Recent stories published by Indian River Magazine Campaigning For Conservation The Running Man The Drama of Trauma Family Ties? The Treasure Coast's Dr. Father & Dr. Sons Birds & Birdies The Bright Hour Getcha Some The Harmony Tie Up and Dine Academy of Golf The Art Teacher Twin Force The Holiday Volunteer

CAMPAIGNING FOR CONSERVATION STORY AND PHOTO BY GREG GARDNER As a battle-tested general in the war to save the environment, Karl Wickstrom knows the strategies necessary to bring about meaningful change in public policy. "It was a war," Wickstrom says of the drive for the 1995 constitutional amendment banning gill net fishing. "Entanglement nets are an indiscriminate killer. It was a huge effort. The government was coddling the gill net industry. They had strong lobbyists and the government wouldn't take the steps to adequately regulate or eliminate them. Everyone was astounded when 72 percent of the people voted for it." As founder of Florida Sportsman magazine and its editor in chief for the past 40 years, Wickstrom has used his hundreds of columns and scores of television fishing shows to push for conservation. Before his leap into magazines, Wickstrom was an investigative reporter for the Miami Herald. His beat was public corruption. The first time Wickstrom went to war was against the Cross Florida Barge Canal., a plan to dig a shipping canal across the state. "We were one of the major players in getting that stopped by then-President Richard Nixon," he recalls. "We realized early on that overfishing was depleting the fish stocks mainly through large gill nets used by commercial fishermen," says Wickstrom. "Early on we could see the philosophy of everyone having equal limits, bag limits. Commercial fishermen could thumb their noses at the bag limits and take tons. And that just doesn't work. We had a certain compassion for them. It was that method of fishing. It wasn't personal." REDFISH OVERFISHING The next Florida conservation campaign was against the overfishing of redfish. "Redfish were beaten down by commercial fishermen," says Wickstrom. "We campaigned to get them off the commercial market. That finally succeed in 1989, but it was a big war too. It was approved by the Cabinet with 500 people spilling outside the Capitol. It was an exciting hearing." The lobby of Florida Sportsman in Stuart has a floor-to-ceiling case with awards given both to Wickstrom and the magazine. In 1995 he was named Conservationist of the Year by the Florida Wildlife Federation. Wickstrom is also one of fewer than 100 people in the International Game Fish Association Hall of Fame. But what really puts a smile on Wickstrom's face as he sits in his office piled high with books is the news that fish stocks are coming back. "The net ban is our best-known reform. We're told that it's had a big impact," says Wickstrom. "Pompano came back. They hadn't been around for years. Sea trout made great comebacks. That was exciting to see. We coupled (the net ban) with strict limits on recreational fishermen. It resulted in a spectacular increase in abundance which affects everyone — not just fishermen." COMBINING ENFORCEMENT Wickstrom was also behind another reform that created the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. "We argued for unification to combine the marine and freshwater management systems for enforcement. The FWC is more conservation minded. They all now have the same radios, methods and training." Another strategy to seize power for recreational fishermen was to push for a saltwater fishing license. "It gave us money to use for saltwater enforcement and political power and federal matching money," Wickstrom says. One of his current missions is to clean out what he says are the federal foxes guarding the fish house. "I talked to four different governors and persuaded them not to appoint people (to fishery commissions) with financial personal interests in the wildlife industry, especially selling it," says Wickstrom. "In 1983 you had people who were catching and selling fish. They were conflicted. On the state level today we have a pretty solid system with mostly good people. The federal system is still in enemy hands with undue commercial influence that results in overfishing." For the past eight years, Wickstrom has been a member of the Rivers Coalition, which is charged with helping save the St. Lucie Estuary and Indian River Lagoon from death by pollution. The current effort involves a federal lawsuit against the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to stop discharges from Lake Okeechobee that have damaged rivers on the Treasure Coast. Wickstrom was a member of a local delegation that traveled to Washington, D.C., Dec. 4 to hear arguments before a federal judge. "It was an important hearing," says Wickstrom. "We've spotlighted the horrors of the discharges. We're saying these discharges take riparian rights from waterfront owners. If we get relief for those owners it will automatically clean up the river if the discharges are stopped. I thought our case was really strong and the government was admitting the key points as far as discharging. They were resting on technicalities such as the statute of limitations and that stopping the discharges would stop navigation. We have a motion for summary judgment. There will certainly be appeals." The Rivers Coalition is anxiously awaiting the ruling by the federal judge in Washington. Kevin Henderson, an engineer who has been involved in efforts to cleanup the river from the beginning, marvels at Wickstrom's abilities. "He has this stellar history of having championed the net ban," says Henderson. "It was an extraordinary achievement. That experience and background enabled him to be an extraordinarily effective member of the Rivers Coalition. He is a charismatic leader who is connected to other leaders around the state from all walks of life. He just knows everybody." "There is a lot of clean-up duty left," says Wickstrom. A major goal is rehabilitation of the Everglades. "The purchase of the U.S. Sugar property would allow the restoration of the river of grass south from Lake Okeechobee." For any general fighting a battle, losing the war is not an option. Ask Karl Wickstrom. Name: Karl Wickstrom Age: 74 Family: Wife, Sheila; sons, Eric, 50; Blair, 48; Drew, 46; and daughter, Holly, 44. Education: University of Florida, B.S., Journalism What most people don't know about me: "People think I'm obsessed with boating and fishing, but I am also a tennis nut as well, which has been good to me physically." Greatest achievement: "It was satisfying to work as an investigative reporter for the Miami Herald in the 1960s. We uncovered organized crime and government corruption which led to a number of reforms, including the creation of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. I am probably best known for the gill net ban in 1995, which stopped the commercial slaughter of fish and had a huge effect on the abundance of marine life." What inspires me: "When truly dedicated and honest people take leadership positions. Advancements in education that lead to the betterment of society."

The Running Man STORY AND PHOTO BY GREG GARDNER As a runner, Dale Ruby is the Forrest Gump of the Treasure Coast. The 47-year-old Stuart medical professional just won't stop, even after being hit by a truck during a Miami triathlon five years ago. "It was a life-changing moment for me," Ruby said. "I had a broken femur, separated shoulder and a concussion. I have permanent hip problems, so I can't do the long distances anymore. I had doubts that I would walk again, but I have run 50 races since then." Ruby's office at the Ocala Heart Institute in Stuart boasts a shelf full of first-place trophies. While he almost always wins in his age group, Ruby's goal is to outrun as many of the younger runners as he can. Just about any day of the week, he can be seen running the bridges of Stuart or riding his bicycle as cross-training for mini-triathlons. Every day Ruby runs, cycles or swims. Ruby counts as one of his greatest accomplishments his placing 823rd out of 1,500 competitors in the 1996 Hawaiian Ironman Triathlon — a 2.4-mile swim and a 112-mile bike ride followed by a 26.2-mile marathon run. He also ran the Boston Marathon in the same year. But Ruby takes more pride in the results of his annual world travel. For the past eight years, he has taken his two weeks of vacation and accompanied Ocala heart surgeons who perform instructional surgeries in China, Inner Mongolia, India and Tanzania. Ruby operates the heart-lung bypass machine that supports a patient's organs while surgery is being performed. He also assists the surgeons. "It's purely voluntary," Ruby said. "We donate time and supplies. We show them more advanced techniques. I feel like when we leave our work is continuing." A slender, quiet man, Ruby is not shy about his Christian faith. "Our group is Christian-based," he said. "The trips are an outreach. We share the medicine and we share the faith. We tell them God loves them and give them Bibles in Chinese. You have to use discretion in places like China. We talk to people one on one, and we don't talk to crowds. We are actually invited by the government. "The areas we go to don't have the caliber of care we have. We train their doctors. The people feel isolated from the rest of the world. The most rewarding experience is seeing how grateful the people are. They appreciate that we are showing an interest in trying to help them." Ruby said. The Ocala Heart Institute teams typically perform up to three surgeries a day for more than a week. A U.S. hospital recently donated a bypass machine to the hospital in Tanzania, and Ruby and his team members arrived shortly after to educate the local doctors. "In Tanzania they had never done heart surgery before. I feel like God called us to go there. We worked on young patients with large families. You just pray for a good outcome," he said. "Being in heart surgery has given me the opportunity to help people with physical and spiritual needs," Ruby said. "I wanted to go into an area where I could help people in life and death situations. Even though you can minimize the risks, it's still life and death every time we try to fix someone's heart. The operating room is a very exciting place to be," he said. Just like Forrest Gump, Dale Ruby never looks back, preferring to concentrate on catching and passing the runners in front of him. "I try to win every time," he said. "God has been good to me and given me the ability to compete. I feel close to God when I run." Name: Dale Ruby Born: Philadelphia, Pa. Birth Date: April 5, 1962 Occupation: Operator of heart-lung bypass machine and assistant for major vascular and thoracic surgeries. Education: Master's degree in cardiovascular physiology, Ohio State University; Bachelor of Science in biology, minor in chemistry, Oral Roberts University Family: Wife, Valerie; daughter, Lauren, 12 What inspires me: The Bible and Jesus' call to help people both physically and spiritually Proudest achievement: Being a good husband and father to my family. What most people don't know about me: I survived a truck versus bicycle accident and was able to recover and lead a normal life.

The DRAMA of TRAUMA STORY AND PHOTO BY GREG GARDNER Your chances of surviving a major accident have increased dramatically with the opening of the Treasure Coast Trauma Center in Fort Pierce. Since its opening on May 1, it has chalked up a 96 percent save rate, one of the highest in the nation. Located at Lawnwood Regional Medical Center and Heart Institute, the center has attracted some of the best trauma nurses and surgeons to the area. "The quality and complexity of care here is like going from a Cessna to an F-18," says Dr. Danny Jazarevic, trauma medical director. "It's become an elite tertiary care center. The entire concept of trauma medicine upgrades the whole hospital." A towering man with a booming voice and a slight accent from his native Croatia, "Dr. J" is a legend in trauma medicine. As a U.S. Army colonel he spent three years in Baghdad, was wounded by an insurgent mortar round and once donated blood while operating on a soldier. Jazarevic also set up the receiving hospital in Landstuhl, Germany, where wounded U.S. soldiers are flown from Iraq. While on call, he sleeps in an Airstream trailer in the hospital parking lot. SAVING LIVES Recently eight people came in at once after multiple rollover accidents. "When eight people come in it looks impossible, but we can do it," says Jazarevic. "Everyone is going home." When a 19-year-old man came in after a motorcycle accident, nurses couldn't find his face. "Anthony would not have survived transport," says Lisa Sharot, nursing supervisor for the trauma intensive care unit. "He had such facial fractures we didn't think he would make it. Dr. J saved him with a pair of scissors." Jazarevic immediately cut open the man's throat, inserted a breathing tube and stabilized him. "Anthony was so sick," Sharot says. "There were a couple of days when I left and I thought I would come back and he would be gone. Four weeks later he was walking around and two weeks after that he left." Another man got caught on top of a fence. When paramedics brought him in, a piece of the fence was imbedded in him. He, too, went home. HIGH TRAFFIC Lawnwood officials expected about 40 patients a month, but the rate turned out to be double that estimate. More than 320 came through the center in its first four months. "This facility will be the powerhouse of the Treasure Coast," says Jana Eschbach, Lawnwood director of media relations. "If you break your arm, you can go to another hospital. If you get run over by a bulldozer, you are coming here. They do an amazing job here." The helipad can handle two incoming flights at once, and the trauma unit is prepared for mass casualties. The 160-member trauma team includes more than 100 nurses and dozens of specialists that range from a critical care traumatologist who can put your organs back in your body to a plastic surgeon who can put your face together again. Three trauma surgeons are on site 24 hours a day, seven days a week. "This has given us really good care," says Dicey Jones, director of the emergency department at Lawnwood. "The halo effect of all the specialty physicians has elevated the care in the area. We have a team that is synchronized. They just perform. They know what needs to be done." 'THE CALL' When the call comes in that a trauma patient is on the way, at least 20 team members are ready for those doors to swing open and a patient to be rolled into the operating room next to the entrance. "We never know what is coming through the door, and if the patient is at death's door," says Sharot. "It's humbling to see the mass numbers of people it takes to do this." Vital to the trauma system are the paramedics who know that time is not on their side as they race to stabilize patients and transport them to Lawnwood. "For EMS the platinum period is the first 10 minutes after the accident," says Matt Amato, a four-year paramedic with St. Lucie County Fire Rescue. "Our goal is to get the patient to surgical care," Amato says. "Now we don't have to wait for a helicopter. We have less scene time and transport time is less. People are getting here quicker. Surgery done in the first golden hour is even bigger for the positive outcome." The boundary for the trauma center, is from Bridge Road in Hobe Sound north to County Road 510 north of Vero Beach and west to eastern Okeechobee County. Martin County has sent 49 patients to the trauma center with 45 of them arriving by helicopter. "It (the trauma center) improves the level of service we provide," says John Belding, chief of special operations for Martin County Rescue. "It improves survivability and it is a great asset for us." THE NEED St. Lucie County voters didn't see it that way two years ago when they voted down a referendum for a tax to build the trauma center, but Lawnwood's parent company, Hospital Corporation of America, decided to build it anyway. So far it is operating at a loss of $18 million a year, including $2 million for training, says Lawnwood spokesman Eschbach. "People were dying in transport. We knew the need was here. You have a 50 percent better chance of surviving a traumatic injury if you come to a trauma center because of the specialists and the equipment that are here," Eschbach says. The best and brightest want to work at the new trauma center and many nurses from Palm Beach County have offered applications. "The opportunity to be on the ground floor with this program, to help craft the program is why I came here, to help build a trauma department in an area of which there is an obvious need," says Dr. Anjan Shah, an orthopedic trauma surgeon, who came to Lawnwood from the renowned trauma center at Tampa General Hospital. "In the first 72 hours of my job here, I am seeing some of the most complex injuries of my career," Shah says during a seven-hour operation to repair a shattered pelvis.

Family Ties? STORY AND PHOTO BY GREG GARDNER José Ubilla can't prove it just yet, but the Port St. Lucie man is sure he is an ancestor to the commander of a fleet of Spanish ships which sank off the Treasure Coast in a 1715 hurricane. "I need to trace it back to Mexico. It has to be," said Ubilla, owner of a Fort Pierce stone and granite company. "The Basque region of Spain is where the name originated." In 1715 Captain-General Don Juan Esteban Ubilla left Veracruz, Mexico, to rendezvous in Havana with the Cartagena Fleet. From there, the two fleets headed for Spain by way of St. Augustine, leading a fleet of five treasure-laden ships, part of which carried the dowry for King Felipe V of Spain's bride-to-be, Elizabeth Farnesse. Ubilla himself was aboard the ship La Capitana, which carried 1,300 chests with more than three million silver coins. Also on board were emeralds, pearls and precious Chinese porcelain. "He ( Captain-General Ubilla) left Mexico. The name only exists (outside of Spain) in Nicaragua, Chile and Mexico. We believe he had sons. It's not a very common name." The armada of 12 ships left Havana July 24 in calm seas. But on the night of July 30 and morning of July 31, the ships encountered a hurricane, forcing them aground and breaking them up. Eleven of the ships went down and half of the 2,500 crew was lost, including Ubilla. Wreckage and bodies were scattered along 30 miles of what is now known as the Treasure Coast. The survivors made it to shore by swimming or holding onto wreckage. Captain-General Ubilla perished along with 1,000 other sailors, according to two books written about the 1715 shipwrecks. Miraculously, about 1,500 sailors survived, but many perished later from disease and raids by local Indians. "Is it a direct coincidence or a direct link?" Jose Ubilla said. "I am going to find out. My children are intrigued by it. They are in college now, but as they grow up, I am going to encourage them to find out the truth." While Ubilla's immediate ancestors are from Nicaragua, there is a 150-year gap between the genealogy that is known and the records on the captain-general, he said. "I can't determine exactly at this point. We think he had sons who migrated to Central and South America." Ubilla, owner of Real Stone & Granite in Fort Pierce and Boynton Beach, and the captain-general have something else in common besides a shared last name. Like Captain General Ubilla, José Ubilla views his work as dealing in precious treasure. "We continue to bring treasures here in the form of stones," Ubilla said.

The Treasure Coast's Dr. Father & Dr. Sons STORY AND PHOTOS BY GREG GARDNER Vascular surgery runs like blood through the veins of the Sanguily family. Dr. Julio Sanguily Jr. and his two sons, Julio III and Mario, respected surgeons on the Treasure Coast who practice at Martin Memorial Hospital in Stuart, have more than 100 years of experience in the operating room. "My dad was a force in developing modern medicine in Cuba," Julio Jr. said of his father who inspired him and his sons to follow in his footsteps and become surgeons. Although he no longer performs surgery, the 78-years-old still spends three days a week supervising Martin Memorial's hyperbaric chamber, which provides pure oxygen to help patients heal. When Fidel Castro came to power in Cuba, Julio Jr. was studying surgery in Ohio where his son Julio III was born. He has never returned to his native country. "I am proud of my Cuban heritage, but I have no desire to go back to Cuba until it is right," Julio Jr. said. "I want to remember my country and how it was before Castro came. He was a rabble rouser at the university. Everyone knew who he was and he carried a gun." Julio Jr. also vividly recalls the morning in 1948 when he sat down to breakfast with novelist Ernest Hemingway during the author's famous marlin fishing tournament in Havana. "He was grumpy and he may have already had something to drink that morning," he said. Life magazine photographer Alfred Eisenstaedt came up to the table to talk to Hemingway. What happened next is the Hemingway of legend as Julio Jr. tells the story with a gleam in his piercing blue eyes. Eisenstaedt told Hemingway he wanted to get a picture of him fighting a blue marlin. Hemingway stood up from the table and told Eisenstaedt, "Look, if you get near my boat while I am catching a blue marlin, I will go into the cabin and get my gun and shoot you." And that is exactly what happened. according to Julio Jr. Eisenstaedt, camera at the ready, showed up in a speedboat at an inopportune moment and fled after Hemingway fired several shotgun blasts, missing his target. Julio Jr., just 17, won second place in the tournament, catching 20 white marlin over three days. "I started fishing at a very young age," he said. "Today, we fish for dolphin, cobia and yellowtail, anything that will bend the pole." Along with fishing, Latin music and the Los Angeles Dodgers, Julio Jr. still enjoys practicing medicine. "My mind is still good and the work is not strenuous. I'll work as long as they'll have me. My father worked to the last day of his life. He was 89." Just like his father and grandfather before him, 51-year-old Julio III brings the same work ethic to his practice of surgery and supervision of the wound medicine center at Martin Memorial. "I will stay in touch with the medical profession as long as I am mentally and physically capable," he said. Fishing, snow skiing, surfing and tennis four to five times a week are his hobbies when he is not in surgery, consulting with patients or on call. "I do what my kids do. I wasn't a surfer until my son wanted to learn." Born in Ohio, Julio III often thinks of Cuba. "It was a salvaging grace I was born here because American citizens were allowed to leave (Cuba) as a priority. I have a lot of passion for Cuba even though I wasn't raised there, but I am an American. Yet inside of me I am Cuban. When I hear Cuban music it makes me wish I could have experienced that lifestyle and flavor of the island. I would like to go back and visit a non-communist or free Cuba." Brother Mario, 50, shares his brother's love of family, fishing and the practice of vascular surgery. "I am a family man," he said. "I don't do anything [besides medicine] but hang with my wife and kids. Raising two teenagers consumes your life." Mario's office walls are adorned with his children's trophies and photos of large fish reeled in over the years. "I am enamored by my profession," Mario said. "If you are able to put aside the nuisances and get down to the basics, you feed on that on a day-to-day basis. One of my passions is how vascular surgery has evolved. To be able to repair an abdominal aneurysm with two small incisions was unfathomable just two years ago. It keeps the level of excitement high for me." Mario is an associate professor of surgery at Florida State University College of Medicine, with students rotating through his operating room at Martin Memorial. "I'm expected to teach them and help them score well on their surgical boards," he said. "It is particularly amusing being a UF graduate to watch those FSU students wearing University of Florida scrub caps during surgery." With four Sanguily children in high school, it is a little too early to know if they will enter the profession chosen by their great-grandfather, grandfather and fathers. "My wife is an OR nurse," Mario said. "They hear stories at the dinner table, and I think they get the same positive feedback that I did as a child. As a child, my father was the perfect father."

Birds & Birdies STORY AND PHOTOS BY GREG GARDNER Critters and golfers get along just fine at the Indian River Club golf course in Vero Beach where many bird species chirp with excitement. As the third Audubon International Signature Sanctuary in the world, Indian River Club management takes pride in making the expensive efforts to maintain that designation each year. "We prepare a report each year that includes which chemicals we use and do not use," said Joe Kern, head golf professional. The 18-hole Indian River Club has a distinctly Carolina look rarely seen in South Florida. There are very few paved cart paths and different birds can be heard and seen at each hole on the course. During a recent tour of Indian River Club a scrub jay could be heard and there was a good explanation for that. Each hole has a name. No. 6, for example, is Scrub Jay because it borders a 13-acre preserve maintained to attract the rare birds. Besides the members, also enjoying the course are eagles, ospreys, roseate spoonbills, blue herons, wood storks, egrets and a host of small birds. Once a month the course is opened up for expeditions by thrilled birders from the local Audubon Society. "The membership here takes pride in their surroundings," said Kern. "They like their birds. You see a lot of species. There are only two holes that run side by side. It's like you are in your own little world. The course is challenging and appealing to the eye. It is a good layout." Indeed, most of the homes in the development are around the outside edge of the property with the golf course and preserve in the center. The homes are set back so that they are not obtrusive to the golfer, said club member Hank Moran. "They don't ruin the sightline for the player," he said. "The homes are kind of camouflaged." Out in the open around the course are numerous purple martin houses and duck nesting boxes. Many people came here for the environmental awareness, said developer G. Jeffrey Reynolds. "We were green long before it was trendy," he said. "We recycle paper, glass and plastic. Our cultural practices are geared toward maintaining the environment, keeping it beautiful. We want the environment here to be conducive to a beautiful walk in the park and home for as many species as possible." Reynolds is especially proud of the tree-planting program in which members can sponsor the planting of a tree. "Over the past 13 years hundreds of thousands of dollars have been spent moving 150 oak trees 10 inches in caliber or greater. It costs three to four thousand dollars to move a larger tree. You can put a price tag on these old oaks on the property, he said. So far, the members have donated $50,000 for more trees to replace some of the more than 700 trees that were destroyed by Hurricane Wilma." Other green practices at Indian River Club include eliminating exotic plants, carefully controlling the use of pesticides and water, and wherever possible, planting native drought tolerant grasses to minimize water use, Reynolds said. With only 325 memberships, Indian River Club is certainly not an overplayed course. The course is private, but there are three ways non-members can enjoy a round of golf. The course hosts 10 or so charity events each year; the course has reciprocity agreements with 20 other private and semi-private courses in the area; and guests can play with resident members. Carol Prezioso, membership director, said this is the best course in Indian River County comparable only to John's Island West. "Golf works hand in hand with nature," she said. "We are a Carolina community with low country architecture. The homes have front porches and none have barrel tile roofs. It's that kind of neighborhood, kind of an oasis in the Vero Highlands." With four different types of terrain, the Indian River Club track has a lot of hills — a rare sight in largely flat South Florida. "It has such a great natural feel to it with pinelands, oak hammocks, the [Atlantic] Ridge and natural lakes," said Ron Garl, who designed the course along with 214 others now open for play worldwide. Asked how the course rates for addressing environmental concerns compared to his other projects, Garl said, Indian River Club ranks right at the very top. "It was first in the world to have Audubon Signature status on opening day. That was the goal for the project. If you do things right from the start, it will be sustainable from an environmental point of view," Garl said.

The Bright Hour STORY AND PHOTOS BY GREG GARDNER The Bright Hour is the only 90-foot boat on the Treasure Coast that mixes sportfishing with the luxury of a yacht that comfortably sleeps 12. Built in New Zealand and shipped by freighter to Jacksonville, the custom catamaran is one of only three in the world built with the same hull, said Captain Glen Warwick. The other two are in Dubai and Seattle. "Most boats have a center hallway," said Warwick. "We have two separate hulls. The guests have more privacy and they are not bumping into each other." In addition to the owner's stateroom, the boat has four guest staterooms, crew's quarters, and 4 1/2 bathrooms. The full galley has all German-made appliances including a Sub-Zero refrigerator and dishwasher. The Bright Hour has a reverse osmosis system that can convert 1,400 gallons of salt water per day to freshwater. "I make more water than 12 people can use in one day," Warwick said. "That's showering, washing clothes, dishes and rinsing off the boat. I run the water maker non-stop as soon as we leave." Although only six people fish at any one time, there is twice the room at the back of the boat than typical sportfishers and not one, but three fighting chairs. Calvin Houghland Jr. recently landed a thousand-pound blue marlin in the Bahamas. "We rotate in a new crew every 30 minutes," said Warwick." The boat is for the owner and his guests, but we do fish the local tournaments out of Sailfish Point. Mary Ann [Houghland] does all the meal planning and she is the Bright Hour's number one angler." With a fuel capacity of 3,900 gallons and a range of 400 miles at cruising speed, the Bright Hour has sailed non-stop from Key West to Cancun, Mexico. Other trips have seen the boat dock in Cuba, Honduras and the Bahamas. Recently, Warwick steered the boat through locks up the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway from Mobile to the Cumberland River to Nashville and on to Old Hickory Lake. "There's always something to do," Warwick said. "I'm on here almost every day. It's a full-time job. When we have 12 guests, I have to make sure the guests are taken care of and all the systems are operational. I've had the opportunity to visit foreign ports and see things the average person wouldn't be able to."

THE OWNER Calvin Houghland Age: 91 Occupation: Cattle, citrus and investments Family: Two sons, two daughters, seven grandchildren, two great grandchildren. How I got interested in boating: "I bought a waterfront home in Fort Lauderdale that came with a 26-foot Chris Craft." What I like about boating: "Exciting trips to the waters of Central America and the Caribbean." THE BOAT Name: Bright Hour Reason for name: Named for a steeplechase horse and is also the name of a farm in Brentwood, Tenn., and a ranch in Arcadia, Fla. Type of boat: Custom Mares catamaran Home port: Sailfish Point, Stuart Length: 90 feet Beam: 26 feet Draft: 5 feet, 9 inches Power: Two Detroit Diesel V-16 2000 engines, 1,800 horsepower each Features: Sleeps 12, cruises at 22 knots, maximum speed of 27 knots. Best day on the boat: "Crossing the Panama Canal in almost record-breaking time." Worst Day on the boat: "In all of my Bright Hours of sea time, there has never been a dark moment."

Getcha Some STORY AND PHOTOS BY GREG GARDNER In the rough waters of competitive kingfishing, few women dare to fish much less field a team that places second out of 300 boats in the invitation-only nationals. The four Fort Pierce women fishers aboard Getcha Some are lifelong friends who along with Captain Robbie Yancy brought home the trophy and a 21-foot Contender last year from Biloxi, Miss. The most important piece of equipment in their efforts was a 31-foot Contender fully loaded with all "the bells and whistles," said Melissa Blandford. "This boat is special because we're the only boat in the SKA [Southern Kingfish Association] that has an all-female crew," she said. "We're not out there for a suntan. We're out there to fish." "The boat is bad to the bone and it is fast," said Christy Blandford. "And Robbie is a great captain. I've done all kinds of fishing, but kingfishing is my favorite. It's so exciting when you catch that big fish." After nine years on the SKA tour spending too much time and money fishing, Robbie Yancy sat down with his wife and asked how they could keep going. Joy Yancy suggested forming a team with her friends and Team Getcha Some was born. "The first tournament they were hooked," said Captain Yancy of his crew. "They ate it up and loved every minute of it. They pay attention and they listen. We have a great time." Yancy also has a few tricks to get that extra competitive edge from his boat. "I have a different T-top which has less resistance. I carry my rods on the side using special clips so they don't get a beat up. We have two separate bait wells and beanbag chairs for the girls." "I chose this boat myself because it is a fishing machine," said Yancy. "We drove 90 miles offshore and back three days in a row at 45-55 miles per hour. I wasn't the least bit worried about equipment failure. When the seas are 5 to 7 feet we still fish." "When the weather is rough we get to the fishing spot fast," said Dina Hicks. "It rides great and fast in rough water when you have to check in at a certain time. That boat and the way it handles. We have a unique crew," she said. "We're all lifelong friends and sometimes it's stressful and dangerous," said Blandford. "For us to be able to get off the boat at the end of the day and still be friends is pretty special in itself."

THE CAPTAIN AND CREW Robbie Yancy Age: 33 Occupation: Marine construction company owner Family: Wife, Joy, and son, Robbie Crew: Anglers Melissa Blandford, Christy Dobrea, Dina Hicks and Joy Yancy. How I got interested in boating: "When I was 4 or 5, my grandfather was a guide on Lake Okeechobee. We would go over there every weekend and go fishing." What I like about boating: "I like everything about it. There's something special in being out on the water. There's no limit to what you can do, vacations, diving, fishing. You get away from the everyday grind." THE BOAT Name: Getcha Some Type: Contender sport fisher Where name came from: "A discussion when names were being tossed about. Little Robbie Yancy liked the name so we went with it." Home port: Fort Pierce Length: 31 feet Beam: 9 feet, 4 inches Draft: 20 inches Power: Two 250-horsepower Yamahas Features: Fresh water rinse; fully set up for competitive sport fishing. Best day on the boat: "Placing second at the Southern Kingfish Association Nationals against the men in Biloxi, Miss." Worst day on the boat: "When you come to the dock with no fish to weigh."

The Harmony STORY AND PHOTOS BY GREG GARDNER While many sailboats spend a large amount of time sitting around with sails in storage, Paul Rubin's Harmony has logged more than 75,000 miles from the South Pacific to the Caribbean. You would never know it to look at the Harmony today, but the racing schooner sustained $180,000 damage after Hurricane Wilma. "I was tied up at the Pelican Yacht Club when a motor yacht broke loose and totaled four boats," Rubin said. "Mine was the only one that survived. There was no structural damage, but it takes forever to repair." Today the boat looks spotless with shiny metal and teak from stem to stern. Rubin keeps the boat at Harbour Isle in Fort Pierce, where he said the marina offers perfect protection from hurricanes with the surrounding buildings blocking heavy winds. When his business transferred him to Hong Kong, Rubin took Harmony apart, and shipped it to its new home on the South China Sea. After putting it back together again, he would log thousands of miles in the South Pacific. "The Philippines is the nicest place," he said. "You put into a harbor, go ashore and meet the most friendly people. There are some really beautiful islands. It is like going back in time." At the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club, where Rubin is still a member, "there was always a conversation about what to do about pirates. You can't carry a gun. In some countries it is penalty of death. So if you surrender the gun, then you have to worry about whether you will get it back. Most sailors don't carry guns. We decided you unhook your propane tank, heave it onto the pirate boat and shoot a flare into the boat. They don't really bother sailboats. They want cargo ships or small tankers." The highlight of Rubin's sailing adventures in Asia was winning the 1996 China Sea Race with a crew of eight including sailors with five different nationalities. "It's the biggest race in Southeast Asia, from Hong Kong to Subic Bay, Philippines — 800 miles. It is the equivalent of the Newport to Bermuda race." Rubin plans to enter the 2009 Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta. "It's nice to get out there and race with the other classic schooners. It's more about the fun, but it is serious racing. It's a great big party." The Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race and the New York City Mayor's Classic are two other regattas Rubin has raced as captain of Harmony. Lately, he takes the boat out for day sailing every other week and three or four times a year to the Bahamas. "I'm not ready to give it up yet," Rubin said. "I enjoy just working on it. I was varnishing all day today. I will keep it up as long as I can raise the main sail."

THE CAPTAIN Paul Rubin Age: 61 Occupation: Retired apparel executive Family: Wife, Stephanie; three children; one grandchild How I got interested in boating: "I grew up in Fort Pierce on Indian River Drive. I've been boating all my life." What I like about boating: "The feeling of being free." THE BOAT Name: Harmony Where name came from: "A lot of sailors are superstitious. It was a nice name so I left it." Home port: Harbour Isle, Fort Pierce Length: 48-foot Cherubini Schooner Beam: 13 feet Draft: 5 feet, 2 inches Power: 90 horsepower Mercedes diesel Features: Hull No. 5 of with no two alike. Deck and interior are custom designed. Eight berths. Best Day on the boat: "A four-hour watch from midnight to 4 a.m. in the 1996 China Sea Race from Hong Kong to Subic Bay in the Philippines. We had 30 to 40 knots apparent wind and made 11 to 13 knots continuous speed." Worst day on boat: "Calm wind in the South China Sea and 98-degree heat."

Tie Up and Dine BY GREG GARDNER Taking the boat out each weekend to try a new place for lunch will take you almost six months to tie up at the two dozen waterfront restaurants on the Treasure Coast. That doesn't include the restaurants in downtown Stuart, Fort Pierce and Sebastian within walking distance of public docks. Martin County boasts a dozen riverfront locations, St. Lucie County has seven and there are five scenic eateries in Indian River County. "We have 26 boat slips to accommodate up to 70 feet with a 5-foot draft," said Frank Kilian, general manager of Finz Waterfront Grille. "On weekends about 25 percent of our business is boat traffic. We keep the slips open." Kilian said one couple rides up three or four times a month and order food they eat on their boat. Food yes, but alcohol, no. "We can't sell alcohol to go," he said. The Manatee Pocket in Stuart is popular on sunny weekends with Shrimper's, Finz, Bare Bones Grill and Brewery and Pirate's Cove Resort and Marina all almost within sight of each other. Pirate's Loft Restaurant offers poolside dining and a place to cool off after a day at the Stuart sandbar off Sailfish Point. "The weather is a big factor," said Bones Maxson from the Pirate's Cove Marina. "On the nice weekends people are off and they come in here. We have a pool and reggae." Two especially picturesque spots are next to the Roosevelt Bridge in Stuart, the Pelican Cafe and Fiji's. Both are accessible from the city docks, which fill up quickly once a month for the Sunday jazz concert. Within a half-mile are a dozen restaurants in downtown Stuart. Another popular riverfront destination is the Dolphin Bar and Shrimp House, one of the oldest locations in Martin County. Formerly Frances Langford's Outrigger Restaurant, The Dolphin has retained its Polynesian feel and has an interesting shrine to Langford. Its boat slips, which were recently renovated, are again open for boating diners. Another rustic building is Conchy Joe's Seafood just north of the Jensen Beach Bridge to Hutchinson Island. It was heavily damaged by the two hurricanes, but recent renovations shored up the main building, which dates back to the 1920s. A quiet restaurant west of the old Roosevelt Bridge is The Deck. A little farther north on the east side of the new bridge is Wahoo's on the Waterfront. Warm weather and live music draw people to the outside tiki bar. Port St. Lucie's boating destinations are both on the North Fork of the St. Lucie River, Club Med Sandpiper and Hurricane Grill and Wings. On the way to Fort Pierce is the Landing Restaurant at the Nettles Island Marina. In downtown Fort Pierce there are a dozen restaurants within walking distance including Cobb's Landing and The Original Tiki Bar of Fort Pierce. Boaters who prefer a location near the South Bridge can stop at 22 Fisherman's Wharf and those north of the North Bridge can stop in at Harbor Cove, 1930 Harbortown Drive. In Indian River County, Vero Beach's most popular place on the water is the Riverside Café under the north bridge. But for sheer size Captain Hiram's in Sebastian is the king with huge crowds jamming the riverfront each weekend. Bob Litchfield has been boating local waters since 1965. Every week or so he heads out for food and drink at a different spot. "We go out to eat and we like to fish at night," said Litchfield. "We keep live bait in the well. I've caught a lot of snook off the dock at Conchy Joe's. I don't keep many of them. We eat at the restaurant and let the fish go. Your game fish are nocturnal. Dock lights attract predators and bait," he said. Bob Henderson of Palm City likes to take his 46-foot Sea Ray for lunch with his friends. As he prepared to shove off from Finz in Port Salerno, Henderson said he likes to get out once a month usually to the Manatee Pocket where he has four choices to dine. "The Waterway Cafe (in Palm Beach Gardens) was my favorite spot, but now it costs too much to go there," he said. Steve Bohner likes to take one of his two boats out each weekend to enjoy dinner on the water. "It's a nice way to go by water," he said. "You can go anywhere. There is no traffic. It's a nice leisurely cruise. We're blessed to be able to go around Stuart by boat."

Academy of Golf STORY AND PHOTOS BY GREG GARDNER In just five years, more than 2,700 students from all over the world have gone through the Jensen Beach Golf Academy, the first program of its kind on the Treasure Coast. "I'm the initiator, not the imitator," said Robert Petelinkar, director of golf at the academy, which is accredited by the PGA and staffed with four other teachers. "There was no structured program on the Treasure Coast. I decided to do it because I wanted to grow the game of golf." Watching the 43-year-old Petelinkar, known as "Bobby P," at work is a lesson in patience and enthusiasm. He is always upbeat as he eggs his students on with humor and encouragement. A recent class had a retired couple, a high school freshman and a couple of other golfers in between. "He's funny. He's more like a kid," said Jimmy Pembroke, who hopes to make the golf team next year at Jensen Beach High School. "He's one of the greatest teachers for golf. People at my school say he is the best. If I make a bad shot, he fixes it. He has tools to help keep your arm straight, show you the right swing plane and a mirror to show you your body's alignment." While students have ranged in age from 3 1/2 years to 93, Petelinkar relates especially well to teenagers. "His real forte is the kids," said Paul Howley, an occasional fill-in instructor and owner of Eagle Marsh Golf Club, where the academy is based. "He's very patient. He's good at transmitting the message in a fun manner. He's pleasant and energetic. He enjoys working with kids. He's forming them more than just teaching them golf. He teaches them manners and respect. And he's got a pretty good success rate." Petelinkar said his most successful students are twins Daryl and Derek Fathauer, whom he taught during his first academy class. The two college seniors are nationally ranked and are No. 1 and 2 on the University of Louisville golf team. "Their work effort and internal drive not only to beat each other but be the best they can be is what motivates them to become PGA tour players. They help me teach the kids during the summer. They are always willing to chip in." Petelinkar said another student of his to follow is Maria Castellanos. "She is a senior at Jensen Beach High and she is going to the University of Louisville," said Petelinkar, who has been her mentor over the past few years. Another academy graduate, 7-year-old Sean Gardner, is ranked 82nd in U.S. Kids Golf. Yet even older golfers show up at the academy for lessons. Pierre and Christine Desbiens, a snowbird couple from Montreal, are in the third year of instruction with Petelinkar, but their experience isn't just about golf. "We come here for golf lessons, but it's part social, part golf," said Christine Desbiens. "He corrects our bad habits and gives us confidence. He changed my swing, but it took two years. I had bad technique. With Bobby we are not stressed. We like to learn." "It's a group of people having a supervised practice. One on one is pressure," said Pierre Desbiens. "If you practice by yourself, you practice your mistakes. When you practice in a group you correct your flaws. I have been teaching flying all my life. One of the first qualities of an instructor is you have to love what you do and be able to transfer your knowledge in an enthusiastic way." Justin Ferraro, 7, sees his lessons a bit differently. "It's almost the best thing I have ever done. Whenever I step out of the car here it changes my life. He gives us nicknames and we learn. Mine is 'just in time.' I want to be a golf champ," Ferraro said. Petelinkar said the hardest thing is to teach someone who doesn't have the drive to be a student of the game or the physical ability. "When a father or a husband pushes them, the defense mechanisms are up and you can't penetrate that." Although he teaches six to seven days a week from morning until dark, Petelinkar manages to play 18 holes twice a month. The first day he arrived at the first tee at Eagle Marsh he was running late. He loves to tell the story of how he hit two huge shots to the green and drained the putt for what he thought was birdie three, only to find out he had made an eagle on the par five. He's been a fixture at Eagle Marsh ever since. "I can express my passion for the game of golf and the people I meet. I teach people from all over the globe. I have been given the ability by Paul Howley to fulfill a dream, play golf and get paid for it," Petelinkar said. "When a student can square up the clubface and hit the ball with distance, it's a good feeling. The money is a great attribute of my efforts. If I was independently wealthy, I would do it for free."

The ART Teacher STORY AND PHOTOS BY GREG GARDNER As the only art teacher at Felix A. Williams Elementary School in Jensen Beach, Kathy Kernan can't event count all the different hats she wears each week. During a recent early dismissal day, Kernan was manning a bullhorn following the students' walk around the school's track. Amid a cacophony of energetic, bubbling kids, she showed the skill of an experienced cowhand in rounding them up before they headed back to class. "I teach every child in the school," said Kernan, a 21-year art teacher in Martin County. "All 660 of them pass through my doors once a week. It's fast paced. It's hectic. It's exciting. There is a lot of prep for six shows a day." In addition to her six classes a day, and each class certainly gets a show, Kernan serves on several schoolwide committees, annually makes the school teacher of the year banner, prepares the school's art display for the Martin County Fair, and finds time to volunteer as mentor for a small fifth-grader named Riley. "He gets that one on one," Kernan said. "I help him with his other classes. Mostly I'm there to ask him if everything is OK. I try to be there for him." Howard Marder, assistant principal at Williams, said Kernan is eager to pitch in to do what's needed for the school. "She facilitates schoolwide events and is a valuable staff member to Felix Williams," Marder said. "She's a team player. It's very easy to give her accolades," Marder said. And her peers have three times recognized Kernan's commitment to inspiring her students. She was named Teacher of the Year at J.D. Parker Elementary in 1989 and again in 2002 at Felix Williams. But the biggest recognition came later in 2002 when Kernan was named Martin County Teacher of the Year. "There is a good feeling about getting kids to work from the inside of their thoughts and ideas and bring that to the outside in the form of expression through visual arts," Kernan said. "The hardest thing is stopping after 45 minutes when they are really into it and they don't want to go and I don't want them to go. When I see the parts of what I do displayed as a whole and when I see the variety and talent I say, 'Wow. Look at what they are doing.' It's cool. They inspire me." Kernan's influence lingers long after the kids leave Felix Williams. "Every day I teach I hear her name all day long," said colleague Kathleen Bartemes. "She entertained them. They love Miss Kernan." Despite her love for her students and her work, Kernan worries about the future of teaching and the arts. "I worry about budget cuts and the arts getting put on the chopping block. I feel passionate that it's important that we keep art in public education. The kids love it. They need it. They benefit from it." Created on 12/27/2007 08:25 PM by ind1an Updated on 02/25/2008 11:11 PM by ind1an

Name: Kathy Kernan Age: 54 Place of Birth: Newark, N.J. Occupation: Art teacher Education: B.A. Rutgers University; national board certification in early middle childhood art Family: Sons, Zachary, 28, and Justin, 25 What people don't know about me: "I'm an ardent music lover and I have met some famous people such as Yoko Ono, Salvador Dali and Lenny Kravitz. I have a secret desire to learn to play the congas." What inspires me: "Simple things, nature, light on the water, blue skies and happy people." Proudest achievement: "Having the love and respect of my two sons. Having the respect of my fellow teachers."

Twin Force STORY AND PHOTOS BY GREG GARDNER In 10 short years, twin brothers from Jensen Beach have gone from their first golf lessons to being among the best collegiate players in the country. Derek and Daryl Fathauer, 21, are in their last semester of eligibility at the University of Louisville and are almost certain to make the PGA Tour as pro golfers, according to their coaches and mentors. "They've really progressed. They have the ability," said Frank Dobbs, golf pro at Eagle Marsh Golf Club in Jensen Beach. Dobbs, a player in two U.S. Opens and three PGA championships, said he mentored the boys, giving them little tips and bits of advice during the hundreds of skins games they played together at Eagle Marsh. "If they choose to, they will make it," Dobbs said. "When they came here, their swings were all over the place, heads moving. They were out here seven days a week every moment until dark. They kept working at it." The red-haired identical twins are both very modest and say they are equally matched as golfers. "We both want each other to do well," Daryl said. "We always root for each other. One day one of us is better. The next day the other." Both young men are quick to credit their grandmother for pushing them into golf. And both are equally grateful for all of the golf courses that opened up their links for them to sharpen their skills. "We were 10 and our grandmother bought us clubs and gave us lessons," Derek said. "We used to watch golf with her and talk golf, eat dinner. It was fun. Eagle Marsh and Pine Lakes. If it weren't for the people there we would have given up on it." Bruce Yeates, manager at Pine Lakes Golf Club, remembers their perseverance. "They would rush home after school, get their bikes and clubs and come to the course," he said. "They would clean up for me and then they would play, sometimes 54 holes. They would play until dark. They would practice all the time. They didn't want to go to the beach. They were a pleasure to have around." John Sweeney, who works at Pine Lakes, also remembers their work ethic. "They weren't afraid to work and they loved to golf," he said. "They lived golf. They were little tots when they came. Now they're grown up. They did whatever you asked them to do. No questions. No problems. Nice boys, very polite. Something we need on the pro tour are boys like them. I hope they have a lot of success and they get on the pro tour. I know that's what they want." The twins' first goal is to finish school and get their degrees in sports administration. "There's no way we will skip out on our degrees," Daryl said. "We owe it to the school and our parents to finish school. We are not all-star students because our main focus is on golf." The Fathauers have been on full scholarship since their freshman year and have been No. 1 and 2 on the University of Louisville golf team since they arrived. "After our freshman year we could have transferred somewhere else, but they gave us the opportunity and it wouldn't have been right to leave," Derek said. Both brothers have shot 11-under par 61. Derek has had three holes-in-one while Daryl has had two. Their father, Jay, said his sons want to market themselves after college as a team. "They want to do it together," he said. "They would be a team for a sponsorship package." "Two years ago Derek won the big East Championship. This year Daryl won it. Two years ago Daryl was No. 1 on the (Louisville) team. Derek was No. 1 this year. It's been great watching them grow up and playing golf. I'm not a golfer. It's been a godsend. They found this sport golf at age 11 and they're still doing it. They'll probably do it until they die. Golf is like a lifetime sport." Growing up as twins and learning the game of golf together has given them an advantage, he said. "They each have someone to play with all the time. They practice together. They share a car, live in the same house. Twins are unique. They tend to know what each other is doing. They kind of move together. Twins have a special bond." Derek said his parents have also been a large part in their golf success. "They played a really big role in it," he said. "We couldn't have done it without them. They signed us up and took us to the tournaments." Their four years at college has brought maturity to the Fathauers, according to University of Louisville Men's Golf head Coach Mark Crabtree. "They're great young men. It's been a great experience for them and for me personally to develop a relationship with them, to watch them improve, watch them accomplish some of their goals and watch their excitement grow for the game of golf." "They are very coachable young men. Today, a lot of young kids believe they are coachable, but they really don't want to be coached. They have a real passion for the game. A lot of young men think they have a passion for the game, but they don't. The next three to five years will test the waters to see if they have what it takes," Crabtree said. Asked where Derek and Daryl Fathauer rank among the golfers he has coached over the past 21 years, Crabtree said without a split-second's hesitation, "One and two." Created on 12/07/2007 09:14 PM by ind1an Updated on 01/20/2008 11:27 AM by ind1an

The Holiday Volunteer STORY AND PHOTOS BY GREG GARDNER Jeanette Mueller's volunteer spirit has no limits. She is highly contagious as she infects others with the drive to help those less fortunate. A petite woman with a radiant smile, Mueller is passionate about her public service as she juggles her daily routine to support the organizations dear to her heart. The Big Heart Brigade of the Treasure Coast, Take Stock in Children, the Arts Council of Martin County, and Soroptimist International of Stuart all benefit from Mueller's seemingly endless enthusiasm. But she sees the big picture, always looking to the future and how the next group of volunteers will be in place to continue carrying the torch. "When I see the younger generation get involved at the next level, volunteering for these charities, I get jazzed about that," Mueller says. "You have to provide a system that will give the organization a plan for succession. Who's up next? Who's on first? Who's coming behind me?" For the past 10 years Mueller has served on the Big Heart Brigade board of directors, including four years as chairman. Currently, she is fund development chairman. "Last year we served 30,000 meals and we will serve 30,000 again this year," Mueller says. "We come to the rescue of those in need, particularly at Thanksgiving. We also provide scholarships and help people pay medical bills." Local firefighters and emergency personnel are the backbone of the Big Heart Brigade. Last year, volunteers cooked 100 turkeys at a time in a huge cooker known as "Mondo." Steve Wolfberg, vice president of the Big Heart Brigade and former director of emergency services for Martin County, marvels at Mueller's ability to rally the troops. "She's a dynamo with energy, ideas and follow-through and she looks way beyond what is immediate," Wolfberg says. "That translates into providing more Thanksgiving dinners, fundraising and special events. She's a joy to be around, always positive. There's an awful lot you can learn from her. Sit back, watch and hold on for the ride. Rarely do you find an individual like Jeanette who has that passion, drive and commitment. Martin Fire Lt. Scott Schlawiedt sits on the Big Heart board and serves on the cooking staff. "She (Mueller) is always trying to get people involved through volunteering to better our community," says Schlawiedt. "She is one of the vertebrae. She keeps this organization going." Mueller has been active in the Arts Council for the past 18 years. Currently she is chairman of its board of directors. "She's chaired just about every committee we have," says Nancy Turrell, Arts Council executive director. "She has enthusiasm, energy, dedication, and a passion that the arts matter in our community. She is one of those people who gives 150 percent. She has taken the lead to bring in much-needed funds. It doesn't get any better than Jeanette." Joe Catrambone, president and chief executive officer for the Stuart-Martin County Chamber of Commerce, has seen firsthand Mueller's ability to turn around a charity in trouble. "Our Martin County Youth Leadership program was floundering," he says. "Jeanette took over as chairman and she had it running like an organization should. She knows how to run a meeting. She's very organized. She can multitask better than anyone I have ever known. Her presence demands attention. I have never seen her use a gavel. She has always had excessive energy," says Catrambone. But last May the community nearly lost Mueller's energy when she went into cardiac arrest at her Palm City home. Her husband happened to be there and was able to revive her until paramedics arrived and shocked her back to life again. "My husband interestingly enough had played in a golf tournament to raise money for the cold blanket therapy called Arctic Sun," Mueller says. "I was one of the first people to use it. It was real touch and go. I was gone and they were able to jumpstart me. I was in a coma for several days." Mueller believes her years of dancing and working as a fitness instructor probably saved her life. "I teach seven to ten fitness classes a week," she says of her only paying job. "I've always been interested in fitness." Another of Mueller's interests is the mental fitness of at-risk children. She has mentored a half-dozen children for the Take Stock in Children program through Indian River State College, giving them guidance during their four years of high school before they go on to college. "Jeanette has been a fantastic mentor," says Erin Cox, program coordinator for Take Stock in Children. "She guides the students and motivates them. She keeps them on track and focused. We certainly appreciate her and she is an asset to our program." "She has been there for me emotionally and financially," says IRSC student Nicole Durham. "She is my mentor. I am in college and we talk all the time. She is always helping someone else. I'm thankful that she's in my life." "I like working with at-risk kids," Mueller says, "someone who really needs help. They need someone who can be a consistent part of their lives, to be there and to listen to them. These kids are for the most part not overachievers. They won't have the scholarship opportunities that other students do. "It's easy to sit with younger kids who are cute and who are doing well. Working with kids who have issues and challenges is a more interesting choice for my time." Since the day her heart stopped, Mueller has slowed down some, but she still puts in a full-time effort week in and week out. "Juggling all of this coming off my health issues while I'm still recovering is hard," she says. "Family, my health and volunteer organizations, I thrive on that. It's hard not to work at my full capacity, but I'm not complaining." And neither are the thousands of people on the Treasure Coast who benefit each year from Mueller's dedication to her fellow man. Name: Jeanette Mueller Age: 58 Family: Husband, Larry; sons, Beau, 27, and Kyle, 22; daughter, Steffanie, 25. Background: Graduate of Key West High School. Father was a U.S. Navy chief petty officer. What most people don't know about me: "Probably that I do have a musical background. I sang in a girl's barbershop quartet that won many honors around the state." Favorite holiday memory: "Christmas with family and all the preparation for the annual Christmas card photo. When our daughter was 15 we gave her a cell phone, wrapped as a present and placed under the tree. We then called the number as she was opening presents and she realized the phone was for her."

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