BEYOND THE BEACH HOUSE...

...at VeroNews.com





* cartoon source - Jeff Stahler






Well hard to believe hunnies, but little ole Miss Vero has been hangin’ around the cyberspace cocktail party for almost two years now. Y’all may have noticed that our blog, missverosbeachhouse.com, has some changes and additions in the form of youtube videos, facebook badges, myspace updates and a whole bunch of other such stuff and not too much actual bloggin’.



And y’all would be justified in askin’ “Miss Vero, just what in the H. E. double toothpicks is goin’ on?” and we’d have to remind y’all just how fast our world is changin’. Now some folks are really good at adaptin’ to change and others, well… not so much. Let’s just say that Miss Vero is always ready for the next big party.



Just remember when Miss Vero started there wasn’t much competition in terms of challenging the daily newspaper and its opinion columnist that claimed to represent Indian River County. Just how a local newspaper could appoint one of their insiders to speak for us, who had no idea who we were, ruffled our feathers a little too much and that started the whole blog ball rollin’.



Way back then in May of 2008, there weren’t no 32963 newspaper showin’ up in y’all’s mailboxes. There weren’t no Veronews.com to check out every morning and there weren’t no facebook with folks beggin’ for fans and attention. There was just little ole Miss Vero with some clever photos and our take on local politics, gossip, restaurants and parties. Now it seems everybody’s got a blog, a facebook page, or a half baked agenda.



We are actually thankful that Miss Lisa Zahner has taken over the political muckrakin’, that Keith Carson instantly posts videos on Veronews, that we run into Miss Mary Schenkel at almost every fun event and that it’s easy for new businesses to promote themselves with facebook. Even our once guest blogger Max Newport has his own forum. Shoot, we have to get in line to be snarky to some folks these days, but kids, we don’t mind one bit. In fact, now that the party’s in full swing, it’s time to start another party!



We would never want to be a passenger on a media Titanic and that’s where daily newspapers and radio are headed. Now we know some of y’all will argue, that there are those that still tune into there favorite radio show or like to get ink stains on their hands, but we bet that these are the same folks that still have “I like Ike” buttons in their sock drawer and when they’re gone…Well, let’s just say we don’t expect any children (anyone under forty these days) to fill up the gaps in the audience.



Our good friend Dr. John (who, we have a sneakin’ suspicion is over 40) asked us once, “Who in their right mind would pay for radio?” referring to the new subscription radio stations. Of course Dr. John and I can remember listening to radio programs, watching just five TV channels and getting up off the couch to change those channels. The answer is that cable TV changed all that and you’ll find it hard to find anyone who’s not paying’ for something that we all used to get for free. So yeah, paying for radio is not a strange idea for anyone that doesn’t remember those days.



By offering young folks exactly what they want in news, radio, TV (tivo and hulu!) and especially WHEN they want it on the internet, why should anyone waste their precious multitaskin’, textin’ time on any old media content? Can y’all image anyone cozyin’ up to the radio to listen to “The Shadow Knows” or waiting patiently in front of the TV for “Lassie” to return after a word from our sponsor? Nope, neither can we, those days are long gone, hunnie.



As much as we fondly remember old Florida, the smell of citrus groves, night bloomin’ jasmine comin in through the open jalousies, cool terrazzo floors, train travel, white gloved cocktail parties and Miss Lucy and Miss Alma Lee’s store - those things are behind us on our journey but certainly not forgotten. Someday kids will look back and remember the turn of the 21st century, the days before computers, when cars ran on gasoline that only cost $3 a gallon and those will be their “good ole days”.



The other night at a party, Miss Vero offered to write down some information and asked for a pen. “I never carry a pen anymore” Our acquaintance announced as his thumbs quickly typed our email info into his blackberry.



“What’s that thing called, y’all know what we mean, I’ma have to look that up.” A second later our assistant had googled on his Iphone and provided Miss Vero the answer to the question. If my phone chirps it’s a text and when it rings it’s an old friend. These days it’s doin’ a heck of a lot of chirpin’.



Well, this is now and we love livin’ in the now. Maybe we’re not the fastest to adapt but we sure are willin’ and that’s what’s important. So look for some changes and some “new media” at the Beach House. Let's just say we like to look at things from a different perspective. Miss Vero won’t mind one bit when the kids take over, it’s their world after all and the best we can do is offer some wisdom and a cocktail! We’re not sure they’ll take the advice but the cocktails nevah go to waste!



See y’all? Some things never change.



MWAH!

missvero@live.com

WHAT MORE COULD Y'ALL WANT?

Seriously. Russ Lemmon over at the PJ is still countin licence plates and gushin over his visits to Bob Evans. A Beach House reader just sent us the following email:

Hi Miss Vero,

I still visit your blog everyday and really like your Guest Writer Max Newport! You guys bring a new fresh perspective to Vero Beach. Very much needed in the absence of a REAL newspaper (least I mention its name). Now for the real reason I am writing. I have grown tried of the Russ Lemmon diatribe.
I woke up last Thursday hoping to read some feel good articles about Thanksgiving. Instead I found a sad sorry column by none other than Mr. Sour Lemmon. When is that man ever going to see beyond his selfish self? Everything he writes is about him, his vacations, his driving, his money, his birthday and nothing about Vero Beach and how some of our very dear charities are losing money or how low the donations have dropped our food banks! How sad that the editor let Sour Lemmon run the entire show there.

Which brings me to my point. I am thinking about starting a letter writing campaign pleading to the editor to ship Sour Lemmon out of town. Despite what we say about the depressed urinal it is still their duty to serve us the public. For so long there has been an outpouring of disdain for Sour Lemmon so when will that paper get us a real columnist? Someone that really cares about Vero Beach. I am so sick and tired of Russ and it seems like all my complaints have fallen on deaf ears there.

Let me know your opinion of this and if you think it will go anywhere.

Your fan, XXXXX

Hunny, y'all are preachin to the choir! But, what do ya'll think? Would a letter campaign get us a real Vero columnist? Miss Vero thinks it's "fruitless", since the editors at the PJ have never once responded to Miss Vero's correspondence, maybe y'all will have more luck, we'd like to believe that to be true.

Yes, it's wonderful having Max Newport, who we don't always agree with, but we just love him as our welcomed guest and of course, the fabulous LDouglas! The conversations are lively and intelligent - a true cocktail party if there ever was one!

Now, y'all know Miss Vero is always happy to bring new and excitin things to the Beach House. So on Thursday, we will have a very special theater review from the Royal Countess Du Rosland and we know y'all are going to be impressed.

Friday may bring us a new guest, someone, somewhat connected to politics and a fresh perspective at that!

And don't forget... the best local restaurant reviews and info online at our own widget box up on the right from Verobeachrestaurants.com!

Oh! And celebrity gossip from Mr. Jose Lambiet at the Palm Beach Post!

Local events, history, opinion, gossip, theater and restaurant reviews - Really, what more could y'all want? Just tell us, we'll add it! And we won't be fooled by commenters who use silly names like Mike Hunt, which apparently the PJ editors missed (or don't get):

http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2008/dec/02/indian-river-county-gives-orioles-until-dec-15-dec/?feedback=1#comments

Yes, comments to a story that we told y'all about long ago, THE BALTIMORE ORIOLES ARE NOT COMIN!

Should we even mention that we talked about Piper having lay offs back in May? Naah.

Now... we just got back from a little coctailin and cavortin and want to share some happy hour news from the Costa D' Este.

Happy hour at the Costa ? Yes, y'all, isn't that fabulous?

4:30 to 6:30...$5 mojitos and all well drinks and beer and wine by the glass, including premium wines...half off!! So spread the word...

And of course, here are the pictures we promised from the Love Doctor's toy drive, it's not too late to get down there, the Docs are in till 10pm tonight:

The Real Doctor - Dr. John dispenses some wisdom to a caller on the show.

The Love Doctors on a quick break. Not a bad lookin bunch!

Smile for Miss Vero boys!

(Dr. John knows us too well...)

Thanks to all the gang at Waldo's!



MWAH!

missvero@live.com

MAX ON MONDAY!

Now, before we get into the rather serious offerin that Mr. Max Newport has for us today, Miss Vero wants to remind y'all about the Love Doctors toy drive tomorrow. Our own favorite Dr. John will be in attendance and we hope y'all will be there too. They'll be broadcasting live from 10am till 10pm, so get yourselves over to Waldo's and make a donation!

Any amount of money would be great, the money buys more toys because they can buy toys at a discount, everyone volunteers so all the money goes to buyin toys, and all the toys are for local children. Even though Miss Vero is not a frequent listener of this particular radio station, we do know that this is a cause worth supporting, so we'll be out there and maybe we'll see y'all!

http://www.lovedoctors.org



The topic that our friend Max has chosen to bring up, is one that we've talked about previously, back in October. We actually took the time to go and meet with Mr. George Sigler, because we were interested in someone who spent the time and money to voice their opposition to a legal sentence, in the form of a paid opinion section in the Press Journal.

Now, Max is more than probably right on the legal technicalities, but Miss Vero tends to agree with Mr. Sigler - that the punishment was a bit harsh, especially when we've seen and heard of more serious crimes receiving less punishment. We suppose it's a matter of opinion, especially the Judges. Of course, the best advice we can give y'all is to not do anything so stoopid to get yourselves in a mess like that to begin with! But as we all know, try as you may, you can't legislate morality and as our Granmamie used to say - "That there stank was made long before anyone caught wind of it" - meaning, we think all of those involved had issues way before the crime was ever committed.









Every Form of Refuge Has Its Price
Max Newport

Denise Harvey. There I said it. The name that is guaranteed to stir controversy and at least a dozen or more comments if printed on TCPalm. There was a little research done for this article. Max does have a few friends who are attorneys, who work on both sides of the criminal justice system and spent some quality time talking with them to try to gain a little perspective on the legal ramifications that surround this case and yes, I took notes.

For those of you who are not familiar with the case, Ms. Harvey was convicted by a jury this past summer of five counts of having unlawful sexual activity with a minor. Each of the charges carried a maximum of 15 years in prison for a total of 75 years. She received a 30 year sentence on August 28th imposed by Circuit Judge Dan Vaughn which was the minimum legal sentence under the Florida Sentencing Guidelines, which the judge must follow unless there is a legally valid reason to go below the minimum sentence. Judge Vaughn found there was no valid reason for a downward departure and rightfully imposed the minimum legal sentence. Ms. Harvey is currently appealing her case to the Fourth District Court of Appeals and is out on bond pending their ruling.

This has caused a flurry of outrage in the form of angry letters to the editor and a petition drive started by a gentleman named George Sigler which claims over 1200 signatures complaining about the unjust sentence imposed on this defendant. The source of his motivation is unclear and since I don’t know, I will not speculate. What is clear is that those opposed to this sentence are looking for a double standard of justice to contrast between male and female victims of sexual abuse. There is no such distinction nor should there be.

The supporters of Denise Harvey claim the victim in this case, was lucky to have been seduced by the 38 year old mother of his close friend, who was a self-described MILF on her Myspace webpage. (If you don’t know what a MILF is, for God’s sake don’t Google it . . . you will forever contaminate your computer . . . just trust me that the first word is mother and the last word is the proverbial “f-bomb”). Max has always been attracted to females of my own age. When I was 16, my girlfriend was 16 and the concept of having sex with a mother of one of my best friends was just one thing on a long list of things I had never considered. It’s not that my friend’s mothers were not attractive; they were. As an adult, looking back, if a friend’s mom had attempted to seduce me, it would have been traumatic in so many ways. How would I deal with my friend, my parents, my girlfriend? How would my parents react to a fellow parent of a 16 year old they had trusted enough to be in the company of their child?

Why should it be different that the victim is male? Is there any evidence to indicate that 16 year old girls enjoy sex any less? So why is a 16 year old boy “lucky” to be seduced and a 16 year old girl “victimized”? Why did Roman Polanski not come back to the United States to attend the Academy Awards a few years ago?

Those who are complaining about this 30 year sentence need to go back to the basics. Why do we need a system of justice to begin with? Should George Sigler take the bench and decide what the sentence should be? How about letting the parents of the victim decide the sentence? Maybe Judge Vaughn should have asked for a Press Journal poll? Other Harvey supporters claim that other MILF offenders who were convicted received a much lesser sentence. Shouldn’t we strive for a justice system that treats each case on an individual basis? And despite what many consider an overly harsh sentence, she did receive the benefit of what has been designed as a uniform system of justice.

Based upon my legal advisors, the Florida Sentencing Guidelines were created so that equal justice would be meted out throughout the state. Prior to the enactment of the guidelines in the 1980’s criminal punishment was very inconsistent depending on where the conviction occurred. Without a minimum sentence, a person in Gilchrist County could get a 15 year sentence and a person would get probation in Dade County on the same crime. The guidelines are based on a scoresheet where points are added based upon the seriousness of the crime, the number of the crimes, victim injury or sexual contact, any prior record and other various components so that a point total is reached. For some reason 28 points is deducted from the point total and that number is multiplied by .75 to reach the legal minimum number of months a criminal must spend in prison. Denise Harvey was convicted of five offenses each involving sexual contact. Based upon that formula, which is used in all felony cases, Ms. Harvey scored to a minimum sentence of 30 years. The judge can legally impose a lesser sentence based upon mitigating circumstances which are articulated by the Florida Supreme Court. None of these applied in the Harvey case.

By happenstance, Max was in the courtroom the day Denise Harvey was sentenced. I was there to comfort an old friend who was feeling down; totally unrelated to the Harvey case. You would never know it by reading the Press Journal, but there were dozens of criminal sentencings that afternoon. Elliott Jones, who I respect as a reporter, bolted with his photographer right after her sentencing as if he had to actually scoop any other reporter in the courtroom (there were none). It’s too bad Elliott didn’t stick around because the guy right after Harvey was sentenced to life without parole for a crime involving a teenaged girl, but for some reason that didn’t make the news so you can’t read about that one.

From my perspective, I saw an unrepentant, almost defiant, defendant who refused to acknowledge any wrongdoing. The prosecutors pointed out that she had told the victim during a taped conversation to keep his mouth shut or she could get in a lot of trouble. There is no doubt that Denise Harvey knew she had committed criminal acts. Her defense attorney tried to argue a mitigating factor that “the victim was an initiator, willing participant, aggressor, or provoker of the incident.” The judge pointed out that since the purpose of the law is to protect minors; the minor is not capable of giving consent to the crime. Therefore he cannot be a “willing participant” to a law that was designed to protect him. Based upon what I heard in court, any sentence lower than the 30 years imposed would have constituted an illegal sentence.

After talking with my lawyer friends, they expect the Fourth District Court of Appeals to affirm the sentence since it is a legal sentence. The judge could have imposed a sentence of 75 years and the appellate court could not overturn it. They can only reverse an illegal sentence. The law allows the defendant 60 days after the ruling of the appellate court to file a motion to mitigate the sentence. By that time Judge Vaughn will be back on the bench in Fort Pierce and Judge Robert Hawley will assume Vaughn’s prior docket. My friends claim that Judge Hawley has a reputation as being quite lenient on the criminal bench, but if he follows the law he will be bound to impose the legal minimum sentence imposed by Vaughn. If he imposes anything less than a legal sentence, the state can then appeal the imposition of an illegal sentence.

What Denise Harvey did was wrong. She was caught dead to rights and her defiant attitude surely is not working in her favor. As the parent of three, I trust the parents of my children’s friends not to have sex with them, whether they are male or female. If she had "MILF’ed" one of my kids, you can bet I would be asking for 75 years and be very upset that she didn’t get the maximum sentence.

You will rarely hear Max agree with Hillary Clinton, but I do agree with the concept that it takes a village to raise a child. As parents we should all be looking out for the best interests of all of our kids.

Denise Harvey does not belong in our village.







MWAH!

missvero@live.com

DISASTER!

Well, now y'all know how we feel about that.


But come on, disaster? Yes it rained and yes, it flooded, but Miss Vero has been around Florida too long to think this is unusual. The only thing new is the availability of digital cameras, internet access and political photo ops -Hello Gubna Charlie! Like we told y'all yesterday, we live in a swamp.

We finally ventured out and went to visit our good friend, Dr. John, who made the very precise observation that if y'all fly over the state, it'll make you wonder how it's possible for anyone to live here at all. Among his many abilities, Dr. John is also a pilot. We are still wondering why WZZR doesn't give him his own damn show.

We have another friend from high school who went on to become a hydro geologist for Dade County and when we asked him about the aquifer, he told us - well let's just say it's not pretty. And for all of y'all that are out there splashin around in the new "lakes" in your neighborhood, well hunnies, look up these words - "cesspools" which are sometimes inhabited by "watermocasins". If those two ideas don't get y'all out them damn puddles, we don't know what will.


MISS VERO'S SECRET



Ok, it's time to fess up. We've been listening to Rhett Palmer. Yes we know, crazy, but true. But kids, ever since he made the claim that he was at Woodstock, we have wondered what else would come out his silly mouth and now that it's election time, he's had a lot of the local candidates on and we get to hear what comes out of their silly mouths too.

A few things that made us laugh and cringe:

So we're driving back from Dr. John's yesterday and Rhett is telling this story about trying to interview Mike Wallace and things keep going wrong and he doesn't get the interview. Then "by divine intervention" he meets Wallace in a movie theater and because he's been such a pest (he even knows he's a pest!) he finally gets the interview. Now the funny part is when Rhett says "divine intervention", his co-host David Walsh (who we love!) says "because God has nothing better to do than intervene for you"!

Then one day, Rhett has all four republican Indian River County Sheriff candidates on his show and announces that "one of these men will be the next Sheriff". Ok, so that pretty much means that if you are a democrat or non-party affiliate you're screwed in Indian River County. Hmm, should we even be surprised?

Speaking of republican conservatives, what's up with Charlie Wilson? He proudly runs his "conservative" radio and print ads taking the moral high ground and NOT wanting to teach sex education in schools, but is well known around town for leering at every blond that crosses his path.

Yes, let's apply the "just say no" technique to sex, because it worked so well for the drug problem.


Oh yeah children, Miss Vero is calling everyone out on the playground today.


Overheard and reported to Miss Vero:

At Tuesday's soggy county commission meeting, commissioner "A" asking commissioner "B" if commissioner "C" is "Miss Vero". Now y'all know we love the attention, but don't these people have more important matters of discussion or a county to run while a "disaster" tropical storm is looming? Ooops, rhetorical questions, sorry.


We were actually thinking of attending that particular meeting but an email from the Indian River County Emergency guy Tony Carper (no offence but we really miss Nate McCollum), said to stay home. Stay home means don't go anywhere right? So we didn't go, we watched the meeting later that day on their website and we noticed for the first time that they have something called an "invocation" before the meeting, which is a prayer!

Let's review:
Things that don't exist in Iran - Atheists, Homosexuals and Sex Education.
Things that don't exist in Indian River County - Atheists, Homosexuals and Sex Education.


Miss Vero is one that does not like to mix religion with politics or vice-a-versa and yesterday,when we were done laughing at, um we mean, listening to Mr. Palmer we turned our attention to NPR where this interesting discussion of that particular subject was featured:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93844916


And here's the article - "More Americans Question Religion's Role In Politics,
Some Social Conservative Disillusionment"

http://people-press.org/report/445/religion-politics


We said this before and we'll say it again, Miss Vero would like to point out that we feel the same way about some one's religion as we do about some one's penis - only bring it to light when asked and never, ever, try to shove it down some one else's throat.

The last time we uttered those words was in our very third installment of the Beach House (read May 2nd post "Forgotten Vero Beach") where we discussed the French Quarter restaurant. Maybe it was all the disaster flooding that ironically had us dining there again last night.

Kids, the place was packed! Chef Ian sure is doing something right, maybe it's the Thursday night lobster special. We were just happy to see one of our favorite people, Miss Anna, formally of Charlie's South Beach (another closed Vero restaurant). We can always count on Miss Anna to be absolutely charming and we adore the fact that her wine knowledge always makes us happy.

HERSTORY TOMORROW

We hear that there's a luncheon tomorrow, sponsored by NOW (the National Organization for Women). Here's the contact info:

Indian River NOW: Celebrate Women's Equality Day. Marsh Landing Restaurant, 44 N. Broadway, Fellsmere, 11:30 a.m. $16-$20. at the door. Registration: (772) 794-7773

http://marshlandingrestaurant.com/

Miss Vero has fond memories of way back when little Miss Vero had herself a job as a press liaison in Washington D.C. for NOW. But that was then and this is NOW now. A tamer version of the fiesty NOW, this is a quaint little group in Indian River County that are giving a forum to the women candidates and more importantly commemorating the anniversary of the woman's right to vote. Fellsmere, for all of y'all that don't know, was the first city in Florida to allow women to vote - five years before the 19th Amendment.

http://www.flcities.com/membership/city_trivia_fellsmere.asp

So it's fittin that there should be a luncheon at Marsh Landing and we think we will pop in and say hello to Miss Fran Adams, the queen of Fellsmere and Miss Sarah the mayor (if she's in attendance). In case y'all haven't noticed we sure do like Fellsmere. Did y'all noticed they weren't whining about floodin, they just got out the ole airboats and got around just fine. Not like these people:

ELITIST GOLFERS

Told to us by a John's Island resident - "Apparently after just getting off the phone with "God" and demanding that the rain stop, the next call was to the club demanding that the golf course open. Whomever this particular person is darhling, could not understand why his demand was not met and complained loudly to other club members."

Seems that some golfers are impatient to get back to their resource draining pass time, even Miss Vero got an email from our own club that assured us that all was being done to solve the drainage problems. One more time people - WE LIVE IN A SWAMP!

We're still sorting out our emails but here's a really great picture from our friend and beach real estate queen, Barbara Martino-Silva, who ventured out on the beach after the storm: http://activerain.com/blogsview/654336/WABASSO-BEACH-LIFEGUARD-STATION

And check this out! Another friend, who would like us to call him the "Irritable Chimp" (and Miss Vero will happily comply), sent us the coolest thing ever! We just, love, love, love this: http://verotube.com/

OK! We done wore out our welcome today! We know y'all were a little disappointed this week, cause we didn't keep y'all that entertained during the storm, but we sure hope we made up for it today. Thanks for all the emails!

Time to mix up the martinis and get ready for the weekend, see y'all Monday!

MWAH!

missvero@live.com

PARADISE LOST

First of all, let Miss Vero thank y'all for the wonderful emails and comments yesterday. We loved the suggestion of being linked to the PJ, but kids, y'all know that 's not gonna happen, besides that would just raise their stock and send ours plummeting. We are achievin our goals right here, thank y'all very much.

We sent an email to Miss Marilyn Bauer at the Press Journal, wondering why someone local isn't hired (cause y'all know the job will be filled by a newcomer, oh yes hunnies, mark my words), but she hasn't responded yet. hmmm...

Now today children we are going to talk about a place we swore we'd never review - Captain Hiram's. So stop groaning right now, y'all hear?

Since Miss Diana Foote is reviewing places she's never been to (and we all have) and since she saw fit to write about Hiram's yesterday and the PJ saw fit to print it and her other drivel (not our word, the one lone comment to her last two articles - and no, we are not providin the link).

We thought, well, we should take a crack at it.

Miss Vero has a long history with Hiram's going back 20 years or so. Now it's a giant tourist trap run by a management company, but back in the day it was the coolest partyin place this side of Key West. As Miss Foote found out, food is, or has never been the reason to visit, except if ya'll know what to order. Hiram's was once known as a raw bar and one of the original owners, Mr. Martin Carter, would fix you up a dirty oyster if he happened to be around the bar. He also had a very good recipe for Maryland crab chowder and a little unassuming guy called Captain Jimmy made the best crab cakes. All of these items made it onto the menu, but we much prefer the days when Captain Jimmy would come out of the kitchen himself with the crabcakes or Martin went behind the bar with Roxanne to get oyster fixins. We were there recently and glad to see Roxanne still behind the bar.

This is our favorite place to sit inside, probably because of all the great fun and fishin pictures. Miss Vero is sad to see that the great Don Ray art has been taken down to provide room for some lame flat screens spewing out sports programs. Our favorite was always "Snook in the Mangroves" (any idea what a snook is Miss Foote? good eatin, that's what). And that was how y'all got the best fish at Hiram's, y'all caught it and brought it in and they cooked it up.
http://www.donraystudio.com/donray.htm

Now the place got a bit a popular and Mr. Martin and his partner, Mr. Tom Collins (yup that's his real name), decided to pretty it up a bit and send the fishin boot wearin locals out to the dock area, so as not to disturb the genteel customers they were trying to attract. They put a little outside bar in the back, it was real cute with only seven seats, they called it "The Sand Bar."

There were two women who worked there, Miss Kate and Miss Margaret and they wore bikinis and sarongs and Hatmon hats and they kept the locals very happy and business boomed. There was Captain Terry, Cokie, Joey and Marcia, Scott and Leslie, Captain Buddy, Bobby, Captain Gus, Captain Bruce, Doug Moss and his dog Malei, Uncle Bill, Pete Harris, George and Dr. John, just to name a few.

Hatmon was "imported " from Seacrets in Ocean City Maryland, (now y'all know where the Maryland Chowder came from) and it was on the success of local business and the idea to replicate Seacrets that Tom Collins built the Sand Bar y'all see today. In fact if y'all take a look at the Seacrets website, it will look strangely familiar.
http://www.hatmon.com/

http://www.seacrets.com/

There were so many great stories and people that were present at the birth of the Sand Bar. Sadly some of them are gone forever. We already told y'all about Pete Harris in our June 18th post "Mad about Micco" and one of these days we promise to tell y'all about Doug Moss, but one person y'all should know about is Dr. John. He is the only original regular that has a plaque at the Sand Bar.


Now first off, don't get any fool ideas about pesterin Dr. John with stoopid questions or askin him about Miss Vero. As we told y'all in previous posts, he is one of the smartest people we know ( there's only a handful) and he is a Doctor of psychology, so he can see your BS from a mile away. And if that doesn't deter y'all, he's a feisty Irishman from Newark, NJ. who will make that very clear to anyone who annoys him. Y'all might have heard him on the Love Doctors, he's a guest quite frequently. We are still wondering why WZZR doesn't give him his own damn show.

Dr. John Dispensing Wisdom

We suppose the reason we chose to tell y'all about Hiram's is because it no longer exists, not in the way it used to. It's like Sebastian and Vero Beach, still there, still thriving, but not as folks who have been here a while remember. New people come along like Diana Foote and Russ Lemmon, who haven't lived here long but get paid to tell us old timers about our own surroundings. We know it will never be the way it was and that's life kids, things change. But what we need is something to hold onto while we make that transition. We need to build that change on the foundation of the past. We need the new folks to know who the plaques belong to and why. Miss Vero sincerely hopes to give y'all that. We'll do our best.

Now let's mix up a cocktail and start the weekend! See y'all Monday..

MWAH!

missvero@live.com

PICKED UP ON THE BEACH

As we told y'all yesterday, we are tryin very hard to keep up with y'all from a distance. Since it's Friday and we've got a lot going on, Miss Vero is offering a few little tidbits to keep y'all happy till Monday.


Gloria Estefan Hoopla
Being that Miss Vero is in New York and we are so fabulously well connected, we got a chance to speak with Mrs. Estefan's literary publicist yesterday. Just in case you thought Mrs. Estefan was all about hotels and Latin rhythms, let Miss Vero be the first one to tell you that she has written two best selling children's books and her next one will be published in 2009. The stories are all about Mrs. Estefan's favorite bulldog Noelle:
http://www.harpercollins.com/books/9780060826239/The_Magically_Mysterious_Adventures_of_Noelle_the_Bulldog/index.aspx


A Tale of Two Beaches
Wow. check out his letter on the VeroBeach32963 web site:
http://www.verobeach32963.com/Editorials/Risinger-letter.htm
Miss Vero gives them a lot of credit for printing that.


Real Estate Rumblings
On the lips and minds of all of Miss Vero's real estate buddies, the invasion of a Palm Beach based reality group on the beach. Now we hafta ask, why are y'all so surprised? Miss Vero can't believe that the Corcoran group isn't here yet, probably just a matter of time:
http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2008/jun/19/norris-premier-estate-form-real-estate-alliance/

Thank You Dr. John
For lettin us know the where abouts of Trilogy. For all of y'all that was wonderin like Miss Vero, the band is playin at Squid Lip's in Sebastian:
http://www.squidlipsgrill.com/events_calendar.jhtml?method=listAll

How The Heck?
We hear that Rhett Palmer has Charlie Wilson (played by Tom Hanks in the film "Charlie Wilson's War"?) on his show. We wondered to a friend if there is some kind of secret initiation for the Bill O'Reilly fan club that requires a session with ole Rhett?


Have a good weekend kids, keep Miss Vero posted and we'll get back to y'all just as soon as we can. Now let's see - where's that recipe for Long Island Ice Tea?

MWAH!

missvero@live.com

BREAKFAST OF CHAMPIONS!

Y'all know where this is? It's Earl's Hideaway! Miss Vero got these groovy pics offa their website:
http://www.earlshideaway.com/about.html

Miss Vero loves Earl's for serving alkeehol at 7am! And in all the years Miss Vero has been in and about Indian River County, we've only been tossed outa one establishment and we're proud to say it was Earl's! Yup only once. Just one time there was a teeny, tiny little misunderstanding . But children, that was back in the lazy crazy days of Sebastian and that place and time no longer exists.

SEBASTIAN PART ONE

These days, Miss Vero gasps in disbelief at the Key West style McMasions, along Indian River drive. We like to take that route when we are going to visit the Count and Countess du Roseland, their tasteful and incredibly artistic home is (thankfully) hidden among the neighborhood. Driving along the river, Miss Vero is reminded of just how cool Sebastian used to be. Change is inevitable, yes, but who'd ever thought they'd see the day when Earl's had a website?

Billing itself as "The Only Biker Bar You Will Ever Need", Earl's has certainly lost it's danger factor over the years. Miss Vero remembers when she first came to town and was warned - "Don't EVER go to Earl's, you'll get stabbed!" To which Miss Vero enthusiastically begged - "Let's Go To Earl's!"
Now that Harley Davidson's are as common as dirt, it seems that anyone with an extra ten grand and a mid life crisis has one. Miss Vero prefers her hog owners to be the old school type. The ones that could make you shake in fear or fall in love, preferably both in the same night. But let's not scoot down that road.

SOME GOOD ADVICE

Speaking of manly men, Miss Vero had a pleasant chat yesterday with, pull no punches, Dr. John. Miss Vero and Dr. John have had many good times along that riverfront. Y'all remember Dr. John? Our Love Doctor friend? Refer to our May 9th blog "Vero Porn and the Pursuit of Happiness" if-in you need a refresher. Miss Vero wonders why that WZZR radio station doesn't give him his own damn show? Obviously, there is no lack of people needin a quick dose of mental health care in this area and our Dr. John is just the one to dispense it. That's always the way, isn't it kids? People who make sense are silenced while stupidity reigns.

Speakin of Stoopid -Have a safe weekend children, remember it's amateur time so the Po-Po are out in full force just waitin to give y'all a room at the IRC Inn. Don't be an idiot, hire yourself a damn cab, so much cheaper than a DUI. Miss Vero does NOT know this from experience because we take our own advice. And if any of y'all go to Earl's for their Memorial Day bash, have a cocktail for me.

MWAH!

missvero@live.com

VERO PORN AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS

THE ROCKY ROAD NOT TAKEN
At one time Miss Vero was approached by a friend (who WILL certainly remember Miss Vero, because he is an extremely smart man), askin if Miss Vero had considered becoming a Dominatrix. After all, certainly there was a call for this type of service by the beachies, this friend explained. Being that he is a honest to goodness real psychologist he must know this to be true. And given some lurid stories that Miss Vero has heard over the years - A Mrs. John's Island answering the door and showin a working gal into the study to promptly service Mr. John's Island, a big closet o'porn toys and costumes in another prominent beachie household, you know things like that - we tended to agree. However, having a friendship with a big time Madame in Melbourne, Miss Vero was all too familiar with the ins and out, so to speak, of that business and much preferred to remain fabulous and lush-cious in our own way. For all of y'all that don't know, Miss Vero is a peace lovin, live and let live type, who does not rush to judgement excepting if you are a demented child molester, a puppy kicker or a self proclaimed jesus supports my war republican. Yes, we are talking about the pursuit of happiness today kids - not the pursuit of a penis.

THE LOVE DOCTOR
Now this psychologist friend mentioned above, Dr. John, deserves some recognition. One, because Miss Vero absolutely adores him and two, because in the last few years he was featured on a radio program called the "Love Doctors" where, in fact, he is the only actual doctor. Now Miss Vero does not usually listen to this radio program, being a NPR only gal, but Miss Vero would tune in to hear the handsome voice of Dr. John, who happens to be a real man's man, no fooling around kind of guy. Miss Vero will also admit to keepin that radio alternating between WQCS and The Love Doctors during that awful, awful never again time (Sheriff Roy banned the sale of Alkeehol!!) after those hurricanes in 2004.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Love_Doctors
So a big juicy double MWAH to Dr. John for all of the love.

MR. LEMMON'S PORN FAUX PAS
Oh dear. It seems that Mr. Lemmon might be in a little hot water. Yesterday's opening line certainly pleased Miss Vero, but calls and e mails ranged from howling laughter to scathing critisim of Mr. Lemmon's journalism skills. Thank you to a loyal fan who set the record straight on the TCpalm comment arena.

http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2008/may/08/30gtpaladin-uses-rain-barrels-to-make-political/?feedback=1#comments

Miss Vero certainly hopes that Mr. Lemmon has not endangered his lucrative PJ gig or raised the ire and suspicions of Mrs. Lemmon by inadvertently steering readers to a porn site! Yes, it is infinitely more exciting than the current ridiculous discussion of rain barrels, but Miss Vero is certain that Mr. Lemmon was mentioning moi and not some strap on queen from nooyork city.

Hide your eyes children, Miss Vero must now give Mr. Lemmon a mild verbal spanking. Well, well, well. Hmm let's see...If I were a professional journalist, I would do a little digging before publishing my references to a blog. Fabulous as this blog may be, it apparently is too new to pop up in search engines and is eclipsed by the - not so bad actually -porn site of another Miss Vero. But really Mr. Lemmon, this is exactly the sort of thing that you do that caused you to become a blip on Miss Vero's radar screen in the first place. Now that you've opened the door on the Beach House, it would probably be wise to give people the address. And don't worry too much, you will notice that while this blog is geared to an adult audience, Miss Vero never tells lies or uses any cuss words so as not to offend. In fact if one does find themselves offended, we offer this advice. Like with any offensive material that comes streaming in or FOX news, put it down, turn it off, don't read it. Anything else would be censorship and we most definitely do not support that.

Time for a morning mimosa kids, back on Monday.

MWAH!

missvero@live.com