Author: <span>Michelle Moore</span>

Jeff Warner is seated atop a dog house he made from an old boat hull as he enjoys the yard with his dogs Moogley and Mad Dog. After moving to Florida, Warner began working with local companies Maverick and Twin Vee, where he merged his loves of boats and building things. ANTHONY INSWASTY

The GUITAR MAKER

Post author:Michelle Moore
Post published:November 16, 2019
Post category:Treasure Coast Personalities

Many people find themselves lounging on the couch after a long workday, but then there’s boatbuilder Jeff Warner, who spends his free time building guitars and ukuleles. A “mad scientist” of sorts, Warner was always taking toys apart and tinkering with things from a very young age. His father fostered his interest in mechanics and restoration.

The MUSEUM KEEPER

Post author:Michelle Moore
Post published:November 16, 2019
Post category:Treasure Coast Personalities

When LaVaine Wrigley walked into the original Elliott Museum in the summer of 1996, she was looking for a volunteer position to keep her busy for a couple of days a week. As a 70-year-old with secretarial experience, she wasn’t quite ready to retire. So she inquired to find meaningful work.

Gary Brady, the executive director and founder of Critter Haven, doesn’t mind sharing his cramped office space with some of his exotic friends. KERRY FIRTH PHOTOS

The CRITTER RESCUER

Post author:Michelle Moore
Post published:November 16, 2019
Post category:Treasure Coast Personalities

Gary Brady’s executive office is a cramped corner of an overflowing herpetarium-aquarium building. He is comfortable seated in his worn leather chair at his desk wedged between massive saltwater aquariums teeming with colorful tropical fish and temperature-controlled herpetariums accommodating exotic reptiles’ special needs for light and heat.

Sensational Events

Post author:Michelle Moore
Post published:November 15, 2019
Post category:Festivals and Special Events

Grab the calendar and start filling in the blanks with festivals and special events around the Treasure Coast. They are a great way to relax and have some fun, enjoy the fresh air, meet some new people and get away from it all. Almost everything is family-friendly so you can bring the kids for an unforgettable good time.

This mural by Kyle Heinly is one of many in the Eau Gallie Arts District. The artists often post their work on social media. KERRY FIRTH

A vibrant and creative downtown

Post author:Michelle Moore
Post published:November 15, 2019
Post category:Arts of the Treasure Coast

Main Street America programs throughout the country have painted their blighted downtown districts with murals, but few have elevated their artwork to the degree of the Eau Gallie Arts District. The provocative murals and sculptures have created a genuine outdoor art museum. More than 30 thought-provoking murals grace the sides of historic buildings housing eclectic shops, art galleries and restaurants. The revitalized arts district, quaintly nestled within the live oak-lined streets, has breathed new life into the authentic original neighborhood of Eau Gallie established in 1860.

Florida Artists Hall of Fame member James F. Hutchinson will be celebrated at the Backus Museum and Gallery in Fort Pierce Feb. 22 through April 26, 2020. The exhibit will feature works from the artist’s own collection, such as this 2014 oil painting, Jacaranda Island. JAMES F. HUTCHINSON

Icons & Mainstays

Post author:Michelle Moore
Post published:November 15, 2019
Post category:Museums

From one of the most interesting artists working on the international scene to beloved local artists who gained fame painting the area’s natural beauty to an interactive exhibit focused on the human body, Treasure Coast art museums promise something for everyone this upcoming season.

Every year Riverside Theatre in Vero Beach auditions professional actors and creates hit dramas, comedies and musicals, like this performance of My Fair Lady last season. This season look for one of Broadway’s biggest hits, La Cage aux Folles.

The Curtain Calls

Post author:Michelle Moore
Post published:November 15, 2019
Post category:Arts of the Treasure Coast

Once again Treasure Coast theater-goers can expect a blockbuster season with shows that can transport them to a different place — one where the internet, the phone, the worries don’t intrude.

River harmony

Post author:Michelle Moore
Post published:November 15, 2019
Post category:Homes of the Treasure Coast

After seeing it for the first time, world traveler and nature-lover Diane Wynne knew she wanted to buy the Mediterranean Revival-style home with a rich history and sweeping views of the Indian River in Fort Pierce.

‘We Remember Backus’

Post author:Michelle Moore
Post published:November 15, 2019
Post category:Uncategorized

Thank you for sharing your memories of landscape artist A.E. “Bean’’ Backus (1906-1990) of Fort Pierce. By participating in the ‘We Remember Backus’ project, you agree to allow your memories to be shared for possible publication by Indian River Magazine Inc. with no fee demand. Selected memories may be shared at the upcoming “We Remember Backus’’ session at 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 11, at the Sunrise Theatre Black Box, Fort Pierce, or in upcoming Indian River Magazine Inc. publications.

The Beat Goes On

Post author:Michelle Moore
Post published:November 12, 2019
Post category:Music

There is nothing like the sound of 50 to 100 professional musicians playing in perfect harmony. The melodic songs of the strings and the mystical tones of the woodwinds contrast with the resonant brass and powerful percussions, yet their movement and tempos stir emotions from deep within the soul. The Brevard Symphony Orchestra has been performing live symphonic music that leaves the audience breathless for more than 65 years.