Over the years, while Vero Beach has been become home to thousands of solid citizens, it appears that it was also home to a few bad apples of the gangster variety also walked our streets decades ago. “Entrepreneurs” John J. Williams and Harry Roberts leased what would later become the Ocean Grill, but they hailed from the Chicago nightclub scene and its organized crime-affiliated gambling establishments.
At its current, 150-acre aquafarm in Fellsmere, Parabel can harvest 40 tons (before drying) of Lemnaceae per day during peak growing periods when the weather is warm, which is, obviously, most of the time here in Indian River County. The water lentil is capable of doubling itself every 24 to 36 hours.
There are more than 3,500 known species of bromeliads in 75 genera, and “new” species are still being discovered in remote jungles.
Lakela’s mint is a severely endangered aromatic shrub whose only known habitat is a strip of land about 3 miles long and less than half a mile wide in northern St. Lucie and southern Indian River counties.
The reputation is well-deserved, for the story of the Gifford family is a fascinating one.
“I grew up on my aunt’s stories,” says Ellen Elizabeth Stanley, referring to her Aunt Jeanne Mary Morrell. At that point, young Ellen was already a fourth-generation genealogist in the making.
Paul Pickel, who runs the studio, is a second-generation stained-glass craftsman, but the techniques he uses date back more than a thousand years.
Legend has it that one spring day in 2737 BC, Chinese Emperor Chen Nung (or Shennong) was out for a walk and, feeling tired, paused for a rest. As was his custom, he boiled his water before drinking it, but on this particular day a breeze caused some leaves from a nearby plant to waft into his pot of water.
Picture the following scenario: You have just attended Mass one Sunday in November at Holy Cross Catholic Church, and as you are leaving you see two women greet each other. Nothing unusual there.
A very talented group of young people will be representing Vero Beach in May 2005, when they travel to New York City to appear at Carnegie Hall.
What does 19th century Russian literary luminary Anton Chekhov have in common with the quaint, rural town of Fellsmere, Florida?
Vero Beach artist Barbara Landry has created a work of art that will help more than one million handicapped Americans this year.
If a census-taker were to visit 18905 Orange Avenue in Fort Pierce, he would sense immediately that the address is very different from other homes in the area.
With all the recent development going on, it may seem that Vero Beach’s agricultural days are nearly over, but nestled just off 66th Avenue, two organic farms are staying true to our forefathers’ farming ways.
No, James Liccione does not engage in marathon running, cycling and swimming, but when it comes to manipulating iron to create fascinating objects, he does indeed seem to possess super powers.
When Henry T. Gifford applied in 1891 to establish a post office in his home in the obscure new town of Vero (the name Vero Beach would not be adopted until 1925), he could hardly have dreamed that, within a few years, Vero would be catapulted into fame and controversy in the scientific world, and that his own son would have a hand in the events.
When local dog owners discover that training man’s best friend is more difficult than they thought, Amy Robinson is happy to come to the rescue.
On Sept. 4, 1882, the nation’s first power plant capable of producing electricity and distributing it to people’s homes–the Pearl Street Power Station, established by Thomas Edison–cranked up its generators and supplied electrical power to some 85 customers in New York City.
The Coco River, known by its Spanish name, Rio Coco, traverses one of the remotest areas in the Western Hemisphere.
“There’s Money in the Earth. Come and Get It Out. VERO, FLORIDA.”
Anyone who is casually acquainted with the history of Indian River County is familiar with the Gifford name.
When a baby boy was born in Eufaula, Ala., on Aug. 10, 1877, and named Robert Daniel Carter – in part after family friend Daniel Boone – one might have suspected that he was destined to lead an adventurous life.
With 119 total entries embodying a broad spectrum of talent, this year’s photo contest, sponsored by the Indian River Photo Club, lived up to the high standard we have come to expect from this annual event.
