Vero's Voice Magazine Issue 145 February 2023

If You Were Visiting Vero Beach for a Weekend, What Would You Love To Do?

What Are Your Goals for 2023?

General, Cosmetic and Implant Dentistry

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Every day, we help turn dream smiles into a reality. As one of the most soughtafter Vero Beach cosmetic dentists, Dr. Planes and the team here at Planes Dental Arts have transformed the teeth of countless patients. We know how important a beautiful smile is and enjoy watching our patients gain renewed confidence in their appearance. We also know how important good health is to maintaining a new smile. From fillings and cleanings to implants and straightening, we offer preventive, restorative, and cosmetic solutions to fit the needs of the whole family.

Our team is highly trained and experienced in a wide range of dental services. With years of combined advanced education and an office equipped with stateof-the-art technology, it is easy to see why so many people choose Planes Dental Arts and Dr. Alex Planes as their Vero Beach cosmetic dentist.

Whether you need general dental care or feel embarrassed or unhappy with the appearance of your smile, we are prepared and ready to address your concerns. Contact us today to schedule your consultation and find out how dental care at Planes Dental Arts can meet and exceed your expectations.

6 Interview of Attorneys Steven & Jordan Lulich

10 Voices of Vero: If you were visiting Vero Beach for a weekend, what would you love to do?

14 Voices of Vero: What are your goals for 2023?

16 Celebrating Love: Valentine’s Day Around the World

18 TC Stylist: Spring is Just Around the Corner!

20 Travels by Steven: Venice: The City of Love

22 Movie Review: Elvis

24 Recipes: Valentine Cookies

page 10.

ELVIS TRIVIA

Priscilla was just 14 and Elvis was 24 when they met. They married when she was 21.

When Elvis was in high school, he was on the boxing team. His favorite class was woodshop.

Elvis’s first guitar cost $7.75 (plus 2% sales tax) from his home town’s Tupelo Hardware Company. His mother helped him buy it for his 11th birthday.

Elvis won three Grammys, and received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award at age 36. He’s been inducted into multiple music halls of fame.

Elvis’s favorite aftershave was Brut.

Elvis is responsible for the best-selling single of both the1950s and 1960s with “Hound Dog/Don’t Be Cruel” (1956) and “It’s Now Or Never” (1960).

During his two years in the US Army, Elvis donated all his pay to charity.

Elvis also supplied the base with numerous television sets and brought an extra set of clothes for each of his fellow privates. (Supplies were scarce.)

Elvis was a Black Belt in Karate. He was introduced to martial arts while in the Army. Unfortunately, he was also introduced to amphetamines.

Elvis is a direct descendant of Abraham Lincoln’s great-great grandfather, Isaiah Harrison.

Elvis recorded more than 600 songs without writing a single one.

From the time they met right up until his death, Elvis always sent a roomful of flowers to AnnMargret whenever she opened a show in Las Vegas. Elvis purchased over 100 Cadillacs in his lifetime, many bought as gifts for friends and family. The very first Cadillac he ever bought was pink, and was purchased as a gift for his mother.

The self-titled debut LP Elvis Presley was the first rock ‘n’ roll album to make it to the top of the Billboard charts in the US.

Elvis’s debut was also the first million-selling record in the genre, spending ten weeks at Number 1 in 1956. Elvis thought The Beatles represented “antiAmericanism” because of their open drug use. He shared these thoughts with President Nixon in 1970.

Two of Elvis’s favorite books were The Impersonal Life by Joseph Benner and The Bible.

Graceland is the second most-visited house in America. The first is the White House.

After seeing Elvis in concert, Liberace suggested he wear flashy costumes. Elvis took the advice and began sporting gold lame jackets and jewelled white jumpsuits.

Elvis collected statues of Venus de Milo and Joan of Arc.

Elvis’s favorite impersonator of himself was Andy Kaufman.

Elvis Presley starred in over 30 films. He was considered a germaphobe.

Elvis never performed outside America and Canada

Elvis’s manager, Colonel Tom Parker, pushed for the marriage to Priscilla. This decision made Elvis even more popular.

There’s an Elvis Sandwich, consisting of two slices of bread, sliced bananas, bacon, and peanut butter.

Elvis practiced the art of Chito-Ryu during his time in the military. He trained for two years before he left the military.

After returning on tour, Elvis would use these new moves on stage during his performances. As Elvis grew older, he began to be more concerned about his appearance and looked for ways to remain youthful. Because he was allergic to hair dye, he used shoe polish to maintain his black hair.

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Vero’s Voice Magazine is published monthly. Copyright © Vero’s Voice Magazine 2010 - 2023, 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.

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Q A&

Meet Steven & Jordan Lulich

LOCAL FATHER & SON ATTORNEYS AT LAW

RHETT PALMER: The last time I saw you, Jordan Lulich, gosh, you were the teenage leader, President of the Teens for the Republican Party!

JORDAN LULICH: That’s right, Teenage Republicans. That must have been 15 years ago, 20 years ago.

No, don’t tell me that. Is that how long it’s been since I’ve seen you?

JORDAN: Something like that.

Okay. We’re talking to attorneys Steven and Jordan Lulich. And I’ve known Steve for what, 30 years or something. He’s been a successful attorney for years and years. I remember back when I first came to town, I’d see your ad with your head on top of the taxis in town. [laughter]

STEVEN LULICH: That’s right. You know, I don’t see Jordan for all these years, and now all of a sudden I see your ads popping up all the time on YouTube. I love those ads.

STEVEN: A little bit of humor. I think the important thing is we try to make them authentic. We don’t want to make believe. If you’re going to make believe, then it’s a joke. They’re great ads. Who came up with that concept?

JORDAN: Both of us did. It’s really just an extension of the personality of us, our firm, it’s our values. We’ve tried to take that personality, we’ve tried to take those values, and put it into our marketing message because what we do, what we believe, what we think, and what our team believes is all in the message.

I think your dad’s always been the “everyman.” You know, not haughty or arrogant or cocky.

STEVEN: Everyone has value and you can’t forget that.

Interview by

Rhett Palmer

Jordan was talking about values. What are our values? We got together and talked about what we’re going to develop for the future, because Jordan is an attorney now five-plus years. So we made a plan out and we said, “Okay, what do we want to promote?”

Well, what are our values? And that’s where it starts.

So we value our community, we value our staff, we value our clients and our family, and that’s what’s important.

It absolutely is. Now, tell us about your practice. You do real estate law … STEVEN: And estate planning and personal injury. Sometimes people come in with specialized problems and they don’t know where to go or who to call.

I remember one time I was backing out, probably 20 years ago, and a guy comes around the corner in a sports car and whacks me in the back of my Lincoln Town Car. So this guy’s lawyer says, “You’re going to have to pay us $15,000, and if you don’t pay they’re going to take your license away.”

I realized this is a scare tactic. Well, then it kept going up and kept going up and they say I owe him $64,000.

So we’re in mediation, and I said, “Well, you know, you might want to check the phone records because when he hopped out of his sports car, he was still on his phone.”

They went into another room and come back, “Would you give us $5,000?” And my attorney says, “We’ll give you $3000 right now and you go away forever.” So it went from $64,000 down to three grand.

STEVEN: Scare tactics are used across the board, especially here in Florida with the senior citizens. There are a lot of shams out there where they’re scaring people. We have a lot of people that come to us with all sorts of crazy real estate deals, online stuff, and a lot of it is very hokey.

JORDAN: I’ve had specific examples, and I can’t go into the details to protect our clients, but I’ve had specific examples of investors who are contacting elderly people who own a home. So what do they do? They’re able to put their home under contract for a much lower value than what the property is actually worth. By the time closing comes around, the property owner finds out that there’s $100,000, $200,000, $300,000 of equity that they lost out on and then the deal falls apart.

So, what these investors are doing, they’re recording a document in the public records and they say it’s a notice of interest in real property. There’s no legal basis for doing this, but they record it, so when the person goes to sell their property in the future, what’s going to stop them? This recorded instrument that’s in the public records.

And so what we’re seeing right now, specifically with real estate, we’re seeing a lot of people who are elderly who are getting preyed on by these investors. The investors are preventing them from selling the property to anybody else.

Now, there’s a way to get it removed and there’s a process and we’ve helped a lot of people get out of this situation. But without our help, without our assistance, they’ve got this roadblock because they’ve had this person who was putting a lot of pressure on them, “sign this contract, sign this contract, sign this contract.” And it’s really sad. It’s a really sad situation.

Continued next page

So what do you want the listeners and readers to know about Jordan Lulich and your dad, Steven Lulich, attorneys at law up in Sebastian? And by the way, everybody that answers the phone up there has a very nice attitude, from the receptionist to your assistant.

STEVEN: They might be answering from Vero, too, because we have an office right across from the courthouse in Vero.

JORDAN: I think the biggest thing that we want clients to know is to come and see us before you have to, right? A lot of people are in this crisis mode, they’ve got these problems because they don’t talk to an attorney and they don’t preplan. There’s a huge distinction between pre-planning and crisis planning.

STEVEN: And if you don’t have a plan, we’ll help you design one. And that’s what we do, by questioning you and making you think, then you and your family are prepared for whatever eventualities.

Also, if you don’t, it can cause break ups in families. I know a family where the grandmother at the last minute wants to leave her car to her grandson who’s in college. The other granddaughter is married with her own car and kids and yet she’s jealous about that. And the family breaks up and hasn’t spoken since.

JORDAN: You need to have a plan in place. Have your instructions. Have your rules. Put it down in a document so then you can avoid this kind of destruction of families. It’s so sad.

So you guys are into estate planning. What else do you do?

STEVEN: Personal injury, auto accidents, medical malpractice, slip and fall. I’ve handled airplane accidents, train accidents, bus accidents.

A lot of people don’t know if they have a case or not. So, for instance, I had somebody that got side-swiped by a vehicle and ended up trashing their car as a result of this crash, and the person took off. Well, I was able to get money for that person even though there was a phantom vehicle.

There are a lot of things that people don’t realize. If you’re ever injured, you need to contact an attorney just to find out if there’s some compensation for you.

The largest bill that everyone pays is to an insurance company. Health insurance, homeowners insurance, auto insurance. And so, if something happens, you’ve been paying in a lot of money for a lot of years... And they don’t want to pay out. You need an advocate; you’re the advocate.

STEVEN: Right. They have two philosophies. The first philosophy is pay nothing, and the second philosophy, if you have to pay, pay as low as you can.

And you guys also do real estate closings, right?

JORDAN; Yes, we work with a lot of real estate agents. Once a month we put on events. You should come out to one of our events sometime, it’s great.

I’d love to.

JORDAN: We’ve been doing it three years this month, actually. We partner with a listing agent. So, this real estate agent has a property for sale and we do a networking event. Each month it’s different, every single month, and it’s at a home for sale.

STEVEN: Quarterly we do it at night and have a band.

JORDAN: It’s networking. The idea is to bring the industry together and provide education. We’ve had Mayor Robbie Brackett, Erin Grall. We’ve had all these great speakers who come specifically to educate about topics that are relevant to the real estate area. So, it’s great. It’s a way for us to give back, which goes back to one of our core values, to community.

I really appreciate you guys coming in. Great to see you.

STEVEN: Thanks for having us.

JORDAN: We appreciate it.

And it’s Lulich & Attorneys, Steven and Jordan Lulich. Steven’s been in business as an attorney now for how many years?

STEVEN: Thirty-seven.

Call Lulich & Attorneys, (772) 589-5500.

Jordan Lulich

Steven Lulich

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by Steve Glaser

Visiting Vero Beach

Two of my favorite things: playing a round of golf and fishing.

Richard Sindone, GOOSEHEAD INSURANCE

I would be sure to enjoy the many wonderful shops and restaurants on Ocean Drive.

Alisha Recco, REALTOR, RENNICK REAL ESTATE

Staying at the Vero Beach Hotel & Spa is always a great experience. I would be sure to visit American Icon Brewery. Always great food and awesome entertainment!

Adam Hernandez, GENERAL MANAGER, AMERICAN ICON BREWERY

I would be sure to visit our wonderful Sebastian Inlet State Park and enjoy the tidal pool and check out the manatees. In the evening I would take a ride to the Tiki Bar – always great entertainment!

Amy Speak, V.P., SOUTH STATE BANK

If you were

for a weekend, what would you love to do?

I love the outdoor concerts at Riverside Park. I would be sure to have breakfast at Lemon Tree before shopping along Ocean Drive. Then off to my favorite Happy Hour at Cobalt.

Peter Marini, REALTOR, KELLER WILLIAMS OF VERO BEACH

I would walk on the beach from Turtle Trail heading one mile north looking for sea glass and shells. I would also be sure to enjoy a wonderful lunch at Citron Bistro.

Beth Sembler, BUSINESS OWNER

Ocean Grill for a great dinner would be on top of my list before dancing the night away at Grind+Grape.

Bob Burbic, REALTOR, REMAX ASSOCIATED REALTY

I would stay on the Island and visit the Museum of Art before enjoying the ambiance of Ocean Drive. Always lots of fun and great entertainment at the Driftwood.

Cindy Roberts, REALTOR, DALE SORENSON REAL ESTATE

I would take advantage of the beautiful beaches and the wildlife by the river. I would be sure to also visit our Museum of Art.

Nicki Maslin, V.P., MARINE BANK

I would visit the many fine art galleries in Vero Beach. Also, there are so many great finds in Vero’s thrift stores.

Ralph Oko, TREASURE COAST COLLECTIBLES

I would enjoy the pristine beaches and love to go fishing. Also, I would be sure to visit the Museum of Art.

Diamond Litty, PUBLIC DEFENDER OF THE 19TH JUDICIAL COURT

South Beach is my favorite place for a beach day! For lunch I would grab a few tacos at El Sid…take a walk through Riverside Park, and be sure to enjoy a delicious dinner at Ocean Grill.

Steve Rennick, RENNICK REAL ESTATE

AT RIVERSIDE PARK IN VERO BEACH

FULL OF LAUGHTER & SILLINESS IN 1930s PARIS

Written by one of America’s most prolific playwrights, A Comedy of Tenors is an uproarious tale of romantic indiscretions and madcap situations. On the eve of the concert of the century, 1930’s Paris is all abuzz as four renown tenors are set to take the stage in a stadium filled with screaming fans. What could possibly go wrong? Apparently a lot, when you have one hotel suite, four tenors, two wives, and three girlfriends. Can producer Henry Saunders keep Italian superstar Tito Merelli and his hot-blooded wife from causing operatic chaos?

ON THE STARK MAIN STAGE

FEB 21 – MAR 12

COME AND MEET THOSE DANCING FEET

One of Broadway’s longest-running musicals, 42nd Street tells the story of a humble, naïve young actress named Peggy Sawyer, who comes to the big city to audition for a new Broadway musical. Unfortunately, she arrives too late. Luckily, she catches the eye of the famous director, Julian Marsh, and he casts Peggy as a chorus girl. When the star of the show breaks her ankle on opening night, Peggy is unexpectedly pushed center stage and not only saves the show, but becomes a big star. Filled with spectacular dance routines, lavish costumes, and wonderful songs, this Tony Award-winning musical will lift your spirits and have you dancing all the way home.

ON THE STARK MAIN STAGE APRIL 11 – 30

View Cast, Photos & Videos online: RiversideTheatre.com/Comedy-Of-Tenors

Music by Harry Warren

Lyrics by Al Dubin

Book by Michael Stewart and Mark Bramble

by Steve Glaser

WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS FOR 2023?

I am hoping to reach my company’s target goals for 2023. I am also looking forward to purchasing a condo. Both my children live out-of-state and I am looking forward to spending time with them when they visit.

Miller,

2023 is going to be a great year! I plan on increasing my business, and planning a trip to Barcelona. Also, I want to exercise more, mainly through Pilates and stretching.

Caragol

I would like to get involved in a charity that can make use of my medical license. I am also looking forward to traveling to Italy this fall.

Chad

YELLOWSTONE LANDSCAPE

Dr. Richard Raborn, MD

Elizabeth

Bowler, ITEX CORPORATION

I need to stay healthy, especially so I can take care of my mom. Another goal for me is to stay employed during these hard economic times.

My two main goals that come to mind are to oversee the renovation of our City Council chambers and to travel to Italy this May.

Tammy Bursick,

Create an alignment between the city initiative, civic organizations, and the people of Vero Beach. I am excited about my new role and look forward to it enriching my life.

Matt Haynes, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF MAIN STREET

I plan on growing our business and giving back to our wonderful community. Also, a major goal is to keep up with my wife!

I plan on get more involved in the community and making more time for my family. It’s time to achieve better balance between my work and home life.

To get my insurance license so we can expand our business. Also, I plan on mastering the art of making homemade bread. I have already started to lead a healthier lifestyle while always putting God first.

My goals are related to our community. We need to move along on the 3 Corners Project; we need to move the waste management plant off the lagoon and relocate it at the airport; we need to resolve the marina expansion issue. Also, working on plans to revitalize Downtown.

John Cotugno,

Abundance! Also, to make people happy, healthy and beautiful while giving back to the community.

Cheryl

Preston Evans, ACT COMPUTERS

MAYOR OF VERO BEACH

Zuppa, AGLOW SKINCARE

Benas Veikalas, THE SLAM DUNK MORTGAGE TEAM

Nicole Greer, MR. APPLIANCE

CITY CLERK OF VERO BEACH

Catalina Gray, THE GRAY AGENCY

Celebrating Love …

VALENTINE’S DAY AROUND THE WORLD

Here in the United States, cynics refer to Valentine’s Day as a “Hallmark Holiday” because it has become so commercialized. According to Forbes, American consumers spent a whopping $24 billion on Valentine’s Day in 2022!

We think of Valentine cards, hearts, Cupid, red roses, chocolates (of course!), and romantic candlelit dinners.

Perhaps the most romantic gesture of all ever to take place in the US can be found in Miami, Florida. Between 1923 and 1951, a Latvian immigrant named Ed Leedskalnin singlehandedly built a huge monument to his lost love – his 16-year-old fiancée who jilted him the day before their wedding was to take place in Latvia.

Shortly after his arrival in the US, Ed began constructing a huge structure out of oolite limestone, sculpted into intricate shapes, carved from 1,100 tons of stone – all miraculously fitted together without mortar. It’s a big mystery how Ed was able to do it singlehandedly. He never let anyone watch him work, so no one knows how such a small man only five feet tall could have accomplished such a monumental feat.

Today the Coral Castle is a well-known tourist attraction and worth a visit if you’re in the area.

That’s a touch act of love to top!

Here are some interesting little tidbits, traditions, and lesser grand gestures celebrating this day of romance by some of our neighbors around the world.

romance. There are beautiful gardens, trees, and homes decorated with cards of love and roses. It’s one of the most beautiful Valentine’s Day destinations in the world. There are weddings and marriage proposals in the Lover’s Garden. There’s even a Cupid’s Mailbox where you can mail your love letter.

Going back in time … it is believed that the first-ever Valentine’s Day card dates back to 1415 in France when Charles, the Duke of Orleans, age 21, sent love letters to his wife while he was held captive in the Tower of London.

Speaking of Valentine’s Day cards, in England and Scotland it is customary to send anonymous Valentine cards. This practice dates back to Victorian times when it was deemed bad luck to sign your Valentine’s card. Victorian Valentine’s Day cards are beautiful elaborate works of art; ornate and trimmed with lace, they would often hide little treasures.

In western England, a mysterious “Jack Valentine” knocks on people’s doors and disappears, leaving candy for children. (This is also, by the way, similar to how we celebrated Valentine’s Day growing up in New Jersey. We’d run around the neighborhood putting Valentine’s cards in our friends’ mailboxes located by the front door, ring the doorbell and run away as fast as we could!)

Strange little custom from the past … English women used to place five bay leaves on their pillows. This was done with the hopes to bring dreams of their future husbands.

turn a bad situation into a legacy of love.

Dating back to the 16th century … Wooden “love spoons” are a time-honored tradition in Wales. Welsh men present women with handmade carved spoons. This is an age-old tradition where Welsh sailors carve beautiful intricate designs into wooden spoons for their wives and girlfriends while at sea to pass the time. The carved symbols tell her how he feels and even how many children he wants.

SWEDEN

In Northern Europe

Sweden calls February 14 “Alla Hjärtans Dag,” or All Hearts Day. On this day, it’s customary to eat Kärleksmums. The closest English translation is “love treats” — little chocolate brownies cut into heart shapes.

In nearby Finland and Estonia, the streets are decorated in love-themed items in the weeks leading up to February 14. But it’s not just about romantic love; it’s celebrated as Friends’ Day, a celebration of platonic love as well. Families, friends, and couples get together to share meals and outdoor activities.

Romance is not excluded from the holiday, however. Couples still exchange gifts and get married on February 14. In high schools in Finland, students in a relationship wear red, and green if they’re single. In Estonia, single people can catch a ride on “love buses” designed for single people looking to meet their special someone.

Like other countries, Bulgaria celebrates Valentine’s Day in its own style. On February 14, “San Trifon Zartan” is celebrated, which means “day of winemakers.” Young and old couples celebrate their love with a glass of the local wine.

WALES

France is often thought of as the world’s most romantic country so it’s not surprising that Saint-Valentin, the only village in France that bears the name of the patron saint of love, declared itself the “Village of Love” in the late 1900’s.

During a three-day festival in February, the “Village of Love” turns into the epicenter of

In another part of the United Kingdom, Wales, the day of love is on January 25th and is called St. Dwynwen’s Day in honor of this 5th century Welsh patron saint of love. The Welsh equivalent to Valentine’s Day, St. Dwynwen’s Day is all about spreading heartfelt gestures and lovers’ well-wishes. This holiday shows us how we can

In the Czech Republic, Valentine’s Day has become very popular among young people. The festival is celebrated on May 1st when young couples go on a pilgrimage to Prague’s Petrín Hill Park to the statue of the romantic poet Karol Hynek Mácha, lay flowers, and kiss under the cherry trees for good luck.

In Slovenia, St. Valentine is one of the patron saints of spring. It is believed that on February 14

Throughout the world, lovers have found their own unique ways of celebrating the day devoted to love.

plants start to regenerate, as this day marks the first day of working in the fields for the new year. There’s a popular belief that birds “propose” to each other on this day. In order to witness this occasion, one must walk barefoot through fields that are often still frozen.

chocolate” respectively. These sweets are typically given to a male family member, boss, or someone unpopular.

The chocolates that women give their true love are far more luscious. Men can’t give the women any gifts until White Day, on March 14, one month after Valentine’s Day. Men who received chocolates on Valentine’s Day return the favor to the woman. On White Day, the most common sweets are candies, marshmallows, and chocolates.

JAPAN

Across the globe to Asia ... In southwest China, the “Sisters’ Meal” festival is celebrated on March 15. Women wear beautiful dresses with silver accessories – probably the most gorgeous Valentine’s Day custom around the world. They cook various dishes with colored rice offered on silk fabric to the young men passing by. Their destiny of love lies inside the object found in the chosen rice. Two chopsticks mean love, and a clove of garlic means the love is over before it has even begun.

In Japan, women make the first move on Valentine’s Day and give men “honmei-choco” — true feeling chocolate.

The tradition is a result of an inaccurate translation in an advertising campaign. In the 1950s, chocolatiers were promoting the western custom of giving chocolate to loved ones on Valentine’s Day. In the west it’s the man who gives the woman chocolate; the error suggested it was the other way around. Ever since, Japanese women have given chocolates to the men in their life on Valentine’s Day. And not just their partners, but also their male friends, colleagues, and even acquaintances they hardly know.

There are different levels of gifted chocolate, with “giri-choco” and “cho-giri-choco” meaning “obligation chocolate” and “ultra-obligatory

Valentine’s Day is one of 12 “love days” celebrated on the 14th of every month in South Korea. There’s “the day of love,” “the day of roses,” “the day of kisses,” “the day of hugs,” to name a few.

A strange one is “Black Day,” celebrated by single people on April 14. Single friends gather at restaurants to eat Jajangmyeon – noodles in black sauce – and mourn their relationship status.

In India Hindus celebrate love by honoring Kamadeva, the god of human love and desire, during the spring festival of “Holi.” People wear plant-based paint on their faces, throw paint at unsuspecting passers-by, sing, dance, and give friends special candies. This is also a time for forgiveness and harmony, as well as love and friendship.

It’s fun to look at the customs of other cultures and learn about their historical origins.

Wishing you a Happy Valentine’s Day, however you chose to celebrate.

…and

ready

STYLIST

by Marianne Howell

clockwise from left:

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CABANA OVERSIZED SUNGLASSES

J. CREW | $79.50 | JCREW.COM

MODELE ANDRE SANDALS

CARRIE FORBES | $348 | SHOPBOP.COM

THE QUEEN ANNE EARRINGS

LISI LERCH | $78 | LISILERCH.COM

IVORY CARINA ESPADRILLES

CASTANER | $140 | TNUCK.COM

TRAVELS

BY STEVEN

by Steven Eidelberg

The City of Love

This month I am inspired by love. I’ve never been a sucker for Valentine’s Day, but it made me think of some of the most romantic cities in the world, and one of the first to come to mind is Venice, Italy Now, many have said that Venice is a tourist trap, but I’ve found a few ways to truly enjoy and explore this city and its surroundings without a constant stream of tourists.

The first way is to stay away from the city in July and August if you want to avoid the crowds of tourists. The off-season can be fantastic! Plan your visit during early Spring or late Fall for cool but still mild temperatures, great hotel rates, and space to roam. Or the second way, which is my favorite, is to plan your visit during Carnival or Christmas – which can be a bit crowded, but with Italians, not tourists.

While a stay at the Gritti Palace, Danieli or Cipriani are worthy of their price tags, being magnificent former palaces, you may want to stay at the off-the-track Hotel Papadopoli near the garden of the same name for a reasonable rate and lovely accommodations.

Speaking of Cipriani, no visit to Venice would be complete without a meal, or at minimum, a cocktail at Cipriani’s Harry’s Bar. Not only will you share in its history of patrons including Ernest Hemmingway, Truman Capote, Winston Churchill … the list goes on … but also enjoy a delicious Bellini, where the drink was concocted in the 1930’s.

While we typically think of New Orleans or Rio de Janeiro for Carnival, often overlooked by Americans is the magnificent Carnival in Venice with

masquerade balls throughout the city, gorgeous masked costumes by all with entertainment and parades in St. Mark’s Square. But don’t worry, since the crowds are primarily Italian, you’ll still be able to take one of the famous gondola rides with a warm blanket and hot toddy, perfect for a couple in love, visit fantastic museums, and dine in world-class restaurants without much fuss.

You’ll want to have a fabulous mask which you can buy there, but if you really want to impress your friends, order one online at one of the famous shops in the city and pick it up upon arrival. I suggest, of course, speaking with a knowledgeable travel agent to secure your tickets to the balls, parades and entertainment, but if you want to do it on your own, visit https://www.carnevale.venezia.it/en

Next is to visit during Christmastime. As many of you know, the only way to get around Venice is by boat and just taking a regular ride from your hotel to a restaurant or walking the canals is a great free tour with so many of the homes and businesses lit up with festive Christmas lights. You can shop for unique gifts (and great food) in the Christmas Markets, the most famous being the Mercanti di Natale in Campo San Paolo, but there are many smaller and more romantic markets in Campo San Luca or Campo Manin.

Of course you’ll want to visit St. Mark’s Basilica and Bell Tower, but nothing is lovelier than to enjoy magical concerts in some of the many small churches which you will find from local notices or from your hotel concierge.

Finally, don’t miss a short ferry ride to the island of Murano, where the beautiful glass is made.

If you to go to Venice in the Summer, my best recommendation is to stay at La Gare Hotel Murano in an old glass factory with a free boat shuttle to Venice so you can escape the crowds in the evening and enjoy the lovely small island.

If I haven’t convinced you yet to plan a trip to Venice to celebrate (or give a gift) for Valentine’s Day, don’t’ worry … love and romance happen in Venice all year long, so be sure to plan a visit even if you go with a friend and the final goal is to meet the love of your life while there. You won’t want to travel the world and miss this City of Love!

Harry's Bar

Murano Glass

Church of Santa Maria della Salute

Steven Eidelberg

Steve Eidelberg is the owner of Cousu Main Travel, an affiliate of Cruise Brothers Travel, 401-369-8477, seidelberg@cruisebrothers.com, cousumaintravel@gmail.com

Hotel Gritti Palace Suite

Christmas in San Marco Square

Elvis

by Penny Cooke

“Swivel hips.”

Many used these words to describe this controversial entertainer in the Sixties. After watching the movie Elvis, I understand why.

The film is a biography of the famous Elvis Presley (Austin Butler who won a Golden Globe Award for his performance) as told through the eyes of his manager, Colonel Tom Parker (Tom Hanks), a former carnival worker. He takes you back from his hospital room to the birth of the Rock and Roll legend.

The film portrays Elvis’ life, from a poor boy born in Tupelo, Mississippi, to the most celebrated star in the world. The movie continually revisits Beale Street in Memphis and clubs in Mississippi where Elvis develops his love for music through African American artists, including BB King.

Colonel Parker runs from the carnival believing if he could find an act that would leave a smile on the face of all watching, he would be able to create “The Greatest Show on Earth.” When he hears a recording of this new voice out of the south and discovers he is “white,” his wheels begin to turn.

Parker meets Elvis that evening at the Louisiana Hayride Concert. Sly as a fox, he believes Elvis is his ticket to fame. However, he also realizes he needs exclusive rights to obtain this fame.

He persuades Elvis and his parents he is the one to bring Elvis to stardom and release the family from poverty. Although Elvis’ mother had an unction this was not the right thing to do, they signed the contract.

As Elvis performs in concert, he is charged by the police with “seductive dance moves” and faces legal trouble. However, Parker manipulates the government

to draft Presley into the U.S. Army instead of doing jail time.

During his service in West Germany, Elvis receives the devastating news of his mother’s passing due to her abuse of alcohol. He finds peace while grieving when he meets Priscilla Beaulieu, the teenage daughter of a United States Air Force pilot. After his discharge, he resumes his career and they later marry. Nine months to the day of their wedding, Pricilla gives birth to their only child, Lisa Marie.

The Beatles and other new groups appeared on the scene. Colonel Parker does his finagling to get Elvis back in the limelight by scheduling six weeks at the brand new International Hotel in Vegas which will also help cover Parker’s gambling debts. Unfortunately, Elvis becomes Parker’s slave to pay for his habit and becomes dependent on drugs, leading Priscilla to leave him on his birthday, taking four-year-old Lisa Marie with her.

After his commitment in Vegas, Elvis is off to fulfill his desire to travel and perform on an international tour.

He finally realizes he has been manipulated, and he fires Parker. Unfortunately, it backfires, and Elvis must return to Vegas. This time Colonel Parker works Elvis even harder, and Elvis succumbs to various drugs to keep up with his rigorous schedule.

On August 16, 1977, the world was overcome with grief and sadness as the announcement was made: “Elvis Presley has died.” After his death, Colonel Parker was exposed in numerous lawsuits for fraudulent findings regarding Elvis.

Elvis remains the best-selling solo recording artist of all time.

I grew up in the Sixties and the movie reveals many things I didn’t know about Elvis. Since I am limited to words, I invite you to watch the movie today.

ELVIS:

Tidbits of Trivia

• Actor Austin Butler says because he and Elvis both lost their mothers at 23, he felt he shared Elvis’ pain and used his grief in his performance.

• When production moved to Australia, Tom Hanks sent Austin Butler a chrome typewriter with a note he had written as “Colonel” Tom Parker. Butler used the typewriter to respond to Hanks with a note as Elvis Presley. They continued sending letters back and forth; Butler said it was a fantastic way to rehearse.

• Because Elvis wore eyeliner in real life to achieve the look, Austin Butler wore two sets of lashes and waterproof, long-lasting eyeliner.

• Excerpt from Elvis’ acceptance speech at the ceremony for the U.S. Jaycees Ten Outstanding Young Men for 1970:

“I learned very early in life that:

‘Without a song, the day would never end;  without a song, a man ain’t got a friend; without a song, the road would never bend; without a song.’ So I keep singing a song.”

— Elvis

Presley

Del Bates is an award-winning author and speaker. Her latest book “Walking in a Minefield -- A Sojourner’s Guide to Overcoming Life’s Obstacles” is available on Amazon. Del co-hosts the podcast Seeds of Hope with Penny Cooke Thursdays at 11:00 AM on Vero’s Voice. You can find more at Delbates.com.

Rated PG – Amazon Prime, Apple TV, HBO Max

Del Bates

BE MINE, Valentine

by Barbara Freund

Wrap these cookies in a pretty box with a bow … delicious little treats to share with your Valentine!

CHOCOLATE CHERRY BLOSSOM COOKIES WITH DRIZZLED CHOCOLATE

Buttery cherry almond shortbread cookies topped with a Hershey’s Kiss, and an extra drizzle of semi-sweet chocolate. It doesn’t get much better than this. Be sure to chill the dough completely before baking.

INGREDIENTS

3/4 cup unsalted butter, room temperature

2/3 cup sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon almond extract

1 Tablespoon maraschino cherry juice

2 cups all-purpose flour (spoon and leveled)

16 maraschino cherries (drained and chopped)

24 Hershey’s Kisses, unwrapped

4 ounces semi-sweet chocolate

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Before you start, make sure you have enough room in the freezer/ refrigerator because you’ll need to quickly chill the baked cookies with the Hershey’s Kiss on top in Step 8.

2. Using a stand mixer with paddle attachment, beat the butter on high speed about 1 minute, until creamy. Turn the mixer down to medium speed and add the sugar, vanilla and almond extracts. Scrape down the sides and the bottom of the bowl as needed.

3. With the mixer on high, slowly drizzle in 1 Tablespoon cherry juice. Beat for 1 minute on high.

4. Turn the mixer off and pour the flour into the wet ingredients. Turn the mixer on low and slowly beat until a very soft dough forms, then, with the mixer still running on low, add the chopped cherries. Beat just until the cherries are disbursed through the dough.

5. Press the dough down to compact it and tightly cover with plastic wrap to chill until firm, at least 4 hours (and up to 3 days). If the cookie dough is not sufficiently chilled, your cookies will spread all over the cookie sheet!

6. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats (silicone mats preferred to reduce spreading). Shape the cookie dough into 1 tablespoon balls. Make sure they’re nice and smooth. If you find that the balls

S.W.A.K.

of dough are sticky and/or have gotten a little soft after rolling, place the balls of dough back into the refrigerator to firm up. You absolutely DO NOT want soft dough.

7. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until very lightly browned on the edges. The cookies will puff up and spread slightly. Do not overbake. Check at 10 minutes.

8. Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes then gently press a Hershey’s Kiss into each cookie and quickly stick the baking sheet in the freezer or fridge so the warm cookie does not completely melt the chocolate. Let the Hershey’s Kiss set on the cookies in the freezer/ refrigerator for about 15 minutes.

9. Remove from the freezer/refrigerator and drizzle with chocolate: Melt the chocolate in the microwave, in 20 second increments, stirring after each increment until melted. Use a plastic condiment bottle to drizzle the melted chocolate over the cookies. (A fork or spoon will work, too.)

10. Store cookies covered at room temperature for 3 days or in the refrigerator for 6 days. Shortbread cookie dough may be frozen up to 2 months; baked cookies may be frozen up to 2-3 months. Makes 24 cookies

STRAWBERRY CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

Mixed with a little oil, chocolate chips, eggs, baking powder and vanilla, strawberry cake mix is the base of what may be the prettiest and softest cookies you’ll ever bake. And they’re pink for Valentine’s Day!

INGREDIENTS

1 box strawberry cake mix, like Duncan Hines

1 teaspoon baking powder

2 large eggs

1/3 cup vegetable oil

1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 and 1/4 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line large baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.

2. In a large bowl, mix together the cake mix and baking powder. Set aside.

3. In a smaller bowl, whisk together the eggs, oil, and vanilla by hand. Add the egg mixture to the cake mixture and stir to form a dough. Stir vigorously until all of the pockets of dry cake mix are gone. Gently mix in the chocolate chips.

4. Drop rounded balls of dough, about 2 Tablespoons each, onto prepared baking sheet. Stick a few more chocolate chips on top of the cookie dough balls if desired. Make sure the balls of dough are taller than they are wide. See here for more details.

5. Bake for 10 minutes. DO NOT let the cookies get brown.

6. Allow to cool on baking sheet for 3 minutes. They will be very soft at first. As they cool, the tops may settle down; press them down gently with your fingers if they are not sinking much. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Store in an airtight container for up to one week.

Makes 24 cookies

YOU’REMY JAM

RASPBERRY JAM THUMBPRINT COOKIES

These raspberry thumbprint cookies are super easy to make and a wonderful cookie to share on Valentine’s Day. Perfectly soft cookies are filled with a sweet jam… yum!

INGREDIENTS

1/2 cup salted butter (1 stick), room temperature

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup powdered sugar

1 egg yolk

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup finely chopped pecans

1/2 cup raspberry jam

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.

2. Line baking sheets with parchment paper. Set aside.

3. Using a hand mixer, cream the butter, brown sugar, and powdered sugar together until light and fluffy, about 1-2 minutes.

4. Mix in the egg yolk and vanilla. Stir in the cinnamon, nutmeg, flour, and pecans until just combined. Don’t overmix.

5. Roll the dough into balls and press a wooden spoon handle or teaspoon measurer into the center of the dough to make an indentation.

6. Fill the indents with jam and bake for 8-10 minutes, or until just set.

7. Let cookies sit on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack. They will still feel soft, but they will continue to harden as they finish cooling.

Makes 24 cookies

WORDS

by Beth Walsh Stewart

Wedding Bell

Blues Blues

Are you wearing a wedding ring? Is it on the fourth finger of your left hand? There’s a reason for this. An early Roman named Macrobius (395 AD) believed that humans had a vein running from the fourth finger on the left hand directly to the heart. He dubbed this the ‘vena amoris’, or vein of love.

Strangely enough, early Egyptians and Greeks had the same conviction, even though the circulatory system wasn’t discovered until 1628. What’s more, they designed a wedding ring to place on this vital finger to symbolize the eternal nature of marriage. Back then, rings were made mostly of hemp. If a woman’s ring was made of silver or gold, it attested that her husband trusted her with his wealth. Specifically in Egypt, a golden ring that was adorned with a diamond was believed to have the power to ignite eternal love when placed on the finger housing the vein of love. Thus, we have the historic birth of the engagement ring designed to magically make a woman swoon.

In the United States, marriage rates hit their highest point in the mid-1940s, with most historians citing World War II as a catalyst. Folks were marrying before and after deployment in an effort to keep hope alive.

Twenty-five years later, in 1970, Freda Payne hit the charts with the song “Band of Gold” with lyrics whimpering that all she had left of her dreams was a wedding ring. Her hit song seemed to define the sentiments of the nation. Statistics showed divorce numbers skyrocketed between the mid 70’s until the year 2000. Then, with the new millennium, the number of American marriages fell to mimic the numbers during the Great Depression, even though the population had grown exponentially.

Clearly, marriage is becoming a less essential feature in the portrait of modern America. Still, according to the Pew Research Center, love is cited more than any other factor in the decision to wed.

Many Americans are marrying later in life, cohabitating with a partner without the commitment marriage provides, and choosing to have children while unmarried. The current culture shows many deciding not to legally marry though operating with the same roles and responsibilities as married couples. (An exception is for LGBTQ couples, who have responded to legislation of same-sex marriages in 2015 by marrying at higher rates.)

“There is no other place in the developed world where marriages and cohabitations are more likely to come to an end in a short period of time. In the United States, about 23 percent of marriages and 55 percent of cohabitations end in divorce or separation within five years. Additionally, children in the United States experience a higher rate of parental partnership transition and turnover. Eight percent of children living with their mothers encounter three or more maternal partnerships by the time the children are 15 years old.” - Population Reference Bureau, https://www.prb.org/resources/marriage-and-partnership-turnover-for-american-families/

As we celebrate the month of love, it’s important to note that the institution of marriage is under attack. Perhaps it is a consequence of the loss of unity in the nation as a whole. Division has become a way of life in America. The fight for personal rights which we all shared has morphed into individual entitlement philosophies, with no thought of the betterment of the whole. As values change in the country, commitment becomes a choice instead of an obligation.

The downturn in marriage illustrates this new dogma. Children are living into a new social norm, and their witness of this cultural shift is teaching stilted morality.

Without commitment in the family home, it might be lost as a national principle. It’s time to pray for marriage in America, and for each one to work together to keep the institution a viable choice for the coming generations.

Beth Walsh Stewart, MTh, is the visionary behind the WeCovering Project and 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 best-known 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.

Beth Walsh Stewart

“According to the Pew Research Center, love is cited more than any other factor in the decision to wed.”

Look Through the Eyes of LOVE

by Pastor Alex Pappas

Being critical of someone or judging them is something that we as human beings seem to do so effortlessly. You can either be the person doing the judging, or you can be the one on the receiving end of being judged. Honestly, I have experienced both. I have felt the overwhelming hurt of being judged, and at the same time, sadly, I have been the one to judge someone else on certain occasions.

Jesus made an amazing statement:

MATTHEW 7:1–5 (NLT)

1 “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged.

2 For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.

3 “And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own?

4 How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye?

5 Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.

From the above passage we can see without a speck of doubt, that it is not acceptable for us to judge, because in the same way that we judge we will be judged.

Wow, that should be a wake-up call for all of us. This means that if you do not judge others, you also will not be judged. If you show kindness and understanding when someone is going through a struggle in their life, then you will find that when you are in season of difficulty; that kindness, mercy and understanding without judgment might be shown to you as well. In scripture we can see the pattern of sowing and reaping displayed over and over again.

Another thing that the above scripture teaches us is that before we try to take the speck out of our friend’s eye, we should first take the log out of our own. In other words, before we judge someone, we need to realize that we also have flaws and faults. Sometimes our shortcomings are even greater than the person we are judging.

Even though we sometimes succumb to our flesh, we should try our best to make it a priority to exercise grace and compassion instead of judging other too quickly. If we don’t, we can expect to be treated the same way by others.

Let’s be a people that show kindness, compassion, mercy, and most of all love.

REV’S VERSES

by Pastor Rich Ienuso

Let Us Love One Another

1 John 4:7-8 states:

“…let us love one another, because love is of God…he that does not love, doesn’t know God, because God is love.”

True love is from God. When we do not love each other, then we do not know God.

God is love. It isn’t easy to love the way God loves, but with His help, we have the ability to love, even our enemies.

Through the Holy Spirit, God’s love is poured out into our hearts (Romans 5: 5).

The Holy Spirit enables us to love each other. Rely on Him.

Love yaPastor Rich Ienuso

John 3:16

Pastor Alex Pappas is Senior Pastor at Oceans Unite Christian Center located in the Indian River Mall. Live broadcasts and podcasts are available at oceansunite.com

Pastor Rich Ienuso

“…before we judge someone, we need to realize that we also have flaws and faults.”

Pastor Alex Pappas

Delivery Locations

BEACHSIDE

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

Red Onion

The Tides

Ryder’s Gourmet Market

AMAC | Alex MacWilliam Real Estate

Charlotte Terry Real Estate

Di Mare Restaurant

Marine Bank

John Michael Matthews Fine Jewelry

Asian Fusion

Ryder’s Market

IN TOWN

Think Financial, 1340 US 1

1420 Coffee House, 2001 14th Ave

ACT Computers

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

Regency Park

Oak Harbor Club Crab Stop

Calvetti’s

Manatee’s

La Tabla

Rhonda’s Seafood

Mattress Market – US1

Postal Connection

CVS –17th

Sweet Kiss Ice Cream

Vero Beach Book Center

Dunkin Donuts

Vincent’s Italian

A & A Insurance

First Watch Restaurant

Hampton Inn

S.T.A.R. Pilates

Ceviche

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

Main Library

Renaissance Senior Living

Vero Beach Airport Lobby

CJ Cannon’s Restaurant

Perkins Pharmacy – Route 60

Oceans Unite Christian Center

Oceans Cafe

Mattress Market – Route 60

Brackett Library, IRSC

Larry’s Roadside Restaurant

Image 360

Kelly’s Irish Pub

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

American Legion

Orthopaedic Center of Vero Beach

Orthopaedic Center Physical Therapy

Dean Wellness Center

American Grill

Center City Pizza

Vero Beach Chamber of Commerce

The Red Wok Chinese Restaurant

The Rowe Gallery and Vero’s Voice, 95 Royal Palm Pointe