Vero Beach

Vero Beach, Fla.-- --It was St. Patrick's Day, so "Dodger Bob" Scholl and his wife, Patty, wore some green to mark the occasion and added black armbands to mark the passing of an era. "I've been coming here since 1964, and I've been a Dodgers fan since 1948," said a clearly disconsolate Dodger Bob, "and this is it. I don't want to see the Orioles." The Dodgers played what is expected to be their final exhibition game at Dodgertown yesterday, losing to the Houston Astros with Tommy Lasorda filling in as manager and 60 years of memories swirling around windy Holman Stadium.

Bradley Willits is the new executive chef at B&O American Brasserie in the Hotel Monaco. Willits is the third executive chef at the Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants property, which opened in 2009, following E. Michael Reidt and Thomas Dunklin. Willits, 31, has more than 20 years of kitchen experience and education, having started his restaurant career at his father's cafe in Sarasota, Fla. His formative kitchen experience was at Tango, a Vero Beach, Fla., restaurant, where he trained under Ben Tench.

Vero Beach, Fla., and Indian River County officials are hopeful that Orioles owner Peter Angelos and the team's upper management will meet as early as next week and approve an agreement that would make Dodgertown the team's long-term spring training home starting in 2010. Representatives from the Orioles and Indian River County and Vero Beach spent Wednesday and Thursday meeting in Orlando, Fla., trying to complete a deal that has been discussed for more than a year. A negotiation agreement between the Orioles and the county expired yesterday, but government officials are prepared to give the team time to review the offer.

The junior All-Metro first-team attacker scored six goals as the Eagles, ranked No. 1 in the Nike/US Lacrosse National High School Girls' Top 25, won two games against nationally ranked opponents and extended their winning streak to 71 games on a spring break trip to Florida. She scored three goals each in a 12-6 victory over No. 11 Vero Beach (Fla.) and in an 11-8 win over No. 19 Milton (Ga.). Against Vero Beach, she scored the game-winner and in both games, she scored twice in the decisive run as the Eagles rebounded from early deficits.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- The Orioles no longer can tolerate having their minor league camp 200 miles away. They need more space at their spring training home, on the field and in the offices. They crave the comforts that are afforded other teams. And if it means going someplace else, they might not have a choice. Even if the new location is steeped in the tradition of another franchise, its name splattered on doors and etched in concrete, its heroes commemorated on street signs. Though no one will confirm it publicly, the Orioles are believed to have signed an option agreement with Indian River County that would allow them to hold spring training in Vero Beach, home of the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers since 1948, as early as next year.

Indian River County, home of the Los Angeles Dodgers' longtime spring training site in Vero Beach, Fla., has reportedly reached an option agreement with another major league team to take over the facility as early as 2009. However despite mounting speculation, Orioles officials, who have long sought to upgrade their current facility in Fort Lauderdale, aren't saying whether they are that team. A team source confirmed yesterday that the Orioles have been in serious negotiations with Indian River County about the Dodgertown facility, though a binding agreement hasn't been reached.

Vero Beach, Fla. -- The sign at the entrance still welcomes you to "Dodgertown," but it's fair to wonder what it will say next year. The Dodgers might still be here, if the fancy new spring training facility being built for them in Arizona is not yet complete. Or the place could be empty. Or the color scheme might be orange and black and the name could have more of an avian theme. No one really knows and no one really wants to say, because there are so many contingencies and so many sensitive issues and the potential for a few hurt feelings.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- It has been a solid ride, the past 13 seasons here, even in an obsolete ballpark. Great restaurants, beautiful beaches and a conscientious stadium staff. Orioles first baseman Kevin Millar called Fort Lauderdale "the best city in Florida." The people and places here will be missed, but it's time to wave goodbye and head two hours north to Vero Beach. Because the positives that come with spending spring in an eclectic, bustling city do nothing for what should be the Orioles' end goal: to be a better baseball organization.

On Sunday, January 29, 2006, JAMES DAVID EMERSON, age 80, of Vero Beach, FL, Vero Beach, FL, formally from Towson, Md. He had taught at the Maryland School for the Blind for 36 yrs. Beloved father of Tina Burchill of Fayetteville, PA.; beloved brother of Gilbert H. and Robert H. Emerson of Vero Beach and Genevieve Good of Dover, DE. Devoted grandfather of three grandchildren and five great grandchildren. Interment private.

On March 19, 2009 Morris "Glen" Shunck, Jr. of Vero Beach, FL (formerly of Glen Burnie); beloved uncle of Tom Wieneke of Annapolis and Sue Armbruster of Sherwood Forest. Friends may call at the family owned Kirkley-Ruddick Funeral Home, P.A., 421 Crain Hwy., S.E., Glen Burnie on Thursday from 7-9 P.M. Services will be held on Friday at 11:00 A.M. Interment in Glen Haven Memorial Park. Memorial Contributions to Vero Beach Center for the Arts, 3001 Riverside Park Dr., Vero Beach, FL 32963 will be appreciated by the family.

Justine E. Dougherty, a homemaker and longtime Harford County resident, died July 14 of an apparent heart attack at Brightview Avondell retirement community in Bel Air. She was 79. Justine Elizabeth Davis was born in Vero Beach, Fla., and graduated in 1949 from Winter Haven High School in Florida. She attended Grady Memorial Hospital School of Nursing. Mrs. Dougherty was a graduate of Lakeland Business Institute in Lakeland, Fla. In 1954, she married Francis E. Dougherty Jr., who later became a brigadier general with the Maryland Air National Guard.

On March 19, 2009 Morris "Glen" Shunck, Jr. of Vero Beach, FL (formerly of Glen Burnie); beloved uncle of Tom Wieneke of Annapolis and Sue Armbruster of Sherwood Forest. Friends may call at the family owned Kirkley-Ruddick Funeral Home, P.A., 421 Crain Hwy., S.E., Glen Burnie on Thursday from 7-9 P.M. Services will be held on Friday at 11:00 A.M. Interment in Glen Haven Memorial Park. Memorial Contributions to Vero Beach Center for the Arts, 3001 Riverside Park Dr., Vero Beach, FL 32963 will be appreciated by the family.

After 10 years in the organization and five erratic seasons with the major league club, right-hander Daniel Cabrera wasn't sure what to think when he officially learned Saturday morning that he was no longer an Oriole. There was a little sadness but no bitterness, Cabrera said yesterday by phone from the Dominican Republic. "I don't know how I am going to feel; I'll have to wait for the season," said Cabrera, whom the Orioles did not offer a contract at Friday's midnight deadline. "I don't know how to feel, but I have nothing bad to say about Baltimore."

News item: The Orioles will hold a rally this month to introduce the team's new uniforms for the 2009 season. The road uniform is expected to have "Baltimore" on the front of the jersey. My take: That's great, but when it's all said and done, I think fans are going to care more whether "Roberts" and "Teixeira" are on the back of a couple of them. News item: The Ravens face the Browns today in Cleveland, and fans are eager to see whether offensive coordinator Cam Cameron breaks out the "Suggs Package" that features quarterbacks Joe Flacco and Troy Smith in the game at the same time.

Vero Beach, Fla., and Indian River County officials are hopeful that Orioles owner Peter Angelos and the team's upper management will meet as early as next week and approve an agreement that would make Dodgertown the team's long-term spring training home starting in 2010. Representatives from the Orioles and Indian River County and Vero Beach spent Wednesday and Thursday meeting in Orlando, Fla., trying to complete a deal that has been discussed for more than a year. A negotiation agreement between the Orioles and the county expired yesterday, but government officials are prepared to give the team time to review the offer.

The Orioles continue to examine their remaining options for a spring training home, with Vero Beach, Fla., apparently becoming their most likely destination if they are forced to vacate their current facility. Indian River County administrator Joe Baird told the Vero Beach Press Journal on Wednesday that he has crafted a draft agreement with a team that would replace the Los Angeles Dodgers, though a spokesman would not confirm or deny a report that the Orioles are negotiating with Baird.

Bertha C. Pfleiderer, who lived in Baltimore for more than 40 years, died Monday at a nursing home in Vero Beach, Fla. after a long illness.Graveside services for Mrs. Pfleiderer, who was 89 and had lived in Vero Beach since 1967, were held yesterday at the Hillcrest Memorial Gardens there.Born in Bremerhaven, Germany, the former Bertha C. Schmidt came to Baltimore as a young woman in 1925 and worked as a nursemaid.Her husband of more than 60 years, Bernhard Pfleiderer, is a retired master electrician for the Lever Brothers Co.In addition to her husband, survivors include two sons, Richard Pfleiderer of Roseland, Fla., and Paul G. Pfleiderer of Vero Beach; a daughter, Gertrude K. Berger of Vero Beach; 11 grandchildren; and 24 great-grandchildren.

On December 11, 2003, CHARLOTTE B. GERWIG, 97, at Indian River Estates Medical Center, of Vero Beach, FL, passed after a prolonged illness. She was born October 14, 1906, in Baltimore, MD and moved to Vero Beach 40 years ago from her birthplace. Mrs. Gerwig was an avid golfer and a member of the Baltimore Country Club. Surviving is her nephew, William T. Schmitz, Jr., of Clearwater, FL. At the families request, there will be no visitation or services at this time. Memorial contributions may be made to VNA/Hospice of Indian River County, 1111 36th Street, Vero Beach, FL. Arrangements are under the direction of Strunk Funeral Home, Vero Beach.

The Orioles might well move up Interstate 95 from Fort Lauderdale to Vero Beach to take over the Dodgertown facility, which might have hosted its final Dodgers exhibition game yesterday. It's certainly not on the edge of civilization, but you can get there from here. One of the signs along the highway out of town reads "Yeehaw Junction ... 33 mi." I'm pretty sure you can fall off the earth somewhere around there.

Vero Beach, Fla.-- --It was St. Patrick's Day, so "Dodger Bob" Scholl and his wife, Patty, wore some green to mark the occasion and added black armbands to mark the passing of an era. "I've been coming here since 1964, and I've been a Dodgers fan since 1948," said a clearly disconsolate Dodger Bob, "and this is it. I don't want to see the Orioles." The Dodgers played what is expected to be their final exhibition game at Dodgertown yesterday, losing to the Houston Astros with Tommy Lasorda filling in as manager and 60 years of memories swirling around windy Holman Stadium.