Sebastian Sun Articles
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The Sebastian Sun
February 6, 1998
c 1998 Treasure Coast Publishing Inc.

President: Darryl K. Hicks.
Executive Editor: Larry Reisman.
Editor: Louise Phillipine.
Advertising Manager: Melvin Adkins

(USPS)  The Sun is published weekly by Treasure Coast
Publishing Inc., a division of Scripps Howard Inc., 1801 U.S. 1,
Vero Beach, FL 32960. c 1997 Treasure Coast Publishing Inc.
All correspondence, including news copy, should be addressed
to 717 Coolidge St., Sebastian, FL 32958.  Phone: (561) 589-
6616; Fax: (561) 978-2386.  News deadline, 5 p.m., Friday.  All
display advertising should be addressed to 1801 U.S. 1, Vero
Beach, FL 32960.  Phone (561) 978-2383; Fax:(561) 978-2297.
Advertising deadline, 1 p.m., Monday.
    
  
	
	
	
	
FROM THE ARCHIVES        
	
	
	TOP STORY FROM A YEAR
AGO THIS WEEK: A fire that destroyed
a Roseland mobile home sparked a he-
roic effort by a neighbor who saved a
puppy hidden underneath it.
	Flames had engulfed the structure
when the cries of the 4-month-old puppy
could be heard.
	Tom Kine saw the puppy run into a
2-foot crawl space and pulled her out to
safety. Kine was warned to get away
from the burning building, but couldn't
let the puppy die.



CITIZEN OF THE DAY

	NAME:   Marilyn Goodenough.
	AGE: 52.
	OCCUPATION: Co-owner of
Wicker Etc. furniture store in Sebastian.
	BIRTHPLACE:     Newport, Ark.
	MOVED HERE: April 1992.
	COMMUNITY SERVICE: I belong
to the New Life Christian Church in Se-
bastian.
	HQBBIES:        Painting, fishing, all sorts
of water sports and metal detecting.
	FAVORITE AUTHOR: Agatha
Christie.
	WHY I LIKE MY NEIGHBOR-
HOOD:   I live in Little Hollywood. It's
very peaceful and quiet. It's beautiful.




WEEKEND PICKS

	The Barefoot Bay Artist Guild will
hold its annual art show from 9 a.m. to 4
p.m. Feb. 8 in Building A.
	A new feature at 2 p.m. will be a live
auction of miniature paintings, up to
10-by-12 inches in size, donated by
guild members and area artists, with the
proceeds of the sale to be donated to
the Police Athletic League program for
Barefoot Bay youth activities. Artists do
not have to be members of the guild to
donate paintings for this auction.
	Musical entertainment will be pre-
sented by members of the Melbourne
Alumnae Chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota,
a professional music sorority for women
with college and alumnae chapters na-
tionwide.



 
WHAT DID HE SAY?

 "It doesn't take a traffic engineer to
look at that and see that it's screwed
up."
Ä Randy White

(White, Sebastian's police chief, made
the statement in connection with his de-
sire to see Indian River County officials
make some changes at the intersections
of Roseland Road and Fleming and Bar-
ber streets at County Road 512. During
the past two years, 103 accidents have
been reported at those intersections, an
average of one a week. That's too many
accidents for White.)




Hard questions don't prevent
SRMS student from winning title
By LINDA ROTHSTEIN
Of The Sun

	Think you're good at geography?
	Try to answer this:
	"International shipping is important
to the economy of this Central American
country that has one of the world's larg-
est merchant marines. Name this coun-
try."
	Can't figure it out? Sebastian River
Middle School eighth-grader Brian Cor-
tez knows the answer is Panama. That's
the question he answered to win the
school-level National Geographic Society
Geography Bee Jan. 12.
	Although he may never visit Panama,
his knowledge of geography could even-
tually earn him an all-expenses paid trip
to Washington, D.C., to compete in the
10th Annual National Geographic So-
ciety Geography Bee May 19-20.
	Ultimately, Cortez beat out students
from eight social-studies classrooms to
become the school champion. But the
championship round probably was the
most difficult.
	In the eight preliminary rounds, stu-
dents in sixth-, seventh- and eighth-
grade social studies classes competed in a
double-elimination format. Winners from
each classroom then went on one final
round, where two finalists emerged. Cor-
tez and seventh-grader Kyle Burken then
went head-to-head in a single-elimination
championship round that went through
three written questions, six tie-breakers
and several more questions before Cortez
won by answering the above question.
	"It took forever and she was asking
these hard questions," Cortez said. "I was
nervous, I thought I was going to lose.
But at that point, it was important for me
to win. So when I finally did, it felt good.
I guess I'm just a good guesser."
	Just a few questions earlier, both stu-
dents missed a question about Central
America, so Cortez was ready when this
question came around.
	"A couple of questions before that
there was something about Central
America and (Kyle) said Mexico and I
said Panama and then on this question,
we said the same thing," Cortez said.
"Only this time, I got it right."
	For their efforts, both boys were
awarded prizes by the Sylvan Learning
Center, a local bee sponsor. Cortez was
awarded a $50 U.S. savings bond and
Burken received a $25 gift certificate to
the Indian River Mall.
	After winning the school champion-
ship, Cortez took a 70-question written
test which was submitted to the National
Geographic Society to determine if he
wili be among up to 100 students in the
state eligible to compete in the state bee
April 3.
	"The written test was very hard, I
couldn't pronounce half the words," Cortez
said of the multiple choice test.
       " One of the questions named
these coordinates and asked what
city was at this point. I didn't know,
so it becomes eeny, meeny, miney,
mo. I think I did kind of good."
	Although the National Geo-
graphic Society has been holding the
Geography Bee for 10 years, SRMS
just started participating three years
ago when eight-grader Chris Parsons
entered the school.
	In elementary school, Parsons
advanced to the state geography bee
and was interested in participating
again. Now, all students at the
school can participate every year if
they want to.
	Like a spelling bee, the Geog-
raphy Bee piques children's interest
because it's a competition. But
Heather Dawkin, bee coordinator
and teacher of the SRMS gifted pro-
gram, said it also helps teachers eval-
uate what their students know and
brings geography, which is some-
times overlooked as an important
subject, back into the forefront.
	"I know my kids love that ri-
valry, that competition," Dawkins
said. "Plush I think that geography
hasn't always been a subject that's
been reinforced and one in which
students are encouraged to get
involved with. And it's beneficial for
a teacher, too, especially with U.S.
geography, because if I see a kid
missing a lot of questions dealing
with U.S. geography, I know where
to target."
	And even when a student misses
a question or gets eliminated from
the round, Dawkins said just partici-
pating helps students learn a lot
about geography.
	"Even if they don't win, when
they're eliminated and they just sit
here and listen, you'd be surprised at
how much they pick up," Dawkins
said.
	Dawkins said she and other tea-
chers were pleasantly surprised by
how much their students know
about geography, even though the
level of questions were very challeng-
ing.
	"Most of my kids that partici-
pated with me, I would say, if they
didn't know the answer, they were
close or they at least knew what area
I was talking about," Dawkins said.
"I wasn't disappointed when they
didn't know something, but I was
proud of the questions that they did
know."


Photo Caption
Sebastian River Middle School student Brian Cortez hopes his 
knowledge will get him to the geography bee finals in
Washington, D.C., in May.





Home-study course helps new residents
make easy transition to life in Florida
By LINDA ROTHSTEIN
Of The Sun

	For residents who have lived in Florida
for most of their lives, dealing with things
such as severe thunderstorms and mildew is
something they do routinely without think-
ing about it.
	But for the many new residents who
move to Florida from other places, a first
encounter with a flying Palmetto bug could
leave some with a feeling of dismay of the
new, subtropical place they now call home.
	"Moving to Florida can sometimes be
overwhelming for so many new people,"
Indian River County Extension Agent Ju-
dith Wakefield said. "It's so different from
up North."
	So the Indian River Cooperative Exten-
sion Office of the University of Florida's
Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences
developed an eight-lesson program called
"Living in Florida," a home-study course
for new Florida residents.
	Developed by experts in the fields of
Florida agriculture, home economics and
members of the Florida 4-H Council and
then localized for the county in which it is
offered, the course helps lessen the shock
many people feel when moving to this vas-
tly different environment.
	"It can really help make the transition
to a new environment much easier," Wake-
field said. "The participants can keep the in-
formation and use it as a reference for
years."
	For just a $5 fee, participants receive a
packet of information on subjects such as
household pest control, caring for a Florida
yard, mildew, prevention and control, grow-
ing fruits and vegetables, pet care, hurri-
canes and tornadoes and waste manage-
ment. Two lessons are mailed out each
week and participants can earn a certificatc
of completion by returning at least five of
the quiz sheets included with the lessons.
	David and Joyce Therrien moved to
Florida from Vermont in 1986 and became
permanent residents four years ago when
they bought a home in Sebastian.
	A double lot, their property contains a
large yard and myriad fruit trees which the
Therriens had no idea how to care for. So
they signed up for the course to help make
the transition from their cold, mountainous
Vermont home to their wet, subtropical
home in Florida.
	"We have what we think is the largest
grapefruit tree in Sebastian," Mrs. Therrien
said," and we didn't know how to care for
it. We wanted to try to see how best to care
for it and our other fruit trees. The
home-study course did a marvelous job in
helping us do that."
	Mrs. Therrien was shocked when she
moved from her New England homeland
to Florida, where everything, even the type
of grass in the front yard, is different.
	"It's a lot different," Mrs. Therrien said,
"the grass, everything. And everything
seems to come from rock."
	She ordered the course more than a
year ago, but keeps the materials to use as a
reference. The lesson on dealing with hurri-
canes and tornadoes, for example, can be
used over and over again.
	Betty and Durrell Brann had a similar
experience when they moved to Sebastian
from Maine a few years ago. Everything
about the environment and the care of their
home was so different, they didn't know
where to start. So they started with the
home-study course and are glad they did.
	"I thought it might give us some in-
sight into how to deal with our new envi-
ronment," Mrs. Brann said. "The course
was very insightful."
	Although most participants
choose not to return the quizzes to
earn the certificate of completion,
Wakefield said about 600 or 700
people have ordered the materials
since they started the program about
four years ago. The overwhelming
positive feedback from participants
will probably ensure that the Indian
River Extension Office will continue
to run the program for years to
come and motivated the agents to
update the materials this year.
	"A lot of people don't realize
that the growing seasons are differ-
ent down here," Wakefield said. "If
you keep a vegetable garden, you
don't plant during the summer like
you might up North. There are mil-
dew problems and problems with in-
sects that don't get frozen out during
the winter."
	Wakefield said the program is
run in several counties in Florida
through the local extension offices,
but it originated in Pinellas County.
	When St. Lucie County started
the program, the Indian River office
took notice and decided it would be
a good service to offer residents of
Indian River. Since the Brevard ex-
tension office doesn't offer the
course, Wakefield said she gets a lot
of inquiries from Brevard residents
as well.
	The only lesson that doesn't
carry over is one on solid waste man-
agement in Indian River County.
	For more information or to or-
der the "Living In Florida"
home-study course, call the Indian
River County Agricultural Extension
Office at 770-5030.



Photo Caption
David Therrien picks a grapefruit off the tree in his front 
yard. He and his wife, Joyce, ordered the Agricultural 
Extension Office's home-study course to Iearn more about 
caring for their citrus trees.





Picture-perfect pets goal for groomer
By DREW DIXON
Of The Sun

	Doggie detailing is offered in full
force at the new Marta's Dog
Grooming shop in Sebastian.
	Marta DeLeon opened the shop
at 661 County Road 512, Suite H,
in mid-January after she and her hus-
band, Jose, moved to Sebastian from
Dade County about three months
ago. DeLeon said she wanted to
move to this area and get away from
the bustle of an overcrowded South
Florida.
	That's where she first learned her
dog-grooming skills about seven
years ago.
	"I trained with a woman who
groomed show dogs," she said.
	That's when she learned trust be-
tween the groomer, the dog and the
owner of the dog is critical to estab-
lishing rapport.
	"If someone doesn't trust you,
forget it, you won't be touching any  
dogs," DeLeon said.
	"It's hard work. You got to have
a lot of patience with the animal.
You got to like what you're doing.
	"Some dogs have problems with
their heart. So, you have to get them
in and out real quick because they
stress. Other dogs might have hip
problems, so they can't stand up very
long," she said.
	The knack for dog grooming is
something that's inherent, DeLeon
said. "It has to be born naturally in
you, to tell you the truth. Some peo-
ple got it and some don't. I got it."
	A typical dog-grooming session
is not a routine stroke of the brush.
	"You have to cut their nails,
clean their ears, make sure they're
brushed right, depending on the
dog. If they don't have that much
hair, you brush them. If they have a
lot of hair, you brush and comb
them to take the knots out," she said.
	There's also the shampoo and
making sure the soapy suds don't get
into the dogs' eyes, she said.
	Prices for grooming depend on
the size of the dog. DeLeon charges
about $15 to $20 for small dogs,
$23 to $25 for medium-size dogs
and about $30 for large dogs.
	"If you're looking into a poodle
with a fancy cut or whatever, that
could be $35 to $40," she said.
	The bottom line is getting into
the job and animals, DeLeon said.
	"I love being with animals and I
couldn't see staying at home. So,
that's why I started my own busi-
ness," she said.
	Business in the early going has
been moderate, she said. She's been
averaging about four customers a
week. But, she expects that number
to increase through advertising in lo-
cal newspapers and word of mouth.
	Marta's Grooming also provides
grooming for cats. Her hours are 9
a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Sat-
urday. She takes walk-ins as well as
appointments, and you can call
581-1260 for more information. 




SRHS senior is ready for next challenge
By Linda Rothstein

	Sebastian River High School se-
nior Candice Sturgis is at the point
where she's ready to get on with her
life.
	She's had a full and successful ca-
reer in her four years at Sebastian
River, but is now very anxious to be-
gin her studies in college.
	Although she's lived in the same
house in Vero Beach all her life, she
chose to come to Sebastian River as
a ninth-grader. She was intrigued
with the new school and was excited
about the things she could experi-
ence at a new school.
	"I wanted to meet new people,"
Sturgis said.
	An honors student, Sturgis' days
are filled with activity. A member of
the Communications Technology
Academy, Sturgis hopes to study ad-
vertising in college. She enjoys the
creative aspect of advertising and
hopes to someday design and build
ads.
	She's learning the ins and outs of
a business office as an intern for the
athletic department and dean's office,
where she runs errands, makes copies
and learns general office duties. Out-
side of school, she sees the results of
advertising every day as a sales asso-
ciate at the Gap at Indian River
Mall.
	"I enjoy designing things," Stur-
gis said. "And that's what I want to
do in advertising, design the ads."
	In addition to her intensive hon-
ors studies, which includes her favor-
ite class, anatomy and physiology,
Sturgis is a member of Student
Council. This year, she was chairman
of the homecoming-dance commit-
tee and also helps head balloon sales
for Valentine's Day. She also works
on the yearbook.
	But apparently all that activity
isn't enough for the energetic
17-year-old. After school, she's a
center midfielder on the girls varsity
soccer team and a pitcher on the
softball team. She also used to play
on the volleyball team, but decided
to take the season off to see what it
would be like to actually go home af-
ter school once in a while.
	Although her brother, Michael,
and sister, Charlotte, are both stu-
dents at the University of Florida,
Sturgis is seriously considering UF's
archrival, the University of Georgia.
She's not doing it to antagonize her
siblings, though, the softball coach is
considering asking Sturgis to join the
university softball team. Besides, af-
ter making a visit to Athens, Sturgis
was charmed by the small-town,
Southern atmosphere.
	"I went to the University of
Georgia last weekend to talk to the
softball coach because I'm looking to
get a scholarship for softball," Stur-
gis said. "It's kind of a dream be-
cause I don't really have to play
sports, it's just that I'd really like to."
	Birthdate: Aug. 9, 1980.
	Birthplace: Vero Beach.
	Family: Mother, Gayle. Father,
Charlie. Brother, Michael, sister,
Charlotte.
	The best part of school is:
sports.
	What I like the least about
school is: There's nothing I like
least.
	The most recent movie I saw
in a theater was: "Titanic."
	The book I'd recommend ev-
eryone to read is: I don't have one
I'd recommend. 
	Of everyone in the world, the
person I would mast like to meet
is: Adam Sandier.
	My favorite food is: fruit.
	If I were going on a trip to the
moon, I would take along: I don't
know.
	I would like to have a career in:
advertising.
	My proudest moment was:
1997 Florida High School Athletic
Association softball semifinals.
	My favorite sports team is: Flor-
ida Gators.
	My favorite television show is:
"Seinfeld."
	On my last vacation, I visited:
Alabama.
	The first thing I do when I
wake up in the morning is: Take a
shower.
	The type of music I enjoy the
most is: Country.
	People who know me the best
know: That I don't show my feel-
ings easily.
	The most exciting time in my
life was: Visiting my brother and
sister at college.


Photo Caption
Sebastian River High School senior honors student Candice 
Sturgis pauses before rushing off to class.




Russian ballet
coming to SRHS
	
	The St. Petersburg Ballet of Rus-
sia is returning to Sebastian.
	The ballet troupe, which ap-
peared in the Sebastian River Per-
forming Arts Center at Sebastian
River High School in 1995, is re-
turning to the area for a two-day en-
gagement Feb. 7 and 8 at the center.
	The 14-dancer company offers a
two-hour program of highlights
from such classics as "Swan Lake,"
"Don Quixote" and "Giselle," as well
as several group dances and a new
ballet to the music of Gershwin.
	Guest artist Galina Mezentseya, a
former prima ballerina with the Ki-
rov ballet, will appear in her signa-
ture work, "The Dying Swan," and
in three other ballets.
	The company regularly performs
not only in St. Petersburg and on the
stage of the Kirov Theatre, but in
Moscow and many other Russian
cities, as well. The company has be-
come one of Russia's most interna-
tionally touring ensembles with a
wide range of classical and contem-
porary ballets in its repertoire.
	The performances will be at 8
p.m. Feb. 7 and 3 p.m. Feb. 8. Tick-
ets are on sale at Vero Beacher De-
cor, Le Classique Jewelers and
Blockbuster Video.
	Tickets are $18, $24 and $30 for
adults and $10 for students. All seats
are reserved.
	For more information, call
388-3200.

Photo Caption
The St. Petersburg Ballet of Russia will perform at the 
Sebastian River Arts Center Feb. 7 and 8.





Sebastian mom has a great time in Little League
By LINDA ROTHSTEIN
Of The Sun

	Sebastian Little League Vice
President Charlotte Tunstill got
involved in Little League in the same
way most parents do Ä by degrees.
	When her elder son, David, 13,
got involved five years ago, she be-
came a team mom. Soon, her
younger son, Steven, 9, started play-
ing and she found herself on the
board of directors.
	Now, five years later, with David
in the seniors and Steven in the ma-
jors, Tunstill is in her third term as
league vice president.
	"I took a little break last year and
missed it," Tunstill said.
	Being vice president involves a
lot more than just filling in for the
president when he's not available.
Tunstill's main responsibility is man-
aging the majors division, which
involves scheduling games, teams
and fields.
	She's also the one parents, play-
ers and coaches come to with com-
plaints and questions.  That could ap-
pear to be a stressful part of the job,
but Tunstill believes she is
well-suited to dealing with people.
She said resolving problems in a
calm and effective manner is satisfy-
ing and is something she thinks she's
pretty good at.
	"I like dealing with people,"
Tunstill said. "It feels good when I
can resolved a conflict and I love get-
ting to know so many different peo-
pIe."
	With both sons playing Little
League, Tunstill's responsibilities
stretch beyond her duties as vice
president.
	In addition to attending as many
of her sons' games as possible, Tuns-
till also helps keep score for the
teams and works the concession
stand when her turn comes. Because
Little League is a purely volunteer
organization, parents are the back-
bone of the operation and are essen-
tial on game days.
	"I love keeping score at my sons'
games," Tunstill said. "I've learned
so much about the rules of baseball,
I really feel I know a lot more about
the game."
	Although Little League is mostly
a spring activity, Tunstill's involve-
ment goes way beyond the confines
of the season. Months before the sea-
son starts, Tunstill and other board
members are getting ready for the
season, holding meetings, making
sure the facilities are maintained, get-
ting sponsors and taking seminars to
make sure the local league is in com-
pliance with all state and national
rules. They hold registration months
in advance and arrange for coaches,
managers and umpires to man each
team and game.
	Long after the season is over,
Tunstill helps out with the all-star
teams and the American Legion
teams that continue to play through-
out the summer. So for Tunstill,
Little League is almost a year-round
commitment.
	"My sons love baseball so much,
they want to play as often as they
can," Tunstill said.
	It's a fun, wholesome way for
her family to spend time together
during practice and on game days.
	Her husband, Lenny, partici-
pates by managing Steven's team as
well as cheering on David. And it's a
safe, supervised activity for her sons
that keeps them in shape and teaches
them good lessons, such as hard
work and sportsmanship.
	"During the season, it seems like
I'm at the Little League fields every
day," Tunstill said. "But it's worth it.
We really have a lot of fun."
	When she does have a little free
time, Tunstill spends as much time
outside as possible. Whether sun-
bathing at the beach, riding her bicy-
de, working in the yard or watching
a Little League baseball game, that's
where Tunstill would prefer to be.


Photo Caption
Sebastian Little League Vice President Charlotte Tunstill 
works on practice schedules at the Barber Street fieldhouse 
while her sons practice.




`Little things' mean a
lot to Sebastian couple
By Margaret Miquelon
    
	"Bridgewater? Bridgewater,
Mass.? Do you know..."
	No matter where Ed and Olive
Snarski are, they run into someone
who knows Bridgewater or someone
from around there. It has become a
standing joke with anyone who
knows them. Ed was assistant post-
master in Bridgewater, and Olive
was a secretary at Bridgewater State
College before retiring in 1980.
	In his younger years, Ed played
semipro baseball there. He would
come home from a game and go
right to work on their house, which
he was building all by himself. In
1949, he finished it.
	When he retired, he had time to
work on the "little things" that he
loved to create with a jigsaw, sander,
drill press and saber saw. He had a
shop set up in his basement and
made cats, tulips, geese, you name it.
	A friend of his made jewelry
boxes in a factory nearby and would
bring Ed pieces of the jewelry-box
wood, which was left over from the
finished boxes. They had piles of it
available to anyone who wanted it.
The wood was all sanded and was
top-grade pine.
	He still gets jewelry-box wood
from his friend to carry on the pro-
jects he now has time to do down
here.
	Ed and Olive had visited Olive's
sister, Edith, in Vero Beach several
times and decided they wanted to re-
tire in Sebastian, so they picked up
their hobbies, had a house built and
moved here.
	Ed plays golf three times a week.
His handicap is 14, but used to be
12. He says he is "getting old." He
plays golf when they go back to
Bridgewater to visit and has twice
made a hole in one.
	He also fishes with his friend,
Charlie Turner, several times a week.
You can often see them fishing off
the Wabasso Causeway, where they
do catch fish in spite of the pelicans
that hang around them every time
they fish.
	They get a kick out of the white
pelicans that seem to stay in the cen-
ter of a circle and the brown pelicans
that hover on the qutskirts.
	They estimate they've had up to
100 swimming around them at
times. The white pelicans don't dive
into the water like the ungainiy
brown ones do. They sort of herd
the fish toward the center of their
group and then dip down to catch
them. We've all laughed at the
brown ones with their big splash.
	Ed is still making "little things,"
but now his workshop is in his ga-
rage instead of his basement. The
jewelry-box wood that his friend still
sends him is too good to paint, so
most of the time he leav~es it unfin-
ished.
	The Snarskis have many collec-
tions. Ed makes tiny rocking chairs
and porch chairs with "palm pals"
and bears sitting on them.
	The palm pals are funny looking,
not pretty. One is crying, one's nose
is running, one has his mouth open
wide. They are interesting. They and
the bears all fit in the chairs. Olive
has at least 50 bears that she started
collecting when Ed started making
the chairs.
	I have a family of seven of Ed's
whimsical leggy black wooden cats,
graduated in size, that sit on my
kitchen window. Ed doesn't sell the
things he makes out of wood, just
gives them to lucky friends.
	Ed and Olive collect ceramic
birds and have a collection of light-
houses from the New England
shores and Florida. Olive collects
pitchers and stained-glass angels She
makes towels with crocheted tops
that are perfect for kitchen or bath-
tooni and even for golf towels.
	Not onl do they share their en-
joyment of collecting things, but
they share the enjoyment of dancing
at the Senior Center at least once per
month. When they were in Bridge-
water, they danced twice a week.
	Their daughter, Jayne Wilcox,
and her husband, Stephen, live on
Cape Cod. Eddie, their grandson,
was married last summer and Jen-
nifer, their granddaughter, is being
married this summer.
	Ed and Olive have belonged to
the Sebastian Fishing tiub for eight
years. Olive was active in Welcome
Wagon and now is bird chairman for
the Pelican Island Garden Club.
	This is a couple who have moved
serenely into retirement and are en-
joying every minute of it and each
other.




Library officials want to extend
coffee house to year-round event
By DREW DIXON
Of The Sun
	
	As the North Indian River
County Library Coffee House series
reaches the midway point of its run,
organizers are looking at extending
the seasonal event to year-round.
	The Coffee House series features
poetry readings and performances by
acoustic folk artists on the first Fri-
day of each month from October
through April.
	The Feb. 6 coffee house features
folk singer and song writer Al Scor-
tino, who will perform many of his
original songs that are featured on an
upcoming compact disc. The Coffee
House begins at 7 p.m.
	The Scortino performance is ex-
pected to draw a large crowd to the
library at 1001 County Road 512,
said Ramona Widman, the library
circulation manager and organizer of
the Coffee House. The continued
large turnouts to the events are mak-
ing her think about extending the
Coffee House season.
	There are usually about 100 peo-
pIe who attend each Coffee House,
and Widman said she's been getting
requests to extend the season.
	"They're all wanting it to go
through the summer. I'm going to
ask for volunteers," she said.
	Volunteers will be a prerequisite
to extending the Coffee House
through the summer months because
Widman said she won't devote li-
brary staff to running it as they cur-
rently do through the regular season.
	The Coffee House, now in its
second year, has been a boon for the
library.
	"It's great for the library," she
said, pointing out the event makes
the facility a focal point for the com-
munity.
	If the event extends into thc
summer, the selection of performers
could be more diverse.
	"There will be a lot different per-
formers. I've been promised that if
we do have it this summer, the per-
formers we can get will be a lot dif-
ferent because there aren't any (mu-
sic) fesitivals" during the summer
Widman said.
	Often, during winter months,
there are so many festivals in the
state of Florida, it's difficult to
schedule performers at the Coffee
House due to schedule conflicts, she
said.
	Plans are already under way to
set up a tentative schedule for sum-
mer months. But, Widman said, she
wouldn't disclose any tentative sum-
mer schedule until she has it con-
firmed that enough volunteers will
be in place.
	Widman said she currently has
an open invitation for any volunteers
who want to work the Coffee House
over the summer. Anyone interested
can stop in the library for further in-
formation.




Veteran gets good care at clinic, SRMC
By Dave McAllister
	
	This past week I was told about
one of our veterans who had a medi-
cal emergency that I want to pass on
to you.
	I want to tell you about this be-
cause it reflects credit on the Veter-
ans Affairs Clinic in Palm Bay and
the emergency-room staff at Sebas-
tian River Medical Center.
	One of our local veterans had a
very close call this past week. He had
appeared at the Palm Bay VA Clinic
with complaints of discomfort in the
chest area. He was examined and
found to have fluid in his lungs. The
VA physician ordered chest X-rays
and prescribed a medication. Then,
the veteran and his wife were in-
structed by the nurse "to keep a close
watch on his temperature and, if it
was showing the slightest degree of
rising, call 911."
	During that night (about 2 am.)
his wife saw that his temperature was
rising to a dangerous level and she
called 911. The veteran was taken
by ambulance to the Sebastian River
Medical Center where the experts on
the emergency-room staff did all the
right things.
	I am pleased to report the pa-
tient is recovering in the hospital's
progressive-care unit.
	It is very comforting to know
that the Palm Bay VA makes sure we
know what to do when faced with a
life-threatening illness and even more
comforting to know the Sebastian
River Medical Center is well staffed
to take care of these emergencies.
	This past week I had to make a
trip to the Orlando VA Clinic for
some personal medical checkups. I
left at 8 a.m. for a 10 a.m. appoint-
ment. While on Malabar Road head-
ing for Interstate 95, the radio told
me about a big pileup on I-95 just
north of the Palm Bay exit. So I re-
routed to Babcock Street, then east
back to U.S. 1 and north to the
Pineda Causeway exit to I-95~
	I arrived at the Clinic at 10:10
a.m. No one seemed to be too upset
because I was late for my appoint-
ment Ä mainly because there were
plenty of other patients (at least 100)
waiting to be seen. My purpose here
is to let you know you should plan
on at least a two-hour trip to the Or-
lando VA should you be referred
there for any specialty evaluation.
	There is good news from our
Veterans of Foreign Wars depart-
ment headquarters. Each year, VFW
Post 4425 sponsors a Voice of De-
mocracy Program at Palm Bay High
School. This year, Scott Wilson,
winner of Palm Bay High School's
Voice of Democracy program and
winner of the VFW's District 8 com-
petition, has also won at the VFW's
Department of Florida level.
	He was awarded a $2,000 check
at a recent recognition night at Day-
tona. Scott will now represent the
Department of Florida in the na-
tional competitions.
	VFW Post 4425 has been very
successful with its Voice of Democ-
racy program thanks to the efforts of
Adele and Leo Carroll who serve as
program chairmen for the Post for
the past six years.
	Post 4425 and Palm Bay High
School have produced four winners.
Three of the winners competed at
department level and two of those
went on to the nationals; the fourth
winner placed second at the VFW's
District 8 competition. The national
competitions will be held from Feb.
27-March 4 in Washington, D.C.
	Scott will get a free five-day trip
to Washington, will meet congres-
sional representatives and will be
competing for a $20,000 first prize.
Scott, we wish you well and we are
confident of your ability to make a
first-class presentation.
	More good news comes from the
recent meeting with representatives
of Space Coast Area Transport. The
15-passenger van to be provided by
Space Coast to transport South Bre-
yard area residents has been up-
graded to a "pop-top" van, meaning
a person can stand up making it eas-
ier to enter and exit. The Transporta-
tion Committee received a request
from the Police Athletic League for
use of the van on one Saturday per
month to transport youth to the
Habitat Golf Course for free golf les-
sons to be given by members of the
staff.
	The committee unanimously
agreed to this exception to the Mon-
day through Friday only use. The
PAL members have offered to keep
the van clean in return for the use of
the van.      




Letters to the editor


Garden Club
deserves praise
	
	The Pelican Island Garden Club
of Sebastian is to be commended for
its creation of a park in Sebastian on
land that was formerly an empty lot
with a pond.
	With the cooperation of City
Council and various landscaping
companies, these residents have
given Sebastian residents another
place of beauty to enjoy. They are
involved in every phase of devel-
opment, fund-raising, planting, wa-
tering, weeding and nurturing. I
congratulate them on their achieve-
ment.
Alice Russell
Sebastian


Resident worried
about neighbors
	
	Those of us who live in Barefoot
Bay may be forgiven if we appear to
be developing a siege mentality bor-
dering on paranoia.
	For some years, we have had on
our western border a waste-water
treatment plant where the lighting
at night and occasional smell guar-
anrees its place among the ugliest
public utilities in the region. Our re-
sentment toward the plant inten-
sified last year when we learned our
water bills would be doubled or
tripled to pay for the upgrading of
the plant.
	Then, last year, the Brevard
County zoning board and county
commissioners approved the con-
struction of an incinerator and
mulching plant some three miles
west of our community, giving us
the assurance the plant will pose no
health or environmental hazard, but
will not be permitted to operate
when the wind is blowing from the
west. This "safeguard," as it was
called by the commissioners, was
added "just to make sure," which has
left us wondering "sure of what?"
	Now comes the notice the zon-
ing board and the commissioners are
considering a proposal for a borrow
pit on our southern border. The pit,
we are told, eventually will become a
placid lake surrounded by upscale
homes.
	Taken together, the incinerator
and the borrow-pit traffic will con-
vert Micco Road into a driving
nightmare for our largely aging pop-
ulation.
	We often feel we have no recourse
in these matters, but that is not quite
true. Barefoot Bay, I am told, is the
largest single voting precinct in Bre-
yard County. At election time, if we
could put aside our usual hang-ups,
we could identify men and women
who would pledge that, at the very
least, they will never approve the
building of a nuclear-waste dump on
our northern border. That would be
a progress of a sort.
Bob Constantine
Barefoot Bay




Teen-ager says pageant
was learning experience
By DREW DIXON
Of The Sun
	
	A Sebastian River High School
sophomore who entered her first
beauty pageant wasn't a runner up,
but she says she won valuable experi-
ence.
	Wendy Lindstrom, 16, was the
Miss Junior America for Sebastian
and was among 181 other teen-age
girls who competed for the state
crown Jan. 17 at the Melbourne Hil-
ton. She took part in "casual wear"
and "formal gown" judged competi-
tions. The competitive portions were
also accompanied by speeches from
each contestant.
	"They graded the speeches on
more of what you did in the past for
your community. I focused more on
what I wanted to be," Lindstrom
said.
	"I didn't place in the top 15. But
I was pretty confident. I thought I
did well. I really didn't know what to
expect," she said.
	Before the competition, Linds-
trom said she was pretty nervous be-
cause she believed the pageant would
be held in a large auditorium.
	"It wasn't in a huge auditorium
though. It was in a ballroom and
that took the pressure down," she
said.
	Considering she had never been
in a beauty pageant before, Linds-
trom said she handled the experience
really well.
	"I would have liked to have
placed. But, I had fun and I met a
lot of nice people. I'll try again next
year," she said.




WEEK IN REVIEW


District ends hope
of privacy referendum
	
	Barefoot Bay Recreation District
trustees Jan. 30 decided to charge
the general public a daily fee to use
the community's facilities, ending
some residents' hopes for a referen-
dum.
	Barefoot Bay residents will not
be voting in March on whether they
want to pay more by changing the
tax-free bonds used to pay for the
recreational facilities to taxable
bonds in order to keep the facilities
private, or charge the public a
15-a-day user fee, not including
golf, and keep the recreational facili-
ties tax exempt.
	Instead, without allowing any in-
put from the more than 150 resi-
dents who were at Friday's special
meeting of the Barefoot Bay Recre-
ation District, the trustees voted 7-1
to revise the district's user-fee sched-
ule that outlines how much resi-
dents, their guests and the general
public are charged to use the recre-
ational facilities.
	"You can't do that," several of
the residents in the audience shouted
after the trustees voted to adopt the
resolution without letting residents
speak.
	Trustee Adele-Jean Dace voted
against the resolution, saying resi-
dents are the ones who need to de-
cide the issue.
	"I'm very disappointed. You've
got nine people making this decision
and it's wrong," Dace said. "This is
an important issue. All homeowners
should vote, not only registered vot-
ers."
	Trustee John Olyslager was ab-
sent from the meeting.
	The district's chairman, Ben
Krom, said the board did not ask for
any public comment during the
meeting because residents were given
a chance to comment during the dis-
trict's past three meetings.
	District officials said earlier in or-
der to keep the facilities closed to the
public, the district would have to re-
finance its tax-free bonds to taxable
bonds. That would mean an esti-
mated annual increase of about
$350,900 in the district's loan pay-
ments and property taxes, including
about $70,900 in additional prop-
erty taxes.
	The majority of the trustees said
they agreed with Krom, who said to
refinance the bonds would undoubt-
edly mean the bank would require
the county to collect the fees, and
residents probably would have to
pay it in a lump sum, rather than as
a monthly fee.
	Krom said the district should
continue letting the public use the fa-
cilities, but for a daily fee, and mon-
itor it for a while to see if it becomes
a problem. If it doesn't, he said there
is no need to refinance the bonds.
	So far, district officials said no
one from the public has purchased a
pass to use the facilities, and they
don't expect their use to increase
with the daily pass.
	"To obligate ourselves for mil-
lions of dollars over the loan period
to address a situation that has not
occurred would be completely irre-
sponsible on our part," Krom said.


Wave Street changes
to one-way

	As of Feb. 2, drivers used to
going east on Wave Street to get to
local shopping centers had to find a
different route to use, at least for the
next six months.
	City workers planned to put up
barricades blocking the east end of
Wave Street, making it a one-way
street to see if it solves traffic prob-
lems in the area.
	The idea is to reduce the number
of cars on Wave and George streets,
City Engineer Martha Campbell
said.
	"People will find another route,"
she said.
	Sebastian Police Chief Randy
White said he didn't think police of-
ficers would be assigned to direct
traffic, but that officers may patrol
the area during peak traffic times.
	"It'll be confusing the first day,
but they'll figure it out," he said.
"It's just going to be a learning expe-
rience."
	After the first three months, bar-
ricades then will be put up in the
southbound lane of George Street
near Noah Street, forcing the south-
bound traffic to turn west onto
Noah and then onto Carnation
Street, she said. The George Street
trial period also will be for three
months and the Wave Street barri-
cades will remain up during that
time.
	Residents have complained
about speeding cars and near misses
in the Wave/George streets neigh-
borhood for years and have asked
City Council for some relief. The
six-month experiment will determine
whether permanent barricades need
to be put up, Campbell said.


South Brevard
van service delayed
	
	Barefoot Bay resident Stuart Ma-
cauley was disappointed Jan. 28 to
learn the van pool volunteer service
for South Brevard County residents
will not be transporting patrons until
the end of February.
	"Losing it for any length of time,
even for a day, is bad for me," said
Macauley, who is 80 years old and
can't drive because of his age.
	Space Coast Area Transit offi-
cials had hoped to begin operating
the service by Feb. 1. But a delay in
a leasing contract, and a delay in the
training of the volunteer drivers who
will be driving the van, pushed the
starting date back to possibly the last
week of February.
	"I'm not as far along as I hoped
to be. There are no problems, but
we're just moving slower," said Jim
Liesenfelt, interim director for the
transit agency.
	He said his agency already has in
place a shuttle van that sits about 14
passengers, to take South Brevard
County residents to medical appoint-
ments and shopping centers in both
Indian River and Brevard counties.
	The van will service residents liv-
ing south of Valkaria Road, north of
the Sebastian River and east of Bab-
cock Road, as well as those living in
Deer Run. Transit officials are still
trying to determine the specific times
for the different pickup locations
throughout South Brevard County.
	The van also will provide
door-to-door service for those resi-
dents who can't be at the pickup lo-
cations.
	So far, about 46 residents have
signed up as volunteer drivers. As of
Jan. 23, 25 of those who had signed
up have qualified as drivers. To be a
volunteer driver, residents must have
a Florida driver's license and pass a
background check. Those who
qualify will be trained by the transit
agency.
	But South Brevard County's
older residents might not be the only
ones using the van.
	Martha Schmitt, head of security
in Barefoot Bay and coordinator for
the Police Athletic League there,
asked Liesenfelt if the van could be
used every Saturday to take some of
the children signed up in the PAL
program up to the Habitat Golf
Course in Valkaria to play golf.
	Liesenfelt said he would have to
get the idea approved by the County
Commission, but he said he didn't
foresee any problems.
	The agency is yet to set a fare
rate, but Liesenfelt said earlier that
residents will most likely be charged
a nominal fee, such as $1 for adults,
and 50 cents for senior citizens,
handicapped citizens and students
with student identification.


Brevard officials put
off borrow-pit decision

	Brevard County commissioners
Jan. 29 said they will wait until
March to decide whether the county
should issue two conditional-use per-
mits for the expansion of a borrow
pit near Micco Road.
	With no objections from either
South Brevard County residents or
William Davis Jr., president of South
Palm Bay Development Corp., the
company digging the borrow pit, the
commissioners voted unanimously to
table the matter until the March 26
zoning meeting. Commission Chair-
woman Helen Voltz zwas absent
from the meeting.
	Commissioners decided to table
these and other permit requests be-
cause of the 60-day moratorium they
imposed on issuing the permits to
give county staff time to review the
conditions and requirements that are
part of the permits, and to see how
they can be improved.
	Davis requested the permits so
he can expand an existing borrow pit
of about five acres in size, to about
32 acres on land that he owns south
of Micco Road and west of Bird
Drive.
	A borrow pit is created when
dirt or sand is removed to be used as
fill elsewhere. Davis said he eventu-
ally plans to create a lakefront com-
munity on the 100-acre site where
the borrow pit is being dug up.
	Davis did not speak at the meet-
ing, and could not be reached for
comment Jan. 29.


Police arrange swap
for busted recorder
	
	Old Sebastian Police Department
equipment will be swapped out so
the department can get a new re-
corder machine.
	The city's 10-year-old recorder,
which tapes all radio conversations,
911 calls and telephone calls to the
Police Department, stopped working
Jan. 18, Police Chief Randy White
said at the Jan. 28th City Council
meeting.          
	Communications International  
in Titusville has agreed to let the city
lease a new recorder until October in
exchange for about 30 police
hand-held radios and a base station,
valued at a total of about $2,000,
White said. The council unanimously
approved the deal.
	The only other offer the city got
was to spend $4,940 for the first
year in a five-year lease option on a
recorder, he said.
	White said he wasn't really inter-
ested in buying a new recorder since
he is considering merging the city
and county's dispatch systems. The
plan would eliminate the need for a
dispatch center in the Police Depart-
ment, which White has said would
save about $175,000 a year, mostly
from employee salaries and benefits.
	Indian River County Undershe-
riff Jim Davis has said that October,
the start of the new fiscal year, prob-
ably would be a good start date if
the county and city reach an
agreement to merge.
	White said he tried to sell the old
equipment through advertisements
but hasn't gotten a response. Swap-
ping the equipment is a better deal
than buying a new machine, he said.
	The new machine should be in-
stalled by next week, he said.
	In other action, the council
voted 4-1 to offer Sebastian resident
Richard Solgot a $4,000 cash set-
tlement for four trees the city cut
down after a lightning storm last
May. Councilwoman Ruth Sullivan
voted against the settlement after
Solgot said the money wouldn't help
him get the trees back.
	Solgot returned home one day
after a day of errands to find city
workers had cut down three trees
that stood in the easement on the
west side of his house, taking away
the shade they provided his Main
Street home.
	City workers said one of the pine
trees had been damaged by lightning
and caused concern to Solgot's
neighbor that the dead tree would
fall on his home. Two other smaller
trees had to be cut down in order to
get to the first pine tree. A fourth
tree also was killed in the process of
removing the three trees.
	City Manager Thomas Frame
said the city was wrong to remove
the trees without Solgot's permis-
sion. The city has the right to enter
private property through the ease-
ment to address drainage problems.
That was not the case, he said.
	But Solgot said the cash will not
give him back the trees. New trees
cannot be planted on the embank-
ment because they won't survive, he
said. Solgot wanted the council to
pay about $12,000 to put in a pipe
and fill the area, creating a flat sur-
face to plant the trees.
The council said that was too
much money and decided instead to
offer him the $4,000 cash. 
	 After the meeting, Solgot said he
would not accept the money but de-
clined to say what his next step
would be.


Riverfront district plans
set for public hearing
	
	Sebastian City Council wrapped
up discussion Feb. 2 of its proposed
riverfront district ordinance and
mapped out what the district will
look like in the future.
	The ordinance, which recom-
mends changes for future devel-
opment within the district, including
restrictions on color, architectural
style, signs and landscaping, now is
ready to be brought back to the
council for two public hearings and
final adoption.
	Council members said they were
anxious to get the ordinance on a
council meeting agenda, so that the
moratorium placed on all devel-
opment in the district would end.
	Community Development Direc-
tor Bob Massarelli said public hear-
ings can be held Feb. 25 and March
11, with final adoption of the ordi-
nance set for March 11. At that
meeting, a separate ordinance can be
passed to end the moratorium.
	The district includes all property
within the city limits north of the Se-
bastian Square shopping center and
east of the railroad tracks.
	The council was able to reach a
consensus on a future land-use plan
for the district, which Massarelli said
cleans up the existing future land-use
map. The plan creates five types of
land use for the district that include:
	       A conservation area limited to
the east side of Indian River Drive
and the river. This is the most re-
strictive type of land use in the dis-
trict and allows recreation use only.
Existing homes and businesses will
be allowed.
	       A residential area for existing
homes and condominiums. This
zone would be at the North Central
Avenue and Davis Street area and
near Coolidge Street to south of
Washington Plaza. Businesses would
not be allowed.
	       A riverfront commercial area
predominantly on U.S. 1 that would
allow "heavy" business such as de-
partment stores. Some restrictions
would apply as to the type of busi-
ness allowed. For example, pawn
shops, auto sales and adult entertain-
ment would not be allowed.
	Residences will not be allowed in
this area. However, a provision will
be written allowing homes currently
on U.S. 1 to be considered a condi-
tional use in the area. This way,
these homes can be renovated or ex-
panded in the future, Massarelli said.
	Bars and lounges will be allowed
in this district, but will have to be at
least 450 feet away from any resi-
dential unit.
	       A limited commercial area pre-
dominantly for Indian River Drive.
This area would allow small shops,
motels, hotels and restaurants but
would prohibit large businesses such
as department stores. Residences will
continue to be allowed to co-exist
next to businesses. 
	       A public service area reserved
for parks, churches and the cemetery.
	The future land-use plan for the
district will be added to the city's
Land Development Regulations,
which are being revised for the entire
city.




Local briefs


Seminar to dig
into ancestry
	
	The fourth annual Valentine's
Day seminar sponsored by the In-
dian River Genealogical Society will
be held 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 21 at
Indian River Estates West, 770 State
Road 60, Vero Beach.
	Desmond Walls Allen will con-
duct the seminar. Mrs. Allen is
author/compiler of 163 books and
many articles.
	The fee is $25 per person, which
includes snacks and lunch. For more
information, call 562-4445.


Little Theater
producing show
	
	This season's production by
Barefoot Bay Little Theater, "This
`N That" is a potpourri of music,
dancing, comedy and drama.
	Show dates are March 2-5 at
7:30 p.m. each evening.
	Tickets are $4 each and will be
sold every Wednesday from 9-11
am. and every Friday from 5-7 p.m.
in front of Building A.
	For more information, call
664-1259.


GOP women
to dine Feb. 9
	
	Republican Women of Indian
River Federated will hold its lun-
cheon meeting Feb. 9 at Ophelia's,
2625 35th Ave., Vero Beach.
	Social hour is at 11:30 a.m. with
lunch served at noon.
	Guest speaker will be Indian
River School District Superintendent
Roger Dearing. A short business
meeting will follow.
	The public is welcome to attend.
	For reservations and cancella-
tions, call Marjorie Seinsoth,
569-7970.


Submarine Veterans
to meet Feb. 7
	
	Submarine Veterans Inc. will
hold its monthly meeting at 2 p.m.
Feb. 7 at American Legion, Post 39,
807 Louisiana Ave., Sebastian.
	Any veteran who wore Dolphins
is eligible to join.
	For further information, call Jo-
seph Brown, 664-6044.


Legion Auxiliary
organizes party

Charles L. Futch Unit 189,
American Legion Auxiliary, will as-
semble at 1:30 p.m. Feb. 12 at the
American Legion Hall, County
Road 512, and Louisiana Avenue,
Sebastian.
	Plans will be finalized for the St.
Valentine's Day party. Tickets, at $3
each, which include an international
potluck dinner, are on sale.
	A social hour precedes the 6
p.m. dinner. Music will be provided
by the Melotones.
	Alice McDaniel, community ser-
vice chairman, asks members who
did not bring a book to the last
meeting to do so Feb. 12.
	These books (hardcover or pa-
perback) will be donated to the
North Indian River County Library.


El-Does prepare
for fashion show

	A fashion show luncheon will be
held by the El-Does of Sebastian
Elks, Lodge 2714, on Feb. 21 at the
lodge.
	The noon luncheon will be fol-
lowed by fashions by Casual Corner
Group Inc., the New Super Store.
	The cost is $8.50 per person.
Tickets are available in the lounge.
Contact 953-6866 for more infor-
mation.


Organ Society
installs officers

	The Treasure Coast Home Or-
gan Society installed, its newly
elected officers at its January meet-
ing.
	Installed as officers were: Marga-
ret Tanguay, president; Theo van-
Gelder, vice president; Elaine Trum-
bower, secretary; and Jim Tolson,
treasurer.
	For information about the society,
contact Tanguay at (561) 465-4518
or Ann Michels, 589-6267.


Italian American Club
cancels annual show
	
	The regular monthly meeting of
the Barefoot Bay Italian American
Club will be held at 6 p.m. Feb. 22
in Building A.
	The annual show, scheduled for
Feb. 22, has been canceled because
of unforseen circumstances.
	After the meeting, there will be a
surprise for all those attending.
	Raffle tickets will be available at
this meeting -and must be returned
by March 1.
	For information and tickets, call
664-8000.
	Barefoot Bay's Ethnic Festival
will be held March 8.
	Dues will be collected at the Feb-
ruary and March meetings. New
members will be accepted after
March meeting.
	March 22 is the anniversary/
dinner dance.


Brevard Kentucky Club
picnicking Feb. 8
	
	The Kentucky Club of Brevard
County will hold its annual mem-
bership drive barbecue Feb. 8 at the
back pavilions in Wickham Park.
	Anyone who has Kentucky heri-
tage who may be interested is wel-
come to join the group at the barbe-
cue.


Auxiliary organizes
flea market
	
	The Ladies Auxiliary of the
Micco Volunteer Fire Department
met Thursday at the firehouse to fi-
nalize plans for a flea market and
craft sale to be held 8 a.m.,to noon
Feb. 7 at the firehouse.
	To rent tables, call 664-8416. To
donate items, call 664-2116.
	The flea market will be from 8
am. until noon.
	The next pancake breakfast will
be Feb. 15 at the firehouse, 8 a.m.
until noon. Tickets are $2.50 in ad-
vance; $2.75 at the door.
	The auxiliary will hold a card
party Feb. 28 in Building A, Bare-
foot Bay, at 7 p.m. Door prizes, re-
freshments and table prizes will be
featured. Tickets are $3. Tables for
more than four people can be re-
served.
	If you live in the Micco area, call
664-2116 for information about
joining. All proceeds go to the Fire
Department.


Humane Society
offering older pets
	
	One-year-old and older adult
companion pets at the Humane So-
ciety of Vero Beach and Indian
River County have been given a bet-
ter chance for adoption due to the
Bernice Barbour Foundation's Sec-
ond Chance Program.
	The foundation has given the so-
ciety a $5,000 grant in an effort to
encourage adoptees to consider of-
fering a home to the mature cat or
dog. Often, the appeal of puppies
and kittens overshadows the adult
pet that can offer just as much and
frequently more.
	The mature pet possesses a per-
sonality that can be readily deter-
mined, is usually more settled, past
chewing and often housebroken.
	Effective immediately, the animal
shelter will discount by $13 each the
next 384 spay/neuter fees of
1-year-old and older adopted cats
and dogs. Current spay/neuter fees
range from $25 to $ 55, depending
on the sex and species of the animal.
Due to the Second Chance Program,
the fees will be $12 to $42.
	The society is open for adoptions
Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays
through Saturdays, 11 am. to 4
p.m.; Wednesdays, 11 a.m. to 8
p.m.; and Sundays, noon to 3 p.m.


TOPS group 
announces losers

Take Off Pounds Sensibly, Se-
bastian Chapter 686, met Jan. 20 at
United Methodist Church on Main
Street. Best losers for the week were
Carol O'Neill and Corinne Welby.
	The program, "What Do We
Really Know About Fat?" was pre-
sented by Elaine Ellingsworth with
everyone participating.
	A valentine party will be held
Feb. 16.
	A new contest, "Bingo," will
start at the next meeting.


Talk to focus
on ancestry
	
	The Indian River Genealogical
Society will meet 9:30 a.m. to noon
Feb. 10 in the large conference room
at the Indian River County Main Li-
brary, 1600 21st St., Vero Beach.
Guest speakers will be Dr. John Getz
and Dr. Robert Slutz. Their topic
will be "Exploring Local Sources of
Genealogical Material."
	Both speakers are professional
genealogists and are well versed in
the use of local sources and national
and international sources in their
genealogical quests. The audience
will be asked to participate in the
general discussion that will be apart
of the program.
	Coffee time at 9:30 will be fol-
lowed by a short business meeting.
For more information, call Bob
Brown, 562-4445.


Abuse Council
forming group
	
	The Substance Abuse Council of
Indian River County, a United Way
agency, dedicated to substance-abuse
prevention education, is searching
for youths 10-17 to participate in an
improvisational group, Teens Acting
Responsibly Global Education
Troupe, a community prevention
program. TARGET is open to all In-
dian River County youths.
	No acting experience is nec-
essary. Amateurs and professionals
are welcome. Call the council if in-
terested.




Youngsters
get off to
smart start
By Bill Valyo
	
	This writer began his sports ca-
reer years ago. The age escapes me,
but I do remember borrowing some
of my older brother's equipment and
taking a ball and bat to a vacant lot
to see what I could do with them.
	I would throw the ball up
against a back wall and then try to
pick up the bat in time to hit the ball
as it whizzed by me. It was a tough
chore, but because I was so en-
thralled with the game, all of a sud-
den I felt that this was the way to
learn how to play it.
	Forget asking anyone to help
me. My mother couldn't do it and
my father worked all day in a hot
foundry and throwing baseballs
when he got home was not on his
agenda.
	When I felt that I was ready, the
next step was to join some of the
older boys who could be found in
the schoolyard, choosing up sides
with a bat for the pickup game.
That's how it was then Ä no uni-
formed Little League, no umpires
and only a taped ball and bat.
	To say that things have changed
now is a total understatement. Not
only is there a structured league for
kids from the age of 6, but you get a
uniform, gloves that cost 50 bucks
and more, an aluminum bat that
pings and boxes of balls to attack.
	So when I read a release sent to
me by the Indian River County Rec-
reation Department that stated a
"great new idea" was being
launched, I eagerly read it.
	It stated the department was be-
ginning a "Start Smart" program
that helps parents work one-on-one
with their children Ä learning basics
such as throwing, catching, kicking
and batting to prepare them for fu-
ture recreation activities.
	The junior program is for chil-
dren age 3-5 and the senior program
is open to children age 6 and older.
A child and a parent must attend a
six-session course together.
	The program is sponsored by the
National Alliance for Youth Sports
and Koosh products, which will be
used for the learning process.
	The kids in our neighborhood
had their own type of learning proc-
ess. When you did not get picked by
the bigger kids to play that pickup
game you wouid go back to the lot
near my house and play your own
game.
	Anyone who hit a bail across the
street and into the window of the
shoemaker shop would then consider
himself ready or the big time. And
you know what? The shoemaker
would see that the batter was picked
by the older boys the next time.




Call of `play ball' to echo on fields
as Little League gets under way
By LINDA ROThSTEIN
Of The Sun

	American tradition is renewing
itself once again on the diamonds at
Barber Street.
	The Little League season starts
in just a week, so more than a dozen
teams assemble on the fields every
evening to prepare for the season
that lies ahead.
	For some 9-year-old boys, this is
their first season in the majors, the
level of Little League that seems to
garner the most attention, the divi-
sion whose national championship
game is televised on ESPN every
year.
	For many 12-year-olds, however,
this is their last season in the majors
before they move up to the senior di-
vision and start thinking about play-
ing in high school. These are the
golden years in Little League and
coaches, players and parents alike
work together to make sure they are
years to remember.
	On the L.A. Tile majors team,
manager Lenny Tunstill tries to keep
his team together for the duration of
their four years in the majors. So, at
the annual draft, Tunstill drafts as
many 9-year-olds as he can so his
players can progress at the same rate.
He graduated four players to the se-
niors this year and therefore drafted
four 9-year-olds, including his son,
Steven.
	This year was a particularly diffi-
cult draft because oniy 70 players
were available. Last year, about 140
players participated in the major-lea-
gue draft to form nine major-league
teams. This year, there are only
enough youngsters to form seven
major-league teams.
	Tunstill believes it's because of
competition for players for soccer
basketball and the Vero Beach/
Indian River County Recreation De-
partment baseball teams.
	When Tunstill gets new
9-year-olds on the team, he usually
lets the older players initiate them
into the routine of playing on a ma-
jor-league team. So by the time
opening day comes around on Feb.
14, the new players are ready to be a
productive part of the team.
	"I've got a 9-year-old this year,
so I kind of picked a lot of young
kids this year to build around him,"
Tunstill said. "These next three years
are going to be my last down here
and then I'll probably move up to se-
niors. So what I'm going to do this
year is build a young team.
	"The toughest year is the first
year when you've got the 9s (year-
olds)," Tunstill said. "Next two
years'll be a little bit of work, but the
one plus about it is the two 11s I've
got coming back and the four
9-year-olds I've got coming back will
know the routine. This is my last
hurrah, my last three years here, so
by the time my team is 11- and
12-year-olds, they're going to be
tough. That year, I get to kick back,
drink sodas and watch them"
	While the 9-year-olds are learn-
ing the ropes of the majors, the 12-
year-olds are settling into their roles
as team leaders. Since they have been
with Tunstill since they were 9, they
are expected to know how the team
operates and to pass that knowledge
on to the younger players. They lead
by example and, for their efforts,
earn substantial playing time.
	"The 12-year-olds I've got now,
they've been with me since they were
9, so they kind of know my routine,
know how I do everything," Tunstill
said. "And those are the ones, they're
like the captains. When I pick them
when they're 9 and they stay with
me until they're 12, they're pretty
much the leaders of that team.
They're going to be moving up next
year and I try to get them full play-
ing time."
	Although the manger and
coaches are already familiar with the
older players' strengths, during the
first week of practice, all players are
evaluated to determine who will fit
best into what positions. No matter
how long a player has been with a
coach or played in a specific posi-
tion, when spring rolls around, he
must prove that he is the best man
for the job.
	Tom "Biscuit" Bissonnette is one
of the 12-year-olds who has been
with Tunstill since he was 9. He has
every reason to expect that he'll see
significant playing time this year,
probably in his strongest position Ä
catcher. But he also knows that at
the start of practice, his position is
up for grabs, so he must be at the
top of his game to retain his spot.
	Bissonnette has been playing
baseball for four years and got into
the game because his father was a
coach. Gary Bissonnette now
coaches Biscuit's little brother on the
Hale Groves majors team.
	"I got into baseball probably be-
cause my dad showed me how to
play when I was little," Bissonnette
said. "He's a good coach, he's fun to
work with."
	Along with Steven Tunstill,
Brennan Quigley occupies the inter-
esting position of being coached by
his father. Since most coaches get
into coaching because their sons
play, most teams have at least one fa-
ther-son combination. It was strange
for Brennan when his father, Cohn
Quigley, first started coaching his
team. Now it's just fun.
	"It's cool," Quigley said of his
father. "When he first started, he was
a little bit serious and then he real-
ized that he was too serious and now
he's a lot of fun."
	During the first week of practice
after the draft, coaches take players
through a series of drills and condi-
tioning exercises to prepare them for
the long season of baseball that lies
ahead. Hitting, fielding and getting
used to new teammates, fills each
two-hour practice. Many scenarios
are gone over, from catching pop
flies to turning a double play, so
players will be prepared no matter
what situation arises in a game. After
the season begins, most teams prac-
tice two to three times each week.
The majors play every Tuesday and
Friday evening.
	"We go over the positions, we
find out who is right for these posi-
tions in hitting, infield and ouffield
and then after that we just kind of
work on the basic stuff: hitting and
fielding and mental," 12-year-old
first baseman Forrest Hinman said.
"It's really fun."
	Sebastian Little League's opening
day is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m.
Feb. 14 at the Barber Street Sports
Complex.   


Photo Caption
Lenny Tunstill and catcher Tom Bissonnette work on fielding 
drills during the first week of practice for the Sebastian 
River Area Little League. The season opens Feb. 14.




Scholars will be big winners in golf tourney
By LINDA ROTHSTEIN
OF The Sun

	Sebastian River High School of-
ficials are hoping area golfers will get
into the swing of things and pitch in
to help the school's International
Baccalaureate program.
	SRHS is just one of approxi-
mately 28 schools in Florida to offer
the rigorous college preparatory pro-
gram for students who carry a 3.0
grade-point average or better. Com-
pletion of the program often helps
students get into more prestigious
colleges.
	In support of the program, Se-
bastian River is holding the inau-
gural SRHS/IB Golf Classic Feb. 28
at the Sebastian Municipal Golf
Course.
	"We needed to have something
each year that generates that little ex-
tra that's needed to do the extra
things for the kids that are part of
the program," SRHS athletic direc-
tor and lB teacher Michael Stutzke
said.
	"And what better way than a
golf outing, because the hope is that
you would have businessmen and
women who would be involved and
then want to know more about IB
and then who possibly even become
more involved."
	For students who demonstrate
outstanding academic commitment,
the program offers an advanced
course of study to prepare students
for college. In fact, upon completion
of the four-year program and inter-
national tests in six subject areas, stu-
dents are awarded an lB diploma in
addition to the regular high-school
diploma.
	In Florida, students who success-
fully complete all the IB require-
ments and choose to go to a state
school are awarded 30 hours, or one
year of college credit, allowing them
to accelerate their college studies.
	"This is the first time we've gone
beyond our walls, if you will, to do
something that really puts the Inter-
national Baccalaureate program in
the eyes of the total community,"
Stutzke said.
	Although the program is free to
students, it is self-supporting and de-
pends heavily upon sponsors and
fund-raisers to sustain the high level
of instruction by 11 IB teachers in
and out of the classroom. For that
reason, the golf tournament was or-
ganized and leaders hope, through
sponsorships and participants, to
raise money that will directly benefit
IB students.
	"The International Baccalaureate
program is a privately-funded pro-
gram at this school," Srutzke said.
Tax-paying dollars don't go into the
funding of lB. So there are needs in-
herent to the program - - - so the
thought was we'd do an IB golf
tournament."
	Major sponsors Coca Cola, Keith
Puttick Buick-Cadillac and Scotts
Sporting Goods have donated
money and prizes to help make the
tournament a success. Scotts has do-
nated IB golf caps to the first 100
golfers and Ken Puttick has donated
a 1998 Buick Century, a two-day/
two-night Bahamas cruise, a four-
day/three-night Jamaica vacation and
a set of Maxfli Torque Arms Irons
for the hole-ih-one contest.
	Golfers also can play for other
prizes in a closest-to-the-pin contest
and a long-drive contest. The $60 in-
dividual sign-up fee includes green
fees, cart, continental breakfast, hot
buffet lunch, contests and prizes.
	Sponsorships still are available to
help defray the costs of the tourna-
ment and also allow sponsors to play
in the tournament.
	Scotland native Grant Orton is
one of many IB students who will
benefit from the proceeds of the
tournament. According to Orton,
the IB program is the only way for
international students or students
who want to study abroad to ensure
their academic work in the United
States is recognized around the
world.
	A 10th-grader, Orton recently
moved to the area from Scotland
when his father got a job in Vero
Beach; He chose to participate in the
IB program because it will help him
gain admission to Aberdeen Univer-
sity in Scotland.
	"I'm from Scotland and when I
came over here, the only recognized
qualification in Scotland is the Inter-
national Baccalaureate," Orton said.
"So to get into university back
home, I chose to get into the Inter-
national Baccalaureate. I'm enjoying
it, it's quite rigorous and quite a bit
of homework, but it's getting me
where I want to go."
	Jason Sherry is a more typical IB
student at SRHS. A freshman, he
plans to go to college in-state and is
interested in the medical program at
the University of Florida. Not only
will he get an intensive course of
study in science and math while still
in high school, he'll be 30 credits
ahead when he goes on to college.
	"It's great, I feel like I'm getting
the best education I can," Sherry
said.
	Both students are also on the
high-school golf team, so it is doubly
appropriate that some of the money
that supports the program will be
made on the golf course.
	For more information about the
school's IB program, or to sign up
for the tournament, call Donna Cox
at 564-4362.


Photo Caption
Jason Sherry, left, and Grant Orton, members of the Sebastian 
River High School International Baccalarate program and the 
school's golf team, practice for competition.




Cheerleading now coming into its own as a sport
By LINDA E. ROTHSTEIN

	Watching the Sebastian River High School
cheerleading squad during halftime of a recent
boys' varsity basketball game, I marveled at
how much cheerleading has changed over the
years.
	So I talked a little with my mother, who
was a cheerleader during the late `40s and early
`5Os.
	When she tried out for one of the four
spots on her junior high-school cheerleading
squad in Indiana, she had to try out in the
gymnasium in front of the whole school.
Cheerleaders were selected using an applause
meter; so it was almost like a glorified popu-
larity contest.
	At her high school in Maryland, the four
cheerleaders were selected by the physical-edu-
cation teachers. When she made the team, her
mother had to make her uniform: a
knee-length pleated skirt with a reversible vest
and turtleneck sweater. The uniform was com-
pleted with traditional brown-and-white
leather saddle shoes.
	While the girls did traditional cheers and
chants, their acrobatics were limited to cart-
wheels and simple jumps. It was expected
cheerleaders also would be members of the
Glee Club.
	When I started cheerleading for the local
midget-football team about 20 years ago, we
attended workshops conducted by the high-
school cheerleaders. We were then evaluated
by those cheerleaders and the peewee
cheerleader coordinator to fill about 10 spots
on the squad. Our polyester uniforms were
handed down from generation to generation
and we wore jingle bells on our white canvas
Keds.
	The most difficult feat we performed was
sittitng on another girl's shoulders if we had a
cheerleader strong enough to hold another one
on her shoulders. Otherwise, we were limited
to simple jumps, cheers and chants and cart-
wheels. Our favorite activity came at halftime,
when we would run out to the middle of the
field to do a welcome cheer for the other
team's squad. We got to introduce ourselves
by name and do our most difficult jump.
	When I got around to cheering in high
school, it was customary for cheerleaders to be
able to do at least a back handspring because
we were just starting to participate in competi-
tions.
	The squad was now treated almost like an-
other athletic team with its own coach, usually
a female teacher who had cheered in high
school or possibly college.
	We learned to do several partner stunts
and pyramids, but nothing with a full two-per-
son extension. Full extension stunts consist of
a flier standing on the fully raised hands of one
or two cheerleaders acting as bases. Those who
were serious about cheerleading would attend
camps at nearby colleges in the summertime to
ensure that they would make the squad.
	Now, cheerleading is considered a
high-school sport. The Florida High School
Activities Association has sanctioned it as such
beginning next year and will allow squads to
compete in district tournaments that eventu-
ally will lead to state championships.
	At SRHS, the squad now incorporates
partner stunts. Soon, you'll see high-school
cheerleaders doing the types of stunts you see
college cheerleaders do at the national champi-
onships televised each year on ESPN2.
	Cheering has come a long way and
given the support that other sports get, it will
continue to grow and develop every year.




Barefoot Bay Over 60 Softball League

Hearndon Const.         16       5
WiT~ Shivelylns.        16       5
Barefoot Bay Lions      14       7
Abbott Homes             8      13
First Union Bank         5      16
Citrus Bank              4      17

Jan. 27

Hearndon Const. 22
Barefoot Bay Lions 8

W.T. Shively 16
Abbott Homes 15

Citrus Bank 19
First Union Bank 18

	Hearndon Const. Ä Hits:
Russ Sullivan, 4 (2HR); Ben Becker
(dbl) and Ron Wirt (2HR) 3; Omar
Deets, Tom Hallowell, Joe Larkin,
Tom Rogers, Andy Schmidt, Rene
Sigouln and Frank Ugenti, 2.
	Barefoot Bay Lions Ä Hits:
Bob Hall (HR), Clem Riesenbeck, 2
(dbl).
	
	W.T. Shively Ä Hits: Mike
Mecanko (HR) and Leo Ouellette,
4; Cliff Gallant, 3, and Norm Lay-
oie,2(HR).
	Abbott Homes Ä Hits: Mike
Blase, Chet Piorkowski and Lew
Smith, 3; Gene Barry and Dick Sam-
uelson, 2, and Joe Sartori (HR).
	
	Citrus Bank Ä Hits: Ron
DeLuca, 4; Roger DesJardins, 3
(KR); Max McMullin, Labe Mag-
dule and George Watson, 2; Vito
Lovecchio, (KR).
First Union Bank Ä Hits: Dan
McGuire, 4 (HR); Skip Biron, Jack
Gunther (KR), Len Matyka, Bill
Schulz and Phil Westerman, 3;
Amby Barry and Norm Turner, 2.


Jan. 29

Hearndon Const. 13
Citrus Bank 10

W.T. Shively 5
First Union Bank 4

Barefoot Bay Lions 8
Abbott Homes 2

	Hearndon Const. Ä Hits: Ben
Becker and Ron Witt, (2dbls) 3;
Tom Hallowell, Andy Schmidt, 2;
Bill Shields (HR), Russ Sullivan
(KR) and Frank Ugenti (KR).
	Citrus Bank Ä Hits: Roger
DesJardins, 3 (2HR), Tony Difazio,
2 (dbl).

	W.T. Shively Ä Hits: Bob Mazza,
3 (HR) and Cliff Gallant and Mike
Mecanko (dbl), 2.
	First Union Bank Ä Hits: Jack
Gunther, 3 (KR), Bill Schulz, 2, and
Dan McGuire (KR).

       Barefoot Bay Lions Ä Hits:
Ralph Furmno (2dbls) and Mikes
Oakley, 3; Ken King, Tony Maselli
(dbl), Gene Nunez, Clem Riesen-
beck and Lou Wehner, 2; Wayne
Dodge. 
       Abbott Homes Ä Hits: Chet
Piorkowski, 3 (HR), Mike Biase, 2.


Jan. 31

Barefoot Bay Lions 17
First Union Bank 8

W.T. Shively 8
Citrus Bank 5

Hearndon Const. 15
Abbott Homes 4

      Barefoot Bay Lions Ä Hits:
Ken King (HR), Stan Davies (tpl),
Lou Wehner (KR), 3; Ralph Fu-
rino, Bob Hall, Gene Nunez, Clem
Riesenbeck (dbl), Chuck Simpson,
2.
      First Union Bank Ä Hits:
Chip Collum, 3; Amby Barry, Skip
Biron, Wayne Enright, Jack Gunther
and Dan McGuire (HR), 2.

	W.T. Shively Ä Hits: Steve
Pupa, 3; Bill Bamhoeft, Bob Mazza
and Mike Mecanko (2hrs), 2.
	Citrus Bank Ä Hits: Tony San-
tonccito, 3; Pete Brodie, Jack Hol-
brook, Max McMullen, 2; Roger
DesJardins (dbl).

Hearndon Coust. Ä Hits: Ben
Becker, Tom Hallowell (dbl) and
Tom Lipton, 3; Omar Deets, Rene
Sigouin, Russ Sullivan and Ron
Witt, 2; Bill Shields (HR).




Obituaries


Myrtle Feuchter

Myrtle M. Feuchter, 89, 7875
126th St., Sebastian, died Jan. 27,
1998, at Integrated Health Services
of Palm Bay after a prolonged ill-
ness.
	She was born July 4, 1908, in
Holt, and moved to Sebastian in
1972 from Venice.
	Mrs. Feuchter was a member of
First Baptist Church, Micco.
	Surviving are two daughters,
Shirley Dunbar, of Melbourne, and
Mary Garvin, of Roseland; three sis-
ters, Elsie Fechter , of Miami, Mar-
gie DeBusschere, of Tennessee, and
Betty Marzec, of Jensen Beach; five
grandchildren; eight great-grandchil-
dren; and two great-great-grandchil-
dren.
	The funeral was held Jan. 30 in
the memorial chapel at the Fountain-
head Funeral Home, Palm Bay, with
the Rev. Erich Hamm officiating.
Interment followed at Belleview
Cemetery, Belleview.
	The family suggests donations be
made to the charity of one's choice
in Mrs. Feuchter's memory.


Peggy Licitra
	
	Peggy Michelina Licitra, 69, 414
Lloyd St., Sebastian, died Jan. 27,
1998, at her residence after a pro-
longed illness.
	She was born Oct. 7,1928, in
Pittston, Pa., and moved to Sebas-
tian in 1990 from Jackson, N.J.
	Mrs. Licitra was a St. Sebastian
Catholic Church communicant.
	Surviving are her husband,
Mario; two sons, John Licitra, of
Howell, NJ.., and Michael Licitra, of
Sebastian; two daughters, Donna
Scarcella, of Sebastian, and Michelle
Kinsley, of Vero Beach; one brother,
Charles Insalaco, of Pomona Park;
four sisters, Josephine Darbenzio, of
Hughestown, Pa., Lucy Butera, of
West Pittston, Pa., Angeline Cen-
cetti, of Pittston, and Leah Onorati,
of Hazelton, Pa.; and seven grand-
children.
	A funeral Mass was celebrated
Jan. 30 Friday at St. Sebastian Cath-
olic Church, Sebastian, with the
Rev. Ramon Echeverria officiating.
Interment will follow at Fountain-
head Memorial Park, Palm Bay.
	Fountainhead Memorial Funeral
Home, Palm Bay, was in charge of
arrangements.


Francis Reitz
	
	Francis L."Jake" Reitz, 71, of
Barefoot Bay, died Jan. 27, 1998, at
his residence after a prolonged ill-
ness.
	He was born June 15, 1926, in
Sunbury, Pa., and moved to Bare-
foot Bay in 1990 from Belvidere,
N.J.
	Mr. Reitz was a manager for
Prudential Insurance Co., Belvidere.
He was a member of Roseland
United Methodist Church, Rose-
land; Belvidere Masonic Lodge No.
13, Free and Accepted Masons. He
was a former member of the Belvi-
dere Lion's Club and a founding
member of the Belvidere Commu-
nity Pool. He was a member of the
Barefoot Bay Yacht Club, Baytones,
Mid-Atlantic Club, Barefoot Bay
Investment Club and Friday Morn-
ing Shuffleboard Club, all of Bare-
foot Bay. He was a U.S. Navy vet-
eran of World War II.
	Surviving are his wife, Betty; one
son, Bradley Reitz, of Henderson,
Nev.; one daughter, Beverly Ervin,
of Boca Raton; one brother, Donald
Reitz, of Cottonwood, Ariz.; one
sister, Nancy Petersen, of Annandale,
N.J.; and four grandchildren.
	The funeral was held Jan. 30 in
the Strunk Funeral Home chapel,
Sebastian, with the Revs. Ralph Riv-
ers and Carl Bray officiating. Inter-
ment followed at Sebastian Ceme-
tery, Sebastian.
	In lieu of flowers, the family sug-
gests donations be made to Roseland
United Methodist Church, P.O. Box
157, Roseland, Fla. 32957, or to
Holmes Regional Hospice Inc.,
1900 Dairy Road, Melbourne, Fla.
32904 in Mr. Reitz's memory.


Nettie Carpenter
	
	Nettie R. Carpenter, 85, of Se-
bastian, died Jan. 31, 1998, at Inte-
grated Health Services of Vero
Beach after an extended illness.
	Mrs. Carpenter was born Dec. 7,
1912, in Dale County, Ala., and had
been a resident of Sebastian for 63
years, moving here from her birth-
place.
	She worked for over 40 years as
a packer and grader for Graves
Brothers Citrus in Wabasso prior to
her retirement.
	She is survived by one daughter,
Judy Chesnutt, of Vero Beach; one
sister, Ruby Haydon, of Merritt Is-
land; and 3 grandchildren.
	Visitation will be 6-8 p.m. today
at Cox-Gifford Funeral Home, Vero
Beach.
	Graveside services will be at 10
a.m. Tuesday at Sebastian City Cem-
etery, Sebastian, with the Pastor
James Newsome, of First Baptist
Church, Vero Beach, officiating.


Hattie Roland
	
	Hattie C. Roland, 85, of Bare-
foot Bay, died Jan. 30, 1998, at Se-
bastian River Medical Center, Rose-
land, after a brief illness.
	She was born Dec. 26, 1912, in
Long Island, N.Y., and moved to
Barefoot Bay in 1976 from Reids-
ville, N.C.
	Mrs. Roland was the nursing di-
rector at Annie-Penn Hospital in
Reidsville. She was a member of the
League of Nursing and North Caro-
lina Hospital Association, and a
member of Rockingham County
Mental Health Association and
Women's League of Voters.
	Surviving are her husband,
James; her son, James Clinton, of
Barefoot Bay; two grandchildren;
and three great-grandchildren.
	A memorial service was held
Feb. 3 at First Baptist Church of
Barefoot Bay with the Rev. Millard
L. Fraumann officiating.
	Arrangements were under the di-
rection of Strunk Funeral Home in
Sebastian.


Laurence Tallman
	
	Laurence C. Tallman, 87, of Se-
bastian, died Jan. 28, 1998, at Sebas-
tian River,Medical Center, Roseland,
after a brief illness.
	He was born Sept. 2, 1910, in
Epson, N.H., and moved to Sebas-
tian 13 years ago from Rochester,
N.Y.
	Mr. Tallman was a design engi-
neer. He was a member of Our Sa-
vior Lutheran Church of Vero
Beach.
	Surviving are his wife of 60
years, Marguerite; two daughters,
Priscilla Fortiner, of Tacoma, Wash.,
and Diane E. Hall, of Jordan, N.Y.;
four grandchildren; two great-grand-
children; three brothers and a sister.
	A memorial service was held
Feb. 3 at Our Savior Lutheran
Church, Vero Beach, with the Rev.
Andrew C. Jack Diehl III officiating.
In lieu of flowers, the family sug-
gests donations be made to Our Sa-
vior Lutheran Church Scholarship
Fund, 1850 Sixth Ave., Vero Beach,
Fla. 32960, in Mr. Tallman's mem-
ory.
	Arrangements are under the di-
rection of Strunk Funeral Home in
Sebastian.


Harriet Wilson
	
	Harriet E. Wilson, 82, of Wa-
basso, died Jan. 31, 1998, at her
home after a prolonged illness.
	Ms. Wilson was born July 20,
1915, in Chippewa Falls, Wis., and
moved to Vero Beach 28 years ago
from Miami.
	She was a dairy-farm executive in
Florida for many years. She was a
member of Grace United Methodist
Church of Wabasso. She graduated
from the University of Minnesota
and was a member of the American
Contract Bridge League, and the
American Association of University
Women, and Upper Florida Milk
Producers.
	Surviving are one brother, Stuart
D. Wilson, of Wabasso; and two sis-
ters, Esther W. Dildine, of Bloo-
mington, Ill., and Dorothy W.
Nordquist, of Minneapolis, Minn.
	A funeral service was held Feb. 4
at the Cox-Gifford Funeral Home
with the Revs. James C. Isaacson
and Charles Scragg of Grace United
Methodist Church officiating.
	Memorial contributions can be
made to Grace United Methodist
Church, 8799 50th Ave., Wabasso,
Fla. 32970.


George Kutilek
	
	George Kutilek, 78, 1027 Bare-
foot Circle, Barefoot Bay, died Jan.
29, 1998, at Sebastian River Medical
Center, Roseland, after a prolonged
illness.
	He was born Nov. 23, 1919, in
Chicago, Ill., and moved to Barefoot
Bay in 1990 from his birthplace.
	Mr. Kutilek was a member of
American Legion Post No. 366,
Barefoot Bay. He was a lifetime
member of Veterans of Foreign
Wars, Chicago.
	Surviving are his wife, Helen;
one stepson, Ron Wirt, of Barefoot
Bay; and one brother, Joe Kutilek,
of Safety Harbor.
	A memorial service will be held
at a later date at St. Joseph's Polish
National Catholic Church, Davie.
	Fountainhead Funeral Home,
Palm Bay, is in charge of arrange-
ments.


Francis Bartelson
	
	Francis Robert "Bob" Bartelson,
68, of Barefoot Bay, died Feb. 2,
1998, at his residence after a pro-
longed illness.
	He was born Sept. 7, 1929, in
Providence, R.I., and had been a res-
ident of Barefoot Bay since l991,
moving from Riverside, RI.
	Mr. Bartelson was an accountant
for International Harvester, a mem-
ber of St. Luke's Catholic Church,
Barefoot Bay, and St. Brendah Par-
ish, Riverside.
	He was a member of the Scandi-
navia Club and a former member of
the New England Club, both of
Barefoot Bay.
	Mr. Bartelson was a 1952 grad-
uate of Providence College, a mem-
ber of the Providence Alumni Asso-
ciation, a charter member of the
Dillon Council of the Knights of Co-
lumbus in North Providence, R.I.,
and a member of Moose Lodge No.
1767, Sebastian.
	Surviving are his wife of 40 years,
Jeanette; and a sister, V. Ann Bartel-
son of North Providence.
	Friends may call l0:30-11:30
a.m. Thursday at Strunk Funeral
Home, Sebastian.
	A funeral Mass will be celebrated
noon Thursday at St. Luke's Catho-
lic Church. Interment will follow at
Sebastian Cemetery, Sebastian.
	In lieu of flowers, the family sug-
gests that donations may be made to
Holmes Regional Hospice Inc.,
1900 Dairy Road, Melbourne, Fla.
32904; the St. Luke's Catholic
Church Building Fund, P.O. Box
779-114, Barefoot Bay, Fla., 32976;
or to the Micco Fire and Rescue De-
partment, 301 Barefoot Blvd.,
Micco, Fla. 32976, in memory of
Mr. Bartelson. 




END




Sebastian Sun Articles
a digital text archive   

The Sebastian Sun
February 13, 1998
c 1998 Treasure Coast Publishing Inc.

President: Darryl K. Hicks.
Executive Editor: Larry Reisman.
Editor: Louise Phillipine.
Advertising Manager: Melvin Adkins

(USPS)  The Sun is published weekly by Treasure Coast
Publishing Inc., a division of Scripps Howard Inc., 1801 U.S. 1,
Vero Beach, FL 32960. c 1997 Treasure Coast Publishing Inc.
All correspondence, including news copy, should be addressed
to 717 Coolidge St., Sebastian, FL 32958.  Phone: (561) 589-
6616; Fax: (561) 978-2386.  News deadline, 5 p.m., Friday.  All
display advertising should be addressed to 1801 U.S. 1, Vero
Beach, FL 32960.  Phone (561) 978-2383; Fax:(561) 978-2297.
Advertising deadline, 1 p.m., Monday.
    
  
	
	
 
	TOP STORY FROM A YEAR
AGO THIS WEEK: The stork from the
National Tree Trust visited the city of Se-
bastian with a bundle of new trees for its
nursery.
	About 100 live oak seedlings ar-
rived from the National Tree Trust, fol-
lowed by about 300 more trees, includ-
ing bald cypress and water oaks.
	The trees come from a grant the city
got from the 1997 National Tree Trust
Community Tree Planting Program,
sponsored by the National Tree Trust in
Washington, D.C.




CITIZEN OF THE DAY

	NAME: Joseph Merlino
	AGE: 72.
	OCCUPATION:     Retired depart-
ment store manager.
	BIRTHPLACE: Yonkers, N.Y.
	MOVED HERE: January, 1991.
	COMMUNITY SERVICE: Donating
to Boys Town, Boy Scouts and the Flor-
ida Highway Patrol.
	HOBBIES: Arts and crafts and gar-
dening.
	FAVORITE AUTHOR: I read ev-
erything.
	WHY I LIKE MY NEIGHBOR-
HOOD: I live in Micco. I like the peace
and quiet and it's essentially near every
thing.




WEEKEND PICKS

	Sebastian River Little League will
kick off its season with opening-day cer-
emonies Feb. 14 at the Barber Street
Sports Complex.
	Official ceremonies begin at 10
a.m., with games continuing throughout
the day.

	The Italian-American Club, 250
Fellsmere Road, Sebastian, will hold a
Valentine's Day cheap date and dance
Feb. 14 at 6 p.m.
	Veal parmesan, potatoes and vege-
table will cost $6.
	Music will be provided by Omas
and Lee. For tickets, call 589-3341.




WHAT DID HE SAY?

"It turned out to be a free-for-all. (The
mayor) would have done better to put
me in the stocks in front of City Hall and
let them throw tomatoes at me."
Ä Kenneth Schmitt

(Schmitt, a Sebastian code-enforcement
officer who announced his resignation
effective Feb. 20, made the comments in
connection with a Feb. 4 City Council
workshop in which he said Mayor Wal-
ter Barnes and most council members let
comments be made by residents without
putting a stop to what he called a per-
sonal attack.)




Student, teacher anxious to get
insider's look at Capitol Hill
By DREW DIXON
Of The Sun

	Seven of the top students at Sebastian
River High School will have a chance to
see the best the nation has to offer in lead-
ers during a visit to Washington, D.C.
	The seven International Baccalaureate
students leave for the nation's capital Feb.
22 and will spend a week there, hoping to
learn the ins and outs of lobbying, law-
makers and the lay of the legislative land
as part of the Close Up Washington pro-
gram.
	The program is funded by the Close
Up Washington Foundation and receives
some congressional money to help send
students from across the country to the
week-long visit. The program is designed
to teach not only students, but teachers,
as well, about the inner workings of the
federal government, said Jim Carroll, the
chairman of the the SRHS' Social Sci-
ences Department.
	Carroll took five SRHS students to
the program in Washington last year.
He's expanded that number by two this
year.
	The students get "in-depth study
seminars, workshops, seminars on inter-
national and domestic relations, as well as
civic issues," Carroll said.
	"As an instructor, I'm leaving the kids
go and do their studies. I go and do a par-
allel study," Carroll said.
	For a teacher, that includes seminars
that are very similar to the students'.
	"I visit the workshops as a teacher. It's
very solid information because this is liv-
ing government. I get in touch and I am
able to feel what I'm teaching," Carroll
said.
	The venture to Washington is import
for himself as much as it is for his stu-
dents, Carroll said.
	"Teaching can become academic. But
going to Washington intensifies that. It
gives me a lot of ideas to bring back to the
classroom which always inspires me," he
said.
	One of the students going on the trip
who is counting on an inspirational expe-
rience is 17-year-old junior, Tommy Cur-
rie. "I thought it could be fun. I wanted to
learn about history and government. You
get to see it more in-depth," he said.
	He's hoping he'll get his money's
worth because, Currie, like the other six
SRHS students going to Washington,
has to pay half the bill of the excursion.
That's $520 that he savedfrom his job at
Publix in Melbourne Beach.
	Currie's convinced it will be money
well spent.
	"I went (to Washington) with my
family during spring break last year. I saw
the touristy part of it. I saw everything I
heard about.
	"But with this program, you'll get to
see the functions. It could be neat to see
what's going on," Currie said..
	And what's going on in Washington
right now could provide an unusual
glimpse at the nation's lawmakers. With a
scandal hanging over the White House
and a potential threat in the Persian Gulf,
it's difficult to tell what the students may
see when they visit Congress.
	"It would be kind of cool to see some
tempers flare," Currie said with a grin.
	No matter what the circumstance, the
experience will prove invaluable to all the
students, said SRHS senior Kristin Za-
leuke. She was one of the five who went
to Washington with Carroll last year. No
repeat students are allowed.
	"I met several influential people. I was
not intimidated, I was more excited. I al-
ways wanted to be in politics and once
you see politicians in action, it gets you
geared up for it," said the 17-year-old stu-
dent senate representative for the senior
class at SRHS.
	The biggest impact the trip had on
Zaleuke was proving that lawmakers are
simple human beings, she said.
	"It brought it all down to earth. You
see these people on TV and then you see
them in person. It demystified every-
thing," she said.
	The experience, especially many of the
workshops, provided hands-on simulation
that can't be forgotten.
	"We did role playing and presented a
crisis," Zaleuke said. "We had to make de-
cisions and that made it more realistic.
You had to make clear decisions."
	That decision-making process also
helped Zaleuke decide to study political
science at Vanderbilt University when she
begins classes there next fall.
	"It makes you want to be involved,"
Zaleuke said.


Photo Caption
Sebastian River High School social studies teacher Jim Carroll, 
right, will take a group of seven students to the na-
tion's capital for a week as part of the Close Up Washington 
program. Tommy Currie, center, will be among the stu-
dents who will getan insiders look at the inner workings of the 
country's government. Kristin Zaleuke, left, took part in
the program last year.




Love has lasted a lifetime for some couples
By DREW DIXON
Of The Sun

	Some people say love lasts forever.
	And there are several Barefoot Bay cou-
pIes who are living proof it can last life-
time.
	Dorothy andi Richard Fitzgerald, mar-
ried for 59 years; Anne and Leon Wolfe,
married for 60 years; and Toni and Ray-
mond Cherie, married for 53 years, all say
mutual admiration for each other during
troubled times has kept them together for
decades.
	The Cheries say Valentine's Day is the
constant reminder of their commitment to
each other. It was on Valentine's Day in
1944 the two sealed their committment to
get married. That day, in Chicago, Ill.,
Raymond Cherie gave Toni her en-
gagement ring after proposing to her only
two days before.
	"It was a time of uncertainty with
World War II going on," Cherie said. "You
didn't know what was going to happen. I
just wanted to make her my wife. I was
nervous."
	Mrs. Cherie wasn't quite sure what to
make of the Valentine's Day gift all those
years ago. But, she said, she was glad she
made the choice to marry the only man
she's been with her entire life.
	"It was significant. It was unusual. I
guess you'd say it was something that hap-
pened in my life that I can look back on all
the time," Mrs. Cherie said.
	Those were tough times when the Che-
ries sealed their love and life-long part-
nership with each other. Like Cherie said,
it was tough to tell what was going to hap-
pen while a world war raged.
	But maybe it's those tough days in the
early going, dealing with adversity, every
day in the fledgling marriage, that has kept
the Cheries so close.
	"Years ago, when we didn't have much
money, he'd give me a box of candy and I'd
bake a heart-shaped cake with pink frost-
ing," that's bow the couple celebrated Val-
entine's Day, Mrs. Cherie said.
	It was the simple tokens that made
their admiration work.
	"I enjoy a homemade card or whatever.
it's not the token of love that you give to-
ward each other, but the warmness that
you feel toward each other," Cherie said.
	That simple token of admiration seems
to be the common connection between all
the couples who have been together more
than half a century, at least for this group
of Barefoot Bay couples.
	Dorothy and Richard Fitzgerald were
married in 1939, at the tail end of the great
depression. He was only 21 and she was 16
when they wed in Ludlow, KY.
	 "All our friends didn't think it would
last," Mrs. Fitzgerald said, laughing. "We
were so young, it surprised us all. But, I
guess, I was just young enough and dumb
enough that I didn't have any doubts."
	If anything, the couple might have
been foolhardy about, it was the economic
realities of the time. "When we were mar-
ried the first few years, things were tough,"
Mrs. Fitzgerald said.
	It was far from easy, Fitzgerald re-
called. "When we got married, we didn't
have anything. With our budget at the end
of pay day, we had 50 cents left over to
spend.
	"We went to the movies and we had enough
for an ice cream cone in Cincinnati," Ohio, where
the couple moved shortly after getting married,
Fitzgerald said. He took on a job at a biscuit bak-
ery.
	"It was a lot of hard work. But, that brings
you closer together. We just loved each other
enough and stayed together," Fitzgerald said.
	The Fitzgeralds have somewhat of a stoic view
of Valentine's Day because they struggled so
much in the early years. "I think it's just a com-
mercial thing. (Mrs. Fitzgerald) never made much
of a big thing about it because we went through
such hard times. That was instilled in us for years
and years," Fitzgerald said.
	While they think Valentine's Day is a remem-
brance that can be overdone, Anne and Leon
Wolfe agree with the Fitzgeralds that Valentine's
Day is somewhat overplayed, at times.
	The Wolfes know their affection toward each
other goes back farther than the 60 years they've
been married.
	Leon first met Anne when he was 15. At the
time, Annie, 13, lived in the last house on his
newspaper route in Ypsilanti, Mich. She also went
to his same school.
	"I remember my first Valentine. It was a stick
of Juicy Fruit gum," given to her by a boy who
would someday be her husband, Mrs. Wolfe said.
	The two would get married in 1937. Leon
was 22 years old. Anne was 20 Ä or make that
"20 and a half. I thought I was so grown up," she
said.
       But the Wolfes, like the others married during
that time, faced tough economic challenges. The
Wolfes say their commitment toward each other
made it easier to surmount those challenges,
though.
	"Because it was so easy (being married), we
could better handle the hard times," Wolfe said.
"Valentine's Day is every day as far as I'm con-
cerned.
	"I love my wife and always have. We enjoy
being together. It's a recognition of being proud
of somebody, You're willing to help them to
make them happy," he said.
	Mrs. Wolfe's feelings are identical.
	"We've just never fallen out of love and we do
things together. We just would never think of di-
vorce. We're probably a one in a million couple. I
just would never think of living with anyone else
but my husband. He's a sweetie," she said.
	Despite some skepticism of Valentine's Day
expressed by all the couples, they still want to
make their spouse feel appreciated on that special
day.
	"I want to make her as happy this Valentine's
Day as I did 53 years ago," Raymond Cherie said
of his wife, Toni.



Photo Caption
Anne and Leon Wolfe, married for 60 years, say they can never 
imagine life without each other. The couple said they enjoy 
living out their retirement years in Barefoot Bay.
	




Trapper offers
safe way to
remove animals
By DREW DIXON
Of The Sun


Photo Caption
Charles "Fritz" Hearndon, the Gentle Trapper, often uses 
peanut butter or sardines to bait his box traps to capture 
nuisance animals without hurting them.


	Charles "Fritz" Hearndon was
reared in Indian River County as a
hunter and trapper. Now he's using
those skills to save animals from hu-
mans without harming either.
	The Gentie Trapper is the name
of the business run by Hearndon out
of his Roseland home. Hearndon
sets box traps in hopes of catching
nuisance animals, such as raccoons,
armadillos, foxes and opossums that
often bother homeowners in area
neighborhoods.
	"Back when I was around 7 or 8
years old, my grandfather taught me
to bulld box traps in Indian River
County. I just always kept it in my
mind and I thought I could make
some extra money on the side,"
Hearndon said of his decision to
start his trapping business.
	The Gentle Trapper became an
official business in the last week of
December after Hearndon secured
his occupational license from Indian
River County and his trapping li-
cense from the Florida Game and
Fresh Water Fish Commission.
	He has spent about $40 on
building each of his nearly 20 box
traps he uses to capture critters that
get too close for comfort for area
homeowners.
	In his first month and a half of
business, Hearndon said he's trapped
about 20 animals in Indian River
County and most of them have been
released back into the wild areas in
the western portion of the county.
He has also secured written permits
from landowners along State Road
60 that allows him to free the ani-
mals into more suitable environ-
ments where there is limited possibil-
ity of contact with humans.
	The instinct to trap is something
that runs in Hearndon's blood. "I
think it will be there until I die," he
said.
	And turning that instinct into a
business seems natural. "I realize
people have to have homes to live in
and these animals have to have
homes," Hearndon said.
	He also has a lot of positive feel-
ings about releasing animals un-
harmed back into the environment.
The 51-year-old Hearudon admitted
when he hunted and trapped earlier
in his life, he killed many animals.
Now he's saving them while at the
same time providing relief to home-
owners who may be bothered by
wild animals.
	His appreciation for the animals
has stopped him from hunting to kill
animals. "I haven't been hunting in
about three or four years," Hearn-
don said.
	Hearndon's specialty is dealing
with nuisance animals. He doesn't
trap alligators, that requires a special
state permit. And he doesn't handle
snakes; there are specialized snake
handlers who take to that task.
	But if you've got a wild animal
around or even in your house, say a
raccoon in an attic, Hearndon will
come to a home anywhere in Indian
River County and set up a box trap.
He charges $20 for the set up and
then 25 cents a mile for driving back
to the home and checking the trap.
	He doesn't charge for the mile-
age he mounts in his pick-up truck
when he drives to west Indian River
County to release the animals.
	He admitted that, occasionally,
he has to euthanize an animal that is
sick or diseased, but that is rare.
	The trapping job is only a part
time job for Hearndon who works
full time in citrus production for
River Island Maintenance Corp.,
based in Vero Beach. He also is the
former chief of the Roseland Volun-
teer Fire Department, a job he held
from 1986 to October.
	Hearndon can be reached at his
home at 589-9046 or at his cellular
phone number, 571-7079.




Preserve manager loves a challenge
By Drew Dixon

	Keith Fisher sees himself as an
outdoorsman and says he's a perfect
fit for the job as manager of the St.
Sebastian River State Buffer Pre-
serve.
	Fisher took the Florida Depart-
ment of Environmental Protection
position after Rich Mermer resigned
in December to start his own gui-
tar-manufacturing business in Vero
Beach. Fisher previously worked
four years at the Tosohatchee State
Reserve in Orange County for the
Florida Park Services.
	But when he heard the St. Sebas-
tian River State Buffer Preserve post
was available, he applied and got it.
In fact, he now lives in the preserve.
He and his wife moved to one of the
ranch houses on the 30-square-mile
preserve that straddles western In-
dian River and Brevard counties.
	"I like being here. I was com-
muting for a while. But it's a beauti-
ful piece of land and it has valuable
natural resources. For me, it's a fan-
tastic assignment. There are a lot of
opportunities," he said.
	His current living arrangement is
temporary. Fisher said he and his
wife are trying to sell their home in
Orlando and are casually looking to
buy a house in either South Brevard
or North Indian River County. 
	Fisher's path to his current job
took many twists and turns that
involved experiences in and out of
environmental interest. As a youth
growing up in Florida, Fisher said he
was always involved in the environ-
ment in one way or another.
	"I'm an outdoorsman. I like to
fish and to hunt. My father took my
brother and I out and I spent a lot of
time outdoors.
	"I was raised in that manner. I
was raised to appreciate the environ-
ment and respect it. It was kind of at
the time when a lot of people were
beginning to do that. But that was
before it became so-called `fash-
ionable,'" Fisher said.
	There was a detour in his envi-
ronmental interest for a brief period
in his young adulthood. Fisher, be-
ing a baseball fan as well as an ac-
complished player, earned a spot on
the Detroit Tigers spring-training
roster one year.
	But, he eventually went on to en-
vironmental work. His initial em-
ployment in environmental projects
out of college found Fisher wrestling
with a conflict of conscience.
	Fisher became an environmental
consultant for several corporate de-
velopers and he worked in that field
for six years.
	"The work that I was involved in
was wetland mitigation and preser-
vation. I was helping developers.
	"I didn't like being an environ-
mental consultant. I would say,
many times, there were ethical di-
lemmas," Fisher said. "You are in es-
sence paid by a client to help them. I
didn't always consider that the best
thing to do.
	"In my mind, there was a contra-
diction. So, I got out," he said.
	Fisher's current position puts
him in touch with vast tracts of na-
ture. Not only does he manage the
buffer preserve, but he's also in
charge of the Mosquito Lagoon, Ba-
nana River and Malabar-to-Vero
Beach Indian River aquatic pre-
serves.
	The responsibilities to the job are
complicated. Fisher said it's impor-
tant to note he's not a regulator.
	"I have no regulatory authority. I
have authority to protect and serve
the resources in the preserves," he
said.
	Mostly, his duties involve the up-
keep and well-being of the preserves.
Fisher said he has to see to the na-
ture trails and that they're main-
tamed. He also coordinates educa-
tional programs and visits.
	But his biggest management re-
sponsibility is planning and coordi-
nating controlled burns on the buffer
preserve. That's complicated, Fisher
said, because he has to choose the
right place at the right time so a
burn doesn't get out of control.
	Controlled burns in a preserve
are used to help spur growth of cer-
tain plants that sometimes don't bud
until a fire torches their leaves. Burns
also help clear unneeded brush from
habitats for certain animals, such as
the scrub jay.
	The job has many challenges, he
said. "If it's not a challenge, it's not
interesting. From my perspective, I
would not have applied for the posi-
tion if it had not been challenging."
	Birthdate:      Oct. 9, 1961.
	Birthplace:     Eustis.
	Education: Bachelor and masters
degree in science from the University
of Central Florida.
	Family: Wife, Jean, of 14 years.
	The best part of my job is:
Doing my part to preserve natural
areas of Florida.
	What I like the least about my
job is: Bureaucracy.
	The person I admire the most
is: Aldo Leopold, author and one of
the fathers of the modern conserva-
tion movement.
	The most recent movie I saw in
a theater was: "Star Trek."
	The book I'd recommend every-
one to read is: "A Land Remem-
bered," by Wilbur Smith.
	My favorite food is: Pork chops.
	If I were going on a trip to the
moon, I would take along: My
wife.
	When I was growing up, I al-
ways wanted to be; A professional
baseball player.
	The person I would most like
to meet is: Colin Powell.
	My proudest moment is: When
I received the 1997 Public Service
Award from the Nature Conser-
vancy.
	My favorite sports team is: The
St. Louis Cardinals.
	My favorite television show is:
"Home Improvement."
	On my last vacation, I visited:
Costa Rica.
	The first thing I do when I
wake up in the morning is: Take a
shower.
	The type of music I enjoy the
most is: Classical.
	If I could do something over
again, I'd: Have gone to college ear-
lier.
	People who know me the best
know: I like to fish.
	The most exciting time in my
life was: When I was a player at
spring training camp for the Detroit
Tigers.


Photo Caption
Keith Fisher says he likes his new post as manager of the St. 
Sebastian River Buffer Preserve.




Wabasso youth picks ballet over baseball
JERRY MEKLER
For The Sun

Photo Caption
Barbara Stewart instructs 8-year-old Amanda Luff during a 
recent dance rehearsal in Wabasso.

	The beautiful melodies of one of
the world's most beloved ballets,
Tchaikovsky's "Swan Lake," drifted
through the air outside the former
Douglas Elementary School in west
Wabasso.
	Inside, in what was once the
school's cafeteria, some 20 boys and
girls in tights, ranging in age from
to 14, are studiously going through
classic ballet movements.
	Despite a leaky roof and win-
dows, the lack of drinking water, and
the absence of air conditioning, these
young people had smiles on their
faces instead of grimaces because
they were doing something they
truly enjoyed.
	Most of the youngsters in this
session were boys, many of whom
could be found other times shooting
baskets or throwing a football in
Wabasso Park. But when it comes to
Tuesday evenings, they toss aside
their other interests to concentrate
on one of the toughest athletic disci-
plines of all Ä classical ballet danc-
ing.
	Woody Dawsey, 14, who already
has the physique of a dancer, lives
just down the street from the recre-
ational center at 64th Avenue. He
has been coming to classes, both bal-
let and gymnastics, since the pro-
gram started about a year ago.
	An advanced student after only a
year, Woody also performs with two
other dance companies in the area,
the Adagio and L'Monsieurs groups.
	When asked what he wants to do
later on in life, he said he wants to
make gymnastics and ballet, if he's
good enough, his chosen avocations.
If not, then he wants to be a lawyer.
	"Can I do both?" the Oslo Mid-
dle School eighth-grader, whose fa-
vorite subjects are math and science,
wanted to know.
	The popularity of the program
and his success in it has attracted two
younger brothers, James and Rich-
ard.
	The west Wabasso ballet and its
accompanying gymnastics class, is
part of the largest performing arts
program in Indian River County
and one of the largest in the state,
according to Peggi Wilkes, program
director for the Vero Beach/Indian
River County Recreation Depart-
ment, which oversees the overall rec-
reational activities in the county.
	"There are more than 400
youngsters of all ages who partici-
pate in the various programs, which
include dance (ballet and jazz) gym-
nastics, circus artistry and drama,"
Ms. Wilkes said. "Each is trained as a
performing artist and present a num-
ber of performances throughout the
year, for various civic and
fund-raising groups, such as the Fire-
fighters Fair and the Salute to Youth
event for the Rotary Club, This past
Christmas, the performing arts
group was a part of Sebastian River
High's Christmas pageant."
	What motivates these young-
sters? According to the ballet instruc-
tor Barbara Stewart, a former New
York City ballet dancer herself, "the
workout these boys and girls get is as
strenuous as any athletic competi-
tion. What we're talking about is the
sense of accomplishment and the self
esteem as a rcsult, which makes these
kids come back every Tuesday like
clockwork," Ms. Stewart said.
	Ms. Wilkes sums up the success
of this program with the story of a
young man, a star on the local base-
ball team who was supposed to re-
port for team practice. He didn't
show up. When the coach asked
why, the boy looked him square in
the eye and said, "I ain't missing bal-
let for baseball."




Globe-trotting family
now lives in Sebastian
MARGARET MIQUELON

Photo Caption
Maxwell Smith, left, enjoys visiting with his son, Tom, and 
his daughter-in-law, Betsy.

	This is a story of a lot of people
named Smith. Tom and Betsy are
the main characters, but we have to
include Maxwell Smith, Tom's
father.
	Tom Smith was born and raised
in Panama. His father was in the
civil service in the canal zone. Max-
well had met Tom's mother, Lucille,
in Chile, where she was a missiona-
ry-school teacher. Maxwell had also
grown up in a missionary family.
	Tom's earliest claim to fame was
that he was the first baby to fly on
Penagra Airlines, when the Smiths
went back to Chile to see Tom's
maternal grandparents. Max had
been employed by Penagra Airlines,
in fact, had been in a crash of one of
their planes. When he became a hus-
band and father, he decided that was
enough traveling and went into civil
service.
	Tom graduated from Balboa
High School in the canal zone. His
mother was a singer and Tom fol-
lowed in her footsteps. He took pi-
ano lessons for years. He had a beau-
tiful singing voice. Now let's fast
forward.
	Max and Lucille retired from the
canal zone and drove all around the
country trying to decide where they
wanted to live after retirement. They
settled on Arizona and maintained a
home there until 1997. Tom's
brother lived there and his sister
spent winters in Flagstaff and sum-
mers in Murfreesboro, Tenn., so it
was a logical choice.
	Tom met Betsy at a USO cos-
tume party in Boston Common. It
was love at first sight. They married
and had a son, Toby. Tom graduated
from Parke College in Missouri and
Northeastern University in Boston as
an industrial engineer. He worked
for Wang Computers.
	The family spent two years in
Puerto Rico on a rotating cycle.
Then Tom was liaison for all off-
shore manufacturing sites. He was
sent to Taiwan, Scotland and Ire-
land, so Betsy and Toby stayed at
home in North Chelmsford, Mass.
Subsequently, Wang declared
bankruptcy and Tom started a com-
pany in Massachusetts as a building
service contractor. He had eight em-
ployees and did well, but the wind
chill caught up with them. Tom
went out to start the car one morn-
ing and the key broke off in the igni-
tion. It was frozen. He had taken off
his longjohns because it was March,
and as he was trying to defrost the
key with a hair dryer, he said,
"That's it, we're moving to Florida."
And they did.
	They came to Sebastian because
Betsy's two brothers, Frank and
Richard Klobucher, and their wives,
Norma and Jill, had winter homes
here. They built their beautiful home
in the same neighborhood and set-
tled back to enjoy the warm weather.
	Of course, they immediately got
involved in new ventures. They
started a carpet-cleaning business
and still are actively working in it.
Tom is a substitute teacher in the In-
dian River County schools, to fill in
the days when he is not cleaning car-
pets. He has been a soccer referee.
	Now Tom is finally making use
of his musical training for he is or-
ganist, pianist and soloist at Christ
the King Lutheran Church in Sebas-
tian. Betsy sings in the choir and of-
ten they sing duets.
	Betsy plays a recorder, an instru-
ment that sounds like a flute. It is a
Renaissance instrument, which has a
plaintive sound. Recorders come in
all sizes, from soprano to bass. She
plays with a group in Vero Beach
that gets together informally. She
would like to start a group here, so if
you are interested, call her at
589-9888.
	Betsy also is a member of the Se-
bastian Art Club. Their mailbox,
which she painted, changes with the
seasons. She will paint them to or-
der.
	Now we can't forget Maxwell
Smith, who is 93 years old, lives in a
retirement center in Youngstown,
Ariz., and still sings in the church
choir. Not too long ago, he was rid-
ing his three-wheefed bike one night
when he ran into a curb and fell off.
He got up, shaken, but unbroken,
and rode back to the retirement
home. Wouldn't you expect Max to
be cool about the whole thing?




Volunteers needed for van service
By Richard Higgins
	
	Area veterans will receive their
share of the Department of Veter-
ans Affairs' 1998 insurance policy
dividends.
	The gross amount of $817 mil-
lion in dividends will be distributed
to more than 2 million veterans,
with an average payout of $408.50.
For 178,888 Florida veterans, the
amount to be shared is $73.7 mil-
lion.
	These dividends are a return of
trust-fund earnings on premiums
paid through the years. Only those
veterans with policies that have
been kept in force are eligible. Pay-
ment will be received on the anni-
versary date of policies, with the in-
dividual dividend amount
determined by age, type of insur-
ance and length of time the policy
has been in force.
	This is a call to action. The
South Mainland Shuttle service has
had six volunteer drivers dropped
from the list for various reasons.
The service, which will transport
veterans to medical appointments
at the Palm Bay VA Clinic and to
the Viera Clinic when it opens in
1999, is designed to be self-func-
tioning through the use of volun-
teer drivers.
	Veterans who need medical or
doctor services at Sebastian River
Medical Center or the Holmes Re-
gional Hospital Center in Mel-
bourne, or need to go to doctor ap-
pointments in those areas, also will
benefit from the service.
	While some area veterans are still
able to drive private vehicles to
these appointments, there are a
large number who cannot do so be-
cause of deteriorated eyesight or
physical incapabilities.
	As in wartime, it is our duty to
care for soldiers, sailors and airmen
who are not as fortunate. The system
will not work without volunteers.
	An additional service of the pro-
gram is to transport all Brevard
County residents who live between
Valkaria to the Sebastian River to
medical and commercial centers in
Roseland.
	Driver training is being provided
in February. A Florida driver's license
is required. If you can spare four
hours per month to take your turn,
please call Dave McAllister at
664-7029 or Richard Higgins at
664-5502.
	There is good news and bad news
for veterans in VA's 1999 budget
submission to Congress. The total
budget calls for $43.2 billion, with
only $17 billion of that for health
care.
	The budget does not include
health care or disability compensation
for tobacco-related problems, that's
one piece of bad news. Veterans of
World War II will recall the intense
pressure to take up cigarette smoking
during the years of the war; free ciga-
rettes, posters of pretty starlets smok-
ing, indicated cigarettes were indis-
pensable to respite periods.
	We can hope the current Con-
gress, though not overstaffed with
members who have experienced com-
bat, will use their wisdom to correct
this deficiency. Tony Jordan, Na-
tional Commander of the American
Legion, weighed in heavily, saying,
"The government is responsible for
health problems that are linked to
military service. We cannot create
one system for tobacco-related dis-
eases and another for the other ill-
nesses and injuries related to military
service."
	There was some good news. The
Montgomery GI Bill education bene-
fits will have the most significant in-
crease in 15 years, a 20 percent hike
to $527 a month for full-time study,
if Congress approves. More possible
good news lies in an item to establish
a test permitting veterans in selected
areas who are not now eligible for
free VA health-care, to use VA facili-
ties with Medicare picking up the
bill.
	Respect for "Old Glory" is not
dead, nor necessarily dying. Sen. Or-
rin Hatch, R-Utah, introduced a
joint resolution proposing a Consti-
tutional amendment authorizing
Congress to prohibit the physical
desecration of the flag of the United
States. The resolution already has 52
cosponsors who probably will vote
in favor, but two-thirds of the 100
senators must approve.
	After matching action by the
House of Representatives, the matter
must be ratified by three-fourths of
the states and then Congress can pass
laws protecting our flag.
	In 1997, the House passed a simi-
lar measure, but it failed to come up
for a vote in the Senate when leaders
recognized they did not have ap-
proval from two-thirds of the sen-
ators. There is no group of United
States citizens that reveres our flag
more than those who have fought for
it and seen their sidekicks killed or
wounded in battle. For those who
continue to respect the flag, contact
with elected representatives is a possi-
bility.




Local briefs


Flea market
set for Feb. 21
	
	Roseland Volunteer Fire Depart
ment's flea market will be Feb. 21 at
the firehall on 129th Court off Rose-
land Road. The hours are 8 a.m. to
1 p.m.
	New items, old treasures and
handmade crafts will be available.
Tables are indoors and outdoors.
	To donate white elephant items,
call 388-3477.


Jewish veterans
to meet Feb. 22
	
	Jewish War Veterans, Indian
River County Post 506 will meet at
the American Legion HaIl, 1536 Old
Dixie Highw4, Vero Beach on Feb.
22.
	Refreshments and socializing will
begin at 10:30 a.m.
	Guest speaker will be Frank Lap-
riola representing Ameri-Life, who
will discuss health insurance.
	All Jewish veterans, guests and
non-veterans interested in JWV are
welcome.
	Jewish War Veterans is dedicated
to assisting all veterans in need of
help, especially those disabled or
hospitalized.
	For further information, call
Cmdr. Arnold Cantor, 770-6272.


SRHS IB program
holding tournament

	A 1998 Buick Century, 2 day/2
night Bahamas cruise and resort va-
cation, 4 day/5 night Jamaican vaca-
tion and a set of Maxfli Torque Arm
Irons are among the hole-in-one
prizes at the first Sebastian River
High School International Baccalau-
reate Golf Classic on Rb. 28 at Se-
bastian Municipal Golf Course.
	The tournament will start at 8
a.m. The cost is $60 and includes
green fees, cart, continental break-
fast, lunch and prizes.
	For more information, call
Donna Cox at 564-4362.


Future Farmers
attend convention

	The Sebastian River High
School Future Farmers of America
Chapter has been very busy in the
last few months.
	In November, five chapter offi-
cers attended the 70th National Fu-
ture Farmers of America Convention
in Kansas City, Mo.. At this conven-
tion the officers met thousands of
FFA members from all over the
United States.
	The officers went to workshops
and sessions based on the theme,
Bullding the Future. The officers
learned and experienced many things
that week. Chapter officers brought
home ideas they, got from the con-
vention and are putting things to-
gether for the chapter to do.
	Since the convention, three
members practiced and studied for
the sub-district contest held at West-
ward High School, Fort Pierce.
Here, the chapter members com-
peted in different activities, such as
prepared public speaking, extempo-
raneous speaking, parliamentary pro-
cedure and tractor driving.
	The Sebastian chapter competed
against six schools in all events, re-
ceiving awards in all areas.
	The winners were: Donnie
Flood, fourth in tractor driving;
Robert Cox, second in prepared
public speaking; the parliamenta-
ry-procedure team of Miranda
Hendrix, Sarah Batchellor, Trent
Strate, Reina Snyden, J.J Ippolito
and Cox, placed third; and Misty
Fortner placed third in extempora-
neous speaking.




Barefoot Bay Over 60 Softball League

Hearndon Const.         17        5
W. T. Shively Ins.      16        6
Barefoot Bay Lions      15        7
Abbott Homes             9       13
First Union Bank         5       17
Citrus Bank              4       18
  
Feb. 5 games

Abbott Homes 22
Citrus Bank 10

Barefoot Bay Lions 19
W. T. Shively 18

Hearndon Const. 30
First Union Bank 15

Note: In the Lions, Shively game,
Wayne Dodge for the Lions caught a
line drive in short right field to start
a triple play, getting runners at 1st
and 2nd.

Abbott Homes Ä Hits: Jack Brown
5; Gene Barry, Chet Piorkowski
(2HRs), Joe Sartori (HR) and Lew
Smith (dbl) 4; Bob Brodie (HR)
and Edgar St. Yves, 3; Harvey Ste-
vens and Dick Samuelson, 2.
Citrus Bank Ä Hits: Ron DeLuca,
Roger DesJardins (3 Hrs) and Tony
DiFazio (dbl), 3; John Bandre, Pete
Brodie and Jack Holbrook, 2.

Barefoot Bay Lions Ä Hits: Ralph
Fuhno (HR), Gene Nunez and
Miles Oakley (HR), 3; Bob Hall,
Ken King and Lou Wehner (HR),
2.
W.T. Shively Ins. Ä Hits: Norm
Lavoie (HR), Mike Mecanko (HR,
dbl) and Ike Winterton (dbl), 3; Bill
Bamhoeft, Earl Body, Cliff Gallant,
Joe Griffin (2 HRs) and Steve Pupa
(HR), 2.

Hearndon Const. Ä Hits: Tom
Rogers, Russ Sullivan (3 HRs) and
Ron Wift (HR. tpl), 3; Omar Deers,
Tom Hallowell, Joe Larkin (dbl),
Bill Shields (HR, dbl), Frank Ugent,
2; Rene Sigouin (dbl).
First Union Bank Ä Hits: Dan
MeGuire, (HR) 4; Jack Gunther and
Phil Western~an, (dbl), 3; Gerry
Kane and Wally Barrv (2 dbls), 2




Local briefs


Homeowners group
holding Sweetheart Ball
	
	The new Barefoot Bay Home-
owners entertainment group will
sponsor a Sweetheart Ball Feb. 21 in
Building A.
	The entertainment group is
headed by Paula Higgins, Jerri
Turner and Jane Schulz.
       A new starting time and a slight
admission fee increase are the princi-
pal changes for the dances. The price
increase is for the increased cost for
band members; the time change is
experimental and subject to com-
ments received from the dancers.
	The doors will open at 7 p.m.
for Barefoot Bay dancers and their
guests, with the music starting at
7:30 p.m. Admission fee is $4 per
person. Coffee and Cake will be
served. Music will be by The Diplo-
mats.
	The group also will sponsor a
"Thank you Flo (Canham, past pres-
ident of the Homeowners Associa-
tion) and Joe (Generazio, chairman
of the group's executive board)" din-
ner and dance March 28 in Building
A.
	The menu will include flaming
rib roast. Dinner will be served at
6:30 pm., followed by dancing.
	Tickets must be purchased in ad-
vance and will be on sale from 9 a.m.
to noon March 4 in front of Building
A. Any remaining tickets will be of-
fered for sale from 9 g.m. to noon
Wednesdays through March 25.
	Tickets are $15 per person.


New York Club to hold
pizza party Feb. 19

	The Upstate New York Club will
hold a Valentine pizza party at 5:30
p.m., Feb. 19 in Building D&E.
Plans will be made for the annual St.
Patrick's Day dinner in March.
	Entertainment will follow the
meeting.


Mystery Dinner theater
coming to SRHS

	The Sebastian River High
School Drama Department will pre-
sent "Three Doors to Death," a mur-
der mystery dinner theater, at 7 p.m.
Feb. 27 in the SRHS cafeteria.
	Food will be catered by Bono's
Pit Bar-B-Q. Tickets are $10 and can
be purchased by calling 564-4174.


German Heritage Club
installs new officers

	The German Heritage Club of
Barefoot Bay held its installation din-
ner Jan. 25 and Patricia Priore was
elected president.
	Other officers are Lucy Kling,
vice president; Rouletta Gasparian,
recording secretary; Ernie Neurath,
financial secretary; Joan Meserole,
corresponding secretary; and Dick
Hathorne, sergeant-at-arms.
	This month's meeting will be
held at 7 p.m. Feb. 25 in Building A.
	The theme is Mardi Gras and
members may wear masks and
costumes. There will be a parade,
prizes and entertainment by Bob
Heckman and his Dixieland Music.
	The club also is planning a potluck
dinner for its March 25 meeting,
which will begin at 6 p.m.
	More information will be given on
the trip to Germany planned for May
and German Heritage Day, March
29 in St. Petersburg.


TOPS group
planning picnic

	 Take Off Pounds Sensibly,
Chapter 686, Sebastian, met Mon-
day Feb. 2 at United Methodist
Church.  "Happy Birthday" was sung
to Mary Jane Mearman.  Best losers
for the week were Ann Marie Tammi
and Vicki Burns.  Best losers for the
month were Karla McKowski and
Louise Whelan.
	 A picnic was planned for April
13.
	 A short discussion on "Fats" was
held with Elaine Ellingsworth in
charge.
	 Next week, the leader will dis-
cuss the club's bylaws.


Elderly insurance aid
available from SHINE

	 Serving Health Insurance Needs
of Elders has opened a new office at
Indian River Memorial Hospital.
Volunteers trained by the Florida
Department of Elder Affairs can help
with Medicare, Medicaid and
health-insurance information and as-
sist with questions about bills.
	 Call 563-4438 and leave a mes-
sage to set up an appointment.
	 SHINE offices in Sebastian are
at the Sebastian River Medical Cen-
ter, 589-8198, and Sand Ridge
Shopping Center, 589-1494.  Call to
set up an appointment.


Welcome Wagon
alumni to dine

	 The Welcome Wagon Club of
Sebastian and the alumni are plan-
ning a luncheon to honor all the
presidents, past and present.  The
luncheon is scheduled for Feb. 17 at
Dodger Pines Restaurant in Vero
Beach.  The price for the luncheon is
$12 and tickets can be purchased by
calling Victoria Bachman at
589-3625 or Sandy Garcia at
388-2165.
	 Donations for the Lord's Table is
tuna in spring water.


Homemakers Club
honor members

	 On Jan. 14, the Barefoot Bay
Homemakers Club held its apprecia-
luncheon for members who do-
nated to the Christmas craft sale in
November.  The installation of new
officers was on the agenda.
	 On March 18, members will
hold a craft and bake sale in Building
A from 8 a.m. to noon.  All members
are asked to bring a baked item for
the cake sale.  Crafters are welcome
to rent tables for $7 each.  Call
664-9305.
	 There will be a UFO (Un-Fin-
ished Objects) table.  Members hav-
ing projects they would like to do-
nate are asked to bring them any
Wednesday during February.





WEEK IN REVIEW


Sebastian code officers
quit over comments
	
	Sebastian's two code-enforce-
ment officers resigned Feb. 6, upset
over what one officer called a "public
whipping" at a City Council work-
shop Feb. 4.
	About 40 residents attended the
workshop, several speaking about
what they saw as problems in the
Community Development Depart-
ment. Residents and councilmen said
the department needed to improve
the time it takes code-enforcement
officers to respond to violations and
to be stricter in getting the violation
corrected.
	Allegations made at the meeting
also ranged from the department
playing favorites to its staff being
rude to some residents making com-
plaints.
	Both Kenneth Schmitt and
Randy Bonar told city officials Feb.
6 they were resigning, City Manager
Thomas Frame said. Schmitt's letter
said his resignation is effective Feb.
20. Bonar submitted a letter of resig-
nation Feb. 9 with his resignation ef-
fective Feb. 11.
	Bonar could not be reached for
comment.
	Schmitt said he was even more
disappointed the council let the com-
ments be made without putting a
stop to what he called a personal at-
tack.
	"It turned out to be a free-for-
all," he said. "(The mayor) would
have done better to put me in the
stocks in front of City Hall and let
them throw tomatoes at me."
	In his letter of resignation,
Schmitt said, "The City Council al-
lowed a public whipping that eve-
ning and never (except one lone
council person) even attempted to
stop the verbal abuse. It was clearly
shown on that evening that my per-
formance on the job did not matter
any longer, but appeasing a few citi-
zens who will never be satisfied was
the sole priority."
	Schmitt said Councilwoman
Louise Cartwright was the only one
to stand up for the department.
	Schmitt has been with the city
for about eight years and was hired
as a code-enforcement officer almost
two years ago. He said he thought
ho had done a good job with the
city.
	"I've treated everybody with the
same respect," he said.
	Schmitt makes $22,311 a year.
Bonar, who has been a code-enforce-
ment officer since October 1995,
makes $23,358 a year.
	Frame said he would have to
meet with department heads to de-
termine how best to deal with the
resignations, such as who was going
to inspect suspected code violations
until new officers can be hired and
trained.
	Frame said many of the com-
ments were directed at the depart-
ment in general and weren't to imply
the officers weren't doing their jobs.
	Mrs. Cartwright said she under-
stood why the officers resigned.
	"The tone and the manner of
that meeting should never have hap-
pened," she said,
	Mrs. Cartwright said several peo-
ple who spoke at the meeting ver-
bally abused the staff at the meeting,
something the council always has
stopped.
	"They were taking a shot at
(Community Development Direc-
tor) Bob Massarelli and they missed
and hit Randy and Kenny instead,"
she said.
	Schmitt also is the union rep-
resentative for the Communications
Workers of America, which rep-
resents the city's employees and po-
lice dispatchers. Resigning his job
also means Schmitt will resign the
union position.


Rec District seeks
`special' liquor license

	Only days before state officials
were to make their ruling, Barefoot
Bay Recreation District officials
withdrew an application for a perma-
nent club license to serve alcoholic
beverages at Community Center
Lounge and Restaurant.
	Instead, the district is now apply-
ing for a more expensive special-res-
taurant license that would still allow
it to serve alcoholic beverages at the
lounge and restaurant.
	An official with the state's Divi-
sion' of Alcoholic Beverages and To-
bacco said Feb. 6 that on Feb. 2 the
district withdrew its application for a
club license, which costs about $400
a year, and submitted the application
for the other license, which costs
$1,820 a year.
	The district was issued a tempo-
rary special-restaurant license while
the state officials determine whether
the restaurant and lounge qualify for
the license, said Lt. Josh Hooper, of
the Division of Alcoholic Beverages
and Tobacco.
	To obtain the type of license the
district is seeking, the lounge and
restaurant must meet a set of re-
quirements that include at least 51
percent of their sales must be food
and non-alcoholic drinks within a
two-month period, and that the fa-
cility be able to sit and serve a mini-
mum of 200 people at one time.
	"Basically, that says that you are a
restaurant serving drinks, and not a
bar serving food," said Sam Brewer,
special agent for the Division of Al-
coholic Beverages and Tobacco.
	The district may find a stumbling
block in meeting at least one of the
requirements. According to Brevard
County's Fire Code, the lounge and
restaurant are restricted to serving a
maximum of 85 people at one time,
said Lorry Fitzpatrick, the commu-
nity's food and beverage manager.
	Community Manager Helen
Hambro could not be reached for
comment Feb. 6, and district attor-
ney Mitch Barlow said he did not
wish to comment on the application.
	Hooper said the district did not
say why it was withdrawing its appli-
cation for the club license which the
district had applied for in late 1996.
	One of the reasons state officials
said the application was still under
review is because there was a ques-
tion of whether the district qualified
for a club license under the provi-
sions for beach and cabana clubs.
	According to a memorandum
written by Hooper, Hambro had
said the facility had a small beach.
Hooper said what he found was
white sand spread along the edge of
a small lake that borders the swim-
ming pool.  He said he did not agree
it met the description of beach facili-
ties.
	 Hooper said in about 60 days,
they will inspect the site and review
receipts to see if the facility meets the
requirements for the special-restau-
rant license.


Sebastian police officer
sues in federal court

	 A Sebastian police officer who
claims she was discriminated against
by Police Department officials be-
cause of her gender will battle out
the charges in federal court.
	 Michelle Morris filed suit against
the city in U.S. District Court in 
Fort Pierce, reiterating long-standing
complaints that members of the de-
partment created a hostile work envi-
ronment, resulting in the discrimina-
tion, Morris' attorney said.
	 "It's basically a sexual harassment
case," Orlando-based attorney Joe
Egan siad.  "The claim is seeking
from federal court essentially the
same relief she was seeking in the ad-
ministrative process."
	 City officials have denied the al-
legations, as they have since the
complaints surfaced in 1996.
	 "I obviously don't agree that she
has a case," Police Chief Randy
White said. "And there's no evidence
to indicate she does."
	The suit was filed several months
ago, and Sebastian officials were no-
tified in December.
	The Florida League of Cities is
providing Sebastian with Orlan-
do-based defense attorney Michael
Roper under a collective insurance
policy the organization administers.
	He said the suit would probably
not come to a courtroom for at least
a year, possibly as long as two.
Roper said he did not want to com-
ment on specifics of the case while it
is pending.
	The case stems from charges
Morris made that several senior po-
lice officers were creating a hostile
work environment.
	The claim resulted in several
investigations into the issue, includ-
ing an internal investigation that re-
sulted in corrective counseling for
Lt. Gene Ewert, who allegedly made
a comment to Morris about breast
feeding. It cleared other officers and
did not find a hostile work environ-
ment, White said.
	A second review, performed by
the Indian River County Sheriffs
Department at White's request, was
turned into Sebastian officials Feb. 6
after being delayed because one of
the officers involved was out on
medical leave.
	White said the report essentially
vindicated the department, but offi-
cials did not release the report pen-
ding approval by city attorneys, and
his conclusion could not be verified.
	Morris filed a complaint with the
federal Equal Employment Opportu-
nity Commission, but the organiza-
tion declined to become involved in
the case. It did, however, give Mor-
ris a green light to file a civil suit.
	The complaint came after Morris
was reprimanded for poor perfor-
mance and was, in essence, a way to
defuse disciplinary action, White
said.


Green arrow
to stay at Micco Road
	
	The continuous green arrow on
northbound U.S. 1 near Micco Road
will stay, but other improvements
will be made to enhance safety at the
intersection, state officials said Feb.
5.
	After studying the intersection in
December, officials with the Florida
Department of Transportation said
removing the continuous green ar-
row would tend to increase acci-
dents.
	"Any time you have a large num-
ber of people braking and stopping,
you'll increase the number of rear-
end collisions," said DOT' Trans-
portation Engineer Larry Wynn.
	The average number of vehicles
traveling north and south daily on
U.S. 1 near Micco Road is about
18,300, Wynn said.
	Although DOT won't be remov-
ing the green arrow, Wynn said
other improvements will be made at
the intersection.
	For instance, the northbound
lanes on U.S. 1 will be widened to
12 feet and the width of the striping
that separates the outer lane from the
inside lane will be increased to 6 feet,
he said. A thin, marked strip with re-
flectors currently separates the two
lanes.
	He said the widening gradually
will begin about 350 feet from the
signal lights and continue to about
350 feet after the lights. To do this,
Wynn said, the lanes will be shifted
to the west, taking up about 6 feet
from the grassy median.
	The change will create additional
space between drivers making left
turns onto northbound U.S. 1 from
Micco Road and drivers traveling
ndrth on U.S. 1 in the outer lane.
The added space also will discourage
drivers turning north onto U.S. 1
from Micco Road from making pre-
mature lane changes to the far right
northbound lane, Wynn said.
	In addition, DOT officials plan
to create a southbound right-turn
lane for drivers who want to turn
onto Micco Road from U.S. 1.
Wynn said this will make the right
turns onto Micco Road from U.S. 1
safer and easier.
	Wynn said all the improyements
are estimated to cost about
$100,000 if there are no additional
costs. The improvements will be
made as money becomes available,
said Fred Farrell, operations engi-
neer for DOT.
	Wynn said residents also will
benefit from improvements Brevard
County is making on Micco Road.
	The county is adding a right-turn
lane for traffic going south on U.S.
1. County officials said this will ease
traffic flow at the intersection.
	Currently, the county is working
with DOT officials on drainage per-
mits for the area. Once the permits
are obtained, it might be just a mat-
ter of weeks to complete the project,
said John Denninghoff, director of
construction management for the
county's Public Works Department.


Tip brings arrests
in store break-in

	Three jewelry thieves breaking
into a Sebastian jewelry store on
U.S. 1 Feb. 4 stopped twice, check-
ing for an Indian River County sher-
iff's deputy who never arrived, sher-
iff's Detective Brian Wood said.
	But a fortunate anonymous tip
led to the arrest of the men, one of
whom was trying to sell some of the
stolen jewelry on the County Road
510 corridor, Wood said.
	Johnathon R. Hadaway, 19, and
John Conrad Blacker, 25, both of
1245 Seahouse St.,. and 19-year-old
Eric Butler, 135 Caprona St., all of
Sebastian, were all arrested Feb. 7 in
connection with a break-in at the
Jewelry Outlet at 11606 U.S. 1.
	Butler, who allegedly was trying
to sell the jewelry, was charged with
grand theft and burglary of a struc-
ture. He remained at Indian River
County Jail Feb. 7 with a $50,000
bond.
	Sheriff's deputies, with the help
of Sebastian police officers, served a
search warrant on his house early
Feb. 7, Sheriff's Sgt. Rick Lane said.
	Based on information from the
search, they obtained a warrant for
Hadaway's home on Seahouse
Street, Lane said.
	There, Wood and the other offi-
cers found about 10 pounds of mari-
juana worth $10,000, along with
$15,000-$20,000 worth of stolen
watches, gem stones, collectible
coins, scrap gold and even some
Confederate currency, he said.
	Blacker and Hadaway were each
charged with grand theft, burglary of
a structure and possession of a con-
trolled substance - cannabis.
	Hadaway's 49-year-old father,
John Reed Hadaway, Jr., denied
knowing about any of the crimes,
adding that he leases part of the
house to his son and friends, Wood
said.
	When the officers first entered his
home, the older Hadaway was sit-
ting in a chair in his bedroom next
to a .38-caliber handgun, Wood
said. He, too, was arrested and later
charged with possession of a firearm
by a convicted felon, possession of
marijuana with the intent to sell and
possession of drug paraphernalia.
	After the two search warrants, de-
tectives pieced together how the bur-
glary went down. Butler, Blacker
and Johnathon Hadaway first cut the
phone and electrical lines to Sebas-
tian Square, triggering an audible
alarm system for the plaza, Wood
said. Then, they left the plaza to see
if a deputy would respond. No one
did.
	The men returned, and one of
them broke the glass door in front of
the jewelry store, he said. Again they
left to see if a deputy would arrive.
Again no one did, so they returned
and cleaned out the store, Wood
said.
	After the second search warrant,
Wood said he found several gal-
lon-sized bags of marijuana and
called Multi-Agency Criminal En-
forcement Detective Scott Miller to
the house on Seahouse Street.
	Miller said the older Hadaway,
who was convicted of selling pot in
Michigan in 1970, had a drug led-
ger, a triple-beam balance scale and
rubber bands for packing a large
amount of dope.
	The two Hadaways and Blacker
remained in jail Feb. 7 without
bond, awaiting arraignment.




Local briefs


Deborah chapter
meeting Feb. 27
	
	The Barefoot Bay Chapter of the
Deborah Hospital Foundation
thanks the sponsors and players of
the golf tournament Jan. 31 at the
Barefoot Bay Golf Course.
	The theme was King and Queen
of Hearts, in celebration of the 75th
anniversarv of Deborah Hospital.
Jane Vickery was chosen queen and
Dave Decker was named king.
	The group's next meeting will be
Feb. 27 in Building D&E. Mary
Stannard of the Visiting Nurses As-
sociation will speak on care after a
hospital stay, rehabilitation, nurs-
ing-home care and assisted living.
	From 8 a.m. to noon March 7, a
bake sale will be held at the Micco
fire house.


Ethnic festival
set for March 8

	All eight ethnic clubs in Barefoot
Bay are busy finalizing their plans for
the eighth annual Ethnic Festival to
be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
March 8 in Building A.
	The last committee meeting will
be held at 9:30 a.m. Feb. 24 in
Building C.


Sebastian art club
holding show

	The Sebastian River Art Club
will hold an art show and sale from
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 21 in River-
view Park. Rain date is Feb. 22.
	Art work in oil, acrylic, waterco-
br, pastel, charcoal, ink and pencil
and pen will be for sale or viewing.


New York group
holding picnic

	The annual picnic for former res-
idents of Rochester, N.Y., will be
held from 10 am. to 3 p.m. March
21 at the main pavilion at Wickham
Park, Melbourne. Tickets are $4 in
advance and $5 at the door.
	For more information, send a
self-addressed, stamped envelope to
Nancy O'Hara, 1309 Rila St., S.E.
Palm Bay, Fla. 32909 or Mary Lou
Bo, 3101 River Villa Way, Mel-
bourne Beach, Fla. 32951, or call Bo
at (407) 729-8046.




Sports programs abound in area
By Bill Valyo

	Sports programs in this area are
as plentiful as the fish caught at the
Sebastian Inlet. There is also a vari-
ety of activities for seniors and you
don't have to swing a bat or shoot a
basket.
	If you want to get in shape, par-
ticipate in the "wellness walks" at 8
a.m. in Riverside Park in Vero Beach
every Monday and Thursday.
	For people who like to window
shop while they walk, take a Citrus
Stroll any day at the Indian River
Mall. They even give you a T-shirt if
you do a specific amount of walking.
	Seniors can step it up a notch
and upgrade their personal fitness
program by entering the Senior
Good Life Games, slated to begin
March 3 and run through March 21.
	You can enter a ball-throwing
event, play a little boccie, bowl for
medals, play golf or horseshoes or
even do a little race walking. Swim-
mers and tennis players also have a
shot at the gold.
       If you are into contact sports,
then there are ballroom dance les-
sons at the Sebastian Senior Center
on Davis Street every Thursday at 1
	Or you can dance to the music
of the Sebastian River Band any
Tuesday morning at the center. For
the uninhibited, line dancing is avail-
able at the Senior Center every Mon-
day morning at 10.

	Sebastian's Little League pro-
gram kicks off the 1998 season with
opening day ceremonies Feb. 14 at
the Barber Street complex.
	What better day than Valentine's
Day to start off the year? This sweet-
heart of a program has given chil-
dren in the area an opportunity to
compete in one of the best youth
programs in the nation.
	For a few years now, this writer
has taken time out to see the open-
ing-day festivities at the ballpark. It
is a scene that is repeated in every
town at different times of the year.
Only in Florida can you have a base-
ball opening day in February.
	It has been a real treat to watch
more than 400 kids in uniforms,
waiting for their introductions and
then getting that "Play Ball!" call.
	It's first class all the way.




Sebastian youngster nets third place
in Elks regional hoop-shoot contest
By Linda Rothstein
Of The Sun

	For someone who considers
himself a baseball player, 11-year-old
Brian Augenstein has been shooting
a lot of free throws lately.
	That's because the Sebastian
River Middle School sixth-grader has
been participating in, and winning,
the Elks local and district free throw,
or "Hoop Shoot," contests.
	"I (compete) in it every year,"
Brian said. "I don't feel that nervous.
I just do it."
	On Jan. 10 in the Sebastian
River High School gym, Brian won
the l0-and 11-year-old boys division
of the local Hoop Shoot contest,
sponsored by the Sebastian Elks
Lodge, when he made 12 of 25 free
throws.
	Two weeks later, Brian rep-
resented Sebastian in his division at
the district Hoop Shoot, sponsored
by the Vero Beach Elks Lodge, at
the Oslo Middie School gym.
	Competing against eight boys
from area lodges, Brian made 16 of
25 free throws to win the district ti-
tie and earn the right to compete at
the southern Florida region Hoop
Shoot contest held in New Port
Richey on Feb. 7.
	There he placed third with 16 of
25 free throws.
	"I was seventh (to shoot at dis-
tricts) and the people in front of me
made five the first round and made
nine the second round, so I had to
make shots and I did," Brian said. "I
was happy when I won."
	Ben and Stephanie, Brian's little
brother and sister, were especially
happy that Brian won because it got
them a family trip and a day off from
school.
	"On the way home (from dis-
tricts), they said, `Thank you, Brian.
Thank you, Brian,'" Becky Augen-
stein, Brian's mother, said.
	So Brian and his parents, his
brother and sister and Harvey
Holmgren, the Sebastian Elks Lodge
representative, all traveled to New
Port Richey to watch Brian compete
against five boys from South Florida.
The Sebastian Elks Lodge picked up
the tab for their hotel and treated
them to dinner at the local Elks
lodge.
	"This is the first time we've had
someone from Sebastian win the dis-
trict," Holmgren said, "so it's really
special for our club."
	Brian performed admirably in
front of a large and excited crowd,
making 16 of 25 free throws to earn
third place. Although it wasn't
enough to win the region and go
onto the state contest to be held in
Orlando in March, Brian said he was
proud to represent Sebastian at the
state regional championship.
	"When he won the district, he
told me he didn't even care if he won
the next one because he was so
happy he did as well as he did," Mrs.
Augenstein said.
	Brian began competing in the lo-
cal Hoop Shoot contests three years
ago. In his first year, competing in
the 8-and 9-year-qld boys division,
Brian won and went on to districts
in Stuart, where he lost by just one
shot. At last year's local Hoop
Shoot, Brian almost won the 10-and
11 -year old division before it was
ruled his foot was on the line when
making the winning shot.
	But this year, Brian beat more
than half a dozen boys in the local
contest and eight in the district to
compete with five others in the state
regional.
	"It's neat," Brian's father, Fred.
said. "My dad was an Elk and he just
passed away last March, so maybe
he's up there watching."
	Interestingly enough, basketball is
not Brian's favorite sport. He's been
playing baseball ever since he could
swing a bat and now plays for the
L.A. Tile majors team in Sebastian
Little League.
	So while he's been at baseball
practice almost every evening prepar-
ing for Feb. l4th's opening day,
Brian has also been practicing his
free-throw shooting for the Feb. 7
Hoop Shoot almost every night, as
well.
	"We set a goal after (districts) that
he would go out for about 15 min-
utes every day and shoot," Mrs. Au-
genstein said. "I told him, if he does
the best that he can do in practice,
but goes to the regional and shoots
terrible, he knows he did everything
he could do."

Photo Caption
Brian Augenstein practices free-throw shooting in his 
driveway as he prepared for the South Florida region Elks Hoop 
Shoot Contest held Feb. 7 in New Port Richey.

	With a free-throw line sketched
on his driveway in yellow chalk,
Brian shoots at a standard-sized bas-
ket on a portable stand that was a
present from Mom and Dad this past
Christmas. Brother Ben retrieves the
ball for his big brother as his father
looks on and gives his elder son
pointers.
	As an All-Star baseball player,
Brian has a tendency to be hard on
himself, Augenstein said. So he's
taught his son to step off the line
whenever he misses two shots in
row so he can gather his thoughts
and not get so mad at himself. Brian
said that advice has helped a lot.
	"I can't get mad at myself be-
cause then I'll just shoot and not
even try to make it," Brian said.
	Although his dad's advice and his
daily practice has helped Brian con-
tinue to shoot well, the superstitious
baseball player in him chalks his suc-
cess up to a specific outfit he's worn
at each contest. According to Brian,
it's his Tweety Bird basketball jersey
from the movie "Space Jam" Ä  red
sweat pants, high tops and his Sebas-
tian Little League  All-Star baseball
cap Ä that have helped him
win the Hoop Shoots. 
	"I wore it last year," Brian said. "I
just like wearing it."




Students must learn rules
before seeking scholarships
By LINDA ROTHSTEIN
OF The Sun

	For most high-school student
athletes, earning a college athletic
scholarship would be a dream
come true.
	But performing well on the field
is just half the battle for those who
earn college athletic scholarships.
In addition to the standard tests
and application procedures, athletes
must be in compliance with Na-
tional Collegiate Athletic Associa-
tion rules that get more compli-
cated every year.
	"You just about have to be a
lawyer to read through (the NCAA
manual)," Sebastian River Athletic
Director Michael Stutzke said.
	So to help student-athletes,
coaches, counselors and parents be-
come aware of the rules that gov-
ern an athlete's eligibility to play in
college, the Sebastian Athletic
Booster Association has invited, for
the second year in a row, former
University of Albany tennis coach
and physical education professor
Robert Lewis to hold a seminar on
what it takes to get and secure a col-
lege athletic scholarship.
	At 7:30 p.m. Feb. 17, in the Se-
bastian River High School audito-
rium, Lewis will give a 45-minute
presentation and answer questions.
The seminar is free and open to the
public.
	"(Athletes, parents, coaches and
counselors) should come so that they
can understand what they need to
do, now while they're in high school,
to prepare themselves for the first
year in college," Lewis said. "If they
don't, they may not be eligible to
play and they may not even be able
to get into the college if they don't
have sufficient grades."
	To meet the NCAA minimum
eligibility requirements to play sports
at a Division I school, athletes must
graduate from high school and meet
a combined grade point average of at
least 2.0 and either SAT or ACT re-
quirements listed on a sliding scale
by the NCAA. The higher the GPA,
the lower the test score required and
vice versa.
	To meet the NCAA minimum
eligibility requirements to play sports
at a Divsion II school, athletes must
graduate from high school, achieve a
2.0 GPA in 13 core courses and have
a least an 820 SAT score or a sum of
68 on the ACT.
	To meet the NCAA and Na-
tional Junior College Athletic Asso-
ciation minimum eligibility require-
ments to play sports at a Division III
or junior colleges, athletes must
graduate from high school. Despite
coaches' and counselors' best efforts,
it's not uncommon to hear horror
stories about athletes losing scholar-
ships because they didn't verify their
eligibility with the NCAA.
	It's not enough for a student-
athlete to score well on the SAT or
ACT and maihtain a solid
grade-point average. Student-athletes
must be approved by the NCAA
clearinghouse, which certifies that
the student has passed 13 core
classes, maintained the appropriate
GPA and scored high enough on the
SAT or ACT. Sending transcripts to
a college won't do it, a student-
athlete must be certified by the
NCAA Clearinghouse to play sports
at the Division I or II level.
	"You cannot participate in sports
in college in Division I and II unless
you are certified by the Initial Eli-
gibility Clearinghouse, even if you're
a walk-on," Lewis said.
	There also are strict NCAA rules
governing things such as official and
unofficial visits to the college and
how a college coach can recruit a
high-school player. Breaking those
rules, even unintentionally, may
jeopardize a student-athlete's college
career.
	Lewis said the seminar also will
help student-athletes know their
rights when being recruited by a col-
lege. Because scholarships are scarce
and competition for athletes is fierce,
student-athletes must be fully aware
of what they are being offered. Not
all offers are for full, four-year schol-
arships that include all expenses.
	And it's important to know the
differences between NCAA Division
I, II and III schools, National Asso-
ciation for Intercollegiate Athletics
schools, and junior and community
colleges.
	"Recruiting is so confusing be-
cause recruiting is so important to
the colleges and high-school kids are
the source of their program," Lewis
said. "So recruiting is big business.
So what the NGAA does iS set up a
lot of rules to make it an even play-
ing field, so that North Carolina fol-
lows the same rules as Notre Dame."
	As a college coach for 27 years
and a high-school coach for 11, Le-
wis knows all about the coaches' side
of recruiting.
	But it wasn't until his youngest
son was recruited to play basketball
by several Division II colleges that
he learned what it was like from the
other side. After one official visit, his
son and wife came home thinking he
had been offered a full four-year
athletic scholarship. It turned out
that his son was offered a partial
scholarship that wouldn't have cov-
ered all his expenses.
	Some scholarships are not guar-
anteed for four years and may not be
renewed after the first year if a stu-
dent-athlete doesn't perform as ex-
pected or sustains a serious injury.
Parents and athletes not used to deal-
ing with the recruiting process might
come away with less than expected
and be sorely disappointed.
	"If you're a pretty good player
and (college coaches) don't really
know about you, what are you going
to do?" Lewis said. "And I tell them
they have to be pro-active, take an
aggressive, not arrogant, stance. And
if coaches know you're good, they'll
check on you."
	Lewis also knows first-hand how
important the NCAA Initial Eligibil-
ity Clearinghouse certification is.
The first season that certification was
required, several of his tennis players
had not been cleared and couldn't
play for part of the season.
	Lewis also offers advice to those
student-athletes who feel they have
the talent to play in college, but are
not being recruited. Making phone
call and sending resumes to coaches
or visiting them on campus, attend-
ing summer camps or retaining a re-
cruiting service, are all ways student-
athletes can make themselves
known to college coaches.
	But Lewis also cautions that not
all athletes have the ability to play at
the college level and a true and frank
evaluation of the athletes' talent is
the most valuable tool in determin-
ing whether to actively pursue an
athletic scholarship.
	Lewis also points out that be-
cause of gender-equity requirements,
girls now have more opportunities
for college athletic scholarships than
they've ever had before.
	"Girls have great opportunities
now, Lewis said. "Schools are try-
ing to comply with gender-equity
and sometimes they're adding sports.
If they're adding sports, they may
not have all the players they want,
they're looking for players. And
now, if they're giving scholarships
for mens' (teams), they've got to
give (at least) the same for women."
	Since it opened four years ago,
SRHS has had 13 student-athletes
earn athletic scholarships to college.
The majority of those attend Divi-
sion II schools or junior colleges, al-
though pole-vaulter Sarah Adams
became the school's first Division I
athlete last year when she accepted
an athletic scholarship to the Univer-
sity of Florida. And several seniors
are now being recruited to sports at
several Division I and II schools.
	"If there's any one thing about
what goes on in this office that I
really enjoy, it's kind of putting the
finishing touches on a kid who's
been part of our athletic program, to
get him or her some form of scholar-
ship aid." Srutzke said. "Although
there's no guarantee that they'll go
off and be successful, just knowing
that you helped open that door for
that young lady or that young man is
rewarding and it certainly reflects
well on the school."
	Quarterback Joe Westberg, for
example, could earn an athletic
scholarship to play football at a Divi-
sion II school. Last year, when he
was a junior, he attended Lewis'
seminar and learned what he would
have to do to make sure he would be
eligible to play in college.
	"(The seminar) cleared a lot of
stuff up," Westberg said. "I had a lot
of questions and by the time he got
done, I didn't have any. Once you
get everything situated and spell out
what you've got to do, there's not
really that much to it."
	Although Lewis said the junior
year is the best year to start looking
into eligibility, ii's never too early for
student-athletes and their parents to
become aware of the NCAA rules
and regulations. And he stresses that
the single most important thing, be-
sides being talented in a sport, is to
perform well academically. All the
athletic talent in the world won't get
you a college scholarship unless you
have high enough grades and test
scores, as well.
	For more information about the
seminar, call Stutzke, SRHS athletic
director at 564-4235.



Photo Caption
Sebastian International's Magdaleno Munoz, left, attempts a 
slide tackle against Sebastian United's Allan Latty during the 
East Coast league game Feb. 8 at Sebastian River High School. 
The two teams played to a 1-1 tie.




Obituaries


Lillian Baron

	Lillian F. (Viera) Baron, 83, of Sebas-
tian, died Feb. 5, 1998, at her son's home in
Bristol, RI. after a brief illness.
	Mrs. Baron was born Oct. 2, 1914, in
Portsmouth, R.I., and moved to Sebastian
nine years ago from Warren, RI.
	She was a member of St. Sebastian Cath-
olic Church, Sebastian, and its Women's
Guild; and a former member of St. Thomas
the Apostle Church, Warren.
	Mrs. Baron was a former member of the
First Friday Club in Bristol County, R.I,,
the St. Sebastian Widows, Widowers, and
Singles social group and the Bunko Card
Game Group, both in Sebastian.
	Surviving are her son, Adam J. Baron, of
Bristol; two brothers, Albert Viera, of Bare-
foot Bay, and George Viera, of Miramar;
four sisters, Olivia Souza and Frances Law-
rence, both of Warren, Dorothy Paiva, of
Swansea, Mass., and Caroline Couto, of
Grant; and four grandchildren.
	A Mass of Christian burial was held at
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Bris-
tol. Burial followed in St. Mary of the Bay
Cemetery in Warren, R.I.
	In lieu of flowers, donations may be
made to the Hospice-Visiting Nurse Health
Services of Newpqrt County, P.O. Box 690,
1184 F. Main Road, Portsmouth, R.I.
02871.
	Arrangements are under the direction of
Sansone Funeral Home, Bristol, RI.


Ross Gillespie

	Ross Ladd Gillespie, 56, of Sebastian,
died unexpectedly Feb. 7, 1998, at the Se-
bastian River Medical Center.
	Mr. Gillespie was born Feb. 13, 1941, in
Galesburg, Ill., and had moved to Sebastian
six years ago from Virginia Beach, Va.
	He was a Press Journal route driver for
four years.
	Mr. Gillespie is survived by two sons,
Geoffrey Gillespie, of Virgina Beach, and
David Gillespie, of Sebastian; one daughter,
Jennifer Derrick of Virginia Beach; his
mother, Myrthe Gillespie of Sebastian; two
sisters, Deborah Inness of Wappingers Falls,
N.Y., and Paula Danko of Granite Springs,
N.Y.; and one brother, Stephen Gillespie, of
Norfolk, Ark.
	Memorial services will be held at a later
date.
Young & Lowther Funeral Home, Sebas-
tian, is in charge of arrangements.


Theodore Fowler

	Theodore S. Fowler, 66, 1058 W. Wren
Circle, Barefoot Bay, died Feb. 4, 1998, at
Holmes Regional Medical Center, Mel-
bourne, after a brief illness.
	He was born May 8, 1931, in Haverhill,
Mass., and moved to Barefoot Bay in 1993
from Lawrence, Mass.
	Mr. Fowler was a U.S. Air Force veteran
of the Korean War. He worked as a chef for
Phillips Abbott Academy, Andover, Mass.
He was a member of Sebastian American
Legion, Barefoot Bay Smoothies Dance
Club and Barefoot Bay Singles on the Move.
He was a part-time volunteer at the Rose-
land United Methodist Church thrift shbp.
	Surviving are one brother, Charles
Fowler, of Barefoot Bay; and one sister, Al-
ice Murray, of Kingston, N.H.
	A memorial service will be 2 p.m. Mon-
day at Roseland United Methodist Church,
Roseland. Interment will be at a later date at
Mount Vernon Cemetery, West Boxford,
Mass.   
	The family suggests flowers be sent to
Roseland United Methodist Church, 12962
Roseland Road, Roseland, Fla. 32958 in
Mr. Fowler's memory.
	Fountainhead Funeral Home, Palm Bay,
is in charge of arrangements.


Leslie Bendekovic

	Leslie N. Bendekovic, 23, of Orlando,
died unexpectedly Feb. 5, 1998, in Orlando.
	She was born Nov. 14, 1974, in Fort
Lauderdale and moved to Sebastian in 1983
from Colorado Springs, Cob.
	Ms. Bendekovic graduated from Vero
Beach High School in 1993, where she
played on the volleyball team. She graduated
from Valencia Community College in Or-
lando with an associate degree in liberal arts.
	She worked in Orlando for a bowling
supply company.
	Surviving are her mother and father,
Maureen "Mo" Bendekovic and Gary Bende-
kovic, of Sebastian; her paternal grand-
mother, Auretta Chaplow, of Micco; and her
maternal grandparents, Burton and Peggy
O'Neil, of Ocala.
	A funeral service was held Feb. 10 at
Young & Lowther Funeral Home chapel,
Sebastian, with the Rev. Roy Harris of First
United Methodist Church of Sebastian offi-
ciating.
	In lieu of flowers, donations may be
made to the Epilepsy Association of the
Palm Beaches, 3361 Belvedere Road Suite
A, West Palm Beach, Fla. 33406 in Ms. Ben-
dekovic's memory.


Ralph Stoker

	Ralph W. Stoker Sr., 90, 706 Fir St.,
Barefoot Bay, died unexpectedly Feb. 6,
1998, at his caregiver's home in Boca Raton.
	He was born Dec. 3, 1907, in Everett,
Mass., and moved to Barefoot Bay in 1977
from Hull, Mass.
	Surviving are his wife, Claire Stoker, ot
Boca Raton; one daughter, Claire E. Luci-
ano, of Chelmsford, Mass.; one son, Ralph
W. Stoker Jr. of Exton, Pa.; one brother,
John Stoker, of Connecticut; seven grand-
children; and six great-grandchildren.
	A funeral service was held Feb. 9 at
Fountainhead Funeral Home Chapel in
Palm Bay with Deacon Gordon Crane of
Holy Trinity Episcopal Church of Mel-
bourne officiating.
	Burial will be in Fountainhead Memorial
Park Cemetery, Palm Bay.
	In lieu of flowers, donations can be
made to Fountainhead Funeral Home, 7303
Babcock Sr., Palm Bay, Fla. 32909.




END



Sebastian Sun Articles
a digital text archive   

The Sebastian Sun
February 20, 1998
c 1998 Treasure Coast Publishing Inc.

President: Darryl K. Hicks.
Executive Editor: Larry Reisman.
Editor: Louise Phillipine.
Advertising Manager: Melvin Adkins

(USPS)  The Sun is published weekly by Treasure Coast
Publishing Inc., a division of Scripps Howard Inc., 1801 U.S. 1,
Vero Beach, FL 32960. c 1997 Treasure Coast Publishing Inc.
All correspondence, including news copy, should be addressed
to 717 Coolidge St., Sebastian, FL 32958.  Phone: (561) 589-
6616; Fax: (561) 978-2386.  News deadline, 5 p.m., Friday.  All
display advertising should be addressed to 1801 U.S. 1, Vero
Beach, FL 32960.  Phone (561) 978-2383; Fax:(561) 978-2297.
Advertising deadline, 1 p.m., Monday.
    
  


FROM THE ARCHIVES


TOP STORY FROM A YEAR
AGO THIS WEEK: Barefoot Bay resi-
dents all had telephone exchanges be-
ginning with 664 and with it came the
opportunity to simply give out the last
four digits of their phone numbers to
friends and neighbors.
	That practice stopped with growth
in the area and a new 663 exchange
that made residents quite unhappy.
	BellSouth tried to balance the com-
bination of numbers available and
would switch customers to 664 for a fee.
	With continued growth, however,
BellSouth said the 663 exchange is inev-
itable.



CITIZEN OF THE DAY

	NAME:   Olive Jeleniewski.
	AGE: 72.
	OCCUPATION: Registered nurse.
	BIRTHPLACE: Fitchburg, Mass.
	MOVED HERE: December 1997,
winter resident. Summer home is in
Gardner, Mass.
	COMMUNITY SERVICE: Member
of the Elks Club and Polish American
Veterans Club.
	HOBBIES: Crossword, jumble and
cryptoquote puzzles and I swim a lot.
	FAVORITE AUTHOR: Mark
Twain.
	WHY I LIKE MY NEIGHBOR-
HOOD: I live in Barefoot Bay. It's a nice
clean place. The people are nice and
there are three heated swimming pools.



WEEKEND PICKS

	The Sebastian Sun Devils softball
team will hold its first softball tourna-
ment Feb. 22 at the Barber Street Sports
Complex.
	Twelve traveling softball teams from
around the Treasure and Space coasts
will compete from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the
Independent Softball Association
state-qualifier.

	The 32nd annual Grant Seafood
Festival will be held from 11 a.m. to 5
p.m. Feb. 21-22 at the Grant Community
Center, 4580 First St. Food, entertain-
ment and crafts will be featured.



WHAT DID HE SAY?

	I think they realized that we are try-
ing to do the right thing with the commu-
nity center and that we are in the right
track.
ÄEd Arens

	(Arens, president of the Micco Home-
owners Association, made the statement
in connection with the Brevard County
Development Advisory Board's decision
to give the South Mainland Community
Center in Micco more than $200,000 in
federal Community Development Block
Grant money to finish the center to be
built off Allen Avenue. Before the new
money, the center already had been
given about $508,400 in CDBG money.)




Science wizards ready for big day
By DREW DIXON
Of The Sun

	Sebastian River High School students
are no longer a strange new experiment
when it comes to participating in the an-
nual science fair for Indian River County.
	After three previous years of partici-
pation, the SRHS teens involved in this
year's Sixth Annual Regional Science and
Engineering Fair are ready to show the
results of veteran work. Some of the ex-
periments from the students are as old as
SRHS, which opened four years ago.
	The event is slated for Feb. 21 at Vero
Beach High School and the awards cere-
mony will be held the following day at
the SRHS auditorium.
	Lynn Graci, a 17-year-old SRHS se-
nior, is one of 22 students from the
school participating in the science fair.
This is her fourth year and her presenta-
tion, an erosion-prevention experiment
and analysis, has taken much of her time.
	"I've spent months and months put-
ting this together and researching this,"
she said while explaining her experimental
breakwater system she has tested at the
Florida Institute of Technology in Mel-
bourne.
	While that sounds like a long time, it's
actually been more time-consuming for
Graci. This year's presentation is an exten-
sion and continuation of the same experi-
ment she started her freshman year. That's
the first year she entered the erosion anal-
vsis into the science fair.
	"I've been working on this project
four years. The erosion (analysis) is based
on the data and I've changed the design.
The research itself is a lot of fun.
	"I've learned a lot. I love it. I'm really
interested in what I'm doing and just the
whole experience," she said.
	Kristin Grant, 18, another SRHS se-
nior, is entering the science fair for her
fourth year in a row, as well. She, too, is
entering a presentation that has involved a
four-year analysis.
	Grant has built a "seaweed tower"
that cultivates the plant in the Indian
River. It's an aquaculture analysis she
started when she was a freshman and en-
tered data presentations in the science fair
each year.
	"I have to think about it a lot because
it's in the water. I have to do it all year
long," Grant said. But she said she's
grown to enjoy her experiment, despite
the time she's put in, because it's an analy-
sis of seaweed's use as a food.
	While Grant and Graci are entering
presentations that have spanned years,
there are other students who have entered
the science fair for several years, but are
willing to experiment with different pre-
sentations each year.
	Tina Buttermore, a 17-year-old junior,
has spent hour upon hour since August
conducting biopsychology experiments on
the affects of delayed and advanced sleep-
ing phases. She's tested 40 teen-agers and
40 people older than 50 and the differ-
ences in their sleeping patterns.
	"I'm doing something that very few
people are doing. It makes me proud,"
Buttermore said of her research and the


Photo Caption
SRHS junior Aarron DeCastro shows part of his science 
experiment in DNA as he prepares for the annual Indian River 
County science fair. Senior Lynn Graci (background), also has 
been working for several years on her project on erosion 
prevention.


presentations she will make at the science
fair.
	"I want to do research and do the lab-
oratory kind of thing. It will give me prac-
tice," said Buttermore, who's now enter-
ing her third science fair.
	Sixteen-year-old Aaron DeCastro, also
a junior, is another veteran of the science
fair. He's actually been entering science
fairs since he attended Sebastian River
Middle School.
	But he's still ready to try something
new. And like Buttermore, DeCastro is
trying something very few people are ex-
perimenting with. He's conducting analy-
sis on bacteria DNA and possible use for
cloning.
	It does sound complicated and DeGas-
tro knows it. But, he said, that's part of
the challenge, and why he's entering this
year's science fair with something he's
never entered before.
	"It's hard because (the fair judges)
have preconceived ideas. I know what I'm
talking about," but communicating the
analysis to the judges is difficult, he said.
	"I'm learning the techniques right
now. It's trial and error. But, this is my
brainchild this year. I want to pursue this.
I want to evolve it and improve it," De-
Castro said.
	The serious tone of the approach to
the contest is shared by all the students.
The science fair is not some passing fancy,
they say, and the possible rewards are
more than just a knowledgeable pat on the
back.
	There's money involved.
	All four students say they have already
won some kind of financial award for past
science fairs and if they win one of the 14
categories in the Indian River County
competition they can move on to state
competition, which will be held in Lake-
land in April.
	Financial awards can range from about
$50 to hundreds of dollars, depending on
the level of competition and corporate un-
derwriters for each event.
	The dollars are important, but self-ac-
tualization is the biggest reward, said Che-
ryl Domineau, the science-research coordi-
nator at SRHS. She helps get the students
organized for the science fair by assisting
them in designing projects.
	"Sometimes it may not look like a
great project, but it's what it's done for
them," Domineau said.
	"I've watched some kids that are afraid
to talk and then they're amazed because
they're so confident (with an experiment).
They know about it and they'll talk to any-
body," she said.
       "Sometimes it's just that little
spark that makes them want to do a
project. They've found something
they can sell and they're good at.
Some of these kids are shy and they
make friends," Domineau said.
	The gained confidence is not
only reflected in the students, but in
the school, as well, as far as Domi-
neau is concerned. She pointed out
this is the first year SRHS has a class
of seniors that started at the school
their freshman year.
	"We're coming around. The
school is one of the main attractions
here," she said and the fact the
awards ceremony is held on the
SRHS campus is important, as well.
	But even more important, as far
as the awards are concerned, is the
personal development of each stu-
dent.
	"It's pretty impressive," Domi-
neau said of the awards presentation.
"They'll bring the kids up on stage,
which is great.
	"A lot of (the students) are
shocked out of their minds. They
think it's unreal. Some of these kids
have no idea of how good a job they
did until they present the awards,"
Domineau said.




Juvenile offenders offer unique problem for police
By DREW DIXON
Of The Sun

	A call comes into the Sebastian Police
Department reporting several juveniles ille-
gally drinking alcohol in a local grove. Offi-
cers respond and arrest half a dozen
teen-agers and start calling parents.
	The only problem is, many of the par-
ents tell police to keep the kids behind bars;
they don't want to pick up their children.
Sebastian police are stuck with them and
there's no place to house them in Sebastian,
according to Sebastian Police Chief Randy
White.
	It's a situation played out in Sebastian
time and time again. The Sebastian Police
Department isn't legally or physically de-
signed to handle teen-age inmates; for that
matter, no facility in Indian River County
is allowed to handle juvenile offenders.
	The solution? Sebastian police officers
take a journey that consumes at least two
hours of their time.
	It's time spent taking teen-agers, some-
times accused of only misdemeanors, to the
only juvenile-detention facility in the area
Ä the St. Lucie Regional Juvenile Deten-
tion Center in Fort Pierce Ä about 35
miles away.
	It's easy for some parents to tell Sebas-
tian police to keep their children behind
bars when they've been arrested. But young
criminals are contributing to an old prob-
lem with local law enforcement.
	"I think (some parents) are not inter-
ested in their kids and dump them on who
ever will take them. To me, there's a sur-
prising number of people that that's their
response.
	"They want us to be surrogate keepers;
baby sitters. It's free and it doesn't disturb
their drinking time when they don't have to
go get junior out of hock," White said.


Photo Caption
Mario Price, a case manager with the screening unit at the St. 
Lucie Regional Juvenile Detention Center in Fort Pierce,
interviews a juvenile.


	When teens get into trouble with the
law in Sebastian, it causes a serious deple-
tion of manpower in the Police Depart-
ment.
	"The biggest problem is that it takes an
officer out of the city. Depending on the
time of day, it can be a 25 to 30 percent re-
duction" in manpower, White said.
	"We have to truck them down there (to
St. Lucie County) and it takes four or five
times longer than it does to handle an
adult," White said.
	The state Department of Juvenile Jus-
tice put the facility in Fort Pierce because
it's the most central location for the judicial
district, which includes Martin, St. Lucie,
Indian River and Okeechobee counties,

said Vein Melvin, district manager for the
department.
	That puts Sebastian in the dubious po-
sition of being the municipality farther
north of the center than any other incorpo-
rated municipality on the Treasure Coast.
	That means Sebastian police patrolling
city streets are radically reduced in numbers
when an officer has to transport a juvenile
arrested for a felony. White said there are
only four officers on road patrol during day
and early evening hours and only three offi-
cers on patrol on the overnight and early
morning shift.
	So when one officer has to leave town
to transport a juvenile, it hurts law enforce-
ment potential, White said.
	"We're staffed based on need. So the
others left in town have to pick up the
slack. If you have an officer giving a kid a
ride to Fort Pierce (and the detention fa-
cility) and we have a major accident up
here, you could have nobody" responding
to the scene if the remaining officers are al-
ready on calls, White said.
	The problem for Sebastian is compli-
cated, Melvin said.
	"But I wouldn't say it was unique to Sebas-
tian. It's similar to other municipalities from Se-
bastian to as far south as Hobe Sound to the city
of Okeechobee, about 35 miles away."
	The problem is, Okeechobee is the only other
incorporated city that has to deal with the issue of
transporting juveniles that distance. The other
towns on the outskirts of the Treasure Coast art
serviced by sheriff's departments that have a
greater number of deputies to fill in the holes,
Melvin said.
	White estimated his department has to trans-
port juveniles to Fort Pierce about three or four
times a month.
	Given the limited frequency of the problem,
placing some kind of auxiliary juvenile detention
center closer to outlying areas is not going to hap-
pen, Melvin said.
	"If we had one between Vero Beach and Se-
bastian, we'd only have three or four kids in there
at a time, sometimes maybe none. If we had it in
Hobe Sound it would really be compounded. It
wouldn't be cost effectiVe," Melvin said.
	In the meantime, officials at the juvenile-de-
tention facility usually work as hard as they can
with law-enforcement officers to prevent unneces-
sary trips to the center. Melvin said deten-
tion-center workers are conducting phone screen-
ing with law-enforcement officers before a
juvenile is transported to the facility.
	Workers at the detention facility have a "score
sheet" that rates the severity of crime and the need
for detention for each juvenile defendant. The
higher the score, the more dangerous they are and
the more likely they need to be transported to the
detention facility.
	The phone evaluation before transport is
needed not only to prevent unnecessary trips by
law enforcement, but to prevent crowding at the
detention facility. Melvin said the center doesn't
need any more troubled youths than it already
has.
	"The center holds 48 (inmates). We exceed
that daily; our average population is about 80.
We've had 100 before," Melvin said.
	The problem of crowding in the juvenile-de-
tention center is so great, the facility is being ex-
panded by 30 beds. The expansion should be
complete by November, but Melvin said even
with the additional bed space, there will still be
crowding.
	"It's a catch-22," Mevlin said, pointing out
they can only handle the worst juvenile cases,
while many of the mid-level teen offenders are
turned back into parental or guardian custody.
	White said he'd like to see a temporary juve-
nile holding facility located somewhere between
Sebastian and Fort Pierce. But, as Melvin men-
tioned the financial realities, White said he realizes
the limitations.
	"We'd like to see (a facility) closer. Do I think
there's any chance of that? Probably none," he
said.




New restaurant dishing up homestyle food
By DREW DIXON
Of The Sun


Photo Caption
Rick Dandini, owner of Romini's Italian Restaurant in 
Sebastian, says starting with fresh dough for his pizzas and 
sandwiches each day is the basis of his home-style cooking.


	The owners of Romini's Italian
Restaurant hope experience in run-
ning an eatery and roots stretching
back to the old country provide
them with a recipe for success.
	Rick Dandini has been working
for more than two months in prepar-
ing Romini's for business. It opened
Feb. 9 at 13421 U.S. 1 in the River-
walk shopping plaza.
	Dandini, whose grandparents on
both his mother's and his father's
side of the family were Italian immi-
grants, not only designed the menu,
but also was willing to swing a ham-
mer and design the interior deco-
rations of the restaurant.
	"I spent two months on it. It's a
custom job and I did all the work.
The effect I want to get is the classi-
cal look," he said, sitting at a table
pushed up against the brick-red wall
trimmed with a deep green. Some of
the walls are capped with remnants
of what looks like Roman columns.
	That's even more important than
the decor, Dandini said. He wants
customers to feel as though they're
visiting an Italian home with home
recipes and generous home-sized
helpings.
	"We have oversized portions. I
would characterize (the menu) as
homestyle Italian-American cooking.
My lasagna, for instance, is my
mom's recipe. I bake my own bread
and make my own pizza dough," he
said.
	"My goal is to give (customers) a
better product and you get a better
product when you start from
scratch," he said.
	The recipes and cooking may be
from scratch, but this is Dandini's
second foray in running a restaurant.
Dandini was the owner of Starbuck's
Pizzeria in Vero Beach for four years
before selling it late in 1997 as part
of deal he called "very profitable."
	Part of the sale involved a
non-competition clause in the con-
tract that stipulated Dandini could
not open another restaurant within
15 miles of Starbuck's, which led his
interest to Sebastian.
	"Starbuck's prepared me to do
things more efficiently," the
32-year-old Dandini said.
	Starbuck's also doesn't have the
ethnic air that Romini's has. And
Dandini said his new Italian restau-
rant is rooted firmly in the ethnic
background of his family.
	Romini is actually a hybrid word
derived from the last names of his
parents. "The `Rom' comes from
Romano, my mom's maiden name,
and the `ni' is from mine and my
father's last name, Dandini. I'm 100
percent Italian. My grandparents
were immigrants from Naples and
Rome, Italy.
	"I learned how to cook for the
restaurant business about five years
ago. But I learned recipes when I
was 10 years old while cooking with
my mom and grandparents at home.
Being Italian, eating was a big part
of my life," Dandini said.
	"I want to bring that big Sunday
dinner tradition from Monday
through Sunday at my restaurant.
That's why we have oversized por-
tions and doggie bags are standard
order. But it's not expensive. There
are no dinners over $10.95 here," he
said.
	Dandini still lives in Vero Beach,
but he's hired six employees who
mostly live in Sebastian, he said.
	There are always various lunch
and dinner specials and Romini's is
open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mon-
day through Saturday and 4 p.m. to
9 p.m. Sundays. The restaurant of-
fers take out, as well. The telephone
number is 581-1322.




Annual Grant Seafood Festival lured
chairman to move family to Grant
By Drew Dixon

	Thirty-two years ago, Jack King
attended the first Grant Seafood Fes-
tival.
	Since then, he's moved his family
to town and now runs the event.
	"I told my wife, `Let's go down
and see how (the festival) is,' and we
just loved it so much that we bought
property in Grant," King said.
	In 1966, King lived in Mel-
bourne. By 1968, he was living in
Grant, where the festival that fea-
tured seafood was such a lure.
	"The people impressed me so
much. It's a small community that
can put out several products and feed
the people at a fair price," he said.
	Now, the festival has grown into
a huge event that swells the number
of people in the town to more than
100 times the number of regular res-
idents, officially listed at about 500.
	King, the president of the Grant
Community Club and general chair-
man of the festival, estimates about
60,000 to 80,000 will attend this
year's two-day festival Feb. 21-22.
	"I think people are amazed at the
fact that a little place like this can do
it. We're supposedly the largest con-
tinuous seafood festival in the coun-
try.
	"We don't charge for parking
and we don't charge for admission. I
think it's just an amazing thing that
people look forward to. It's just food
and free entertainment. I think peo-
pIe who come are excited about that
and relate to that," King said.
	The cost is well within reason,
too, he said. Food runs between $1
and $5, depending on the serving
and all the proceeds go back into the
Grant community.
	For King, the Grant Seafood
Festival has become the center of his
community and family. He's raised
his three children in the community
and it's the reason why he's remained
heavily involved in the event ever
since his first visit more than three
decades ago.


Photo Caption
It's been 32 years since Jack King attended the first Grant 
Seafood Festival as a festival-goer. Today, he's chairman of 
the event.


	Now that his children have
grown and have children of their
own, King said he has several gener-
ations from his family volunteering
to help organize and run the event.
	"We now have three generations
of my family working. My sons and
daughter help, along with their chil-
dren. At one point, I had four gener-
ations when my parents used to
help," he said.
	When King isn't consumed with
running the Grant Seafood Festival,
his day job is a sod contractor and
general manager of Custom Sod In-
stallation based in Melbourne.
	He said he enjoys his job, but
the pure pleasure is working with the
countless volunteers who help run
the seafood festival.
	"It's a huge undertaking and a
lot of it is a challenge. But the people
who work it, love to do it. In the
end, it's not that hard because we
just build on it each year. We can
make it look easy," King said.
	Birthdate:      Oct. 20, 1931.
	Birthplace:     East Orange, N.J.
	Education:      Bachelor of business
administration from Upsala College
in East Orange.
	Family: Wife of 38 years, Mar-
tha; sons Todd and Craig; daughter
Tara; two grandsons and one grand-
daughter.
	The best part of my job is:
Working with a tremendous group
of willing workers.
	What I like the least about my
job is: Worrying about the weather.
	The person I admire the most
is:My wife, Martha.
	The most recent movie I saw in
a theater was: I can't remember.
	The book I'd recommend every-
one to read is: "Unlimited Access,"
by Gary Aldrich.
	My favorite food is: Steak and
potatoes.
	If I were going on a trip to the
moon, I would take along: The Bi-
ble.
	When I was growing up, I al-
ways wanted to be: Self employed.
	The person I would most like
to meet is: Ronald Reagan.
	My proudest moments are:
Business successes.
	My favorite sports team is:
Really, I like Michael Jordan.
	My favorite television show is:
"Touched By An Angel."
	On my last vacation, I visited:
Green Castle, Ind.
	The first thing I do when I
wake up in the morning is: Make a
cup of coffee.
	The type of music I enjoy the
most is: Big band.
	If I could do something over
again, I'd: Probably stay in the mili-
tary.
	People who know me the best
know: I'm dependable.
	The most exciting time in my
life is: Right now.




Orioles flock to help community
By DREW DIXON
Of The Sun

	Birds of a feather flock.. .well,
you get the idea. But members of the
Fraternal Order of Orioles Nest 272
based in Micco say their community
efforts are anything but a cliche.
	"I think the thing that impresses
the bulk of our members is that we
are strictly a local service organiza-
tion. We work strictly to help our
own community," said Dave Weller,
president of the Sebastian River
chapter of the Orioles.
	Annual club dues are only $10
for members and nine of those dol-
lars stay in the local chapter, while
$1 goes to support the national um-
brella organization Ä or supreme
nest, Weller said.
	That's a lot different than other
fraternal and service organizations
that often send large portions of
their dues to national offices. And
that's part of the reason why the Ori-
oles can charge such nominal annual
dues, Weller said.


Photo Caption
Dave Weller, president of the Sebastian River Area Orioles 
Club, left, leads his fellow club members in their quest to 
help others in the community.


	That may be why the local Ori-
oles club, formed in 1992, has
grown in membership in recent
years. What began as just a few peo-
pIe wanting to start a fraternal orga-
nization has grown into a network of
about 350 men and 145 women
who not only want to meet other
people, but help others in the com-
munity, Weller said.
	Weller helped start the Orioles
locally.
	"There was a nest in Pompano
Beach. Some of my friends talked me
into starting one up here," he said.
And the club kept catching on.
	The organization even has its
own building at 8490 U.S. 1 in
Micco that it leases for regular meet-
ings.
	The club would hardly be limited
to men. Shortly after the club was
founded, many of the men who
joined brought their spouses and
then other women started asking
about the club. Then the Orioles
Women's Auxiliary was formed.
	Priscilla Holt, president of the
Women's Auxiliary, has been a mem-
ber for five years. "There are quite a
few spouses, but many (women)
aren't," she said.
	Maay women simply join the
Orioles because they want to help
out, too.
	"We have a very friendly club
and people get along well. We work
well together," Holt said.
	Many of the club efforts help
raise money for such causes as volun-
teer fire departments, scholarships
for local high-school students, local
needy families and, often, other club
members in need.
	The women play a role in these
efforts by offering creativity, Holt
said. "We help out on organizing the
fund-raisers."
	Those can range from yard sales
to garage sales to clam bakes to fish
fries.
	"As a matter of fact we're hold-
ing a yard sale March 21 at the Riv-
erview Mobile Home Villa, 8600
U.S. 1 in Micco," Holt said.
	The history of the Orioles club is
somewhat sketchy. Weller said the
organization was originally formed
as the Owls club in Rochester, N.Y.,
in the 1800s. Then there was a split
among national members and the
Fraternal Order of Orioles was
formed. That faction survived, the
Owls flew away obscurely into his-
tory, Weller said.
	The bylaws and historical record
of the Orioles has no explanation as
to why the bird with a black body
and orange-colored feathered wings
was selected as the mascot of the or-
ganization, Holt said.
	All he knows is the club still sur-
vives in many nests across the coun-
try and the local chapter, still pro-
vides thousands of dollars into local
charitable causes. At the same time,
the club is still a great way to meet
friends and the local chapter boasts
members from Palm Bay to Vero
Beach.
	Anyone interested in joining the
Orioles has to fill out an application,
then must go before a review com-
mittee and eventually, the general
members vote on acceptance. No
convicted felon can join the organi-
zation, Weller said. Once accepted,
the member pays a one-time $30 ini-
tiation fee.
	When members do get involved,
all actions by the club involve the ap-
proval of all the members. Weller
said all decisions to spend money
raised for charities are decided by
vote from the general membership.
"We try to remain as democratic as
possible," he said.
	The Oriole men meet the second
and fourth Tuesday of every month,
7:30 p.m. at the Micco headquarters,
while the women meet the first and
third Tuesday, also at 7:30 p.m. at
the headquarters.




Local briefs


Episcopal women
meeting Feb. 21

	The Episcopal Church Women's
monthly meeting will begin at 10
a.m. Feb. 21 at St. Elizabeth's Epis-
copal Church, 901 Clearmont St.,
Sebastian.
	Judy Moorehouse, of Wings of
Joy, will speak on "Angels."
	Participants are asked to bring
sandwiches to share during the social
hour.


Trinity Lutheran
begins services

	Trinity Lutheran Church, 611
Schumann Drive, Sebastian, will be-
gin its Lenten services. on Feb. 25
and continue on Wednesdays
throughout Lent. Services will be at
11 a.m. and 7:30 p.m.




Roseland minister welcomes chance to serve his flock
By DREW DIXON
Of The Sun


Photo Caption
The Rev. Ralph Rivers, of the Roseland United Methodist 
Church, says he enjoys working on his home computer when he's 
not at the pulpit.


	Rev. Ralph Rivers says after an
earlier career in the air-freight busi-
ness, he's glad he's resurrected spiri-
tual callings and taken flight in the
ministry.
	The senior minister at Roseland
United Methodist Church wasn't al-
ways working as a man of the cloth.
	"I come from a business back-
ground," he said pointing out his
early adulthood when he worked in
the air-freight business in Atlanta in
the late 1960s and early `70s.
	But even though he was toiling
in the business world, Rivers said he
always had a calling to enter reli-
gious work.
	"I felt I had to do what God was
telling me to do. It had been tossed
around for a long time. It was a defi-
nite move of my spirit when I was a
teen-ager. It always seemed to be
there and it never went away," the
58-year-old Rivers said.
	So, in the mid 1970s, Rivers
studied religion at Mercer University
and received his masters of divinity
from Emory University in Atlanta.
	He immediately headed back to
his native state of Florida, where he
ministered at two small churches in
Oxford and Lady Lake.
	Then the Conference of United
Methodist churches assigned him to
the First United Methodist church in
Okeechobee, where he stayed for
four years before he was assigned to
his Roseland post, where he's been
for the past 18 months.
	Since he and his wife, Sharon,
moved to the area, Rivers said the
experience has been welcoming.
	"We're happy to be here, just
near the water. We both like water,
the ocean, the river," he said.
	When he received the assign-
ment, Rivers said he didn't know
what to expect. "We didn't know
much about (Roseland) at all."
	But, the congregation informed
him quickly upon his arrival.
	"I think Roseland (United Meth-
odist Church) is actively involved in
the community. "I think (the
church) is a good neighbor and get-
ring better. I am part of that," he
said.
	Part of that means being heavily
involved not only in the ministerial
duties of the church, but helping to
organize and coordinate many
high-profile activities the church
holds.
	There, of course, is the annual
live manger performance at the
church during the Christmas season,
a highly active youth fellowship
group and a busy thrift shop at the
church, located at 12962 Roseland
Road. 
	While all the community
involvement is important to the
church and to Rivers, it's a welcom-
ing religious environment at the
church that he concentrates on most.
	"It has enormous challenges. I'm
working with people and a wide va-
riety of personalities. Folk come
from all over, so, many of those who
end up in the Methodist church
aren't Methodist," he said.
	Many of the members of the
Roseland United Methodist Church
congregation are transplants from
other states and were originally
members of different denominations.
	Rivers said they often come to
his church at the invitation of friends
or other associates.
	But if they end up at his church,
that's fine, he said.
	"We try to make them feel at
home. We work hard to make them
feel welcome and part of the family.
It's definitely more than a religious
venture," he said
	Given the balancing act as lead-
ing the church in the community and
guide for those seeking religious
comfort, Rivers said he's a perfect fit
for his current assignment.
       "You do have to become more
than just a preacher. You want to be-
come a friend. That takes time.
	"I'm on the right track. As more
time goes by, it will become stronger
in the friend area. I think things are
going fine," Rivers said.




Local briefs


Presbyterian Church
holding workshop

	The First Presbyterian Church of
Sebastian will hold a serendipity
workshop, conducted by Lyman
Colman, Feb. 20 at the church.
	Coleman is general editor of the
"Serendipity New Testament," "Se-
rendipity Bible for Group and Per-
sonal Study" and the "Serendipity
Student Bible."
	He has traveled extensively giv-
ing seminars to pastors and lay lead-
ers in the United States, Canada and
Brazil. He and his wife, Margaret,
make their home in Lirtleton, Cob.
	Since the 1960s, Lyman has pro-
duced many training courses that
combine the small group, concept
with relational Bible study and has
trained more than 500,000 people in
seminars held throughout North
America.
	The workshop will be held from
8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. To register,
call 1-800-525-9563.


Italian American Club
meeting Feb. 22

	The regular monthly meeting of
the Barefoot Bay Italian American
Club will be held at 6 p.m. Feb 22 in
Building A.
	Membership dues can be paid at
this meeting. Raffle tickets for the
Ethnic Festival can be returned.
	The final cutoff date for cook-
book recipes is March 22; the cost of
cookbook is $3.
	The club's anniversary dinner
dance is March 22. The night will
begin with a meeting at 6 p.m., fol-
lowed by dinner at 6:45 p.m. Enter-
tainment will be provided by Dave
& Lorraine.
	Tickets will be sold from
9- 10:30 a.m. March 9 and 10 at the
Building A patio.
	Tickets are $9 for members and
$15 for houseguests. All seating is
reserved.
	For more information, call
664-3294. The last day to buy tick-
ets is March 17.
	Membership badges can be
picked up at both meetings.


Welcome Wagon Club
holding auction

	The Welcome Wagon Club of
Sebastian Alumnae will hold its an-
nual Chinese auction at noon March
at the Palm Court Hotel and Restau-
rant, 3244 Ocean Drive, Vero
Beach.
	The price of the luncheon is $12.
	All proceeds from the auction go
towards the two charities the club
sponsors. The public is invited to at-
tend.
	For more information and tick-
ets, call Lena at 589-8057.


Homemakers group
heidhig craft sale

	The Barefoot Bay Homemakers
will hold its spring craft and bake
sale from 8 a.m. to noon March 18
in Building A.
	Tables are avaliable for rent to all
Barefoot Bay residents for $7. To re-
serve a table, call 664-9305. All
members are asked to bake a cake
and donate it to the cake table.
Cakes must be delivered by 7:30
a.m. the day of the sale.
	There will be no club workshop
March 4 because of the Little
Theatre group's performance.
	On April 22, the group's spring
fashion show will be put on by Lilly
Pad of Melbourne.
	A luncheon of tomatoes filled
with chicken salad and fresh fruit,
crackers and dessert will be served.
Doors open at 9:30 a.m. with the
fashion show starting at 10 a.m. A
cash bar will open at 11 a.m. and
lunch will be served at 11:30 a.m.
	Tickets will cost $8 and must be
purchased for the luncheon. The
date of the ticket sales will be an-
nounced in the future.


Senior Socialites
holding party

       The Sebastian Senior Socialites is
holding a Mardi Gras dinner dance
from 6 to 10 p.m. Feb.21 from 6 to
10 p.m. in the Parish Hall behind St.
Sebastian Catholic Church on U.S.
1.
	A roast-beef dinner will be served,
with music by Omas & Lee.
	The dinner is a fund-raiser to help
with the cost of refurbishing the par-
ish kitchen. Tickets are $9 per person
and may be purchased after all
masses or by calling 589-8223 or
589-2462.


Catamaran group
to sail in March

	The Indian River Catamaran As-
sociation will be holding two days of
catamaran sailing, racing and fun
March 7-8 at the,. Sebastian Inlet
State Park.
	IRCA is a no-dues club devoted
to preserving the sport and art of
sailing catamarans.
	The club, along with Fleet 45 of
Cocoa and Fleet 127 of Fort Pierce,
will race Saturday and Sunday start-
ing at noon with the days ending at
sunset. On Saturday, IRCA will hold
its monthly "Twice Around the Bay
Regatta" and on Sunday, Fleet 45
will hold an interfleet regatta among
the three clubs.
	There will be no entry fees for
the two regattas, with prizes for the
winners of each day of racing.
	Spectator viewing will be from
the sandy point overlooking the bay
where the sailing will take place.
	IRCA was formed two years ago
by Chris Runge in an effort to rekin-
dle sailing in the area, preserve beach
access for sailors and to have fun.
	IRCA meets the first Saturday of
each month at Sebastian Inlet State
Park, south side, west end on the
sandy point. Just look for the flag
pole and all the sails. All catamaran
sailors are welcome.
	The club is a benefactor to the
Environmental Learning Center in
Wabasso, helping fund its goal of ed-
ucating the public about the Indian
River lagoon, the body of water
from which the club takes it name.
	For information on the club,
IRCA maintains a web page that can
be seen at hrtp://members.aol.com/
Sailmstrl/index.html.
	For more information on the
March sailing, call Runge at
569-3819.


Sebastian art club
plans show Feb. 21

	The Sebastian River Art Club
will present an art show and sale 10
a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 21 in Riverview
Park, Sebastian.
	Art work in oil, acrylic, waterco-
br, pastel, charcoal pencil and pen
and ink will be offered for sale.
	The park is at the intersection of
U.S.1 and County Road 512. Rain
date is Feb. 22.


Rochester group
plans picnic

	The annual picnic for former res-
idents of Rochester, N.Y., will be
held March 21 from 10 a.m. to 3
p.m. at the Wickham Park main pa-
vilion, Melbourne.
	Tickets are $4 advance, $5 at
door and includes white hots.
	For information send self-ad-
dressed, stamped envelope to Nancy
O'Hara, 1309 Rila St., S.E. Palm
Bay, Fla. 32909 or Mary Lou Bo,
3101 River Villa Way, Melbourne
Beach, Fla. 32951 or call her at
(407) 729-8046.


Aroostook picnic
set for March 14

	The seventh annual East Coast
Aroostook picnic will be held at the
Methodist Church Fellowship Hall
on Main Street in Sebastian March
14.
	Registration is 10 a.m. to noon.
Those attending are to bring bag
lunches.
	For more information, call
388-9604, 388-1341, 664-1904.


TOPS given
book review

	Patti Coleman gave a few tips
she had found in the book "Make the
Connection" by Oprah Winfrey dur-
ing the recent meeting of the Sebas-
tian Take Off Pounds Sensibly 641.
	She gave the gist of the 10-step
program and these are a few of the
most notable ones: exercise 20 to 60
minutes each session; eat three meals
and two snacks each day; stop eating
two to three hours before bedtime;
and renew a commitment to healthy
living each day.
	Betty Reed reviewed some of the
rules and regulations to abide by
when members attend state recogni-
tion day to be held in Jacksonville in
April. Also call Ms. Reed, 664-6126,
if interested in riding the bus to the
event.
	Weekly best losers were Patti
Coleman, Betty DeBello and Minnie
Young.
	Sebastian TOPS 641 meets at
8:30 a.m. every Thursday at the Vet-
erans of Foreign Wars on Louisiana
Avenue. Call 664-6126 for more in-
formation.


County spelling bee
changed to March 19

	The date for the Indian River
County Spelling Bee has been
changed from March 26 to March
19 because of a scheduling conflict
between schools.
	The bee will be held at 7 p.m. at
the Freshman Learning Center. A
written test will be given earlier that
day.
	The bee, sponsored by the Press
Journal, is for public, private and
home-schooled students in fourth to
eighth grades. The winner will go
straight to the Scripps Howard Na-
tional Spelling Bee in Washington~2
D.C.
	The Press Journal will pay the
$500 registration fee for the national
bee, as well as pay for the trip and
lodging in Washington, valued at
$1,500, for the winner and a guard-
ian. The winner receives $500 in
spending money, a trophy and a do-
nated $100 savings bond and a dic-
tionary from Webster's.
	The national bee is scheduled for
May 27 and 28.




Change coming for survivors benefit plan
By Dave McAllister

	Those of us who have opted to
take the survivors benefit plan upon
retirement did so because we wanted
our spouses to be financially secure
upon our passing.
	We authorized a deduction for
premiums from our retirement pay
for the rest of our lives. I subscribe
to one of the military newspapers
that carried an article introduced by
U.S. Rep. Jim Saxton, R-N.J., that
would stop premiums when a retiree
has met two requirements: contrib-
uted to the plan for at least 30 years
and reached the age of 70.
	Until now, an irrevocable deci-
sion to enroll in the plan is made at
the time of retirement, with premi-
ums due monthly for the rest of the
retiree's life. A provision of the 1998
Defense Authorization Act, passed
last year by Congress, however, cre-
ates an opportunity for retirees to
change their minds.
	For one year, beginning on the
second anniversary of their retire-
ment date, recent retirees will have
the opportunity to discontinue cov-
erage. Retirees already on the plan
for years also will be given one year
to cancel their coverage beginning
this May.
	Defense officials have not an-
nounced details of the disenrollment
window, but the law requires the
ability to cancel coverage to take ef-
fect in May. They also expect 2 to 5
percent of the 930,000 retirees en-
rolled in the plan to drop coverage at
that time, which will have the effect
of increasing their retirement pay
and increasing the Pentagon budget
to make up for the reduced number
of premium payers. If 5 percent
drops out, defense spending would
go up $47 million a year.
	Steve Strobridge of the Retired
Officers Association says, "We be-
lieve that the thought that your ben-
efits will be paid up at some point
will encourage people who might
otherwise leave to stay in the plan."
	For those of us who either now
qualify or are closing in on qualifica-
tion, meaning paid into the
spouse-benefit plan for 30 years and
at age 70, it might not be a bad idea
to encourage our representatives in
Congress to support H.R. 3106.
	I heard through the grapevine
that the NCO Club at Patrick Alr
Force Base has been reactivated, so I
stopped by to check it out.
	After looking at the very nice fa-
cilities, I sat with the club manager
for a while and learned that the U.S.
Alr Force has contracted with Mas-
terCard for issuance of an "AF Ser-
vices Membership Card" to replace
your existing club card. While there
is no annual fee for one of these
cards, you do commit for having
your monthly dues ($10 for retirees)
charged to your account.
	The Patrick AFI3 NCQ Club is
35-40 miles to our North, depend-
ing on which route you take. While I
go to the base about twice a month
for either medication, commissary or
shopping, it would be nice to stop in
at the club for lunch, but $10 a
month seems a bit steep for that
privilege. They have a very nice so-
cial calendar and a "Retiree Appreci-
ation Night" each Thursday from
1700-1800. This is appealing, also,
but the driving distance, plus maybe
a couple of cocktails, puts a damper
on it.
	An associate membership for use
at lunch time by retirees residing in
the South Mainland area would
make some sense. I'll talk to the
manager again to see if it's possible.
	I stopped by the Disabled Amer-
ican Veterans' Chapter 32 office of
North Harbor City Boulevard on
several occasions to introduce myself
and to learn of the chapter's activi-
ties. Not once have I found that of-
fice open. A sign on the door indi-
cates they have meetings on one
Tuesday and one Wednesday each
month and a telephone number
(long distance for us) is given. If we
can get enough interest in this area,
perhaps we could organize our own
chapter. Anyone interested? Give me
a call at 664-7029.
	Thanks for listening. See you in a
couple of weeks.




Letter to the editor


Legionnaire urges flag-law support

	In the coming weeks, Sen. Orrin
Hatch, R-Utah, and Sen. Max Cle-
land, D-Ga., will introduce a consti-
tutionaI amendment that would re-
turn to the American people the
right to protect their flag.  The
amendment being proposed reads,
"Congress shall have power to pro-
hibit the physical desecration of the
flag of the United States."
	The amendment has the support
of 49 state legislatures; including
Florida, 80 percent of the American
people and the Citizens Flag Alli-
ance, a broad-based coalition of 125
organizations representing more
than 20 million Americans. The
members of Charles L. Futch Post
189, The American Legion, are in
full support of the CFA and efforts
to protect our most treasured na-
tional symbol, the American flag.
	On June 12, the U.S. House of
Representatives passed a flag-protec-
tion amendment by a vote of
310-114. Nineteen of the 23 mem-
bers of the Florida delegation voted
in favor of the amendment. Sen.
Connie Mack, R-Fla., currently a
co-sponsor of the amendment by
Sen. Bob Graham, D-Fla., has yet to
indicate he will co-sponsor it.
	In 1989, by a slim 5-4 vote, the
U.S. Supreme Court took away our
right to protect our flag by invalidat-
ing flag protection laws in 48 states
and the District of Columbia. For
more than 100 years, these laws
were in effect with no danger to the
First Amendment. If freedom of
speech means anything, it is the right
of the American people to be heard
on the issue of flag protection.
	As members of Charles L. Futch
Post 189, the American Legion, we
are your neighbors, your co-workers,
your family and your friends. But we
are also members of a larger family
called "veterans." We are a commu-
nity of individuals who wore the uni-
form because we believed in our
country. I would ask the U.S. Senate
not to turn its back on us now.
	The members of Charles L.
Futch Post 189 ask all Florida resi-
dents to please contact Graham,
Mack and President Clinton and ask
them to support the American peo-
pIe in their desire to protect the flag
of the United States. Please help us
to honor the memory of our fellow
veteran whose final earthly embrace
was in the folds of Old Glory.
Edmund Murphy
Commander
American Legion Post 189




Local briefs


Sebastian DAR
schedules speaker

St. Sebastian Chapter, National
Society, Daughters of the American
Revolution, will meet at 10 a.m.
Feb. 21 at First Presbyterian
Church, Louisiana Avenue, Sebas-
tian.
	Guest speaker will be Officer Da-
vid Shapiro, community-service offi-
cer of the Vero Beach Police Depart-
ment.
	Shapiro has spent nine years with
the department and is a Florida cri-
me-prevention practitioner.
	Richard "Ricky" Brown, a 1998
graduate of Sebastian River High
School who received an appointment
to the U.S. Military Academy at
West Point, will be presented the
DAR Good Citizenship Medal.
	Hostesses are Althea Egle, M.
Louise Crum and Ora Braxton.
	On Feb. 22, members will attend
the 10 a.m. service at First Presbyte-
nan in honor of George Washing-
ton's birthday.


Talk to focus
on avoiding fraud

	The Indian River County Exten-
sion Service will conduct programs
on how to avoid becoming a victim
of fraud.
	A session will take place at the
North Indian River County Library,
1001 County Road 512, Sebastian,
at 10 am. Feb. 23.
	The free programs will include
how to check for possible fraud, how
to avoid it and what to do if you
should become a victim.
	The public is invited. For more
information, call 770-5031.


Council forms
banjo group

	A new banjo group forming at
the Indian River County Council on
Aging is looking for a bass guitar
player and more banjo musicians, as
well as guitar players who enjoy get-
ting together and jamming for fun.
	Call 589-3864 or the council at
569-0760, Ext. 103.


TOPS group
reviews bylaws

	Take Off Pounds Sensibly, Se-
bastian Chapter 686, met Feb. 9 at
United Methodist Church, 1029
Main St. Thirty-two members at-
tended.
	Best loser for the week, Jose-
phine Benham, was followed by Be-
ryl Gartner.
	Leader Elaine Ellingsworth re-
viewed TOPS bylaws. A ques-
non-and-answer period followed.
	For more information, call
589-1319 or 589-1010.


`Carmen' performance
set for Feb. 28

	The Central Florida Lyric Opera
will present ins production of Bizet's
opera "Carmen" at 2 and 8 p.m.
Feb. 28 at the Henegar Center for
the Arts, 625 E. NeW Haven Ave.,
Melbourne.
	Principal characters in this tragic
story of love are Carmen, Don Jose
and Escamillo, the toreador. It takes
place in Seville about 1820 and pre-
sents Carmen as a passionate, yet
fickle, gypsy girl.
	The production will feature
members of the Resident Artist Pro-
gram of the Lyric Opera and will be
performed in French with full sets,
costumes and live music from the pit
orchestra.
	Admission is $15 for reserved
seats and tickets can be obtained by
calling (407) 723-8698.
	For more information, call
563-9287.


Citizens Group
plans forum

	A candidates forum for Sebastian
City Council will be held at the regu-
lar monthly meeting of Aware Citi-
zens and Taxpayers 7:30 p.m. Feb.
23 at the Sebastian Senior Center on
Davis Street.
	The meeting is open to the pub-
lic with time provided for a ques-
tion-and-answer period. Refresh-
ments will be served.


City seeks
planning member

	Sebastian is seeking applicants to
fill an unexpired alternate-member
position on the Planning and Zoning
Commission.
	The commission meets 7 p.m.
on the first and third Thursday of
the month in City Council chambers
in City Hall, 1225 Main St.
	All applicants must be city resi-
dents. Applications are available be-
tween 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. an the
City Clerk's office, City Hall, and
will be accepted unnit Feb. 27.


Pinochle group
names winners

	Pinochle is played every Wednes-
day at the Senior Center, 815 Davis
Sn., Sebastian. Winners Feb. 4 were:
Irma Saenger, 817; Sally Burney,
808; and Robert Miller, 769. All se-
niors are welcome.




Week In Review


City plans to solicit
bids for trash pickup

	City staff plans to begin now to 
rework a franchise agreement with
sanitation companies to ensure better
service for Sebastian residents when
the city's current trash collector's
franchise ends this summer.
	The three-year franchise
agreement with Capital Sanitation,
which currently provides trash ser-
vice for Sebastian, ends in June or
July of this year, City Manager
Thomas Frame said at the Feb. 11
council meeting.
	"It's time to go back out in the
marketplace and retest the waters,"
he said.
	Frame said a new proposed
agreement will be presented to the
council next month for authorization
to solicit bids from sanitation com-
panies. He said Capital Sanitation
will be allowed to resubmit a bid as
well if the company wants.
	Because some residents have
complained about the service, he said
he wanted to include in any new
agreement better provisions or im-
posing penalties on whichever com-
pany is chosen.
	One idea is to require a $5,000
cash deposit of the sanitation com-
pany before it begins service. This
way if a penalty needs to be imposed
because of non-service, the fine can
be taken out of the deposit. If the
deposit is depleted during the term
of the franchise, the company would
be required to replenish it, he said.
	Currently, the city can impose a
fine but the money has to be taken
out of the company's performance
bond, which often takes a lot of
time, he said.
	Frame said city staff also will
make sure the requirements of the
new franchise agreement are carried
out completely this time. One of the
problems with the current franchise
is that an equipment inventory of the
sanitation company was never done
before a new agreement was signed,
as required by the franchise
agreement, he said.
	Capital Sanitation sometimes has
not been able to pick up garbage at
its scheduled times because of equlp-
ment failure, he said.
	"They have a tremendously diffi-
cult time keeping the truck on the
road," Frame said.
	Mayor Walter Barnes said resi-
dents should be pleased to learn the
city may be shopping for a new com-
pany.
	"I think a lot of people in town
will say `amen' to that," he said.
	Resident Harry Thomas sug-
gested that the city change the way
residents pay for garbage collection,
since a new franchise agreement was
being prepared. Instead of each resi-
dent paying a fee individually, he
suggested the garbage pick-up fee
should be incorporated into city
taxes.
	"That way everybody will have
to have their garbage picked up," he
said.


Independent probe
comes up empty

	An independent investigation
into allegations of gender harassment
and discrimination at the Sebastian
Police Department found the
charges groundless.
	Lt. Phil Williams of the Indian
River County Sheriffs Department
concluded the accusations from Offi-
cer Michelle Morris had no justifica-
tion, the same general conclusion the
Police Department's internal investi-
gation came up with last year.
	"I think it's fair," Chief Randy
White said Feb. 11. "It points out
we've taken action whenever anyone
made a report on us. There is noth-
ing to support either sexual discrimi-
nation or a hostile work environ-
ment."
	White requested the Sheriff's De-
partment perform the outside inves-
tigation to serve as a check against
his own.
	Its conclusions are not binding
to either party in any way, as it was
meant to be a tool White can use to
evaluate his department and, decide
whether any changes were necessary,
Williams said in the report.
	Williams did conclude that a rep-
rimand Capt. David Puscher gave to
Morris because of an alleged im-
proper driving-under-the-influence
arrest was unnecessary and unpro-
per, although he ultimately recog-
nized White scaled back the disci-
pline.
	He also said White may want to
go over the department's policy on
obscene language, one of the reasons
for Morris' complaint.
	Morris accused the department
of sexual harassment, discrimination
and retaliation in her employment
last year, saying she and other
women endured taunts and obscene
language, then were retaliated
against when they complained.
She is suing on the same grounds
in federal court.
	But White has said the allega-
tions are Morris' way of striking back
at the department after she was rep-
rimanded.
	The department's internal inves-
tigation resulted in Lt. Gene Ewert
being given corrective counseling for
making a comment on breast feed-
ing, but otherwise found the com-
plaint without merit.
	Morris filed a complaint with the
federal Equal Employment Opportu-
nity Commission, but the agency de-
clined to involve itself in the matter.
Dispatcher Jackie Dean has filed a
similar complaint, which is still pen-
ding.
	Williams said he combed
through Morris' specific complaints
one by one.
	He said discrimination com-
plaints generally included statistical
evidence women were not receiving
promotions or sought-after assign-
ments, but Morris failed to provide
any. The report also pointed out Sgt.
Debbie Maynard was promoted to
that elevated rank last year.
	The report also said Morris toler-
ated some obscene language used by
officers, but was offended by other
words. She should have made her
own personal limits perfectly clear to
everyone, Williams said.
	Williams concluded there was no
proof supporting retaliation or other
discrimination.


Bay house-guest issue
clouded by new rule

	Exactly who qualifies as a house
guest in Barefoot Bay?
	The question was brought up
during Barefoot Bay Recreation Dis-
trict's Feb. 13 meeting, when Chris
Riesenbeck, president of the Bare-
foot Bay Homeowners Association,
asked when a rule that dealt with
"local guests" was changed and by
whom.
	The rule, which is part of the
community's rules and regulations,
said people residing within a radius
of 50 miles of the community are
censidered "local guests." As such,
they could be invited by a home-
owner to use most of the commu-
nity's facilities once a month for a $1
fee.
	Riesenbeck said she brought up
the issue because she doesn't want
people who are not overnight guests
in the community to abuse the new
rules by coming in to use most of the
recreational facilities for only a dol-
lar.
	But when the district recently re-
vised the community's user-fee regu-
lations, the "local guest" rule was not
adopted as part of the new schedule,
Community Manager Helen Ham-
bro said, so it no longer applies.
	District Chairman Ben Krom
said the old rule could not be
adopted into the revised fee schedule
because, according to a legal opin-
ion, the Internal Revenue Service
would not allow it. Krom would not
elaborate further on why the IRS
would not allow it.
	Under the current fee schedule,
only those who are "guests of prop-
erty owners or resident tenants who
are visiting at homes in the district"
are allowed to purchase a $1 pass,
which is good for up to 30 days, to
use the recreational facilities. The
general public can purchase a $15
daily guest pass to use the facilities,
but also would need to pay an extra
fee if they want to use the golf
course or the recreational-vehicle
storage area.
	Riesenbeck then asked who
would be considered a house guest
since the revised fee schedule does
not clarify if a person "visiting at
homes in the district" means some-
one who is staying overnight, or
someone who is there for a few
hours. Krom said he will try to get a
legal definition on that.
       Hambro said people who are
invited by members of a community
club to participate in an event will
not be charged the $15 daily-pass fee
the general public is charged to use
most of the facilities.
	Also during the meeting, Trustee
Adele-Jean Dace made a motion to
find a parliamentarian to monitor
district meetings.
	Krom, without asking for a sec-
ond to Dace's motion, asked if some-
one would support his motion to ta-
ble the issue. The motion was
seconded and approved through a
7-1 vote. Dace voted against the idea
of tabling her proposal. Trustee Bill
Ward was absent from the meeting.
	Krom said he made a motion to
table Dace's proposal became it was
something the trustees need more
time to think about. He said the is-
sue will be brought up for discussion
at the district's next workshop sched-
uled for Feb. 24.
	Dace said she would like the dis-
trict to hire a professional parliamen-
tarian. But if someone who is experi-
enced as a parliamentarian volunteer's
for the position, she would accept
him, as well.


Community center gets
$200,OO for work

	The South Mainland Commu-
nity Center in Micco on Feb. 12 was
awarded more than $200,000
needed for its completion scheduled
for early next year.
	Members of the Brevard County
Development Advisory Board, the
board in charge of distributing the
federal Community Development
Block Grant money for county pro-
jects, voted unanimously to allocate
$209,703 for the completion of the
center off Allen Avenue. Board
member Michael McDonald was ab-
sent from the meeting.
	The good news delighted many
of the residents attending the Micco
Homeowners Association, who said
they were glad to hear the county re-
ceived the money it needed to carry
the project forward.
	"I think they realized that we are
trying to do the right thing with the
community center and that we are in
the right track. We are grateful to
the CDBG board for showing their
support and granting us this extra
money," said Ed Arens, president of
the association.
	County officials said Feb. 11 the
reason for the more than $200,000
shortfall is because when the project
was first budgeted, it was done using
the site plans used for a community
center in Mims that already had a
water system and other things that
the Micco site doesn't have.
	In addition, they said when the
community first applied for a CDBG
grant, they were using four-year-old
cost estimates.
	Before Feb. 12, the county had
about $508,400 in CDBG money al-
located for the center.
	Officials in the County's Attor-
ney's Office also will continue to
look into whether part of the com-
munity-center site may actually been
part of Bay Crest Villa, a subdivision 
near where the center is to be built.
	County officials said Feb. 23
their research won't keep them from
moving forward with other aspects
of the project, such as preparing nec-
essary permits for the center, said
Jeanne Osborne, chairwoman of the
South Mainland Community Center
Citizens Advisory Committee.
	Osborne said her committee also
is working with county officials to
put in another application for more
CDBG money, this, time for the
completion of a proposed gym near
the community center.
	She said the board will most
likely ask for about $960,000 for the
gym. The project already has been
granted $60,000 for architectural
and engineering work. Deadline to
apply for the grant is March 16.


Residents against
against commercial use

	Residents in Sebastian Lakes
Condominiums are asking Sebastian
City Council not to allow commer-
cial development just outside their
front yards.
	They want the council to change
its approval of a conceptual devel-
opment plan that would develop 2
acres just a few thousand feet from
their homes into commercial prop-
erty.
	About 77 people signed a peti-
tion delivered recently to City Hall
asking for the change to the pro-
sed Sebastian Lakes development
by Atlanta-based Lennar NE Part-
ners Limited Partnership. Lennar's
plans also include building 98 homes
on the 44.5 acres next to the North
Indian River County Librarv.
	The council voted 4-1 on Jan. 21
to approve the development, with
Councilwoman Ruth Sullivan cast-
ing the dissenting vote because she
wanted Indian River County to be
able to approve drainage and side-
walk plans for the property near the
library before construction could be-
gin. Library officials have said they
have plans to expand and have ex-
pressed concerns that the Sebastian
Lakes development could affect
those expansion plans.
	The property is part of a
planned-unit development that also
includes the library, commercial
property where a Walgreen's and a
bank are under construction and the
64 existing condominiums.
	But those who signed the peti-
tion mainly are opposed to the com-
mercial businesses that will be placed
on about 2 acres south of the en-
trance to the condominium and west
of the library.
	"We don't think that's appropri-
ate to put commercial property right
next to a residential community,'
said James Connors, one of the con-
dominium residents and a driving
force in getting the petitions to othei
residents.
	Connors said he didn't like plans
to build a driveway connecting the
commercial property to the entrance
driveway of the condominiums. The
existing gatehouse also will have to
be relocated closer to the residential
buildings, he said.
	"The foregoing construction ac-
tivity at our gated entrance would
greatly increase air, noise and visual
pollution ... and create hazardous
traffic conditions," he said in a mem-
orandum to the city staff.
       He said he would like the council
to change the plans so the commer-
cial property is not allowed.
	Mrs. Sullivan said she has been
concerned about the commercial
traffic emptying out into the resi-
dential driveway since residents
brought up the issue at the meeting.
She said she had not seen the peti-
tion.
	She said she would be willing to
reconsider the issue, but didn't think
she could bring back the item be-
cause she voted against the proposed
conceptual plan.
	Lennar officials could not be
reached for comment, but in Janu-
ary, project consultant Chuck De-
Santi said he would make sure the
gatehouse would be relocated to
make sure shoppers would not be
able to get into the community.


Festival officials
hope for big crowds

	Organizers of the 32nd annual
Grant Seafood Festival said recently
they're ready to fire up their fryers
for the longest-running seafood festi-
val in the Southeast.
	"We're pretty much ready to go,
we're just hoping for good weather,"
said Jack King, president of the
Grant Community Club and general
chairman of the festival.
King said if they have good
weather this year, they expect to
have about 80,000 people attend the
festival scheduled for Feb. 21-22 at
the Grant Community Center
Grounds at 4580 First St., just off
U.S. 1 in Grant.
	The festival is set to run 11 a.m.
to 5 p.m., but if people are there
early, the festival could start as early
as 10:30 a.m., said Martha King,
purchasing agent for the festival.
	Event-goers this year will notice
something different about the festi-
val's dinners, said the club's Vice
President Ed Irons.
He said oysters won't be served
with the dinners, but the price of the
dinners have gone down from $7 to
$5.
"It makes (the dinners) a little
more appealing," Irons said, adding
many people did not like having the
oysters as part of the dinners, which
this year include pullock, baked
beaus, cole slaw and hush puppies.
	However, the oysters aren't com-
pletely gone from the menu. They
will still be available as part of the
seafood and other food items sold in
the food booths. Some of those
items include shrimp kabobs, fried
scallops, deviled crab cakes, french
fries and beverages such as soft
drinks, water and beer. The coffee is
free, Mrs. King said.
	All of the items sold at the food
booths will range from $1 to $4.
	Aside from food booths, there
also will be about 100 craft booths,
and several bands are expected to
play throughout the two-day event.
	Last year, bad weather put a
damper on what could have been
one of the biggest weekends for the
long-running festival. Torrential
rains for most of the weekend cut
down the number of people attend-
ing the festival from an estimated
80,000 to 50,000 for both days.
	The festival's net profit last year
was about $32,000, compared to the
$70,000 it netted in 1996.
	About $7,500 of the money raised
last year went to scholarships.
Money also went to such organiza-
tions as the Micco Volunteer Fire
Department and the Brevard County
Sheriffs Auxiliary. About $3,000
also was donated to buy new equip-
ment and repair the playground at
the Grant Community Center.




Nature photographers
sought for annual contest

	The annual Nature Photography
Contest will be held as part of the
celebration of the 95th Anniversary
of Pelican Island National Wildlife
Refuge on March 14 at Riverview
Park, Sebastian.
	Contest entry forms can be ob-
tained at the following locations:
	Skiscim's Camera Store at 1423
20th St., One-Hour Photo in Luria's
Plaza, Crafts & Stuff frame depart-
ment, 532 21st St. and Sudden
Images at 1005 17th St., all of Vero
Beach; Southern Photo Supply,
2535 N. Harbor City Blvd., Mel-
bourne Art Center, 909 E. New Ha-
yen St., both of Melbourne, and
Wildside Art & Frame, 12780 103rd
St., Fellsmere.
	Entry forms also may be ob-
tained by contacting Ruth Davies at
589-3687.
	Contest entries may be mailed
March 9 to the Pelican Island Preser-
vation Society, P.O. Box 1903, Se-
bastian, Fla. 32978-1903. Late en-
tries may be submitted in person no
later than 11 a.m. March 14 at Riv-
erview Park.
	The name and address of the en-
trant must be marked on reverse of
each photo entered. The society is
not responsible for entries lost in
transit or those that are not identi-
fled as to the owner.



Photo Caption
A FEW GOOD WOMEN recently joined the ranks of the members of
the Barefoot Bay Detachment of the Marine Corps League. Susan
Pepe, left, and Mildred Kelliher, receive their membership creden-
tials from the league's commander, Russell Heady. Both women
were active-duty Marines during World War II.




Senior games coming in March

	The 10th annual 1998 Senior
Good Life Games for Indian River
County will be held March 3 to 21.
	The non-profit community event
is endorsed by the Governor's Coun-
cil on Physical Fitness and Sports.
	This year's games are sponsored
by Vero Beach-Indian River County
Recreational Department, WAXE
AM 1370, Indian River Memorial
Hospital, Indian River County's
Sheriff Department, McDonalds of
the Treasure Coast and Sunrunners
of Vero Beach.
	The opening events, slow-pitch
softball and tennis, will begin at 9
a.m. in Vero Beach. Table tennis will
be held at Spanish Lakes Fairways.
	For more information on these
events, contact John Dempster,
589-3308; Bill Pickett, 664-0113; or
John Camp, 465-3089.
	Events that will follow from
March 4 thru March 14 at various
locations are racquetball, bowling,
golf, road race, race walk, swim-
ming, bridge, shuffleboard, bocci,
horseshoes and ball throw.
	The victory lunch wili be held
March 21 at Indian River Estates
West, State Road 60, Veto Beach.
	The games are open to all men
and women, 55 years of age and
older, who wish to participate in this
friendly competition.
	Gold, silver and bronze medals
will be awarded in seven age groups
in each sport category.




Grandson of local winter residents
makes his name, his art, from pictures
By Margaret Miquelon

	For 17 years, John and Angeline
Pinto have been coming to Sebastian
from Utica, N.Y., to spend their
winters. This year, John is doing
some "grandpa bragging" and he's
allowed, for it's not everyday that
you have a 29-year-old grandson
who has accomplished so much in a
few short years.
	Three years ago, grandson Rob-
ert Silvers was a graduate student at
the Massachusetts Institute of Tech-
nology's Media Lab, working on his
master's degree. Today, he's presi-
dent and chief executive of his own
company, Runaway Technology Inc.
He's published his first book and his
story has been in two issues of
Newsweek and in both Life and For-
tune magazines.
	Robert's commercial success is
based on his master's thesis on pho-
tomosaic, an illustration composed
of a large number of photographs
that appear as a single image when
viewed from a distance. His revolu-
tionary method of combining pho-
tography with image-manipulation
software is showcased in his new
book. "Photomosaics."
	In 1991, he saw a portrait made
of seashells arranged on a board.
When you saw it from a distance, it
made a portrait of a man's face. But
up close, the portrait disappeared.
It worked for seashells, why not pho-
tographs? So Silvers combined his
own love of photography with his
interest in computers to develop a
software program that would create
the images.
	Robert starts with a large collec-
tion of photographs, often 1,000 or
more. He scans the large image he
wants to create into the computer
and tells the computer how many
"tiles," or small photographs, he
wants to use. The computer then
considers each image in every possi-
ble tile location.
	The original image is not
blended in or superimposed on the
final product. The small tiles resem-
ble the original image because of
their colors and the pattern in which
they are laid out. Sometimes, he has
to arrange the images by hand, when
the number of tiles or the color is
not quite right.
	For example, Silvers scans into
his computer the image of a dollar
bill. He also scans 7,000 images of
currency from all around the world.
His software then divides the dollar
bill into a grid, compares each square
to the photographic tiles and selects
the tile that most resembles the
square in shape, color and texture.
The software can even factor in con-
tent.
	Some of his favorites are the


Photo Caption
Robert Silvers, grandson of Sebastian winter residents John 
and Angeline Pinto, is fast making a name for himself in the 
art world. His technique involves using a large number of 
photographs that appear as a single image when viewed from a 
distance.


Statue of Liberty made of pictures of
Americans; Civil War photos that
compose Abraham Lincoln's face;
Bill Gates made of money; Princess
Diana made of thousands of pictures
of flowers; and Marilyn Monroe
made of hundreds of old Life mag-
azine covers.
	Silvers has designed the program
to see the way he does. That means
the computer "sees" and selects pho-
tographs based on more than color
and brightness. The photomosaic
software uses algorithms to also dis-
cern shapes within pictures. These
shapes help construct the bigger
image. For example, the glint in
Abraham Lincoln's left eye, on close
inspection, turns out to be the whit-
ish head of a Civil War soldier. This
method allows Robert to use fewer
photographs, a technique that also
distinguishes photomosaics from
mere pixelling Ä what your televi-
sion does with electronic dots to
construct an image of Jerry Seinfleld,
for instance.
	Now that I have completely con-
fused you, let's talk about its money-
making potential. Silvers has turned
a grad-school idea into his own com-
pany, with its own web site,
(www.photomosaic.com), that will
take in close to $1 million this year.
In addition, sales of his book are ex-
pected to reach $6 million, merchan-
dising deals are in full swing and he's
got several commissions lined up at
$75,100 a pop on up. Vice President
Al Gore commissioned a portrait
after he visited the Media Lab last
May and asked, "how is it done?"
	Robert is an artist at heart. He
envisions a day when you'll be able
to have a photomosaic of your fam-
ily done on the spot at a mall. He
thinks a mini version of his software
might some day make it to
CompUSA for everyone to use, but
now he is the only one.
	What a wonderful success story
for this modest young man, who as a
shy kid was always into computers.
And wouldn't you say that his
grandparents really deserve their
bragging rights?




SRMS teams end season on high note
By Bill Valyo

	It's a combination of the agony
of defeat along with the sweet smell
of success for school basketball       
teams, as the season came to an end
last week.
Both the boys' and girls' squads 
at Sebastian River High School can
put the round ball down until next 
year after completing their seasons
with more losses than wins on their 
side of the ledger.
	However, the coaches of both 
teams see brighter things on the ho-
rizon as they wait with eager antic-
ipation for the wealth of material
that will be coming from the middle
schools in a couple of years.
	The Sebastian River Middle
School team finished its season last
week with a 26-1 record, beating
Stuart for the Treasure Coast Cham-
pionship.
       On the other side, Bill McCar-
thy's girls' team also won the Trea-
sure Coast Championship with a win
over Gifford last week, putting its re-
cord for the year at a fine 23-1 mark.
Now that's 49 wins in one basketball
season for the school's teams this
season. That must go in a record
book, somehow.
	On the baseball front, George
Young's high-school squad started a
tough season last week with an array
of juniors who have seen varsity ac-
tion last year and who have a gruel-
ing American Legion season behind
them.
	Brent Selph gets the nod as the
first pitcher in the rotation, while his
battery mate behind the plate, Steve
Harshman, will provide the big bat
for the Sharks.
	The schedule for the locals in
Class 4A action will be a tough one,
but Coach Young states said he'll
have good defense and plenty of
power in the lineup. As usual in
high-school ball, it's the pitching
staff that must come to the front if
the season is to be successful.
	Watch for outfielder Eric Skala
to get on base most of the time and
create all kinds of havoc on the base
paths. Last year, the left-handed
swinger was the most active base
runner the Sharks had.
	Combine Skala's talents with
those of leadoff hitter Ben Windie,
and the locals should create many
wins for Young's team this year.
	It will be an interesting baseball
year at for Sebastian River High
School and a year where the settling
patience of Coach George Young
will see positive results in the win
column.




Sebastian River Area Little League
gets new season off to a flying start
By LINDA ROTHSTEIN
Of The Sun

	Sebastian River Area Little
League's 1998 season got off to a
great start Feb. 14 with a high-flying
appearance from Skydive Sebastian
and Vero Beach Dodgers General
Manager John Shoemaker throwing
out the first pitch.
	A sea of colorful uniforms
formed on Field 4 at 10 a.m. as the
29 baseball and softball teams gath-
ered to display banners recognizing
their team sponsors. Judged by Se-
bastian Little League board mem-
bers, the Mel Fisher Treasure Mu-
seum's senior softball team took first
place with a colorful banner depict-
ing a scuba diver and mermaid
swimming toward an open treasure
chest filled with gold coins and jew-
els.
     The Highiand Animal Hospital
minor baseball team took second,
Gator Lumber's major baseball team
placed third and the Dr. Adan mi-
nor baseball team earned fourth
place with its glittery banner.
League President Randy Snyder
thanked Chris McCarthy and the Se-
bastian Parks and Recreation De-
partment for getting the fields ready
for opening day.


Photo Caption
Commercial Title Services batter Dan Eisman takes a swing at a 
pitch thrown by Hale Groves pitcher Jeff Ganter in major 
Little Leaaue baseball action Feb. 14. Commercial Title 
Services won 5-3.


	"We put in the warning track
and the bases and the clay," McCar-
thy said. "My crew really has done
all the work, I just directed them."
	Soon after, seven divers from
Skydive Sebastian, including mem-
bers of the British Army who cur-
rently are training in Sebastian,
landed on the infield, trailing color-
ful blue, white and fluorescent
yellow parachutes. L.A. Tile major
baseball Coach Cohn Quigley, who
has been skydiving for about a year,
with Skydive Sebastian owner Andy
Grimwade, got the skydivers to
come out.
	"Every year (Sebastian Skydive)
wants to do it," Quigley said. "We
were fortunate this year because the
British team is here training and so
they volunteered. This is what they
do; it's called stadium jumping."
	Several hundred spectators
joined Nancy Masiello in singing the
National Anthem and "Take Me Out
to the Bali Game" and then Shoe-
maker threw out the first pitch to Se-
bastian Elks seniors catcher David
Tunstill.
	"I think it's important (to have
an official opening-day ceremony)
because the parents and people can
see what it takes to put this thing to-
gether Ä 360 kids, 60, 70 umpires,
managers, coaches," Snyder said.
"We're really going to strive to give
Little League back to the kids."
	But the real action started
around 11 a.m., when eight teams
took the fields for the official start of
the season.
	On Field 1, the Commercial Ti-
tle Services and Hale Groves major
baseball teams squared off. By the
sixth inning, Commercial Title led
5-1 until David Mitek kicked off a
two-out rally and the Hale batters
brought in two runs to make it 5-3.
It wasn't enough for the win, but it
was a strong finish of a good game.
	"We had the bottom of the order
start off which was kind of unusual
to get a rally started off the bottom
of the order," Hale Manager Gary
Bissonnette said. "But it was the last
inning and the kids played really
well."
	Commercial Title Manager Roger
Nelson was also very pleased with
his team's performance.
"I thought Rick (Nelson) pitched
an excellent game," Nelson said.
"And I think as far as hitting goes,
Randy Grant stood out. We had a
lot of good base running, too."
Commercial Title Catcher Sean
Lavender said his team didn't panic
when Hale started to come back in
the sixth.
"I felt like we could shake it off
with a couple of good pitches and
we had a good infield," Lavender
said. "We feel pretty good. We'll
probably get better as the year goes
on but right now, we're pretty good
for an opening day."
On Field 2, the Treasure Coast
Refuse and KSM Engineering major
softball teams battled for six innings
until T.C. Refuse finally clinched the
10-9 win.
	"All my girls had an excellent
game," T.C. Refuse Manager Joe
Mosseli said. "I think all around they
did very well, we just need to work a
little on fielding and hitting."
T.C. Refuse shortstop Gina Mo-
selli felt really good about the way
her team played against KSM Engi-
neering.
	"You just have to try your best," Gina said of KSM
coming back near the end of the game. "Our team
played really good. We can keep our eye on the ball,
sometimes we can hit the ball really far, like Crystal
(Kelly) did today, and we run really good."
	Field 3 featured the Mel Fisher Treasure Museum
and Dole Cirrus senior softball teams. Mel Fisher beat
Dole Cirrus 8-6 with the help of two singles and a
two-run home run by Nicole Fisher.
	"We had 11 hits so the whole team did great," Mel
Fisher Manager Kelly Bess said.
	Tara Bess also had a single and a home run.
	"I thought we did really good," Tara said. "Better
than I expected."
	Field 4 featured the Citrus Bank and John Lloyd
Builders senior baseball teams in what was the most ex-
citing game of the day. Tied 4-4 in the sixth, the game
went into an extra inning. After John Lloyd Builders
went three and out in the top of the seventh, several Cit-
rus batters got on base and Kyle Smith got a base hit to
drive in the winning run.
	Games will continue every Monday through Satur-
day evening at the Barber Street Sports Complex for the
next several months.




SRMS basketball teams bring home titles
By LINDA ROTHSTEIN
Of The Sun


Photo Caption
Jera Converse looks to pass in the championship game against 
Gifford Feb. 12. Sebastian River beat Gifford 50-25 for the 
title and Converse was named the tournament's most valuable 
player.


	Sebastian River Middle School
has added two more jewels to its al-
ready heavy athletic crown.
	On Jan. 12, the boys and girls
basketball teams won the Treasure
Coast Conference tournaments to
become the undisputed conference
champions.
	The boys capped off a stellar
23-1 regular season and went unde-
feated in the tournament, beating
Stuart in a close 29-27 game for a
26-1 season record.
	"It was all it was billed to be,"
Sebastian River boys Coach Jason
Keeler said.
	The girls' 20-1 regular season
culminated in a 50-25 pounding of
Gifford in the finals of the tourna-
ment to make their season record
23-1.
	"We lost to Gifford in the tour-
nament last year, so it was so satisfy-
ing to beat them for the champion-
ship this year," Sebastian River
forward Jera Converse said.
	Roshawn Helms earned tourna-
ment Most Valuable Player honors
for the boys after leading the Cow-
boys with 12 points in the final
game.
	Tristan Collins, who scored four
points and had four rebounds in the
finals, was named to the all-tourna-
ment team while Cory Richter, who
had to sit out the final game due to
illness, was named to the all-confer-
ence team. Ben Vickers added four
rebounds and Brandon Spears had a
team-leading four steals in the con-
ference win.
	"We were down 11-3 after the
first quarter but we held (Stuart) to
two points in the second to get back
to 13-12 at halftime," Keeler said.
	Converse earned tournament
MVP honors while DeDe Davis and
Doc Holiday were named to the
all-tournament team. Alicia Warren
and Nicole Michael were named to
the all-conference team.
	Warren led the Cowboys with 17
points in the final game, including a
3-pointer in the second half. McCar-
thy commended the play of his sev-
enth graders with Holiday going
5-for-5 from the free-throw line for a
total of nine points and Davis scor-
ing six points in the championship
game.
	"These kids are very, very
smart," Sebastian River girls Coach
Bill McCarthy said. "Our sev-
enth-graders are exceptionally smart
and our eighth-graders are very tal-
ented." Winning the tournament was
a goal both reams had from the be-
ginning of the season back in No-
vember.
	Last year, the boys team had a
great 17-5 season, winning the north
division of the conference, but lost in
the tournament semi-finals to Indi-
antown, which went on to beat
reigning champ Stuart for the title.
	The girls also had what they de-
cribed as a disappointing season last
year, finishing 12-8 and the confer-
ence runner-up. This season, coaches
and players expected even more from
their already solid basketball pro-
gram.
	"I think we will have more success
than last year because the players
have such a good attitude," Warren
said at the beginning of the season.
	The secret to the boys' success this
year was its athleticism, quickness
and new-found height.
	Three solid guards, Spears, Jar-
rod Judson and Brian Broderick,
with strong ball-handling skills, gave
the Cowboys the man-to-man de-
fense that was the backbone of every
game-plan. Helms emerged as the
teams' leading scorer, averaging in
double-digits for the season.
Earlier in the season, the boys
earned another tournament trophy
by winning three games in the Mel-
bourne-Holy Trinity Christmas
Tournament in December. The
team's lone loss of the season was a
40-30 defeat by Stuart Jan. 2.
	The girls' secret is very similar to
the boys'. Their speed and athleti-
cism in man-to-man defense and a
fast-break offense wear down oppo-
nents, allowing the Cowboys to beat
their opponents by hefty margins.
	Team quickness, such as that of
guard Michael, allows the Cowboys
to get control of loose balls and
score often on turnovers. Jera Con-
verse and Alicia Warren traded high
scores in almost every game and
both averaged double-digits
throughout the season.
	"We're athletic, we work hard,
so many players have talent," Con-
verse said. "Basically, we're success-
ful because we're smart and we know
what to do. That's from good coach-
ing."
	McCarthy said he knew at the
beginning of the season that he had a
special group of seventh-graders and
Holiday and Davis proved him right
with consistent defense and scoring.
The girls' only loss of the season
came in the semi-finals of the Mel-
bourne-Holy Trinity Christmas
Tournament when they lost a 30-27
heart-breaker to Gifford.




Coaches expect big year for SRHS' baseball, softball teams
By Linda E. Rothstein

	Sebastian River High School's baseball
and softball teams are poised on the edge of
greatness.
	Both teams started their regular seasons
this week and look to improve upon last year's
solid seasons.
	The baseball team has improved steadily
each year, culminating in an 18-12 record and
a close loss to eventual district-champ Florida
Air Academy in the 1997 tournament semi-
finals. The softball team played to an even
13-13 record, finished second in the district
and advanced to the state quarter-finals in
Class 4A.
	New challenges emerge for both teams
this year as their districts are reorganized.
Baseball loses perennial powerhouse, Florida
Air Academy, but adds former Class 5A
schools Daytona Beach-Seabreeze and New
Smyrna Beach, each with more than 20 wins
last season. Softball also picks up Daytona-
Seabreeze and New Smyrna Beach, but thank-
fully drops 6A Martin County and 5A Satellite.
	"It's out of the frying pan and into the
fire," SRHS baseball Coach George Young
said.
	Both teams are junior-heavy with few se-
niors.
	The baseball team welcomes six returnees
in catcher Steve Harshman, third baseman Ben
Windle, pitchers Brent Selph and Marshall
Carter, outfielder Eric Skala and shortstop
Josh Trimm.
	Newcomers include second baseman Josh
Redman, first baseman Adam Ogilvie, left
fielder Kyle Joiner, right fielder and pitcher
Robbie Spencer and right fielder Brandon
Sims, middle infielder Vinny Chiarantona, first
baseman and designated hitter Risky Brown
and pitchers Paul Troutman, Chad Johnson
and Frank Boone.
	Assisting Young with his young team are
infield Coach Wink Haberman, outfield Coach
Chip Humphrey, pitching Coach George Es-
tock, freshman Coach Wiley Green and ju-
nior-varsity Coach Stewart Cohen.
	Softball Coach Steve Courtney has just one
senior in pitcher Candice Sturgis, but doesn't
find youth a problem. He will look to Sturgis
and his more experienced juniors to lead the
team.
	"Youth is not a problem," Courtney said.
	In addition to Sturgis, Courtney also wel-
comes six returnees in pitcher Teresa Caudill,
third baseman Tiffaney Beam, left fielder Erin
Maloney, center fielder Mai-Lan Tran and util-
ity player Nicole Barton.
	The junior-varsity team graduates four
sophomores to varsity in shortstop Samantha
Holler, second baseman and outfielder Jennifer
Perotta, pitcher Heather Herndon and utility
player Michelle Mitchell. One freshman,
catcher Ashley Courtney, rounds out the
softball team's roster.
	Giving Courtney a helping hand are out-
field and pitching Coach Stan Walker, assistant
Coach Jessica Falzone, junior-varsity Coach
Rick Herndon, assistant junior-varsity Coach
Sheldon Shrum and volunteer Coach Tom
Batchellor.
	With eager players and coaches and a solid
foundation on which to build, the SRHS base-
ball and softball teams are sure to give us excit-
ing, successful seasons.




Barefoot Bay Over 60 Softball League

W. T. Shively Ins.      18        6
Barefoot Bay Lions      17        7
Hearndon Const.         17        7
Abbott Homes            10       14
First Union Bank         6       18
Citrus Bank              4       20
	   
	   Feb. 10

W. T. Shively Ins. 24
Hearndon Const. 12

Abbott Homes 16
First Union Bank 2


Barefoot Bay Lions 9
Citrus Bank 1

	W.T. Shively Ä Hits: Cliff
Gallant, 4; Bob Mazza (3HRs),
Steve Pupa (3HRs), 3; Bob Jensen,
Norm Lavoie (HR, dbl), Mike Me-
canko and Leo Ouellette, 2.
	Hearndon Const. Ä Hits:
Tom Hallowell, Bill Shields (HR),
Tom Lipton, 3; Ben Becker, Jim
Gangone, Rene Sigouin and Russ
Sullivan, 2.

	Abbott Homes Ä Hits: Joe
Sartori (HR, dbl), Chet Piorkowski,
(2dbls), Lew Smith (dbl), 4; Gene
Barry, Jack Brown (3dbls), Edgar St.
Yves, 3; Paul Preston, Dick Samu-
elson and Harvey Stevens, 2.
	First Union Bank Ä Hits:
Chip Colum, (dbl), Bill Schulz, 3;
Skip Biron, Len Matyka, 2.

	Barefoot Bay Lions Ä Hits:
Tony Maselli, 3; Stan Davies, Wayne
Dodge, Ralph Furino, Miles Oakley
(dbl), 2.
	Citrus Bank Ä Hits: Roger
DesJardins (HR), Jack Holbrook,
Pete Brodie, Tony Sanronociro and
George Watson, 2.

Feb. 12

First Union Bank 14
Citrus Bank 2

Barefoot Bay Lions 15
Hearndon Gonst. 9

W. T. Shively 9
Abbott Homes 7

	First Union Bank Ä Hits:
Amby Barry, Wally Barry, Skip Bi-
ron, Chip Collum (HR, dbl), Jack
Gunther (HRO, Gerald Kane (dbl),
Norm Levinsky, Len Matyka and
Dan McGuire (HR), 2.
       Citrus Bank Ä Hits: Jack Hol-
brook, 3; Bob Brodie (dbl), George
Watson (dbl).

	Barefoot Bay Lions Ä Hits:
Ralph Furino, Bob Hall (HR), 3;
Wayne Dodge, Ken King, Gene Nu-
nez, Mikes Oakley, 2; Lou Wehner
(HR).
	Hearndon Const. Ä Hits: Ben
Becker (dbl), Tom Hallowell, Tom
Lipton (HR), Bill Shields, 3; Omar
Deets, Rene Sigouin, 2; Ron Witt
(dbl).

	W.T. Shively Ins. Ä Hits:
Steve Pupa, 3; Cliff Gallant, Bob
Mazza (2HRs), 2; Norm Lavoie
(FIR).
	Abbott Homes Ä Hits: Pete
Brodie 3 (dbl); Gene Barry, (dbl),
Jack Brown (dbl), Edgar St. Yves,
Joe Sartori, 2; Chet Piorkowski
(HR).




Local golf


Sebastian Monday League

    Feb. 9, One Best Ball Of Front Nine, Two Best Balls
Of Back Nine. 
	Flight A (70 Handicap): Brian Clinton,
Bob Beebe, John Kellough and Nick Cerro, minus-21;
Dave Johns, Dick Spragg, Steve Beane and Norm Rose,
minus-18; Herb Beyea, Geo Beaton, Jack Potts and Jack
Falke, minus-18.
	Flight B (Handicap 71-85): Don Baker, Ed Snarski,
Lou Maglione and Joe Clark, minus-22; Dave Brown,
E. Richardson, E. Sausman and W. Neuman, minus-22;
Hank Thompson, John Thompson, Paul Gustafson and
Bud Mahoney, minus-21; Wally Trueblood, Ralph
Wood, Ray Merritt and Bob Voelker, minus-2 1.
	Flight C (Minimum Handicap 85): Art Murphy, Al
Cedroni, Harry Halbert and Roland Rocherte,
minus-26; Fred Bassler, Marian Bassler, Pete Stieler and
John Holleran, minus-22; John Burns, Ed Laboz, D.
Schremps and Francis Terry, minus-17.

Sebastian Men's Association

	Feb. 11, Two Man Quota.
	Handicap 16-29: Arthur
Maas and Joe Tatro, plus-9; Barry Baithaser and Ray
Tougas, plus-5; H. Thompson and John Thomas,
plus-3; Jack Potts and Jack Falke, plus-3.
	Handicap 30-39: Don Wright and Bill Smith,
plus-12; Ed Cantabene and draw, plus-11; Jack Valk
and Herb Brady, plus-lO; Joe Prokopiak and Don De-
Robertis, plus- 10.
	Handicap 40-49: John Ritz and Bill Shandor,
plus-iS; Bernie Cotton and draw, plus-11; Vinnie Kirk
and Mike Vukovich, plus-11; Vaul Gustafson and Bud
Mahoney, plus-10.
	Handicap 50-59: Joe Scanlan and John Holleran,
plus-7; Marvin Goldman and Harry Morgan, plus-6
Harry Cherry and Joe James, plus-5; Bill Fleming and
Ellis Jackson, plus-5.
	Pin Shots: Brian Clinton, No. 2; Steve Arienta, No.
5; Joe Prokopiak, No. 8; Ed Snarski, No. 11 and No.
12; John Thompson, No. 17.

Barefoot Bay 18-Hole Association

	Feb. 10, low gross, low net.
	Flight A Ä Low gross,
Susan Fields 74. Low net, Helen George 55, Linda
Keith 58, Marge Litzenberg 59.
	Flight B Ä Low gross, Carol Reynolds 79. Low net,
Vivian Richmond 56, Enid Jones 58, Peg Lester 58,
Ann Bullock 58, Pat Dunckiey 59, Grace Mathews 59.
	Flight C Ä Low gross, Betty Stockman 82. Low
net, Julie Gagliano 56, Edna Kohnen 56, Flo Magee 57,
Norma Beeson 57, Carol Stanwise 58, Sandy Flynn 58.
	Flight D Ä Low gross, Irene Berger 86. Low net,
Mina Cresta 53, Marcella Thomson 56, Ann Stapleton
57, Flo Stewart 57.




Obituaries


Margaret Corr

	Margaret Corr, 89, of Barefoot
Bay, died Feb. 8, 1998, at Sebastian
River Medical Center, Roseland,
after a brief illness.
	She was born Aug. 13, 1908, in
New York, N.Y., and moved to
Barefoot Bay four years ago from
Vernon, N.J.
	She was supervisor for 20 years
for the City of New York's Real Es-
tate Department and was a member
of Sr. Luke's Catholic Church, Bare-
foot Bay.
	Surviving are her son, Denis
Corr, of Barefoot Bay; six grandchil-
dren and five great- grandchildren.
	Mrs. Corr is being transferred to
Purra Funeral Home, Florida, N.Y.,
for services and burial in St. Stanis-
laus Cemetery, Pine Island, N.Y.
	Strunk Funeral Home, Sebas-
tian, is in charge of local arrange-
ments.


Lillian Weaver

	Lillian E. Weaver, 93, 498 Cor-
ton Ave., Sebastian, died unexpec-
redly Feb. 11, 1998, at her residence.
	She was born Aug. 3,1904, in
Petersburg, Mich., and moved to In-
dian River County in 1973 from To-
ledo, Ohio.
	Mrs. Weaver was a Methodist.
	Surviving are two daughters,
Patricia Borsos, of Toledo, and Do-
lors Lane, of Sebastian; five grand-
children; and two great-grandchil-
dren.
	There will be no services.
	Interment will be at Fountain-
head Memorial Park Cemetery, Palm
Bay.
	Fountainhead Funeral Home,
Palm Bay, is in charge of arrange-
ments.


Ralph Cardinale

	Ralph David Cardinale, 74, of
Sebastian, died Feb. 13, 1998, at his
home after an extended illness.
	He was born Jan. 15, 1924, in
Bronx, N.Y., and moved to Sebas-
tian in 1989 from Boynton Beach.
	Mr. Cardinale was a construction
foreman. He was a member of St.
Sebastian Catholic Church and a
U.S. Army veteran during World
War II. He was a former member of
the Italian-American Club.
	Surviving are his wife, Esther;
his son, Charles Cardinale, of Sebas-
tian; and a brother, Tony Cardinale
of New York.
	Friends may call 10-11:30 a.m.
Tuesday at Strunk Funeral Home in
Sebastian.
	A funeral Mass was held Feb. 17
at St. Sebastian Catholic Church in
Sebastian. Interment followed in Se-
bastian Cemetery. Strunk Funeral
Home, Sebastian, was in charge of
arrangements.
	In lieu of flowers, the family sug-
gests donations be made to the
American Cancer Society, North In-
dian River County Unit, P.O. Box
1749, Sebastian, Fla. 32958, in Mr.
Cardinale's memory.


Agnes Winne

	Agnes L. Winne, 77, of Barefoot
Bay, died unexpectedly Feb. 12,
1998, at Sebastian River Medical
Center, Roseland.
	She was born March 13, 1920,
in Walkers Mills, Pa., and moved to
Barefoot Bay three years ago from
Pittsfield, Mass.
	Mrs. Wine was the chief ac-
countant at Berkshire Community
College, Pittsfield. She was a mem-
ber of First Presbyterian Church,
Blairsyille, Pa. She was a graduate of
Hartwick College, Oneonta, N.Y.
She was a member of Veterans of
Foreign Wars Auxiliary, Ohio Club,
New England Club and Polish and
American Club, all of Barefoot Bay.
Surviving are her husband of 56
years, Frank; one son, Richard A.
Winne, of West Bloomfield, Mich.;
two daughters, Dr. Cynthia E.
Winne, of Readfield, Maine, and
Christine C. Karlsson, of New York
City; and four grandchildren.
	A memorial service was held
Feb. 16 at Strunk Funeral Home
Chapel, Sebastian, with the Rev. Dr.
Chris E. Zorn officiating.
	In lieu of flowers, the family sug-
gests donations be made to the
American Heart Association, North
Central Florida Area, 237 E. Marks
St., Orlando, Fla. 32803, in Mrs.
Winne's memory.


Margaret Donado

	Margaret Donado, 94, of West
Melbourne, died Feb. 15, 1998, at
West Melbourne Health Care after a
prolonged illness.
	She was born Feb. 28, 1903, in
Bronx, N.Y., and moved to Sebas-
tian in 1986 from Lantana.
	Mrs. Donado was executive sec-
retary for the managing director of
Stations Representatives Association
in New York for 20 years, was a
charter member of the Carle Ander-
son American Legion Auxiliary Post
No. 559, Harrison, N.Y., and was a
communicant of Sr. Sebastian Cath-
olic Church, Sebastian, and St. Gre-
gory The Great, in Harrison.
	Surviving are a daughter, Marga-
ret Lavoie, of Sebastian; a son, Al-
fred Donado, of Colts Neck, N.J.;
two sisters, Justina Crisriano and Ca-
therine Fay, both of Sebastian; seven
grandchildren, eight great-grandchil-
dren and three great-great-grandchil-
dren.
	Ar a later date, there will be a
memorial service at Sr. Sebastian
Catholic Church and a Mass at St.
Gregory The Great Church.
	Memorial contributions may be
made to the St. Sebastian Catholic
Church Building Fund, U.S. 1, Se-
bastian, Fla., 32958.
	Fountainhead Funeral Home,
Palm Bay, is in charge of arrange-
ments.


William Candlish

	William M. "Bill" Candlish, 74,
409 Macadamia Drive, Barefoot
Bay, died unexpectedly Feb. 7, 1998,
at Holmes Regional Medical Center,
Melbourne.
	He was born Oct. 13, 1923, in
Chicago, and moved to Brevard
County in 1982 from Palatine, Ill.
	Mr. Candlish attended Sr. Luke's
Catholic Church, Sebastian, and was
a veteran of World War II. He re-
ceived the Purple Heart and partici-
pated in the Battle of the Bulge.
	Surviving are his wife of 22 years,
Beatrice; a son, William M. Candlish,
Jr., of Mokena, Ill.; two daughters,
Carol Ann Mason, of New Lenox,
Ill., and Dorothy M. McNamera, of
Capron, Ill.; a stepdaughter, Lynne
Schroeder, of Franktown, Colo.; a
stepson, Mark Dittrich, of Stream-
wood, Ill.; four grandchildren; two
stepgrandchildren and one
great-grandchild.
	Services will be private.
	Memorial contributions may be
made to the Vision Retirement
Home, 1611 Elizabeth St., Mel-
bourne, Fla., 32901 in Mr. Cand-
lish's memory.
	East Coast Cremation, Mel-

bourne, was in charge of arrange-
ments.




END



Sebastian Sun Articles
a digital text archive   

The Sebastian Sun
February 27, 1998
c 1998 Treasure Coast Publishing Inc.

President: Darryl K. Hicks.
Executive Editor: Larry Reisman.
Editor: Louise Phillipine.
Advertising Manager: Debbie Vickers

(USPS)  The Sun is published weekly by Treasure Coast
Publishing Inc., a division of Scripps Howard Inc., 1801 U.S. 1,
Vero Beach, FL 32960. c 1997 Treasure Coast Publishing Inc.
All correspondence, including news copy, should be addressed
to 717 Coolidge St., Sebastian, FL 32958.  Phone: (561) 589-
6616; Fax: (561) 978-2386.  News deadline, 5 p.m., Friday.  All
display advertising should be addressed to 1801 U.S. 1, Vero
Beach, FL 32960.  Phone (561) 978-2383; Fax:(561) 978-2297.
Advertising deadline, 1 p.m., Monday.
    




FROM THE ARCHIVES


TOP STORY FROM A YEAR
AGO THIS WEEK: Area residents who
want to wash their cars after midnight
will have to find somewhere else to get
their cars clean after Sebastian City
Council set limits on a new car wash
proposed within the city limits.
	Council approved businessman Rod
Adamson's request for a special-use per-
mit to open a second car wash on the
east side of U.S. 1, across from
Wal-Mart.
	But council also stipulated that the
business be closed from 10 p.m. to 6
a.m.
	The requirement somewhat eased
the minds of nearby residents, who said
a 24-hour car wash would result in noise
late at night and the possibility of head-
lights beaming in their windows as they
tried to sleep.




CITIZEN OF THE DAY

	NAME:   Stanley Powell
	AGE: 73.
	OCCUPATION: Retired hoisting
engineer.
	BIRTHPLACE: Stoneham, Mass.
	MOVED HERE: June, 1988.
	COMMUNITY SERVICE: Member
of the Computer Club, Lawn Bowling
Club and Yacht Club, all of Barefoot
Bay.
	HOBBIES: Fishing and gardening.
	FAVORITE AUTHOR: Stephen
King.
	WHY I LIKE MY NEIGHBOR-
HOOD: I live in Barefoot Bay. I like ev-
erything, the neighbors, it's quiet. I'm
near a pool and the location is just
great.





WEEKEND PICKS

	Golfers will get a chance to tee off
for a good cause Feb. 28 when they
take part in the Sebastian River High
School's tournament to raise money for
the school's International Baccalaureate
Program.
	The tournament, which starts at 8
a.m., costs $60 per player and includes
a continential breakfast, lunch and
prizes.
	For more information, call
564-4362.




WHAT DID HE SAY?

"Yeah, I'm tired. I'm getting really
pooped. And I love it. If I'm capable, I'll
be back tomorrow. I may have to crawl,
though."
Ä Cindy Nagel

(Nagel, 73, and her 77-year-old hus-
band, Jerry Nagel, of Barefoot Bay,
made the comment as she used her
gloved fingers to stack fried oysters into
red-and-white paper containers at the
Grant Seafood Festival. This is the first
time the Nagels volunteered to help at
the annual festival.)





Sebastian River Medical Center 
runs on strength of volunteers
By DREW DIXON
Of The Sun

	They dart from one department at Se-
bastian River Medical Center to the next,
tending the needs of ailing patients.
	Clad in yellow smocks, the workers are
determined to provide as much assistance
to the hospital staff as possible. But what
many people don't know is, the person
taking them to the X-ray department or to
see a doctor is a volunteer.
	The SRMC Auxiliary now boasts a
membership of 183 people from around
the Sebastian area who want to help out at
the hospital.
	"I enjoy it," said Maryellen Snodgrass,
the president of the auxiliary. "I work with
the patients a lot and make sure we have a
fill crew."
	Working with the patients means ar-
riving at the hospital during a shift, usually
about four hours long, and going to an as-
signed department. The auxiliary volun-
teers often arrive at the lounge provided
for them in the hospital where calls come
in from different departments.
	Then a volunteer dispatches another to
the department seeking assistance. The
help the volunteers provide can range from
simply talking to a patient or family mem-
ber to transporting a patient from a hospi-
tal room to the X-ray room, for example.


Photo Caption
Raul Gibot wheels a patient into the cardiac services 
department of Sebastian River Medical Center. Volunteers 
perform many duties, including working in the gift store, 
informational booth and helping in the emergency room.


	"I love to visit," said auxiliary volun-
teer Richard Dirtmann, who is the vice
president of the group. "I work in the sur-
gical waiting room. The family, husbands
and wives (of patients), I talk to them
while they're in there. Just helping people
like that," he said.
	Dirtmann, who came to Roseland in
1992 from the suburbs of Buffalo, N.Y.,
started volunteering at a hospital in New
York after he recovered from Gillian Barre
Syndrome in 1976.
	"I figured the good Lord was so good
to me and made me recover that I just felt
I wanted to help people," Dittmann said.
	After moving to Roseland, he decided
to continue his volunteer work by joining
the SRMC Auxiliary. Soon, his wife, He-
len, joined him as a hospital volunteer. 
	Mrs. Dittmann works in the auxiliary
gift shop, The shop is run solely by the
volunteers and raises about $40,000 for
the auxiliary. The group uses the money to
donate to scholarships for local students
and for various local charities.
	"We have a real nice gift shop. I just
thought it would be something nice to do
and I would enjoy doing it. I meet a lot of
nice people," Mrs. Dittmann said.
	Most of the auxiliary volunteers are re-
tirees, Snodgrass said. Being a volunteer at
the hospital gives most of the members
something to do and a sense of worth.
	While the volunteer work is rewarding
for many of the auxiliary members, their
service is of real value to the operations of
the hospital, said Daisy Knowles, SRMC
director of public relations and auxiliary
liaison.
	"They're very valuable. We would not
be able to provide our services if it were
not for the volunteers," Knowles said. "It
takes the work load off our regular staff."
	The auxiliary provides help to the hos-
pital and meaning to the retirees who par-
ticipate.
	"There're an awful lot of people
looking for things to do and a hospital is a
wonderful place to work," Knowles said.
	"They work in almost every depart-
ment in the hospital. The patients know
the volunteers. I think it's good to have
(patients) have a volunteer and they're
glad to see a friendly face.
	"They work very hard and they give a lot of
their time to the patients," Knowles said.
	The word "work" is used often when describ-
ing the efforts the volunteers put into the hospital.
Not only does the hospital staff appreciate the
work, but the volunteers themselves take their du-
ties very seriously.
	Snodgrass is responsible for organizing the
schedule for the auxiliary. There can be as many
as 25 volunteers in the hospital at any given time.
	So, that means there must be strict adherence
to schedules. Snodgrass said if someone can't
make their time, they must find a substitute.
	"It's more structured than I really expected,'
Snodgrass said of her experience when she first
joined the auxiliary about 10 years ago. "You have
a schedule and you have to go by it. It's really like
a paid job that's not being paid.
	"When they come in and interview, they're
told exactly what's expected and that's when they
know" what is involved and if the work is right
for them, Snodgrass said.
	Once on the auxiliary crew, volunteers must
buy their uniform, a yellow smock that costs
about $20, Snodgrass said. There are some perks
for the volunteers. The hospital puts on two ap-
preciation parties for the auxiliary each year and
they are given turkeys for Christmas as a token of
appreciation.
	But just giving back to the community is the
real motivation for the volunteers in the auxiliary.
	"Everyone should volunteer. When I came
here, I just loved Sebastian. I wanted to give
back," Snodgrass said.
	Anyone interested in joining the SRMC Aux-
iliary can call the hospital at 589-3186.




Murder served as course at dinner theater
By DREW DIXON
Of The Sun

	A whodunnit is in store for spectators
when the Sebastian River High School
drama department takes to a somewhat
unusual stage Feb. 27 that features dinner,
death and a bit of detective work from the
audience.
	"Three Doors to Death" will be the
main course at the murder-mystery dinner
theater, featuring a 10-member student
cast, that begins at 6 p.m. at the school
cafeteria.
	"It will be about a two-hour evening
and the audience will have a chance to
choose who has done the killing," said
Pam Rochowiak, SRHS drama director.
	The performance is more like a game
of Clue, where the characters will actually
mingle with the audience as they dine on a
barbecue buffet. Then the cast of charac-
ters will perform on an L-shaped stage,
with the audience surrounding both sides
of the performance area.
	The story line involves a fictional
drama troupe rehearsing for a play. Even-
tually, one of the fictional actors is mur-
dered. The question is Ä which fictional
actor did the killing?
	To help guide the audience through
the myriad of scenarios of possible suspects
is the character Detective Woolrich, played
by 16-year SRHS junior Mike Wong. His
character is one of the few that isn't a pos-
sible suspect.
	"I love it, the audience interaction.
There are times you do the play and times
when you're messing around with the au-
dience," Wong said.


Photo Caption
Mike Wong, left, who plays Detective Woolrich, and Staci 
Cimino, who plays Phyllis Love, rehearse for the dinner-
theater performance of Three Doors to Death." The interactive 
play takes place at Sebastian River High School Feb. 27.
	
	
	It's the third dinner theater perfor-
mance for Wong at SRHS, and it's a for-
mat with which he's become familiar.
	"For some (actors), it's a challenge.
But I kind of have a natural flare for going
nuts and making a fool of myself and the
audience enjoys it," Wong said.
	Staci Cimino, a 17-year-old SRHS
junior, has never performed in a dinner
theater before, although she's helped with
set design and support. She's playing one
of the possible suspects, the fictional ac-
tress Phyllis Love.
	"It's fun because the audience can get
involved instead of just watching us," Ci-
mino said.
	The format of dinner theater is less
tense for Cimino, as opposed to a con-
trolled stage perfbrmance. "It's easier.
Maybe because they (the audience) are not
staring at you all the time," she said.
	The atmosphere is more relaxed than
that of a more regimented stage perfor-
mance, the actors said.
	The characters, before the heart
of the play sets in, mingle with the
audience. They walk up to tables and
talk to audience members who ask
questions of the characters, hoping
to find some clue as to who may be
the one who committed the murder.
	The free-form mingling allows
more opportunities to be creative,
said Ron Gehrke, a 17-year-old se-
nior who is taking part in his third
dinner theater. He's playing the "ac-
tor extraordinaire," Paul Westefield.
	"It's a lot of fun and you get to
do a lot of improv that you wouldn't
get to do on the stage. You get to
have fun with it," Gehrke said.
	While the actors in character mix
it up with the audience, they are
aware that some of the audience
members can show no mercy when it
comes to asking a question of a char-
acter.
	"I have to say it is the audience
that you can have fun with. But
they're always trying to catch you off-
guard to find out who the mur-
derer is. But you have to play off of
that," Gehrke said.
	With the impromptu conversa-
tion in character, Gehrke said, an ac-
tor must stay focused on his charac-
ter because the interaction with the
audience can cause a loss of concen-
tration for an actor.
	"It can because somebody can
say something that's totally unex-
pected. That's when you just have to
move on," he said.
	Bringing the production under
control is a challenge that Rocho-
wiak welcomes.
	"I enjoy directing because it's like
a game of move or counter-move.
It's dramatic chess. You move one
character and you have to balance
that," she said.
	But the learning experience for
her students is the most important
element of the dinner theater for Ro-
chowiak. It might seem intimidating
for students to ad lib lines while in-
teracting with an audience, but Ro-
chowiak said her students can handle
it.
	"I've worked with commu-
nity-theater groups and I don't see
any difference between students who
are 17 and 18 and adults who are 37
and 38. I'm very, very pleased. We
have more talent than we have been
able to use," Rochowiak said.
	Tickets for the SRHS murder
mystery dinner theater are $10 each
and the price includes the perfor-
mance and the meal. There are only
150 tickets available and those inter-
ested are advised to call 564-4174
for more information. All the pro-
ceeds go to the SRHS Drama De-
partment.




Shop arranged to satisfy customers' tastes
By DREW DIXON
Of The Sun


Photo Caption
Jo Ann Robbins says silk flower arrangements allows her to be 
more creative at Floral Expressions & Gifts of Florida in 
Wabasso. The store also features name-brand clothes that 
Robbins says attracts younger customers.


	The owners of a new shop in
Wabasso are hoping a mix of silk
flower arrangements and the hippest
clothes on the market provide a per-
fect fit for a good business.
	Floral Expressions & Gifts of
Florida, 8789 U.S. 1, offers custom
silk-flower orders and a selection of
some of the premier name-brand
clothes, including Nike, Tommy Hil-
figer, Fila and Fubu.
	"I always wanted to use my cre-
ativity. So, silks were on my mind,"
said Jo Ann Robbins, who co-owns
the shop with Ralph Newbert.
	While silk flowers are the crea-
tive element that draws many to the
store, it's the fashionable clothes that
bring many of the younger custom-
ers
	"I have two children and I've
been trying to keep them in
name-brand clothes. So, I go to a
distributor in Long Island," N.Y.,
she said.
	That's where Robbins buys all
her clothes at wholesale prices and
then she turns around and sells them
at lower prices than other stores in
the area.
	"I was looking at the parents
who wanted to dress their kids the
way they wanted to dress but
couldn't afford to go to the mall. It's
really important to kids," she said.
	Since the store opened Jan. 21,
business has been good, Robbins
said.
	"The more the word is getting
out about the name-brands, the
more people are coming in."
	The combination of a clothing
and silk floral store is unique, she
said.
	"It's different, but it balances
out. I have one day where I sell
nothing but silk and then one day
where I sell nothing but Tommy or
Nike.
	"I do see some pretty shocked
faces when people come in for the
designer clothes and see all the silks,"
she said, noting the silk floral ar-
rangements line the perimeter of the
shop while the designer clothes are
on display toward the front of the
business. There are also designer
watches available, with some select
offerings of jewelry.
	This is Robbins' first foray into
running a small business. She used to
be a manager of a federal Head Start
program in Maine, which is subsi-
dized day care for the underprivi-
leged, before she moved to Sebastian
three years ago. She was picking fruit un-
til she opened the shop last month.
	She likes the small-business envi-
ronment.
	"I'm not having a problem with
it at all. We're lucky that we have a
small overhead with only rent and
utilities. Everything else we own,"
Robbins said.
	The concept of the shop actually
comes from Robbins' brother, who
has a similar shop in Belfast, Maine.
"I've always wanted to do something
like this.
	"If it works out, fine. If it
doesn't, it's not going to be the end
of the world," she said.
	Floral Expressions & Gifts of
Florida is open Monday, Tuesday,
Thursday and Saturday from 10 a.m.
to 5 p.m. Wednesday, the shop is
open only until 4 p.m. so Robbins
can spend time with her 13-year-old
daughter and 17-year-old son who
are both out of school early that day
with the rest of students in Indian
River County. Friday the shop is
open until6 p.m.




Higgins returns to Barefoot Bay board
By DREW DIXON
Of The Sun
	Paula Higgins has come back for
a second round of politically
charged participation on the Bare-
foot Bay Homeowners Association
Executive Board.
	Higgins, who first was a member
of the board in 1982, was re-elected
to the 16-member panel by the gen-
eral membership in January after a
hiatus of about 15 years.
	"I thought it was time to do it
again because things seem to be a
little muddled around here and I
thought I could help out," she said.
Higgins is now the first vice presi-
dent of the Executive Board.
	When Higgins and her husband,
Richard, moved to Barefoot Bay 24
years ago, there were only about
300 residents in the community.
	An increased population has
brought a more complicated envi-
ronment in dealing with the com-
munity's needs, Higgins said.
	"The thing that I have noticed is
that we have grown and people
have become less friendly. It's like
living in the city. The politics have
changed from time to time," she
said.


Photo Caption
Paula Higgins said she likes being involved in various 
projects and organizations in Barefoot Bay.


	The hot political potato being
tossed around Barefoot Bay is the
dispute over whether to keep the
recreational facilities private. Some
members of the Barefoot Bay Rec-
reation District have proposed
opening the facilities to the public.
	It's a move, Higgins said, that
will be adamantly opposed.
	"That bothers me the most. We
were always told it would be pri-
vate. We've been lied to by govern-
ment officials and by our own peo-
ple. A lot of people feel exactly as I
do.
	"There's a lot of things we can
do. We're going to try and see if we
can't get to square one, where every-
thing was private," she said.
	The facilities, and private access
to them, were always part of the
reason Higgins said she enjoyed
Barefoot Bay so much. It's why she
and her husband decided to retire at
the community more than two dec-
ades ago.
	"The one thing we liked is that
you can own your own home and
the facilities were good and there's a
lot more now," she said.
	She felt a calling last October to
re-enter the Barefoot Bay political
scene because she said she cares so
much about the community. "I
have had some disappointments but
I like it here. I still enjoy the people
as much as I always have."
	When she's not tending to the
business of the Executive Board,
Higgins remains active in several
groups. She's a member of the exec-
utive committee for the Brevard
County Republican Party and ac-
tively campaigns for local and fed-
eral candidates.
	But, she said, it's not an activity
she participates in just to tow the
party line. She said she has to be-
lieve in a candidate. "I don't vote
straight Republican;" she said.
	She's also a member of the Ma-
son Dixon, Illinois, Irish-American,
Homemakers and VFW Auxiliary
clubs in Barefoot Bay. She and her
husband also square dance and enjoy
excursions in eir recreational vehi-
cle.
	Higgins likes to be involved.
	"I've never been a person to sit
back and let someone else do it. I've
always moved fotward. When I see
something that isn't right, I want to
get in there and make it right," she
said.
	Birthdate: Aug. 13, 1923.
	Birthplace: East St. Louis, Ill.
	Education: Graduate of East St.
Louis Senior High School.
	Family: Husband, Richard, of
26 years; Son, Theodore John Dunn;
Daughter Carlyjane Watson ; Seven
grandsons; Four granddaughters;
Three great-grandsons and four
great-granddaughters.
	The best part of my job is:
Working with people.
	What I like the least about my
job is: People who complain about
something that doesn't amount to
anything.
	The person I admire the most
is: My late father, John Elmer Par-
ker.
	The most recent movie I saw
in a theater was: "Silence of the
Lambs."
	The book I'd recommend ev-
eryone to read is: "Book of Vir-
tues," by William Bennett, former
U.S. Secretary of Education under
the Reagan and Bush administra-
tions.
	My favorite food is: Hot ta-
males and chili.
	If I were going on a trip to the
moon, I would take along: My hus-
band.
	When I was growing up, I al-
ways wanted to be: A U.S. Marine.
	The person I would most like
to meet is: William Bennett.
	My proudest moment is: When
my son became a lieutenant in the
U.S. Marines.
	My favorite sports team is: The
Washington Redskins.
	My favorite television show is:
"Law and Order."
	On my last vacation, I visited:
Disney World.
	The first thing I do when I
wake up in the morning is: Brush
my teeth.
	The type of music I enjoy the
most is: Big band.
	If I could do something over
again, I'd: Get a better education.
	People who know me the best
know: That I'm friendly.
	The most exciting time in my
life was: When I met Princess Mar-
garet of England in London in 1967.




Theater group creates special bond between members
By DREW DIXON
Of The Sun

	The Barefoot Bay Little Theater
Group is acting more as an organiza-
tion that helps build the character of
its members than just a club, say
people who belong to the group.
	"People we're getting on stage
thought that they would never in a
million years get on stage," said
Marge McGarrigle, director of the
group and a member for about 10
years.
	The group has about 50 mem-
bers who live in Barefoot Bay. Mem-
bers meet the last Tuesday of each
month at 7 p.m. at Building A in the
Community Center and talk about
issues in theater and in their club.
	But the biggest motivation for
the club is the single production it
creates each year.
	It's a variety show and this year's
show is "This and That and The
Way It Was." The production will be
held at 7:30 p.m. March 2-5 in
Building A and tickets are $4 for
Barefoot Bay residents and their
guests.
	McGarrigle said the production
is a portrayal of World War Il-era
memories and reminiscings.
	"We call it our best of times,"
McGarrigle said.
	Having a good time is the point
behind the club.
	"We learn a lot about theater.
We're amateurs, but it's fun," said
Shirley Borst, who, along with her
husband, Vincent, is a member of
the Little Theater Group.
	The group gives Mrs. Borst a
sense of purpose and she said the
planning of the variety show begins
long before the performance. "They
start (planning) usually in Septem-
ber. They're trying to pick a theme
for the show. We try to put in a little
play and comedy skits," she said.
	Working that long on a produc-
tion builds a special bond between
the club members.
	"It's a nice feeling. It's a lot of
fun. You share an awful lot during
the time you're rehearsing and on
stage," Mrs. Borst said.
	Her husband agreed. "I think it's
a community feeling. It's a bunch of
residents who don't mind sacrificing
a little bit to bring a little comedy to
the community," Borst said.
	While the members are ama-
teurs, that doesn't mean they don't
take the production and club seri-
ously.
	"They work hard and put in a lot
of practice time and it all comes to-
gether at show time. What we want
to do is entertain those who come to
watch. We want to give them a nice
night out. That's our main objec-
rive," Borst said.
	The effort to bring the show to-
gether brings an element of worth to
the members, Borst said. "I think ev-
erybody's excited at the beginning
and everybody's involved. They want
to be involved in some part.
	"You have to rely on each other
when it comes to learning our lines.
It brings us together as a group be-
cause when you're up on stage, it's
just you and your friends up there,"
he said.
	That sense of support may be the
real hit of the show, McGarrigle
said. "That combined effort, I think
it's a great self-esteem builder.
	"We are amateurs and we're not
trying to imitate professionals. We're
just trying to do the best we can. It's
a sort of camaraderie," she said.
	The rapport between the club
members is so intense, that when the
production is over, the sense of ac-
complishment is anti-climactic,
McGarrigle said.
	"When it's over, it's kind of a let
down because we've been working
so hard. We have a cast party and we
more or less keep in touch after
that," she said.
	There are the remaining monthly
meetings through May and then the
club goes into hiatus until the fol-
lowing September and the plans for
the next show begin all over again.
Anyone interested in getting
involved in the Barefoot Bay Little
Theater Group can call 664-1259.
Club dues are $5 a year.


Photo Caption
Bob Hoffmann, front, and Dick Swart paint one of the scenes 
for "This and That and the Way It Was."




Part-time Sebastian resident devoted life to sons, art
By Margaret Miquelon

	This is a love story, an adventure
story and a history all in one.
	It is the story of Margaret Kate
Broxton Johnston, who was born in
1909 in Shrevesbury, England, and
Randolph Wardell Johnston, a sculp-
tor who became famous with his
work in bronze.
	It was love at first sight for the
couple when they first met at an art
gallery. They married and lived in an
old farmhouse while Ran taught art
at Smith College in Northampton,
Mass. An Indian he made of bronze
(3/4 life-size) still stands at Amherst
College in Massachusetts.
	Margaret studied art and since
there were seven Margarets in the
class, the teacher gave each one a dif-
ferent name. Margot was the name
given to our Margaret and Margot it
has been all her life. While Ran
worked mostly in bronze, Margot
worked in clay, cloisonne (enamel on
copper) and bronze washing, but
raising their three sons was her
all-consuming job.
	In 1951, they visited the Baha-
mas and fell in love with the Abaco
Islands. They sailed there and went
to the Crown's Land Office to make
formal application to buy several
acres on Abaco. They started build-
ing on the Island of Little Harbor,
where they had bought the land all
around the harbor. While they were
building, they tried living in a cave
on the island, but the bats frightened
the boys and Margot.
	Margot developed polio. They
took her to the hospital in Nassau,
where she stayed for a month. She
couldn't move her head or legs. The
doctors sent her back to Abaco to
live in the gentle climate in the sun-
shine, with prescribed sea bathing.


Photo Caption
Margaret Johnston splits time between Sebastian and the 
Bahamas.


They bought "The Langosta," a
two-masted schooner, did some re-
modeling of the deck house and
lived on it for two years while their
house was built.
	Slowly, Margot got better. The
boys, Bill, Paul and Peter, were pio-
neers in what we now call "home
schooling." Their courses were corre-
spondence courses and they were so
well-educated that today, Bill is a
mechanical and electrical engineer,
Paul has part of a publishing firm
and is an author, and Peter makes
trophies for sailing regattas, sculpts
sea creatures out of bronze and
makes gold jewelry that he sells from
his shop in Little Harbor.
	Bob and Peg Bigham of Park
Place have one of his trophies from a
race they won when they had their
big sailboat.
	Margot recovered from polio
and the family settled into the house
they built on Little Harbor. Their
house sets on the crest of a ridge
with the view of the ocean on one
side and Little Harbor on the other.
The northern Bahamas Islands are
not flat, but quite hilly. They built
their house out of limestone.
Crushed conch shells made the mor-
tar and they used rocks for walls. It
was such a sturdy house that when
Hurricane Betsy stayed in the area
for three days with 175-mph winds,
it still stood.
	After the hurricane passed, they
became beachcombers, and found
fishermen's glass balls that had
floated in from Africa.
	Gradually, the Johnstons got
back to a normal way of living. They
built two galleries for Margo and
Ran's work and they both got back
into molding and sculpting. Boats
anchored in Little Harbor and the
tourists were thrilled to find such art
there. People gave them commis-
sions and word-of-mouth brought
many customers to their door.
	Polio returned to Margot in
weakened leg muscles. Their dream
house, the house on the hill, became
increasingly hard for her to leave, for
the steps became too difficult. Then
Ran died in 1992. So Margot came
to Sebastian to live part of the time
with her great-niece, Kay Owens.
	She arrived using a cane and
after breaking her pelvis, was forced
to use a walker. But her bright mind
and interest in everything has seen
her through some rough times. She
has to return to Abaco every six
months, and son Bill, who pilots his
company plane, comes to get her
and bring her back.
	Margot now lives in a small
apartment that Kay and her late
husband built on the back of their
house. She is an avid reader and has
collections of her work as well as a
collection of cats.
	She travels as much as she can,
trying to take at least one big trip
every year. She returns to England
often to see relatives. She loves the
ballet, plays and theaters.
	Margot Johnston is a charming,
interesting lady who impresses you
with the fact that even a wheelchair
or age can't stop her from living life
to the fullest. She intends to keep
on going "Here & There."




Sebastian man has love affair with music
JERRY MEKLER
For The Sun


Photo Caption
Billy Mure, guitarist and sometimes vocalist for Parke 
Frankenfield's band, enjoys playing a banjo given to him by 
the late Arthur Godfrey, musician and variety-show host. Mure 
often plays and practices at his Sebastian home.


	At the age of 82, most people re-
tire or surely take it a little easier.
	Not true with Billy Mure.
	If you listen to him carefully, you
hear the voice of a young man with
big dreams and ambitions still ahead
of him.
	With a sparkle in his eyes and a
voice as clear as a teen-ager, Mute
recalls his 77-year-love affair with
music, beginning with his violin les-
sons at the age of 5, to his current
stint (for the past seven years) as the
guitarist and sometime vocalist with
Parke Frankenfield's popular band
here in Indian River County.
	From Broadway's Tin Pan Alley
to Capt. Hiram's restaurant is a pre-
tty long journey, but for Billy and
his wife of 57 years, Eileen, it has
been a voyage of success, fame and
joy all the way.
	Mure, who moved to Sebastian a
year ago from Barefoot Bay, and
whose given name, coincidentally, is
Sebastian, has had an versatile career.
	He appeared on a number of hit
network radio and television shows;
he conducted his own orchestra; he
wrote more than 50 original songs;
he played in the bands for two big
Broadway shows, "Hello Dolly,"
with Carol Channing, and "Sugar
Babies" with Mickey Rooney; he
composed dozens of jingles for com-
mercials; he wrote the musical
themes for two motion pictures; and
he arranged the music and was ac-
companist to some of the top singers
of the day.
	But that's just an appetizer. A
few years ago, he wrote a musical re-
view "Jennifer and Johnny," writing
28 songs. It was performed twice in
the area as a showcase and he thinks
its good enough to be on Broadway.
	A few short years after he began
taking violin lessons, Mure switched
to the guitar and that became his in-
strument of choice.
	A native of the Bronx in New
York, Mute attended schools there
and for a short while, went to City
College in New York. But his love of
music won out over academics, and
Billy, at 21, during the height of the
Depression, started pounding the
beat in search of a job.
	He got a couple of small assign-
ments in that period, but it wasn't
until he joined Isham Jones' jazz
band in 1935 that his career began
to blossom. With appearances in
many New York hotels and a num-
ber of radio shows, Mure was get-
ting to be one of the better-known
guitarists of his day.
	His versatility came to the atten-
don of the band leader, Glenn
Miller, who then was an officer in
the U.S. Air Force. In 1943, at Mill-
er's request, Mute was inducted into
the Air Force as a special-services
soldier and for three years, enter-
tained the troops on an Air Force
base in Greensboro, NC.
	Following his discharge, Mure
went back to New York and soon
landed a job as a house musician
with WNEW, a popular radio sta-
tion of the day. This was followed by
successive jobs with studio bands for
ABC and NBC. To complete the tri-
logy, Billy auditioned for and was of-
fered a spot with the Archie Blier or-
chestra on the CBS Arthur Godfrey
radio show, where he remained for
eight years. To this day, he cherishes
a banjo Godfrey gave him.
	It was in the rock-and-roll era of
the `50s and `60s that Mute's career
really took off. He began getting rec-
ognized as a top arranger and subse-
quently worked for such top stars as
Paul Anka, Tony Bennett, Johnny
Mathis and Della Reese.
	Mute's versatility as a composer
and recording artist was also demon-
strated at that time with the release
of a series of records on guitar in-
strumentals called, "Billy Mure's Su-
personic Guitars."
	Mure wrote and recorded more
than 50 songs, some performed by
stars such as Cab Calloway, Robert
Goulet and Sammy Davis Jr.
	He says he doesn't regret a mo-
ment of his life, and feels that with
his work with Frankenfield, he has
entered another phase of his career.




Local briefs


British to hold
pub night March 10

	March 10 is pub night for mem-
bers and guests of the British Heri-
tage Club, starting at 6 p.m. Fish
and chips are on the menu. Bev and
the Pearlies will entertain in building
D&E, Barefoot Bay Golf Course.
	Tickets are $6 for members; $8
for guests. Keep your ticket for ad-
mission to Scottish Night in April.
For tickets, call 664-3947; all other
information, 664-1390.


Women's groups
hold installation

	On Jan. 24, the General Feder-
ation of Women's Clubs Interna-
tional, Sebastian River Junior Wom-
en's Club, held its annual installation
dinner for its 1998 officers. Teddy
Hulse, past president and junior di-
rector of the Florida Federation of
Women's Clubs, conducted the in-
stallation. Also in attendance were
FFWC Junior Corresponding Secre-
tary Meribeth Ihnen and FFWC Ju-
nior State Chaplain Sharon Swartz.
	Incoming officers are: Anne
Richter, president; Justine Stein, first
vice president; Lynn Aibury, second
vice president; Judy MacLeod, trea-
surer; Shirley Wolstenholme, record-
ing secretary; Elana Messersmith,
corresponding secretary; and Carol
Stocker, parliamentarian.


Health fair organized
at senior center

	The Sebastian Senior Center,
815 Davis Sr., will hold a health fair
8-11 a.m. March 19. Providers in-
clude Sebastian River Medical Cen-
ter, Monnett Eye Center, Medicine
Shoppe, Doctors' Clinic, Indian
River County Council on Aging,
Browning's Medical Supply, Lifeline,
Sebastian Home Care, Dr. Michael
Venazio, HealthSouth Rehab,
American Heart Association, Bel-
tone, American Cancer Society, Drs.
Robert Tinsley, Charles Bloom,
John Davidson and Judith Hall and
the American Cancer Society.
	The following testing will be
available: EKGs, chem/profile, PSA,
vision and glaucoma, hearing, foot
exams, blood sugar, carotid artery
and blood pressure.
	Aiso available will be informa-
tion on such things as medical equip-
ment and medical cards.
	Anyone over 18 may participate.
There will be a small charge for
EKG's, chem profiles and PSA's.


Catamaran group
to sail in March

	The Indian River Catamaran As-
sociation will be holding two days of
catamaran sailing, racing and fun
March 7-8, at the Sebastian Inlet
State Park.
	IRCA is a no-dues club devoted
to preserving the sport and art of
sailing caramarans.
	The club, along with Fleet 45 of
Cocoa and Fleet 127 of Fort Pierce,
will race Saturday and Sunday start-
ing at noon, with the days ending at
sunset. On Saturday, IRCA will hold
its monthly "Twice Around the Bay
Regatta" and on Sunday, Fleet 45
will hold an interfleet regatta among
the three clubs.
	There will be no entry fees for
the two regattas, with prizes for the
winners of each day of racing.
	Spectator viewing will be from
the sandy point overlooking the bay
where the sailing will take place.
	IRCA was formed two years ago
by Chris Runge in an effort to rekin-
dle sailing in the area, preserve beach
access for sailors and to have fun.
	IRCA meets the first Saturday of
each month at Sebastian Inlet State
Park, south side, west end on the
sandy point. Just look for the flag
pole and all the sails. All catamaran
sailors are welcome.
	The club is a benefactor to the
Environmental Learning Center in
Wabasso, helping fund its goal of ed-
ucating the public about the Indian
River lagoon, the body of water
from which the club takes it name.
	For information on the club,
IRCA maintains a web page that can
be seen at http://members.aol.com/
Sailmstrl/index.html.
	For more information on the
March sailing, call Runge at
569-3819.


Rochester group
plans picnic

	The annual picnic for former res-
idents of Rochester, N.Y., will be
held March 21 from 10 a.m. to 3
p.m. at the Wickham Park main pa-
vilion, Melbourne.
	Tickets are $4 in advance, $5 at
door and includes white hots.
	For information, send a self-ad-
dressed, stamped envelope to Nancy
O'Hara, 1309 Rila St., S.E. Palm
Bay, Fla. 32909 or Mary Lou Bo,
3101 River Villa Way, Melbourne
Beach, Fla. 32951 or call her at
(407) 729-8046.


Aroostook picnic
set for March 14

	The seventh annual East Coast
Aroostook picnic will be held at the
Methodist Church Fellowship Hall
on Main Street in Sebastian March
14.
	Registration is 10 a.m. to noon.
Those attending are to bring bag
lunches.
	For more information, call
38a-9604, 388-1$41, 664-1904.


County spelling bee
changed to March 19

	The date for the Indian River
County Spelling Bee has been
changed from March 26 to March
19 because of a scheduling conflict
between schools.
	The bee will be held at 7 p.m. at
the Freshman Learning Center. A
written test will be given earlier that
day.
	The bee, sponsored by the Press
Journal, is for public, private and
home-schooled students in fourth to
eighth grades. The winner will go
straight to the Scripps Howard Na-
tional Spelling Bee in Washington,
D.C.
	The Press Journal will pay the
$500 registration fee for the national
bee, as well as pay for the trip and
lodging in Washington, valued at
$1,500, for the winner and a guard-
ian. The winner receives $500 in
spending money, a trophy and a do-
nated $100 savings bond and a dic-
tionary from Webster's.
	The national bee is scheduled for
May 27 and 28.




U.S. agencies combine health-care efforts
By Richard Higgins

	The big boys in Washington
D.C., have finally done it.
	As many veterans have suggested
in the past, duplication in pre- and
post-retirement physicals should be
eliminated. An executive council of
senior Veterans Affairs and Depart-
ment of Defense health-care officials
is to find ways the health-care sys-
tems can work together, proposing
and conducting joint research pro-
jects and reducing or eliminating
0verlap in the services each depart-
ment provides.
	Joint exit physicals for service
members who are returning to civili-
an life will be a first step. Up to
now, the Defense Department con-
ducted an exit physical before separa-
tion and the VA conducted another
physical afterward. The VA's re-
quirements are now incorporated
into Defense Department exit physi-
cals. Also, the VA is conducting
physicals for separating service mem-
bers filing claims with the depart-
ment before the person leaves his
service. The executive council is
working on the following initiatives:
	* Gulf-war illnesses.
	* Sharing VA's spinal-cord in-
ury, blindness, amputation and trau-
rnatic brain-injury centers and the
Defense Department's burn units.
	* Compatible, computer-based
patient records to ensure a smooth
transfer of information between the
Defense Department's health-care
system and the VA's.
	* Sharing existing automation
and technological products.
	* Collaborating in the ongoing
and future development of medical
automation and technology.
	* Joint clinical practice
guidelines for disease treatment.
	* Collaborating in or combin-
ing laboratory and pathology pro-
grams.
	It remains to be seen whether the
two-agency combined committee
will result in designing another
camel or will actually improve veter-
ans' health care.
	Veterans who are retired mem-
bers of the armed forces recently re-
ceived information concerning the
DeltaSelectUSA Tricare Dental Pro-
gram from the Defense Department.
	The plan is not government sub-
sidized, but it is underwritten by
Delta Dental of California. Retirees,
their family members and survivors
are eligible to enroll. The plan will
provide group dental coverage for
retired service beneficiaries. These
veterans also have available to them
alternate plans sponsored by major
service-oriented veterans groups.
Some of these plans offer more bene-
fits than the government plan and
may be preferable. Close scrutiny is
in order.
	The South Mainland shuttle pro-
ject is nearing the end of another
milestone. A second driver-training
class will be held at the South Main-
land Library March 9. Class will start
at 12:30 p.m. and last until 4:30
p.m. Drivers are required to com-
plete this training prior to actually
driving the shuttle van. A few drivers
attending the first class found it nec-
essary to leave the classroom before
its end. They are required to reattend
the second class to be qualified.
	Space Coast Area Transit, the re-
sponsible Brevard County agency,
recently sent scheduling letters to
those volunteers whose applications
have been processed. Those not re-
ceiving letters should call Space
Coast at 952-4561.
	If you are a retired armed-forces
veteran, you will be interested to
know that congressional House Bill
HR 1766, a bill to restore
health-care equity to military retirees
older than 65, now has 102 cospon-
sors. This increase in support is cred-
ited to The Military Coalition's let-
ter-writing campaign to acquaint
congressmen with the need to make
a beginning on correcting this injus-
tice. The Senate companion bill,
S 1334, has 30 senators signed on as
cosponsors.
	These bills would authorize a test
program enrolling certain military
retirees into the same benefits pro-
gram used by all other federal re-
tirees; members of Congress and
their staff members and Civil Service
annuitants.
	The Prisoner of War/Missing in
Action flag is now required to be
flown on certain days at certain fed-
eral buildings. The requirement was
included in Section 1082 of the
1998 Defense Authorization Act.
	Buildings at which POW/MIA
flag flying should be seen are: mili-
tary installations, VA medical instal-
lations and U.S. Postal Service of-
fices. At VA medical facilities, the
flag is required to bc flown any day
that the US. flag is displayed.
	Designated dates are Armed
Forces Day (third Saturday in May),
Memorial Day (last Monday in
May), Flag Day (June 14), Indepen-
dence Day (July 4), National POW/
MIA Recognition day (third Friday
in September), Veterans Day (Nov.
11).
	Major veterans-service organiza-
tions waged a long battle in response
to grass-roots demands that the fed-
eral government and Congress rec-
ognize the sacrifices and suffering of
POW/MIAs from the nation's past
wars and conflicts. The specific lan-
guage in the new law was proposed
by Rep. Jane Harman, D-Calif., who
is a member of the House National
Security Committee.
	Veterans who observe a federal
building for which flying the flag is
required but who do nor see it wav-
ing in the breeze should immediately
query the officer in charge.




Local briefs


St. Luke's Ladies Guild
sponsoring card party

	The St. Luke's Ladies Guild will
sponsor a card party from 7-10 p.m.
March 1 in the Parish Hall, 5055
Micco Road, Barefoot Bay.
	Participants should bring their
own cards.
	Prizes will be awarded and re-
freshments will be served.
	For tickets and information, call
664-3333, 664-4444 or 664-7037.


New York Club
meeting March 2

	The Barefoot Bay New York
Club will meet at 6 p.m. March 2.
when a pizza party will precede the
meeting.
	Members should bring bever-
ages.
For tickets, call 664-6955.
	The club's April picnic is slated
for April 25 at Fisherman's Landing.
	Call 664-5542 for tickets and in-
formation.


Property owners
holding candidate night

	The Sebastian Property Owners
Association meeting will be held
7:30 p.m. March 3 at the North In-
dian River County Library on
County Road 512. The meeting will
be the annual Meet the Candidates
night. This year, there are two open-
ings for City Council and four candi-
dates.
	Attendees will have the opportu-
nity to find out what the candidates
stand for and ask questions. Meet-
ings are open to the public. Refresh-
ments will be served.


Sebastian Art Club
aids students

	At the Feb. 11 meeting of the
Sebastian River Art Club, President
Bob Ritenour presented A check for
$350 to Ed Dubocq, art teacher at
Sebastian River High School, to be
used to further stone-carving.
	The club plans a future visit as a
group to the art department.


Chinese auction
set for March 3

	The Welcome Wagon Club of
Sebastian Alumnae will hold its an-
nual Chinese auction and luncheon
at noon March 3 at the Palm Court
Hotel and Restaurant, 3244 Ocean
Drive, Vero Beach. The luncheon is
$12.
	Proceeds will benefit the club's
charities. The public is invited. For
tickets, call 589-8057.


Illinois Club
holds dinner

	The Illinois Club members held
a Valentine potluck Feb. 15. The big
event of the year will the 20th anni-
versary of the club sometime in Oc-
tober or November.
	In March, members celebrate St.
Patrick's Day with the traditional
corned-beef dinner. In April, mem-
bers will share a ham dinner. Other
events, such as picnics, cookouts,
and boat trips, are on the agenda.
	Illinoisans should call one of the
following for more information: Hal
and Edith Lauger, 664-3965 or Har-
net Mikes, 664-7819.




Week In Review


School district
settles SRHS lawsuit

	A three-year battle between the
Indian River County School District
and a Space Coast architectural firm
ended Feb. 19 with the district pay-
ing $75,000 while it retained the
rights to the blueprints that sparked
the suit.
	The attorney for the district
hailed the settlement with W.R. Go-
mon-Fletcher and Gomon executive
Teresa Gard as one that could save
the district a lot of money in the fu-
tare.
	"The School District is getting
the rights to all the plans," John
Young said. The savings to this
county could be in the hundreds of
thousands of dollars."
	The district now essentially owns
the plans from which Sebastian
River High School was constructed.
Using those plans for other elemen-
tary, middie and high schools in the
county could eliminate the need to
pay design fees at each school.
	The architectural firm that origi-
nally drafted the plans, W.R. Frizzell
Architects, is no longer in business
and agreed to release the plans,
Young said.
	The School Board met behind
closed doors Feb. 18 and approved
the settlement at an emergency
board meeting the morning of Feb.
19.     The case was dismissed that
afternoon, after Gard provided proof
she was allowed to accept the set-
tlement on Gomon's behalf.
	The $75,000 sum anted up by
the district will go toward the legal
bill Gard tallied defending a portion
of the suit already thrown out by
Circuit Judge Robert Hawley. That
bill could have cost the county
$200,000, Young said.
	The settlement ends Gard's
countersuit against the district,
which she claimed owed her more
than $400,000 in unpaid bills. The
district had sued for more than
$500,000 in damages caused by Go-
mon's project delays.
	Young said continuing with the
trial would have been fruitless for the
district.
	"We could have won this case on
every issue and collected nothing and
still had no right to the plans," he
said. Gomon is no longer in business
and its insurance carrier has ex-
hausted the company's bond paying
legal fees to defend this case.
	Attorneys for Gomon and Gard
declined to comment.
	The district sued three years ago
for fraud and breach of contract.
One of the first allegations focused
on high school plans Gomon used
without compensating the firm that
drafted the design.
	Gomon later paid $167,500 as a
one-time usage fee, then billed the
district for the money. The company
was paid $1.2 million under a 1988
contract to design the North County
high school, and $700,000 for its ef-
forts designing Oslo Middle School.
	The district's legal tab for the
case is nearly $400,000, although
Young pointed out some of that bill
covers the cost of consultants, ex-
perts and the attorney initially hired
for the suit.


Sidewalk slated
between park, center

	Children going from Micco Park
to the South Mainland Community
Center in Micco won't have to ride
their bicycles in traffic to get there
after it's built.
	By the time the center is built
early next year, Micco residents will
be able to either walk or ride their
bikes on a 5-foot-wide sidewalk be-
ing built between the park and the
center, Brevard County officials said
Feb. 20.
	The sidewalk is expected to go
from Micco Park on Riverview
Drive Ä which later turns into Cen-
tral Avenue Ä then north to Allen
Avenue along the west side of the
road. Once on Allen Avenue, the
sidewalk will go west to the center.
It will run either on the north or
south side of Allen Avenue, said Bar-
bara Meyer, bicycle and pedestrian
safety coordinator for the county's
Metropolitan Planning Organiza-
non.
	"I think (the sidewalk) will really
enhance the community. It will give
people a chance to visit their neigh-
bors and go walking," Meyer said,
adding the sidewalk also will provide
a safe place where children can wait
for a school bus.
	Meyer said county officials hope
to have the sidewalk completed by
the end of the year. She said the pro-
ject could cost between $100,000
and $200,000, depending on
whether the county has to do any
drainage work for the project.
	County staff also is working with
the center's architects to make sure
the sidewalk being built by the cen-
ter will connect to the sidewalk that
goes to Micco Park.
	A survey for the project has al-
ready been completed. Staff is cur-
rently talking to residents to ask
them for an easement where right of
way is needed, Meyer said.
	"Usually people are in favor of
sidewalks, so they are willing to
work with us," Meyer said, adding
the county hasn't had to buy any
rights of way for sidewalk projects so
far.
	Meyer said the county is building
the sidewalk because parents in
Micco are concerned their children
would not have a safe way of getting
from the park to the center.
	"I think it's a great idea," said
Little Hollywood resident Jeanmarie
O'Shea said. "The children will be
able to walk (to the community cen-
ter) and it will be safer for them.
They won't have to walk right on the
road."


Kautenburg leads
council money race

	Among the four candidates run-
ning for two Sebastian City Council
seats, political newcomer Louise
Kautenburg leads the race in collect-
ing campaign contributions.
	In the first of two campaign ex-
pense reports required to be filed by
council candidates, Kautenburg got
$1,414 in contributions for the
March 10 election, including $462
she loaned herself.
	Feb. 20 was the deadline for can-
didates to file the first expense re-
port. The next report is due March
6.
	Seventeen other people donated
to Kautenburg's campaign so far,
also the most of any other candidate.
Most contributions were in $25 and
$50 increments, but included $100
donations each from her supervisor,
Constance Oquist; Delmont Oquist;
Ann Perry, bookkeeper for Henry
Fischer & Sons Inc.; David Smith,
of Sebastian; Robert and Doris
Grant, of Grant, and Roseland resi-
dent Carrie Burkin.
	Kautenburg listed a $100 in-kind
contribution for postage from her
employer, Coldwell Banker Ed
Schlitt Realtors Inc.
	Councilmen Louise Cartwright
and Larry Paul each donated $25 to
Kautenburg's campaign.
	Carl "Chip" Libertino came in
second, raising $1,045 in contribu-
tions, including $70 he loaned him-
self. Libertino listed $200 donations
from Jerry Smith Tile, the Grants
and Ameron Homes Inc.; and a
$100 donation from Island Automo-
tive in Sebastian. His largest dona-
tion was $250 from Perry.
	Chuck Neuberger is third in con-
tributions, raising $995 including
$100 he gave himself and $165 from
his wife, Joyce. He also got $200
from Jerry Smith Tile Inc. and Ame-
ron Homes. Mayor Walter Barnes,
who decided not to seek re-election
this year, gave Neuberger $50.
	Martha Wininger lists only the
$100 she loaned herself as her con-
tributions. She has said she wants to
run a low-budget campaign with no
outside signs.
	A political action committee,
Citizens for Responsive Government
Committee, also has been formed by
Sebastian resident Thomas "Tut
Connelly. The committee's "special
interest is "the operations of the city
of Sebastian and candidates who are
responsive to the majority," Con-
nelly wrote in forms submitted to
City Hall.
       The committee intends to sup-
port Neuberger and Wininger, with
issues focusing on restoring Wave
Street to a two-way street and pre-
serving the riverfront for public ac-
cess.
	The committee also had to file its
financial report Feb. 20, but lists
only the $ 50 Connelly has contrib-
uted.


Planning group OKs
sand-mining permit

	Sebastian Planning and Zoning
commissioners unanimously agreed
Feb. 19 to recommend Harold Ad-
ams be given a sand-mining permit
for his new subdivision.
	The commission's recommenda-
tion will be forwarded to the Sebas-
tian City Council for a final decision.
	Project engineer Randy Mosby
of Mosby and Associates Inc. of
Veto Beach said the permit is needed
so Collier Creek Estates developers
can remove fill from the three lakes
required for the subdivision. Devel-
opers do not plan to operate a con-
tinuous sand-mine operation, he
said.
	Developer Harold Adams of
H.D. Adams and Associates Inc. of
Sebastian is in the second phase of
Collier Creek Estates, a 156-acre
subdivision between South Wim-
brow and Elylar drives.
	Adams already has approval to
excavate the site but needed a condi-
tional-use permit for sand-mining so
he can move the fill that now is
stockpiled on the south side of Flem-
ing Street.
	City codes require such a permit
if more than 5,000 cubic yards of fill
is to be removed.
	The commission attached several
conditions in making its recommen-
dation. These conditions include:
	 Streets within 500 feet of the
subdivision exits must be maintained
and swept by the developer. Com-
missioner Robert Pliska asked to add
this condition to those recom-
mended by staff because, he said,
other developments have had prob-
lems with sand dropping on city
streets while it is being hauled away.
	 Hours of sand-mining opera-
tion will be limited to 7 a.m. to 5
p.m. Monday through Friday.
	 Entrances onto city-owned
streets will be approved by the city
engineer before they are used.
	       If any city, county or state
road is damaged because of the
sand-mining, the developer will have
to pay for the repairs and the city can
stop operations until repairs are
made.
	In other action, the commission
gave approval to let Liz CaIdwell
open a chicken and rib restaurant at
1400 U.S. 1. CaIdwell asked for a
conditional-use permit to have 14
seats in the business.


Inlet to eliniinate
utility road by summer

	A protracted battle over a dirt
road in Sebastian Inlet State Park is
over after Sebastian Inlet Tax Dis-
trict officials agreed to remove it by
this summer, and the result will
likely change the way sand is placed
on beaches to the south.
	Department of Environmental
Protection officials have been bad-
gering the district to remove the
road, which was installed in the fall
of 1996 for sand-carrying trucks car-
rying out a beach-renourishment
project.
	But district officials have resisted
the directions because they said they
need an area in place for future sand
delivery.
	The 3,000-foot road is devastat-
ing for the sensitive environment
through which it cuts a swath on the
south side of the inlet, DEP Project
Manager Phil Flood said.
	"It cuts right through prime
beach-mouse habitat," Flood said,
referring to the endangered South-
eastern beach mouse.
	Flood sat down with district offi-
cials and pressed for a set date for
the sandy road to be bulldozed into
the dune, so plants can grow in its
place.
	District Administrator Ray Le-
Roux promised it would be gone by
June 1.
	The two sides had been negotiat-
ing about the road since the project
ended last spring.
	Both had some law to bolster
their cases. LeRoux said the DEP
could not make it impossible for the
district to place sand on beaches to
the south, which is required by state
law.
	But the permit the DEP issued for
the renourishment project specified
the road would be temporary.
	Flood said the fact the road has
been in place for more than a year
means it is far from temporary, and
thus the district could be considered
to be in violation of the permit.
	The compromise still being ham-
mered out will likely change the dis-
trict's sand-replacement philosophy.
	Where in the past it has carried
out massive renourishment projects
every two years or so, the district
now will probably begin doing
smaller projects more frequently.
	The sand will be dumped on state-
or county-owned lands to the south
that already have access roads built
in.
	"Functionally, the days of dredg-
ing out 150,000 cubic yards of sand
at one time are over," LeRoux said.




Sharks upset Conchs
By Bill Valyo

	Sebastian River High School's
baseball team's gigantic win over
Key West last week has got to be
one of the school's biggest wins in
athletic competition in its short his-
ory.
	Beating one of the nation's top
three programs in the sport goes a
long way to establish this George
Young-coached team as a contender
for honors this year.
	In last week's column, I em-
phasized Coach Young's settling pa-
tience in handling his teams over the
years. You can see it both in high
school and in American Legion play.
      Rarely does he chastise players,
least in front of others. He does
not try to antagonize the opposing
squad with bellowed shouts during
the game. The famed Leo Durocher
of big-league notoriety, would say
"nice guys finish last" if he had the
opporruniry to witness Young in ac-
tion.
      Young has surrounded himself
with "young" players. Many key
players are in their junior year. His
ace of the staff this year, Brent Selph,
has two full seasons to go for the
Sharks. Catcher Steve Harshman
also will see two years in a Shark
uniform. That battery combination
can only get better.
	Last week, I mentioned some of
the key players and never mentioned
a crew of talented guys who showed
their wares in the very impressive
win over Key West.
	Chad Johnson came in and re-
lieved Selph and struck out four
enemy batters to get the win. Josh
Trimm, Robby Spencer and Vinny
Chiarantona contributed very
crucial hits in a big sixth inning,
which was the game breaker for
Young's youngsters.
	It was an important win for the
baseball program at SRHS. Actually,
it could turn out to be a good omen
for all the other varsity teams as they
move on to play bigger schools with
larger programs. Winning can be
achieved against the big boys.
	It also means the baseball team
this year now wears the "get `em"
tag. You win a big one and everyone
is looking to knock you off. Now
isn't that a new position for one of
our high-school teams?




Sebastian Sun Devils enter big leagues
with softball tourneys at Barber fields
By LINDA ROTHSTEIN
Of The Sun


Photo Caption
Treasurer Coast Stealers' Jenifer McDonald attempts to tag out 
Sun Devils' Louisa Walsh at second.


	The Sun Devils softball team is
doing what no softball team in Se-
bastian has ever done before. It's
holding three 13-team softball tour-
naments on the last Sunday in Feb-
ruary, March and April.
	And they're not just any tourna-
ments. They're Independent Softball
Association state qualifying tourna-
ments, which means those teams that
win or place second may be eligible
to play in the association's state tour-
nament in the summer. That tourna-
ment determines qualifiers for the re-
gional tournament, which
determines qualifiers for the national
tournament.
	The 14-and-younger team placed
second in the tournament, winning
two of four games. In its first game,
the team lost 2-5 to the Treasure
Coast Stealers. In the second game,
the Sun Devils shut out the Fort
Lauderdale Screamers 5-0.
	Pitchers Allison Lee and Shayna
Snyder split time at the mound and
struck out four batters each. Lee,
Emily Waickowksi, Courtney
Walker, Liz Bissonerte and Shannon
McCarney all had singles, while
Louisa Walsh and Nicole Michael
each drove in a run.
	In the third game, the Sun Dev-
ils got revenge on the Treasure Coast
Stealers, beating them 1-0 to ad-
vance to the championship game.
Lee pitched a complete game and
struck out five batters. Lee, Walsh
and Sara Fields each had a single and
Bissonnerte drove in a run.
	In the championship game, the
Sun Devils lost 10-1 to the Palm
Beach Explosion for a second-place
finish.
	The 16-and-younger Sun Devils
team lost both of its games.
	The association competes with
the National Softball Association for
teams to participate in its tourna-
ments and is trying to make a push
onto the East Coast of Florida. Al-
ready strong in central and the west-
em region of the state, the Indepen-
dent Softball Association contacted
the Sun Devils to see if the team
could hold a series of three, one-day
tournaments.
	"They're trying to move into the
East Coast, they're pretty strong in
the center of the state and over on
the West Coast, so they were just
looking for people to do it," said Sun
Devils Coach Tom Batchellor.
	Besides, it keeps the home team
from having to travel and puts a little
money in the organization's pocket
from the $115 per-team registration
fee and concession sales.
	"I liked it because we usually
have to travel really far and it gets
tiring," Kern Heaney, who plays sec-
ond base for the 16-and-younger
Sun Devils team, said. "This way, in
between games, we could go home.
Before, we'd have to sit out in the
sun."
	The tournaments will feature
games among 13 teams from Fort
Lauderdale to Satellite Beach, in-
cluding the Veto Beach Crushers
and Sebastian Sun Devils, in the
12-and-younger, 14-and-younger
and 16-and-younger divisions.
	"I liked it, it was different than
playing a regular game," first-year
16-and-younger Sun Devils player
Tarai Scharfchwerdt said.
	No softball tournament has been
held previously in Sebastian because
of the lack of a multi-field softball
complex. The Sun Devils are able to
hold these tournaments because of a
newly formed partnership with the
Sebastian River Area Little League,
which is allowing the Sun Devils to
hold the tournaments on Sundays,
the only days the Barber Street fields
are not being used by Little League
baseball and softball reams. And it
only makes sense the Sun Devils use
the Barber Street fields since many of
the Sun Devils players are Little
Leaguers themselves.
	"The tournament went pretty well
considering it's our first tournament
in Sebastian," 16-and-younger Sun
Devils oufielder Valerie Trio said.
"It's our home, it's our home team
so we played pretty good."
	The complex is ideal for a one-day
tournament with its four fields,
scorekeeper's towers, ample specta-
tot seating, concession stand, rest-
rooms and parking.
	The tournament also is a nice way for the Sun Devils
to kick off its spring season. This will be the first season
the Sun Devils play as a combination of the Sun Devils
and former Sebastian Stealers traveling softball teams.
	"I think we played really good considering it's really
fast pitch," Trio said. "Our team definitely shows a lot of
potential in all areas."
	Since it is only a series of one-day tournaments, or-
ganizing it hasn't been terribly complicated. But it does
take a lot of work to organize the game schedules of 13
teams and to get all the appropriate information to the
teams involved. That work has all been done by volun-
teers: coaches, players and parents.
	"The ISA people give you all the information so it's
really not that bad," Batchellor said. "But it does take a
lot of time. Somebody has to be responsible for doing all
the back and forth with the teams and setting up the
game times and all that staff and communicating with
them."
	The biggest reason the Sun Devils decided to hold
its first-ever tournament is because it's fun for the play-
ers and allows them to play teams from areas that they
normally wouldn't meet.
	"Usually, we play teams that we've seen before and
we know what to expect, how the pitchers pitch and ev-
eryrhing," Heaney said. "We didn't know how much tal-
ent their team had until we got there and saw them
play."
	The Sun Devils organization is still in need of spon-
sors for the tournaments and its spring season. Those in-
terested can call Beth Murphy at 589-9154 or Susan
Fields at 567-1441.




Vaulter making strides to recover from injury
By LINDA ROTHSTEIN
Of The Sun

	When Sebastian River junior An-
drew Porter was hit from behind by
a Fort Pierce-John Carroll defender
in the 1997 Kickoff Classic in Au-
gust, the pain in his right knee was
surpassed only by the sudden fear
that he might never play sports
again.
	"I knew it wouldn't be good at
all," Porter said after the hit. "I was
thinking, `This is exactly what I
feared. Why do my worst night-
mares come true?' "
	Of course, he loved football, the
camaraderie, the hitting, the excite-
ment of a revitalized program, but
what he really feared for was his
pole-vaulting career.
	With a spectacular vault of 15
feet to take first place at the Class
4A, District 13 meet last year, two
feet higher than the second-place
vaulter, Porter was well on his way
to becoming the best boys vaulter in
the state in 1998.
	Many college and professional
athletes never recover from the type
of injury Porter sustained, complete
tears of the ligament and cartilage
surrounding his right knee.
	Just ask Sebastian River trainer
Alex Valeiras, who was a trainer
with the Hooters' arena football
team in Miami for three years. When
he evaluated Porter on the field after
the tackle, Valeiras knew the outlook
wasn't good for the 17-year-old.
	"It ends (athletes') careers be-
cause the amount of dedication it
takes to come back from this type of
injury takes all you've got," Valeiras
said. "The outlook from the begin-
ning was kind of bleak as far as mak-
ing it back for pole-vaulting season."
	Extensive surgery repaired the
injuries but it would take months of
intense rehabilitative therapy to get
the knee back to its original strength.
But with Porter's resolve to get back
to the vault and Valeiras' growing
fondness for the determined
teen-ager, the two formed their own
team.
	"We instituted the most aggres-
sive protocol we could do with his
injury," Valeiras said. "And I told
him that the only chance he had of
coming back to pole vaulting is by
doipg this every day and following it
to a T. At the beginning, you have to
weigh the odds and see if he's really
going to be committed. But I knew
right away with just his demeanor,
the way that he carries himself, that
he would do what it takes to come
back."
	As with most teams that set
goals, such as winning district titles
or state championships, the team of
Porter and Valeiras set the goal of
getting Porter back on the pole by
spring. The problem was they had
just five short months to get Porter's
severely damaged and weakened
knee back to full strength. It would
take a commitment from both that
would require long hours and much
pain.
	What grew from those exertions
was a lot more than Porter's leg
muscles. In the end, Porter became a
better athlete and Porter and Valei-
ras formed a lasting friendship.
	"We just became friends along
the way," Valeiras said.
	Even before the surgery, Valeiras
helped Porter strengthen his thigh
and knee muscles so his recovery
would be easier. But when Porter
awoke from surgery and didn't have
the strength to raise his leg, even
slightly, from the bed, he knew the
road ahead would be long and diffi-
cult.
	"Sunday morning (after surgery)
when I woke up .. , I couldn't
move it," Porter said. "I was trying
as hard as I could, I could not lift my
leg off of the bed. I was just looking
at my leg, trying to get it to move
and I couldn't move it. So I knew
there was a slight difference in the
strength of my leg."


Photo Caption
Sebastian River High School trainer Alex Valeiras helps 
pole-vaulter Andrew Porter do squats to strengthen his 
damaged knee while pole-vaulting Coach Mike Lawryk, far 
left, watches.


	Porter was so eager to get to work, Valeiras had to
remind him an important element to his recovery was
rest. So Valeiras designed a program for Porter to work
his upper body so he wouldn't get bored or discouraged
while waiting to get out of the brace he had to wear for
eight weeks.
	"We had to push him to rest, too," Valeiras said.
"But he understood that, although he might get a little
bit frustrated that he couldn't move on at that time, he
didn't want to go back in the process by going too fast."
	After the brace came off, the two began work on the
leg with strengthening and range-of-motion exercises in
the weight room and on the track.
	They also worked on speed, agility and a skill so im-
portant to pole vaulting, jumping. Porter ran the sta-
dium steps, did squats and leg lifts, ran wind sprints and
time, even when the whole school was
quiet in the late evening, Valeiras was right there with
him, pushing him, helping him and working out with
him. It wasn't unusual to see the two lifting in the
weight room or running on the track at 7 or 8 p.m. al-
most every weekday night.
	"There would be times at around 7 o'clock at night
and Alex wants me to lift weights with him and I want
to go home and do my homework," Porter. said. "He
was like, `Fine, you want to be slack?' He said that I
could be better than I was before and I believed him be-
cause he's the only person I think that actually believed
it."
	Leaner, stronger and faster, Porter and pole-vaulting
Coach Mike Lawryk believe Porter is now in the best
shape of his life.
	He was back on the vault for the first time the week
of Feb. 16 and cleared 13-feet, 6-inches easily with a
brace on to keep his knee straight. With his knee now at
about 80 to 85 percent of its original strength, coach
and athlete are confident Porter can match and perhaps
surpass his extraordinary 15-foot jump by the end of this
season.
	"The injury kind of made me refocus and made me
even work harder," Porter said. "I think I'm more ma-
ture as a vaulter and as a person. I know that I can jump
higher than last year."
	As for Valeiras, he feels that even if he never jumps
again, Porter has achieved something few athletes have
the determination and mental strength to do. Valeiras
believes Porter's recovery is his finest achievement as an
athletic trainer and doubts he will ever know an athlete
of Porter's caliber again.
	Each gives the other all the credit, asserting it was
the commitment and tenacity of the other that made
Porter's amazing recovery possible. But as with any
team, neither could have achieved what they did without
the partnership of the other.
	`I don't know what I'd do if it wasn't for Alex," Por-
ter said. "He believed that I could do better and he knew
what he was talking about. He pushed me hard and
we'd drive off of each other's intensity. If it wasn't for
him, I don't know what I'd be doing. He's one of my
best friends."
	After three hours of pole-vautting practice, you can
hear the strains of Smashing Pumpkins or Van Halen
(depending on who got to the CD player first) as the
two continue their workout. Neither seems willing to dis-
band the team that has been so successful.
	"It's kind of like you think that it's a bad thing, what
happened," Porter said. "But I just have the attitude that
whatever happens, it's all for a reason. Kind of like
God's will. I don't know why it happened to me but all
can do it take what happened and try and make the best
out of it."




Spring season sees variety of sports popping up at SRHS
LINDA E. ROTHSTEIN

	For high-school sports fans, spring usually
brings baseball and softball to mind. But at Se-
bastian River High School, the spring-sports
season features a whole lot more than bats and
gloves.
	Seven sports, including baseball and
softball, have gotten under way in the last few
weeks at the school and should make for an ex-
citing, and busy, spring.
	On any weekday afternoon, there are hun-
dreds of youngsters practicing their sports on
the fields, courts and track behind the main-
school building. Still more are in the
weightroom, while dozens more are out at the
Sebastian Municipal Golf Course.
	The boys golf team started its season off
right Feb. 17 with a win over Melbourne-Flo-
rida Air Academy. Coach Jim Carroll wasn't
too surprised, since his six golfers are all
strong he feels all of them can compete for
top-billing in the five-man lineup.
	With just one freshman in Jason Johns,
who Carroll expects to break into the starting
lineup a few times this season, the team has a
wealth of experience led by lone-senior Steve
Steinke. Juniors Ryan Johns and Nathan Shel-
len have two years of competitive experience,
while Carroll considers sophomores Brock Ha-
tala and Keith Williams just as mature as his
juniors.
	The girls team is a little younger, but the
three returnees, sophomores Linzey Rawley,
Amanda Rodgers and Cathie Schroer, all
gained valuable experience as freshmen and
consistently lowered their scores through last
season. The three newcomers, sophomore
Stacey Plate and Susan Grant and freshman
Kern Hodge, will be good insurance for
strong teams to come.
	Coach Jaime Sturgeon considers this
building year, but expects his team to start sur-
prising the competition by the end of the sea-
son, which begins Feb. 23 with a match at
Rockledge.
	Boys tennis also got started Feb. 17 with a
close 4-3 loss to FAA at home. The team is
probably the most experienced of all the spring
sports, consisting entirely of seniors.
	Mart DeSena returns as the Sharks No. 1
singles player and Ryan Duffell takes up the
No. 2 spot after reaching the district finals last
year. DeSena and Duffell also will make up the
No. 1 doubles team. Nathan Roodhouse, Gac-
tano Croceta and Chris Bennett make up the
rest of the mature team.
	The girls tennis team is in a transitional
stage with new Coach John Danise and seven
players, who have never before played compet-
itive tennis. Junior Sunshine Parrish, a reserve
player last year, is the lone returnee. Junior
Molly Griffin and Christine Spencer, sopho-
mores Beth Eggen, Crystal Raynor and Jeny-
pher Spencer and freshman Dana McDonald
and Danielle Wallace will spend this season,
which began Feb. 25 with a match at Fort
Pierce-John Carroll, learning the game and
preparing for districts in April.
	SRHS is lucky to have one of the most
unique teams in the state. As just one of 43
teams in Florida, SRHS' weightlifting team
mainly will face teams from more than an hour
away.
	Started as a complement to the football
program and run by offensive line Coach Pete
DeLuke, the team has swelled to 20 members
and won its first meet at Kissimmee-Poinciana,
Feb. 18. DeLuke is parficularly looking for-
ward to establishing a rivalry with the school's
newest opponent, St. Edward's.
	The lacrosse season gets under way with a home
jamboree Feb. 28. As one of the fastest-growing girls
sports in the nation, lacrosse is becoming more and
more attractive to the female athletes at SRHS. Coach
Tina Ambers welcomed 40 girls onto the lacrosse fields
this season, the largest group ever to come out for the
sport at Sebastian River.
	Track and field Coach Randy Bethel had a smaller
contingent of athletes than he expected on the track
when practice began a few weeks ago. But as basketball
and soccer come to a close, the group of sprinters, run-
ners, jumpers, vaulters and throwers is beginning to
grow.
	With state-finals caliber athletes such as Andrew
Porter, Mandy Hasenauer, Tammy Warren and Peter
Bissonnette, the pole vaulters and distance runners, the
track and field team will undoubtedly offer some strong
competition to opponents this year. Experience abounds
in all events, including the sprints, relays, jumps and
throws while the newcomers will add depth and opti-
mism for the future. They got to show off their talents
in the first whole-team meet at Satellite, Feb. 24.
	So when you're out at the Sebastian River baseball
or softball diamonds this spring, look over your shoul-
der and check out what's going on with the school's
many other spring sports.



Obituaries

Francis Docherty

	Francis John Docherty, 89, of
Sebastian, died. Feb. 19, 1998, at
Holmes Regional Medical Center,
Melbourne, after a brief illness.
	He was born March 15, 1908, in
Scotland and moved to Sebastian
two years ago from Fort Lauderdale.
	Mr. Docherty was a waiter in
Miami and Fort Lauderdale. He was
a U.S. Army Air Corps veteran of
World War II.
	Surviving are one nephew, Wil-
liam Graham, of Sebastian; and two
nieces, Margaret Palmieri, of Barne-
gat, N.J., and Mary Graham, of
Flushing, N.Y.
	At the family's request, there will
be no services.
	Cremation arrangements are un-
der the direction of Lowther Crema-
tion Service, Vero Beach.


Alfred Harjes

	Alfred John Harjes Jr., 66, of Se-
bastian, died Feb. 17, 1998, at Se-
bastian River Medical Center, Rose-
land, after a prolonged illness.
	He was born Feb. 27, 1931, in
Bronx, N.Y., and moved to Sebas-
tian in 1987 from Toms River, N.J.
	Mr. Harjes was a manager for
Waterford Glass, Long Branch, N.J.,
for 18 years. He was a 1953 grad-
nate of Rutgers University, New
Brunswick, N.J. He was a member
of the American Power Boat Associ-
ation.
	Surviving is his wife of 42
years, Joan.
	A private memorial service will
be held.
	In lieu of flowers, the family sug-
gests donations be made to the Na-
tional Kidney Foundation of Florida,
1040 Woodcock Road, No. 119,
Orlando, Fla. 32803 in Mr. Harjes'
memory.
	Strunk Funeral Home, Sebas-
tian, is in charge of arrangements.


Robert Brennan

	Robert E. Brennan, 85, 6258
Mirror Lake Court, Sebastian, died
Feb. 15, 1998, at his residence after
a brief illness.
	He was born Feb. 8, 1913, in
Boston, and moved to Sebastian 15
years ago from Cambridge, Mass.
	Mr. Brennan worked for the
Cambridge Water Department prior
to retirement. He was a U.S. Army
veteran of World War II.
	Surviving are his wife, Harriet;
one brother, William F. Brennan, of
Arlington, Mass.; one sister, Cathe-
rine Keane, of Harwich, Mass.; and
five grandchildren.
	A funeral Mass was celebrated
Feb. 20 at St. Paul's Church, Cam-
bridge. Interment followed at Mount
Calvary Cemetery, Boston.


Carmen Leone

	Carmen Anthony Leone, 77, of
Sebastian, died Feb. 17, 1998, at Se-
bastian River Medical Center, Rose-
land, after a brief illness.
	He was born Jan. 1, 1921, in
Italy, and moved to Sebastian in
1984 from Roselle Park, N.J.
	Mr. Leone was an electrical engi-
neer in the aerospace industry. He
was a member of St. Sebastian Cath-
olic Church, Sebastian, the Italian-A-
merican Club, Sebastian, Holy
Name Society and National Society
of Professional Engineers. He also
was a third and fourth degree Knight
and a member of the Sebastian
Council No. 8009 Knights of Co-
lumbus.
	Surviving are his wife of 52
years, Louise; one son, Vincent D.
Leone, of Palm Harbor; two daugh-
ters, Vivian Leone Freeman, of Palm
Harbor, and Louise Leone Cutru-
fello, of Murphy, N.C.; two broth-
ers, Joseph Leone, of Sebastian, and
Adolfo Leone, of Springfield, N.J.;
seven grandchildren; and four
great-grandchildren.
	A funeral Mass was celebrated
Feb. 20 at Sr. Sebastian Catholic
Church. Entombment followed at
Fountainhead Memorial Park, Palm
Bay.
	The family suggests donations be
made to St. Sebastian Catholic
Church Building Fund, P.O. Box
781212, Sebastian, Fla. 32978-1212
in Mr. Leone's memory.
	Strunk Funeral Home, Sebas-
tian, was in charge of arrangements.


Margaret Turner

	Margaret Peggy Turner, 82, of
Snug Harbor Lakes, Micco, died un-
expectedly Feb. 18, 1998, at her resi-
dence.
	She was born Dec. 11, 1915, in
New York, N.Y., and moved to
Micco five years ago from California.
	Mrs. Turner was a retired teacher.
	Surviving are her husband of 25
years, Charles; four daughters, Caro-
lyn Byers, of Chulavista, Calif.,
Linda Michell, of Encinitas, Caljf~
Gloria Hawkins, of Livermore,
Calif., and Goldie Boswell, of San
Diego, Calif.; one son, George Bos-
well, of Tucson, Ariz.; five grand-
children; and one great-grandchild.
	At the family's request, a memo-
rial service will be held at a later
date.
	Cremation arrangements are un-
der the direction of Lowther Crema-
tion Service, Vero Beach.


Leona Howell

	Leona Howell, 88, of Sebastian,
died Feb. 19, 1998, in Sebastian.
	She was born Sept. 5, 1909, in
Minsk, Russia, and moved to Sebas-
tian in 1992 from Plainwell, Mich.
	Mrs. Howell worked for the Hud-
son and Federated Department
Stores in Detroit.
	Surviving are two daughters, Bev-
erly Barea-Pleau, of Sebastian, and
Gloria Howell of Livonia, Mich.
two sisters, Geneva Nabozny, of
Fort Walton, and Stella Lehnart of
Detroit; six grandchildren and three
great-grandchildren.
	The family will receive friends 2 to
4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. today at the
Rupert, Durham, Marshall and Gren
Funeral Home, Plainwell.
	A Celebration of Life service was
held at the Rupert, Durham, Mar-
shall and Gren Funeral Home, Plain-
well, with the Rev. Nelson Lumm
officiating. Cremation followed with
burial of the remains in the family
plot in Hillside Cemetery, Plainwell.
	Donations may be made to the
First Presbyterian Church of Plain-
well or the American Cancer Society
in Mrs. Howell's memory.
	Friends may share a memory with
the family online (www.rdmg.com)
at the funeral home.




END