THE COMMITTEE
CELEBRATING A CENTURY
Committee’s pride and love for the city spurs plans
for 100th birthday bash
The Vero Beach Centennial Committee has attracted dozens of volunteers, including these attending a July 17 City Council meeting at which the council declared
October 2018 through October 2019 a year of centennial celebration. First row, from left: Jim Wilson, John Michael Matthews, Lee Orre, Michelle Wagner,
Todd Scher, Eric Toomsoo, Patrick Jordan; second row: Joan Edwards, Cathie Callery, Ruth Stanbridge, Pam Cooper, Lisa Doidge, Angie Scheppers, Laura Lewis,
Stu Keiller, Brenda Corum; third row: Amy Brunjes, Bart Gaetjens, Marilyn Dussault, Laura Moss, Tammy Bursick, Tony Young, Alma Lee Loy, Jim O’Connor, Bob
McCabe; fourth row: Paul Bartoszewick, Kim Brady, Kathy Bartoszewick, Barbara Hoffman, Kristina Pantelides, Jessica Schmidt, Alan Dritenbas, Catherine Caddell,
Linda Hillman, Elaine Jones, Mary Silva, Peggy Lyon, Amanda Martin, Kelly Ward, Heather Stapleton, Casey Lunceford, Lance Lunceford, Ray Adams, Tyler Kennison,
It began as a casual conversation
together on Vero Beach’s 75th and 90th
anniversary celebrations and thought the
city’s centennial celebration should be
bigger and better.
So they met with Rob Slezak of the recreation
list of ideas. Young presented their plans,
which the city council approved, and
they were off and running. A committee
of dedicated residents, business owners
and politicians came together to prepare
a year of varied activities for this once in
a lifetime opportunity to share the city’s
history, accomplishments and people.
“We honestly never dreamed it would
evolve into this huge yearlong event,” said
Bursick, a native Floridian and city clerk
for 33 years. “This community is so proud
of their hometown and so emotionally
charged that volunteers and sponsors
came out of the woodwork. We now have
over 50 committee members, literally
thousands of volunteers and about 25
sponsors broken into a dozen or so subcommittees.
going to be so much fun.”
12
nearly 16 months ago between City
Clerk Tammy Burick and Councilman
Tony Young. The two had worked
department and came up with a
It’s literally exploded and it’s
Young, a Vero Beach native, is a councilman
with long family ties to the community.
His grandfather, A.W. Young, was
Vero’s first mayor who was elected in 1919
and served an additional term in 1935.
Tony had a long and distinguished career
in the Army that allowed him to travel the
world, but when it came time to retire he
chose to come home to Vero Beach.
“I love this town,” he explained. “Coming
home was the only option.”
Young worked with the Veterans
Council of Indian River County and was
instrumental in spearheading the redevelopment
of the city’s Memorial Island
Sanctuary.
“The best part about working on the
centennial is discovering how phenomenal
the people of this community are,”
he said. “Everyone has come together
with a common goal of preserving the
past for the future. I believe that whatever
time and effort the volunteers invest will
be taken forward for the rest of their life.
It is truly an honor to be part of such an
extraordinary event.”
Beverly Paris, co-owner of Paris Productions
and Vero resident for more than 35
years, has taken on the monumental task
of updating the ever-changing calendar.
City of Vero Beach 1919-2019 VeroBeach100.org
JACK FOLEY
“Events are filtered to me through a
marketing committee and then I put it
out to the public,” Paris said. “I honestly
don’t think any of us thought it would
grow this quickly. It’s so exciting to see
the entire community come together to
celebrate the special place that we call
home. The calendar is posted on the
Vero Beach Centennial website at
www.verobeach100.org so everyone
should check it often.”
Paris is very familiar with Vero Beach
history having served on the 90th anniversary
committee and as one of the
founders of Downtown Friday and the Hibiscus
Festival for Mainstreet Vero Beach.
The excitement is sure to mount as
the events unfold. While it’s taken more
than a year to plan the festivities, it’s
taken literally a century to plan such a
beautiful city. Vero Beach has become
an enviable model of forward vision and
careful planning by our forefathers. It’s
unique blend of oceanside serenity, lush
tropical landscape, exquisite architecture,
and controlled growth has created this
jewel on the Treasure Coast. So, whether
you call Vero Beach home, you’ll find
something for everyone during the 100th
birthday celebration. F
Marty Paris, Etta Schaller, Bev Paris and Rob Slezak.
BY KERRY FIRTH
/VeroBeach100.org
/www.verobeach100.org