is not just a class project; the students are involved in genuine scientific research.

Another student-oriented collaboration is in the works with the Gifford Youth Achievement Center. And Brevard Zoo has done programs at Coastal Oaks with homeschool students and their families featuring themes like “Learning from the Land” and “Fantastic Forests.”

Jennifer Phelps, education manager for Brevard Zoo, recalls, “Families would be working together to identify the birds they found, and that was great to see.” On one day, 14 roseate spoonbills were sighted. The

IRLT board members watch Indian River County public high school students while they conduct hands-on research as part of the Junior Scientist Fellows Program at Coastal Oaks Preserve.

Homeschool students and their families engage in a scavenger hunt at Coastal Oaks Preserve during an outdoor nature class conducted by the Brevard Zoo.

“I never imagined we would have the array of partnerships we have today. It’s just amazing.”

– KEN GRUDENS

IRLT worked with the county to acquire land along the Indian River Lagoon that is now Oyster Bar Marsh.

group also heard frogs vocalizing and learned how to identify species of frogs by their sounds. “We talked about our FrogWatch Program,” a citizen science study that helps monitor frog species, which in turn provides clues about environmental health. “If you have a lot of water around you and not many frogs, that indicates it may not be a healthy water system,” Phelps explains. More information about the program is available on the Brevard Zoo’s website, brevardzoo.org.

Coastal Oaks has also attracted the attention of the Environmental Learning Center for potential tours. Such tours would be like “field trips” from the ELC, allowing visitors to observe varied habitats. “At Coastal Oaks, we have everything except pure sand scrub, and even at that we have gopher tortoises,” says Grudens, prompting Fuss to quip, “Four out of five gopher tortoises recommend it!”

Collaboration was essential in the passage of the recent referendum

FAU Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute students and volunteers use a seine net to collect juvenile tarpon and snook for tagging at Coastal Oaks Preserve.

Dave Fuss

Ken Grudens

for Indian River County’s purchase of environmentally sensitive lands. The Land Trust worked to promote passage, as did the ELC, Pelican Island Audubon Society, and other groups such as the Indian River Neighborhood Association and the Clean Water Coalition. “It’s important to realize this was a team effort,” says Fuss regarding the initiative.

Carrying out the initiative will likewise be a team effort. The system will involve landowners presenting

property to the county to be considered either for outright purchase or for conservation easements (agreements that limit development). “The Land Trust would be in a great position to make people aware of the program, to work with landowners, and to be a link,” says Fuss.

The county land purchases will involve two areas that are of great interest to the Land Trust: property around the lagoon and property on the other side of the county, west of

Blue Cypress Lake. Of course, the Land Trust is known for its focus on lagoon properties. “We haven’t taken our eye off that ball,” says Grudens, “but we have the opportunity to add these other types of property.” Land available in the western part of the county is usually ranchland. “Ranchland often has important pine flatwood areas, creeks running into Blue Cypress, and important freshwater wetlands.”

Purchasing or obtaining easements

FAU Harbor Branch graduate students and volunteers tag juvenile tarpon and snook to track their movements in mangrove wetlands at Coastal Oaks Preserve.

on such lands can also play into another collaborative effort—the Florida Wildlife Corridor. The idea of the Wildlife Corridor is “to obtain large blocks of continuous, uninterrupted habitat.” This would benefit animals like the Florida panther, which does not adapt well to human population.

Restoration projects on Land Trust properties have also involved the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the St. Johns River Water Management District. Other stalwart allies include the Indian River Mosquito Control District, the Bonefish & Tarpon Trust, the Trust for Public Land, and the Ocean

The Toni Robinson Waterfront Trail plays host to plein air painting coordinated by the Vero Beach Museum of Art.

Ballet Vero Beach students performing in Nutcracker on the Indian River were given a tour of Land Trust properties.

Research and Conservation Association. The National Estuary Program has become important to the conservation efforts of the Land Trust and Indian River County alike.

Another major part of the Land Trust’s mission is providing access to groups that will appreciate and respect the protected areas. Along with conserving the lands, they want to foster appreciation, explains Melissa DePriest, the director of philanthropy and marketing. “And many of our partnerships allow us to do that.”

Along with scientific partnerships like the Junior Scientist Program, there are artistic programs that provide access. A key example is the Land Trust’s partnership with the Vero Beach Museum of Art. “We’re providing the space—and the beauty— for them to have classes,” DePriest says. Thus, some Museum Art School classes are held on Land Trust trails,

including “en plein air” painting classes in which students work outdoors in the tradition of Claude Monet and the Impressionists. This activity gives students insight into the effects of light, atmosphere, and weather on a landscape scene. It is also a beautiful way to seek artistic inspiration from nature. And where better to find inspiration from nature than on land that is preserved and protected?

Perhaps the most unexpected collaboration of all, however, involves ballet. For Ballet Vero Beach’s ingenious adaptation Nutcracker on the Indian River, the Land Trust provided special tours for the students who were participating. Why? “To show them the mangroves they were dancing about,” Grudens says.

Partnerships are clearly varied, but at the same time, collaboration is essential to the Land Trust’s mission at its most fundamental level: the

preservation of ecologically valuable properties. A picturesque case in point is the newly opened Land Trust property known as Oyster Bar Marsh, the result of partnerships dating back over 20 years, with the county having purchased the initial lands and the Land Trust later purchasing the additional property needed to complete the project and allow the trail to be finished. What is the result of this recent example of symbiosis? Grudens describes Oyster Bar Marsh as “so serene, so bucolic. You feel like you’ve been transported.” The trail winds peacefully away from the noise and bustle of human activity. On one side is the lagoon, bright and sunlit, where dolphins and manatees may be sighted and ospreys soar overhead. On the other side are the mangrove thickets, deep and mysterious. It makes for a fascinating contrast in a place that is, indeed, serene—and symbiotic. `

A great blue heron flies silently by the mangroves at the newly opened Oyster Bar Marsh.

Phantom Feline

THE ELUSIVE JAGUARUNDI ROAMS THE FORESTS AND SHRUBLANDS OF CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA, BUT ITS FLORIDA CONNECTION IS AN ENDURING MYSTERY

BY CHRIS FASOLINO

From the rusty-spotted cat of Sri Lanka, which can weigh little more than 2 pounds, to the black-footed cat of the deserts of South Africa, which can obtain water during dry periods by licking the dew from vegetation, there is more to the world of wild cats than lions and tigers. The small species of wild cats are little known compared to their large and dramatic relatives. Furthermore, these smaller species often have coloring and patterns to their fur that allow them to blend in easily with their surroundings. Such camouflage, along with their diminutive size, can make them easy to overlook— even if one of them is right nearby.

And that may be the case with a small wild cat that some observers believe is found in our area. When it comes to Florida wild cats, we all know about the great Florida panther and the easily recognizable bobcat. But have you ever heard of the jaguarundi?

The jaguarundi is small, sleek feline that can weigh approximately 8 to 15 pounds. It has a long, straight tail and thus could be mistaken for a juvenile Florida panther. There are two different color “morphs” to the species; a jaguarundi’s coat can be either charcoal gray or a rusty, reddish-brown. The coat can have beautiful mottling and color variations, but it does not have a pattern such as spots or stripes.

Although their name might suggest that they resemble jaguars, this is really not the case; they do not have flamboyant markings or color (although jaguarundi kittens do have spots). Because of their sleek build, long tails, and head shape, jaguarundis are sometimes called “otter cats.” As members of the cat family, they certainly have no relationship with otters; but if you caught a brief glimpse of one in the wild, it might be possible to mistake it for an otter. Indeed, “juvenile Florida panther” and “otter” are the usual suspects in misidentification.

The jaguarundi is native to South and Central America. It is not an officially recognized species in Florida; neither the Florida Department of Environmental Protection nor Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission consider the jaguarundi to be an animal found in our state. However, eyewitness reports of jaguarundi sightings have led some observers to believe there is at least a small population of these cats in the wilds of Florida. The jaguarundi is therefore one of Florida’s great nature mysteries.

The park manager of Sebastian Inlet State Park at the time of this writing, Jennifer Roberts, says that there is no physical or photographic evidence of jaguarundi in our area, or indeed in Florida. “Going back through 80-plus years of data, there are no photos,” she points out. Photographic or physical evidence would be needed in order for the jaguarundi to be classified as a species found in Florida. “They’re extremely elusive,” so if they do exist in Florida, it’s hard to say where, she explains. She adds, however, “People would love to hear more. I would love to hear more!”

One enthusiast for the jaguarundi is Adrienne “Addy” Finegan, a park services specialist at Sebastian Inlet State Park. As a “resident ranger” who lives on park property, Finegan reports that she has seen jaguarundis near her home. “I’ve seen both the tan morph and the gray morph,” she says.

One sighting took place on March 23, 2021. A jaguarundi with the tan or brown coloring “ran across the street right in front of my car.” On another occasion, over 10 years ago, she recalls, “I looked out of my kitchen window and there was one right there.”

The park’s Hammock Trail may also be a haunt of jaguarundi; Finegan believes that Florida panther sightings reported there by volunteers may actually be misidentifications of the

The elusive jaguarundi may be mistaken for a juvenile Florida panther.

jaguarundi. “I’ve seen them crossing a highway or on the north trail.”

Each time she has seen a jaguarundi, the animal is alone. Like most wild cats, with the exception of lions, they are solitary creatures. Finegan notes that the jaguarundis can be “aquatic cats—so they’re very comfortable here, as estuarine feeders.” (In that respect, they do resemble jaguars, despite the lack of physical similarity). Jaguarundis eat fish as well as small mammals and birds; to catch birds, they leap into the air. In their native habitats of South and Central America, they seem to be able to adapt to a wide variety of environments, from forest to

scrubland to savanna. Sebastian Inlet State Park could certainly be a rich feeding ground for them.

Currently, the jaguarundi “is not listed as a species found here at the park because we have no photographic evidence, and no tracks,” notes Finegan, who has tried to find such definitive evidence by setting up a trail camera shortly after a sighting. However, she says wryly, “All I got was footage of me setting up a trail camera!”

Finegan explains that this situation underscores the role citizen scientists can play in the study of wildlife. Hikers, kayakers, boaters—

anyone who enjoys the outdoors and has a camera—can make a contribution. “People underestimate the role they play, but there’s a lot of power in citizen science,” Finegan says. Reports and photos can be shared with local state parks, including Sebastian Inlet, or with FWC—“not their emergency number, though,” she cautions. Since cell phones often record the GPS coordinates where a photo was taken, anyone who is out for a hike and is fortunate enough to get a clear picture of a jaguarundi might be able to play a significant role in providing evidence that the species is found in Florida.

For her part, Finegan loves the

“People underestimate the role they play, but there’s a lot of power in citizen science.”

– ADDY FINEGAN

Two jaguarundis are in residence at Bear Creek Feline Center in Panama City, where they can be viewed by appointment only.

JOEL SARTORE

jaguarundi, in part because of the air of mystery that surrounds the species. “The elusive jaguarundi—one of my favorite animals!” she proclaims.

Mike Moreno, who has been with Sebastian Inlet State Park park for over 30 years, also recalls a jaguarundi sighting. One evening around sunset, he was working late when he saw an animal nearby. “I saw it from the corner of my eye. I turned around and looked, and I saw a cat with a long, curved tail. He stopped and I stopped, and we looked at each other for maybe 20 seconds.” Then the wild cat turned and left—“trotting, not running.” It walked through the picnic area and then out of sight.

The small size and long tail helped Moreno identify it as a jaguarundi. As for the color morph, he could see that it was a relatively dark color, but in the evening light, it was hard to determine the specific hue. Moreno regrets his inability to get a picture; at first he froze, and then the animal vanished into the shadows while he was reaching for his phone. Of trying to photograph a jaguarundi, he quipped, “It’s like they know it and take off!”

Moreno’s jaguarundi sighting was 10 years ago, but he says that a fisherman he considers reliable described seeing one in the area quite recently. In these reports as well as Finegan’s, only one jaguarundi is seen at any one time. Moreno believes these individuals have simply been passing through the area. “I don’t think there’s any population of jaguarundis here,” he says. Instead, his theory is that the local sightings are of wandering jaguarundis who are “just feeding and then taking off.”

Nevertheless, that glimpse from a decade ago is something he will always remember. “I see bobcats in my backyard all the time, but the jaguarundi is very different.” In addition to their long tails, they have, he relates, a noteworthy grace that helps them keep their movements quiet. “They are very poised when they walk—you don’t even hear a sound. I am fascinated by this cat.”

Mike Moreno

Jennifer Roberts

Moreno sums up his experience: “It was amazing, and I always keep my eyes open to see if I can spot one again. “One day,” he laughs, “I will sneak up on one and take some pictures!”

What if he, or someone else, managed to do so? What effect would photographic or physical proof of a jaguarundi presence in Florida have? It would certainly catch the attention of researchers, and it would likely lead to further studies of the creature. This is an exciting prospect for Florida nature enthusiasts. As with many great mysteries, though, even a solution would raise other questions.

Since the jaguarundi is native to South and Central America, the mystery is not only whether they are found in Florida, but how they would have gotten here. There, we enter the realm of folklore. There is no concrete evidence as to how a jaguarundi population may have been established in Florida, but there are some urban legends, or more aptly, rural legends, that

offer possible origin stories. A grim one concerns a farm where jaguarundis were being raised for their pelts; when the place was shut down, the jaguarundis were released. Another posits an eccentric enthusiast who imported jaguarundis and released them into the Florida wilds.

Most colorful of all is the story of a circus train that derailed; some of the animals escaped and made new lives for themselves in the wild. This is, alas, unsupported by evidence, although it would make a marvelous children’s book. However they may have arrived here, jaguarundis would be like caimans, peacocks, Egyptian geese, and other exotics—species from far afield that have become established in Florida.

A Florida resident who has very close-up experience with jaguarundis is Jim Broaddus, founder of Bear Creek Feline Center in Panama City. The center is home to members of each of the three species of cats that Broaddus believes exist in the Florida wilds: the

(uncontested) bobcat and Florida panther, and, yes, the jaguarundi (though the center’s two jaguarundis were born to displaced animals and do not represent a wild jaguarundi presence in Florida).

Broaddus considers the late Jim Fowler to have been his mentor; Fowler is remembered the world over as host of the beloved documentary series Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom Broaddus recalls telling Fowler about seeing a jaguarundi in the wilds of Florida. And with a gentle laugh, he recalls Fowler’s response: “He told me, ‘You need more water in your liquor.’”

Nevertheless, Broaddus is convinced there is a wild jaguarundi population in Florida, though he acknowledges that this is “unproven.” He says, “I wish somebody could prove me right or wrong—I’d go with them and carry their valise.”

Asked about the possibility of jaguarundis in or near Vero Beach, Broaddus, a man of folksy demeanor, quips: “If they are in the Vero area,

Each jaguarundi exhibits one of two color morphs: the gray or the tan.

they are as rare as hen’s teeth.” He suspects more remote areas, such as Ocala National Forest, as likely places for sightings.

Broaddus believes he saw a jaguarundi once while he and his wife were driving between Tallahassee and the small town of Perry. “We were on a back road, it was the middle of the day, the sun was bright, and this cat bounded across the road. I did see it, and I’ve got jaguarundis right here (at Bear Creek Feline Center). This cat looked like a jaguarundi—and I would attest to that.” In a nod to Fowler’s remark, he adds, “No, we had not been drinking.”

What Broaddus really hopes for is more research activity on the habits and locations of wild jaguarundi populations. He believes such investigative work will lead to proof that wild jaguarundis do exist in Florida.

Of course, at Bear Creek Feline Center, Broaddus is around jaguarundis every day. The center provides sanctuary for various exotic cats; human visitors are welcomed by appointment only. Even in an enclosure, the reclusive nature of the species is apparent. “They find their safe place and hide,” he says.

Thus, jaguarundi are seldom on display in zoos, as “there wouldn’t be much to see.” Zoo visitors would be looking at an apparently empty habitat with a sign saying “Jaguarundi.” Furthermore, although the females may show a degree of affection, jaguarundis are definitely wild animals, and the males can be fierce. Broaddus is careful around his male jaguarundi, whose name, “Yoda,” befits a small but powerful warrior. “If you did see a jaguarundi in the wild, you wouldn’t want to say, ‘Here, kitty, kitty.’”

Moreover, jaguarundis can move very quickly, adding to the difficulty of confirming sightings in the wild and obtaining photographic evidence. “They’re quick as lightning.”

A jaguarundi has quite a range of vocalizations, Broaddus reports. “It is said and generally agreed that these little cats may have as many as 13

vocalizations. When angered, I have heard them sound like a miniature chainsaw. In an altercation they have been known to make ferocious sounds similar to those made by dogs fighting. Also, we hear an occasional grunting utterance.” Perhaps most surprisingly, a jaguarundi can make a sound that resembles a chirping bird. However, “I would not think that this species has evolved to speak bird language,” quips Broaddus.

The rarity of jaguarundis led to the Bear Creek Feline Center receiving an intriguing visitor: Joel Sartore, a National Geographic photographer. Sartore has a remarkable project called the Photo Ark, wherein he is trying to take portraits of every species in zoos, aquariums, aviaries, and other places where animals are cared for by humans. Thus far, the Photo Ark includes some 12,000 species.

With about 15,000 species in human care worldwide, Sartore estimates that it will take a total of 25 years to complete the task. He hopes his portraits give people the sense of looking animals in the eyes—thus inspiring care and appreciation.

Thanks to the Bear Creek Feline

Center, the jaguarundi is among the species whose portraits are already in the Photo Ark.

Before he set foot at Bear Creek, this globe-trotting photographer had never seen a jaguarundi in person— such is the rarity of these creatures. Then, he was face to face with two of them, “together in an indoor space.”

The two jaguarundis sat for their pictures, Sartore recalls, “and seemed to pose, though I know they weren’t crazy about me being there. They would look serene, but then they would hiss at me, so I made the shoot as quick as possible!

“They are fierce, and intimidating. They also look a bit like a cross between a dog and a cat.” He concludes, “Nothing else looks like them, and very few are in captivity, so I’m very grateful that Bear Creek gave me access to add them to the Photo Ark.”

Diminutive yet fiery, beautiful yet camouflaged, sought-after yet elusive, the jaguarundi is an enigmatic feline. The question of its presence or absence in the wilds of Florida continues to intrigue observers and spark curiosity. The mystery of the jaguarundi has yet to be solved. `

The extremely long tail is one of the signature characteristics of the jaguarundi.

The decor throughout the Southwinds home is meant to be comfortable and beachy.

Bright & Airy

A SOUTHWINDS CONDO RENOVATION CREATES A COASTAL COMFORT ZONE FOR A RETIRED MICHIGANDER AND LONGTIME VERO VACATIONER

BY VALERIE CRUICE PHOTOGRAPHY BY JESSICA GLYNN

Two years, two summers, two women, 2,000 square feet.

That’s what it took to ready a second-story condominium in Southwinds for Aleyn Airey’s “second act.” In a seamless client-designer partnership with Leah Muller Interiors, the single 68-year-old snowboarder, mother of three, and grandmother of eight is now reveling in the transformation from her past into her future.

Airey grew up vacationing in Vero Beach from the time she was a teenager. “I came down for all my vacations. It was so different then,” she reminisces. “I could walk 10 miles on the beach and not see anyone. I always enjoyed going to the Ocean Grill and the Driftwood—they had the best French dip.”

Airey was raised in Ann Arbor, Michigan, in a home decorated in a contemporary French manner. Her parents also owned a condominium at John’s Island and eventually built one of the first on-beach homes there in the 1970s. A classic Bahamian design on a double lot, it was decorated in a heavy continental style by Mandy Rablen and was featured in Palm Beach Life magazine.

When Airey’s parents decided to downsize in 1989 to a new three-bedroom beachfront condominium in The Moorings’ Southwinds, the dark continental furniture and salmon/beige palette came along. It has been there ever since, until 2019, when Airey acquired the property from her siblings, became a Florida resident, and decided it was time to inject her own contemporary sensibility into her family home.

“My mother’s decor was much more formal. It was beautiful and expensive—curved legs, carved woods, and heavy fabrics—but I wanted a more contemporary look, something less formal, more comfortable and beachy,” Airey says. She researched local interior designers and found Leah Muller, immediately relating to the relaxed, coastal style on the designer’s website. “Her clean, simpler style didn’t look like it was overly decorated. I liked her pictures, so I called her and we met in December of 2019,” explains Airey.

Muller describes that early meeting: “The homeowner and I were aesthetically aligned from the beginning. She came to our initial design meetings with modern home images that immediately married with our coastal modern vibe. I culled through her myriad of images and assembled materials, furnishings, and fabrics that expressed our locale in a contemporary voice.”

Client and designer both wanted a tropical feel without the vibrancy and cliché elements, instead going for

muted tones of blues, sand, and white. Muller likes to add a wow factor with interior architectural details and signature furniture pieces.

With her degree in interior design from Drexel University, augmented by stints at architectural/engineering firms (her first boss was like Miranda Priestley in The Devil Wears Prada, but she learned a lot), Muller counts Victoria Hagan and Kelly Wearstler as two iconic designers who have influenced her. “Their sheer ingenuity, sophistication, and gumption are so

“I love the sun; I love Vero. I feel very peaceful and serene here.”

– ALEYN AIREY

Orange bar stools brought in by homeowner Aleyn Airey complement the blue cabinetry of the kitchen island.

Airey’s newly renovated condominium is surrounded on three sides by water.

The walnut dining table is one of many sleek surfaces in the home that will reflect light and make spaces brighter.

inspirational to me,” she says. Muller approached the project considering the entirety of the space and its context. “The condo is surrounded by windows and water on three sides, but the original public spaces felt dark and dated,” says the designer. “Rooms were broken up into smaller spaces with poor lighting and dark furniture. It was lacking thoughtful interior architectural details throughout. I strongly believe interior architecture is just as important as home furnishings; the shape of the walls, the color of the walls, the placement of the walls. That’s why I do both.”

Muller called in Croom Construction to execute her plans for the transformation. Dave Lyons, vice president at the firm, says, “It was a very complex project. We took everything out except concrete block, some metal framing. You have to preserve the infrastructure that serves the above and below units.” Aaron Benson, the renovations division manager who oversaw the construction, adds, “We only do a certain number of condominiums. They’re very intensive projects. It’s almost turned into a specialist kind of trade.”

The existing, light-sucking

ceramic floor tiles were chiseled out and replaced with “creamy, swirly Saturnia marble tiles,” Muller says. Crown molding was eliminated, and the casing and baseboard moldings were simplified. Unwanted columns and “consuming walls” were removed in the kitchen and dining room. “Light began to flood in, and our spaces felt twice the size. We were all thrilled,” she says.

The greatest challenge of the project was the kitchen. Muller explains: “It was a real pickle. Originally, the kitchen was small and cramped. The size was all wrong considering the

Designer Leah Muller took advantage of the ocean views to extend the coastal modern look throughout the home.

square footage of the home. When I showed the homeowner the reconfigured footprint of the kitchen and how it allowed for additional cabinetry, which greatly increased the storage capacity, and how the repositioned island created more space and light, she gave us the thumbs-up. We expanded and relocated the island to include seating and a larger sink. I feel like we gave her fun and function wrapped up in one.”

Airey says she had always wanted a light blue presence in her kitchen “for years and years,” and Muller gave that to her in the new island with its soft blue cabinetry. The surrounding base cabinets are white oak. “I really love the cabinets,” says Airey. Appliances were paneled over for a sleek, harmonious look. Upper cabinets are done in super-white paint. White quartz countertops and Thassos/blue celeste mosaic backsplashes complete the hard

surfaces, further reflecting light.

These small touches are recurring themes throughout the home, uniting elements that contribute to the calm sensibility. One pivot point is the white oak cabinetry from the kitchen, which reappears as two cerused white oak built-in bookshelves in the living room. The walnut dining table carries the theme into that space, its organic base echoing in the metal stems of the chandelier.

The soft, coastal palette modulates from room to room; light wood finishes, watery fabrics, natural textures, organic references—restrained and inviting. The guest room and den have subtle recurring geometric patterns carrying over from the home’s other spaces. The master bedroom’s plush upholstered leather headboard brings a calm yet firm presence to the room. The three full bathrooms with custom vanities by Leah Muller Interiors are modern and sleek, with geometric, botanical, oceanic, and atmospheric references in wallpapers and tiles. Modern lines are foiled by wavy, dynamic wallpapers. While she had “complete trust” in Muller’s choices, Airey brought a few of her own objects into the mix

to complement the vision. The orange bar stools at the kitchen island, the foyer mirror, a light fixture, a modern chair, a family heirloom, art—all put her personal spin on the home. She’s ready for the family to visit and to delight in their reactions. “My kids aren’t quite as modern as I am,” laughs Airey.

With the two-year project complete, the retired CPA and former business owner can enjoy her calm, contemporary coastal aerie when she spends her seven months in Vero Beach. The rest of the year finds her at an antique-filled, 100-year old home in Harbor Springs on Lake Michigan.

“I love the sun; I love Vero. I feel very peaceful and serene here,” says Airey, clearly savoring her second act. `

Bedrooms carry the comfortable, beachy vibe and soothing color palette of the oceanfront condo.

Custom vanities and the modern look of the bathrooms are offset by bold wallpaper patterns.

The Jones Pier Conservation Area on Jungle Trail is a habitat designed to help preserve the health of the lagoon, complete with a living shoreline.

History & Habitat

COUNTY CONSERVATION PROJECTS ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR HUMANS AND WILDLIFE ALIKE

BY CHRIS FASOLINO PHOTOGRAPHY BY SAM WOLFE

“The speech of flowers excels the flowers of speech,” sang George Harrison in 1975. Here in Indian River County, visitors to protected lands might well agree. With a county referendum to approve $50 million for the purchase and preservation of ecologically sensitive land having passed with a landslide 78 percent of the vote in November, conservation projects are thriving locally. But these projects are not just on paper. A peek at the properties being preserved gives insight into why they were chosen and what they offer.

Opening to the public soon is Jones Pier Conservation Area on Jungle Trail. The Jones Pier project is notable for its variety. “It’s all about habitat,” says Wendy Swindell, conservation lands manager for Indian River County’s Department of Parks and Recreation. She and Beth Powell, Parks and Recreation director, brainstormed about how to develop habitats that were as varied as possible. This begins at the water’s edge, with what is called a “living shoreline.” Instead of a seawall, there is a natural shoreline lush with vegetation. The banks are planted with native flowers that will benefit butterflies and honeybees while providing splashes of color— pink, purple, yellow, and orange.

Jones Pier has historic significance as well. In 1889, a settler named Seaborn Jones established a farmstead there; the site continued in his family for generations, with the

Spinning kiosks educate visitors on their native plant and animal surroundings at Jones Pier Conservation Area.

docks and the fish shack becoming local landmarks. Today, the piers of the docks have been covered with oyster matting by the Florida Oceanographic Society; it is hoped this will provide a spark of inspiration for dock owners in the area, as oysters are beneficial to the health of the lagoon.

A nearby building with an outdoor classroom is named in honor of local

historian Ruth Stanbridge. And the Jones farmhouse itself is being turned into a museum as part of the county project. “It will be very ‘Old Florida,’” Swindell says. “What makes Jones Pier important to me is that it’s such a mix of history and ecology. You get a feel for what the area was like in the late 1800s, and you also see the amazing wildlife.”

Moving inland, visitors will reach a 4-acre salt marsh, interspersed with areas of deep pond. “Grassy salt marsh is a habitat we don’t have a lot of in Indian River County,” explains Swindell. In fact, the salt marsh feature of the Jones Pier project is being developed with the help of a prestigious ally: the National Estuary Program.

This program is designed to help 28 estuaries across the United States that have been recognized as having national significance—places like Long Island Sound, Galveston Bay, and areas of the Chesapeake. The Indian River Lagoon is on that list. Dave Fuss, director of land stewardship at the Indian River Land Trust, notes: “These are estuaries of national significance; they’re important enough to garner that kind of attention.”

Thus, the value of the Indian River Lagoon is being recognized on a national level, with corresponding benefits in support for the land trust and for county conservation projects. Such attention can also help in establishing a unified strategy for

Jones Pier is a local landmark along the Indian River Lagoon.

Information-filled kiosks dot the walkways at Jones Pier Conservation Area.

“We’re all working towards monitoring the health of the lagoon.”

– DAVE FUSS

The 4-acre salt marsh and native plantings at Jones Pier Conservation Area, such as this sea oxeye daisy, add to the healthy ecology of the land.

environmental goals—“getting everybody going in the same direction so we’re not duplicating efforts,” as Fuss puts it. “That way, we’re all working towards monitoring the health of the lagoon and supporting the lagoon.”

At Jones Pier, the salt marsh habitat is indeed designed to support the lagoon. A slow flow of water from the lagoon through the salt marsh and back out to the lagoon allows for a cycle of natural purification. How is this flow of water achieved? With an ancient method that is inherently environmentally friendly: the Archimedes screw. This hydraulic device slowly conveys water up from the lagoon and into the marshlands. Its name derives from the Greek genius who wrote about it, although Archimedes may have been describing an even older technology that was used by the Egyptian and Babylonian civilizations; one ancient source says that such screws provided the irrigation for the Hanging Gardens of Babylon by channeling water from the Euphrates. It is fascinating to see this ancient technology in use today and contributing to the health of the Indian River Lagoon.

The Jones Pier Conservation Area also includes a maritime hammock that has been planted with native trees, shrubs, and ground cover. Nearby is a gopher tortoise sanctuary that is home to several young tortoises. These animals are valued not only for their endearing nature but because they are a keystone species, with hundreds of other species benefiting from their burrows. Their sanctuary at Jones Pier is bright with color thanks to flourishing dune sunflowers. Why? Because dune sunflowers are not a popular item on the tortoises’ menu; thus, they are left behind after the creatures have enjoyed more favored vegetation.

All considered, the Jones Pier Conservation Area is vibrant with life. “As the trees grow, the songbirds will be amazing,” says Swindell. “This will be a very good area for migratory species.” Even now, when you look into the shallow waters of the salt marsh,

KELLY ROGERS

Wendy Swindell is the conservation lands manager for Indian River County’s Department of Parks and Recreation.

WENDY SWINDELL

Joe Earman, chairman of the Indian River County Board of County Commissioners, visits the Lost Tree Island named after his late grandfather, also Joe Earman.

you are likely to see the footprints of wading birds; herons, egrets, and ibises thrive there. Kingfishers can be seen, too, and a river otter is a regular visitor. There is also a resident kestrel, which sometimes surveys the entire scene from atop the canopy of a live oak.

Another county conservation project now underway is the Lost Tree Islands Conservation Area, which includes three islands in the midst of the lagoon: Joe Earman Island, Duck Head Island, and Hogs Head Island. All three are natural islands that have been built up over time with added spoil, making them an unusual combination of natural and spoil islands. This conservation area would combine wildlife habitat and public use, with

Hogs Head Island being set aside solely for wildlife and the other two having public access. (Joe Earman Island already has a dock, and one may be added to Duck Head Island as well.)

As is often the case, a major part of the work is removing invasive species and replanting natives. “When we replant like that,” Swindell says, “we try to throw a bunch of different native species in there; then we see what works well in that environment, and we add more of that.” Although some phases of the project are waiting on permits, replanting is happening now—and it’s important, she explains, “because when more people start going out there, we don’t want it to look like a moonscape.”

A distinctive feature being

discussed for Lost Tree Islands Conservation Area is the use of platforms for nesting shorebirds, the intent being to mimic beach nesting conditions while providing greater protection with the aerial position. This strategy could help the declining population of least terns, a species that nests on beaches. County conservation projects go hand in hand with the work of the Indian River Land Trust and the support of the National Estuary Program in preserving areas that have been deemed environmentally significant. Of course, such places offer beauty, as well. They can reward their visitors with the opportunity to learn about a variety of habitats, to see flourishing bird life, and to appreciate the “speech of flowers.” `

Dune sunflowers, plentiful at Jones Pier Conservation Area, provide cover for animals and food for the butterflies and bees they attract.

Frame of Mind

BOB JOY’S FAVORITE MOMENTS IN NATURE OCCUR WHEN THINGS JUST ‘CLICK’

BY KELLY ROGERS

These days, everyone has a camera at his or her fingertips. I sat down recently for a conversation with retired New York architect, Vero Beach resident, and nature photographer Bob Joy.

As part of our April issue, focused on all things green and sustainable, I wanted to share Joy's perspective with our readers, since he is someone who appreciates everything the outdoors brings to us in Indian River County. And, as he points out, you don’t need the best, most expensive camera setup out there to make beautiful images; you just need the one you have with you.

Get out there and take in everything our area has to offer, photograph the beauty around you, and send postcards to all your favorite friends and family members who wish they were here!

Eagles nest high in a pine tree near U.S. Highway 1, just south of Vero Beach.

What brought you to Vero Beach?

My parents retired in Ormond Beach, so when my wife and I visited them, we would also come down to see friends in Vero Beach. We liked the small-town atmosphere and the fact that Vero Beach is far enough south to be warm but far enough north to be out of the traffic. We bought a home here in 2008 and became residents when I retired at the end of 2016.

When did your interest in outdoor photography begin?

When I applied to architecture school, I was required to submit a portfolio of artwork. I was never very good at sketching, so I included several photographs that I took with my father’s twin-lens reflex camera. I then took several photography courses in college and spent countless hours in the darkroom.

We don’t want to give away any secrets, but what is your favorite place to photograph in Indian River County where most people don’t know to go?

It’s not exactly a secret, but the Stick Marsh north of Fellsmere provides incredible opportunities for bird photography. March and April are the best months because the roseate spoonbills and egrets are nesting and nurturing their fledglings. The rookery is on a protected island, so you will need a long telephoto lens or binoculars to see them up close.

But photography doesn’t always require a trip to a destination. There are countless activities and events in Indian River County that are fun to photograph. If you are bored in Vero Beach, you’re just not paying attention.

At Blue Cypress Lake, an osprey alights on a branch with a fish it has caught.

Royal terns take over a private dock along Highway A1A south of the Sebastian Inlet.

“Machu Picchu was at the top of my bucket list until I went there in September.”

– BOB JOY

Bob Joy is an avid photographer who enjoys sharing his talent and love of nature with others.

On a foggy morning at Grand Harbor, a single white pelican floats on a lake.

White pelicans work together to herd fish in the water at Grand Harbor.

What role does patience play in nature photography?

I have often thought that if I ever do a book of my photography, I will call it Waiting for the Light. I captured some of my favorite images by patiently waiting for the sun to break through the clouds. Wildlife photography requires patience, too. Waiting until the split second a bird dives for a fish or takes flight can produce a photo that is a verb instead of a noun.

Do you prefer the predictability of photographing landscapes or the spontaneity of wildlife photography, and why?

Landscapes are definitely easier to capture. You think about the lighting, the composition, and all the technical stuff like aperture and shutter speed. Wildlife photography brings the added dimension of unpredictability. You can go up to Sebastian Inlet on a perfectly glorious day to photograph osprey diving for fish and nothing will be happening. You live for those rare moments when everything comes together and you get that magical shot.

A great egret shows off its full mating plumage at the Stick Marsh north of Fellsmere.

From the looks of your images, you enjoy traveling. Do you have a place in the world that you never tire of photographing? What locations are on your bucket list?

I would rather wake up in Bruges, Belgium than anywhere else on earth. It has beautifully restored medieval buildings and miles of scenic canals populated with white swans. It is sometimes called the “Venice of the North.” Whenever I am there, I get up early to capture the reflections in the early morning light.

Machu Picchu was at the top of my bucket list until I went there in September. The Greek islands, and Santorini in particular, are calling now.

What advice do you give to people who don’t know where to start with their interest in photography?

The best camera is the one you have with you. Learn to use the incredible capabilities of your smart phone before investing in expensive camera gear. I’m still figuring it out myself. `

Roseate spoonbills show off their color while bathing at the Stick Marsh; a limpkin is in the background.

Sunrise at the Wabasso Bridge, also known as the A.B. Michael Bridge, is a gorgeous sight to see.

The Stickwork sculptures at McKee Botanical Garden were made by Patrick Dougherty out of willow saplings in 2016 and again in 2020.

DESIGNERS ROW

“We need to learn to love the unlovely.”

– DAVID SMICK, “A World of Difference,” p. 130

Childhood Sweethearts

MEAGAN ALEXANDRA CARRICK & HERMANN PAUL ENGELMANN

Meagan Alexandra Carrick and Hermann Paul Engelmann both grew up in Vero Beach. In fact, they sat next to each other in kindergarten at St. Helen School. They dated while attending high school at Saint Edward’s and were even named “Most Likely to Get Married”—a prediction that came true on October 9, 2021 at Holy Cross Catholic Church.

The bride is the daughter of Gisella and Sean Carrick of Vero Beach. She earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting information systems with a minor in computer science at Fordham University in New York. She now works as a consultant with Accenture.

The groom is the son of Brigitta and the late Hermann Engelmann Sr. of Vero Beach. He obtained a B.S. in business and social entrepreneurship from Rollins College and then joined the U.S. Army special operations forces, becoming a senior team leader with the 75th Ranger Regiment. He is now completing his MBA at Emory University in Atlanta.

After spending their early adult years apart, the couple rekindled their relationship with a date at Countryside Family Farms’ beachside location. The engagement and wedding—“an amazing day with friends and family”—unfolded quickly after that.

At the reception, held at The Moorings Yacht Club, Countryside’s orange juice slushies, which the couple had enjoyed on that pivotal date, were recreated.

The newlyweds honeymooned in Hawaii, where they visited Oahu and did some memorable hiking on Kauai. They currently reside in Atlanta. `

Mr. and Mrs. Hermann Engelmann celebrate their marriage after years of friendship.

Caroline Murray, Leyla Tettamanti, Lauren Edwards, Victoria Engelmann, Caitlin Carrick, the bride and groom, Andrew Engelmann, Nick Goracy, Tom O’Brien, Felix Dostmann, Sean Carrick Jr.

Andrew Engelmann, Victoria Engelmann, Brigitta Engelmann, the groom and bride, Sean Carrick Jr., Gisella Carrick, Sean Carrick Sr., Caitlin Carrick

The bride and groom share a quiet moment at sunset on the water.

The Moorings Yacht Club sets a beautiful scene for the reception.

The couple leaves Holy Cross Catholic Church as husband and wife.

On the Go

LOCAL NONPROFITS HAVE EVERYONE GATHERING, GIVING, AND GOLFING

POWERED BY PURPOSE

UNITED WAY

For the third installment of its Powered by Purpose series, the United Way of Indian River County presented a panel discussion on child abuse and human trafficking, welcoming concerned citizens to learn more about the signs, trends, and impacts of these two societal scourges. The event was hosted at Northern Trust. Featured speakers included Karissa Bolden, clinical manager for Cleveland Clinic’s Behavioral Health Outpatient Services; Caryn Toole, director of child welfare at Communities Connected for Kids; and Sarah Marie Henry, community development director for Catch the Wave of Hope, a Stuart-based nonprofit that fights child sex trafficking.

Karissa Bolden, Sarah Marie Henry, Caryn Toole, Jeff Petersen

Laura Moss, Barbara Pearce, Larry Salustro

Meredith Egan, Ross Partee, Jan Pillard

OPEN HOUSE BABY SHOWER

HEALTHY START COALITION

With funding from the John’s Island Foundation, the Indian River Healthy Start Coalition upgraded its Giving Closet and held an open house baby shower in November to celebrate. Organizational storage now houses all of the baby essentials that HSC needs to keep on hand, such as diapers, wipes, books, car seats, and portable playpens. In addition to the Giving Closet, guests at the open house toured the rest of the facility, which includes areas used for educational classes for parents and families. HSC provides support from the prenatal period through birth and early childhood.

Deanna Shatley and Meredith Egan with donated diapers

Jennifer Frederick, Susan Pierce, Karen Campbell, Jackie Wilson, Frida Randolfi with her little one

Jerolyn Gonzalez, Gloria Allen

Stacy Kinda, Andrea Berry

Janay Brown, Taylor Farnsworth

Maria Roman, Heather O’Shea

Karen Campbell, Dr. Glenn Tremml, Dr. Audrey Richards

Bridgette Jerger, Jan Sofield, Dr. Audrey Richards, Dr. Genevieve Mallon

Karen Franke, Lisa Barnes, Kerry Bartlett

‘ART IN MOTION’

VERO BEACH MUSEUM OF ART

On the eve of the opening of “Rolling Sculpture: Streamlined Art Deco Automobiles and Motorcycles,” VBMA held “Gala 2023: Art in Motion,” a fundraiser in support of the museum’s work. Some 500 guests enjoyed cocktails, an exquisite dinner catered by Elizabeth Kennedy & Co., live music, dancing, and a sneak peek at the breathtaking vehicles that were to be unveiled to the public the following day. Ron and Nancy Rosner served as event chairs.

NEW YEAR’S EVE OPEN HOUSE

YOUTH SAILING FOUNDATION

More than 150 friends, family, and supporters of the young mariners of Youth Sailing Foundation of Indian River County gathered to bid farewell to 2022, socialize, and, of course, sail. Many junior sailors had the opportunity to take their parents and siblings out onto the lagoon and show off their skills. It was the first such event, and YSF hopes to make it an annual New Year’s Eve tradition.

Thomas and Michael with Nicholas, their skipper and big brother

Ron and Nancy Rosner, Brady Roberts

Ned and Sherry Ann Dayton, Ned and Emily Sherwood Wendy and Chase Carey Randy and Sandy Rolf

Brady Roberts, Dick and Nancy Shoemate, Brad Cloepfil

WE GOLF FORE HABITAT

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY

All of the tee boxes at BigShots Golf were filled for Indian River Habitat’s annual fundraiser, with proceeds supporting the nonprofit’s scholarship fund. Open to all Habitat homeowners and their dependents, the scholarship program provides financial aid for those interested in continuing their education; the funds can also be applied toward education-based child care.

MAJOR SPONSORS:

Jean and Gene Cravens; DLF International; Carp Industries; Float-On boat trailers; Carol and Al DeRenzo; Alice and Rene Donars; Anna and Richard Lanam; Masteller, Moler & Taylor; Meeks Plumbing; Shambo, Schwibner & Associates at Merrill Lynch

Robin Blanton, Jean and Gene Cravens, Rev. Dave Johnson, Scott Turner, Rick Taylor, Gary Zell, Rev. Anna Copeland, Drew Angotti

Stephen and Kaitlyn Vendryes, Dr. Andre Vendryes with Selah, Eve Kyomya Vendryes, Andrew, Abbi, Susie, Suubi

Melanie Feek, Jordan Feek, Lynn Thilmany, Doug Feek

Linda and Mike Daugherty, Helen Crockett, Andy Bowler, Patti and Giff Hampton

Mary Eichert, Sawyer, Brian Shambo Dawn, Darcie West, Holton

Anna Lanam tees off.

Connie Poppell, Linda Laurenti, Irene Searcy, Lynne Averett

GOLF TOURNAMENT

BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS

At the end of January, Big Brothers Big Sisters of St. Lucie, Indian River, and Okeechobee Counties held its 12th annual fundraising golf tournament at The Moorings’ Hawk’s Nest course. It was a beautiful day for golf, and 21 teams encompassing 83 players hit the links to compete in three divisions: men’s, women’s, and mixed. The event also included lunch and raffles.

LOCAL SPONSORS:

Brad Lorimier; David and Chris Smith; David and Bonnie Wilson; Jack and Pat Bingleman; Bill and Peg Regan; Doon Foster; Paul DeSoye; East Coast Lumber & Supply; Mike Lucci; Bud Angelus; Joseph Purcell; Jack and Mary Weisbaum; Dale Sorensen Real

Estate; Schlitt Services; Linda Teetz

The women golfers gather for a photo opportunity.

Nancy Edmiston, Doon Foster

Debbie Hawley, Brad Lorimier

Bud Angelus, Jerry Giacomino

Paul DeSoye, Michael Piazza, Bill McIntyre, Len Odell

Chris Case, Matt Roy, Jason Cirrone, Travis McNamee

Dr. Harlow LaBarge, Linda Feuerbach, Steve Lahey

Dr. Harlow LaBarge, Linda Feuerbach, Ian Graham, Paul Karrlsson-Willis

Bonnie Wilson, Chris Smith

PHOTOGRAPHS BY MARYANN KETCHAM

CELEBRATION OF GIVING

CHRISTIAN BUSINESS ASSOCIATION

The Vero Beach Christian Business Association held its annual Celebration of Giving Luncheon at Southern Social in December. As always, the 100-plus VBCBA members amassed their dues, along with additional funds from several sponsors, to make generous donations to 15 local Christian ministries. Those attending the luncheon also took the opportunity to collect teen gifts for Little Birthday Angels, which provides birthday parties and presents for local homeless children. Since 2004, VBCBA has donated more than $236,000 to a variety of nonprofit organizations.

LOCAL SPONSORS:

3D 360 Homes; Karen Gaskill of Coldwell Banker Paradise; Women’s Refuge of Vero Beach

Angel Pietsch, Maureen Nicolace, Danny Howes

Diane Ludwig, Rev. Michael Goldberg, Tara Wright, Mike Cianci

Seated: Jacqueline Herron Whitfield, Joe Moore, Tara Wright, Bonnie Martinelli, Angel Pietsch, Diane Ludwig, Michael Davis, Capt. Kelvin Garcia Standing: Trevor Loomis, Rev. Michael Goldberg, Libby Sanderson, Chris Glading, Michael Keen, Sam Hjalmeby

Danny Howes, Bonnie Martinelli, Trevor Loomis

Danny Howes, Jacqueline Herron Whitfield, Joe Moore, Libby Sanderson

Maureen Nicolace, Sam Hjalmeby, Dale Glading

Mike Cianci, Capt. Kelvin Garcia, Michael Keen

GOLF TOURNAMENTS

BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS

Back in November, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Indian River County hosted three golf tournaments to support programming for youth aged 6 to 18 at clubs in Vero Beach, Sebastian, and Fellsmere. The Pro-Am Tournament was held at Riomar Country Club, followed a week later by the Amateur Tournament and Ladies Nine & Shine at Bent Pine.

PRESENTING SPONSOR: Genesis of Melbourne `

Charlie McGovern, Phil Coviello, Ken Angelucci, Jay Conefry, David Champagne

Jenny Pettinga, Sandy Hammonds, Edie Dubord, Sherrie Petermann, Barton Bowser

John Phillips, Bob Leger, Bo Means, Bob Deatrick

Bill Biersach, Ed Mellett, Bob Barrows, Duke Reeds

Sandy McManus, Laura McDermott, Connie McGlynn, Nancy Lynch

Muffe Metcalfe, Mary Ellen Brophy, Joan Hoben, Joann Thomas

– CHEF JOE FARIA, “Spirit of Exploration,” p. 116

Bursts of Color

NO FOOLING—THERE’S SOME AWESOME ART TO SEE IN APRIL!

PTOLEMY MANN

OPENING APRIL 3

This month will bring an exhibition of recent works by British contemporary abstract artist Ptolemy Mann to Findlay Galleries’ Palm Beach location. Having completed her formal studies at Central Saint Martins at the University of the Arts and the Royal College of Art, both in London, Mann developed her own distinctive and time-consuming artistic approach. The phrase “chromatic minimalism” has been applied to her work, and she is heavily influenced by Abstract Expressionism and architecture. Her work is characterized by the craftsmanship and precision it expresses through an abstract narrative.

FINDLAY GALLERIES

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

Sussex Painting (Citrine Inside) by Ptolemy Mann; watercolor, acrylic, and gouache on Stonehenge paper; 30 x 20 inches

‘SOUTHERN LIGHT’

APRIL 4–28

Gallery 14 continues its 15th anniversary season with “Southern Light: Focus on Nature by Reed Dixon.” It is a lively, colorful exhibition featuring Dixon’s acrylic paintings, which are sometimes characterized by a nontraditional style and color palette. The Pittsburgh native, now based in Boynton Beach, spent years working in advertising and then running his own graphic design business. Early in his career, he illustrated some Hallmark cards. But through it all, there was always his painting. Join Gallery 14 in welcoming Dixon during a First Friday Gallery Stroll reception April 7 from 5 to 8 p.m. You may even see a few paintings of birds wearing hats!

GALLERY 14

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

Ongoing Events

THROUGH APRIL 29

‘DANCING IN THE LIGHT’

Recent works by Andre Lucero and Richard Oversmith are featured in the exhibition “Dancing in the Light” at J.M. Stringer Gallery.

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

THROUGH APRIL 30

‘ROLLING SCULPTURE’

Vero Beach Museum of Art continues “Rolling Sculpture: Streamlined Art Deco Automobiles and Motorcycles,” an exhibition that fills all of its galleries.

VERO BEACH MUSEUM OF ART

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

THROUGH MAY 5

‘DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES’

The Vero Beach Art Club is currently showing an exhibition titled “Different Perspectives” at its Gallery & Marketplace.

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

THROUGH MAY 30

‘FOREVER IN BLOOM’ Art at the Emerson continues its “fragrant array of floral art,” featuring the work of Lisa Willnow, Paris Birich, Vera Titova, Daniel Jones, and Patricia Kowalewski.

ART AT THE EMERSON 1590 27th Ave. 772-778-5880

artattheemerson.com

Hanging Out by Reed Dixon, acrylic on canvas, 24 x 24 inches

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

BIG

ART NOW

This gallery offers 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 19th- and 20th-century Impressionism, European Modernism, l’Ecole de Rouen, l’Ecole de Paris and 20th-century 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

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

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

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

Morning at the Grand Marina, Sorrento by Richard Oversmith, oil on linen, 30 x 26 inches, at J.M. Stringer Gallery

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

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 oil abstracts by Elise Geary; representational, narrative paintings and collages by Jill Kerwick; acrylic rural, ranch, and outdoor

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. While maintaining a satellite presence at the Vero Beach Museum of Art, the club makes its home in the downtown arts district, with a marketplace, classroom, and the Jeanette Beach Gallery, named in honor of the club’s founder.

1903 14th Ave. 772-217-3345

3001 Riverside Park Drive 772-231-0303 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 ❀

Reflections in a Dream by James Leonard, acrylic on canvas, 36 x 72 inches, at Meghan Candler Gallery

DOWNTOWN DISTRICT

April’s Array

LOTS OF PLANS ARE BEING HATCHED!

Leonhardt Auditorium simulcast seating $80 members/$95 nonmembers

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

APRIL 5

Wednesday

‘SPRINGTIME IN PARIS’

The theme of this year’s Blue Ribbon Luncheon & Fashion Show, an annual fundraiser for Hibiscus Children’s Center, is “Springtime in Paris.” 11 a.m., $175

APRIL 1

Saturday

SPRING POTTERY SALE

Indian River Clay will hold its Spring Fling Pottery Show & Sale at the nearby gallery Raw Space. This pop-up exhibit will feature the work of Indian River Clay members as well as outside artists and will serve as a fundraiser for the nonprofit ceramic studio’s capital campaign. 10 a.m.–3 p.m.

INDIAN RIVER CLAY at Raw Space 1795 Old Dixie Hwy. 772-202-8598 indianriverclay.org

LAGOON FEST

Save the date for ELC’s Lagoon Fest, a day of education and exploration. 10 a.m.–4 p.m., regular admission fees apply.

ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING

CENTER

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

APRIL 2

Sunday

‘WINDS IN THE AFTERNOON’

The woodwinds of the Atlantic Classical Orchestra will take center stage in VBMA’s final chamber music concert of the season, a performance of colorful pieces by François Devienne, Charles Koechlin, and Kaspar Kummer. 3 p.m., $5–$50

VERO BEACH MUSEUM OF ART

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

APRIL 3

Monday

‘PLANES, SAILS, AND AUTOMOBILES’

VBMA’s International Lecture Series presents British fashion historian and curator Amber Butchart with “Planes, Sails, and Automobiles: Travel, Style, and Society in the Interwar Era.” 4:30 p.m.; Holmes Great Hall seating $120 members/$145 nonmembers, streaming or

HIBISCUS CHILDREN’S CENTER at Oak Harbor Club 4755 S. Harbor Drive 772-299-6011, ext. 313 hibiscuschildrenscenter.org

APRIL 6 Thursday

APRIL 7

Friday

ARTIST RECEPTION Gallery 14 will hold a reception for nature and bird artist Reed Dixon, whose exhibition “Southern Light” will run through April 28. 5–8 p.m.

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

‘YOURS, MINE, AND OURS’

Indian River Clay is introducing an exhibition that will have artists working in pairs, creating two individual pieces and one collaboration. The public will be able to view and purchase the artwork at Raw Space gallery. April 7–30

INDIAN RIVER CLAY at Raw Space 1795 Old Dixie Hwy. 772-202-8598 indianriverclay.org

APRIL 8

Saturday

JEWELRY SHOWCASE

Veranda will feature the designs of Elizabeth Locke. 10 a.m.–5:30 p.m.

VERANDA 3325 Ocean Drive 772-234-3404 verandajewelry.com

TIPSY TURTLE RUN

Coastal Connections invites everyone to the Tipsy Turtle 2-mile run/walk, a morning full of fun for the entire family. 8–10:30 a.m., $40

COASTAL CONNECTIONS at Sexton Plaza 1050 Beachland Blvd. 772-226-0133 coastal-connections.org

JAPANESE BLOCK PRINTING WORKSHOP

Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens will hold a class in the traditional art of Japanese block printing. 10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m., $50 registration plus $10 materials fee payable to instructor

MORIKAMI MUSEUM AND JAPANESE GARDENS

4000 Morikami Park Road, Delray Beach 561-495-0233 morikami.org

EGG HUNT SALE

Trimmings will hold its annual Easter sale, with prizes and discounts to be found in colorful eggs around the store. 11 a.m.–3 p.m.

TRIMMINGS HOME GARDEN AND GIFTS

3201 Cardinal Drive 772-213-8069 shoptrimmingsvb.com

APRIL 11

Tuesday

APRIL 12

Wednesday

ART RECEPTION

Art at the Emerson will hold a reception for the artists included in its current exhibition, “Forever in Bloom,” a “fragrant array of floral art.” 5:30–7 p.m.

ART AT THE EMERSON 1590 27th Ave. 772-778-5880 artattheemerson.com

APRIL 13

Thursday

APRIL 14

Friday

Ongoing Events

THROUGH APRIL 8

ART AT M. MAISON

A weeklong exhibition will feature paintings by local artist Elise Geary. Monday–Saturday 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

M. MAISON

BRIDGE TOURNAMENT

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Indian River County will hold the Duplicate and Party Bridge Tournament for the ninth year. Participants will enjoy a continental breakfast, an exciting morning of bridge, lunch, awards, and a special presentation by the students of BGCIRC.

8:30 a.m., $80

BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF IRC at Quail Valley River Club 2345 Hwy. A1A 772-299-7449 bgcirc.org

‘MASTERWORKS IV’

Atlantic Classical Orchestra welcomes prominent harpist Bridget Kibbey for its fourth and final “Masterworks” concert this season. They will perform Wagner’s Siegfried Idyll, Lopes’ Concerto for Harp, “Recife”; and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 7:30 p.m., $30–$65

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

SINGING SPECTACULAR

CHARITY FUNDRAISER

WEEKEND

The Wheels & Keels Foundation of Vero Beach will hold its annual fundraiser weekend, with a dinner and auction on Friday evening and the concours-style Antique & Exotic Car & Boat Show on Saturday. April 14–15; Friday 5:30 p.m., $250; Saturday 10 a.m.–2:30 p.m., free to attend WHEELS & KEELS FOUNDATION at The Moorings Yacht & Country Club 100 Harbour Drive 772-559-9758 wkvero.com

3403 Ocean Drive 772-231-4300 mmaisonvero.com

THROUGH APRIL 8

SPRING SALE

Leigh Jewelers is offering 10 to 50 percent off a large selection of designer pieces, classic favorites, and one-ofa-kind items during its Spring Sale. Monday–Saturday 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

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

THROUGH APRIL 9

OLEANNA

On its Waxlax Stage, Riverside Theatre presents the two-character show Oleanna by Pulitzer Prizewinning playwright David Mamet. March 21–April 9, times vary, $65

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

THROUGH APRIL 30

42ND STREET

Riverside Theatre presents the long-running, Tony-winning Broadway musical 42nd Street, with music by Harry Warren, lyrics by Al Dubin, and book by Michael Stewart and Mark Bramble. April 11–30, times vary, $40 and up

RIVERSIDE THEATRE

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

The Indian River State College Chorale and Company Singers will perform a variety of choral masterworks as well as popular and jazz selections in their Singing Spectacular. April 13–15; Thursday–Friday 7 p.m., Saturday 2 and 7 p.m.; $15

IRSC MCALPIN FINE ARTS

CENTER

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

‘CHOREOGRAPHER’S NOTEBOOK’

Ballet Vero Beach will conclude its 10th anniversary season with “Choreographer’s Notebook: Samuel Kurkjian.” April 14–15; Friday 7:30 p.m., Saturday 2 and 7:30 p.m.; $10–$75

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

‘GARDEN OF GLASS’ McKee Botanical Garden continues “Garden of Glass” by master glass sculptor and blower Jason Gamrath. 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

APRIL 15

Saturday

SECURE PAPER SHREDDING

The Indian River County Solid Waste Disposal District offers a free secure shredding event for residential papers. County residents may bring up to three boxes or bags weighing up to 35 pounds each, or up to three bags of pre-shredded paper. 8 a.m.–noon (first 800 vehicles), free IRC SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL DISTRICT at Southeast Secure Shredding 3910 U.S. Hwy. 1 772-226-3212 indianriver.gov

by the Brevard Symphony Orchestra, with Mark Kosower as guest cellist. 7:30 p.m., $60

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

APRIL 17

Monday

WALTER ISAACSON

Riverside Theatre’s Distinguished Lecturer Series wraps up its 24th season with journalist, history professor, and bestselling author Walter Isaacson. 4 and 6 p.m.; $125 main stage, $85 Waxlax simulcast

RIVERSIDE THEATRE

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

APRIL 19

Wednesday

‘SEXY SAXOPHONE’

The Treasure Coast Jazz Society welcomes Gene Bruno for a concert called “Sexy Saxophone.” 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

APRIL 16

Sunday

THE SLEEPING PRINCESS

Ballet Vero Beach presents its final Accessible/Family Friendly performance of the season, The Sleeping Princess. 2 p.m., $10 BALLET VERO BEACH at VBHS Performing Arts Center 1707 16th St. 772-905-2651 balletverobeach.org

BREVARD SYMPHONY

The Indian River Symphonic Association’s final concert of the 2023 season will be performed

ART TALK

This month’s Art Talk by VBMA’s education staff and docents is titled “Rolling Sculpture: Concept Cars.” Noon–1 p.m., free with paid museum admission

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

APRIL 20

Thursday

KIMBERLIE MASSNICK

Indian River State College’s Fielden Institute for Lifelong Learning presents the final speaker of this year’s Distinguished Lecture Series, IRSC criminal justice professor

“The speech of flowers excels the flowers of speech.”

GEORGE HARRISON, “History

Kimberlie Massnick. Her topic will be “Cold Cases, College Students, and Community Service.” 10 a.m., $35 FIELDEN INSTITUTE FOR LIFELONG LEARNING at McAlpin Fine Arts Center IRSC Massey Campus

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

‘COLLABORATION’

In conjunction with the Laura (Riding) Jackson Foundation’s April 22 Poetry and BBQ event, the Center for Spiritual Care presents a discussion featuring guest poets David Kirby and Barbara Hamby and locals Sean and Sharon Sexton. 7 p.m., free CENTER FOR SPIRITUAL CARE at Garden Club of IRC 2526 17th Ave. 772-567-1233 centerforspiritualcare.org

APRIL 21

Friday

WIFE OF A SPY

The Morikami Film Series presents Wife of a Spy, a 2021 film by Kiyoshi Kurosawa. The movie, which is not rated, is in Japanese with English subtitles. 7 p.m., $5 members/$7 nonmembers

MORIKAMI MUSEUM AND JAPANESE GARDENS

4000 Morikami Park Road, Delray Beach 561-495-0233 morikami.org

Recurring Events

EVERY SATURDAY

FARMERS MARKET

Browse the produce, culinary delights, and other wares of more than two dozen vendors at the 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

MOST SECOND & THIRD SATURDAYS

PLAYTIME IN THE PARK

Riverside Theatre’s education division offers outdoor theater and dance programs for children aged 2 to 5 but entertaining for the whole family. April 8 Theater Program, April 15 Dance Program (“Meet the Ballerinas”); 11 a.m., free RIVERSIDE THEATRE 3250 Riverside Park Drive 772-231-6990 riversidetheatre.com

VARIOUS SUNDAYS

WRITERS WORKSHOP

Poets Barbara Hamby and David Kirby present an adult writers workshop at the LRJF Writing Center. 9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m., $45 LRJF members/$50 nonmembers

LAURA (RIDING) JACKSON FOUNDATION 1914 14th Ave. 772-569-6718 lauraridingjackson.org

SPRING SOCCER CLASSIC

The Indian River Soccer Association will host teams of players aged 9 through 19 from all over the state for the Vero Spring Classic. The public is welcome to attend at no charge.

April 21–23; Friday 5–8 p.m., Saturday–Sunday 8 a.m.–8 p.m.

INDIAN RIVER SOCCER ASSOCIATION at Hobart Soccer Complex 6310 77th St. irsoccer.com

APRIL 22

Saturday

POETRY & BBQ

The theme of the Laura (Riding) Jackson Foundation’s 12th annual Poetry and BBQ event is “Tying the Knot: When Poets Marry.” Two poet-couples will

Enjoy an evening walk in downtown Vero Beach, pop into some galleries, and perhaps grab a beverage or a bite at a café. April 7 and May 5, 5–8 p.m.

MAIN STREET VERO BEACH

Downtown along 14th Avenue 772-643-6782 mainstreetverobeach.org

EVERY LAST FRIDAY

DOWNTOWN FRIDAY

Main Street Vero Beach holds a community street party with live music, street vendors, and food trucks. April 28, 6–9 p.m., free

MAIN STREET VERO BEACH

Downtown along 14th Avenue 772-643-6782

mainstreetverobeach.org

ART IN THE PARK

The members of Vero Beach Art Club gather on periodic Sundays to display their works. All are invited to browse this final Art in the Park exhibit of this season. April 2; 10 a.m.–4 p.m.

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

verobeachartclub.org

be the guest speakers: Barbara Hamby and David Kirby, and Chelsea Rathburn and Jim May. 1:30–7:30 p.m., $35

LAURA (RIDING) JACKSON FOUNDATION

IRSC Mueller Campus

6155 College Lane

772-569-6718 lauraridingjackson.org

APRIL 24

Monday

APRIL 28

Friday

BALLET UNDER THE STARS

Ballet Vero Beach is celebrating the end of its 10th season with Ballet Under the Stars. Guests will enjoy hors d’oeuvres and more, music by the Dave Capp Project, a live auction, and a ballet performance. 6 p.m., $150

BALLET VERO BEACH

at Tree House 8010 43rd Ave. 772-905-2651 balletverobeach.org

APRIL 29

Saturday

APRIL 30

Sunday

MAY 7

Sunday

‘ALL THAT JAZZ’

Treasure Coast Chorale presents a concert of upbeat songs with a jazz feel, featuring guest performances by local jazz bands. 4 p.m., donations requested

TREASURE COAST CHORALE at First Baptist Church 2206 16th Ave. 919-915-3043

treasurecoastchorale.org

MARDY FISH TENNIS TOURNAMENT

The Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation Tennis Championships, a $15,000 USTA/ITF Pro Circuit tournament, will once again raise funds for the support of healthy after-school and summer activities for local children. April 24–30; times vary; $30–$400, Grounds Pass admission for children 18 and under is free all week, for all sessions

MARDY FISH CHILDREN’S FOUNDATION at Vero Beach Tennis & Fitness Club

702 Timber Ridge Trail SW 866-633-4070 mffkids.org

ISLAND DAZE

The Rotary Club of Vero Beach Oceanside will donate the proceeds from Island Daze, a familyfriendly outdoor event, to The Learning Alliance. Food trucks and microbrews will be available, and the band TruPhonic will perform. 11 a.m.–6 p.m.; free to attend, tasting ticket $35 in advance/$45 day of event

ROTARY CLUB OF VERO BEACH

OCEANSIDE at Riverside Park 3280 Riverside Park Drive 610-301-4879

rotaryvboceanside.org

SPRING CONCERT

A full jazz combo will accompany the Vero Beach Choral Society in a performance of jazz favorites, including works by George Gershwin, Will Todd, and Frank Wess. 4 p.m., $10 suggested donation

VERO BEACH CHORAL SOCIETY at First Presbyterian Church 520 Royal Palm Blvd. verobeachchoralsociety.org

MAY 5

Friday

MURDER ON THE NILE

The Vero Beach Theatre Guild presents the play Murder on the Nile, based on Agatha Christie’s 1937 novel Death on the Nile May 5–21; 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

MAY POPS

Cleveland Clinic Indian River Foundation presents the 32nd May Pops concert, in which Christopher Confessore and the Brevard Symphony Orchestra will be joined by guest vocalists Sarah Uriarte Berry and Sal Viviano. 5:30 p.m., $30 CLEVELAND CLINIC INDIAN RIVER FOUNDATION at Windsor Polo Grounds 3125 Windsor Blvd. 772-226-4960

clevelandclinicirfoundation.org

KIM BOTTALICO

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

SKY ADVERTISING

321-777-0140, skyadinc.com

Full-service marketing, including brand creation; photography and videography; digital, print, and broadcast advertising; and website creation

VERO MARKETING

Lindsay Candler

772-473-0654, veromarketing.com

Creative graphic design, print marketing, and website design

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Test your powers of perception

TEN THINGS ARE DIFFERENT IN THESE PHOTOGRAPHS—CAN YOU FIND THEM ALL?

BY HEATHER BOTTO

10. ddedA a paddleboarder in the water

9 hangedC the color of the word “Grove” to blue

8 lacedP a turtle on the fence

7 lacedP an egret on the sign

6 ddedA an eagle flying in the sky

5 hangedC the photo of a crab to a red crab icon

4 emovedR the word “Built” near bottom of sign

3 emovedR one screw from the bottom of the sign

2 Changed two green swooshes above the logos to purple

1 emovedR the QR code

SAM WOLFE