Vero Beach Magazine May 2023

At age 7, Lily Lampp is one tough Tyke

on the Track

Very Vero Very Veranda

BERMUDA BAY

Premier island community, stately 3500 SF home, chef’s kitchen, 3BR+ den.

Debbie Bell 772.473.7255

$1,895,000 | MLS# 266345

MARBRISA

Stunning home with southern exposure. 2021 roof and many updates.

Debbie Bell 772.473.7255

$1,600,000 | MLS# 265145

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

ORCHID COVE

2020 build, beautiful 3BD/3BA/3 car garage home with deeded slip at the community dock.

Beth Livers 772.559.6958

MLS# 267075

RIVERWIND

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

Cheryl Burge 772-538-0063

$915,000 | MLS#266316

VICTORIA

Fabulous updates! 2BR/2BA, 2car garage. 2050 SF. East of A1A. Ocean view, pool, tennis.

Peggy Hewett 772.321.4282

$849,000 | MLS#265456

LAKES AT WATERWAY VILLAGE

Beautiful open plan, 3BR+den, custom upgrades, private lot, fenced. Minutes to everything.

Cheryl Burge 772.538.0063

$809,000 | MLS#267197

HARBOUR ISLAND CLUB

Stunning newly renovated condo overlooking the river! 2/2, Boat slip, pool, spa, garage!

Sherry Goff 603.714.5899

$649,000 | MLS#265456

THE LAURELS

4BR/3BA. 2021 AC & 2014 roof. Low maintenance.

Chip Landers 772.473.7888

$599,900 | MLS# 263276

VILLAGE SPIRES

Panoramic ocean, river, and city views from this top floor SE corner unit. This 2BD/2BA turnkey condo features floor to ceiling impact sliding doors and a wrap-around 84’ covered balcony. Designer touches throughout, including tray ceilings, crown molding and custom tile work in the kitchen and baths. Next door to the Vero Beach Hotel & Spa. Enjoy all that Ocean Dr has to offer. Beth Livers 772.559.6958

CASTAWAY COVE

Beautiful Custom Built home. Deep water views in a captivating ‘Old Florida’ setting. The 3800 sft Split Plan features 3BD/4BA/3GR, an office/den, a Kitchen open to the River Room/Family Room, Gas Cooktop, Double wall oven, 12 Ft+ Ceilings, a 9.5 Ft floor elevation, boat dock/ lift. Perfect for casual living and entertaining. Offered at $3,795,000. Gretchen Hanson 772.713.6450

By BARCLAY BUTERA

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West Melbourne 4260 W. New Haven Ave. West Melbourne, FL 32904 321.872.2377

Stuart 1421 S. Federal Highway Stuart, FL 34994 772.221.8679

Or Find Your Nearest Showroom At www.baers.com #WhereBaers

16 Magnificent Florida Locations

Tyke on the Track

Reading at Full Blast

From Hardship to Hope

Behind the Baton

Photograph

Ideal Interiors. Iconic Setting. Warm Welcome.

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.

luxury estates : condominiums : homesites : townhouses : cottages : seaside suites

31 Dove Plum Road : $11,250,000 Direct River Frontage : Pool & Dock : 4BR+Library

Departments

22 Wilde Side

Physical therapy is a lesson in patience and mutual encouragement

By Evelyn Wilde Mayerson

32

New & Noteworthy

See the latest styles, sales, and success stories

54

Previews

May’s Moments: Local nonprofits celebrate, commemorate, & communicate

66

Indian River Insights

A father-and-son outing calls to mind the art of the car when food is too far

By Jeffrey R. Pickering

72

Living Well

Stroke doesn’t discriminate when it comes to age. Whether you’re 22 or 72, learn to recognize the symptoms and be prepared to act FAST

By Renáe Tesauro

80

True Tails

Designer Genes: Purebred dogs are on the rise at local shelters

By Amy Robinson

90

Vero’s Heroes

Retiree Leigh Bergstrom volunteers several hours each week for Meals on Wheels; she thinks of it as the least she can do

By Teresa Lee Rushworth

Departments

92 Classic Cars

In 1952, Vero Beach staged its first and only endurance car race event

By Patrick Merrell

98

Off the Vine

In the rolling hills outside the medieval town of San Gimignano sits a family farm that blends tradition and innovation

By Chris Fasolino

129

Gift Guide

Special selections for Mother’s Day

137

The Scene

Community in Motion: There’s never a dull moment with local nonprofits

154

Gallery Guide

Come what may, you won’t want to miss the latest art offerings!

158

Calendar

You may want to get in on these appealing activities during the ‘merry, merry month’

162

Business

Directory

Thank you for supporting our local businesses

168

Double Take

Test your powers of perception

By Heather Botto

Focusing on Families

My life in Florida started as a teen in 1982 when my family moved to Vero Beach after my father retired. We packed up my childhood home in Connecticut along with my tailless calico cat, Bootsie, and flew south. Dad was singularly focused on spending his retirement years soaking up rays in the Sunshine State, as I plotted how I could move back to my “home” state after high school. Much to my surprise, once I graduated from college, my “home” state quickly became Florida.

My own family began when I married my Florida-native husband, Chris, in May 1994. It then grew by one a few years later when we welcomed our son, Tyler. We now have a large extended family and can fill a house very quickly on special occasions. But whether you share DNA with everyone at the dinner table or not, families come in many forms.

Our family-focused May issue starts off with a little spitfire of a girl with red hair named Lily Lampp. The Osceola Magnet School first grader has been to more places as a quarter midget race car driver than most adults. This little 7-year-old inspires me to get out of my comfort zone and try something daring.

Talk about inspirational, I can only aspire to be as smart and confident as Saint Edward’s high school student Anna Artigas. When you read Anna’s story about overcoming lifelong health challenges, and how she and her mother, Pamela, are helping educate families around the world, you’ll want to be like Anna, too.

Christopher Confessore has been sharing his musical family with Vero Beach residents as principal conductor of the Brevard Symphony Orchestra for nearly 30 years. What’s his secret to success? “A great conductor never stops learning,” he says.

Learning is what the Moonshot Moment is all about. If you have children in school, you rely on their educational family to help them thrive in the classroom setting. School District of Indian River County teachers, alongside educators from The Learning Alliance, are focused on just that. They’re using new integrative techniques to get our kids reading on grade level and to set them up with a lifelong passion for books.

It’s been a busy month here in Vero Beach and at the magazine office, but I hope you make some time to sit back and be inspired.

Kelly Rogers editor@verobeachmagazine.com

A Mother’s Eyes

Everywhere we turn in life there are many things to see—and many ways to see them!

I am thinking in particular of all the different vantage points we experience as children and as parents throughout the course of our lives.

One of my coworkers speaks frequently in jest about her “two little animals” when referring to the two toddlers, both boys, who have brought a magnificent windfall of love, joy, and chaos into her life. Every day, she and her husband have to try to look at the world through the eyes of the two small humans they’re tasked with protecting and molding.

My current experience of motherhood presents me with a dramatically different set of eyes to look through. I am writing this letter while on spring break with my 15-year-old stepdaughter and her friend. As Kendal’s stepmother, I have to wonder, as we walk through all the adventures in life, will we ever actually see eye to eye? My answer to that question is a simple “no!” And that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

Every day I learn lessons from her that are quite interesting. For instance, we went to a history museum, a tour I thought she would really enjoy; after all, her favorite subject is history. But no, she did not enjoy it, and then she explained why: The lighting was too dark and too many people were there. The atmosphere in the museum influenced her opinion, and I realized with amazement how the little things in life can change our perspective.

I am sure all mothers have some of the same issues I do, and as moms we have to keep moving forward, doing our best to foster relationships and educate as best we can. And these observations just scratch the surface of motherhood!

When we look at our children, we see far beyond anything we could have ever imagined being or doing before we had them. And the view through those eyes, the eyes of a mother, elevates our own experience of life as we shape theirs.

To all the mothers of Vero, I join our staff here at Vero Beach Magazine in wishing you a very happy Mother’s Day.

And to all the dads of Vero, be sure to check out our Mother’s Day Gift Guide, beginning on page 129. She deserves something special this year!

Teri Amey-Arnold, Publisher publisher@verobeachmagazine.com

KELLY ROGERS Editor in Chief

HEATHER BOTTO Creative Director

RENÁE TESAURO Editor at Large

TERESA LEE RUSHWORTH Senior Editor

OWN ART. BE HAPPY;

JANINE FISHER Senior Graphic Designer

ANN TAYLOR Senior Writer

EVELYN WILDE MAYERSON Wilde Side

TERESA LEE RUSHWORTH Vero’s Heroes

AMY ROBINSON True Tails

PATRICK MERRELL Classic Cars

REN Á E TESAURO Living Well

CHRIS FASOLINO Off the Vine

JEFFREY R. PICKERING Indian River Insights

JULIA DOUGLAS, HEATHER O’SHEA, TERESA LEE RUSHWORTH, ANN TAYLOR

Contributing Writers

KIM BOTTALICO, BRYANT LAMPP, STEVEN MARTINE, PATRICK MERRELL, KELLY ROGERS, ROXANNE SCIANNA PHOTOGRAPHY Contributing Photographers

SUMMER SALE AT BOTH LOCATIONS

J. M. Stringer Gallery of Fine Art

Faces in a Crowd

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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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. `

Movement is important to the human body, and developing a physical rehabilitation plan that fits your lifestyle is important.

Hope & Healing

PHYSICAL THERAPY IS A LESSON IN PATIENCE AND MUTUAL ENCOURAGEMENT

BY EVELYN WILDE MAYERSON

Idid something someone of my age isn’t supposed to do. I fell. It was late September, and I was planning to return to Vero. The cause was flip-flops, which I was wearing when I noticed a truck in front of my house whose driver looked like he was wondering if he was in the right place. I went outside to tell him he was when one of the flip-flops

flew out from under my foot and I went down onto the asphalt on my back.

Somehow, after checking all my parts and deciding that nothing was broken, I got up, aided by the truck driver, who told me I was wearing the wrong shoes. My back was not yet painful; adrenalin, the hormone that signals the fight-or-flight response that gives you sudden

energy, had probably kicked in. When I went for an x-ray in a local urgentcare center, I was told that there was no discernible break, although a closer look with a CT scan after my return to Vero Beach revealed a compression fracture of a vertebra.

Since then, the fractured vertebra has been stabilized with medical cement in an outpatient

procedure called a kyphoplasty, in which a balloon was first inserted to create more space inside the bone. I went home that day and iced the injection site; then began the isolation of recovery, which involved not only healing from the spinal surgery but the recovery of pulled muscles and tendons and bruised bones that had absorbed the impact of my fall.

Human beings are built for movement. Instead, I was sidelined, confined to my home, negotiating my spaces on a walker, wishing I could undo what had happened, rewind the clock, go back in time before the accident. I learned that waiting for recovery can be a long and lonely time. I had come face to face with a sudden change in my life, having taken for granted the freedom of mobility that included taking out the garbage, driving to T.J. Maxx to buy some towels, taking a long walk with my dog, Ulysses, or going down to the beach to study the turtle nest buried next to a stand of sea oats.

I learned to manage. I dressed sitting down, laying out my clothes on a handy bench. Showers were tricky, but two previously installed grab bars helped, as did the hot water, which

I trained on my back. Food preparation was reduced to the simple, eating out of the refrigerator. The problem was 14-year-old Ulysses, who needed to be walked—the one thing I couldn’t do. I had to board him out, dreaming about him for weeks after, feeling keenly the separation not only between him and me but everyone who could move about freely, including the lizards that scampered on the pool deck outside my kitchen door.

Family flew down to check on me. Friends and

neighbors showed up at my door with soup and offers to buy my groceries and drive me wherever I needed to go, which for the first two months was at some doctor’s office. When they left I was alone with the reminder that I had done something I couldn’t reverse, call back, undo, or rerun the tape so that this time I put on sturdier shoes before I left the house. I even fantasized that it never happened, until I returned to the reality of holding onto a walker. I tried to console

myself with the speech from Shakespeare’s King Lear in which Edgar, disguised as Poor Tom, says, “It’s not the worst, so long as we can say, ‘This is the worst.’” But I didn’t always believe it.

An at-home physical therapist, a specialist in rehabilitation practices rooted in 2,000-year-old exercises prescribed by Roman physician Galen to rehabilitate wounded soldiers, came to my house for a few weeks. Cautious and patient, she assigned daily exercises, taught

A big step in any physical rehabilitation journey is to regain independence by learning to walk again without assistance.

Rarely available 3/4 acre of prime waterfront property with a SE exposure in the exclusive community of The Shores. Overlooking John’s Island with exceptional views in every direction. Located on a cul-de-sac minutes from fine dining, shopping and beautiful beaches. Only 125 miles from the Bahamas, known for some of the finest cruising in the world!

772.532.0010

msorensen@sorensenrealestate.com matildesorensen.com

3206 Cardinal Drive | Vero Beach, FL 32963

me how to exchange the walker for a cane and how to go up and down stairs. I was improving slowly, still isolated, although now able to drive a car.

I was ready for outpatient physical therapy, which evolved into a health care profession through the two world wars and a long series of polio epidemics. In the late 1950s, my mother, Charlotte,

rendered a paraplegic at the age of 50, was advantaged by this development, its practices enabling her to get around on crutches, drive a car adapted with hand controls, and gain enough upper body strength to flip a mattress while standing at the foot of a bed.

I was impatient, nowhere near where I was before my fall, and certainly

Gregory Allan Ness Principal Designer

Crystal Crosby Senior Designer

Diego Henriquez and physical therapist assistant Lindsey Hunter work to heal his ruptured Achilles tendon.

in no shape to flip a mattress. Muscles and tendons were still tender and bone bruises still healing when my doctor enrolled me in Back in Form, established in 2012, one of a score of licensed physical therapy facilities in Indian River County. Located on Highway A1A just north of Jaycee Park, beside the lagoon, Back in Form is operated by Michael and

Shannon Hauser, both Florida natives, each with an advanced degree in physical therapy from a Florida university. They are the parents of 22-year-old Bryce, a recent graduate of the University of Florida, and Natalie, a student at Florida State.

I learned that Back in Form is not only equipped to deal with someone like me with a gait impairment,

Janel Griffin works with Shannon Hauser of Back in Form to rehabilitate her shoulder after rotator cuff surgery.

CENTRAL BEACH

3 Bed / 2 Bath | $1,200,000 | #267126

Charlotte Terry 772-538-2388

BERMUDA CLUB

4 Bed / 3.5 Bath | $1,395,000 | #267104

Jim Knapp 772-913-0395

Stephanie Knapp 772-696-6302

CENTRAL BEACH

3 Bed / 3 Bath | $1,995,000 | #267191

Mary Lintermann 802-253-2244

BENT PINE

3 Bed / 3 Bath | $874,000 | #266568

Cheryl Gerstner 772-539-2100

Kit Fields 770-312-5165

TIDEWATER ISLAND CLUB

2 Bed / 2 Bath | $899,000 | #266942

Phil Sunkel 772-538-2339

GRAND HARBOR River Club

4 Bed / 4 Bath | $1,200,000 | #266128

Diane DeFrancisci 772-538-1614

Brenda Montgomery 772-532-4170

THE RESERVE at Pelican Island

0.30 Acre Homesite | $275,000 | #266861

Shannon O’Leary 772-205-4412

HARBOUR ISLAND CLUB

2 Bed / 2 Bath | $750,000 | #265948

Patti Martin 772-205-5860

TIDEWATER ISLAND CLUB

3 Bed / 2 Bath | $825,000 | #266124

Charlotte Terry 772-538-2388

it provides physical therapy for sports-related injuries, postoperative rehabilitation, functional decline, and neuromuscular conditions. The clinic also offers a golf fitness program through a golf simulator that provides feedback resulting in an evaluation that Michael Hauser, (with a handicap of three) will use to design a program to help the individual golfer prevent injury and increase distance.

Leaning on a cane, I walked into a sunny, peaceful space with the lagoon in full sight through the rear windows. Treatment suites opened toward the back. In the center of a great room, a bank of computers lay on a narrow ledge. Toward the windows on either side stood the equipment, all in use: exercise tables; standing bikes; NuStep, a recumbent cross-trainer that strengthens arms and legs; an elliptical machine; a Cybex universal training machine, a Wunda Chair

used for balance; and the golf simulator that includes the diorama of a green.

Melanie, the receptionist, greeted me at the front desk with a sheaf of forms to fill out, while Lucy, the Hausers’ 10-year-old golden retriever, ambled over to check me out. I didn’t have to wait long.

Michael Hauser brought me to one of the open treatment suites to evaluate my strength and range of motion and to determine what I was hoping to achieve.

After the application of a heating pad, I began immediately, on my back on one of the several tables, rolling a beach ball between my ankles and my hips. There was motion all around me: Other clients, including one with a total knee replacement, another with a rotator cuff repair, and a third with a lumbar fusion, were either on a machine or on a table getting stretched or iced, while their respective

therapists left their sides from time to time to document their patients’ progress on a computer.

My schedule was twice a week, with each session filled with purposeful, escalating exercises followed by an ice pack, all the while receiving encouragement from my therapists and talking to everyone I could. I soon realized that the attraction of the place was not just the chance to restore muscle mass and function but an opportunity to exercise in a community of other rehabbers, all eager for improvement, all working toward a goal, each encouraging the other.

Like Diego Henriquez, the guy in the baseball cap seated beside me who ruptured an Achilles tendon playing soccer, now rotating his ankle on a circular platform, who tells me he was regaining his flexibility and that if I stuck with it, I would too. Or Janel Griffin, recover-

ing from a second rotator cuff surgery, the first two years ago on the other shoulder during the height of COVID, when therapy from Shannon Hauser was delivered online through Telehealth. Recommended to the facility by tennis legend Ivan Lendl, Janel, a tennis player and golfer, says she is always “closely monitored by hands-on therapists who are careful not to let you do too much too soon.”

I got the message. Healing takes not only work but time. And I was showing signs of getting stronger, like being able to stand from a seated position without pushing myself off, executing 30 leg lifts, or putting aside my cane and walking, although at first lurching like Frankenstein’s monster. I learned that you take each success, no matter how small. It boils down to hope, poet Emily Dickinson’s “thing with feathers that nestles in your soul.” `

I did something someone my age isn’t supposed to do. I fell. The cause was flip-flops.

Where Culture Transforms Coastline

Mixing It Up in May

SEE THE LATEST STYLES, SALES, AND SUCCESS STORIES

GIFTS IN BLOOM

MAY 12–13: FLORAL EVENT AT TRIMMINGS

Make Trimmings your headquarters for Mother’s Day gifts that will be sure to please. Join Trimmings for its Flowers for Mom event Friday, May 12 or Saturday, May 13. Each Mom’s Day gift purchased during the event (value $500 or more) will receive an Heirloom Blooms hand-tied bouquet as an extra, complimentary gift. This offer is good while supplies last, so shop early!

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

shoptrimmingsvb.com

THE WHEN AND WARE

MAY 13: ANNUAL WAREHOUSE SALE

Join Hazel House for its annual warehouse sale and block party. The doors will open at 10 a.m. for shoppers to enjoy 20 percent off the retail store as well as discounted furniture, lamps, accessories, and more. In addition, Hazel House has teamed up with several local vendors for this affair. For more details, check out Hazel House’s social media channels. Also, Hazel House will begin following its summer schedule with hours being Tuesday–Friday 11 a.m.–4 p.m.

HAZEL HOUSE

1882 Old Dixie Hwy. 772-213-3024

hazelhousevero.com

SPRING SOIREE IN MAY

MAY 18: SENIOR LIVING COMMUNITY TOUR OPPORTUNITY

Regency Park, a Vero Beach luxury independent senior living community, presents a Spring Soiree. Between 4 and 6 p.m., beautiful, newly renovated one- and two-bedroom apartments and resortstyle amenities will be available to tour. Enjoy delicious cuisine from Regency’s five signature eateries, handcrafted cocktails, live music, and fabulous prizes.

REGENCY PARK

910 Regency Square

772-742-2465

regencyparkverobeach.com

FUN WITH A SIDE OF SHOPPING

MAY 19–21: SIDEWALK SALE AT VILLAGE SHOPS

The Village Shops will host a sidewalk sale May 19 through May 21. Whether you’re looking for refreshed stationery, revamped home decor, or new clothing styles, head over and shop some of your favorite stores.

VILLAGE SHOPS

6140 Hwy. A1A

772-231-1066

villageshopsverobeach.com

DREAMS BY DESIGN

MAY 25: COCKTAIL HOUR AT DESIGN STUDIO

Alexandra Nuttall Interiors would like to welcome you for a cocktail hour from 4 to 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 25 to celebrate its rebranding as Alexandra Nuttall Interiors. This full-service interior design studio furnishes condos and large-scale homes with turnkey installations, as well as new construction and renovation design selections.

Alexandra Nuttall and her team’s goal is to make the design process as pleasurable and stress-free as possible while also making a client’s design vision come to fruition.

ALEXANDRA NUTTALL INTERIORS DESIGN STUDIO

4625 Hwy. A1A, Suite 8 772-231-3746

acninteriors.com

STELLAR SPRING

CATHY CURLEY ANNOUNCES SPRING STATS

In the first three months of 2023, Cathy Curley has over $13 million sold and under contract and has listed over $11 million in new properties. Curley also picked up another Top Producer award for closed sales from the Dale Sorensen Real Estate Cardinal office.

CATHY CURLEY

772-559-1359 cathycurleyrealestate.com

STAUD-ING OVATION

FRESH SHOE SELECTION AT SASSY BOUTIQUE

Sassy welcomes Staud shoes to its mix. The brand is known for its attention to detail and natural feminine style, so you will kick up your feet with joy and a little sass as you gallivant to your next event.

SASSY BOUTIQUE

3365 Ocean Drive 772-234-3998

NEW SEASON, FRESH HOURS

ELIZABETH KENNEDY UPDATED HOURS

Beginning May 15, Elizabeth D. Kennedy & Co. will be serving its fresh, delicious selections during updated hours. Plan to pop in for your smorgasbord items Monday, Wednesday, and Friday between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

ELIZABETH D. KENNEDY & CO. 486 21st St. 772-563-0646 elizabethkennedycatering.com

FLOWERS FOR MOM

EMBELLISHED NECKLACE AT PROVIDENT JEWELRY

Celebrate Mom in style with an 18-karat yellow gold “floral arrangement” from Provident Jewelry. This exquisite floral necklace features 41.25 carats of turquoise with diamond accents and will absolutely shine for Mom.

PROVIDENT JEWELRY

828 W. Indiantown Road, Jupiter 561-747-4449

providentjewelry.com

STYLED WITH CARE

NEW LINE AT M. MAISON

SET MOM UP IN STYLE

NEWEST DESIGN AT PALM BEACH SANDALS

Palm Beach Sandals presents its latest style just for Mom; the Primavera offers the same classic elegance and quality as previous options but is adorned with the sweetest bow. Pop into the store to grab a pair for the ladies you’re celebrating, or better yet, bring them in and choose matching sets together.

PALM BEACH SANDALS

3309 Ocean Drive 772-226-5998

pbsandals.com

Care

M. Maison announces that a new collection by Danish brand Care By Me has joined its inventory. These pieces are made in organic linen and cotton making them perfect for Florida weather. Using only natural materials, the company has production sites in India and Nepal, both focused on providing women with the skills and knowledge to secure their future. Style, social responsibility, high quality, and durable design all lend to your experience when wearing

By Me.

M. MAISON

3403 Ocean Drive

772-231-4300

mmaisonvero.com

Bent Pine. A diamond in the rough.

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.

THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL

BROW LAMINATION AT ODPS

Beauty trends come and go, but the team at Ocean Drive Plastic Surgery believes a great bold eyebrow is forever. Brow lamination offers the illusion of fuller, fluffier eyebrows through a three-step process that uses your natural eyebrow hair. Call the office for a consultation.

OCEAN DRIVE PLASTIC SURGERY

5070 Hwy. A1A, Suite A–E 772-234-3700

oceandriveplasticsurgery.com

LET’S TEAK ABOUT IT

NEW FURNITURE AT FANTASTIC FINDS

If you’re looking for a unique piece of furniture, check out this turquoise teak sofa table. This rare conversation piece measures 46 by 16 by 30.5 inches and is available now at Fantastic Finds.

FANTASTIC FINDS

4300 U.S. Hwy. 1 772-794-7574

fantastic-finds.com

ALL IN FOR ALICE

UNITED WAY HOSTS EVENT

United Way of Indian River County’s final Powered by Purpose meeting of the season featured local community leaders’ perspectives on the ALICE population. ALICE stands for asset-limited, incomeconstrained, employed. These are hardworking individuals working just to make ends meet. The informative session began with United Way CEO Meredith Egan sharing the statistics defining ALICE and saying, “At United Way, our number one priority is helping this community’s ALICE population by harnessing resources and creating solutions.” Panelists included Trevor Loomis, CEO of Indian River Habitat for Humanity, Jeff Pickering, president and CEO of the Indian River Community Foundation, and Dori Stone, president of the Indian River Chamber of Commerce.

UNITED WAY OF INDIAN RIVER COUNTY

1836 14th Ave.

772-569-8900

unitedwayirc.org

CHARMING VERO BEACH

LOCALLY INSPIRED GEMS AT JEWELRY STORE

Royal Palm Jewel presents its collection of charms, including some specially designed with Vero Beach in mind. Choose your favorite silk band to tie these 18-karat yellow-gold charms together, expressing your style and love for Vero Beach in a fashionable wristlet.

ROYAL PALM JEWEL

53 Royal Palm Pointe

772-766-3165

royalpalmjewel.com

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

PARADISE AWAITS

NEW FURNITURE COLLECTION AVAILABLE

Baer’s Furniture is excited to share a fresh furniture line, Laguna, by designer Barclay Butera. “Laguna Beach holds a special meaning for me. As a young designer, my very first real estate purchase was a bungalow in Laguna once owned by Hollywood screen legend Bette Davis. Like many of the cottages that lined the coast years ago, it had a timeless traditional feel without the formal trappings.” Butera goes on to say, “The renovation taught me that design and scale are not mutually exclusive. Cozy spaces exude an intimacy easily lost in the grand scaling of homes today. In developing Laguna, we were thoughtful about scale, materials, finish colors and textiles. Our goal was to achieve the same level of familiarity and authenticity that drew me so strongly to that seaside home. People often ask if I could own one home again, which would it be. Without hesitation, it would be that cozy little bungalow in Laguna Beach.”

BAER’S FURNITURE COMPANY

4260 West New Haven Ave., Melbourne 321-872-2377 baers.com

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

2806 LAUREL DRIVE $1,395,000 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 $895,000 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.

A HEART FOR HELPING

NEW ROLE FILLED AT GYAC

Denise Smith, whose history with the Gifford Youth Achievement Center dates back to its inception in 1998, is now serving as student support specialist. Her work with GYAC began with the TRiO Upward Bound program, a partnership with IRSC formerly known as the Indian River State College-KAPS program, which was housed at GYAC. Smith was responsible for conducting research and securing vital community partnerships necessary to obtain the first federally funded TRiO grant in Indian River County. In her current position, Smith’s vision is to ensure that every youth, parent, and employee of the center has an awareness of mental health challenges and understands the tools and strategies necessary to overcome these barriers.

GIFFORD YOUTH ACHIEVEMENT CENTER

4875 43rd Ave. 772-794-7005 mygyac.org

SUNNY SIDE UP

LATEST EYEWEAR AT DEEP SIX

Deep Six has new Fin-Nor Sandspur sunglasses. This stylish, durable eyewear is equally useful both on and off the water. Stop by the store and visualize all the possibilities you could see through them.

DEEP SIX

416 21st St. 772-562-2883

deepsix.com

M. Maison_MAY23.indd

INTO THE WILD

UPDATED ENCORE GX ADOPTS WILDCAT LOOK

Buick is giving the Encore GX subcompact crossover a face-lift inspired by the brand’s Wildcat electric vehicle concept and updating the interior with new technology. The 2024 GX is the first Buick to include the brand’s virtual cockpit system and the first in North America to sport the updated tri-shield logo. For the first time, the GX will offer the top-end Avenir trim. The Encore GX is the best-selling vehicle in the Buick lineup and will go on sale this spring. Contact Linus for more information.

LINUS CADILLAC BUICK GMC

1401 U.S. Hwy. 1

772-562-1700

linusautomotive.com

linuscadillac.com

FOR THE WOMAN WHO HAS EVERYTHING

GIVE THE GIFT OF HEALTH CARE

Honor your mom, aunt, or best friend who has guided and loved you through thick and thin by donating a gift in her name to Treasure Coast Community Health. Many women forgo their own health care in giving their time to family and friends, or for financial reasons. By celebrating the women in your life with a donation to TCCH, you provide vital health care for others, and that makes a big impact in the community. TCCH will send a card to your loved one informing her of your gift (excluding the amount).

TREASURE COAST COMMUNITY HEALTH

772-257-8224

tcchinc.org/donate

DESIGNING THE FUTURE

LED CAPSTONE CONTINUES HELPING STUDENTS

As part of LED Capstone Lighting & Fans’ ongoing involvement with the Interior Design Technology program at Indian River State College, Florence Howe was recently able to assist adjunct professor Janet Bishop Macdonald in setting up a student internship. Howe, who handles sales and marketing for LED Capstone, lined up a stint with award-winning and influential veteran designer Patricia Davis Brown for 23-year-old Sophia D’Agostino. The young Florida native, who has been passionate about art in many forms since childhood, needed to accrue 180 hours in six weeks in order to graduate. Howe is impressed with D’Agostino’s work ethic and can-do attitude and is happy to have played a part in helping her prepare for a bright future in design!

LED CAPSTONE LIGHTING & FAN SHOWROOM

4005 U.S. Hwy. 1 772-205-2529 ledcapstone.com

MEETING OF THE MINDS

LEADERS FROM THE SOURCE ATTEND HOMELESSNESS CONFERENCE

The Source’s executive director, Anthony Zorbaugh, and director of development, Jonathan Orozco, recently traveled to Oakland, California for a conference of the National Alliance to End Homelessness. The event, titled “Innovations & Solutions for Ending Unsheltered Homelessness,” welcomed people from all over the country who are involved in services related to homelessness. Zorbaugh and Orozco took part in roundtable discussions and presented a booth with information about The Source’s efforts to combat unsheltered homelessness in Vero Beach, including the innovative Dignity Bus, an emergency shelter on wheels.

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

Anthony Zorbaugh

SEA & SERENITY

NEW PAINTING EXHIBITION AT MEGHAN CANDLER GALLERY

Internationally collected Croatian artist Frane Mlinar’s highly anticipated exhibit is open to the public and will run through the entire month of May at the Meghan Candler Gallery. Mlinar is a master of realism, and his serene wooden boats floating on calm blue seas capture the beauty of his homeland. Please contact the gallery for more information and visit its website to see a virtual tour.

MEGHAN CANDLER GALLERY

6160 Hwy. A1A Village Shops 772-234-8811

meghancandlergallery.com

Summer Blues by Frane Mlinar, oil on canvas, 38 x 64 inches

WAVE OF STYLE

NEW PIECE AT L.K. DEFRANCES

L.K. DeFrances & Associates is featuring a new wave console table. Available in a smooth white color and with an eye-catching design, it would be perfect for an entryway or living room as well as a professional space.

L.K. DEFRANCES & ASSOCIATES

4400 U.S. Hwy. 1 772-234-0078

lkdefrancesandassociates.com

PROVIDING A RIDE

TEAMWORK HELPS TWO WORKING FAMILIES KEEP MOVING

With used automobile donations from two Indian River County residents and repair and maintenance funding from St. Augustine of Canterbury Episcopal Church in Vero Beach, the local nonprofit Driving Success has been able to acquire two used cars and prepare them for use by two working families in need of wheels. The Volvo and Lexus are older models, but with some mechanical work and cleaning, they will get the job done for the two qualifying families.

DRIVING SUCCESS

931 Tarpon Ave., Sebastian 772-646-8736

drivingsuccessirc.org

Specialties include:

Minimal incision lifts for the face, body, neck & brow

Breast augmentations, reductions, post-cancer reconstructions & lifts

Chemical peels, Botox, Dermal Fillers, Obagi Medical Products, Laser Surgery, Tummy Tucks and Liposculpture

Skin cancer treatments and Reconstruction

Ralph M. Rosato MD, FACS

BATH-TIME BLISS

RETREAT AND RELAX

A long bath can fix almost anything—especially a long bath in a freestanding copper bathtub. Since the time of ancient Crete, the restorative qualities of soaker bathtubs have been legendary. An impressive focal point for the bath; a blissful retreat for body and soul.

EUROPEAN

“For

FOR THE LOVE OF ART & MUSIC

FRENCH ARTIST’S WORK AT FINDLAY

Findlay Galleries is pleased to present the work of Gilles Gorriti, who is well established as one of France’s most important painters and is collected avidly in Europe, America, and Japan. It has been noted by many writers and by Gorriti himself that music is essential to his art. A master of the piano and the guitar, he has referred to “seeing Debussy” and “hearing Bonnard.” The idea that certain colors may evoke an emotional response like that of music is not new, but it finds new life in the art of Gorriti.

FINDLAY GALLERIES

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

LIE

IN LUXURY

NEW BEDDING AT VB HOME

VB Home is pleased to offer new arrivals by Sferra bedding. These luxury sheets will have you dreaming sweetly as you rest and eagerly awaiting your next slumber when you’re not. Visit VB Home to select your favorite set.

VB HOME

615 Beachland Blvd.

772-492-9348

vbhome.us

by

Welcome

Bent Pine Golf Club welcomes new General Manager Paul Veneziano . He joins Bent Pine from the Southern Trace Country Club in Shreveport, Louisiana. A Connecticut native and a graduate of Central Connecticut State University, Veneziano began his career as an assistant golf pro in Puerto Rico in the early 1990s. He remained in Puerto Rico for more than a decade and has also worked at golf clubs in the Dominican Republic, the British West Indies, and Panama. Among his many distinctions, he was named winner of the PGA Island Chapter’s Bill Strausbaugh Award in 2006. This award is given annually by every local PGA chapter, recognizing integrity, character, and leadership through a commitment to mentoring. It is an honor Veneziano shares with recently retired Bent Pine golf professional Pat Gorman, who won the Strausbaugh for the PGA’s South Florida Section in 2012.

Whole Family Health Center is proud to welcome Jeanne Shepherd as director of clinical operations for behavioral health. She is also a licensed mental health counselor. Shepherd will be working with Dr. Paul Hebig, director of behavioral health, to expand mental health services. WFHC is grateful to the John’s Island Community Service League for a $50,000 grant to establish this position.

Iconic Dermatology is thrilled to welcome its newest member to the family. Nicola Levasseur was born in England and raised in the UK, United States, and Middle East. She recently relocated to Vero Beach from New Hampshire with her family. She earned her undergraduate degree in animal science at the University of New Hampshire, and after starting her career in the equine industry, she returned to UNH to study nursing. She graduated in 2009 with her master’s degree in nursing and spent 10 years working as a nurse in acute care. She then earned her post-master’s certificate as a family nurse practitioner in 2019. She is board certified by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners and is a current member of the Dermatology Nurses Association and the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. She has been practicing dermatology for three years and is very passionate about skin cancer surveillance and detection. Levasseur is now accepting new patients in both the Vero Beach and Sebastian office locations.

Peter Brooks, MD

Kathryn Anderson, MD

Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital welcomes orthopedic surgeon Peter Brooks, MD, who comes to Vero Beach from Ohio, where he served as chief of surgery at Cleveland Clinic Euclid Hospital and director of Cleveland Clinic’s training center for hip resurfacing. Dr. Brooks earned his medical degree at the University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine and completed the Orthopaedic Residency Program at Harvard. He then completed a fellowship in total joint replacement with emphasis on revision surgery and allografts at Toronto General Hospital and Mount Sinai Hospital, also in Toronto. He has performed more than 4,600 cases of hip resurfacing, an alternative to total hip replacement. Dr. Brooks is seeing new patients at CCIRH.

Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital has also welcomed a new dermatologist, Kathryn Anderson, MD. Dr. Anderson earned her medical degree at Florida Atlantic University and completed her dermatology residency at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in North Carolina. She comes to Vero Beach from Pasco County, where she was on staff at Florida Medical Clinic locations in Zephyrhills and Wesley Chapel. Dr. Anderson is seeing new patients at the medical office building at 1155 35th Lane, adjacent to the main hospital. `

BARN DOOR IN WALNUT WITH NUTMEG STAIN & BAMBOO RINGS RESIN PANELS BY TRUSTILE Vero Millwork, Inc. offers a full line of TruStile doors.

We are Indian River County’s oldest locally owned and operated door, trim and accessories company. Come visit our showroom and sit down with one of our experts.

4900 42nd Place

• Vero Beach, FL 32967

• 772-569-7155 • veromillwork.com

REALTOR®

“We were fortunate enough to get paired up with Cathy Curley when we were looking to buy a place in Vero Beach last Spring. Cathy was a DREAM to work with - we were out of state, and she made us feel comfortable with the buying process even though we were over 1,000 miles away! She was always available to answer our questions, either by text or phone call, even though she was working with multiple clients besides us. I can’t imagine better service from a realtor, Cathy is THE BEST!”

-Kent and Cynthia Wanamaker

Thinking about buying or selling? I would love the opportunity to earn your business!

(772) 559.1359

ccurley@dsreinc.com

May’s Moments

LOCAL NONPROFITS CELEBRATE, COMMEMORATE, & COMMUNICATE

‘ONE NIGHT OF QUEEN’

MAY 12

Gary Mullen and the Works will once again bring their high-energy Queen tribute to the historic Sunrise Theatre. The band has been touring the world since 2001, delighting Queen fans with such unforgettable hits as “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “We Are the Champions,” and “We Will Rock You.”

SUNRISE THEATRE

117 S. 2nd St., Fort Pierce 8 p.m., $44–$59 772-461-4775 sunrisetheatre.com

GOLF-A-THON

MAY 1

It’s time for the VNA & Hospice Foundation’s 33rd annual Golf-A-Thon, featuring 13 golf professionals from local clubs. By supporting their favorite pros, donors can help VNA provide home health care and hospice services to our neighbors who would otherwise be unable to afford the care they need.

VNA & HOSPICE FOUNDATION at Indian River Club

800 Carolina Circle SW 772-978-5591

vnatc.org

Florida Atlantic University

Rising to Today’s Environmental Challenges

South Florida’s diverse landscape, from the Everglades to the Atlantic Ocean’s coastline, has a significant influence on human and economic health. Poor water quality, sea-level rise and natural resource depletion will impact environmental health for generations to come.

At Florida Atlantic, we are expanding environmental education, research and community outreach to preserve and protect our communities.

Your investment in FAU’s environmental efforts today helps to safeguard precious resources for tomorrow.

For more information and to make your contribution, please visit transcendtomorrow.fau.edu.

Scan QR Code to make a gift

By Ted Swindley

‘FORWARD TO THE MOON’

MAY 12–13 AND 26–27

IRSC’s Hallstrom Planetarium invites curious minds to experience “Forward to the Moon,” a lecture and multimedia presentation on the Artemis Project, a multinational effort to return humans to the moon by 2025 and, later, head to Mars. Planetarium shows are recommended for adults and children over 10. The temperature inside the planetarium is kept at 72 degrees, so guests may wish to bring a sweater or light jacket.

HALLSTROM PLANETARIUM

IRSC Massey Campus

3209 Virginia Ave., Fort Pierce

Fridays 7 and 8:30 p.m., Saturdays 1 and 2:30 p.m.; $5 772-462-4750 irsc.edu

ART TALK

MAY 17

This month’s Art Talk at VBMA will be “Highlights from the Permanent Collection.” The museum’s education staff will offer an in-depth look at selected works, including the newly acquired gorilla sculpture, purchased with funds from VBMA’s Athena Society and recently moved to its new home in the sculpture park. Space is limited, so preregistration is required.

VERO BEACH MUSEUM OF ART

3001 Riverside Park Drive

Noon–1 p.m., free with paid admission 772-231-0707, ext. 116 vbmuseum.org

KOTO DEMONSTRATION

MAY 13

Musician Yoshiko Carlton will introduce guests to the history and sound of the koto, a traditional stringed instrument that Japan adopted from China gradually during the seventh and eighth centuries. Carlton will demonstrate how the instrument is played, allowing listeners to enjoy its tranquil sounds. She will also hand out the koto sheet music to a well-known Japanese song called “Sakura” or “Cherry Blossom.” Three time slots will be available. Tickets may be purchased online up to the day before the event, and any remaining tickets will be sold at the door the day of the event.

MORIKAMI MUSEUM AND JAPANESE GARDENS

4000 Morikami Park Road, Delray Beach

Noon, 1:30 p.m., or 3 p.m.; museum admission plus $5 561-495-0233 morikami.org

BACKSTAGE ACCESS

MAY 18–JUNE 1

Riverside Theatre’s Backstage Access adult classes are returning after a period of downtime during the pandemic. Each three-class series takes participants behind the scenes of a professional theater production, allowing them to hear from directors, actors, set designers, and others involved in the collaborative process that results in the final product we see onstage. The course will take place on three consecutive Thursdays.

RIVERSIDE THEATRE

3250 Riverside Park Drive

May 18 and 25, June 1; 10 a.m.–noon; $75 772-231-6990

riversidetheatre.com

Gorilla by Daisy Youngblood, bronze, 37 x 39 x 49 inches

ALMA LEE LOY CHALLENGE

MAY 22

The Indian River Golf Foundation will hold its fifth annual Alma Lee Loy Team Challenge at Grand Harbor’s newly renovated River Course. Foursomes by club or groups of friends are welcome, and the competition will include divisions for men, women, and couples. Proceeds support girls’ golf programs in our area.

INDIAN RIVER GOLF FOUNDATION at Grand Harbor Golf & Beach Club

4985 Club Terrace

1 p.m., $175/player

772-539-9566

irgf.org

Participants in the 2017 inaugural event, joined by Alma Lee Loy herself

Piette,

MAY

Composer John Williams has created some of the most recognizable film scores of all time: all nine Star Wars movies, Superman , E.T., the Indiana Jones films, Schindler’s List , Saving Private Ryan , the first three Harry Potter films, and many more. He is even the man behind two of the most famous notes in cinematic history—the ominous Jaws opening (as well as the rest of the soundtrack). Space Coast Symphony Orchestra presents 11 of Williams’ compositions, with selected youth musicians joining them onstage for the second half of the program.

BY THE WOOD FLOOR SPECIALISTS

Kim Black, Floor Specialist

HONKY TONK ANGELS

MAY 30–JUNE 18

This musical by Ted Swindley tells the story of three women who set out to Nashville to pursue their country music dreams. Described as “a feel-good mix of laughter, a few tears, and country pop favorites,” the show features many familiar tunes, including “These Boots Are Made for Walking,” “Stand by Your Man,” “Delta Dawn,” and “9 to 5.”

RIVERSIDE THEATRE

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

MEMORIAL DAY

MAY 29

Due to work being done on the footbridge to Memorial Island, this year’s Memorial Day ceremony will be held at the nearby Riverside Park Grand Pavilion. The Veterans Council of Indian River County welcomes retired Major General Michael Repass as guest speaker. The West Point graduate began as an infantry officer and went on to serve more than 30 years in the U.S. Army Special Forces. Currently he is the CEO of Able Global Solutions, a consulting firm he founded 10 years ago.

VETERANS COUNCIL OF IRC

at Riverside Park Grand Pavilion

9 a.m., free 772-410-5820 veteranscirc.com

BLUE WATER OPEN

JUNE 3

The 29th annual Blue Water Open fishing tournament will bring boatloads of fun as well as funding for the work of the Sebastian Exchange Club. The total prize purse is $21,000. Boat captains must register in advance and attend the captains’ meeting the evening before the event.

SEBASTIAN EXCHANGE CLUB at Capt. Hiram’s 1580 U.S. Hwy. 1, Sebastian Friday registration and captains’ meeting 5–7 p.m., Saturday weigh-in starts at 2 p.m.; $250/boat 772-300-2156 fishingforcharity.org `

Last year’s junior winner, from Team Reef Affliction

TERESA LEE RUSHWORTH

Food for Thought

After spending a recent rainy Sunday morning exhausting all of the “inside games” I could play with my 9-year-old son, Grant, I suggested we take a ride to the Vero Beach Museum of Art to check out the latest exhibit. We pulled on our rain jackets and headed out to view “Rolling Sculpture: Streamlined Art Deco Automobiles and

Motorcycles,” a collection of 20 rare cars and two motorcycles designed in the 1930s.

As he stared in awe at the gleaming black 1938 Phantom Corsair, I told him that the car’s designer was a man named Rust Heinz, grandson of Henry J. Heinz.

“Like the ketchup?” he asked.

“Yes, the same family,” I replied.

I could see his mind working. Sleek and streamlined hood and fenders. Sleek and streamlined glass containers filled with condiments.

“I’m getting kind of hungry, Dad,” Grant said. “Can we go get something to eat?”

With the rain still falling and preventing an outdoor picnic, Grant chose the comfort of a cozy restaurant

BY JEFFREY R. PICKERING

A FATHER-AND-SON OUTING CALLS TO MIND THE ART OF THE CAR WHEN HEALTHY FOOD IS TOO FAR

A trip to the Vero Beach Museum of Art with son Grant spawns a conversation about seniors dealing with food insecurity.

booth for our late-afternoon meal. As we waited for our food to come, I could tell something was still on Grant’s mind.

“Is there anyone in our family who is still alive that was around when those cars were built?”

“Not anymore, buddy,” I replied, reminding him that his “Grandpa Marvin,” who passed away in 2013, was born in 1938. “But I do have several clients who were alive then, and one or two who probably learned to drive the year those cars came out.”

“They still drive?” Grant asked with surprise.

“No, most have someone else do the driving for them,” I continued. “But there are a lot more elderly people here in town who live alone, do not drive, and have very little help to get around.”

“What happens to them? How do they get to the grocery store?”

“Good question, buddy,” I replied. “Sometimes they get help from friends or family, and other times they depend on different charities to help them.”

My succinct, not-toodetailed-but-informative answer seemed to satisfy Grant’s curiosity. I believe he was comforted by my reassurance that the senior citizens he worried about were able to get help.

However, I also believe he is becoming observant

enough to recognize the irony between the opulence of the car collection we just visited and the reality that lack of transportation makes life harder, and often lonelier, for seniors in our community. I did not dwell on the subject with him, confident that I gave him enough information to be truthful. However, I spent the afternoon thinking about the reality.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 85 percent of Indian River County seniors over the age of 65 live more than 1/2 mile from a grocery store selling healthy food, and 56 percent live more than 1 mile away. More than half of this population either lives in poverty or one Social Security payment away from it. Many are in need of medical and social services. I would find these statistics hard to believe had I not witnessed the disparity with my own eyes.

For several years, at the invitation of Senior Resource Association President and CEO Karen Deigl, I have joined other community leaders for the Meals on Wheels “March for Meals” event. Instead of donning a tuxedo for a gala or playing in a golf tournament, community leaders are paired with the organization’s volunteers to ride along on their routes as they make deliveries to seniors. It is an eye-opening experience.

very is not onl

but probable.

Five days a week, hundreds of low-income seniors, many of whom live alone, receive hot, nutritious meals delivered to their doors by SRA volunteers through the Meals on Wheels program. During my last ride-along experience, the route we were assigned included a mobile home park near the intersection of U.S. Highway 1 and Fourth Street. I had driven past the neighborhood a number of times and never noticed it. I was surprised by what I observed.

To make our first delivery, we parked on the edge of the dirt road in front of the recipient’s home. From the trunk we removed the appropriate allocation of meals from the warmer and walked up the mostly rotting steps to knock on the front door of an aging but sturdy mobile home. Our first “customer” was a handsomely dressed woman who greeted us with the news that it was her birthday. She had turned 89 and was waiting on a visit from her pastor. At her direction, I placed the meals on the When

seniors are no longer able to drive and lack alternate transportation to grocery stores, they rely on family, neighbors, and programs like Meals on Wheels for food.

According to the USDA, 85 percent of Indian River County seniors over the age of 65 live more than 1/2 mile from a grocery store selling healthy food.

kitchen counter and noticed how clean and orderly she maintained the inside of her home, compared to the rather distressed exterior. She thanked us, told us how much she appreciated the visit, and waved from the door as we drove to the next road.

Our next two deliveries were to customers whose homes were next door to one another. They were much older and in more disrepair than our first stop. As we climbed another set of rotting steps to knock on a sliding glass door, the neighbor shouted “I don’t think he’s home. Ambulance was here last night.”

With the kitchen in plain view, we tried the door and it slid open. Rather than

reschedule the delivery, we planned to leave the meals in the refrigerator but could not make our way through the trash bags and other debris that crowded the floor.

“This is only the third week for this customer,” my fellow volunteer and regular driver said. “However, something must not be right because the home was never this messy.”

As I looked around the main living area, “messy” is not how I would have described it. What I observed was the home of an elderly person living in squalor. Less than 3 miles as the crow flies from some of the most expensive residential real estate in Florida.

Using his iPhone, my

Your care is our mission. For over 45 years VNA has been providing our community a unique continuum of care – Home Health, Private Care and Hospice – with excellence, integrity and compassion so our patients can experience optimal quality of life at all times. Let VNA provide peace of mind for you and your loved ones when you need it most.

Home Health Services

Post-surgical, cardiac and wound care • APRNs

Licensed dieticians • Chronic disease management

Lymphedema therapy • Music therapy

Speech, physical and occupational therapies

Advance Care Planning

Private Care Services

Assistance with daily living activities

Bathing and dressing • Meal preparation

Companion care • Medication reminders

Transportation to and from appointments

Hospice Services

Only hospice provider in Indian River County 12-bed Hospice House

Music therapy • Pet therapy

We Honor Veterans partner

Grief and bereavement programs for patients and family members

United Against Poverty’s Member Share Grocery Program is for Indian River County residents who live at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level.

fellow volunteer marked the delivery to be rescheduled and indicated that a wellness check would be beneficial. In 2018, the Community Foundation awarded SRA a grant of $38,000 to upgrade the technology that moved this delivery tracking and reporting system from paper to electronic, saving volunteers time and ensuring better monitoring for the program’s partici-

pants. Program staff would be instantly notified and could arrange appropriate services for a program participant whose living conditions, and possibly well-being, were in decline.

Despite more than 150,000 meals being delivered through Meals on Wheels last year, the program has a long waiting list. Other organizations, such as United Against

Poverty, collaborate with SRA’s GoLine to provide low-income seniors who live alone free transportation to shop at its member share grocery at the UP Center.

Another innovative approach to serving seniors who are food-insecure began in 2020 when, with help from a $100,000 grant from Indian River Community Foundation, Treasure Coast Food Bank put its “Mobile Mercado” on the road. This outfitted “grocery store on wheels” makes stops in 12 low-income areas of our community to distribute healthy food to low-income seniors who do not live near a grocery store or market.

It has been a hundred years since F. Scott Fitzgerald and the roaring twenties introduced the notion of the car as a status symbol. In the decade that followed, at the height of the Great Depression and a nation-

wide hunger epidemic, the designers of the fine automobiles displayed in the “Rolling Sculpture” exhibition perfected it. Almost a century later, we have preserved these relics by giving them a place of honor alongside works of art, some of which were crafted by painters and sculptors who died penniless and likely spent many a day hungry. For many in our community, that hunger remains.

As we wrapped up our lunch, Grant thanked me for the afternoon outing. On the way home, it dawned on me that in another 30 years, when I am 80 years old, it will be his generation invited to participate in March for Meals. Would his generation ignore the need or repeat the tradition of helping hungry seniors?

“Can’t repeat the past?” asks Jay Gatsby.

“Why, of course you can.” ❀

Treasure Coast Food Bank put the Mobile Mercado on the road in 2020 to provide residents of low-income areas of our community access to healthy food when there’s no grocery store nearby.

To cope with childhood trauma and sexual abuse, “Lauren” was an alcoholic by age 15. At 20, she moved to pills and contracted hepatitis C from her then partner. Lauren advanced to heroin and lost her 3-year-old son. A friend used the Baker Act, forcing Lauren into treatment and she won the war against addiction. Lauren got her son back but hep C ravaged her body. She reached out to TCCH for help.

William J. Stewart

Michael J. Swan

Steven R. Wilson

“The first time I met Bonnie was emotional. I had been waiting so long for treatment, to feel better and be a better mom to my son.

I owe Miss Bonnie my life.”

“Getting my son dressed for school is a gift.”

- Lauren

Bonnie Andrus, LPN, TCCH Infectious Disease & Clinical Care Manager

Strike a Blow to Strokes

STROKE DOESN’T DISCRIMINATE WHEN IT COMES TO AGE. WHETHER YOU’RE 22 OR 72, LEARN TO RECOGNIZE THE SYMPTOMS AND BE PREPARED TO ACT FAST

BY RENÁE TESAURO

Exactly 10 years ago this month, 21-year-old Marissa Fattore was reveling in the celebration of an important milestone: her college graduation. It was a warm, beautiful, sunny day at Kutztown University in Pennsylvania. Excitement was in the air, but Fattore, seated alongside her classmates

in their caps and gowns, couldn’t shake the headache and fuzziness that had plagued her all morning. Chalking it up to graduation jitters, she proceeded onto the stage to receive her diploma and walked back to her seat at the front of the auditorium. That’s the last thing she remembers about her graduation ceremony.

What she learned from her family and doctors a week later was that she had suffered a cerebral venous sinus thrombosis—a rare form of stroke caused by a blood clot in one of the brain’s large veins.

Long considered an issue impacting an older population, stroke can strike at any age and is on the rise among younger

Marissa Fattore, now a Vero Beach resident, recovered fully after suffering a stroke caused by a blood clot in her brain at the age of 21.

adults, according to multiple studies. A large-scale, peer-reviewed evaluation of U.S. stroke data from 1990 to 2019 (Global Burden of Disease 2019 study) found that over the past 30 years, stroke has declined among people over age 75 but increased among adults 15 to 49, particularly those who live in the South and Midwest.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a stroke occurs every 40 seconds, and someone dies every 3.5 minutes from stroke in the United States. Affecting nearly 800,000 people every year, it is the fifth-leading cause of death and a leading cause of serious long-term disability.

A stroke occurs when a blood vessel carrying oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot (ischemic stroke) or bursts (hemorrhagic stroke). When that happens, part of the brain cannot get the blood (and thus oxygen) it needs, so brain cells die. No matter which type of stroke is occurring, once it begins, nearly two million brain cells die every minute, increasing the risk of permanent brain damage, disability, or death.

Nearly 87 percent of strokes are ischemic. The clot blocking blood flow to the brain may have formed at the site of the blockage (a cerebral venous throm-

bosis) or may have formed elsewhere in the body and traveled to the brain (a cerebral embolism). Transient ischemic attacks (TIAs), often called “ministrokes,” are also caused by blood clots that have blocked blood flow to the brain, but for only a short period of time. According to the CDC, more than a third of people experiencing TIAs never receive treatment but go on to have a major stroke within a year.

Dr. Ryan Dahlgren, medical director of neuro endovascular surgery at Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital, says: “While the risk of stroke increases with age, primarily due to a buildup of plaque (atherosclerosis) and heart disease, strokes do occur among young people and can be incredibly devastating.” Strokes in young people, he adds, are often due to blood vessel tears that result from rapid head movement or trauma.

“Regardless of your age or type of stroke, the key to a successful outcome is coming to the hospital as soon as possible. If you’re suspicious that something is going on, such as a headache like you’ve never had before, it is well worth it to come in and get evaluated,” says Dahlgren, who has witnessed the consequences of both prompt and delayed stroke treatment.

He describes a 37-year-

GET A HEAD START IN PREVENTING STROKE

Dr. Ryan Dahlgren says the key to a healthy outcome when suffering a stroke is to seek prompt medical attention.

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old husband and father who was attending a conference in Florida and suddenly couldn’t see and felt one side of his body go weak. Fortunately, a friend wasted no time in getting him to the hospital, where physicians not only saved his life but preserved all his abilities in a short period of time.

On the other end of the spectrum, Dahlgren cites a healthy 40-year-old patient who had recently moved to Florida with his family. He

experienced a severe headache; but instead of seeking immediate medical attention, he Googled symptoms of stroke and went to bed. He woke up in the middle of the night, thrashing and unable to move his right side. After lengthy surgery and lots of rehab, he eventually recovered. If someone comes to the hospital within three to four and a half hours after the onset of symptoms of ischemic stroke, the standard treatment

is a clot-dissolving drug (known as a thrombolytic). Beyond that window, or in instances when the onset of symptoms is unknown or the clot is too big to dissolve, patients may be candidates for a thrombectomy. During this procedure, physicians use a catheter to reach the blockage and remove the clot.

“Although thrombolytics must be administered within a certain window,” Dahlgren points out, “we can provide very sophisti-

cated treatments for people who come to the hospital well outside of the onset of their symptoms. It goes beyond just going in and pulling out the clot. The brain is the world’s most elegant computer, and blood flow to the brain is incredibly complex and unique for everyone. We can completely reconstruct torn blood vessels surrounding the brain and put patients on a different path through life.”

“Seventy is the new 50,”

B E F A S T

Dahlgren adds; “70-yearolds are active, traveling, and enjoying sports and companionships. These are sweet times of life, and we want people to enjoy that.” He and his colleagues work closely with EMS teams in our area to ensure that all patients suspected of experiencing a stroke are transported promptly to the emergency department for further evaluation and treatment.

Doctors agree that younger people have a better rate of recovery from stroke than older patients because their brains have better plasticity (ability to adjust and learn new skills). They are also able to rehabilitate more quickly and fully than older individuals. Regardless of age, however, the healthier you are, the better your chances of

Marissa Fattore is alive and well today thanks to prompt medical attention,

her age, and her excellent physical condition. Following her collapse at her graduation, she was transported to a hospital where doctors administered clot-dissolving drugs and anti-seizure medication.

“I was in and out of consciousness for a week,” recalls Fattore. “My first thought when I woke up was, ‘Where am I?’ I couldn’t find my words at the time, and seeing that I was in a big white hospital room with IVs in my arm and doctors around me caused some internal panic.”

Fattore was eventually transferred to an outpatient rehabilitation center for speech, occupational, and physical therapy. “I had to learn to walk and talk again,” she says. “It was very scary and frustrating to think that I might not get back to where I was.”

After spending a year

“The brain is the world’s most elegant computer.”

– DR. RYAN DAHLGREN

recovering at her parents’ home in Douglassville, Pennsylvania, Fattore not only fulfilled her dream of regaining all her abilities, she also satisfied a burning desire to move to a warmer climate.

Now, happily settled in Vero Beach, the 31-year-old manages external communications for Orangetheory Fitness and enjoys beach runs with her dogs.

She is quick to admit that “life is great!” And she should know. ❀

The Scully Interventional Neurology Suite opened in March 2022 as a tool for stroke care at Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital.

Raymond A. Della Porta, DMD

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

Designer Genes

PUREBRED DOGS ARE ON THE RISE AT LOCAL SHELTERS

BY AMY ROBINSON

Afew years ago, when French bulldogs began to take over popularity contests everywhere, Kate Meghji had just started her job as CEO of the Humane Society of Vero Beach & Indian River County (HSVB). During her first week in the job, she was asked if they ever got Frenchies in for adoption.

She said she would keep an eye out but was not optimistic. Within days, there was an adorable French bulldog snorting a greeting to her in the adoption room.

Far from being places where only mistreated street dogs end up, shelters are increasingly seeing an influx of so-called purebred dogs available for adoption.

“The first year I was here, most of the purebreds coming in were senior dogs coming from owners going into assisted living or similar situations,” Meghji explains. “Now we are seeing an increase in all kinds of breeds. We just had three Yorkshire terrier puppies because the couple had a sudden health issue that prevented them from

The Humane Society of Vero Beach & Indian River County is seeing an uptick in purebred dogs being turned in to the facility for readoption. This Belgian Malinois and her brother were available earlier this year through the shelter.

properly caring for their pets.”

Mary Catherine Morton has two Chihuahuas, but when she met her new dog at the shelter, she knew that adding this French bulldog, a former breeding dog, would be a good match. “My childhood friend suggested the name Pearl, which fits her perfectly,” says Morton. “She’s a Southern lady with all the manners in the world.” Pearl was part of a court case, which meant she was not immediately

available for adoption when initially under the care of HSVB.

Meghji encourages people to look at the shelter’s website as often as possible. “We update our availability in real time,” she notes. During the month of January alone, HSVB saw a pair of Belgian Malinois puppies, a bloodhound, a Dalmatian, and beagle puppies from the closing of the Envigo facility that bred dogs to sell for laboratory experiments. All are now in loving homes.

Mary Catherine Morton adopted a French bulldog from HSVB and named her Pearl. She was at the shelter as the result of a court case.

The news about Envigo came to light after documentation from a PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) eyewitness and a Department of Justice investigation into inhumane treatment and extremely poor living conditions. Simon and Juliet Whittaker were not necessarily looking for a new dog, but the story touched them and they put their names on a list as potential adopters, even though they were not familiar with the beagle breed.

“I had never even seen a beagle,” laughs Juliet, “but we thought our 9-year-old dog, Henry, might like a new companion.” They brought home 8-month-old Flash after he crawled into Juliet’s lap at the meet and greet. “Flash and Henry got along like a house on fire,” says Simon, “but we noticed that he didn’t know what a toy was. We’d throw one and he’d just go and look at it.”

Juliet recalls that at first Flash did not display the big baying sound beagles are known for. “We were playing with both dogs one evening, and Flash just put his nose up and let out a long, howling bark,” she says. Soon Flash figured out how to play with toys, and the couple is working on his social skills.

A common perception is that shelters are full of tough street dogs, but people who visit our local havens for animals may

be surprised. Most owners giving up pets are being priced out of their leases and unable to find alternate housing. Other owner surrenders come from older folks with health problems or those moving into assisted living. Some dogs simply get out and wander off.

Marina Harvey, office manager at HALO rescue in Sebastian, has seen dogs of all breeds and sizes come in and go right back out in the arms of new owners. “When people come to us looking for a specific dog, the top request tends to be size related. Small dogs always fly out of here almost immediately, despite age, temperament, or medical needs,” she explains. “Lots of purebreds come and go, including German shepherds and Australian shepherds, plus every kind of small dog, like Maltese, poodles, shih tzus and Yorkies.”

Amy Kight has a long history with animals. “I volunteered at a veterinarian’s office when I was 6 years old,” she laughs. Kight is now the director of Busch Wildlife Sanctuary in Jupiter, working with a variety of wild animals in need of rescue. “I have always had an affinity for animals that are hairless, so I jokingly told Jacque Petrone, HALO’s director, that if she got any dogs like that in, I was interested.”

Petrone called her when

the shelter took in three Chinese crested puppies, a rare breed that has a fluffy head, legs, and tail but almost no hair on the body.

“I immediately said, ‘Yes, please,’ and Jacque brought the pup to a HALO event so I could meet him,” says Kight. “When I saw him there, completely unfazed by the crowd and music, I was hooked.”

Popular dog breeds are sometimes purchased from breeders sight unseen, but the buyer should beware.

In many cases, the photo and registration papers provided will not match the dog you receive, or it may not be the same breed or crossbreed that you desire. “Having a laser focus on one breed can absolutely cause someone to miss out on an incredible match,” says Harvey. “Just like people, dogs’ personalities, histories, and needs vary so vastly that boxing yourself into only one option might actually wind someone up with the totally wrong fit,

Simon Whittaker and his family adopted Flash, a beagle puppy from the Humane Society, at Bark in the Park in January. Flash is a companion for their older dog, Henry.

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Ask Amy

amy@verobeachmagazine.com

My dog eats her food so fast, I worry about it. She acts like it is the last meal she’ll ever have. Is there a reason for this? She gets fed twice a day and the vet says I am giving her enough food. Should I take it away from her halfway through? Or just not worry about it?

There are a few reasons why your dog may be trying to set a speed record when mealtime comes around. Often, young littermates eat together out of one big bowl, and their fuzzy faces collide as they push their way around the bowl. This creates competition, with the slowest eater getting the least food. This learning experience is filed away in the dog’s brain for future use. It could also be that your dog finds eating very gratifying and just can’t wait to dig in. I contend that dogs may eat fast in the hopes that you will refill the bowl. Gulping air is a side effect of this eating style and can lead to upset stomachs and even bloat. Try an elevated feeder that holds the bowl securely. Divide meals into halves or thirds, and consider putting a partial meal in a puzzle toy. Adding canned food or a fresh supplement moistens the food and helps the dog feel full.

Wilko, my 5-month-old puppy, is turning into a bit of a monster, frankly. He’ll jump at me and bite me, and I know he is playing, but it hurts. I try to calm him with a gentle voice and petting, but I think that makes it worse. He seems to get into a wild state like an overtired kid having a tantrum. I love him like a son, but how can I get this to stop?

When Wilko was a wee pup, he expended energy playing with his littermates using teeth, paws, and body weight like a wobbly sumo wrestler until he and his siblings dropped where they stood. Now, it’s all on you to entertain him. Try a change of scenery. Leash him and access a trail or park. He may be a little hard to handle at first, but let his nose take over and you will have a nice, sleepy dog on the way home. This gets his mind off using you as a chew toy and gives him some real quality time out in nature. At home, try making an enrichment box. Fill a cardboard box with crumpled paper, hidden toys, a swipe of peanut butter on an apple slice, and some biscuits. Now, lightly fasten the box and watch him work the goodies free. This is a very satisfying activity for Wilko. One word of warning: You’ll need to safeguard your packages from Wilko in the future or find them already opened and inspected.

– Kelly in Vero Beach

– Curtis in Vero Beach

and then nobody is happy.”

Harvey adds that HALO is now seeing more doodledog types at the shelter due to their popularity.

“Everyone likes these dogs because they look like teddy bears, but some owners are not prepared for their high energy levels and grooming needs.”

Shelter staff at HALO and HSVB will ask potential adopters about their lifestyle and activities to make a good match. Since shelters interact with their animals every day, staff

and volunteers know them inside and out. “We’ll ask potential adopters if the goal is a running partner, a buddy for their other dog, a couch potato, or a companion for the kids,” says Meghji. “Based on that, plus the HSVB staff’s knowledge of each dog’s personality, we can recommend several dogs to meet. People may come in looking for a toy poodle but fall in love with a 30-pound spaniel instead. Once you can get people to open their minds, a beautiful match is made.” ❀

Like his sister, this Belgian Malinois has found a good home after being brought to HSVB earlier this year.

“The

–

“This kid already makes me feel like the luckiest dad in the world.”

– BRYANT LAMPP, “Tyke on the Track,” p. 100

Stand and Deliver

RETIREE LEIGH BERGSTROM VOLUNTEERS SEVERAL HOURS EACH WEEK FOR MEALS ON WHEELS; SHE THINKS OF IT AS THE LEAST SHE CAN DO

BY TERESA LEE RUSHWORTH

PHOTOGRAPHY BY STEVEN MARTINE

“It’s so easy to help them,” says Leigh Bergstrom of the 400 or so homebound Indian River County residents who receive deliveries from Senior Resource Association’s Meals on Wheels. Twice a week, the Grand Harbor resident runs two of about 40 routes served by the program. Her routes comprise 16 people in the Gifford area—people she considers neighbors, as they live just a couple of miles away from her.

“I have nothing but time, so why not?” says the retired nurse, who moved to Vero Beach 12 years ago from her native Philadelphia. It amounts to about six hours per week, and Bergstrom points out that the commitment leaves her plenty of time to tend to all the other things she has to do. “It’s so rewarding!” she says.

Getting to know the people she visits is the greatest reward for Bergstrom. “I love my patients.

Leigh Bergstrom prepares for her Tuesday routes, accompanied by Pepper, her potcake dog, rescued from The Bahamas.

I call them patients. They’re clients. That’s my nursing coming through!”

Bergstrom has been volunteering with Meals on Wheels for over three years; she is part of an army of 180 (in season) that fans out to the homes of elderly folks who may not otherwise have a hot meal—or, Bergstrom adds, much social interaction. “For a lot of my clients,” she says, “I’m the only person they see that day.”

This “senior-to-senior” outreach is important to Bergstrom, who points out that many of our retired residents “know what it’s like to be alone.”

Bergstrom’s love for Vero Beach, where her parents lived before her, is a powerful motivation for her service. “I live in the best place in the world … Vero is such a great little town,” she says, emphasizing how lucky we are to be here. “What we can do as a community—the smallest, littlest things—can make a big difference.”

Each visit is, in its own way, a special encounter. One lady on her route has a dog, and Bergstrom brings treats and spends a few minutes playing with the dog. One gentleman is a bit reclusive, but she has

gradually built a rapport with him. Meals on Wheels drivers are not pushy; they enter a client’s home only if asked, and many pleasant interactions take place on front porches. But the volunteers do ask their clients how they are doing and make general observations concerning their well-being. Most clients have a case manager, and if a driver notices anything troubling, he or she reports it for follow-up.

Bergstrom recounts an opportunity she once had to offer a little extra

help to one of her clients—a frail, elderly lady named Judy, who had experienced a downgrade in her living circumstances. One of Bergstrom’s winter visits found a relocated Judy in a dwelling without even rugs to cover the bare cement floor. She was lacking warm clothing and asked “very sweetly” if SRA by any chance had a sweater or blanket. As it happened, Bergstrom was in the process of moving and had some sweaters, rugs, and even a few small pieces of furniture she was planning

to donate to a thrift store. Judy received the items with joy and, on Bergstrom’s next visit, greeted her at the door looking quite pretty and showing off her “new” clothes. Bergstrom says she almost cried.

“They’re very grateful,” she says of her clients. “They’re sweet, sweet people who need a little help.”

But sometimes Leigh Bergstrom wonders who’s helping whom; “I’m sure I get more out of it than the small warm meal I give them.” `

“They’re sweet, sweet people who need a little help.”

– LEIGH BERGSTROM

Laura Leonard helps Leigh Bergstrom load up her vehicle with insulated bags containing hot meals.

A Day at the Races

IN 1952, VERO BEACH STAGED ITS FIRST AND ONLY ENDURANCE CAR RACE EVENT

WRITTEN BY PATRICK MERRELL

In 1952, one week before Sebring’s first 12-hour automobile race, Vero Beach ran a 12-hour event of its own. Alas, when the Vero Beach race ended—at a few minutes past the stroke of midnight —the course turned back into an airport. There would never be another such event. In contrast, the Sebring race has returned every year since, growing into a major international race.

Automobile racing has existed for almost as long as gas-engined vehicles have. Two of the earliest competitions were a 732-mile race in 1895 from Paris to Bordeaux and back again and the 54-mile Chicago Times-Herald race in Illinois later that same year. In the Illinois race, an American-built Duryea Motor Wagon beat three German-made Karl Benz cars, even though it left the course mid-race to have a blacksmith make repairs.

Gary Cooper, known for owning and driving luxury speedsters, flew into Vero Beach to watch the event. The race was dubbed the “Second Annual Florida Handicap” because there was a 100-mile handicap race in Palm Beach Shores the year before.

However, it wasn’t until the late 1940s and ’50s that sports car racing emerged. Some of the early contests took place at airports, many of which the military had given or returned to local governments after World War II. That was the case for both Sebring and Vero Beach.

Sebring hosted its first endurance race, a six-hour event, on December 31, 1950. A second event, a 12-hour race, was scheduled for March 15, 1952, but when the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) discovered that the race would include professional drivers, it withdrew its support. The SCCA wanted to keep the sport strictly amateur. An alternate event was scheduled to take place one week prior to Sebring’s, on March 8. It was held at the Vero Beach Municipal Airport, kicking off the SCCA’s 1952 season.

Three prominent Vero Beach men helped organize the event: Bill Boyé III, Bud Holman, and Mayor Louis Burger. A grandstand was erected at the airport, pits were marked off, and hay bales were stacked outside the runway turns. Bill Boyé IV, who was a child then, remembers, “My dad blew his MG up setting up the course.”

There would be three races in one day: a one-hour race at 9 a.m. and a

Second place went to an Allard J2X Cadillac. Shown here is a 1953 Allard J2X.

A Ferrari 166 MM took third place. Shown here is the Ferrari 166 MM that won Le Mans in 1949.

Seventy-one years ago, the airport runways were filled with race cars instead of airplanes.

The cars in this article’s color photos are comparable to the actual ones that took part in the 12-hour race. A Ferrari 340 America Spider, much like the one above, was the overall winner.

six-hour and 12-hour race, both starting at noon. Although the official race headquarters was the Parkway Hotel on the Miracle Mile stretch of U.S. 1, many of the drivers set up camp at the Driftwood Inn. “They loved the Driftwood,” Boyé IV says. “Racing wasn’t serious like it is now. They liked to party. They treated it as fun.”

The event attracted a “Who’s Who” of race car drivers from the SCCA ranks. Among them were “Gentleman Jim” Kimberly and Briggs Cunningham. Kimberly, whose grandfather cofounded Kimberly-Clark, the maker of Kleenex, appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated in 1952 and 1954. A 1955 Popular Science cover touted him as “America’s No. 1 Sports Driver.” Briggs Cunningham was an accomplished driver, race car builder and race team owner. He also skippered the winning yacht in the first postwar America’s Cup race in 1958.

Given that there were three races, each with several classes and handicap calculations based on engine type, there were many winners. However, the overall champion in the marquee 12-hour race was the team of Jim Kimberly and Marshall Lewis. Their Ferrari 340 America Spider completed 245 laps, six more than the secondplace car, averaging 66.6 mph. The duo earned a silver trophy cup for their efforts. Another driver, John Fitch, clocked the fastest lap time, at an average speed of 75.97 mph , and Briggs Cunningham took fifth place while driving the full 12 hours by himself.

Alas, the event ran into a number of problems. Attendance fell short of expectations, vendors were stuck with large quantities of unsold food and souvenirs, and the city had to kick in money to cover expenses, postrace runway repairs, and a $1,100 donation to the Indian River County Hospital Fund, the intended race beneficiary.

Right: A Porsche 356 convertible, similar to this one, won its class in the 12-hour race.

LOTHAR SPURZEM

Terminal

Piper Aircraft

Top: The 3.25-mile course looped around where the airport terminal and Piper Aircraft building now sit.

Bottom: Six Jaguar XK120s competed, the most of any model, with one of them winning the six-hour race.

SV1AMBO

The ultimate snag came when trying to deal with the Civil Aeronautics Authority (CAA), forerunner of the Federal Aviation Administration. As a second installment of the race was being planned, the CAA issued a directive prohibiting automobile racing on airports under its jurisdiction. The Vero Beach City Council asked the CAA for a waiver to allow the airport to continue hosting races. Unfortunately, that request was denied on the grounds that the airport was an important stop in the heavily traveled airway between Jacksonville and Miami. The CAA stated: “The landing area of this airport should be available at all times to the flying public, especially in the event of emergency landings.”

“The race was on the schedule for 1953,” Boyé IV says. “Everything was wrapped up, people came from Paris, journalists came, everybody came. But the CAA said, ‘No thank you. You’re not going to have a race.’”

He adds, “It’s a shame they didn’t have that second race, because the Sebring race went on to become a really big thing, and that could have been Vero Beach.” `

After factoring in the handicap, a Siata 300 BC Crosley performed best in the 12-hour race.

Above and below: Several weeks prior to the race, 25 sports cars lined up to run acceleration trials.

INDIAN RIVER PRESS JOURNAL, WALLY SKISCIM

INDIAN RIVER PRESS JOURNAL, WALLY SKISCIM BUCH-T

blesses

Tuscan Roots

IN THE ROLLING HILLS OUTSIDE THE MEDIEVAL TOWN OF SAN GIMIGNANO SITS A FAMILY FARM THAT BLENDS TRADITION AND INNOVATION

BY CHRIS FASOLINO

“Wine is bottled poetry,” wrote Robert Louis Stevenson. I like to think he would have appreciated the wines I am sharing with you this month, which come from a land of poets, artists, and renowned natural beauty. Besides, as an adventurous writer, Stevenson appreciated treasure hunts and plot twists, and I’m offering you a bit of both. Tuscan wine is rightly treasured throughout the world. And although you may know it, I suspect that I have some surprises in store for you.

Fattoria Poggio Alloro, located in the Tuscan hills near the stone towers of San Gimignano, is actually many things: a vineyard, a farm, and an agriturismo destination that offers visitors the chance to immerse themselves in traditional farm life for a rustic and yet sophisticated experience. “Fattoria” means farm, in fact—a translation I learned in an amusing way when I was visiting relatives in Italy. My grandmother’s cousin was very excited about using ricotta that was fresh from the “fattoria.” That seemed surprising, since to English speakers, “fattoria” could sound like “factory.” When I learned that it really means “farm,” her enthusiasm was much more understandable.

Along with the vines, there are olive groves providing golden oil, pigs that will eventually be turned into prosciutto (in accord with the Tuscan circle of life), and an array of grains that will be used for pasta and bread. Beehives provide natural pollination, and an endangered breed of white cattle is tended. The most surprising crop is saffron, which is more often associated with Morocco than Italy. Flowering saffron adds a brilliant purple hue to the fields— which may also be a surprise, since by the time it gets to your table as a spice, it is golden orange.

One of the wines made here is distinctive to the area: Vernaccia di San Gimignano. While you may associate Tuscany with bold reds, Vernaccia is a white wine, and an unusual one at that, offering surprises even to experienced wine enthusiasts. It has fragrant floral qualities and rich flavors reminiscent of honey. There are also vibrant notes of apricot and white peach. This is a truly complex white wine. It would pair well with good-quality seafood, making it a natural choice for Vero Beach.

Nevertheless, if you’re looking for bold reds from Fattoria Poggio Alloro, you will not be disappointed; it offers fine examples in a wide range of price categories. For example, its endearingly named San Gimignano Rosso “Convivio” is made primarily from the grape known as Sangiovese—the classic grape of Tuscany—blended with a dash of Colorino, a lesser-known variety that, as the name implies, imparts rich color. This is a robust and full-bodied red with character istics of fig, dark chocolate, and espresso, along with spice notes (cinnamon and allspice leap to mind). This would be a great steak wine, and it would also pair well with lamb or game.

These fine wines reflect the richness of the Tuscan landscape and traditions. You may find them to be a new discovery from a classic region. ❀

San Gimignano is an area in Tuscany known for its rolling hills and white wine.

Tyke on the Track

LILY LAMPP IS ONE 7-YEAR-OLD WHO IS LIVING LIFE IN THE FAST LANE

BY TERESA LEE RUSHWORTH PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRYANT LAMPP

She is a first grader at Osceola Magnet School in Vero Beach. She likes Disney princesses and horses. Her favorite color is pink, she likes reading, and her favorite subject in school is art. Oh—and she is a race car driver who has driven at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the famed Brickyard.

When Lily Lampp was just 3 1/2 years old, her mom, Lauren, received a cute photo in a text from her brother; he and his daughter were at the Grant Seafood Festival and happened upon a booth belonging to the Space Coast Quarter Midget Racing Association (SCQMRA). Lily’s young cousin sat in one of the cars on display, and her uncle snapped a photo.

“I thinked it was cool,” Lily says of her first impression of the sport. Lauren and Bryant, Lily’s dad, were cautious but intrigued. Lily was still too young to participate, but she showed an interest and her parents began to investigate. Bryant, an assistant at a CPA’s office, found a used quarter midget car on Craigslist and bought the parts needed to rebuild it. The project unfolded over the next year, with everyone pitching in: grandparents; uncles; Lauren, who works as a physical therapist; and even little Lily herself, who has always taken a keen interest in the mechanics of it all.

Quarter midget racing dates back many decades. It is so named because the vehicles are approximately 1/4 the size of a “midget” car—a small, powerful car that spawned its own racing circuit in the 1930s.

Youngsters aged 5 through 16 can participate in quarter midget racing, divided into 15 classes based on age, weight, and engine specifications. Lily is in the Junior Honda class. Her car weighs just 265 pounds, 45 pounds of which is Lily herself.

Headquartered at the Valkaria

Airport in southern Brevard County, where a 1/20-mile track has been set up on the old runway, SCQMRA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit sanctioned by the United States Auto Club (USAC) and is part of the NASCAR Youth Series.

Lily started training at 4 1/2. Neighbors must have been amused to see Bryant waving green, yellow, red, white, and checkered flags as Lily rode her bicycle past. They also practiced with Matchbox cars.

Lily graduated to the real thing and drove in her first race at age 5. Lauren admits to being a nervous wreck;

but who wouldn’t be while watching her child, barely old enough to ride a bicycle without training wheels, drive 35 miles an hour, and competitively at that? But the sport is not really any more dangerous than other children’s sports. Indeed, SCQMRA’s website states that since its inception, quarter midget racing “has had one of the finest safety records in all of organized youth sports.”

The sanctioning bodies impose strict safety requirements, and SCQMRA adheres to them rigorously, as Lauren discovered when she

Lily is fond of horses, art, and Disney princesses; on the racetrack she is a smart and tough competitor.

“interrogated” the club president and his wife.

Prior to each race, club officials conduct a safety check on the brakes, steering wheel, belts, arm restraints, and helmet strap—and this after the triple-check routine most parents, including the Lampps, have already performed. Lily even wears a HANS (head and neck support) device just like the pros. Safety belts are replaced every two years, even if they appear intact, due to the possibility of microtears that, while not visible to the naked eye, can compromise the

Quarter midget racing is very much a STEM sport, and Lily has had an active interest in the mechanics of her car since the beginning. In this photo, she is just 3 1/2.

Lily and mom Lauren can be all smiles because quarter midget safety equipment, some of which is visible here, is serious business.

On the first test day in the new car, friend Bill Kinley checks tire temperatures as Bryant asks Lily how it’s handling.

integrity of the belts. Perhaps the most prominent safety precaution is the roll cage that ensconces each driver.

The track itself is not without its own safety measures: The wall is constructed of two layers of wood with several inches of rubber in between. An EMT is on hand for every race, and parents stand ready at each of the four turns in order to be able to run onto the track in the event of a mishap, directing drivers and reorienting wayward cars.

Of course, even with all the attention to safety, injuries do occur. As with a number of other sports, concussion is the predominant risk. Lily has already had one, sustained when she got into the wall at about 25 mph

Lily gives a confident thumbs-up during the multiday Battle at the Brickyard in Indianapolis.

Lily and Lauren prepare for the green flag prior to an SCQMRA race.

during practice. But the Lampps have had multiple conversations with their pediatrician and are confident that she is at no more risk than if she were engaged in, say, horseback riding or gymnastics.

“The recent conversations being had in the sporting communities surrounding the concussion risk are compelling,” says Bryant. “I think these conversations are healthy and need to be had throughout all sports, most importantly youth sports.”

But the conversation about risks tells only part of the story; like other youth sports, racing brings many benefits. A strong emphasis is placed on sportsmanship, playing by the rules, and behaving graciously in both

victory and defeat.

The Lampps note that racing is a STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics)-based sport. Lily takes an active role in the maintenance of her car and exhibits an impressive grasp of the tools and mechanical processes involved.

It is a very family-oriented sport, with several generations often participating in a driver’s team. One charming example is the “Special thanks—Mamaw & Papaw, Mimi & Papa” printed on one SCQMRA driver’s car. It is also common to see the parents of competitors jumping in and helping one another out.

Demonstrating self-awareness beyond her years, Lily assesses the personal growth racing has brought

her. “It gets me more tougher and also helps me pay attention better,” she observes. Both Lily and her parents have noticed an improvement in her reading as a result of this enhanced ability to focus. She also values the many friendships she has acquired in SCQMRA.

Even so, Bryant and Lauren state unequivocally that they would pull their daughter out of the sport in a second if they thought they were putting her in serious danger. “We are always navigating these risks in life,” says Bryant. “This kid already makes me feel like the luckiest dad in the world, regardless of what extracurricular activities she may participate in.”

To the Lampps’ knowledge, Lily is the only Vero Beach child involved in

Lily has more than 5,000 laps under her belt at her home track just north of Vero Beach.

Bryant, Lily, and Lauren Lampp bask in the experience of the Battle at the Brickyard. Lily’s third-place finish is commemorated with a brick trophy.

quarter midget racing. What do her classmates think about it? “Some don’t believe me and some think it’s cool,” she reports.

Lily has logged some 5,000 laps on her home track; her most memorable lap, however, took place on an oval more than 1,000 miles away when young drivers from clubs all over the United States converged on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the Battle at the Brickyard and made a parade lap on the 2.5-mile main track the first night of the multiday event. Lily was just 6 years old at the time.

It is a track well known to her favorite driver, Hélio Castroneves, who has won the Indy 500 a record four times. Following in his tire tracks was a thrill, though the single circuit that Hélio makes in about 40 seconds took Lily and her peers nearly five minutes. She recalls thinking, “Wow—my car’s going so slow!” as she tackled a track 50-times longer than what she is accustomed to. And the 9-degree banking in the turns made her feel as if she were going to flip over. But she didn’t get scared.

In fact, the related questions “Do you get nervous before races?” and “Has anything ever made you scared during a race?” likewise meet with a sweet but decisive “No.”

Having crashed during qualifying for her Brickyard race, run on the much-smaller quarter midget track in the infield, Lily had to start last. But her competitive spirit and Bryant’s careful repairs paid off. “I knew I was going fast enough,” Lily reflects. “I knew I had to pass all those cars.” The spunky little redhead took third place, a podium finish, and earned a prized possession: a brick inscribed with her achievement.

Quarter midget racing is definitely an up-and-coming sport. The USAC started its “.25 Series” in 2009 with

five clubs; now there are nearly 60 tracks spread throughout the United States. The USAC-NASCAR partnership is new, announced in late 2022 and implemented this year, making Lily a member of the inaugural class of NASCAR Youth Series drivers.

The Lampps have an open mind regarding Lily’s future in the sport. If she stays on track, so to speak, she will advance to the Senior Honda class when she turns 9. But school will always come first, and Bryant and Lauren are not seeking attention or sponsorships.

As for Lily, she exudes an endearing balance of innocence and playfulness on one hand and confidence and fearlessness on the other. She wants to be an artist when she grows up and is already thinking about selling art supplies to fund her creative endeavors.

But for now, racing agrees with her. She is having lots of fun, building self-confidence, and developing skills that will last a lifetime. “My favorite thing,” she says with youthful exuberance, “is that you can go fast and get trophies.” ❀

Andretti, Unser, Castroneves ... Lampp: Lily visits the legendary Yard of Bricks, the 3-foot strip of original 1909 bricks that parallels the finish line at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Behind the Baton

THE BREVARD SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA’S TIRELESS CONDUCTOR AND MUSIC DIRECTOR, CHRISTOPHER CONFESSORE, RELISHES VERO BEACH’S MAY POPS EVENT

BY JULIA DOUGLAS AND TERESA LEE RUSHWORTH

Vero Beach and the surrounding region is home to many people who have attained standout status in their chosen fields: business, sports, medicine, and many more.

The arts can certainly be numbered among those pursuits, and the musical realm is no exception. With regular access to the Brevard Symphony Orchestra, we are privileged to experience the irrepressible energy of Music Director and Principal Conductor Christopher Confessore, a man who wears many hats and yet still manages to bring a personal touch to everything he does.

A native Floridian, Confessore has held his positions with the BSO since 1995. He is also the principal pops conductor of the Birmingham-based Alabama Symphony Orchestra. Since 2010, he has worked as a conductor at Walt Disney World, where he leads the orchestra for such productions as EPCOT’s annual Christmastime “Candlelight Processional.” He makes several appearances as a guest conductor each season; this year, these engagements include the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, the Tucson Symphony Orchestra, the Amarillo Symphony Orchestra, the Sarasota Orchestra, and the Orlando Philharmonic.

Music came early to Confessore’s life. With encouragement from his mother, he learned to play several instruments as he grew up: clarinet, bass clarinet, flute, tenor saxophone, piano, and bassoon. Eventually, he zeroed in on the bassoon, which became his primary instrument in the high school band and the subject of his subsequent studies.

Confessore earned his bachelor of music degree in bassoon performance from Florida State University and went on to study instrumental conducting with the esteemed Daniel Lewis at the University of Southern California, where he obtained his master of music degree.

“The conductors I admire most are phenomenal and passionate musicians who are also inspiring motivators,” Confessore says. “They have the ability to lead performances that speak to a broad audience, leaving listeners with the feeling that what they’ve experienced was new, fresh, and alive—even if it was a performance of a familiar classic.”

Indeed, connecting with the audience is of paramount importance to Confessore. “I am always striving to break down barriers of pretense and make our music and the symphonic concert experience as engaging and welcoming as possible to all listeners,” he says.

The bassoon has been Confessore’s primary instrument since his high school band days.

This accessibility is especially important when the audience is made up of children. Throughout his career, Confessore has been enthusiastic about sharing symphonic music with young people, conducting dozens of performances each year in conjunction with educational programs in various locations.

The BSO has long offered annual educational concerts that are attended by all fifth graders in Brevard County in the form of special field trips. Since 1999, the Indian River Symphonic Association has teamed up with the BSO to present these concerts to Indian River County fifth graders as well.

“I personally consider these concerts to be the most important events the BSO presents each year,” Confessore says. “Our program is designed specifically for a fifth-grade audience

in coordination with teachers and administrators to reinforce and enhance state curriculum standards.

“Our fabulous music specialists and classroom teachers have the students extremely well prepared to attend these concerts. The young listeners are engaged and enthusiastically responsive throughout the performances. For most students attending, this field trip is their first exposure to live symphonic music performed by a professional orchestra. The impression we make on these students will last a lifetime—I take that responsibility very seriously and find the experience to be immensely rewarding.”

Introducing youngsters to live classical music is just one facet of the BSO’s approach to education; another is showing them how much symphonic music they have already been exposed to without even realizing it. For example, “The Symphony Is All Around You,” a free, family-friendly concert held at the King Center for the Performing Arts in Melbourne, the BSO’s home venue, featured selections from Jurassic Park, The Super Mario Bros. Movie, and other familiar entertainment.

Confessore’s vibrant, energetic personality serves him well in his busy career. He is also

BSO Executive Director David Schillhammer and sponsor Wendy Brandon join Confessore on opening night of the BSO’s 2022–23 season.

Christopher Confessore has held the titles of music director and principal conductor for the BSO since 1995.

ROXANNE SCIANNA PHOTOGRAPHY

“I look forward to performing at the annual May Pops concert at Windsor.”

– CHRISTOPHER CONFESSORE

Confessore directs the Brevard Symphony Orchestra at a free Fourth of July concert in Cocoa Riverfront Park in 2022.

ROXANNE SCIANNA PHOTOGRAPHY

noted among musicians for his uncanny ability to know exactly how much rehearsal time is necessary for each particular program. That skill, which he attributes to “lots of experience,” helps him balance the demands on his time.

“Most classical concerts we present have a total of four rehearsals, which means a total of about nine and a half hours of rehearsal time,” he explains.

The BSO plays upwards of 30 concerts each season, with Confessore conducting varying numbers of musicians, depending on the selections being played. “Music by

Mozart typically requires fewer musicians than music by Tchaikovsky,” he explains. One “large-scale BSO concert featuring flashy showpieces by Respighi” placed more than 80 musicians before his baton, while a more straightforward concert featuring compositions of Beethoven and Mendelssohn required about 50.

Beyond their major stage concerts, these musicians participate in many outreach and small-ensemble performances as well. The BSO is very much a community orchestra for the residents of both Brevard and Indian River Counties.

The Brevard Symphony Orchestra performs close to 30 concerts each year, with its home venue being the King Center for the Performing Arts in Melbourne.

ROXANNE SCIANNA PHOTOGRAPHY

The Alabama Symphony Orchestra, with which Confessore performs 10 to 12 weeks per season, also places an emphasis on the accessibility of the genre, reaching out to “beginners” and encouraging them to feel comfortable attending a symphonic concert and not to be intimidated by fears that they will be expected to dress a certain way or be familiar with all of the music beforehand.

Back in Florida, in addition to the administrative duties inherent to his job as the BSO’s music director, he is responsible for selecting each season’s repertoire and guest artists.

Since his conducting work is concentrated primarily in the fall, winter, and spring months, he spends a prodigious amount of time over the summer studying. “A great conductor never stops learning,” he says. Confessore is far too humble to consider himself a great conductor, but there is no doubt he is unwavering in his aspirations.

One of the perennial highlights of

Confessore’s busy season is the outdoor May Pops concert held at Windsor’s polo grounds. Each year, this highly anticipated and wellattended event, which serves as a fundraiser for the Cleveland Clinic Indian River Foundation, welcomes the BSO and two guest vocalists. This year’s audience will enjoy the voices of Sarah Uriarte Berry and Sal Viviano. Berry has appeared on Broadway and in regional theaters, playing such prominent roles as Eponine in Les Misérables and Belle in Beauty and the Beast Viviano has appeared on Broadway, toured with Evita and The Pirates of Penzance, and sung with nearly 150 orchestras around the United States and abroad.

“I look forward to performing at the annual May Pops concert at Windsor,” Confessore says of the event set to take place May 7 at 5:30 p.m. “I’m a huge fan of Broadway music, so getting to accompany Broadway-caliber singers for such a large and appreciative audience is an absolute thrill!” `

Confessore celebrates another successful May Pops concert at Windsor with Broadway performers Susan Egan and David Burnham in 2018.

Reading at Full Blast

THE LEARNING ALLIANCE’S MOONSHOT MOMENT IS SERVING AS A BOOSTER FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL LITERACY LEVELS

BY HEATHER O’SHEA

PHOTOGRAPHY BY KIM BOTTALICO

Madalyn works with third grade teacher Noelle Grantham during a reading period that includes a section on space. Anthony and Zuri look on.

“Do you mean the goal or the puppet?” says Barbara Hammond, CEO of The Learning Alliance, when asked recently to explain what Moonshot is all about.

Moonshot the puppet is a happy, hairy, blue mascot in a far-out vest and a ballcap adorned with a rocket, who shows up in schools and stars in videos demonstrating ways parents and other educators can “read, talk, sing, play, create” (it’s a song) with their young children every day.

That’s more than just child’s play, and the Moonshot Moment is both less tangible than its puppet mascot and more ambitious. At the time of its inception just over 10 years ago, we told the story of the two mothers, Liz Woody-Remington and Barbara Hammond, accomplished professionals who turned their sons’ struggles in school into an initiative to unite a community around literacy. Also well known is the generosity and commitment of Ray Oglethorpe, Vero Beach resident and retired CEO of AOL, who poured his resources into the mission, enabling the two women to launch The Learning Alliance in 2009.

But what exactly is the Moonshot Moment? At its most basic level, it’s a vision, as ambitious as its space-program namesake, to create a community in which all children “become literate, compassionate, creative citizens who will improve our world.” Bringing that vision down to earth, it becomes a goal: “to get 90 percent of our students reading at grade level by third grade,” first articulated by then-retiring superintendent of schools Fran Adams in 2012.

Third grade is widely accepted as a turning point; common wisdom holds that after third grade, students are expected to “read to learn.” Deficiencies in reading skills at that level begin

compounding, hindering a child’s ability to succeed, not just in school but also in life.

In 2022, only 53 percent of thirdgrade students in Florida were reading at level 3 (satisfactory), a level that suggests they may still “need additional support” to be successful in fourth grade. A student reading at level 4 (proficient) is “likely to excel” in the next grade, while a score of 5 (mastery) denotes a student who is “highly likely” to excel.

Students in Indian River County surpassed the state average in 2018,

and progress was trending upward. After losing some ground during the pandemic years, 58 percent of the district’s students are reaching the level 3 mark, and SDIRC has improved its state ranking from 16 to 12.

The Learning Alliance, Hammond explains, “holds the goal” of the Moonshot Moment, uniting the community around a shared vision of literacy. The organization’s 16 employees work in partnership with the school district to promote excellence in teaching, to provide extended learning opportunities to students, to empower families as

Barbara Hammond and Liz Woody-Remington created The Learning Alliance more than 10 years ago to help students with struggles in literacy.

their children’s first teachers, and to build an engaged community.

In that last role, TLA serves as the managing partner of MCAN, the Moonshot Community Action Network, a group of 125 community leaders, including representatives from nonprofit organizations, elected officials, members of the school district, and concerned citizens, who meet regularly with the goal of “galvanizing community action” around literacy.

On the ground, Moonshot programs improve teaching and reach struggling students every day. Moonshot Academies are in place at seven of the 13 elementary schools in the district. Struggling students in second and third grade are invited to participate and receive 90 minutes of extended instruction, including skill building and enrichment activities, for three days a week after school

Nora Berry helps direct Citrus Elementary School students during a performance of Frozen

Thirty-five students from Citrus Elementary School’s third through fifth grade classes enjoy putting on a performance of Frozen for friends and family on Riverside Theatre’s main stage.

throughout the school year. The programs are led by teachers who receive two days of professional development training each quarter in strategies based in the science of teaching reading.

The programs extend beyond the school year. To prevent “summer slide,” four-week programs for struggling students are run at three different sites and last four hours each day. Nora Berry, an exceptionaled teacher at Citrus Elementary who teaches in the summer institute, explains that enrichment activities (often provided by community partners such as Vero Beach Museum of Art and Ballet Vero Beach) are combined with skill development and small-group tutoring every day. Student progress is tracked continuously, and a student who wasn’t ready for

fourth grade at the end of the school year can prevent slippage and even close the gap altogether.

Also underway are activities that extend Moonshot programs to older students. Berry recently worked in a Moonshot collaboration with the school, TLA, and Riverside Theatre in which 35 students in third through fifth grade participated in a production of Frozen. Berry loves the fact that the program embraces all children. “They don’t come to you with labels,” she says. “We take everybody and get them what they need.”

In the 2021–22 school year, approximately 4,500 students benefited from these directed interventions, and 350 teachers received training. Additionally, pre-K teachers and students are being reached by prevention intervention specialists, 12 elementary schools

have a third grade interventionist embedded on-site, and four campuses now have coaches on-site for teachers of kindergarten through second grade students.

The range of programs and the number of students and teachers served grow every year. In 2020, The Learning Alliance acquired the Kindergarten Readiness Collaborative and began developing Moonshot Families, a program to reach children from birth through their pre-K years. The “Moonshot Rocket” soars through the county bringing enrichment opportunities to people where they live, and a bookmobile makes sure all students have access to books.

One of the most exciting initiatives is the creation of the Moonshot Acceleration School this year at Vero Beach Elementary. The idea is to

At Vero Beach Elementary School, first grade teachers Nicole Benson and Michelle Morell-Vega work with Debbi Arseneaux, educational consultant and teaching artist with The Learning Alliance, planning an arts-integrated reading unit.

create an incubator, or a laboratory school, where ideas can be tested and teaching strategies revised, ultimately creating a hub of teacher training and a model for other schools in our community and beyond. Principal Lyndsey Matheny describes the school as a

“safe space” for brainstorming. “I have the authority,” she says, “to dream up what this could be.”

The school has an “acceleration team” consisting of a coordinator, an interventionist, and two people who work with teachers to oversee collab-

orative instruction planning. Funding for the program comes from both TLA and the school district.

Matheny describes the work as a “hyper-focused coaching model.” The acceleration team is fully embedded in the school and is in classrooms every day modeling lessons and providing in-the-moment coaching for teachers, delivering on-the-spot, continuous feedback. These teachers’ students are already showing better outcomes than their peers in classrooms without the extra support.

After-school programs at the school have also been expanded to include kindergarten and first grade students in addition to the second and third graders traditionally served by Moonshot Academies. And the students aren’t the only ones staying after school. Moonshot Mondays provide professional development around different topics each week from 3:45 to 5 p.m. Teachers are paid to attend these voluntary sessions, and plans are already underway to expand them to a full week before the beginning of the next school year.

Although still in its first year, results are promising. On the district’s standardized Impact Review Tool, which measures factors such as student engagement, collaborative planning, and feedback, the teachers at Vero Beach Elementary are outperforming their peers across the district in every area.

“Our kindergartners are off the chart with their growth!” says Matheny. Almost 70 percent of them were demonstrating grade-level proficiency with only half a year’s instruction. The expectation is that they will meet the 90 percent goal this year, setting them up well for continued growth.

Matheny describes this as the “incubator” year for the acceleration

Robert gets some individualized instruction from Vero Beach Elementary third grade chair Noelle Grantham.

school, which could become a training hub for the district in the future and a model for schools everywhere. “There’s no replicable place to visit,” she says. “We can become the epicenter of a stand-alone lab school with a public-private partnership.” Indeed, David Moore, SDIRC superintendent of schools, credits this partnership as one of the things that drew him to the district.

The Moonshot Moment is a vision, a goal, a community network, a set of programs and initiatives, a publicprivate partnership, and a budding national model that has already received 10 Pacesetter Awards from the National Campaign for Grade Level Reading. But to parent Kelli Healy, it’s simpler than all that.

Her daughter, Madalyn, spent her kindergarten year in front of a computer during the pandemic. She struggled with phonics, and by first grade she was coming home from school at Vero Beach Elementary frustrated every day.

When the school reached out to the Healys, Kelli jumped at the chance to enroll Madalyn in Moonshot Academy. Within the first month, she was reading to her parents. “She grew by leaps and bounds,” Healy says, “It was phenomenal.” Healy describes the program as “fun and interactive” and describes how her daughter grew to love learning. “She’s empowered and confident,” Healy adds, “and equipped with an arsenal of tools.”

Madalyn, a third grader now, will graduate from Moonshot this year. She’s reading 400-page chapter books and just tested into the gifted program. “I believe in this program so much,” Healy says. “It needs to be in every school.”

It’s a safe bet that the visionaries at the forefront of the Moonshot Moment won’t stop until it is. `

Zuri works on her reading skills in Noelle Grantham’s third grade class at Vero Beach Elementary.

Kelli Healy enrolled her daughter, Madalyn, in the Moonshot Academy when she was struggling to read in first grade. Madalyn is now in the gifted program in third grade.

From Hardship to Hope

A VERO BEACH TEEN LIVING WITH A RARE CONDITION SERVES AS A ROLE MODEL FOR FAMILIES AROUND THE WORLD

BY ANN TAYLOR

Anna Artigas is like most teenagers. She goes to school, keeps up with the latest trends, and likes to swim, scuba dive, golf, and travel.

What sets the Saint Edward’s sophomore apart is that she recently returned from Uganda, where she played a key role in a 10-day surgical workshop presented by the Association for the Bladder Exstrophy Community, an international support network for patients and families living with bladder exstrophy. Anna not only gave a formal presentation, she spent 12 to 14 hours a day at the hospital, answering questions and reassuring families that the future is full of opportunities.

“I was invited to let them know their children can live a fulfilling life, that they can go to school, play sports, and become a parent someday. I helped them understand what it’s like to live with bladder exstrophy and trained them on the day-to-day care,” says Anna, who was born with the rare condition in which the bladder develops outside the fetus, requiring delicate surgery by urologic and orthopedic surgeons, followed by months of healing.

“Urology experts from Johns Hopkins were at the workshop as well as surgeons and dignitaries from Uganda and other African countries. As a team we worked with over 18 families from Uganda,” Anna continues. “Some of the children had complex surgeries, while others received follow-up care. I helped by telling my story and listening to what the kids were going through. Many times, after hearing what I had to say, they were no longer afraid.”

That’s because Anna’s story, from being adopted from a Chinese orphanage when she was 4 years old, to enduring eight surgeries and facing more, is one of courage, perseverance, and, above all, love.

An overflowing amount of that love comes from her adoptive mother, Pamela Artigas, who had long wanted to adopt a child from China. She just needed to find the right one and a way to make it happen.

“I was at work one day and Anna’s picture popped up on my computer screen,” says Pamela. “There she was, wearing a little pink dress, sitting on a bicycle and smiling. It was serendipitous, like the legend of the red thread that winds its way around the world and connects certain people. I just knew she was meant to be mine.” As she finishes, mother and daughter share a smile and their fingers touch.

“After my mom adopted me, she brought me to Seattle Children’s Hospital, where I had a 14-hour surgery that would forever change my life,” says Anna. “The doctors turned my

Anna Artigas, adopted from a Chinese orphanage at age 4, is now a voice of hope for people around the world enduring a rare medical condition.

bladder the right side in and put it back into my tummy. Because it was so small, they took some of my intestine to make it bigger. They also made me a belly button from a piece of my appendix, and I had to wear a body cast for four months so my pelvis could heal. I spent so long in the hospital that I forgot how to speak Chinese!”

During the time her daughter was in the hospital, Pamela became good friends with world-renowned surgeon Dr. Richard Grady, who had helped expedite Anna’s adoption and put together her surgical team.

“Dr. Grady and I started talking about the lack of support for children and families dealing with bladder exstrophy, and together we relaunched the Association for the Bladder Exstrophy Community, creating a worldwide support system of experts in exstrophy surgery,” says Pamela, who serves as president and executive director of the nonprofit organization. “We became a global force, helping underserved children receive the care they need and deserve. Our goals are to forge partnerships with patients, their families, and the medical community.”

Having seen Anna grow and stay strong as she deals with numerous

medical issues has heightened Pamela’s passion for helping others. Her husband, Dr. Ricardo Artigas, and 16-year-old daughter Lily, also adopted from China, join in her efforts to reach out to those less fortunate. “We have a fundraiser where we gather pj’s for kids in the hospital that I bring with me on mission trips,” Pamela says. “That way they can have a change of clothes after surgery. I’ve basically recruited the whole family, and we all provide a tremendous amount of time and energy for this cause.”

Reflecting on things that have helped shape her life since she was adopted and had that first surgery, Anna’s eyes light up. “When I was 5 years old, I learned how to do my catheter by myself so I could go to school. I have to catheter every four hours,

Dr. Ranjiv Mathews, a Hopkins-trained surgeon and pediatric urologist, speaks with Dr. Phyllis Kisa, the only pediatric urologist in Uganda, before scrubbing in for surgery.

Anna worked with many children one-on-one during her trip, including Princess, explaining what will happen before her surgery the following day.

ABOUT ANNA’S MOTHER:

As president and executive director of the Association for the Bladder Exstrophy Community (A-BE-C), Pamela Artigas has made it her life’s mission to develop a global support network for families dealing with this disorder. Her enthusiasm and energy are contagious as she strives to improve the quality of life for children born with bladder exstrophy and for their parents, who understandably may be experiencing a sense of hopelessness, especially if they live in a developing country where expertise in this rare condition is not available. A-BE-C provides the information, guidance, and resources they need to seek treatment.

Part of Pamela’s job is to raise money to facilitate surgeries for underserved children, and she is currently working with families from more than a dozen countries. A-BE-C not only brings the family to a specialist who can perform the complex surgery, it brings their local doctor to receive the training he or she will need to care for the patient on an ongoing basis back home.

Bungee, a teaching doll, is used to help explain difficult medical terms and procedures to children.

Anna spends some time relaxing and having a little fun with children before they undergo treatment for bladder exstrophy in Uganda.

and I will have to do this for the rest of my life.

“One thing I always had to do at the beginning of each school year was to explain to my teachers how I was different. We would make a plan for me to go to the bathroom and where to keep all my supplies. This was hard, because kids were always asking me why it took me so long to go to the bathroom or why I used the teachers’ bathroom instead of the kids’ bathroom.

“When I got into middle school, I was able to keep my catheters in my backpack, but I always tried to go to the bathroom when other girls weren’t in there, because I stand instead of sit. I was very nervous that my friends would find out about my condition.”

As much as Anna tries to be, as she says, “normal,” having bladder exstrophy is always on her mind. She worries that one day she will forget to take her catheters, and she worries about what she’ll say when someone asks her why she spends so much time in the bathroom. There are no sleepovers, as she doesn’t feel comfortable staying overnight at friends’ houses or inviting them to stay at her house.

While there are limitations, there are also opportunities, and Anna, a straight-A student, looks on the bright side when she says, “Having bladder exstrophy has given me a chance to be a better person, to help other kids and their families. I want to show them they can have a good life; I want them to have hope for the future.” `

Anna visits with Josephine, a young Ugandan mother with bladder exstrophy.

Anna engages the kids, including Treasure, in art therapy before their procedures. Treasure was at the hospital in Uganda for her second surgery in February.

Anna and Pamela Artigas enjoy some beach time before spending nearly two weeks in Uganda, educating families and giving them hope for their medical futures.

WE’VE TRANSFORMED OUR SHOWROOM . Stop in to learn how we can help you transform your home. UPHOLSTERY|FABRIC|DRAPERIES

Explore how Hunter Douglas window treatments transform the light in your home by defining the mood of your unique and beautiful space. We have an intelligent shade design for whatever you need or desire.

Additionally, let one of our master craftsmen create custom draperies, reupholster a treasured heirloom or recover the cushions of your watercraft and outdoor furniture.

more out of it than

and Deliver,” p. 90

“I’m sure I get

the

warm meal I give them.” – LEIGH BERGSTROM, “Stand

GIFT GUIDE

Elizabeth Locke 19-karat gold set in Venetian glass, price upon request

VERANDA

3325 Ocean Drive | 772-234-3404

verandajewelry.com

Fresh, healthful gazpacho and summer soups, prices from $10

ELIZABETH D. KENNEDY & CO. 486 21st St. | 772-563-0646 elizabethkennedycatering.com

White concrete vase, small ($80) or large ($120)

HAZEL HOUSE

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

Spring by René Guerin, 24 x 30 inches, oil, price upon request

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

“You Are My Sunshine” necklace, 18-karat gold & diamonds, price starting at $1,960

THE LAUGHING DOG GALLERY 2910 Cardinal Drive | 772-234-6711 thelaughingdoggallery.com

Smocked, fluttersleeve pink lemonade dress, $100

PREPPY PALMS 1010 Sexton Plaza shoppreppypalms.com

Mirror medicine cabinet with interior lighting, electrical outlets, and more, price upon request

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

Handmade Bunny Bradley travel bags, prices range from $35 to $130

TRIMMINGS HOME GARDEN AND GIFTS

3201 Cardinal Drive | 772-213-8069

shoptrimmingsvb.com

Visiting Monarchs by Gustavo Novoa, acrylic on canvas, 16 x 12 inches, price upon request

FINDLAY GALLERIES

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

Mother-of-pearl and turquoise natural shell earrings, price upon request

LEIGH JEWELERS 3401 Ocean Drive | 772-234-8522

leighjewelers.com

Dry texturizing spray by Oribe, prices starting at $24

CALVETTI AND COMPANY

10 Royal Palm Pointe | 772-770-9903

calvettiandcompany.com

Hart MAMA bracelet, price upon request

VB HOME  615 Beachland Blvd. 772-492-9348

vbhome.us

Varaluz Who Do Ya Love mirror in gold, price upon request

LED CAPSTONE LIGHTING & FAN SHOWROOM

4005 U.S. Hwy. 1 | 772-205-2529 ledcapstone.com

Custom ottomans in performance velvet, $860/piece

ALEXANDRA NUTTALL INTERIORS DESIGN STUDIO

4625 Hwy. A1A, Suite 8 | 772-231-3746 acninteriors.com

Collagen booster, $71 ICONIC DERMATOLOGY 4800 20th St. 772-758-1310 iconicderm.com

One-of-a-kind 5-carat emerald-cut blue pleochroic topaz set in 18-karat gold, $3,500

ROYAL PALM JEWEL

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

Personalized monogrammed sandals for Mom, price upon request

PALM BEACH SANDALS

3309 Ocean Drive | 772-226-5998

pbsandals.com

COAST BOUTIQUE

1951 Old Dixie Hwy. | 772-321-5535 coastboutiquevb.com

FANTASTIC FINDS

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

KEMP’S SHOE SALON AND BOUTIQUE 3385 Ocean Drive | 772-231-2771 kempsshoesalon.com

DEEP SIX

416 21st St. 772-562-2883 deepsix.com

MOTOR CITY CLASSIC CARS

4900 42nd Place 772-252-3590

motorcityclassiccars.com

Mama + Me necklace by Cut + Clarity, price starting at $395

Original watercolor by Evelyn Bernal, 37 1/4 x 30 inches, $599

Hey Dude Wendy Halo collection, $59.99

1966 Ford Mustang convertible, $67,000

Eric Javits Squishee Bardot handbag, $325

Bangles in 18-karat yellow gold with diamonds, price starting at $13,500

PROVIDENT JEWELRY

828 W. Indiantown Road, Jupiter | 561-747-4449 providentjewelry.com

Dr. Dennis Gross LED mask, $455

OCEAN DRIVE PLASTIC SURGERY

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

DITA sunglasses, handmade in Japan, $675

G. MATHEOS EYEWEAR

6200 Hwy. A1A, Village Shops | 772-492-6400

Pond Yacht Sailing by J. Lewis, 16 x 12 inches, $1,600

MEGHAN CANDLER GALLERY

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

Community in Motion

THERE’S NEVER A DULL MOMENT WITH LOCAL NONPROFITS VALENTINE’S DAY REGATTA

YOUTH SAILING FOUNDATION

The 308 junior sailors—aged 9 to 13—who descended upon Tampa Bay for the Valentine’s Day Regatta did not necessarily fall in love with the 32-knot gales and 4-foot waves they encountered, but they were up to the challenge. The St. Petersburg Yacht Club hosted the February 12 event, which featured 8-foot Optimist dinghies manned by skippers sailing solo. YSF’s Alex Delamarter finished in the top quartile of the Gold Fleet competition, with his YSF teammates Hanno and Ole Vorholz making the third quartile. “These boys rose to the challenge presented by the rough weather and huge fleet of top sailors,” says YSF coach Luke Agront.

YSF’s Alex, Nick, Ole, Hanno

Alex on a choppy Tampa Bay

YSF’s Nick

DWVS KICKOFF

HEALTHY START COALITION

After a nearly three-year delay due to COVID, the participants in the latest Dancing with Vero’s Stars event were delighted to gather at Riverside Theatre in early January for a kickoff meet and greet. The fundraiser, which benefits Indian River Healthy Start Coalition, is now in its 12th year; it will take place November 18, also at Riverside Theatre. At the kickoff, enthusiastic fanfare accompanied the official pairing of each participating local personality with his or her partner, a professional dancer. Each pair will spend the next several months preparing to dazzle the audience and the judges with some fancy footwork.

“Vero’s Stars” have been paired with their professional dancers and are now busy rehearsing.

Mandy Fetzer, Robert Scott Brian Spector, Karren Walter, Ben Earman, JoAnne and Bart Crosby Lundy and Kit Fields

Kristina Pernfors, Dimas Caraballo

Tanya and Michael Chaves with Juliette

Committee members Nicki Maslin, Ben Earman, and Chloe Rose

Ray Hooker, Marianella Tobar

Event co-chairs Lisa Barnes and Karen Franke

Healthy Start Coalition board member Frida Randolfi, CEO Andrea Berry PHOTOGRAPHS BY MARYANN KETCHAM

WWII COMMEMORATIVE CEREMONY

MCKEE BOTANICAL GARDEN

Retired Marine Corps General James Mattis, who served as the United States’ 26th secretary of defense, led a ceremony commemorating 80 years since Arthur McKee allowed U.S. Naval Air Station Vero Beach to use the then80-acre McKee Jungle Gardens for training purposes. The garden was closed to the public so that military pilots could learn jungle survival skills that would serve them well in the Pacific theater. Mattis delivered a moving and informative talk, and a dedication plaque was laid underneath a banyan tree adjacent to the garden’s koi pond.

General James Mattis is flanked by members of Vero Beach Pipes and Drums.

Nick and Logan Geeslin, Claudia Owen, Bob Formisano

Christine Hobart, General Mattis, Peter Benedict

John Michael Matthews, General Mattis, Tony Young

The plaque honors the WWII pilots who trained at McKee Jungle Gardens.

General Mattis with members of the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps Neptune Spear Division’s Color Guard

Pamela Cooper, Marion de Vogel, Earl Morgan

RIBBON CUTTING

CLEVELAND CLINIC INDIAN RIVER FOUNDATION

In February, nearly a dozen members of the extended Rosner family, along with friends and members of the community, gathered at Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital for a ribbon cutting. Ron and Nancy Rosner did the honors, making official the newly named Rosner Family Health & Wellness Center. In memory of their grandson Evan, whose accidental death last year at age 23 rocked the family, the couple donated $10 million to the hospital foundation. Their generous gift will help fund the expansion of CCIRH’s Behavioral Health Center, some much-needed renovations to the Emergency Department, and the recruitment and retention of doctors.

REGATTA NO. 2

YOUTH SAILING FOUNDATION

The young sailors of Youth Sailing Foundation of Indian River County showed their impressive skills at the Florida East Coast Series Regatta No. 2 on February 5. Hosted by the century-old Eau Gallie Yacht Club near Melbourne, the event drew sailors from as far away as the Keys. YSF’s Nick LaRochelle took first place in the 8-foot Optimist Silver class, with club-mate David Ratanu cruising in just behind to clinch second. Teen skipper Edee Steinkamp and her crew Luke Franco maneuvered their 14-foot 420 dinghy into third place in their division. In the same class, skipper Mikey Ladd and crew Jimmie Collins sailed into seventh place. A northeast breeze and intermittent showers made for some challenging racing conditions.

Nick, Edee, Luke, Mikey, Jimmie, David

Josh, Tina, Benne, Helen, and Dr. Mitchell Rosner; Ron and Nancy Rosner; Clay, Gail, Chad, and Jake Huber

Jake, Chad, Gail, and Clay Huber; Nancy, Ron, Dr. Mitchell, Helen, Tina, Josh, and Benne Rosner

Nancy and Ron Rosner

NIGHT OF HOPE

THE SOURCE

Homeless ministry

The Source held its 18th annual Night of Hope fundraiser February 6 at The Emerson Center, with nearly 250 guests, staff, volunteers, sponsors, donors, and friends of the nonprofit in attendance. An array of sunflowers, created by Monti’s Flower Market, set a cheerful tone for the gathering, and The Source’s own Dignity Catering provided the hors d’oeuvres and desserts. The highlight of the evening was the performance by renowned gospel singer Wintley Phipps, who sang three inspiring songs: “I Believe (for Every Drop of Rain That Falls),” “Amen,” and “When You Walk Through a Storm.”

MAJOR SPONSORS:

Cindy O’Dare and Richard Boga of One Sotheby’s International Realty

Russell Walker, Olguy Limorin, and Zach Biggerstaff

Richard Boga, Tony Zorbaugh, Cindy O’Dare

Wintley Phipps

Emmett and Margaret Anne Evans, Donald and Allison Proctor

Diane and Tim Dornan, Diantha and Bill Harris

Nina Mukherji and Monica Geercken

Harold Lovell, Suzanne Chesser

Susanne and Doug Sweeney

Tina Moore, Maria Traverse

April and Joe Chiarella

Maria and Pastor Wayne Traverse

Carol and Deacon Phillip Braithwaite

CRAFT BREW & WINGFEST

SUNRISE ROTARY VERO BEACH

The 11th annual Florida Craft Brew & Wingfest, held February 18 at Royal Palm Pointe, was once again a big success. Many brewmasters were on hand with their offerings, the wing-eating contest brought some stiff competition. As for the “Best Wings in Vero,” Cap’s Pizza took top honors in the restaurant division and The Source’s Dignity Foods team came in first among independent chefs. Various City of Vero Beach officials served as judges, basing their decisions on flavor and presentation.

Cap’s Pizza with the plaque for first place in the restaurant division: Nicole Carroll, John Capobianco, Jessica Bartley, Nicole Morgan

Rotarian Arthur Hodge (orange shirt) with the judges: VBPD Chief David Currey, Monte Falls, Sean Collins, Jason Jeffries, Jim O’Connell, Brandon Dambeck

Josh, Toni, and Dana from The Source’s Dining with Dignity program

James Foerst, owner of Garage Pizza, with second place honors

Wing eating contest top finishers Parrish Lore and Jeff Berchtold

Tara Trennepohl of BigShots Golf with the Spirit Award

“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words but to live by them.”

– JOHN F. KENNEDY

FASHION MEETS ART

VERO BEACH MUSEUM OF ART

Special guests Mark Badgley and James Mischka headlined VBMA’s sixth annual Fashion Meets Art event, chaired this year by Leslie Bergstrom and Gregory Allan Ness. Badgley and Mischka entertained 300 guests with their fashion insights and humorous anecdotes from three decades in the fashion industry, and then everyone repaired to the Laura and Bill Buck Atrium for cocktails and hors d’oeuvres. This highly anticipated annual event serves as a fundraiser benefiting VBMA’s education programs.

MAJOR SPONSORS:

Windsor; Ocean Drive Plastic Surgery; 1919 Investment Counsel; Nora and Madison Grose; Dana Hutton; Ruth Ann Gillis McGuinnis; O’Dare Boga Group; Vero Beach Magazine ; Vero Beach Outlets

Mark Badgley, Tiffany Corr, James Mischka

Mark Badgley, Leslie Bergstrom, Gregory Allan Ness, James Mischka

Geri Kent, Tammy Reilly, Margaret Anne Evans, Deana Marchant, Mary Ellen Cowhey

Mark Badgley, Pat Hemingway Hall, Ruth Ann Gillis McGuinnis, Diane Reilly, Cecily Dunlap, James Mischka

Eileen Grasso, Nora and Madison Grose, Susan and Charles Rusbasan

Representing One Sotheby’s: Carly Witteck, Susan Perry, Mazie Regan, Cindy O’Dare, Kristin Dobson, Vanessa Bynum, Anne Wallace

From Windsor: Lynne Zande, Susan Zimmer, Jodie King, Suzanne Segalas, Betsy Hanley, Sarah Baine, Vickie Smick, Lisa McCarthy; in the back, Jules Herrmann is flanked by chairs Leslie Bergstrom and Gregory Allan Ness.

Tiffany Starr, Amanda Pfennig, Suzanne Curry

Jenn Kite, Shelley Colontrelle, Rachel Clark

Hilary Weston, Betsy Hanley

Representing Ocean Drive Plastic Surgery: Penny Forsten, Miranda Klinedinst, Kolynn Kuehn, Mila Carlson, Dr. Jimmy and Taylor Chim, Leslie Dubé

WINE & DINE

HIBISCUS CHILDREN’S CENTER

More than 180 guests gathered at Grand Harbor Club in February for Hibiscus Children’s Center’s Wine & Dine Around the World event. They enjoyed a culinary journey around the globe, sampling food and wine from various cultures while supporting the youth living at Hibiscus Children’s Center. These previously abused and/or neglected young people receive educational services, mental health counseling, and career training in a nurturing and encouraging environment.

MAJOR SPONSORS:

Fran and Clete Gilson; Jan and Mike Harrell; Olivia and Jim Harrell; Linda and Mel Teetz

Jeff Earlywine, Candy Coldwell, Judy Langrave, Brian Leonard, Nancy Madsen, Vance Brinkerhoff, and Herb Whittall, all of the Exchange Club of Vero Beach

Event co-chairs Jan Harrell and Carole Casey

Mel and Linda Teetz, Jean and Jim Kelly

Helen Robertson

Bonnie and Dave Wilson

Jan and Mike Harrell

JAKE ’N’ SKY SHOW

MUSIC ANGELS EDUCATION FUND

South Florida performers Jacob and Skylar Velazquez brought their “Jake ’n’ Sky Show” to Vero Beach February 18 to benefit the Music Angels Education Fund, which provides scholarships for talented youngsters in financial need to take music lessons. Jake, aged 15, plays numerous instruments, and 11-year-old Sky sings and plays the ukulele; both siblings are on the autism spectrum and seek to inspire other young people. They were joined by dancers from Indian River Charter High School, who were on hand with their artistic director, Michael Naffziger, in the performance of Jake’s original composition “Transcend.”

Sam Gagliano; Jacob, Skylar, Tina, and Willie Velazquez; Linda Sposato

Skylar and Jacob Velazquez

Tanner Goulet, Michael Naffziger Diane and Dennis Viola

Peter Baker, Yvonne Ramos

John Gleason, Cynthia Scheeler, Sarah Hamilton, Stephanie Flocco, Teresa Hilton, Dida O’Keefe

Angie Jones, Kathy D’Arton, Mary Maule, Lynne Gaber, Helen Stefanacci

Rachel Morrell, Gavin Ruotolo

The Jake ’n’ Sky Show

Nelson Cover, David, Gretchen Cover, Brooke

MOTOR CAR EXHIBITION

MCKEE BOTANICAL GARDEN

More than 3,000 automotive enthusiasts turned out for McKee Botanical Garden’s 14th annual Motor Car Exhibition February 11. “Car Collectors’ Favorites” was the theme, and more than 40 collectors were on hand with their favorite vehicles, showing them off and answering questions. McKee’s eight-member Car Show Committee selects the theme each year and extends invitations to owners of vehicles that fit the bill. Next year’s Motor Car Exhibition, scheduled for February 10, 2024, will be themed “Rods and Customs.” `

1957 Chevy Bel Air

1950 Jaguar XK120

1913 Case Model 30 N

1957 BMW Isetta

1952 Ford F-1 pickup

“People

a toy poodle but fall in love with a 30-pound spaniel instead.”

– KATE MEGHJI, “Designer Genes,” p. 80

Come What May ...

YOU WON’T WANT TO MISS THE LATEST ART OFFERINGS

‘MOMENTS IN TIME’

MAY 2–26

Gallery 14 continues its 15th anniversary season with “Moments in Time: Observations in Oil by Iris Beate.” Inspired by her travels, Beate captures a variety of human interactions, natural vignettes, and moments in people’s lives. She has also gained inspiration from the teachers with whom she has studied, including those at The Art Students League of New York. Gallery 14 will hold an opening reception during the First Friday Gallery Stroll May 5 from 5 to 8 p.m.

GALLERY 14

1911 14th Ave. 772-562-5525

gallery14verobeach.com

‘FACES IN A CROWD’

MAY 2–JUNE 3

J.M. Stringer Gallery presents “Faces in a Crowd: The recent paintings of Joseph Sundwall.” The Chicago native began his artistic pursuits early in life and became an accomplished portrait painter before branching out into equestrian scenes and then a broader range of animal subjects and landscapes. Sundwall is a traditional realist whose style is classified as “alla prima” or “direct painting,” in which each section of a painting is completed in a single sitting. He employs a minimal number of brushstrokes to convey an image and the play of light on the scene.

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

jmstringergallery.com

Sounds of the City by Iris Beate, oil on canvas, 36 x 24 inches

Tern, Tern, Tern + Two by Joseph Sundwall, oil on linen, 12 x 12 inches

ABSTRACT EXPRESSIONISTS

MAY 3–JULY 3

Findlay Galleries presents a group exhibition of works by its stable of American Abstract Expressionists, including John Ferren, John Grillo, Frank Lobdell, and Robert Richenburg. Abstract Expressionism developed in New York City after World War II and became the first distinctly American art movement, causing New York to displace Paris as the center of the Western art world.

FINDLAY GALLERIES

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

Ongoing Events

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

THROUGH MAY 31

‘SPRING FLING’

The Environmental Learning Center is holding its ‘Spring Fling’ art show, which features the work of more than 30 nature-inspired artists.

ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING CENTER

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

THROUGH MAY 31

‘IMMERSED’

Gallery Veritas is holding a photography exhibition of works by Xaque Gruber called “Immersed.” It is described as “Looking at humans looking at art.”

GALLERY VERITAS & ART LIBRARY 1422 20th St. thegalleryveritas.com

THROUGH JUNE 30

SPRING ART INSTALLMENT

Local artists Rebecca Anders, Margaret Hobbs, Tana Brasie Nalley, and Iris Peters are featured in the current exhibition at The Galleries at First Pres.

THE GALLERIES AT FIRST PRES

520 Royal Palm Blvd. 772-562-9088 firstpresvero.org/ galleriesatfirstpres

‘TREASURE COAST CREATES’

MAY 20–SEPTEMBER 3

Our friends and neighbors will take center stage at Vero Beach Museum of Art during the late spring and summer. VBMA is mounting its inaugural juried fine art exhibition of recent works by living local artists. “Treasure Coast Creates” will occupy the Holmes and Titelman Galleries and will include the work of up to 100 artists from Indian River, St. Lucie, and Martin Counties. Ellen E. Roberts, senior curator of American art at the Norton Museum of Art in West Palm Beach, will serve as juror and judge, and a total of $15,000 will be awarded for the top three selections.

VERO BEACH MUSEUM OF ART

3001 Riverside Park Drive 772-231-0707

vbmuseum.org

Untitled 12A by John Grillo, oil on canvas, 84 x 23 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

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

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 at least three artists featured each season. Indian River County artists are invited to apply to be part of the galleries’ everchanging lineup.

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

GALLERY 14

The gallery features a diverse array of works in oil, acrylic, watercolor, mixed media, collage, sculpture, ceramic, jewelry, pastel, and photography by Gallery 14 owner-artists

Edgardo Abello, Lila Blakeslee, Barbara du Pont, Mary Ann Hall, Barbara Landry, George Pillorgé, Deborah Morrell Polackwich, and Dorothy Napp Schindel. Other artists include Walford Campbell, Joan Earnhart, Terry Green, Viola Pace Knudsen, Mia Lindberg, Francis Mesaros, Michael Robinson, Carol Staub, and sales associate-artist Jo Zaza, along with monthly rotation exhibits by guests.

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

THE GALLERY AT WINDSOR

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

3125 Windsor Blvd. 772-388-4071 windsorflorida.com/the-gallery

GALLERY VERITAS & ART LIBRARY

Founded by local artist Xaque Gruber, this gallery also serves as a working studio housing seven artists. Under the same roof is a large collection of art books covering prehistoric through contemporary art, once kept at Vero Beach Museum of Art.

1422 20th St. thegalleryveritas.com

J.M. STRINGER

GALLERY OF FINE ART

The gallery offers worldwide collections of original paintings, objets d’art, sculptures, and select antique furnishings.

3465 Ocean Drive 772-231-3900 jmstringergallery.com

THE LAUGHING

DOG GALLERY

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

2910 Cardinal Drive 772-234-6711 thelaughingdoggallery.com

MAIN STREET VERO BEACH STUDIOS

AND GALLERY

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

2036 14th Ave. 772-643-6782 mainstreetverobeach.org

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

Floating Jellyfish by Iris Peters, mixed media, 31 x 16 inches, at The Galleries at First Pres

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 ❀

Mellow by Claire Kendrick, oil on canvas, 18 x 48 inches, at Meghan Candler Gallery

The ‘Merry, Merry Month’

YOU MAY WANT TO GET IN ON THESE APPEALING ACTIVITIES

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

MAY 10 Wednesday

MAY 1

Monday

GOLF-A-THON

It’s time for the VNA & Hospice Foundation’s 33rd annual Golf-A-Thon, featuring 13 golf professionals from local clubs. By supporting their favorite pros, donors can help VNA provide home health care and hospice services to our neighbors who would otherwise be unable to afford the care they need.

VNA & HOSPICE FOUNDATION at Indian River Club 800 Carolina Circle SW

772-978-5591 vnatc.org

MAY 3

Wednesday

WELLNESS WEDNESDAY

The Indian River County Main Library is teaming up with the American Heart Association to offer a program teaching simple,

fun ways to improve heart and brain health. Registration is not required. 2 p.m., free

IRC MAIN LIBRARY 1600 21st St. 772-400-6335 libraries.ircgov.com

MAY 5

Friday

OPENING RECEPTION Gallery 14 will hold a reception celebrating the launch of “Moments in Time: Observations in Oil by Iris Beate,” an exhibition that runs through May 26. 5–8 p.m.

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

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 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

LIBRARY GARDEN CLUB

The Indian River County Main Library invites all those who want to bring their gardening knowledge and questions to gather in the large meeting room. The club meets on the second Wednesday of each month, and no registration is required. 10 a.m., free IRC MAIN LIBRARY 1600 21st St. 772-400-6335 libraries.ircgov.com

MAY 11

Thursday

THE COUNCIL

The theater students of IRSC present The Council by William S. Yellow Robe Jr., a fable about the coexistence of humans, animals, and the natural world, conveyed with dramatic storytelling and innovative puppetry. May 11–14; Thursday–Friday 7 p.m., Saturday, 2 and 7 p.m., Sunday 2 p.m.; $15

MCALPIN FINE ARTS CENTER

IRSC Massey Campus

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

MAY 12

Friday

2025 and, later, head to Mars.

May 12–13 and 26–27; Fridays 7 and 8:30 p.m., Saturdays 1 and 2:30 p.m.; $5

HALLSTROM PLANETARIUM

IRSC Massey Campus

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

‘ONE NIGHT OF QUEEN’ Gary Mullen and the Works will once again bring their highenergy Queen tribute to the historic Sunrise Theatre. The band has been touring the world since 2001, delighting Queen fans with such unforgettable hits as “Bohemian Rhapsody” and “We Are the Champions.” 8 p.m., $44–$59

SUNRISE THEATRE

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

‘FORWARD TO THE MOON’

IRSC’s Hallstrom Planetarium invites curious minds to experience “Forward to the Moon,” a lecture and multimedia presentation on the Artemis Project, a multinational effort to return humans to the moon by

FLOWERS FOR MOM

Customers purchasing Mother’s Day gifts valued at $500 or more will receive a complimentary hand-tied Heirloom Blooms bouquet during Trimmings’ two-day Flowers for Mom event. May 12–13; Friday 11 a.m.–5 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m.–3 p.m.

TRIMMINGS HOME GARDEN AND GIFTS

3201 Cardinal Drive 772-213-8069 shoptrimmingsvb.com

MAY 13

Saturday

WAREHOUSE SALE

Hazel House will hold its annual warehouse sale and block party in conjunction with other local vendors. 10 a.m.–4 p.m.

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

COFFEE & CRIME

True crime buffs will enjoy the Main Library’s Coffee & Crime book club, which meets on the second Saturday of each month. This month’s book is The Ransomware Hunting Team: A Band of Misfits’ Improbable Crusade to Save the World from Cybercrime by Renee Dudley and Daniel Golden. 10 a.m., free

IRC MAIN LIBRARY

1600 21st St. 772-400-6306 libraries.ircgov.com

MAY 17 Wednesday

ART TALK

VBMA’s education staff presents “Highlights from the Permanent Collection.” Space is limited, so preregistration is required. Noon–1 p.m., free with paid admission

VERO BEACH MUSEUM OF ART

3001 Riverside Park Drive 772-231-0707, ext. 116 vbmuseum.org

MAY 18 Thursday

SPRING SOIREE

Regency Park invites guests to tour its newly renovated luxury independent senior-living apartments and amenities during the Spring Soiree. Guests will enjoy food and cocktails from Regency Park’s five eateries as well as live music and prizes.

4–6 p.m.

REGENCY PARK

910 Regency Square 772-742-2465 regencyparkverobeach.com

KOTO DEMONSTRATION

Musician Yoshiko Carlton will introduce guests to the history and sound of the koto, a centuries-old Japanese stringed instrument. Noon, 1:30 p.m., or 3 p.m.; museum admission plus $5

MORIKAMI MUSEUM AND JAPANESE GARDENS

4000 Morikami Park Road, Delray Beach

561-495-0233 morikami.org

MAY 16

Tuesday

CRAFT ‘N’ CHAT

Crafters are invited to bring their projects and materials and enjoy the camaraderie of Craft ‘n’ Chat. 1–3 p.m., free

BRACKETT LIBRARY

IRSC Mueller Campus

6155 College Lane

772-400-6366 libraries.ircgov.com

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 FRIDAY & SATURDAY

COMEDY ZONE

Riverside Theatre presents Comedy Zone and Live in the Loop, with two comedians and local bands as well as food and beverages available from the grill. Comedy Zone is recommended for guests 18 and older. Live in the Loop: 5:45 p.m.; general admission free, reserved seating available; Comedy Zone 7 and 9 p.m., $25

RIVERSIDE THEATRE

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

BACKSTAGE ACCESS

Riverside Theatre’s Backstage Access adult classes are back. On three consecutive Thursdays, participants will delve behind the scenes of a professional theater production. May 18 and 25, June 1; 10 a.m.–noon; $75

RIVERSIDE THEATRE

3250 Riverside Park Drive 772-231-6990

riversidetheatre.com

EVERY FIRST FRIDAY

FIRST FRIDAY GALLERY STROLL

Enjoy an evening walk in downtown Vero Beach, pop into some galleries, and perhaps grab a beverage or a bite at a café. May 5 and June 2; 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. May 26, 6–9 p.m., free MAIN STREET VERO BEACH Downtown along 14th Avenue 772-643-6782 mainstreetverobeach.org

EVERY LAST SATURDAY

VBMA FREE ADMISSION

Admission is free for everyone on the last Saturday of each month.

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

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. May 13 Theater Program, May 20 Dance Program; 11 a.m.; free RIVERSIDE THEATRE 3250 Riverside Park Drive 772-231-6990 riversidetheatre.com

MAY 19

Friday

MAY 25

Thursday

COCKTAIL HOUR

Alexandra Nuttall Interiors is celebrating its recent rebranding with a cocktail hour at the design studio. 4–6 p.m.

ALEXANDRA NUTTALL INTERIORS

4625 Hwy. A1A, Suite 8 772-231-3746 acninteriors.com

MAY 28

Sunday

MAY 30

Tuesday

GLOW BINGO

Stop by the Bjorkman Room at the Brackett Library for some Glow Bingo! Registration is required.

BRACKETT LIBRARY

IRSC Mueller Campus 6155 College Lane 772-400-6366 libraries.ircgov.com

SIDEWALK SALE

Village Shops invites everyone to its three-day May Sidewalk Sale. May 19–21

VILLAGE SHOPS

6140 Hwy. A1A 772-231-1066 villageshopsverobeach.com

MAY 22

Monday

ALMA LEE LOY CHALLENGE

The Indian River Golf Foundation will hold its fifth annual Alma Lee Loy Team Challenge at Grand Harbor’s newly renovated River Course. Foursomes by club or groups of friends are welcome, and the competition will include divisions for men, women, and couples. 1 p.m., $175/player

INDIAN RIVER GOLF FOUNDATION at Grand Harbor Golf & Beach Club 4985 Club Terrace 772-539-9566 irgf.org

MAY 24

Wednesday

BOOK-A-TECH

Expert technology librarians are available for 30-minute training sessions for those with tech questions (aka all of us). Check the calendar on the IRC Library website for similar opportunities at other branches. 1 p.m., free

NORTH IRC LIBRARY

1001 Sebastian Blvd., Sebastian 772-400-6357 libraries.ircgov.com

‘THE BEST OF JOHN WILLIAMS’ Space Coast Symphony Orchestra presents 11 of John Williams’ most memorable movie soundtrack compositions, including pieces from Star Wars, E.T., Raiders of the Lost Ark, and Jaws. Selected youth musicians will join SCSO members onstage for the second half of the program. 3 p.m., flexible pricing

SPACE COAST SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA at VBHS Performing Arts Center 1707 16th St. spacecoastsymphony.org

MAY 29

Monday

HONKY TONK ANGELS

This musical by Ted Swindley tells the story of three women who set out to Nashville to pursue their country music dreams. May 30–June 18, times vary, $40 and up RIVERSIDE THEATRE 3250 Riverside Park Drive 772-231-6990 riversidetheatre.com

JUNE 2

Friday

JUNE 3

Saturday

MEMORIAL DAY

Due to repairs being conducted on the bridge leading to Memorial Island, this year’s Memorial Day observance will take place at Riverside Park’s Grand Pavilion. The guest speaker will be retired U.S. Army Major General Michael Repass. 9 a.m., free

VETERANS COUNCIL OF IRC at Riverside Park Grand Pavilion Riverside Park Drive 772-410-5820 veteranscirc.com

SPANISH CONVERSATION CLUB

If you’d like to practice your Spanish in a relaxed and informal setting, try the Brackett Library’s Spanish Conversation Club. No registration is required. 10 a.m., free

BRACKETT LIBRARY

IRSC Mueller Campus 6155 College Lane 772-400-6366 libraries.ircgov.com

BLUE WATER OPEN

The 29th annual Blue Water Open fishing tournament, with a total prize purse of $21,000, will benefit the Sebastian Exchange Club. Friday registration and captains’ meeting 5–7 p.m., Saturday weigh-in starts at 2 p.m.; $250/boat

SEBASTIAN EXCHANGE CLUB at Capt. Hiram’s 1580 U.S. Hwy. 1, Sebastian 772-300-2156 fishingforcharity.org

JUNE 8

Thursday

ART RECEPTION

Art at the Emerson launches “Land and Sea” with a reception for the artists. The exhibition runs through July 27. 5:30–7 p.m.

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

The Directory

MARTINA TANNERY

MATILDE

772-532-0010

REALTY SALES

Contributing Advertising Agencies

THE AD AGENCY

E. Fred Augenstein

772-538-3923, augy@comcast.net

Ad design and production, all media, full service

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

Test your powers of perception

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

BY HEATHER BOTTO

10. lippedF the number 5 on the front of the car

9 ddedA an extra wheel

8 hangedC the right front frame bar to yellow

7 lacedP a bird by the front of the car

6 emovedR the logo from the sleeve of Lily’s uniform

5 ddedA a rainbow to the back of the car

4 lacedP a bee on the rear tire

3 ddedA a sunflower in the background

2 hangedC the front wheel to blue

1 emovedR the number 4 from the blue race car

Seven-year-old Vero Beach resident Lily Lampp is living life in the fast lane. See the article on page 100.

BRYANT LAMPP