Vero Beach News Weekly - Vol. 2, Issue 7 by tcpalm analytics

FORUM CALENDAR OBITUARIES

New series: do our schools make the grade? Page 13

18 24 30

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Inside

T H U R S D A Y

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Hurricane hoopla Red Cross raises money and awareness about hurricane season Page 22

Pioneer spirit Heritage Center Pioneer Dinner pays tribute to past civic leaders Page 20

STAFF PHOTOS

Hundreds come out for Alma Lee Loy at the dedication ceremony naming the 17th Street Bridge in her honor. Story page 3

Considering Vero Electric options

If debt thwarts electric sale, City has other alternatives Page 11

Bewitching performance ”Bell, Book and Candle” a hit at Vero Beach Theatre Guild Page 25

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Local News

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From that point on, Alma Lee Loy dedicated her life to helping the community she loved. Among the highlights, she was a county commissioner from 1968-1980, the first female elected to that body. She was also one of the first females in the state of Florida to serve as chairman. Besides her time in elected office, Loy served as chairman of the capital campaign for McKee Botanical Garden, vice chairman of the Joint County City Planning Commission, co-chairman of the Riverside Theatre fund drive, co-chairman of the Center for the Arts (now Vero Beach Museum of Art) capital fund drive, co-chairman of the Environmental Learning Center, president of the Vero Beach/ Indian River County Chamber of Commerce, president of the Indian River County Volunteer Ambulance Squad, president of the Indian

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Even the most casual visitor to Vero Beach knows Alma Lee Loy’s name by driving past the Chamber of Commerce downtown and as of last weekend, just by crossing the former 17th Street Bridge. Her accomplishments could fill the pages of this publication. She has influenced just about every major institution in our county and taken part in many decisions that have shaped our community. Most amazing of all, she is still doing it. So, what has driven this humble woman to accomplish so much? “I always just wanted to help. But probably the one community activity that spurred me into a life of community service happened back in the fall of 1945.” Loy was a high school junior and already had experience selling war bonds like many Amer-

icans. “Community leaders decided to build a youth center and one of them, Prescott Gardner, pledged $15,000 if we could raise matching funds. The head of the Chamber of Commerce, Earl Thatcher, organized volunteers into teams to go out and solicit funds. Alma Lee Loy He always liked to create competing teams on projects like this. My team was composed of high school friends and as you know, few people can refuse a student’s plea for help. So we did very well.”

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BY MILT THOMAS VERO BEACH NEWSWEEKLY

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Alma Lee Loy has defined the word ‘community’

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PHOTOS BY CHRISTINA TASCON

View from the 17th Street Bridge -- now the Alma Lee Loy Bridge -- during the ceremony naming the structure in her honor.

ALMA LEE LOY FROM PAGE 3

River Land Trust, trustee of the Indian River Hospital District and a director of the Indian River County Memorial Hospital board – and those are just the highlights! It should also be noted that during her term as county commissioner, she championed the 17th Street bridge project over considerable opposition, so having the bridge named after her was a well-deserved honor. As you might expect, Loy gives credit to many people for inspiring her. “My mother was always my greatest inspiration. After my father died suddenly in 1947, she raised three teenagers and was a tower of strength with great faith and determination. “My sister, Gwen Guy, and her husband Tom, are the co-chairmen of my support team. We are all very close. Others who inspired me along the way include Earl Thatcher, longtime director of the Chamber of Commerce and someone I always looked up to. Certainly Dan Richardson was an inspiration and there were many others. As far as world figures, Mother Theresa, Margaret Thatcher and Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor stand out.

“But I cannot give enough credit from the time I was a child to our many community leaders. Everyone was very encouraging to me and back then you knew everybody in the community. We miss that level of communication today because we have grown so much. Even though Vero Beach is still a relatively small community, it is so much larger than it was when I grew up.” Loy never felt that being a woman hindered her in any way. “On the contrary, I always received support, especially from the men in the community. Earl Thatcher, the Schumanns and attorney Charlie Mitchell were good friends of my parents, and as I said, you knew everyone and they all knew you. Alma Lee Loy and her sister Gwen have always been close. “We both loved sports. We bowled for the McClure Rexall Drug Store team and even went to the state tournament one year. We also played on the city softball league.” Golf was probably Loy’s favorite sport. “I played all the time at the Vero Beach Country Club and did pretty well. At one point I even had aspirations of turning pro.” She shared that love of golf as well as community service with her late brother, George, who died tragically at age 47 in an automobile acci-

dent back in 1979. “He was a volunteer fireman, served on the Chamber board and helped start the volunteer ambulance squad. After his death for several years the ambulance squad held a memorial golf tournament in his honor.” Loy’s accomplishments in over 65 years of community service are even more incredible when you consider the fact that 50 years of that time she owned and operated Alma Lee’s Children’s Clothing Center, the top retail store of its kind in the area. Her brother George operated Loy’s Men’s Wear, another landmark retailer in downtown Vero. For someone “who always just wanted to help,” Alma Lee Loy stands alone as an example of dedicated service to her community. She is also a great advocate of volunteerism. “Once you become involved you will surely stay involved, but you have to take the first step. Just look around at the things you enjoy seeing and doing in Vero, then get in touch with someone to volunteer. Start with the Chamber of Commerce or United Fund. The Press Journal even lists volunteer opportunities.” Volunteering can be the most rewarding job you will ever have. Just tell them Alma Lee referred you.

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Council draws ire of citizens during public comment

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STAFF PHOTO

Vero Beach police officers, and members of their families lined up in front of City Hall Tuesday evening in advance of the City Council meeting. The officers are protesting proposed rank reductions, which have been proposed as a way of cutting costs. VERO BEACH NEWSWEEKLY

VERO BEACH -- A variety of subjects brought angry citizens out in full force at the City Council meeting Tuesday with one speaker demanding a public apology from those sitting in the dais. As has been the case in previous Council meetings, members of the police union and their supporters crowded the Council Chambers and in the hallway outside. The group was protesting a proposed reorganization of the department that will affect the rank of eight officers, saving the city an estimated $90,000 a year. Council Member Tracy Carroll has questioned tactics used by the union members and the validity of signatures obtained on their petitions. Though speakers were not

permitted to single her out during the public comment portion of the meeting, clearly Carroll’s earlier comments struck a nerve with the group. Pamela Stern, General Counsel for the Central Florida Police Benevolent Association, took issue with a statement by Carroll at the Council meeting on April 17. Carroll said Stern had not returned her phone call.Stern said she did in fact return the phone call and came armed with an email from her administrative assistant and a phone log showing that she received notification of the call and then placed a return call within an hour. “While this incident may seem trivial to many of you, I take it very seriously,” Stern said. “I felt it was only proper to respond to

the comment in the same forum in which it was made.” Stern, who had to pause to collect herself several times during her comments, noted she was upset that it left the impression she was not doing her job. “I work as hard as I possibly can for our membership,” she said. “If I lose my reputation they don’t trust me and I can’t stand for that.” City Manager Jim O’Connor has said the rank reductions and reassignments are necessary, partly because the Police Department has too many officers as a percentage of its total force, and partly because the city needs to cut expenses. The union is fighting the proposal and enlisted a petition drive to enlist public support. Council member Carroll had earlier ques-

tioned the validity of some of the signatures, and in doing so drew the ire of many in the crowd. “To question the credibility of your police officers when they are out on the street working can have dire consequences,” Stern said. “I am urging City Council to be more cautious in its statements. On behalf of the Coastal Florida Police Benevolent Association and its members here in the city of Vero Beach I am demanding a retraction of those statements and a public apology.” Members of the audience also spoke about a resolution making changes to the off-leash dog exercise area near Bob Summers Ballpark. One speaker brought up the subject of a recall if the Council went ahead with the changes.

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Breaking down the numbers to close Vero Electric City has a collection of bonds it must settle and contracts in need of a buyer to make selling feasible BY IAN LOVE VERO BEACH NEWSWEEKLY

VERO BEACH -- Though the City of Vero Beach has staked out a position of selling its electric utility to Florida Power and Light, the convoluted obligations it must sift through to close the deal are beginning to reach a level that could make such an outcome untenable. Balanced against the $100 million in cash FPL has offered the city for the power plant are obligations well in excess of $200 million. The actual figure in a study conducted by Vero Beach Newsweekly is $217.4 million and includes such items as bond buyouts, contractual power obligations, an overhaul of the pension and a myriad of other items that make up the complex negotiation. The city would not be on the hook for all those costs. For instance, beyond the cash payment offer, FPL has made as part of the deal paying $32.7 million to cover system upgrades, decommissioning of the power plant and covering pension liabilities. Taking the

FPL commitments out of the calculation, the city-owed portion of the obligation is $184.7 million. Just the same, after subtracting the FPL $100 million cash payment, the city is still looking at a ﬁgure as high as $84.7 million that it must cover out of pocket if the deal were to go through. If the obligations were to run that high, a majority of City Council members

mize the city’s exposure through the negotiating process. There are a lot of unknowns and variables. We are going to have a decision to make at the end of the day. We are going to be betting on variables that we can read and understand and variables that we are going to have to be optimistic on and we are going to have to say these are risks we are willing to take.”

“Can we pull it off? Part of it is going to be our tolerance for risk and that is going to be a community decision. There is not going to be a clean cut deal. I am not going to be able to walk into the City Council and say all risk and challenges and future issues are going away.” Vero Beach City Manager Jim O’Connor have already said they would not be in favor of the deal. City Manager Jim O’Connor said he does not think the figure will be in that range and it is that outcome for which he, staff and the transactional attorneys are all working. “What we are trying to do is minimize that number,” O’Connor said. “The real issue is how do we mini-

In breaking down the $84.7 million in outstanding obligations attached to the power plant, the money falls into four categories: bank and bond debt attached to the Vero Electric upgrades ($55 million); bond debt attached to power contracts the city holds with the Florida Municipal Power Agency ($103 million); exit costs for the city’s deal with the Orlan-

do Utility Commission (estimated at $24 million) and variable costs for power purchasing agreements with FMPA (estimated at $2.7 million a year.) The bank and bond debt for Vero Electric upgrades are fairly straight forward calculations based on deals with bond holders and Regions Bank and the promise of Vero Beach to pay them off over time. The FMPA bonds are proving to be more of a challenge to off-load as the city must find another municipality willing to buy the 48.1 megawatts of power it purchases through the FMPA from its Stanton I and Stanton II plants and FPL’s St. Lucie nuclear plant. The problem is Stanton I and Stanton II plants are powered by coal which is not an industry darling at the moment given that other sources of power can be purchased much cheaper. The St. Lucie nuclear power is a different story and could actually turn a profit from a buyer seeking its cheaper rates. The city is working with FMPA

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LOCAL NEWS

cut deal. I am not going to be able to walk into the City Council and say all risk and challenges and future issues are going away. There are going to be things we will have to say we are willing to take that risk and these are the beneﬁts we are going to get to take that risk.”

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ings of buying power from FPL is worth the money and risk it might take to reach a ﬁnal settlement. “Can we pull it oﬀ?” O’Connor asked. “Part of it is going to be our tolerance for risk and that is going to be a community decision. There is not going to be a clean

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ranges above the $100 million cash oﬀer from FPL is that the city has operating cash of $30 million that it hopes to keep as part of the deal. When all these shifting deals have ﬁnally been put into place, O’Connor said it will be up to the City Council to decide if the sav-

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Obligations and costs to sell the power plant

V E R O B E A C H

Decommision power plant* $4.6 million

Bank and bond debt for power plant upgrade $55 million

System upgrades* $13.7 million Pension liabilities* $14.4 million

OUC exit costs** $24 million

Variable costs** $2.7 million

Bonds and contractual obligations owed FMPA $103 million

OUC exit costs** $24 million

*FPL will pay as part of its offer to city **Estimates, actual figures could be higher or lower Note: Total cash offer by FPL is $100 million. Total obligations owed by the city is $184.7 million leaving $84.7 million the city must cover from other funding sources. Sources: FPL, various city documents

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to locate a municipality or group of municipalities interested in buying the power but it remains a challenge given the current market conditions. City Manager O’Connor, though, says a buyer still might be found. “There may be a utility that says six years out I am going to need more generation than what we presently have,” he said. “So we sell them our power for the next three, four, ﬁve or six years at a discount and then from that point on they take the generation.” There is the further complication that no matter who is the eventual buyer, Vero Beach will still be liable for the payments if that buyer defaults. However, should a default occur, the city would have already shut down the power plant in favor of FPL and would need to come up with the money from some other revenue source. O’Connor, whose job it is to bring a contract to City Council, said he “would be feel good if we could get out from the whole 48.1 megawatts at $40 million.” The exit cost to get out of the OUC contract is actually in the range of zero to $50 million, the maximum allotted in the buyout clause. The $24 million used in the calculation is the number most bandied about by City Hall, but OUC could hold the city liable for the full $50 million. On the other hand, there has been some talk of a scenario where OUC would be able to purchase the St. Lucie nuclear power from Vero Beach and in return offer much more lenient terms on the buyout clause. The $2.7 million variable costs for the power purchasing agreement are tied to the market and will ﬂuctuate as prices go up and down. Another factor to consider when looking at how Vero Beach could pay of its obligations if the price

LOCAL NEWS

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Downsizing Vero Electric might be the only ‘path forward’ VERO BEACH NEWSWEEKLY

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Dusting off notes on a partial sale

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NEWS ANALYSIS

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BY MARK SCHUMANN

VERO BEACH -- As city officials negotiate to resolve a web of intricate contracts, power entitlements and bond indebtedness, the possible solutions appear to have become more complicated and certainly more expensive than many had expected. Bond underwriting restrictions on who can assume the city’s underlying debt obligations through the Florida Municipal Power Agency, as well as Internal Revenue Service regulations on who can ultimately buy the currently expensive and hard-to-market coal-generated power are further

complicating negotiations. How all these contract issues can be resolved to clear “a path forward” for a sale of the city’s electric system to Florida Power and Light is far from clear. What is coming into focus is a growing realization that the city’s obligations add up to a number so high a sale of the full system to FPL may be impossible. As questions grow about the chances of making a deal work between the Florida Municipal Power Agency, the Orlando Utility Commission, FPL and the city, Councilman Jay Kramer and others are dusting off their notes on a partial sale, one that would have

the city selling its customer base and transmission and distribution infrastructure serving the unincorporated areas of its service territory. No small part of the resistance to the current system comes from the city’s customers living in the county. They do not benefit, at least not directly, from the improved city services and lower taxes made possible by revenue transferred from the electric system to the city’s general fund. At the same time, Vero Electric customers living outside the city are not daunted by the prospect of the drastic increase in city taxes and sharp cuts in services that could prove unacceptable to city residents and property owners. Currently the city’s property owners enjoy a tax rate half that of many comparable Florida cities. To be sure, it is city voters who elected council members determined to sell the system to FPL. At current rates, all the city’s electric customers, 22,000 in the county and the 10,000 within the city, stand to gain at least $20 million in lower electric rates, if the system can be sold to FPL. On the surface it would seem everyone in the city would ultimately benefit from a sale, even if services are cut, or taxes raised from $4 million to as much $11 million. But this is not necessarily true, contends Kramer and others who have considered the consequences of a sale of the full system. No longer interested in attempting to convince his fellow council members that the numbers for a sale of the full system are just not

going to work for the city, Kramer is instead quietly considering other options the city might have for lowering power rates for all its customers, those within the city limits and those in the county as well. Beyond bearing the burden of tax increases and reduced services, it is the city’s residents and tax payers, and not the city’s customers in the unincorporated areas, who will ultimately have to deal with the ways in which a sale could further jeopardize the city’s financial stability. For example, following a sale of the electric system, the city will have fewer active employees than it does retirees. Crossing this tipping point will leave an already underfunded pension plan in even worse shape than it is today. City’s taxpayers are the ones who will be on the hook for contingent liabilities connected with the city’s share of FMPA’s bond indebtedness. Further, if the city winds up borrowing millions of dollars to fund what could amount to a “short sale” of the electric system, it will be the city’s taxpayers, and not its customers in the unincorporated areas who will end up paying off that debt. That city residents and taxpayers alone will bear the negative consequences of a sale seems fundamentally unjust to some, given that two-thirds of the benefit in rate reductions that will accrue to electric customers outside the city, and considering that twothirds of the city’s utility debt and bond indebtedness was assumed in order to serve that same group of county customers.

LOCAL NEWS

Fabio Roberti, M.D., FAANS Board Certified Neurosurgeon Medical Director, Section of Neurosurgery Board certified by the American Board of Neurological Surgery, Dr. Fabio Roberti specializes in neurosurgery, including minimally invasive and complex spinal surgery.

Fabio Roberti, M.D.

Prior to joining IRMC in spring 2011, Dr. Roberti was assistant professor and co-director of skull base surgery in the Department of Neurological Surgery at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. Dr. Roberti earned his medical degree from the University of Modena in Modena, Italy, where he also completed a residency program and served as faculty. He completed both his neurosurgery residency training as well as a fellowship in cranial base surgery and microneurosurgery at George Washington University Medical Center. Dr. Roberti is an active member of many national and international organizations including the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, the Congress of Neurological Surgeons, and the North American Skull Base Society.

Dr. Roberti specializes in the following areas: • Neurosurgical oncology • Minimally invasive and complex spinal surgery • Neuroendoscopy • Neurotrauma • Radiosurgery • Skull base surgery Medical Associates A subsidiary of Indian River Medical Center

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including minimally invasive and complex spinal surgery

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Neurosurgery

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CONTINUES ON PAGE 12

Daytona is in a battle with FPL to exercise a clause in its franchise agreement that gives it the right to buy back its system for replacement cost less depreciation. Having prevailed in court, South Daytona now faces a ballot challenge as a result of a petition drive funded by FPL. In an effort to halt the sale, FPL hopes to convince

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Enco Utility Services to maintain and operate its transmission and distribution system. Drawing from its utility system cash flow, Winter Park has also been able to invest in placing much of its transmission and distribution system under ground, a move that has reduced service interruptions. Currently the City of South

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general fund expenses, all the while charging rates comparable to Progress Energy. Unlike Vero Beach, which makes transfers directly from the utility fund to the general fund, Winter Park charges it’s customers the same 6 percent franchise fee they were paying as customers of Progress Energy. Because all of Winter Park’s customers are located within the city limits, it does not have the issue of customers outside the city complaining that they are paying to support city services. According to Jerry Warren, Winter Park’s utility director, Vero Beach has two ingredients that make up the recipe for a controversy, high rates and a significant number of its customers located outside the city. “Your single biggest cost is power supply, and retail rates are held hostage by wholesale power supply rates, and those rates are dictated by the price of different fuels,” Warren explained. The current price of natural gas is at near historic lows, while coal generated power, which Vero Electric relies on heavily, is far more expensive. Rather than agreeing to longterm contracts with power suppliers, as Vero Beach has done with the OUC, or investing in power generating capacity as Vero Beach has done with its own power plant and its shared interest in power generating capacity owned by the FMPA, Warren instead signed short-term contracts with Progress Energy and the Seminole Electric Cooperative. Winter Park’s electric utility has just three full time employees, including Warren. Rather than taking on the payroll costs and pension obligations of a large staff of full time utility employees, Winter Park has contracted with

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Realistically, there appears to be little political will for borrowing money to fund a sale at a loss to the city. There also appears to be little, if any, political will to inflict the pain and incur the wrath that will surely follow the imposition of huge increases in taxes, or drastic cuts in services. Even if the city could sell the electric system at break even, which now seems highly unlikely, it will still need to come up with some combination of tax increases and spending cuts totaling approximately $6 million. While at least two council members are adamant the city cannot effectively operate a smaller system serving just the city itself, Councilman Kramer, among others, see advantages to a downsized system. Some, including Mayor Pilar Turner, are concerned that a downsized system would be too small to be run efficiently, but that is not necessarily true. There are more than 2,100 municipally owned electric utilities, many of them much smaller than Vero Beach. In Florida, for example, Winter Park and Bartow have 10,000 customers each, Quincy 5,000, and Bushnell 1,250. In fact, downsizing and optimizing could be the only “path forward” that does not turn out to be a dead end for the city and its taxpayers. And a partial sale, some argue, could be the only way to enable the Vero Electric’s county customers to become customers of FPL. Certainly other municipalities are benefiting from owning their own electric system. In June of 2005, the City of Winter Park bought its system back from Progress Energy of Florida. Since then the system has contributed $16 million to the city in franchise fees in help pay for Winter Park’s

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PARTIAL SALE FROM PAGE 11

South Daytona voters to amend their city charter to require a referendum on the sale. Interestingly, FPL officials involved in the company’s effort to acquire Vero Beach’s system have sided with those who believe the final decision on the sale should be left to the City Council, and not put to voters in a referendum. The city of Boulder, Colo., is embroiled in a battle with Xcel Energy in an effort to form a municipal electric utility. Clearly not every municipality that owns an electric utility is racing to put up a “For Sale” sign. Even if a sale of the full system would be an optimum solution for Vero Beach, the next best alternative may prove to be a compromise approach that enables customers in the unincorporated areas to be served by FPL, while allowing the city to reorganize a smaller, more efficient system, one that could offer lower rates, while at the same time helping to support city services. The basic concept of a partial STAFF PHOTO sale is that the city would sell to Finding a buyer for Vero Electric’s power entitlements is proving a challenge, FPL, or to some other power proleading Councilman Jay Kramer and others to consider the option of a partial sale of the system. Such a sale would eventually allow for decommissioning vider, its service territory rights the power plant. The plant is currently operating at a $7 million a year loss. and transmission and distribution infrastructure in the areas outside the city limits where it now provides electric service. Spinning off customers in the Family Owned and Operated unincorporated areas has several possible benefits to the city. First, “Old Fashioned Service” We Specialize in Mechanical Restoration of Classic Cars, including: the move would presumably reImports & Domestics Mercedes Benz solve the issue of county residents Rolls Royce Superior Auto Service employs being unhappy that a portion of ASE Master Mechanics to provide Muscle Cars diagnostic and repair services on their power bill now goes to help all American, European & Asian pay for city operating expenses. vehicles. We install premium and (Never mind that many in the original equipment parts only! county enjoy at no cost city beachOwner Bill Marion, a certified ASE Master Mechanic, has been es, parks and other services. That repairing vehicles in Vero Beach is a discussion for another day.) since 1987 at the same location. Second, by reducing its cus1212 23rd St., Vero Beach, FL 32960 (772) 569-1410 www.verobeach.com tomer base from 32,000 to ap-

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proximately 10,000 the city could decommission the power plant. Currently the plant is operating at a loss of $7 million a year. Third, proceeds from selling its out-of-city system for approximately $3,000 per customer would enable the city to retire its $55 million in utility debt. That debt is costing $6 million a year to service. By reducing expenses $11 million and implementing several other options for optimizing the system, Kramer believes Vero Beach could join the ranks of other cities that are running electric utilities to the benefit of their customers and taxpayers alike. Another option for optimizing the system includes contracting with a company such as Enco Utility Services to manage and maintain the system. Winter Park works with Enco, and the City of South Daytona recently signed an agreement with them as well. The OUC might also be willing to renegotiate its wholesale power contract with Vero Beach, if the city chooses not to sell to FPL. Barry Moline, Executive Director of the Florida Municipal Electrical Association, believes the city has more options for reorganizing or optimizing it electric utility than are currently on the table. Those include forming a regional utility authority with proportional representation from the county and the city. Such an authority could own and operate the system long enough to resolve the FMPA bond obligations. With the OUC contract bought out and financed over 20 years, the authority could continue to fulfill the city’s FMPA commitments for approximately 48.6 megawatts of power, while buying the rest of its load, up to an additional 160 megawatts from FPL. “The point is there are options and Vero Beach would be wise to explore them,” Moline said.

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LOCAL NEWS

Is our school system making the grade?

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Our new series will investigate the positives and negatives of the Indian River County School District

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mired in discussion of what the federal, state or local government responsibilities are or should be. It is our intention to only provide information about our school system and how as a community we are currently meeting our obligation to prepare the next generation for its future. As a point of information, it may be useful for our readership to know that that Pat Lavins, who will be writing the series, has never attended public school. However, she is a parent of a child who excelled in the public school system and currently has grandchildren residing in another state who are participants in their public school gifted student programs.

one of the county’s largest employers, there should be some recognition that although the school system pays a large portion of its budget to payroll, those employees are also consumers of local goods and services that fuel our local economy. Given the current local and national focus on funding for government services, it is our intention to provide taxpayers with deﬁnitive information on how their tax dollars dedicated to the school system are being spent. Even though it is an election year, it is not our intention to engage in any political debate about the existence of a public school system. Nor do we intend to become

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terested and involved Starting over the with the important next few months Vero qME vM of education out Beach Newsweekly pNYT\NfTFXJ task children. will be providing an wMGNHC It is also our inin-depth look at the eZUMMQI tention to address a Indian River County school system where kX\IGJX cLA myriad of other issues that have an impact on we will consider how how our money is bewell it is providing a ing spent. These topics quality education for include transportathe children of Indian tion, food services and River County and how athletic programs. efficiently and effecOver the last sevtively school officials eral decades the exare acting as stewards pectations taxpayers of our tax dollars. have toward the public Through a series of school system have expandinterviews with responsible ed to be much more than just and interested parties we will exclassroom study issues. Thus, the plore such things as: mandates for any school district • Are our children being pre- have expanded far beyond just pared to be productive citizens in providing elementary and high school minimal standards of prothe 21st century? ficiency. The national trend to provide • What role do charter and magnet schools play in the future of for the needs of the whole child education as their growing influ- has required the evolution of the ence comes into competition for school system into gaining expertise in a diverse variety of fields. public school dollars? Thus, no series on the role of the • Are we providing our educa- Indian River County school systors with the environment where tem would be complete without they can excel and meet their own addressing the reality that the community looks to the school personal goals as professionals? to provide basic health care, nu• Are we meeting our obliga- tritional support and social work. tion to society to have an educat- Issues such as the growing trend ed population ready to meet the of crime, poverty problems, single challenges that lie ahead of us as a parent issues, homelessness and drug problems directly affect any county, state and country? teacher’s ability to be most effecIt is our intention to get the per- tive in the classroom. This series of stories about the spectives of the Superintendent of Schools, school board repre- Indian River County School Syssentatives, administrative support tem will also provide a broader personnel, teachers, union repre- view of the contribution that is sentatives, parents and those in- made to our local economy. As

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LOCAL NEWS

A power couple that cares about the community Bobby and Laura Guttridge offer assistance to local charities throughout Indian River County BY BARBARA YORESH VERO BEACH NEWSWEEKLY

VERO BEACH -- He can build a dreamy little girl’s bed that looks like a fairytale dollhouse, dance as well as John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever (with a mirrored disco ball trophy to prove it) and win a DUI case with a vertigo defense. She, on the other hand, rescues animals in need, wrote a children’s book, can knock ones’ eyes out as a swimsuit model and has been known to dig in the dirt to relocate threatened gopher tortoises or build a serene home-based fish/turtle pond. This truly dynamic duo are Vero Beach criminal defense attorney Bobby Guttridge and his stunning wife Laura, both of whom are among Vero Beach’s most civic-minded and generous residents giving untold time and resources to charitable causes. Living in the central beach area of the barrier island, the Guttridges share a uniquely renovated two-story home with their four-year-old daughter, Celeste and a Dalmatian-terrier mix dog they adopted from a local animal shelter. Set amid towering, moss-draped live oaks and lush vegetation evocative of a tropical jungle, the home is elegant as well as easy-going; funky and fashionable and totally reflective of the captivating personalities of its residents. Enter as a stranger and, within a few short minutes, one feels like a family friend. A serene master bedroom is painted in a deep, rich terracotta-toned hue embellished with a stenciled, contrasting gold swirl design hand-applied by Laura in a project that required climbing atop tall ladders. This is a lady who can attend a stylish social event dressed to the nines but who doesn’t hesitate to get her hands dirty to get a job done. The home’s second-story deck – seemingly perched amid the upper canopies of mossdraped trees -- features a granite counter full bar set up that would rival the amenities and appeal of some of the barrier island’s most popular watering holes. Bobby, 47, who with two other siblings was adopted, grew up in the rural north-central

PHOTO BY BARBARA YORESH

Laura and Bobby Guttridge live in a renovated two-story central beach home with their four-year-old daughter, Celeste.

Florida town of Ocala where his father was an equine veterinarian who often cared for the thoroughbreds raised on area horse farms. With her own roots in the suburbs of Chicago, Laura, 49, and her family moved to Ocala when she was 20. Shortly thereafter, she met Bobby who subsequently graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor’s degree in business finance while she was making a local name for herself as an animal rights activist. “Back in Ocala I got involved with the Humane Society and co-founded a group called the Marion County Voices for Animals which led a public outcry over the method of euthanasia being used by an animal shelter,” Laura said.

As a result of a successful petition drive and other pressures, the group convinced the shelter to use a more humane lethal injection form of euthanasia. “That was my first victory in the community,” Laura said. After dating for about five years, the pair married and moved to San Diego where Bobby attended California Western Law School and Laura waited tables to help support them. She describes her many years of involvement in animal rights and rescue as “a God-given passion because animals suffer so much” as a result of the cruelty and ignorance of humans. For more than 10 years, Laura has been a

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this case a mirrored disco ball trophy which is proudly on display in his “man-cave” home office next to a smaller disco ball trophy earned by Laura for her 2012 dancing participation. “Who would have thought he’s win that?” said Laura with a laugh and more than a little pride. “He took it seriously, though, and worked hard. This year was very competitive and I didn’t do as well.” She also works tirelessly for the Cause for Paws annual event which raises money for the Humane Society and volunteers to work with farm animals housed at the Humane Society facility. By the time Bobby and Laura had become well established and respected members of the community, their respective biological clocks were ticking louder and the time had come to make a decision about starting a family. Finally, after several years of disappointment and subsequent success at in vitro fertilization, the couple welcomed daughter Celeste when Laura was age 45. Young children are often understandably wary around strangers but within the safety of her own home, Celeste quickly reveals herself to be a smaller version of her intelligent and outgoing parents. Their kindness and compassion is reflected in Celeste’s own altruism as she very articulately presents a visitor with a brightly-colored felt flower taken from a bouquet she recently received for her fourth birthday. “She wants you to have it and keep it,” Laura said. Celeste’s pink and blue flower with the yellow button center is now in a vase in the visitor’s home as a colorfully whimsical reminder of an afternoon spent with one of Vero Beach’s most caring and generous families.

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Once Bobby had established his law practice, Laura enrolled at the University of Central Florida where she earned a degree in philosophy. Although she could have pursued a career of her own, Laura – with Bobby’s support and encouragement – decided to take another approach. “I figured my time would be better spent at home and doing my volunteer work,” she said. With strong love and pride in his wife evident in Bobby’s eyes, he voiced his appreciation of Laura’s commitment to providing a warm and loving home atmosphere to come back to at the end of the day – particularly after fighting legal battles. “There is something to be said about a traditional partnership where she provides a home where I can enjoy my time. It’s a wonderful thing,” he said. If there is one element about the Guttridges which is most obvious to even a casual observer it is that of their passion for doing good deeds for animals and people in need. These people truly care. In 2002, Laura received an award for gathering 5,000 signatures for a Florida ballot initiative to ban the cruel confinement of pigs living in “factory” farms in Florida. She earned the 2007 Humanitarian of the Year Award from the Humane Society of Vero Beach and she and Bobby have been actively involved with Save the Chimps benefits. In 2011, Bobby was named grand champion dancer in the Dancing with Vero’s Stars event which benefits the Indian River County Healthy Start Coalition. Although his winning dance was a foxtrot versus Travolta’s disco hustle, Bobby came home with the gold – or in

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member of the board of directors of the Boca Raton-based Animal Rights Foundation. Such high-level and pro-active compassion for animals begged the question: are you a vegetarian? Not surprisingly, she and Bobby have been vegetarians for more than 20 years. Celeste told her parents that she, too, wants to adhere to that meatless regimen. Upon completion of law school, the couple returned to Florida where Bobby was offered an opportunity with the State Attorney’s office. But like Laura, Bobby’s sensibilities are geared toward defense of those in need. “We’re a defender oriented couple and I wanted to be a trial lawyer because that’s where my talents are,” Bobby said. An offer to become a public defender brought the pair to Vero Beach in 1995. “This place is beautiful. The court house was new and it was all wonderful,” Bobby said. Two years later, he decided to go into private practice as a criminal defense lawyer. He is perhaps best known for his successful 2009 defense of County Administrator Joe Baird’s DUI arrest and charge in which Bobby presented a “vertigo” defense regarding Baird’s alleged chronic problem with maintaining balance. As a criminal defense lawyer, Bobby is aware that some people believe that defense attorneys “don’t care about the community because of their own strong ideas about crime and justice.” But like anyone, Bobby has his own inner sense of personal justice which may or may not coincide with his client’s. “We have deep caring for this community and are happy to support and sponsor many charitable things,” he said. “And I have a wife who’s so good at it.”

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COMMUNITY NEWS

Indian River Habitat receives $30,000 Community Foundation grant

Stop Hunger Now hopes to package 100,000 meals at event June 9

VERO BEACH — The Indian River Community Foundation awarded Indian River Habitat for Humanity a $30,000 grant for its Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative to renovate and revitalize seven homes in and around Gifford. “We see this as an investment in our community, to make existing homes more affordable and livable for low-income families who are struggling to maintain their homes,” said Kerry Bartlett, foundation executive director. “Affordable housing is a significant challenge in our community, and this program will not only help prevent homelessness, but will offer hope and stability for the families it serves.” Habitat president Andy Bowler said, “The repairs made will allow the elderly or infirm people to enjoy a safe and functional home and experience an all-round better quality of life. Thank you for helping Habitat do so much more for families in need in our community.” Today, in addition to building homes, through its Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative Habitat offers repair, repainting and weatherization for qualified homeowners in Indian River County.

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY -- The organization Stop Hunger Now is in need of 350 volunteers to help package 100,000 meals for hungry children and families in Haiti. “We have estimated that it will take upwards of 350 volunteers for our meal packaging event,” said Maureen Labadie, who along with her husband Larry is serving as coordinator. “This will be an all community event, crossing all cultures, ages, and faiths representative of our vibrant and generous community. We have volunteer teams from local Rotary clubs, banks, the business community, Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops, and other civic, religious and non profit organizations. We are encouraging ages 12 and up to come forward and join us.” Teams will be split into two groups, either in the morning from 9:30 to 11: 30 a.m. or in the afternoon from 1 to 3 p.m. on Saturday, June 9. The event will be held at the Gifford Youth Activity Center. Volunteers will weigh, seal and pack dehydrated, high protein meals for hungry children at the Haiti Outreach Ministries’ schools, clinic and the nursery of their working mothers’ co-op. Interested parties can register at www.theridetobeathunger.org. Click the event registration link or contact coordinator Maureen Labadie at (772) 473-1036. The Gifford Youth Activity Center is located at 4875 43rd Avenue in Vero Beach.

Vero Beach Choral Society names interim artistic director VERO BEACH — The governing board of the Vero Beach Choral Society named Assistant Director Jason Hobratschk as interim artistic director for its 2012-2013 concert season. He replaces Daniel Koh, who led the Choral Society for the past four years while also working as director of choral activities at Saint Edward’s School. Board composition also changed with the addition of Ashley Goodman, choral director at Oslo Middle School and leader of the Choral Society’s public music-reading workshops; Alan Northcott, published financial author and educator; and Joe Zielinski, outdoorsman and caretaker/handyman. Zielinski will replace ongoing board member Earle Beasley as vice president and Northcott will replace retiring board member Kathleen Wildfeuer as treasurer. Other board members include Loren Smith, president; Rosemary Gagliardi, secretary; Amy Cosner, membership chair; Emily Sherwood, scholarship chair; and Deborah Borfitz, publicity chair.

Free dog vaccination clinic to be conducted by Humane Society VERO BEACH -- The Humane Society of Vero Beach and Indian River County will conduct a free vaccination clinic on May 20 at the society headquarters. Money for the event came from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and will provide free basic vaccinations, including a one-year rabies vaccine, to the first 200 dogs four months of age or older. Dogs will be vaccinated on a first-come, first-serve basis and attendees are asked to have their driver’s licenses or other stateissued identification available when they come to the shelter. The event is from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the shelter, at 6230 77th Street.

Riverside Children’s Theatre to hold free Spring Fiesta VERO BEACH – The Riverside Children’s Theatre will hold a free celebration of the performing arts on May 19. The Spring Fiesta will feature children’s entertainers including Fantasy Theatre Factory with “Gordon Gumshoe Detective;” Stages Productions with “The Ugly Duckling,” “The Noodle Doodle Box;” and Billy Damon Family Magic Show. There will also be face painting, clowns and a moonwalk. The event and performances take place at the Agnes Wahlstrom Youth Playhouse and Anne Morton Theatre, 3280 Riverside Park Drive. Shows start at 9:30 a.m. and run until 2 p.m. For more information and a performance schedule, call the Children’s Theatre at (772) 234-8052 or visit the website at www.riversidetheatre.com.

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GAIN PERSPECTIVE

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James Kirley joined the Press Journal in 1983 and has written about major events in local government, the environment, education, elections, crime and quality of life issues. He covered the watershed 1985 beachside rezoning denial for a 276-room Marriott resort and convention center. Kirley covered attempts to develop the Lost Tree Village islands and Prange Islands in the Indian River before the islands became public lands. Hurricanes, homicides, human interest and natural wonders all have been topics of his writing during three decades of covering Indian River County.

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â&#x20AC;&#x153;It has been a privilege and joy to chronicle the growth of Vero Beach during the past three decades, watching it become sophisticated while its people retained their characteristic generosity and good-hearted spirit. Throughout this time, the Press Journal staff has strived to get stories first, get them correct, and give people the information they need to be vital to this wonder community. The continued trust of our readers has always been our source of pride. Deserving that trust again, each and every day, is our foremost mission.â&#x20AC;? Reporter, Jim Kirley

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Community Forum

City could benefit from strategic thinking BY MARK SCHUMANN

Can the city afford to sell its electric system to Florida Power & Light for the current offer of $100 million in cash, plus $32.7 million in assumed pension liabilities and system upgrades? The chances appear to be somewhere between zero and a negative number. Paying off the city’s utility debt and resolving contracts and bond obligations with the Florida Municipal Power Agency and the Orlando Utility Commission are adding up to at least $150 million, and could amount to as much as $190 million. Even if FPL is willing to pay enough to enable the city to close a deal without having to borrow money, residents and taxpayers will still be facing reduced services and/or unpalatable tax increases. Surprisingly, a number of people continue to believe a sale will net the city $130 million, with the investment earnings negating any need to cut services or raise taxes. This wide spread misperception about the financial challenges in structuring a sound deal points to an old adage that a falsehood carried far enough eventually become perceived truth. For far too long people have been led to believe the city can absorb the loss in revenue from its electric utility without needing to make drastic cuts in services and/or enormous increases in taxes.

First, be clear about this. Of FPL’s total offer of $132.7, $32.7 million will go to cover pension obligations and pay for system upgrades, including the eventual demolition of the power plant. Second, after retiring $55 million in utility debt the city will have approximately $45 million in proceeds left to settle its commitments with the FMPA and OUC, obligations that now appear to add up to $70 million or more. On top of these expenses there will be legal fees and other transaction costs in the range of $5 million. Everyone is eager to talk about the prospect of lower electric rates, but few have shown a willingness to work the other side of the equation. Taxes will go up. Services will be cut. Even if major “adjustments” in city services and taxes were acceptable to a majority of the public, not one member of the City Council seems inclined to borrow the $20 million or more that could be needed to fund a “short sale.” Unless the numbers change, here’s the math: $100 million in cash minus $150 million or more in expenses equals a zero percent chance of selling the full system. Given those less than favorable odds, if city leaders continue to believe it wise to invest hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees, then doesn’t it make sense to simultaneously

Mark Schumann, Publisher 978-2246 Mark.Schumann@scripps.com

“Doing well by doing good.” Vero Beach Newsweekly is distributed throughout Vero Beach and the barrier island. Visit us on the web at www.VeroBeachNewsweekly.com Mail may be sent to Vero Beach Newsweekly, 1801 U.S. Hwy. 1, Vero Beach, FL, 32960

Ian Love, Managing Editor 978-2251 ian.love@scripps.com Mike Bielecki, Sports Editor 321-6105 mbwordsmith@gmail.com Christina Tascon, Writer/Photographer 978-2238 verobeachnewsweekly@gmail.com

Carrie Scent Graphic Designer Marsha Damerow Graphic Designer Lisa Rymer Contributor Milt Thomas Contributor

invest in exploring alternatives to a sale of the full system? It is time for city leaders to acknowledge that a “clear path forward” may not be found. And it is time to start developing alternatives that will enable the city to lower rates for all of its electric customers. Since former utility director R.B. Sloan resigned four years ago the city’s electric system has been without a captain. With the departure of acting utility director John Lee earlier this year, and now with the retirement of power plant manager James Stevens, the city’s $95 million a year electric utility is without a captain, a second mate, or even a rudder. No one on staff at the city has the time or is knowledgeable enough about electric utilities to do the kind of creative, strategic thinking necessary to develop alternatives to a full sale. It is time for the city to hire an interim utility director with fresh ideas, someone capable managing a large and complex business while at the same time developing plans that will enable the city to implement alternatives, if a sale of the full system to FPL proves impossible. The city needs some fresh thinking, for as Einstein said, our problems cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them.

Scott Alexander Contributor Michael Birnholz Contributor Barbara Yoresh Contributor Martine Fecteau Account Executive

To contact one of our contributing writers please call 772-978-2251 or send an email to verobeachnewsweekly@gmail.com

To advertise call Martine Fecteau at 772-696-2004 (martine.vbnewsweekly@gmail.com) or Mark Schumann at 772-696-5233 (Mark.Schumann@scripps.com)

LETTERS WELCOME Vero Beach Newsweekly invites you to send Letters to the Editor on topics of interest pertaining to Indian River County. Letters should be 250-300 words and may be edited for length. We encourage an open dialogue, but reserve the right to refuse publication of letters that do not meet our editorial standards. E-mails may be sent to verobeachnewsweekly@gmail.com or by regular mail to Letter to the Editor, Vero Beach Newsweekly, 1801 U.S. 1, Vero Beach, FL 32960.

COMMUNITY FORUM

same steps to hear the prayers of other religious leaders. My eyes looked upward to see what tree I was standing under. Imagine my surprise, after my Tuesday complaint/kvetch, to see RABBI MICHAEL BIRNHOLZ a beautiful hibiscus bush/tree right above the roses that had caught my attention. I was so busy looking down in my complaint, I didn’t bother to look up. I was like an Israelite in the midst of the Crossing of the Sea of Reeds complaining about the mud and shells instead of being in awe of the divided sea and the march to freedom. A simple shift in perspective erased my kvetch. So many of our complaints could be evaporated in the same way. Yet there are times when a complaint is sacred. There are times when the difficulty and challenge is real. Like the prophets standing up to rail about the

corruption of the Israelite kings or the people, sometimes we do have to voice frustration and worry. As I consider the different qualities of the kvetch, I realize boundaries may be simple. A worthy complaint should include searching for meaning or justice. We should be clearing the muck by speaking out loud, so we can work in the real world to deal with the difficulty we see. This is different from talking about your problem for the sake of sharing your misery with someone else. It is not just what you say, how you say it or how often you say it. To make a kvetch sacred, one must offer the complaint so that we will be moved to bring justice, compassion and grace into the world. spond to the dynamic their child presents. In fact, the one presents the story has a selection of moods/states they could be in: Enthusiastic, exasperated, calm, disinterested. I wonder what list of “four parents/teachers” our kids

that they have to interact with as they go through their day. As much as our children may be moving targets, we are moving around as we try to meet and engage them. This is the season of many holidays and holy days. Not only are we called to observe these days, tell our sacred stories and bring the values into our world through powerful rituals we are supposed to find ways to share all of this with the next generation. Not only do we have to be sensitive to where our children are in the course of their life experience, we have to be aware of our own energy, mood, level of distraction and interest. To be able to connect and direct the next generation we have to be conscious of the person we want to be to meet it. Rabbi Michael Birnholz has served Temple Beth Shalom in Vero Beach since 2002. One of his goals is bringing Jewish values and wisdom to the wider community.

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In the course of one week I was honored to have the chance to go to City Hall twice. First, I opened the regular city council meeting with prayer. Then a few days later I was one of a group of religious leaders who participated in the National Day of Prayer. In the repetition of walking down the steps of City Hall twice in one week, I experienced one of the most complicated ritual actions: sacred complaint. On my first exit from the building, the flowers planted in the plaza caught my attention. They were beautiful roses. As I looked at the flowers a kvetch, a complaint came to mind. We are the Hibiscus City! The roses are pretty, but wouldn’t you think that the steps of City Hall should be adorned by the flower we claim as our own! This complaint was still in my mind when I returned two days later. After I offered my prayer for interfaith cooperation and for honoring those in our armed forces, I walked down the

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BY RABBI MICHAEL BIRNHOLZ

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Make sure that when you kvetch your cause is just

And Emily Slawsky: signed with the Royal Swedish Ballet at age 16! You go, girl! But when my son played his solo, I let the tears stream down my face unabashedly – being that it was dark and he was on stage so he couldn’t do anything about it. In that moment, as I sat watching him take a spin in the spotlight, I felt such gratitude to the school for providing these opportunities, to the teachers whose dedication and resilience is apparent every day,and to the all the students – those onstage and those in the audience offering support – for making the magic happen. You really do rock! Lisa Rymer is a newspaper and television journalist who resides in Vero Beach. She can be contacted at LisaRymer@comcast.com

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wide range of classical and contemporary forms of expression. Families, friends and neighbors rooted for the gifted youth of the community. The clear voice of Jewel Blakeslee was like a crystal bell. Josh Pearsaul was too cool for school. And there is no school, not even the school of rock, that can teach a little boogie woogie like alto sax player, Alex Schulke, has down pat. The king of shuffle and flow: Colton Purvis on guitar. Kacy “one-ina-million” Carvajal on bass. David Gonzalez, you are the cornerstone of your every endeavor, you mad man on guitar, you. Alyssa Gonzalez, as graceful as a feather on a breeze; Haley Phillips, you are unforgettable as a dancer and a choreographer; Madison Ware, it’s plain as day, ballet is in your blood.

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The energy at Saturday’s end of the year Spring Dance Show, “Song and Dance,” presented by the students at Indian River Charter High School was electric. For two and-a-half hours, a rowdy crowd rocked out to seven separate jazz bands at the Performing Arts Center. In between, the dance department performed choreographed pieces with graduating senior solo dancers and group ensembles. There was even a Broadway show tune from “Grease” by the musical theater students. At first, I was floored by the level of talent. Then, I was impressed with the quality of instruction. And then, I just lost myself as I saw face after familiar face of students I’ve come to

know from afar -- at car drop-off, on the sports field, in front of my living room TV -- translate all that learning, study and practice into making art from the heart. LISA RYMER Logan Martin is made to play a saxophone on stage. No one owns a guitar riff like Jake Lukas – facial expressions and all. And if Brylon Terry isn’t the next Tommy Lee, then I don’t know what the H-Edouble-drumsticks is going on. The male ballet dancers were amazing; I can still feel the strength, grace and courage of Michael Perrault and Carlos Flores. Each student customized his or her performances to insert individual personality and style into a

M A Y

RYMER REASON BY LISA RYMER

Art from the heart as performed by Charter High School students

Heritage Center honors Alma Lee Loy and Guy family BY CHRISTINA TASCON VERO BEACH NEWSWEEKLY

It was a huge whirlwind of activity for Alma Lee Loy this weekend. First a bridge was named for her with hundreds coming out to cheer her on, and then she was honored along with the Guy family at the Heritage Center Pioneer Dinner. “I am overwhelmed to receive such tributes of this nature,” said

Loy before the dinner. “To be honored just for doing something you love with people that you love so much is astounding.” The Heritage Center’s yearly pioneer dinner has recognized many of the families that have worked to build Vero Beach and Indian River County since just before the turn of the last century. The Loy’s and the Guy’s came to Vero in the 1920’s when both came

to start businesses here. Loy’s sister, Gwen Loy Guy, joined the two families together when she married Tom Guy in 1961. So many people wanted to honor the pioneers that the that loyal Heritage Center board members gave up their premium seats to fit in all the guests at the event which raises money for the building’s preservation. Guests enjoyed a dinner by Cu-

linary Capers and then listened to many accolades to the two families. Pam Cooper, the library’s genealogist, said how fitting the dinner was held the day that Loy had a bridge named for her. “These two families are all connected by a bridge of their own, one built from their past contributions and which will lead to Vero’s future.”

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Social | Lifestyle

Barbara Parent, Ellen Wodtke, Richard Schlitt, Mary Schlitt, Gladys Earman and Nancy West

Heritage Board members Kurt and Marilyn Wallach

PHOTOS BY CHRISTINA TASCON

Janie Hoover, Arlene Rossway, Leslie & Mike Swan and Stacey Miller

Jay Hart, Carole Jean Jordan and Craig Callan

SOCIAL | LIFESTYLE

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Linda and David Evans with Gwen Loy Guy and Herb Guy

Jeff & Shelley Luther with Jill & Billy Miller

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Libby Miller, Dr. Thomas Spackman and Donna Spackman

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N E W S W E E K L Y

Standing: Earl Morgan, Alma Lee Loy, John Schumann. Seated: Elizabeth Morgan and Kathy Schumann

SOCIAL | LIFESTYLE

Red Cross party also promotes hurricane awareness BY CHRISTINA TASCON VERO BEACH NEWSWEEKLY

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Geoff Moore, Aviation Enforcement agent Edgar Brown, Janet Croom, Gina & Frank Corrado, Jack Karshner, Ronnie & Sharon Lawn with Sun Jet’s Joel Scher

PHOTOS BY CHRISTINA TASCON

Al Granberry, Dr. Glen Tremml, Joe & Jimmy Granberry, Bradley Kramer and Robbie Crum volunteer at the event

Good will and laughter was the order of the day as the community came out to support the American Red Cross at their Hurricane Hangar Party held at Sun Aviation. Where else can you go to a local event and listen to great music for free, enjoy the company of your friends and neighbors and get to take a chance dunking the local civic leaders in a water tank? Joe Baird, Sheriff Deryl Loar, Peter O’Bryan, Bill McMullen and the Press Journal’s columnist Russ Lemmon all were great sports and took a few dunks for charity. Of course, the money raised from auction tickets, sponsorships and cocktails went to a worthy cause but the event was more than just a fundraiser. The season is nearing an end and hurricane season is coming. This night of fun encouraged locals to let their hair down as they listened to OPM (Other People’s Music) jam on the stage, kick back in lawn chairs and enjoy a hot dog and some refreshments. But the underlying purpose was learning about hurricane preparations and checking out the many products and services that might become necessary in an emergency. American Red Cross has helped many residents at times of disaster and the event, which organizers hoped would bring in $50,000, was a way of neighbors giving back to the organization.

SOCIAL | LIFESTYLE

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Alex & Sara Huff, Billy Miller, Connie McCord, Stephanie McCubbin and Tori Sawyer

Chris Dappen, Bridget Grall, John & Karen Franke and Jason Carr

Joe Baird is a great sport in the dunk booth for charity

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Teresa Mullarkey tells firefighter Joe Blackburn about the tattoo she just had added at the facepainting booth

Turnabout was fair play as Mayor Pilar Turner has fun taking a pitch at Russ Lemmon

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A dry Russ Lemmon shakes hands with organizer Michael Lue before being dunked five times

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Community Calendar ing Arts Center, 1706 16th St., 7 pm, students & Old Barber Bridge, folk, rock & bluegrass. 772-564-5537.

EVERY FRIDAY ! Farmer’s Market

From 3-6 pm, downtown Vero, 14th Ave. & 21st St. 772-480-8353.

! Julian Marley & the Uprising Band

EVERY SATURDAY ! Oceanside Business Association’s

Capt. Hiram’s Sandbar, Sebastian, 7 pm, Tickets begin at $15. 772589-4345.

Farmer’s Market, 8 am-noon. Ocean Dr. & Dahlia Ln. 772-532-2455.

MAY 25-26 ! Comedy Zone

FIRST FRIDAY ! Downtown Gallery Art Stroll

MAY 10-20 ! “Bell, Book & Candle”

SUMMER NIGHTS! Grilled food from Hale Groves and treats from Kilwin’s available. Comedy by Catherine Maloney and Al Romas, 7:30 & 9:30 pm, $15 plus food, prices vary. 772231-6990.

Vero Beach Theatre Guild, 2020 STAFF PHOTO San Juan Ave., 2 pm, 7 pm & 8 pm, If you’d like to see one of your photographs published in Vero Beach Newsweekly, $20-$22. 772-562-8300. please send them to us at verobeachnewsweekly@gmail.com. Photos need to

MAY 26 ! Indian River NOW

Art galleries and businesses open house receptions. Free. 772-2991234.

be at least 200 dpi and in jpeg format.

MAY 17 ! Scottish Society

“Flowers of the Forest,” noon, $20, Vero Beach Yacht Club, 3601 Rio Vista Blvd. 772-563-0341. ! Songs and Dances Spring Concert

7 pm, VBHS Performing Arts Center, 1707 16th St., $10-$12. 772-564-5537. MAY 18 ! International Museum Day

Free admission to Vero Beach Museum of Art exhibitions, 10 am-4:30 pm. 772-231-0303, verobeachmuseum.org. ! Annual Golf Tournament

Indian River State College Foundation at Vero Beach Country Club, 8:30 am shotgun, $100. 772462-4786. ! IRSC Swing 2012

Alumni & friends, golf tournament to rasie funds for the Indian River THURSDAY, MAY 17

State College Foundation, 8:30 am, Vero Beach Country Club, $100. 772-462-4786. MAY 18-19 ! Blue Water Open

Fishing Tournament. Benefits IRC Exchange Club’s child abuse prevention program, Fort Pierce City Marina. 772-713-3882. MAY 19 ! Riverside Children’s Theatre

Spring Fiesta, 10 am-3 pm, free, performances by entertainers and students, face painting, activities. 772-234-8052. MAY 20 ! Spring Sing and Ring

Atlantic Children’s Chorale & Bell Ringers, Community Church, 1901 23rd St., 4 pm, suggested $15/$5. 772-778-1070.

FRIDAY, MAY 18

SATURDAY, MAY 19

MAY 22: ! “Night at the Movies”

2012 Pops Concert, 7 pm in the VBHS Performing Arts Center, 1707 16th St., $10-$12. 772-564-5537. ! Splash Party Rally

To welcome Rev. Scott Alexander from Ride to Beat Hunger, Waldo’s Restaurant, 3150 Ocean Dr., benefits Harvest Food and Stop Hunger Now, non-perishable donation, 5 pm. 772-494-5009. MAY 23 ! Sample & Sip Mix & Mingle

Fundraiser, 5-7 pm, $5, Jetson’s, food samplings, door prizes, benefits Pampered Chef ’s Help Whip Cancer Campaign. 772-359-3673. MAY 24 ! “Brides and Bayous”

Benefit concert, VBHS Perform-

SUNDAY, MAY 20

Monthly meeting with speaker Claudia Jimenez, 11am-1 pm at Crispers, 1335 US 1. 772-2993607. MAY 27 ! Treasure Coast Chorale

Memorial Day weekend concert, 7 pm, First Baptist Church, indoor “fireworks,” free will offering. 772231-3498. JUNE 2 ! Annual Tropical Night Luau

To benefit Youth Guidance, 7-11 pm, Quail Valley River Club, 2345 A1A, Tickets by May 31 $75, June 1st $85. 772-770-5040. ! Bounce-Tacular

Samaritan Center fundraiser, family fun, games, water slides, games, 10 am-2 pm, Riverside Park, $10/child, under 2 free. 772770-3039. To submit your calendar listing please email: verobeachnewsweekly@gmail.com

MONDAY, MAY 21

TUESDAY, MAY 22

WEDNESDAY, MAY 23

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Theatre Guild wraps season with spellbinding tale of love

Arts | Entertainment

BY LISA RYMER

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canny and embodies the same combination of modesty and mischief; woman and witch. VERO BEACH -- The end of a theatre Just for the record, Van Druten’s play season is a little like the end of the school did not inspire the 1960s era television year: final productions, back –to-back series, “Bewitched.” wrap parties, and as much as you care “That was a spin-off of ‘I Married a about the work and the people, there’s a Witch,’” said Pat Kroger, who directed part of you that can’t wait for it to end. “Bell Book and Candle,” and is an accomSo it came as a bit of a surprise that the plished actor and a board member of the Vero Beach Theatre Guild’s final producguild. tion of the season, “Bell, Book and CanFellow board member Larry Thompson dle,” is quite the little hit. plays author Sidney Redlitch, a small part To be perfectly honest, I didn’t expect for an actor, but Thompson captures the to really like it. The vintage movie starred role with such relish, he makes it memoKim Novak, whose performance seemed rable. unnaturally stiff, and James Stewart, who And finally, guild newcomer Anthony ruffled some feathers by being too old to Aruffo, in the role of Gillian’s brother be a romantic lead. Nicky, introduces a new level of quirkiBut this little comedy is cast so well, the ness for the part made famous by Jack direction just spot on and the set design Lemmon in the film. so luscious, it’s hard not to love. “We went for the “Twilight” style of The play tells the story of a witch quirky,” said Kroger, who utilized Aruffo’s named Gillian (Alexis Riley), who puts startling good looks and tall, gangly apa love spell on Shepherd Henderson pearance to accentuate the character’s (James Anthony Davis), a man who lives exaggerated expressions and sudden in her apartment building in order to get movements. even with her former nemesis who is Henderson’s current fiancée. The single set production, a stylish New But when Gillian falls in love with him York living room circa 1950, is the handiherself, she discovers that she loses her work of Denise Lee, production manager witching powers. and set and lighting designer. Written by John Van Druten, the 1950 The play’s title is based on traditional PHOTO BY LEIGH ANN DUNLEAVY Broadway production starred Rex Harphrasing used to excommunicate members Gillian Holroyd (Alexis Riley) discusses her dilemma with her best rison and Lilli Palmer, followed in 1958 friend and confidant, Pyewacket, the cat. of the church for egregious violations. In with the release of the film. Van Druten’s the case of “Bell, Book and Candle,” the auHer curvy figure, blonde bob and intense gaze thor’s motivation may have been to give voice to subsequent work formed the basis for the mutranslate into sheer magic onstage, generating the gay community by creating a metaphor using sical, “Cabaret.” a standing ovation from the audience at last a witch coven in New York as the outcasts who The lead characters drive this zany romance, Sunday’s matinee. with Davis in his third leading role this season are unable to fully participate in mainstream life. While the audience members were fanning and demonstrating his great acting ability as a Van Druten, who was gay, may have seen himthemselves due to the sparks igniting between self as part of that disenfranchised community. convincing, and not-at-all-too-old love interactors on a community theater stage, this wellest. His canoodling on the settee undoubtedly “Bell, Book and Candle” performs at the Vero spring of talent seems to have no end! raised the temperature of the theater, a result Beach Theatre Guild through May 20. PerformThe role of Queenie, Gillian’s aunt, portrayed ances Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7 p.m.; Friof the chemistry he shares with his co-star. by Elsa Lanchester in the film, is deliciously days and Saturdays at 8 p.m.; Saturday and SunRiley, a local audiologist appearing on the embraced by guild newcomer, Isabel Garrett. day matinees at 2 p.m. For more information, guild stage for the third time, delivers a charmHer resemblance to Agnes Moorehead is un- call 562-8300. ing performance that is dead-on Kim Novak. VERO BEACH NEWSWEEKLY

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ARTS | ENTERTAINMENT

Glen Bottalico creates images so exact people think they are real BY CHRISTINA TASCON VERO BEACH NEWSWEEKLY

Glen Bottalico was born in Manchester, England and also lived in Canada, but to look at her, she could pass for a Florida native who has lived here all her life. Oceans, shimmering beach grasses, wonderful blue skies with local flora and fauna are splashed across her large canvases and

murals. Each painting is sometimes framed by white windows and shutters which give the feel of looking out onto the sea. A professional artist for the last 30 years, Bottalico, 59, based herself in Vero Beach where she raised a son and daughter with her husband. She is well known for her beach and local scenes including many local historical sites.

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Fooling the eye with lifelike creations “Our family lives on the river,” Bottalico said, “and we are always around the water so perhaps that is why those scenes inhabit my art.” Acrylic paints are her medium of choice but she uses the paint like oils by adding layers to provide texture and depth while the resulting work has the delicate look of watercolor. Growing up in northern England, she was required to choose her career by age 14. Deciding on art, she was scheduled to study at a school that burned to the ground the year before she could attend. The students were then sent to a temporary home at the Rochdale College of Art. The school

was slated for demolition which turned out to be a wonderful benefit to the art students who would attend for the two years before a replacement school could be built. “We had all this freedom there to use our imaginations. We were allowed to stay from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and the walls of the building were our canvases. I think that was where I learned to do largescale wall murals.” The style of painting Bottalico does is called trompe l’oeil which is a realistic style which Bottalico says is designed to “fool the eye.” “It is illusional art with a three dimensional effect that fools people into seeing something that CONTINUES ON PAGE 27

PHOTOS BY CHRISTINA TASCON

The style of work Bottalico is most known for called trompe l’oeil

Example of artist Glen Bottalico’s artistically expressive side

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Artist Glen Bottalico

BOTTALICO FROM PAGE 26

they think is real but is not,” said Bottalico impishly. “I think I like the humor in the trickery of it.” Currently Bottalico has joined forces with Shells & Things on Ocean Drive where her paintings are on display, but she also paints furniture. One piece is a bench which she painted to look as if a cell phone and set of keys are left behind. Every few days someone comes in to conscientiously tell the owners, Lisa and Ron Davidson, that someone left their items behind. “Her work is so realistic,” said Lisa. “It’s such a riot.” “We love having Glen here,” she

continued. “She’s such a sweet person. Everyone knows her from around town and they recognize her work immediately.” Bottalico originally almost became a sculptor and worked in clay when she was in college. Her parents were both very creative. Her father was a mechanical engineer and inventor and her mother was a “confectionist” whose work was very sculpturelike in nature. However once she learned the trompe l’oeil style, Bottalico fell in love with it. In 1973 she came to America and studied art and music at the Rhode Island College and the Rhode Island School of Design. Bottalico worked her way through college

performing English and American folk music and playing guitar before becoming a full time painter. She now shows her work in Vero Beach and at the Silverado Gallery in Park City, Utah. In Florida she paints local sites with beautiful ocean and river scenes but in Utah she fills her canvases with mountain lions, regional wildlife and the stunning mountain vistas she sees out west. Bottalico also has commissioned pieces she does for clients from all over the country, Africa, England and Canada. One of her pieces even resides in the Embassy of Somalia which was requested by the U.S. Government for the American ambassador.

“I was doing an exhibition in North Carolina and one of their representatives saw my work there. They commissioned me to paint a mural of tropical French doors for the Embassy. It really was such an honor.” Bottalico used to own a gallery in the same spot that Shells & Things is now located so it is like coming home to her. “When you see Glen’s work, it gives you this immediately peaceful feeling,” said Davidson. “People see it and want to take that seaside feeling home with them.” You may view more of Glen Bottalico’s fine art and furniture designs on her website, www.BottalicoGallery.com.

Dining

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Siam Orchid: a flower that continues to bloom

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BY MARK JOSEPH VERO BEACH NEWSWEEKLY

Siam Orchid is a tried and true small, eclectic Vero Beach restaurant specializing in Thai and Japanese cuisine and located in a small strip mall center at 762 21st Street, just before the intersection of U.S. 1. Featuring a small sushi bar and a large menu offering both sushi and sashimi dishes, Siam Orchid often artfully presents dishes in colorful arrangements. Entering through the doors of this classic Asian sushi house, the first view was that of a sushi bar on the left and dining seating on the right and in back. The dining room could be described as unorganized and a bit tired, though folks do not come here for atmosphere or ambiance; they come for dine in or take-out Thai and Japanese favorites. We took our seats and an attentive server arrived who created a very pleasant dining experience throughout our meal. Our server quickly took our drink order informed us of several specials that evening which included the tuna roll. Though listed as a dinner special, we asked if this would be large enough to share as an appetizer. We quickly learned the tuna roll was indeed a large portion and plenty of

food for three to people share. When the entree-turned-appetizer arrived we practically gasped in unison. Set before us was a large roll of fresh tuna slices, artfully wrapped and rolled with avocado and stuffed with several pieces of fried shrimp. Sprinkled with golden brown fish flakes and incased with plenty of white rice, the tuna toll was served in true sushi fashion. The sushi grade tuna had a rich, red color and tasted very fresh. The fried shrimp which were cleverly tucked on each end of the roll were tender and sweet and the ripe avocado brought the entire dish together very well. Finished with a beautiful carved orange, slices of fresh ginger and a dab of wasabi, this masterpiece of sushi would definitely be ordered again on another visit.

Most entrees included a choice of soup or salad and we decided to stick with tradition and went for the miso soup. The broth was dark and rich with just the right amount of spices. As with most Japanese -Thai restaurants, the menu included groups of items that came with traditional bowls of white or brown rice. For our entrees, we decided to carefully make our selections by choosing items from three different categories so that we could all share some of each. After some consideration, we chose the vegetable stirfry with fried tofu, salmon teriyaki and seafood and vegetable tempura. The stir-fry was a fair size portion with chunks of fried tofu and Asian vegetables. Though tasty, it was far from spectacular: I could have pur-

chased this same meal at any Asian take-out restaurant. It was simply an average stir-fry that was almost forgettable. The salmon with teriyaki was the most disappointing of the three entrees ordered. The fish was most likely made with frozen salmon. The sauce was tasty but the pieces of fish were dry and unappealing and the entire dish was far too plain, both in appearance and in taste. The salmon was more cafeteria style, than that found in Japanese-Thai cuisine. The seafood and vegetable tempura was a spectacular presentation: a large tower of neatly stacked fried fish, shrimp, fried surimi (imitation crab) and fried vegetables. The tempura was an impressive display and with the separate bowl of rice, there was plenty of food to share CONTINUES ON PAGE 29

29 DINING Dinner for three before tip: The rice with fresh mango traditional in Asian culture. was very different from what The sticky rice was naturally $89. we had expected. Perhaps sweet and the tangy mango the best way to describe it balanced out the sweetness. Siam Orchid would be a deconstructed It was different, but enjoyJapanese & Thai Cuisine cold rice pudding with a able. side of mango slices. It was As we left that evening, I 762 21st Street, Vero Beach indeed something new for found myself wishing that Phone: 772-569-2829 us. When we questioned we had taken a seat at the Lunch: Monday - Friday, the simplistic presenta- front sushi bar, choosing in11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. tion, a single scoop of sticky stead to treat ourselves to Dinner: 4:30 p.m. - 10 p.m. Lunch: Saturday 12 p.m. - 3 p.m. rice with a small amount some delicious concoctions Dinner: 4:30 p.m. - 10 p.m. of sweet cream sauce and of fresh raw fish, served up Lunch: Sunday 12 p.m. - 3 p.m. a side of sliced mango, our from the same talented suDinner 4 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. server explained the dessert shi chef that prepared our Most major credit cards. and presentation was very fabulous tuna roll appetizer.

SIAM ORCHID

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and definitely more than enough for one person. While many Asian restaurants offer desserts, after dinner sweets are traditionally not their forte so we almost passed up the opportunity for an after dinner indulgence. However, when the server described the sticky rice with fresh mango, the sound of this particular treat made it impossible to pass up.

M A Y

FROM PAGE 28

N E W S W E E K L Y

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Obituaries Wilbur C. McCullers Wilbur C. McCullers, 77, died May 1, 2012, at Orlando Regional Medical Center in Orlando. He was born in Vero Beach, and lived in Fellsmere for 20 years, coming from Miami. He served 20 years in the Air Force, received his degree in criminal justice and was a Metro-Dade Police officer in Miami for 20 years. He was a member of the Masons in the Philippines. Survivors include his wife of 49 years, Rosemary McCullers of Fellsmere; sons, Steve, Ronald, Mark, Billy and Ricky; daughters, Tina Marie Lawton and Rhonda Bass; brother, Rayburn Charles McCullers of Malabar; 14 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his brother, Kenneth McCullers. Memorial contributions may be made to VNA/Hospice Foundation, 1110 35th Lane, Vero Beach, FL 32960. A guestbook is available at www.strunkfuneralhome.com. Carmen Mendez Carmen Mendez, 93, died April 28, 2012, at The Place of Vero Beach. She was born in Havana, Cuba, and lived in Vero Beach for seven years, coming from Miami. Before retirement, she worked as a professor at the University of Nebraska, and then as a teacher at Dowling High School in Des Moines, Iowa. Survivors include her daughter, Mary Jacoby of Vero Beach; son, Jorge Mendez of Phoenix; three grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband of 50 years, Jose Mendez; and sons, Jose and Miguel Mendez. Memorial contributions may be made to the SunUp ARC of Indian River County, 2455 S.W. Fifth St., Vero Beach, FL 32962. A guestbook is available at www. coxgiffordseawinds.com.

Louis J. Palma Louis J. Palma, 89, died March 29, 2012, at his home. He was born in Portland, Conn., and came to Vero Beach in the early 1950s. He graduated from Branford High School in 1940. He was a veteran of the Army. He retired from the Indian River County School Board maintenance department. He also was a locksmith. He was preceded in death by his wife of 59 years, Vera. Services: A memorial service will be at a later date. Arrangements are by Cox Gifford Funeral Home in Vero Beach. Barbara Peterson Barbara Bishop Peterson, 93, died April 30, 2012, at Palm Garden of Vero Beach. She was born in Lynn, Mass., and lived in Vero Beach for 33 years, coming from Marblehead, Mass. Before retirement, she was a telecommunications engineer with New England Telephone Co. for 37 years. She was a member of the Telephone Pioneers of America and was a longtime member and volunteer with the Indian River Medical Center Ladies Auxiliary. She attended Grace Lutheran Church in Vero Beach. Survivors include her sons, John S. Peterson of Gulfport, Miss., and Garry T. Peterson of Dorchester, Mass.; daughter, Gail M. PetersonO’Neal of Vero Beach; five grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild. A guestbook is available at www. strunkfuneralhome.com. Nancy Sealand Nancy O’Daniel Sealand, 81, died April 30, 2012, at Indian River Medical Center. She was born in Memphis, Tenn., and moved to Vero Beach in 1989, coming from her birthplace. She was a member of First Church of God, Vero Beach. She was a member of the Irish Amer-

ican Club, Vero Beach Yacht Club and the Women’s Republican Club of Vero Beach. Survivors include her husband of 63 years, Chester W. Sealand Jr. of Vero Beach; sons, Chester W. Sealand III of Memphis and William Russell Sealand of Ripley, Tenn.; sister, Anna Vaughn of Trussville, Ala.; four grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital , 501 St Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105; or www.stjude.org. A guestbook is available at www.lowtherfuneralhome.com.

was born in Hollidaysburg, Pa., and lived in Vero Beach for many years, coming from her birthplace. A guestbook is available at www.lowtherfuneralhome.com.

Charles ‘Ross’ Littig Charles “Ross” Littig, Jr., 91, of Vero Beach, died Tuesday, May 1, 2012 at his home. Befoore retiring to Vero Beach, he lived in the Chicago suburb of Wilmette Ill., and Milwaukee. He served as Vice President of J. Walter Thompson in Chicago before retiring as Deputy Chairman of the Board at Cramer-Krasselt. While living Pat Skalacki in Vero Beach he was a founding Pat Skalacki, 76, died April 28, member of Holy Cross Catholic 2012, at VNA/Hospice House in Church. He is survived by his two Vero Beach. She was born in New sons, Charles R. Littig, III and his York City and lived in Vero Beach wife, Susan, of Whitefish Bay, WI for 21 years, coming from Long Is- and J. Stephen Littig of Fontana, land, N.Y. She was a member of St. WI; sister, Jean Artz of Carmel, Helen Catholic Church, Vero Beach. CA; four grandchildren, John, She was an advocate for people Martha, Peter and Paul and one with disabilities. She was active and great-grandchild, Ella. An online served as an officer with the Hunt- guestbook may be signed at www. ington Auxiliary of United Cer- lowther funeralhome.com. ebral Palsy of Huntington, N.Y. She Frank Nemchek was instrumental in founding Sun Up in Vero Beach, as well as being Frank Nemchek, 88, died May president and board member. Sur- 2, 2012, at his home. He was born vivors include her husband, Bohdon in Stamford, Conn., and lived in Skalacki of Vero Beach; daughters, Vero Beach for 20 years, coming Mary Beth Higgins, Justine Higgins from his birthplace. He served in and Ann Louise Skalacki, all of Vero the Marine Corps during World Beach, and Julie Ann Skalacki of War II. He retired from the U.S. Long Island; sons, John R. Skalacki Postal Service as a letter carrier and Brendan W. Skalacki, both of after 34 years. He was an avid Long Island, N.Y.; and three grand- golfer and recently worked at the children. Memorial contributions Vista Plantation Golf Course. He may be made to Sun Up/ARC, 2455 was a member of St. John of the Fifth St. S.W., Vero Beach, FL 32962. Cross Catholic Church in Vero A guestbook is available at www. Beach and was a gold card memlowtherfuneralhome.com. ber of the National Association of Letter Carriers. Survivors inAlma Louise Liebegott clude his wife of 64 years, Helen Alma Louise Delozier Liebegott, Nemchek; daughters, Sharon Ial96, died April 27, 2012, at Clara enti of Gardner, Mass., and Judy Bridge Cottage in Vero Beach. She Wentz of Vero Beach; son, Frank

OBITUARIES

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John James Kinshaw John James Kinshaw, 93, of Vero Beach, passed away peacefully at the Indian River Medical Center on May 5, 2012, after a short illness. In 1939, he married Dorothy Kiefer who survives him. They had two children: John Michael and Linda. The fact that the Dodgers played in Vero Beach helped them decide to settle in Vero in 1978. He worked for nearly 20 years as a guard at the Beach Bank, now Northern Trust. He retired from that job when he was 84. He is survived by his wife of 72 years, Dorothy, his son John M., both of Vero Beach, five grandsons, and two granddaughters.

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William Edgar Heyd William Edgar Heyd, 83, died May 3, 2012, at Indian River Medical Center, Vero Beach. He was born in Belmont, Mass., and lived in Vero Beach for five years, coming from Orleans, Mass. He was a member of Christ by the Sea United Methodist Church, Vero Beach. Survivors include his wife of 60 years, Shirley Dawn Heyd of Vero Beach; sons, Bill Heyd of Oakland, Calif., and Mark Heyd of Mashpee, Mass.; daughters, Linda Backus of Harwich, Mass., Pamela Geng of Las Vegas and Laura Bond of Southlake, Texas; sisters, Alice Hultgren of Reading, Mass., and Ruth Rask of Hermosa Beach, Calif.; and nine grandchildren. Memorial contributions may be made to Christ by the Sea United Methodist Church, 3755 State Road A1A, Vero Beach, FL 32963. A guestbook is available at www.strunkfuneralhome.com.

Joy M. Elliott Joy M. Elliott, 86, of Manchester, died May 6, 2012 of natural causes. She was the beloved wife of the late Harry A. Elliott Jr. Joy was born in Buffalo, New York on June 19, 1925. She was an artist and singer who sang for many churches.After retirement Joy and Harry lived for 28 years in Vero Beach. She is the mother of the Reverend Harry A. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Chipâ&#x20AC;? Elliott III (Susan) of Manchester, Jeanne Wolfe of Holly, Michigan and Susan Clinton (George) of Rochester, New Helen Cass York. She had 10 grandchildren and Helen Cass, 82, died May 4, 2012, 16 great-grandchildren. To leave an at Lawnwood Regional Medical online condolence please visit www. Center & Heart Institute, Fort Pierce. holme s-watkin sfuneralhomes.com. She was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., and Ora B. Jackson moved to Fort Pierce 18 years ago from Boca Raton. She was a homeOra B. Jackson, 81, died May 8, maker. She was a member of St. John 2012, at Consulate Health Care of the Cross Catholic Church, Vero in Vero Beach. She was born in Beach. Survivors include her daugh- Gadsden, Ala., and lived in Vero ters, Denise Sebok of Fort Pierce Beach since 1960, coming from Banand Marie Cass of Sebastian; sons, gor, Maine. She was a homemaker. Edward Cass Jr. of Boca Raton and Previously, she had worked as an Michael Cass of Paducah, Ky.; five X-ray technician at Indian River grandchildren; and two great-grand- Memorial Hospital for 10 years and children. A guestbook is available at had been an assistant to Drs. Terry www.aycock-hillcrest.com. & Morgan, of Vero Beach, for about eight years. She did catering as well Gisela T. Crannell as worked at the Ocean Grill, HofGisela T. Crannell, 84, died May 4, brauhaus, the Party Pax, and Patio 2012, at Indian River Medical Cent- Restaurant. She was a member of er, Vero Beach. She was born in Klai- First Baptist Church in Vero Beach. peda, Lithuania, and lived in Vero Survivors include her son, Gary T. Beach for 12 years, coming from Parris of Vero Beach; daughters, Albany, N.Y. She worked as a medi- Janet Humphrey, Peggy Brown cal transcriptionist. She was a mem- and Rose Parris Cunningham, all ber of Holy Cross Catholic Church of Vero Beach, Sheila Bland of Sein Vero Beach. She was a member bastian, and Nancy Parris Smith of the Vero Beach Bridge Club and of Charleston, S.C.; stepdaughters, the Albany Country Club. Survivors Jill Pollock of Vero Beach and Jacinclude her husband of 28 years, Ri- queline Christiansen of Santa Barchard W. Crannell; daughters, Car- bara, Calif.; 23 grandchildren; and

31 great-grandchildren. Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer/Parkinson Association of Indian River County, 2300 5th Ave., Suite 150, Vero Beach, FL 32960. A guestbook is available at www.lowtherfuneralhome.com.

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Richard L. Beaulieu Richard L. Beaulieu, 86, died May 6, 2012, at Indian River Medical Center, Vero Beach. He was born in Lawrence, Mass., and worked as a production engineer for Piper Aircraft, moving to Indian River County when Piper came to Vero Beach. Survivors include his daughters, Lynda Daniels of Sebastian, Carol Wagner of Stuart and JoAnn Beaulieu of Lakeland; son, Ralph Beaulieu of Georgia; stepson, John Mende of North Carolina; eight grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. Memorial contributions may be made to the VNA/Hospice of Indian River County, 1110 35th Lane, Vero Beach, FL 32960.

Ernest W. Blais Jr. Ernest W. Blais Jr., 77, died May 1, 2012 after a prolonged illness. Ernest was a lifelong resident of Rhode Island before relocating to Vero Beach in 1998. He is survived by his loving wife Jeanne and two children, Susan Blais of California and Gary E. Blais of Providence, Rhode Island, plus four grandchildren. He was a prolific artist for most of his life and belonged to the Vero Beach Art Club. Memorial contributions may be made to Honor Flight, P.O. Box 1994, Stuart FL 34995. An online guestbook is available at www. strunkfuneralhome.com.

men Cannan, Meegan Voss and Kim Redmond; stepdaughters, Christine Crannell, Linda Crannell and Carol Liebowitz; and four grandchildren. A guestbook is available at www. lowtherfuneralhome.com.

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Burton David Zeiler Jr. Lt. Col. Burton David Zeiler Jr. (Ret.), 79, died May 2, 2012, at Indian River Medical Center in Vero Beach. He was born in St. Louis, Mo., and lived in Vero Beach for 32 years. He was a pilot for the Air Force for 26 years. Survivors include his wife of 57 years, Shirley Jones Zeiler of Vero Beach; sons, Dr. Steven B. Zeiler of Oklahoma City, Okla. and James D. Zeiler of Port Orange; and four grandchildren. Memorial contributions may be made to the Indian River Medical Center Foundation, 1000 36th St., Vero Beach, FL 32960; or to a charity of your choice. A guestbook is available at www. coxgiffordseawinds.com.

A guestbook is available at www. lowtherfuneralhome.com.

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Nemchek Jr. of Fairfield, Conn.; brothers, Lawrence and Edward Nemchek, both of Stamford; sister, Vilma Fowler of Stamford; six grandchildren; and two greatgrandchildren. Memorial contributions may be made to St. John of the Cross Catholic Church, 2355 82nd Ave., Vero Beach, FL 32966. A guestbook is available at www.lowtherfuneralhome.com.

HOME OF THE WEEK

The ‘Seasons’ at Orchid is the ultimate in resort style living

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Located at 2077 Indian Summer Trail, at the Seasons in Orchid, this 2,976 square-foot contemporary home nods toward Mediterranean good looks. Burgundy Bahama-style shutters complement sand-colored stucco walls and a concrete tiled roof. Cross-gabled roof lines punctuated by a roof cupola and copper weather vane add to the appeal. A curvy driveway of gray pavers weaves you past flowery tropical plantings to a 2-car garage and loggia leading to a grand entry. Twin doors of solid mahogany grant access to an elegant foyer and great room which boasts 12-foot ceilings. Throughout the home, sand colored 18-inch ceramic tiled floors accent walls painted in a neutral palette.

The kitchen features a spacious breakfast area, an island and custom, European-style wood cabinets. White Corian counter tops and white GE Profile Appliances enhance the sleek design. The formal dining room features an elegant tray ceiling. The master suite features a patterned carpet of neutral hues and wide, double-hung windows that bathe the room in romantic light. Sliding glass doors access a concrete patio. The master bath features two walk-in closets, vanities topped with cultured marble, an embedded Kohler Roman tub and separate shower. There are two additional carpeted bedrooms, a 14-foot by19-foot den, 3 ½ baths, a 20-foot by 40-foot heated pool and a 2-car garage.

A gated community, the Seasons offers the ultimate in resort style living. Residents enjoy tennis courts, a croquet court and clubhouse. A short stroll will take you to Wabasso Beach Park with inviting sandy beaches. This home can be yours for $589,900. For more information, contact Coldwell Banker Paradise Ed Schlitt REALTORS Sales Associate, Sharon Wininger, at 772-713-4602 or email her at Sharon.Wininger@ColdwellBanker.com. To search hundreds of listings in Vero Beach, go to Coldwell Banker Paradise Ed Schlitt REALTORS at www.flColdwellBanker.com . Family owned and operated since 1953, we are everywhere along the Indian River in St. Lucie, Indian River, and Brevard counties.

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Barrier Island Real Estate Sales – May 3-May 9

Address 1285 Southwinds Blvd. 1966 Anglers Cove 271 Amy Ann Ln. 702 Lantana Ln. 8341 Chinaberry Rd. 5790 Hwy A1A, #8A 1776 Mooringline Dr., #107 626 Date Palm Rd. 4141 Ocean Dr., #402 110 Chinaberry Ln. 1850 Bay Rd., #1D

Address: Subdivision: List Date: List Price: Sell Date: Sell Price: Listing Broker: Listing Agent: Selling Broker: Selling Agent:

1920 South Hwy A1A Kansas City Colony 9/2/11 $25,000,000 5/9/12 $15,600,000 Premier Estate Properties Clark French Alex MacWilliam, Inc. Roger Smith

Address: Subdivision: List Date: List Price: Sell Date: Sell Price: Listing Broker: Listing Agent: Selling Broker: Selling Agent:

720 Painted Bunting Ln. Riomar 2/14/11 $1,199,000 5/4/12 $1,100,000 Dale Sorensen Real Estate Inc. Hope Brovont Premier Estate Properties Kay Brown

Address: Subdivision: List Date: List Price: Sell Date: Sell Price: Listing Broker: Listing Agent: Selling Broker: Selling Agent:

387 Indies Dr. Orchid Island 10/15/11 $1,150,000 5/4/12 $965,000 Orchid Island Realty, Inc. Bob Niederpruem Orchid Island Realty, Inc. Bob Niederpruem

Address: Subdivision: List Date: List Price: Sell Date: Sell Price: Listing Broker: Listing Agent: Selling Broker: Selling Agent:

105 River Oak Dr. Bermuda Bay 12/8/10 $995,000 5/7/12 $795,455 Dale Sorensen Real Estate Inc. Sally Woods Norris & Company Debbie Bell

Address: Subdivision: List Date: List Price: Sell Date: Sell Price: Listing Broker: Listing Agent: Selling Broker: Selling Agent: Subdivision List Date Southwinds 5/6/10 Anglers Cove 1/2/12 Emerald Cove 3/16/12 Ocean Corp. 10/1/11 Baytree Villas 10/25/11 Fountains Condo 1/24/11 North Passage 2/19/12 Veromar 4/13/12 Bay Island Club 3/1/12 Peppertree 1/7/12 Harbour Side South 1/26/11

1790 Sand Dollar Way Seagrove 2/15/11 $795,000 5/9/12 $680,000 Dale Sorensen Real Estate Inc. Hope Brovont Palm Pointe Realty Mary Ellen Weber List Price Sell Date Sell Price $515,000 5/4/12 $502,000 $499,000 5/4/12 $460,000 $450,000 5/3/12 $400,000 $395,000 5/4/12 $350,000 $349,000 5/3/12 $315,000 $399,000 5/7/12 $294,000 $310,000 5/4/12 $290,000 $274,900 5/3/12 $273,900 $265,000 5/9/12 $260,000 $229,500 5/9/12 $205,000 $169,000 5/8/12 $150,000

Address: 2089 Windward Way Subdivision: Moorings List Date: 1/12/12 List Price: $750,000 Sell Date: 5/9/12 Sell Price: $632,000 Listing Broker: The Moorings Realty Sales Co. Listing Agent: Judy Hargarten Selling Broker: The Moorings Realty Sales Co. Selling Agent: Judy Hargarten Listing Broker/Agent Selling Broker/Agent The Moorings Realty Sales Co./Erika Ross The Moorings Realty Sales Co./Erika Ross Alex MacWilliam, Inc./Karen Smith Dale Sorensen Real Estate, Inc./Scott Reynolds Dale Sorensen Real Estate Inc./Christine Hughes Dale Sorensen Real Estate, Inc./Christine Hughes Dale Sorensen Real Estate Inc./Christine Hughes Dale Sorensen Real Estate, Inc./Hope Brovont Alex MacWilliam, Inc./Lois Work Dale Sorensen Real Estate, Inc./Darrow Jackson Treasure Coast Sotheby’s Intl/Claudia Johnson Treasure Coast Sotheby’s Intl/Claudia Johnson Treasure Coast Sotheby’s Intl/John Pate The Moorings Realty Sales Co./Erika Ross The Lafferty Group RE & Cnsltg/Peter Nacion The Lafferty Group RE & Consltg/Peter Nacion Norris & Company/Jane Schwiering Norris & Company/Jane Schwiering Coldwell Banker Ed Schlitt VB/Deborah Lyon Coldwell Banker Ed Schlitt VB/Deborah Lyon The Moorings Realty Sales Co./Terri McConnell Dale Sorensen Real Estate, Inc./Christine Hughes

Mainland Real Estate Sales – May 3-May 9 Address: Subdivision: List Date: List Price: Sell Date: Sell Price: Listing Broker: Listing Agent: Selling Broker: Selling Agent:

4229 Diamond Sq. Diamond Ct. Village 6/11/11 $396,500 5/8/12 $401,950 Dale Sorensen Real Estate, Inc. Scott Reynolds Dale Sorensen Real Estate, Inc. Bebe Grady

1509 Eagles Cir. Address: Fischer Lake Island Sub. Subdivision: 5/1/12 List Date: $328,000 List Price: 5/4/12 Sell Date: $325,000 Sell Price: Listing Broker: Coldwell Banker Ed Schlitt SEB Joseph Beaudoin Listing Agent: Selling Broker: Coldwell Banker Ed Schlitt SEB Joseph Beaudoin Selling Agent: Address Subdivision List Date List Price Sell Date Sell Price 5225 E. Harbor Village Dr., #305 Harbor Village at GH 2/1/12 $359,000 5/4/12 $305,000 5935 Venetto Way Fieldstone Ranch 11/21/11 $230,670 5/3/12 $231,590 3927 9th Ln. Laurels 2/15/12 $245,000 5/4/12 $230,000 5820 Pine Ridge Cir. Pine Ridge Club 3/22/12 $235,000 5/4/12 $225,000 1559 Eagles Cir. Fischer Lake Island Sub. 1/20/12 $249,900 5/3/12 $220,000

Address: Subdivision: List Date: List Price: Sell Date: Sell Price: Listing Broker: Listing Agent: Selling Broker: Selling Agent:

2194 Falls Cir. Falls at Grand Harbor 7/6/11 $499,000 5/3/12 $385,000 Dale Sorensen Real Estate, Inc. Bill Baysura Grand Harbor Real Estate Lynn Arzt

7055 29th Ct. Address: Winter Grove Subdivision: 12/17/11 List Date: $329,900 List Price: 5/7/12 Sell Date: $319,000 Sell Price: Listing Broker: Peters, Carlton & Mugford RE Rita Curry Listing Agent: Selling Broker: Dale Sorensen Real Estate, Inc. Rita Curry Selling Agent: Listing Broker/Agent Selling Broker/Agent Alex MacWilliam, Inc./Diane De Francisci Alex MacWilliam, Inc./Stacey Clawson Dale Sorensen Real Estate, Inc./Scott Reynolds Dale Sorensen Real Estate, Inc./Debbie de Montigny Laurel Agency, Inc./Susan Bowron Laurel Agency, Inc./Susan Bowron Billero & Billero - Beach Offc/Robbie Berlingieri Billero & Billero - Beach Office/Robbie Berlingieri Van Horn Realty/Ed Van Horn RE/MAX Riverside/Diane Murdock

A forward-looking business publication serving the Treasure Coast region. In this edition: An in-depth look at the businesses and leaders in the education, technology and research industries that fuel the economy. Look for it on Monday, May 21st in the Indian River Press Journal. For convenient home delivery, call 772-569-7100

Vero Beach NEWSWEEKLY 1801 U.S. 1 Vero Beach, FL 32960 PRSRT STD

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