Viera Resident Wins Ropp Playwright Award

“Drinking Poison” is by Cheryl Navo of Indian River Colony Club (VIERA, FL) July 24, 2024– U.S. Army veteran Cheryl Navo has been awarded the 2024 Ropp Playwright Award and a $500 cash prize by Surfside Playhouse in Cocoa Beach for her 90-minute original play, Drinking Poison. The 61-year-old resident of Indian River Colony Club in […]

Continue Reading

The presentation of the $5,000 grant to Patriot Service Dogs included, (L to R) Sarah Kedzierski, IRCC Foundation Board member; Mike Feener, Foundation Vice Chairman; Victoria Sanderson, Lead Trainer for Patriot Service Dogs; Jack DeFreytas, Marine veteran and IRCC resident; and Bailey, Jack’s trained Patriot Service Dog. The Patriot Service Dogs organization provides trained service dogs for veterans with PTSD and other issues.

Foundation Grant Goes to the Dogs

Indian River Colony Club Foundation provides $5,000 to Patriot Service Dogs; program matches trained dogs for veterans with a range of issues (VIERA, FL) March 25, 2024– Once more, the veterans at Indian River Colony Club (IRCC) have donated to help make life better for their brothers and sisters in arms. On March 18, the Indian […]

Continue Reading

Meet Tom & Colleen Ward

HERE TO STAY By Christina Chittenden, Viera Living East Edition, March 2023Photos by Nerissa Johnson, LadyBlue Photography Tom & Colleen’s story began in 1999 after meeting at Suntree United Methodist Church. The two were attending a grief share program at the church that allowed them both to see a different perspective on life and love. […]

Continue Reading

Meet the Halls

By Sue Dewerff Panzarino, Viera Living East Edition, October 2023Photos by Nerissa Johnson, LadyBlue Photography, LLC Indian River Colony Club residents Tim and Janet Hall never imagined they would retire to the Central Florida area. After all, they were both born here. Actual Florida natives! For Janet Hall, who was diagnosed with stage four (metastatic) […]

Continue Reading

Indian River Colony Club Opens to Public for Garage Sale

Patriotic Viera community annual sale of military memorabilia, treasures from world travel (VIERA, FL) February 26, 2024– Guam. Italy. Puerto Rico. Korea. Greece. Germany. The Philippines. These are just a few of the international locations where the military veteran residents of Indian River Colony Club (IRCC) in Viera were once stationed. On Saturday, March 9, eager […]

Continue Reading

In December, the Indian River Colony Club Foundation approved a $5,000 grant for Operation Warm Heart at Patrick Space Force Base, a fund for service men and women dealing with financial emergencies and other unforeseen situations. photo courtesy indian river colony club foundation (Left to Right) MSgt John Sheffield, Mike Feener and Brian Whalen (IRCC Foundation Board Members), and MSgt Kenny Marcheterre.

Grants Benefit Active Military and Homeless Veterans

IRCC Foundation provides $5,000 to Operation Warm Heart, $2,000 to National Veterans Homeless Support (VIERA, FL) December 25, 2023– Once more, the veterans at Indian River Colony Club (IRCC) have donated to help make life better for their brothers and sisters in arms. In early December, the IRCC Foundation approved two grants, presenting a $5,000 check […]

Continue Reading

Indian River Colony Club Names Employee of the Year

Michelle Adams honored for performance at patriotic Viera community (VIERA, FL) January 16, 2024 – Michelle Adams has been named the 2023 Employee of the Year for Indian River Colony Club, the Viera 55+ golf community for military veterans. An employee since 2021, Ms. Adams was recognized during the community’s December membership meeting and presented […]

Continue Reading

Veteran honored for his ongoing recruiting excellence

IRCC Resident, Juan Santiago BY WENDY SCHEURING – Sep 4, 2023 – Senior Life Newspaper The Army did a lot for him, he likes to tell high school students. And he has made it his life’s mission to give back. Retired Sgt. First Class Juan Santiago, a Florida Veteran Hall of Fame inductee, recently received […]

Continue Reading

Viera Clown Group Recognized for Service

Colony Clowns are World Clown Association’s “Alley of the Year” (VIERA, FL) August 28, 2023 – For the Colony Clowns of Indian River Colony Club, clowning is more than just wearing a red nose. Under the direction of founder Louise (LuLU) Carnesale, the group took top honors as Alley of the Year for their community […]

Continue Reading

Dave Hutton and Jane Hodges

Meet Jane Hodges and Dave Hutton

By Sue Dewerff Panzarino, Viera Living East Edition, June 2023Photos by Nerissa Johnson, Lady Blue Photography Indian River Colony Club residents Jane Hodges and Dave Hutton met in Nigeria in 2000. An international oil engineer for Shell Petroleum Development Corporation, Dave was working as the Head of Planning and Production for SPDC at the time […]

Continue Reading

Two Grants Benefit Homeless Brevard Veterans

IRCC Foundation provides $5,000 to Veterans Connections, $3,000 to National Veterans Homeless Support (VIERA, FL) June 7, 2023– No veteran should be without a place to call home. In Central Florida, two nonprofit organizations are taking aim at veteran homelessness — and the Indian River Colony Club Foundation has stepped up to help. In mid-May, the […]

Continue Reading

IRCC Resident Member, George Bowdren, World War II veteran earns recognition 70 years later

BY MARK MIJUSKOVIC, Senior Life Newspaper – Mar 10, 2023 He’s a little bent over these days; his vision isn’t as clear as it once was; leaning on a cane beat grabbing a hand to get out of a chair. But, 95-year-old World War II veteran George Bowdren remains sharp of mind, and he has […]

Continue Reading

Lorena Dugan

A woman’s place is aboard the ship for Navy veteran

BY MARIA SONNENBERG, Senior Life – Apr 5, 2023 The Navy that Lorena Dugan joined in 1979 was very different than today’s, at least in attitude toward those first women assigned to combat ships. The men didn’t know what to make of them and their own wives and sweeties didn’t trust them with their men. […]

Continue Reading

Meet the McNeillys

-VIERA LIVING EAST EDITION, MARCH 2023. BY SUE DEWERFF PANZARINO. PHOTOS BY NERISSA JOHNSON, LADYBLUE PHOTOGRAPHY, LLC.- Indian River Colony Club residents, Robert and Catherine McNeilly celebrated their 31st wedding anniversary on Valentine’s Day last month. The couple, both career law enforcement officers, first met back in 1987. They were both promoted to the rank […]

Continue Reading

Indian River Colony Club Opens to Public for Garage Sale

Patriotic Viera community annual sale of military memorabilia, treasures from world travel (VIERA, FL) February 21, 2023 – Guam. Italy. Puerto Rico. Korea. Greece. Germany. The Philippines. These are just a few of the international locations where the military veteran residents of Indian River Colony Club (IRCC) in Viera were once stationed. On Saturday, March […]

Continue Reading

IRCC Resident Relies on Golf for Long-Term Healing from War

BY MARIA SONNENBERG | Senior Life Newspaper – Feb 14, 2023 Ken Gestring enjoys golfing with his service dog, Meli. Golf can be vexing and exhilarating. For wounded warrior Ken Gestring, it is also healing. The camaraderie and challenges of the game have helped the retired Air Force master sergeant heal from the serious physical […]

Continue Reading

Indian River Colony Club Names Employee of the Year

Lissette Más honored for performance at patriotic Viera community (VIERA, FL) December 19, 2022 – Lissette Más has been named the 2022 Employee of the Year for Indian River Colony Club, the Viera 55+ golf community for military veterans. An employee since 2016, Ms. Más was recognized on December 7 during the community’s annual membership […]

Continue Reading

$4,000 IRCC Donation Supports ‘Veteran Stand Down to Stand Up’

October 8 event for homeless vets provides many needed services (VIERA, FL) September 12, 2022 – The members of Indian River Colony Club are well known for supporting causes that assist their former brothers and sisters in arms. The Indian River Colony Club (IRCC) Foundation, the charitable arm of the 55+ Viera golf community of […]

Continue Reading

$5,000 Grant to Aid Veteran Homelessness

Veterans from Indian River Colony Club donate to make a difference (VIERA, FL) August 16, 2022 – No veteran should be without a place to call home. In Central Florida, the National Veterans Homeless Support organization is taking aim at veteran homelessness — and the Indian River Colony Club Foundation has stepped up to help. […]

Continue Reading

Senior cyclists ride for fun, the benefits of health, camaraderie

BY CURTIS HANZEL, Viera Voice – Jul 1, 2022 They call themselves Tour de Farce -— a group of retirees who do some serious biking and break along the way to shoot the breeze. While many local residents enjoy a regular bike ride, this group of area cyclists is out to show that cycling is […]

Continue Reading

Veteran garners another medal in his collection of awards

BY MARIA SONNENBERG, Senior Life/Viera Voice – Jun 2, 2022 Carmen Nizzi-Santiago smiles when she sees husband Juan Santiago walking around with the medals he has received for exemplary military service. “He sounds like he is wearing a cowbell,” Nizzi-Santiago said jokingly. Retired Army Sgt. First Class Santiago sounds even louder these days, now that […]

Continue Reading

At Ease Club Staff Recognized for Commitment and Support

MOAACC presents challenge coin to U.S. Navy veteran, Edward Davis The Military Officers Association of America, Cape Canaveral Chapter, Inc. (MOAACC), recently recognized the excellence of At Ease Club staff, noting the commitment and support of one individual in particular: Edward Davis. A statement of thanks on the MOAACC website reads, in part: “Every Tuesday […]

Continue Reading

Military Uniforms Collected for ‘Dover Detail’

Veterans from Indian River Colony Club donate clothing for military burials (VIERA, FL) May 16, 2022 – Veterans come in all heights and sizes and economic situations. The common bond they share includes pride in their military service. The Indian River Colony Club Foundation, the charitable arm of the 55+ Viera golf community of military […]

Continue Reading

Indian River Colony Club Preferred for Tournaments

Charities like Viera location, course conditions and amenities for their fundraisers (VIERA, FL) May 9, 2022 – An estimated one million golf tournaments are held each year in the United States, netting an average $10,000 or more in a single enjoyable day. For many charities and non-profits in sunny Florida, an annual tournament is the […]

Continue Reading

Modest Taylor is just third Veterans’ Hall of Fame inductee from Brevard

BY MARIA SONNENBERG – Senior Life, May 3, 2022 Lt. Col. Harry “Skip” Taylor doesn’t understand why he was unanimously singled out by Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet to be part of the 2022 class of the Florida Veterans’ Hall of Fame. “I don’t know why they thought I was such an impressive […]

Continue Reading

Book A GetAway!