The Vero Beach Museum of Art is the largest cultural arts facility of its kind on Florida's Treasure Coast. This accredited art museum is a precious gem that is admired, visited, and appreciated by more than 72,000 visitors annually. The Museum offers national and international art exhibitions, studio art and humanities classes, gallery tours, concerts, workshops, seminars, cinema studies, library, lectures, special events and cultural celebrations. Come, Celebrate Art.

Current Exhibits - 

Sculpture from the Permanent Collection  Alice and Jim Beckwith Sculpture Park  05-Nov-12  01-Dec-13	The Golden Age of European Painting from the Speed Art Museum  Holmes Gallery  02-Feb-13  09-Jun-13
Schumann Gallery  16-Feb-13  Titelman Gallery  Katherine Hepburn  16-Feb-13  19-May-13

'Taste of Vero' Event

One of our favorite events in Vero Beach is 'Taste of Vero' where we graze along Ocean Drive to enjoy sumptuous samples of delightful entrees, specialty dishes and sweet treats presented by the area restaurants.  A ticket for $35 per person entitles one to eat well and at the same time contribute to a worthy cause, the Treasure Coast Food Bank.    April 10, 2013 from 5pm to 8pm.  Tickets are limited to 350. 

772.321.7952 or Brittany@DandBMedia.com

Treasure Coast Air Among Cleanest in the Nation! 

According to the American Lung Association's "State of the Air" released on Thursday, that measured ozone air pollution in the Treasure Coast counties that includes Indian River, St Lucie and Martin counties are among the cleanest in the nation.  Researchers explain that the prevailing winds tend to blow off any pollution out over the ocean allowing Treasure Coast residents to enjoy the honor and pleasure of breathing cleaner air.  By contrast, areas on the west coast, such as Pensacola and Tallahassee, suffer the worst air pollution in the state of Florida. 

 New Estafan Hotel in Vero Beach, Florida  5-1-2008

Gloria and Emilio Estafan announced the opening of the new luxury oceanfront Costa d'Este Beach Resort in Vero Beach, Florida recently at a New York City gala for travel professionals and travel media representatives.  The local pre-opening is scheduled for June and the Grand Opening in July.  The hotel Oriente Restaurant will feature Cuban-infusion cuisine.  Costa d'Este is located in the heart of the appealing Vero Beach island shops and restaurants and near the Vero Beach Art Museum and Riverside Theatre.  The managers Benchmark Hospitality International is accepting reservations for the 94 guestrooms and suites at 772-562-9919 and www.costadeste.com. 

PIPER AIRCRAFT WILL STAY in VERO!   - April 28, 2008
After many, many months of mostly closed door negotiations, the Indian River County Commission voted unanimously this morning to offer Piper the financial incentive package that Piper acknowledged will keep the aircraft company here in Vero Beach, Florida.  This means that we will retain the nearly 1,000 current jobs and the agreement also commits Piper to build the new Piper-Honda personal jet and other new projects such as Matrix here in Vero Beach.  Piper will add at least 400 new jobs to receive the incremental payments of $12 million local funds and $20 million additional state funds. 

The formal announcement of Piper's acceptance of the offer appears to be only a formality at this point awaiting Piper Board of Directors final approval,  and a formal announcement and celebration will occur with all dignitaries present, including Florida Governor Crist before June 30, 2008. 

 

Because I personally attended the meeting this morning in Vero Beach, Florida at the Indian River County Commission where the Commission voted to approve the State of Florida Financial Incentive Package, I took these photos to document this auspicious occasion!  Piper employs about 1,000 currently here is Vero Beach.  The company is committing to add at least 400 additional jobs over the next few years in order to receive the incremental payments from the $32 million fund.  That's me taking the photo.

 

SPECIAL CALL MEETING:

Details about the Financial Incentive Package were presented to the County Commission this morning April 28, 2008 prior to the unanimous approval of the long anticipated results of the Piper Aircraft, Indian River County and the state of Florida negotiations.  This Special Call Meeting in Vero Beach, Florida announced the agreement between the Indian River County Commission and Piper Aircraft at 9 am this morning.  Commissioner Gary Wheeler made the motion to accept the agreement and Sandra Bowden seconded the motion.  Commissioners Joseph Flescher and Peter O'Bryan joined to vote for the proposal.  Commissioner Wesley Davis had to call in his vote in favor of the proposal as he was being towed into shore by the Coast Guard.  Apparently his early morning fishing trip was not completed quite as planned.   

 

Payment One:  Details about the Financial Incentive Package were presented to the County Commission this morning April 28, 2008 prior to the unanimous approval of the long anticipated results of the Piper Aircraft, Indian River County and the state of Florida negotiations.  Below is an explanation about what must occur prior to Piper Aircraft receiving the first payment:

1.  Public announcement  that Piper will remain in Vero Beach

2.  Affidavit of 75 confirmed PiperJet orders and deposits of $5 million

3.  Retention of 963 jobs

4.  $15 million in product development

5.  51 new full-time employees

 

Payment Two:  Details about the Financial Incentive Package were presented to the County Commission this morning April 28, 2008 prior to the unanimous approval of the long anticipated results of the Piper Aircraft, Indian River County and the state of Florida negotiations.  Below is a photo of Slide 3 of the presentation that explains the requirements for Piper to receive the second payment. 

1.  $10.7 million investment in capital equipment

2.  Public announcement of proof of concept for PiperJet or alternate project

3.  152 new full time jobs

4.  Commitment to invest $10.7 million additional capital

Payment Three:  Details about the Financial Incentive Package were presented to the County Commission this morning April 28, 2008 prior to the unanimous approval of the long anticipated results of the Piper Aircraft, Indian River County and the state of Florida negotiations.  Below is a photo of Slide 4 of the presentation outlining the benchmarks to be achieved prior to the third payment of the Retention Agreement to keep Piper in Vero Beach, Florida. 

1.  $21.3 million Piper investment in capital equipment

2. $20 million Piper investment in product development

3.  19 new full time employees

The Heart Center at the Indian River Medical Center

4-24-08 Duke University recently sent congratulations to the Duke affiliated Heart Center at the Indian River Medical Center in Vero Beach, Florida.  As reported by the respected Society of Thoracic Surgeons, The Heart Center performed 200 cardiac surgeries this year and exceeded expectations with no mortalities and significantly better than national average results.   Our small town medical community proudly strives for and achieves medical excellence.  Accolades for the Cardiac Surgery Team!    

 

 

 New Bio-Fuel Research - New Sources for Energy - 04/25/08 
Energy consumption in the United States may have a new twist that could put Florida on the energy-provider map without off-shore drilling!  Our Congressman Tim Mahoney is championing a proposal to research using agricultural wastes, for example, sugar cane stalks and citrus pulp and peels.  These sources of energy would not cut into the food supply like the use of corn for ethanol, which is currently reducing the available food supply and increasing food prices. 

Central and south Florida throw away abundant supplies of sugar cane stalks and citrus peels, so this would be a win-win situation -- another way to reduce our dependence on foreign oil while encouraging more jobs and economic development here on the Treasure Coast, an estimated 10,000 new Florida jobs within 5 years, according to the Florida Agriculture Commission.  Florida to the rescue!  

 

No Dogs Allowed

Whether you are a resident or a visitor, you should be aware that Indian River County prohibits dogs at all county parks while the City of Vero Beach designates two places where owners can walk their dogs on leash-- one portion of MacWilliam Park on the island, and the Bob Summers Baseball Field from 5:30 to 8:30 am only.  A non-profit group Dogs for Life recently purchased the property for the long-time off-leash fenced dog park at the corner of 12th Street and 16th Avenue.  One year memberships for this park are $250.