Organic Produce VERO BEACH WABASSO BEACHSIDE Now Available Produce Market Ariston Infused Olive Oils & Balsamic Vinegars @HometownNewsIndianRiver @hometownnewsirc @HometownNewsIRC Organic Teas • Fruits • Vegetables Seafood • Old Florida Products Vol. 16, No. 24 www.HometownNewsTC.com Friday, Feb. 8, 2019 % PLANNING A TRIP? MOUSE GUIDE MEET LANA ‘Touring with the Townies’ Lana is a two-year old 10 OFF features reader-submitted photos The computer mouse can white tabby mix feaured W/ this ad. Coupon not valid W/Delivery. from travels. Let’s see how many help users maneuver as the Pet of the Week. Exp 2-28-19 places we can go! Send in your through typical functions. picture or questions to Monday - Friday 10am-6pm • Saturday 10am - 5pm [email protected] Queenbeesproducemarket.com TAKE US WITH YOU COMPUTE THIS 8 PET OF THE WEEK 7 1414 16th Street, Vero Beach, FL 32960 (772) 410-9422 Green thumbs up Beach booming, lifeguards warn of concerns By Mike Winikoff [email protected] VERO BEACH — Attendance at beaches in Vero Beach is booming. Visits to the three guarded beaches at Anthony Inswasty/staff photographer Jaycee, Humiston and South Beach Parks broke records in 2018. The Vero The Garden Club of Indian River County celebrated their 18th annual Garden- Beach Lifeguard Association estimates fest on the weekend of February 2-3. Thousands of gardening enthusiasts and 838,981 visitors for the year, breaking over 85 vendors filled Vero Beach’s Riverside Park for a stroll under the oaks. the previous record of 778,000 in 2012. Here, Horticulturist Wade Matz talks with Vero Beach residents Alexis and The Vero Beach Lifeguard Associa- tion Yearly Report For The Beaches of Kathy Edwards. Another picture on 6. Vero Beach, 2018 indicates areas of both optimism and concern. The report praised the Vero Beach City Council for extending lifeguard IR Shores hires former hours from 5-7 p.m. between Memorial Day and Labor Day. The VBLA said that simple change may result in less drown- ing. Sebastian City Manager Also receiving praise from the life- www.theoriginaldiscountfurniture.com By Mike Winikoff Postal Center. guards is the Vero Beach Police Depart- [email protected] Outgoing Town Manager Robert Stabe has been ment, for increasing patrols on the in the position since 2013. Mr. Stabe has been beach and developing better communi- COMMUNITY CALENDAR INDIAN RIVER SHORES — The Town of Indi- employed by the town since 1990, first as a fire- cation with lifeguards. See an River Shores has reached an agreement with fighter, paramedic and police officer before In fact, the lifeguards recommend community that they be moved from the Recreation events on Joe Griffin, 73, to become the town’s new City becoming the Chief of Public Safety in 2012. page 2 Manager. Mr. Griffin, the former Sebastian City Mr. Stabe gave his notice in mid-2018, but Department to the Police Department, Manager, will start his employment on Feb. 11. agreed to stay on until his replacement was in since they perform a public safety func- The Town Manager is a chartered position that place. The town offered the position to Tim Day of tion. The VBLA argues that the move reports to the Town Council. Mr. Griffin will be Melbourne Beach, but then withdrew the offer would promote better coordination of responsible for the day-to-day operations of the after a prior work suspension was discovered public safety personnel and functions, INDEX town. The Town Manager also guides the depart- during his background check. and that it makes sense to have public safety services in the same department. Classified 18 Out & About 13 ment heads for Public Safety, Building/Planning Resuming the search, the town appeared in Jan- Crossword 17 Police Report 5 and Zoning, Maintenance, Accounting and the See SHORES, page 2 Horoscopes 13 Viewpoint 6 See BEACH, page 4 REINER FAMILY DENTISTRY Caring Dentistry for the Entire Family DENTAL SERVICES INCLUDE $50 OFF Invisalign • Root Canals • Children 2 years & up Comprehensive Exam & Full Mouth Series of X-rays. Crown & Bridge • Nitrous Oxide to Reduce Anxiety New Patients Only. Offer Expires 2-28-19 Veneers & Bonding • Dental Implants • Extractions (Offer not valid with Insurance or any other coupons) The patient and any other person responsible for payment has a right to refuse to pay, cancel payment or be reimbursed for Tooth Colored Fillings • Partial Dentures • Dentures payment for any other service. Examination or treatment that is performed as a result of and within 72 hours of responding to the advertisement for the free discounted fee, or reduced fee service, examination, or treatment. D0150, D0210 Laser Surgery for Periodontal Disease (LANAP) Bradley H. Reiner, DMD 3975 20th Street Suite 2th Vero Beach 772-564-0724 • View Lanap Video @ www.yourcosmeticdentist.com Hagen Hastings, DMD 2 Hometown News – VERO BEACH– www.HometownNewsTC.com Friday, Feb. 8, 2019 Community calendar FRIDAY, FEB. 8 are limited and on sale at www.mastersvb. • Nature Nick’s Animal Adventures: This For more information and schedule, call org. Proceeds benefit the Master’s Academy Live Animal Show is fun and educational for (772) 589-1355 or www.irclibrary.org. • Raise a Glass for History: Let's benefit Athletic program. 14Bones Barbeque lunch all ages and is a fundraiser for the Audubon future Historic Restoration and Preservation tickets are also available for guests (lunch is Advocate Education Program. Tickets are $5 SATURDAY, FEB. 16 Projects of the Indian River County Historical included with the price of a Clay Shoot a person and can be purchased online. This Society. A Silent Auction and other drawings ticket). This event will be held at Master’s event will be held at the Audubon House • 36th Annual Valentine Genealogy will be available. Tickets include Admis- Academy of Vero Beach, 1105 58th Avenue, located on 195 9th St. SE (Oslo Road). There Seminar: Treasure Coast Genealogical sion,Buffet Style Appetizers and your first Vero Beach. For more information, call (772) will be two shows, 10 a.m. & 12 p.m. For Society presents the 36th Annual Valentine American Icon Brew. Cash Dinner Menu also 794-4655. more information and for tickets, visit Seminar, featuring topics “Your Slice of the available. Try a New Beer named for the • 8TH ANNUAL SEBASTIAN ART STUDIO PelicanIslandAudubon.org or call (772) 567- Pie”, “3 Next Steps for Your DNA Results”, by Society's Founder Ruth Stanbridge. Ruth's TOUR: The 8th Annual Sebastian Art Studio 3520. Diahan Southard, and “Immigration Cluster Indian River Ale will be released at the event. Tour will take place from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Communities, Past, Present & Future”, “Ten Donations will also be gladly accepted and The self-guided tour, visits 10 artists’ studios THURSDAY, FEB. 14 Ways to Jumpstart Your Genealogy”, By Lisa Society memberships are encouraged. The in and around Sebastian, is free and open to Alzo. This event will be held at First event will be held at American Icon Brewry, the public. Maps for the popular event can •North IRC Library: Eleanor Roosevelt Presbyterian Church, McAfee Hall, 520 Royal 1133 19th Pl, Vero Beach, from 5 p.m. - 12 be downloaded at sebastianartstudiotour. – Across a Barrier of Fear: She was the Palm Boulevard, Vero Beach, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. a.m. For more information and for tickets, com. The artists participating in this year’s most beloved woman in the world & the For more information, call (772) 444-7470 call (772) 934-4266. tour are Rita Bernstein, Robert and Lynn most despised; the most quoted First Lady or email [email protected]. Johnson, Sheila Lougheed, Suze Lavender, of all time, & the most lampooned. She was Lana McConnell, Geoffrey Myers, Mary SATURDAY, FEB. 9 visible & unstoppable. Jane VanBoskirk TUESDAY, FEB. 19 Segal, Quentin Walter at Stouthouse, Roy portrays the famous first lady in the one- Woodall, Richard Ramirez ,Elena Ramirez, woman play by Sharon Whitney, at 2 p.m. All • Patriot Clay Shoot Tournament: Patriot and Julie Hewitt. For more information, visit events are free and open to the public. North •North IRC Library: The Pop-Up Crafter: Clay Shoot Tournament at Indian River sebastianartstudiotour.com. IRC Library, 1001 Sebastian Blvd, Sebastian. See CALENDAR, page 5 Shooting Range in Sebastian, 9 a.m. Tickets to end his short retirement. as a Marine fighter pilot and then a com- gratitude to Mr. Stabe for his service to the Shores At the Jan. 4 Town Council meeting, as mercial would enable him to do what’s right, town, and a standing ovation was given in From page 1 the council seemed poised to hire Mr. whether other people like it or not. honor of Mr. Stabe. McNees, Mayor Thomas Slater revealed that The Mayor said he was very impressed At the Jan. 31 Town Council meeting, the uary ready to offer the position to Mike an unsolicited appeal for consideration was with Mr. Griffin’s resume. council approved Joe Griffin’s employment McNees, the recently fired Melbourne City received from Mr. Griffin. According to The Mayor added that a letter of support agreement, with a start date of Feb. 11. Manager. Mayor Slater, Mr. Griffin and his wife did for Mr. Griffin had been received from In 2018, the population of the Town of Mr. Griffin, who had moved out of state not “take” to retirement, and wanted to Sebastian Councilman Albert Iovino. Indian River Shores increased from 3,901 to after retiring from Sebastian, leapfrogged come back to work. Mr. Griffin’s appeal At the Jan 24 Town Council meeting, the 4,208, an addition of 307 individuals since ahead of Mr. McNees by expressing a desire indicated that he would not ask for reloca- council selected Mr.