New Board and Officers Announced for MSVB
Daniel Fourmont has been re-elected as President of Main Street Vero Beach (MSVB) for a second term (2009-2010) at the MSVB Annual Board Meeting held earlier this month. Fourmont will serve in this capacity along with fellow officers Peter Jones-Vice President, Paul Newman-Treasurer and Janie Hoover-Secretary. Returning board members include Suzan Phillips, Olske Forbes, Rosemarie Hatch, Betty Armistead, Billy Moss, Randy Haygood, Mary Jayne Kelly, Ralph Monticello, Robert Votow, Samantha Brackett and Terry Torres.
The newest members inducted on to the board include Indian River County Commissioner Peter O’Bryan, Hibiscus Festival Committee Chair Milt Thomas, Original Town neighborhood President Linda Hillman and Osceola Park neighborhood President Vicky Gould.
Executive Director is Maria Kovachev. Event Publicists are Beverly and Martin Paris of Paris Productions.
According to Fourmont, “The Board is quite proud of our achievements this past year, and I am pleased to be continuing as President for this next term. Our downtown events are well executed and attended by many community residents, businesses and non profit organizations. Examples include Saturdays in the Park with Artists and Authors, the first Saturday of each month (beginning November 7) from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and the continuation of our popular Farmers Market every Friday morning from 9:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m., located under the oak trees on the corner of 14th Avenue and 21st Street. The community looks forward to our Downtown Friday events held 4-5 times annually, and of course the annual Hibiscus Festival which will be held on April 16 and 17, 2010.We have a number of exciting plans on the drawing board for 2010 including the re-establishment of the old Florida Theatre. We look to the people in the community to join us in our mission.”
Main Street Vero Beach is a group of interested residents, property owners, government, business, and professional people dedicated to the promotion of civic pride and community involvement in the historic downtown area. This association works to make downtown Vero Beach an attractive, safe place to live, shop, work and play. For more information on how to become involved in MSVB, call Daniel Fourmont at 772-563-2302, Maria Kovachev at 772-480-8353.
The Downtown Friday committee was recently invited to attend a City of Vero Beach Council meeting toaccept a proclamation recognizing the 15th Anniversary of Downtown Friday. City Council members, along with Mayor Sabin Abell, addressed the meeting’s audience as they proclaimed October 23, 2009, “Downtown Friday Day” and presented the written proclamation to event Chairman Robert Votaw. The document will be placed at the Main Street Vero Beach office at 2036 14th Avenue. Pictured are (front row left to right) Susan Viviano Marty Paris, Donna Roberts, Beverly Paris, Robert Votaw, Cathie Callery and Lesa Talbott. (Back row left to right) Tom White, Tammy Vock, Sabin Abell, Debra Fromang, Bill Fish and Kevin Sawnick.
90th Anniversary Party Photos
Inaugural Teen Social Scene to be held on November 5
The Hibiscus Festival committee, Dillard’s, Plumbago Volunteer Services and the Heritage Center invite Indian River County young ladies between the ages of 16 to 21 to attend the first-ever Teen Social Scene. This inaugural event will be held at the Heritage Center , 14th Avenue in historic downtown Vero Beach on Thursday, November 5 from 6-8:00 p.m.
The Teen Social Scene will offer the opportunity for young ladies to register to be a candidate in the 2010 Miss Hibiscus Pageant which will occur on April 16, 2010. The first 20 registered as a candidate will have the chance to select their pageant dresses from Dillard’s and later be able to purchase them from Dillard’s with a 20% discount. The winner of Miss Hibiscus 2010 will have the ability to keep her dress as a gift from Dillard’s along with a $1,000 Cash Prize from the Hibiscus Festival!
All Teen Social Scene attendees will enjoy a teen fashion show at 6:30 p.m. as Dillard’s Presents Hot Fashions & Accessories for this season’s high school social scene. Plus…what’s up and coming for future prom dresses! Models will include previous candidates from the 2009 Miss Hibiscus Pageant featuring Chloe Rose the 2009 Miss Hibiscus. The Color Experience Salon and Dillard’s Beauty Advisors will talk about and demonstrate the latest hair styles and make-up techniques. They will be handing our free samples and the opportunity for someone to win one free makeover.
Bring your girlfriends, boyfriends and mothers along with you. Admission is $5.00 and will include one chance to enter to win a formal dress from Dillard’s. Entertainment will be supplied by the Mercury and Urban Warfare Bands, many door prizes will be handed out courtesy of Dillard’s and light refreshments will be served. Hang out with your friends and have a great time. This special event is presented by The Hibiscus Festival/Main Street Vero Beach, Plumbago Volunteer Services and Vero Heritage Inc. It is underwritten in part by Dillard’s, Natalie’s Orchid Island Orange Juice and Coca Cola. Printing Sponsor is ABC Schumann Printing. For more information or to become a model for the Teen Social Scene, call Darlene at 453-5727.
Free Transportation to the 90th Anniversary Celebration Site
The City of Vero Beach Recreation Department and Department of Public Works Survey Division have organized a Free Shuttle Route to assist anyone who would like to park their car throughout the downtown area and ride instead of walk to the Celebration Site. The Celebration will take place along 14th Avenue, between 21st Street and 23rd Street, inside the Heritage Center, Courthouse Executive Center, Vero Beach Community Center, historic Train Depot, Pocahontas Park Playground and on the south lawn of the Heritage Center.
Courtesy of the Senior Resource Center, a free, wheel chair accessible shuttle will pick up and drop off at the following locations: 16th Avenue/Courthouse Parking Garage, 15th Avenue/east side of the Courthouse, Corner of 15th Avenue/22nd Street. 21st Street/14th Avenue, behind the Shuffleboard Courts/Heritage Center, and behind Pocahontas Park playground/Vero Beach Community Center.
The shuttle will run between the hours of 4:30-10 p.m. A golf cart, courtesy of Indian River Medical Center will be driving through the Celebration Site transporting passengers from one activity to another.
For additional information call 978-4500. Download the Transportation Map
Vero Beach Power Squadron Presents The History of Vero Beach
When visiting the City’s 90th Anniversary Celebration on Friday, October 16, be sure to check out a slideshow by the Vero Beach Power Squadron inside the Heritage Center from 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. The slideshow, produced by Daniel Thomas, Ed.D., Education Officer for Vero Beach Power Squadron and Fleet Captain of the Vero Beach Yacht Club, reveals scenes of a very early Vero Beach from the rapid growth in the 1930s, to the 1950s when Vero Beach became known for “Sun, Sand and Lots of Fun.” The thirty minute slideshow will display pictures of very early Vero (before it became Vero Beach ) where hard work and the efforts of many people brought growth to our little section of Florida . It continues (all the while playing music from each period of time) as Vero grew and we saw the Driftwood, the McKee Jungle Garden and an early Community Center appear. Vero was very much a part of the efforts during World War I and II and as shown through pictures of the "Home Guard", the Vero Train Depot and very early schools and churches.
Discover how the airport was taken over by the federal government and became a U.S. naval air training station and how local establishments were appropriated to house, feed, and entertain the troops. It was during this period of time that the "Miracle Mile" was developed and the Dodgers came to town.
Wonderful beaches and tourist attractions began to put Vero Beach on the map after World War II. Many unique buildings and attractions developed including the Ocean Fishing Pier, Sexton Plaza , bridges over the Inter coastal Waterway and the construction of additional churches and schools.
Continuing to the present time, the slideshow will show current photos of today's Vero showing the changes that have taken place since 1919.
The slideshow is in part contributed to by Beth Moulton of Vero Beach Magazine, Art Neuberger of the Antique Automobile Association of America and Tony Young of the Indian River Genealogical Society. Bill's TV Service Center and Bill's Audio & Video Innovations are donating the use of a television for the presentation.
Pioneer Family Descendants Visit Historic Vero Beach Site
In preparing for the City of Vero Beach ’s 90th Anniversary Celebration on Friday, October 16 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. in downtown Vero Beach , some of the Vero Beach Pioneer family descendants spent some time visiting the former Train Depot now home to the Indian River County Historical Society located on 14th Avenue and 23rd Street in historic downtown. Inside the Depot one can discover a bevy of old photographs, railroad memorabilia, historic books and maps…all of old Vero Beach . Outside stands an antique hand trolley, once used when the Depot was utilized for the trains coming through the center of town. Pictured on and around the hand trolley are (seated) Left-Helen MacWilliam Glenn and Elizabeth Graves Bass; Rear-Left to right) are Robert MacWilliam, Tony Young and George “Bud” Young.
Enjoy a Personalized Walking Tour in Historic Downtown Vero Beach
Vero Beach’s Joan Edwards is a retired teacher who taught Florida and Indian River County history in the Vero Beach classrooms for many years. Not only is she proficient at telling all the tales of long ago, she is extremely proud of her self taught Vero Beach knowledge and enjoys sharing it.
To that end, Joan leads semi-regular downtown walking tours and has become a Pied Piper of sorts for those interested in knowing about what was in downtown in the early years, facts about many of the Vero Beach Pioneer families and many interesting anecdotes to accompany her data. Joan is a prominent member of the Vero Beach’s 90th Anniversary Celebration committee, an event that is planned for October 16th from 5:30 to 8:30 pm. in downtown.
During the two hour walking tour, Joan gives a 20 minute overview timeline of the city's history which also includes a handout. The walk weaves its way throughout downtown visiting the old buildings and Historic Registry buildings, while hearing about the different eras of the city’s history including the Cuban American baseball team, the changing of our county name and why, the thread of the "mosquito" in our history, the WWII era, and all the personalities past and present. Walkers will see wall murals and art work along the way and will be introduced to the Rotary Fountain, restaurants and galleries of the area. The group walks along 14th Avenue, visiting the Courthouse Executive Center (the original County Courthouse), the Old Train Depot (now home to the Indian River County Historical Society), Citrus Museum, Heritage Center, and the old Florida Theatre. Joan also includes a Did You Know discussion that touches on the fact that The Seminoles were the third group of Native People in the area, Route 60 was once named Osceola Boulevard and 14th Avenue was Seminole Avenue. Downtown has Pocahontas Park but Pocahontas wasn't even from Florida! She points out the Hibiscus on the turtle in front of the Heritage Center along with its Seminole Design and map of Downtown Vero on its belly, painted by Main Street Vero Beach board member Suzanne Phillips for the Mental Health Association.
Joan has been known to do tours for up to fifty and is offering two special tours on Thursday, October 15 in honor of the 90th Anniversary. One tour will be held at 10:00 a.m. and the other at 1:00 p.m. The meeting spot is in front of the new Courthouse by the Parking Garage. Restroom stops will be made on the walk. No reservations are needed and the tour is free. The only caveat is to wear comfortable shoes.
The City of Vero Beach to Celebrate 90th Anniversary
Mayor Sabe Abell, and Vice Mayor Tom White, along with Bill Fish, Debra Fromang and Kevin Sawnick of the Vero Beach City Council, have collectively appointed City Clerk Tammy Vock to chair the upcoming City of Vero Beach 90th Anniversary Party on Friday, October 16th.
“This is the City’s opportunity to share some of our history, accomplishments and local talent in one fun way,” shares Ms. Vock. “We have reached out to others in the community who are proficient at organizing events like the one we plan to present, and along with other city officials, look forward to a wonderful community celebration commemorating the incorporation of our 90th year. We invite all residents to put the party date on their calendars now.”
The event is planned to be held from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on October 16th on the grounds of the Heritage Center ( 21st Street and 14th Avenue ) in historic downtown Vero Beach . Plans include a variety of live entertainment, food vendors, Downtown Friday Beer Garden, historic booths and antique auto displays as well as the introduction of city officials, pioneer families and other special guests.
Logo Established for Vero Beach’s 90 Anniversary Celebration
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The City of Vero Beach is celebrating their 90th anniversary on Friday, October 16, and chairperson (City Clerk) Tammy Vock asked the celebration planning committee to investigate a logo to represent the historical significance of the upcoming event.
Main Street Vero Beach Director Maria Kovachev stepped up to the plate and before long, local artist Stacy Ekey created a logo.
Ms. Ekey’s talent has been popping up all over Vero Beach; on the cover of the 2009 Cultural Council Event Planner, a colorful TurtleTrax turtle for the Mental Health Association, one of 6 banners hanging throughout downtown for the Main Street Vero Beach organization, T-shirts and yearbook covers for Rosewood Magnet School and currently she has a mural in progress on the exterior wall of 14th Avenue’s Beach Bum Bagel.
Each piece of my art tells a story of a person, a feeling or a moment captured freehand with watercolor and pen. Creativity has always come very naturally to me. I am in love with the fact that art itself can freeze moments for lifetimes to be shared with others for generations.”
Ms. Ekey conceived the idea of using oranges as the highlight of her logo art as she sees citrus as the common link within the community of Vero Beach .
According to Ms. Ekey, “Citrus was a natural to intertwine in my art and it took approximately eighteen hours to complete. The City will be using the art in all their event advertising and promotional materials. I was thrilled to be asked to participate and it is my contribution to the City of Vero Beach .”
The 90th Anniversary Celebration is planned to be held from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on October 16th on the grounds of the Heritage Center ( 21st Street and 14th Avenue ) in historic downtown Vero Beach . Plans include a variety of live entertainment, food vendors, historic booths and antique auto displays as well as the introduction of city officials, pioneer families and other special guests.
For more information about the event, contact Ms.Vock at 978-4700.
Pioneer Families to Participate in 90th Anniversary Celebration of Vero Beach
On Friday, October 16, Vero Beach will celebrate its 90th anniversary at a party in historic downtown Vero Beach . The event, chaired by City Clerk Tammy Vock and her committee of local historians, community leaders and business volunteers, will kick-off the activities from the main stage in Pocahontas Park (on the south lawn of the Heritage Center ) promptly at 5:30 p.m. Welcoming the gathering crowd with Mayor Sabin Abbell and City Council, will be other local dignitaries and representatives of many Vero Beach pioneer families who have made so many contributions
to our community over the past.
In definition, a pioneer is one of those who first enter or settle a region thus opening it for occupation and development by others, i.e. to take part in the beginnings, initiate, guide. Several of these pioneer family representatives who will speak at the dedication include Marvin Carter, Helen McWilliam Glenn, Alma Lee Loy and Buck Vocelle. The City will recognize, by name, some of the other special families who were so much part of the history of our community….names like Sexton, Tripson, Gifford, Zeuch, Macwilliam, Schumann, Holman, Helseth, Graves,Vocelle, Michael:Carter, Loy/Guy, Redstone, Young, Fletcher, Howard, Maher, Idlette, Schlitt, Wodke, Radinsky, Smith, Hensick, Buettell, Walker, Tippin, Streetman/Hogan, Poppell, Grice, Dubose, Beindorf, Jackson, Kennedy, Thompson, Henderson, Russ, Orth/Clemann, Block, and Whitfield.
Oher party activities will include a variety of live entertainment, food vendors, Downtown Friday Beer & Wine Garden, historic booths and antique auto displays. For more information about the event, contact Ms.Vock at 978-4700.
The Dyer Difference Makes a Difference for Popular Non-profit Event
Downtown Friday’s “Summer in the City” was held on Friday, July 31st featuring lots of live music, children's activities, water slides, Christmas in July, Busch Wildlife Sanctuary, ice cream, all American cookies and beer, plus lots of food and fun for the entire community! These events were made possible by the generous support of area businesses such as Dyer Chevrolet, Mazda and Subaru which provided funding through their July Dyer Difference Award Grant. Media sponsors were Press Journal and 93.7 The Breeze. Presenting Sponsors were Main Street Vero Beach and Southern Eagle-Budweiser.
New Artistic Banners Dedicated in Historic Downtown Vero Beach
Twenty-four artistic banners are now hanging from flagpoles in the
historic downtown sector thanks to six local artists, the City of Vero Beach, and an artistic collaborative effort put forth by Main Street Vero Beach and the Cultural Council of Indian River County.
Out of twenty-five submissions in a banner competition, six colorful pieces of art have been reproduced on banners thanks to the selected artists: Winners and their art include long-time Downtown Friday artist Bernice Brown O’Brien with “Pocahontas Building,” Artists Guild Gallery artist Dawn Mill with “Historic Theatre,” Gallery 14 Dorothy Hudson with “Green Market Flowers,” “Hibiscus Festival Poster winner Ivo David with “Centennial Fountain,” Cultural Council Planner cover artist Stacy Ekey with “Hibiscus Building Bagel Shop” and acclaimed local artistRene Guerin with “Railroad Tracks.”
City of Vero Beach’s - 90th Anniversary Celebration Poster
The City of Vero Beach invites artists of all ages to submit images of artwork to be considered for the 90th Anniversary Celebration Poster. The Celebration will be held in historic downtown Vero Beach on Friday, October 16 from 5:30 p.m. to 830 p.m. The celebration will recognize the 90th year of Vero Beach ’s incorporation.
The theme of the artwork must have an historical theme relating to the 90 years (1919-2009) of development and culture in City of Vero Beach. The image may be horizontal or vertical. Electronic images only will be accepted. The artwork must be 18” x 24” at 300 dpi. Artwork must include the artist’s signature within the work but no headline or copy will be accepted on the artwork. The poster will be used to promote the Anniversary Celebration and act as a beautiful keepsake of the event.
Images may be submitted via email to maria@mainstreetverobeach.org or on a CD, with artist’s name and contact information (address, telephone and email address) printed on the CD via mail to Main Street Vero Beach, 2036 14th Avenue, Suite 103, Vero Beach, FL 32960. The deadline is July 31 2009 at 5 p.m. If chosen, the artist will agree to permit the use of artwork submitted to be reproduced on posters and in all related publicity/advertising by the City of Vero Beach .
For assistance with digital image preparation or other queries, contact Sharon Morgan at ircpublicart@yahoo.com
Downtown Banners
In early 2009, Main Street Vero Beach (MSVB), in cooperation with the Cultural Council of Indian River County, invited local artists to participate in a Downtown Banner Art Competition. MSVB sought several pieces of artwork that would be reproduced on large banners (30 inches by 60”) scattered throughout the historic downtown area between 19th Street to 23rd Street. Suggested art ideas that would depict the rich culture inherent to Downtown Vero Beach included historic buildings such as the Vero Beach Train Station, Indian River Courthouse (now the Courthouse Executive Center) Vero Beach Woman’s Club, Pueblo Arcade, Theatre Plaza, Heritage Center, or historic parks, landscapes, monuments, activities, or downtown merchants. The Competition was chaired by local artist and Cultural Council member Sharon Morgan.
Out of twenty-five submissions, six colorful pieces of art have been reproduced on banners. A total of 24 banners, 4 of each winning entry, will be erected, beginning on June 2nd and the final one will be dedicated at an official ceremony on Thursday, June 4th at 10 a.m.in front of the Courthouse Executive Center on 14th Avenue. Refreshments will follow at the Beach Bum Bagels. City officials, MSVB and Cultural Council representatives, as well as the winning artists, will participate in the ceremony.
Winners and their art include long-time Downtown Friday artist Bernice Brown O-Brien with “Pocahontas Building,” Artists Guild Gallery artist Dawn Mill with “Historic Theatre,” Gallery 14 Dorothy Hudson with “Green Market Flowers,” “Hibiscus Festival Poster winner Ivo David with “Centennial Fountain,” Cultural Council Planner cover artist Stacy Ekey with “Hibiscus Building Bagel Shop” and acclaimed local artistRene Guerin with “Railroad Tracks.”
Main Street Vero Beach is a group of interested residents, property owners, government, business, and professional people dedicated to the promotion of civic pride and community involvement in the historic downtown area. This association works to make downtown Vero Beach an attractive, safe place to live, shop, work and play. For more information, contact Main Street Director Maria Kovachev at 480-8353.
Beverly and Martin Paris Receive Prestigious Award
Beverly and Martin Paris, owners of Paris Productions in Vero Beach , were honored as Laurel Award Winners on March 25th. The 14th Annual Laurel Awards Celebration Dinner, hosted by the Cultural Council of Indian River County was held at Grand Harbor Club. The 2009 honorees represented a broad spectrum of 
cultural leaders in the Indian River County community who were recognized leaders, consistently supporting the cultural community in a variety of categories. The honorees were selected by members of the Cultural Council from a grouping of submitted nomination applications.
The Paris ’ were nominated by Main Street Vero Beach (MSVB) for the Philanthropic/Business Leadership Award and cited by the non-profit organization for their consistent financial support to MSVB since 1994.
“Their association with the downtown organization began out of their desire to help promote the historic sector of Vero Beach and make it their personal mission to see positive things happen for the downtown area,” according to MSVB President Daniel Fourmont in his nomination of the Paris’. “In fact, their names are almost synonymous with downtown Vero Beach as far as the activities that take place there go.”
Paris Productions specializes in Public Relations, Advertising and Promotions for not-for-profit and for profit organizations and businesses. The firm was established in 1994 and Beverly and Martin are well known in the community for the handling of many local events, 24 non-profit events since last October.
For more information on Paris Productions, call 772-234-4412, email parisproductions@bellsouth.net or visit www.parisproductions.net
MSVB Announces New Board and Officers
Daniel Fourmont, newly elected President of Main Street Vero Beach (MSVB) announces the new Board of Directors and Officers for 2008-2009. In addition to Fourmont, other board officers include Rebecca Rickey-Vice President, Mary Jayne Kelly-Treasurer and Janie Hoover-Secretary. Returning board members include Terry Torres (past president), Betty Armistead, Suzan Phillips, Randy Hagood, Robert Votaw, Olske Forbes and Peter Jones. The newest members inducted on to the board include Rosemare Hatch, Charles Sullivan, Jr., Billy Moss and Paul Newman. Ex-Officio is Cheri Fitzgerald. Executive Director is Maria Kovachev. Event Publicists are Beverly and Martin Paris of Paris Productions.
According to Fourmont, “This is a very exciting period of time for Main Street. We have an Executive Director on board now and a strong partnership with The City of Vero Beach. Our downtown events are well executed and attended by many community residents, businesses and non profit organizations. One example of this is our new Farmers Market every Friday morning from 9:00 am until 2:00 pm, located under the oak trees on the corner of 14th Avenue and 21st Street. We have a number of exciting plans on the drawing board for 2009 and look to people in the community to join us in our mission.”
Main Street Vero Beach is a group of interested residents, property owners, government, business, and professional people dedicated to the promotion of civic pride and community involvement in the historic downtown area. This association works to make downtown Vero Beach an attractive, safe place to live, shop, work and play. For more information on how to become involved in MSVB, call Daniel Fourmont at 772-563-2302, Maria Kovachev at 772-480-8353.
Main Street Vero Beach Appoints New Main Street Director
Terry T. Torres, President of Main Street Vero Beach (MSVB) has announced that Maria Kovachev has been appointed as the new Main Street Director. Ms. Kovachev is responsible to develop and support the economic development and beautification of historic downtown Vero Beach as well as promoting its awareness while interfacing with local businesses, government and local organizations.
“Maria has come to us with a wide spectrum of experience in the areas that will achieve the four-point Florida Main Street approach which consists of design, organization, promotion and economic restructuring of our downtown sector” states Torres. “We have been a Main Street city since the late 1990’s. Working with previous Main Street Directors, along with a solid Board of Directors and the assistance from the City of Vero Beach, we have made many strides and positive changes for downtown, “ adds Torres. “We are excited about our next phase for growth and are certain that Maria will help lead us in that direction.”
Vero Beach City Manager agrees with Torres. “I am very pleased the Main Street organization has hired a new Director,” says Gabbard. “I am personally meeting with Ms. 
Kovachev and will invite her to attend a City Council meeting. The City is looking forward to Main Street progressing in meeting their mission and working with Ms. Kovachev in doing so. This is a win-win for us all.”
Ms. Kovachev received her MBA in Marketing from Iona College in New Rochelle , NY . She has worked in all forms of marketing and fundraising for world-wide companies and local non profits for nearly thirty years and for the past five years, utilized her skills in the field of real estate. She is a member of the Realtors Association of Indian River County and the Indian River County Chamber of Commerce.
Ms. Kovachev is currently working from the Indian River County Cultural Council office in the historic Theatre Plaza located at 2036 14th Avenue in downtown and can be reached at 772-480-8353 or by email at maria@mainstreetverobeach.org.