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Good morning, Vero Beach! In today’s edition: Photography exhibit winners, a state-of-the-art maternity wing, backstage access to A Gentleman’s Guide, and more. Let’s get to it!
— Cait Baker
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📰 In the news
Spotlight on visual storytelling: Vero Beach Art Club announced winners of the All About the Imagine exhibit. Elizabeth Chasse-Crouse took Best in Show for Morning Thoughts, with more honors awarded to other photographers — read the full story.
A new chapter for childbirth: Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital completed a state-of-the-art labor and delivery wing, celebrated with a ribbon cutting. Suites are designed to feel like a family retreat and enhance safety — see how philanthropy helped.
An up-and-coming enclave rises: Vero Beach is drawing buyers from Miami and Palm Beach, an agent says, as downtown revitalizes with restaurants and hotels, attracting retired executives and younger buyers — learn what’s behind the trend.
Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175 per month. Paying more than that? Same, so I did some shopping around and ended up cutting my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too — here’s the comparison tool I used.
Protect your nest egg: Savvy investors are turning to gold amidst today’s inflation, national debt, and market uncertainty for a reason. It holds its value when everything else feels shaky. Case in point: it’s up ~62% since this month last year. If you’re curious about adding it and other precious metals to your portfolio, American Hartford has a super helpful guide that covers everything you need to know. It’s free, and definitely worth a read — check it out here.
*We do our best to avoid paywalled articles. If any slip through, let me know which ones and I’ll permanently remove them from our source list!
Highlights this week:
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🫶 We got your back
Utility overhaul gains momentum: Vero Beach has received another $3.7 million from the state for its new wastewater plant, part of a larger $5 million septic-to-sewer grant. Grant funding now totals $41.3 million. The plant is moving to the airport site, with completion planned in 2028. Officials say more cost savings are possible. Read the full story.
Beat-the-heat playtime: Skip the living-room obstacle course and let kids climb, slide, and scramble through pirate play at Cannon’s Cove. Soft-play zones, a ninja course, and a relaxed parent vibe make it an easy yes for playdates, birthdays, or those we-really-need-to-get-out afternoons.
Dial in your dinks: If your kitchen game needs a tune-up, Pickleball University hosts open play, lessons, and clinics on 12 lighted courts, plus a shaded social zone with water and fans. Rally, sharpen your shots, and finally meet the neighbors swiping your drop shots.
Thinning hair? Same: I’ve been shedding a lot, and recently noticed my ponytail feeling thinner. After way too much panic-Googling, I discovered Keranique’s hair regrowth system. Everything with them is surprisingly easy: no quizzes, no pills, no choosing between dozens of products. Just grab the kit and follow the instructions. The best part? It’s $75 off right now, you’ll get three free gifts, AND you’ll get your money back if you don’t love the results.
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📆 Around town this week
All events are subject to change without notice. Always check official event pages for the most up to date information.
🎨 Ray McLendon Two-Day Workshop @ Art Club Gallery & Marketplace | Tuesday (1/6) at 9:00 AM – Take a break from errands and spend two mornings painting Old Florida with Highwaymen legacy Ray McLendon. He’ll walk you through vibrant skies, sawgrass, and those windswept palms, with stories, history, and tips; canvas is provided, bring acrylics and brushes. $180, VBAC members save 15%.
🔮 New Year Tarot Reading @ Spark of Divine | Tuesday (1/6) at 11:00 AM – Ready to stop guessing your way through 2026? The Happy Medium, Maribeth McNair, pulls a card for each month, a practical roadmap regulars swear by when life gets weird. Annual New Year reading is $126. Book at tarotcare.com, and actually plan things.
🎲 Bunco Party @ Vero Beach Veterans Club | Wednesday (1/7) at 1:00 PM – Bunco is rolling into the bar with dice, laughs, and friendly chaos your book club pretends not to enjoy. Expect low stakes, loud celebration, and neighborly smack talk, and if you want in, swing by the bar to sign up, bring your lucky charm.
✏ Pet Portrait Graphite Drawing @ Art Club Gallery & Marketplace | Wednesday (1/7) at 1:00 PM – Think your pet deserves something classier than another camera roll cameo? With Mary Ann Hall, you will turn a favorite photo into a graphite portrait, supplies included. Calm, creative, and worthy of the fridge, or the mantel if your cat is in charge.
🎷 AJ Saxx @ Sweet Desires Dessert Lounge | Wednesday (1/7) at 7:00 PM – File this under grown-up fun, AJ Saxx brings silky sax lines and R&B grooves to Sweet Desires Dessert Lounge. Expect proper cocktails, fine wine, and indecently good desserts. Ideal for date night, catching up, or unwinding without shouting over the music.
🎭 Backstage Access: A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder @ Riverside Theatre | Thursday (1/8) at 10:00 AM – Whether you’ve seen A Gentleman’s Guide or just like backstage gossip, this three-class Backstage Access series, spread over two weeks, digs into the show’s history, its creators, and the fine art of farce. Kevin Quillinan leads, you bring curiosity, dry wit, and maybe a notebook.
🤝 Artist Meet & Greet @ Environmental Learning Center | Friday (1/9) at 4:00 PM – Think of it as a neighborhood art safari: a free meet and greet with collage star Derek Gores, and award-winning wildlife photographers Mark and Cheri Schumann. Sip, chat, and let the talent do the heavy lifting. Real art, real people, zero cover.
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
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📻 Vero Beach report
Weather forecast
Today – High: 77°F – Low: 59°F – Precip: 13%
Patchy fog before 9am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 77. North northeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Later: Partly cloudy, with a low around 59. South wind 0 to 5 mph.
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Tomorrow – High: 78°F – Low: 58°F – Precip: 10%
Sunny, with a high near 78. Southwest wind 0 to 5 mph. Later: Mostly clear, with a low around 58. South southwest wind around 5 mph.
This house is wild
Built in 2020, this elegant home pairs a durable metal roof with full hurricane-impact windows for year-round peace of mind. High ceilings, crown molding, and continuous flooring set a polished tone, while the kitchen stacks quartz counters with double ovens for serious cooking.
The flexible office converts to a third bedroom as needs change. An extended screened patio frames peaceful lake views, and a walk-in jetted tub brings spa-day energy home. A built-in generator stands ready during storms, and a low HOA includes access to clubhouse amenities like a pool, fitness center, and more. It delivers luxury, comfort, and quality construction in a thoughtful package.
Take a peek inside →
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