Vero’s Voice Issue 184 May 2026

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www.mattressmarket.us M AY 2026

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MAGAZINE 95 Royal Palm Pointe Vero Beach, FL 32960 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Barbara Freund 772-538-2718 barb@verosvoice.com

SPECIAL FEATURE

6 Where the

Tropics Begin

Excerpts from Forever Vero: 1880-2020 Book by Rody Johnson

C R E AT I V E D I R E C T O R Sandy Carlile sandy@verosvoice.com T R AV E L W R I T E R Doolin Dalton 772-321-8432 doolin@verosvoice.com www.verosvoicepodcast.com

VOICES OF VERO Kristen Mills

DAY TRIPS & DESTINATIONS

6

10 2,208 Inches Above Sea Level: A Quick Trip to Mount Dora

by Doolin Dalton

10

VOICES OF VERO

PRODUCTION ENGINEER Noah Woodrow noah@verosvoice.com

16 If you could bring back any style, what would it be?

by Kristen Mills

PRODUCTION & M A G A Z I N E D E L I V E RY Keith Menefee Keith@verosvoice

REVIEWS

18 “The Great Awakening”

By Del Bates & Penny Cooke

PUBLISHER Rhett Palmer 772-473-7777 rhett@verosvoice.com

STYLE

20 The White Dress Edit

by Marianne Howell

The friendly publication where friendly people advertise!

TO ADVERTISE Please call Rhett Palmer at 772.473.7777 or email us at advertising@verosvoice.com.

Space deadline is the 1st of each month.

Camera Ready deadline is the 10th.

FOOD

22 Lemon Panna Cotta 23 Strawberry Cake Roll

by Barbara Freund

Number of copies printed varies with time of year.

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK facebook.com/VerosVoiceMag Vero’s Voice Magazine is published monthly. Copyright © Vero’s Voice Magazine 2010 - 2025, all rights reserved. Reproduction of contents in print or electronic transmission in whole or in part in any language or format must be by express written permission of the publisher. All articles, descriptions and suggestions in this magazine are merely expression of opinions from contributors and advertisers and do not constitute the opinion of the publisher, editor or staff of Vero’s Voice Magazine, and under no circumstances constitutes assurances or guarantees concerning the quality of any service or product. Vero’s Voice Magazine specifically disclaims any liability related to these expressions and opinions. The advertiser agrees to hold harmless and indemnify the publisher from all liability.

ENCOURAGING WORDS

20

28 Self Sabotage

by Beth Walsh Stewart

30 A Mother's Love

by Fr Hugh Duffy

Devout Mothers

by Pastor Rich Ienuso

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It’s not just about buying a jet— it’s about buying it right.

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ISSUE 18 4

special feature

WHERE THE TROPICS BEGIN An Introduction

CONTINUED, PAGE 8 Map showing distribution of Indian stocks and tribes, between 1710-1720. Author Mooney, James Publisher: Burrows Brothers Company. Source: commons.wikimedia.org

Excerpts from Forever Vero: 1880-2020 BOOK BY RODY JOHNSON We continue our journey through Vero’s past with Rody Johnson’s book.

Long before modern life in Vero Beach, our coastline was home to some of North America’s earliest people. The Vero Man discovery reveals Ice Age inhabitants living alongside nowextinct animals. The Ais Indians were well-established along the length of the Indian River and encountered Jonathan Dickinson after his 1696 shipwreck. The Seminole Indians formed here in the 1700s from tribes in Alabama and Georgia. Many escaped attempts by the government to remove them to Indian Territory. Chief Tom Tiger’s tribe spent part of the year southwest of Vero at Tiger Hammock in the early 1900’s.

— Barbara

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ero’s rich prehistoric time dates back to the Ice Age that is well documented from archaeological excavations. The first humans arrived in the Vero Beach area 12,000 to 14,000 years ago. A mile-high glacier blanketing the upper North American continent had absorbed water from the oceans and lowered the sea level.

Geographically, Vero was prairie with a shoreline that was 30 miles further east than it is today due to the Ice Age glacier. When the glacier melted, thus raising the sea level, the Indian River area including what would be Vero, changed dramatically from a prairie to a vast marsh inland with a coastline consisting of an ancient sand ridge, a lagoon, and a barrier island fronting the ocean.

Small groups of humans, hunters and gatherers, thought to have originated in Siberia, crossed the once Bering Strait land bridge and, over hundreds of years, meandered south across North America. Ice Age mammals— mammoths, mastodons, saber-toothed cats, and giant sloths—roamed the land.

What archaeologists called the Old Vero Site, where a canal was dredged in 1914 for drainage, human remains were discovered along with the bones of the Ice Age mammals.

This caused controversy. Were these Ice Age humans or some later indigenous people?

A hundred years later, in 2017, during a four-year archaeological excavation of the site, archaeologists concluded that human remains had probably been buried there 8,000 years ago. In fact, at Titusville, 60 miles north of Vero, burials from that time period were also found, an early sign of perhaps an indigenous population. However, that did not mean that people weren’t here during the Ice Age. A farmer cleaning a ditch west of town found a stone projectile point archaeologists attributed to the Ice Age. When the Spanish arrived in the 1500s, they faced a fearsome group of Indians from the Ais tribe that lived along the Indian River

LEFT: Excavation on the south bank at the Main Relief Canal in 1916 where the skull was first discovered in 1915 by farmer Frank Ayers.

Photo credit: State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory

INSET: Cast from original human skull fragments found in place with mega-fauna fossils at the Vero Man Site.

Photo credit: Taken by Vera Zimmerman (1996) at the Smithsonian Institution Paleontology Archives in Washington, DC

BELOW: Ais Cacique, oil on canvas, by Theodore Morris. The chief is preparing for a ceremonial dance as described by Jonathan Dickinson in 1696.

that was then called the River of Ais. The tribe established a series of villages along the lagoon, living off what the surrounding waters could provide. Their language was distinct, unlike that of the Timucua tribe in the northern part of the state or the Calusa in South Florida.

In Fort Pierce, the Ais had a huge burial mound presumed to be 500 to 1,000 years old. Were the burial remains found in the canal in Vero possibly the distant ancestors of the Ais? onathan Dickinson, shipwrecked in 1696, described in his journal the Ais’ main village in the town of Jece that “stood about a mile inland from the seashore within the land of the sound, being surrounded with swamp in which white mangrove trees hid the town from the sea.”

Speculation was that the location described was either Vero’s Riomar or Sebastian to the north, though the latter seemed more likely. When settlers reached Sebastian in the late 1800s, they found a huge midden as high “as the palm trees” and called it Barker’s Bluff, made from discarded shells from shellfish that the Ais consumed over the years. Smaller middens were found at other Ais village sites throughout the area.

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The material from the middens was used for the construction of early roads built by the settlers.

The Ais Indians raided the Spanish shipwrecks along the coast. Spanish artifacts were found by archaeologists in the remains of their villages. In 1715, the 11-ship Spanish treasure fleet was wrecked by a hurricane, spreading gold coins and other precious treasures along the beach from Fort Pierce CONTINUED NEXT PAGE

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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7

to Sebastian. This would forever be named The Treasure Coast. In attempts to salvage the treasure, the Spaniards forced “native Indian divers,” many of whom died in the process, to help recover the gold. Were these divers the last of the Ais? y the late 1800s, with the arrival of the first settlers along the Indian River, the Ais were not present.

They had disappeared in the 1700s, primarily due to disease from the Spanish.

What was present in Vero was a small group of Seminole Indians. As a child, I remember my Saturday mornings in downtown Vero seeing Seminole women in their brightly striped clothing shopping for their supplies.

They may have lived in Tiger Hammock southwest of Vero.

In a 2019 excavation, pottery shards and discarded turtle shells were found, indicating thousand-year-old evidence of an indigenous presence. Seminoles, as owners, used the site seasonally and sold the property to Vero’s Waldo Sexton in the early 20th century. It still remains in the Sexton family. What tribes that may have used the property in an earlier era was not determined.

The Seminoles, a name meaning “outcast” or “runaway” entered Florida in the 1700s to escape from other Creek tribes in Georgia and Alabama and forged their own identity.

In the 1800s, with settlers beginning to enter the state, the Indians were subjected to what has been named the Seminole Wars as the U.S. government were removing the Seminoles from their land. Some were transported to Okalahoma, but others hid in the swamps

B

of South Florida. Some still remain, successfully running casinos in South Florida.

By the late 1800s Native American presence had diminished. Pioneers like Henry Gifford arrived and established what would be Vero Beach, attracting generations of families, including my own, to forge our own history.

Knowing this history is key to Vero’s future.

PHOTOS FROM TOP: “The Florida Indians Capture the Shipwrecked Company," copper-engraved plate from Pieter van der Aa (1707) Source: floridamemory.com Seminole women trading huckleberries.

Photo credit: Historical Society of Indian River County

Osceola Holding Informal Council with His Chiefs, by Lucille Blanch (1895-1981), Source Commons.wikimedia.org

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A Quick Trip to Mount Dora

day trips & destinations

BY DOOLIN DALTON

2,208 Inches Above Sea Level:

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here’s something to be said for a surprise. Especially when it involves a packed bag, a full tank of gas, and zero clues. For our four-year anniversary, I told my girlfriend Charise to just get in the car and trust me. A little over two hours later, we found ourselves stepping into what felt less like a Florida town and more like the set of a cozy holiday movie: Mount Dora. The locals joke that they’re 2,208 inches above sea level (the equivalent of 184 feet), and they sell it on T-shirts and souvenirs.

Perched along the shores of Lake Dora, this charming little town has a way of slowing you down the moment you arrive.

Brick-lined streets, locally-owned shops, and historic buildings give it a personality that feels both nostalgic and alive. Founded in the late 1800s, Mount Dora quickly became a popular winter retreat for Northerners escaping the cold. That legacy still lingers in its preserved architecture and welcoming, small-town feel.

We started our morning wandering through the downtown district. We didn’t have any kind of plan, other than following whatever caught our eye. Antique stores, cafés, and little art galleries seem to appear around every corner. Eventually, we hopped on a golf cart tour, which turned out to be one of the best

decisions of the trip. Cruising through quiet neighborhoods and oak-canopied streets, we got a deeper look into the town’s past. We learned how Mount Dora grew alongside the railroad boom, becoming a hub for commerce and tourism, and how many of the homes we passed date back over a century.

After exploring, we checked into the historic Lakeside Inn. If there’s one place that truly captures the spirit of Mount Dora, it’s this one. Established in 1883, it’s the oldest continuously operating hotel in Florida. Walking through its doors feels like stepping into another era. The wide verandas, creaky wooden floors, and vintage décor all tell stories of a time when guests arrived by steamboat. Over the years, it’s hosted notable visitors, including presidents Calvin Coolidge and Dwight D. Eisenhower. It’s not polished in a modern luxury sense, but that’s exactly its charm. It feels authentic.

As the sun began to dip, we made our way to Pisces Rising for dinner. Sitting out on the deck overlooking the lake, we watched the sky turn shades of orange and pink while enjoying one of the most tender, flavorful steaks I’ve had in a long time. Between the food and the view, it was one of those meals you don’t rush.

CONTINUED NEXT PAGE

The Mount Dora Lighthouse, the city's most iconic landmark, sits on Grantham Point and is the only inland freshwater lighthouse in Florida today.

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PHOTOS TOP TO BOTTOM: • Historic Lakeside Inn, established 1883 • Evening stroll on the Lakeside Inn dock • Directional sign to dining and shopping • Bricklined streets add a nostalgic charm

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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11

f course, no trip is complete without a little local flavor… literally. We stopped by Maw’s Mountain Moonshine for a tasting, sampling a variety of unique blends before picking out a few mason jars to bring home. It’s the kind of place that doesn’t take itself too seriously, and that’s part of the fun.

That night, we leaned into Mount Dora’s spookier side with a ghost tour. Between dimly lit streets and hushed storytelling, we heard tales tied to the Lakeside Inn and the nearby former train depot, now repurposed as an event venue. Whether you believe in ghosts or not, the stories added a whole new layer to the town’s already rich history.

The next morning was simple and perfect: a relaxed breakfast, one last stroll, and then back on the road. It may have only been a quick day-cation, but Mount Dora left its mark. We’re already planning a return trip; next time, for the town’s famous Mount Dora Blueberry Festival. Because if one thing’s certain, it’s that this little lakeside town isn’t a one-visit kind of place.

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The Best Waterview in Vero.

Get your table together

and enjoy fabulous food and a fun night out at Ocean Grill Night to benefit The Arc, Tuesday, May 12, 2026.

Treat Yourself today!

Since 1982, the Replogle family have dedicated the 2nd Tuesday in May as Ocean Grill Night to help provide quality services for special needs adults in IRC.

Call the Ocean Grill at 231.5409 to make your reservation for 5 or more.

1050 Sexton Plaza, Vero Beach • (772) 231-5409 • www.ocean-grill.com Reservations for parties of five people or more. Smaller groups can come right in!

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Endorsed by Rhett Palmer Mayor of the Airwaves M AY 2026

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RETIREMENT PLANNING AND FINANCIAL PLANNING

Why Retirement Feels More Complicated Than It Used To

by Danny Howes, EA, RFC

F

Without a coordinated approach, retirees may unintentionally increase their tax burden year after year. Strategic Financial Planning helps align income sources with tax considerations so decisions made today don’t create unnecessary challenges later.

or previous generations, retirement often followed a simple formula: work for decades, collect a pension, claim Social Security, and enjoy your later years.

DANNY HOWES, EA, RFC Today, that model is largely gone, and EAST COAST many people are left wondering why MARKET SWINGS FEEL TAX AND FINANCIAL retirement feels more stressful and DIFFERENT IN RETIREMENT uncertain than they expected.

Market volatility has always The truth is, retirement has existed, but it feels different once changed, and not because people are doing anyyou’re no longer earning a paycheck. During thing wrong. Longer lifespans, shifting tax rules, working years, market downturns can be frusand unpredictable markets have added layers of trating, but contributions and time often help complexity that didn’t exist before. Understanding smooth things out. In retirement, withdrawals these changes is the first step toward creating during down markets can have a greater impact clarity and confidence moving forward. on long-term outcomes.

This is why investment decisions in retirePEOPLE ARE LIVING LONGER ment aren’t just about growth; they’re about One of the biggest shifts is longevity. Many retirees today may spend 20, 30, or even 35 years in timing, risk management, and income coordination. A well-structured Retirement Planning retirement. That means your savings and income strategy considers how market movements strategies must stretch much further than they interact with income needs, rather than treating did for past generations. investments in isolation.

Longer lifespans increase the importance of planning for rising healthcare costs, inflation, and MORE DECISIONS, LESS ROOM FOR ERROR income sustainability. It’s no longer just about Retirees today face more choices than ever: “having enough to retire,” but about having a plan when to claim Social Security, how to draw that adapts over time. This is where thoughtful income, which accounts to tap first, and how to Retirement Planning becomes essential, not just balance growth with protection. Each decision before retirement, but throughout it. affects the others, and small missteps can compound over time.

TAXES DON’T STOP WHEN WORK STOPS That’s why many people feel overwhelmed; not Another surprise for many retirees is how because retirement is failing them, but because it much taxes still matter after they leave the workforce. Withdrawals from retirement accounts, requires a more integrated approach than it once Social Security benefits, required minimum disdid. Financial Planning today is less about single tributions, and even investment income can all be products or one-time decisions and more about taxed differently. coordination.

WHAT CAN YOU DO ABOUT IT?

The good news is that complexity doesn’t have to mean confusion. A coordinated plan brings clarity by aligning income, investments, and taxes into a single strategy that evolves as life changes.

Rather than focusing on one piece at a time, effective Retirement Planning looks at the full picture, helping retirees understand how their decisions work together rather than against each other.

Retirement may be more complicated than it used to be, but with the right planning approach, it can also be more intentional, flexible, and resilient than ever before.

READY TO BRING THE PIECES TOGETHER?

R

etirement planning today often involves more moving parts than people expect: income, investments, taxes, and long-term decisions that need to work in harmony. For many, it helps to have a conversation with professionals who understand how these pieces connect.

At East Coast Tax and Financial, we work with individuals and couples to review their current situation, answer questions, and help bring clarity to retirement decisions. Our approach focuses on coordination, so financial planning, retirement planning, and tax considerations are looked at together, not in isolation.

If retirement feels more complicated than it used to, a conversation may be a helpful next step.

You don’t need to have everything figured out, just a willingness to start.

To learn more or schedule a conversation, contact East Coast Tax and Financial to explore your retirement planning options.

While tax and legal issues may be discussed in the general course of financial and investment planning, Advisory Alpha does not provide tax or legal services. Please consult with your tax or legal professional prior to making decisions relative to these issues. An Annuity is a long-term financial product designed largely for asset accumulation and retirement needs. All guarantees are backed by the claims-paying ability of the issuing insurance company.

Investment advisory and financial planning services are offered through Advisory Alpha, LLC, a Registered Investment Advisor. Tax preparation, insurance, coaching, and educational services are offered through East Coast Tax and Financial.

East Coast Tax and Financial is a separate and unaffiliated entity from Advisory Alpha, LLC. M AY 2026

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WED, MAY 6 - 11AM The Promenade 10730 US1 Sebastian, FL 32958

WED, MAY 13 - 11AM Environmental Learning Center 255 Live Oak Drive Vero Beach, FL 32963

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ISSUE 184

WED, MAY 20 • 5PM Intergenerational Recreation Center 1590 9th Street SW Vero Beach, FL 32962

BY KRISTEN MILLS

voices of vero

If you could

bring back any style,

what would it be?

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70’s business style – solids with fun prints.

More cowbell!

John

80’s big hair!

An outdoorsy-style.

Lia

Brian

More 80’s neon.

Neon is so in your face!

Bridgerton style – fancy dresses and corsets!

Jake

Maureen

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Vero Beach of 20 years ago – a quiet citrus style.

90’s – heck yeah!

Mullets and mustaches!

80’s crimped hair!

Susie and Annie

Josh

Kasey

90’s Emo style!

Corsets and passion!

Bathing suit style – relaxing without getting into the water.

Liz

Tia

Sally and Robert

60’s little Chanel-style dresses.

Classic music artists style – like Led Zepplin, The Doors, The Beatles, and Elvis!

50’s style – with their beautiful dresses and men well-dressed.

like AC/DC and ZZ Top.

Jamie

Alvin

Bre

Deon

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Long-hair bands style,

BY DEL BATES & PENNY COOKE

reviews

The Great Awakening RATED PG-13

A

s we stand on the precipice of our nation’s 250th birthday, the movie A Great Awakening is the perfect historical drama to celebrate with.

For those who are unsure whether our nation was founded on God and prayer, this historically-accurate film is must-see. Not to mention the believable acting, beautiful music, and time-period scenery.

had something to offer the other: Whitefield, the truth and liberty of the gospel proclaimed through print; and Franklin, who owned a print shop and could print his sermons and reap the benefits. Though they did not agree theologically, Franklin knew religion sells papers.

Franklin rejected his childhood religion, but Whitefield continued to speak to Franklin about his need to acknowledge Christ as Lord.

months of deliberation, they had not prayed.

With that, he proposed that they pray at the beginning of each meeting.

If we have ever needed prayer and awakening in our country, it is now. Although we are seeing pockets of it at many colleges and universities, the movie A Great Awakening shows that there must be a revelation before the revolution.

That is exactly what George Whitefield did.

Once he got the revelation, he ignited what is known as the First Great Awakening. Let us all remember and respond to his famous words, based on Ephesians 5:14: “Arise, o sleeper, awaken!”

5 STARS A Great Awakening tells the story of two completely different men who God providentially brought together to proclaim His Word to all. First, George Whitefield (Jonathan Blair), who, when he personally encountered a spiritual awakening of the freedom found in Jesus Christ, was compelled to preach the message to all. And Benjamin Franklin (John Paul Sneed), one of our Founding Fathers and one of the most influential intellectuals of his time.

The opening scene sets the stage with many of our forefathers at the Constitutional Convention of 1787. Franklin begins to reminisce about his long-time friendship with George Whitefield.

It all started when Franklin received news that the well-known London evangelist, George Whitefield, the man who reached thousands with the sound of his voice, was coming to Philadelphia. As enormous crowds gathered from the nearby colonies, Franklin not only heard Whitefield speak, but also recognized the electrifying sound of his voice which he determined could reach a crowd of 30,000.

During their first meeting, both realized they

Whitefield had almost died, which led him wholeheartedly to understand he could not work for his salvation, that it is a free gift for all that was paid in full by the death of Jesus.

Our freedom and liberty lie in what Christ did on the cross and not on any merit of our own doing. hitfield became so strong in his conviction of the message, the church in England banned him from preaching there.

His response: “If I cannot preach in the pulpit inside, I will preach outside and send them in.”

This let the lion out of the cage, and he did just that! He crafted a traveling pulpit, attached it to his horse, and rode through the cities and even in the coal mines to preach the message of liberty to all.

As the Constitutional Convention continued after months of deliberation, Benjamin Franklin, the oldest in the room, slowly stood up. With a stirring in his heart, resulting from his relationship with Whitfield and from his recognition of the role prayer had played in our nation, Franklin reminded them that, in all their

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QUICK FACTS: • Whitefield had the measles as a child, which left one eye crossed, so when he preached, no matter where he looked, people felt he was looking right at them.

• In real life, he drove thousands of miles and preached three times a day.

• Benjamin Franklin is the only Founding Father to have signed all four of the key documents establishing the U.S.: the Declaration of Independence (1776); the Treaty of Alliance with France (1778); the Treaty of Paris establishing peace with Great Britain (1783); and the U.S. Constitution (1787).

Del Bates and Penny Cooke are both award-winning authors and co-host the “Seeds of Hope” Podcast Wednesdays on Vero's Voice Facebook page.

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BY MARIANNE HOWELL

treasure coast stylist

The White Dress Edit Nothing says spring quite like a fresh white dress.

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Tips from the Solid Waste Disposal District (SWDD)

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Thursdays at 11AM or Livestream at www.stpaulsirc.org Art by Brian Jekel

BY BARBARA FREUND

on the menu

M ot h e r ’ s

D ay

Sweets for the Sweetest Mother’s Day calls for something a little more thoughtful than the everyday sweet.

Celebrate with two light elegant treats that capture the essence of spring.

Makes 4

Ingredients

LEMON PANNA COTTA

WITH RASPBERRY SAUCE One of my favorite desserts (that’s not chocolate!). Another beautifully tart and creamy spring dessert, and it’s no bake.

For the panna cotta • 1 1/2 cups heavy cream, cold • 1/2 cup whole milk, cold • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract • 1 tablespoon lemon zest, finely grated • 2 tablespoons lemon juice • 1 3/4 teaspoons unflavored powdered gelatin • 1/3 cup granulated sugar For the raspberry sauce • One 12-ounce package frozen raspberries • 1/4 cup granulated sugar • 1/4 cup water • 2 teaspoons cornstarch • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract • Fresh raspberries, for garnish

Instructions

Make the panna cotta 1. Place four 4-ounce (3 ½-inch) ramekins onto a plate or small tray.

2. Add the cream, milk, vanilla, and lemon zest and juice to a saucepan (off the heat). Sprinkle the gelatin over the surface and whisk gently. The cold liquid allows the gelatin to “bloom,” which ensures a smooth, lump-free texture.

Let it sit for 5 minutes.

3. After 5 minutes, place the pan over low heat and stir in the sugar. Warm gently, stirring frequently until the sugar and gelatin have completely dissolved. Do not let it boil, as high heat can destroy the gelatin’s ability to thicken.

4. Divide the cream mixture evenly between the ramekins and allow to cool.

Then refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or overnight if possible.

Make the raspberry sauce 5. In a saucepan over medium heat, combine the raspberries, sugar, water and cornstarch.

6. Bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to medium-low and gently mash the berries with a spoon as the sauce cooks. Cook 10-12 minutes, or until the berries have broken down and sauce looks shiny.

7. Remove from heat, add vanilla, and stir to combine. Place a fine mesh sieve over a bowl and pour your cooked sauce into the sieve, using a rubber spatula to gently press the sauce through the sieve. You should be left with a paste of mostly seeds to discard. Refrigerate until chilled.

To serve 8. To unmold, briefly dip the bottom of each ramekin in a bowl of hot water for 5-10 seconds to loosen the edges and carefully run a small thin knife around the inside rim. Invert the panna cotta onto a dessert plate. Serve chilled, topped with raspberry sauce and fresh berries.

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STRAWBERRY CAKE ROLL

A light vanilla sponge jelly roll cake with homemade strawberry cream filling. A beautiful and delicious spring dessert for Mother’s Day. You’ll need a 10x15-inch jelly roll pan to get the proper cake thickness.

Ingredients

For the cake • 1 cup (118g) cake flour* (spooned & leveled) • 1 teaspoon baking powder • 1/2 teaspoon salt • 4 large eggs, separated, at room temperature • 3/4 cup (150g) granulated sugar, divided • 2 Tablespoons buttermilk • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract confectioners’ sugar, for dusting towel For the filling • 1 cup freeze-dried strawberries** • 8 ounces full-fat brick cream cheese, softened to room temperature • 1/4 cup (4 Tbsp) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature • 2 and 1/2 cups (300g) confectioners’ sugar • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract • salt, to taste

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°. Spray a 10×15-inch baking pan with nonstick spray or grease with butter.

Place parchment paper on top and spray or grease that parchment, too, to ensure cake won’t stick to the pan.

2. Sift together the cake flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.

3. Using a stand mixer fitted with whisk attachment, beat the 4 egg whites and 1/4 cup of the sugar on high speed for 4-5 minutes or until stiff peaks form. Transfer to another bowl.

4. Using the same mixing bowl you just had the egg whites in (no need to clean), add the 4 egg yolks, remaining sugar, buttermilk, and vanilla extract. Beat together on high speed for 3-4 minutes, until light in color.

5. Add half of the whipped egg whites into the egg yolk mixture. Beat on low speed for 10 seconds. Repeat with remaining egg whites and beat on low for 10 seconds. Finally, add the flour mixture and beat on low until the batter is completely combined. Do not overmix.

6. Spread batter evenly into prepared pan all the way to the edges.

13. Gently and slowly unroll the cake. Flatten it out and spread frosting evenly on top, leaving about a 1/2 inch border 7. Bake for 15 minutes or until the cake springs around the cake. Gently and slowly roll back when you touch it with a finger. As the the cake back up, without the towel cake bakes, lay a thin kitchen towel flat on the this time. Make sure to roll it tightly. (It’s counter. Dust well with confectioners’ sugar. okay for some frosting to spill out the 8. As soon as the cake comes out of the oven, sides.) Loosely cover with plastic wrap immediately invert it onto the towel. Peel off the and refrigerate for 20 minutes before parchment paper. Starting with the narrow end, slicing and serving. Dust with more slowly and gently roll the cake up with the towel. confectioners’ sugar and garnish with The cake will still be warm. sliced strawberries, if desired.

9. Allow the cake to cool completely rolled up in the towel. You can place in the refrigerator for 2 Note 1: Cake flour produces a noticeably lighter softer cake than all-purpose. hours to speed it up.

10. Remove the cake roll from the refrigerator and allow to sit on the counter for a few minutes to warm up as you prepare the filling.

Make the filling 11. Using a blender or food processor, process the freeze-dried strawberries into a powdery crumb.

You should have 1/2 cup. Set aside.

12. Using a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese for 1 minute on high speed until completely smooth and creamy. Beat in the butter until combined. Add the confectioners’ sugar, strawberry powder, and vanilla and beat on medium-high speed until combined and creamy. Taste and add a pinch of salt if needed.

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Note 2: You can find freeze-dried strawberries locally at Walmart, Target, or CVS.

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encouraging words

Self Sabotage

I

BY BETH WALSH STEWART

’m in an abusive relationship … with myself.

Self-sabotage can be so subtle because it masquerades as comfort. Do you struggle with an extreme in your life? Looking for “comfort” when feelings are intense, you overeat, drink too much, spend money, or look to a relationship to change the way you feel.

The list of numbing agents is long, but each one of them has the same motivation: when you are powerless to change the circumstances of the situation in which you find yourself, you want to feel powerful about something else. To this end, your powerlessness in one arena is covered up by choosing excess in another. You know the excess isn’t good for you, but the desire to change how you feel is in the driver’s seat. You know that long-term change takes time, but the feisty three-year-old in your head demands attention right now, and you give her what she wants to shut her up.

Self-sabotage is often the result of requiring immediate gratification no matter what the cost.

Often, that’s how addiction starts. You start out seeking to quiet heavy emotions, but before long you don’t feel any emotions at all. What was once a want has become a need. What was once an idea has become an obsession. This incessant yearning has begun to make choices for you. Robbed of your ability to choose a healthier way, you fall in step with compulsive demands beyond your control.

Self-sabotage sneaks in wearing the costume of comfort. Don’t be fooled. Its ways are cunning, and it speaks in your own voice. If you’re wondering if you’ve fallen prey to its demands, there’s a question that will give you the answer.

What are you hiding?

Self-sabotaging behaviors like the shadows. They whisper lies, like “if no one knows, it didn’t happen,” and “you’re not hurting anyone.” Sadly, someone does know.

Sadly, someone is getting hurt. Self-sabotaging behaviors are hurting you, and if you take an honest look at your lifestyle, you will see you have lost control.

What can you do if this is your lot? The first step in overcoming self-sabotage is to remove the “self” from the issue. Tell someone you trust about the excess. Bring the issue to the light. Help is possible when you stop hiding in the shadows. You can come to know the true comfort that stems from positive self-care coupled with communal support. You are not alone, and the problem you’ve developed does not have to be handled alone.

Change is possible, if only you ask for help.

Consider looking for a 12 Step Program that confronts the excess with which you deal. AA.org; OA.org; CODA.org

Beth Walsh Stewart, MTh, is the Creator of BethWe, the nonprofit that was the impetus for this work. Dedicated to rescuing the stragglers lost in the shadows of the road of life, Beth is bestknown for her Good Seed Podcasts, 12-Step seminars, weekly blogs, g.o.d. speaks books, and uplifting workshops. Beth lives by this motto: I have been called to help my brother find his authentic self and his God, and I best accomplish this end by sharing my pursuit of the same.

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CONTINUED

encouraging words

A Mother’s Love Rev’s Verses

BY FR HUGH DUFFY

BY PASTOR RICH IENUSO

M

others! What you are doing today is largely invisible. But one day, people will marvel, not only at the life you have brought into the world, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of your love.

This realization started for a young mother one day as she was walking her five-year-old son Jake to school.

“I was holding his hand and we were about to cross the street when the crossing guard asked him, ‘Who is that with you?’

“Nobody,” he shrugged.

“The crossing guard and I laughed.

“My son is only five. But as we crossed the street I thought, oh, my goodness - nobody?? I’m invisible! Some days I’m only a pair of hands, nothing more. ‘Can you fix this? Can you tie that? Can you open this?’ Some days I’m not even a pair of hands, I’m not even a human being.

I’m a clock to ask: ‘What time is it?’ I’m a TV remote to answer: ‘What number is the Disney Channel on?’

“At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction. But it is not an affliction, it is not a disease erasing my life; it is the cure for the disease of my own self-centeredness. It is the antidote to my stubborn self will. It gives me the right perspective to see myself as one of the people who shows up at a job I’ll never see finished, to work on something greater than all the gold in the world.

“When I really think about it, I don’t want my son to tell the friend he’s bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, ‘My mom gets up at four in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then bastes a turkey for three hours and presses all the linens for the table.’

That would mean I built a monument to myself. But it’s not about me.

I just want my son to want to come home. And then, if there’s anything more to say to his friend, to add, ‘You’re gonna love it!’

“For home is where the heart is.”

Words fail to capture the unique beauty of a Mothers’ love. The hidden and heroic sacrifices, the subtle joys and unexpected thrills and aches of motherhood cannot be adequately described. It is like the sighing of the wind, echoing everywhere the love of the one who gave us birth. It is the way of God’s providence to create again and again a mother for each child to be protected with a singular blanket of love.

Mothers, you may not live to see the full fruits of your labors. But the world will marvel, not only at what you have nurtured, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the invisible sacrifices of your love.

It is like the sighing of the wind, echoing everywhere the love of the one who gave us birth.

Devout Mothers Eve = Mother of all living (GENESIS 3:20)

Sarah = Mother of the Promised Child (GENESIS 21:6)

Hannah = Dedicated Mother (1 SAMUEL 1:22)

Elizabeth = Godly Mother (LUKE 1:41)

Mary = Obedient Mother (LUKE 1:46)

Eunice = Faithful Mother (2 TIMOTHY 1:5)

You = _______ Mother Have a Happy and Blessed Mother’s Day!

Pastor Rich LIGHTHOUSE MINISTRIES CHURCH, LIBERTY, NY

Happy Mothers Day! M AY 2026

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“Jesus said, I am the way, the truth and the life. No man comes to the Father but by Me.” Church God’s Way makes it clear that the Church is NOT THE PHYSICAL BUILDING BUT THE PEOPLE. It exposes the lies and deceptions of the devil through the Biblical Truths of the Word of God.

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Kathleen Hollop is a healing evangelist who has experienced the miracles of God today. She has made 23 trips to Africa, Venezuela, and Columbia and also several trips to Maine.

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Delivery Locations IN TOWN

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Riverside Theatre Cliff Norris Real Estate Village Beach Market CVS-A1A Planes Dental Arts Vero Beach Hotel & Spa Cobalt Seaside Grille Corey’s Pharmacy Lemon Tree Ocean Grill Holiday Inn Treasure Lane Boutique The Tides Ryder’s Gourmet Market AMAC | Alex MacWilliam Real Estate Charlotte Terry Real Estate Di Mare Restaurant Marine Bank Asian Fusion

iThink Financial, 1340 US 1 1420 Coffee House, 2001 14th Ave Vero Beach Chamber of Commerce Habitat for Humanity Certus Memory Care CVS –53rd Center for Advanced Eye Care Big Shots Golf Mental Health of IRC – 37th PL Springhill Suites Heron Point Oak Harbor Club Crab Stop Calvetti’s Sodalis Senior Living La Tabla Rhonda’s Seafood Mattress Market – US1 Postal Connection Vero Beach Book Center Dunkin Donuts Vincent’s Italian A & A Insurance First Watch Restaurant Hampton Inn S.t.a.r. Pilates Michaels on 7th The ARC Wooden Spoon - Oslo IRC Chamber of Commerce Vero Beach Theatre Guild County Administration Office Carole Jean Jordan, IRC Tax Collector Cultural Council Beach Bum Bagel

Vero Beach Main Street Gallery 14 CVS –17th Main Library Renaissance Senior Living Vero Beach Airport Lobby CJ Cannon’s Restaurant Perkins Pharmacy – Rt 60 Oceans Unite Christian Center Oceans Cafe Mattress Market – Rt 60 Brackett Library, IRSC Larry’s Roadside Restaurant Image 360 Hemp Nook Salt & Pepper BBQ Mrs. Mac’s Fillin Station Seacoast Bank Joey’s Seafood Golf Carts of VB Majestic Theatre Einstein Bagels Touch of Class Dry Cleaners Green Marlin Restaurant Molinari Pools

Bridgeview Building American Legion Orthopaedic Center of Vero Beach Orthopaedic Center Physical Therapy Dean Wellness Center Vero Beach Chamber of Commerce The Red Wok Chinese Restaurant The Rowe Gallery Lychee Nail Salon A Slice of Paris Giorgio's NY Pizza Classic Collision Coastal Bagels Hurricane Grill and Wings Healthway Spiro's Taverna Eden Salon Energy Spa and Salon

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Vero’s Voice 95 Royal Palm Pointe

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