First freestanding ER coming to IRC

The former Quilted Giraffe restaurant is being demolished to make way for a new freestanding ER operated by the Lawnwood Regional Medical Center in Fort Pierce.

It’ll be the first freestanding ER in the county.

See last week’s issue to find out how much Lawnwood paid for the two parcels. (Do a Google search for “Lemmon Lines” and “Issue 209.”)

Addition to South Vero Square

South Vero Square already has a McDonald’s and a Wendy’s, and pretty soon it’ll be getting a Burger King.

Burger King will be going in a former bank building just to the north of McDonald’s.

In addition to the three fast-food giants, there are at least five other eateries in South Vero Square.

RIP, Dolly

Dolly Costarino was always my biggest fan.

When I was the Indian River County columnist for the Press Journal, she sent me hand-written notes on a regular basis.

When I decided to start my own publication (in 2014), Dolly wanted to help me get off to a good start … so, she bought an ad that simply said “Dolly.” (She also insisted her son, Jim DiMarzo, buy an ad.)

The photo at the top is from Issue 1 (from October 2014). The other photo shows Dolly holding a copy of Issue 1.

It’s a gesture that I’ll always remember. A memory that I’ll always cherish.

Dolly died Saturday at age 98.

Just a great story

They’ve known each other since kindergarten at St. Helen’s.

Now in their mid-20s, they’re getting ready to open a restaurant in downtown Vero Beach.

Zak Schmitz, David Bedford, Dave Pascuzzi and Sean D’Ambrosio hope to have Ono Luau up and running sometime in October.

Read about their new venture in this week’s issue.

A refreshing change: ‘Positive’ campaigns

We’ve all seen the “negative” ads on TV for statewide candidates. In Indian River County, it’s been mostly “positive” campaigns.

I’ve been particularly impressed by the candidates for County Judge.

In the top photo, the photo of Kiernan Patrick Moylan and Robyn Stone was taken in front of the library during early voting.

In the bottom photo, the other candidate for County Judge, Nicole Menz, spent every day during early voting by the book drop-off at the library.

“All day, every day,” she said.

Electronics graveyard

I’m always amazed at the number of TVs and computers that are discarded at the county’s recycling centers. (This photo was taken at the Oslo center on Old Dixie Highway.)