The British West Indies-style home designed by Moulton Layne and built by Croom Construction became home to Dave and Nancy Herbert in 2021 after they spent decades of moving around to follow a career in financial services. Their home in the Floralton Beach area of the barrier island, has a casual, open and airy plan with large windows that create a bright indoor living space.
Vero Beach Museum of Art Curator Anke Van Wagenberg was on a mission to find the origins of the museum’s majestic bronze lion, the sculpture that guards the entrance to the museum. Her detective work includes stories from more than a century ago from all over the world, and reveals why the lion lived in The Moorings for a time, and how it made its way to its current magnificent spot at the museum in 1982.
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.
Schacht Groves now encompasses 145 acres of citrus land, and the well-known Vero Beach family business now includes a popular Farm Store, a U-pick area begun in 2020, and new Farm-to-Table-Dinners hosted on the property twice a month. Third generation citrus grower Louise Schacht continues to find ways to keep the family business growing.
Bird watching, Parque Historico, Ingapirca and the Andean mountains are all beautiful sites when traveling through the countryside of Ecuador. The Inca ruins in the clouded reaches of the Andes Mountains seems a world away from the tropical rainforest environment of Isla Santay on the Rio Guayas. Yet each is a part of the varied and beautiful land that is Ecuador.
As a second-generation farmer in Sebastian, Mark Dellerman was the first in his family to delve into pineapple farming. “I’m just a dirt farmer,” he says. “I like to provide a good-eating pineapple to the local community. I barely pay my expenses each year, but to be able to wake up and kick the dirt like I did all my life is a blessing … I couldn’t be any more blessed, being a dirt farmer.”
Nothing keeps Vero Beach resident May Brandt from painting — not gardening, taking enrichment courses, or spending time with her sisters, who visit often. That’s why on Wednesday mornings, she packs up her supplies, dons a hat, and heads out to meet up with fellow plein air artists.
Stephen Bischoff came to Vero Beach with his family to retire. After about 20 years in the roofing business in Miami, and another 20+ years with his business in Vero starting in 1997, he thinks he might be ready to turn over the hammer to his sons. Is he ready to fully retire? He sighs, “I don’t know if I will ever totally retire, but now, thanks to my sons, I get to be a senior advisor, and that feels just right.”
Unable to find the type of shoe he needed, Vero Beach native Lange Sykes decided to build them himself, which is how Riomar Shoes was born. “It’s interesting — I wear my shoes every day and I continue to get compliments. I’m really proud to have founded this company here in my hometown of Vero Beach.“
Vero Beach interior designer Jennifer Elmore creates welcoming spaces by bringing in patterns and textures to showcase the best in an Indian River Shores home. Darker antiques are seamlessly integrated with contemporary furnishings, coastal elements and vibrant fabrics which gives Kathy Bantleon’s home a bright tropical feel.
Whether you’re looking to spice up the average Taco Tuesday or incorporate more fresh fish into your diet, these blackened fish tacos are bursting with flavor along with the cabbage slaw. To accompany the tacos, there’s really nothing better than a cold, crunchy, chunky homemade salsa when it’s hot outside. This black bean and corn salsa is a versatile dip that’s perfect for snacking with chips, packs great for a picnic at the beach, and saves well in the refrigerator for a few days.
It wasn’t a planned passing of the torch from one generation to the next. Far from it. In fact, at one time, Suzanne Leigh-Vilas saw herself standing in front of a classroom instructing and inspiring students. Preparing lesson plans and grading papers would fill her after-school hours. “When I was in college, I never thought I’d be back in Vero Beach, let alone working here at the store. I’m really glad how things turned out. I’m happy here.”
IRGF is introducing young players to the game while teaching them life skills. Our mission is to create programs and events that promote knowledge, player development and service in the game of golf,” PGA Life Member and Master Professional Roger Van Dyke explains. “Golf is not only fun, it teaches values and good manners and places honesty above winning. There’s no referee out there on the course to determine whether or not your shot was within the rules. It’s all up to you.”
John Farnsworth, the highly acclaimed executive chef at John’s Island, has been pleasing palates there for 25 of the 52 years he’s been working in the culinary arts. When asked about his plans for retirement, the 72-year-old shrugs and smiles. For now, the kitchens at the club are still “John’s” island.
Duncan Riefler’s plans of playing basketball for the Wimbledon Hoop Stars were dashed when he tore his ACL in a game in 2009. The injury opened a door for a new love to emerge. Riefler, a Windsor resident, learned to fly and soon found himself purchasing his own plane. Named “Grace,” after Grace Kelly and lovingly restored, the two are up to amazing things.
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.
“We had many friends, restaurants and activities we liked, and, of course, the beautiful beach,” says Rena. “How could we leave this wonderful place? The answer was to become possibly the only snowbirds from Turkey ..."
In its 150-year history, Findlay Galleries has sold paintings by major artists, including Mary Cassatt, Salvador Dalí and Pablo Picasso. Along with their renown, these names speak to the range of artistic styles that Findlay Galleries has represented: from the French impressionism of Monet and the American Cassatt to the surrealism of Dalí to the cubism of Picasso.
William Bartram traveled to Florida during the 1770s, coming from Pennsylvania and trekking as far south as Sebastian. A sign near Riverview Park in Sebastian marks the area as a site on what is today known as the William Bartram Trail. The sign commemorates his “great journey to study the flora, fauna and peoples of Florida.”
As Vero Beach continues to grow and move forward, our historic airport will, no doubt, continue to play a key role in the community.
So what does the future hold for the now-32-year-old who, as his father says, basically oversees every aspect of the business and is in the process of spearheading a new company initiative? Where does he see himself in five, 10, 15 years?
It took almost two years before the Bells finally found the perfect property in Central Beach. The problem was that it came complete with a classic 1950s cinder block house and carport. Both had to go.
“The impact UP has made throughout the last year is a true testament to our dedicated staff’s collective embodiment of our purpose, which is to inspire and empower people living in poverty to lift themselves and their families to economic self-sufficiency. Everyone here has a heart for the mission.”
Over the years, the Garden Club has been quietly beautifying Vero Beach, one project at a time.
