Eclectically dressed revelers packed tables overlooking the ocean and gathered poolside at Waldo’s Restaurant last Saturday for the third annual Barefoot Beach Ball to benefit the Vero Beach Lifeguard Association. The VBLA again teamed up with Donna Roberts Mitchell and Sally Dillon of Idea Garden/Planet Vero and Lee Olsen, manager of Waldo’s, to host the zany affair, billed as an abnormal formal.
Partiers dressed to have a bizarre ball as they danced to Dave and the Wave, feasted on assorted tasty goodies, downed Waldo’s famed Voodoo bucket and watched as little ones raced on the beach and swam in the pool with two lovely mermaids. There were also live- and silent-auction items, a pie-eating contest and a bachelor auction. And as the sun began to set, saxophonist Mike Howley led those willing to take the plunge down to the beach for a quick dip in their finery.
Attendance was particularly high this year as the Peter W. Busch Family Foundation generously funded the cost of tickets so that residents could get to know their lifeguards and all they do to keep people safe as they enjoy Vero Beach’s most valuable asset. The VBLA’s informative Monthly Beach Reports show that from January through June, roughly 410,300 people visited Vero’s guarded beaches.
The VBLA was formed six years ago in response to Recreation Department budget cuts that saw a reduction in lifeguard staffing and hours. In the county, guarded beaches became seasonal or were eliminated completely, increasing numbers at city beaches. As a result of VBLA efforts, support from governmental entities has significantly improved.
“We’re really encouraged,” said Erik Toomsoo, VBLA president, commenting that City Council members, Recreation Director Rob Slezak and City Manager Jim O’Connor have attended VBLA meetings and training sessions. “The City Council has really wanted to become educated and I think it’s making a big difference. I think they’re finally recognizing that public safety is a function of government and they’ve put assets towards keeping the beaches as safe as possible.”
Assets include critical equipment such as ATVs, which help lifeguards rapidly reach people in distress. The city recently provided an ATV to augment the one donated last year by the Busch family and one they already had.
“So now we have three ATVs; one at each tower. We’re really happy about that,” said Toomsoo. VBLA efforts have also created a more integrated system between lifeguards, police and fire rescue personnel, but they would like to see an ATV police patrol on the beach, particularly on busy weekends.
“What’s been really good too is that the hotels, specifically [Vero Beach] Hotel and Spa, Costa d’Este and of course Waldo’s, have been super supportive of us as far as helping us raise money for this equipment,” said Toomsoo, adding, “because oftentimes we’re going down and plucking some of their guests out of the water.”
Their long-term goal, still in the planning and approval stage, is to erect a much-needed tower at Humiston Park. In the meantime, their recommendations to improve public safety include keeping lifeguard towers open until 7 p.m. during the summer to accommodate the hundreds of people who visit the beach after work.
“Unfortunately, the tragedies we have had have been after hours,” said Toomsoo. “We would prefer to be proactive and prevent things from happening rather than later reacting to it.”
Also on the wish list: additional storage for their vehicles and equipment, and a wave runner to better respond to ocean rescues. Because parking remains an issue, they have put an additional tower at Sexton Plaza on the back burner.
For more information, visit VBLA.org.
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